Ad-hoc | 5 August 2003 19:59

Süss Micro Tec AG english

SUSS MicroTec: Improved Earnings in the Second Quarter Ad-hoc-announcement transmitted by DGAP. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. ——————————————————————————– · Positive free cash flow also in Q2 · Loss down markedly compared with Q1 · Marked improvement in gross profit margin Munich, August 5, 2003 – In the second quarter of 2003, SUSS MicroTec AG’s results showed a marked improvement on the previous quarter. This applies especially to the significant recovery in gross profit margin (44% in the second quarter, compared with 27% in the first quarter) and to earnings after tax, which picked up to EUR -3.0 million after EUR -5.8 million in the first quarter. Key figures for the quarter at a glance: net sales EUR 21.6 million (Q1/2003: EUR 17.6 million, +23%), gross profit EUR 9.5 million (Q1/2003: EUR 4.7 million, +99%). EBITDA EUR -2.7 million (Q1/2003: EUR -7.5 million), earnings before tax EUR -4.6 million (Q1/2003: EUR -9.6 million), net cash in hand (less current bank liabilities): EUR 18.5 million (Q1/2003: EUR 16.7 million). In the second quarter cash was generated again, due mainly to a further improvement in collection of receivables, and a free cash flow of EUR 2.5 million achieved (Q1/2003: EUR 4.6 million). SUSS MicroTec’s Q2 order entry, at EUR 25.0 million, was roughly on a par with the first quarter’s EUR 25.3 million. Year on year, the group’s order entry was down 6% on the first half, yet new orders were up 4% in the first half after eliminating exchange-rate effects. The order backlog as of June 30, 2003, adjusted for currency changes and cancellations, was EUR 40.7 million. The Executive Board looks forward with cautious optimism to the further course of business in 2003 now that more intensive discussions with customers are under way, mainly in the production equipment segment for Advanced Packaging processes. In addition, the new SupraYield technology launched in the second quarter, positions SUSS MicroTec much better in applications with higher resolution requirements. Discussions with important customers are progressing very positively in this segment. For the second half the Board anticipates successive increases in order entry and sales in the various SUSS MicroTec markets. For the full year 2003, reaching cash break even remains major target with sales in the range of EUR 105 million. Higher sales are still possible, but become more difficult due to the current development of the dollar-euro exchange rate. For details of key figures for Q2/2003, see www.suss.de (home page) end of ad-hoc-announcement (c)DGAP 05.08.2003 Issuer’s information/explanatory remarks concerning this ad-hoc-announcement: Q2/2003 results in comparison: in EURO million Q2/2003 Q1/2003 H1/2003 H2/2002 Net Order Entry 25.0 25.3 50.3 53.5 Net Order Backlog — 38.5 40.7 52.6 Net Sales 21.6 17.6 39.2 56.4 Equity — 111,8 108.2 121.6 Equity Ratio — 69% 70% 66.5% Net Cash — 16.7 18.5 13.4 Free Cash Flow 2.5 4.6 7.1 3.3 Gross Profit 9.5 4.7 14.2 24.5 Gross Profit Margin 43.8% 27.0% 36.3% 43.3% EBITDA -2.7 -7.5 -10.2 -6.5 EAT -3.0 -5.8 -8.8 -6.0 EPS (in EURO) -0.20 -0.39 -0.59 -0.41 Employees — 756 727 969 For further information, please contact: Investor Relation, Tel. ++49 (0)89 32007314, email: ir@suss.de ——————————————————————————– WKN: 722670; ISIN: DE0007226706; Index: NEMAX 50 Listed: Geregelter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in Berlin- Bremen, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Hannover, München und Stuttgart 051959 Aug 03