Amended FY24 Results Announcement form
Results announcement
Results for announcement to the market
Name of issuer Rakon Limited
Reporting Period 6 months to 30 September 2023
Previous Reporting Period 6 months to 30 September 2022
Currency New Zealand Dollar
Amount (000s) Percentage change
Revenue from continuing
operations
$61,254 -30%
Total Revenue $61,254 -30%
Net profit/(loss) from
continuing operations
$499 -97%
Total net profit/(loss) $499 -97%
Interim/Final Dividend
Amount per Quoted Equity
Security
No dividend proposed to be paid
Imputed amount per Quoted
Equity Security
Not Applicable
Record Date Not applicable
Dividend Payment Date Not applicable
Current period Prior comparable period
Net tangible assets per
Quoted Equity Security
$0.64
$0.58
A brief explanation of any of
the figures above necessary
to enable the figures to be
understood
Please refer to the Commentary and the unaudited interim
financial statements released in conjunction with this
announcement.
Authority for this announcement
Name of person
authorised
to make this announcement
Maureen Shaddick
Contact person for this
announcement
Nick Laurent, Investor and Media Relations
Contact phone number +64 21 240 7541
Contact email address nick.laurent@rakon.com
Date of release through MAP
23/11/2023
Unaudited financial statements accompany this announcement. Dividend Policy on www.rakon.com
---
Rakon Limited
T +64 9 573 5554
8 Sylvia Park Road, Mt Wellington, Auckland 1060, New Zealand
Private Bag 99943, Newmarket, Auckland 1149, New Zealand
Page 1 of 5 www.rakon.com
© 2023 Rakon Limited. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorised use or publication is expressly prohibited.
Market Release
23 November 2023
Rakon continues to focus on efficiency initiatives and investment for future growth
Global high technology company Rakon (NZX: RAK) has today released its financial results for the six
months ended 30 September 2023.
All numbers are stated in New Zealand dollars (NZ$) and relate to the six months ended 30
September 2023 (HY24), with comparisons to the six months ended 30 September 2022 (HY23) unless
stated otherwise.
Financial Highlights
Revenue of $61.3 million (HY23: $87.2 million) reflects industry-wide challenges and the
completion of one-off chip shortage contracts
Telecommunications revenue down $13.4 million to $34.2 million and Positioning revenue down
$9.2 million to $7.2 million, reflecting anticipated normalisation of customer inventory levels.
Space and Defence recorded its highest revenue to date of $15.3 million, up 24% from HY23
Gross margin of 42.7% (HY23: 49.9%) reflects non-recurring costs associated with workforce
restructuring and lower production due to the move to the new India facility
Operating expenses were relatively flat at $28.8 million (HY23: $28.4 million) reflecting both
increased investment for future growth and inflationary pressures, and the offsetting effect of
Rakon’s focus on efficiency initiatives to improve long-term competitiveness
Underlying EBITDA
1
of $5.3 million (HY23: $28.1 million) reflects the fall in revenue, non-recurring
costs and sustained investment for growth
Reflecting the deferment of 5G infrastructure deployment by mobile network operators as they
adjust to current macroeconomic pressures, and longer than anticipated inventory normalisation
by Rakon’s Telecommunications and Positioning customers, Rakon now expects FY24 Underlying
EBITDA
1
of between $13-$19 million.
Strategic Highlights
Continued market share gains and an all-time high design win rate, which has increased 33% YoY
with a conversion rate of over 90%
Planned production of select New Zealand and France product lines at the new India facility is
progressing on an accelerated schedule – delivering margin improvement from FY25
Now established in the fast-growing NewSpace and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite ecosystem;
highest order book for Space over 12-month period and expecting this growth to continue
Launched the latest Rakon semiconductor chip, the first of its AI computing hardware portfolio,
and working with leading players in AI computing hardware on next generation platforms
Continued delivery of three-year growth strategy and on track to deliver all FY24 milestones.
Chief Executive Officer, Sinan Altug says “There is no doubt that we continue to deal with a tough short-
term macroeconomic environment. Our customers continue to work through their inventory levels, after
stockpiling through the global supply chain disruptions, and mobile network operators are deferring
some planned 5G capex. As evidenced by recent announcements, we are now seeing these conditions
lasting for longer than previously anticipated. However, we share the confidence of our tier 1 customers,
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who are seeing these adjustments as temporary pauses on the path to growth, and unequivocally
expecting the deployment of this deferred investment to return.”
“We are focused on diversifying and growing in new markets. A great example of this is our Space and
Defence segment, which is going from strength to strength, delivering highest revenue to-date in HY24,
and has become another strong vertical alongside Telecommunications. We have also taken the first
steps towards AI computing hardware becoming a core market. The launch of our next generation
semiconductor chip, Niku, lays the foundation for our AI computing hardware portfolio and we will add
more next-generation products to this portfolio in the coming year.”
“We are also leaving no stone unturned as we focus on optimising and running our business as
efficiently as possible. The steps we have taken to date are already providing tangible benefits, but we
continue to look for more efficiencies across our global operations. This will put us in the best position
to navigate the current macroeconomic conditions, offset inflationary impacts and improve our
resilience and competitiveness into the future.
“The medium to longer-term growth fundamentals for Rakon’s core markets remain strong. We
continue to deliver and execute on our three-year growth plan, which will ensure we’re well positioned
to capture and maximise significant opportunities. The strategic and focused investments we are making
today will enable us to grow market share, revenue and margins“, says Mr Altug.
Financial Result
Total revenue was $61.3 million, compared with $87.2 million for HY23. This reflects a $10 million impact
from the completion of one-off chip shortage contracts as well as the normalisation of inventory levels
– impacting both the Telecommunications and Positioning segments.
Telecommunications, Rakon’s largest market, fell to $34.2 million (HY23: $47.5 million) on the back of
anticipated industry-wide normalisation of inventory levels among customers. Positioning fell $9.2
million to $7.2 million (HY23: $16.4 million), reflecting the completion of one-off chip revenue of $4
million in HY23 and normalisation of customer inventory levels. Increased activity in Space and Defence
resulted in a 24% revenue increase to $15.3 million (HY23: $12.3 million). Rakon’s ‘Other’ segment
revenue fell from $11 million to $4.6 million, also reflecting the completion of one-off chip shortage
contracts.
Gross profit was lower at $26.1 million and margin percentage was 43% (HY23: 50%), impacted by one-
off costs associated with workforce restructuring, lower production due to the move to the new India
facility, and lower order volumes impacting economies of scale.
Operating expenses were relatively flat at $28.8 million (HY23: $28.3 million) even with continued
growth strategy investment (R&D up to $8.9 million) and incurred inflationary pressures. Rakon’s focus
remains on investing for growth while proactively carrying out efficiency and cost control measures.
Underlying EBITDA
1
of $5.3 million reflects the fall in revenue along with non-recurring expenses and
investment for future growth. Net Profit After Tax (NPAT) was $0.5 million, reflecting Underlying
EBITDA
1
, as well as a share of a loss made by an associate.
Net cash was $13.4 million, down from the prior year after investment of $6.1 million in capital
expenditure, including the completion of the India manufacturing facility, and payment of $2.9 million
dividend in August.
Page 3 of 5 www.rakon.com
Balance Sheet
Rakon’s balance sheet remains robust, with net assets of $154.22 million. The company had $13.4
million in net cash at balance date, $5 million lower than a year ago as it continues to self-fund key
growth-focused projects and paid its first dividend in August 2023.
Since 31 March 2023, inventory levels have reduced from $62.6 million to $60 million and are down
$12 million YoY as Rakon used up safety stocks that were accumulated to mitigate supply chain risks
and support the transfer of Rakon India’s manufacturing operation to the newly built facility. The
company will continue to focus on lean and agile inventory management going forward.
Rakon is committed to managing its balance sheet to support the company’s long-term sustainability
and growth strategy, including maintaining capacity to execute ongoing growth opportunities over
time.
Efficiency initiatives
As Rakon continues to invest for growth while navigating the challenging market environment, it is also
taking a multifaceted approach to driving efficiency across the business. By streamlining the business
without compromising core capabilities Rakon can ensure resilience and maintain market leadership
and competitiveness in the years ahead.
In HY24 Rakon reduced its global workforce by over 10% compared to its business plan, optimising
production efficiencies while ensuring retention of the right capabilities for continued execution of its
growth plan. General and Administrative costs were flat at $14.1 million (HY23: $14.2 million), a positive
reflection of the effectiveness of ongoing efficiency actions to offset inflationary pressures. Rakon
continues to proactively look at all expense categories, and associations with revenue and future growth
objectives.
Growth strategy
Rakon’s three-year growth strategy, as outlined to shareholders at the 2022 and 2023 annual meetings,
sets a path for building long-term shareholder value by diversifying revenue with focused investment
to grow Rakon’s market share, revenue and margins over time. The growth strategy investments made
to-date have allowed Rakon to successfully diversify into higher margin products and are estimated to
have increased the serviceable addressable market by 10% in just one year to almost $3.7 billion.
Rakon is on-track to deliver all FY24 milestones for the growth strategy, including the planned
production of select product lines from France and New Zealand at the new India facility. This is
progressing well on an accelerated schedule and once completed will bring margin improvement from
the second half of FY24 and gain increasing efficiencies from FY25.
Rakon launched its latest semiconductor chip, Niku
TM
, the first of its AI computing hardware portfolio
and continues to work with leading players in AI computing hardware on next generation platforms –
projecting tangible substantial benefits within the next 12-18 months. The next product in Rakon’s AI
computing hardware portfolio, MercuryX™, is scheduled for launch before the end of 2023 and has been
released to selected customers for testing.
The Space and Defence segment continues to outperform for Rakon. The company has its highest order
book to-date over the 12-month period and is now established in the fast-growing NewSpace and Low
Page 4 of 5 www.rakon.com
Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite ecosystem. This growth is expected to continue as Rakon focuses on
expanding into new geographies and moving up the value chain for this market.
Rakon continues to evaluate and consider acquisition opportunities to expand into the US market. This
would provide access to top-tier US customers through local manufacturing, strengthen existing
customer relationships and significantly increase Rakon’s Total Addressable Market. Rakon is taking the
necessary time to ensure any acquisition can be funded, integrated and is value accretive. Rakon is also
working on organic expansion into the US, focusing on getting the appropriate market certifications
underway.
Outlook
Overall, HY24 Underlying EBITDA
1
performed in line with the July market update. However, market
dynamics continue to evolve and following further dialogue with customers, and a number of recent
peer and customer announcements, Rakon now believes the risk to FY24 guidance is higher than the
$10 million (implied FY24 Underlying EBITDA
1
of $16 million to $24 million) indicated to the market in
July. In the Telecommunications market, mobile network operators are continuing to defer some capex
investments for the roll-out of 5G infrastructure as they navigate current macroeconomic pressures.
Additionally, both the Telecommunications and the Positioning segments continue to be impacted by
inventory corrections. This is partly offset by the outlook for the Space and Defence segment, which
continues its strong performance and is set to benefit from seasonal delivery orders driving H2 revenue.
The fundamental growth drivers supporting Rakon's core markets remain resilient, reflecting robust
medium to long-term prospects. Tier 1 Telecommunications customers remain confident in the
deployment of delayed investment for the next stage of the 5G network build-out and forecasts show
5G accounting for half of all mobile subscriptions by 2030. Positioning is now showing early signs of
recovery and key customer inventory normalisation, and the order book for Space and Defence remains
strong, extending beyond FY25.
Opportunities are significant and growing with the ongoing evolution of 5G, Cloud and Edge
Computing, AI, autonomous machines and vehicles, aerospace and the entire NewSpace ecosystem.
Building on the strong foundations of its products, innovation and customer service, Rakon’s
programme of investment for growth and efficiency initiatives will ensure it is well placed to capture
and maximise future opportunities.
Ends
Authorised for release to the NZX by Rakon’s Board of Directors.
Conference call details
Sinan Altug (Chief Executive Officer) and Drew Davies (Chief Financial Officer) will present the HY24
Financial Results and Business Update at 11.00am NZDT. All shareholders are invited to listen and view
the presentation broadcast. To join the live broadcast online please pre-register using this link.
Contact:
Investor and media relations
Nick Laurent
investors@rakon.com
Page 5 of 5 www.rakon.com
+64 21 240 7541
www.rakon.com
About Rakon
Rakon is a global high technology company and a world leader in its field. The company designs and
manufactures advanced frequency control and timing solutions. Its three core markets are
Telecommunications, Positioning and Space and Defence. Rakon’s products are found at the forefront
of communications where speed and reliability are paramount. Its products create extremely accurate
electric signals which are used to generate radio waves and synchronise time in the most demanding
communication applications.
Rakon has three manufacturing plants, six research and development centres, and sixteen customer
support offices worldwide. Founded in Auckland in 1967, Rakon is proud of its New Zealand heritage.
It is a public company listed on the New Zealand stock exchange, NZX, ticker code RAK.
1
Non-GAAP disclosures
Refer to note 4 of the FY2023 consolidated financial statements for an explanation of how ‘Non-GAAP
Financial Information’ is used, including a definition of Underlying EBITDA and reconciliation to net
profit after tax (NPAT)
Data sourced from publicly available filings. Our datasets may not be complete. Automated analysis can produce errors. If you believe any data on this page is incorrect, please contact us at hello@nzxplorer.co.nz. For informational purposes only. Not investment advice.
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