DGAP-Adhoc: LPKF expects strong half-year earnings and slightly raises guidance for the full year

LPKF Laser & Electronics AG / Key word(s): Half Year Results/Change in Forecast

02.08.2013 08:48

Dissemination of an Ad hoc announcement according to § 15 WpHG, transmitted
by DGAP - a company of EQS Group AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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Garbsen, 2 August 2013 - The LPKF Group today announced that based on
preliminary figures it achieved year-on-year revenue growth of 39% to EUR
70 million in the first half of 2013. Earnings before interest and taxes
(EBIT) after six months are expected to come in at EUR 15 million, which
would represent an EBIT margin of 22%.

Due to the unexpectedly strong business with laser direct structuring (LDS)
systems in the first half of the year, LPFK is raising the forecast for the
current financial year it made in November 2012. The Management Board
expects the LPKF Group to post revenue between EUR 119 million and EUR 123
million in 2013 (previously: between EUR 115 million and EUR 120 million).
The EBIT margin should be between 16% and 17% in 2013 (previously: between
15% and 16%).

Despite the highly positive development of business in the first six
months, the forecast for the full year is being raised only moderately.
This is because, for one, the management does not believe the LDS business
to make a similarly strong contribution to earnings in the second half of
the year after the unexpectedly strong performance in the first six months
of 2013. For another, the major order from the solar industry, which is
being completed as planned, had a positive effect on revenue in the first
six months. In view of the continuing weakness of the solar market, LPKF is
preparing for a noticeable decline in revenue in its Solar Module Equipment
business in the second half of the year. The completion of the major order
from the solar industry is also reflected in a weaker order book: At EUR 56
million, incoming orders after six months are down 6% compared with the
prior-year period.

Given a stable economic environment, LPKF still expects revenue to grow by
approximately 10% and the EBIT margin to come in between 15% and 17% in
2014 and 2015.

The shares of LPKF Laser & Electronics AG are listed on the TecDAX index of
the Frank-furt Stock Exchange (ISIN 0006450000).

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Language: English
Company: LPKF Laser & Electronics AG
Osteriede 7
30827 Garbsen
Germany
Phone: +49 (0) 5131 7095-0
Fax: +49 (0) 5131 7095-95
E-mail: investorrelations@lpkf.com
Internet: www.lpkf.com
ISIN: DE0006450000
WKN: 645000
Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr
in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, München, Stuttgart

End of Announcement DGAP News-Service

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