InfoGenie Europe AG plans capital increase by integrating Wire Card AG and making changes to the Management Board

InfoGenie Europe AG plans capital increase by integrating Wire Card AG and making changes to the Management Board

Berlin, September 27, 2004 - The Supervisory Board of InfoGenie Europe AG, listed in the Prime Standard segment of the German Stock Exchange (WKN 747 206), has announced that ebs Holding AG plans to contribute all shares of its wholly owned subsidiary Wire Card AG to InfoGenie Europe AG. Wire Card AG represents with planed revenues in 2004 of more than EUR 40 millions the organization's key operating unit. This measure is intended to conclude the strategic expansion for E-Payment services of InfoGenie Europe AG initiated with the contribution of Click2Pay GmbH in October 2003. InfoGenie Europe AG is now focusing on intensifying the pace of its speedy extension to become the leading services and technology provider on the European market for electronic payment processing and risk management, and on extending its call center activities by integrating the stationary Wire Card subsidiary United Data GmbH, Leipzig , within the scope of its range of services.

The Board of Management is in the process of determining the contribution value of the capital increase in the form of a non-cash capital contribution by Wire Card AG and its subsidiaries United Data GmbH, United Payment GmbH und AWITO GmbH to InfoGenie Europe AG. In accordance with the statutory requirements, a subsequent check is to be made by an appraiser appointed by the registration court.
In addition, the Supervisory Board has announced changes to the company's Board of Management in view of the measure that has been adopted. The retirement of past Board member Jochen Hochrein and the termination of his tenure as such has been amicably agreed effective as of September 30, 2004. Mr. Hochrein will serve the company as consultant also in the future. From October 1, 2004, the Supervisory Board has appointed Dr. Markus Braun (35) as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Dr. Herbert Bäsch (44) as Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

Dr. Herbert Bäsch will contribute his special commercial qualifications and many years' experience gained in exercising managerial functions in the finance divisions of major corporate groups and small to medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) listed on the stock markets.

In the past three years, Dr. Markus Braun, CEO of Wire Card AG since 2002, has developed the company into one of the most successful European providers of payment processing and risk management services.

Following the planned contribution of Wire Card AG to InfoGenie Europe AG, this new group of companies will essentially concentrate on extending its international business operations in the growth market of E-Payments. The extended call center services of InfoGenie Europe AG and Internet-based financial services will be fully integrated in the newly created company.

Background:
The business model of Wire Card AG is based on a financial platform for financial supply chain management services. This platform guarantees electronic real-time processing of payments to companies across the globe in more than 180 currencies along with simultaneous risk management in order to confine defaults in payment to a minimum. Wire Card is one of the leading European technology and professional services providers for processing electronic payments and in the field of integrated risk management services. With its C3 Corporate Clearing Center, Wire Card provides corporations with a high-availability platform for secure processing of all electronic payments from many and various distribution channels. The C3 platform is complemented by the highly flexible risk management platform labeled Corporate Trust Center (CTC).

Wire Card AG's 100%holding United Payment GmbH provides credit card terminals and payment services for the POS and eCommerce divisions. Wire Card AG's 100% holding AWITO GmbH is responsible for marketing innovative, professional B2B solutions in the field of company, affinity, lifestyle and branding cards (www.berlinmastercard.de). Well established, top-flight corporations such as flydba.com or Sony Europe are banking on the payment and risk management systems available from Wire Card AG.

 

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Iris Stöckl

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