Media

Media information 2007

November 16, 2007

Carlo Gavazzi: Significant performance improvement First semester net income increased by 46% to CHF 7.6 million

Steinhausen, November 16, 2007 – In the first semester of the current financial year ended September 30, 2007, the Zug-based electronics group succeeded again in improving significantly its economic performance. While operating revenue grew by 10% from CHF 101 million to CHF 111 million, EBIT showed an increase of 34% from CHF 7.7 million to CHF 10.3 million. Net income grew by 46% from CHF 5.2 million to CHF 7.6 million.

Thanks to the actions put in place in both business units, the group expects to close the current financial year with an improved performance over the previous year, despite signs of a weakening demand in the main markets.

As a consequence of the relocation of production to lower-cost countries and economy-of-scale effects, gross margin improved by 1.3 percentage points to 47.8%. This increase, coupled with the reduction of operating expenses as a percentage of sales, resulted in a marked increase of the EBIT margin from 7.6% to 9.3%.

At September 30, 2007, equity amounted to CHF 103 million, equalling 60% of total assets, while net interest-bearing debt was reduced to almost nil.

June 21, 2007

Continued strong performance - EBIT increased by 37% from CHF 14.8 to CHF 20.2 million - Dividend proposal: CHF 7.00 per bearer share

Steinhausen, June 21, 2007 - In the financial year ended March 31, 2007, Carlo Gavazzi, the Zug-based electronics group, increased bookings from continuing operations by 10% from CHF 201.8 million to CHF 221.6 million and operating revenue by 7% from CHF 201.6 million to CHF 215.7 million. Earnings from continuing operations rose by 30% from CHF 11.5 million to CHF 14.9 million.

The discontinuance of Computing Solutions' distribution activity required a goodwill write-off in the amount of CHF 3.3 million. After this one-time charge, the company is reporting a net income of CHF 11.5 million.

With the current economic conditions prevailing, the group expects to further improve its market position and its financial performance during 2007/08. 

The group's operating revenue increased by 7% and operating expenses by a modest 1.5%. EBIT included CHF 1.8 million non-recurring legal and severance charges, while it benefited from the reversal of accruals of CHF 1.5 million in the previous year. Despite these differences totalling CHF 3.3 million, EBIT improved by CHF 5.4 million.

Shareholders' equity at March 31, 2007, amounted to CHF 99 million or 54% of total assets. The board of directors will propose to the annual shareholders' meeting the payment of a dividend of CHF 7 per bearer share, corresponding to a payout ratio of 33% of earnings from continuing operations (previous year: capital repayment of CHF 35 per bearer share).

Automation Components' improvement of earnings and gain of market share
Continuing investments in sales and marketing personnel, broader geographical coverage and favourable market conditions enabled Automation Components to expand bookings and operating revenue by 11.5% and 9.1%, respectively, clearly outpacing global market growth of estimated 4%. While revenue in South-East-Asia grew by 24%, sales in Europe increased by 14% and, the less favourable economic conditions in the North American building and factory automation market, limited bookings growth in this region to 4% in local currency. While revenue of the priority market segments grew by 22%, revenue from non-core products stabilised. As operating expenses rose by only 4.6%, operating profit improved by 37.8% to CHF 24.1 million or 12.9% of revenue.

Computing Solutions' concentration on core activities
Revenue from core activities, electronic packaging and embedded computing, stabilised at the previous year's level and bookings improved by 3%. Actions were taken to further reduce the break-even point and, as a result, the business unit succeeded in improving operating profit by CHF 1.0 million compared with the previous year, after one-time restructuring charges of CHF 0.5 million. The goodwill amortisation of CHF 3.3 million and the small operating loss of CHF 0.1 million (last year profit of CHF 0.6 million) were accounted for as discontinued operations.

Board of Directors
After 40 years of services with Carlo Gavazzi and approaching the age of 65, Werner S. Welti, executive chairman of Carlo Gavazzi Holding AG since 2003, decided not to stand for re-election at the shareholders' meeting of July 26, 2007. The board of directors recognised his valuable contributions and expressed its great appreciation for the excellent services that were provided by him for many years in various top management and board functions. The board of directors will appoint Werner S. Welti as honorary chairman.

Giulio Pampuro, member of the board of directors of Carlo Gavazzi Holding AG for two years and managing director of Barguzin Participation SA, Luxembourg, will succeed Werner S. Welti as chairman. The board of directors will propose to the next shareholders' meeting to elect Dr. Felix R. Ehrat, senior partner of the law firm Bär & Karrer, as new member of the board.

Key figures group (CHF million)

Income statement
2006/07 2005/06* %
Continuing operations
Bookings 221.6 201.8 + 9.8
Operating revenue 215.7 201.6 + 7.0
EBIT 20.2 14.8 + 36.5
EBIT-Margin 9.4 % 7.3 % -
Earnings 14.9 11.5 + 29.6
Employees 1192 1126 + 5.9
Discontinued operations (Fulfilment Division)
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations - 0.1 0.6  
Goodwill write-off - 3.3 -  
Effect of discontinued operations - 3.4 0.6  
Summary result
Earnings from continuing operations 14.9 11.5  
Effect of discontinued operations - 3.4 0.6  
Group net income 11,5 12.2 - 5.7
Cash flow 18.8 15.5 + 21.3
Balance sheets (as of March 31) 2007 2006 %
Net working capital 58.7 52.3 + 12.2
Shareholders' equity 98.9 111.6 - 11.4
Total assets 182.2 191.2 - 4.7
Equity in percent of assets 54.3 % 58.4 % -

Key figures business units

CHF million 2006/07 2005/06* %
Bookings
Automation Components 191.3 171.5 + 11.5
Computing Solutions 30.4 30.3 + 0.3
Operating revenue
Automation Components 186.6 171.0 + 9.1
Computing Solutions 29.1 30.6 - 4.9
Operating profit
Automation Components 24.1 17.5 + 37.7
Computing Solutions 0.7 - 0.3 -

* 2005/06 figures have been restated to reflect the effect of the discontinuance of Computing Solutions' distribution activity.