Manz AG — Earnings Release 2008

Feb 25, 2009

News Details

Corporate | 25 February 2009 07:59

Manz Automation AG with record-breaking results in fiscal year 2008

Manz Automation AG / Preliminary Results

Release of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory
AG.
The issuer / publisher is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

---

• Best earnings ever in the company's history
• Revenues more than triple to EUR 236.5 million according to preliminary
  figures
• EBIT up more than 185% to around EUR 28.6 million
• EBIT margin of 12.1% in fiscal year 2008

Reutlingen, February 25, 2009 - Manz Automation AG, one of the worlds's
leading technology providers for the photovoltaic and LCD industries,
recorded significant revenue and profit growth last fiscal year, and thus
new record-breaking results. According to preliminary figures, the Manz
Group increased its revenues from EUR 71.3 million last year by more than
232% to EUR 236.5 million. The fourth quarter of 2008 alone contributed EUR
77.4 million to revenues (previous year: EUR 24.5 million). At the same
time, Manz almost tripled its total operating revenue to EUR 234.8 million
(previous year: EUR 81.5 million). This positive growth was based not only
on strong operating growth in the solar sector, but also the successful
integration of the three companies acquired in fiscal year 2008. This means
that Manz has significantly expanded both its product portfolio by adding
new technologies, and also its production capacity.

Growth last fiscal year was again driven by the systems.solar division,
where revenues were up EUR 51.1 million to EUR 141.5 million. The
systems.lcd segment also made a major contribution to revenues of EUR 46.5
million (previous year: EUR 8.7 million), due in particular to Manz Intech
Machines Co., Ltd. which has been consolidated since April 2008.

The company's EBIT increased from EUR 10.0 million to around EUR 28.6
million - this figure thus also almost tripled. In the fourth quarter of
2008, the result from operating activities totaled EUR 9.8 million. This
means that the EBIT margin for 2008 as a whole (in terms of revenues
recorded) was 12.1%.

CEO Dieter Manz is very pleased with the record-breaking year: 'We reached
key strategic milestones last year. These include significantly increasing
our capacity and integrating innovative technologies in our product range.
And that's what it takes to further expand our technology leadership and
develop new markets!' At the same time, Dieter Manz is also optimistic
about what the future holds: 'We will conquer the challenges that face us,
and we are very confident that we will be able to link in to the
substantial growth rates we enjoyed in the past after mastering the
economic crisis. Our strong research and development competence,
long-standing strategic alliances and our solid position on international
markets are the key foundations in this regard!'

As of December 31, 2008, the Manz Group's order book totaled around EUR 107
million, and the bulk of this will be recognized in revenues and earnings
in fiscal year 2009. Over the long-term, photovoltaic will play a key role
in the global energy mix, securing the electricity supply. That is why
experts in the solar sector are forecasting substantial increases in growth
rates again in the coming years. As a leading provider of system solutions
in automation, quality assurance, laser process technology and wet
chemicals, Manz Automation is thus excellently positioned to be able to
enjoy substantial benefits from this trend.

The full figures for fiscal year 2008 will be published together with the
annual report on March 31, 2009.

Company profile: Manz Automation AG

Reutlingen-based Manz Automation AG (ISIN: DE000A0JQ5U3) is one of the
world's leading technology providers in terms of market shares for systems
for automation, quality assurance and laser process technology for the
photovoltaic industry and for automation and wet chemicals for the LCD
industry. The Manz Group's core competences are in robotics, image
processing, laser technology, wet chemicals as well as control and drive
technology. The Manz Group's key strategic divisions are photovoltaic
(systems.solar), LCD (systems.lcd) and OEM systems (systems.aico) for
automation in various industrial sectors and the life science industry. The
Manz Group has sales and service branches in Germany, Taiwan, the USA,
China, South Korea, India and Spain. In addition, the Manz Group has its
own production facilities in Germany, Slovakia, Hungary, Taiwan and China.
According to preliminary figures, the Manz Group recorded revenues of EUR
236.5 million and an EBIT margin of 12.1% in fiscal year 2008.

Investor relations contact

Manz Automation AG
Stefan Sell
Tel.: +49 (0)7121 - 9000-896
Fax: +49 (0)7121 - 9000-99
E-Mail: ssell@manz-automation.com

cometis AG
Ulrich Wiehle
Tel.: +49 (0)611 - 205855-11
Fax: +49 (0)611 - 205855-66
E-Mail: wiehle@cometis.de

25.02.2009 Financial News transmitted by DGAP

Language: English
Issuer: Manz Automation AG
Steigäckerstr. 5
72768 Reutlingen
Deutschland
Phone: +49 (0) 7121 9000-0
Fax: +49 (0) 7121 9000-99
E-mail: info@manz-automation.com
Internet: http://www.manz-automation.com
ISIN: DE000A0JQ5U3
WKN: A0JQ5U
Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr
in Berlin, Stuttgart, München, Düsseldorf

End of News DGAP News-Service

---