DGAP-Adhoc: Balda AG: Strong Q3 growth in sales revenues, operating income (EBIT) burdened by special factors

Balda AG / Quarter Results

29.10.2008 

Release of a Adhoc News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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- Q3 growth in sales revenues of 103.9 million euros (previous year: 66.4
million euros)
- Sales revenues of first nine months at 207.1 million euros (previous
year: 153.0 million euros) more than doubled as compared to half-year level
- Positive EBITDA at 24.3 million euros (previous year: 19.2 million euros)
- Special factors resulting from value adjustments and depreciations cause
operating income to fall by 14.0 million euros
- EBIT at minus 5.0 million euros (previous year: plus 8.0 million euros),
without special factors at plus 9.0 million euros
- Original sales revenues and income objectives for 2008 cannot be achieved

Bad Oeynhausen, October 29, 2008 – Balda AG, listed in the Prime Standard
segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, achieved sales revenues of 207.1
million euros in the first nine months of 2008 in the continued operations
(previous year: 153.0 million euros). This is a significant gain of 54.1
million euros or 35.4 percent. The Group achieved its best quarterly
results of 2008 in the third quarter of the current fiscal year with sales
revenues of 103.9 million euros.

The Group recorded 24.3 million euros in earnings before interest, taxes
and depreciation (EBITDA) (previous year: 19.2 million euros). Due to the
special factors totaling 14.0 million euros, the group's operating results
(EBIT) at 30 September 2008 decreased to minus 5.0 million euros (previous
year: plus 8.0 million euros). In the third quarter of the current fiscal
year, the Group recorded a negative EBIT of 0.6 million euros (previous
year: 2.6 million euros). The Group achieved pre-tax earnings (EBT) of
minus 15.1 million euros in the nine-month period (previous year: plus 0.7
million euros).

Sales revenue development
The Asian region increased sales revenues in the first nine months of the
current fiscal year to 196.1 million euros (previous year: 143.0 million
euros). This is a substantial increase of 53.1 million euros or 37.2
percent. The Asian region contributed the largest share to the Group’s
sales revenues with 94.7 percent (previous year: 93.5 percent). Both the
companies of the Infocom and touch screen operations contributed to the
growth.

The American region, with a sales volume of 10.1 million euros, remained
slightly below the revenue level of the previous year of 10.8 million
euros. The Indian region recorded a clear plus with 1.6 million euros
compared to the previous year, in which no noteworthy sales volume
occurred. The European region is not conducting any more revenue-generating
business in the continued operations.

Due to strong sales volume growth, the total operating performance climbed
by 55.3 million euros or 33.8 percent to 218.7 million euros compared to
the previous year’s reference period with 163.4 million euros.

The Group’s material expenses in the first nine months of the current
fiscal year increased substantially to 122.7 million euros (previous year:
82.9 million euros). This is an increase of 39.8 million euros or 48.1
percent. The reason for the disproportionately high increase in this
position is on the one hand the increased purchase of expensive electronic
components and, on the other, increased materials usage in the production
start-up of new projects in the touch screen operations.

Personnel expenses recorded a disproportionately low increase in the first
nine months of the current fiscal year with 33.0 million euros (previous
year: 31.0 million euros) considering the growth in the sales volume and in
spite of the considerable increase in the number of employees, totaling
12,214 employees (including temporary staff and trainees).

Earnings development
The Group recorded 24.3 million euros in earnings before interest, taxes
and depreciation (EBITDA) (previous year: 19.2 million euros).

The depreciation and amortization of fixed assets and intangible assets
amounted to 29.4 million euros (previous year: 11.2 million euros). This is
an increase of 18.2 million euros. The increase had several causes.
Expenses were accrued in all regions totaling 11.5 million euros from
impairment depreciation, which had to be made due to the impairment review
of long-term assets as per IFRS. At the same time, the greatly increased
investments in Asia, in particular for TPK and Balda Solutions Malaysia, as
well as the amortization on activated customer relations in the amount of
7.2 million euros (previous year: 3.4 million euros), contributed to the
increase.

Due to the special factors from cumulative value adjustments on claims and
impairment expenses totaling 14.0 million euros, the group's operating
results (EBIT) at 30 September 2008 decreased to minus 5.0 million euros
(previous year: plus 8.0 million euros). In the previous year, the EBIT was
still influenced by the one-time effect of the repurchase of an option bond
(6.8 million euros).

Taking into account taxes on profit and earnings as well as minority
interests, the three-quarter-year 2008 deficit for the continued operations
amounted to minus 17.2 million euros (previous year: Nine month surplus of
2.1 million euros).

Shareholders’ equity
With shareholders’ equity at 131.0 million euros (31 December 2007: 150.9
million euros), due to the net loss a decrease of 19.9 million euros was
recorded. The shareholders’ equity quota increased from 35.7 percent at the
previous year-end to 37.6 percent due to the decreased total assets.

Investments
The Balda Group had invested 39.9 million euros in total in its continued
operations at 30 September 2008. (previous year: 35.6 million euros). The
investment volume was mainly allocated to the Group’s Asian locations.
Investments in tangible and intangible assets were recorded at 25.8 million
euros in the first two quarters of the current fiscal year. Expenses, which
had increased compared to the first six months of 2008, relate primarily to
the build up of production capacity in the Asia region. A large portion of
the invested funds in the third quarter was further allocated to the
build-up of production capacities at TPK in Xiamen and Balda Solutions
Malaysia.

Outlook
Maintaining the profitability of the Infocom operations in Asia and
expanding both the customer base and sales volume base will be decisive for
the continued development of the Balda Group. The companies in Brazil are
being strictly monitored. The market environment there may have permanently
deteriorated. Balda will not invest any further in this region.

The situation in India continues to be very unsatisfactory. If Balda is
unable to generate Infocom sales in this region of any appreciable volume
then pulling out of this market is an option.

TPK will become a participation financing beginning at the fourth quarter,
with a view to a possible initial public offer from which Balda can profit.
At the same time, Balda and TPK can expand their cooperation in personnel,
technology and project-related matters to their mutual benefit.

Balda sees its future in the Asian Infocom market, on the basis of secure
and, under the current circumstances, favorably priced financing, the sale
of Balda Medical and the Bad Oeynhausen properties, as well as a
satisfactory solution in Brazil. Important segments of management will be
transferred to Asia; however, Bad Oeynhausen will remain the head office of
the holding. After a complete reprocessing of bad debts and a finalized
restructuring, management is cautiously positive about the Group’s future
outlook.

The sales objectives set for the 2008 fiscal year cannot be achieved. The
reasons for this are the loss of the quota consolidation of TPK in the
fourth quarter, the sales volume shortfalls in the first nine months of the
current fiscal year, as well as the anticipated weakening in consumer
purchasing, the consequence of global fears resulting from the financial
market crisis. Management anticipates an overall annual net loss for the
Balda Group.

Key figures of Balda Group
in mio. EUR  Q3/2008         Q3/2007         Change in %
Revenues  207.1  153.0  35.4
 Asia  196.1  143.0  37.2
 America  10.1  10.8  -6.0
 India  1.6  -  -
Total operating
performance  218.7  163.4  33.8
EBITDA   24.3  19.2  26.6
EBIT                    -5.0  8.0  -162.6
EBIT margin (in %) -2.3  4.9  -147.0
EBT                     -15.1  0.7  -2,257.0
9-months net income -17.2  2.1  -913.8
9-months net income
including
discontinued
operations  -30.6  -26.1  -17.3
EPS (in cent)         -56.5  -55.0  -2.6
Employees  12,214  7,373  65.6

Note
The Quarterly Report 3/2008 is available for download on the Balda AG
website at www.balda.de/ir/publikationen in German and English.

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Information and Explaination of the Issuer to this News:

* * *

Company profile Balda AG
The Balda Group develops and produces highly integrated devices comprising
plastic and electronic components, primarily for the telecommunications
sector. In addition, the company manufactures high-tech components such as
headphones and hands-free sets.

The future is derived from past experience. Balda has developed an active
culture of continuous transformation through the traditions established
within the hundred years of its existence. Since its founding, innovation
and technology have been the significant driving forces of progress and the
guarantors of corporate success. Today, Balda is an internationally
positioned high-tech company with innovative products and a high
performance capacity.

Balda AG, which is registered in the Prime Standard on the German Stock
Exchange, services international brand-name clients in the mobile
telecommunications sector, medical technology and other similar markets.
The Group produces close to its customers’ locations in the expanding
growth markets. With four production facilities, the Group has a strong
position in China and Malaysia. Plants in Brazil and India, as well as the
facility in Germany for Balda Medical, underline the Group’s international
focus. Within the framework of a shareholding in a leading producer of
touch screens in China, Balda is participating in the dynamic development
in the touch-sensitive display sector.

The vision was and is clear: Balda will strengthen its technological
innovations potential and further expand in the promising growth regions of
Asia. Balda will thus achieve the conditions for profitable growth and a
sustainable increase in added value.

* * *

This ad hoc announcement includes 'forward-looking statements' which are
based on the current expectations of the management of Balda. They are
subject to risks and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend
on circumstances that will occur in the future, such as, for example,
developments in the mobile communications industry, changes in technology
and the ability to timely and successfully develop new products and various
other factors. Balda does not undertake any obligation to update publicly
or revise forward-looking statements except to the extent legally required.

This ad hoc announcement is not an offer of securities for sale or a
solicitation of an offer to purchase securities in the United States or
elsewhere. The shares in Balda AG (the 'Shares') may not be offered or sold
in the United States or to or for the account or benefit of U.S. persons
(as such term is defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the 'Securities Act')) unless registered under the
Securities Act or pursuant to an exemption from such registration. The
Shares have not been and will not be registered under the Securities
Act.

Contact: Balda AG, Clas Röhl, Fon: (05734) 922 - 2728, Fax:
(05734) 922 - 2691, Email: croehl@balda.de, Web: www.balda.de


DGAP 29.10.2008 
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Language:     English
Issuer:       Balda AG
              Bergkirchener Str. 228
              32549 Bad Oeynhausen
              Deutschland
Phone:        +49-(0)5734-922-0
Fax:          +49-(0)5734-922-2747
E-mail:       info@balda.de
Internet:     www.balda.de
ISIN:         DE0005215107
WKN:          521510
Listed:       Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr
              in Düsseldorf, Hamburg, München, Berlin, Hannover, Stuttgart
End of News                                     DGAP News-Service
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