Ad-hoc | 16 August 2001 07:35

Vivanco Gruppe AG english

Ad hoc announcement processed and transmitted by DGAP. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. ——————————————————————————– Vivanco grew considerably more than the market Positive EBIT in the first half-year – burdened by the continually high US dollar In the first half-year 2001 Vivanco Gruppe grew considerably more than the market: In the first 6 months the turnover of the leading IT/TK-accessory specialist in Germany and Europe increased by 13 % to 168.9 ( first half-year 2000: 149.9 ) million DM. This development is mainly due to organic growth of almost 10 % and was favoured by the extension of the market share in the broad specialist retail trade. Foreign business saw a turnover increase of more than 35 % and now already accounts for almost 45 % of the Groups turnover. Special emphasis should be placed on the Information Technology segment growth driver with growth at more than 39 % ( organic 14 % ). At 13 %, growth in the important Consumer Electronics segment is much higher than expected. Developments in the Telecommunication segment ( – 5 % ) were negatively affected in the first half-year by the severe decline in the market dynamics. The gross margin once again improved to 50.1 % compared to the annual figure for 2000 ( adjusted previous year: 49.5 % ). Above all this is due to the increasing effectivness of price increases at the beginning of the year but is still burdened by the continually high US dollar. Overall Vivanco reaches EBDIT ( result before depreciation, interests and tax ) of 8.5 ( 12.9 ) million DM. This includes already significant expenses for reorganisation. At 4.2 ( 9.2 ) million DM, the operating result EBIT for the first half-year has fallen short of our proportionate planning. Overall there is a loss for the period of 1.3 (previous year profit: 3.0) million DM. end of ad hoc announcement (c) DGAP 16.08.2001 Issuer’s information/explanatory remarks concerning this ad hoc announcement: Assuming a stimulation of the consumer market in the second half of the year driven in part by the Internationale Funkausstellung IFA, which is important for the sector and will see a lot of new products from Vivanco at the end of August, the achievement of the planned turnover target of 360 ( 329.2 ) million DM and an annual net profit of 2 million DM is still considered possible by the Board of Management. Given an unchanged US dollar exchange rate the Board of Management assumes that the increase will be largely compensated by the end of 2001. The reorganisation of the group will be completed to a large degree by the end of this month. The new Service Center at our Trappenkamp site has now been up and running since the end of June. The new SAP R/3 EDP system was introduced within just ten months and will be completed in time for the IFA. A clear decline in marginal costs upon completion of reorganisation and complete compensation of the margin lost due to the US dollar increase will lead to a significant improvement in result in 2002. The detailed half-year report can be viewed with immediate effect in the Internet at http://www.vivanco.de under “Investor Relations”. Ahrensburg, 16 August 2001. ——————————————————————————– WKN: 760290; Index: SDAX Listed: Amtlicher Handel in Frankfurt (SMAX); Freiverkehr in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, München und Stuttgart 160735 Aug 01