SÜSS MicroTec SE

Earnings Release • Nov 9, 2004

News Details

Ad-hoc | 9 November 2004 20:11

SUSS MicroTec: Third Quarter with Positive Income

Ad-hoc-announcement transmitted by DGAP. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. ——————————————————————————– SUSS MicroTec: Third Quarter with Positive Income · Advantageous Product mix raises Gross Profit Margin over 47% · Positive EBITDA with EUR 4.1 million · Solid Order Entry development especially in Asia and Europe Munich, November 9, 2004 – As already announced in advance, business development in the third quarter performed favorable in Order Entry as well as in Sales and Income. Order Entry for the quarter with EUR 32.4 million (Q3/2003: EUR 26.1 million; +24%) again exceeded the EUR 30 million threshold. Compared to previous year’s quarter, Net Sales were increased from EUR 21.4 to EUR 31.7 million (+48%). Due to the high contribution of production tools the Gross Profit Margin climbed significantly up to 47.3% (Q3/2003: 42.0%). Gross Profit totaled EUR 15.0 million (Q3/2003: EUR 9.0 million; +66%). EBITDA with EUR 4.1 million (Q3/2003: EUR -0,3 million) was clearly positive and confirms our outlook in which we stated we will achieve turnaround on a quarterly basis from the third quarter onward. Primarily due to increased Accounts Receivable, Free Cash Flow in the quarter totaled EUR -4.1 million. Depending on the development of the Accounts Receivable and the scheduled inventory reduction in the fourth quarter, we expect for the total year 2004 a basically balanced Free Cash Flow. Particularly, Asia and Europe enjoyed strong performance in Order development. From a product perspective, Spin Coaters and Probers were subject to a significant recovery compared to the previous year’s quarter. Our specific market environment remains positive for the following periods. The guidance for the full year 2004 with Revenues between EUR 115 and EUR 120 million and EBIT break even being expected within this range remains unchanged in principle. However, due to the recent developments, we need to point out that special items, in particular the weakened US Dollar and the restructuring, can debit this guidance noticeably. end of ad-hoc-announcement (c)DGAP 09.11.2004 Issuer’s information/explanatory remarks concerning this ad-hoc-announcement: Detailed Q3/2004 figures you can find on our homepage http://www.suss.de Q3/2004 figures in comparison: in million Euro Q3/2004 Q2/2004 9M 2004 9M 2003 Net Order Entry 32.4 36.1 92.8 76.4 Net Order Backlog — — 48.9 43.8 Net Sales 31.7 26.6 77.5 60.6 Equity — — 98.8 107.0 Equity Ratio — — 64.3% 72.4% Net Cash — — 15.7 9.8 Free Cash Flow -4.0 -1.0 -5.0 0.2 Gross Profit 15.0 9.9 31.1 23.2 GrossProfitMargin 47.3% 37.4% 40.2% 38.3% EBITDA 4.1 -1.1 -1.3 -10.5 EBIT 2.8 -2.5 -5.3 -15.2 EAT 1.4 -2.7 -6.2 -10.1 EPS(in EURO) 0.09 -0.18 -0.41 -0.67 Number Employees — — 747 711 Contact: SUSS MicroTec AG Barbara von Frankenberg Investor Relations Tel.: +49 (0) 89 / 320 07-314 Fax: +49 (0) 89/ 320 07-450 E-Mail: b.frankenberg@suss.de ——————————————————————————– WKN: 722670; ISIN: DE0007226706; Index: TecDAX, NEMAX 50 Listed: Geregelter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in Berlin- Bremen, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Hannover, München und Stuttgart 092011 Nov 04