EVS reports third quarter 2009 results and autumn order book

2009-11-12 06:40:01 -

LIEGE, BELGIUM -- (Marketwire) -- 11/12/09 --

  * 3Q09 revenue of EUR 19.6 million, -47.3% vs. 3Q08 (-35.8% at
    constant exchange rate and excluding the 2008 big events
    rentals), and a continued improvement compared to the last three
    quarters
  * Acceleration of studio focused R&D investments: +25% vs. 2008
  * 3Q09 EBIT margin of 47.5%; 3Q09 earnings per share of EUR 0.42
  * Autumn order book of EUR 28.0 million (+142.8%), incl. EUR 11.8
    million orders to be invoiced in 2010 and beyond
  * Major studio contract with Sky News, to be delivered over the
    next six months
  * New global service agreement for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics
    exceeding EUR 1 million
  * 2009 is a transition year towards a stronger 2010
  * EUR 1.00 gross interim dividend per share to be paid at the end
    of November

EVS Broadcast Equipment S.A.
(Euronext Brussels: EVS.BR, Bloomberg: EVS BB, Reuters: EVSB.BR) (Pinksheets: EVBEF), the leader in Professional Digital Video applications for live, near-live and studio TV production, today reported its results for the third quarter ("3Q09") and the first nine months ("9M09") of 2009.

Key highlights

Pierre L'Hoest, CEO of EVS said: "The market continues to be challenging for the broadcast industry. The somewhat improving sentiment about the global economic environment has pushed some clients to realize some catch up purchases, and some other clients to start thinking about large projects again, but it remains unclear whether the coming months will show clear signs of recovery or continued cautiousness in the broadcast industry. In that market, we will continue to focus on the development and launch of new solutions that will bring the clients to the next level. We are also very proud that Sky News has elected EVS as key partner for the launch of its new HD news channel in the spring of 2010. This project will help us extending our know-how in the studio market as we develop some customized tools for it."

Commenting on the results and perspectives, Jacques Galloy, CFO added: "The uncertain economic environment will continue to weigh on our business performance this year. Despite lower sales, we have decided to accelerate our R&D investments and have opened new R&D centers in Brussels and Paris as well as a new subsidiary in Switzerland. The 47.5% EBIT margin during the first nine months of 2009, as well as the interim dividend, show the resilience of the company during such a downturn. Following record year 2008, 2009 is a transition year towards a stronger 2010."

Corporate Calendar:
Monday November 23, 2009               Interim dividend - ex date
Wednesday November 25, 2009          Interim dividend - record date
Thursday November 26,  2009              Interim  dividend -  payment
date
Thursday February 11, 2010                FY09 earnings
Tuesday May 11, 2010                        1Q10 earnings
Tuesday May  18,  2010                        Combined  Ordinary  and
Extraordinary General Meeting

###PRECONTENT2###

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements with respect to the business, financial condition, and results of operations of EVS and its affiliates. These statements are based on the current expectations or beliefs of EVS's management and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or performance of the Company to differ materially from those contemplated in such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties relate to changes in technology and market requirements, the company's concentration on one industry, decline in demand for the company's products and those of its affiliates, inability to timely develop and introduce new technologies, products and applications, and loss of market share and pressure on pricing resulting from competition which could cause the actual results or performance of the company to differ materially from those contemplated in such forward-looking statements. EVS undertakes no obligation to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

About EVS Group

EVS Broadcast Equipment designs, develops and markets professional digital equipment for Television. The company employs over 250 persons in 13 countries and sells its products to professionals of the video and audio sectors in more than 90 countries. EVS is a public company traded on Euronext Brussels: EVS, ISIN: BE0003820371.
For more information, refer to www.evs-global.com :

EVS Broadcast is the world leader for Live TV Production Digital Disk Recorders and Related Software Applications, especially in the field of sports. The company's dedicated hardware and software suite offer a complete production platform: live slow motion (LSM), high speed slow motion, replay only, clips generation, quick clips editing, real-time SD/HD video files transfer, time delay, multi-camera recording, metadata association, graphics storage and play-out, digital transmission, multi-format ingest and play-back, audio record & edit, webcasting, mobile phone clipping. Main software applications like the "IP Director®" are running on the dedicated robust and flexible hardware the "XT[2]® Platform". The world's leading broadcasters, such as NBC, BSkyB, FOX, RTBF, RTL, NHK, CANAL+, ABC, ESPN, TF1, CCTV, PBS, CBS, BBC, ZDF, Channel7, RAI, TVE, NEP, MEDIAPRO, EUROMEDIA, BEXEL, ALFACAM and many others use EVS' solutions.
EVS 47,2% affiliate XDC is pioneering Digital Cinema Logistics and Play-out and operates between the movies distributors and exhibitors.
XDC has installed more than 500 digital screens throughout Europe in Germany, Sweden, France, Austria, Portugal, UK, Belgium, etc.

Press release in pdf format: hugin.info/133958/R/1354426/328415.pdf :