EANS-News: SMT Scharf AG: Significant growth in revenues and earnings in Q1 2011

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3-month report

Hamm (euro adhoc) - - Revenue up 73% to EUR 15.2 million and EBIT
rises 47% to EUR 2.1 million - Order book almost quadruples to EUR
38.7 million during the first quarter 2011 (previous year: EUR 9.9
million)

Hamm, 13 May 2011 - SMT Scharf AG (German Securities Code [WKN]
575198, ISIN DE0005751986), technology and world market leader for
rail-bound railway systems for the mining sector, has substantially
increased its revenue and earnings in the first quarter 2011. The
revenue of SMT Scharf Group rose 73% to EUR 15.2 million, following
EUR 8.8 million in the same period in the previous year. Of this
amount, 87% was attributable to markets outside Germany (previous
year: 86%).

At the same time, SMT Scharf succeeded in increasing its profit from
operating activities (EBIT) by 47% to EUR 2.1 million (previous year:
EUR 1.4 million). As a result, the EBIT margin came in at 14.0% after
16.4% in the first three months of 2010. The cost of materials ratio
rose to 62% on the back of changes in the product mix and increases
in inventories, compared to 59% in the previous year period. In
contrast, the personnel expenses ratio fell to 23% (previous year:
26%). Overall, SMT Scharf AG generated net income of EUR 1.8 million,
up 84% on the previous year figure of EUR 1.0 million. This
above-average rise can mainly be attributed to a lower tax rate.

At the end of the first quarter 2011, the order book totalled EUR
38.7 million, of which 95% stemmed from markets outside of Germany.
Compared to the previous year's figure of EUR 9.9 million, this
represents an increase of 291%.

Dr. Friedrich Trautwein, CEO of SMT Scharf AG, is delighted with the
Group's successful growth over the first three months of 2011: "The
start to the year has shown that our internationalisation strategy is
bearing fruit. We are particularly benefiting from the market
momentum in China thanks to our subsidiary and joint venture there.
We also see substantial potential in other countries for the coming
years, such as Russia and South Africa, and we are aiming to tap this
potential."

The full quarterly report for Q1 2011 will be available during the
course of today at www.smtscharf.com in the Investor Relations
section.

Company profile

The SMT Scharf group develops, builds and maintains transportation
equipment for mining and tunneling. The main product area is
rail-bound railways which are used all over the world, primarily in
hard coal mines and underground mining for gold, platinum and other
metals. They are used to transport material and personnel with
working loads of up to 45 tons. Rail-bound railways are the only
means of underground transport that can be used on branching lines to
cope with inclines of more than 13 degrees. SMT Scharf´s other key
products are roadheaders, equipment for tunnel support and
chairlifts. The SMT Scharf Group has its own companies in seven
contries as well as additional dealerships worldwide. SMT Scharf
records more than 80% of its revenue in high-growth foreign markets,
such as Russia, China and South Africa. Business with spare parts and
repairs accounts for around 40% of revenue. The entire market for
underground transport technology comprises EUR 5 billion to EUR 7
billion per year according to the company´s estimates. SMT Scharf AG
has been listed in the Prime Standard (Regulated Market) of the
Frankfurt Stock Exchange since April 11, 2007.

end of announcement euro adhoc
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company: SMT Scharf AG
Römerstr. 104
D-59075 Hamm
phone: +49(0)2381-960212
FAX: +49(0)2381-960311
mail: ir@smtscharf.com
WWW: http://www.smtscharf.com
sector: Machine Manufacturing
ISIN: DE0005751986
indexes: CDAX, Classic All Share, Prime All Share
stockmarkets: regulated dealing/prime standard: Frankfurt, free trade: Berlin,
Hamburg, Stuttgart, Düsseldorf, München
language: English

ots Originaltext: SMT Scharf AG
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Further inquiry note:

Investor Relations
cometis AG
Dominic Großmann
Tel: +49(0)611 - 205855-15
Fax: +49(0)611 - 205855-66
e-mail: grossmann@cometis.de

Branche: Machine Manufacturing
ISIN: DE0005751986
WKN: 575198
Index: CDAX, Classic All Share, Prime All Share
Börsen: Frankfurt / regulated dealing/prime standard
Berlin / free trade
Hamburg / free trade
Stuttgart / free trade
Düsseldorf / free trade
München / free trade