EANS-News: LPKF with record order book in first quarter
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quarterly report
Garbsen (euro adhoc) - Laser specialist intends to grow further in the long term
Garbsen, 13 May 2011 - The LPKF Group enjoyed record levels of incoming orders and orders in hand in the first three months of the current financial year. Even though as expected, the revenue did not quite reach as high as the strong values posted the previous year, the company is very optimistic about the future, and confirms the guidance for the whole year communicated at the end of March.
At Euro 14.3 million, revenue in Q1 2011 was 19% down year-on-year. Revenue in Q1 2010 was extraordinarily high due to a major order. Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) is also weaker than the previous year by around 53% at Euro 2.0 million because of the change in revenue discussed above. The excellent level of orders tells another story. Incoming orders grew from Euro 17.8 million (Q1 2010) to Euro 28.9 million. Orders in hand also reached a record level with an increase of 82.5% to Euro 27.1 million.
At the end of the first quarter, LPKF received a major order for solar cell produc-tion systems with a volume of almost Euro 7 million. "We see in this order - the largest in the company´s history - a clear signal for the comeback of the solar market," says CEO Dr. Ingo Bretthauer. "LPKF is well positioned in the solar mar-ket as a specialist equipment supplier. We plan to grow further in this segment!"
LPKF boasts several business segments with high potential for growth thanks to their innovation strength and the market situation. Nevertheless, the company is still sticking to its guidance for the current financial year. "Having boosted revenue by 60% in 2010, we are now focused on creating a solid base for further growth" says Bretthauer. "We will therefore concentrate on expanding capacities within the current financial year." The expected EBIT margin in 2011 lies between 15 to 19% with a revenue roughly at the previous year´s level. There are still opportunities however for much stronger growth on the strength of potential major orders which have not been included in the planning. The management is forecasting an average growth in revenue in the 2012 and 2013 financial years of around 10% per annum, and a slight rise in EBIT margin if the economic framework remains stable.
The Q1 2011 report is in the internet at www.lpkf.de.
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 500 employees globally. The shares in LPKF Laser & Electronics AG are traded on the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (ISIN 0006450000).
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company: LPKF Laser & Electronics AG
Osteriede 7
D-30827 Garbsen
phone: +49(0)5131 7095 382
FAX: +49(0)5131 7095 90
mail: investorrelations@lpkf.de
WWW: http://www.lpkf.de
sector: Semiconductors & active components
ISIN: DE0006450000
indexes: CDAX, Prime All Share, Technology All Share
stockmarkets: regulated dealing/prime standard: Frankfurt, free trade: Berlin,
Hamburg, Stuttgart, Düsseldorf, Hannover, München
language: EnglishFurther inquiry note:
LPKF Laser & Electronics AG
Bettina Schäfer, Investor Relations
Tel: (05131) 7095-382
Branche: Semiconductors & active components
ISIN: DE0006450000
WKN: 645000
Index: CDAX, Prime All Share, Technology All Share
Börsen: Frankfurt / regulated dealing/prime standard
Berlin / free trade
Hamburg / free trade
Stuttgart / free trade
Düsseldorf / free trade
Hannover / free trade
München / free trade
Original content of: LPKF Laser & Electronics AG, transmitted by news aktuell