Viasystems Group, Inc. Reports Record Third-Quarter 2000 Earnings; Revenue Increased 72% From 1999.

Business Editors & Technology Writers

ST. LOUIS, Mo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 10, 2000

Viasystems Group, Inc. (NYSE:VG) today announced that the company's earnings for the quarter ended September 30, 2000, after adjustments for amortization ("EBG"), totaled $0.15 per fully diluted share, exceeding the First Call(R) consensus of seven analysts by 15% and a 36% improvement over the quarter ended June 30, 2000 results.

Other highlights of the quarter's results were:

-- Revenue for the quarter increased 72% from the same period in 1999 and 13.5%
from the quarter ended June 30, 2000 as a result of strong organic growth and
the impact of acquisitions;

-- Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) of
$69.2 million increased 69% and 13.4% over the same period in 1999 and the
quarter ended June 30, 2000, respectively; and

-- Revenue from printed circuit board assembly and electromechanical services
increased to 45% of total sales for the third quarter of 2000 compared to 35%
during the third quarter of 1999.

A summary of the quarter's results follows:

(all figures in     Third     Third     %      Third    Second     %
thousands, except  Quarter   Quarter   Chg    Quarter   Quarter   Chg
per share amounts)   2000     1999             2000      2000
                          (pro forma)
Net sales         $406,504  $236,347  72.0%  $406,504  $358,285  13.5%
Gross margin        97,649    60,348  61.8%    97,649    88,860   9.9%
Gross margin %        24.0%     25.5%            24.0%     24.8%
Adjusted earnings
 (EBG)             $20,387        NA          $20,387   $14,399  41.6%
Adjusted earnings
 (EBG), per fully
 diluted share       $0.15        NA            $0.15     $0.11  36.4%
Net income, per
 fully diluted
 share               $0.06        NA            $0.06     $0.01   500%
Fully diluted
 shares            136,229        NA          136,229   134,550
EBITDA             $69,160   $40,967  68.8%   $69,160   $61,005  13.4%
EBITDA %              17.0%     17.3%                      17.0% 17.0%

Consistent with financial analysts' models, the preceding discussion on financial results reflects the pro forma results of Viasystems as though the March 29, 2000 transfer of nine European manufacturing facilities had occurred on January 1, 1999, which more appropriately reflects the results of Viasystems as a public company. For more detail on this transaction, please refer to the Form S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 23, 2000 in connection with the company's initial public offering.

"These financial results are continued validation of Viasystems' strategy of building a vertically integrated EMS business from a leading position in the complex printed circuit board arena," said Chairman and CEO James N. Mills. "By leveraging our strength in the complex board market to gain incremental EMS revenues and through acquisitions such as Lucent Technologies' Global Provisioning Center in Rouen, France and the pending acquisition of the Laughlin-Wilt Group announced earlier today, we have been able to significantly grow revenues."

The company anticipates reporting full interim financial statements by filing its Form 10-Q on October 16 and management will host a conference call with investors on Tuesday, October 24. Additional information regarding the call will be posted on the Investor Relations page of the company's website, www.viasystems.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined by the federal securities laws, and these statements are based upon Viasystems' current expectations and assumptions, which are inherently subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those anticipated, projected, or implied. Certain factors that could cause actual results to differ include fluctuations in operating results and customer orders, a competitive environment, reliance on large customers, risks associated with international operations, ability to protect patents and trade secrets, environmental laws and regulations, relationship with unionized employees, risks associated with acquisitions, substantial indebtedness, control by large stockholders and other factors described in Viasystems' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Viasystems Group, Inc. is a leading global EMS provider with 23,000 employees and 31 manufacturing facilities in nine countries, supplying customers in the telecommunications, networking, automotive and consumer electronics industries. Viasystems is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, trading under the symbol "VG."