Viscom AG / Quarter Results/Interim Report

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* At EUR 5,471 thousand, revenue for the first three months 2009 well below previous year's level (EUR 11,865 thousand)
* EBIT of EUR -2,866 thousand strongly impacted (previous year: EUR 30 thousand)
* Earnings per share at EUR -0.31 (previous year: EUR 0.00)
Hanover, 14 May 2009 - During the first three months of 2009, Viscom AG, European market leader for automated optical inspection systems for the electronics industry, achieved revenue of EUR 5,471 thousand after generating EUR 11,865 thousand in the corresponding period last year. This represents a decline of 53.9 %. 'These results reflect the ongoing weakness of the economy,' explains Dr. Martin Heuser, Executive Board member and company founder of Viscom AG. For the second quarter 2009, Viscom anticipates that investment restraint will continue at a level comparable to the first quarter 2009.

This drastic reduction in revenue has resulted in a negative EBIT of EUR -2,866 thousand (previous year: EUR 30 thousand). Cost-saving measures already introduced by the end of 2008 have started showing their first effects as compared to the previous year. The number of employees as of 31 December 2008, 412, will be reduced by more than 60 during the course of the first half of 2009. The introduction of reduced work hours during January 2009 will yield further savings in personnel costs. 'Savings from restructuring in personnel will only show their full effects during the second quarter of 2009,' according to Ulrich Mohr, Executive Board member and chief financial officer of Viscom AG.

Due to interest credit that will occur at a later date, the financial result of EUR 80 thousand fell short of the previous year's level (EUR 131 thousand). Therefore, net profit for the period amounts to EUR -2,715 thousand (previous year: EUR 12 thousand). At EUR -0.31, earnings per share is considerably below the prior year's EUR 0.00.

During the first quarter 2009, the customers of Viscom Group granted orders amounting to EUR 4,435 thousand. With a drop of about 62 %, orders received were noticeably below the level of the previous year's period (EUR 11,743 thousand), similar to revenue development. Compared to year end 2008 (EUR 6,198 thousand), the order backlog fell EUR 1,036 thousand to EUR 5,162 thousand. 'The average fall in order intake for German machine construction firms is around 40 %,' comments Volker Pape, Executive Board member and company founder of Viscom AG. 'Because of the additional slump in production of electronic consumer goods in Asia, Viscom is very strongly affected by the global economic crisis.'

Due to the current situation, the Executive Board of the Viscom AG does not find itself in a position to make quantitative forecasts for the course of the financial year. Nonetheless, revenue and annual result for the 2009 financial year are expected to fall well short of last year's levels.






Insofar as this notice contains forecasts or expectations, or concerns statements regarding the future, these statements may be marked by risk and uncertainty. Therefore we cannot guarantee that the expectations will prove to be 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. As a result the company assumes no responsibility to update the statements conveyed within this notice.

 
Key figures of Viscom AG

Company information

Key figures (KEUR) 1 Jan. - 31 Mar. 2009 1 Jan. - 31 Mar. 2008 Revenue 5,471 11,865 EBIT              -2,866                       30
EBIT margin       -52.4 %                   0.3 %
Financial result      80                      131
Income taxes          71                     -149
Net profit for 
the period -2,715 12 Result per share -0.31 EUR 0.00 EUR   
Number of shares 9,020,000 9,020,000 Number of 
weighted shares 8,885,060 9,020,000   
Number of employees     361                  400

Segment Information

Key figures (KEUR) 1 Jan. - 31 Mar. 2009 1 Jan. - 31 Mar. 2008 Europe  
Revenue 4,336 7,083 EBIT              -2,457                    -263
EBIT margin -56.7 % -3.7 %
Asia  
Revenue 305 1,798 EBIT              -225                      -71
EBIT margin -73.8 % -3.9 %
Americas  
Revenue 830 2,984 EBIT              -184                       364
EBIT margin -22.2 % 12.2 %

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


14.05.2009  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  
End of News DGAP News-Service  

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