HUBER+SUHNER sees clear upward trend in second half year

By contrast, order intake slightly exceeded that of the previous year (around CHF 748 million, +2%). In terms of net sales, the trend reversal started around the middle of the year, in terms of order intake it already started at the beginning of the second quarter. The book-to-bill rate reached a value of 1.07. Strengthened by the acquisition of Astrolab, HUBER+SUHNER takes the positive momentum forward into 2013 and anticipates a good start to the new financial year.



2012 was a year of transition and contrasts for HUBER+SUHNER. The dramatic collapse of the global solar market and the phasing out of business with individual large-scale customers led to a shortfall in net sales of over CHF 80 million in this segment. The Swiss franc continued to generate considerable pressure on margins, and the introduction of SAP in Switzerland, Poland and Tunisia led to additional costs. By contrast, the second term saw a marked acceleration of business development, with a veritable boom in the Fiber Optics division, a significantly higher volume of net sales in Radio Frequency and stabilisation of the situation in the Low Frequency division.



The operative EBIT margin in the second half year of 2012 developed positively as anticipated and will be significantly higher than in the first half year. Although no specific write-offs for trade receivables had to be recognized, HUBER+SUHNER decided to increase the allowance for trade receivables by a high single-digit millions figure due to the tense situation in the field of solar.



The company will present the 2012 operating results at the media and analysts conference on 12 March 2013.