Aixtron: Growth On Course After Three Quarters
Aachen, Germany. The AIXTRON Group, the global market and technology leaders for MOCVD equipment used in the manufacture of compound semiconductors and other multicomponent materials, remains right on track, as expected. In the first three quarters of the year, Group revenues increased by 90% to EUR 180.6 mil. year-on-year. 18% of this revenue was generated in Europe, 52% in Asia and 30% in USA. Earnings before taxes rose to EUR 47.1 mil. (+120%) and consolidated net income to EUR 27.1 mil. (+168%), or EUR 29.5 mil. before goodwill amortization (+136%). The return on sales after tax of 15% (11%) or 16% before goodwill (13%) demonstrates AIXTRON s earnings power.
Return on equity increased to 18.6% in comparison to 8.8% in the previous year. Earnings per share jumped to EUR 0.42 (previous year: EUR 0.16) or EUR 0.46 before goodwill (previous year: EUR 0.20). As planned, EUR 10.4 mil. or 6% of revenues were used for R&D activities year to date. These activities focused on AIXTRON s MOCVD technology used in the manufacture of silicongermanium (SiGe), siliconcarbide (SiC) and organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs).
According to US market researchers (Strategies Unlimited, Stanford Resources, Frost&Sulivan, The Information Network), the markets for these materials will grow by over 100% per annum in the coming years. AIXTRON s TricentÒ equipment for the manufacture of ferroelectric and dielectric materials, which will play a key role in future generations of DRAMs and smart cards for example, is now being used in an EU research project (MEDEA) by leading European semiconductor manufacturers (ST Microlectronics, Bull, CEA Leti, Philips).
AIXTRON generated revenues of EUR 61.9 mil. (EUR 28.9 mil.) in Q3 alone. Pre-tax earnings totaled EUR 16.7 mil. (EUR 5.1 mil.), while consolidated earnings amounted to EUR 10.6 mil. (EUR 2.3 mil.) or EUR 11.4 mil. (EUR 3.1 mil.) before goodwill. Earnings per share increased to EUR 0.16 (EUR 0.04) or EUR 0.18 before goodwill (EUR 0.05). New orders in Q3 totaled EUR 31.0 mil. (EUR 58.5 mil.). These new orders, which in Q3 are mainly placed in September as a result of the summer months, were strongly influenced by the world political situation. Customers in North America in particular postponed new investments. New orders worth EUR 133.4 mil. were received for the first nine months - 13% less than in the same period of the previous year. The order backlog at the end of Q3 amounted to EUR 142.8 mil., up 16% year-on-year.
The Executive Board of AIXTRON has again increased its forecasts for 2001. Group revenues are now expected to amount to EUR 241.0 mil. (+53% yoy). Earnings before tax will increase to EUR 57.5 mil. (+60% yoy) and net income for the year to EUR 33.0 mil. (+78% yoy) or EUR 36.0 mil. (+67% yoy) before goodwill. This corresponds to earnings per share of EUR 0.51 (previous year: EUR 0.29) or EUR 0.56 (previous year: EUR 0.34) before goodwill.
AIXTRON s MOCVD technology is at the start of the value chain for many key future technologies. Compound semiconductors are the enabling components of ultra-high brightness light-emitting diodes (LEDs), which are being used more and more in signal and illumination technology as well as in giant screens (football stadiums, concerts, city centers). Compound semiconductors act as high performance transistors (including HBTs and pHEMTs) in mobile phones. They are also used in lasers for optical data storage media such as CDs and DVDs, light signal transmitters, amplifiers and detectors for fiber optic communication and in space solar cells. According to numerous market researchers, these markets are set to grow by up to 50% per annum, even if the shock of recent world events slows down market development in the short term. Download AIXTRON s full quarterly report at www.aixtron.com.
Contact: Dr. Claus Ehrenbeck Tel: +49.241.8909.444 Fax: +49.241.8909.445 E-mail: C.Ehrenbeck@aixtron.com www.aixtron.com
Dr. Claus EhrenbeckTel: +49.241.8909.444
Fax: +49.241.8909.445
E-mail: C.Ehrenbeck@aixtron.com
www.aixtron.com
E-mail: C.Ehrenbeck@aixtron.com
Web site: http://www.aixtron.com
