QSC AG

Earnings Release • Mar 31, 2009

News Details

Corporate | 31 March 2009 07:50

QSC off to a good start in 2009 / 2008 Annual Report presented

QSC AG / Final Results

Release of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory
AG.
The issuer / publisher is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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QSC off to a good start in 2009 / 2008 Annual Report presented

Cologne, March 31, 2009. QSC AG today presented its 2008 Annual Report.
There were no material changes to the preliminary results that had been
announced on February 26, 2009.

QSC grew its revenues by 23 percent to EUR 413.3 million in fiscal year
2008,
as opposed to EUR 335.2 million the year before. EBITDA nearly doubled to
EUR
67.3 million, as opposed to EUR 34.9 million the year before. This
represents
an EBITDA margin of 16 percent, in contrast to 10 percent in fiscal 2007.
EBIT advanced to EUR 6.1 million, as opposed to EUR -11.5 million in 2007;
in
this connection all three segments earned an operating profit. Moreover,
QSC recorded a net profit of EUR 0.8 million, as opposed to a net loss of
EUR
-11.7 million the year before. Synergies following the Broadnet merger,
sustained cost discipline and strong growth combined to produce this
significantly improved profitability in 2008. Chief Executive Officer Dr.
Bernd Schlobohm: 'In spite of the onset of the recession, 2008 was a highly
successful year for QSC. Building upon this, we intend to remain on our
success course during the current fiscal year, while increasing our
financial strength and profitability.'

In what is currently a difficult market environment, QSC is rigorously
focusing on further improving the quality of its revenues, giving higher
priority to profitability over pure revenue growth. The company's operative
business has developed well during the first two months of the current
fiscal year; this applies, in particular, with respect to new orders in
business with IP-VPN customers and to its fast-growing wholesale voice
business. Given this background, QSC is reiterating the guidance for the
full 2009 fiscal year that it announced on February 26, 2009: The company
anticipates a positive free cash flow of more than EUR 10 million, as well
as
an EBITDA of between EUR 68 and EUR 78 million. Going hand in hand with
this
will be planned annual revenues of between EUR 420 and EUR 440 million, as
well
as a sustained net profit.

Queries to:
QSC AG
Arne Thull
Investor Relations
Phone: +49 221 6698-724
Fax: +49 221 6698-009
E-mail: invest@qsc.de
Internet: www.qsc.de

Notes:
The annual report is available under www.qsc.de/en/investor-relations.html.
This corporate news contains forward-looking statements. These
forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and forecasts
of future events by the management of QSC AG. Due to risks or mistaken
assumptions, actual results may deviate substantially from those made in
such forward-looking statements. The assumptions that may involve material
deviations due to unforeseeable developments include, but are not limited
to, the demand for our products and services, the competitive situation,
the development, dissemination and technical performance of DSL technology
and its prices, the development and dissemination of alternative broadband
technologies and their respective prices, changes in respect of
telecommunications regulation, legislation and adjudication, prices and
timely availability of essential third-party services and products, the
timely development of additional marketable value-added services, the
ability to maintain and enlarge upon marketing and distribution agreements
and to conclude new marketing and distribution agreements, the ability to
obtain additional financing in the event that management's planning targets
are not attained, the punctual and full payment of outstanding debts by
sales partners and resellers of QSC AG, and the availability of sufficient
skilled personnel.
31.03.2009 Financial News transmitted by DGAP

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Language: English
Issuer: QSC AG
Mathias-Brüggen-Straße 55
50829 Köln
Deutschland
Phone: +49 (0)221 66 98-112
Fax: +49 (0)221 66 98-009
E-mail: invest@qsc.de
Internet: www.qsc.de
ISIN: DE0005137004
WKN: 513700
Indices: TecDAX
Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr
in Berlin, Stuttgart, München, Düsseldorf

End of News DGAP News-Service

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