Deutsche Effecten- und Wechsel-Beteiligungsges. AG
DEWB continues to expand investment business in first half of 2008
Jena, 7 August 2008 (euro adhoc) -
- Investment activity expanded - Further successful development of portfolio companies - Repayment of bank liabilities concluded
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Deutsche Effecten- und Wechsel-Beteiligungsgesellschaft AG, (DEWB), Jena, today published its financial results for the first half of 2008. In the first six months of the current fiscal year the focus of activities was on new investments and the systematic development of the portfolio companies; as planned, there was no sale of holdings. Accordingly earnings from operating activities (EBIT), at -0,7 million Euros, came in at the same level as in the first half 2007. The result after taxes improved slightly, to -0.7 million Euros (H1t half 2007: -0.8 million Euros). Primarily due to the repayment of the bank liabilities of 5.0 million Euros, the balance sheet total as at 30 June 2008 reduced to 66.1 million Euros. Thus since 2005 DEWB has reduced debts by 50.9 million Euros. Cash decreased to 10 million Euros, due to both the reduction of the loan and to investments in the portfolio, compared to 31 December 2007. Shareholders´ equity fell slightly to 45.4 million Euros due to the result for the period. The Net Asset Value (NAV) per share was 2.98 Euro (31 December 2007: 3.03 Euro/share), at a current DEWB share price of 2.35 Euro (6 August 2008).
Investments expanded markedly In April DEWB took a stake in two promising companies within its investment focus on photonics and sensor systems: Nanda Technologies GmbH, Unterschleissheim, develops and produces optical inspection equipment for process controls in the semiconductor manufacturing area. Based on a new optical design combined with innovative image processing, Nandas product has the potential to revolutionize quality control in the field of semiconductor manufacture. Nanotron Technologies GmbH, Berlin, is a leader in the development and the sale of wireless sensor networks as well as solutions for radio-based communication and object localisation. With its own patented transmission systems, substantially superior to that of competing products, Nanotron shows above-average growth potential.
As at 30 June 2008 DEWB holds 12 investments. The valuation of the portfolio in the balance sheet amounts to 48.4 million Euros and has increased substantially compared with 31 December 2007 (40.6 million Euros). In the first half of 2008, DEWB invested 7.9 million Euros in total. The share taken by photonics and sensor systems thereby rose to 58 percent.
KSW Microtec successfully implements strategy The portfolio companies of DEWB have developed well, despite signs of gloom in the economy overall, posting growth in incoming orders. KSW Microtec AG has pressed ahead consistently with the extension of its product portfolio, thus effecting market entry into business sectors with strong margins. KSW, ranking amongst the leading manufacturers of RFID components worldwide, thereby seeks to gain further market shares, with increasing profitability. "KSW´s strategy is bearing its first fruits. Other companies in the market are also increasingly convinced by the company´s positioning. Thus the recently-announced commitment to DEWB made by RFID investor Bluehill demonstrates the increased level of interest in KSW from investors and competitors", Bertram Köhler, Member of the Management Board of DEWB, remarked on the development at KSW.
NOXXON Pharma gains a further cooperation partner The portfilio company NOXXON Pharma AG, developer of active agents based on proprietary spiegelmer technology, concluded a cooperation agreement with the US pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly in the first half of the current fiscal year. Within this contract NOXXON is granting Eli Lilly an exclusive worldwide licence for a pre-clinical spiegelmer against migraine and and will use its Spiegelmer technology to identify follow-on inhibitors. Eli Lilly is taking over the pre-clinical and clinical development of the molecules identified, as well as the worldwide commercialisation of the products emerging from this work. In addition to receiving an advance payment and further milestone-dependent remunerations, NOXXON is eligible to earn royalties on worldwide sales of products commercialized by Lilly as a result of this collaboration. Eli Lilly is the fourth large international pharmaceutical company, in addition to Pfizer, Dow Chemical and Roche, to recognize the potential of NOXXON and position itself accordingly within the scope of cooperation agreements.
end of announcement euro adhoc
Further inquiry note:
DEWB AG
Marco Scheidler
Leutragraben 1
Germany, 07743 Jena
Tel: +49 (0) 3641 573 3600
Fax: +49 (0) 3641 573 3610
E-Mail: ir@dewb-vc.com
www.dewb-vc.com
Branche: Financial & Business Services
ISIN: DE0008041005
WKN: 804100
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