Recovery in sales, profit and orders in second quarter (PR0514)

Key data for second quarter of 2005

In the second quarter of 2005, the Micronas Group generated consolidated net sales of CHF 196.0 million, slightly above the previous quarter. The order intake rose by 35.8 percent to CHF 238.4 million. The book-to-bill ratio was 1.22. The operating profit (EBIT) for the second quarter of 2005 reached CHF 14.6 million, a 65.9 percent improvement over the previous quarter; as a percentage of net sales the figure was 7.4 percent. Profit for the reporting period increased by 55.1 percent to CHF 12.1 million, or 6.2 percent of net sales. Earnings per share for the second quarter amounted to CHF 0.37, which represented an increase of 54.2 percent compared with the previous quarter.

For the second half of fiscal 2005 we expect sales to grow slightly above 20 percent compared with the first half and net profit in percent of net sales to reach 8 percent.