PR Newswire/Les Echos/

PRESS RELEASE

       Consolidated net loss for the first half of 2009: -EUR14.8 million

                        Sales to 30th September 2009: -5.9%

                          Renegotiation of the bank debt

Paris, 13th November 2009:

Groupe VIAL (FR0010340406), France's independent industrial joinery discount
group, announces its audited consolidated half-year results to 30th June 2009
and its sales for the 3rd quarter of 2009.

·    Consolidated results for the 1st half of 2009

In millions of euros     H1 2008     H1 2009     Var.(%)     Var.(EURm)
IFRS               
Sales                       53.8        52.2       -2%        -1.6
Gross margin                14.9        22.2      +49%        +7.3
Recurring operating
profit / loss              -10.9        -4.3      N.S.        +6.6
Operating
profit / loss              -11.1       -31.4      N.S.       -20.3
Net profit /loss            -8.8       -14.8      N.S.        -6.0

The half-year financial report in French is available on Groupe VIAL's website:
www.groupe-vial.com, 'Documentation' / 'Rapports financiers'

The economic and property environment remained morose over the period, with 
new housing starts tumbling more than 20%. Within this context, sales for 
the first half of 2009 totalled EUR52.2 million, slipping 3%.

The gross margin was EUR22.2 million, representing 42.5% of sales. Although 
it has yet to renew with the historic levels recorded prior to 2008, the 
Group has erased the negative effects of the industrial disruption of 2008 
relating to the installation of the ERP system.

The current operating loss was EUR4.3 million, and notably includes a 
provision of EUR2.1 million for inventory depreciation.

The operating loss came to -EUR31.4 million, versus -EUR11.1 million for the
first half of 2008. This substantial deterioration can be explained by 
goodwill depreciation of EUR27.6 million due to current market conditions, 
the Group's poor visibility on an upturn in the property market and the 
impairment tests carried out.

There was a financial profit of +EUR24.9 million, notably thanks to capital
gains of EUR27.7 million recorded from the purchase by VIAL Holding of some 
of the OCEANE convertible bonds in March 2009.

Once a tax charge of EUR8.2 million is taken into account, the net loss for 
the first half of 2009 was - EUR14.8 million, versus -EUR8.8 million a year
earlier.

·  Financial structure and debt

In millions of euros                         31.12.08      30.06.09
IFRS
ASSETS
Non-current assets                                58.0         32.4
     of which: goodwill                           42.8            0
Current assets                                   131.5        112.3
Total                                            189.5        144.7

LIABILITIES
Shareholders' equity                              35.9         21.0
Non-current liabilities                          116.6         13.3
Current portion of long-term financial
debts and loans                                   8.3          84.0
Other
current liabilities                              28.7          26.4
Total                                           189.5         144.7

The acquisition of the Bolivian company in 2008 led to the inclusion of EUR15
million of goodwill in accounts. This figure was written down, over the first
half 2009, as intangible assets consisting of stumpage fees and timber rights.
Subsequently, this goodwill has zero value after allocation and depreciation.
Consolidated shareholders' equity at 30th June 2009 totalled EUR21 million,
including the negative impact of first-half results, versus EUR36 million at
31st December 2008.
Because of the failure to meet some of the banking covenants at 30th June 2009,
all of the long-term financial debt (EUR84 million) has been written down as
current liabilities. This debt is thus deemed to be debt of less than a year.
Groupe VIAL is currently renegotiating its debt with its banking pool in order
to ensure its future and its development.

·  Consolidated sales for the 3rd quarter of 2009

In millions of euros                   2008    2009    Var.(%)    Var.(EURm)
IFRS
1st quarter                            25.6    24.4     -4.8%      -1.2
2nd quarter                            28.2    27.8     -1.2%      -0.4
3rd quarter                            26.1    23.0    -11.9%      -3.1
9-month total                          79.9    75.2     -5.9%      -4.7

Consolidated sales for the third quarter to 30th September 2009 came to EUR23
million.
Over the first 9 months of the year, sales thus totalled EUR75.2 million, down
5.9% on 2008.
With no change in market conditions or the economic environment since last 
half, third-quarter sales were thus in line with first half sales.

About Groupe VIAL (www.groupe-vial.com)
Listed on Euronext Paris of NYSE Euronext since December 2006, Groupe VIAL
manufactures and distributes aluminium, PVC and wood joinery products (doors,
windows, gates, stairs, etc.) offering unparalleled value for money through
tight control of supply lines; efficient, modern production facilities and its
vast distribution network that consisted, at 30th June 2009, of 72 stores 
opened under the VIAL Menuiseries brand, including 6 in Spain and 1 in 
Portugal.

Public site: www.vial-menuiseries.com

Compartment C of Euronext Paris, a NYSE Euronext Group market
Reuters: VIA.PA - Bloomberg: VIA FP

Contacts

Groupe VIAL                    NewCap. 
Jean-François Buigues          Financial Communications - Investor Relations
Chief Financial Officer        Steve Grobet / Pierre Laurent
investisseurs@groupe-vial.com  Tel: +33 (0)1 44 71 94 94
                               Fax: +33 (0)1 44 71 94 90
                               vial@newcap.fr
                      
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