Business

Crystal-maker Rakon returns to profitability

13:01 pm on 21 May 2015

Rakon has returned the company to profitability, following a period of restructuring and asset sales.

Rakon's crystal filters and oscillators were used on the European Space Agency (ESA)'s robot probe Philae, which landed on a speeding comet in late 2013. Photo: AFP / ESA

The manufacturer of crystal timing devices made a full-year net profit of $3.2 million in the year that ended in March, swinging from a loss of $83.8 million in the year earlier.

Revenue was down more than 12 percent to $131.4 million, reflecting the company's exit from the smart wireless device market.

On the plus side, it said its space and defence revenues rose in the second half of the year, with the delivery of a number of key projects.

It said the transfer of its manufacturing from the United Kingdom's Lincoln plant to New Zealand had been successful, with volumes increasing in the second half.

The company said gross profit increased over the period, with revenue growth coming from higher margin business.

Underlying profit rose to $15.4 million, swinging from a loss of $7.5 million loss the year earlier.

The company's expenses fell more than 18 percent to $46.2 million, a reduction of more than $10 million compared to the year earlier.

Despite the stronger result, the company won't be paying a dividend this year.

At midday, the company's share price was up 16 percent to 40 cents a share.

Listen to an interview with Rakon CEO Brent Robinson about the ESA's comet mission on Nine to Noon