Soitec: Strong Sales Growth Confirms the Continuing Development of the SOI Market

174% Growth for 2nd Quarter Sales -- 149% Growth for the First Half of the Year


PARIS, Oct. 16, 2001 (PRIMEZONE) -- Soitec (Paris Stock Exchange:SOIT), the world's leading supplier of SOI wafers, today announced sales of 20.8 million Euros, equal to a growth of 174%, for the second quarter of the year 2001-2002. This means that for the first 6 months year-to-date September, the company's sales totalled 37.9 million Euros compared to 15.2 million for the same period in the previous year (+149%).


 Euros millions
 Sales                2001/02         2000/01           Change 

 First quarter           17.1             7.6            +125%
 Second quarter          20.8             7.6            +174%
 First-half total        37.9            15.2            +149%

Soitec's financial year runs from April 1 to March 31.

As expected, Soitec recorded very strong sales growth in the second quarter of the year 2001/02. The company continues to illustrate the strength of its exclusive Smart Cut(r) technology. A technology that is particularly well suited to advanced applications for which market demand remains strong, despite the generally fragile economic environment of the overall semiconductor market.

The second-quarter performance is explained by the increased requirement for Smart Cut(r) SOI wafers from customers who are already either in qualification or in production. There has been no significant change to the analysis of sales revenue by wafer size or by geographic customer location. The standard wafer size used to produce the most advanced applications is 8 inches, and 8-inch wafers continue to account for two thirds of Soitec's revenues.

The sales for the first-half of the year include royalties due under licence from Shin-Etsu (SEH), but they are non significant.

Outlook

Despite the tough situation in the global semiconductor market, the very positive trends observed for SOI during the first 6 months of the Soitec financial year continue.

The company confirms that the second production site (Bernin 2) will be ready in July 2002 as planned.

The company also announces, following the success of its first 12-inch Smart Cut(r) SOI wafer deliveries, the reinforcement of its 12-inch production capacity as of the beginning of 2002.

On account of its positioning in the market, Soitec's business activity during the year should not be affected by the U.S. economic slowdown. The company anticipates that it will double last year's sales of 43.3 million Euros over the full year.

Reporting calendar

Results for the first half of the year 2001/02 will be announced on November 27, 2001.

About Soitec

Soitec (Silicon-On-Insulator Technologies) is the world's leading manufacturer and supplier of SOI wafers for the semi-conductor industry. Using Smart Cut(r) technology, Soitec produces an extensive range of fine layer advanced materials for microelectronics, including SOI products (Unibond(r)) for microelectronics and silicon on quartz/glass wafers. Soitec is listed on the Nouveau Marche of Euronext Paris (Euroclear code 7206). Soitec warrants are also traded on the Nouveau Marche of Euronext Paris. Additional information can be obtained on the Website: http://www.soitec.com.



            

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