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The Company s common stock is traded on the SWX Swiss Stock Exchange under the symbol IFCN. T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S Financial Highlights Letter to Shareholders Annual Report Certain statements contained in this Letter to Shareholders and Annual Report are forward-looking statements that do not relate solely to historical or current facts. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as may, believe, will, expect, project, assume, estimate, anticipate, plan or continue. These forward-looking statements address, among other things, our strategic objectives, trends in vacuum technology and in the industries that employ vacuum instrumentation, such as the semiconductor and related industries and the anticipated effects of these trends on our business. These forward-looking statements are based on the current plans and expectations of our management and are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks that could significantly affect our current plans and expectations, as well as future results of operations and financial condition. Some of these risks and uncertainties are discussed in the Company s Annual Report on Form 20-F for fiscal 2004 and the Company s reports on Form 6-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission during 2004. As a consequence, our current and anticipated plans and our future prospects, results of operations and financial condition may differ from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of our company. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. 2 0 0 4 I N F I C O N A N N U A L R E P O R T 1
C O M P A N Y O V E R V I E W INFICON is a leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of instrumentation, critical sensor technologies and process control software for the semiconductor and vacuum coating industries. These analyses, measurement and control products are vital to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and end-users in the complex manufacturing of semiconductors, flat panel displays, data storage media, and precision optics. In addition, INFICON provides essential instrumentation for gas leak detection to the air-conditioning/refrigeration and automotive markets and toxic chemical analysis for emergency response, military, and security markets. 2
F I N A N C I A L H I G H L I G H T S (U.S. $ in thousands, except per share data) 2004 2003 2002 Net Sales* $188,147 $157,574 $130,279 Research & Development* $20,181 $17,939 $16,052 Net Income (Loss) $9,421 $(9,389) $105 Cash Flow from Operations $23,122 $890 $10,236 Stockholders Equity $142,304 $125,759 $127,410 Total Assets $172,165 $150,674 $147,928 Net Income (Loss) Per Share Diluted $4.04 $(4.06) $0.05 Net Income (Loss) Per ADS Diluted $0.40 $(0.41) $0.01 2002 2003 2004 NET SALES* (U.S. $ in thousands) 130,279 157,574 188,147 2002 2003 2004 R & D SPENDING* (U.S. $ in thousands) 16,052 17,939 20,181 2002 NET INCOME (LOSS) (U.S. $ in thousands) 105 2003 (9,389) 2004 9,421 2002 NET INCOME PER SHARE (U.S. $) 0.05 2003 (4.06) 2004 4.04 2002 NET INCOME PER ADS (U.S. $) 0.01 2003 (0.41) 2004 0.40 * excluding discontinued operations This Annual Report is also available in the investor relations section of our website, www.inficon.com, or by writing or calling Investor Relations. We welcome your comments and inquiries. 2 0 0 4 I N F I C O N A N N U A L R E P O R T 3
L E T T E R T O S H A R E H O L D E R S Paul Otth, Chairman of the Board (left) Lukas Winkler, President and Chief Executive Officer (right) Dear Shareholders, The year 2004 was one of substantial accomplishment for INFICON. Despite the soft market that characterized the semiconductor industry during the latter half of the year, we succeeded in growing revenues to $188.1 million from $157.6 million, an increase of 19%, or almost 14% on a constant dollar basis. We are pleased with this performance, which reflects the favorable balance INFICON has achieved between selling products for the growing, but more volatile, technology markets and serving the more stable industrial and government markets. Our solid performance also demonstrates the soundness of our decision to focus on the semiconductor industry s new 300 millimeter manufacturing processes, a market that was less impacted by the slowdown in semiconductor capital spending. We believe INFICON is well-served by focusing on our core competency in in situ tool-based sensors and process diagnostic software that enable yield and productivity improvements for the most advanced semiconductor processes. In addition, our innovative instrumentation and advanced process control software are equally valuable in enhancing productivity in a wide variety of other markets, 4
Achieving Profitable Growth TECHNOLOGY LEADERSHIP including refrigeration/air conditioning, automotive, aerospace, heat-treating, analytical instrumentation, and research and development. And our leading-edge technology is in use throughout the world to improve security with on-site chemical identification and monitoring systems for environmental health and safety. Here are some of the highlights of the year. MAXIMIZING PRODUCTIVITY AND YIELD FOR SEMICONDUCTOR AND VACUUM COATING PROCESSES The semiconductor market and vacuum coating markets, such as flat-panel displays and fiber optics, have been a strategic market focus of INFICON since 1997. Our technology solutions and process expertise directly address the cost and productivity improvements urgently demanded by both OEMs and end-users, which have been heightened in recent years by the ongoing migration to 300mm manufacturing equipment. Our leading-edge technology and focus on newer chip production facilities helped us increase sales to this market in 2004 by 35%. Achieving profitable growth means maintaining the INFICON competitive advantage through technology-driven products that deliver productivity improvements to our customers, including: TripleGauge R&D 100 Award for one of the most technologically significant products of the year R&D Magazine FabGuard Grand Winner 2004 Editors Choice Best Product Semiconductor International Stiletto Particle Detector 2004 Editors Choice Best Product Semiconductor International New products in 2004 D-TEK Select Refrigerant Leak Detector extremely sensitive to all refrigerants and offers a life expectancy ten times better than conventional sensors. Pirani Standard Gauge most advanced Pirani vacuum measurement technology in a very compact, rugged package for all vacuum applications. And a pipeline of new products that give INFICON sustainable, balanced momentum, including: In situ metrology sensors focused on 300mm semiconductor manufacturing Ceramic capacitance diaphragm vacuum gauges for semiconductor OEMs and other applications In 2004, we received three awards that demonstrate the technology leadership INFICON has established in the semiconductor industry. First, in April, we were the only company to receive two prestigious Editor s Choice Best Product Awards from Semiconductor International, a premier trade publication. These included the Grand Award for our FabGuard Sensor Integration and Analysis System, which was singled out for maximizing productivity through increases in overall equipment effectiveness. Also given an Editor s Choice Best Product Award was our Stiletto Scanning-Laser Particle Detector, the first in situ particle monitoring system to be fully integrated with semiconductor 2 0 0 4 I N F I C O N A N N U A L R E P O R T 5
manufacturing equipment. Stiletto is now in evaluation at major chipmakers, and we expect it to be an important source of future growth for INFICON. Three months later, we were again honored to receive a prestigious R&D 100 Award from R&D Magazine for our TripleGauge Bayard-Alpert Pirani Capacitance Diaphragm Vacuum Gauge. The TripleGauge offers performance advantages of special interest to semiconductor OEMs involved in the new 300mm wafer processing. These advantages were clearly demonstrated during the year, when the TripleGauge was qualified by the world s largest semiconductor equipment OEM for its flagship tool. We also sell the TripleGauge to vacuum coating OEMs who benefit significantly from the reduced complexity and cost of vacuum measurement. WELL-SERVED BY FOCUSING ON OUR CORE COMPETENCY IN IN SITU TOOL-BASED SENSORS AND PROCESS DIAGNOSTIC SOFTWARE. For vacuum coating applications, INFICON marketleading thin film deposition controllers and combination vacuum gauges help manufacturers more effectively produce flat-panel displays, fiber optics, ophthalmics, data storage media, and many other products. Among our high-performance products is the Cygnus Thin-Film Deposition Controller offering capabilities critical to manufacturing the organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) used in the newest flat panel displays for next-generation consumer electronics. This is an area of great promise for INFICON advanced process control products. ASSURING QUALITY WITH LEAK DETECTION FOR REFRIGERATION/ AIR CONDITIONING MANUFACTURING AND REPAIR As product quality, safety and environmental concerns produce ever more stringent leak testing requirements, INFICON is helping manufacturers respond by providing a complete line of highly sensitive refrigerant and helium leak detectors in handheld, portable, mobile, and stationary configurations. In 2004, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning proved a robust business for INFICON. 6
Achieving Profitable Growth MARKET LEADERSHIP During the year, INFICON introduced the D-TEK Select Refrigerant Leak Detector, a cordless unit that uses innovative infrared technology to deliver enhanced sensitivity to new refrigerant blends. The D-TEK Select sensor has a life expectancy ten times better than that of traditional sensors. IMPROVING ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY WITH ON-SITE CHEMICAL IDENTIFICATION AND MONITORING SYSTEMS Leveraging the expertise that made INFICON the market leader in semiconductor gas analysis, our portfolio of state-of-the-art environmental products provide on-site detection, identification and monitoring of volatile organic compounds in air, water and Keeping INFICON at the forefront of dynamic and competitive markets means we are committed to maintaining market dominance and finding new applications for our core expertise that translates into cutting-edge products: In situ metrology sensors, sensor integration and analysis software providing key process verification and control in chip manufacturing Thin film deposition controllers optimizing the production of devices requiring the very thin layering of multiple materials, such as flat panel displays Leak detectors confirming the integrity of various containers for quality control, such as vacuum chambers used in the chip making process Man-portable gas chromatograph/ mass spectrometers aimed at fast, onsite chemical identification for emergency response, security, and water source/ supply protection soil. INFICON technology is now being used throughout the world for emergency response, chemical warfare agent detection, and early detection of chemical contamination in water source and distribution systems. Although INFICON sales to the Emergency Response and Security market were down in 2004 from last year s high level, we are seeing market penetration evidenced by a significant portion of revenue derived from sales outside the U.S. in the fourth quarter. Water protection and security are of paramount importance in many countries, and INFICON technology provides an attractive solution to the challenge of detecting both intentional and unintentional chemical contamination. Overall, we are continuing the successful execution of our strategy to broaden our product offerings in this area and to diversify our sales internationally. In August 2004, we introduced the HAPSITE Smart Chemical Identification System to meet the most demanding analytical 2 0 0 4 I N F I C O N A N N U A L R E P O R T 7
needs of environmental agencies, military units and environmental and industrial hygiene professionals who need rapid and sensitive field analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). HAPSITE Smart is an easy-to-use, totally self-contained system with pre-programmed methods and 32-bit architecture for more versatile data processing. ENHANCING PRODUCTIVITY WITH INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS FOR GENERAL VACUUM PROCESSES As the global leader in vacuum instrumentation for the semiconductor industry, INFICON must meet the most stringent requirements for high product performance, low cost and superior logistical support. That experience enables us to provide world-class leak detectors and vacuum gauges that support a broad array of industrial applications, which we reach by selling our products to large manufacturers who resell WE CONTINUE OUR AGGRESSIVE INVESTMENT IN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FOR NEW PRODUCTS AND TECHNOLOGIES TO SUSTAIN OUR MARKET- LEADING MOMENTUM. them as private-label products under their own brand. In 2004, our sales to these markets, which include automotive, aerospace, heattreating, analytical instrumentation, food packaging, and research and development, rose an impressive 22%. This broad base of business helps insulate INFICON at times of softer demand in the semiconductor markets, a strategy that again proved useful during the second half of the year, when sales were driven by the strong demand from our European customers. STRATEGY FOR 2005 We are continuing our focus on profitable growth with several strategic initiatives in 2005. Last year, we reviewed our photolithography software product line and the possibility of selling it during 2004. We have now begun to phase out these products, having concluded that this is our best option. While we accepted orders as an 8
Achieving Profitable Growth accommodation from several large existing customers through 2004, we are now focused on service and support of our customer base, and we plan to complete our exit of this product line on a breakeven basis by the end of 2005. Second, in early 2005 INFICON voluntarily delisted its American Depositary Shares underlying American Depositary Receipts (ADR) from the Nasdaq National Market and terminated its ADR program. We took this step because, after careful consideration, we concluded that our Nasdaq listing was simply not providing enough liquidity to justify its cost and administrative burden. The termination of the ADR program in the U.S. does not affect the listing of our shares on the SWX Swiss Exchange. We believe that ESTABLISHED GLOBAL PRESENCE Continuing to expand our global presence to access the highest growth markets and strengthen our market leadership. Ramp up of sales and customer support in Emergency Response and Security market saw payback internationally in 2004 Established presence in China will grow with investment in 2005 to fully explore all business opportunities Long-term strategy for key growth markets supported by well-established sales and service in more than twelve countries enabling us to maintain relationships with global customers Effective business model focuses on utilizing core competencies in all functional areas the continued listing of our ordinary shares on the SWX will provide sufficient liquidity to our shareholders. Both the decision to delist and the decision to close down our Patterning Solutions business reflect an important element of our strategy for 2005 reducing corporate costs and achieving profitable growth. In fact, one of our most important goals for the year is to maximize our company s efficiency and profitability. We are reviewing our incentive programs, improving the alignment of our systems, exploring functional synergies across the company, HAPSITE portable GC/MS in military use. and reviewing our internal cost structure. Together, these steps can have a very positive impact on our bottom line. In addition to these organizational activities, we are implementing several strategic initiatives to promote long-term profitable growth for INFICON. We continue our aggressive investment in research and development for new products and technologies to sustain our TripleGauge combines the advantages of three sensor technologies into a single, economical package. market-leading momentum. Among the products we will launch are new vacuum gauges in our innovative line of combination gauges 2 0 0 4 I N F I C O N A N N U A L R E P O R T 9
and ceramic capacitance diaphragm gauges and a new in situ metrology sensor. All of these new products are aimed at reinforcing our ability to deliver competitive advantages for our customers. In 2005, we will increase our investment in China. We will allocate resources as needed to fully explore all our business opportunities, just as we did in 2004, when we built up our Environmental Health and Safety international sales and customer support capabilities. That effort is paying off already, and we are optimistic about the prospects of expanding our global sales in 2005. All our initiatives are designed to unite the interests of our committed shareholders, talented employees, valued customers, and excellent business partners. We are deeply appreciative of your continued support and look forward to sharing a successful year with you. Sincerely, Paul Otth Chairman of the Board Lukas Winkler President and Chief Executive Officer 10