Deutsche Börse Posts Record Results For The Year 2001 - EBIT Of 278.1 Million Euros Higher Than Anticipated - Earnings Per Share Increase To 2.04 Euros - Proposed Dividend Increase From 0.30 To 0.36 Euros

Deutsche Börse AG closed the year 2001 with record results, and again exceeded its growth targets. According to the preliminary figures that the company presented on Monday, sales in the year just ended rose from 648.9 million euros to 760.3 million euros. EBIT increased from 216.5 million euros to 278.1 million euros. The growth targets of 15 percent in sales and 20 percent in EBIT were clearly exceeded in 2001, with increases of some 17 percent and 28 percent, respectively. Earnings per share rose from 1.95 euros to 2.04 euros.

For the fourth quarter, the preliminary figures show sales of 200.2 million euros compared with 178.5 million euros in Q4/2000. EBIT rose from 34.9 million euros to 52.8 million euros.

Mathias Hlubek, chief financial officer of Deutsche Börse AG, said: "The year 2001 was very successful for Deutsche Börse. We not only took the company public with great success, but also achieved our strategic goals and outperformed our operating targets." According to Hlubek, the Executive Board of Deutsche Börse will propose that the dividend be increased 20 percent to 0.36 euros.

The segmental results show Eurex to be the segment with the highest sales in the year 2001: Eurex increased its sales from 160.4 million euros to 268.8 million euros, accounting for 35 percent of consolidated sales. The Xetra segment, which suffered a drop in sales from 277.8 million euros to 243.1 million euros, represents another 32 percent of Deutsche Börse Group's consolidated sales.