Ireland | 10 May 2012 08:00
Viscom AG / Release of an announcement according to Article 37x of the WpHG [the German Securities Trading Act] 10.05.2012 08:00 Interim report according to Article 37x of the WpHG, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Viscom AG: positive start to 2012 financial year Hanover, 10 May 2012 General business performance The signs of economic recovery are increasing all over the world. Due to the continuous existence of market risks, however, this recovery is still rather fragile. For Viscom Group, last year's positive economic development continued in the first quarter of the new financial year and business performance is on par with 2011. Viscom Group's main focus is on projects in the major target regions Asia and the Americas. These regions once again contributed to further revenue growth and positive overall performance in the first three months. Revenue almost doubled year-on-year in Asia and EBIT in this region nearly tripled. In the Americas, revenue went up by 25.6 % and EBIT almost reached the prior-year figure. In addition, the European market remained Viscom Group's strongest sales region by far in this quarter. Viscom Group's constant ambition is to live up to its reputation as a technological and innovative leader. The new operating software vVison revolutionises inspection system controls. On the US market, Viscom expects high sales potential for 3D soldering paste inspection systems. The fact that no other competitor offers a so-called uplink for such systems is Viscom's strength. Uplink means that the information on the quality of the paste print during soldering joint inspections is available so that suspect areas can be particularly intensively tested. This provides Viscom with a unique technical selling point on the international markets. Net assets and financial position Incoming orders rose by 8.3 % year-on-year in the first quarter of 2012 on account of the steady improvement of the overall economic environment. In the first three months of 2012, customers placed orders totalling EUR 12,910 thousand with Viscom Group (previous year: EUR 11,921 thousand). Order backlog at the end of the third quarter was EUR 10,081 million (previous year: EUR 11,758 million). Viscom generated Group revenue of EUR 13,741 thousand in the reporting period (previous year: EUR13,175 thousand), corresponding to an increase of 4.3 %. Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) amounted to EUR 2,546 thousand (previous year: EUR 2,915 thousand). This drop in EBIT is primarily due to a one-off effect in the first quarter of 2011, which originated from the write-up of slow movers of EUR 629 thousand. The EBIT margin amounted to 18.5 % (previous year: 22.1 %; adjusted for the one-off effect: 17.4 %). Net profit for the period was EUR 1,753 thousand (previous year: EUR 2,028 thousand). Viscom AG had an equity ratio of 86.5 % at the end of the first quarter of 2012. This once again makes for a very positive equity base (31 December 2011: 86.0 %). Outlook Viscom has the potential to grow further and keep expanding its technological leadership position, as key development projects continue to promise good market opportunities. In the second half of 2012, for instance, a new AOI inspection sensor module will be launched. The Group also plans to increasingly expand its activities in Asia for acquiring new customers in the EMS (electronic manufacturing services: job order producers of electronic devices) sector. Initial success has already been achieved by the Group being placed on the Approved Vendor List (list of approved and authorised suppliers) of one of the world's largest EMS. Viscom Viscom AG develops, manufactures and sells high-quality automated optical and X-ray inspection systems for use in industrial electronics production, and is one of the global leaders in its field. Viscom inspection systems are used in nearly all sectors of the electronics industry. Key figures of the GroupConsolidated income statement (KEUR) 01.01.−31.03.2- 01.01.−31.03.2- 012 011 Revenue 13,741 13,175 EBIT 2,546 2,915 Financial result 69 226 Income taxes -862 -1,113 Net profit for the period 1,753 2,028 Earnings per share 0.20 EUR 0.23 EUR Number of employees at end of period 275 261 Consolidated balance (KEUR) 31.03.2012 31.12.2011 Assets Current assets 60,317 58,578 Non-current assets 13,697 13,902 thereof: Financial assets 7,177 7,177 Total assets 74,014 72,480 Liabilities Current liabilities 9,513 9,687 Non-current liabilities 458 452 Shareholders' equity 64,043 62,341 Total liabilities and shareholders' 74,014 72,480 equity Equity ratio 86.5 % 86.0 % Consolidated cash flow statement 01.01.−31.03.20 01.01.−31.12.20 (KEUR) 12 11 Cash flow from operating activities 5,892 11,535 Cash flow from investing activities -420 -8,814 Cash flow from financing activities 0 86 End of period capital 34,223 28,810Segment informationKey figures (KEUR) 01.01.−31.03.2012 01.01.−31.03.2011 Europe Revenue 9,461 10,399 EBIT 2,156 2,606 Asia Revenue 2,356 1,244 EBIT 132 49 Americas Revenue 1,924 1,532 EBIT 258 260Any forecasts, expectations or forward-looking statements included in this report may carry risks and uncertainties. We therefore cannot guarantee that these assumptions will turn out to be correct. Actual results and developments may vary significantly from the forecasts and assumptions made in this report. Factors that may lead to such deviations include changes to the general economic development and competitive position, exchange rate and interest rate fluctuations as well as amendments to national and international laws. The Company does not assume any responsibility for updating the statements contained in this report. 10.05.2012 DGAP's Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Language: English Company: Viscom AG Carl-Buderus-Strasse 9-15 30455 Hannover Germany Internet: www.viscom.de End of Announcement DGAP News-Service ---------------------------------------------------------------------------