Zwolle - 9 January 2014

Preliminary sales figures 2013
RoodMicrotec N.V.'s preliminary sales in 2013 were EUR 11.179 million (2012: EUR 11.978 million), a 7% decrease compared to 2012.

In the second half of 2013 we realised sales of EUR 5.675 million. This represents a 3% increase over the first half of 2013 (EUR 5.504 million). This shows that RoodMicrotec's recovery lags approx. 3 months behind the recovery of the semiconductor market that took place in the course of 2013.

'The macro-economic outlook is now considerably better than in recent years. The last months of 2013 already showed an improvement. It is key for RoodMicrotec to not only follow that upward trend, but exceed it. We have always succeeded in doing that in the past, albeit with a 3 month delay. I remain convinced that we are on the right track with our strategy and that we will be able to profit from further growth in the world market', Philip Nijenhuis, CEO of RoodMicrotec, commented.

Business units

Preliminary semi-annual sales result

(x EUR 1,000) HY 2 2013 HY1 2013 Movement appr.
Test 2,361 2,165 +9.1%
Supply Chain Management 1,270 1,194 +6.4%
Failure & Technology Analysis 0,744 0,703 +5.8%
Test Engineering 0,291 0,293 -0.7%
Qualification & Reliability 1,009 1,149 -12.2%
Total 5,675 5,504 +3.1%
        


Preliminary sales result compared to 2012:

(x EUR 1,000) 2013 2012 Movement appr.
Test 4,526 4,553 -0.6%
Supply Chain Management 2,464 2,457 +0.3%
Failure & Technology Analysis 1,447 1,917 -24.5%
Test Engineering 0,584 0,705 -17.2%
Qualification & Reliability 2,158 2,346 -8.0%
Total 11,179 11,978 -6.7%
        

Contrary to the original outlook in early 2013, the total semiconductor market was still relatively weak, so that the recovery started later.

The order portfolio of the various business units showed positive developments, resulting in higher sales in the second half of the year. In addition, the number of applications has never been higher. The size of the improvement was limited, however, by between EUR 0.5 million and EUR 1.0 million due to projects being postponed in the final few months. The postponements were mainly related to the financing restraint among banks and problems in the development of new chips. Due to the restraint mentioned earlier healthy fabless companies (FCs) with proven track records are inhibited in their development.

In order to overcome this negative situation, RoodMicrotec has set up schemes with partners to facilitate raising financing for healthy projects, in particular of FCs. With this approach, RoodMicrotec aims to give a healthy impetus to the development of FCs and also to improve its sales and market position.

Outlook
RoodMicrotec continues to strengthen its product portfolio, inter alia by focusing on outsourcing by OEMs (project 'Atlas') and FCs.

After disappointing market developments in the first half of 2013, but a recovery later this year, especially in the USA, the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) anticipates growth in of 4.1% 2014 and 3.4% in 2015. This growth is currently still below the 6% multi-year average. Analogous to the WSTS forecast for 2014 and beyond, RoodMicrotec expects it will recover and realise its growth objectives. We aim, as before the crisis started, to grow at a higher rate than the global market.
The record number of applications confirms our confidence that in 2014 RoodMicrotec's growth can exceed the total market growth in 2014. In view of the delicate macro-economic recovery, we refrain from making concrete predictions for 2014.


Financial agenda 2014

4 March 2014 Publication annual figures 2013
4 March 2014  Conference call for press and analysts
13 March 2014 Publication annual report 2013
24 April 2014 Annual general meeting of shareholders
13 May 2014 Publication trading update
10 July 2014 Publication trading figures
28 August 2014 Publication interim report 2014
28 August 2014 Conference call for press and analysts
13 November 2014 Publication trading update
 

Audit
The financial data has not been audited.

Forward-looking statements
This press release contains a number of forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates and prognoses of the board of management and on the information currently available to the company. The statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties which are hard to evaluate, such as the general economic conditions, interest rates, exchange rates and amendments to statutory laws and regulations. The board of management of RoodMicrotec cannot guarantee that its expectations will materialise. Furthermore, RoodMicrotec does not accept any obligation to update the statements made in this press release.

About RoodMicrotec
With 40 years' experience as an independent value-added service provider in the area of micro and optoelectronics, RoodMicrotec offers fabless companies, OEMs and other companies a one-stop shopping proposition. With its powerful solutions RoodMicrotec has built up a strong position in Europe.

Our services comply with the industrial and quality requirements of the high reliability/space, automotive, telecommunications, medical, IT and electronics sectors.

'Certified by RoodMicrotec' concerns inter alia testing of products to the stringent ISO/TS 16949 standard that applies to suppliers to the automotive industry. The company also has an accredited laboratory for test activities and calibration to the ISO/IEC 17025 standard.

The value-added services comprise inter alia (eXtended) supply chain management, failure & technology analysis, qualification & burn-in, test- & product engineering, production test (including device programming and end-of-line service), ESD/ESDFOS assessment & training, quality & reliability consulting and total manufacturing solutions with partners.

RoodMicrotec has branches in Germany (Dresden, Nördlingen, Stuttgart), the UK (Bath) and the Netherlands (Zwolle).

Further information:
Philip Nijenhuis, CEO
Telephone         +31 (0) 38 4215216
Email:              investor-relations@roodmicrotec.com:
mailto:investor-relations@roodmicrotec.com
Website:           www.roodmicrotec.com:
http://www.roodmicrotec.com/

RoodMicrotec Press Release 2014 01 09 English:
http://hugin.info/130789/R/1753599/591560.pdf


This announcement is distributed by NASDAQ OMX Corporate Solutions on behalf of NASDAQ OMX Corporate Solutions clients.
The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.
Source: RoodMicrotec N.V. via Globenewswire
HUG#1753599