August 17, 2006 – Demand for wet processing equipment for processing 300mm wafers from foundries, and increasingly memory manufacturers, helped push up profits and sales at SEZ Group, according to the company.

Results for 2Q were particularly strong, with sales rising to 99.3 million Swiss francs (CHF), or about US $77.9 million, a 44% increase vs. the previous quarter and 28% higher than the same period a year ago. Profits in 2Q jumped from 1.5 million CHF ($1.2 million) to 7.3 million CHF ($5.7 million). Orders rose 15% sequentially and 65% year-on-year to a record 104.7 million CHF ($82.4 million).

For 1H06, SEZ says profits rose to 8.8 million CHF ($6.9 million) from 6.2 million CHF ($4.9 million) in 1H06, on 7.5% higher sales of 168.2 million CHF ($132.4 million). Order intake jumped 48% to 196.0 million CHF ($154.3 million).

The company says it expects 3Q06 financial results to be “similar” to 2Q, and projects full-year sales will rise 15% to approximately 360 million CHF ($283.4 million), with profits improving from 1H06 levels. SEZ also said it will launch a multichamber tool configuration of its Enhanced Sulfuric Acid (ESA) strip process for single-wafer photoresist removal in 4Q06.