.
- Number of Hall sensors sold improves by 6 percent
- Sales, gross margin and EBIT margin hurt badly by weakness of yen
- Profit for the period reaches CHF 7 million
- Proposal to distribute CHF 0.05 per registered share to Micronas shareholders
- Net sales of CHF 78 million and EBIT margin in the lower single-digit percentage range expected for first half of 2014
Micronas performed well in a demanding market environment in 2013. Despite the persistent weakness of the yen and continuing volatility in the car industry, the Company was able to strengthen its leading position in the market for Hall sensors used in automotive electronics. Consolidated net sales by the Micronas Group came to CHF 151.9 million in the 2013 financial year, compared with CHF 168.5 million in the previous year. The figures for the 2012 financial year included CHF 5.3 million from the final sales of consumer products. Excluding this consumer revenue, the fall in sales would have been 6.9 percent. The main reason for this decline was the continuing weakness of the yen. As a result, the gross margin for the year under review was 32.2 percent of sales, compared with 40.1 percent in the prior year. Spending on research and development came to CHF 27.8 million, or 18.3 percent of sales. Operating profit (EBIT) came to CHF 8.1 million, compared with CHF 24.2 million in 2012. The EBIT margin was down from 14.4 percent in 2012 to 5.3 percent of sales.
After the financial result and taxes, profit came to CHF 6.6 million, compared with CHF 19.3 million in the prior year, though it should be noted that the 2012 profit included a tax credit of CHF 6.2 million. Earnings per share came to CHF 0.23. As at the end of December 2013, Micronas held cash, cash equivalents and short-term financial cash deposits of CHF 170.4 million, which is approximately the same as a year previously. With shareholders' equity up 3.4 percent to CHF 129.8 million, the equity ratio improved year-on-year to 42.8 percent.
"We're pleased that Micronas was again able to increase the number of Hall sensor products sold - by 6 percent compared with the previous year," says Heinrich W. Kreutzer, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Micronas.
The cost-saving measures announced in February 2013 have been implemented successfully, and the proportion of invoices sent to Japanese customers in euros - to reduce exposure to exchange rate fluctuations - is rising steadily. However, these measures could not compensate fully for the negative impact on the business performance of the continuing fall in the value of the Japanese yen.
Sales in the Automotive segment came to CHF 143.6 million in the 2013 financial year, which is 8.5 percent down on 2012. Final sales of several discontinued dashboard controller platforms meant that dashboard controller sales figures could be maintained at the prior-year level. The embedded controller product line launched in 2012 reached the million units mark during the year under review. EBIT came to CHF 9.1 million, compared with CHF 25.5 million in 2012, giving an EBIT margin for the 2013 financial year of 6.4 percent.
As in 2012, the worldwide automotive market was marked by variations between regions in 2013. In Western Europe, registrations were down again on the previous year, though there was some improvement in the second half. The large Chinese and US markets once again posted strong yearon- year growth in 2013. In Japan, however, fewer cars were sold than in the impressive prior year. Nevertheless, Micronas further increased unit sales in its core business, Hall sensors. This increased unit volume did not have as much impact as it might on the Automotive segment's sales figures, however, owing to the continuing fall in the value of the Japanese yen. In order to maintain its leading market position in Hall sensors for automotive electronics, Micronas is focusing primarily on the growing number of applications that address the megatrends of environmental protection and safety.
Over the course of the financial year, the Company's research and development team took various products through to the point where they could be handed over for production. All of these product developments were already based on 8-inch technology, helping the Company make its ongoing transition from 6 to 8 inch. The move from the 6-inch to the 8-inch line is making Micronas much more efficient and allowing a significant increase in capacity in existing clean-room areas.
Until now, Micronas has pursued research and development work in three locations - Freiburg and Munich in Germany, and Villach in Austria. It was decided to concentrate these activities at the two German sites, so development work was halted in Villach at the end of 2013
The Industrial segment, reporting for the first time in 2013, saw sales go up to CHF 8.3 million for the year. This is 35.9 percent higher than the previous year's figure. All of these sales are currently being generated by the Hall sensor product families. In the Industrial segment Micronas continues to invest heavily in the development and marketing of mySENS technology, which led to a slightly negative operating result of CHF -1.1 million. However, the operating loss was less than half as big as in 2012.
With its portfolio of gas sensor products, based on mySENS technology, Micronas is aiming mainly at the market for fire alarms, where it is already working in cooperation with various key customers.
mySENS technology helps them produce smaller fire alarms that offer greater protection from false alarms than current systems. The market launch of these new-generation fire alarms, and consequently the volume production of gas sensors, has been delayed by standardization issues.
Capacity utilization at the manufacturing facilities in Freiburg was slightly below 75 percent in the first quarter. Over the course of the rest of the year, this figure went up to 80 percent. Short-time work, which had been introduced in some areas of the Freiburg plant in February, was stopped again at the end of April 2013.
In the face of rising energy costs and to protect against grid fluctuations, Micronas decided to set up a combined heat and power unit with two redundant modules at the Freiburg site. This further move toward a partially independent energy supply, together with the Company's existing photovoltaic system, will help reduce the overall energy bill. Installation of the system began in January 2014, and the unit should become operational in the middle of this year.
For the third year in a row the Board of Directors is proposing to the forthcoming Shareholders' Meeting that it distribute CHF 0.05 per registered share from the capital contribution reserve to Micronas shareholders.
"Demand for electronics in the automotive and industrial sectors continues to rise steadily, leading to increased use of our Hall sensors and embedded controllers, and thus to further growth," says Matthias Bopp, CEO of Micronas. "Micronas will remain fully committed to quality and dependable delivery, while expanding its excellent product portfolio, in order to reinforce its leading worldwide position in the market."
The CFO of Micronas, Günter Hoppe, is due to retire soon, so the Board of Directors has initiated the search for a successor well in advance. Mr. Hoppe, CFO since December 2009, could step down as early as this year but at the latest when he reaches the statutory retirement age in around two years time.
In the year just begun, signs are that the variations in the performance of the world's automotive markets are set to continue. The growth regions are still China and the USA, while Europe, having bottomed out, is staging a slight recovery. There is no sign that the yen will strengthen significantly against the euro.
Based on a YEN-EUR rate of 140, the Board of Directors and Management expect to see sales of around CHF 78 million for the first half of 2014. The EBIT margin is expected to be in the lower singledigit percentage range.
Disclaimer
This press release contains forward-looking statements, such as projections, forecasts and estimates. Such forward-looking statements are dependent on certain risks and uncertainties which may cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those anticipated in this press release. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on Micronas' views and assumptions as of this date and Micronas does not assume any obligation to update or revise this press release. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction.
- Number of Hall sensors sold improves by 6 percent
- Sales, gross margin and EBIT margin hurt badly by weakness of yen
- Profit for the period reaches CHF 7 million
- Proposal to distribute CHF 0.05 per registered share to Micronas shareholders
- Net sales of CHF 78 million and EBIT margin in the lower single-digit percentage range expected for first half of 2014
Micronas performed well in a demanding market environment in 2013. Despite the persistent weakness of the yen and continuing volatility in the car industry, the Company was able to strengthen its leading position in the market for Hall sensors used in automotive electronics. Consolidated net sales by the Micronas Group came to CHF 151.9 million in the 2013 financial year, compared with CHF 168.5 million in the previous year. The figures for the 2012 financial year included CHF 5.3 million from the final sales of consumer products. Excluding this consumer revenue, the fall in sales would have been 6.9 percent. The main reason for this decline was the continuing weakness of the yen. As a result, the gross margin for the year under review was 32.2 percent of sales, compared with 40.1 percent in the prior year. Spending on research and development came to CHF 27.8 million, or 18.3 percent of sales. Operating profit (EBIT) came to CHF 8.1 million, compared with CHF 24.2 million in 2012. The EBIT margin was down from 14.4 percent in 2012 to 5.3 percent of sales.
After the financial result and taxes, profit came to CHF 6.6 million, compared with CHF 19.3 million in the prior year, though it should be noted that the 2012 profit included a tax credit of CHF 6.2 million. Earnings per share came to CHF 0.23. As at the end of December 2013, Micronas held cash, cash equivalents and short-term financial cash deposits of CHF 170.4 million, which is approximately the same as a year previously. With shareholders' equity up 3.4 percent to CHF 129.8 million, the equity ratio improved year-on-year to 42.8 percent.
"We're pleased that Micronas was again able to increase the number of Hall sensor products sold - by 6 percent compared with the previous year," says Heinrich W. Kreutzer, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Micronas.
The cost-saving measures announced in February 2013 have been implemented successfully, and the proportion of invoices sent to Japanese customers in euros - to reduce exposure to exchange rate fluctuations - is rising steadily. However, these measures could not compensate fully for the negative impact on the business performance of the continuing fall in the value of the Japanese yen.
Sales in the Automotive segment came to CHF 143.6 million in the 2013 financial year, which is 8.5 percent down on 2012. Final sales of several discontinued dashboard controller platforms meant that dashboard controller sales figures could be maintained at the prior-year level. The embedded controller product line launched in 2012 reached the million units mark during the year under review. EBIT came to CHF 9.1 million, compared with CHF 25.5 million in 2012, giving an EBIT margin for the 2013 financial year of 6.4 percent.
As in 2012, the worldwide automotive market was marked by variations between regions in 2013. In Western Europe, registrations were down again on the previous year, though there was some improvement in the second half. The large Chinese and US markets once again posted strong yearon- year growth in 2013. In Japan, however, fewer cars were sold than in the impressive prior year. Nevertheless, Micronas further increased unit sales in its core business, Hall sensors. This increased unit volume did not have as much impact as it might on the Automotive segment's sales figures, however, owing to the continuing fall in the value of the Japanese yen. In order to maintain its leading market position in Hall sensors for automotive electronics, Micronas is focusing primarily on the growing number of applications that address the megatrends of environmental protection and safety.
Over the course of the financial year, the Company's research and development team took various products through to the point where they could be handed over for production. All of these product developments were already based on 8-inch technology, helping the Company make its ongoing transition from 6 to 8 inch. The move from the 6-inch to the 8-inch line is making Micronas much more efficient and allowing a significant increase in capacity in existing clean-room areas.
Until now, Micronas has pursued research and development work in three locations - Freiburg and Munich in Germany, and Villach in Austria. It was decided to concentrate these activities at the two German sites, so development work was halted in Villach at the end of 2013
The Industrial segment, reporting for the first time in 2013, saw sales go up to CHF 8.3 million for the year. This is 35.9 percent higher than the previous year's figure. All of these sales are currently being generated by the Hall sensor product families. In the Industrial segment Micronas continues to invest heavily in the development and marketing of mySENS technology, which led to a slightly negative operating result of CHF -1.1 million. However, the operating loss was less than half as big as in 2012.
With its portfolio of gas sensor products, based on mySENS technology, Micronas is aiming mainly at the market for fire alarms, where it is already working in cooperation with various key customers.
mySENS technology helps them produce smaller fire alarms that offer greater protection from false alarms than current systems. The market launch of these new-generation fire alarms, and consequently the volume production of gas sensors, has been delayed by standardization issues.
Capacity utilization at the manufacturing facilities in Freiburg was slightly below 75 percent in the first quarter. Over the course of the rest of the year, this figure went up to 80 percent. Short-time work, which had been introduced in some areas of the Freiburg plant in February, was stopped again at the end of April 2013.
In the face of rising energy costs and to protect against grid fluctuations, Micronas decided to set up a combined heat and power unit with two redundant modules at the Freiburg site. This further move toward a partially independent energy supply, together with the Company's existing photovoltaic system, will help reduce the overall energy bill. Installation of the system began in January 2014, and the unit should become operational in the middle of this year.
For the third year in a row the Board of Directors is proposing to the forthcoming Shareholders' Meeting that it distribute CHF 0.05 per registered share from the capital contribution reserve to Micronas shareholders.
"Demand for electronics in the automotive and industrial sectors continues to rise steadily, leading to increased use of our Hall sensors and embedded controllers, and thus to further growth," says Matthias Bopp, CEO of Micronas. "Micronas will remain fully committed to quality and dependable delivery, while expanding its excellent product portfolio, in order to reinforce its leading worldwide position in the market."
The CFO of Micronas, Günter Hoppe, is due to retire soon, so the Board of Directors has initiated the search for a successor well in advance. Mr. Hoppe, CFO since December 2009, could step down as early as this year but at the latest when he reaches the statutory retirement age in around two years time.
In the year just begun, signs are that the variations in the performance of the world's automotive markets are set to continue. The growth regions are still China and the USA, while Europe, having bottomed out, is staging a slight recovery. There is no sign that the yen will strengthen significantly against the euro.
Based on a YEN-EUR rate of 140, the Board of Directors and Management expect to see sales of around CHF 78 million for the first half of 2014. The EBIT margin is expected to be in the lower singledigit percentage range.
Disclaimer
This press release contains forward-looking statements, such as projections, forecasts and estimates. Such forward-looking statements are dependent on certain risks and uncertainties which may cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those anticipated in this press release. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on Micronas' views and assumptions as of this date and Micronas does not assume any obligation to update or revise this press release. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction.
