SKAN AG / CH0013396012
19.08.2025 - 07:00:07SKAN Group reports strong order intake in H1 2025 – full-year guidance confirmed
SKAN AG / Key word(s): Half Year Results 19-Aug-2025 / 07:00 CET/CEST Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR Order intake rises 20.2% to CHF 213.0 million and order backlog reaches record level of CHF 386.4 million. Net sales of CHF 134.6 million and EBITDA of CHF 0.9 million are below the previous year's levels due to project postponements, which reflect the highly cyclical nature of SKAN's equipment business. Strategic initiatives for integrated process systems and a higher degree of standardization in the equipment business as well as for Pre-Approved Services are on track. The acquisition of Metronik enables SKAN to offer integrated solutions along the pharmaceutical value chain, from isolator technology and automation to fully digitalized manufacturing processes. Full order books and high-quality order pipeline will enable SKAN to compensate in the second half of the year for the temporary shortfalls and achieve its growth targets. Accordingly, SKAN confirms its guidance for 2025. Allschwil, August 19, 2025 – The SKAN Group, world market leader for high-quality isolator systems for aseptic production processes in the pharma and biotech industry, looks back on a first half of 2025 marked by two contrasting developments. On the one hand, the company recorded a very strong order intake from all relevant regions. Filling lines for ADC (antibody drug conjugates) were in particularly high demand. These modern oncology drugs require complex, large-scale aseptic-toxic systems with the highest quality and safety requirements. SKAN has core expertise in this field and received several orders in the double-digit million CHF range. The success rate for tenders was over 40%, thanks to the high quality and leading technology of our systems and our process know-how. The order backlog reached a record high. On the other hand, net sales were weak as a result of project delays in vaccine lines. This development is primarily attributable to the global shift in vaccine-related demand and strategic priorities by some pharmaceutical companies. Several lines ordered during the COVID phase are only slowly being put into operation, meaning that SKAN has not yet been able to book the remaining roughly 20% of the corresponding project revenues. As a result, EBITDA for the first half of 2025 was slightly positive and, after depreciation and financial results, net income was negative. Key figures from the half-year results Overall, the SKAN Group generated an order intake of CHF 213.0 million in the first six months. This represents an increase of 20.2% compared to the same period last year (H1 2024: CHF 177.2 million). The order backlog climbed to a record CHF 386.4 million, 21.4% more than at the end of 2024 (December 31, 2024: CHF 318.3 million), which gives good visibility in the equipment business for the rest of the year. Net sales declined by 17.8% to CHF 134.6 million (H1 2024: CHF 163.7 million). Adjusted for currency effects, the decline was 16.9%. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounted to CHF 0.9 million, compared with CHF 21.5 million for the first six months of the previous year. As a result, the SKAN Group reported a negative result of CHF -8.3 million for the first half of 2025 (H1 2024: CHF 14.7 million). The SKAN Group made investments in property, plant and equipment totaling CHF 21.5 million in the first half of 2025 (H1 2024: CHF 22.2 million). The majority was attributable to the strategic initiative Pre-Approved Services. Free cash flow reached CHF 9.2 million, compared with CHF -29.5 million in the same period of the previous year. The SKAN Group's net liquidity remained virtually stable at CHF 42.9 million as of June 30, 2025 (December 31, 2024: CHF 43.1 million). Equity amounted to CHF 183.4 million at the end of June 2025, corresponding to a solid equity ratio of 48.1 percent (December 31, 2024: CHF 202.6 million; 52.7%). Equipment & Solutions drives strategic initiatives forward The Equipment & Solutions segment increased its order intake by 28.4% to CHF 160.4 million in the first half of the year (H1 2024: CHF 124.9 million). However, the aforementioned project postponements led to a 24.5% decline in net revenue to CHF 90.7 million (H1 2024: CHF 120.1 million). Segment EBITDA for the first half of the year amounted to CHF -9.1 million (H1 2024: CHF 8.9 million). In addition to lower sales, the negative segment EBITDA is also attributable to SKAN's continued investments in its strategic initiatives. During the reporting period, a significant portion of research and development expenditures, corresponding to 9.8% of sales (H1 2024: 7.7%), was allocated to Integrated Process Solutions. The development of such flexible, integrated systems, which are designed for smaller production batches, is seeing good progress. The SKAN Group also progressed well with its initiative to increase the standardization level of its systems. Measurable successes were achieved in terms of reducing complexity and increasing efficiency through the use of standardized components and processes. In addition to bringing forward certain orders, SKAN has also compensated for the gaps in production caused by project postponements by pre-producing standard isolators, for example, for quality control purposes. This pre-production will generate sales and margins in the second half of 2025. Services & Consumables on track with Pre-Approved Services At CHF 52.5 million, order intake in the Services & Consumables segment in the first half of the year was at the same level as in the prior-year period (H1 2024: CHF 52.3 million). Net sales were slightly higher at CHF 43.9 million (H1 2024: CHF 43.6 million). EBITDA amounted to CHF 10.0 million, corresponding to an EBITDA margin of 22.8% (H1 2024: CHF 12.6 million; 28.9%). The reason for the constant order intake and net sales, as well as the lower margin, is the high comparative basis from the first half of 2024, when SKAN received, among other things, a substantial single order for high-margin consumables from Aseptic Technologies. Thanks to the many new service orders and the growth in the installed base, SKAN expects the service business to pick up in the second half of the year. The development of Pre-Approved Services was driven forward during the reporting period. The installed systems are currently being validated. According to the current project status, inspection by the Swiss regulatory authority is planned for the first quarter of 2026, allowing commercial operations to start in the second half of 2026. Extension of service offering for customers with immediate value contribution At the end of July, the SKAN Group completed the acquisition of the Slovenian company Metronik d.o.o. As a leading provider of software for production digitization, including manufacturing execution systems, digital integration services and automation solutions, with a focus on the highly regulated life sciences sector, the company offers an attractive extension of SKAN’s offering for pharmaceutical customers. Metronik's software platform forms the digital backbone of modern pharmaceutical production environments and meets the highest requirements in the GMP framework. Together with Metronik, SKAN will become a holistic solution provider along the pharmaceutical value chain – from isolator technology and automation to fully digitized and integrated manufacturing processes. Founded in 1990 and headquartered in Ljubljana, Metronik has more than 160 highly qualified employees and generated sales of over EUR 25 million in fiscal year 2024. Metronik will become part of the Services & Consumables segment and will strengthen segment sales and margin in line with the strategy. Metronik is already expected to make a positive contribution to the SKAN Group's earnings per share in the current financial year. SKAN has acquired 76% of Metronik; 24% remains with the existing management, which will continue to lead the company. In addition, at the end of July, the SKAN Group acquired 84% of the shares of French company ABC Transfer SAS, based in Tours. The company specializes in transfer systems for the aseptic filling of pharmaceuticals. The sterile transfer connections (alpha/beta ports), containers and transfer bags (Betabags) enable the sterile introduction of materials into isolators and the safe removal of samples. The acquisition is in line with SKAN's strategy of significantly increasing the share of consumables in total sales. ABC Transfer will continue to be managed as an independent company by its existing management team. Guidance confirmed Even though the cyclical nature of the first half of the year, which is typical for the business, was more pronounced than in previous years, the Board of Directors and management are confident that in the second half of the year the temporary gaps in net sales and EBITDA caused by project postponements will be closed. Optimism is fuelled by the strong order intake, the high order backlog and the full pipeline of requests for quotations. In addition, pre-production of standard isolators can be sold in the second half of the year. Against this backdrop, SKAN confirms its guidance for the full year 2025, which targets sales growth in the mid-teens and an EBITDA margin between 14 and 16%. With the global presence and focus on customer proximity, SKAN is well positioned to ensure stability and delivery reliability even under changing trade and customs regulations. Current developments in US customs policy confirm the strategic relevance of the plan to expand the SKAN site in the US and establish local production. Suitable options are currently being evaluated. Until then, SKAN will continue to reliably supply US customers from the site in Görlitz. This will enable SKAN to export to the US on the same terms as the competitors, all of which are based in the EU. The outlook beyond the current year is also optimistic. SKAN continues to operate in a structurally growing market. The underlying growth of the global pharmaceutical and biotech market, the increasing trend toward injectable drugs, and the replacement of traditional cleanrooms with safer and more sustainable isolator technology will ensure continued demand for process solutions for the aseptic filling of drugs and for the associated services and consumables. Together with Metronik, SKAN can also offer customers a comprehensive solution along the entire pharmaceutical value chain – from isolator technology and automation to fully digitalized and integrated manufacturing processes. Consolidated key figures
2.00 p.m. to 3.00 p.m. (CEST) To participate in the conference call, you may pre-register under this link and will receive the dial-in details to access the call. As a participant of the telephone conference you can follow the presentation here (please mute the browser sound). The presentation will be broadcast as a live audio webcast. To access, please use this link. Questions can be asked via the chat function. A recording will subsequently be available under the same link and on the SKAN website. If you have any questions, please contact ir@skan.com, +41 79 703 87 28. Download Links: >> Half-Year Report 2025 >> Presentation Half-Year Results 2025 Contacts: Thomas Balmer, ir@skan.com, +41 79 703 87 28 Alexandre Müller, ir@skan.com, +41 79 635 64 13 Financial calendar:
End of Inside Information |
Language: | English |
Company: | SKAN AG |
Kreuzstrasse 5 | |
4123 Allschwil | |
Switzerland | |
Phone: | +41 43 268 32 32 |
E-mail: | info@skan.com |
ISIN: | CH0013396012 |
Valor: | 1339601 |
Listed: | SIX Swiss Exchange |
EQS News ID: | 2185494 |
End of Announcement | EQS News Service |
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