- Order intake: EUR 31,815 thousand (previous year: EUR 30,032 thousand, +5.9 %)
- Revenue: EUR 30,061 thousand (previous year: EUR 26,313 thousand, +14.2 %)
- EBIT: EUR 3,054 thousand (previous year: EUR 2,419 thousand, +26.3 %)
- EBIT-Margin: 10.2 % (previous year: 9.2 %)

Hanover, 13 August 2015 - Viscom AG (ISIN DE0007846867), the European market leader for automated optical inspection systems for the electronics industry, can look back on a positive first half of the year 2015. At EUR 31.8 million, order intake was up approximately 6 % on the previous year's excellent figure. Revenue also improved by roughly 14 % year on year to EUR 30.1 million. While the Group was able to record historical highs for these items during the first half of 2015, EBIT was slightly weaker during the second quarter of the financial year due to the higher cost of materials, particularly related to prepayments required for processing order backlog. As of 30 June 2015, the EBIT-Margin amounted to 10.2 % compared to 9.2 % in the previous year.

During the first half of 2015, Viscom Group generally profited from the ongoing strong demand from the automotive supplier industry in Europe and on the US market. The newly founded "Global Business Development Team" also had a successful first half of the year, attaining additional international benchmarks, particularly in the field of electronic manufacturing services (EMS).

In the first half of 2015, the Viscom Group generated revenue of EUR 30,061 thousand, which is an increase of 14.2 % compared to the previous year's level (previous year: EUR 26,313 thousand). Operating profit (EBIT) amounted to EUR 3,054 thousand (previous year: EUR 2,419 thousand). This corresponds to an EBIT-Margin of 10.2 % (previous year: 9.2 %). Net profit for the period declined from EUR 1,702 thousand in the previous year's period to EUR 1,613 thousand. Taxes on income had a particularly negative impact on net profit for the period.

Accounting for 60.4 % of revenue, Europe was by far Viscom Group's strongest region and generated revenue of EUR 18,171 thousand in the first half of 2015 (previous year: EUR 18,327 thousand). Revenue in Germany amounted to EUR 7,938 thousand (previous year: EUR 8,252 thousand). The segment result in Europe totalled EUR 1,787 thousand (previous year: EUR 2,127 thousand), which corresponds to an EBIT-Margin of 9.8 % (previous year: 11.6 %).

In the first half of 2015, the Americas continued to be characterised by strong demand from the automotive electronics production industry. New production lines and the upgrading of existing systems were responsible for the robust revenue, especially in Mexico. A number of sales successes were also achieved in the area of industrial and medicinal electronics for small and medium-sized service providers in the US. Intensified activities in the Computers, Communication and Consumer (3C) sector by globally operating EMS also suggest future growth.
At EUR 6,167 thousand, revenue was up by approximately 67 % year on year (previous year: EUR 3,686 thousand). The segment result in this region was well above the previous year at EUR 621 thousand (previous year: EUR 389 thousand) and the EBIT-Margin stood at 10.1 % (previous year: 10.6 %).

In Asia, the generally optimistic business environment of the first quarter of 2015 became considerably more subdued during the second quarter. The Chinese market, in particular, recorded a decline in order intake from the automotive electronics industry in the second quarter. As a result, investments in fixed assets were subsequently put on hold or even cancelled by major multinational companies.
Viscom, in contrast, was able to compensate for the stall in system sales during the first half of 2015 with its strong service business based on very high demand for upgrades and support. The optimistic sentiment for the second half of 2015 is being fuelled by the interest of local Chinese customers in high quality inspection systems as well as by the solid order backlog. At EUR 5,723 thousand, Group revenue in Asia was well above the previous year's figure (previous year: EUR 4,300 thousand), which corresponds to a 33.1 % increase. The segment result in Asia amounted to EUR 969 thousand (previous year: EUR -54 thousand) and the EBIT-Margin was 16.9 % (previous year: -1.3 %).

The management of Viscom AG affirms its guidance for the financial year 2015 with revenue of between EUR 62 million and EUR 67 million and an EBIT-Margin of 13 % to 15 %.

The Interim Report 2015 is now available on the company website www.viscom.com under Investor Relations.

OPERATING FIGURES

Consolidated income statement		01.01.-30.06.2015	01.01.-30.06.2014
Revenue	KEUR	30,061	26,313
EBIT	KEUR	3,054	2,419
EBIT-Margin	%	10.2	9.2
Net profit for the period	KEUR	1,613	1,702
Earnings per share	EUR	0.18	0.19
Employees at the end of the quarter		353	315

 

Consolidated balance sheet		30.06.2015	31.12.2014
Assets
Current assets	KEUR	46,456	55,365
Non-current assets	KEUR	9,588	9,093
Total assets	KEUR	56,044	64,458
Liabilities
Current liabilities	KEUR	7,776	9,264
Non-current liabilities	KEUR	1,508	1,610
Shareholders' equity	KEUR	46,760	53,584
Total shareholders' equity and liabilities	KEUR	56,044	64,458
Equity ratio	%	83.4	83.1

 

Consolidated cash flow statement		01.01.-30.06.2015	01.01.-30.06.2014
Cash flow from operating activities	KEUR	-931	-777
Cash flow from investing activities	KEUR	-1,154	-1,117
Cash flow from financing activities	KEUR	-8,885	-15,104
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	KEUR	6,150	12,298

 

SEGMENT INFORMATION

		01.01.-30.06.2015	01.01.-30.06.2014
EUROPE
Revenue	KEUR	18,171	18,327
EBIT	KEUR	1,787	2,127
EBIT-Margin	%	9.8	11.6
AMERICAS
Revenue	KEUR	6,167	3,686
EBIT	KEUR	621	389
EBIT-Margin	%	10.1	10.6
ASIA
Revenue	KEUR	5,723	4,300
EBIT	KEUR	969	-54
EBIT-Margin	%	16.9	-1.3
Consolidation differences EBIT	KEUR	-323	-43

 

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.

Contact:
Viscom AG
Investor Relations
Anna Borkowski
Carl-Buderus-Str. 9-15
30455 Hannover
Tel.: +49-511-94996-861
Fax: +49-511-94996-555
investor.relations@viscom.de