EANS-Adhoc: LPKF exceeds forecasts with record earnings
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ad-hoc disclosure pursuant to section 15 of the WpHG transmitted by euro adhoc with the aim of a Europe-wide distribution. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
26.03.2010
LPKF exceeds forecasts with record earnings
Garbsen, 26 March 2010 - The LPKF Group closed the 2009 financial year with earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) of EUR 7.0 million (previous year: EUR 3.1 million). Consolidated turnover rose by 12 % to EUR 50.7 million (previous year: EUR 45.4 million). Incoming orders at EUR 56.0 million were well up on the previous year´s level of EUR 48.1 million. Orders in hand rose to EUR 14.7 million (previous year: EUR 10.3 million). The performance was positively influenced by the changed product mix and cost reductions.
Return on Capital Employed (ROCE) climbed from 7.4 % to 15.7 %. Profit per share rose to EUR 0.43 (previous year: EUR 0.17).
Compared to the same quarter the previous year, turnover in the fourth quarter 2009 climbed by 16 % to EUR 16.0 million, and EBIT rose from EUR 1.2 million to EUR 2.0 million
Growth was attributable to the Cutting & Structuring Lasers Segment, and especially the unbroken demand for laser direct structuring systems (LDS).
Outlook for 2010 and 2011
LPKF currently considers there to be growth potential in almost all of its divisions. The prospects for further growth are particularly good in the LDS business. Tangible signs of recovery in the markets have also been seen in other segments since the end of 2009.
The macroeconomic development is very difficult to predict at the moment. Nevertheless, LPKF is expecting to do good business in the 2010 financial year, and forecasts growth in turnover to exceed 10 %, and its EBIT margin to stay in double figures.
If the global economy stabilizes during the course of the year, the Board of Managing Directors expects turnover and profits to grow further in the 2011 financial year.
At the Supervisory Board meeting on 26 March 2010, the Supervisory Board adopted a resolution to immediately appoint the former spokesman of the Board of Managing Directors Dr. Ingo Bretthauer, to the position of Chairman of the Board of Managing Directors.
Because of the positive development in business in 2009, the Board of Managing Directors and the Supervisory Board will pose a resolution at the annual general meeting on 10 June 2010 to pay a dividend of 20 Cent per share.
LPKF Laser & Electronics AG shares are listed on the Prime Standard at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (ISIN 0006450000).
end of announcement euro adhoc --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Further 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 von: LPKF Laser & Electronics AG, übermittelt durch news aktuell