Viscom AG — Earnings Release 2008

May 15, 2008

News Details

Corporate | 15 May 2008 11:16

Viscom AG with a dynamic start into the new year

Viscom AG / Quarter Results

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• Revenues increase by 10.7 % compared to year-on-year figure
• Incoming orders grow by 7.3 %
• Orders on hand (+60.9 %) on a high level
• Forecast for the full year 2008 remains valid

Hanover, 15 May 2008 – Viscom AG has enjoyed a dynamic start into the new
financial year 2008. The company generated revenue of K€ 11,865 (previous
year: K€ 10.716) in the first quarter of 2008, which is to an increase of
10.7 % compared to the same period of the previous year. 'This is
particularly encouraging in light of the increasingly weak US dollar, which
had a negative impact on both revenue and earnings', stresses Dr. Martin
Heuser, Executive Board member and company founder of the Viscom AG.
'Amounts denominated in US dollars currently account for around 25 % of
total group revenue. Assuming the same level of revenue, this means that
the revenue deterioration amounted to some K€ 400 year-on-year.' Incoming
orders are on a high level with an increase of 7.3 % year-on-year and the
orders on hand are up by 60.9 % on the same period of the previous year.
This means that the full utilisation of the company’s production capacities
is guaranteed for around three months. Orders for the new inspection
systems alone totalled around €4 million and will be processed over the
coming months.

Our future revenue drivers also had a promising start to 2008. The new IP
business area, which was formed following the acquisition of the MX product
family from the US light source developer Phoseon Technology Inc., is
working intensively towards the development of new inspection systems for
the semiconductor industry. This technology is expected to establish itself
as a further pillar of Viscom’s business activities in the medium to long
term.

One other highlight is the development of inspection systems that are
specifically tailored to the needs of the photovoltaic industry. Production
capacities in this global growth industry are forecast to double by 2010,
and Viscom intends to participate in this growth. We expect to see
increased demand and a corresponding expansion in our customer base.

The X7056RS system is one of our key products. It is the only inspection
system in the world to offer simultaneous 3D X-ray and optical inspection.
We are currently starting the series production of this system. 'Soon, we
will have the capacity to produce several machines a week, emphasises
Volker Pape, Executive Board member and company founder of the Viscom AG,
'which will have a positive impact on our revenue figures over the course
of the year.'

Viscom is continuing to invest worldwide in order to ensure its expansion
in growth markets. This includes the implementation of investment projects
announced at the company’s IPO, such as the establishment of application
centres. As a result of these investments, a higher proportion of costs was
attributable to personnel, sales and research and development in the first
quarter 2008. EBIT for the first three months of 2008 amounted to K€ 30
(previous year: K€ 108).

The Group tax burden was distorted by the high level of income tax in the
USA due to the strong quarterly figures. 'The first quarter 2008 shows a
tax rate of 92.5 %', explains Ulrich Mohr, Executive Board member for
finance of the Viscom AG. 'We are forecasting a tax rate of around 27 % for
the year as a whole.' All in all, the company recorded a net profit after
taxes of K€ 12 (previous year: K€ 58).

The management of the Viscom AG is confident that the company is well
equipped for its planned revenue growth. The forecast for revenue is
between € 57 million and € 60 million and an EBIT margin of 7 % to 9 % for
the 2008 financial year.

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

Key figures of the Viscom AG

Company information
Q1/2008
Key figures (K€) Jan.- Mar. 2008 Jan.- Mar. 2007
Revenue 11,865 10,716
EBIT 30 -108
EBIT margin 0.3 % -1.0 %
Financial result 131 176
Taxes on income -149 -10
Net profit for the period 12 58
Earnings per share € 0.00 € 0.01

Number of shares 9,020,000 9,020,000

Number of employees 400 368

Segment information
Q1/2008
Key figures (K€) Jan.- Mar. 2008 Jan.- Mar. 2007
Europe
Revenue 7,083 7,419
EBIT -263 -254
EBIT margin -3.7 % -3.4 %
Asia
Revenue 1,789 1,757
EBIT -71 161
EBIT margin -3.9 % 9.2 %
Americas
Revenue 2,984 1,540
EBIT 364 -15
EBIT margin 12.2 % -1.0 %

Contact:
Viscom AG
Investor Relations
Simone Huch
Carl-Buderus-Str. 9-15
30455 Hannover
Tel.: +49-511-94996-861
Fax: +49-511-94996-555
simone.huch@viscom.de

15.05.2008 Financial News transmitted by DGAP

Language: English
Issuer: Viscom AG
Carl-Buderus-Strasse 9-15
30455 Hannover
Deutschland
Phone: +49 (0) 511 94 996 861
Fax: +49 (0) 511 94 996 501
E-mail: simone.huch@viscom.de
Internet: www.viscom.com
ISIN: DE0007846867
WKN: 784686
Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard), Hannover;
Freiverkehr in Berlin, Düsseldorf, München, Stuttgart

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