U-blox achieves solid half year results, increases guidance for 2012

Significant sales growth in the USA and Europe
During the first half of 2012, u-blox experienced double-digit sales growth in the Americas and EMEA as compared to the same period in 2011. Asia experienced an economic slowdown due to weak demand for consumer devices, resulting in a small sales decrease.

Strong growth in core business sectors
A surge in revenue in u-blox’ core businesses, vehicle and asset tracking and in-car navigation, demonstrated that the company’s innovations are meeting the requirements of our most important customers in the fast-growing industrial and automotive markets.

Two main trends drove the company’s success in the first half: Both positioning and wireless products experienced strong traction especially in the Americas where wireless products gained important momentum, contributing significantly to growth. This is a positive confirmation of the company’s strategy to capitalize on the synergies of converged positioning and wireless technologies.

Continued success in the global automotive markets where u-blox maintains technology and quality leadership in both in-dash and after market navigation devices. Thanks to key technologies such as Automotive Dead Reckoning as well as a wide portfolio of automotive-grade components, u-blox has achieved an entrenched position as preferred provider of GPS/GNSS receiver technology to many major car brands.

Good profitability and easing exchange rate pressures
u-blox was able to achieve good profitability with 14.6% EBIT margin, in line with our guidance 2012.

Acquisitions
In April, u-blox signed the share purchase agreement for 4M Wireless, a profitable UK-based company that develops leading software and test solutions that are crucial for supporting fourth generation (4G) mobile wireless devices. The acquisition will give u-blox ownership of advanced 4G protocol stacks that are necessary for enabling next-generation devices such as high-speed wireless modems, fixed wireless terminals, tablet computers and notebooks. The closing of the acquisition is pending due to routine government approval. Closing is expected to be completed by end of September 2012.

On June 28, u-blox announced the acquisition of UK-based Cognovo Ltd., a company specializing in “Software Defined Modem” (SDM) chip development technology. The acquisition extends u- blox’ chip design capabilities to create differentiated products for strategic markets that require 4G communications combined with global positioning. The combination of technologies from Cognovo and 4M Wireless will result in a new 4G (LTE) wireless modem platform based on IP owned by u-blox. New products resulting from the acquisitions will broaden u-blox’ serviceable market, and increase margins in the automotive, consumer and industrial sectors. First product based on 4G technology is planned for end of 2013. The integration is proceeding smoothly.

Business development
u-blox continued to win new business in a wide range of markets, regions and innovative applications. Highlights during the first half year include: Foryou General Electronics, a major Chinese supplier of in-car navigation and infotainment systems for domestic and global automotive markets, selected u-blox 6 GPS receiver modules for two lines of their advanced in-car infotainment systems.

Starcom, an Israeli-based manufacturer of products for security applications, chose u-blox as the GPS receiver and wireless module provider for its “WatchLock” location-aware high-security padlock. u-blox achieved an industry first by providing the QZSS satellite positioning technology to Yupiteru, a Japanese manufacturer of telecommunications and car electronics for the Japanese market. u-blox provided its unique CellLocate™ hybrid GPS/cellular indoor positioning technology to LOSTnFOUND, a Swiss-based company specializing in intelligent solutions for the protection, monitoring and retrieval of people and property.

Products and innovation
During the first half of 2012, u-blox developed attractive and innovative products and technologies for both positioning and wireless applications. Here are some highlights:

u-blox launched its seventh generation positioning platform, u-blox 7. This new positioning engine supports all Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) including GPS, Russia’s GLONASS, China’s Compass, the EU’s Galileo and Japan’s QZSS standards. Key differentiators of u-blox 7 are global compatibility, the industry’s lowest power consumption, and extremely small size. These features are critical for battery operated and handheld applications.

The company introduced the world’s first multi-standard 3G wireless module. The ultra compact LISA-U modem series supports all global “Universal Mobile Telecommunication Systems” (UMTS), enabling high-speed Internet access and voice for wireless terminals designed for use anywhere in the world.

Major operator certifications achieved: the LISA wireless module was certified by Softbank, Japan’s largest mobile operator, for their 3G network. The CDMA version was certified by Verizon Wireless in the USA, the country’s largest 3G service provider. Additionally, the LEON 2G module was certified by France Telecom / Orange. Certification is crucial to allow customers to design in u-blox’ modems for operation over specific operator networks.

Employees
The number of employees worldwide increased during the first half of 2012 mainly due to the acquisition of Cognovo (+30 employees). The company employed 277 people at June 30, 2012.

Finance
Revenue grew in the Americas by 87% as compared to the first half year of 2011. In EMEA u-blox saw an increase in revenue of 22%, and in Asia Pacific a decrease of 7%

Gross profit increased to CHF 35.5 million with gross profit margin reaching 45.7% as a result of changes in product mix

Growth in operating expenses was below the revenue growth rate EBITDA of CHF 15.9 million was reached in the first half year of 2012, with an EBITDA margin of 20.5%

EBIT of CHF 11.4 million was achieved in the first half year of 2012, with an EBIT margin of 14.6% Current assets decreased by CHF 10.9 million compared to December 31, 2011, mainly due to the acquisition of Cognovo

Capital expenditure in the first half year of 2012 was CHF 8.8 million mainly due to further investments in acquisitions, capacity expansion and investments for product development A net operating cash flow of CHF 0.1 million was recorded

Revenue by segment
u-blox operates in two segments:

GPS/GNSS and Wireless products u-blox develops and sells embedded GPS/GNSS semiconductors and modules, and 2G/3G/CDMA wireless modules which are used in automotive, industrial and consumer applications. Revenue was CHF 77.0 million for the first half of 2012 as compared to CHF 61.4 million in the first half of 2011.

Wireless services u-blox also offers wireless communication technology services in terms of reference designs and software. In the first half of 2012, revenue for wireless services to external customers was CHF 0.7 million as compared to CHF 1.0 million during the first half year 2011.

Expanded global presence
During the period, u-blox expanded its global organization: new R&D centers were established, through acquisition, in Melbourn (UK), Leuven (Belgium), and a new sales office was opened in Bangalore (India).

Outlook
u-blox is on track to achieve its planned growth in the consumer, industrial and automotive electronics markets. The growth in products and devices that rely on machine-to-machine communications is expected to accelerate in all market sectors over the coming years. With government mandates requiring vehicles to incorporate advanced telematics systems on top of the general trend towards increased mobility worldwide, the outlook for u-blox’ dual positioning and wireless strategy is favorable.

For the full year 2012, u-blox increases its revenue guidance by CHF 10 million to CHF 165 million, and expects an EBIT of approximately CHF 20 million, 17% above the level that was predicted after the announcement of the Cognovo acquisition.

The indications are based on exchange rates of 1.20 for EUR/CHF and 0.95 for USD/CHF for the second half year 2012. u-blox’ natural hedge against foreign exchange variations at the level of material costs helps maintain its relative gross margin. Revenue and EBIT, however, remain sensitive to the further variation of currency valuations against the Swiss Franc.


Contact:
U-blox AG Zürcherstrasse 68 8800 Thalwil Schweiz Telefon: 044 722 74 44 Fax: 044 722 74 47 E-mail: info@u-blox.com

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