Viscom AG / Final Results

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• Higher incoming orders in 2007 with plus of € 4.4 million year on year; orders on hand rises 67.1 % to € 14.2 million
• At € 52.0 million, 2007 revenues nearly at previous year's level; with € 18.5 million, Q4 posts strongest quarterly revenues in company history • Despite numerous future-oriented investments, positive EBIT of € 4.5 million
• EBIT margin of 8.6 % again at good level 

Hanover, 27 March 2008 - Ultimately, business year 2007 again followed a positive course for the Viscom AG, European market leader for automated optical inspection systems in the electronics industry. Despite revenues and earnings remaining below expectations during the first half year 2007, an upturn could be achieved in the second half. In the fourth quarter, revenues of € 18.5 million were the highest quarterly revenues in company history. Revenues for 2007 did sink slightly, by 2.4 % to € 52.0 million (previous year, € 53.3 million); yet at € 57.7 million, 2007 incoming orders stood 8.3 % over the previous year's € 53.3 million. 'The course of the year was brought about by delay in the introduction of new products,' comments Dr. Martin Heuser, Executive Board member and company founder of the Viscom AG. 'Unfortunately, viewed over the entire year, we could not raise revenue figures to the extent we had expected.'
The EBIT margin of 8.6 % reached a very good level in comparison to the sector. In absolute terms, the EBIT attained a value of € 4.5 million (previous year, € 10.2 million). Numerous future-oriented investments such as expansion of the workforce by 8.7 %, as well as heightened activities in Asia and America, led to decline in EBIT year on year. The strong euro also had a negative result on the average revenue margin. In 2007, further groundwork was established for the future of the Viscom AG. 'Numerous new developments make us quite optimistic that we will fulfill our own expectations and those of our joint owners,' emphasizes Volker Pape, Executive Board member and company founder of the Viscom AG.
Earnings after taxes, with € 3.6 million (previous year, € 8.4 million) were at the level of the latest projection for business year 2007. 'Even given the lowered profit for the period, we would like to continue to offer our shareholders an attractive investment,' states Ulrich Mohr, Executive Board member for finance of the Viscom AG. 'At the Shareholders' Meeting, the Executive Board and Supervisory Board will recommend issuing a dividend of € 0.30 per share. The high payout ratio documents a striving for continuity, as well as confidence in even higher earnings in future.'
Orders on hand at year end 2007 was € 14.2 million (previous year, € 8.5 million), guaranteeing production capacity utilisation of about three months. In Asia during the reporting year, revenue was increased more than 50% over the previous year. In this region, Viscom posted €10.3 million (previous year, €6.7 million). Calculated in US dollars, this rate of increase turns out to be even higher. With this result, the investments in the new applications centres in Asia are beginning to yield a return as forecast. In America, Viscom increased US dollar revenues slightly over the previous year. However, conditioned by the weakened dollar and the associated higher conversion factor, at € 8.0 million revenues showed a € 0.6 million drop from the previous year (€ 8.6 million). In Germany, revenues of € 18.7 million decreased € 3.3 million in relation to the previous year (€ 22.0 million). Nonetheless, incoming orders totaled more than € 24.4 million.

As far as products are concerned, during the past year Viscom took a crucial step to tap into the semiconductor market. The acquisition of the MX product family from the American light source developer Phoseon Technology Inc. encompasses inspection systems for high quality inspection of semiconductor wafers with a specialised infrared light source. Viscom brings the skill and experience to develop the technology from Phoseon into a program of new inspection systems, to gain new market and customer fields in a flourishing sector. A new, fourth business area IP, 'Products for semiconductor inspection' (IP), was created within Viscom to integrate this product family. The new business area is still in the build-up phase; nonetheless, the first larger order is already being transacted.
Viscom anticipates revenues between € 57 million to € 60 million for 2008, as well as an EBIT margin from 7 % to 9 %.

Insofar as this notice contains prognoses or expectations or concerns statements regarding the future, these statements may be marked by risk and uncertainty. Thus we cannot guarantee that the expectations will prove themselves correct. Actual events and developments may deviate significantly from the expectations and assumptions expressed herein. Among the factors which may cause deviation are changes in the general economic situation, the competitive situation, exchange rates, interest rates and changes in national and international laws, among others. Thus the company assumes no responsibility to update the statements conveyed within this notice.





Key figures of the Viscom AG

Company information
Key figures     FY 2007   FY 2006
Revenue    51,986    53,307 
EBIT     4,482     10,219 
EBIT margin    8.6%    19.2%
Financial result   1,006     543 
Taxes on income    -1,929    -2,389
Net profit for the period   3,559     8,373 
Earnings per share   0.39    0.93
Number of shares    9,020,000   9,020,000
Number of employees    376    346


Segment information
Key figures     FY 2007   FY 2006
Europe  
Revenue    33,737    38,044
EBIT     3,587    8,637
EBIT margin    10.6 %    22.7 %
Asia  
Revenue    10,280    6,675
EBIT     511    775
EBIT margin   5.0 %    11.6 %
Americas  
Revenue    7,969    8,589
EBIT     384    807
EBIT margin    4.8 %    9.4 %



Contact:
Viscom AG
Investor Relations
Simone Huch
Carl-Buderus-Str. 9-15
30455 Hannover
Tel.: +49-511-94996-861
Fax:  +49-511-94996-555
simone.huch@viscom.de



Contact:
Viscom AG
Investor Relations
Simone Huch
Carl-Buderus-Str. 9-15
30455 Hannover
Tel.: +49-511-94996-861
Fax:  +49-511-94996-555
simone.huch@viscom.de


27.03.2008  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 94 996 861
Fax:          +49 (0) 511 94 996 501
E-mail:       simone.huch@viscom.de
Internet:     www.viscom.com
ISIN:         DE0007846867
WKN:          784686
Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard), Hannover; Freiverkehr in Berlin, Düsseldorf, München, Stuttgart  
End of News DGAP News-Service  

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