Ad-hoc | 19 February 2002 19:16

DataDesign AG english

DataDesign Achieves Profitability in the Fourth Quarter of 2001 Ad-hoc-announcement transmitted by DGAP. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. ——————————————————————————– .cost-cutting measures take effect .Turnaround achieved in the fourth quarter of 2001 .Boost in productivity secures Q4 profits DataDesign AG closed out a difficult year with a record-setting fourth quarter 2001. The company had sanctioned cost-cutting measures at the end of 2000, which were then implemented during the first three quarters of 2001. This brought about a positive operating result in the amount of 146,000 euros in Q4 2001(Q4 2000: negative 3.2 million euros) and, with EBIT amounting to 116,000 euros (Q4 2000: negative 1.2 million euros), for the first time a profitable fourth quarter. Sales revenues also saw a considerable increase of 20 percent to 2.3 million euros (Q4 2000: 1.9 million euros).With the company currently employing 106 personnel (as of December 31, 2001),the headcount decreased by 42 percent compared with the previous year (183 employees as of December 31, 2000),which substantiated a significant increase in Q4 productivity of 129 percent.Sales revenues tallied to 9.7 million euros in 2001, a decrease of 26 percent from the previous years 13.1 million euros. This figure is indicative of the difficult first semester. With an operating result of negative 5.0 million euros (previous year: negative 4.9 million euros) and EBIT of negative 5.0 million euros (previous year: negative 4.2 million euros) in 2001, performance was just off par with that of the previous year. As in previous years, the company did not capitalize research & development costs in 2001. Totaling some two million euros, R&D expenses were charged as costs fully affecting net income. The year- end result also contains non-recurrent costs for restructuring in the rounded amount of 1.0 million euros for personnel cutbacks and site closings that were incurred principally in the first three quarters. The company expects the cost- cutting program implemented in 2001 to continue to yield savings of more than four million euros in 2002. Management holds that DataDesign AG has achieved a turnaround. Brokat E-Finance, a subsidiary acquired in January and now named DataDesign Stuttgart GmbH, is also expected to be profitable by the end of the year.The company will continue to optimize costs in the current year. For example, the Berlin and Leipzig offices will be merged as early as the first quarter. Management expects a clear increase in revenues and earnings for 2002. end of ad-hoc-announcement (c)DGAP 19.02.2002 ——————————————————————————– WKN: 552 710; ISIN: DE0005527105; Index: Listed: Neuer Markt in Frankfurt; Freiverkehr in Berlin, Bremen, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, München, Hannover und Stuttgart 191916 Feb 02