Final Results
Strong financial performance and positive outlook reflect strength of growing IP portfolio
IQE plc (AIM: IQE, "IQE" or the "Group"), the leading global supplier of advanced wafer products and wafer services to the semiconductor industry, announces its final results for the year ended 31 December 2015.
Financial highlights
Revenues up 2% to £114.0m :
Photonics sales up 28% to £16.0m
New revenue stream with license income of £8.0m
Growth tempered by 11% reduction in wireless sales to £79.5m
Adjusted* operating profit up 8% to £19.0m (reported operating profit up ~3x to £21.2m)
Reported profit after tax up more than 10x from £2.0m to £20.1m
Adjusted* diluted EPS up 7% to 2.6p (reported diluted EPS up 12x to 2.9p)
Cash generated from operations up 41% from £14.9m to £21.0m
Balance sheet leverage down 22% to £40.3m
Net debt down 26% to £23.2m
Deferred consideration down 17% to £17.1m
* Adjustment to operating profit and EPS reflect non-cash charges and exceptional items as detailed in note 4
Operational highlights
Further diversification of revenues, driven by significant growth in non-wireless sales, which now account for c.30% of revenues (2014: 20%):
Continued double digit growth in photonics revenues, with increasing adoption for a wide range of applications including data centres, consumer applications, industrial processes, and fibre to the premises. Market outlook and strong pipeline support continuing double digit growth.
First licensing income reflects new revenue stream, with a combination of upfront and recurring income. This was earned from licenses to Joint Ventures (JVs). License income in Q1 of 2016 of approximately £2m.
Growing portfolio of epitaxial IP, with over 100 patents and a rich pool of trade secrets for the design and manufacture of advanced semiconductors :
Direct engagement with multiple Tier 1 OEMs reflect the increasing importance of epitaxial IP as a key enabling technology within electronic systems;
Market dynamics also reflect the increasing focus on advanced semiconductor materials technologies, with US competitor acquired for 3.5x revenues.
Joint ventures established in the UK and Singapore for the development and commercialisation of advanced semiconductor technologies. The significance of this technology also recognised by the UK government with a £50m commitment in January 2016 to fund a Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult in Cardiff, UK.
The growth in revenue was partially tempered by the widely reported weakness in the smartphone market, which was exacerbated by inventory adjustments. However, the outlook for wireless remains attractive with recent gains in market share, contract wins, and new product qualifications for base station applications.
Continued progress in other markets :
Activity in the power semiconductor market continues to intensify. IQE has secured a strong IP position with cREO technology providing freedom to operate in this highly attractive market.
Advanced solar making good progress in space applications, mitigating slow progress in the terrestrial market which has been hampered by macro-economics. Outlook remains positive.
InfraRed maintains its market leadership position and, as announced on 26th January 2016 won a $3.7m contract with a leading global substrate manufacturer which underpins its strong outlook for the coming year.