- Sales 35.4 Mio. € in the first quarter
- EBIT decreased to -4.9 Mio. €
- Gross profit margin improved significantly to 33.2 %
- Order intake was weak at € 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 € 35.4 million in the 1st quarter 2009 were higher compared with the same quarter of the previous year (€ 30.3 million). In the 1st quarter 2009 earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) in the amount of € -4.9 million (previous year € 0.3 million) were realized. This included restructuring charges of € 3.0 million related to the reduction of employees. In 2008, the slightly positive EBIT of € 0.3 million in the 1st quarter included a one-time positive earnings effect of € 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 € 13.4 million. The order intake was weak at € 17.4 million (previous year: € 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) | ||||
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1. Quarter | 2008 | 2009 | ||
Sales | Mio. € | 30,3 | 35,4 | |
Order intake | Mio. € | 84,4 | 17,4 | |
Order backlog 31.03. | Mio. € | 109,9 | 52,2 | |
EBIT | Mio. € | 0,3 | -4,9 | |
EBITDA | Mio. € | 9,9 | 0,2 | |
Net profit | Mio. € | 0 | -6,1 | |
Earnings per share | € | 0,01 | -0,16 | |
Employees 31.03. |
| 758 | 684 | |
Short 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.