United Labels AG

Earnings Release • May 13, 2004

News Details

Ad-hoc | 13 May 2004 07:44

UNITEDLABELS posts profit in first quarter

Ad-hoc-announcement transmitted by DGAP. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. ——————————————————————————– UNITEDLABELS posts profit in first quarter – Revenue increase of 23% – Above-par earnings after tax – Cash flow more than doubled (Münster, May 13, 2004) – UNITEDLABELS AG (DE 0005489561), an enterprise specialising in comicware sold under licence, recorded a significant year-on- year improvement in business performance in the first quarter of 2004. Compared with the first quarter of 2003, consolidated revenue increased substantially by 23% to EUR 9.3 million (Q1/2003: EUR 7.6 million). EBIT also improved visibly to a level of EUR 0.4 million (Q1/2003: EUR -0.3 million), while earnings after tax amounted to EUR 0.2 million (Q1/2003: EUR -0.4 Mio.). At EUR 1.6 million, cash flow from operating activities more than doubled year on year (Q1/2003: EUR 0.7 million). Inventory levels associated with the specialist retail segment were reduced further in the first quarter, while the premium “Best Of” brand was extended. The Key Account segment, in particular, recorded a substantial increase in revenue over the course of the first quarter. Based on these achievements, UNITEDLABELS AG is expected to perform well in the full financial year. For further information, please visit www.unitedlabels.com or contact the following member of staff: UNITEDLABELS AG Holger Pentz Gildenstr. 6 D – 48157 Münster Tel.: +49 (0) 251-3221-405 Fax: +49 (0) 251-3221-965 hpentz@unitedlabels.com end of ad-hoc-announcement (c)DGAP 13.05.2004 Issuer’s information/explanatory remarks concerning this ad-hoc-announcement: UNITEDLABELS posts profit in first quarter – Revenue increase of 23% – Above-par earnings after tax – Cash flow more than doubled (Münster, May 13, 2004) – UNITEDLABELS AG (DE 0005489561), an enterprise specialising in comicware sold under licence, recorded a significant year-on- year improvement in business performance in the first quarter of 2004. Compared with the first quarter of 2003, consolidated revenue increased substantially by 23% to EUR 9.3 million (Q1/2003: EUR 7.6 million). EBIT also improved visibly to a level of EUR 0.4 million (Q1/2003: EUR -0.3 million), while earnings after tax amounted to EUR 0.2 million (Q1/2003: EUR -0.4 Mio.). At EUR 1.6 million, cash flow from operating activities more than doubled year on year (Q1/2003: EUR 0.7 million). Inventory levels associated with the specialist retail segment were reduced further in the first quarter, while the premium “Best Of” brand was extended. The Key Account segment, in particular, recorded a substantial increase in revenue over the course of the first quarter. Based on these achievements, UNITEDLABELS AG is expected to perform well in the full financial year. “Best Of” is a match made in heaven – Wedding promotion Just in time for the merry month of May, which is particularly popular for weddings, UNITEDLABELS AG has launched a promotional campaign tailored specifically to retailers’ “wedding gift list” services. The company’s stylish products from the “Best Of” collection are meant to provide a touch of inspiration and a few new ideas when it comes to compiling a list of wedding gifts. Thus, UNITEDLABELS’ “Best Of” success story continues. Numerous publications in specialist magazines focusing on trendy “home & living“ topics have provided additional momentum. Comicware concept bolsters key account business The concept of pooling various product groups within the most popular categories, known as the comicware concept, has been presented to a number of key account customers. Food retailers, in particular, will benefit from the range of lucrative non-food products positioned in high-traffic areas of their stores. UNITEDLABELS intends to step up its efforts within this area in the coming months, thus substantially enhancing its domestic position in this sales channel. “We are committed to building a comicware presence wherever our customers expect to find such products,” says Peter M. Boder, CEO of UNITEDLABELS AG, and continues by explaining that “in addition to supplying traditional ‘special-sales’ merchandise we are now also focusing on securing permanent shelf-space, thus ensuring that our products are accessible all year round.” UNITEDLABELS AG is one of Europe’s leading specialists for comicware sold under licence. The licensing partners working in cooperation with the independent media company include global players from the world of media and entertainment, such as Disney, AOL-Time/Warner and 20th Century Fox. UNITEDLABELS is able to reach all age groups within the European market of licensed products, thanks to its successful portfolio of well-established classics, such as Snoopy and Sesame Street, and popular stars like The Simpsons and Bob the Builder. UNITEDLABELS has already established the most comprehensive sales network in Europe, reaching over 370 million consumers with the help of more than 4,500 retail partners in 15 European countries. For further information, photographs, and logos, as well as access to the 3- Month report, please visit www.unitedlabels.com or contact the following member of staff: UNITEDLABELS AG Holger Pentz Gildenstr. 6 D-48157 Münster phone: 0251-3221-405 fax: 0251-3221-965 e-mail: hpentz@unitedlabels.com ——————————————————————————– WKN: 548956; ISIN: DE0005489561; Index: Listed: Geregelter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in Berlin- Bremen, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Hannover, München und Stuttgart 130744 Mai 04