euro adhoc: media[netCom] AG
media[netCom] has Asia firmly in its sights (E)
Disclosure announcement transmitted by euro adhoc. The issuer is responsible for the content of this announcement.
Ad hoc announcement in compliance with §15 WpHG (German law governing trading in securities) media[netCom] has Asia firmly in its sights Legacy problems will be settled within the scope of integration Hanover (22.01.2003); media[netCom] will shortly be experiencing expansion into the Asian markets. The company sees here great potential for the services on offer from the leading provider of digital market-places for entertainment and adult fare. Thanks to the central significance of this economic area for the build-up in activities, Klaus Helbert will personally assume responsibility. In the last few months Helbert has already held definitive talks with them and will distinctly widen his presence on the spot in future. The provisional figures for the 3rd quarter of the media[netCom] 2002/2003 financial year, which has just ended, indicate that they will be lower than anticipated. Whereas the Visual Added-Value Services business unit developed with relative stability, the Voice Added-Value Services business unit has failed to achieve its target earnings as a result of extraordinary factors. The third quarter closed with an EBITDA loss for the period amounting to EUR 1.4 million due in particular to billbacks in the telephone sector. To remedy this temporary setback to the business development, a package of measures to improve results and earnings in the telephone sector has already been implemented. In addition to reducing costs, this package contains in the first instance an extension to the product mix. Here, mention can be made of premium SMS/MMS for mobile services, pre-call numbers and innovations in telephone marketing amongst others. As a consequence of these measures, the Voice Added-Value Services have once more been recording distinctly positive figures since the beginning of this year. That is why media[netCom] is now reckoning on an increase in earnings from ordinary activities before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation to EUR 4.5 million (against - EUR 9.1 million last year) for the 2002/03 financial year (as at 31 March). The figures included for the INTERNOLIX Group only cover a period of seven months. Within the scope of integrating the companies, there will also be a re-evaluation of the assets of the various companies. In particular in respect of previous business of media[netCom] and INTERNOLIX, in the light of the original business which is progressing only very slowly, corrective measures have to be undertaken in the assets of former participations and in the film exploitation rights. These are of an extraordinary character. The effect on earnings amounts to EUR 16 million but will not lead to any outflow in cash and cash equivalents.
Further information can be obtained from:
media[netCom] AG Investor Relations Unter den Eichen 5, D-65195 Wiesbaden Tel: 0611 / 71 61-110, Fax: 0611 / 71 61-117 Mail: ir@media-netcom.de
end of announcement euro adhoc 22.01.2003
Further inquiry note:
Cornelia Poebing-Taboubi Tel.: +49 (0) 611 7161 110 E-Mail:
cornelia.poebing@media-netcom.de
Branche: Computing & Information Technology
ISIN: DE0005423800
WKN: 542380
Börsen: Baden-Württembergische Wertpapierbörse / free trade
Bayerische Börse / free trade
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