Corporate | 15 May 2014 07:45


Business Trends and Situation of the SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES Group


SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES AG / Key word(s): Quarter Results

15.05.2014 / 07:45

Press Release

Business Trends and Situation of the SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES Group

– Development in the 1 st quarter in-line with expectations

– Blu-ray discs market continues to grow

– Coating machine for PERC delivered in Europe

– First call-off by M*Cells for coating machine for
PERC solar cells in China

– Orders for semiconductor machines received

– Positive EBIT for 2014 expected

Kahl am Main, May 15, 2014 – The SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES AG (SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES) reports the results of the 1 st quarter 2014. As expected, the 1 st quarter of the business year 2014 was quiet. The key financial figures remained on a similar level as in the same quarter one year ago.

In the quarter under review sales in the SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES Group amounted to EUR 16.7 million (previous year: EUR 22.8 million). The earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of EUR -5.1 million remained at a comparable level to 2013 (previous year: EUR -4.9 million). The order intake in the quarter under review of EUR 14.1 million (1 st quarter 2013: EUR 15.6 million) was similar to 2013. The order backlog declined slightly compared with the year-end 2013 and stood at EUR 17.7 million (December 31, 2013: EUR 20.3 million).

Overall, the course of business was in-line with expectations for the 1 st quarter 2014. The still weak photovoltaics market as well as the seasonal trend in the Optical Disc segment had a significant impact on the development of the quarter under review.

The number of employees in the SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES Group rose slightly from 362 employees as of December 31, 2013 to 370 employees as of March 31, 2014.

Optical Disc
The development in the Optical Disc segment depends on innovations and on growth of the international media markets as well as the order cycle of large international disc producers. The production of Blu-ray Discs during the course of the year is always seasonally strong towards the end of the year. Following a favorable trend for the Christmas activities in 2013, in the first half of the new year dispositions are made for the current year 2014.

Therefore, SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES expects larger orders in the 2 nd and 3 rd quarter. Once again, the largest media market, the US, rose with double-digit rates in 2013 and thus offers a positive base for 2014.

Solar
Following weak years several studies now predict a slowly starting upturn for 2014 and a more favorable development of the solar market. Generally, the assessments of these studies seem to be confirmed by numerous project talks for the area of CIGS thin-film solar technology as well as for upgrades for PERC solar cells. On part of SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES, the first coating machines for PERC solar cells were delivered in recent days to a European costumer. Additional, new orders were recorded for the wet-chemical segment.

The Chinese cell manufacturer M*Cells and SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES had concluded a framework contract with an option for 16 SINGULAR XP machines in 2013. After the period under review SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES received the first call-off order from M*Cells for a coating machine for PERC solar cells. The SINGULAR XP vacuum coating equipment is intended for the rear side passivation of crystalline PERC solar cells in the production of 500 MW highly efficient multi-cells.

Semiconductors
In January 2014 SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES received two new orders from Asia and the US for semiconductor vacuum coating machines. Both orders are intended for equipment in connection with MRAM applications. The two orders confirm SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES in its expectation of a continuing favorable business trend in the work area of nano-deposition.

Strategy and outlook for 2014
For the business year 2014 SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES projects a slight increase in sales and in the operating result (EBIT). The current financing structure of the company via the issued bond results in an interest expense, which continues to impact the results and could lead to a negative net profit pursuant to IFRS after all.

SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES has continuously progresses in the past couple of years through its technologic know-how and is thus well positioned in the three existing segments. The goal is to develop innovative products on the basis of the core competencies of nano- and vacuum-coating as well as thermal and wet-chemical process technology to also open new markets.

In summary, with the positioning of our products and the targeted expansion of our product range, we expect relevant order intake in all segments, in particular the Solar segment.

Consolidated key figures SINGULUS pursuant to IFRS (unaudited)

1 st quarter 2013 2014
Sales in million EUR 22.8 16.7
Order intake in million EUR 15.6 14.1
Order backlog as of March 31 in million EUR 32.9 17.7
EBIT in million EUR -4.9 -5.1
EBITDA in million EUR -3.5 -3.8
Net profit/loss in million EUR -5.9 -6.0
Earnings per share EUR -0.12 -0.12
Number of employees as of March 31 384 370

SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES AG, Hanauer Landstraße 103,
D-63796 Kahl/Main,
ISIN shares: DE0007238909, WKN: 723890
ISIN bonds: DE000A1MASJ4, WKN: A1MASJ
Contact:
Maren Schuster, Investor Relations, Tel.: + 49 (0) 160 9609 0279
Bernhard Krause, Corporate Communications, Tel.: + 49 (0) 1709202924




Contact:
SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES AG, Hanauer Landstraße 103,
D-63796 Kahl/Main, ISIN: DE0007238909, WKN: 723890

Contact:
Maren Schuster, Investor Relations,
Tel.: + 49 (0) 6188 440 612,
Bernhard Krause, Corporate Communications,
Tel.: + 49 (0) 6181 98280 20 / +49 (0) 170 9202924


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Language: English
Company: SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES AG
Hanauer Landstrasse 103
63796 Kahl am Main
Germany
Phone: +49 (0)1709202924
Fax: +49 (0)6188 440-110
E-mail: bernhard.krause@singulus.de
Internet: www.singulus.de
ISIN: DE0007238909, DE000A1MASJ4
WKN: 723890, A1MASJ
Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, München, Stuttgart
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268568  15.05.2014