EANS-Adhoc: ECO Business-Immobilien AG posts EBIT of EUR 12.4 million for financial 2009

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ad-hoc disclosure transmitted by euro adhoc with the aim of a Europe-wide
distribution. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this
announcement.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

23.03.2010

ECO Business-Immobilien AG posts EBIT of EUR 12.4 million for financial 2009

Vienna, 23 March 2010. In 2009 Vienna Prime Market-listed ECO
Business-Immobilien AG responded to the recession and the difficult conditions
on commercial property markets with a comprehensive programme of restructuring.
The company also succeeded in optimising its real estate portfolio by pursuing
active asset management strategies and making a number of disposals. As a result
the equity ratio increased to 42% at year end 2009, compared with 34% a year
earlier. Net debt declined by EUR 233 million to EUR 469 million. Impairment
charges continued to have an impact on earnings. Nevertheless the company posted
earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of EUR 12.4 million, following a loss
of EUR 6.8 million in 2008.

ECO Business-Immobilien disposed of properties with a total value of around EUR
280 million during 2009. Owing to the significant downsizing in the property
portfolio, revenues for 2009 slipped to EUR 61.4 million (2008: EUR 74.8
million), in line with expectations. Due to weak market conditions, property
sales were at the most recent IFRS carrying values. Consequently, gains on
disposal of non-current assets contributed only EUR 0.5 million in earnings,
down from EUR 4.5 million in 2008.

EBIT turned positive by EUR 12.4 million in 2009, following a loss of EUR 6.8
million in the previous year. Revaluation results remained negative in 2009 at
EUR -17.4 million, but impairments were well down on the EUR -49.0 million
recorded in 2008. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation
(EBITDA) were EUR 29.8 million, down from EUR 42.3 million in 2008.

Net finance costs remained negative by EUR 21.4 million — an improvement on the
EUR 43.2 recorded in the previous year. This was mainly due to the decline in
borrowings. Low interest rates also had a positive effect on finance costs. The
loss before tax was EUR 9.0 million, a significant improvement on 2008 (2008:
EUR 50.0 million). The loss after tax narrowed to EUR 7.0 million (2008: EUR
38.0 million), and the loss per share from EUR 1.05 in 2008 to EUR 0.20 in the
period under review. Funds from operations before interest and tax dropped to
EUR 12.0 million (2008: EUR 48.1 million) due to the sale of properties at below
their historical cost as a result of the sluggish market.

ECO Business-Immobilien AG`s total assets amounted to EUR 858.6 million in 2009,
a year-on-year decline of about 23% (2008: EUR 1,113.6 million). This was
attributable to the unusually high property disposals in 2009. Thanks to the
reduction in liabilities ECO´s equity ratio jumped to 42% at year-end 2009,
compared with 34% on 31 December, 2008. The company also recorded a significant
fall in net debt from EUR 701.6 million in 2008 to EUR 468.7 million at the end
of 2009. The loan-to-value ratio stood at 57.3% on the balance sheet date (31
December 2008: 64.5%).

Borrowings amounted to EUR 471.3 million at the end of 2009. EUR 17.2 million of
short-term bank borrowings (or 2.0% of total assets) fall due by the end of
2010; refinancing was secured for EUR 11.5 million of that amount in the first
quarter of this year. ECO will have no problems servicing or extending the
outstanding refinancing volume in 2010. Cash and cash equivalents totalled EUR
16.0 million at year-end 2009, compared with EUR 14.6 million on the balance
sheet date in 2008. Impairments to the property portfolio during the reporting
period and to interest rate hedges at year-end 2009 pushed down net asset value
(NAV) per share to EUR 10.45 on the balance sheet date (31 December 2008: EUR
10.80).

After strengthening its portfolio structure, improving its equity ratio and
securing long-term financing in 2009, ECO is well placed to deal with continued
tough market conditions and to take advantage of any opportunities arising from
the economic upturn. As part of the company´s strategy of generating added
value, the focus in 2010 will be on exploiting opportunities to boost earnings
and real estate values by means of active asset management policies, and
property redevelopment and sales. As soon as the market allows, ECO´s sales
efforts will concentrate on disposing of redeveloped real estate in non-core
markets. This in turn should enable the company to acquire properties with
development potential in core regions.

The Management Board expects positive cash flow and EBIT in financial 2010 if as
predicted the rental business remains stable, potential for increased earnings
and capital appreciation is realised, and the downward trend in property values
goes into reverse. With interest rates set to remain low, the financial result
should stay close to 2009 levels. Consolidated earnings should improve in
comparison with 2009.

Key financial indicators (in accordance with IFRS)

2009                2008
Revenues (EUR ´000)                                   61,370              74,794
 of which rental income (EUR ´000)                    49,729              61,668
Net gains on remeasurement to fair value (EUR ´000)  -17,418             -48,985
Earnings before interest, tax, 
depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) (EUR ´000)     29,816              42,250
Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) (EUR ´000)  12,360              -6,790
Earnings before tax (EBT)(EUR ´000)                   -9,002             -49,940
Consolidated profit for the period attributable 
to equity holders of the parent (EUR ´000)            -6,869             -35,698
Earnings per share(EUR ´000)                           -0,20               -1,05
Weighted average number of shares(number)         34,100,000          34,100,000
Funds from operations (FFO) 
before interest and tax 1) (EUR ´000)                 11,981              48,067
Cash earnings (FFO) 
after interest and taxes 2)(EUR ´000)                 -9,013               4,991
Net asset value (NAV) per share (EUR ´000)             10.45               10.80

1) EBIT + depreciation +/- changes in fair value 
2) EBIT + depreciation +/- changes in fair value - financial result - taxes paid

Balance sheet

Summary consolidated balance sheet (EUR `000) 31 December 2009  31 December 2008
Non-current assets                                     833,149         1,085,709
 of which investment properties                        782,465           981,890
 of which properties under construction                 39,281            40,421
Current assets                                          25,401            27,904
Total assets                                           858,550         1,113,614
Equity and reserves                                    357,329           375,113
 of which minority interests                               834             6,918
Non-current liabilities                                452,400           470,846
Current liabilities                                     48,822           267,654
Total equity and liabilities                           858,550         1,113,614


Property data 
                                              31 December 2009  31 December 2008
Number of objects                                           61               117
 of which investment portfolio                              59                72
 of which development projects                               2                 4
 of which trading portfolio                                  0                41
Total rentable space (m2)*                             538,300           662,700
Garage spaces (number)                                   2,820             3,530
Property portfolio (EUR ´000)                          821,746         1,074,192
 of which properties under construction                 39,281            40,421

*Garage spaces calculated at 20 m2 per space

This report contains forward-looking estimates and statements which are based on
all of the information currently available to ECO Business-Immobilien AG. These
statements often employ expressions such as "expect", "estimate", "plan",
"anticipate", "assume", "ought", "should" and "can". The forward-looking
statements reflect conditions prevailing at the time when the statements were
made. ECO points out that due to various factors, actual circumstances and
outcomes may differ from the expectations expressed in this release.

Further inquiry note:
ECO Business-Immobilien AG
Wolfgang Gössweiner, CFO
Tel.: +43(1)580 88 0
mailto:[email protected]

Peter Pechar
Head of Investor Relations
Tel.: +43(1)580 88 35
mailto:[email protected]

Metrum Communications
Roland Mayrl
Tel.: +43(1) 504 69 87-331
mailto:[email protected]
end of announcement euro adhoc
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

issuer:   ECO Business-Immobilien AG
          Opernring 1
          A-1010 Wien
phone:    580 88
FAX:      580 88 - 88
mail:     [email protected]
WWW:      www.eco-immo.at
sector:   Real Estate
ISIN:     AT0000617907
indexes:  Prime Market

stockmarkets: Regulated free trade: Wien
language: English

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

print