Report By the Board of Directors

Market risks

In the ongoing financial period, global economic uncertainty may affect the demand for Bittiumīs services, solutions and products and provide pressure on e.g. pricing. In the short term such uncertainty may affect, in particular, the utilization and chargeability levels and average hourly prices of R&D services.

As Bittiumīs customer base consists mainly of companies operating in the field of telecommunication and defense and other authorities, the company is exposed to market changes in these industries. A significant part of Bittiumīs net sales accumulates from selling R&D services to a certain mobile communications equipment manufacturer and from selling products and R&D services to the Finnish Defence Forces. Deviation in anticipated business development with such customer concentrations may translate as a significant deviation in the Bittiumīs outlook, both in terms of net sales and operating result, during the ongoing financial period and thereafter. Bittium seeks to expand its customer base on a longer term and reduce dependence on individual companies and hence the company will thereby be mainly affected by the general business climate in these industries. The more specific market outlook has been presented in this Report by the Board of Directors in “Market outlook" section.