MLP further increases revenues – outlook adjusted to reflect difficult market conditions

• Financial market crisis burdens EBIT in Q3
• Year-end forecast: Total revenues expected to be at the level of the record year 2007

Wiesloch, 5th November 2008 - Despite the far-reaching effects of the financial market crisis, the core business of MLP, the independent financial services and wealth management consulting company, has remained resilient in the first nine months of the financial year. In this respect, satisfactory progress was achieved above all in the old-age pension provision business where the premium sum for new business at the reporting reference date of 30th September increased by 20 percent to EUR 4.2 billion (30th September 2007: EUR 3.5 billion). Total revenues for the period from January to September rose to EUR 413.8 million (9 months 2007: EUR 411.8 million). Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) stood at EUR 35.5 million (EUR 56.4 million).

However, the significant restraint on the part of private and institutional clients due to the confidence crisis within the capital markets particularly affected the financial investment business at MLP Finanzdiensleistungen AG and at the subsidiary Feri Finance AG, where both the new business as well as the remuneration for the existing wealth management portfolios were regressive as a result of price losses on the capital markets. Furthermore, a negative result was generated by the consultancy company TPC, which MLP acquired in February 2008 in order to strengthen its business within the occupational pension scheme division. Due to the uncertain economic climate, corporate clients have deferred larger-scale projects until next year.

Against the background of these additional burdens, total revenue in the MLP Group for the third quarter fell to EUR 126.4 million (Q3 2007: EUR 138.7 million). EBIT declined to EUR 2.8 million (EUR 18.2 million); net profit from continuing operations amounted to EUR 0.8 million compared to EUR 16.8 million in the previous year. On 30th September, the number of consultants stood at 2,491 (30th June, 2008: 2,534).

Since October MLP has registered increased momentum in its year-end old-age pension provision business, which, because of the current restraint on the part of many private clients – at least from a present perspective – is not expected to match the growth dynamics of previous years.

Despite the overall extremely difficult market conditions, MLP currently expects its total revenues for the full year to be at the level of the record figure achieved in 2007 (EUR 638.8 million). The EBIT margin will, however, deviate from previous forecasts and fall below the high level (around 16 percent) achieved in the financial year 2006.

MLP will be releasing detailed information concerning its business development in the first nine months of 2008 as scheduled on 11th November, 2008.