Ascom H1 2017 results meet expectations

Dedicated strategy implementation to become a best-in-class ICT healthcare provider
Ascom is executing its strategy to become a best-in-class ICT healthcare provider, and looks back on an active and eventful first half-year 2017. The Company has focused intensively on the set-up of the OneCompany functional organization with a lower cost base compared to 2016; this process has been mostly completed. Furthermore, the management team has been strengthened with the appointment of further industry-leading experts, and the sales force has been further improved with additional, well-experienced sales people.

Ascom secured important order wins in both the healthcare and enterprise sector, and the Company was able to ramping up of new partnership agreements successfully. In addition, the OEM business bounced back and performed well during the first half of 2017. Product-wise, Ascom launched several key new products and solutions. In the first half-year 2017, the second-generation Ascom Myco 2 smartphone was successfully launched, as well as the new Ascom Telligence Patient Response System.

Financial results for the first half-year 2017 meet expectations
The results of Ascom Group for the first half-year 2017 were in line with expectations and reached for incoming orders and net revenue comparable levels on the restated portfolio (excluding the divested division Network Testing) in a stable market environment. Currency translation had a negative impact of about 2%.

Overall, Ascom experienced an organically flat revenue development and generated in the first half-year 2017 net revenue of CHF 143.2 million (H1/2016 continuing business: CHF 146.1 million). Incoming orders were at CHF 158.0 million (H1/2016 continuing business: CHF 157.9 million), representing an increase of 2.2% at constant currencies.

Notwithstanding the hiring of additional software engineers and sales resources in the first half-year 2017, the functional costs were slightly lower than in the previous year. Ascom achieved in the first half-year 2017 an EBITDA of CHF 13.9 million with an EBITDA margin of 9.7%, compared to an EBITDA of CHF 13.1 million with an EBITDA margin of 9.0% for the restated portfolio (continuing business) in the previous year.

Ascom closed the first half-year of 2017 with a Group profit of CHF 6.6 million compared to a loss of CHF 5.6 million for the first half-year 2016 (Group result including Network Testing). In spite of a large dividend payout of CHF 28.8 million in April 2017, Ascom remains a financially sound company with a net cash position of CHF 11.1 million and an equity ratio of 28.2% as of 30 June 2017.

Stronger second half-year 2017 expected
The results of the first half-year 2017 were in line with the Company's expectations. The accustomed seasonality of Ascom's business indicates a stronger second half-year also in 2017. In addition, the Company's strategic and operational measures gain traction. While the first half-year 2017 was still impacted by the aftermath of the OneCompany restructuring and the ongoing recruiting of new experienced professionals, the second half-year is expected to benefit from the new organization structure as well as from several new solutions such as Ascom Myco 2, Ascom Telligence and new Ascom Unite middleware functionalities. Furthermore, the expansion of a strong and effective salesforce and the ramping up of new partnership agreements will support the positive development of Ascom's business during the months to come.

Guidance confirmed
Based on the positive outlook for the second half-year 2017, Ascom confirms the communicated guidance for the full year 2017 to achieve revenue growth of 3-6% at constant currencies and an EBITDA margin of 14-15%.

The mid-term targets for 2020 as communicated on 3 November 2016 are confirmed as well: Ascom strives to achieve 7-10% revenue growth by 2020 and has the ambition to reach an EBITDA margin of around 20%.

Changes in the Executive Management
The Board of Directors and the Executive Committee welcome Anette Weber as new CFO starting on 1 August 2017.

After six years of successful contribution to Ascom, Judith Bischof, General Counsel, decided to leave the Company by the end of January 2018 in order pursue an attractive career opportunity in a large business. A succession solution will be communicated in due time.

KEY FIGURES H1/2017
Swiss GAAP FER

* Half-year 2016 numbers (Total Ascom) include the former Network Testing Division, which was divested on 30 September 2016.

The complete 2017 Half-year Report of the Ascom Group and the Half-year Results Presentation 2017 are available in English only and can be viewed online at https://www.ascom.com/Investor-Relations/Financial-information/Reports-and-presentations.html 

Audio Live Webcast to the half-year media conference: http://swisscomstream.ch/ascom/audiowebcast/