Nov 05, 2009 (Hugin via COMTEX News Network) --

Hoft & Wessel AG / Quarterly report / Ad hoc: Hoeft & Wessel AG: EBIT

up by 10 per cent as at 30 September 2009 Ad hoc announcement according to 15 WpHG processed and transmitted by Hugin. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------

Hoeft & Wessel AG anticipates earnings of EUR 3 million and turnover of EUR 94 million for 2009 Positive forecast for 2010

Hanover / Germany, 5 November 2009. In the third quarter, the Hoeft & Wessel Group managed to continue its successful business trend in fiscal 2009. As at 30 September 2009, sales revenues of the German IT and engineering group increased by 1.4 per cent, to reach EUR 71 million (previous year: EUR 70 million). Disregarding the currency effects of the depreciation of the pound sterling, sales revenues would have risen by more than 5 per cent, to roughly EUR 74 million.

The operating result (earnings before interest and taxes - EBIT) was up by 10 per cent year-on-year, to EUR 2.3 million (30 September 2008: EUR 2.1 million).

With its nine-month figures, Hoeft & Wessel AG considers itself well on its way towards achieving a successful performance for 2009 as a whole.

In the fourth quarter, the ongoing investment reluctance in logistics and retail in the Skeye business division as well as a shift of sales revenues into the first quarter of 2010 within a large-scale Metric project in Philadelphia (U.S.) will lead to a slowdown in the positive business trend.

For the full financial year 2009, the company expects roughly EUR 94 million in sales revenues and EBIT of approx. EUR 3 million.

For the year 2010, amid ongoing difficult economic conditions Hoeft & Wessel AG anticipates an increase both in sales revenues and earnings.

The order intake in the first three quarters of 2009, at EUR 57.5 million, was at a similar level as in the previous year (30 September 2008: EUR 59.7 million). Apart from a number of minor contracts, a large-scale order received from the U.S. also made a contribution in this regard. This does not include a major order for ticket vending terminals placed by the canton of Geneva.

The order portfolio as at 30 September 2009 came to EUR 74.7 million. On the same date a year earlier, it had still amounted to EUR 105.6 million on account of the order placed by Deutsche Bahn AG for stationary ticket vending machines.

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