Ad-hoc | 19 March 2002 20:39

plenum AG english

2001 earnings release: plenum demonstrates reliable forecasting once again Ad-hoc-announcement transmitted by DGAP. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. ——————————————————————————– 2001 earnings release: plenum demonstrates reliable forecasting once again – Sales rise to EUR 65 million (+ 40%) – Net income for the period rises to EUR 2.9 million (+ 60%) – Earnings per share rise to EUR 0.30 (+ 45%) Wiesbaden, March 20, 2002 plenum AG, a supplier of integrated IT and communications solutions, has presented its financial statements for fiscal year 2001. The company has met the forecasts it increased in August, recording sales of EUR 65.0 million (prev. year: EUR 47.2 million) and earnings (EBITDA) of EUR 5.1 million (prev. year: EUR 4.6 million). Net income for the period was up around 60% year-on-year at EUR 2.9 million (prev. year: EUR 1.8 million). Tax optimization within the Group allowed a sustained reduction of the tax ratio for both the year under review and the next few years. This results in earnings per share of EUR 0.30 based on a total of 9,577,068 no-par value shares – an increase of around 45% on the prior-year figure of EUR 0.21. The growth rate in the Group’s core business reached nearly 100%, including the Stoll&Fischbach Group, which was consolidated for the first time (prev. year: EUR 33.0 million). This does not contain the New Venture business unit (previous year: EUR 14.2 million), which has since been closed. With Q4 sales of EUR 16.7 million in the Group’s core business – higher than in the entire second half of fiscal year 2000 – the fourth quarter of 2001 was the strongest in company history in terms of sales. After adjustment for one-off expenses (integration costs, optimization of administration, etc.) totaling EUR 0.9 million, fourth- quarter earnings (EBITDA) of EUR 1.9 million were recorded, producing a margin of over 11%. The plenum Group’s financial strength increased despite its high level of growth, a major strategic acquisition and the integration of a further four companies. In fiscal year 2001, net cash rose by EUR 2.1 million to EUR 6.7 million (previous year: EUR 4.6 million). The company recorded free cash flow of around EUR 2.0 million in Q4 alone. As at December 31, 2001, the equity ratio was 62%, thus remaining at a high level. plenum will present details of its business development and official sales and earnings forecasts for fiscal year 2002 at its press and analyst conference on May 14, 2002. plenum’s Annual Report 2001 will be available at www.plenum.de from March 28, 2002. end of ad-hoc-announcement (c)DGAP 19.03.2002 Issuer’s information/explanatory remarks concerning this ad-hoc-announcement: Contact and further information Hubert Sand plenum AG Corporate Communication Tel. + 49 (0) 611 – 98 82 – 229 Fax: + 49 (0) 611 – 98 82 – 174 e-mail: hubert.sand@plenum.de ——————————————————————————– WKN: 690100; ISIN: DE0006901002; Index: Listed: Neuer Markt Frankfurt; Freiverkehr in Düsseldorf, München, Hamburg, Berlin, Bremen, Hannover und Stuttgart 192039 Mär 02