EQS-Adhoc

Mikron Holding AG: Strong Swiss franc and volatile order intake hold back Mikron

EQS Group-Ad-hoc: Mikron Holding AG / Key word(s): Half Year Results
Mikron Holding AG: Strong Swiss franc and volatile order intake hold
back Mikron

23.07.2015 / 07:00
Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 KR.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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Media release on semiannual results 2015

Strong Swiss franc and volatile order intake hold back Mikron

Biel, July 23, 2015, 7 a.m. - The strength of the Swiss franc, volatile
order intake, and resulting uneven capacity utilization at individual sites
held back the Mikron Group's performance in the first half of 2015. The
Group reported an EBIT loss of CHF -2.7 million and a fall in net sales of
10% to CHF 107.8 million (first half of 2014: CHF 119.4 million). For the
2015 financial year, the Mikron Group now expects net sales slightly below
the prior-year figure and EBIT just in positive territory.

In the first half of 2015, the Mikron Group recorded order intake of CHF
118.3 million, representing a decline of 15% compared to the figure
reported in the first half of 2014 (CHF 139.2 million). Adjusted for
currency effects, the decline would have amounted to 10%. As anticipated,
the Automation business segment was unable to reach the very high year-back
figure and reported a decrease of 35%. By contrast, the Machining business
segment recorded an increase of 19% - compared, however, against the very
low figure for the corresponding prior-year period. The Mikron Group
reported a 10% decrease in net sales from CHF 119.4 million in the first
half of 2014 to CHF 107.8 million in the first six months of 2015. Assuming
no change in exchange rates, net sales would have been around CHF 9.2
million higher. Both business segments generated lower net sales than in
the corresponding year-back period: Mikron Automation CHF 55.1 million
(-3%) and Mikron Machining CHF 52.7 million (-16%). As at the end of June
2015, the Mikron Group has an order backlog of CHF 124.1 million (8% lower
than at the end of June 2014). It is still distributed very unevenly over
the different sites.

The Mikron Group reported an EBIT loss of CHF -2.7 million for the first
half of the year. Mikron Automation posted an EBIT loss of CHF -0.4
million, and Mikron Machining CHF -3.8 million. Factoring out the negative
impact of exchange rate developments, the Group would have achieved the