Gigaset AG

Earnings Release • May 18, 2005

News Details

Corporate | 18 May 2005 12:25

ARQUES Industries AG reports jump in revenues in the first quarter of 2005

Corporate-news transmitted by DGAP. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. —————————————————————————— ARQUES reports jump in revenues in the first quarter of 2005 Publication of the provisional figures for the first quarter of 2005 Starnberg, May 18, 2005 – According to the provisional figures just released, ARQUES Industries AG (ISIN DE0005156004), the Starnberg-based equity investment company, has increased its revenues in the first quarter of the 2005 financial year by 512.0% to EUR72.7 million from the EUR14.2 million recorded in the first quarter of 2004. For the first time, the figures include the revenues and earnings of Colordruck Pforzheim GmbH & Co. KG. The ddp Group has also been initially consolidated at January 1, 2005. The three new acquisitions reported by ARQUES in 2005 did not take place until the second quarter. Hence they are not included in the figures for the first quarter. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) totalled EUR3.9 million after EUR0.1 million in the same period last year. Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) improved to EUR2.5 million, up from a loss of EUR0.5 million over the equivalent period in 2004. Consolidated net profit amounted to EUR2.7 million compared with a net loss of EUR0.6 million at this point last year. The company is currently preparing to apply for the ARQUES share to be listed on the Prime Standard segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. The figures for the first quarter of 2005 will therefore be subject to a limited review by the company’s external auditor. The definitive figures and the report for the first quarter are scheduled for release on May 25, 2005. ARQUES Industries AG (www.arques.de) specialises in the acquisition and development of corporate spin-offs and companies in transitional situations. The Starnberg-based equity investment company buys companies on the basis of net asset valuations, before restructuring them under its own managers and with the help of a task force comprising specialist in-house consultants. Measures concerning active management and development range from revising the product portfolio and enhancing operations to boost efficiency through to implementing new technologies. The shares of ARQUES Industries AG are traded on the OTC market under the code “AQU” (ISIN: DE0005156004). Contact: ARQUES Investor Relations Anke Lüdemann +49 (0) 8151 – 651 0 End of announcement (c)DGAP 18.05.2005 —————————————————————————— WKN: 515600 ; ISIN: DE0005156004; Index: Listed: Freiverkehr in Frankfurt, Berlin, München und Stuttgart 181224 Mai 05