DGAP-News: DF Deutsche Forfait AG: Positive figures for the first six months confirm 2008 forecast

DF Deutsche Forfait AG / Half Year Results

27.08.2008 

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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- Forfaiting volume increases by 12% to EUR 513.7 million
- Significant increase in gross results by 35% to EUR 8.8 million
- Consolidated profit well in line at EUR 3.2 million (+ 46%)

Cologne, 27 August 2008 - DF Deutsche Forfait AG (Prime Standard, ISIN:
DE0005488795) significantly increased its forfaiting volume and results in
the first six months of 2008. With its good operating performance, the
company once again confirms the positive development of its business even
during the ongoing banking crisis. The Management Board is confirming the
April 2008 full year forecast of consolidated profit of EUR 6.0 million and
a planned increase in forfaiting volume to more than EUR 1.0 billion.

The foreign trade financer focusing on forfaiting transactions with exports
in emerging markets and developing countries generated a forfaiting volume
of EUR 513.7 million in the first six months of 2008, which corresponds to
an increase of 12% compared to the prior year. Gross result including
financial results – the key financial performance figure for the group’s
success in the forfaiting business – amounted to EUR 8.8 million in the
first half of 2008, which represents a 35% increase over the prior year
value of EUR 6.5 million. In addition to the higher forfaiting volume, the
main reason for the pronounced increase in the gross result was an
improvement in the forfaiting margin from 1.4% to 1.7%. Consolidated profit
for the first six months was EUR 3.2 million, an increase of 46% compared
to the prior year value. Based on an average of 6.8 million shares
outstanding, earnings per share amounted to EUR 0.47 compared to EUR 0.32
in the first half of 2007.

'We are very confident that we will achieve our objectives for the 2008
financial year. With consolidated profit of EUR 3.2 million in the first
six months, we have already generated 53% of our expected results,' says
Jochen Franke, CFO of DF Deutsche Forfait AG.

Business conditions remain favourable for DF Group. Although the global
economy is slowing down, the trading volume is increasing steadily –
especially with emerging markets, where the international financial crisis
also has less of an impact. In addition, steps taken to develop new markets
and customer groups as part of the growth strategy are increasingly having
an effect. This is illustrated by the pronounced increase in transactions
with British exporters in particular.

The report for the first half of 2008 is available on the company website
at www.dfag.de.


DF Deutsche Forfait AG
Investor Relations
Kattenbug 18 - 24 
50667 Cologne
T +49 221 97376-37 
F +49 221 97376-60 
E investor.relations@dfag.de
http://www.dfag.de


DGAP 27.08.2008 
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Language:     English
Issuer:       DF Deutsche Forfait AG
              Kattenbug 18-24
              50667 Köln
              Deutschland
Phone:        +49 (0)221 - 973 76 0
Fax:          +49 (0)221 - 973 76 76
E-mail:       dfag@dfag.de
Internet:     www.dfag.de
ISIN:         DE0005488795
WKN:          548879
Listed:       Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr
              in Berlin, Düsseldorf, München, Stuttgart
End of News                                     DGAP News-Service
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