Identive Group Announces Fourth Quarter 2009 and Year End Results

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Identive Group Announces Fourth Quarter 2009 and Year End Results

SANTA ANA, Calif. and ISMANING, Germany, March 5 -- SCM Microsystems, Inc. d.b.a. Identive Group (Nasdaq: INVE; Frankfurt Stock Exchange: INV), a provider of products, services and solutions for the security, identification and RFID industries, today announced final results for its 2009 fiscal fourth quarter (Q4) and year (FY).

Q4 2009 Results

On April 30, 2009, the Company completed its merger with Hirsch Electronics Corporation, and the Company's financial results have included operating results for the Hirsch subsidiary since the date of acquisition. All figures are reported in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

Revenue in Q4 2009 was $11.9 million, in line with the estimate provided on January 21, 2010 and up 32% from $9.0 million in Q4 2008. The increase in Q4 2009 revenues was due to the inclusion of revenue from the Hirsch business unit, partially offset by lower revenues from the SCM smart card reader and digital media reader businesses.

Gross profit margin was 37% in Q4 2009, compared with 46% in the Q4 2008, as a result of a $0.8 million write-off of inventory related to terminals for the stalled German eHealth program, as the government authorities in Germany have indefinitely halted broad implementation of the project.

Operating expenses were $11.3 million in Q4 2009, up 111% from $5.4 million in Q4 2008. The increase primarily was due to the inclusion of operating expenses relating to the Hirsch business, as well as $1.3 million in transaction costs primarily related to the acquisition of Bluehill ID, which were above the estimate of $1.0 million provided on January 21, 2010. Operating loss was $(6.9) million in Q4 2009, compared with operating loss of $(1.2) million in Q4 2008.

Loss from continuing operations in Q4 2009 was $(8.5) million, or $(0.34) per share, compared with loss from continuing operations of $(3.7) million, or $(0.23) per share in Q4 2008. Included in Q4 2009 is a $1.4 million impairment charge related to the write off of equity investments related to the Company's investment in TranZfinity, Inc. and a related impairment charge of $0.6 million for the exclusivity fees paid to TranZfinity, which was recorded as an intangible asset in the consolidated balance sheet.

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of Q4 2009 were $4.8 million, down from $6.2 million at the end of the previous quarter.

FY 2009 Full Year Results

Total revenue was $41.3 million in FY 2009, in line with the estimate provided January 21, 2010 and up 46% compared with $28.4 million in FY 2008. The increase in FY 2009 revenues was due to the inclusion of eight months of revenue from the Hirsch business unit, partially offset by lower revenues from the SCM smart card reader and digital media reader businesses.

Gross profit margin in FY 2009 was 45% of revenue, compared to gross profit margin of 44% in FY 2008. During FY 2009, gross profit margin was positively impacted by the inclusion of sales of higher-margin Hirsch products in the second, third and fourth quarters, offset by the Q4 2009 inventory write-off described above.

Operating expenses were $32.0 million in FY 2009, up 59% compared with operating expenses of $20.1 million in FY 2008, primarily due to transaction costs and the addition of eight months of expenses for the Hirsch business in FY 2009. Operating loss was $(13.5) million in FY 2009, compared with ($7.6) million in FY 2008.

The Company reported a loss from continuing operations in FY 2009 of $(14.6) million, compared with a loss from continuing operations of $(10.5) million in FY 2008.

"The 2009 merger with Hirsch Electronics was a true transformation for SCM, moving the Company into a leadership position in the area of convergence of physical and logical access control. With the January 2010 business combination with Bluehill ID, we now have the critical components with which to begin to build the signature company in the secure ID market," said Ayman S. Ashour, CEO and Chairman of Identive. "Our focus now is on vigorous cost reduction to bring down the inflated overhead costs of the Company and to stabilize our financial base. Going forward, we aim to capitalize on our unique position in the market with strong organic growth and continued execution of our acquisition strategy in a more economic manner that reduces the historically high transaction costs. Ultimately, the executive management and the Board are committed to completing the transformation of the company into profit driven growth that delivers value to our stakeholders."

About Identive Group

Identive Group (Nasdaq: INVE; Frankfurt Stock Exchange: INV) is an international technology group focused on building the world's signature company in secure identification-based technologies. Through its group of recognized brands, Identive provides leading-edge products and solutions in the areas of physical and logical access control, identity management and RFID systems to governments, commercial and industrial enterprises and consumers. The organization's growth model is based on a combination of disciplined acquisitive development and strong technology-driven organic growth from its member companies. For additional info visit: http://www.identive-group.com

NOTE: This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These include, without limitation, the statements by Ayman S. Ashour, including statements about our focus on cost reduction to reduce our expense overhead, reducing the transaction costs of acquisitions, achieving strong organic growth, achieving profit driven growth and building the signature company in secure ID. These statements are based on current expectations or beliefs, as well as a number of assumptions about future events that are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated herein. Our financial results may not meet expectations, we may not become profitable and we may not be successful in our strategy of pursuing both organic and acquisitive growth. Readers should not unduly rely on these forward-looking statements, which are not a guarantee of future performance and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside our control, that could cause our actual business and operating results to differ, including, but not limited to, our ability to successfully integrate the Bluehill ID business into ours; our ability to effect significant reductions in our expense base; we may not be able to reduce the transaction costs associated with mergers and acquisitions; our ability to grow the Company based on a strategy of providing products, components and services for the identification systems value chain; our ability to complete additional acquisitions that add to the value of our Company; our ability to complete transactions for mergers and acquisitions at a lower cost than in the past; our ability to grow market share and revenues based on participation in early stage markets for contactless products; our ability to successfully develop and introduce new products that satisfy the evolving and increasingly complex requirements of customers; the markets in which we participate or target may not grow, converge or standardize at anticipated rates or at all, including the identification and identity markets that we are targeting; and we may not successfully compete in the markets in which we participate or target. For a discussion of further risks and uncertainties related to our business, please refer to our public company reports, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 and subsequent reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

         All trade names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their
                                respective holders.

                               - FINANCIALS FOLLOW -
                               ---------------------

                 SCM MICROSYSTEMS, INC. d.b.a. IDENTIVE GROUP
               Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
                   (In thousands, except per share data)
                                (unaudited)

                                    Three months ended  Twelve months ended
                                        December 31,       December 31,
                                        ------------       ------------
                                       2009     2008      2009      2008
                                       ----     ----      ----      ----
  Revenues                           $11,865   $8,985   $41,315   $28,362
  Cost of revenues                     7,432    4,856    22,804    15,817
                                       -----    -----    ------    ------
       Gross profit                    4,433    4,129    18,511    12,545
                                       -----    -----    ------    ------
  Operating expenses:
    Research and development           1,286      844     5,062     3,902
    Sales and marketing                4,949    2,611    15,584     9,620
    General and administrative         4,426    3,356    12,091     8,075
    Impairment of intangibles            647        -       647         -
    Gain on sale of assets                 -   (1,455)   (1,417)   (1,455)
                                         ---   ------    ------    ------
       Total operating expenses       11,308    5,356    31,967    20,142
                                      ------    -----    ------    ------
       Income (loss) from operations  (6,875)  (1,227)  (13,456)   (7,597)
  Loss and impairment on equity
   investments                        (1,449)    (256)   (2,244)     (256)
  Interest and other, net               (406)  (1,588)     (411)   (1,881)
                                        ----   ------      ----    ------
       Loss from continuing operations
        before income taxes           (8,730)  (3,071)  (16,111)   (9,734)
  Benefit (provision) for income
   taxes                                 242     (601)    1,549      (752)
                                         ---     ----     -----      ----
        Loss from continuing
         operations                   (8,488)  (3,672)  (14,562)  (10,486)
        Gain (loss) from
         discontinued operations          36     (486)      226      (213)
        Gain (loss) on sale of
         discontinued operations          41       36       157       589
                                         ---      ---       ---       ---
        Net loss                     $(8,411) $(4,122) $(14,179) $(10,110)
                                     =======  =======  ========  ========
  Loss per share from continuing
   operations:
     Basic and diluted                $(0.34)  $(0.23)   $(0.66)   $(0.66)
  Gain (loss) per share from
   discontinued operations:
     Basic and diluted                 $0.00   $(0.03)    $0.02     $0.02
                                       -----   ------     -----     -----
  Net loss per share:
     Basic and diluted                $(0.34)  $(0.26)   $(0.64)   $(0.64)
                                      ------   ------    ------    ------
  Shares used in computing loss
   per share:
     Basic and diluted                25,135   15,744    22,013    15,743
     -----------------                ------   ------    ------    ------

  Note: Financial results contained in this release reflect continuing
  operations of the Company's Security and Identity Products and Digital
  Media and Connectivity businesses only. The Company completed the sale of
  its Digital TV solutions business in May 2006; therefore, financial
  results for the Digital TV solutions business are being accounted for as
  discontinued operations.

                  SCM MICROSYSTEMS, INC. d.b.a. IDENTIVE GROUP
                      Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
                                 (in thousands)

                                                 December 31, December 31,
  ASSETS                                            2009         2008
  ------                                            ----         ----
  Current assets:
    Cash and cash equivalents                      $4,836      $20,550
    Accounts receivable, net                        6,739        8,665
    Inventories, net                                5,379        5,065
    Other current assets                            1,921        1,139
                                                    -----        -----
      Total current assets                         18,875       35,419

  Equity investments                                    -        2,244
  Property, equipment and other assets, net         1,719        3,168
  Goodwill                                         21,895            -
  Intangibles, net                                 22,082          307
                                                   ------          ---
      Total assets                                $64,571      $41,138
                                                  =======      =======

  LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
  ------------------------------------
  Current liabilities:
    Accounts payable                               $5,530       $3,555
    Accrued expenses and other current liabilities  9,231        7,933
                                                    -----        -----
      Total current liabilities                    14,761       11,488
  Long-term income taxes payable                      456          184
  Long-term liabilities to related parties          7,899            -
  Deferred tax liability                            3,515        1,340

  Stockholders' equity                             37,940       28,126
                                                   ------       ------
        Total liabilities and stockholders'
         equity                                   $64,571      $41,138
                                                  =======      =======

Source: SCM Microsystems, Inc.
   

CONTACT:  United States, Darby Dye, +1-949-553-4251,
ddye@identive-group.com, or Europe, Fabien B. Nestmann, +41 44 783 8043,
fnestmann@identive-group.com, both of SCM Microsystems, Inc.

Web Site:  http://www.identive-group.com/

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