DGAP-News: EQS Group AG has excellent 2013 fiscal year EQS

EQS Group AG / Key word(s): Final Results/Change of Personnel 11.04.2014 08:30 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EQS Group AG. The issuer / publisher is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- EQS Group AG has excellent 2013 fiscal year Change in Management Board: Robert Wirth to leave EQS Group at year's end Munich - April 11, 2014 EQS Group AG (ISIN: DE0005494165) achieved excellent annual results for the 2013 fiscal year. Group revenue was EUR 15.829 million, representing an 11% increase over the previous year. According to IFRS, EBIT was down slightly by 2% to EUR 3.278 million. The Group's net profit was EUR 2.182 million, equalling EUR 1.83 earnings per share. For the period of October-December 2013, Group revenue was EUR 4.339 million. EBIT, according to IFRS, was EUR 1.331 million. The Group's net profit for the fourth quarter was EUR .960 million, equalling EUR 0.81 earnings per share. The Guidance issued at the start of 2013 regarding revenue was achieved, marking a new reporting high. The EBIT, however, fell slightly short of the prognosis due entirely to rent accruals for terminated office space in conjunction with the Group's planned move to a new company headquarter in Munich. Robust investment in the Group's expansion into Asia also had a negative effect on operating results. The EQS Group AG's board of directors and the supervisory board will propose a dividend payment of EUR 0.75 per share (as was paid in 2013, as well) at the general meeting on May 28, 2014. Operating cash flow in the 2013 fiscal year is EUR 2.476 million (EUR 2.025 million), with an equity ratio of 78% on December 31, 2013, and liquid assets equalling EUR 2.980 million. Achim Weick, EQS Group AG's CEO states: "The 2013 business year was very successful for us. We further solidified out dominant domestic market position and continued our international expansion. Despite sizeable investment in international growth, EQS Group operatively earned as much as it did the previous year." The Regulatory Information & News segment benefited from an 8% increase in distribution volume compared to the previous year. As expected, DGAP continued to be the first-choice supplier for statutory compliance services for publicly-listed companies in 2013. EQS Group's successful acquisition of euro adhoc's customer base in Germany and Switzerland showed positive effects, adding over 200 news customers and expanding its market position while stemming the negative trend of listed companies leaving the regulated market. The Products & Services segment also had an equally strong increase in revenue and results. Both the implementation of online annual reports as well as the financial reports submission service to the German Federal Gazette contributed to growth. The Group continued its geographic expansion. Our Russian subsidiary had a very successful 2013, resulting in its first profitable year. Our position as premium supplier offers excellent growth opportunities with Russian large caps. Furthermore, we have been able to continually strengthen our market position in Switzerland. The start-up EQS Asia Limited, domiciled in Hong Kong, began operations at the beginning of last year. Hong Kong's positive IPO climate, regulators' and investors' growing transparency demands, the city's geographical proximity to China and the nearby Asian-Pacific markets of Singapore and Taiwan together offer excellent growth possibilities for the EQS Group. Both our affiliate EQS Financial Markets & Media GmbH (100%) and our equity holding ARIVA.DE AG (25.44) contributed positively to the operating result. Change in Management Management Board member Robert Wirth requested the termination of his management contract in yesterday's Supervisory Board meeting, effective on December 31, 2014. The Board agreed to his request with deep regret. Rony Vogel, Chairman of the EQS Group AG Supervisory Board stated, "Robert Wirth helped to build the EQS Group from its very beginnings and his influence is deeply rooted within the company. He has worked tirelessly for 14 years with extraordinary knowledge and passion directed at the company's success. We understand his desire to dedicate more time to his private life and wish all the best." Robert Wirth intends to stand for membership in the supervisory board at the 2015 annual meeting while in the meantime maintaining his connection to the EQS Group as a consultant and shareholder. Christian Pfleger will succeed Robert Wirth in the Management Board, effective January 1, 2015. New Reporting Highs Expected in 2015 EQS Management intends to make the Group a worldwide leading international provider for online investor relations, a goal requiring further investment. Management therefore anticipates revenue increases of up to 10% to EUR 15.8-17.3 million with a shrinking EBIT of 15% to EUR 2.79-3.23 million. Management expects to set new sales record in the 2015 fiscal year, in revenues as well as EBIT. EQS Group's management will comment on the company results in today's conference call beginning at 11:00 a.m. (CET) to be transmitted live via internet at www.eqs.com. <pre> Key figures (IFRS) FY 2013 FY 2012 + / - Revenue (EUR million) 15.829 14.220 +11 % EBIT (EUR million) 3.278 3.351 -2 % Net profit (EUR million) 2.182 2.214 -1 % Earnings per share (EUR) 1.83 1.86 -1 % Earnings per share non-IFRS (EUR) 1.83 1.93 -5 % Cash flow from operations (EUR) 2.476 2.025 +22 % Liquid assets (EUR million) 2.980 2.748 +8 % Employees (period average) 105 105 0 % </pre> Further Notifications Q4 figures are unaudited. 2013 full-year figures are audited. The complete annual report can be found on www.eqs.com investor relations section, both as interactive and download version. You can also instantly receive free company notifications of EQS Group AG on your mobile device. We will inform you via text messages and offer news downloads to your smart phone. Please register under the investor relations section at www.eqs.com. About EQS Group Serving more than 7,000 international customers, EQS Group is the leading provider of online corporate communication services. For Investor Relations and Corporate Communications services, leading companies from Europe, Asia and North America use our web solutions, all from a single source. In addition to services aimed at ensuring companies comply with statutory requirements, the EQS service range includes dissemination of corporate news and press releases, development of financial portals, websites and apps, streaming of audio and video webcasts, and the creation of online financial reports. The market leader since its establishment in 1996, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ad-hoc-Publizität mbH or DGAP (a 100% EQS subsidiary) is a vital institution for publicly-listed companies' compliance with statutory requirements. Through its subsidiary Financial Markets & Media GmbH (100%) and a strategic holding in ARIVA.DE AG (25.44%), the EQS Group offers services for B2C investor relations, financial data and online advertising in the financial sector. The EQS Group employs 165 employees at its offices in Munich, Kiel, Hamburg, Zurich, Moscow, and Hong Kong. Contact: Robert Wirth EQS Group AG Seitzstra�e 23 D-80538 München Tel.: +49 89 21 02 98 - 34 Fax: +49 89 21 02 98 - 49 E-Mail: robert.wirth@eqs.com www.eqs.com 11.04.2014 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: EQS Group AG Seitzstra�e 23 80538 München Germany Phone: +49(0)89 210298-0 Fax: +49(0)89 210298-49 E-mail: info@eqs.com Internet: www.eqs.com ISIN: DE0005494165 WKN: 549416 Listed: Freiverkehr in Berlin, Düsseldorf, München (m:access), Stuttgart; Frankfurt in Open Market (Entry Standard) End of Announcement DGAP News-Service ---------------------------------------------------------------------------