Pironet NDH AG / Release of an announcement according to Article 37x of the WpHG [the German Securities Trading Act]
15.05.2009
Interim report according to Article 37x of the WpHG
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Cologne, Germany, May 15, 2009: As a leading export nation, Germany's
economic development has been hit hard by the slump on world markets. The
consequences of the financial crisis are affecting the real economy to an
unprecedented scale. The national economy is experiencing negative growth
never seen before in the Federal Republic. Despite these tough conditions,
the sector of information technology has been able to hold its ground. This
is also true for PIRONET NDH. This supplier of products and services for
the creation, synchronisation and distribution of digital contents and ICT
outsourcing enjoyed double-digit growth in the first quarter.
Turnover increased by a good 11.7% from 13.6 million EUR to 15.2 million
EUR and once again set a new record for the first 3 months of the financial
year. Growth was seen in both the area of IT services and that of software.
However, the growth in the high-margin software business was not enough to
compensate for the increased costs. Considerable increases were seen in the
area of sale-related costs (+13.4% to 9.1 million EUR), amortisation (+
43.6% to 1.9 million EUR) and marketing costs (+14.8% to 2.9 million EUR)
as part of the current market offensive. Therefore, the EBIT dropped from
0.3 million EUR to 0.1 million EUR. The financial result also recorded a
fall. Income from interest and investments decreased giving -0.2 million
EUR after 0.21 million EUR in the previous year. On balance, this gave EBT
of -0.1 million EUR following 0.5 million EUR. Investments shot up from 1.9
million EUR in the previous year to 4.7 million EUR. A large part of this
concerned the stake in IT company indatex Services for Finance and
Insurance AG based in Starnberg, which has cost around 1,6 million EUR to
date. Although cash flow rose considerably by 29% to 3.1 million EUR, it
was not enough to finance the investments made. As a result, liquid asset
holdings fell by 1.6 million EUR to 18.8 million EUR as against the end of
2008. This results in 1.29 EUR per share. PIRONET NDH continues to operate
without liabilities to banks.
In the 1st quarter, PIRONET NDH held a 40% share in indatex, founded in
2000. With indatex AP, this company provides an online platform for the
automation of business processes between independent agents/broker
companies and financial service providers primarily from the insurance
sector. PIRONET NDH has built up the leading platform in the area of
trading with the SA2 Worldsync and is now aiming to also achieve the same
position in the finance sector with indatex. Currently, indatex is still
running at a loss. We expect it to break even over the course of next year.
Our targets for 2009 remain unchanged. We want to grow at a stronger rate
than the market and will do everything in our power to record a profit. To
do so, it is essential that our market offensive reaches all areas and
particularly pushes up software sales considerably.
The Board of Directors
About Pironet NDH
PIRONET NDH (established in 1995) offers innovative solutions for the
creation, synchronization and distribution of digital content of all kinds,
as well as for the optimization of internal and external business
processes. The company's main areas of expertise include consulting and
conceptual services, software products and the operation of
business-critical infrastructures and applications. The listed technology
firm is based in Cologne and employs over 400 people across several
branches and offices throughout Europe. Its clients include both
medium-sized companies and international corporate groups.
Further information at: http://www.pironet-ndh.com
Press contact:
Pironet NDH
Adrian Rosa
Press Office
Maarweg 149-161
50825 Cologne, Germany
Tel.: +49.221.56939-2406
Fax: +49.221.56939-2424
E-Mail: press@pironet-ndh.com
DGAP 15.05.2009
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Language: English
Issuer: Pironet NDH AG
Von-der-Wettern Str. 27
51149 Köln
Deutschland
Internet: www.pironet-ndh.com
End of News DGAP News-Service
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DGAP-IRE: PIRONET NDH shows double-digit growth but lower EBIT
| Source: EQS Group AG