DGAP-News: Aragon AG publishes half-year report 2008

ARAGON AG / Half Year Results

29.08.2008 

Release of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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++ Aragon continues to perform well in a difficult market environment 

++ Total revenues of EUR 56.3m – a 12.9% increase year-on-year (1 HY 07:
EUR 49.9m)

++ EBITDA of EUR 10.4m – an increase of 319% year-on-year (1 HY 07: EUR
2.48m)



The financial services group Aragon achieved a successful performance in
the first half of 2008, despite the continued difficult market conditions.

++ Revenues and earnings remain on course for growth

In the first two quarters of 2008, revenues rose by 12.9% to EUR 56.3m
(first half of 2007: EUR 49.9m). Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT)
were up by 381% to EUR 9.5m compared with the same period in the previous
year (EUR 1.97m). At EUR 10.4m, EBITDA climbed 319% (first half of 2007:
EUR 2.48m).

Boosted by proceeds totalling EUR 7.25m from the sale of 15% of the shares
in biw Bank für Investments und Wertpapiere AG, gross margin at Aragon AG
amounted to EUR 25.9m in the first half of 2008. This represents a rise of
93% compared with the figure of EUR 13.4m achieved in the first six months
of 2007. The gross margin of 45.9% (or 33.1% excluding the sales proceeds)
is an improvement of 70% (or 23%) compared with the same period in the
previous year.

++ Development of the business units

Making up for the weak first quarter in the Retail Sales segment, EBITDA
for the second half of the year remained constant compared with the
previous year’s period at EUR 2.1m, thanks to a stronger second quarter.
Despite customers still displaying restrained investment behaviour, the
trend in EBITDA for the second quarter was clearly positive, with an
increase of 15.7% (from EUR 1.27m to EUR 1.47m) compared with the same
quarter in the previous year.

The Banking & Banking Services and Institutional Sales segments closed the
first half of 2008 with results that were significantly higher than the
respective figures for the previous year.
Half-year revenues in the Banking & Banking Services segment increased from
EUR 15.2m to EUR 18.1m, which represents a 20% rise. Up by 111%, EBITDA
climbed to EUR 1.84m.

Revenues in the Institutional Sales segment rose by more than 73% to EUR
0.87m. With an EBITDA margin of 44%, this segment achieved EBITDA amounting
to EUR 0.38m.

++ Successful biw transaction

Towards the end of the first half of the year, Aragon AG sold 15% of the
shares in biw Bank für Investments und Wertpapiere AG to a financial
investor. On the basis of a company valuation of EUR 80m, gross sales
proceeds of EUR 12m were achieved. In accordance with IFRS, this amounts to
a net sales profit of EUR 7.25m. As a result, the shareholding in biw Bank
has decreased from 62% to 47%. From the third quarter of 2008 onwards, biw
Bank will be consolidated at equity.

++ Forecast for the full year confirmed

Dr. Sebastian Grabmaier, CEO of Aragon AG, explained: 'The first half of
2008 has without a doubt been the most challenging period in terms of
market conditions since Aragon was established. This is why we are
particularly pleased that we have succeeded in further developing our
company in such a difficult environment. We will continue to combine
organic growth with intelligent acquisitions and thus gain additional
market share.'

CFO Ralph Konrad added: 'As of the first half of 2008, we matched the
figure for net profit in 2007 and are optimistic with regard to the
traditionally strong last quarters of the year. In previous years, we
achieved around 75% of EBITDA for the full year in these quarters. In view
of the introduction of the new capital gains tax on 1 January 2009, we
expect a particularly positive contribution to Group net profit for 2008 in
the fourth quarter of the year.'
The half-year report is now available for download from the company’s
website at www.aragon-ag.de.


++ About Aragon AG

Aragon is a broadly diversified financial services company, with the
divisions: Retail Sales, Institutional Sales and Banking & Banking
Services. Aragon is active on the marketplace with multiple independent
subsidiaries. The company’s aim is to integrate various distribution models
under one roof, without disturbing the individual identity of each sales
company. The result is a wide diversification across various asset classes
and distribution types, which generates a high stability in corporate
earnings. Further information about the company and its subsidiaries can be
viewed on the website: www.aragon-ag.de.

Contact:
Aragon Aktiengesellschaft

Achim Pfeffer
Head of Investor Relations

Tel.: +49(0)611 890 575-574
Fax:  +49(0)611 890 575-99
E-Mail: achim.pfeffer@aragon-ag.de


DGAP 29.08.2008 
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