Mersen — Earnings Release 2009

Apr 28, 2009

First-quarter 2009 sales (unaudited)

Carbone Lorraine's first-quarter 2009 sales came to €158 million, up 1% on a reported basis owing to the positive impact of currency fluctuations and acquisitions. On a like-for-like basis, sales moved 6% lower.

Sales*	Q1 2008 (€ m)	Q1 2009 (€ m)	% change** Q1 2009/ Q1 2008
Advanced Materials and Technologies	64	69	0%
Electrical Systems and Components	94	89	-10%
Group total	158	158	-6%

*continuing operations in 2009 for both years

**on a like-for-like basis, i.e. at comparable scope and constant exchange rates – Unaudited data

In the remainder of this press release, all the sales growth figures are indicated on a like-forlike basis, unless stated otherwise.

Advanced Materials and Technologies

The Advanced Materials and Technologies division recorded sales of €69 million, stable compared with the first quarter of 2008.

• Sales to the solar industry continued to advance at a rapid rate. They alone contributed over 20% of Advanced Materials and Technologies sales.
• Sales also grew in fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals markets, with new orders for anticorrosion equipment remaining sprightly.
• Demand contracted in process industry markets and electronics, particularly in Europe and North America.

PRESS RELEASE

Paris, April 28, 2009

Electrical Systems and Components

The sales recorded by the Electrical Systems and Components division came to €89 million during the first quarter, representing a decline of 10%.

• Sales to the wind energy market continued to make strong headway, especially in North America and Asia. They accounted for 8% of Electrical Systems and Components sales.

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• In other markets, sales of brushes for industrial motors experienced a steep fall. They were directly depressed by the fall in industrial production.
• In Electrical Protection, the drop in demand for industrial and investment goods that emerged during the fourth quarter of 2008 gained strength during the first quarter of 2009 across all the Group's geographical regions. Conversely, sales of fuse-related products, such as power-isolating switches, coolers and rail equipment protection continued to enjoy strong demand in the rail and energy efficiency markets.

Key events of the quarter

Sale of the brushes and brushholders for automobiles and household electrical appliances division

Carbone Lorraine received a firm offer from US investment fund MidMark Capital to acquire its Brushes and brushholders for automobiles and household electrical appliances division. This disposal is currently being finalized. It will complete the strategic refocusing drive that the Group has carried out in recent years.

Carbone Lorraine's financial position

The Group's debt increased slightly compared with its year-end 2008 position owing to the investment projects launched last year and exchange rate fluctuations.

Outlook

The current trend in new orders has been boosted by the dynamism of most of the upbeat markets into which the Group has moved over the past few years, i.e. solar and wind energy, transportation, fine chemicals and, of course, Asia.

In our traditional industrial markets, the downturn observed over the fourth quarter of 2008 gained pace during the first quarter. As a result, visibility on short-term trends in the Group's sales remains limited.

In this very depressed environment, the Group continues to implement adjustment measures, notably to strip out overhead and trim the working capital requirement as far as possible, while ensuring that the resources required for expansion are kept intact.

PRESS RELEASE

Paris, April 28, 2009

About Carbone Lorraine

World leader of graphite solutions and electrical components, Carbone Lorraine specializes in the implementing of high technology materials in demanding industrial environments and in the development of systems, which are fundamental to the smooth operation of the motor and the protection of electrical equipment. With over 85% of its sales carried out internationally, the Group holds leadership positions in all of its occupations.

Advanced Materials and Technologies:	- N°1 worldwide in anti-corrosion equipment in graphite
	- N°2 worldwide in high temperature applications of isostatic graphite
Electrical components and Technologies:
Electrical Applications:	- N°1 worldwide in brushes for electrical motors
Electrical Protection:	- N°1 worldwide in fuses for powerful semi-conductors
	- N°2 worldwide in industrial fuses

The Group is listed at Premier Marché de la Bourse de Paris and is a part of the following indices CAC Mid100, SBF120 et Next 150. Find Carbone Lorraine on Bloomberg: CRL FP and on Reuters: CBLP.PA

Visit our Internet website www.carbonelorraine.com

Analyst and Investor Contact

Sébastien Desarbres VP Investor Relations Carbone Lorraine

Tel.: +33 (0)1 46 91 54 49 dri@carbonelorraine.com

Press Contact

Publicis Consultants Vilizara Lazarova

Tel.: +33 (0)1 57 32 86 46 vilizara.lazarova@consultants.publicis.fr

PRESS RELEASE

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