2008 financial year: Kontron AG raises revenue and earnings

• EBIT climbs to EUR 48.3 million, earnings per share up from 60 cents to 69 cents
• Solid financial position: cash position of EUR 53.1 million, operating cash flow of EUR 27.5 million, and equity ratio of 73.1 percent
• Continued profitability in a difficult environment

Eching, Munich, March 24, 2009. TecDAX-listed Kontron AG brought the 2008 financial year to a successful conclusion despite the global financial and economic crisis, generating double-digit revenue growth and an even faster rise in profitability. Consequently, the company has continued along the profitable growth path of recent years. Kontron AG's total revenue rose to EUR 496.9 million compared with EUR 446.5 million in the previous year. This corresponds to an 11 percent growth rate. In the fourth quarter alone, a new record level of EUR 141 million was achieved. The order backlog had climbed to EUR 291.4 million by the end of the year (previous year: EUR 267.9 million), and design wins, with a volume of EUR 317.1 million, reached a new record level (previous year: EUR 273.3 million). Operating earnings (EBIT) rose to EUR 48.3 million compared with EUR 46.3 million in the previous year. This resulted in an EBIT margin slightly below 10 percent. High one-off extraordinary effects arising from the sale of the Mobile Computer division, and the acquisition of PLG, which together amounted to almost EUR 7 million in 2007, should be taken into account when drawing a comparison with the previous year's result. EBIT operating earnings rose by around 18 percent year-on-year when adjusted for this factor. Net income came in at EUR 36.3 million compared with EUR 32.6 million in the previous year. Here too, extraordinary effects in the third quarter of 2007 should be taken into account. Earnings per share rose 15 percent from 60 euro cents to 69 euro cents. The company regards itself as enjoying a highly sound liquidity position, even in today's global economic crisis, in view of its cash holdings of EUR 53.1 million and a positive net cash position (after deducting liabilities to banks) of over EUR 41 million, in addition to an operating cash flow EUR 27.5 million and an equity ratio of 73.1 percent (given total assets of EUR 396.8 million compared with EUR 381.9 million in 2007), although precise forecasts are difficult in the current environment. With a high degree of diversification in application areas and products, the continuation of the Profit Improvement Program, and the ongoing trend towards outsourcing on the part of OEMs, Kontron AG is retaining its target of boosting its EBIT margin from currently slightly below 10 percent to 12 percent by 2011.


Investor Relations:

Gaby Moldan
Kontron AG
Oskar-von-Miller-Str. 1,
85386 Eching ,
Tel: 08165/77212, Fax 08165/77222

Email: Gaby.Moldan@kontron.com

For further information:
Dr. Udo Nimsdorf
Engel & Zimmermann AG
Agentur für Wirtschaftskommunikation
Am Schlosspark 15,

82131 Gauting
Tel. 089-89 35 633, Fax: 089-89 39 84 29
Email : info@engel-zimmermann.de