Corporate | 1 September 2005 11:18
Aixtron AG: Bright Future for LCD TV
Corporate-news transmitted by DGAP.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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Bright Future for LCD TV enhanced by LEDs made on AIXTRON systems
Aachen, Germany – 1st September, 2005 – The market for flat screen displays,
especially for LCD TV is expected to grow rapidly over the next years. One of
the key technologies for the manufacture of LEDs for back lighting devices
such as LCD displays is the deposition of GaN and GaAs based compound
semiconductor structures.
Consequently, AIXTRON AG (FSE: AIX; ISIN DE0005066203), a leading provider of
equipment for compound semiconductor epitaxy, benefits from this market trend
proven by the latest order from South Epitaxy Corporation (SEC) for an AIXTRON
MOCVD system. SEC, one of the leading Taiwanese suppliers for RGB (Red Green
Blue) LEDs (Light Emitting Diode) will use an AIXTRON 2600G3 Planetary
Reactor(R) System for the mass production of AlInGaP based ultra High
Brightness LEDs. These LEDs are expected to gradually replace cold-cathode
fluorescent lamp (CCFL) lighting. RGB backlighting has several very attractive
features, such as long lifetime, wide color range, high efficiency,
brightness and enormous environmental advantages, like very low power
consumption. Additionally it contains no mercury, in contrast to CCFL. The
process efficiency of AIXTRON’s Planetary Reactor(R) equipment enables the
MOCVD manufacturers of high brightness RGB chips to fabricate LEDs of a
superior quality more cost-effectively. This is a result of AIXTRON’s effort
to continuously increase the performance of LED materials while production
cost are reduced.
Charles Cheng, former CEO of SEC, new vice chairman of Epitech Technology
Corporation comments: “Market demands for red and orange LEDs is steadily
increasing, especially for new high end applications like RGB backlighting of
large area displays. The AIXTRON system provides remarkable benefits for the
production of red LEDs with respect to manufacturing costs, yield and product
performance. According to our experience with existing AIXTRON systems, the
new system with 12×4” configuration will enable us to remarkably increase our
capacity, which is in line with our ambitious expansion plans.
Dr. Bernd Schulte, Executive Vice President and COO of AIXTRON adds: “The
latest order from SEC proves again our unique market position and shows how
successful our strategy of pure commitment to CVD engineering excellence is in
the competitive market field of compound semiconductors.”
About AIXTRON
AIXTRON AG (FSE: AIX, ISIN DE0005066203; NASDAQ: AIXG, ISIN: US0096061041) is
a leading provider of deposition equipment to the semiconductor industry. The
Company’s technology solutions are used by a diverse range of customers
worldwide to build advanced components for electronic and opto-electronic
applications based on compound, silicon, or organic semiconductor materials.
Such components are used in fiber optic communication systems, wireless and
mobile telephony applications, optical and electronic storage devices,
computing, signalling and lighting, as well as a range of other leading-edge
technologies. AIXTRON AG’s securities are listed on the Prime Standard market
segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and, as American Depositary Shares
(ADS), on NASDAQ, and are included in the TecDAX index, the NASDAQ Composite
Index and the MSCI World Small Cap Index. Founded in 1983, the Company is
headquartered in Aachen, Germany. Additional information is available on
AIXTRON’s website at www.aixtron.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may contain forward-looking statements about the business,
financial condition, results of operations and earnings outlook of AIXTRON
within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the United States
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “may,” “will,”
“expect,” “anticipate,” “contemplate,” “intend,” “plans,” “believe,”
“continue” and “estimate,” and variations of these words and similar
expressions, identify these forward-looking statements. These statements are
not guarantees of future performance, involve certain risks, uncertainties and
assumptions that are difficult to predict, and are based upon assumptions as
to future events that may not prove accurate. Therefore, actual outcomes and
results may differ materially from what is expressed herein. In any forward-
looking statement in which AIXTRON expresses an expectation or belief as to
future results, such expectation or belief is expressed in good faith and
believed to have a reasonable basis, but there can be no assurance that the
statement or expectation or belief will result or be achieved or accomplished.
Actual operating results may differ materially from such forward-looking
statements and are subject to certain risks, including risks arising from:
actual customer orders received by AIXTRON; the extent to which chemical vapor
deposition, or CVD, technology is demanded by the market place; the timing of
final acceptance of products by customers; the financial climate and
accessibility of financing; general conditions in the thin film equipment
market and in the macro-economy; cancellations, rescheduling or delays in
product shipments; manufacturing capacity constraints; lengthy sales and
qualification cycles; difficulties in the production process; changes in
semiconductor industry growth; increased competition; exchange rate
fluctuations; availability of government funding; variability and availability
of interest rates; delays in developing and commercializing new products;
general economic conditions being less favorable than expected; and other
factors. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are
made as of the date hereof and AIXTRON does not assume any obligation to (and
expressly disclaims any such obligation to) update the reasons why actual
results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking
statements. Any reference to the Internet website of AIXTRON is not an
incorporation by reference of such information in this news release, and you
should not interpret such a reference as an incorporation by reference of such
information.
Additional Information
For additional information about factors that could affect our future
financial and operating results, see our filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, including the Registration Statement on Form F-4
(Regis.No. 333-122624) filed with the Commission on February 8, 2005 and
available at the Commission’s website at www.sec.gov.
End of announcement (c)DGAP 01.09.2005
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WKN: 506620; ISIN: DE0005066203; Index: TecDAX
Listed: Geregelter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in Berlin-
Bremen, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Hannover, München und Stuttgart
011118 Sep 05