Basler AG: Business figures for the first nine months of 2017 - With high profitability Basler continues its road of success

Corporate News

Business figures for the first nine months of 2017:
With high profitability Basler continues its road of success

- Incoming orders: Euro 126.4 million (previous year: Euro 76.5 million, +65 %)

- Sales: Euro 121.1 million (previous year: Euro 72.2 million, +68 %)

- EBIT: Euro 29.3 million (previous year: Euro 9.2 million, +218 %)

- Pre-tax result: Euro 28.8 million (previous year: Euro 8.6 million, +235 %)

- Pre-tax margin: 24 % (previous year: 12 %)

- Free cash flow: Euro 18.1 million (previous year: Euro 6.1 million, +197 %)

- Result per share: Euro 6.37 (previous year: Euro 2.10)

Ahrensburg, November 8, 2017 - BASLER AG, a leading global manufacturer of industrial cameras, is presenting today final figures for the first nine months of 2017.

In the first nine months of the fiscal year 2017, the group's incoming orders amounted to Euro 126.4 million (previous year: Euro 76.5 million, +65 %). The group's sales of Euro 121.1 million were 68 % above the previous year's level (Euro 72.2 million). The gross profit margin slightly increased and amounted to 50.6 % (previous year: 49.0 %). The earnings before taxes (EBT) for the group were strongly positively impacted by economies of scale and amounted to Euro 28.8 million (previous year: Euro 8.6 million). The pre-tax return rate amounted to 24 % (previous year: 12 %). The result per share went up from Euro 2.10 to Euro 6.37.

The first nine months of the fiscal year 2017 were very dynamic and successful. The goals for growth and profitability were clearly exceeded. After very high incoming orders in the first two quarters, in the third quarter they significantly weakened as planned and in analogy with the total development. Sales continued to develop on a very high level in the third quarter close to the maximum production capacity. The order backlog as well as the delivery times reduced to a normal level in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, incoming orders are expected to slightly increase. Sales will probably regress in the fourth quarter and amount to the corresponding previous year level.

Due to the high volatility of the incoming orders the visibility for the fiscal year 2018 is still limited. Current estimates assumes the sales level will stabilize in the fiscal year 2018. The management board will give a more detailed forecast in February 2018 upon the publication of the preliminary results for the fiscal year 2017.

"In the long run we will continue to pursue our profitable growth path and strive for an average annual sales growth of 15 % with an EBT margin of 12 %. In order to adequately use our market opportunities we have started to gradually adjust our company structure to the increased sales level", says Hardy Mehl, CFO.

Recently, the company raised its 2017 forecast and now plans within a group's sales corridor of Euro 145 - 150 million at a pre-tax margin of 19 - 20 %.

The full nine-month report 2017 can be seen on the company's website (www.baslerweb.com).
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Basler is a leading global manufacturer of digital cameras for industrial applications, medical devices, and traffic systems. Product designs are driven by industry requirements and offer easy integration, compact size, excellent image quality, and a very strong price/performance ratio. Basler has more than 25 years of experience in vision technologies. The company employs 500 people at its headquarters in Ahrensburg, Germany, as well as in international subsidiaries and offices in Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

Basler AG, Hardy Mehl (CFO/COO), An der Strusbek 60 - 62, 22926 Ahrensburg, Tel. +49 (0)4102-463101, ir@baslerweb.com, www.baslerweb.com, ISIN DE 0005102008