Ad-hoc | 19 April 2002 18:02

plenum AG english

First Indications for Q1 2002 and Fiscal 2002 Ad-hoc-announcement transmitted by DGAP. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. ——————————————————————————– First Indications for Q1 2002 and Fiscal 2002 Wiesbaden, April 19, 2002: plenum AG has generated a positive free cash flow for the third successive quarter, in spite of a poor market environment, marked by a large number of insolvencies in the IT services sector. Cash and cash equivalents rose by a further EUR 0.8 million as against December 31, 2001, from EUR 7.5 million to around EUR 8.3 million as of March 31, 2002. In the same period, net cash rose by EUR 0.9 million from EUR 6.7 million to EUR 7.6 million. This means that despite one-off costs (such as integration and centralization costs), net cash in the plenum Group has risen over the last nine months (June 30, 2001: EUR 4.2 million) by more than 80% – almost doubled in fact. This shows that plenum can finance itself independently of the capital market and that its business model is a success. The Managing Board is confident that in fiscal 2002 – given a recovery in the economy -plenum will generate a double-digit earnings margin (EBITDA) in its core business for the first time since fiscal 1999. This trend is already apparent in Q1 2002. The primary factors behind these positive business developments were the systematic focus of the Group structure in line with corporate strategy, the closure of non- profitable entities, strict cost management and the successful integration of acquisitions. Thus, plenum new venture was closed down, plenum systems Switzerland was sold and plenum Institut’s business was cut back significantly late in fiscal 2001. In addition, in Q2 2002, plenum new media AG’s former headquarters in Berlin were also closed, so that all the communications agency’s central functions are now handled in Stuttgart/Herrenberg by plenum Stoll+Fischbach Communication. With further locations in Cologne, Düsseldorf and Munich, and sales of EUR 28.3 million in fiscal 2001, plenum Stoll+Fischbach Communication is now Germany’s fourth-largest multimedia agency and was awarded the only special prize for innovation at the German Multimedia Congress in Stuttgart on April 18. Further details on business developments and the official sales and earnings forecasts for fiscal 2002 will be presented by plenum at its financials press and analyst conference on May 14, 2002. end of ad-hoc-announcement (c)DGAP 19.04.2002 ——————————————————————————– WKN: 690100; ISIN: DE0006901002; Index: Listed: Neuer Markt Frankfurt; Freiverkehr in Düsseldorf, München, Hamburg, Berlin, Bremen, Hannover und Stuttgart 191802 Apr 02