EANS-News: LPKF raises revenue guidance slightly for 2012
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9-month report
Garbsen (euro adhoc) - Garbsen, 13 November 2012 - Mechanical engineering
specialist LPKF Laser & Electronics AG continues its positive performance
despite the clouds gathering on the economic horizon. The unabated demand from
international customers for laser systems for use in electronic component
manufacturing enabled the company to boost revenue by 36 percent year on year to
EUR 82.5 million in the first nine months of the current financial year.
Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) improved from EUR 9.2 million to EUR
14.8 million. This corresponds to an increase of 61 percent and an EBIT margin
of just under 18 percent. At revenue of EUR 32.2 million and EBIT of EUR 7.3
million, the third quarter was the strongest ever in the company's history. The
EBIT margin was 23 percent.
Due to the positive business performance in the year's second half, the LPKF
Group has slightly raised its previous guidance for 2012. The Group now expects
consolidated revenue to come in between EUR 106 million and EUR 109 million.
This compares to the previous guidance calling for consolidated revenue between
EUR 100 million and EUR 105 million. LPKF expects an EBIT margin between 16
percent and 17 percent after initially expecting 15 percent to 17 percent.
The strong revenue growth this year is due in part to a large order from the
solar industry. In view of the continuing weakness of the solar market, the
Company is preparing for a decline in revenue in the Solar Equipment product
group and therefore expects a temporary slowdown in revenue growth in 2013 with
an EBIT margin of 14 percent to 16 percent. Given a stable economic
environment, LPKF expects revenue to grow again by approximately 10 percent and
the EBIT margin to come in between 15 percent and 17 percent in 2014.
In addition to the solar business, the major contributing factor to the
consolidated profit recorded in the first nine months of this year has been a
strong revenue increase in the PCB Production Equipment and Welding Equipment
product groups. "We are firmly committed to further expanding our leading
positions in all our markets. The continued trend toward miniaturization and
ever increasing requirements on the quality of electronic components are paving
the way for the use of laser technology in electronics production," said LPKF
CEO Dr. Ingo Bretthauer.
The full quarterly financial report is available in German and in English at
www.lpkf.com/investor-relations/financial-reports/index.htm. LPKF will be
holding a conference call (in English) for analysts and investors on 13 November
2012 at 4.00 pm (CET). The conference call will later be available for download
from the company's website.
About LPKF
LPKF Laser & Electronics AG specializes in the production of laser systems for
micro material processing, a field in which it is the world leader in several
sectors. Founded in 1976, the Group has its headquarters in Garbsen near
Hannover in Germany and does business around the world together with its
subsidiaries and representatives. LPKF has around 670 employees globally. The
shares in LPKF Laser & Electronics AG are traded in the TecDAX of the Frankfurt
Stock Exchange (ISIN 0006450000).
Further inquiry note:
Katja Fischer
Investor Relations
Tel.: 05131 7095 1387
E-Mail: katja.fischer@lpkf.com
end of announcement euro adhoc
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company: LPKF Laser & Electronics AG
Osteriede 7
D-30827 Garbsen
phone: +49(0)5131 7095 1382
FAX: +49(0)5131 7095 90
mail: investorrelations@lpkf.de
WWW: http://www.lpkf.de
sector: Semiconductors & active components
ISIN: DE0006450000
indexes: TecDAX, CDAX, Prime All Share, Technology All Share
stockmarkets: free trade: Hannover, Berlin, München, Hamburg, Düsseldorf,
Stuttgart, regulated dealing/prime standard: Frankfurt
language: English