(Vienna) Wiener Börse AG (WBAG) can look back at an extraordinarily successful business year 2004. The operating profit (EBIT) was increased by 145% to EUR 5.5mn and the profit on ordinary business activity (POA) climbed to EUR 8.1mn (2003: EUR 2.3mn). "This is the best performance in the history of Wiener Börse", said Dr. Michael Buhl, Member of the Management Board of Wiener Börse AG. The earnings report will be presented to the Supervisory Board this afternoon.
Sales revenues of Wiener Börse AG increased to EUR 23.3m, gaining 33% over the previous year’s figures (EUR 17.6mn). The main driving force of this increase came from the cash market transaction proceeds, which were up 98% to EUR 13.1mn, and the derivative market transaction proceeds, which gained 82% hitting EUR 3.4mn. The income from cash market participation fees remained more or less unchanged vs. 2003 at EUR 2.0mn. The remaining sales revenues were earned largely from data vending, which also developed very well.
Total operating income was EUR 26.4mn (2003: EUR 19.8mn), while operating expenses amounted to EUR 20.9mn (2003: EUR 17.5mn). Net profit after taxes was EUR 6.3mn vs. EUR 2.1mn in the business year 2003, thus the exchange achieved a gain of over 200%. At the Annual General Meeting on 9th May, a proposal will be made to pay out a dividend of 20% plus an additional special dividend of 20% on the total volume.
"These record earnings show that our intensive efforts since the beginning of 2001 to strengthen and further develop the Austrian capital market are starting to bear fruit," said Dr.Stefan Zapotocky, Member of the Management Board of Wiener Börse AG. Both Management Board members were of the undivided opinion that the excellent performance of Wiener Börse will also be seen in the business year 2005 as well.
Changes in the ownership structure
At today’s Supervisory Board meeting, the move was approved to sell the shares of Wiener Börse AG held by Unternehmens Invest Aktiengesellschaft (UIAG) to the existing consortium of issuers. The share of 10% in Wiener Börse AG sold at the beginning of February of this year by UIAG was acquired mostly by Böhler-Uddeholm AG, EVN-AG, Generali Holding Vienna AG and Wienerberger AG.