SÜSS MicroTec SE has recently finalized an agreement for the sale of its Swiss subsidiary, SUSS MicroOptics SA, and the division sharing the same name to Focuslight (HK) Investment Management Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of Shanghai-listed Focuslight Technologies Inc. The anticipated completion of this transaction is within the first quarter of 2024 pending necessary approvals. The total transaction volume is projected to be €75.5 million, encompassing the acquisition of all SUSS MicroOptics shares and the settlement of financial debts. After the successful conclusion of the sale, it is expected that the SUSS MicroTec group will realize extraordinary pre-tax income ranging from approximately €40 to €45 million.
CEO Burkhardt Frick stated that after a thorough assessment in early 2023, the Management Board and Supervisory Board determined that the MicroOptics division no longer aligns with SUSS MicroTec's core business due to limited synergies with their semiconductor equipment divisions. It is believed that the acquisition by Focuslight will provide the opportunity for SUSS MicroOptics to realize its full potential.
Focuslight Technologies, with around 800 employees, specializes in the development and manufacture of diode laser components and laser optics. The acquisition of SUSS MicroOptics complements Focuslight's product portfolios and expands its customer base, particularly in automotive and medical technology sectors.
In the company's 2022 fiscal year, the MicroOptics division contributed €39.2 million to the total sales of SUSS MicroTec. It is important to note that starting from September 30, 2023, the MicroOptics division will be classified as a discontinued activity in SUSS MicroTec's financial reporting.
Looking ahead to the 2023 full-year forecast, considering the exclusion of MicroOptics, the recalculated sales forecast ranges from €280 million to €320 million, with an anticipated gross profit margin of 34% to 36%, and an EBIT margin of 7% to 11%.
