Corporate | 7 May 2009 07:30
SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES AG / Quarter 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. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Press Release SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES announces first quarter figures 2009 - Sales 35.4 Mio. EUR in the first quarter - EBIT decreased to -4.9 Mio. EUR - Gross profit margin improved significantly to 33.2 % - Order intake was weak at EUR 17.4 million Kahl am Main, May 07, 2009. The business results of the 1st quarter 2009 of the SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES AG (SINGULUS) reflect both the impacts of the current global economic crisis as well as the specific situation of the optical disc and solar industries. Sales of EUR 35.4 million in the 1st quarter 2009 were higher compared with the same quarter of the previous year (EUR 30.3 million). In the 1st quarter 2009 earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) in the amount of EUR -4.9 million (previous year EUR 0.3 million) were realized. This included restructuring charges of EUR 3.0 million related to the reduction of employees. In 2008, the slightly positive EBIT of EUR 0.3 million in the 1st quarter included a one-time positive earnings effect of EUR 15.6 million(extraordinary gain in connection with the first-time consolidation of the Blu-ray activities acquired from the Oerlikon Balzers AG). The operating expenses (before extraordinary items) improved substantially in the 1st quarter 2009 compared with the prior-year period. The expenses for Research & Development, Sales & Marketing, Service and Administration declined by nearly 20 % to EUR 13.4 million. The order intake was weak at EUR 17.4 million (previous year: EUR 84.4 million). The gross profit margin improved significantly to 33.2 % compared with the previous year (21.7 %) and reflects the high share of Blu-ray and Solar equipment of overall sales. The company reduced the headcount at Kahl am Main by 54 employees as of April 30, 2009. Further 36 employees were laid-off at international subsidies. Since February 1, 2009 SINGULUS introduced short-time work in Kahl am Main. Due to the weak order intake in the first months of the current business year and the general uncertainties regarding the development of the global economy, SINGULUS cannot rule out a negative impact on the core activities Optical Disc and Solar for the business year 2009. Stefan A. Baustert, CEO of SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES AG :'It is our goal to position the company well for the future with a clear focus on the core activities Optical Disc and Solar as well as with strict cost management. Both the market for production machines for solar cells and the market for Blu-ray production lines are young markets, which in our opinion will start to grow sharply in the next couple of years. With our new products we see ourselves well positioned for the future.' . SINGULUS Group Figures IFRS (unaudited)1. Quarter 2008 2009 Sales Mio. EUR 30.3 35.4 Order intake Mio. EUR 84.4 17.4 Order backlog 31.03. Mio. EUR 109.9 52.2 EBIT Mio. EUR 0.3 -4.9 EBITDA Mio. EUR 9.9 0.2 Net profit Mio. EUR 0 -6.1 Earnings per share EUR 0,01 -0.16 Employees 31.03. 758 684Short Profile SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES AG SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES is market leader for Blu-ray Disc and DVD/CD production lines and is the only manufacturer globally to offer the complete range of products: mastering, molding and replication lines. With the acquisition of the STANGL Semiconductor Equipment AG SINGULUS successfully entered the solar equipment market. The new business area Solar will be strongly expanded in the next couple of years. SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES AG, Hanauer Landstraße 103, D-63796 Kahl/Main, ISIN: DE0007238909, WKN: 723890 For further information please contact: Robert Adolph, Head of Investor Relations, Tel.: + 49 (0) 6188 -440 612, or Bernhard Krause, Communications Worldwide Tel.: + 49 (0) 6181 982 80 20 SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES AG, Hanauer Landstraße 103, D-63796 Kahl/Main, ISIN: DE0007238909, WKN: 723890 For further information please contact: Robert Adolph, Head of Investor Relations, Tel.: + 49 (0) 6188 -440 612, or Bernhard Krause, Communications Worldwide Tel.: + 49 (0) 6181 982 80 20 07.05.2009 Financial News transmitted by DGAP ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Language: English Issuer: SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES AG Hanauer Landstrasse 103 63796 Kahl am Main Deutschland Phone: +49 (0)6188 440-105 Fax: +49 (0)6188 440-110 E-mail: bernhard.krause@go-metacom.de Internet: www.singulus.de ISIN: DE0007238909 WKN: 723890 Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in Berlin, Stuttgart, München, Hamburg, Düsseldorf End of News DGAP News-Service ---------------------------------------------------------------------------