SEZ Group Meets Profit Forecast For Business Year 2001

In business year 2001 the SEZ Group (SXW: SEZN) increased its consolidated net sales by 28.5 percent to CHF 250.8 million over CHF 195.2 million in 2000. Simultaneously, income from operating activities increased by 24.3 percent from CHF 207.5 million to CHF 258.0 million. The operating income (EBIT) of CHF 43.0 million (CHF 49.4 million) equals 17.1 percent (25.3%) of net sales; net profit amounted to CHF 29.2 million in comparison to CHF 31.8 million in the same period of previous year and CHF 2.35 per share (2000: CHF 2.60) respectively. The SEZ Group met with a net profit margin of 11.6 percent its profit forecast. In business year 2001 equity ratio increased from 57.8 percent to 60.5 percent.

12.4 percent of sales came from HMReinraumtechnik GmbH (HMR), acquired in February 2001. With 32.1 percent (44.2 %) Asia Pacific accounted for the highest amount of sales in business year 2001. Japan accounted for 18.4 percent (16.8 %). Despite the weak business situation in the United States, this region experienced a remarkable increase of sales with 19.4 percent (18.8%). 30.1 percent (20.2%) came from the european market.

On December 31, 2001, SEZ's order backlog stood at CHF 47.1 million (Dec. 31, 2000: CHF 121.4 million).  In the year 2001, order intake is CHF 176.5 million - this figure includes order backlog of HMR of CHF 17.6 million on January 1, 2001 - in comparison to CHF 263.1 million in the previous year.

As a result of the first signs of recovery in the global semiconductor industry, management of the SEZ Group expects the market for semiconductor equipment to recover in the mid-term. Although visibility has improved, a reliable forecast for the year 2002 is not yet possible. The SEZ Group is prepared to profit from a recovery in the market. With its solid financial situation and technological leadership the company is ready to strengthen its position in the international market for wet surface preparation of wafers, especially critical cleaning applications.

The SEZ Group is a leading supplier of wet wafer surface preparation equipment to the global semiconductor manufacturing industry. The company's breakthrough proprietary Spin-Processor technology forms the basis of a broad portfolio of single wafer backside and frontside wafer surface conditioning products for semiconductor chipmakers worldwide. Additionally, the company offers a complete range of wet bench equipment for batch processing. SEZ maintains development, manufacturing, sales, marketing and service operations in Europe, Asia and North America. Registered in Zurich, Switzerland, SEZ Holding AG is listed on the Swiss Exchange under the symbol (SWX: SEZN) since 1996. SEZ also can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.sez.com/.

Attachement
This information includes following tables (business year 2001): key figures, statement of income, balance sheet, statement of cash flows.

Upcoming financial dates:

April 8, 2002	presentation in Zurich: current course of business, mid-term market outlook as well as strategic objectives of SEZ Group
April 30, 2002	Shareholders' Meeting in Zurich

Villach/Zurich, March 12, 2002