FPC publishes year-end report, sees a market full of smartphones with fingerprint sensors in 2014

Fingerprint Cards has just launched its year-end report for 2013 and as well, some impressive figures from its Q4 2013 report.

“In terms of sales, the fourth quarter of 2013 was the best quarter to date in the history of Fingerprint Cards (FPC), with sales of SEK 34 M,” CEO Johan Carlström said. “During the quarter, fingerprint sensor technology entered the mass market, driven largely by the launch of Apple’s iPhone 5s with Touch-ID, and it became apparent that the biometric industry was again becoming the subject of major focus. FPC accounted for by far the largest number of all Design Wins (DWs) for future Smartphone and Tablet products. It is with pride that I am able to confirm that FPC was chosen in 2013 as a supplier in 21 of 22 launched mobile devices with integrated fingerprint scanners.”

“For FPC, the fourth quarter of 2013 also meant that we launched our FPC 1020 capacitive touch sensor, which received considerable attention from customers and the industry. Our product portfolio offers sensors for all types of applications and users, which will position us well in a market with growing demand for fingerprint sensors. During the quarter, we also announced that we had secured an initial DW for the 1020 for a flagship model from one of the world’s five largest manufacturers of smartphones, as well as an order for the same 1020 totaling SEK 11 M from China, which is clear confirmation that our most recent product offering has got off to a flying start.”

Fingerprint Cards remains very positive about its business and about the market. In addition, during the fourth quarter, the company says a number of important partnerships and cooperations were announced that have positioned it well for 2014. This includes work with Nok Nok Labs in support of the FIDO Alliance as well as a partnership with Microsoft.

FPC also says that it believes that most of the 15 largest manufacturers of smartphones will introduce models featuring fingerprint sensors in 2014, but as a result of the ongoing transition from swipe sensors to area sensors, the market volumes are difficult to assess. According to FPC, the market for fingerprint sensors in consumer electronics will exceed 350 million units in 2014 and be followed by continued strong growth.

FPC says it wants 60% of the market for area sensors in smartphones.

In December 2013 and January 2014, two private placemends of 5,000,000 Class B shares were implemented, putting the company in a well-capitalized position.

As a result of its strong fourth quarter 2013, NASDAQ QMX announced that FPC will be traded on the Mid Cap lists.

“FPC remains of the opinion that sales in 2014 will exceed SEK 500 M and that the full-year EBITDA margin will exceed 20%.,” the company said in a statement. “Sales are expected to increase sequentially during the year. Most of the income is expected to occur during the second half of 2014 since volume deliveries of area sensors are scheduled for the end of the second quarter.”

“Revenue for the first quarter of 2014 is anticipated to total SEK 10-15 M. The low level is due in part to FPC’s customarily weak first quarter and in part to the shift in the OEMs’ demand from swipe sensors to area sensors, resulting in relatively low volumes until volume deliveries of the area sensors have commenced.”

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consumer  |  financial results  |  fingerprint  |  Fingerprint Cards  |  FPC