CENIT AG

Earnings Release • Mar 27, 2006

News Details

Ad-hoc | 27 March 2006 10:08

CENIT AG Systemhaus: CENIT balance sheet 2005 shaped by successful consultancy and software

Ad hoc announcement transmitted by DGAP – a company of EquityStory AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. —————————————————————————— CENIT balance sheet 2005 shaped by successful consultancy and software business Earnings per share up by 73% to €1.61 Stuttgart, 27 March 2006 – CENIT generated consolidated sales of €74.3 million in the 2005 financial year (2004: €74.9 million /-1%). The service segment again posted a strong increase of around 10%. This was accompanied by extremely positive development in the software segment, particularly in the marketing of CENIT software. However, there was a considerable decline in hardware sales, which fell by around €7.2 million from €21.6 million in 2004 to around €14.4 million in 2005. Gross income increased again, by 9% to €52.1 million (2004: €48 million). EBITDA reached €10.2 million (2004: €8.2 milion/+24%). Earnings from business operations before interest and taxes (EBIT) increased by 25% in the reporting period from €7.5 million in 2004 to €9.4 million. An EBT of €9.1 million (2003: €7.6 million/+20%) and a Group EPS of €1.61 (2003: €0.93/ +73%), marks the end of a highly successful year for CENIT. The equity ratio of the Group was up from 49% in 2004 to 58%. Equity amounted to €19.57 million (2004: 13.96/+40%). Cash and cash equivalents, including securities, increased by 42% to €20.8 million in 2005 (2004: €14.7 million). The Group’s order book totalled €19.3 million as at 31 December 2005 (2004: €16 million/ +21%) and orders received in 2005 amounted to around €79.6 million (2004: €78 million/+ 2%). The Group had 523 employees on the reporting date of 31 December 2005 (2004: 466). Dividend Due to the good business development, the Executive and Supervisory Board will propose to the shareholders’ meeting that a dividend of 60 cents (2004: 30 cents per share) and a special dividend of 30 cents per share be distributed to shareholders. Both measures highlight our positive expectations for business development in 2006 and 2007. Outlook The Executive Board is optimistic that the Group’s business operations will expand further in 2006 and 2007 for the outsourcing of product lifecycle management, enterprise content management and application management, particularly in the service and software segments. We also plan to achieve double-digit increases in sales of our own software solutions in 2006. The US business will continue to be expanded with additional employees. We also anticipate a continued positive market environment in our relevant markets and wish to take advantage of this opportunity to gain additional market share. CENIT thus also plans to increase the number of employees by 10% in 2006, thereby creating the basis for future growth. If the trend continues, the number of employees is also expected to increase further in 2007. If you have any enquiries, please contact: CENIT AG Systemhaus Fabian Rau/Investor Relations Industriestrasse 52-54 /D-70565 Stuttgart Tel.: (+49) 7 11 / 78 25-3185 Fax: (+49) 7 11 / 78 25-4185 E-mail: f.rau@cenit.de Information about CENIT: CENIT AG Systemhaus is an internationally operating consulting company which employs more than 520 people. Focusing Product Lifecycle Management Consulting, Outsourcing and Enterprise Content Management solutions, the company is listed in Germany’s Prime Standard. Customers are Allianz, BMW, DaimlerChrysler, EADS, Airbus, AXA, Metro ,VW and many small and medium-sized enterprise. http://www.cenit-group.com Forward-Looking Statements This news release may contain forward-looking statements about the business, financial condition, results of operations and earnings outlook of CENIT Words such as ‘may,”will,’ ‘expect,’ ‘anticipate,’ ‘contemplate,’ ‘intend,’ ‘plans,’ ‘believe,”continue’ and ‘estimate,’ and variations of these words and similar expressions, identify these forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance, involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict, and are based upon assumptions as to future events that may not prove accurate. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed herein. In any forward- looking statement in which CENIT expresses an expectation or belief as to future results, such expectation or belief is expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis, but there can be no assurance that the statement or expectation or belief will result or be achieved or accomplished. Actual operating results may differ materially from such forward-looking statements and are subject to certain risks Contact: Fabian Rau Direktor Investor Relations f.rau@cenit.de Telefon: 0711 – 78 25 3185 Fax: 0711 – 78 25 4185 (c)DGAP 27.03.2006 —————————————————————————