DGAP-Adhoc: Celesio AG: Celesio ends 2008 with a successful

Celesio AG / Final Results

03.02.2009 

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

Celesio ends 2008 with a successful quarter and adjusts goodwill valuations
in four foreign markets

According to preliminary figures, Celesio reached its expected profit level
for the 2008 financial year and, having significantly improved EBITDA from
the third to the fourth quarter, lies within the range of its forecast.
Celesio will publish its detailed financial statements when it holds its
balance sheet press conference on 26 March 2009.
At the same time, Celesio is adjusting goodwill in four foreign markets: In
the pharmacy markets of the Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland and Italy,
Celesio is applying higher risk premiums as a result of increased
macroeconomic uncertainty, and is making an extraordinary goodwill
adjustment of 287 million euro in total. The pharmacies concerned represent
around 20 per cent of the group's entire pharmacy revenue of approximately
3.6 billion euro, and continue to be seen as essential components of
Celesio's country portfolio, with positive profit and growth expectations.
The extraordinary goodwill adjustment will apply to the 2008 financial year
and does not affect liquidity. Celesio will report a net profit adjusted
for write-off and will propose a dividend payout, which is unchanged as
percentage of adjusted net profit. The goodwill adjustment does not
influence the forecast for 2009. Celesio emphasizes that the fundamental
growth drivers in the healthcare market remain intact.
The extraordinary goodwill adjustment applies to approximately 11 per cent
of the Celesio Group's total goodwill of approximately 2.6 billion euro
before these adjustments (as at the end of 2008). The company's equity
capital ratio will still amount to over 30 per cent. The value in use of
the Celesio group clearly covers the goodwill in its balance sheet.

Investor Relations Contact:
Torben Bonnke +49(0)711.5001-1208
DGAP 03.02.2009 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Language:     English
Issuer:       Celesio AG
              Neckartalstr. 155
              70376 Stuttgart
              Deutschland
Phone:        +49 (0)711 5001-735
Fax:          +49 (0)711 5001-736
E-mail:       investor@celesio.com
Internet:     www.celesio.com
ISIN:         DE000CLS1001
WKN:          CLS100
Indices:      MDAX
Listed:       Regulierter Markt in Berlin, Frankfurt (Prime Standard),
              München, Düsseldorf, Stuttgart; Freiverkehr in Hannover,
              Hamburg; Terminbörse EUREX
End of News                                     DGAP News-Service
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
DGAP-Adhoc: Celesio AG: Celesio ends 2008 with a successful quarter and adjusts goodwill valuations in four foreign markets
