Viscom AG / Half Year Results

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- Revenue in the first half of 2009 totalled EUR 9,756 thousand, significantly less than record results in the previous year (EUR 28,446 thousand) - Revenue collapse by more than 65 %
- EBIT totals EUR -6,799 thousand (previous year: EUR 1,550 thousand), a     clearly negative result

- Extensive personnel measures implemented in the first half of 2009
Hanover, 13 August 2009 - Reduced demand due to the financial crisis remains a problem for Viscom AG, the European market leader in automatic optical inspection systems for the electronics industry. In the first half of 2009, revenue generated by the Group totalled only EUR 9,756 thousand, a drop of around 65 % in comparison to the very good first half of the previous year (EUR 28,446 thousand). 'There is a large amount of interest in Viscom inspection systems - yet the crisis is affecting us badly', says Volker Pape, Executive Board member and founder of Viscom AG. 'There are signs however that the financial crisis has bottomed out, but nevertheless, we are expecting an only slow recovery of the markets.'
In the first half of 2009, the Company implemented extensive cost-saving measures. Staff levels in particular were reduced world-wide in order to account for reduced order volumes. Despite these cost-saving measures, the Company generated negative EBIT of EUR -6,799 thousand (previous year: EUR 1,550 thousand) due to the extremely large drop in revenue and costs of the restructuring measures in the first half of 2009.

Once all personnel measures have been implemented, the Hanover facility will employ approximately 190 people (as of 31 December 2008: 355 employees). 'An additional 46 employees are on the reserve team and working 100 % short hours', explains Ulrich Mohr, CFO of Viscom AG. Future global savings in the personnel sector will amount to more than EUR 7 million per year in comparison to the 2008 financial year. 'These drastic personnel measures were painful but unavoidable in order to secure the liquidity position and future of Viscom AG', emphasised Dr. Martin Heuser, Executive Board member and founder of Viscom AG. 'It must be our aim to push figures back up into the black even if demand remains low'.
Due to interest credits, the financial result amounted to EUR 308 thousand, exceeding last year's level (EUR 129 thousand). Net profit for the period was therefore negative and totalled EUR -6,190 thousand (previous year: EUR 1,051 thousand). Earnings per share amounted to EUR -0.70, falling clearly below previous year's figure of EUR 0.12.

In the first half of 2009, Viscom received customer orders to the value of EUR 9,071 thousand. Incoming orders were down 62 %, very much in line with the decline in revenue, and well below the previous year's level (EUR 23,822 thousand). Viscom has therefore experienced a similar slide in revenue as other German machine tool manufacturers, which saw revenue drop by nearly 70 % against the previous year (source: VDW). Orders on hand to the value of EUR 5,513 thousand have remained on a similar level as at the end of 2008 (EUR 6.198 thousand).

At present, the Executive Board of Viscom AG is not able to give a forecast for the remaining financial year. For the 2009 financial year however, the Company expects that revenue and annual results will fall considerably below last year's levels.

Any forecasts, speculations or statements regarding future events included in this report may contain risks and be of unreliable nature. We can therefore not guarantee that these speculations will prove true. Actual results and developments may vary greatly from the expressed speculations and assumptions. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from forecasts include, amongst others, changes in the general economic environment and competition, exchange rate and interest rate fluctuations, changes of national and international laws. The Company shall not be held liable to update the statements contained in this report.
Key figures of Viscom AG

Group information

Key figures (KEUR) 1 Jan. - 30 June 2009 1 Jan. - 30 June 2008 Revenue 9,756 28,446 EBIT -6,799 1,550 EBIT margin -69.7 % 5.4 % Financial result 308 129 Income taxes 301 -628 Net profit for the period -6,190 1,051 Earnings per share -0.70 EUR 0.12 EUR Number of shares 9,020,000 9,020,000 Number of weighted shares 8,885,060 9,020,000 Number of employees 338 403

Segment information

Key figures (KEUR) 1 Jan. - 30 June 2009 1 Jan. - 30 June 2008 Europe
Revenue 7,853 19,129 EBIT -6,012 994 Asia
Revenue 670 4,083 EBIT -386 -101 Americas
Revenue 1,233 5,234 EBIT -401 657





Contact:
Viscom AG
Investor Relations
Sandra Göde
Carl-Buderus-Str. 9-15
30455 Hannover
Tel.: +49-511-94996-850
Fax:  +49-511-94996-555
sandra.goede@viscom.de


13.08.2009  Financial News transmitted by DGAP

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Language:     English
Issuer:       Viscom AG
              Carl-Buderus-Strasse 9-15
              30455 Hannover
              Deutschland
Phone:        +49 (0) 511 94 996 850
Fax:          +49 (0) 511 94 996 555
E-mail:       sandra.goede@viscom.de
Internet:     www.viscom.com
ISIN:         DE0007846867
WKN:          784686
Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard), Hannover; Freiverkehr in Berlin, Düsseldorf, München, Stuttgart  
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