EquityStory AG / Key word(s): Final Results/Dividend 13.04.2012 08:30 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG. The issuer / publisher is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- EquityStory AG meets high growth expectations for 2011 New revenue and EBIT record - proposed dividend payment of EUR 0.70 per share Munich - 13.04.2012 EquityStory AG (ISIN: DE0005494165) in 2011 produced excellent results. The group revenue was EUR 13.004 million representing a 31% increase against the previous year. The EBIT, according to IFRS, grew by 14% to EUR 3.202 million. According to DVFA / SG, the group's net profit was EUR 2.202 million, equaling EUR 1.85 earnings per share. For the period October to December 2011, group revenue was EUR 3.562 million. The EBIT, according to IFRS, was EUR 1.362 million. According to DVFA / SG group's net profit for the fourth quarter was EUR 899 million, equaling EUR 0.76 earnings per share. EquityStory AG's board of directors and the supervisory board will propose a dividend payment of EUR 0.70 per share at the general meeting on 25. May 2012. This represents an increase in the dividend payment of 15% against last year's regular dividend. The cash flow in the fiscal year 2011 according to DVFA/SG is EUR 2.427 million (2.090 million). On 31.12.2011 the equity ratio was 85%, liquid assets were EUR 2.041 million. The non-recognition of a tax loss carry-forward from the year 2004 by the tax authorities lead to an extraordinary burden. Consequently, a provision for losses of EUR .509 million has been established. Achim Weick, EquityStory AG's CEO stated: 'We have met our guidance for 2011 and set a revenue and profit record. EquityStory AG never had higher earnings than in the last fiscal year. Thus, we came one step closer towards our goal to become Europe's leading provider for online corporate communications.' The segment Regulatory Information & News benefited from an increase of the distribution volume by 14% compared to the previous year, which was only slightly below the level before the outbreak of the financial crisis. As expected, DGAP continued to be the first choice supplier for statutory compliance services for stock-listed companies in 2011. The market share regarding the dissemination of ad-hoc news in accordance with § 15 WpHG rose to 77.5%. The segment Products & Services saw an equally pleasing increase in revenue and results, too. The integration of the web agency triplex was completed and successfully contributed to the revenue growth. The biggest growth area in the fiscal year 2011 was the creation of media- and marketing plans and their implementation, especially for bond issuers. The geographic expansion in Russia continues to progress well. The strengthening of the sales team of our affiliate EquityStory RS, domiciled in Moscow, proved to be the right decision, as both the number of customers as well as the revenues increased significantly. We expect to reach a sustainable break-even this fiscal year. Also, in Switzerland we could further develop our market position and grow revenues and profits significantly as well as the number of customers. The entire product range focused even more on the requirements of the Swiss investor relations managers. Both our affiliate financial.de AG (100%) and our equity holding ARIVA.DE AG (25.44%) contributed pleasingly to the operating result. Both of the companies could increase revenues and profits significantly. For 2012 further growth is expected The management expects a revenue increase of 5 to 15% to EUR 13.7 million to EUR 14.3 million, and an EBIT increase of 5 to 15% to EUR 3.35 to EUR 3.7 million for the EquityStory group for the fiscal year 2012. EquityStory's management will comment on the company results in today's conference call from 11.00 am (CET) to be transmitted live via internet at www.equitystory.de.Key figures (IFRS) FY 2011 FY 2010 + / - Revenue (EUR million) 13.004 9.962 + 31% EBIT (EUR million) 3.202 2.801 + 14% Net profit DVFA/SG (EUR million) 2.202 1.925 + 14% Earnings per share DVFA/SG (EUR) 1.85 1.62 + 14% Cash flow DVFA/SG (EUR million) 2.427 2.090 + 16% Liquid assets (EUR million) 2.041 1.842 + 11% Employees as per 31.12. (group) 100 77 + 30%Further Notifications Q4 figures are unaudited. 2011 full-year figures are audited. The complete annual report can be found on www.equitystory.de's investor relations section, both as interactive and download version. You can also instantly receive free company notifications of EquityStory AG on your mobile device. We will inform you via text messages and offer news downloads to your mobile phone. Please register in the investor relations section at www.equitystory.de. About the EquityStory group Serving more than 7,000 customers the EquityStory group is a leading provider in the German-language area for online corporate communication services. Corporate customers from Europe and North America use our one-stop shop communication solutions in the areas of investor relations and corporate communications. Besides the services for the compliance with statutory requirements, the service range also comprises the dissemination of corporate news, the development of financial portals and -websites, the execution of audio- and video conferences as well as the creation of online financial reports. Established in 1996, and market leader ever since, is the 100% affiliate Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ad-hoc-Publizität mbH (DGAP), an institution for the compliance of stock-listed companies with statutory requirements. In January 2011 EquityStory group acquired 100 per cent of the shares of the web- and multimedia agency triplex neue medien GmbH. triplex designs advanced multimedia and Internet projects. This acquisition paves the way for further growth in the business area of online corporate communications. Moreover, the EquityStory group actively serves the markets for B2C investor relations, financial data and online advertising for the financial sector by the fully-owned affiliate financial.de AG (100 %) and the strategic holding ARIVA.DE AG (25.44%). With offices in Munich, Kiel, Hamburg, Zurich, Moscow and Budapest the EquityStory group employs more than 150 employees. Contact: Robert Wirth EquityStory AG Seitzstraße 23 D-80538 München Tel.: +49 89 21 02 98 - 34 Fax: +49 89 21 02 98 - 49 E-Mail: robert.wirth@equitystory.de www.equitystory.de 13.04.2012 DGAP's Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Language: English Company: EquityStory AG Seitzstraße 23 80538 München Germany Phone: +49(0)89 210298-0 Fax: +49(0)89 210298-49 E-mail: info@equitystory.com Internet: www.equitystory.de ISIN: DE0005494165 WKN: 549416 Listed: Freiverkehr in Berlin, Düsseldorf, München (m:access), Stuttgart; Open Market (Entry Standard) in Frankfurt End of Announcement DGAP News-Service ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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13.04.2012