Photon Control Reports Fourth Quarter and Year End 2015 Financial Results

• Annual Sales Record of $27.6 Million
• Annual Net Earnings Record of $12.2 Million
• Earnings per Share (Basic) of $0.09

BURNABY, BC, March 31, 2016 /CNW/ - Photon Control Inc. ("Photon Control" or the "Company") (TSX-V: PHO), a leading developer of optical measurement technologies, released its audited financial results for the fourth quarter and the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015.

Building on record performance in 2014, Photon Control achieved annual peak sales and profit results in the fiscal year 2015.  Product sales for the full fiscal year 2015 reached $27.6 million, making it the strongest year on record, representing an increase of $6.6 million or approximately 31% compared with $21.0 million reported in 2014.  Product sales for the three months ended December 31, 2015 was $5.8 million, representing a slight decrease of $0.2 million or approximately 3% compared with the product sales of $6.0 million during the same period in 2014. 

Photon Control's 2015 profit before taxes was $12,215,103 representing a new record level and an increase of approximately 72% compared with a profit before taxes of $7,102,692 reported in the fiscal year 2014.  Profit before taxes for the three months ended December 31, 2015 was $2,099,389 a slight decrease of $88,279 or approximately 4% compared with $2,187,668 during the same period in 2014.

Earnings per share (basic) for the full fiscal year 2015 was $0.09 per share compared with $0.05 reported in 2014, with working capital at December 31, 2015 of approximately $30.1 million.  Photon Control maintained a strong order backlog, ending fiscal year 2015 at $5.6 million. 

The company continued on its strategy to increase operating capacity and capability with the addition of key personnel and operational improvements. Going further into 2016, the Company expects to increase its investment in the people and capabilities necessary to maintain both strength and growth.

"This has been a fantastic year for Photon Control and we are well positioned going into 2016 with a favourable cash balance and a strong sales order backlog," said Christopher Weston, President and CEO of Photon Control. 

About Photon Control Inc.
Photon Control Inc. designs, manufactures and distributes a wide range of optical sensors & instruments to measure temperature, pressure, position, and flow. These products are used by original equipment manufacturers (OEM) as well as end-users in the Semiconductor, Oil and Gas, Power, Life Science, and Manufacturing industries. Photon Control's products provide high accuracy and reliability in extreme conditions and are supported by a team of experts that offer onsite installation, training, and support. Photon Control Inc. also provides engineering services for customized optical measurement systems. Headquartered in an ISO 9001:2008 manufacturing facility in Burnaby, BC, Photon Control Inc. is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange, trading under the symbol ''PHO". Additional information about the company can be found at www.photon-control.com/investorrelations.html 

Forward-Looking Statements

This News Release contains "forward looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation.  Such forward looking statements concern the business and anticipated financial performance of the Company and include, without limitation, statements with respect to the Company's objectives, goals, liquidity, sources of capital, expectations of sales and continued development of technologies and products.

These forward looking statements are based on certain factors and assumptions, including, without limitation, the Company's ability to successfully complete new purchase orders along the timelines expected; continued and future demand for the Company's products; continued sales to the Company's major customers; the continued financial health of the semiconductor industry; and the Company's ability to continue and further enhance revenue diversification and open new market opportunities.

Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual events or results to differ from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, uncertainties in the availability and cost of financing for the Company to enable the Company to achieve its goals; uncertainties relating to the market for the Company's products and maintaining a stable level of orders; fluctuations in revenue as a result of volatility in the markets and product mix; risks relating to the Company's present reliance on four major customers for the majority of its sales; risks relating to the Company's reliance on the financial health of the semiconductor industry; risks relating to the development of competing technologies and the possibility of increased competition; the effect of slow growth in the United States, the Company's principal market, as well as in Canada and other economies generally and other economic trends and conditions in the markets that the Company and its customers serve; risks associated with technical difficulties or delays in product introductions, improvements, implementation; uncertainties in product pricing or other initiatives of the Company and its competitors; uncertainties in factors that may result in a reduction in capital expenditures and/or delayed buying decisions affecting demand for the Company's products; risks relating to currency fluctuations, particularly between the Canadian and United States dollars; and risks in pursuing additional development projects to support existing customers or pursue other business opportunities.

The foregoing assumptions, risks and uncertainties are not exhaustive of the items that may affect our forward looking statements.  Should underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect or one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, actual results may vary materially from those described in the forward looking statements. The Company's forward looking statements are based on beliefs, expectations and opinions of management on the date the statements are made.  For the reasons set forth above, readers should not place undue reliance on forward looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward looking statements included herein if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as otherwise required by applicable law.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Photon Control Inc.

For Investor Relations Inquiries please contact: Helena Rebec, CPIR, Chief Administrative Officer / IR, [email protected], 604.422.8861 Ext 101