Viscom AG showed strong business development in 2013; positive outlook for 2014

 

- Revenue of EUR 49,820 thousand on par with previous year (previous year: EUR 50,037 thousand)

 

- EBIT margin of 13.6 % meets expectations

- Asia: year-on-year revenue increase of around 34 %

- Proposed dividend: EUR 1.70 per share

Hanover, 24 March 2014 - Viscom AG (ISIN DE0007846867), the European market leader for automated optical inspection systems in the electronics industry, was able to maintain its solid market position in the 2013 financial year.

Although 2013 proved to be extremely volatile, Viscom saw its order backlog increase by around 14 % by the end of the year compared to the already high level in the previous year. This was largely due to the good market acceptance of new Viscom products such as the 3D XM camera technology. Order backlog increased to EUR 9,442 thousand at the end of 2013 (previous year: EUR 8,302 thousand). At EUR 50,960 thousand, incoming orders in 2013 were up 7 % year on year (previous year: EUR 47,427 thousand).

Viscom AG generated Group revenue of EUR 49,820 thousand (previous year: EUR 50,037 thousand), which is on par with the annual guidance for the 2013 financial year, which was adjusted in November 2013.

Consolidated earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) amounted to EUR 6,772 thousand in 2013 (previous year: EUR 9,248 thousand). At 13.6 %, the EBIT margin matched Viscom's expectations (previous year: 18.5 %). Group net profit for the period declined from EUR 6,638 thousand in the previous year to EUR 4,723 thousand.

Impulses from the relocation and development of production capacity in Eastern Europe and Asia continued in 2013. This led to a decline in segment revenue from EUR 32,470 thousand in 2012 to EUR 29,532 thousand in 2013. Segment results subsequently contracted some 36 % to EUR 4,989 thousand in 2013 (previous year: EUR 7,796 thousand).

The Group's strategy for the Asian market proved successful in 2013. Thanks to a product portfolio tailored to this region, consistent and long-term customer relationship management and the acquisition of new customers, increasingly also outside the automotive industry, revenue in Asia increased some 34 % from EUR 8,954 thousand in 2012 to EUR 12,031 thousand in 2013. Segment results were up roughly 80 %, from EUR 494 thousand in 2012 to EUR 889 thousand in 2013.

North America continued to perform well in 2013. Demand from automotive electronics producers was strong across the board with business at the end of the year picking up at above-average levels, which was unfortunately not able to be fully met in 2013. At EUR 8,257 thousand, revenue was down by approximately 4 % year on year (previous year: EUR 8,613 thousand). Segment results were marginally lower than the previous year at EUR 894 thousand (previous year: EUR 958 thousand).

The Executive Board and Supervisory Board will propose to the Annual General Meeting on 27 May 2014 that a dividend of EUR 1.70 per dividend-bearing share be paid. In addition to the dividend from the retained earnings of Viscom AG for the 2013 financial year of EUR 0.42 per share, a special dividend of EUR 1.28 per share from retained earnings, which were increased through withdrawals from free capital reserves of around EUR 22.6 million, will also be paid. Part of the dividend payment in the amount of approx. EUR 1.38 per share will be made from the tax contribution account (section 27 KStG). Such partial amount will not be subject to withholding tax and solidarity surcharge. After paying out the special dividend, around EUR 11.2 million or EUR 1.25 per dividend-bearing share will remain in the free capital reserves. This amount remains available for potential future dividend payments and/or share buy-back programmes.

Viscom's strategy to generate market share outside the automotive sector as well was only recently successfully implemented with a large order from the 3C (Computer, Communication and Consumer) sector. The order volume of EUR 4 million will be reflected in revenue in 2014. In view of the good start to the year, Viscom AG is optimistic about the current financial year. Viscom AG's management expects revenue of between EUR 55 million and EUR 60 million and an EBIT margin of between 13 % and 15 % for the 2014 financial year.

The Annual Report for 2013 is available now on the company website www.viscom.com under Investor Relations.

Any 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.
KEY FIGURES OF THE GROUP

		2013	2012
Revenue	KEUR	49,820	50,037
EBIT	KEUR	6,772	9,248
EBIT margin	%	13.6	18.5
Net profit for the period	KEUR	4,723	6,638
Total assets	KEUR	71,358	72,505
Equity ratio	%	86.3	85.9
CF from operating activities	KEUR	7,174	9,520
CF from investing activities	KEUR	-2,478	-1,594
CF from financing activities	KEUR	-5,331	-6,665
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	KEUR	29,285	30,014
Earnings per share	EUR	0.53	0.75
Dividend per share*)	EUR	1.70	0.60
Employees at year-end		300	286

 

*)Dividend proposal EUR 1.70 per share for the 2013 financial year

SEGMENT INFORMATION

		2013	2012
EUROPE
Revenue	KEUR	29,532	32,470
EBIT	KEUR	4,989	7,796
EBIT margin	%	16.9	24.0
ASIA
Revenue	KEUR	12,031	8,954
EBIT	KEUR	889	494
EBIT margin	%	7.4	5.5
AMERICAS
Revenue	KEUR	8,257	8,613
EBIT	KEUR	894	958
EBIT margin	%	10.8	11.1

Contact:
Viscom AG
Investor Relations
Sandra M. Liedtke
Carl-Buderus-Str. 9-15
30455 Hannover
Tel.: +49-511-94996-850
Fax: +49-511-94996-555
investor.relations@viscom.de