Corporate | 6 August 2007 08:18
Manz Automation AG / Half Year Results Release of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG. The issuer / publisher is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - Total operating revenue up more than 50% to € 30.94 million - EBIT up 63% to € 3.88 million Reutlingen, August 06, 2007 - Manz Automation AG is one of the world's leading producers of automation, quality assurance and laser process technology for the photovoltaic and LCD industry and again recorded substantial growth in the first six months of 2007. According to preliminary results, the Reutlingen-based high-tech engineering company increased sales from € 20.00 million in H1 2006 to € 28.07 million. Total operating revenue increased by around 52% to € 30.94 million (previous year: € 20.38 million). In the first six months, EBIT also climbed significantly by more than 63% to € 3.88 million (previous year: € 2.37 million). The EBIT margin, which has increased to 13.8% (previous year: 11.9%), is primarily due to the increasing standardization of the equipment produced, in particular in the high-growth solar sector. Especially in this segment Manz Automation has been able to set international trends and standards. Compared to H1 2006, pre-tax earnings (EBT) doubled to € 3.85 million (previous year: € 1.90 million). The pre-tax margin thus lifted to 13.7%. At the same time, Manz Automation's profits also doubled to € 2.40 million, compared to € 1.22 million in the first six months of the previous year. This corresponds to earnings per share of € 0.73. The cash flow from operating activities also increased substantially to € 5.08 million (H1 2006: € -3.24 million). This is also due to the advance payments received for major orders. As a result of the continued high order book totaling more than € 80 million, the Managing Board has confirmed its forecast for 2007. Manz Automation aims to record increased revenues of € 65 – 68 million with EBIT of € 8.1 – 8.5 million. The final H1 figures will be published together with the half-year report on August 24, 2007. Company profile Manz Automation AG develops and manufactures systems and components for automation, quality assurance and laser process technology. The company's core competences are to be found in robotics, image processing, laser technology and control technology. Manz Automation AG thus unites bundled expertise from elementary technology areas to achieve optimum results for its customers. The company has three divisions: photovoltaic (systems.solar), LCD (systems.lcd) and components and OEM systems (systems.aico) for automation in various sectors of industry. In addition, Manz Automation AG is planning to equip laboratory systems in the pharmaceuticals and life science sector with its technology (systems.lab). Reutlingen-based Manz Automation AG was formed in 1987 and has branches in the USA, Taiwan, Korea, China and Hungary. In fiscal year 2006 the Manz group recorded total operating revenue totaling around EUR 44 million, up almost 50% year-on-year. More than 60% of revenues are recorded abroad, in particular in Asia. Shares of Manz Automation AG have been listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchanges Entry Standard with ISIN DE000A0JQ5U3 or WKN (German Securities Code) A0JQ5U since September 22, 2006. Manz Automation AG Birte-Christina Benecke Tel.: +49 (0)7121 – 9000-21 Fax: +49 (0)7121 – 9000-99 e-mail: bbenecke@manz-automation.com Investor Relations cometis AG Ulrich Wiehle Tel: +49 (0)611 – 205855-11 Fax: +49 (0)611 – 205855-66 e-mail: wiehle@cometis.de DGAP 06.08.2007 ----------------------------------------------------------------------