Pfäffikon SZ, March 23, 2004 − Measures aimed at strengthening the company’s competitiveness, combined with a recovery in the information technology markets as of the fourth quarter of 2003, had a favorable influence on the course of business at Unaxis Corporation. For the entire 2003 financial year, the Group recorded a 20 percent increase in orders received to a total of CHF 1,788 million (2002: CHF 1,494 million) and an 8 percent gain in sales to CHF 1,610 million (2002: CHF 1,490 million)1. Although the markets in Europe and the USA were generally stagnant, Unaxis managed over the past year to increase its sales in the growth region of Asia by 42 percent. As at December 31, 2003, orders on hand amounted to CHF 575 million, 40 percent above the previous year’s reading (2002: CHF 409 million).
Significantly improved results versus prior year
For the 2003 financial year, Unaxis Corporation recorded an operating result (EBIT) of CHF 16 million (2002: CHF –83 million), thus realizing a CHF 99 million improvement over the previous year despite margin pressures that continued to grow. Unaxis was able to reduce overall costs in 2003 by CHF 35 million. Moreover, the investments made to expand the company’s presence in the marketplace, develop new technologies and products, and improve its business processes had the expected favorable impact.
The Group portfolio’s base of businesses, each with its own market-specific cyclicity, proved its worth once again in 2003. The four segments Data Storage Solutions, Coating Services, Vacuum Solutions, and Components and Special Systems all achieved positive operating results. Only the Semiconductor Equipment segment, despite a promising fourth quarter, was unable to counteract the market-related lower sales during the first three quarters and recorded a loss for the entire financial year.
At CHF –8 million (2002: CHF –11 million), the company’s financial result for 2003 improved in comparison to the previous year. Other income totaling CHF 37 million was primarily attributable to the elimination of warrantee provisions associated with previous divestments of business activities. In total, the Group’s consolidated net profit for the 2003 financial year stood at CHF 32 million (2002: CHF –39 million), which corresponds to an earnings per share level of CHF 2.50.
Investments in the future
At CHF 98 million (2002: CHF 77 million), investments in 2003 increased 27 percent in comparison to the previous year. Unaxis made available a total of CHF 154 million (2002: CHF 157 million) for research and development during the 2003 financial year.
Solid balance sheet
Despite the increased volume of business, Unaxis was able to maintain its solid balance sheet and, at year-end 2003, had net liquidity of CHF 682 million (2002: CHF 686 million). Shareholders’ equity at year’s end amounted to CHF 1,488 million (2002: CHF 1,476 million), representing an unchanged high equity capital ratio of 58 percent.
New Group structure reinforces market presence
At the outset of 2004, Unaxis took measures to orient the Group’s structure even more resolutely towards its specific markets. The Group now comprises five segments:
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Semiconductor Equipment – consisting of the divisions Wafer Processing (formerly Semiconductors Front End), Assembly & Packaging (formerly Semiconductors Back End) and Display Technology (formerly Displays)
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Data Storage Solutions (formerly Data Storage)
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Coating Services (formerly Surface Technology)
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Vacuum Solutions (formerly Leybold Vacuum)
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Components and Special Systems – consisting of the divisions Optics and Space Technology (formerly Contraves Space)
Aside from the Unaxis brand name, the Group will maintain the ESEC, Balzers, Leybold Vacuum and Contraves Space product brands, each of which is firmly anchored in the respective markets. This new structure creates the conditions for Unaxis to exploit to an even greater degree the potential synergies within the Group as well as to enhance the transparency of its commercial activities.
Semiconductor Equipment segment:
Recovery in demand during fourth quarter – Market-related negative result
In the 2003 financial year, the divisions included in the Semiconductor Equipment segment continued to operate in a difficult market environment. Only the advent of increased demand during the fourth quarter of 2003 led to a marked 39 percent year-on-year increase in orders received to a total of CHF 562 million (2002: CHF 406 million). Sales at the Semiconductor Equipment segment rose in 2003 by 8 percent to CHF 420 million (2002: CHF 388 million). The value of orders on hand at December 31, 2003 was CHF 267 million, more than double the amount of the previous year (2002: CHF 129 million). Above all, the Wafer Processing division suffered from a delayed recovery in demand in its relevant market segments. Thanks to its competitive products, however, it managed to record a number of significant technology sales – among others, the delivery of initial units of its new generation of photolithographic systems. The Assembly & Packaging division (ESEC) continued to increase its share of the die attach market in 2003, not least of all thanks to the launch of new, enhancedperformance assembly machines and the further broadening of its key account management efforts. The Display Technology division benefited from the large orders it received for production systems used to manufacture large-format displays. Among other things, Display Technology will be providing production systems for China’s first flat-panel display manufacturing plant.
The operating result (EBIT) at the Semiconductor Equipment segment improved in 2003 by CHF 35 million to CHF –98 million (2002: CHF –133 million). The initiatives aimed at reducing costs, as well as the increase in orders received during the fourth quarter, were nevertheless unable to compensate for the ongoing pressure on margins and the weak demand witnessed during the first nine months of last year.
Data Storage Solutions segment:
Significant increase in orders received, sales and operating result
The Data Storage Solutions segment was able to benefit significantly from increased demand for data storage devices. Orders received rose to CHF 293 million (2002: CHF 184 million) and sales to CHF 293 million (2002: CHF 171 million). This favorable course of business is particularly attributable to the strong demand for production systems used to manufacture rewritable storage media such as DVD RW, as well as to the ongoing growth in its traditional metalizing business. In the 2003 financial year, Data Storage Solutions, in collaboration with Japan’s Mitsubishi Chemical, also developed and introduced to the market a competitive production line for DVD R. As a result, the segment now has a comprehensive range of product lines for all disk formats. Thanks to its increased level of sales and resolute cost controls, Data Storage Solutions was able to achieve a significant increase in its 2003 operating result (EBIT) to CHF 37 million (2002: CHF –4 million).
Coating Services segment:
Renewed increase in sales – Market presence expanded further
In 2003, the Coating Services segment enjoyed a favorable course of business and increased its sales by 3 percent to CHF 315 million (2002: CHF 306 million). Adjusted for foreign currency influences, sales rose by 6 percent. The above-average growth rates recorded by locations that are in the process of being built up also contributed to the Segment’s increase in revenues. Coating Services again in 2003 expanded its market presence through the addition of 9 new coating centers, which now brings the total to 56. Also of strategic importance was the broadening of its product range by two new coating systems, as well as the execution of cooperation agreements with two major suppliers to the automotive industry. This increase in the number of coating centers, along with the investments that were made in new products, led to modestly higher overall expenses. Nonetheless, the segment was able to record a slightly higher operating result of CHF 43 million (2002: CHF 42 million).
Vacuum Solutions segment:
Increase in orders received – Improvement in operating performance
In 2003, the market for vacuum technology experienced persistently weak demand. In spite of that, the Vacuum Solutions segment recorded a 4 percent year-on-year increase in orders received to CHF 365 million (2002: CHF 352 million). Its sales, however, declined in the 2003 financial year by 3 percent to CHF 345 million (2002: CHF 358 million). 2003 was marked by the segment’s efforts to streamline its product portfolio. Also, measures were taken to improve its overall operating performance, and moves to expand production capacity in Tianjin (China) were initiated. The new “ScrewLine“ dry fore-vacuum pump system met with immediate market success. Despite the difficult market environment, profitability rose thanks to the segment’s improved capacity utilization and cost structure. Its operating result (EBIT) rose accordingly and reached a level of CHF 11 million (2002: CHF 1 million).
Components and Special Systems segment:
Operating efficiency improved – Production in Asia increased significantly
The Components and Special Systems segment saw orders received in the 2003 financial year rise by 34 percent to CHF 243 million (2002: CHF 181 million) and sales by 12 percent to CHF 228 million (2002: CHF 204 million). Most notably, the Optics division enjoyed a high level of demand for front- and rear-projection optical components and managed to win a number of new projects in 2003. Accordingly, the production volume at its new plant in Shanghai ran at a pace that was far above expectations. Although the Space Technology division suffered a decline in revenues, it managed to hold its own in the difficult market environment. The successful start of the Atlas V-500 launch vehicle equipped with a payload fairing from Space Technology creates favorable conditions for the sale of payload fairings not only in Europe but America as well. With an operating result (EBIT) of CHF 28 million (2002: CHF 8 million), the Components and Special Systems segment recorded clearly improved results.
Proposals for submission to the annual general meeting of shareholders
For the 2003 financial year, the Board of Directors will again propose that the annual general meeting of shareholders, to be held on June 1, 2004, approve a dividend payment of CHF 2.- per share. Now that the Group has successfully completed its transformation, Messrs. Jack Schmuckli and Bruno Widmer have opted not to stand as candidates for another term of office. The Board of Directors would like to thank both gentlemen for their valuable commitment, and will propose at the annual general meeting that shareholders elect to the Board of Unaxis Holding Inc. Mr. Thomas Limberger, CEO of GE (General Electric) Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Outlook for 2004
From today’s vantage point, Unaxis is going on the assumption that 2004 will witness continuing improvement in the market situation, whereas the strongest growth dynamic is to be expected in Asia. Unaxis is well prepared for that development. Based on its leading position in the respective markets, as well as its global presence, Unaxis Corporation is in a position to exploit opportunities throughout the world. Unaxis therefore anticipates commensurate growth mainly in the Semiconductor Equipment segment. Given the possibility of further economic recovery, the Group’s other segments should continue to experience a stable or improved course of business. Also going forward, the markets in which Unaxis operates will remain cyclical and vulnerable to disturbances. Nonetheless, Unaxis will accommodate potential fluctuations in demand with its increased flexibility and the rapid adjustment of production capacity.
The full annual report is available at www.unaxis.com. Unaxis will hold a full press briefing on its results at the SWX Swiss Exchange, Zurich, on March 23, 2004, at 10.30 am.
Attachment: Key figures tables
This media release is based on information currently available to management. The forward-looking statements contained herein could be substantially impacted by risks and influences that are not foreseeable at present, so that actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, expected or projected.
