Singulus Technologies AG

Earnings Release • Nov 6, 2006

News Details

Corporate | 6 November 2006 07:30

Singulus Technologies AG Announces Positive Results for the 3rd Quarter of

Corporate news transmitted by DGAP – a company of EquityStory AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. —————————————————————————— SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES Announces Positive Results for the 3rd Quarter of 2006 – Sales for the first nine months 2006 increased by 23 % to € 213.1 million – EBIT improved to € 7.9 million (+ 39 %) – New orders received at € 272.4 million (previous year: € 178.2 million) – As of September 30, 2006, order backlog nearly doubled to € 120.2 million Kahl am Main, November 6, 2006 – During the first nine months of 2006 the SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES Group (SINGULUS) achieved a 23 % higher sales volume of € 213.1 million compared with the previous year (€ 172.6 million). The EBIT of € 7.9 million (previous year: € 5.7 million) was 39 % higher. Sales of € 96.6 million in the 3rd quarter 2006 were significantly higher than in the previous year (Q3 2005: € 73.5 million). In the first nine months of the year the order intake rose significantly from 178.2 million in the same period one year ago to € 272.4 million currently. As of September 30, 2006, the order backlog stood at € 120.2 million (previous year: € 62.2 million), which is significantly higher than the comparable figure for 2005. As of September 30, 2006, the EBIT amounted to € 7.9 million and is therefore 39 % higher than in the same period one year ago (€ 5.7 million). This includes one-off effects in connection with the first-time consolidation of HamaTech in the 1st quarter of 2006. They mainly stem from an extraordinary gain in the amount of € 34.1 million from the earnings-relevant reversal of a resulting badwill in the course of the first-time consolidation as well as restructuring charges in the amount of € 20.1 million. In the third quarter an EBIT of € 2.6 million was achieved. The consolidated contribution of HamaTech amounted to an EBIT of – € 2.7 million in the quarter under review. The earnings after taxes came in at € 0.8 million in the 3rd quarter 2006, which was below previous year’s level (€ 3.2 million). During the first nine months of 2006 the earnings after taxes rose by € 3.7 million to € 8.1 million compared with the previous year. The gross profit margin stood at 22.9 % in the 3rd quarter and at 23.9 % for the first nine months of the year (previous year: 29.3 %). The operating cash flow of € 11.1 million during the first nine months of 2006 was substantially higher than in the previous year (€ 4.0 million). This increase results mainly from the high net profit before depreciation. Compared with September 30, 2005, the headcount (excluding HamaTech) declined from 641 to 591 employees. HamaTech also adjusted its headcount continuously to the economic situation. As of September 30, 2006 the SINGULUS Group (including HamaTech) employed 1,182 people. Due to the sale of the 51 % share in the Slovakian subsidiary the headcount as of October 1, 2006 declines by additional 318 employees to 864. SINGULUS still regards the traditional CD and DVD machine activities as an important pillar of its overall business operations in the next couple of years. In addition, the project activities in the market for equipment for the production of recordable discs experienced a pick-up again. For Blu-ray we are working very hard – together with the key customers – to further improve the processes for permanent operation. Therefore, the company is confident – as already in the previous year – with respect to a constant improvement of the starting point and the sale volumes of Blu-ray machines in the coming years. The integration of HamaTech has become very tangible. With the first successful disposal of a non-core activity and the transfer of the photo masking operations into a legally independent entity as of November 1, 2006, the portfolio adjustments are showing first concrete results. Since the scope of consolidation of the SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES Group changed as of October 1, 2006, SINGULUS realigned the expected consolidated sales to a range between € 255 and 275 million for the business year 2006 and announced this on October 6. This reflects a sales forecast for the Slovakian company in the amount of € 25 million in the 4th quarter 2006. The company confirms its assessment that the SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES Group will deliver a positive EBIT in 2006. With respect to Blu-ray SINGULUS is confident for the year 2007 and thinks that with an increasing market volume it will benefit as one of the first companies from this growth. SINGULUS is also internationally well positioned with its DVD / HD DVD combination machine SPACELINE. Consolidated key figures 3rd quarter 2004-2006 pursuant to IFRS 2004 2005 2006 Sales 139.5 73.5 96.6 Order Intake 79.7 65.1 78.1 EBIT 31.9 4.5 2.6 Profit before taxes 32.3 4.7 2.4 Net profit 19.6 3.2 0.8 Research and development 5.1 3.8 6.7 Consolidated key figures first nine months cumulated 2004-2006 pursuant to IFRS 2004 2005 2006 Sales 299.8 172.6 213.1 Order intake 377.3 178.2 272.4 Order Backlog (30.09.) 116.6 62.2 120.2 EBIT 49.8 5.7 7.9 Profit before taxes 51.0 6.7 8.3 Net profit 31.3 4.4 8.1 Operating cash flow -1.7 4.0 11.1 Shareholders’ equity 259.1 250.9 271.9 Balance sheet total 415.2 367.0 435.9 Research and development 14.6 12.0 19.2 Employees (30.09.) 730 641 1.182 Weighted average shares 37,089,892 35,103,098 34,941,929 outstanding (basic) Earnings per share 0.84 0.13 0.23 SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES – Smart Solutions to Drive the Future SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES AG, Hanauer Landstrasse 103, D-63796 Kahl/Main, ISIN: DE0007238909, WKN: 723890 For further information please contact: Maren Schuster, Investor Relations, Tel.: + 49 (0) 6188 440 612 Bernhard Krause, Corporate Communications, Tel.: + 49 (0) 6181 98280 20 (c)DGAP 06.11.2006 ————————————————————————— Language: English Issuer: SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES AG Hanauer Landstrasse 103 63796 Kahl am Main Deutschland Phone: +49 (0)6188 440-105 Fax: +49 (0)6188 440-110 E-mail: maren.schuster@singulus.de WWW: www.singulus.de ISIN: DE0007238909 WKN: 723890 Indices: Listed: Geregelter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in Berlin-Bremen, Stuttgart, München, Hamburg, Düsseldorf End of News DGAP News-Service —————————————————————————