Annual Report 2005/2006 / Consolidated Financial Statements / Notes

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Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the 2005/2006 Financial Year

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1 General Foundations and Business Activities of the Company

The Consolidated Financial Statements of SinnerSchrader AG and its subsidiaries (hereinafter referred to as the “SinnerSchrader Group”, “SinnerSchrader” or “Group”) for the 2005/2006 financial year were completed according to the International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) of the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”) in force on the report date, 31 August 2006, taking account of the interpretations of the International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee (“IFRIC”), and they correspond to the supplementary requirements of Article 315a of the German Commercial Code (“HGB”). The Consolidated Financial Statements as of 31 August 2006 were drawn up according to the decision of the Management Board of 20 October 2006. In principle, it is possible for the Annual General Meeting to amend the Consolidated Financial Statements after release for publication.

In the 2005/2006 financial year, SinnerSchrader was required to draw up its Consolidated Financial Statements according to IFRS for the first time. In previous financial years, SinnerSchrader had drawn up its Consolidated Financial Statements with discharging effect on the basis of the United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“US-GAAP”). Details concerning the transition from US-GAAP to IFRS and the differences relevant to SinnerSchrader are explained in 2.

The SinnerSchrader Group is a service company mainly active in Germany with its headquarters in Hamburg. With its services, SinnerSchrader supports its customers in the use of interactive technologies, especially the Internet. In particular, Sinner-Schrader provides the following services:

  • Conception, implementation and servicing of custom-made interactive IT systems
  • Consulting, conception, design and technical implementation of interactive advertising and marketing campaigns and measures for brand management on the Internet
  • Planning and management of online marketing campaigns
  • Technical operation and administration of Internet-based IT systems
  • Structuring, analysis and preparation of data on the behaviour of users of interactive systems

The SinnerSchrader Group started its work in 1996. SinnerSchrader AG was founded in 1999 as a new managing parent company. All 11,542,764 shares issued of SinnerSchrader AG have been approved for trade in the Regulated market of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.

 

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2 Explanations on the Change in Accounting from US-GAAP to IFRS

The Annual Financial Statements of SinnerSchrader Aktiengesellschaft (“SinnerSchrader AG” or “Company”) have been compiled in accordance with the regulations of the German Commercial Code and the German Stock Corporation Act. The Company is considered to be a large company limited by shares within the meaning of Article 267 of the German Commercial Code.

On 19 July 2002, EU Regulation No. 1606/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Application of International Accounting Standards was passed. According to this, all publicly traded companies are required to prepare their consolidated
accounts using IFRS for financial years that start after 1 January 2005.

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2.1 Principles of the First Use of IFRS

The 2005/2006 financial year from 1 September 2005 to 31 August 2006 is the first year in which SinnerSchrader has had to prepare its Consolidated Financial Statements under IFRS in accordance with the EU Regulation. In the past, the Consolidated Financial Statements were prepared according to US-GAAP. Since IFRS requires comparative figures, the 2004/2005 financial year also has to be shown according to IFRS retrospectively. 1 September 2004 is therefore deemed to be the date of transition from US-GAAP to IFRS. IFRS 1 “First-time Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards” specifies the methodology of the change. According to this, an opening balance sheet is to be drawn up for the date of transition. In this connection, the regulations in force on the balance sheet date of the first IFRS report are decisive for the preparation of the opening balance sheet. For SinnerSchrader, this date was 31 August 2006.

All necessary adjustments to the balancing and evaluation methods must be made retrospectively. The resultant differences between the entries of assets and liabilities in the balance sheet of 31 August 2004 under US-GAAP and those on 1 September 2004 under IFRS had to be offset against the revenue reserves with a neutral effect on profit. A reduction in assets or increase in liabilities resulting from the use of IFRS led to a reduction in shareholders’ equity, and an increase in assets or reduction in liabilities led to in an increase in shareholders’ equity.

The level of knowledge and awareness that was the basis of the preparation of the reports for the 2004/2005 financial year was decisive for drawing up the opening balance sheet as of 1 September 2004 and determining the comparative figures for the 2004/2005 financial year. Improved findings that were received after the day of issue of the relevant audit certificate only had to be taken into account in the subsequent financial year.

 

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2.2 Main Differences in Accounting under IFRS and US-GAAP

When changing over the opening balance sheet as of 1 September 2004 and the financial report for the 2004/2005 financial year, the following differences between accounting according to IFRS and US-GAAP had an effect for SinnerSchrader:» Share-based CompensationAccording to IFRS 2 “Share-based Payment”, share-based compensation must be recorded with an effect on income. In this connection, the proportion of the market value on the issue date that is applicable to the period of the report should be entered in the statements of operations as personnel costs. These costs shall be formed in the relevant corresponding amount in the shareholders’ equity. IFRS 2 is to be used for the first time in reporting periods that start on or after 1 January 2005. When using it for the first time, it is essential to ensure that the regulations of IFRS 2 are applied retrospectively to share-based compensations issued after 7 November 2002 for which the waiting period had not yet expired as of 1 January 2005. Under US-GAAP, SinnerSchrader had the option, until 31 August 2005, of entering share-based compensation plans on the balance sheet at their internal value in accordance with Accounting Principles Board Opinion (“APB”) No. 25 and to present the effect of the market-value approach on the income as pro-forma information in the Notes in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123. From 1 September 2005, SFAS No. 123 (R) was to be applied to SinnerSchrader according to US-GAAP, and the expenses for employee options were to be treated with an effect on income. The required prospective use of SFAS No. 123 (R) starting in the first reporting quarter of 2005/2006 applied proportionately to all employee options for which the waiting period had not expired at the start of the reporting period. When preparing the opening balance sheet as of 1 September 2004 according to IFRS, the use of IFRS 2 resulted in additional personnel expenses in the amount of € 8,122, which increased the loss carry-forwards as of 1 September 2004. According to IFRS 2, an item known as “Reserve for Share-based Compensation” had to be formed as a balancing position in the shareholders’ equity.» Reporting Deferred TaxesDeferred taxes must be reported as long-term balance sheet items according to IFRS. Under US-GAAP, a distinction had to be made between long-term and short-term deferred taxes within the items for deferred taxes.» Reporting Usage Rights for SoftwareUnder IFRS, usage rights for software have to be reported as intangible assets. Under US-GAAP, Sinner-Schrader had subsumed them under tangible assets.

 

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Table 1a shows the transfer of the balance sheet as of 31 August 2004 according to US-GAAP to the opening balance sheet as of 1 September 2004 under IFRS:

 

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Tab. 1a – Reconciliation of balance sheet as of 1 September 2004 in €      
  Acc. to US-GAAP
31.08.2004
Reclassification not
affecting net income
Acc. to IFRS
01.09.2004
       
Assets      
       
Current assets:      
Liquid funds 1,334,258 1,334,258
Marketable securities 25,704,158 25,704,158
Accounts receivable, net of allowances for doubtful accounts 1,779,577 1,779,577
Unbilled revenues 353,428 353,428
Tax receivables 568,417 568,417
Other current assets and prepaid expenses 786,397 –568,417 217,980
Deferred tax assets
Total current assets 29,957,818 29,957,818
       
Non-current assets:      
Intangible assets 56,179 56,179
Property and equipment 1,293,835 –56,179 1,237,656
Deferred tax assets
Total non-current assets 1,293,835 1,293,835
Total assets 31,251,653 31,251,653
       
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity      
       
Current liabilities:      
Liability to shareholders 20,768,780 20,768,780
Trade accounts payable 428,171 428,171
Advance payments received 70,094 70,094
Accrued expenses 1,081,589 1,081,589
Deferred income and other current liabilities 762,504 762,504
Total current liabilities 23,111,138 23,111,138
Non-current liabilities 86,841 86,841
       
Shareholders’ equity:      
Common stock, stated value 1 €,      
issued: 11,542,764, outstanding: 10,937,164 11,542,764 11,542,764
Additional paid-in capital 16,594,840 16,594,840
Reserves for share-based compensation 8,122 8,122
Treasury stock, 605,600 at 31.08.2004 –926,438 –926,438
Accumulated deficit –19,176,937 –8,122 –19,185,059
Changes in shareholders’ equity not affecting net income 19,445 19,445
Total shareholders’ equity 8,053,674 8,053,674
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity 31,251,653 31,251,653
       
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The transfer of the consolidated shareholders’ capital as of 31 August 2004 according to US-GAAP to consolidated shareholders’ capital in the opening balance sheet of 1 September 2004 under IFRS is as follows:

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Tab. 1b – Reconciliation of consolidated shareholders’ equity in €  
   
Shareholders’ equity acc. to US-GAAP as of 31.08.2004 8,053,674
Increasing of reserves for share-based  
compensation 8,122
Increasing of accumulated deficit caused  
by share-based compensation –8,122
Shareholders’ equity acc. to IFRS as of 01.09.2004 8,053,674
   
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When transferring the balance sheet as of 31 August 2005 according to US-GAAP to the balance sheet according to IFRS, the following items had to be adjusted:

  • In the shareholders’ capital, a reserve for stock-based compensation in the amount of € 9,165 had to be formed; the accumulated loss thus rose from € –18,631,595 to € –18,640,760.
  • Software with a book value of € 101,172 had to be moved from the tangible assets to the intangible assets.
  • Tax receivables in the amount of € 178,274 had to be reported separately from the other current assets and prepaid expenses.
  • The deferred tax assets had to be moved from the group of current assets to the group of non-current assets.

In the transfer of the statements of operations for the 2004/2005 financial year, the posting of costs for stock-based compensation with an effect on income reduced the consolidated income by € 1,043, from € 545,342 to € 544,299.As part of the change from US-GAAP to IFRS, SinnerSchrader has expanded the financial funds in respect of the statement of cash flows so that securities related to liquidity with a term of up to three months – which also include tradable money market funds – are considered to be currency equivalents along with the previously included cash on hand, credit balances with a term of three months or less, and cheques.

 

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3 Presentation of the Main Evaluation and Balancing Methods

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3.1 Accounting Principles and Financial Year

The Consolidated Financial Statements of the SinnerSchrader Group were prepared according to International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) and take account of all the rules of these standards and the interpretations of the IFRIC which were in force as of 31 August 2006. They refer to the financial years covering 1 September 2005 to 31 August 2006 (“2005/2006”) and from 1 September 2004 to 31 August 2005 (“2004/2005”) as well as the reporting dates of 31 August 2006 and 31 August 2005.» New Accounting PrinciplesSinnerSchrader AG did not prematurely use the following standards and IFRIC interpretations, which had already been published but which had not gone into effect:IFRS 7 “Financial instruments: Disclosures” is only mandatory from financial years starting on or after 1 January 2007, and it was not taken into account in the preparation of this report. SinnerSchrader AG does not intend to prematurely apply this standard. The use of IFRS 7 is expected to lead only to add-itional disclosures in the Consolidated Financial Statements with no impact on the inclusion or evaluation of financial instruments.Changes to the information on capital resulting from IAS 1 “Presentation of Financial Statements”, which is only mandatory from financial years starting after 1 January 2007, were also not taken into account. SinnerSchrader AG does not intend to prematurely apply the changes resulting from this standard. The use of the changes in IAS 1 is expected to lead only to additional disclosures in the Consolidated Financial Statements.Other standards have also been approved, the use of which has no major impact on SinnerSchrader.

 

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3.2 Consolidation Group and Principles

The Consolidated Financial Statements comprise the individual Financial Statements of SinnerSchrader AG and all direct and indirect subsidiaries in which the AG has a majority interest and over which it has de facto control. In the Consolidated Financial Statements for the 2005/2006 and 2004/2005 financial years, the consolidation group comprised SinnerSchrader Deutschland GmbH, SinnerSchrader UK Ltd. and SinnerSchrader Benelux BV alongside SinnerSchrader AG, as well as the indirect subsidiaries SinnerSchrader Neue Informatik GmbH, SinnerSchrader Studios GmbH and SinnerSchrader Studios Frankfurt GmbH.

All transactions and balances within the group between affiliated companies were eliminated. The Consolidated Financial Statements were prepared on the basis of the Individual Financial Statements of the above-mentioned consolidated companies, which are compiled according to the relevant local accounting regulations, in particular the regulations of the German Commercial Code, with any necessary adjustments being made to IFRS.

For the Consolidated Financial Statements, the same balancing and evaluation principles are used as a basis for the same business incidents and events under similar conditions. The financial statements of all of the companies included in the consolidation group are prepared on the reporting date of the parent company. This is the same as the group reporting date.

 

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3.3 Report Currency and Currency Conversion

The currency of the report is the euro (€). Figures are cited in full euro amounts.

The relevant national currency is used as the functional currency of the foreign subsidiaries outside the euro zone (the group of European countries that have introduced the euro as their currency). The financial statements of these foreign subsidiaries are converted into euros, with the assets and liabilities being converted at the conversion rate of the balance sheet date, and with the sales revenues, costs of sales revenues and expenditure being converted at the average rate for the financial year in question. The accumulated currency profits and currency losses from foreign currency conversion for the financial statements are identified in a separate balancing item in the shareholders’ equity. Currency profits and losses from foreign currency transactions are treated with an effect on income.

 

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3.4 Estimates and Assumptions

Drawing up Consolidated Financial Statements according to IFRS requires the management to make estimates and assumptions that have an influence on the values posted for assets and liabilities, on the information on contingent claims and contingent liabilities on the balance sheet date and on the posted revenue and expenses for the period covered by the report. The actual results may deviate from these estimates. The primary estimates relate to the use of the percentage-of-completion method and the inclusion of accrued expenses.

 

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3.5 Fixed Assets

» Intangible AssetsIntangible assets are evaluated on receipt at their procurement or manufacturing cost. They are identified if it is probable that the future economic benefit to be assigned to the assets will flow into the company and if the procurement or manufacturing costs of the assets can be reliably assessed. After being initially reported, intangible assets are evaluated at their procurement or manufacturing costs minus the accumulated regular depreciation and the accumulated costs for the decrease in value. The depreciation of intangible assets is linear, in accordance with the usage period. The depreciation period and method are reviewed annually at the end of each financial year.Costs for the procurement of software should be activated under intangible assets if they are not to be considered a component of the associated hardware. Currently, SinnerSchrader posts only purchased software under intangible assets. Depreciation for this is linear over an estimated usage period of three years. The costs that are incurred to reinstate or maintain the future economic benefit that a company can expect from the originally assessed performance of existing software should be recorded as an expense.» Tangible AssetsAccording to International Accounting Standard (“IAS”) 16, tangible assets are to be posted as an asset if it is probable that the future economic benefit associated with them will flow into the company and if the procurement or manufacturing costs of the assets can be reliably assessed. The tangible assets shall be evaluated at their procurement and manufacturing costs minus accumulated regular and non-scheduled depreciation. The procurement and manufacturing costs of tangible assets consists of the purchase price, import duties and other non-reimbursable taxes, as well as all directly assignable costs that are incurred to make the asset operational. Reductions in the purchase price, such as rebates, bonuses and discounts, are subtracted from the purchase price. Subsequently incurred costs, such as maintenance and repair costs, are recorded with an effect on expenses in the year in which they are incurred. If such costs demonstrably lead to an increase in the future economic benefit resulting from the use of the asset and above the original volume of performance, the costs shall be posted as subsequent procurement and manufacturing costs.The property and equipment of SinnerSchrader comprises company and business equipment, computer hardware and leasehold improvements. Depreciation is linear. A usage period of three years is usually assumed for computer hardware, four to eight years for other electronic and electrical devices and equipment, six years for cars and eight to thirteen years for office furniture. Improvements to rented premises are depreciated over the estimated usage period of the improvements or the residual term to the end of the tenancy, if this is shorter. The cost of depreciation is included in the costs of sales revenue and operating expenses. The costs of repair and maintenance work are recorded with an effect on expenses.In the event of the sale or decommissioning of tangible asset items, the relevant procurement or manufacturing costs and the accumulated depreciation are debited, and any profit or loss is posted in the statements of operations as other revenue or other expenses.» Reductions in Value of Fixed AssetsThe posted value of assets is reviewed if there are signs of a non-scheduled reduction in value. If the posted value of an asset exceeds its achievable amount, a non-scheduled depreciation is undertaken in accordance with IAS. The achievable amount is the net sale price or commercial value, whichever is higher. The net sale price is the amount that can be achieved from a sale under standard market conditions; commercial value is the cash value of the expected income from further use of the asset and the sale value at the end of the usage period. The commercial value is determined individually for every asset or for the individual unit generating funds. If the reasons for the non-scheduled depreciation no longer exist, the original value is reinstated.In the 2005/2006 and 2004/2005 financial years, there were no signs of a reduction in value of the intangible or tangible assets.

 

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3.6 Financial Instruments

According to IAS 39, financial instruments are to be posted for the first time with their procurement costs corresponding to the current value of the benefit in kind. Transaction costs are included in the first evaluation. Purchases and sales of financial instruments should be posted as of the trading day. With respect to the subsequent evaluation, a distinction is made between various categories of financial instruments, including financial instruments held for trading purposes, financial instruments to be held until they are finally due, credits and accounts receivable handed out by the company and financial instruments available for sale.Financial instruments with fixed or ascertainable payments and a fixed term which the company intends to hold until they are finally due, excluding credits and claims submitted by the company, are classified as financial instruments to be held until they are finally due.All other financial instruments, excluding credits and claims submitted by the company, are classified as financial assets available for sale.Financial instruments held for trading purposes and financial assets available for sale are evaluated at their current value without deduction of transaction costs in the subsequent evaluation. The current values usually arise from reporting date prices on financial markets. Gains and losses from the evaluation at the current value of financial instruments held for trading purposes shall be reported with an effect on income. Gains and losses from the evaluation of the current value of financial instruments available for sale shall be recorded directly in the shareholders’ equity with a neutral effect on income until the financial instrument is sold, withdrawn or otherwise dispatched, or as soon as a permanent value reduction has been identified for the financial instrument. Gains and losses recorded directly in the shareholders’ equity are posted in “Changes in shareholders’ equity not affecting net income”.Financial instruments to be held until they are finally due shall be appraised at their continued procurement costs using the effective interest method.Financial instruments to be held until they are finally due with a remaining term of up to 12 months are posted in the current assets. Financial assets available for sale are posted in the current assets if the company is planning to sell them in the next 12 months.A financial asset is debited if the company loses authority over the contractual rights of which the financial asset is comprised. A financial liability is debited if the obligation upon which this liability is based is fulfilled, terminated or deleted. With respect to classification, securities are the financial instruments relevant to SinnerSchrader. As of 31 August 2006, these securities comprise commercial papers with original periods of seven days to one month and shares in money market funds. The commercial papers were classified as financial instruments to be held until they are finally due and were posted to the balance sheet with their continued procurement costs accordingly as of 31 August 2006. The shares in money market funds were classified as available for sale and entered on the balance sheet accordingly. As of 31 August 2005, the securities comprised shares in money market funds, which were classified as available for sale. As of both reporting dates, the interest risks resulting from the financial instruments used by SinnerSchrader were negligible due to the short remaining term or duration.

 

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3.7 Accounts Receivable and Unbilled Revenue

Accounts receivable are posted at their nominal value minus appropriate value corrections. The value of the claims is regularly checked on an individual basis. Value corrections are formed in the case of identifiable individual risks.

Services provided from fixed-price projects, which were realised according to the percentage-of-completion (“POC”) method in accordance with their degree of completion but which had not yet been billed, are posted with a proportion of the total payment agreed for the fixed-price project, i.e. including the profit margin, as unbilled revenue, with any deposits that may have been made for the project being offset.

 

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3.8 Other Assets

Other assets are entered on the balance sheet at their nominal value or the achievable amount, whichever is lower.

 

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3.9 Liquid Funds and Currency Equivalents

Liquid funds comprise cash on hand, bank credits available on a daily basis and fixed deposits with a remaining period of less than three months. They are posted at their nominal value.

Securities with a period of less than three months and shares in money market funds qualify as currency equivalents. As of 31 August 2006 and 31 August 2005, all securities were thus to be classified as currency equivalents. 

 

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3.10 Statement of Cash Flows

The statement of cash flows is prepared using the indirect method according to IAS 7. The financial funds whose change is reflected in the statement of cash flows comprise cash and cash equivalents. Value adjustments for the securities in the cash equivalents which have a neutral effect on income are posted in the statement of cash flows together with the exchange-rate-related change in the cash under “Net effect of rate changes on cash and cash equivalents”.

 

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3.11 Trade Accounts Payable and Other Liabilities

Trade accounts payable and other liabilities are posted at their nominal value.

 

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3.12 Other Accrued Expenses

According to IAS 37, other accrued expenses are formed for legal and actual obligations that were incurred economically by the reporting date if it is probable that fulfilment of the obligation will lead to Group funds being depleted and if a reliable estimate of the level of the obligation can be made. Accrued expenses are reviewed on every balance sheet date and adjusted to the best estimate in each case. The amount of the accrued expenses corresponds to the current value of the expenses probably needed to fulfil the obligation. The other accrued expenses take account of all recognisable obligations vis-à-vis third parties in accordance with IAS 37.

 

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3.13 Treasury Stock

Under IAS 32, treasury stock is posted at its acquisition costs as a deducted item within the shareholders’ equity.

 

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3.14 Deferred Taxes

Under IAS 12, deferred tax claims or liabilities are to be posted in the balance sheet under IFRS if there are differences between the posted values of assets and liabilities in the balance sheet under IFRS and those in the tax balance sheet which reverse in future years (“temporary differences”). Furthermore, deferred tax claims must also be formed for the future use of tax loss carry-forwards. Deferred tax claims and liabilities are to be determined on the basis of the liability method. The deferred tax claims and liabilities from temporary differences must be determined separately for every tax subject. Tax claims should be posted only if or to the extent in which they are countered by tax liabilities or in which their realisation can be classified as probable through future taxable profits. Tax claims and liabilities are posted in balanced form for a tax subject. Balancing between different tax subjects is not permitted.For the evaluation of the temporary differences or loss carry-forwards, the tax rates valid on the balance sheet date or, for a future reversal of temporary differences, the tax rates which have become legally effective on the balance sheet date shall be used.Deferred tax expenditures or revenues shall be directly offset in the shareholders’ equity if they relate to differences that do not have an impact on the statements of operations, such as evaluation changes to financial assets available for sale.

 

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3.15 Revenue Recognition

SinnerSchrader provides services of various kinds that are treated differently with respect to revenue recognition. In principle, SinnerSchrader realises revenue only if the service was performed according to the underlying contractual agreements and the risk has been transferred to the recipient of the service or the purchaser, if it is probable that the economic benefit from the business will flow into the company and if the level of sales revenue can be reliably determined. The revenues are posted in net form, without turnover tax, discounts, customer bonuses or rebates. They contain reimbursable expenses, such as travel expenses, if the customer has been invoiced for them and has paid them.» Project and Consultancy ServicesProject and consultancy services are billed either according to actual expenditure or on the basis of a fixed price. The revenues from projects on a fixed-price basis are entered on the balance sheet according to the progress achieved using the POC method according to IAS 11.22 ff. In this connection, progress is determined as a proportion of the person-hours already spent in relation to the expected person-hours for the project as a whole. To cover imminent losses from not yet completed projects, accrued expenses are formed on the basis of an individual consideration of the project at the expense of the period in which such a loss is probable. Revenues within the scope of contracts based on actual expense are generally posted monthly according to the expenditure incurred to provide the service.Revenues realised on the basis of the POC method but as yet unbilled are posted as unbilled revenues in the balance sheet. Amounts billed to and paid by customers that exceed the scope of the recognised revenues are posted as deposits received.» Media ServicesSinnerSchrader performs services for its customers for planning and implementing advertising campaigns on the Internet (media services). In the context of implementing advertising campaigns, SinnerSchrader buys advertising space at its own expense. The costs for buying advertising space (media costs) are passed on to customers in the course of billing for the media services, as is a fixed payment or a payment calculated in relation to the actual media costs. In principle, revenues for media services are realised with or after the appearance of the advertising. In this connection, the entire amount to be charged to the customer is recorded as gross revenue, and the amount reduced by the media costs that have been passed on to customers comprises the net revenue. Realised revenues that have not yet been billed are posted in the balance sheet as unbilled services, reduced by deposits received for the advertising campaigns and including deposits paid for purchasing advertising space as part of advertising campaigns.» Operating ServicesSinnerSchrader performs operating services for its customers, which in particular also include the 24-hour monitoring and management of Internet applications with an on-call service. Payment for these services usually comprises a fixed monthly service fee plus variable, performance-related components, and customers are billed for them on a monthly or quarterly basis. If the IT system managed by SinnerSchrader is operated in SinnerSchrader’s own computer centre, fixed usage fees are charged monthly.» Sale of Hardware and SoftwareIn addition to other services, SinnerSchrader supplies its customers with hardware and standard software on request that SinnerSchrader itself buys on the market. The revenue from this is realised after billing or after the transfer of risk.

 

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3.16 Advertising Costs

In principle, SinnerSchrader takes the expenditure for advertising and promotional campaigns into account in the marketing costs in the statements of operations at the time the expenditure is incurred. In the 2005/2006 and 2004/2005 financial years, these expenses amounted to € 178,177 and € 95,229 respectively.

 

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3.17 Research and Development Expenditure

Expenditure for research and development is recorded as an expense in the period in which it is incurred. Development costs that can be activated are an exception if they completely meet the criteria according to IAS 38.57.

In 2005/2006, research and development costs in the amount of € 61,275 were recorded as an expense, in comparison to € 131,795 in 2004/2005. In both years, the criteria for the activation of the research and development costs according to IAS 38.57 were not met.

 

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3.18 Leasing

Leasing payments should be recorded in a linear fashion as an expense in the statements of operations over the term of the leasing contract if they are incurred within an operating leasing relationship where all risks remain with the lessor.

SinnerSchrader has concluded only operating leasing contracts. They mainly concern automobiles made available as company cars.

 

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3.19 Share-based Compensation

IFRS 2 calls for the costs resulting from the issue of employee options to be entered in the balance sheet on the basis of their current value with an effect on income. In this connection, the market value of the option on the issue date should be distributed over the waiting period for exercising the option and then proportionately entered in the statements of operations as personnel costs for the relevant period. The costs are recorded against the shareholders’ equity in the reserve for share-based compensation.

As of 31 August 2006, there were two share option plans at SinnerSchrader; their structure and effects on the statements of operations will be described in more detail in 7.1.

 

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3.20 Earnings per Share

SinnerSchrader calculates the earnings per share in agreement with IAS 33. The undiluted earnings per share are determined on the basis of the weighted average of the outstanding common stock. According to this, treasury stock is not considered in the calculation of the basis for the earnings per share on the date they were bought back.

In order to determine the diluted earnings per share, the weighted average of the outstanding shares is increased by the dilution effect from the potential exercise of outstanding options, calculated according to the Treasury Stock Method. As part of its employee option programmes of 1999 and 2000, SinnerSchrader issued options to employees to buy common stock. The outstanding options in the 2005/2006 and 2004/2005 financial years were considered accordingly in the calculation of the dilution effect.

 

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4 Segment Reporting

In agreement with IAS 14, SinnerSchrader primarily divides its business into three segments by services: Interactive Software, Interactive Marketing and Interactive Services.

In the Interactive Software segment, SinnerSchrader concentrates on the development, implementation and servicing of custom-made interactive software. SinnerSchrader Neue Informatik GmbH is assigned to this segment. Business with
consulting, creative and implementation services for the establishment and management of brands and for marketing and advertising activities on the Internet and in other digital channels are brought together in the Interactive Marketing segment. SinnerSchrader Studios GmbH and SinnerSchrader Studios Frankfurt GmbH are assigned to this segment. SinnerSchrader bundles three areas that provide specialised services to support the management of existing transaction-oriented websites for its customers in the Interactive Services segment.
These services include the planning and implementation of online advertising campaigns, the technical servicing of the hardware and software of interactive IT systems as well as the statistical evaluation of data on the user behaviour of visitors to websites. These areas are managed together in SinnerSchrader Deutschland GmbH.

With respect to reporting on the basis of the geographical assignment of revenue, which is secondary to SinnerSchrader, SinnerSchrader assigns revenues to those countries from which the sale was initiated. Thus, in the 2005/2006 and 2004/2005 financial years, all revenues were assigned to Germany.

 

Table 2a shows the segment information for the 2005/2006 financial year and for the balance sheet date of 31 August 2006, whereas the comparative data from the previous year can be seen in Table 2b:

 

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Tab. 2a – Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the 2005/2006 financial year or as of 31 August 2006 in € and number            
  Interactive
Software
Interactive
Marketing
Interactive
Services
Segments
total
Consolidation/
holding
Group
             
01.09.2005 – 31.08.2006:            
External revenues 5,878,506 4,712,501 5,202,604 15,793,611 25,350 15,818,961
Internal revenues 858,993 387,141 308,826 1,554,960 –1,554,960
Total revenues, gross 6,737,499 5,099,642 5,511,430 17,348,571 –1,529,610 15,818,961
Media costs ­— –2,665,433 –2,665,433 –2,665,433
Total revenues, net 6,737,499 5,099,642 2,845,997 14,683,138 –1,529,610 13,153,528
             
Segment profit/loss (EBITA) 706,791 346,958 802,119 1,855,868 –1,255,683 600,185
Depreciation of property and equipment 68,658 41,926 55,188 165,772 386,426 552,198
Purchase of investments 102,015 93,559 115,662 311,236 452,350 763,586
             
Employees, full-time equivalents 52.8 43.5 14.4 110.7 18.2 128.9
             
31.08.2006:            
Total assets 2,853,400 1,796,191 1,089,847 5,739,438 9,327,421 15,066,859
Non-current assets 182,784 137,360 135,919 456,063 1,188,620 1,644,683
Current assets 2,670,616 1,658,831 953,928 5,283,375 8,138,801 13,422,176
Liabilities 1,389,074 841,906 1,284,517 3,515,497 20,099 3,535,596
             
Number of employees, end of period 55 52 15 122 21 143
             
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Tab. 2b – Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the 2004/2005 financial year or as of 31 August 2005 in € and number            
  Interactive
Software
Interactive
Marketing
Interactive
Services
Segments
total
Consolidation/
holding
Group
             
01.09.2004 – 31.08.2005:            
External revenues 5,737,009 4,179,739 4,398,393 14,315,141 14,315,141
Internal revenues 657,502 410,608 291,030 1,359,140 –1,359,140
Total revenues, gross 6,394,511 4,590,347 4,689,423 15,674,281 –1,359,140 14,315,141
Media costs –2,092,386 –2,092,386 –2,092,386
Total revenues, net 6,394,511 4,590,347 2,597,037 13,581,895 –1,359,140 12,222,755
             
Segment profit/loss (EBITA) 682,099 354,153 777,559 1,813,811 –1,636,713 177,098
Depreciation of property and equipment 59,522 25,065 26,600 111,187 429,806 540,993
Purchase of investments 23,314 28,740 57,045 109,099 120,500 229,599
             
Employees, full-time equivalents 57.6 42.0 14.3 113.9 17.9 131.8
             
31.08.2005:            
Total assets 2,626,795 1,456,891 903,497 4,987,183 8,759,048 13,746,231
Non-current assets 151,562 87,480 75,449 314,491 659,267 973,758
Current assets 2,475,233 1,369,411 828,048 4,672,692 8,099,781 12,772,473
Liabilities 1,135,421 483,707 900,294 2,519,422 892,772 3,412,194
             
Number of employees, end of period 55 42 14 111 19 130
             
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Accounting for the individual segments follows the accounting principles that are also used in the Group. Administrative costs incurred by SinnerSchrader AG are charged to the operative segments if they can be assigned. Costs that can not be assigned are not distributed to the segments. These are mainly costs for original holding tasks, such as investor relations work, as well as costs resulting from overcapacity in the office at the Hamburg location that was rented by SinnerSchrader AG. Transactions between reporting segments are executed as among external third parties and posted accordingly.

Table 2c explains the transfer of the total of the segment income to the earnings before tax in the Group for the 2005/2006 and 2004/2005 financial years:

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Tab. 2c – Reconciliation of total segment earnings to group before tax in €    
  01.09.2005
31.08.2006
01.09.2004
31.08.2005
     
Segment profit/loss (EBITA) of all reportable segments 1,855,868 1,813,811
Central holding cost not attributable to reportable segments –1,254,765 –1,635,777
Earnings before tax of foreign subsidiaries –918 –936
EBITA of the Group 600,185 177,098
Interest income/expense of the Group 234,330 218,789
Earnings before tax of the Group 834,515 395,887
     
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5 Information on the Balance Sheet

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5.1 Development of Fixed Assets

The development of the fixed assets in the 2005/2006 and 2004/2005 financial years is shown in Tables 3a and 3b:

 

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Tab. 3a – Fixed assets in €        
  01.09.2005 Additions Disposals 31.08.2006
         
Acquisition costs:        
Software 425,398 59,478 2,499 482,377
Total intangible assets 425,398 59,478 2,499 482,377
Computer hardware 1,210,653 303,003 150,332 1,363,324
Furniture and fixtures 1,157,800 94,017 100,242 1,151,575
Leasehold improvements 1,159,392 307,088 1,079,427 387,053
Total tangible assets 3,527,845 704,108 1,330,001 2,901,952
Total fixed assets 3,953,243 763,586 1,332,500 3,384,329
         
  01.09.2005 Additions Disposals 31.08.2006
         
Accumulated depreciation, amortisation and write-downs:        
Software 324,226 50,750 2,498 372,478
Total intangible assets 324,226 50,750 2,498 372,478
Computer hardware 1,061,873 138,689 149,864 1,050,698
Furniture and fixtures 698,924 98,261 60,128 737,057
Leasehold improvements 894,462 264,498 1,073,723 85,237
Total tangible assets 2,655,259 501,448 1,283,715 1,872,992
Total fixed assets 2,979,485 552,198 1,286,213 2,245,470
         
  31.08.2005     31.08.2006
         
Net book value:        
Software 101,172     109,899
Total intangible assets 101,172     109,899
Computer hardware 148,780     312,626
Furniture and fixtures 458,876     414,518
Leasehold improvements 264,930     301,816
Total tangible assets 872,586     1,028,960
Total fixed assets 973,758     1,138,859
         
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Tab. 3b – Fixed assets in the 2004/2005 financial year in €        
  01.09.2004 Additions Disposals 31.08.2005
         
Acquisition costs:        
Software 330,525 96,484 1,611 425,398
Total intangible assets 330,525 96,484 1,611 425,398
Computer hardware 1,128,458 110,581 28,386 1,210,653
Furniture and fixtures 1,154,159 11,264 7,623 1,157,800
Leasehold improvements 1,157,841 11,270 9,719 1,159,392
Total tangible assets 3,440,458 133,115 45,728 3,527,845
Total fixed assets 3,770,983 229,599 47,339 3,953,243
         
  01.09.2004 Additions Disposals 31.08.2005
         
Accumulated depreciation, amortisation and write-downs:        
Software 274,346 50,348 468 324,226
Total intangible assets 274,346 50,348 468 324,226
Computer hardware 1,002,506 86,159 26,792 1,061,873
Furniture and fixtures 611,387 93,369 5,832 698,924
Leasehold improvements 588,909 311,117 5,564 894,462
Total tangible assets 2,202,802 490,645 38,188 2,655,259
Total fixed assets 2,477,148 540,993 38,656 2,979,485
         
  31.08.2004     31.08.2005
         
Net book value:        
Software 56,179     101,172
Total intangible assets 56,179     101,172
Computer hardware 125,952     148,780
Furniture and fixtures 542,772     458,876
Leasehold improvements 568,932     264,930
Total tangible assets 1,237,656     872,586
Total fixed assets 1,293,835     973,758
         
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5.2 Deferred Taxes

Both in the 2005/2006 and the 2004/2005 financial years, deferred tax assets had to be posted in the Group because of differences in the postings for assets and liabilities according to IFRS and according to the relevant tax regulations, as well as because of tax loss carry-forwards. 6.5 contains more details on this.

 

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5.3 Unbilled Revenues

As of 31 August 2006 and 31 August 2005, ongoing fixed-price projects were activated as unbilled revenues with an amount of € 410,649 and € 170,404 respectively. In this connection, deposits received for the projects in the amount of € 103,726 and € 26,688 respectively were deducted from the POC evaluation of the projects totalling € 514,375 and € 197,092.

 

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5.4 Tax Receivables, Other Current Assets and Prepaid Expenses

The tax reimbursement claims as of 31 August 2006 and 31 August 2005 in the amount of € 125,920 and € 178,274 respectively are mainly paid tax collected at source on capital and interest earnings upon which SinnerSchrader has a claim for reimbursement vis-à-vis the Tax authorities due to existing loss carry-forwards. In the 2005/2006 and 2004/2005 financial years, € 73,163 and € 52,757 respectively were paid in withholding tax.

Table 4 lists the other current assets and prepaid expenses as of 31 August 2006 and 31 August 2005:

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Tab. 4 – Other current assets and prepaid expenses in €    
  31.08.2006 31.08.2005
     
Remaining other current assets 50,267 39,531
Prepaid expenses 54,938 113,346
Total 105,205 152,877
     
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5.5 Marketable Securities

Table 5 shows the total of marketable securities and the unrealised profits and losses they accounted for as of 31 August 2006 and 31 August 2005 respectively:

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Tab. 5 – Marketable securities in €          
  Acquisition
cost
Change in
acquisition
cost
Unrealised
gains
Unrealised
losses
Recorded
basis
31.08.2006          
Money market and profit-participation certificate funds 503,003 – 513 502,490
Corporate debt securities 6,985,291 7,408 6,992,699
Total marketable securities 7,488,294 7,408 –513 7,495,189
           
31.08.2005          
Money market and profit-participation certificate funds 952,032 6,506 –2,916 955,622
Total marketable securities 952,032 6,506 –2,916 955,622
           
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Money market funds and qualified dividend instruments similar to the money market were classified as available for sale, and commercial papers from industrial emitters were classified as to be kept until they are finally due. According to IAS 39, the money market funds were posted at their market value as of 31 August 2006 and 31 August 2005 respectively, with unrealised profits or unrealised losses being directly recorded in shareholders’ equity, taking the tax effect into account, under the item “Changes to shareholders’ equity not affecting net income”. Commercial papers are securities that were acquired at a discount and fully repaid after the expiry of a fixed term. As of the balance sheet date of 31 August 2006, they were recorded at their acquisition costs which were continued according to the effective interest method.

On 31 August 2006, all securities had a residual term of less than three months or were not subject to any binding contractual term.

 

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5.6 Shareholders’ Equity

» Share CapitalAs of 31 August 2006 and 31 August 2005, the share capital of SinnerSchrader AG was € 11,542,764 and was divided into 11,542,764 no-par-value share certificates in the names of the bearers, each with a calculated value of € 1 per share.11,411,417 shares of all issued shares were in circulation on 31 August 2006 and 31 August 2005. The remaining 131,347 shares were held as treasury stock of SinnerSchrader AG.» Authorised CapitalJanuary 2004, the Annual General Meeting authorised the Management Board to increase the share capital of the Company once or repeatedly by issuing new shares up to a total of € 5,770,000 until 15 January 2009 with the approval of the Supervisory Board. This became legally effective upon entry of the decision in the trade register on 13 April 2004.In the 2005/2006 and 2004/2005 financial years, no capital increases were carried out using the authorised capital.» Conditional CapitalAs of 31 August 2006 and 31 August 2005, SinnerSchrader AG had conditional capital in the amount of a total € 750,000 each, which was created in 1999 and 2000 for the issue of stock options to employees. Options were last issued to employees from the conditional capital in the 2005/2006 financial year. In the 2005/2006 and 2004/2005 financial years, 148,200 options and no options respectively were issued. Details on the option programmes and outstanding options are listed in 7.» Reserve for Share-based CompensationThe reserve comprises the accumulated costs from issuing share-based compensation. As of 31 August 2006 and 31 August 2005, the reserve reached a value of € 17,121 and € 9,165 respectively.   » Treasury StockAs of 31 August 2006 and 31 August 2005, the treasury stock amounted to 131,347 shares, which were repurchased via the stock exchange between July 2002 and September 2003 at an average price of € 1.53. They represent 1.14 % of the share capital. Under IFRS, a deducted item in the shareholders’ equity representing acquisition costs has been formed for the treasury stock. » Changes to Shareholders’ Equity with a Neutral Effect on IncomeChanges to shareholders’ equity with a neutral effect on income in the amount of € – 306 (previous year: € 2,141) result from recording unrealised gains or losses from securities that were classified as available for sale, and in the amount of € 25,652 (previous year: € 25,655) from currency conversions which were part of consolidating the companies in the consolidation group that report in foreign currencies.

 

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5.7 Other Accrued Expenses

The other accrued expenses are made up as shown in Table 6:

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Tab. 6 – Accrued expenses in €          
  31.08.2005 Utilised Allocated Dissolved 31.08.2006
           
Accrued compensation 911,062 –871,013 919,484 –39,313 920,220
Accrued project-oriented expenses for warranties,          
allowances and losses on contracts 254,625 –199,745 420,141 475,021
Accrued rent and related expenses 155,891 –21,606 60,355 –16,644 177,996
Reporting and auditing expenses 81,900 –81,900 74,084 74,084
Other accruals 61,908 –40,017 40,062 61,953
Total 1,465,386 –1,214,281 1,514,126 –55,957 1,709,274
           
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5.8 Other Short-term Liabilities and Deferred Revenues

As of 31 August 2006, the other short-term liabilities and deferred revenues had a remaining term of less than one year and are broken down into the main components listed in Table 7:

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Tab. 7 – Other liabilities and deferred revenues in €    
  31.08.2006 31.08.2005
     
Liabilities from income tax, social security and similar obligations 107,647 260,718
Liabilities from value added tax 103,846 137,280
Liabilities from asset retirement obligations and lease rental charges ­— 400,563
Other liabilities 4,442 8,027
Deferred revenues and deferred income 89,299 25,109
Total 305,234 831,697
     
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5.9 Financial Liabilities and Contingent Liabilities

SinnerSchrader rents its office premises at the Hamburg and Frankfurt am Main locations as well as company vehicles in the context of rental and operating leasing contracts. The minimum remaining term of the rental contracts for the offices in Hamburg and Frankfurt am Main was 58 and 56 months respectively as of 31 August 2006. The leasing contracts for the company vehicles had a remaining term of between 3 and 26 months on the balance sheet date. In the years ahead, the rental and leasing contracts will result in financial liabilities in the amount shown in Table 8:

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Tab. 8 – Financial commitments in €    
  31.08.2006 31.08.2005
     
01.09.2006 – 31.08.2007 767,237 996,802
01.09.2007 – 31.08.2008 755,937 23,437
01.09.2008 – 31.08.2009 740,034 12,407
01.09.2009 – 31.08.2010 738,357 2,162
After 31.08.2010 1,007,922
Total 4,009,487 1,034,808
     
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In the 2005/2006 and 2004/2005 financial years, the total expenditure for rental and leasing contracts was € 1,058,565 and € 1,466,317 respectively. This expenditure was countered by income from sub-letting in the amount of € 11,100 and € 18,640 respectively.

In addition, SinnerSchrader has certain regular contingent liabilities that arise in the ordinary course of business activities. The Company will form accruals for these if it is probable that future expenditure will be associated with these and that such expenditure can be estimated with sufficient reliability.

As of the balance sheet date, the consolidated companies that are part of the SinnerSchrader Group were open to only one legal claim, which is based on the conversion of the former company building. As of 31 August 2006 and 31 August 2005, the accrual related to this legal claim amounted to € 100,000 because SinnerSchrader feels that it is sufficiently likely that this amount will be needed. It is part of the other accrued expenses shown in 5.7.

In the course of renting office space at the Hamburg and Frankfurt am Main locations, the landlords each demanded securities, which were provided in the form of bank guarantees. As of 31 August 2006, the volume of this guarantee was € 680,563 (previous year: € 1,478,668). SinnerSchrader can dispose of its liquid funds of an equivalent amount only with the explicit approval of the guaranteeing bank.

 

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6 Elements of the Statements of Operations

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6.1 Cost and Operating Expenses by Expenditure

The total revenue, marketing, administrative and research and development costs of the 2005/2006 and 2004/2005 financial years was broken down according to cost types, as shown in Table 9:

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Tab. 9 – Operating cost (excluding restructuring cost) by expenditure in €    
  2005/2006 2004/2005
     
Personnel expense 7,793,611 7,735,293
Cost of materials 353,619 190,180
Cost of services 1,212,833 617,288
Depreciation of property & equipment 552,198 540,993
Other operating expenses 2,718,206 2,685,356
Total 12,630,467 11,769,110
     
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The personnel expenditure refers to an average personnel cap-acity of 129 full-time employees in the 2005/2006 financial year and 132 full-time employees in the 2004/2005 financial year.

 

The expenditure for purchased materials was largely incurred for hardware and software, which SinnerSchrader acquired to sell on to its customers. The expenditure for purchased services mainly comprises costs resulting from the deployment of freelancers and sub-contractors.

 

Within the other operating expenses, € 1,163,223 and € 1,224,106 were incurred for renting and operating the office space in the 2005/2006 and 2004/2005 financial years respectively.

 

 

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6.2 Restructuring Costs and Comparable Costs

In the 2005/2006 financial year, restructuring was completed with the conclusion of the last employment law disputes on the personnel measures and the move into the new office premises in Hamburg. The expenses accrued to the account of the
previous year’s profits were utilised accordingly as of 31 August 2006 or could be dissolved.

New or additional measures were no longer necessary in the 2005/2006 financial year, and the costs posted in the previous year for the measures that were still to be implemented were sufficient, with the result that no further restructuring costs were incurred.

In the 2004/2005 financial year, the accrued expenses and liabilities were upgraded by a total of € 356,275 with an effect on income for restructuring in the field of personnel capacity and for the correction of the empty rented space.

Table 10 summarises the expenditure on restructuring measures in the 2005/2006 and 2004/2005 financial years and the level of the accrued expenses and liabilities for the restructuring measures taken as of 31 August 2006 and 31 August 2005:

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Tab. 10 – Restructuring costs and comparable costs in €            
2005/2006 Balance
01.09.2005
Additional
charges
Utilised Utilised Dissolved Balance
31.08.2006
      Non-cash Cash    
             
Workforce 90,000 –52,941 –37,059
Facilities 306,775 –306,775
Total 396,775 –359,716 –37,059
             
2004/2005 Stand
01.09.2004
Additional
charges
Utilised Utilised Dissolved Balance
31.08.2006
      Non-cash Cash    
             
Workforce 133,477 49,500 –92,977 90,000
Facilities 67,376 306,775 –67,376 306,775
Total 200,853 356,275 –160,353 396,775
             
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6.3 Other Income/Expenses, Net

Table 11 shows the composition of the other income/expenses:

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Tab. 11 – Other income and expenses in €    
  2005/2006 2004/2005
     
Income from dissolving of accrued expenses 115,136 79,914
Expense from disposal of plant and equipment –36,987 –3,539
Other –1,026 4,396
Total 77,123 80,771
     
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6.4 Financial Income

The financial income is comprised of income from interest, income from the sale of securities and interest expenditure, as shown in Table 12:

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Tab. 12 – Financial income in €    
  2005/2006 2004/2005
     
Interest income 191,427 39,240
Realised gains/losses, net on the sale of marketable securities 44,379 173,911
Income from investments and participations 25,565
Interest expense –1,476 –19,927
Total financial income 234,330 218,789
     
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Expenditure on interest was largely incurred for the guarantees provided by banks.

 

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6.5 Taxes from Income and from Earnings

The taxes from income and earnings reported in the 2005/2006 and 2004/2005 financial years are made up of current and deferred components, as shown in Table 13a:

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Tab. 13a – Income tax in €    
  2005/2006 2004/2005
     
Current
Deferred –357,205 –148,412
Total –357,205 –148,412
     
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In both financial years, no current taxes were incurred because the pre-tax profits incurred solely in Germany could be completely offset against tax loss carry-forwards.Deferred taxes had to be formed because of the evaluation differences between the balance sheet items according to IFRS and the postings in the relevant tax balances, as well as on the basis of loss carry-forwards that can be used for tax purposes. Table 13b shows the composition of the deferred tax item as of 31 August 2006 and 31 August 2005, broken down according to the items where there was an evaluation difference:

 

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Tab. 13b – Deferred tax positions in €    
  31.08.2006 31.08.2005
     
Deferred tax assets:    
Loss carry-forwards 1,188,738 1,476,129
Valuation of accrued expenses 35,437 17,152
Valuation allowance –495,363 –1,221,263
Total deferred tax assets 728,812 272,018
     
Deferred tax liabilities:    
Valuation of unfinished/unbilled services 203,997 101,748
Valuation of marketable securities available for sale –2,572 279
Valuation of fixed assets 10,498 17,092
Valuation of current assets 11,065 5,937
Total deferred tax liabilities 222,988 125,056
     
Total deferred tax assets/liabilities, net 505,824 146,962
     
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As of 31 August 2006 and 31 August 2005, the calculation of deferrals was based on tax loss carry-forwards in Germany, the UK and the Netherlands. In these three countries, the relevant loss carry-forwards could be brought forward without limitation. The extent of the loss carry-forwards and the tax rates used to calculate them are listed in Table 13c:

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Tab. 13c – Loss carry-forwards and statutory income tax rates in € and %        
For corporate tax 31.08.2006 31.08.2006 31.08.2005 31.08.2005
  Loss carry-forwards Tax rate Loss carry-forwards Tax rate
         
Germany –1,657,002 26.4 % 1) –2,406,369 26.4 % 1)
thereof in tax group –1,527,104 26.4 % 1) –2,276,471 26.4 % 1)
Great Britain –1,027,069 30.0 % –985,879 30.0 %
Netherlands –182,968 34.5 % –174,617 34.5 %
         
For corporate tax 31.08.2006 31.08.2006 31.08.2005 31.08.2005
  Loss carry-forwards Tax rate Loss carry-forwards Tax rate
         
Germany –2,715,697 19.0 % –3,465,064 19.0 %
thereof in tax group –2,074,299 19.0 % –2,823,666 19.0 %
Great Britain
Netherlands
         
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1) 25 % corporation tax plus 5.5 % solidarity surcharge 

 

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Deferred tax assets may be posted only to the extent that the future realisation of the relevant advantage is sufficiently probable or if they are countered by deferred tax liabilities. Correspondingly, as of 31 August 2006 and 31 August 2005, the values of the tax claims from loss carry-forwards in the UK and the Netherlands were corrected because the operating business in these countries continues to be inactive. The same applies to tax claims from loss carry-forwards prior to the tax consolidation of a domestic subsidiary because here, too, real-isation cannot yet be forecast with sufficient probability.

Furthermore, in the previous year, deferred tax assets above and beyond the level of the deferred tax liabilities were formed for the German group of companies only to the extent that real-isation in the immediately following financial year was estimated to be sufficiently probable because of the still limited profit history after the turnaround. In view of the course of business in the 2005/2006 financial year, as of 31 August 2006 it was to be assumed that it would be possible to realise the deferred tax claims to the full extent in future periods with the result that the deferred tax assets of the German group of companies were to be posted in full.

The deferred tax assets and liabilities were posted separately for every tax subject for identification on the balance sheet. Of the total deferred tax item, the part that referred to the evaluation of the securities classified as available for sale was to be formed directly against the shareholders’ equity.

The tax expenditure or income identified in the statements of operations deviates from the value that would result from the use of the statutory tax rates on the pre-tax profits. For the financial years ending on 31 August 2006 and 31 August 2005, the statutory tax rate for SinnerSchrader AG was 40.4 % overall. It was made up of the trade tax rate of 19 %, the corporation tax rate of 25 % and the solidarity surcharge of 5.5 % on the corporation tax. When determining the overall rate, it had to be taken into account that the trade tax reduced the income subject to corporation tax (including the solidarity surcharge).


Table 13d explains the difference between the calculated tax expenditure or income on the basis of the statutory tax rate and the tax expenditure or income recorded in the statements of operations for the two financial years 2005/2006 and 2004/2005:

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Tab. 13d – Tax reconciliation in €    
  2005/2006 2004/2005
     
Tax provision (+), tax credit (–) at statutory rate 337,016 159,877
Permanent difference for stock-based compensation 3,213 422
Other non-deductible expense/non-taxable income 7,511 9,238
Changes in valuation allowance for deferred tax assets and utilized loss carry-forward of domestic group companies –705,316 –319,351
Changes in valuation allowances for deferred tax assets and differences in tax rates concerning losses in    
foreign group companies, net of tax effects on consolidation 371 1,402
Current taxes relating to previous years
Other
Income tax corresponding to income statement –357,205 –148,412
     
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6.6 Earnings per Share

The derivation of the undiluted and diluted earnings per share for the 2005/2006 and 2004/2005 financial years is shown in Table 14:

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Tab. 14 – Earnings per share in € and number    
  2005/2006 2004/2005
     
Net profit/loss 1,191,720 544,299
Basis weighted average shares of common stock outstanding 11,411,417 11,333,908
Basic earnings per share 0.10 0.05
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding 11,411,417 11,333,908
add: Stock option grant 3,139 11,662
Dilutive average share of common stock outstanding 11,414,556 11,345,570
Diluted earnings per share 0.10 0.05
     
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7 Share-based Compensation

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7.1 Stock Option Plans

» SinnerSchrader Stock Option Plan 1999
In October 1999, the Annual General Meeting of SinnerSchrader AG approved the SinnerSchrader Stock Option Plan 1999 (“1999 Plan”), which provides for the granting of stock options to allocate a total of 375,000 shares to the members of the Management Board of SinnerSchrader AG (40,000 options), to the management of the affiliated companies (10,000 options), to all employees of SinnerSchrader AG (55,000 options) as well as to all employees of the affiliated companies (270,000 options) by 8 November 2004.

Options granted under the 1999 Plan have an exercise price of 120 % of the average closing price of the SinnerSchrader share on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange during the ten trading days prior to the allocation date. The options of the 1999 Plan can be exercised in equal instalments of one-third each two, three and four years after allocation at the earliest. They have to be exercised within six years after the allocation date. In the 2005/2006 and 2004/2005 financial years, no options from the 1999 Plan were allocated; no options were exercised either. As of 31 August 2006, a total of 127,909 options from the 1999 Plan were still outstanding with an average exercise price of
€ 14.63.
 

» SinnerSchrader Stock Option Plan 2000

In December 2000, the Annual General Meeting of SinnerSchrader AG approved the SinnerSchrader Stock Option Plan 2000 (“2000 Plan”), which provides for the granting of stock options to allocate a total of 375,000 shares to the members of the Management Board of SinnerSchrader AG (40,000 options), to the management of the affiliated companies (40,000 options), to all employees of SinnerSchrader AG (55,000 options) as well as to all employees of the affiliated companies (240,000 options) by 10 January 2006.

Options granted under the 2000 Plan have an exercise price of 120 % of the average closing price of the SinnerSchrader share on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange during the ten trading days prior to the allocation date. The options of the 2000 Plan can be exercised in equal instalments of one-third each two, three and four years after allocation at the earliest. They have to be exercised within six years after the allocation date. In the 2005/2006 and 2004/2005 financial years, 148,200 and 0 options respectively from the 2000 Plan were newly allocated; 0 and 19,018 options respectively were exercised at an exercise price of € 2.76 per share. As of 31 August 2006, a total of 168,629 options from the 2000 Plan were still outstanding with an average exercise price of € 2.27.

Table 15a shows the parameters used for evaluation of the options newly allocated on 1 January 2006 on the basis of the Black-Scholes model:

 

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Tab. 15a – Parameter for estimation of stock options on date of issue  
  2005/2006
   
Expected life of option 2.5 – 4.5 years
Risk-free interest rate 3.10 – 3.25 %
Expected dividend yield 0 %
Expected volatility 48 %
   
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The volatility was determined by the closing prices of the last 240 trading days before the date of allocation.

Table 15b summarises the changes in the number of options outstanding from the 1999 Plan and the 2000 Plan in the 2005/2006 and 2004/2005 financial years:

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Tab. 15b – Outstanding stock options in € and number      
  Number of
options
Weighted average
exercise price
Weighted average grant
date fair value
       
Outstanding at 31 August 2004 340,283 12.00 5.84
Granted
Exercised –19,018 2.76 1.42
Cancelled –27,128 2.07 1.11
Outstanding at 31 August 2005 294,137 13.51 6.56
Granted 148,200 2.08 0.00
Exercised
Cancelled –88,199 2.11 1.26
Expired –57,600 32.00 15.69
Outstanding at 31 August 2006 296,538 7.60 3.09
       
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Additional information on all options outstanding from both option programmes on 31 August 2006 is listed in Table 15c:

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Tab. 15c – Outstanding stock options according to exercise price in €, number and years          
31.08.2006 Options
outstanding
    Options
exercisable
 
Range of exercise price Number Weighted aver-
age remaining
contractual life
in years
Weighted average
exercise price
in €
Number Weighted average
exercise price
in €
           
0.00 – 5.00 226,685 2.43 2.40 154,155 2.60
5.01 – 10.00 14,970 0.62 6.76 14,970 6.76
10.01 – 30.00 29,940 0.00 16.46 29,940 16.46
30.01 – 50.00 16,104 0.00 34.96 16,104 34.96
50.01 – 90.00 8,839 0.00 62.43 8,839 62.43
Total 296,538 1.89 7.60 224,008 9.42
           
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7.2 Stock-based Bonuses

As of 1 January 2005, a stock-based bonus was awarded to a member of the Management Board. According to this arrangement, the Board member is entitled to a cash bonus in January 2008 based on the stock price performance of the SinnerSchrader share until 31 December 2007. The bonus will be calculated as the difference between the average closing price of the SinnerSchrader share on the last ten trading days prior to 1 January 2008 and the reference price of € 1.61 per share, multiplied by 200,000.

 

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8 Related Party Transactions

In the 2005/2006 and 2004/2005 financial years, SinnerSchrader generated revenues of € 2,689,764 and € 2,898,682 respectively with companies in which members of the Supervisory Board of SinnerSchrader hold Supervisory Board positions. The total of unbilled services and accounts receivable to these companies amounted to € 205,354 and € 166,218 on 31 August 2006 and 31 August 2005 respectively.

In May 2005, SinnerSchrader entered into a consultancy agreement with a former member of the Management Board who had retired from his position in April 2004. Under the terms of this agreement, SinnerSchrader received advice on the development of its operating services business for € 20,000. This accounted for € 10,000 each in both the 2005/2006 and 2004/2005 financial years. The agreement terminated on 31 December 2005. 

 

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9 Major Events after the Balance Sheet Date

There were no major events after the balance sheet date that should be reported.


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10 Supplementary Information Required by the German Commercial Code

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10.1 Employees

In the 2005/2006 financial year, an average of 135 people were employed by the SinnerSchrader Group. Of these, 2 employees were members of the Management Board and 6 employees were managing directors of subsidiaries. In the previous year, there was an average of 138 employees in the Group.

 

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10.2 Payment of the Auditors

A total of € 58,568 was paid for the audit of the SinnerSchrader AG Annual and Consolidated Financial Statements as of 31 August 2006; € 22,760 of this was paid by the AG and € 35,826 by the subsidiaries. The auditors, Ernst & Young AG Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft, Steuerberatungsgesellschaft, also received fees in the amount of € 17,127 in the 2005/2006 financial year for other certification and evaluation services and € 215 for other services.

 

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10.3 Management Board

In the 2005/2006 financial year, the following persons were members of the Management Board.

  • Matthias Schrader, Businessman, Chairman
  • Thomas Dyckhoff, Businessman, Finance Director


On 20 December 2005, the appointment of Mr Schrader was renewed for the period to 31 December 2010. The members of the Management Board performed their duties on a full-time basis. Compensation of the Management Board members in the 2005/2006 financial year amounted to € 299,729 and was made up as follows:

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Tab. 16a – Compensation of the Management Board members        
  Fixed salary
in €
Other
benefits in €
Variable
compensation in €
Number
of stock
options
         
Matthias Schrader 127,920 15,787
Thomas Dyckhoff 118,333 12,689 25,000
Total 246,253 28,476 25,000
         
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10.4 Supervisory Board

In the financial year, the following persons were members of the Supervisory Board:

  • Dr Markus Conrad, Chairman (until 27 January 2006)
  • Reinhard Pöllath, Lawyer, Chairman (from 27 January 2006; previously Deputy Chairman)
  • Dieter Heyde, Businessman, Deputy Chairman (from 27 January 2006)
  • Frank Nörenberg, Lawyer


Compensation of the Supervisory Board members in the 2005/2006 financial year was made up as follows:

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Tab. 16b – Compensation of the Supervisory Board members 2005/2006        
  Compensa-
tion in €
Other
benefits
in €
Variable
compensa-
tion in €
Number
of stock
options
         
Dr Markus Conrad 3,266 89 1,633
Reinhard Pöllath 7,183 218 3,592
Dieter Heyde 3,551 129 1,775
Frank Nörenberg 4,000 218 2,000
Total 18,000 654 9,000
         
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Another benefit for every member of the Supervisory Board is the proportionate premium for the economic loss indemnity insurance for bodies of legal persons taken out by the Company.

 

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10.5 Directors’ Holdings of Shares and Subscription Rights to Shares (Directors’ Dealings), Unaudited

The following table shows the number of shares in SinnerSchrader AG and the number of subscription rights to these shares held by directors of SinnerSchrader AG as of 31 August 2006 and their changes in the 2005/2006 financial year:

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Directors’ holdings of shares and subscription rights to shares in number        
Shares 31.08.2005 Additions Withdrawals 31.08.2006
         
Management Board member:        
Matthias Schrader 2,342,675 2,342,675
Thomas Dyckhoff 49,950 49,950
Management Board, total 2,392,625 2,392,625
         
Supervisory Board member:        
Dr Markus Conrad 1) 127,500 127,500
Reinhard Pöllath
Dieter Heyde
Frank Nörenberg 1,000 1,000
Supervisory Board, total 128,500 127,500 1,000
Board members, total 2,521,125 127,500 2,393,625
         
Subscription rights 31.08.2005 Additions Withdrawals 31.08.2006
         
Management Board member:        
Matthias Schrader
Thomas Dyckhoff 25,000 25,000
Management Board, total 25,000 25,000
         
Supervisory Board member:        
Dr Markus Conrad
Reinhard Pöllath
Dieter Heyde
Frank Nörenberg
Supervisory Board, total
Board members, total 25,000 25,000
         
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10.6 Declaration of Compliance on the Acceptance of the Recommendations of the “Government Commission on the German Corporate Governance Code”

On 21 November 2005, the Management Board and Supervisory Board submitted the Declaration of Compliance with the Corporate Governance Code required by Article 161 of the German Stock Corporation Act and made it permanently accessible to the shareholders on the Company’s website.

Hamburg, October 2006

Matthias Schrader    Thomas Dyckhoff

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