Viscom AG / Quarter Results/Interim Report
14.05.2009
Release of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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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
DGAP 14.05.2009
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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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DGAP-News: Viscom AG: Inspection System Manufacturer Strongly Affected by Global Economic Crisis
| Source: EQS Group AG