Ad-hoc | 21 March 2001 20:17

*vwd Ad-hoc-Service: Basler AG english

Ad hoc announcement transmitted by DGAP. The issuer has the sole responsibility of this announcement. ——————————————————————————– Basler AG in Good Shape Following the “2000 Year of Investments” – Results for 2000: Sales at DM 78.9 million (+17% over 1999) – EBIT of DM -6.4 million burdened as expected by high start-up investments – Leap in sales expected in 2001 for its “young” business units The increases in sales within the audited results for the year 2000 are attributable primarily to the vision-components business, i.e. high-performance cameras (+300%) and systems for flatscreen inspection (+100%). The major investments in research and development, which reached a high point of DM 15.4 million in 2000 (20% of total expenditures), are beginning to pay off in these areas. Sustained DVD-business successes were posted in the field of inspection systems for optical storage media, which in part compensated for slumps in the CD-R business. The outlook is considered as restrained for this market in 2001. The upstart Sealing Inspection unit showed a markedly positive performance with a 22% growth in sales and a repeated rise in earnings (55% market share). For 2001, all indications point to sales and earnings growth for the fledgling business units being developed. Individual Group-Level Figures: In million DM 1999 / 2000 Sales revenues 67.7 / 78.9 EBIT 6.0 / -6.4 Profit/loss for the year 0.6 / -6.0 Profit/loss per share (in DM) 0.70 / -1.72 Balance sheet total 70.7 / 74.7 Capital ratio (in %) 85.7 / 72.8 Employees at year’s end 272 / 303 end of ad hoc announcement, (c) DGAP 21.03.2001 Issuer’s information/explanation remarks concerning this ad hoc announcement: The results posted by Basler AG – a leading company for Vision Technology, the technology of artificial vision – for the completed 2000 fiscal year, show clear jumps in sales for its “young” business units. Total sales revenues of DM 78.9 million, up 17% from 1999, are due primarily to the 300% increase in sales in the components business (digital high-performance cameras for vision systems). Even the systems business progressed well. Sales of inspection systems for flatscreens increased 100% and sales of sealing-inspection systems climbed by 22%, allowing Sealing Inspection’s market share to grow to over 55%. The 2000 EBIT is marked by major expenditures for research and development, which reached a high point of DM 15.4 million (20% of sales). These expenditures were targeted for the most part on the young and promising business units Machine Vision Components (cameras), Display Inspection (for flatscreens) and Web Inspection (inspection of plastic foils and sheeting). A temporary slump in the market for investment goods for the manufacture of optical media left its mark on the group-wide EBIT of DM -6.4 million. By applying the tax-loss carryforwards of the American subsidiary (Basler Inc.), the result for the year totaled some DM -6.0 million or DM -1.72 per share. The Basler Group continues to have a solid balance-sheet structure. On the one hand, the DM 29.1 million equity investment in Photobit Corp. – one of the world’s technologically leading manufacturers in the field of CMOS image sensoring – really stands out well. Photobit’s exceptional positioning was confirmed once again last week when it announced that Intel and Hitachi were among those acquiring a holding in the company. On the other hand, its capital ratio of 72.8% is far above the average of other companies in this branch. Still, financing of additional growth is assured. Additional jumps in sales are expected for the “young” business units in the current 2001 fiscal year. In contrast, the outlook on the market for inspection systems for optical storage media is considered as reserved. With sustained growth in sales and income, the entire group plans a return to profitability in the medium term. The major investments of the past year have laid the foundation for achieving above-average growth in an attractive market environment. Up until now only 15 to 20 percent of the possible applications in the artificial-vision field have been developed. The worldwide market volume for Vision Technology is put at USD 5 billion and, according to experts, is to climb by 65 percent and reach USD 8.3 billion by the year 2004. This will show just how correct the Basler strategy is of being a multi-branch company with cutting-edge technology taking part in growth within a variety of markets. Additional information is available from Christian Höck, Investor Relations, Tel. ++49 (0)4102 463 175, Basler AG, An der Strusbek 60-62, 22926 Ahrensburg, christian.hoeck@baslerweb.com. ——————————————————————————– WKN: 510 200; Index: Listed: Neuer Markt in Frankfurt; Freiverkehr in Berlin, Bremen, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, München und Stuttgart 212017 Mär 01