Ad-hoc | 2 August 2004 07:35

SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES announces figures for Q2/2004

Ad-hoc-announcement transmitted by DGAP. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. ——————————————————————————– SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES announces figures for Q2/2004 Highlights: – Order intake for Q2/2004 up 50.9% over Q2/2003 – 297.6 million Euro total order intake in first-half year of 2004 (+31.9%) – Order intake for DVD 9 and DVD-R replication lines far above prior-year levels – 49% gain in order backlog over first half of 2003 – 2004 mid-year revenues show 15% gain over first half of 2003 – Gross margin for Q2 exceeds Q1/2004 by 2% – Q2 EBIT exceeds Q1/2004 by 4.1 million Euro – Optical Coating and TMR technology well-received at trade shows in Italy and USA SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES AG continued to grow during the first half of 2004. The company’s order intake and revenues for the second quarter as well as the entire first half of 2004 rose markedly over the comparable preceding-year periods. The order backlog rose significantly. The 146.4 million Euro order intake for Q2/2004 exceeded expectations when compared to Q2/2003 (97.0 million Euro). The total order intake of 297.6 million Euro for the first half of 2004 resulted in a 31.9 % gain over the 225.6 million Euro prior-year figure. Order intake projections were surpassed, particularly for replication lines and mastering systems, with bookings received for 193 DVD 9 and 42 DVD-R lines. By the 06/30/04 closing date, the order backlog totaled 215.9 million Euro (prior year 144.9 million Euro), up 49 % over 2003. At 91 million Euro, revenues for the 2nd quarter 2004 exceeded the Q2/2003 figures (82.2 million Euro). Revenues of 160.4 million Euro for the first half of the year surpassed the 139.2 million Euro prior-year half-year revenues by 15.2 %. The revenue share of prerecorded DVD 9 replication lines for the second quarter has not yet exceeded the equivalent prior-year period. Earnings before interest and depreciation (EBIT) totaled 9.0 million Euro for Q2 2004, a 4.1 million Euro gain over Q1 earnings (4.9 million Euro). A mid-year comparison reveals that the 13.8 million Euro EBIT is still 7.6 million Euro below the prior-year figure. This is attributable to the much lower number of DVD 9 lines booked during the first half-year 2004 versus the equivalent prior- year period. Only a portion of the high order intake for this business segment had been delivered, the balance of which will be accounted for in the third and fourth quarters of the year. This contributed to earnings of 9.6 million Euro being still below prior-year figures (14 million Euro). The gross margin rose from 27.3 % in the first quarter to 29.3 % in the 2nd quarter of the year and is calculated at 28.6 % for the first half of the year (prior year first half 32.5 %). Forecast As the global technology leader among optical data storage replication line manufacturers, SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES continues to benefit from a strong economy in this industry. Project activity was gratifyingly robust, particularly in the DVD sectors. The company’s market position continues to be reinforced in all vital business segments. In the months ahead, R&D activities will concentrate on new optical disc formats. Intensive efforts are underway on a system variation that will manufacture the 8.5 Gbyte storage-capacity dual layer DVD+R. Consumers will be able to record extended DVD-quality movies for the first time using this disc. Furthermore, investments in the new HD-DVD (high density, 15 Gbyte storage DVD) and Blu-Ray Disc (25 Gbyte storage capacity) will be further intensified. Efforts will be concentrated on the development of new in-line replication systems in the months ahead. Discussions with potential development and cooperation partners as well as pilot customers have already been initiated. As in years past, a significant gain in revenue is projected for the 2nd half of 2004. The company reconfirms the expectations for the full year 2004 that revenues will grow by a double-digit figure and EBIT-growth will be single digit. 02.08.2004 For more information: Bernhard Krause, SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES AG, + 49 6181-9828020 or 0170-9202924 Bernhard.Krause@go-metacom.de end of ad-hoc-announcement (c)DGAP 02.08.2004 ——————————————————————————– 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 020735 Aug 04