Ad-hoc | 26 January 2006 21:41
Süss MicroTec AG: Prosperous Business Development in Q4/2005
Ad hoc announcement transmitted by DGAP.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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· Order entries around EUR 51 million (gross) – highest level since Q2/2001
· High demand for production tools for Advanced Packaging and MEMS
· Preliminary 2005 revenue at around EUR 117 million (gross), clearly above
the given guidance (EUR 106 million gross), due to successful customer
acceptances
· Better EBIT expected thanks to higher revenues
(previous guidance: EUR minus 7 million)
Munich, January 26, 2006 – The fourth quarter of 2005 showed enjoyable
developments in all areas.
Important note: Because of the adoption of IFRS accounting standards the
following order entries and sales figures are – different to previous reports
according to US-GAAP – gross figures!
Order entry performed especially well and at around EUR 51 (Q4/2004: 31)
million, achieved the highest quarterly figure for four years. Orders for
volume manufacturing tools for the Advanced Packaging and MEMS markets were
the main contributors. There were also multiple tool orders from well-known
key customers. Additionally several orders for Device Bonders came in for
infra-red applications. Regionally, USA, Japan and Asia showed good growth
rates compared to Q4/2004.
For the full year 2005 order entry amounted to about EUR 135 million compared
to EUR 122 million in 2004. This 11% increase is mainly based on a higher
order volume for Spin Coaters (roughly 20%), C4NP and a better situation for
the Device Bonders. From a y-o-y perspective, USA and Europe showed good
growth, while Asia and Japan declined slightly.
Preliminary gross sales for 2005, according to IFRS, amounted to EUR 117
million. Clearly above the originally guided EUR 106 million. The main reason
for this was that important final acceptances from customers were achieved
already in 2005.
Because of this higher sales figure we also anticipate a better EBIT than the
previously ex-pected result of EUR minus 7 million (including goodwill
impairment). However, due to the switch to IFRS, we cannot provide a more
precise earnings guidance today.
The SEMI association forecasts a 9% growth in 2006 for the semiconductor
equipment in-dustry. We start the year with a high order backlog (more than
EUR 80 million according to IFRS) and we see positive signals from all
segments as well as from C4NP. From today’s perspective a sales growth in this
range also seems to be realistic for SUSS MicroTec.
SUSS MicroTec will publish the final, audited figures and results for 2005 on
March 28 after official hours.
For further information, please contact:
SÜSS MicroTec AG
Barbara von Frankenberg
Investor Relations
Tel.: +49-89-32 007-314
Email: b.frankenberg@suss.de
Süss MicroTec AG
Schleissheimer Strasse 90
85748 Garching b. München
Deutschland
ISIN: DE0007226706
WKN: 722670
Listed: Geregelter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in Berlin-
Bremen, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, München und Stuttgart
End of ad hoc announcement (c)DGAP 26.01.2006