Business figures for the first three months of 2023: Expected restrained start to the year; Company closes share buyback program

• Sales: Euro 56.3 million (previous year: Euro 66.3 million, -15 %)
• Incoming orders: Euro 54.1 million (previous year: Euro 88.5 million, -39 %)
• EBITDA: Euro 3.6 million (previous year: Euro 13.4 million, -73 %)
• Pre-tax result: Euro -1.6 million (previous year: Euro 9.2 million, >-100 %)
• Pre-tax return rate: -3 % (previous year: 14 %, >-100 %)
• After tax result: Euro -2.2 million (previous year: Euro 6.8 million, >-100 %)
• Free cash flow: Euro -7.7 million (previous year: Euro -28.1 million)
• Forecast confirmation 2023: Sales Euro 235 – 265 million, pre-tax return rate 5 – 8 %

BASLER AG, a leading provider of image processing components for computer vision applications, is today presenting final figures for the first three months of 2023.

The Basler group closed the first three months of 2023 with a decline in sales of 15 % to Euro 56.3 million (previous year: Euro 66.3 million) as well as a negative result before taxes of Euro -1.6 million (previous year: Euro 9.2 million) and a pre-tax return rate of -3.0 % (previous year: 14 %).

As expected, the extremely strong incoming orders of Euro 88.5 million in the first quarter of 2022, which were caused by the supply chain crises, were not achieved in the first three months of 2023. Even though incoming orders increased again for the first time after three consecutive quarters of significant decline, they were at a low level of € 54.1 million in the first quarter of 2023. In addition, cancellations of orders from fiscal years 2021 and 2022 reduced the order backlog in the first quarter by € 13.3 million. Cancellations are expected to be lower in the second quarter, as the backlog at the end of the first quarter of 2023 is largely free of risky orders from the overheated market phase between January 2021 and June 2022. At the beginning of the second quarter, the order backlog was slightly higher. However, it is expected to normalize to approximately three months of sales during the second quarter due to the current weak demand.  

For January through March 2023, the German Engineering Federation (VDMA) reported a decline in sales of -4 % compared to the previous year for the German manufacturers of image processing components. Incoming orders in the industry decreased by -13 % in the same period. Based on these figures, it can be seen that the increased order backlogs are currently still providing a tailwind for the industry, but that this should weaken in the future due to declining incoming orders.

Thus, the company is falling behind the German industry for image processing components. This is mainly due to Basler’s Asia-oriented business. The business development of the Basler group showed very strong regional differences in the first quarter of 2023. While sales in Europe grew by around 15 % and in Germany by as much as 25 % in the first quarter, business in America and Asia declined by approximately one quarter. This was mainly due to market weaknesses for capital goods in the semiconductor, electronics and logistics sectors. In China, the sluggish economic recovery following the zero-covid policy and weakness in the consumer goods industry had a double impact. In addition, the Chinese market is becoming increasingly more competitive.

Furthermore, the ERP system conversion to SAP S4 Hana at the turn of the year led to considerable process problems in the first quarter, which in the following weeks resulted in lower-than-planned deliveries and approximately € 3 million less sales than planned.

As a result, cash flow items in the first quarter were particularly affected by weak earnings and a further increase in working capital.

The operating cash flow amounted to € -3.3 million (previous year: € -5.1 million). This development is mainly due to the loss for the quarter, a further increase in inventories and an increase in receivables as a result of the increase in sales at the end of the quarter. 

The cash flow from investing activities amounted to € -4.4 million (previous year: € -22.9 million). Compared to the previous year, there were no special effects from M&A transactions. However, investments in fixed assets were higher due to the building project and the system migration to SAP S4 Hana. 

This resulted in a free cash flow of Euro -7.7 million (previous year: Euro -28.1 million). Despite the very weak start to the year, the management of the Basler group is sticking to its recently published forecast. This envisages sales expectations of € 235 – 265 million with an EBT margin of 5 – 8 %. The current business development is at the lower end of the corridor. However, the Asian and American markets are expected to recover in the second half of the year. In order to maintain the group’s full-year return on sales above 5 %, even at the lower end of the sales corridor, we have initiated a cost reduction program that will take effect in the second quarter. 

The full quarterly report can be seen on the company website (www.baslerweb.com). In light of these recent developments, the supervisory board and the management board also decided today to terminate the current share buyback program with immediate effect. This share buyback program was launched in December 2020 with a total volume of up to € 10.0 million and a term ending on May 25, 2025. The share buyback program is based on the authorization pursuant to Section 71 (1) no. 8 AktG (Stock Corporation Act) in accordance with the resolution of the annual general meeting of shareholders of May 26, 2020 under agenda item 8 of that annual general meeting.

As of March 31, 2023, the company holds 1,666,469 treasury shares or 5.29 % of the share capital of 31.5 million shares.

Detailed information on the transactions is available on  https://www.baslerweb.com/de/unternehmen/investoren/aktie/aktienrueckkaufprogramme/