DGAP-News: LPKF Laser & Electronics Aktiengesellschaft / Key word(s): Half Year Results LPKF makes up a lot of ground in the second quarter 15.08.2016 / 08:00 The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Garbsen, 15 August 2016 - Business growth at LPKF Laser & Electronics AG accelerated considerably in the second quarter 2016. Sales grew by almost 20% compared to the same quarter of the previous year, EBIT results were positive at EUR 0.7 million. However, due to a very weak first quarter, sales and EBIT results after six months stayed below the previous year's figures. Sales in the first half year reached almost EUR 40 million, EBIT stayed negative at EUR -3.7 million. Orders received in the first half of the year amounted to almost EUR 60 million, almost 40% higher than those received during the first half of the previous year. Orders in hand on the reporting date were over 80% higher than the figures reported during the same period of the previous year. The book-to-bill ratio reached a value of 1.5. The most significant drivers of growth in the first six months included laser systems for plastic welding. A large solar contract for EUR 17 million was a major contributor to the orders received in the second quarter. Orders in the other two segments remained below expectations for the first half of the year. The announced cost-saving program made good progress in the second quarter. The planned reduction of 100 full-time equivalents in the LPKF-Group is on schedule. Until mid-August a capacity reduction of eighty-six full-time equivalents has been contractually agreed. The Board of Directors therefore believes that the company is in a good position to bring the break-even point for 2017 to below EUR 90 million. "Despite the continued weakness in LDS business, we have taken a substantial step forward in the second quarter", says Dr. Ingo Bretthauer, CEO of LPKF AG. "Both the sales trends and cost-saving measures are going according to plan. We are confident that we will be able to achieve our goals for 2016 on both fronts." For 2016, the Board of Directors expects to achieve sales of EUR 90 to 110 mil-lion and an EBIT margin of between -3% and +6%, if the global economy remains stable. These include estimated restructuring costs of approx. EUR 2 million. For 2017, the board expects an increase in sales and a clearly positive result. The complete half-year financial report is available in German at www.lpkf.de/investor-relations/news-publikationen/finanzberichte/index.htm and in English at www.lpkf.com/investor-relations/financial-reports/index.htm. About LPKF LPKF Laser & Electronics AG specializes in the manufacture of laser systems for micro material processing and is regarded globally as a leader in several sectors. The company, which was founded in 1976, has its head office in Garbsen (near Hanover) and operates worldwide through its subsidiaries and agencies. The shares of LPKF Laser & Electronics AG are traded on the Prime Standard of the German Stock Exchange (ISIN 0006450000). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15.08.2016 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.dgap.de --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Language: English Company: LPKF Laser & Electronics Aktiengesellschaft Osteriede 7 30827 Garbsen Germany Phone: +49 (0) 5131 7095-0 Fax: +49 (0) 5131 7095-95 E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.lpkf.com ISIN: DE0006450000 WKN: 645000 Listed: Regulated Market in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Regulated Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Munich, Stuttgart, Tradegate Exchange End of News DGAP News Service --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 492411 15.08.2016