Financial focus #1

15 Feb 2006

The latest financial results from Bookham, Newport and Coherent.

Telecoms

•  Bookham has reported a net revenue of $60.7 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2006, up $14.9 million year-on-year, but down from $62.6 million in the previous three months. Net loss was $11.9 million in the second quarter compared with a net loss of $41.1 million for the same period last year. Bookham says that it continues to make progress in moving its assembly and test operations to Shenzhen, China. Revenue from Shenzhen in the second quarter was $27.0 million, a 37% increase on the $19.7 million generated in the first quarter. The firm expects to complete the move by the end of fiscal 2006.

Lasers

•  Newport's focus has now shifted from the integration of Spectra-Physics to driving sales growth. The firm has reported net income of $11.6 million on sales of $403.7 million for the fiscal year 2005, which takes into account a loss of $17 million from its discontinued robotic systems operations. Newport is confident that its R&D initiatives are showing results, with over 25% of its 2005 revenue coming from products introduced in the past 24 months. The firm spent $35.9 million on R&D in 2005 and will continue to increase investment in this area.

Lasers

•  Coherent has posted a net income of $9.3 million on sales of $131.0 million for its first fiscal quarter of 2006. The figures show an improved performance on last year's first quarter net income of $5.4 million and sales of $126 million. New developments include a multi-Watt yellow optically pumped semiconductor laser for the ophthalmic market and a higher power version of its Sapphire laser product, which suits bioinstrumentation applications. R&D spending remains at around 11% as a percentage of net sales.