EANS-Adhoc: austriamicrosystems AG / austriamicrosystems reports second quarter and first half results

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6-month report

27.07.2009

Key financial data for the second quarter and first six months of
2009

Unterpremstaetten, Austria (July 27, 2009) — austriamicrosystems
(SIX: AMS), a leading global designer and manufacturer of high
performance analog ICs for communications, industrial, medical and
automotive applications, reports a negative development in revenues
and earnings and an operating and net loss for the second quarter and
first half of 2009. The results highlight a difficult market
environment in most target markets in the first half of 2009. For the
second half of 2009, a significant improvement in revenues and
operating results is expected.

austriamicrosystems´ business showed an unsatisfying performance in
the second quarter and first half of 2009 reflecting the impact of
the global economic weakness. Consolidated second quarter group
revenues reached EUR 28.3 million, down 39% from EUR 46.3 million in
the same quarter 2008. Group revenues for the first six months of
2009 were EUR 53.8 million, down 39% from EUR 87.5 million recorded
in the first half of 2008. On a constant currency basis, second
quarter revenues were 43% lower compared to the second quarter last
year and first half revenues were 43% lower compared to the first
half 2008. Compared to the first quarter 2009, second quarter
revenues increased by 11% sequentially.

In the second quarter, gross margin reached 22% compared to 51% in
the same quarter last year, due to the negative impact from continued
low levels of capacity utilization in our production with its high
pro¬portion of fixed costs. For the first half of 2009, gross margin
reached 26% compared to 51% in the first half of 2008. The result
from operations (EBIT) for the second quarter was a loss of EUR 11.7
million compared to a profit of EUR 6.4 million in the second quarter
of 2008. This negative result was driven by the reduced gross margin
due to the low capacity utilization and our continuing investment in
customer-centered product R&D. For the first half of 2009, the EBIT
was a loss of EUR 20.2 million compared to a profit of EUR 10.1
million in the same period 2008.

The net loss for the second quarter 2009 was EUR 10.7 million
compared to a profit of EUR 5.9 million in the same period last year.
Basic and diluted earnings per share for the second quarter were CHF
-1.52 / EUR -1.00 (2008: CHF 0.87 / EUR 0.54). The net loss for the
first half-year 2009 was EUR 18.7 million (CHF -2.64 / EUR -1.76 per
share, basic and diluted) compared to a profit of EUR 9.1 million
(CHF 1.34 / EUR 0.84) for the same period last year.

Total backlog (excluding consignment stock agreements) on June 30,
2009 was EUR 35.1 million, up noticeably from EUR 30.6 million at the
end of the first quarter (EUR 54.5 million on June 30, 2008). Cash
and short-term investments totaled EUR 37.5 million on June 30, 2009.
In addition, austriamicrosystems has further untapped credit lines
available.

In austriamicrosystems´ communications business, demand patterns for
its lighting management solutions and power management ICs remained
subdued at two Top 5 handset manufacturers in the second quarter and
first half. The corresponding run rates did not yet show meaningful
signs of recovering to previous levels even though
austriamicrosystems experienced certain stabilization effects towards
the end of the first half. At a third Top 5 handset manufacturer, the
company ramped up shipments of a lighting management solution for
several models in the second quarter, albeit from a low base. MEMS
microphone deliveries showed a recovery in shipments and together
with a key partner austriamicrosystems retains its leading edge
position in this attractive market. Despite the limited shipment
demand from handset customers, development activities at these
customers involving austriamicrosystems´ solutions continue at a
strong pace.

In addition, austriamicrosystems introduced EasyPoint™, an innovative
contactless joystick solution for mobile devices with significant
cost and design advantages. EasyPoint™ is based on the company´s
magnetic encoder technology and is already receiving strong attention
from leading OEMs. Demonstrating its leading position in LED lighting
management, austriamicrosystems started volume shipments of a LCD TV
backlighting solution to a leading global OEM in the second quarter.
The company also started shipping a multimedia solution to a new
customer in the consumer electronics segment.

The industrial and medical business delivered mixed results in the
second quarter and first half. The market environment for industrial
automation and related applications continued to be weak with
customer demand and order behavior strongly impacted by the worldwide
economic downturn. As a consequence, austriamicrosystems expects this
market segment to remain difficult for the remainder of 2009. The
company nevertheless sees continuing design traction for its broad
portfolio of magnetic encoders in a variety of innovative
applications. austriamicrosystems´ medical business, on the other
hand, showed a satisfactory performance in the second quarter and
first half. austriamicrosystems was able to win global OEMs as
important new customers for attractive mid-term projects which
validates its world class expertise in high precision medical sensor
interfaces.

The automotive market showed continued weakness with lower customer
demand and irregular order patterns across the sector.
austriamicrosystems expects this subdued situation to continue over
the coming quarters as automotive OEMs and suppliers realign their
businesses. The company nevertheless introduced a new fully
automotive-specified encoder product to the market in the last
quarter. austriamicrosystems´ foundry business contributed positively
to its overall business again in the second quarter and first half
despite lower revenues, given increased demand for higher value
specialty processes compared to the previous year.

In operations, austriamicrosystems´ wafer fab and in-house test
facilities continued to run at low utilization levels in the second
quarter to reflect the reduced market demand. In combination with the
high fixed cost nature of the company´s business this was the key
factor driving the low gross margin recorded in the second quarter
and the resulting operating and net loss. Lower production levels, at
the same time, allowed inventories to be reduced in the second
quarter. austriamicrosystems expects inventories to continue to
decline in the coming quarters as a result of product demand
increasing in comparison to production levels.

As part of its commitment to sustainable business practices,
austriamicrosystems joined the UN Global Compact, a worldwide
initiative calling for companies to promote, amongst others, the
efficient use of energy and natural resources, fair labor practices,
environmental excellence and good business conduct.

austriamicrosystems continues to operate in a difficult market
environment with impaired visibility in several key markets. Despite
this, austriamicrosystems sees a healthy improvement in its order
intake which started towards the end of the second quarter and which
we expect to continue. Based on available information, the company
expects its business to show a significantly better performance in
the third quarter and second half of 2009 compared to the first half.
Consequently, austriamicrosystems expects operating results to show a
strong improvement over the remaining quarters. At the same time,
austriamicrosystems´ attractive product line-up and a growing list of
design-wins at high quality customers position its business well for
the future.

The complete half year report 2009 including detailed financial
information is available on austriamicrosystems´ website under
http://www.austriamicrosystems.com/eng/Investor/Financial-Reports

end of announcement euro adhoc
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ots Originaltext: austriamicrosystems AG
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Further inquiry note:

Moritz M. Gmeiner

Director Investor Relations

Tel: +43 3136 500-5970

Fax: +43 3136 500-5420

Email: investor@austriamicrosystems.com

Branche: Technology
ISIN: AT0000920863
WKN: 632638
Börsen: SIX Swiss Exchange / official dealing