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

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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.

end of announcement euro adhoc
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ots Originaltext: ECO Business-Immobilien AG
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Further inquiry note:

ECO Business-Immobilien AG

Wolfgang Gössweiner, CFO

Tel.: +43(1)580 88 0

mailto:goessweiner@eco-immo.at

Peter Pechar

Head of Investor Relations

Tel.: +43(1)580 88 35

mailto:pechar@eco-immo.at

Metrum Communications

Roland Mayrl

Tel.: +43(1) 504 69 87-331

mailto:r.mayrl@metrum.at

Branche: Real Estate
ISIN: AT0000617907
WKN: A0D8RY
Index: Prime Market
Börsen: Wien / Regulated free trade