PLYMOUTH, Mich. and HAMBURG, Germany, May 8, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- ROFIN-SINAR Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: RSTI), one of the world's leading developers and manufacturers of high-performance laser beam sources and laser-based solutions, today announced results for its second fiscal quarter and six months ended March 31, 2014.



    FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

    (dollars in thousands, except per share data)


                           Three months                             Six months
                               ended                                   ended

                                  03/31/14             03/31/13  % Change                    03/31/14             03/31/13 % Change
                                  --------             --------                              --------             --------


    Net sales                     $128,589             $131,146           -   2%            $249,778             $273,379          -   9%

    RSTI net income                 $4,489               $7,360            - 39%              $6,699              $16,258           - 59%

    Earnings per share

    "Diluted" basis*                 $0.16                $0.26            - 38%               $0.24                $0.57           - 58%


    * The diluted per share calculation is based on the weighted-average shares outstanding and the potential
     dilution from common stock equivalents (stock options) for each period presented, which was 28.3 million and
     28.4 million for each of the fiscal quarters and 28.2 million and 28.3 million for the six-month periods
     ending March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

"We are happy to deliver a better than projected gross margin and results at the high end of our guidance. Sales in our macro business were affected by the softer business environment in Asia, especially in China to the machine tool industry, whereas sales in Europe for marking and micro applications have improved across the industries, with the exception of solar applications. Business in North America has not yet strengthened, mainly suffering from a slow medical device industry and automotive industry," commented Gunther Braun, CEO and President of RSTI. "We recently closed the acquisition of FiLaser's assets and are already seeing promising interest in this new technology for brittle material applications. We expect this to contribute to our sales towards the second half of calendar year 2014. In addition, we have experienced increased demand for our high-power laser products out of Asia towards the end of the quarter which should support third quarter sales."

FINANCIAL REVIEW

- Second Quarter -
Net sales totaled $128.6 million for the second quarter ended March 31, 2014, a 2% decrease over the comparable quarter of fiscal year 2013. Gross profit totaled $46.3 million, or 36% of net sales, compared to $46.8 million and 36% of net sales, in the same period of fiscal year 2013. RSTI net income amounted to $4.5 million, compared to $7.4 million in the second quarter of last fiscal year, representing 3% and 6% of net sales. The diluted per share calculation equaled $0.16 for the quarter based upon 28.3 million weighted-average common shares outstanding, compared to the diluted per share calculation of $0.26 based upon 28.4 million weighted-average common shares outstanding for the same period last fiscal year.

SG&A expenses in the amount of $27.7 million represented 22% of net sales and increased by $1.8 million compared to last fiscal year's second quarter. Net R&D expenses in both periods were $11.6 million and 9% of net sales.

Sales of laser products for macro applications decreased by 16% to $46.8 million accounting for 36% of total sales. Sales of lasers for marking and micro applications increased by 12% to $65.9 million representing 51% of total sales. Sales of components decreased by 4% to $15.9 million representing 13% of total sales.

On a geographical basis, revenues decreased by 17% in North America and in Asia, totaling $24.1 million and $37.1 million, respectively, whereas net sales in Europe increased by 17% to $67.4 million during the second quarter of fiscal year 2014.

- Six Months -
For the six months ended March 31, 2014, net sales totaled $249.8 million, a decrease of $23.6 million, or 9%, over the comparable period in 2013. The fluctuation of the US dollar, mainly against the Euro, resulted in an increase in net sales of $4.6 million for the six-month period. Gross profit for the period was $87.6 million and $9.4 million lower than in the same period in 2013. RSTI net income for the six-month period ended March 31, 2014, totaled $6.7 million. The diluted per share calculation equaled $0.24 for the six-month period based upon 28.2 million weighted-average common shares outstanding.

Net sales of lasers for macro applications decreased by $8.2 million, or 8%, to $95.9 million. Net sales of lasers for marking and micro applications decreased by $14.2 million, or 10%, to $121.9 million. Component sales of $32.0 million represented a decrease of $1.2 million, or 4%, versus the comparable period in fiscal year 2013.

On a geographical basis, net sales decreased in North America in the first six months by 12% to $48.6 million (2013: $55.5 million), and by 26% in Asia to $74.2 million (2013: $100.0 million), whereas revenues in Europe increased by 8% to $126.9 million (2013: $117.9 million).

- Backlog -
Order entry for the quarter decreased by 8% to $127.5 million compared to the second quarter of fiscal year 2013, resulting in a backlog of $136.3 million as of March 31, 2014, mainly for laser products. The book-to-bill ratio for the second quarter of 2014 was 0.99.

- Other Developments: Share Buyback -
As of March 31, 2014, the Company has purchased approximately 0.2 million shares of common stock under the buyback program it announced in February 2014 for a total amount of $5.6 million.

- Outlook -
For the third quarter ending June 30, 2014, the Company expects revenues to be in the range of $132 million to $137 million with earnings per share in the range of $0.20 to $0.24. Actual results may differ from this forecast and are subject to the safe harbor statement discussed in more detail below.

With almost 40 years of experience, ROFIN-SINAR Technologies is a leading developer, designer and manufacturer of lasers and laser-based system solutions for industrial material processing applications. The Company focuses on developing key innovative technologies and advanced production methods for a wide variety of industrial applications based on a broad scope of technologies. The product portfolio ranges from single laser-beam sources to highly complex systems, covering all of the key laser technologies such as CO(2) lasers, fiber, solid-state and diode lasers, and the entire power spectrum, from single-digit watts up to multi-kilowatts, as well as a comprehensive spectrum of wavelengths or pulse durations and an extensive range of laser components. ROFIN-SINAR Technologies has its operational headquarters in Plymouth, Michigan, and Hamburg, Germany and maintains production facilities in the US, Germany, UK, Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, Singapore, and China. ROFIN currently has more than 49,000 laser units installed worldwide and serves more than 4,000 customers. The Company's shares trade on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol RSTI and are listed in Germany in the "Prime Standard" segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under ISIN US7750431022. ROFIN is part of the Standard & Poor's SmallCap 600 Index and the Russell 2000 Index. Additional information is available on ROFIN-SINAR's home page: www.rofin.com.

A conference call is scheduled for 11:00 AM Eastern, today, Thursday, May 8, 2014. This call is also being broadcast live over the internet in listen-only mode. The recording will be available on the Company's home page for approximately 90 days. For the live webcast, please go to http://www.rofin.com at least 10 minutes prior to the call in order to download and install any necessary software. For more information, please contact Briget Ampudia, Taylor Rafferty, New York at +1-212-889-4350 or Miles Chapman, Taylor Rafferty, London at +44 (0) 7795 510 832.



                                                     ROFIN-SINAR TECHNOLOGIES INC.

                                                  CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS


                                                 (in thousands, except per share data)


                                    Three Months Ended       Six Months Ended

                                        (unaudited)             (unaudited)


                                                03/31/14                03/31/13                03/31/14   03/31/13
                                                --------                --------                --------   --------


    - Macro                                      $46,772                 $55,586                 $95,858   $104,028

    -Marking/
     Micro                                        65,907                  59,089                 121,883    136,075

    - Components                                  15,910                  16,471                  32,037     33,276

    Net Sales                                    128,589                 131,146                 249,778    273,379


    Costs of
     goods sold                                   82,253                  84,334                 162,134    176,421
                                                  ------                  ------                 -------    -------


    Gross profit                                  46,336                  46,812                  87,644     96,958

    Selling,
     general and
     administrative
     expenses                                     27,728                  25,859                  53,121     51,051

    Intangibles
     amortization                                    664                     626                   1,355      1,255

    Research and
     development
     expenses                                     11,559                  11,634                  23,099     22,585
                                                  ------                  ------                  ------     ------


    Income from
     operations                                    6,385                   8,693                  10,069     22,067


    Other income
     (expense)                                       223                   1,508                      24      1,095
                                                     ---                   -----                     ---      -----


    Income before
     income tax                                    6,608                  10,201                  10,093     23,162


    Income tax
     expense                                       2,113                   2,867                   3,347      6,843
                                                   -----                   -----                   -----      -----


    Net income                                     4,495                   7,334                   6,746     16,319


    Net income (loss) attributable to

    non-
     controlling
     interest                                          6                     (26)                     47         61
                                                     ---                     ---                     ---        ---


    Net income
     attributable
     to RSTI                                       4,489                   7,360                   6,699     16,258
                                                   =====                   =====                   =====     ======


    Net income attributable to RSTI per
     share

      * "diluted"
       basis                                       $0.16                   $0.26                   $0.24      $0.57

    ** "basic"
     basis                                         $0.16                   $0.26                   $0.24      $0.58


    * The diluted per share calculation is based on the weighted-average shares outstanding and the
     potential dilution from common stock equivalents (stock options) for each period presented, which was
     28.3 million and 28.4 million for each of the fiscal quarters and 28.2 million and 28.3 million for
     the six-month periods ending March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.


    ** The basic per share calculation is based on the weighted-average shares outstanding for each period
     presented, which was 28.1 million and 28.2 million for each of the fiscal quarters and 28.1 million
     for both of the six-month periods ending March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.



                                 ROFIN-SINAR TECHNOLOGIES INC.

                                  CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS


                                     (dollars in thousands)


                                                         03/31/14 09/30/13
                                                         -------- --------

    ASSETS


    Cash, cash equivalents and short-
     term investments                                    $155,595 $136,977

    Trade accounts receivable, net                         96,374  110,665

    Inventories, net                                      205,366  198,460

    Other current assets                                   35,449   35,190
                                                           ------   ------

    Total current assets                                  492,784  481,292
                                                          -------  -------

    Net property and equipment                             85,238   86,912

    Other non-current assets                              132,802  131,706
                                                          -------  -------

    Total non-current assets                              218,040  218,618
                                                          -------  -------


    Total assets                                         $710,824 $699,910
                                                         ======== ========


    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY


    Short-term debt                                         9,308    3,709

    Accounts payable, trade                                26,248   24,596

    Other current liabilities                              70,328   80,209
                                                           ------   ------

    Total current liabilities                             105,884  108,514

    Long-term debt                                         13,275   14,913

    Other non-current liabilities                          36,971   33,065
                                                           ------   ------

    Total liabilities                                     156,130  156,492
                                                          -------  -------


    Net stockholders' equity                              554,694  543,418
                                                          -------  -------


    Total liabilities and stockholders'
     equity                                              $710,824 $699,910
                                                         ======== ========

The Company's conference call will include discussions relative to the current quarter results and some comments regarding forward-looking guidance on future operating performance.

"Safe Harbor" Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act

Certain information in this press release that relates to future plans, events or performance, including statements such as "We recently closed the acquisition of FiLaser's assets and are already seeing promising interest in this new technology for brittle material applications. We expect this to contribute to our sales towards the second half of calendar year 2014. In addition, we have experienced increased demand for our high-power laser products out of Asia towards the end of the quarter which should support third quarter sales" or "For the third quarter ending June 30, 2014, the Company expects revenues to be in the range of $132 million to $137 million with earnings per share in the range of $0.20 to $0.24" is forward-looking and is subject to important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ. Actual results could differ materially based on numerous factors, including currency risk, competition, risk relating to sales growth in CO(2), diode, and solid-state lasers, cyclicality, conflicting patents and other intellectual property rights of fourth parties, potential infringement claims and future capital requirements, as well as other factors set forth in our annual report on Form 10-K. These forward-looking statements represent the Company's best judgment as of the date of this release based in part on preliminary information and certain assumptions which management believes to be reasonable. The Company disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

Contact: Katharina Manok
Gunther Braun
ROFIN-SINAR
734-416-0206
- or -
011-49-40-733-63-4256

SOURCE ROFIN-SINAR Technologies Inc.