Basler AG, the leading global manufacturer of industrial cameras, is presenting its audited annual report 2016. In line with the the strategy, in fiscal year 2016, group’s sales increased by 14 % to € 97.5 million (previous year: € 85.4 million). Basler AG grew by approximately 10 percentage points stronger than the German industry for image processing components that is statistically recorded by the VDMA (Verband Deutscher Maschinen- und Anlagenbau, German Engineering Federation) and thus represents a key indicator for the global market development. Therefore, in the elapsed fiscal year, Basler AG again gained market shares and expanded its market leadership.

The pre-tax result amounted to € 11.4 million (previous year: € 9.1 million, +25 %) and the pre-tax rate of return to 12 % (previous year: 11 %). With these results, the upper end of the guidance previously communicated by the company has been achieved. The net result per share increased from € 1.94 to € 2.45.

The cash flow from operational activity amounted to € 16.1 million (previous year: € 12.9 million, +25 %). The free cash flow, calculated as the sum of cash flows from operational activity and investment, reached a value of € 8.1 million (previous year: € 3.6 million, +125 %). In 2016, 21 new employees were hired building up staff on the planned moderate level. The focus, however, was on the integration of the numerous new employees hired in 2015 and on the increase in productivity. Against the background of a positive annual result 2016, the company will propose to this year's shareholders’ meeting the distribution of a dividend of € 0.74 per share. This corresponds to a distribution ration of 30 % of the after-tax result.

After strong incoming orders in the past months – in particular for factory applications in Asia – the Basler group expects sales revenues to increase to € 120 – 130 million in 2017. On the result side, the company plans with a pre-tax return rate of 13 – 15 % depending on the sales development. Given the very high momentum in the sales markets and the limited visibility of the business development in the second half-year, the current range of the sales corridor is relatively broad. The management strives for giving a more precise corridor in the course of the fiscal year.