[LRflex] Leica Camera AG / Half Year Results/Change of Personnel

Hi,

I use Google Alerts to tell me of any mention on the world wide web =20
of the word "leica" (except if it is associated with the words =20
"geosystems, microsystems, horse, derby, bred" because of the other =20
divisions of Leica in which I am not presently interested and an =20
Australian race horse named Leica).

Today this item was reported, and I thought you may be interested. It =20=

is from:

http://www.financial.de/newsroom/news_d/86103.html

Let us all hope the current contretemps about M8 IR filtering gets =20
put to bed quickly with little or no technical. sales, or financial =20
impact.

All the best,

Bill


21.11.2006  (19:21)

Leica Camera AG / Half Year Results/Change of Personnel

21.11.2006

Ad hoc announcement according to =A7 15 WpHG transmitted by DGAP - a =20
company of EquityStory AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the =20
content of this announcement.
------------------------------------------------------------------------=20=

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In the first six months of the current fiscal year, i.e. until =20
September 30, 2006, the Leica Camera AG Group (ISIN DE000A0EPU98) =20
registered sales growth of 8 %, to EUR 51.9 million. Sales in the =20
camera segment were increased by 17.3 %, to EUR 25.4 million, based =20
on the existing range of analogue and digital products. Sales of the =20
Leica sports optics products decreased by 4.4 %, to EUR 11.4 million, =20=

chiefly due to consumer restraint in the North American market.

The Group's net loss for the six-month period came to EUR -4.2 =20
million, which is EUR 1 million less than for the comparable prior =20
year period. This improvement has been achieved in spite of the =20
operating result being burdened by an additional EUR 2 million in =20
comparison to the same period of the previous year. The additional =20
expenses referred to the cost of the bi-annual photokina trade fair, =20
advertising cost for an international campaign and start-up =20
expenditure for the new digital products. The Group expects profits =20
in the second half of the fiscal year since sales will be =20
proportionally higher due to seasonal reasons and the measures =20
implemented in order to improve processes will gradually take hold.

The second half of fiscal year 2006/2007 has begun with a positive =20
development of sales within the scope of our planning. The LEICA M8, =20
the first professional digital rangefinder camera, is to make a =20
significant contribution to the projected improvement of the Group's =20
economic position. The Group successfully presented the LEICA M8 at =20
the photokina trade fair in September 2006 and at the end of October =20
2006 international distribution of the product has already started, =20
one month earlier than previously announced.

With the first phase of the turnaround process successfully =20
completed, Dr. Josef Spichtig, appointed interim Chairman of the =20
Board of Management of Leica Camera AG as from April 18, 2005, will =20
leave the Company's Board of Management effective at the end of =20
November 22, 2006. Steven K. Lee, appointed member of the Board of =20
Management on September 19, 2006, will lead the Company as sole =20
member in cooperation with the newly built-up management team for the =20=

time being. The Supervisory Board is considering the possibility of =20
enlarging the Board of Management during the next few months. Dr. =20
Spichtig will be available for the Company in an advisory capacity as =20=

occasion demands.

At the end of the first phase of the turnaround process the Leica =20
Camera AG Group has defined measures to implement the start of a =20
phase of consolidation and simultaneously commenced implementation of =20=

a growth strategy. Within the framework of this approach, there may =20
be burdens on the result of the current fiscal year or of the =20
following fiscal years due to capital expenditure undertaken to =20
secure the Company's future.

Contact: Gero Furchheim +49(0)170-5881023

DGAP 21.11.2006
------------------------------------------------------------------------=20=

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Language: English Issuer: Leica Camera AG Oskar-Barnack-Stra=DFe 11 =20
35606 Solms Deutschland Phone: 06442-208-450 Fax: 06442-208-455 E-=20
mail: gero.furchheim@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx WWW: www.leica-camera.com ISIN: =20=

DE000A0EPU98 WKN: A0EPU9 Indices: Listed: Amtlicher Markt in =20
Frankfurt (General Standard); Freiverkehr in Berlin-Bremen, M=FCnchen, =20=

Hamburg, Stuttgart End of News DGAP News-Service
------------------------------------------------------------------------=20=

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