Quarterly Report • Apr 15, 2003
Quarterly Report
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Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Shareholders,
During the first three quarters of the business year 2002/2003 (June 1, 2002- February 28, 2003) the economic situation deteriorated more and more. The war with Iraq which was first a threat and became then reality led to increasing economic uncertainty. As a consequence, economic research institutes reduced their growth estimates permanently downwards. The majority of the institutes predicts an economic stagnation or even a recession for Germany.
This unfavourable environment had especially in the third quarter of business year 2002/2003 an negative impact on CeoTronics customers. Offers for bulk orders were made to private and public costumers at home and abroad but the customers are reserved regarding expenses and capital expenditure. This behaviour was especially noticed during the first two months of 2003. Many industrial customers decided to wait and see how the economic situation develops before they make a decision for expenses and capital expenditure. The public sector behaves in a similar way: budgets that are normally free at the beginning of the year are still blocked and will probably be available later on this year. At the same time, many offers for bulk orders include communication systems based on CeoTronics DECT technology (such as the CeoTronics Digital Mini Radio Networks). These digital communication systems are much more complex than conventional systems. Therefore the decision makers test the systems more thoroughly and intensively which leads to a slower order placing.
Due to this development and the resulting weak third quarter, consolidated net-sales for the group dropped for the first nine months from 10.085 TÄ by 8.6% to 9.213 TÄ.
The net-sales in the regions developed quite differently. Sales in Germany and Switzerland increased by 1.8% or 1.4% respectively. Due to the lack of public bulk orders sales decreased significantly in Spain (-12.6% ), France (-27.8%) and United Kingdom (-36.2%). US-sales developed similar to the first six months, compared to last year they are down by 47.8% for the first nine months.
As already mentioned in the last report, the senior executives of CeoTronics, Inc., Chesapeake (Virginia), USA, were replaced as of November 1, 2002. The restructuring of the US-business which is coupled with the change of the executives moves forward as planned but can not offset the unfavourable development of the past in the short run.
The order backlog for the group as of February 28, 2003 developed positively. It amounts to 1.2 m Ä which is an increase of 6.4% compared to the corresponding due date last year. Therefore CeoTronics is optimistic regarding a soon improvement in sales.
Consolidated interim report CeoTronics AG for the first three quaters 2002/2003
The downturn in sales had also an impact on the results, so that profits did not develop so positively as they did in the last report. Compared to last year, the EBITDA (Earning before interests, taxes and depreciation) decreased for the first 9 months from 339 TÄ to 62 TÄ. The EBIT was down in the same period from -138 TÄ by 254 TÄ to -392 TÄ. The net-income decreased from -361 TÄ to -577 TÄ. The effect of the downturn in sales during the last quarter could not be offset by cost savings.
The consolidated figures as of February 28, 2003 (according to US-GAAP unaudited) show the following picture:

The percentage of cost of sales improved for the first nine months to 49.7% compared to 50.2% for the first 6 months. The improvement is based especially on productivity gains at CT-Video, Rothenschirmbach (Saxonia-Anhalt), Germany, and a better sales mix. An increase of the percentage of cost of sales in comparison to last year from 48.1% to 49.7% is due to an increasing share of high tech components which are purchased from external sources.
The expenses for research and development increased in comparison to last year as planned. Although cost cuts are made in all areas of CeoTronics, there is a strategic importance for forcing new projects even in difficult times. These new projects should bring the success in the future. Examples for these projects are a CeoTronics DECT system for the US-market, an innovative digital inductive earpiece and a multifunctional headset for authorities. The expenses for such developments are arising in the actual business year, meanwhile sales and margins will arise in the following quarters.
The structural changes carried out last year in the area of sales and distribution are now showing their success. Sales and distribution expenses decreased substantially. General and administration expenses are up slightly compared to last year meeting our expectations.
There was no extraordinary capital expenditure during the reporting period. Apart from usual capital expenditure in tools and IT systems, there was just the addition of the investment in AACOM-CeoTronics to the fixed assets. Details to the investment in AACOM-CeoTronics are available under item 9.
The number of employees (without trainees) of the CeoTronics Group as of February 28, 2003 amounted to 130 (compared to 140 on February 28, 2002).
As already decided on the General Assembly, CeoTronics AG was able to issue bonus shares in a ratio 1:1 due to its equity strenght. The trading activity for the new shares at the Deutsche Börse started on February 3, 2003
In March 6, 2003, the CeoTronics group revised its forecast due to the actual economic situation. Since then, economic uncertainties increased caused by the outbreak and the course of the war against Iraq. Therefore a secure forecast regarding sales and profit for business year ending May 31, 2003 was not possible before the copy deadline.
CeoTronics AG Audio • Video • Data Communication
Board of Management
Thomas H. Günther Bernd Weinel Chairman of the Board of Management Vice-President
Rödermark, April 14, 2003
Finance & Human Resources
| Assets | Quarterly Report | Annual Report |
|---|---|---|
| (Date of current quarter) | (Date of last annual report) | |
| February 28, 2003 | May 31, 2001 | |
| TÄ | TÄ | |
| Current Assets | ||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 544 | 851 |
| Short-term investments/marketable securities | 0 | 0 |
| Trade accounts receivable | 1,744 | 2,730 |
| Accounts receivable due from related parties | 0 | 0 |
| Inventories | 4,177 | 4,107 |
| Deferred tax | 1,380 | 1,396 |
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 418 | 321 |
| Total current assets | 8,263 | 9,405 |
| Non-current assets | ||
| Property, plant and equipment | 3,536 | 3,744 |
| Intangible assets | 117 | 113 |
| Goodwill | 1,572 | 1,694 |
| Participations | 0 | 138 |
| Investments | 0 | 0 |
| Investments accounted for by the equity method | 0 | 0 |
| Deferred tax | 0 | 0 |
| Other assets | 18 | 18 |
| Total non-current assets | 5,243 | 5,707 |
| Total assets | 13,506 | 15,112 |
| Liabilities and shareholders´ equity | Quarterly Report | Annual Report | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Date of current quarter) | (Date of last annual report) | |||
| February 28, 2003 | May 31, 2001 | |||
| TÄ | TÄ | |||
| Current liabilities | ||||
| Current portion of capital lease obligation | 0 | 0 | ||
| Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt | 922 | 799 | ||
| Trade accounts payable | 302 | 652 | ||
| Accounts payable due to related parties | 0 | 0 | ||
| Advance payments received | 2 | 2 | ||
| Accrued expenses | 360 | 503 | ||
| Deferred revenues | 0 | 0 | ||
| Income tax payable | 435 | 450 | ||
| Deferred tax | 0 | 0 | ||
| Other current liabilities | 470 | 622 | ||
| Total current liabilities | 2,491 | 3,028 | ||
| Non-current liabilities | ||||
| Long-term debt, less current portion | 1,226 | 1,477 | ||
| Capital lease obligations, less current portion | 0 | 0 | ||
| Deferred revenues | 0 | 0 | ||
| Deferred tax | 0 | 0 | ||
| Pension accrual | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total non-current liabilities | 1,226 | 1,477 | ||
| Minority interest | 28 | 0 | ||
| Shareholders´ equity | ||||
| Share capital | 6,600 | 3,300 | ||
| Additional paid-in capital | 4,935 | 8,235 | ||
| Treasury stock | -614 | -614 | ||
| Retained earning/accumulated deficit | -1,323 | -745 | ||
| Accumulated other comprehensive income/loss | 0 | 0 | ||
| Currency translation adjustment | 163 | 431 | ||
| Total shareholders´ equity | 9,761 | 10,607 | ||
| Total liabilities and shareholders´ equity | 13,506 | 15,112 |
| Income Statement (according to US-GAAP) | Quarterly Report | Quarterly Report Quarterly Report |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (current quarter) (comparative |
(current year to | (comparative | |||
| quarter previous | date) | period previous | |||
| year) | year) | ||||
| Dec. 1, 2002- Dec. 1, 2001- |
June 1, 2002- | June 1, 2001- | |||
| Feb. 28, 2003 | Feb. 28, 2002 | Feb. 28, 2003 | Feb. 28, 2002 | ||
| TÄ | TÄ | TÄ | TÄ | ||
| Revenues | 2,904 | 3,801 | 9,213 | 10,085 | |
| Cost of revenues | -1,417 | -1,800 | -4,583 | -4,851 | |
| Gross profit/loss | 1,487 | 2,001 | 4,630 | 5,234 | |
| Selling and marketing expenses | -929 | -991 | -2,709 | -3,206 | |
| General and administrative expenses | -458 | -518 | -1,362 | -1,359 | |
| Research and development expenses | -264 | -257 | -729 | -698 | |
| Other operating income and expenses | -67 | 21 | -147 | -29 | |
| Amortization (and impairment) of goodwill | -23 | -24 | -75 | -80 | |
| Operating income/loss (E.B.I.T.) | -254 | 232 | -392 | -138 | |
| Interest income and expenses | -32 | -45 | -96 | -118 | |
| Income from investments and participations | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Income/expense from investments accounted for by the the equity method | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Foreign currency exchange gains/losses | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Other income/expenses | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Result before income tax (and minority interest) | -286 | 187 | -488 | -256 | |
| Income tax | -30 | -66 | -87 | -105 | |
| Extraordinary income/expenses | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Result before minority interest | -316 | 121 | -575 | -361 | |
| Minority interest | -4 | 0 | -2 | 0 | |
| Net income/loss | -320 | 121 | -577 | -361 | |
| Net income per share (basic) in Ä | -0.15 | 0.06 | -0.27 | -0.17 | |
| Net income per share (diluted) in Ä | -0.15 | 0.06 | -0.27 | -0.17 | |
| Weighted average shares outstanding (basic) | 2,159,998 | 2,159,998 | 2,159,998 | 2,159,998 | |
| Weighted average shares outstanding (diluted) | 2,159,998 | 2,159,998 | 2,159,998 | 2,159,998 |
* Due to the issue of bonus shares as of February 3, 2003 the total number of shares doubled. In order to improve the comparability of last years figures, the number of shares outstanding was adjusted the in the same way.
| Cash Flow Statement | Quarterly Report | Quarterly Report (comparative |
|---|---|---|
| (current year to date) | period previous year) | |
| June 1, 2002 - Feb. 28, 2003 | June 1, 2001 - Feb. 28, 2002 | |
| TÄ | TÄ | |
| Cash flow from operating activities | ||
| Net income before tax | -488 | -256 |
| Income tax | -87 | -105 |
| Net income after tax and after earnings | -575 | -361 |
| Minority interest | -2 | 0 |
| Net income after tax and after minority interest | -577 | -361 |
| Depreciation | 455 | 477 |
| Subtotal | -122 | 116 |
| Changes in assets and liabilities | ||
| Change in trade accounts receivable | 985 | -402 |
| Change in inventories | -70 | -268 |
| Change in prepaid expenses and other current assets | -97 | -457 |
| Change in trade accounts payable | -349 | 219 |
| Change in advanced payments received | 0 | -9 |
| Change in other accruals | -143 | -21 |
| Change in corporate tax liabilities | -15 | 0 |
| Change in other liabilities | -153 | 809 |
| Change in asset-side adjustment for deferred tax | 17 | -29 |
| Total changes | 175 | -158 |
| Net cash provided by operating activities | 53 | -42 |
| Cash flow from investing activities | ||
| Investments in intangible assets | -188 | -20 |
| Investments in fixed assets | -171 | -372 |
| Changes in other assets and prepaid expenses | 0 | 2 |
| Investments in participations | 138 | 0 |
| Change in foreign currency differences | 212 | 47 |
| Disposal of assets (net book value) | 16 | 8 |
| Net cash used in investing activities | 7 | -335 |
| Cash flow from financing activities | ||
| Change in other liabilities | -194 | 0 |
| Change in minority interest | 28 | 0 |
| Change in short-term liabilities to banks | 123 | -712 |
| Change in long-term liabilities to banks | -56 | -56 |
| Change in common stock | 3,300 | 0 |
| Change in additional paid in capital | -3,300 | 0 |
| Net cash provided by financing activities | -99 | -768 |
| Change in cash and cash equivalents | -39 | -1,145 |
| Net effect of currency translation in cash and cash equivalents | -268 | -45 |
| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | 851 | 1,698 |
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | 544 | 508 |
| Capital stock |
Treasury stock |
Capital reserve |
Revenue reserve |
Retained earnings |
translation Currency |
Comprehensive income |
Shareholders´ equity |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TÄ | TÄ | TÄ | TÄ | TÄ | TÄ | TÄ | TÄ | |
| As of May 31,2002 | 3,300 | -614 | 8,235 | 71 | -816 | 431 | 10,607 | |
| Consolidated net loss | -577 | -577 | -577 | |||||
| Currency translation differences in the period | -268 | -268 | -268 | |||||
| Comprehensive income | -845 | 0 | ||||||
| Capital increase (bonus shares) | 3,300 | -3,300 | ||||||
| Adjustment | -1 | -1 | ||||||
| As of February 28, 2003 | 6,600 | -614 | 4,935 | 71 | -1,394 | 163 | 9,761 |
As of February 28, 2003 the CeoTronics Group had an equity ratio of 72%.
The Annual Shareholder's Meeting decided on the suggestion of the Management and the Supervisory Board to increase capital stock by 3,299,997 Ä. Therefore, 3,299,997 Ä of the capital reserve were transformed in capital stock, whereby 1,099,999 new shares were created. The new shares were issued in a ratio 1:1 to the shareholders.
The corresponding capital increase was registered on December 20, 2002 and the trading activity for the new shares started on Monday, February 3, 2003 at the stock market.
Further substantial changes in the area of the equity and stock-options did not occur during the reporting period.
The company measures the success of its subsidiaries by measuring their net income. The accounting and reportig principles used for regional reporting are according to the group accounting rules. The subsidiaries in the individual countries are legally independent and have their own management teams.
The company's product groups are comparable both with regard to their production process and the market development methods used. Internal and external reporting follows geographical criteria in the first instance.
The information below is presented by region.
Net sales for the first three quaters 2002/2003 and 2001/2002 are broken down by region as follows:
| Three quaters 2002/2003 | Three quaters 2001/2002 | |
|---|---|---|
| TÄ | TÄ | |
| Germany | 4,198 | 3,819 |
| Rest of Europe and rest of world | 7,149 | 8,566 |
| Subtotal | 11,347 | 12,385 |
| Elimination of intercompany trade | -2,134 | -2,300 |
| External revenues | 9,213 | 10,085 |
Net income for the first three quaters 2002/2003 and 2001/2002 is broken down by region as follows:
| Three quaters 2002/2003 | Three quaters 2001/200 | |
|---|---|---|
| TÄ | TÄ | |
| Germany | -170 | -95 |
| Rest of Europe and rest of world | -122 | -99 |
| Subtotal | -292 | -194 |
| Consolidation entries | -285 | -167 |
| Consolidated net income | -577 | -361 |
Total assets as of February 28, 2003 and February 28, 2002 are broken down by region as follows:
| As of Feb. 28, 2003 | As of Feb. 28, 2002 | |
|---|---|---|
| TÄ | TÄ | |
| Germany | 16,560 | 16,572 |
| Rest of Europe and rest of world | 5,533 | 6,740 |
| Subtotal | 22,093 | 23,312 |
| Consolidation entries | -8,587 | -8,313 |
| Consolidated total assets | 13,506 | 14,999 |
Total non-current assets as of February 28, 2003 and February 28, 2002 are broken down by region as follows:
| As of Feb. 28, 2003 | As of Feb. 28, 2002 | |
|---|---|---|
| TÄ | TÄ | |
| Germany | 3,376 | 3,680 |
| Rest of Europe and rest of world | 1,867 | 2,253 |
| Non-current assets (total) | 5,243 | 5,933 |
Capital expenditure for the first three quaters 2002/2003 and 2001/2002 is broken down by region as follows:
| Three quaters 2002/2003 | Three quaters 2001/2002 | |
|---|---|---|
| TÄ | TÄ | |
| Germany | 345 | 371 |
| Rest of Europe and rest of world | 14 | 22 |
| Capital expenditure (total) | 359 | 393 |
| Reportable Security Portofolio as of February 28, 2003 | CeoTronics Shares (ISIN DE0005407407/WKN 540740) per pcs. |
Stock options per pcs. |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Board of Management | |||
| Chairman (since 01.02.2003) | Thomas Günther | 7,998 | 4,800 |
| Deputy Chairman, Senior-Vice President R&D | Berthold Hemer | 212,600 | 6,000 |
| Vice President Operations | Günther Thoma | 5,222 | 4,800 |
| Vice President Finance/Human Resources | Bernd Weinel | 0 | 1,600 |
| Supervisory Board | |||
| Chairman (since 01.02.2003) | Hans-Dieter Günther | 387,600 | 6,000 |
| Chairman (until 01.02.2003) | Peter Haack | 0 | 0 |
| Deputy Chairman | Horst Schöppner | 226,300 | 0 |
| Member of Supervisory Board (until 5.11.2002) | Dagmar Günther | 317,920 | 0 |
| Member of Supervisory Board (since 5.11.2002) | Stephan Haack | 0 | 0 |
| CeoTronics AG | |||
| Treasury Stock | 40,000 | 0 |
The total number of shares amounted to 2,199,998 as of February 28, 2003
No dividends were paid during the reporting period.

At the beginning of the business year the aquired 75% of the interests in AACOM-CeoTronics Ltd., Lodz/Poland, were consolidated for the first time; the scope of consolidation now consists of the following companies:
CeoTronics AG, Rotkreuz, Switzerland,
CeoTronics Sarl, Pontault-Combault, France,
Audio Video Data Service S.A.R.L., Pontault-Combault, France (in liquidation),
CeoTronics Ltd., Bordon/Hants, Great Britain,
CeoTronics, Inc., Chesapeake, Virginia, USA,
CeoTronics S.L., Madrid, Spain,
CT-Video GmbH, Rothenschirmbach, Germany,
AACOM-CeoTronics Ltd., Lodz, Poland.
Subsidiaries in which the parent company indirectly holds the majority of shares, and hence of the voting rights, are consolidated in accordance with the principles of capital consolidation..
The minority interests of 25% in AACOM-CeoTronics Ltd., Lodz/Poland, is taken into account in the way, that the minority interests and the effects resulting from it are listed openly in the liability side of the Balance Sheet, in the Income Statement and in the Cash Flow Statement.
With the end of the Annual Shareholder's Meeting on November 5, 2002 Mrs. Dagmar Günther resigned from the Supervisory Board. New member of the Supervisory Board is Mr. Stephan Haack (attorney), Frankfurt/Main.
As already announced at the Annual Shareholder's Meeting on November 5, 2002, Mr. Peter Haack resigned from the Supervisory Board on January 31, 2003.
The company thanks Mrs. Dagmar Günther and Mr. Peter Haack for their commitment as members of the Supervisory Board.
As also announced at the Annual Shareholder's Meeting on November 5, 2002, Mr. Hans-Dieter Günther resigned from the Management Board on January 31, 2003. On February 1, 2003 he became member of the Supervisory Board and in its meeting which took place the same day, he was elected Chairman.
The company thanks Mr. Günther for his outstanding job for the last 18 years and wishes him a tremendous success in his new post as Member of the Supervisory Board.

Adam-Opel-Str. 6 63322 Rödermark (Germany) Tel. +49-(0)6074/8751-722 Fax +49-(0)6074/8751-720 E-Mail [email protected] Internet www.ceotronics.com
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