029 Group SE

Earnings Release • Feb 4, 2002

News Details

Ad-hoc | 4 February 2002 20:10

SZ Testsysteme AG english

SZ Testsysteme AG: Slight recovery at the beginning of the year Ad-hoc-announcement transmitted by DGAP. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. ——————————————————————————– SZ Testsysteme AG: Slight recovery at the beginning of the year Amerang, February 4, 2002. SZ Testsysteme AG in Amerang near Wasserburg has apparently moved out of the trough of the economic depression in the semiconductor market in the first quarter the current year 2001/2002 (30.9.) At Euro 5.5 million, sales from October 1 to December 31, 2001 were admittedly far lower than those in the first quarter of the previous year (Euro 15.6 million) but they were higher in comparison with sales in the fourth quarter of 2000/2001 (Euro 5.3 million, adjusted for special effects). On account of the low level of sales, earnings from ordinary trading activities were negative in the first quarter with a loss of Euro 4.8 million (LY: Euro 1.9 million). There was also an EBIT loss of Euro 4.8 million (LY: Euro 2.0 million) and the EBDIT showed a loss of Euro 3.6 million (LY: Euro 2.8 million). The order volume of SZ Testsysteme increased to DM 3.9 million compared with Euro 3.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2000/2001 (again adjusted by special effects). 60 percent of the orders were received from the automotive sector, following by multi-media (18 percent) and wireless (17 percent). SZ Testsysteme’s order book position amounted to Euro 9.4 million at the end of January. The slight recovery has continued at the beginning of 2002, with the company acquiring orders with a value of Euro 4.3 million just in January alone, including an order from Continental Teves for testing high-performance semiconductors (for ABS and ESP, etc.) and follow-up orders from Toyota. At the same time, volume orders which were held back in previous months are now being successively called up, e.g. STMicroelectronics (two out of a total of five test systems). In general, experts are forecasting a slight revival in the semiconductor economy in the current year. The Management Board is anticipating a marked upturn in the third quarter for SZ Testsysteme’s business, with this being reflected in a substantial increase in the level of sales and earnings. end of ad-hoc-announcement (c)DGAP 04.02.2002 ——————————————————————————– WKN: 506730; ISIN: DE0005067300; Index: Listed: Neuer Markt in Frankfurt; Freiverkehr in Berlin, Bremen, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Hannover, München und Stuttgart 042010 Feb 02