Singulus Technologies updated its investors on the company’s current business prospects and future direction.
For more information visit: www.singulus.de
Unedited press release follows:
SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES Continues To Expand Market Positions – Focus On External Growth
• Positive trend for Blu-ray technology confirmed at IFA
• New production machines for photovoltaics to be presented at 27th EU PVSEC
• Semiconductor segment continues to grow
• Several companies in the focus for acquisitions
• Growth strategy for 2013
Kahl am Main, September 5, 2012 – The SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES AG (SINGULUS) continues to expand its activities in all three core segments. In the Optical Disc division activities focus on the growth of the service activities as well as on the machine market for Blu-ray. The reported market figures confirm SINGULUS’ decision. On the occasion of the IFA the GfK reported that the volume sales of Blu-ray players in Germany increased by 25 percent compared with the previous year. On August 30, 2012 the market research company Screen Digest released that Germany has grown into the biggest market for 3D Blu-ray discs. Although the UK remains the largest overall market for physical media, it is expected that German consumers will buy 1.37 million new 3D Blu-ray discs and therefore trump the UK market. Due to the favorable development SINGULUS continues to see good market opportunities for Blu-ray machines. Together with the sales contributions from the service activities SINGULUS will generate good earnings contributions from this segment in the next couple of years.
New production machines for photovoltaics to be presented at 27th EU PVSEC
SINGULUS positions itself increasingly as a powerful technology supplier for the upcoming investment cycle in the photovoltaics sector. New, select key technologies will be further advanced and presented to the professional attendees at the upcoming trade fair of the 27th EU PVSEC in Frankfurt. Amongst others, this includes the rear side coating of silicon solar cells, new wet-chemical processes for crystalline high-performance cells as well as coating machines for CIGS thin-film modules. SINGULUS sees good opportunities to successfully acquire new photovoltaic projects and to receive corresponding orders in the 2nd half of 2012 and in the business year 2013.
SINGULUS is the globally leading supplier in the area of vacuum coating machines for MRAM wafer, write/read heads and other semiconductor applications. The company is excellently positioned for the expected industrial production of MRAM wafers in particular.
For the business year 2012, the order intake in the Semiconductor division exceeds a total amount of € 20 million. Correspondingly, more machines were sold in the first half of 2012 than in the previous three business years together. For the first time, SINGULUS is projecting positive segmental earnings for the current business year. Due to the inquiries from potential customers and the promising talks about concrete projects the company is anticipating additional conclusions of contracts in the coming months.
Several companies in the focus for acquisitions
SINGULUS intends to use the larger extent of the net proceeds from the corporate bond to finance external growth and is currently reviewing concrete acquisition opportunities, which can be integrated into the existing segments and present core competencies.
SINGULUS’ goal is to accelerate the company’s growth with this.
Growth strategy for 2013
The next couple of weeks provide the possibility for us to receive additional orders, which can still make a positive earnings contribution. Against the background of the Euro-crisis and the uncertain global economy we regard it increasingly more challenging to achieve our expressed expectation of positive full-year results for 2012, however. Nevertheless, we expect all company divisions from Semiconductor to Solar and Optical Disc to develop favorably again in the future.