Kontron reports leap in first-quarter revenue and earnings

Revenue climbs 33 percent to EUR 130 million / EBIT grows to EUR 7.4 million / Very high order book level at EUR 464 million / Dynamic business trend expected to continue in second quarter.

Eching, Munich, April 27, 2011. Kontron AG, the globally leading supplier of embedded computer systems and solutions, achieved a significant leap in revenue and earnings in the first quarter of the current financial year. Revenue climbed 33 percent to reach EUR 130 million in the first three months, compared with EUR 97.7 million in the previous-year period. The order book reported even faster growth than revenue; at EUR 464 million, it stood 48 percent above the level in the same period of the previous year (EUR 314 million), and significantly above the high level at the end of last year (EUR 438 million). With regard to design wins, which are important for medium-term planning, the company is also fully in line with this positive trend with 112 in terms of volume, and EUR 78 million in terms of value. Operating earnings (EBIT) rose at a disproportionately faster rate, and grew to EUR 7.4 million, compared with EUR 2.7 million in the prior-year period. First-quarter net income consequently rose from EUR 1.9 million in the first quarter of 2010 to reach EUR 5.2 million in the current reporting period. "The markets have recovered, and the measures that were introduced during the crisis have strengthened Kontron," as CEO Ulrich Gehrmann commented on the company's dynamic business trend.

All geographic and vertical markets on the upswing

The strong growth is evident across all regions. Along with industrial automation, growth drivers in vertical markets included the communications areas, particularly ATCA (Advanced Telecommunications Computing Architecture) technology and the transportation application area. The energy, safety/security and medical technology areas also report stable trends.

Solid liquidity position

The natural and reactor catastrophes in Japan have had no notable effects on Kontron's business to date. As a preparatory measure to match Kontron's strong order growth, however, inventories were stocked up with important components and building blocks. This impacted operating cash flow, which, at EUR 2.9 million, was nevertheless still significantly ahead of the previous year's operating cash flow of minus EUR 7.7 million.

Further revenue and earnings growth expected

The strong new order intake of EUR 153 million in the first quarter (prior-year quarter: EUR 105 million), which significantly outpaced first-quarter revenue, further boosted the order book position to EUR 464 million. Together with the good level of design wins, these figures point to a continuation of the dynamic business trends over the next few months. Revenue of approximately EUR 550 million, and an EBIT margin of between 8 and 9 percent, are anticipated for the full 2011 financial year.



Investor Relations:
Gaby Moldan
Kontron AG
Oskar-von-Miller-Str. 1
85386 Eching
Tel: 08165/77212, Fax 08165/77222
Email: Gaby.Moldan@kontron.com

Für weitere Informationen:
Dr. Udo Nimsdorf
Engel & Zimmermann AG
Agentur für Wirtschaftskommunikation
Schloss Fußberg, Am Schlosspark 15,
82131 Gauting
Tel: 089-89 35 633, Fax: 089-89 39 84 29
Email: info@engel-zimmermann.de