DEWB increases Net Asset Value in 2007 markedly and sets the course for further growth

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ots.CorporateNews transmitted by euro adhoc. The issuer is responsible for
the content of this announcement.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jena (euro adhoc) - Key figures for DEWB 2007
2007 2006
Net Asset Value (NAV) per share 3.03 2.57
Assets under Management 71,234 51,177
Portfolio 40,565 40,818
Number of portfolio companies 10 12
New investments 3,869 9,009
Income from the investment business 12,614 17,707
Operating result (EBIT) 1,354 3,467

Jena, 28 February 2008 - Deutsche Effecten- und Wechsel-
Beteiligungsgesellschaft AG (DEWB) posted a profit for the 2007 business year.
The company generated an income from the investment business of 12.6 million
Euros. The sale of EPIDAUROS Biotechnologie AG accounted for 6.6 million Euros
of this figure and 4flow AG, 5.6 million Euros. In the previous year the company
achieved income from sales of shares in the sum of 17.5 million Euros. The gross
profit in the investment business for 2007 totalled 2.6 million Euros (2006: 5.3
million Euros). Administrative expenses in the sum of 1.8 million Euros showed a
further reduction compared with 2006 (2006: 1.9 million Euros). DEWB was
therefore able to markedly improve its expense ratio related to the Assets under
Management.

In the business year just past the company posted earnings from operating
activities (EBIT) of 1.4 million Euros (2006: 3.5 million Euros) and earnings
after taxes of 0.8 million Euros (2006: 3.2 million Euros). The Net Asset Value,
as the key figure for the development of value in the investment business, rose
by 18 percent from 39.2 to 46.2 million Euros; representing 3.03 Euros per
share. The increase was primarily attributable to a value adjustment of KSW
Microtec AG. The very positive development of the RFID company, in which DEWB
has a 100 percent stake, led to a six million Euro increase in the book value,
not affecting the income statement. Assets under Management in 2007 rose to 71.2
million Euros against 51.2 million Euros in the previous year.

Forceful implementation of the growth strategy
The chosen strategy of focusing the investment portfolio on DEWB´s technological
core areas of expertise was pursued on a consistent basis by the company in the
business year just past. The investment in Zenteris GmbH in July 2007 was the
first new commitment for three years and an investment in the focused
technologies photonics and sensor systems. At the same time the company is
gradually value enhanced disposing investments in other fields of technology.
With the sale of EPIDAUROS Biotechnologie AG and 4flow AG, DEWB sold two
companies from the biotechnology and IT sector. In 2007 the company invested a
total of approx. 3.9 million Euros in the investment business. Photonics and
sensor systems increased their share of the portfolio to over 50 percent.

Ideally positioned for the future
The company continued to press ahead with the reduction in debt during the 2007
business year. Bank liabilities were nearly halved by 4.7 million Euros to 4.9
million Euros. In the current business year the aim is to fully repay the
balance. The issue of a convertible bond in the sum of 20 million Euros in
October 2007, together with the inflows resulting from the sale of investments,
gave DEWB liquid assets in the sum of 21.4 million Euros (2006: 6.3 million
Euros) as of 31 December 2007. The company has therefore created the financial
base so it can once again take advantage of attractive investment opportunities
within its technology focus of photonics and sensor systems and markedly expand
its new business.

"Following completion of the `tidying-up´ exercise DEWB is now ideally
positioned for further growth. In KSW Microtec AG, one of the leading
manufacturers of RFID components and NOXXON Pharma AG, surely at present the
most promising German biotechnology company, we have very exciting investments
which offer significant potential for added value", emphasises Bertram Köhler,
member of the DEWB Management Board. "In addition, we are investing in photonics
and sensor systems, one of the most exciting areas of technology for the future.
We are currently looking at a number of highly promising investment
opportunities and are already at an advanced stage of negotiations with two
companies", continues Köhler.

Outlook
In 2008 photonics will be one of the key areas of investment for the Venture
Capital sector, as demonstrated by a current study undertaken by FHP Private
Equity Consultants and the magazine VDI nachrichten. DEWB had already recognised
the potential offered by these technologies and taken a corresponding position
early on. "We are currently the only professional Venture Capital company in the
German-speaking region to have focused on photonics. In addition to our
extensive technological expertise we have a first class network in the sector.
This makes us the preferred partner for companies seeking to raise capital and
clearly sets us apart from our competitors", says Köhler confidently.

DEWB aims to increase its Assets under Management above 100 million Euros by
2010 by increasing the value of its investments and to further establish itself
as a leading venture capital provider for companies in the photonics and sensor
system area within the German-speaking region. During this period the objective
is to achieve the increases in the value of the current portfolio companies
primarily through disposals that consequently affect the bottom line. The cash
earnings from these sales will be reinvested within the area of our technology
focus.

Management Board appointments extended
At its meeting on 18 February 2008, the DEWB Supervisory Board extended the
mandates of the members of the Management Board Bertram Köhler, Falk Nuber and
Mirko Wäckerle for a three further years up to 31 December 2011 with effect from
1 January 2009. "The Supervisory Board is consequently rewarding them for their
successful work in the restructuring and strategic realignment of the company.
The extension of the mandates underlines the confidence which the Supervisory
Board has in the three members of the Management Board and provides a long-term
perspective for the chosen growth strategy", stated Dr. Eckart von Reden,
Chairman of the DEWB Supervisory Board.

The 2007 Annual Report which is being published today will be available for
downloading on the DEWB website at www.dewb-vc.com. The printed version of the
report will be available from mid of March.

Further inquiry note:
Contact
Marco Scheidler
DEWB AG
Phone: +49 (0) 3641 573 3600
Fax: +49 (0) 3641 573 3610
E-Mail: [email protected]
www.dewb-vc.com

end of announcement euro adhoc
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

emitter: Deutsche Effecten- und Wechsel-Beteiligungsges. AG
Leutragraben 1
D-07743 Jena
phone: +49 (0)3641 573 3600
FAX: +49 (0)3641 573 3610
mail: [email protected]
WWW: http://www.dewb-vc.com
sector: Financial & Business Services
ISIN: DE0008041005
indexes: CDAX, Classic All Share, Prime All Share
stockmarkets: regulated dealing/prime standard: Börse Frankfurt, free trade:
Börse Berlin, Börse Stuttgart, Börse München
language: English

OTS-ORIGINALTEXT PRESSEAUSSENDUNG UNTER AUSSCHLIESSLICHER INHALTLICHER VERANTWORTUNG DES AUSSENDERS - WWW.OTS.AT | CNE

print