EANS-News: SMT Scharf AG lifts revenue and earnings in 2009

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Subtitle: - Preliminary revenue up 7% to EUR 53.3 million
- EBIT margin of 14.2%
- Proposed dividend of EUR 0.70 per share

Hamm (euro adhoc) - February 5, 2010 - SMT Scharf AG (German Securities Code
(WKN) 575198, ISIN DE0005751986), technology and world market leader for
railbound railway systems for the mining sector, increased its revenue and
earnings in fiscal year 2009 according to preliminary figures. This went along
with an expansion of the international business. Over the year as a whole, the
SMT Scharf Group´s revenue increased by 7% from EUR 49.7 million to EUR 53.3
million. The proportion of revenue recorded outside Germany accounted for 84%
(previous year: 75%); business in China and South Africa in particular enjoyed
significant growth.

The SMT Scharf Group´s EBIT was up 3% to EUR 7.6 million (previous year: EUR 7.4
million), which corresponds to a current EBIT margin of 14.2% (previous year:
14.9%). EBIT includes non-cash one-off expenses of EUR 0.8 million in connection
with the deconsolidation of SMT Scharf Saar GmbH after this company filed an
insolvency proceeding in October 2009. The consolidated net income fell slightly
from EUR 5.3 million to EUR 5.1 million due to a higher tax rate.

"We are pleased that our company has enjoyed such positive growth in 2009
despite the challenges posed by the economic crisis," commented Dr. Friedrich
Trautwein, SMT Scharf AG´s CEO on the figures. "The past fiscal year once again
proved that we are right on track with our strategy of internationalization, and
we have thus opened up significant additional growth potential for our company.
That is why we are confident that we will be able to further increase our
revenue and earnings on average over the coming years."

The Managing and Supervisory Boards intend to propose to the General Meeting for
fiscal year 2009 to pay a dividend of EUR 0.70. This corresponds to a 53%
distribution rate. Based on the closing price of SMT Scharf's shares on February
4, 2010, the dividend yield is 7.1%.

The full financial report for 2009 is expected to be published on March 5, 2010,
on the company's Website www.smtscharf.com in the Investor Relations section.

Company profile
The SMT Scharf Group develops, builds and maintains rail-bound railway systems
for mining and use in tunnels. The trains are used all over the world, primarily
in hard coal mines, gold mines and in underground mining for platinum, diamonds,
copper and nickel. They are used to transport material and personnel with
working loads of up to 35t. Rail-bound trains are the only means of transport
that can be used underground on branching lines to cope with inclines of more
than 13 degrees. The SMT Scharf Group has subsidiaries in Germany, Poland, South
Africa, China and Russia, as well as agencies around the world. The railways
developed by SMT Scharf are characterized, above all, by high-performance
engines, high working loads, high speed and low operating and maintenance costs.
SMT Scharf records more than 80% of its revenues on high-growth foreign markets,
such as Russia, China and South Africa. The replacement parts and repairs
business constitutes about 40% of revenues. The advances in exploitation of
resources make underground conditions increasingly difficult which in turn
requires more high technology transport solutions in mining. The total market
for underground transport technology comprises around EUR 5 billion to EUR 7
billion per year according to company estimates. SMT Scharf AG has been listed
in the Prime Standard (regulated market) of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange since
April 11, 2007.

Further inquiry note:
Investor Relations
cometis AG
Susanne Gremmler
Tel: +49(0)611 - 205855-23
Fax: +49(0)611 - 205855-66
e-mail: [email protected]
end of announcement euro adhoc
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issuer: SMT Scharf AG
Römerstr. 104
D-59075 Hamm
phone: +49(0)2381-960212
FAX: +49(0)2381-960311
sector: Machine Manufacturing
ISIN: DE0005751986
indexes:
stockmarkets: regulated dealing/prime standard: Frankfurt, free trade: Berlin,
München
language: English

Digitale Pressemappe: http://www.ots.at/pressemappe/EASY_65541

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