euro adhoc: AdLINK Internet Media AG
other
AdLINK Group with weak progress
and reduced forecast for 2008
Disclosure announcement transmitted by euro adhoc. The issuer is responsible for the content of this announcement.
30.10.2008
AdLINK Group with weak progress and reduced forecast for 2008
Montabaur, October 30, 2008. The Management Board and Supervisory Board of AdLINK Internet Media AG (AdLINK Group) today announced its consolidated figures for the first nine months of 2008.
Consolidated sales grew by 2.3% from EUR 159.7 million in the comparative period of 2007 to EUR 163.4 million. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) fell by 38.5% from EUR 18.2 million (comparable prior-year figure) to EUR 11.2 million. Earnings before taxes (EBT) fell by 43.9% from EUR 13.9 million (comparable prior-year figure) to EUR 7.8 million.
In addition to the problematic development of the Domain Marketing segment in the 1st half of 2008, the strong fall in demand from customers in Display Advertising particularly in the 3rd quarter - due to the global financial crisis and the resulting fears of recession - had a strong negative impact on the sales and earnings figures of the AdLINK Group. In addition to falling sales volumes, this drop in customer demand has also led to fierce competition for the remaining budgets and thus increased the pressure on prices and margins. Whereas sales and earnings figures in the Domain and Display segments were well below expectations, progress in the Affiliate Marketing segment was as expected.
As a result of the above mentioned negative factors, gross margin fell from 24.9% in the first nine months of 2007 to 22.1% in the period under review. In a quarterly comparison, gross margin fell from 23.6% in the 3rd quarter of 2007 to 18.9% in the 3rd quarter of 2008.
On the basis of current expectations, the Management Board of the AdLINK Group has adjusted its previous forecast for fiscal year 2008 and now expects sales at approximately the same level as last year (previously + 10%) and a positive EBT of EUR 10-12 million (previously around EUR 21 million). As the further impact of the economic development on business in the traditionally strong 4th quarter is currently difficult to forecast, the forecast for the remaining months remains fraught with uncertainty.
|9-month comparison |Jan. - Sept. |Jan. - Sept. |Change | |in EUR million |2007* |2008 | | |Sales |159.7 |163.4 |+2.3% | |EBITDA |18.2 |11.2 |-38.5% | |EBT |13.9 |7.8 |-43.9% |
* 2007 adjusted for a net positive effect on earnings of EUR 16.8 million in EBITDA and EUR 7.4 million in EBT from Q2 2007.
|Quarterly comparison |3rd quarter 2007 |3rd quarter 2008|Change | |in EUR million | | | | |Sales |55.4 |49.7 |-10.3% | |EBITDA |5.4 |1.2 |-77.8% | |EBT |3.9 |-0.2 | |
end of announcement euro adhoc
Further inquiry note:
Marcus Schaps
AdLINK Internet Media AG
Elgendorfer Straße 57
56410 Montabaur
Germany
Phone: +49 (0) 2602 96-1319
Fax: +49 (0) 2602 96-1013
mschaps@adlinkgroup.net
Branche: Online
ISIN: DE0005490155
WKN: 549015
Index: TecDAX, Prime All Share, Technologie All Share
Börsen: Börse Frankfurt / regulated dealing/prime standard
Börse Berlin / free trade
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