DGAP-News: Manz Automation AG publishes preliminary 3-month figures for 2009

Manz Automation AG / Quarter Results

30.04.2009 

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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- Revenues of EUR 16.49 million in Q1 2009 (previous year: EUR 38.61
million)
- EBIT down from EUR 5.58 million to EUR -4.96 million
- Cash flow from operating activities up to EUR 5.25 million after EUR
-1.75 million last year

Reutlingen, April 30, 2009. Manz Automation AG, one of the world's leading
technology providers for the photovoltaic and LCD industries, recorded
revenues of EUR 16.49 million in the first quarter of 2009 according to
preliminary figures (previous year: EUR 38.61 million). At the same time,
the Manz Group recorded total operating revenue of EUR 21.30 million,
compared to EUR 37.08 million in the same period of the previous year.

In the first three months EBIT totaled EUR -4.96 million (previous year:
EUR 5.58 million). EBT fell to EUR -4.87 million after EUR 5.58 million in
the first quarter of 2008. This resulted in a consolidated net loss for the
period of EUR -4.69 million compared to net income of EUR 4.24 million last
year. In contrast, the cash flow from operating activities increased
significantly to EUR 5.25 million (previous year: EUR -1.75 million).

The weak Q1 figures for revenues and income were offset by a very solid
balance sheet as of March 31, 2009: The company has an equity ratio of 73%
and cash and cash equivalents of around EUR 70.0 million, and thus
believes that it is excellently equipped to face future challenges. This
means that Manz is superbly positioned to develop next-generation systems
for the solar and LCD industries.

The results were lower due to the current difficult situation in the solar
and LCD industries. The company believes that many projects are currently
being postponed as a result of the financial crisis, as customers are often
unable to secure financing. Order intake in the past few months was thus
also at a low level. The current situation on the market and the order book
of EUR 93.00 million (as of March 31, 2009) means that the Managing Board
does not expect that it will be able to match the previous year's revenues
and earnings. That is why the Managing Board is forecasting negative EBIT
in the first six months of 2009. However, balanced EBIT is forecast for
2009 as a whole, as the activities that have been put in place to reduce
costs, such as short-time hours and the reduction of overtime, will start
to take effect then.

In spite of this however, Dieter Manz, Manz Automation AG's CEO, believes
that the company is excellently positioned over the medium to long term:
'Fiscal year 2009 is characterized by research and development. We will use
this time consistently to successfully drive our innovations to market
readiness. We are very confident that this will allow us to further
increase our technology leadership, and that we will return to our on-track
growth once the economic crisis abates. Over the medium term, we believe
that the solar market will return to its former strengths.'

The full report for the first three months of 2009 will be published on May
12, 2009 and can be downloaded from www.manz-automation.com in the Investor
Relations section.

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.
The Manz Group recorded revenues of EUR 236.5 million and an EBIT margin of
12.1% in fiscal year 2008. In the first three months of fiscal year 2009
the Manz Group recorded revenues of EUR 16.49 million.

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


DGAP 30.04.2009 
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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
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