EANS-News: centrotherm photovoltaics achieves significant revenue and earnings growth on strong new order inflow in Q1 2011
Revenue rises 64.2 percent to EUR 189.3 million EBIT grows 79.5 percent to EUR 17.7 million New orders up 187.8 percent to EUR 224.3 million 2011 revenue and earnings forecast confirmed
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Company Information
Subtitle: Revenue rises 64.2 percent to EUR 189.3 million
EBIT grows 79.5 percent to EUR 17.7 million
New orders up 187.8 percent to EUR 224.3 million
2011 revenue and earnings forecast confirmedBlaubeuren (euro adhoc) - May 10, 2011 - centrotherm photovoltaics AG benefited from continued strong demand for photovoltaics in the first quarter of 2011, and remains on its growth path: the globally leading supplier of technology and equipment to the photovoltaics sector achieved 64.2 percent revenue growth in the first three months of this year to reach EUR 189.3 million (prior-year period: EUR 115.3 million). In this context, centrotherm photovoltaics registered a high proportion of its total sales with single equipment items for solar cell manufacturing and from growing demand for turnkey production lines. New orders in the first quarter of 2011 were up by 187.8 percent to EUR 224.3 million (prior-year period: EUR 78.0 million). Operating profit (EBIT) rose by 79.5 percent to EUR 17.7 million (prior-year period: EUR 9.8 million). The EBIT margin of the provider of key equipment to all important steps of the solar value chain increased to 9.3 percent (prior-year period: 8.5 percent). Consolidated net income grew by 84.9 percent to EUR 12.2 million (prior-year period: EUR 6.6 million).
Earnings per share were up by 87.1 percent to EUR 0.58 (prior-year period: EUR 0.31). The company achieved a 24.5 percent return on capital employed (ROCE), compared with 14.9 percent in the comparable prior-year period. The equity ratio stood at 44.7 percent (December 31, 2010: 49.2 percent). Total assets were reported at EUR 915.0 million (December 31, 2010: EUR 805.6 million).
"We enjoyed a strong first quarter of 2011 compared with the previous year's first quarter, and we are on track to achieve our targets for this year", commented Dr. Thomas Riegler, CFO of centrotherm photovoltaics AG. "We are very well positioned in strategic terms to grow sustainably over the long term. We underpin our competitive strength and technology leadership through constant investments in new technologies and products, as well as through tapping new markets."
Segment trends and order book position In its Silicon & Wafer segment, centrotherm photovoltaics achieved revenues of EUR 29.3 million with the sale of silicon production technology and systems (prior-year period: EUR 43.3 million). Segment operating earnings (EBIT) were reported at EUR 2.2 million (prior-year period: EUR 7.0 million). The segment order book stood at EUR 259.5 million as of March 31 (December 31, 2010: EUR 277.1 million).
In its Solar Cell & Module segment, the company doubled revenue to EUR 154.9 million (prior-year period: EUR 68.2 million). This segment contributed 81.8 percent to Group revenue as a consequence (prior-year period: 59.2 percent). Segment EBIT improved to EUR 19.3 million (prior-year period: EUR 11.7 million). This represents a 12.4 percent EBIT margin (prior-year period: 17.1 percent). The segment's order book stood at EUR 575.5 million at the end of the first quarter (December 31, 2010: EUR 513.8 million).
In its Thin Film segment, centrotherm photovoltaics generated revenue of EUR 5.1 million (previous year: EUR 3.8 million). Investments in process and technology development fed through to an operating result of EUR -3.8 million (previous year: EUR -8.8 million). This segment reported an order book position of EUR 34.8 million (December 31, 2010: EUR 52.9 million).
The Group order book position amounted to a total of EUR 869.8 million as of March 31, 2011 - and consequently 3.1 percent higher than as of the December 31, 2010 reporting date (EUR 843.8 million).
Outlook Due to the pleasing trend in new orders, centrotherm photovoltaics anticipates that revenue will continue to grow to between EUR 690 million and EUR 710 million in the 2011 financial year, accompanied by a low, double-digit EBIT margin, as communicated when the 2010 annual report was presented on March 23. "We take an optimistic view of the future because photovoltaics, in combination with other renewable energy sources, makes a key contribution to realizing an exit from the nuclear energy option", commented Robert M. Hartung, CEO and Management Board Chairman of centrotherm photovoltaics AG. "With our technology, solar electricity will become significantly cheaper over the next few years."
Note: The interim report as of March 31, 2011 can be downloaded from the company's website at www.centrotherm.de, in the Investor Relations area.
About centrotherm photovoltaics AG centrotherm photovoltaics AG, which is based at Blaubeuren, Germany, is the world's leading technology and equipment provider for the photovoltaics sector. The company equips well-known solar companies and new sector entrants with turnkey production lines and single equipment to manufacture silicon, crystalline solar cells and thin film modules. As a consequence, the Group possesses a broad and well-founded technological basis, as well as key equipment at practically all steps of the photovoltaics value chain. centrotherm photovoltaics guarantees its customers important performance parameters such as production capacity, efficiencies, and completion deadlines. The Group employs over 1,700 staff members, and operates in Europe, Asia and the USA. centrotherm photovoltaics achieved revenue in the 2010 financial year of EUR 624,2 million, EBIT of EUR 75.4 million. The company is listed in the TecDAX index on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
Contact: Saskia Feil Senior Manager Investor & Public Relations Tel: +49 7344 918-8890 E-mail: saskia.feil@centrotherm.de
Dr. Torsten Knödler Manager Public Relations Tel: +49 7344 918-8898 E-mail: torsten.knoedler@centrotherm.de
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Contact:
Dr. Torsten Knödler
Manager Public Relations
Tel.: 07344 - 918-8898
E-Mail: torsten.knoedler@centrotherm.de
Branche: Energy
ISIN: DE000A0JMMN2
WKN: A0JMMN
Index: TecDAX
Börsen: Frankfurt / regulated dealing/prime standard
Berlin / free trade
Hamburg / free trade
Stuttgart / free trade
Düsseldorf / free trade
München / free trade