AIXTRON cautiously optimistic after Q1 low point / Gross margin increased to 45% despite 26% revenue drop / Order Intake decline reaches low point; potential for increase in Q2/2009 / AIXTRO

AIXTRON AG / Interim Report/Forecast

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AIXTRON cautiously optimistic after Q1 low point
Gross margin increased to 45% despite 26% revenue drop 
Positive contribution of other operating income leads to 16% EBIT margin
Order Intake decline reaches low point; potential for increase in Q2/2009
AIXTRON offers guidance for 2009 

Aachen, Germany, May 7, 2009 - AIXTRON AG, worldwide leading provider of
deposition equipment to the semiconductor industry, today announced
consolidated financial results for the first quarter of 2009.

Key Financials
                                 2009   2008   +/-   2009   2008   +/-
(million EUR)                    Q1     Q1     %     Q1     Q4     %
Revenues                         46.2   62.6   -26%  46.2   82.3   -44%
Gross profit                     21.0   24.5   -14%  21.0   35.6   -41%
Gross margin                      45%    39%   6 pp   45%    43%   2 pp
Operating result (EBIT)           7.6    8.7   -13%   7.6    7.4    3%
EBIT-margin                       16%    14%   2 pp   16%     9%   7 pp
Net result                        5.5    5.9   -7%    5.5    4.1   34%
Net result margin                 12%     9%   3 pp   12%     5%   7 pp
Net result per share - basic     0.06   0.07   -14%  0.06   0.05   20%
(EUR)
Net result per share - diluted   0.06   0.07   -14%  0.06   0.04   50%
(EUR)
Free cash flow*                  10.4   12.9   -19%  10.4   -2.9   n/a
Equipment Order Intake           31.2   85.5   -64%  31.2   40.6   -23%
Equipment Order Backlog(End of   100.7  157.3  -36%  100.7  105.0  -4%
Period)

* Operating CF + Investing CF + Changes in Cash Deposits

Financial Highlights
Influenced by the global recession and the currently difficult market
environment, first quarter revenues of EUR 46.2m were 26% lower year on
year and 44% below the Q4/2008 level.

Nevertheless, the gross margin increased by 2 percentage points to 45%
compared to Q4/2008 and, as such, was 6 percentage points higher in
comparison to Q1/2008. This improvement was principally due to a stronger
US-Dollar rate, a more favorable revenue mix and the benefits from the
flexible production model employed by the Company.

As previously predicted, at EUR 31.2m, the equipment order intake in
Q1/2009 was less than Q4/2008 (-23%) and also 64% down year on year, with
98% of the total value of equipment orders being for compound semiconductor
equipment.

As a result of weaker order intake, the equipment order backlog of EUR
100.7m at March 31, 2009 was 36% lower than at the same point in time in
2008 (EUR 157.3m), but only 4% lower sequentially. The Management expects
that about EUR 96m of that backlog will be converted into revenues by the
end of the year 2009.

AIXTRON's cash position continues to be very strong, being positively
impacted by the cash inflow from the office building sale of EUR 6.7m.
Consequently, free cash flow of EUR 10.4m was significantly up on the
Q4/2008 negative free cash flow figure of EUR -2.9m and EUR 2.5m down year
on year.

Management Review
Paul Hyland, President & Chief Executive Officer at AIXTRON, comments:
'Whilst we are still looking for firm evidence of a sustainable recovery,
we are now having some more positive dialogue with our customers that is
leading us towards a sense of cautious optimism.

Another positive influence on the business is the increased interest from
customers who are not necessarily motivated to buy systems because of
short-term demand signals, but because investing in LED production is seen
as a timely strategic development.

These positive developments persuade us that we can now offer an initial
revenue and EBIT guidance range for fiscal year 2009.'

Outlook
AIXTRON Management believes that in fiscal year 2009, AIXTRON can deliver
revenues in the range of EUR 200-220m and an EBIT margin in the range of
10-11%.

Financial Tables
The consolidated interim financial statements (balance sheet, income
statement, cash flow statement, statement of changes in equity) relating to
this press release are available on www.aixtron.com, section 'Investors',
subsection 'Financial Data', subsection 'Reports', as part of AIXTRON's
Group quarterly financial report for the first quarter 2009.

Investor Conference Call 
AIXTRON will host a financial analyst and investor conference call on
Thursday, May 7th, 2009, 3:00 p.m. CEST (6:00 a.m. PDT, 9:00 a.m. EDT) to
review the first quarter 2009 results. From 2:45 p.m. CET (5:45 a.m. PDT,
8:45 a.m. EDT) you may dial in to the call at +49 (69) 247501-891 or +1
(212) 444-0297. Both a conference call audio replay and a transcript of the
conference call will be available at http://www.aixtron.com, section
'investors', following the conference call.

Contact:
Guido Pickert
Investor Relations and Corporate Communications:     
T: +49-241-8909-444   
F: +49-241-8909-445   
invest@aixtron.com   

For further information on AIXTRON AG (FSE: AIXA, ISIN DE000A0WMPJ6;
NASDAQ: AIXG, ISIN US0096061041) please consult our website at:
www.aixtron.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may contain forward-looking statements about the
business, financial condition, results of operations and earnings outlook
of AIXTRON within the meaning of the 'safe harbor' provisions of the United
States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as
'may', 'will', 'expect', 'anticipate', 'contemplate', 'intend', 'plan',
'believe', 'continue' and 'estimate', and variations of these words and
similar expressions, identify these forward-looking statements. The
forward-looking statements reflect our current views and assumptions and
are subject to risks and uncertainties. You should not place undue reliance
on the forward-looking statements. The following factors, and others which
are discussed in AIXTRON's public filings and submissions with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission, are among those that may cause actual
and future results and trends to differ materially from our forward-looking
statements: actual customer orders received by AIXTRON; the extent to which
chemical vapor deposition, or CVD, technology is demanded by the market
place; the timing of final acceptance of products by customers; the
financial climate and accessibility of financing; general conditions in the
thin film equipment market and in the macro-economy; cancellations,
rescheduling or delays in product shipments; manufacturing capacity
constraints; lengthy sales and qualification cycles; difficulties in the
production process; changes in semiconductor industry growth; increased
competition; exchange rate fluctuations; availability of government
funding; variability and availability of interest rates; delays in
developing and commercializing new products; general economic conditions
being less favorable than expected; and other factors. The forward-looking
statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof
and AIXTRON does not assume any obligation to update or revise any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise, unless required by law.

Contact:
Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
AIXTRON AG, Kackertstr. 15-17, 52072 Aachen, Germany
Phone: +49 241 8909 444, Fax: +49 241 8909 445, invest@aixtron.com
www.aixtron.com


07.05.2009  Financial News transmitted by DGAP
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Language:     English
Issuer:       AIXTRON AG
              Kackertstr. 15-17
              52072 Aachen
              Deutschland
Phone:        +49 (241) 8909-444
Fax:          +49 (241) 8909-445
E-mail:       invest@aixtron.com
Internet:     www.aixtron.com
ISIN:         DE000A0WMPJ6, US0096061041
WKN:          A0WMPJ
Indices:      TecDAX
Listed:       Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr
              in Berlin, Stuttgart, München, Düsseldorf; Terminbörse EUREX;
              Foreign Exchange(s) Nasdaq
 
End of News                                     DGAP News-Service
 
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