Press release
Contact:Ulrike Thoms-von Meding
Tel. +49 (0)5131 7095-326
Fax +49 (0)5131 7095-90
LPKF
Laser & Electronics AG
Osteriede 7
D-30827 Garbsen
Germany
www.lpkf.de
Directors
Dr. Ingo Bretthauer (CEO)
Bernd Lange (CTO)
Kai Bentz (CFO)
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Prime Standard
ISIN 0006450000
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More press releases / LPKF swims against the current
Laser specialist generates record turnover and earnings
Garbsen, 30 March 2010 - Positive performance in almost all segments: the shareholders of LPKF Laser & Electronics AG have reasons to be cheerful after the presentation of the 2009 consolidated financial statements.
Despite the economic crisis in 2009, LPKF has boosted turnover 12 per cent from Euro 45 million to Euro 51 million, breaking the 50 million barrier for the first time. Incoming orders rose from Euro 48 million (2008) to Euro 56 million. Orders in hand at the end of the year rose to Euro 15 million (previous year: Euro 10 million). Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) was particularly positive: at Euro 7 million it was almost twice as high as in 2008 (Euro 3 million). The financial figures back up the resolution to be proposed at the annual general meeting in June 2010 to pay a dividend of 20 Cent per share. No dividend was paid the previous year because of the difficult economic environment.
The positive figures are mainly attributable to growth in the Cutting and Structuring Lasers segment, especially due to the strong rise in demand for laser direct structuring systems (LDS). The launch of the LPKF Fusion3D in the middle of 2009 finally established this technology in industrial mass production, leading to a so far unstoppable demand for structuring lasers. LPKF responded to this demand by strongly expanding its production capacities in Garbsen/Germany.
Despite the continuing uncertainty of the economic outlook, the trends in the first quarter of 2010 indicate that growth can be expected in all segments. “LPKF not only has good ideas, it also has the courage and stamina to push innovative technologies onto the world market – this is now bearing fruit,” says Dr. Ingo Bretthauer commenting on the development of the company’s business. After almost 13 months in office as the spokesman of the Board of Managing Directors, the Supervisory Board promoted Bretthauer to the position of Chairman of the Board of Managing Directors on 26 March 2010.
The Board of Managing Directors has a confident outlook for the future, and assumes that 2010 will bring growth in turnover of more than 10 per cent, together with another double-figure EBIT margin.