SÜSS MicroTec SE

Earnings Release • Jul 29, 2005

News Details

Ad-hoc | 29 July 2005 15:48

Süss MicroTec AG: SUSS MicroTec AG increases operating results

Ad hoc announcement §15 WpHG Half year report Süss MicroTec AG: SUSS MicroTec AG increases operating results Ad hoc announcement transmitted by DGAP. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. —————————————————————————— -Sales higher than in previous year, lower order entries -Pre-tax loss down by 72% in second quarter compared with previous quarter -Adjustment in sales and earnings forecast for year as a whole Munich, July 29, 2005 – SÜSS MicroTec AG increased its sales and earnings in the first half of 2005. The chip manufacturer’s consolidated sales increased by almost 6% to EUR 48.4 million (previous year: EUR 45.8 million) in the first six months of the year. Its operating earnings also improved significantly. The loss was reduced by 35.8% compared with the same period last year, from EUR -8.1 million to EUR -5.2 million. Earnings per share amounted to EUR -0.43, having been EUR -0.50 in the same period last year. Order entries in the first six months were 12% below their good figures from the previous year (revised EUR 56.7 million) at EUR 50.1 million. The restructuring program took effect for the first time in the second quarter and led to a significant improvement in the company’s operating activities. Sales increased year-on-year by 4.3 % to EUR 27.7 million. The gross profit margin improved from 37.4% to 39.1% as a result of cost reduction measures. In the areas of administration and sales too, the savings had an impact. Despite exceptional expenses as part of the restructuring activities, costs in these areas decreased by EUR 0.6 million. All in all, the operating loss decreased by 72 % compared with the same quarter last year to EUR -0.7 million. OUTLOOK: The company is currently expecting order entries to increase considerably in the third quarter. It is being assumed that in addition to a recovery in the Mask Aligner segment, the positive business trend in the Spin Coater segment will continue undiminished. To cope with the high level of demand in the Spin Coater segment during the current year, the Management Board has decided to improve the production structures at the Vaihingen site and thereby improve output. This will involve additional costs of some EUR 1 million that will be charged to results. From a current point of view, group sales are expected to fall within a range from EUR 105 to 115 million. If the sales figures from the corresponding quarter last year (EUR 113 million) are to be reached, order entries will have to increase substantially in the third quarter. The company is adjusting its earnings forecast to take account of the increased additional costs at the Vaihingen plant and a changing product mix with a smaller proportion of high- margin Mask Aligner. If the annual sales are towards the bottom of the sales range, the company is not ruling out negative operating EBIT of around EUR -4 million and further valuation adjustments. If sales turn out to be near the top end of the range, a balanced EBIT will be possible. The results from Q2/2005 by way of comparison: Amounts in EUR (millions) Q2/2004 Q2/2005 1st HY 2004 1st HY 2005 Net order entry 32.3 rev. 26.9 56.7 rev. 50.1 Net order backlog — — 44.9 rev. 41.6 Net sales 26.6 27.7 45.8 48.4 Shareholders’ equity — — 97.4 82.6 Capital ratio — — 63% 61% Cash liquidity — — 20.9 16.5 Free cash flow – 1.0 – 6.4 – 1.0 – 2.8 Gross profit 9.9 10.8 16.1 18.2 Gross profit margin 37.4% 39.1% 35.3% 37.6% EBITDA – 1.1 0.4 – 5.4 – 2.5 EAT(earnings after tax) – 2.7 – 1.5 – 7.6 – 6.5 EPS(earnings per share in EUR) – 0.18 – 0.10 – 0.50 – 0.43 Employees 734 686 You can find the quarterly report Q2/2005 at http://www.suss.de (pdf to download) Further information can be obtained from: SÜSS MicroTec AG Stephan Schulak/Frau v. Frankenberg Tel.: +49 (0) 89 / 320 07-314 Fax: +49 (0) 89/ 320 07-450 E-mail: b.frankenberg@suss.de Süss MicroTec AG Schleissheimer Strasse 90 85748 Garching b. München Deutschland ISIN: DE0007226706 WKN: 722670 Listed: Geregelter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in Berlin- Bremen, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, München und Stuttgart End of ad hoc announcement (c)DGAP 29.07.2005 291548 Jul 05