Ad-Hoc-Announcement

CTS EVENTIM: Highest dividend since IPO

Ad hoc Announcement pursuant to Section 15 WpHG (Securities Trading Act)

2009 financial year (1.1. – 31.12.2009)

Almost EUR 20 million dividend for shareholders / EUR 0.83 per share / Group earnings increase by 36.8% to EUR 39.9 million / Earnings per share EUR 1.66

Munich, 31 March 2010. CTS EVENTIM AG, listed on the SDAX exchange (ISIN DE0005470306), achieved record earnings once again in the past financial year and therefore plans to distribute to shareholders its highest-ever dividend since the IPO in February 2000. At the Shareholders’ Meeting on 12 May 2010, the Management Board and Supervisory Board will propose that a dividend of EUR 0.83 per share be paid on each share (2009: EUR 0.61). Around EUR 19.9 million is to be distributed in total, compared to EUR 14.6 million in 2009. This will be the fifth dividend in succession that the Group has paid. In the past financial year, CTS EVENTIM generated Group earnings of EUR 39.9 million, up 36.8% on the 2008 figure of EUR 29.2 million, and earnings per share of EUR 1.66 (2008: EUR 1.22).   

2009 financial year: Growth despite economic crisis

Even in the worst economic crisis, the ticketing business for music, cultural and sports events is proving to be very stable and robust. More than 80 million tickets were sold last year using the systems developed and operated by the EVENTIM Group. This explains why CTS EVENTIM AG succeeded once again in substantially increasing its revenue and EBIT in the 2009 financial year and in further consolidating its market position in all segments. In the period from 1 January to 31 December 2009, the CTS Group generated EUR 466.7 million in revenue (2008: EUR 404.4 million, up 15.4%), an EBIT of EUR 71.3 million (2008: EUR 50.3 million, up 41.8%) and an EBITDA of EUR 80.0 million (2008: EUR 57.8 million, up 38.3%). 

Outlook for 2010: Continued growth in revenue and earnings 

In 2010, the Group will remain focused on continuous growth of its Internet ticketing operations and on international expansion. In Great Britain, CTS EVENTIM successfully launched the ticket sale on the national ticketing market on 1 February 2010. Contracts to take over Ticketcorner, the leader of the Swiss ticketing market, were signed in Zurich on 19 February 2010 and will take effect on 1 March. The Management Board expects the Group to progress well in the 2010 business year and to achieve a further improvement in revenue and earnings. 

As from today, the complete Annual Report will be available online and in download form at www.eventim.de.

Marco
Marco Haeckermann
Vice President Corporate Development & Strategy
Frank
Frank Brandmaier
Head of Corporate Communications

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