Ad-hoc | 1 April 2004 08:04
Nordex AG utilizing share capital as planned / operative business exceeding…
Ad-hoc-announcement processed and transmitted by DGAP.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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Nordex AG utilizing share capital as planned / operative business exceeding
forecasts
Hamburg, April 1, 2004. Nordex AG’s management board assumes that a loss
equaling half of the Company’s share capital (EUR 52.05 million) was sustained
as of March 31, 2004. However, this is in line with the restructuring schedule,
which provides for a reduced loss this fiscal year. Given the Company’s current
business performance, there is no danger of its share capital being fully
eroded. In any case, the Company plans to post operating earnings again next
fiscal year (2004/05) and to strengthen its capital base at the completion of
restructuring activities. This is also set out in the restructuring report
compiled by Roland Berger Strategy Consultants.
On the basis of the preliminary figures for the first half of 2003/04, Nordex
AG’s operative business is exceeding forecasts. Order receipts as of March 31,
2004 came to around EUR 120 million (forecast: EUR 100 million). In the previous
year, new business in the first six months stood at EUR 107 million, including
orders worth EUR 40 million from the previous period (2001/02), which had been
delayed due to the application of stricter recognition criteria. As expected,
revenues were down on the first quarter of the fiscal year on account of
seasonally weak demand in Germany. On the other hand, the loss at the EBIT level
should be substantially lower compared with the previous year thanks to a
reduced cost-of-materials ratio. In the first quarter of the current fiscal
year, Nordex was able to cut its operating loss by half (Q1 loss at the EBIT
level: EUR 6.7 million). This positive trend reflects the preliminary effects of
the restructuring program implemented in summer 2003, around 63 percent of
which has already been completed. In this connection, Nordex plans to achieve a
swing of EUR 72.5 million on the bottom line in fiscal 2004/05 and thus return
to profit-making territory.
At the annual general meeting scheduled for May 12/13, 2004, for which
invitations were issued today, the Management Board will be officially
announcing the loss pursuant to Section 92 (1) of the Joint Stock Companies Act
and reporting on the status of the Company’s equity. There are no plans for
possible recapitalization measures until after the completion of restructuring.
Information for analysts and press:
The Management Board of Nordex AG will be available to answer any questions
concerning the state of the Company’s capital dur-ing the international
telephone conference scheduled for 10 am (CET) today.
For more information, please contact:
Nordex AG
Ralf Peters
Telephone: +49 40 / 500 98 – 100, Telefax: – 333
end of ad-hoc-announcement (c)DGAP 01.04.2004
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WKN: 587357; ISIN: DE0005873574; Index: NEMAX 50
Listed: Geregelter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in Berlin,
Bremen, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Hannover, München und Stuttgart
010804 Apr 04