Marked rise in profits for Micronas Group (0303)

2002 key data for fourth quarter and business year

Despite difficult trading conditions, the Micronas Group turned in another very good performance in the fourth quarter of 2002. In a year-on-year comparison, the 2002 business year showed a strong growth of Group net sales and a marked increase in net profit. Micronas expects further sales and profit gains in the current year.

On net sales of CHF 184.9 million in the fourth quarter (up 28.2 percent on the same quarter of 2001, down 2.2 percent on the previous quarter), the Micronas Group returned a quarterly profit of CHF 23.0 million, the highest ever for a three-month period.

In 2002 the Group posted consolidated net sales of CHF 707.4 million, an increase of 24.8 percent compared with the previous year. Adjusted for currency effects, the growth rate was 28.4 percent. The contribution of the Consumer Division to net sales was CHF 639.8 million (up 27.5 percent), while CHF 67.6 million was generated by the Automotive Division (up 4.2 percent). The Europe region accounted for CHF 440.4 million of sales or 62.3 percent of the total, Asia for CHF 235.4 million or 33.3 percent, the USA for CHF 21.5 million or 3.0 percent, and other regions for CHF 10.1 million or 1.4 percent.

The operating profit before depreciation and amortization of goodwill (EBITDA) improved over the year by 58.1 percent to CHF 226.4 million. The operating profit (EBIT) increased in the reporting year by 110.8 percent, reaching CHF 116.8 million. The net profit totalled CHF 66.0 million compared with the previous year, a rise of 153.8 percent. This surpassed the boom year of 2000 and represents a new record high.

With shareholders' equity at CHF 459.1 million, the equity ratio was 50.5 percent. Earnings per share increased to CHF 2.54 compared with CHF 1.21 in 2001. Adjusted for amortization of goodwill after tax, earnings per share amounted to CHF 3.13 (previous year: CHF 1.94).

Capital expenditure totalled CHF 59.6 million. Compared with 2001, the payroll increased by 221 full-time positions and totalled 1687 employees at year-end 2002.

The capital increase completed in mid-March 2002 brought Micronas aggregated net proceeds of CHF 155.4 million. This was used to repay part of the loan raised in connection with the acquisition of the Image and Video business. Our intention is to apply the profit generated to a further strengthening of the Group's financial position. To that end, the Board of Directors will propose to the Shareholders' Meeting on 11 April 2003 that no dividend be paid.

The Micronas Group is a leading independent supplier of innovative application-specific semiconductor solutions for multimedia, consumer and automotive electronics. Its shares are listed on the SWX Swiss Exchange and on the Prime Standard segment in Frankfurt.

Zurich, 13 February 2003 Micronas Semiconductor Holding AG