Deutsche Börse: Changes In The Equity Indices SDAX And NEMAX 50

The shares of Deutsche Börse AG will be included in the DAX as of December 23, taking the place of Epcos. The index provider Deutsche Börse made the announcement on Tuesday. The company is thus implementing a decision of the Working Committee Equity Indices. After being taken out of the DAX, Epcos will move to the MDAX on December 23 and, according to the available data, will be one of the biggest companies in the new index TecDAX, which is to be launched at the end of March 2003.

Epcos, which was already a candidate for removal from the DAX during the regular reviews in August this year and last year, currently ranks 52nd in market capitalization among the German companies. For this reason, the company was taken out of the DAX on the basis of the so-called fast-exit rule, which sets a 45th-place ranking in market capitalization or stock-exchange turnover as the cut-off for an interim index adjustment. Deutsche Börse ranks 34th in stock exchange turnover and 19th in market capitalization.

Moreover, Deutsche Börse decided on changes in the NEMAX 50 and SDAX indices, which were subject to the regular review on Tuesday. Repower Systems is being newly included in the NEMAX 50. It will take the place of Senator Entertainment in the index on November 30, which is leaving the Neuer Markt as of that date. Autania, Medisana, Surteco and Washtec are being newly included in the SDAX. The following companies are being dropped from the index: CapitalStage, SM Wirtschaftsberatung, TFG Venture Capital and Vogt Electronic, which will leave the SMAX segment as of December 23.

The next review of the equity indices is scheduled for February 11, 2003.