Ad-hoc | 22 March 2005 11:00
CENIT AG Systemhaus:CENIT Annual Balance Sheet 2004
Ad hoc announcement §15 WpHG
Financial Figures 2004
CENIT AG Systemhaus:CENIT Annual Balance Sheet 2004
Ad hoc announcement transmitted by DGAP.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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CENIT Annual Balance Sheet 2004
CENIT with 93 cents earnings per share and expects further growth
Stuttgart – 22 March 2005 – 10 am – In 2004, CENIT turned in an extremely
successful performance, recording the best result in the history of the
Company. We succeeded in optimally orienting our services to future market
requirements – we are focusing on consulting business to optimise the business
processes of our customers in the manufacturing industry, banking and
insurance sectors and the retail and utilities industry. In particular, we
expanded our consulting business by 14%, concluded and won successful and
major orders for the further development of the Company’s key business areas,
such as product lifecycle management, enterprise content management and
outsourcing.
In the 2004 financial year, CENIT generated Group sales of EUR74.9 million
(2003: EUR70.5 million/+ 6 %). Gross profit improved disproportionately by 12%
from EUR43.0 million to EUR48.0 million. Group EBITDA rose to EUR8.2 million
EUR (2003: EUR3.5 million/+ 134%) while EBIT grew by 200% to EUR7.5 million
(2003: EUR2.5 million). With EBT of EUR7.6 million (2003: EUR2.4 million/+
217%) and consolidated EPS of EUR0.93 (2003: EUR0.41), CENIT AG has had an
extremely successful year.
The Group equity ratio improved from 42% in 2003 to 49%. As of the end of
2004, equity amounted to EUR13.96 million (2003: EUR10.06 million). The
Group’s cash and cash equivalents including securities amounted to EUR14.7
million (2003: EUR7.2 million/+ 104%) as of 31 December 2004.
As of the balance sheet date 31 December 2004, the number of people employed
in the Group was 466 (2003: 442). As of 31 December 2004, booked business in
the Group amounted to EUR16 million, with incoming orders of EUR78 million in
2004.
Dividend
As a result of the excellent performance, the Executive Board and the
Supervisory Board will propose to the Annual General Meeting the distribution
of a dividend of 30 cents per share to shareholders.
Outlook
Despite the continuing muted economic forecasts, CENIT is also optimistic for
2005. Our excellent positioning in the PLM consulting market will be further
expanded in 2005. Thus, continuing to gain additional market share,
particularly in Germany, Europe and North America is fixed as one of our core
objectives for the coming years. The market for application and business
process outsourcing also continues to be a growth market for CENIT. CENIT is
also well positioned here, and we are assuming that we will be participating
in this growth. Following the extremely successful 2004, steady growth is also
forecast in the enterprise content management market. In 2004, a tangible
propensity to make investments was ascertained in this market, from which
CENIT was able to profit. In line with this, the Group is planning to increase
employee numbers significantly in the consulting area by around 15%. As
regards our foreign companies, in Switzerland we are forecasting an increase
in sales in line with market conditions, allowing us to record a positive
result. In North America, we are anticipating organic growth in business, as
demand for consulting services has risen on this market.
If you have any questions, please contact:
CENIT AG Systemhaus
ISIN – DE0005407100
Fabian Rau/Investor Relations
Industriestrasse 52-54 /D-70565 Stuttgart
Germany
Tel.: (+49) 7 11 / 78 25-3185
Fax: (+49) 7 11 / 78 25-4185
E-Mail: f.rau@cenit.de
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may contain forward-looking statements about the business,
financial condition, results of operations and earnings outlook of CENIT
Words such as “may,””will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “contemplate,” “intend,”
“plans,” “believe,””continue” and “estimate,” and variations of these words
and similar expressions, identify these forward-looking statements. These
statements are not guarantees of future performance, involve certain risks,
uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict, and are based
upon assumptions as to future events that may not prove accurate. Therefore,
actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed
herein. In any forward-looking statement in which CENIT expresses an
expectation or belief as to future results, such expectation or belief is
expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis, but there can
be no assurance that the statement or expectation or belief will result or be
achieved or accomplished. Actual operating results may differ materially from
such forward-looking statements and are subject to certain risks
Information about CENIT:
CENIT AG Systemhaus is an internationally operating consulting company which
employs more than 470 people. Focusing Product Lifecycle Management
Consulting, Outsourcing and Enterprise Content Management solutions, the
company is listed in Germany’s Prime Standard. Customers are BMW,
DaimlerChyrsler, Audi, VW, AIRBUS, CONTI, Allianz, Metro, REWE and others.
CENIT AG Systemhaus
Industriestraße 52 – 54
70565 Stuttgart
Deutschland
ISIN: DE0005407100
WKN: 540710
Listed: Geregelter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in Berlin-
Bremen, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Hannover, München und Stuttgart; Gate-M,
Stuttgart
End of ad hoc announcement (c)DGAP 22.03.2005
221100 Mär 05