Ad-hoc | 14 August 2001 08:04

ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG english

Ad hoc announcement transmitted by DGAP. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. ——————————————————————————– NOTICE PURSUANT TO § 15 GERMAN SECURITIES TRADING ACT (WPHG) ProSiebenSat.1 Group net income rises First half of 2001 affected by difficult advertising environment Munich, August 14, 2001. According to a report released today, the ProSieben- Sat.1 Group held its ground well in the first half of the year despite a diffi- cult market environment. Group net income was up 11 percent, to EUR 52 million. Compared to the adjusted pro-forma figures from the first half of 2000, the group’s after-tax return on revenues rose from 4 percent to 5 percent. Here the reduction in the tax rate from 58 percent to 44 percent had a positive impact on earnings. Earnings per share were up 8 percent, to EUR 0.26, as calculated according to DVFA/SG. The declining advertising market had a noticeable effect on the ProSiebenSat.1 Group’s revenue growth. The company generated consolidated revenues of EUR 1.028 billion – 3 percent less than in the first half of 2000. Group pre-tax income was EUR 89 million, after EUR 111 million for the same period last year. This figure incorporates a further adjustment of EUR 5 million for the value of the Group’s equity interest in the Internet mail order company LetsBuyIt.com. Setting aside this one-time effect, pre-tax income is EUR 94 million. Because multimedia activities have been pooled in the new affiliate Kirch Intermedia, the Group no longer includes ProSieben Digital Media, the online marketer Seven- One Interactive, or the ddp news agency and ddp/vwd Wirtschaftsnachrichten in its 2001 first-half report. These companies were removed from the scope of consolidation retroactively to January 1, 2001. In the first six months of last year, these companies generated losses of EUR 5 million against group income, and added EUR 10 million to group revenues. The cooling economic climate in Germany will again influence business develop- ments at the ProSiebenSat.1 Group during the second half of 2001. Against this background the ProSiebenSat.1 Group considers it probable that the TV adverti- sing market will suffer a net decline of 2 to 3 percent. The company continues to expect group revenues to outperform the market average. Thanks to strict cost management, Group pre-tax income will maintain the record levels of 2000. Income for the ProSiebenSat.1 Group will grow for 2001 if the TV advertising market as a whole does not decline. end of ad hoc announcement (c) DGAP 14.08.2001 Issuer’s information/explanatory remarks concerning this ad hoc announcement: Contact: Dr. Torsten Rossmann, Company Spokesperson ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG, Medienallee 7, D-85774 Unterföhring Tel. +49 89 95 07-11 80, Fax +49 89 95 07-11 84 email: Torsten.Rossmann@ProSiebenSat1.com Press release online: www.ProSiebenSat1.com A telephone conference for journalists takes place at 11 am. Participants: Urs Rohner, Chairman of the Executive Board, Management segment: Multimedia and Sales Dr. Ludwig Bauer, Member of the Executive Board, Management segment: Television Lothar Lanz, Member of the Executive Board, Management segment: Finance, Mer- chandising and Services Press contact: Irmgard Jarosch, Tel. 49 89 9507-1164, Christof Gaissmayer, Tel. 49 89 9507-1165 A telephone conference for analysts takes place at 2 pm. Investor Relations contact: Insa Doescher, Tel. 49 89 9507-1510 Further details about the report for the first half of 2001 are available at www.ProSiebenSat1.com including: – Live-broadcast of the press conference and analysts’ conference – Detailed press release – Complete first-half report – Charts ——————————————————————————– WKN: 777 117; Index: MDAX Listed: Amtlicher Handel in Frankfurt; Freiverkehr in Berlin, Bremen, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Hannover, München und Stuttgart 140804 Aug 01