Singulus Technologies AG

Earnings Release • Nov 4, 2004

News Details

Ad-hoc | 4 November 2004 07:29

SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES Notably Improves 3rd Quarter Earnings!

Ad-hoc-announcement transmitted by DGAP. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. ——————————————————————————– SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES Notably Improves 3rd Quarter Earnings! + 17.6 % revenue growth for first nine months over 2003 + 20.4 % revenue growth in Q3/2004 over Q3/2003 + 18.6 % EBIT growth for Q3/2004 over equivalent prior-year quarter During the first nine months of 2004, SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES AG demonstrated clear growth over the same prior-year period. Revenues surpassed figures reported in prior years for both the third quarter and the entire nine-month period. At 139.5 million Euro, Q3/2004 revenues far exceeded the 115.8 million Euro recorded for the strongest-ever third quarter 2003. Cumulative revenues for the first nine months of the current fiscal year totaled 299.8 million Euro compared to 255 million Euro for the same period last year, an increase of 17.6 %. The SPACELINE II DVD-9 lines were the predominant drivers of this revenue growth. At 377.3 million Euro, the total order intake for the first nine months of 2004 grew by 20.5 % over last year’s 313.1 million Euro figure, again driven primarily by the prerecorded DVD formats. Bookings for 244 DVD-9 lines clearly exceeded projections. At 79.7 million Euro, the order intake for Q3/2004 fell short of Q3/2003 figures (87.4 million Euro), a variance primarily attributable to a decline in the low-margin CD-R business. The order backlog as of the 09/30/04 closing date totaled 156.1 million Euro, surpassing the 116.6 million Euro figure on 09/30/03 by 33.9%. Earnings before income tax (EBIT) for the 3rd quarter grew to 30.1 million Euro, an increase of 18.6 % over the 25.4 million Euro recorded for Q3/2003. Although the 43.9 million Euro cumulative EBIT for the first nine months of the year fell just short of the 46.8 million Euro prior-year figure (- 6.2 %), the EBIT growth projected for 2004 will be achieved through revenues realized on machines already delivered and to be delivered during the last quarter of the year. Forecast The market demand for prerecorded DVD that began a year ago has continued unabated in 2004. Research conducted by Understanding & Solutions indicates that the market for both prerecorded and recordable DVD will grow significantly through at least 2007. Growth will also be created by the emerging third generation formats expected to succeed CD and DVD in the years ahead. It is immaterial whether HD-DVD and/or Blu-ray prevail as the next format generation since SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES will manufacture machines for both standards. Kahl/Main, November 4, 2004 For further information, please contact: Bernhard Krause, SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES AG, Phone: + 49 (0) 6181-9828020 Mobile: + 49 (0) 170-920 2924 Bernhard.Krause@go-metacom.de end of ad-hoc-announcement (c)DGAP 04.11.2004 ——————————————————————————– WKN: 723890; ISIN: DE0007238909; Index: TecDAX, NEMAX 50 Listed: Geregelter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in Berlin- Bremen, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Hannover, München und Stuttgart 040729 Nov 04