EquityStory AG / Final Results/Dividend
04.04.2008
Release of a Adhoc News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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EquityStory AG significantly outperforms annual forecast
Introduction of dividend payments planned Dividend of EUR 0.50 proposed
for 2007
Munich 4 April 2008
EquityStory AG (ISIN: DE0005494165) again achieved record results in the
2007 financial year, thus continuing its growth. The group realised sales
of 8.339 million. This is an increase of 73 per cent over the same period
of the previous year. In accordance with IFRS, the EBIT increased by 169
per cent to 3.045 million while net profits amounted to 1.815 million.
Earnings per share (according to DVFA/SG, the German Association of
Financial Analysis and Asset Management/Schmalenbach Society) reached a new
high of 1.53.
From October to December 2007, turnover came to 2.320 million, with EBIT
according to IFRS at 1.011 million, and net income at .531 million.
Earnings per share for the 4th quarter 2007 are .45. The strong growth in
the 4th quarter 2007 can also be attributed to the successful introduction
of the new service for the submission of intermediate reports with the
Unternehmensregister (german company register) and of annual reports with
the eBundesanzeiger.
In view of the very good earnings development, a dividend has been proposed
for the 2007 financial year for the first time. Achim Weick, CEO of
EquityStory AG, said: 'Thanks to our strong cash flow and high equity
ratio, we are now able for the first time to distribute a reasonable
dividend to our shareholders in addition to financing our future growth.'
The board of directors and the supervisory board of EquityStory AG will
propose a dividend to the amount of .50 per share at the shareholders
meeting to be held on 15 May 2008.
The cash flow in accordance with DVFA/SG amounted to 2.023 million in
2007. The equity ratio was 73 per cent. As of December 31, 2007, liquid
assets amounted to .738 million. The acquisition loan for the purchase of
financial.de AG will already have been redeemed in May.
The acquisition of financial.de AG (100%) led to a positive profit
contribution of .02 per share for the 4th quarter, while the interest in
ARIVA.DE AG (25.1%) contributed .02 per share to the profit of the year.
In the 4th quarter 2007, EquityStory AG once again acquired a high number
of new clients, namely 55 listed companies. This trend will not continue in
the 1st quarter 2008 due to the weak capital market but be overcompensated
by the new online corporate communications business field. 75 non-listed
new companies could already be acquired in this field in the 4th quarter of
2007.
Our DGAP-Geoinfo Zrt. joint venture has not yet been able to start its
operations in Hungary. Although the legal framework has been established by
the government, the start is delayed due to a lacking implementation
directive by the Hungarian Financial Markets Supervisory Authority, the
final version of which has not yet been scheduled.
Despite the delay in Hungary and the troubled capital market environment,
the board again expects a high sales growth between 20 and 30 percent for
the 2008 financial year. The EBIT is expected to increase above average
relative to turnover. This forecast is based on the positive experience
made in relation with the establishment of the online corporate
communications field, the great success of our services for the submission
of intermediate reports with the Unternehmensregister and of annual reports
with the eBundesanzeiger for our listed customers, the significantly lower
tax rate due to the corporate tax reform in germany and the first
indicators observed in the 1st quarter 2008.
Today EquityStory AG´s Board of Directors will comment on the company´s
results in a conference call at 11:00 am (CET) to be transmitted live
online at www.equitystory.de.<pre>
Important figures according to IFRS 2007 2006 +/-
Sales ( million) 8.339 4.810 73%
EBIT ( million) 3.045 1.132 169%
Net profit ( million) 1.815 .706 157%
Earnings per share DVFA/SG () 1.53 .76 101%
Cash Flow according to DVFA/SG ( million) 2.023 1.134 78%
Liquid assets ( million) .738 .264 180%
Staff (31.12.) 44 36 22%</pre>
Further notifications:
Q4-figures are unaudited. 2007 full-year figures are audited.
You can also instantly receive free company notifications of EquityStory AG
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relations section at www.equitystory.de.
About the EquityStory group of companies:
The EquityStory AG is the market leader for online investor relations in
the German-speaking region, and renders extensive business services in the
areas comprising reporting requirements, finance portals, audio and video
broadcasts of investor events, online financial reports as well as
outsourced websites for over 1,250 listed enterprises at home and abroad.
By acquiring capital stakes in ARIVA.DE AG (25 %) and financial.de AG (100
%) EquityStory AG has entered the growth markets of online advertising and
b2c investor relations. The sphere of reporting requirements is bundled in
the subsidiary Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ad-hoc-Publizität mbH (DGAP). The
DGAP is an institution for the fulfilment of regulatory publicity for
listed companies, and has been the market leader since the formation in
1996. With establishing the new online corporate communications business
field, EquityStory AG enters the market for non-listed companies. The
corporate group employs financial analysts, communications experts and
software engineers, and thus has the three core competencies for online
investor relations. The EquityStory concern currently has a staff of 48 and
realised a turnover in the amount of 8.3 million Euros in 2007.
Contact:
EquityStory AG
Robert Wirth
Tel +49(0)89 210298-34
Fax +49(0)89 210298-49
Email robert.wirth@equitystory.de
Seitzstraße 23
80538 München
www.equitystory.de
DGAP 04.04.2008
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Language: English
Issuer: EquityStory AG
Seitzstraße 23
80538 München
Deutschland
Phone: +49(0)89 210298-0
Fax: +49(0)89 210298-49
E-mail: info@equitystory.com
Internet: www.equitystory.de
ISIN: DE0005494165
WKN: 549416
Listed: Freiverkehr in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Stuttgart; Entry Standard
in Frankfurt
End of News DGAP News-Service
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DGAP-Adhoc: EquityStory AG significantly outperforms annual forecast
| Source: EQS Group AG