SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES : Reports strong Increase in Sales and Earnings

DGAP-News: SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES AG / Key word(s): 9-month figures SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES Reports strong Increase in Sales and Earnings 15.11.2018 / 08:00 The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Press release SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES Reports Strong Increase in Sales and Earnings * 43 % Increase in sales from EUR 63.3 million to EUR 91.0 million * Positive EBIT of EUR 4.0 million for nine months (previous year: EUR 0.4 million) * Gross margin of 30.1 % at a high level * Orders for new work areas received * Letters of Intent for CIGS projects of about EUR 200 million currently signed Kahl am Main, November 15, 2018 - SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES recorded a positive course of business for the past nine months and reports a significant increase in sales and earnings (EBIT). During the first nine months of the current business year, the company generated sales of EUR 91.0 million, which was 43 % above the prior-year level of EUR 63.6 million. The EBIT for the first nine months in the amount of EUR 4.0 million considerably exceeded the prior-year level in the amount of EUR 0.4 million. During the first nine months of the business year 2018 the order intake came to EUR 74.6 million, also considerably above the prior-year level of EUR 53.4 million in 2017. The order backlog amounted to EUR 90.3 million as of September 30, 2018 (previous year: EUR 99.7 million). The gross profit margin of 30.1 % (previous year: 29.7 %) remains at a high level. As of September 30, 2018, the available liquid funds amounted to EUR 27.4 million (December 31, 2017: EUR 27.2 million). In the past week and in the course of the China International Import Expo Show ("CIIE" from November 5-10, 2018) in Shanghai, China, SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES signed several letters of intent (LOIs) for the delivery of production machines for the manufacturing of CIGS thin-film solar modules. Dr.-Ing. Stefan Rinck, CEO of the SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES AG, comments: "The LOIs, which our company signed in the past week for the delivery of large production machines for the manufacturing of CIGS solar modules, confirm our close partnership with CNBM and our leading position in the market segment for CIGS thin-film solar modules." Dr. Rinck continues: "The signed agreements concern three sites in China in the cities of Bengbu, Xuzhou and Meishan. The volume of the planned deliveries at the three sites totals about EUR 200 million." CNBM strives for the set-up of a total 1.2 GW CIGS production capacity and thus continues its investment and expansion plans in China for the establishment of production capacity of 6 GW as planned. SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES now works with the customer on the signing of the legally binding delivery contracts on the basis of the signed LOIs. The production and delivery of the machines are mainly scheduled for the years 2019 and 2020. The headcount within the SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES Group increased to 343 persons as of September 30, 2018 (December 31, 2017: 315 employees) mainly due to the expansion of the subsidiary located in Shanghai, China. Outlook SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES expects a favorable course of business in the fourth quarter and confirms its forecast for the full-year 2018 with sales in a low triple-digit million range. Accordingly, the EBIT for the business year 2018 is set to amount to a positive mid single-digit million range. The key sales and earnings drivers are expected to stem from the Solar segment. For the business year 2019, the company currently expects a further increase in sales and the operating result (EBIT). This assessment rests on the assumption of continued growth in the photovoltaics markets, in particular in the area of CIGS. Furthermore, the new work areas decorative coating and medical technology are forecast to contribute to sales and earnings. Consolidated key figures 3rd quarter 2017/18     2017 2018 Sales (gross) in million EUR 15.3 44.6 Order intake in million EUR 27.3 9.6 EBIT in million EUR -2.1 5.2 EBITDA in million EUR -1.7 6.0 Earnings before taxes in million EUR -2.7 4.7 Net profit/loss in million EUR -2.8 4.7 Research & development expenses in million EUR 2.4 4.2   Consolidated key figures nine months 2017/18     2017 2018 Sales (gross) in million EUR 63.6 91.0 Order intake in million EUR 53.4 74.6 Order backlog (Sept. 30) in million EUR 99.7 90.3 EBIT in million EUR 0.4 4.0 EBITDA in million EUR 1.8 5.7 Earnings before taxes in million EUR -1.0 2.4 Net profit/loss in million EUR -1.1 2.3 Operating cash flow in million EUR -18.2 13.9 Shareholders' equity (Sept. 30) in million EUR 11.9 22.3 Balance sheet total (Sept. 30) in million EUR 74.4 101.0 Research & development expenses in million EUR 6.5 9.0 Employees (Sept. 30)   313 343 Weighted average shares outstanding, basic   8,087,752 8,896,527 Earnings per share, basic EUR -0.14 0.26   SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES - Innovations for New Technologies Based on its core competencies SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES builds innovative machines and systems for economic and resource-efficient production processes. The core competencies include coating technology, surface treatment, wet-chemical as well as thermal production processes. The company offers machines, which are globally deployed in the photovoltaics, semiconductor, medical technology, consumer goods and optical disc sectors. For all machines, processes and applications SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES draws upon its know-how in the areas of automation and process technology. SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES AG, Hanauer Landstrasse 103, D-63796 Kahl/Main, WKN A1681X / ISIN DE000A1681X5 Contact: Maren Schuster, Investor Relations, Tel.: + 49 (0) 160 9609 0279 Bernhard Krause, Corporate Communications, Tel.: + 49 (0) 170 9202 924 Email: [e-mail]   15.11.2018 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.dgap.de

Language:	English
Company:	SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES AG
	Hanauer Landstrasse 103
	63796 Kahl am Main
	Germany
Phone:	[phone]
Fax:	[phone]
E-mail:	[e-mail]
Internet:	www.singulus.de
ISIN:	DE000A1681X5, DE000A2AA5H5
WKN:	A1681X, A2AA5H
Listed:	Regulated Market in Berlin, Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Regulated Unofficial Market in Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Hanover, Munich, Stuttgart, Tradegate Exchange

End of News	DGAP News Service

746175  15.11.2018