ADVA Optical Networking Reports Audited 2005 IFRS Financial Results and Confirms 2006 Growth


MUNICH, Germany, March 9, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) --



31% y-o-y Q4 revenue growth to EUR 35.8 million;
IFRS pro forma operating income of EUR 5.1 million, or 14% of revenues

29% y-o-y 2005 revenue growth to EUR 131.3 million;
IFRS pro forma operating income of EUR 19.1 million, or 15% of revenues

Confirmed Q1 revenue growth to between EUR 36 and EUR 38 million

MARTINSRIED/MUNICH, Germany and MAHWAH, N.J., March 9, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- ADVA Optical Networking today announced fourth quarter and audited full-year 2005 financial results for the period ended December 31, 2005, and for the first time prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). ADVA today also published key financials as per U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (U.S. GAAP), the accounting framework applied in previous financial statements.

FOURTH QUARTER 2005 U.S. GAAP FINANCIAL RESULTS

In Q4 2005 revenues totaled EUR 35.8 million, compared to EUR 33.7 million in Q3 2005 and EUR 27.3 million in Q4 2004, respectively. U.S. GAAP pro forma operating income, excluding stock-based compensation and amortization and impairment of goodwill and acquisition-related intangible assets, was at EUR 4.0 million in Q4 2005, up 8.3% from EUR 3.7 million in Q3 2005, driven by higher revenues and an increased gross margin. U.S. GAAP pro forma quarterly net profit was at EUR 2.9 million in Q4 2005 after EUR 2.8 million in the previous quarter, with diluted pro forma net earnings per share unchanged at EUR 0.08.

Q4 2005 U.S. GAAP actual net profit amounted to EUR 2.7 million after EUR 1.6 million in Q3 2005, largely due to EUR 1.0 million higher stock-based compensation expenses in Q3 2005. Diluted net earnings per share in Q4 2005 were EUR 0.08, compared to EUR 0.05 in Q3 2005.

FULL-YEAR 2005 U.S. GAAP FINANCIAL RESULTS

Revenues increased 28.5% from EUR 102.1 million in 2004 to EUR 131.3 million in 2005. U.S. GAAP pro forma operating income increased 13.4% from EUR 12.3 million in 2004 to EUR 14.0 million in 2005, largely driven by increased revenues and - partially balancing our additional investments in selling & marketing and research & development -- improvements in our cost structure and operating efficiencies. U.S. GAAP pro forma net income was EUR 10.6 million in 2005 after EUR 11.3 million in 2004, impacted by higher tax expenses in 2005 (EUR 0.30 and EUR 0.32 U.S. GAAP pro forma diluted net earnings per share, respectively).

U.S. GAAP actual net income increased from EUR 6.7 million in 2004 to EUR 8.7 million in 2005, impacted by higher acquisition-related expense charges in 2004. U.S. GAAP actual diluted net earnings per share improved from EUR 0.19 in 2004 to EUR 0.25 in 2005.

TRANSITION TO FOURTH QUARTER AND AUDITED FULL-YEAR IFRS RESULTS

Based on the same revenues figure as quoted under U.S. GAAP, ADVA's IFRS net profit for Q4 2005 was EUR 3.1 million, which is EUR 0.4 million more than EUR 2.7 million under U.S. GAAP. For full-year 2005, ADVA reports IFRS net profit of EUR 11.9 million, EUR 3.2 million more than EUR 8.7 million under U.S. GAAP. These differences are largely attributable to the capitalization under IFRS of part of the company's development costs, higher valuation of inventories and a different valuation method for stock options outstanding. Further details on IFRS financial numbers are provided in ADVA's Annual Report 2005, available in the investor relations section of the corporate web site, www.advaoptical.com. Going forward, IFRS will be the primary accounting framework of ADVA; the company will continue to provide key financial information under U.S. GAAP for the time being.

CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST

In conjunction with the release of its full-year 2005 audited IFRS financial results today, March 9, 2006, ADVA will host a tour for analysts and investors at its CeBIT booth C69 in hall 12 at 2:30 p.m. CET in Hanover, Germany, and provide an update on its technology solutions and product portfolio. At this location, ADVA will thereafter also host a conference call for analysts and investors at 3:00 p.m. CET/9:00 a.m. EST. Participating in the call will be ADVA's chief executive officer, Brian L. Protiva, and chief financial officer, Andreas G. Rutsch. Investors may listen live via webcast on ADVA's website, located on the 'earnings webcasts' page under 'financial results' in the investor relations section of ADVA's website at www.advaoptical.com.

FIRST QUARTER AND FULL-YEAR 2006 OUTLOOK

ADVA confirms guidance of sequential revenue growth to between EUR 36 and EUR 38 million in Q1 2006 and full-year 2005 revenue growth of 20% to 30%. The company's strategy targets to increase global market share, to build its Optical+Ethernet business, to expand its focus on North America and to drive procurement and development activities in China. ADVA plans continued investments throughout the year in the areas of research & development and sales & marketing, and also anticipates additional capital expenditures, including the expansion of its R&D and production facility in Meiningen. These factors are expected to result in IFRS pro forma operating income margins between 10% and 13% for the full-year 2006. For Q1 2006 ADVA expects respective margins of 10% to 13% as well. Since development expenses to be capitalized under IFRS may be volatile initially and hence may lead to unsteady financial results, ADVA is broadening the forecast range under IFRS vis-a-vis the U.S. GAAP framework applied to date. ADVA will publish its Q1 2006 financial results on May 9, 2006, and host its annual shareholders meeting on June 13, 2006, in Meiningen, Germany.

PUBLISHED BY:

ADVA AG Optical Networking, Martinsried/Munich and Meiningen, Germany ADVA Optical Networking Inc., Mahwah, New Jersey, USA ADVA Optical Networking Corp., Tokyo, Japan

www.advaoptical.com



            

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