EQS-News

LPKF makes a solid start to the 2024 financial year

EQS-News: LPKF Laser & Electronics SE / Key word(s): Quarterly / Interim Statement LPKF makes a solid start to the 2024 financial year 25.04.2024 / 08:00 CET/CEST The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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• Sales and earnings in line with forecast, sales up 26% year-on-year
• LPKF benefits from transformation in the semiconductor market
• Measures to increase profitability underway

Garbsen, 25 April 2024 - LPKF Laser & Electronics SE achieved its guidance for the first quarter with revenue of EUR 25.4 million and an adjusted EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes) of EUR -4.3 million. According to the guidance, revenue in the first quarter should be between EUR 23 and 26 million and adjusted EBIT between EUR -6 and -3 million. Compared to the previous year’s quarter, revenue has increased by 26% (Q1 23: EUR 20.2 million). At EUR -4.4 million, EBIT was also up 34% on the previous year's figure (Q1 23: EUR -6.6 million).

At EUR 33.2 million, incoming orders after three months were down on the previous year (Q1 23: EUR 39.6 million) and below the Management's expectations. Despite solid demand for the company's solutions, delays in customer projects meant that some orders could not be booked in the first quarter as planned. The order backlog fell from EUR 82.6 million in the previous year’s period to EUR 67.3 million. The pipeline of opportunities remains strong and the Management Board is focused on converting these into orders and revenue within this financial year.

During the quarter, LPKF continued to make important progress in various areas. In March, a leading Korean semiconductor manufacturer opted for LIDE (Laser Induced Deep Etching) technology from LPKF and purchased its first system. The company has been working with key global players for several years now to make glass usable for the semiconductor and display industry and expects to make further visible progress in this area over the course of 2024.

As disclosed last month, the company received a major order from the photovoltaic industry with a volume of more than EUR 15 million. As part of this major order, LPKF will supply laser systems for structuring solar modules to equip the new production facilities of a long-standing customer in the first half of 2025. The Management Board believes that the rising global demand for production capacities for thin-film solar modules will continue to have a positive impact on the Solar segment's performance.