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ECO Business-Immobilien AG

euro adhoc: ECO Business-Immobilien AG
quarterly or semiannual financial statement
ECO Business-Immobilien AG: strong business performance in Q1 2008

  Disclosure announcement transmitted by euro adhoc. The issuer is responsible
  for the content of this announcement.
21.05.2008
ECO Business-Immobilien AG: strong business performance in Q1 2008
Vienna, 21 May 2008 - Vienna Prime Market listed ECO 
Business-Immobilien AG reported another strong operating performance 
in the first quarter of 2008, with improvements in all revenue and 
earnings indicators. Operating profit (EBIT) jumped 64% year on year 
to EUR 19.4 million as a result of higher revenues and revaluation 
gains, which were mainly attributable to changes in the fair value of
the BAWAG portfolio. Total real estate assets at 31 March 2008 
amounted to around EUR 1.2 billion, compared with EUR 697.5 million 
at the end of the first quarter of 2007.
Following significant portfolio expansion in 2007, the first quarter 
of 2008 was fully taken up with improving the effectiveness of asset 
management of existing properties. ECO increased the value of its 
properties, and secured several new long-term tenants. Unlocking the 
value of the BAWAG real estate - which was acquired late in 2007 - 
was the key to this success. ECO introduced effective measures that 
successfully increased revenues and raised the occupancy rate.
ECO´s revenues and earnings increased once again in the period under 
review. Revenues for the quarter rose 60% year on year to EUR 15.2 
million, which can be attributed to organic growth from the real 
estate acquired in 2007 and new rentals from the existing portfolio. 
Due to current market conditions and the focus on developing the 
existing portfolio, acquisitions were made only selectively. As a 
result of seasonal factors, trading activities in the first quarter 
of 2008 were flat. Total trading income of EUR 2.75 million was 
slightly higher than the EUR 2.29 million achieved in the previous 
period, with a consistently higher margin of 28% on IFRS values. The 
real estate asset revaluation required under IFRS accounting amounted
to EUR 5.7 million (Q1 2006: EUR 2.4 million), or 0.5% of the value 
of real estate held as investment properties. This is primarily a 
reflection of value-adding asset management activities and increases 
in market prices for attractive locations.
In line with the strong operating performance, EBIT rose by 64% to 
EUR 19.4 million (Q1 2007: EUR 11.8 million). Profit before tax (EBT)
increased to EUR 8.5 million, compared with EUR 7.4 million in the 
first quarter of 2007. Consolidated net profit was up by 55% to EUR 
8.7 million, while earnings per share (on a higher number of shares) 
rose some 13%, to EUR 0.25.
Net asset value (NAV) per share at 31 March 2008 was 4.4% higher than
a year earlier, increasing from EUR 12.00 to EUR 12.53.
Total real estate assets jumped from EUR 697.5 million at the end of 
the first quarter of 2007 to EUR 1.2 billion, mainly as a result of 
the acquisitions made at the end of 2007. ECO´s real estate portfolio
at 31 March 2008 amounted to 126 properties (including development 
projects), compared with 119 at the end of the first quarter of 2007,
while total usable space amounted to around 671,500 m2.
Following the good start to financial 2008 and the strong earnings 
performance in the opening months of the year, the Management Board 
of ECO expects solid results for 2008 as a whole. ECO´s focus in the 
current financial year will be on increasing earnings through 
effective real estate management (raising revenues with new rentals 
and reduced vacancy rates), profitable trading activities and an 
expansion of development activities. Plans for selective growth in 
the property portfolio will be implemented using a balanced mix of 
own funds and debt capital.
Key financial indicators in accordance with IFRS
Q1 2008        Q1 2007
Revenues                                    (EUR ´000)   18,303         11,522
  of which rental income                    (EUR ´000)   15,232          9,543
Profits on disposal of non-current assets   (EUR ´000)    2,748          2,292
Net gain from changes in fair value         (EUR ´000)    5,700          2,410
Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT)     (EUR ´000)   19,350         11,785
Earnings before tax (EBT)                   (EUR ´000)    8,453          7,417
Consolidated net profit                     (EUR ´000)    8,694          5,625
(after minority interests)
Earnings per share                          (EUR)          0.25           0.23
Weighted average number of shares                    34,100,000     25,000,000
FFO before interest and taxes*              (EUR ´000)   15,209          9,382
FFO after interest and taxes*               (EUR ´000)    4,234          4,852
NAV per share                               (EUR)         12.53          12.00
* Earnings before tax + depreciation +/- changes in fair value
Property information
March 31, 2008     March 31, 2007
Number of properties                                    126                119
  of which hold portfolio                                72                 55
  of which trading portfolio                             46                 63
  of which development projects                           8                  1
Total usable space in m2 *                          671,500            463,300
  of which trading portfolio                         42,600             49,200
  of which development portfolio                     53,100              5,600
Underground parking spaces (number)                   3,470              2,330
  of which trading portfolio                            280                270
  of which development portfolio                        230                  0
Total real estate assets (EUR ´000)               1,244,601            697,533
  of which properties under construction             38,597             11,982
  of which trading portfolio                         58,195             81,973
* Garage spaces calculated at 20 m2 per space
end of announcement                               euro adhoc

Further inquiry note:

ECO Business-Immobilien AG
Friedrich Scheck
CEO
Tel.: +43(1)535 21 99-12
mailto:scheck@eco-immo.at

Peter Pechar
Head of Investor Relations
Tel.: +43(1)535 21 99-35
mailto:pechar@eco-immo.at

Hochegger Financials
Roland Mayrl
Tel.: +43(1) 504 69 87-31
mailto:r.mayrl@hochegger.com

Branche: Real Estate
ISIN: AT0000617907
WKN: A0D8RY
Index: Prime.market
Börsen: Wiener Börse AG / Regulated free trade

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