ARQUES Industries AG / Preliminary Results 12.03.2009 Release of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ARQUES presents preliminary figures for 2008 - ARQUES meets full-year revenue and EBITDA targets: Revenues increased from EUR2.1 billion to EUR5.5 billion, EBITDA of EUR105 million well below the prior-year figure, as expected - Current financial liabilities reduced by EUR40 million, cash and cash equivalents amount to EUR142 million. - Economic crisis necessitates significant impairment losses of up to EUR125 million in the company's investment portfolio. - Financial statements press conference postponed to April 30 due to pending transactions that will have an impact on the company's results. Starnberg, March 12, 2009 - Based on preliminary figures, Starnberg-based equity investment firm ARQUES Industries AG (ISIN DE0005156004) achieved its full-year adjusted revenue and EBITDA targets in fiscal 2008. At EUR5.5 billion, the consolidated revenues were well above the target figure of more than EUR5 billion, and significantly higher than the prior-year figure of EUR2.1 billion. EBITDA of EUR105 million fell short of the previous year's EBITDA of EUR202.7 million, but nonetheless met the forecast projection of at least EUR100 million. The earnings figure was heavily influenced by the purchase of an equity investment in Gigaset (formerly SHC) and by the excellent operating result of the Actebis Group. Due to the continued difficult economic environment impairment losses on the investment portfolio of up to EUR125 million will be recognized for the full year 2008. They will affect the company's earnings below the EBITDA level. Therefore, the company expects to report a negative EBIT of -EUR110 million and a loss from ordinary activities in the amount of -EUR147 million for the full year 2008. The current financial liabilities were reduced by EUR40 million from their level at the end of the third quarter of 2008 to EUR131 million. The cash and cash equivalents amounted to EUR142 million at December 31, 2008 (December 31, 2007: EUR84.5 million/ September 30, 2008: EUR101.1 million). ARQUES will present further details on the business development at the financial statements press conference on April 30. About ARQUES ARQUES Industries AG, Starnberg (www.arques.de), is a partner for major corporations in corporate spin-offs and a turnaround specialist concentrating on the acquisition and active restructuring of companies in crisis situations in order to turn them into competitive and profitable companies with a dedicated team and their own efforts. ARQUES revitalizes its subsidiaries' potential for adding value for the benefit of all of their stakeholders under consideration of the associated social responsibility. The shares of ARQUES Industries AG are traded on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange's Regulated Market (Prime Standard) under the symbol 'AQU' (ISIN: DE0005156004) and have been listed in the SDAX. ARQUES Industries AG Corporate Communication Christian Schneider Email: schneider@arques.de Tel.: +49 (0) 8151/ 651 0 DGAP 12.03.2009 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Language: English Issuer: ARQUES Industries AG Münchner Str. 15a 82319 Starnberg Deutschland Phone: +49 (0)8151 651-0 Fax: +49 (0)8151 651- 500 E-mail: schneider@arques.de Internet: www.arques.de ISIN: DE0005156004 WKN: 515600 Indices: SDAX Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in Berlin, Hamburg, Düsseldorf, München, Stuttgart End of News DGAP News-Service ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
DGAP-News: ARQUES presents preliminary figures for 2008
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