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Press Release

Asyst Technologies Reports Third Quarter Results


FREMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 29, 2003--Asyst Technologies, Inc., (Nasdaq:ASYT), a leading provider of integrated automation solutions that maximize the productivity of semiconductor manufacturing, today announced financial results for its third fiscal quarter ended Dec. 31, 2002. Results were in line with company guidance.

Results for the quarter include the results of Asyst-Shinko Inc., an AMHS joint venture (JV). The company completed the purchase of its 51% interest in the JV on October 16, 2002.

Third quarter consolidated net sales from continuing operations were $75.6 million, compared with $72.3 million in the prior sequential quarter. The JV contributed $24.1 million to net sales for the quarter, which was partially offset by the decline in Asyst's base business, consistent with the industry-wide downturn in demand for most semiconductor manufacturing products.

Consolidated gross margin was 25%, compared with 39% in the second fiscal quarter. The decline is attributable to the impact of Asyst-Shinko, whose AMHS business in the quarter provided lower gross margins; accelerated depreciation of manufacturing assets and other costs related to the company's transition to outsourced production; and lower sales volumes in Asyst's base business. Excluding the impact of Asyst-Shinko and the transition to outsourced manufacturing, gross margin was 34%.

GAAP results include one-time charges of $5.8 million for in-process research and development related to the acquisition of the Asyst-Shinko JV interest; $8.7 million for the impairment of acquired intangibles; and $2.2 million related to cost-cutting restructuring initiatives. Discontinued operations includes approximately $6.5 million of charges related to the writedown of net assets based on expected realized values. GAAP net loss from continuing operations was $(32.6 million), or $(0.86) per diluted share. Net loss including discontinued operations was $(40.9 million) or $(1.08) per share. Pro forma net loss from continuing operations was $(14.3 million), or $(0.38) per diluted share.

"After two quarters of outperformance, we were not immune to the industry forces that dragged down sales in the December quarter," said Steve Schwartz, chairman and CEO. "Fortunately, Asyst-Shinko remains a bright spot and has maintained its current revenue runrate over the past several quarters. China also has been a source of strength, as our 200mm SMIF and other products continue to be chosen by a factor of more than 10-to-1 over our competitors. This was offset by our lack of substantial participation in the very recent new DRAM fab activity in Korea, where we are working to improve our market position."

Mr. Schwartz continued, "We are encouraged by the recent increases in quote activity, particularly in Japan. We also see strategic investments in 300mm capacity continuing, which positions us well with our improved and refreshed 300mm offerings in all of our product lines. Although we continue to look for hard indicators of a sustainable upturn, we believe that the December quarter marked our near-term bottom for bookings, and that the March quarter will be our near-term bottom for sales."

Net bookings for the quarter were $48.3 million, compared with $50.2 million in the prior sequential quarter. Approximately $18.0 million of net bookings were attributable to Asyst-Shinko.

Cash Flow and Balance Sheet

As previously disclosed, during the third quarter the company established and drew-down a $25 million credit facility to support the purchase of its interest in Asyst-Shinko. In addition, Asyst received $20 million for certain inventory related to the outsourcing of production. The company paid approximately $67 million for its interest in Asyst-Shinko. Excluding the impact of these transactions and the quarterly results of Asyst-Shinko, but including all other sources and uses of cash, the company was cash flow positive $2 million for the quarter. Cash and short-term investments at quarter-end were $77.0 million, $18 million of which is for the exclusive use of the JV.

Of the company's long-term debt of $115.3 million as of Dec. 31, 2002, $86 million relates to 5.75% convertible debentures due 2008, convertible into common stock at $15.18 per share. Approximately $25 million is attributable to the new credit facility, and approximately $4 million is long-term asset-based debt held by Asyst Japan Inc. Short-term debt of $20.6 million is low-interest, asset-based revolving debt held by Asyst Japan Inc.

Outlook

For its fourth fiscal quarter ending March 2003, the company expects to report consolidated net sales from continuing operations of approximately $75 million. As stated previously, the company believes that its fourth fiscal quarter will mark the near-term bottom for its net sales.

Consolidated gross margin for the March quarter is expected to be in the range of 24 to 26%. The March quarter is expected to be the last quarter impacted by accelerated depreciation and other costs related to outsourcing of manufacturing.

As a result of cost reduction measures implemented in the third fiscal quarter as well as other ongoing cost reductions, consolidated operating expenses are expected to decline to the range of $29 to $30 million. In the March quarter, the company will disburse the $2.5 million semi-annual coupon payment on its convertible debenture and will continue to manage operations and its balance sheet to conserve cash. Asyst's ongoing objective is to drive its consolidated pro forma breakeven level toward the $85 million range.

Highlights

  • On January 8, Asyst announced that president and CEO Steve Schwartz had been named to the additional position of chairman of the board of directors.
  • On January 7, the company announced that Asyst-Shinko had won a multi-million order to install its AMHS system in SMIC Fab 3, the newest fab for Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. (SMIC) of China.
  • As part of its ongoing operational excellence initiatives, on December 15 Asyst announced that it had launched the initial implementation of its new on-line customer portal, the Asyst Order Fulfillment Center (OFC). OFC automates order fulfillment and tracking, giving global customers 24/7 access to their order information while ensuring that quality, timeliness and accuracy of customer deliveries are optimized.
  • On November 21, the company announced that it had won a significant production order for its G3 FOUP wafer carrier from a major manufacturer of raw 300mm wafers. This was Asyst's first FOUP order in the raw wafer market.

Pro Forma Adjustments: Pro forma adjustments include the impact of amortized acquisition-related stock-based compensation, the amortization of acquired intangible assets, in-process research and development costs of acquired businesses, impairment charges, restructuring charges, and discontinued operations.

About Asyst

Asyst Technologies, Inc. is a leading provider of integrated automation systems for the semiconductor manufacturing industry, which enable semiconductor manufacturers to increase their manufacturing productivity and protect their investment in silicon wafers during the manufacture of integrated circuits, or ICs. Encompassing isolation systems, work-in-process materials management, substrate-handling robotics, automated transport and loading systems, and connectivity automation software, Asyst's modular, interoperable solutions allow chipmakers and original equipment manufacturers, or OEMs, to select and employ the value-assured, hands-off manufacturing capabilities that best suit their needs. Asyst's homepage is http://www.asyst.com

Conference Call Details

A live webcast of the conference call to discuss the quarter's financial results will take place today at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The webcast will be publicly available on Asyst's website at http://www.asyst.com. A replay of the Webcast may be accessed via the same address. In addition, a standard telephone instant replay of the conference call is available by dialing (303) 590-3000, followed by the passcode 521409. The audio instant replay is available from January 29 at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time through February 12 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

Except for statements of historical fact, the statements in this press release are forward-looking. Such statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made. These factors include, but are not limited to: the volatility of semiconductor industry cycles, inability to manage cash flows, failure to respond to rapid demand shifts, dependence on a few significant customers, the transition of the industry from 200mm wafers to 300mm wafers, risks associated with the acceptance of new products and product capabilities, competition in the semiconductor equipment industry, failure to efficiently integrate acquired companies, failure to retain employees, and other factors more fully detailed in the company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2002, and Form 10-Q for the period ended Sept. 30, 2002, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

                       ASYST TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
                 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                       (Unaudited, in thousands)

                                       Dec 31,    Sept 30,  March 31,
                                         2002       2002       2002
                                      ---------- ---------- ----------
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents             $  59,633  $  61,604  $  74,577
Restricted cash equivalents and
 short-term investments                   3,336      4,228      5,052
Short-term investments                   14,000     14,000      5,000
Accounts receivable, net                 93,696     48,987     28,307
Inventories                              16,269     29,364     39,296
Deferred tax asset                          576          -     33,906
Prepaid expenses and other
 current assets                          10,656      9,970     14,618
                                       ---------  ---------  ---------
Total current assets                    198,166    168,153    200,756
                                       ---------  ---------  ---------
Long-term assets:
Property and equipment, net              33,256     32,232     34,399
Deferred tax asset                            -          -     30,294
Intangible assets, net                  128,108     35,677     29,901
Other assets, net                        21,678     21,742     32,180
Assets of discontinued operations         8,985     15,372     16,885
                                       ---------  ---------  ---------
Total long-term assets                  192,027    105,023    143,659
                                       ---------  ---------  ---------
Total Assets                          $ 390,193  $ 273,176  $ 344,415
                                       =========  =========  =========

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Short-term loans                      $  20,557  $  19,389  $  16,707
Current portion of long-term debt
 and finance leases                       1,199      1,128      1,076
Accounts payable                         44,029     11,504      9,193
Accrued liabilities and other            54,820     36,144     46,819
Deferred revenue                          4,430      6,360      4,367
                                       ---------  ---------  ---------
Total current liabilities               125,035     74,525     78,162
                                       ---------  ---------  ---------
Long-term liabilities:
Long-term debt and finance leases,
 net of current portion                 115,297     90,257     90,331
Other long-term liabilities              11,433         46      6,795
Liabilities of discontinued
 operations                               2,990      4,327      4,190
                                       ---------  ---------  ---------
Total long-term liabilities             129,720     94,630    101,316
                                       ---------  ---------  ---------

Minority interest                        64,946          -          -

Shareholders' equity:
Common Stock                            327,248    325,965    294,316
Retained earnings (deficit)            (256,756)  (221,944)  (129,379)
                                       ---------  ---------  ---------
Total shareholders' equity               70,492    104,021    164,937
                                       ---------  ---------  ---------
                                      $ 390,193  $ 273,176  $ 344,415
                                       =========  =========  =========





                       ASYST TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
            CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
           (Unaudited; in thousands, except per share data)

                            Three      Three      Nine        Nine
                            Months     Months     Months      Months
                            Ended      Ended      Ended       Ended
                          12/31/2002 12/31/2001 12/31/2002  12/31/2001
                          --------------------------------------------
Net sales                  $ 75,624   $ 35,631  $ 199,807   $ 147,461
Cost of sales                56,495     39,411    135,955     119,762
                          ---------- ---------- ---------- -----------
Gross profit                 19,129     (3,780)    63,852      27,699
                          ---------- ---------- ---------- -----------
Operating expenses:
 Research and development    11,160      9,224     31,510      30,276
 Selling, general and
  administrative             20,462     18,020     54,346      59,996
 Amortization of acquired
  intangible assets           5,707      2,329      9,273       5,980
 One-time charges            10,917     28,494     22,538      48,574
 In-process research and
  development costs of
  acquired business           5,750          -      7,834       2,000
                          ---------- ---------- ---------- -----------
    Total operating
     expenses                53,996     58,067    125,501     146,826
                          ---------- ---------- ---------- -----------
Operating income (loss)     (34,867)   (61,847)   (61,649)   (119,127)
Other income (expense),
 net                         (2,578)    (1,081)    (5,228)     (1,644)
                          ---------- ---------- ---------- -----------
Income (loss) before
 provision (benefit) for
 income taxes               (37,445)   (62,928)   (66,877)   (120,771)
Provision (benefit) for
 income taxes                     -    (14,459)    58,628     (33,490)
Minority interests           (4,824)         -     (4,824)          -
                          ---------- ---------- ---------- -----------
Net income (loss)
 Continuing Operations     $(32,621)  $(48,469) $(120,681)  $ (87,281)
                          ========== ========== ========== ===========
Discontinued Operations,
 net of income tax           (8,300)   (41,379)   (11,753)    (48,462)
                          ---------- ---------- ---------- -----------
Net income (loss)          $(40,921)  $(89,848) $(132,434)  $(135,743)
                          ========== ========== ========== ===========

Basic and diluted loss
 per common share:
 Continuing operations       $(0.86)    $(1.37)    $(3.23)     $(2.48)
 Discontinued operations      (0.22)     (1.17)     (0.32)      (1.37)
                          ---------- ---------- ---------- -----------
 Net loss                    $(1.08)    $(2.54)    $(3.55)     $(3.85)
                          ========== ========== ========== ===========

Weighted average number of
 common shares outstanding
 - basic and diluted         37,932     35,419     37,316      35,237
                          ========== ========== ========== ===========






                       ASYST TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
       PRO FORMA CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
           (Unaudited; in thousands, except per share data)

                                  Three Months 
                                     Ended       Pro Forma   Pro Forma
                                   12/31/2002   Adjustments   Results 
                                  ------------------------------------
Net sales                         $    75,624               $  75,624
Cost of sales                          56,495          (17)    56,478
                                   -----------               ---------
Gross profit                           19,129                  19,146
                                   -----------               ---------
Operating expenses:
 Research and development              11,160         (233)    10,927
 Selling, general and
  administrative                       20,462         (401)    20,061
 Amortization of acquired
  intangible assets                     5,707       (5,707)         -
 One-time charges                      10,917      (10,917)         -
 In-process research and
  development costs of acquired
  business                              5,750       (5,750)         -
                                   -----------              ----------
     Total operating expenses          53,996                  30,988
                                   -----------               ---------
Operating income (loss)               (34,867)                (11,842)
Other income (expense), net            (2,578)                 (2,578)
                                   -----------               ---------
Income (loss) before provision
 (benefit) for income taxes           (37,445)                (14,420)
Provision (benefit) for income
 taxes                                      -                       -
Minority interests                     (4,824)       4,749        (75)
                                   -----------               ---------
Net income (loss) Continuing
 Operations                       $   (32,621)              $ (14,345)
                                   ===========               =========
Discontinued Operations, net of
 income tax                            (8,300)       8,300          -
                                   -----------              ----------
Net income (loss)                 $   (40,921)              $ (14,345)
                                   ===========               =========

Basic and diluted loss per common share:
 Continuing operations            $     (0.86)              $   (0.38)
 Discontinued operations                (0.22)                      -
                                   -----------              ----------
 Net loss                         $     (1.08)              $   (0.38)
                                   ===========               =========

Weighted average number of common
 shares outstanding - basic and
 diluted                               37,932                  37,932
                                   ===========               =========

CONTACT:

Investor Contact
John Swenson
Asyst Technologies, Inc.
(510) 661-5000
(510) 661-5166 (fax)
jswenson@asyst.com

 


Copyright © 2005 Asyst Technologies, Inc.  All rights reserved.