Ad-hoc | 24 August 2001 07:30

Medion AG english

Ad-hoc-announcement processed and transmitted by DGAP. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. ——————————————————————————– MEDION – strong growth again MEDION’s persistent growth trend during the past couple of years has continued in the first half of fiscal year 2001 as well. Compared to the relevant period in the previous year, sales went up by 39 % from EUR 589.2 M to EUR 818.8 M, earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) rose more proportionally by 51 % while net earnings were lifted by even 71 % from EUR 15.4 M to EUR 26.3 M, boosted by the German tax reform. Earnings per share climbed from EUR 0.32 to EUR 0.55 (based upon 48,000,000 shares). When only comparing the months April – June 2001 versus the same period a year ago, sales were augmented by 37 % from EUR 248.4 M to EUR 340.3 M. Simultaneously EBIT went up by 55 %, while earnings per share rose by 72 % from EUR 0.125 to EUR 0.215 (based upon 48,000,000 shares). Internationalization Our strategy to transfer MEDION’s efficient business concept into further European countries has been continuously very successful. In the first six months of 2001 total sales in the 13 countries where MEDION is actively working amounted to EUR 162.1 M (previous year: EUR 109.0 M). Thus foreign sales cover 19.8 % of overall sales compared to 18.5 % in the same period last year. We are particularly pleased by the very favorable sales development in UK and in Spain and by the successful entry into the Italian and the Swiss market. Meanwhile the legal foundation of our US subsidiary has been completed, which has started business in its new offices. The trend towards digitalization and MEDION’s business concept increase independence from individual markets Our purchasing, production and logistic network that we have established over almost 20 years enables us, due to its high flexibility, to quickly adjust our product range to new trends. We are particularly pleased that product innovations have contributed to overall sales growth with a sales volume of approximately EUR 100 M in the first six months of 2001. Outlook MEDION will continue to pursue its established growth path as our company will develop the enormous potential which will arise from the internationalization of our business concept and the digitalization. Due to this favorable development we are convinced that also in our third fiscal year since our IPO we will again be able to completely fulfil our growth forecasts. end of ad-hoc-announcement (c)DGAP 24.08.2001 ——————————————————————————– WKN: 660 500; Index: NEMAX- 50 Listed: Neuer Markt in Frankfurt; Freiverkehr in Berlin, Bremen, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Hannover, München und Stuttgart 240730 Aug 01