Basler AG reports business figures for 2016: Company confirms good annual result and expects strong growth in 2017

- Sales EUR 97.5 million (2015: EUR 85.4 million, +14 %)
- Incoming orders EUR 105.4 million (2015: EUR 83.0 million, +27 %)
- EBITDA EUR 18.8 million (2015: EUR 16.0 million, +17 %)
- Pre-tax result EUR 11.4 million (2015: EUR 9.1 million, +25 %)
- After-tax result 7.9 million (2015: EUR 6.2 million, +27 %)
- Result per share EUR 2.45 (2015: EUR 1.94, +26 %)
- Free cash flow EUR 8.1 million (2015: EUR 3.6 million, +125 %)
- Guidance 2017: Sales EUR 120 - 130 million, pre-tax return rate 13 - 15 %

BASLER AG, the leading global manufacturers of industrial cameras, is presenting today its audited annual report 2016.

In line with the the strategy, in fiscal year 2016, group's sales increased by 14 % to EUR 97.5 million (previous year: EUR 85.4 million). Basler AG grew by approximately 10 percentage points stronger than the German industry for image processing components that is statistically recorded by the VDMA (Verband Deutscher Maschinen- und Anlagenbau, German Engineering Federation) and thus represents a key indicator for the global market development. Therefore, in the elapsed fiscal year, Basler AG again gained market shares and expanded its market leadership.

The pre-tax result amounted to EUR 11.4 million (previous year: EUR 9.1 million, +25 %) and the pre-tax rate of return to 12 % (previous year: 11 %). With these results, the upper end of the guidance previously communicated by the company has been achieved. The net result per share increased from EUR 1.94 to EUR 2.45.

The cash flow from operational activity amounted to EUR 16.1 million (previous year:
EUR 12.9 million, +25 %). The free cash flow, calculated as the sum of cash flows from operational activity and investment, reached a value of EUR 8.1 million (previous year:
EUR 3.6 million, +125 %).

In 2016, 21 new employees were hired building up staff on the planned moderate level. The focus, however, was on the integration of the numerous new employees hired in 2015 and on the increase in productivity.

Against the background of a positive annual result 2016, the company will propose to this year's shareholders' meeting the distribution of a dividend of EUR 0.74 per share. This corresponds to a distribution ration of 30 % of the after-tax result.

After strong incoming orders in the past months - in particular for factory applications in Asia - the Basler group expects sales revenues to increase to EUR 120 - 130 million in 2017. On the result side, the company plans with a pre-tax return rate of 13 - 15 % depending on the sales development. Given the very high momentum in the sales markets and the limited visibility of the business development in the second half-year, the current range of the sales corridor is relatively broad. The management strives for giving a more precise corridor in the course of the fiscal year.

The complete annual report is available on the website of the company (www.baslerweb.com).