Singulus Technologies AG

Earnings Release • Nov 6, 2007

News Details

Corporate | 6 November 2007 07:25

SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES Expects Double-Digit Growth for Solar and Blu-ray

SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES AG / Quarter Results

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Press release

SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES Expects Double-Digit Growth for Solar and Blu-ray
• Acquisition of fast growing solar company STANGL
• Double-digit growth rates for STANGL
• SINGULUS will introduce own solar coating machine in 2008
• First four Blu-ray machines generated sales – three new orders
• Sales and consolidated earnings below previous year’s level
• Gross margin increased from 22.9 % to 27 %
• HamaTech still with positive earnings contribution

Kahl am Main, November 6, 2007 - In the first nine months of 2007 the
SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES Group (SINGULUS) achieved sales in the amount of €
170.2 million (previous year: € 184.9 million excluding the in the meantime
deconsolidated companies Manufacturing Service and ETA-Optik). Despite the
decline in sales a positive EBIT of € 0.8 million (previous year: € 7.9
million excluding BESS and ETA) was achieved. Our portfolio optimization
coincided with additional efficiency improvements: with the deconsolidation
of the abovementioned subsidiaries in the Group, the gross margin rose from
22.9 % to 27 %. The order intake amounted to € 59 million in the 3rd
quarter (previous year: € 64.7 million). Compared with the 2nd quarter 2007
the order intake increased slightly in the 3rd quarter 2007 again. STANGL
was consolidated for the first time as of September 1, 2007.

With the application of our company’s know-how to neighboring technologic
areas and the tapping of new sales markets we were already able to
partially off-set the decline in our core work area. Examples are the sales
in the segment Nano Deposition Technologies and APE as well as initial
sales in the division Decorative Coating.

Solar
SINGULUS was able to gain access to the dynamically growing technology area
of solar in the 3rd quarter. With the acquisition of the majority of the
STANGL Semiconductor Equipment AG (STANGL) on August 1, 2007, the immediate
access to a market was achieved, which promises a long-term positive trend
with high double-digit growth rates. For 2007 STANGL expects a 50 % growth
rate and sales of about € 30 million. The company also projects
double-digit growth rates in the next couple of years.

With the purchase of STANGL the entry to new technologic areas in the solar
industry were realized at the same time. SINGULUS is planning to introduce
its own solar coating machine in 2008 already, which will be based on the
know-how acquired in the core segment of Optical Disc. In addition, the
expertise and market intelligence of STANGL will be drawn upon.

Together with STANGL SINGULUS is a strong player in solar technology
STANGL and SINGULUS will consistently expand the solar activities. Both
companies perfectly complement each other in order to be able to offer a
broad product range of machines and equipment for the photovoltaics
industry in the next couple of years. While STANGL focuses on wet-chemical
processes, SINGULUS’ core competence is physical coating technology and the
integration of different processing steps in complete, predominantly
automated production lines. In particular the machine integration know-how,
which SINGULUS has proven to possess in the automation of CD and DVD
production lines, is an optimum starting point for the development of
highly-profitable, fully-automated production lines.

We expect the work area Solar to become the most important driver of growth
in the SINGULUS Group.

BLULINE
SINGULUS has commissioned the first four Blu-ray machines in the US and
recognized them as sales in the 3rd quarter. First orders for Blu-ray disc
production equipment from the BLULINE range were also received from
customers in Europe and Asia. The increasing demand from Europe and Asia
shows that Blu-ray does not only play a more important role in the former
main market US, but that Blu-ray is also beginning to become increasingly
accepted in other markets.

SINGULUS upgraded its Blu-ray disc equipment and is therefore also prepared
for the production of the upcoming 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray disc. SINGULUS
will still start the first dual layer Blu-ray production modules this year.

Outlook
The optical disc market is still governed by the slow introduction of the
next format generation. This has an impact on the capital spending of
customers and on the realization of sales. SINGULUS forecasts a range of
sales for the Group from € 215 million to € 235 million for 2007.

The acquisition of STANGL Semiconductor Equipment AG, Eichenau, is one of
the most important steps in our company’s history. SINGULUS has bought a
highly-profitable company with STANGL, which enables the strategically
important market access to the solar industry. SINGULUS and STANGL will
therefore participate together in the rapidly growing solar market.

Along with the promising work area of Solar technology and the expected
upturn in the core activities of Optical Disc we are confident for the year
2008. We will resolutely continue our portfolio optimization.

Consolidated key figures 3rd quarters 2005-2007 pursuant to IFRS

                                            2005       2006       2007

Sales 73.5 96.6 58.0
Order intake 65.1 78.1 59.1
EBIT 4.5 2.6 0.1
EBT 4.7 2.4 -0.1
Net profit 3.2 0.8 0.3
Research and development 3.8 6.7 7.2

Consolidated key figures (nine months cumulated) 2005-2007 pursuant
to IFRS)

                                          2005        2006        2007

Sales 172.6 213.1 170.2
Order intake 178.2 272.4 167.6
Order backlog (Sept. 30) 62,2 120.2 78.9
EBIT 5.7 7.9 0.8
EBT 6.7 8.3 1.2
Net profit 4.4 8.1 1.2
Employees (Sept. 30) 641 1,182 762
Earnings per share 0.13 0.23 0.00

SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES AG, Hanauer Landstraße 103,
D-63796 Kahl/Main, ISIN: DE0007238909, WKN: 723890

For further information please contact:
Bernhard Krause, Corporate Communications, Tel.: + 49 (0) 6181 98280 20 or
+ 49 (0) 170 920 29 24
06.11.2007 Financial News transmitted by DGAP

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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
Internet: www.singulus.de
ISIN: DE0007238909
WKN: 723890
Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr
in Berlin, Stuttgart, München, Hamburg, Düsseldorf

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