Ad-hoc | 18 November 2005 07:59

ORBIS AG enjoys continuous growth

Ad hoc announcement transmitted by DGAP. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. —————————————————————————— Saarbrücken, November 18, 2005 – Over the first nine months of 2005, ORBIS AG has recorded a significant increase in its revenues and EBIT figures by comparison with the previous year. ORBIS reported consolidated sales to the tune of EUR 15.098 million for the first nine months of the 2005 fiscal year (previous year: EUR 14.605 million). These sales were primarily generated via consultancy projects in the company’s focus sectors of industrial companies, automotive suppliers, the consumer goods industry, and the commerce sector. An isolated comparison of the third quarter 2005 shows in an 11.8 percent increase in revenues, bringing the total to EUR 4.568 million. By comparison, revenues for the third quarter of 2004 had totaled EUR 4.087 million. At the onset of the fourth quarter 2005, ORBIS already boasts an order level that is equivalent to 95 percent of the planned total annual sales for 2005. The cost structures have been further optimized. For instance, other operating expenses were reduced by EUR 416,000 to EUR 3.457 million year-on-year (2004: EUR 3.873 million). The total personnel expenses for the first nine months of 2005 decreased to EUR 10.260 million (2004: EUR 10.316 million). The operating result (EBIT) significantly improved from minus EUR 6,000 for the previous year to EUR 528,000. The EBT stood at EUR 569,000 for the first nine months of the year (previous year: EUR 132,000). The consolidated results for the period under review increased to EUR 439,000 (previous year: EUR 118,000). This corresponds to a profit per share of EUR 0.048 (2004: EUR 0.013). The cash flow from operating activities showed a positive balance of EUR 1.992 million (2004: minus EUR 1.432 million). Accordingly, a further increase in financial resources was achieved during the third quarter, and cash and cash equivalents rose by EUR 1.140 million, compared with the annual financial statements for 2004. Owing to the positive result, shareholders’ equity increased to EUR 16.881 million during the reporting period, resulting in an increase of the equity ratio to 62.1 percent as of September 30, 2005 (59.4 percent as of September 30, 2004). As at September 30, 2005 ORBIS employed 182 staff (previous year: 191). For more information contact: http://www.orbis.de or Dr. Sabine Stürmer, Head Investor Relations of ORBIS AG Ph.: +49 (0)681 99 24 605, e-mail: sabine.stuermer@orbis.de ORBIS AG Nell-Breuning-Allee 3-5 66115 Saarbrücken Deutschland ISIN: DE0005228779 WKN: 522877 Listed: Geregelter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in Berlin- Bremen, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Hannover, München und Stuttgart End of ad hoc announcement (c)DGAP 18.11.2005