All Stories
Follow
Subscribe to LPKF Laser & Electronics AG

LPKF Laser & Electronics AG

euro adhoc: LPKF Laser & Electronics AG
Annual Reports
LPKF achieves improved Group results in 2003 and proposes payment of a dividend (E)

  Disclosure announcement transmitted by euro adhoc.
  The issuer is responsible for the content of this announcement.
The Group generated the following results in 2003:
~
                           2003               2002          Change
Turnover KEUR            22,667             25,299          -10%
Profit KEUR                 768                634          +21%
Net margin                 3.4%               2.5%          +36%
EBIT KEUR                 1,300              1,442          -10%
EBIT margin                5.7%               5.7%
EPS EUR                    0.07               0.06          +17%
Financial resources KEUR  5,999              5,365          +12%
Capital ratio               71%                68%
Current orders
in hand KEUR              2,118              4,631          -54%
~
The Board of Directors and the Supervisory Board propose the payment
of a dividend of  EUR 0.03 per share for the 2003 financial year.
Notes on the annual results:
Despite the weakness of the global economy and the associated reduced
willingness of the electronics industry to invest, LPKF again
successfully generated a profit in the 2003 financial year.
Especially the Laser Cutting and Drilling segment experienced a
reduced turnover compared to the previous year due to a continuous
investment reduction within the PCB industry. However, the timely
implementation of cost-cutting measures stabilised the EBIT margin
and slightly improved the consolidated profit.
Outlook for 2004:
Against the background of a clear improvement throughout the world in
the willingness to invest, together with increases in marketing
expenditure and the feedback gained from trade fairs  and customers,
the Board of Directors forecasts that 2004 will enjoy a double figure
percentage rise in turnover and an improved EBIT. Orders received and
orders in hand will most probably push Q1 2004 turnover above last
year’s level. It is also essential for LPKF that the current negative
exchange rate effects decrease in future with the US-Dollar gaining
in strength.
The company expects that the Rapid PCB Prototyping and Laser Cutting
and Drilling segments will increase their turnover and profits
supported by the recovery of the electronics industry and the
numerous technical innovations.
The new 3D-MID technology will most probably have a positive effect
on LPKF’s business in 2004 and the following years.
Thanks to the licence agreements closed last year with Degussa AG,
Bayer AG and Ticona GmbH, as well as the cooperation agreement
concluded with the Harting Technology Group, there are now numerous
new applications close to being launched on the market. Additional
licence and cooperation agreements with companies in the plastics and
electronics industries are also currently being negotiated. The first
end customers have been supplied successfully. 
The segment MicroLine Laser including sensorics will presumably
experience secondary orders in 2004 which will have a positive effect
on the results of 2005.
end of announcement        euro adhoc 23.03.2004

Further inquiry note:

Ulrike Thoms-von Meding
LPKF Laser & Electronics AG
Tel.: +49(0)5131 7095 382
u.thomsvonmeding@lpkf.de

Branche: Semiconductors & active components
ISIN: DE0006450000
WKN: 645000
Index: CDAX, Prime All Share, Prime Standard, Technologie All Share
Börsen: Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse / regulated dealing
Niedersächsische Börse zu Hannover / free trade
Berliner Wertpapierbörse / free trade
Bayerische Börse / free trade
Hamburger Wertpapierbörse / free trade
Bremer Wertpapierbörse (BWB) / free trade
Börse Düsseldorf / free trade
Baden-Württembergische Wertpapierbörse / free trade

Original content of: LPKF Laser & Electronics AG, transmitted by news aktuell

More stories: LPKF Laser & Electronics AG
More stories: LPKF Laser & Electronics AG