Dear Shareholders

The Tecan Group again posted double-digit sales growth and a further improvement in underlying profitability in the first half of 2016. 

The renewed high operating cash flow as well as our substantial sales growth in Partnering Business and in both divisions in China are particularly pleasing.

We have made considerable progress with the integration of Sias AG, which we acquired in November 2015. Sias was legally merged with a Tecan subsidiary in the first half of this year. In the meantime, we have also concluded the relocation of our new colleagues and the production lines into the Tecan headquarters in Männedorf.

Order entry increased by 11.3 % in local currencies to CHF 250.6 million (H1 2015: CHF 220.1 million) in the first six months of the year, corresponding to growth of 13.9 % in Swiss francs. On an organic basis, excluding the Sias acquisition, orders in the first half grew by 7.0 % in local currencies and by 9.4 % in Swiss francs. Due to strong order entry, which once again exceeded sales, the order backlog grew considerably.

Sales climbed by 15.0 % in local currencies or 17.7 % in Swiss francs to CHF 235.3 million in the first half of the year (H1 2015: CHF 200.0 million). This corresponds to organic sales growth of 9.2 % in local currencies or 11.7 % in Swiss francs. Operating profit before depreciation and amortization (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization; EBITDA) rose by 16.4 % to CHF 37.9 million in the first six months of the year (H1 2015: CHF 32.6 million). Including integration costs and reduced margins associated with the acquisition of Sias AG, the EBITDA margin was 16.1 % of sales (H1 2015: 16.3 %). By contrast, the underlying EBITDA margin, excluding Sias, improved by 120 basis points to 17.5 % of sales.

Net profit for the first half of 2016 was CHF 23.5 million and therefore below the prior-year period (H1 2015: CHF 26.0 million). In addition to the integration costs for the acquisition of Sias, this difference is largely due to a substantially lower tax rate and a CHF 4.0 million higher financial result from a temporary currency hedging profit in the first half of 2015. The net profit margin in the first half of 2016 reached 10.0 % of sales (H1 2015: 13.0 %), while earnings per share were CHF 2.04 (H1 2015: CHF 2.31) 

Cash flow from operating activities grew strongly to CHF 64.9 million (H1 2015: CHF 35.1 million) and includes a further reimbursement of development costs by an OEM partner. Thus, cash flow from operating activities corresponded to 27.6 % of sales.

Sales in the Life Sciences Business increased by 5.8 % in local currencies to CHF 117.7 million (H1 2015: CHF 107.5 million) in the first half of the year and were 9.5 % above the prior-year period in Swiss francs. The newly launched Fluent and Spark platforms as well as recurring sales of services, consumables and reagents made a considerable contribution to this growth. Order entry in the Life Sciences Business also showed positive development and again clearly exceeded sales in the first half of the year.

Operating profit in the segment was CHF 12.2 million (H1 2015: CHF 11.3 million), corresponding to an unchanged operating profit margin on the prior-year period of 9.9 % of sales (H1 2015: 9.8 %). 

The Partnering Business generated sales of CHF 117.6 million during the period under review (H1 2015: CHF 92.4 million), which corresponds to an increase of 26.0 % in local currencies or 27.2 % in Swiss francs. On an organic basis, excluding sales by Sias, revenue in the first half of 2016 rose by 13.3 % in local currencies. Instruments launched in recent years made a significant contribution to the strong sales growth. Order entry in the Partnering Business also grew at a double-digit percentage rate in the first half of 2016. 

The segment’s operating profit in the first six months of 2016 rose to CHF 20.9 million (H1 2015: CHF 17.4 million). Operating profit margin was down on the prior-year period at 17.7 % of sales (H1 2015: 18.6 %) mainly due to the accounting of acquisition-related costs. 

In Europe, sales in the first six months in local currencies increased by 24.2 % and by 26.0 % in Swiss francs. This growth was driven primarily by the Partnering Business, both from the first-time contribution to sales from Sias products and strong organic growth by major platforms. 

In North America, half-year sales in local currencies were at the prior-year level, and in Swiss francs were 2.9 % above the baseline from 2015. The Life Sciences Business recorded good growth in this region. Sales in the components business, part of the Partnering Business, declined as expected due to the high base in the prior-year period. In addition, revenue of the Partnering Business in North America did not benefit from a newly launched platform for the US market, as sales were allocated to the location of the corporate customer and therefore recorded in Europe.

In Asia, Tecan once again achieved a considerable increase in sales of 30.6 % in local currencies and 34.7 % in Swiss francs. Both segments posted a double-digit increase in organic sales, which was further supported by a first-time contribution to sales by Sias products. Growth in China, where sales almost doubled in the first six months, was particularly pleasing. 

Recurring sales of services and consumables increased in the first half of 2016 by 7.7 % in local currencies and 10.4 % in Swiss francs, and therefore amounted to 38.3 % of total sales (H1 2015: 40.9 %). Services (including spare parts) accounted for 22.4 % of total sales, while consumables (plastic and reagents) accounted for 15.9 %.

In the first half of 2016, research and development expenses amounted to 9.7 % of sales (H1 2015: 10.0 %) or CHF 22.9 million (H1 2015: CHF 20.1 million). All told, research and development activities continued to fall as planned to CHF 23.7 million gross (H1 2015: CHF 30.4 million). The total figure also includes development programs for OEM instrument customers in the Partnering Business (CHF 4.3 million) and capitalized development costs (CHF 2.2 million). However, these costs were clearly exceeded by amortization amounting to CHF 5.3 million.

Tecan’s equity ratio was 66.4 % as of June 30, 2016 (December 31, 2015: 68.7 %). As a result of the strong cash flow from operating activities, net liquidity (cash and cash equivalents minus bank liabilities and loans) increased to CHF 239.0 million (December 31, 2015: CHF 198.8 million). The company’s share capital was CHF 1,152,855 as at the reporting date of June 30, 2016 (December 31, 2015: CHF 1,146,758), consisting of 11,528,547 registered shares with a nominal value of CHF 0.10.

At the Tecan Group Annual General Meeting on April 13, 2016, shareholders approved an increase in the dividend from CHF 1.50 to CHF 1.75 per share. The payout of dividends of CHF 20.1 million in total took place on April 19, 2016. 

For fiscal 2016, Tecan continues to anticipate Group sales growth in the double-digit percentage range in local currencies. This growth will be driven by the continued ramp up of major instrument platforms and launches of new products in both business segments as well as a full-year contribution of Sias.

The underlying EBITDA margin, excluding the Sias business and adjusted for tailwinds in 2015, mainly from the one-time positive net impact of revised pension liabilities, is expected to further expand by at least 50 basis points. Integration costs related to the Sias acquisition are expected to reach a mid-single-digit million Swiss franc amount in 2016 and the acquisition to become accretive in 2017. Despite these one-time integration costs and the lack of positive one-time effects from 2015, EBITDA for fiscal 2016 is expected to reach at least a similar level as 2015.

These expectations regarding profitability are based on an average exchange rate forecast for full-year 2016 of one euro equaling CHF 1.05 and one US dollar equaling CHF 0.98 and exclude further acquisitions. 

Männedorf, August 10, 2016