Corporate | 14 May 2003 15:40

A.S. Création Tapeten english

General Meeting of Shareholders Corporate-news announcement sent by DGAP. The sender is solely responsible for the contents of this announcement. ——————————————————————————– Highest dividend in company history – EUR 0.90 per share – endorsed by General Meeting of Shareholders At today’s General Meeting of Shareholders, A.S. Création Tapeten AG, Germany’s largest wallpaper manufacturer, presented to the shareholders the figures for the financial year 2002, which was closed successfully despite the difficult economic situation. At EUR 119.7 million, Group sales were up 4% on the previous year’s EUR 115.1 million. Net profit rose by 1% to EUR 6.3 million (2001: 6.2 million). DVFA/SG earnings per share amounted to EUR 2.25 (2001:EUR 2.24). The General Meeting of Shareholders endorsed the payment of a dividend of EUR 0.90 per share, which means that the dividend has been raised each year since the company’s IPO in 1998 and has now reached the highest level in company history. Based on DVFA/SG earnings per share, this is equivalent to a payout rate of 40%. Apart from the high dividend, shareholders also benefited from the positive share price performance. Since January 2002, the share price has risen by approx. 3.5% from EUR 15.81 to approx. EUR 16.35. During the same period, the SDAX fell by approx. 17.3%. The Managing Board’s outlook on the current fiscal year was subdued, given that there are currently no signs of an improvement of the economic environment. At EUR 33.5 million and EUR 1.6 million, respectively, first-quarter sales and net profit fell short of the previous year (EUR 34.1 million and EUR 1.9 million, respectively). Despite the difficult economic situation, A.S. Création will continue to pursue its objective of becoming Europe’s most efficient and most profitable wallpaper manufacturer by the year 2006. Gummersbach, May 14, 2003 Inquiries: Maik Krämer, Director of Finance, phone + 49 – (0)22 61/542-387, fax + 49 – (0)22 61/542-304, e-mail m.kraemer@as-creation.de end of message, (c)DGAP 14.05.2003 ——————————————————————————– WKN: 507990; ISIN: DE0005079909; Index: Listed: Amtlicher Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in Berlin- Bremen, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Hannover, München und Stuttgart 141540 Mai 03