DGAP-News: ARQUES presents preliminary figures for 2008


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.
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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 
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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
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