26.07.2016 – 07:21

Mikron Holding AG

EQS-Adhoc: Mikron Holding AG: The Mikron Group reaches its first-half targets: sales growth and positive EBIT

EQS Group-Ad-hoc: Mikron Holding AG / Key word(s): Half Year Results
Mikron Holding AG: The Mikron Group reaches its first-half targets: sales growth
and positive EBIT

26.07.2016 / 07:00
Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 KR.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Media release on semiannual results 2016

The Mikron Group reaches its first-half targets:
sales growth and positive EBIT

Biel/Bienne, April 26, 2016, 7 p.m. - In the first half of 2016, the Mikron
Group achieved a significant year-on-year increase in first-half sales and, as
expected, positive EBIT. The Automation business segment performed very well,
whereas the Machining business segment suffered from hesitant investment in the
segments it serves within the automotive industry. As communicated earlier, the
Mikron Group anticipates closing the 2016 financial year on considerably higher
sales and an improved EBIT margin.

Operating conditions remained very demanding for the Mikron Group in the first
half of 2016. While the strong Swiss franc continued to have a negative impact
on the sites in Switzerland, the Mikron Group nevertheless reported a higher
order intake of CHF 124.7 million for the period (first half of 2015: CHF 118.3
million, +5%). This increase is due entirely to the Automation business segment,
which benefited from its strong market position in the pharmaceutical and
medical devices industries. Buoyed by continuing solid growth, customers in this
market segment invested in automation systems. On the other hand, customers in
the automotive industry - Mikron Machining's key market segment - were very
reluctant to invest. Consequently, the Machining business segment recorded fewer
orders than expected - especially from the German market. Mikron Machining did,
however, witness an encouraging volume of orders from customers in the
electronics industry.

Reporting sales of CHF 127.0 million, the Mikron Group achieved a sizable
year-on-year increase (first half of 2015: CHF 107.8 million, +18%), as
expected. Both business segments lifted sales, but the increase at Mikron
Automation was considerably more pronounced than at Mikron Machining. The
Automation business segment's result reflects the healthy order backlog at the
beginning of the year and the gratifying level of new orders. These two key
indicators were considerably weaker at Mikron Machining, leading to
underutilized production capacity on certain product lines.

In the first half of 2016, the Mikron Group generated EBIT of CHF 1.3 million,
exceeding the year-back figure (CHF -2.7 million), which had been significantly
impacted by the strengthened Swiss franc. Whereas the Automation business
segment saw a further improvement in profitability, the Machining business
segment unfortunately fell well short of that.

Outlook
Sales and EBIT in the first half of 2016 were generally as expected. In terms of
the final six months of 2016, the Mikron Group is projecting continued lively
demand for automation systems from the pharmaceutical and medical devices
industries as well as from the consumer goods segment - above all on the part of
customers from the US and Europe. Demand from the automotive industry, which is
especially crucial to Mikron Machining, remains highly uncertain. By contrast,
the inquiries received from the writing instruments and electronics industries
constitute a positive development. The Mikron Group is expecting demand in the
service and spare-parts business to be stable and is looking ahead to further
growth in the tool business.

As communicated earlier, the Mikron Group anticipates closing the 2016 financial
year on considerably higher sales and an improved EBIT margin. It is not clear
yet how the UK's decision to leave the EU and political developments in Turkey
will impact on the Mikron Group's profitability.

Key figures for the Mikron Group in the first half year 2016

CHF million, except number of employees and equity ratio   1.1.-30.6.16  
1.1.-30.6.15   +/-

Order intake                                               124.7          118.3
  5.4%

- Machining                                                56.8           62.5
  -9.1%

- Automation                                               68.1           56.1
  21.4%

Net sales                                                  127.0          107.8
  17.8%

- Machining                                                59.2           52.7
  12.3%

- Automation                                               68.0           55.1
  23.4%

Order backlog                                              139.5          124.1
  12.4%

- Machining                                                40.6           54.1
  -25.0%

- Automation                                               98.9           69.9
  41.5%

EBIT                                                       1.3            -2.7
  n/a

Profit/Loss for the year                                   0.4            -3.9
  n/a

Operating cash flow                                        8.7            -2.4
  n/a


                      30.6.16   30.6.15   +/-

Number of employees   1,222     1,172     4.3%

- Machining           606       577       5.0%

- Automation          595       575       3.5%


                      30.6.16   31.12.15   +/-

Balance sheet total   248.5     243.9      1.9%

Equity ratio          62.0%     63.4%      -1.4%



Publication of semiannual results for 2016
The semiannual results will be published at the same time as this media release
in the form of the 2016 Semiannual Report: www.mikron.com/reports.

Brief profile of the Mikron Group
The Mikron Group develops, produces and markets automation and machining systems
that enable extremely precise and productive manufacturing processes. Rooted in
the Swiss culture of innovation, the group is a globally leading partner to
companies in the automotive, medical devices, pharmaceutical, consumer goods,
writing instruments and watchmaking industries. The two divisions, Mikron
Automation and Mikron Machining, are based in Switzerland (Boudry and Agno). The
company has additional production facilities in Germany, Singapore, China and
the US. The 1,200 employees of the Mikron Group can draw on over 100 years of
experience in the production of high-precision systems for large-series product
manufacture. Mikron Holding AG shares are traded on SIX Swiss Exchange (MIKN).

Contact
Mikron Management AG, Martin Blom, CFO Mikron Group
Phone +41 91 610 62 09,  ir.mma@mikron.com

Download Media Release
www.mikron.com/news

Investor Relations Calendar of Events
March 16, 2017, 07.00 a.m. - Media release: Publication of the 2016 Annual
Report
March 16, 2017, 10.00 a.m. - Media and analysts conference
April 25, 2017, 04.00 p.m. - Annual General Meeting 2017

Except for the historical information contained herein, the statements in this
media release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and
uncertainties.

Mikron(R) is a trademark of Mikron Holding AG, Biel (Switzerland).



Contact:
Mikron Management AG, Martin Blom, Chief Financial Officer, Phone +41 62 916 69
60,  ir.mma@mikron.com
End of ad hoc announcement

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
26.07.2016 News transmitted by Tensid EQS AG. www.eqs.com

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

485569  26.07.2016