Ad-hoc | 10 May 2007 07:45
AT&S Austria Technologie & Systemtechnik AG / Final Results Release of an Ad hoc announcement according to § 15 WpHG, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- In the financial year ended March 31, 2007, AT&S posted a 25% increase in revenues to EUR 467m. Fourth quarter revenues were up 14% to EUR 110m. Gross profit for the year increased to EUR 71.5m (up 16%), EBIT reached EUR 32.6m, 24% up year on year. This gives an EBIT margin for the year of 7%. Fourth quarter gross profit was some EUR 14.7m (up 5%) and EBIT for the quarter was EUR 4.4m (down 11%). Profit before tax for the year was EUR 32.1m (up 55%), with a fourth quarter pre-tax profit of EUR 4.2m (up 5%). Net income for the year climbed to EUR 31.3m (up 11%). Earnings per share were EUR 1.28, an increase of 18%. In the fourth quarter, net income was EUR 4.8m and earnings per share were EUR 0.21. AT&S’s effective tax rate for financial 2006/07 was 2.5%. AT&S's net debt at March 31, 2006 amounted to EUR 110.6m (EUR 34.7m a year earlier), giving a gearing ratio of 50.1%. Management will recommend an increase in the dividend per share from EUR 0.29 to EUR 0.31 to the Annual General Meeting on July 3, 2007. Outlook and further information After a decline in the fourth quarter of financial 2006/07, capacity utilization and product mix picked up again as the new financial year began. We expect demand for complex printed circuit boards to continue to rise in line with the trend towards more slimline handsets and an increased proportion of 3G mobile telephones. On this basis, Management confirms the latest guidance published for financial 2007/08 and expects sales of EUR 540–550m and earnings per share of between EUR 1.60 and EUR 1.70. Growth will be purely organic and driven by further ramp-ups at the AT&S’s Chinese facilities. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Information and Explaination of the Issuer to this News: Results in accordance with IFRS (in EUR m, earnings per share in EUR):Financial 2006/07 FY 06/07 Margin FY 05/06 Margin Total revenues 467.4 374.7 Gross profit 71.5 15.3% 61.5 16.4% EBITDA 71.5 15.3% 67.0 17.9% EBIT 32.6 7.0% 26.3 7.0% Net profit for the period 31.3 28.3 Earnings per share 1.28 1.09 Net debt 110.6 34.7 Gearing ratio 50.1% 13.9%Fourth quarter 2006/07 Q4 06/07 Margin Q4 05/06 Margin Total revenues 109.6 96.2 Gross profit 14.7 13.4% 13.9 14.5% EBITDA 12.9 11.8% 14.9 15.5% EBIT 4.4 4.0% 4.9 5.1% Net profit for the period 4.8 8.2 Earnings per share 0.21 0.31Notes to the results for financial 2006/07 Record results testify to success of long-term growth strategy As in 2005/06, sales increased again significantly in 2006/07. This performance was driven by the earlier than expected ramp-up of the second plant in Shanghai and heavy demand for complex printed circuit boards in the first eight months. Sales were up 25% year on year and earnings per share increased by 18%, in spite of the unexpected capacity underutilization in the second half of December and in January combined with an unfavorable product mix in the fourth quarter of 2006/07. With 5,543 people employed at March 31, 2007, the AT&S headcount reached a record level; increases in staff were restricted to sites in Asia, particularly in China. In financial 2006/07 60% of sales were accounted for by the telecommunications sector or with handheld products. About 21% of sales came from the industrial/medical sector, and 9% from the automotive sector. AT&S’s new DCC/trading and design activities contributed 10% to Group sales in 2006/07: this success clearly shows that the new business is a meaningful complement to AT&S’s core printed circuit board manufacturing business. AT&S market position bolstered by strategic investments In financial 2006/07 capital investment in expanding production capacity amounted to some EUR 95m. Although the first two new production lines in Shanghai were only ramped up in the course of 2006/07, virtually half of the Group’s sales in the financial year came from AT&S’s Asian facilities. The acquisition of Tofic Co. Ltd. – included in consolidation for the first time in the first quarter of 2006/07 – marked the successful entry into the market for flexible printed circuit boards. Share repurchase scheme On May 15, 2006 AT&S resumed its share repurchase scheme aimed at optimizing its balance sheet structure. To date 2,364,571 shares, or 9.13% of the share capital, have been repurchased under the scheme. The free float now amounts to 51.71%. The results and the Excel format financial statements (not including notes) for 2006/07 were posted today at 8am (CET) on www.ats.net (Investors). The annual report will be available in pdf format from early June. For more information please contact René Berger, IRO, Tel. +43 (1) 68300 9215, e-mail: r.berger@ats.net. DGAP 10.05.2007 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Language: English Issuer: AT&S Austria Technologie & Systemtechnik AG Fabriksgasse 13 8700 Leoben Österreich Phone: +43 (1) 3842 200-0 Fax: +43 (1) 3842 200-216 E-mail: ir@ats.net www: www.ats.net ISIN: AT0000969985 WKN: 922230 Indices: TecDAX Listed: Geregelter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in Berlin-Bremen, Stuttgart, München, Hamburg, Düsseldorf End of News DGAP News-Service ---------------------------------------------------------------------------