DGAP-News: Ultrasonic AG / Key word(s): Strategic Company Decision/Miscellaneous Ultrasonic AG: ULTRASONIC launches online shop and extends distribution network 25.07.2013 / 15:01 --------------------------------------------------------------------- ULTRASONIC launches online shop and extends distribution network - Online shop from the start of August - Additional revenues of EUR 2.5-3.5 million expected by year-end 2013 - Two new distributors under contract - ULTRASONIC will have a presence in Beijing in the future - Growth strategy is continuing Cologne, July 25, 2013- Ultrasonic AG (Prime Standard, ISIN DE000A1KREX3, US5), the German holding company of an established Chinese manufacturer and supplier of high-quality branded urban footwear products, is continuing to drive forward its growth strategy. The company has gained two new distributors to expand its presence to China's capital city Beijing and the surrounding province of Hebei and is about to launch an internet platform to sell the ULTRASONIC brand of urban footwear, as announced in late 2012. From the start of August, customers will be able to purchase the company's products via major Chinese online portals such as tabao.com, tmall.com and jd.com (an overview can be found at www.suoli.cc in the section 'online shopping mall'). The first products available via the internet will be the high-quality ULTRASONIC urban footwear collection. In this way, the company aims to make its products more accessible, especially to a younger, fashion-conscious target group, and raise awareness of its premium ULTRASONIC brand. Online sales will be handled by a special distribution partner as part of the established distributor concept. Currently a trial run is being carried out to undertake a final system test. 'Our distributor has a well-stocked warehouse and we assume that the first regular online orders will be received at the start of August,' comments Quingyong Wu, Chairman of the Management Board and CEO of ULTRASONIC. The company expects online marketing to generate sales revenues of around EUR 2.5-3.5 million in addition to the general outlook for the year 2013. Distribution via ULTRASONIC monobrand stores is also continuing to develop positively. The number of stores has now increased to 112 and there are plans to open more before year-end. In the second quarter of 2013 ULTRASONIC gained two new distributors to give it a presence in Beijing and the surrounding province of Hebei. The contracts with these two partners greatly extend the company's distribution network and drive forward expansion of the ULTRASONIC monobrand stores. Between four and six new shops are expected to be opened by the end of this year. This will strengthen the company's business activities in the fast-growing north eastern region of China and give it access to around 90 million additional inhabitants. The contracts are a big success because gaining good distributors normally takes a long time and involves a good deal of persuasion. However, in view of ULTRASONIC's distributor concept for its urban footwear collection, it is of elementary importance for the continued growth of the company. CEO Wu describes the strategic significance of the agreements as follows: 'Having successfully driven forward expansion of production capacity in October 2012 by acquiring a new factory complex, extending the distribution network is the next step towards growing sales revenues in the future and raising awareness of our brand'. About Ultrasonic The Cologne-based company Ultrasonic AG is the German holding company of the Chinese ULTRASONIC Group, an established manufacturer and supplier of high-quality branded urban footwear. The Group has more than 1,400 employees and operates in three market segments, each of which currently contributes about a third of revenue. ULTRASONIC produces sandals and slippers for the upper price segment for the local and international market. It is also a long-term supplier of shoe soles to leading manufacturers in the established Chinese sport shoe industry such as Anta, Xtep and Unisuper. Moreover, the company has developed its own very successful high-quality urban footwear collection which is marketed under the ULTRASONIC brand and targets China's young, fashion-conscious urban middle class, which has high purchasing power and expects high quality. The ULTRASONIC product line is currently marketed via more than 110 mono-label shops. The ULTRASONIC Group has reported a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 31 percent per year since 2009. In 2012 it generated sales of around EUR 149 million and a net profit of EUR 30.8 million. For further information about the company visit: www.ultrasonic-ag.de For enquiries: Ultrasonic AG Chi Kwong Clifford Chan Vorstand und CFO E-Mail: [email protected] Tel.: +86 1525 947 9902 (China), +852 966 227 40 (Hong Kong) Disclaimer: This document is no offer for the purchase of securities in the United States of America. Securities may only be sold or offered for sale with the previous registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 in the actual valid version or without previous registration only pursuant to an exemption. The shares of Ultrasonic AG (the 'Shares') have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 in the actual valid version and may not be sold or offered in the United States. This document is only being distributed to and is only directed at (i) persons who are outside the United Kingdom or (ii) to investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the 'Order') or (iii) high net worth entities, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as 'relevant persons'). The Shares, which are referred to, are only available to relevant persons and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such securities will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents. End of Corporate News --------------------------------------------------------------------- 25.07.2013 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. DGAP's Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de --------------------------------------------------------------------- Language: English Company: Ultrasonic AG c/o BPG mbH, Graf-Adolf-Platz 12 40213 Düsseldorf Germany Phone: +86 1525 947 9902 (China); +852 966 227 40 (Hong Kong) Fax: +49 (0)211 172 9829 E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.ultrasonic-ag.de ISIN: DE000A1KREX3 WKN: A1KREX Indices: CDAX, Classic All Share, DAXsector All Consumer, DAXsector Consumer, DAXsubsector All Clothing & Footwear, DAXsubsector Clothing & Footwear, Prime All Share Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Stuttgart End of News DGAP News-Service --------------------------------------------------------------------- 222869 25.07.2013