FRANKFURT (dpa-AFX) - ProSiebenSat.1's membership in the MDax is wobbling considerably. If the TV group fails to publish its annual report by the end of April, it will have to vacate its place in the index of medium-sized companies - at least temporarily.

The new Deutsche Börse rules introduced in 2021 in view of the scandal surrounding payment processor Wirecard are clear and unconditional: companies from the leading Dax index, the MDax index and the second-tier SDax index must publish their annual report - including an additional period of one month - within four months. Half-yearly reports must be submitted within three months and quarterly reports within 75 days. Those who fail to comply are kicked out of the respective index within two trading days.

"Currently, Hochtief is ahead and would be promoted to the MDax for ProSieben," says index expert Luca Thorißen of Stifel Europe Bank in Frankfurt. According to him, the free float-oriented market capitalization of the Essen-based construction group is 1.5 billion euros. Behind it comes the special packaging and filling equipment manufacturer Krones with a freely tradable market capitalization of 1.45 billion euros. Photovoltaics specialist SMA Solar is also not far behind, he said.

The promotion of one of these SDax companies to the MDax would also result in further changes. As things stand, web hosting subsidiary Ionos, which was floated on the stock market by internet service provider United Internet in February, would stand a good chance of being included in the index of smaller stocks. However, in terms of stock market value, the gap to rail technology company Vossloh and semiconductor equipment manufacturer Suess Microtec is very narrow. "As things stand at present, there is likely to be a three-way fight here if ProSieben has to drop out at the beginning of May," expects Thorißen./ck/la/mis