Ad-hoc | 1 March 2005 14:09

Bechtle AG: Proposed dividend increased to 0.40 euros

Ad hoc announcement §15 WpHG Proposed dividend Bechtle AG: Proposed dividend increased to 0.40 euros Ad hoc announcement transmitted by DGAP. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. —————————————————————————— Bechtle AG: Proposed dividend increased to 0.40 euros – Board proposes dividend increase for 2004 of 0.10 euros (up 33.3 per cent) – Bechtle AG once again lets its shareholders share in the company’s success – Figures for turnover and earnings slightly exceed previously announced preliminary figures – Earnings before tax increase by 40,8 per cent Neckarsulm, 01.03.2005 – The Executive Board of Bechtle AG proposes to use the net retained earnings for the 2004 business year amounting to 8.48 million euros (separate financial statement of Bechtle AG) to pay out a dividend of 0.40 euros per share on shares eligible for dividend payment. This means that the dividend payment is to be increased by 0.10 cents share (up 33.3 per cent) compared with the previous year. The IT company thus continues its strategy of giving its shareholders an appropriate share in the company’s success. A total of 21.2 million shares are eligible for dividend payment. The figures for the 2004 business year, which have not yet been finally audited, indicate revenues amounting to 1,088.1 million euros for the Bechtle Group. This is equivalent to an increase of 37.4 per cent compared with the previous year’s figure (791.9 million euros). Earnings before tax were up 40.8 per cent to 38.3 million euros (previous year: 27.2 million euros). Group net income was up 60.9 per cent from 18.4 million euros to 29.6 million euros. This includes a one-off tax effect of 3.6 million euros resulting from the use of income tax loss carry forwards of the Swiss-based subsidiary, ALSO Comsyt AG. Adjusted for the special effect, net income for the year is up 41.3 per cent to 26.0 million euros. The increasing contribution made to the Group’s overall performance by companies abroad – in particular from low-taxed Switzerland – has a beneficial effect on the tax rate for the entire Group. In the 2004 business year, it was just 32.3 per cent. Earnings per share (EPS) in 2004 were 1.40 euros. Adjusted for the extraordinary tax effect, the EPS came to 1.23 euros, from 0.92 euros in the previous year – which is an increase of 33.7 per cent (based on an average number of shares of 21,052,459). The Annual Report of Bechtle AG will be published on 30th March 2005, and will then be available for download from the company’s website. Contact: Bechtle AG, Sabine Emich, Investor Relations, Phone: +49 (0) 7132/981-4115, Fax: +49 (0) 7132/981-4116, sabine.emich@bechtle.com Bechtle AG Bechtle Platz 1 74172 Neckarsulm Deutschland ISIN: DE0005158703 (TecDAX) WKN: 515870 Listed: Geregelter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in Berlin- Bremen, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Hannover, München und Stuttgart End of ad hoc announcement (c)DGAP 01.03.2005 Issuer’s information/explanatory remarks concerning this ad hoc announcement: Notes to the ad hoc announcement The Bechtle Management Board is proposing for the second time in succession a dividend increase. In the previous year, the dividend had been increased from 0.25 euros to 0.30 euros per share. Bechtle is thus one of the few companies quoted in the TecDax index to make a dividend payment. The company has let its shareholders share in its continuous success since going public in 2000. The business figures for 2004 confirm the previously announced preliminary results: in January, Bechtle published preliminary sales figures of 1.08 billion euros and pre-tax earnings of over 37 million euros. At the upcoming Accounts Press Conference (30th March 2005 in Stuttgart) and the DVFA Analysts’ Conference (31st March 2005 in Frankfurt) the Management Board will comment on the business figures. The Ordinary Annual General Meeting of Bechtle AG will be held on 22nd June 2005 in the Harmonie Congress Center in Heilbronn. End of message (c)DGAP 011409 Mär 05