Ad-hoc | 3 August 2004 21:34

SUSS MicroTec: Positive Business Development in Q2

Ad-hoc-announcement transmitted by DGAP. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. ——————————————————————————– · Order Entry 48% above previous quarter . 38% Sales increase compared to Q1 · Increased Order Entry from Advanced Packaging and Microsystems Technology Munich, August 3, 2004 – Consistent with guidance, SUSS MicroTec AG reports a consid-erable growth in Q2 2004 Order Entry to EUR 36,1 million, or 48% above Q1/2004’s Order Entry. Second Quarter 2004 orders are the highest level realized in the last three years. Order Entry for the first half year of 2004 is EUR 60,5 million or 20% above First Half 2003 Orders of EUR 50,3 million. Throughout the year, there has been a favourable shift in orders towards production machines in our Advanced Packaging and the Microsystems Technology market. Sales in Q2/2004 rose 23% compared to Q2/2003. In the first half year, sales grew 17% with respect to previous year. At the end of June order backlog amounted to EUR 48.7 million; 20% up compared to June 2003. This growth in order backlog led to a slight increase in inventory (plus EUR 1.6 million compared to Q1/2004), however, a significant reduction is expected during the second half of 2004 in conjunction with increased sales numbers. Free Cash Flow in Q2 2004 was EUR -1.0 million. The key figures at a glance (previous year figures in brackets): Net sales: EUR 26.6 (21.6) million, +23%. Gross profit: EUR 9.9 (9.5) million, +5%. Gross margin: 37.4 (43.8)%. The Q2 gross margin was still a bit weak, but with increasing utilization rate and a shift in product mix we expect improvements during the second half of the year. EBITDA improved to EUR -1.1 (-2.7) million. There are ongoing positive developments in our important markets Advanced Packaging and Microsystems Technology. The trend to shift the wafer bumping from the chip manufacturers towards packaging foundries should result in continued new investments by the foundries. SUSS MicroTec expects to benefit from this trend and anticipates increased levels of order entry from the foundries in the next quarters. For the fiscal year 2004 we reiterate our fore- cast of a positive EBIT which currently is achieved with sales in the range of EUR 115 to 120 million. end of ad-hoc-announcement (c)DGAP 03.08.2004 Issuer’s information/explanatory remarks concerning this ad-hoc-announcement: For details of key figures of Q2/2004-Kennzahlen see www.suss.de/Investor Relations Q2/2004 results in comparison: in million Euro Q1/2004 Q2/2004 1. HY 2003 1. HY 2004 Net order entry 24.4 36.1 50.3 60.5 Net order backlog 38.8 — 40.7 48.7 Net sales 19.2 26.6 39.2 45.8 Equity 100.0 — 108.2 97.4 Equity margin 64.6% — 69.5% 63.0% Net cash 22.5 — 18.5 20.9 Free Cash Flow 0.1 – 1.0 7.1 – 1.0 Gross profit 6.2 9.9 14.2 16.1 Gross margin 32.3% 37.4% 36.3% 35.3% EBITDA – 4.3 – 1.1 – 10.2 – 5.4 EAT – 5.0 – 2.7 – 8.8 – 7.6 EPSin EURO – 0.33 – 0.18 – 0.59 – 0.50 Employees 720 — 727 734 For further information, please contact: SUSS MicroTec AG Barbara von Frankenberg Investor Relations Tel.: +49 (0) 89 / 320 07-314 Fax: +49 (0) 89/ 320 07-450 E-Mail: b.frankenberg@suss.de ——————————————————————————– WKN: 722670; ISIN: DE0007226706; Index: TecDAX, NEMAX 50 Listed: Geregelter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in Berlin- Bremen, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Hannover, München und Stuttgart 032134 Aug 04