Creditman,
[TSEMF] TOWER SEMICONDUCTOR Q2 LOSS OF 55 CENTS VS 38 CENTS YEAR-AGO.
Tower Semiconductor Ltd. Announces Second Quarter and Six Months Results
Business Wire - July 21, 1999 16:48
MIGDAL HAEMEK, Israel--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 21, 1999--Tower Semiconductor Ltd. (NASDAQ: TSEMF) today announced results for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 1999.
Sales for the second quarter of 1999 were $14.8 million, compared with $14.6 million in the second quarter of 1998, and $14.3 million in the immediately preceding quarter ended March 31, 1999. The Company's operating loss was $8.0 million, compared with $7.4 million in the second quarter of 1998 and $8.8 million in the immediately preceding quarter. The Company had a net loss for the second quarter of 1999 of $6.9 million, or $0.55 loss per share, compared with a net loss of $5.0 million, or $0.38 loss per share, in the second quarter of 1998, and a net loss of $6.0 million, or $0.50 loss per share, in the immediately preceding quarter.
Sales for the six months ended June 30, 1999 were $29.1 million compared with $37.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 1998. The Company's operating loss was $16.7 million, compared with $10.5 million in the six months ended June 30, 1998. Net loss for the six months ended June 30, 1999 was $12.9 million, or $1.02 loss per share, compared with a net loss of $6.4 million, or $0.48 loss per share in 1998.
"The decrease in operating loss as compared to the previous quarter was a result of a 25% improvement in utilization, as well as cost reduction measures taken by the Company," said Dr. Yoav Nissan-Cohen, Tower's Co-Chief Executive Officer. "Much of this improvement was offset by continued reduction in our foundry wafer prices, as well as the fact that during Q2 we stopped accruing tax benefits resulting from our operating losses. However, I am pleased that the increased utilization comes mostly from our specialized technologies, strategically developed to offer a differentiated product to our customers. While we believe that these technologies will allow Tower better financial performance in the future, in the short-term reduced prices for our standard CMOS processes will continue to have a negative impact. We are continuing to advance the development of our microFLASH(R) process, and have delivered product prototypes to customers in Europe and the Far East. We expect to introduce these products to production later this year."
TOWER SEMICONDUCTOR LTD. is an independent manufacturer and service provider of semiconductor integrated circuits ("ICs") on silicon wafers. As a foundry, Tower provides IC design, manufacturing and turn-key services, using advanced production capabilities and the proprietary IC designs of its customers, and is specializing in providing solutions for embedded non-volatile memory devices and CMOS image sensors. ICs manufactured by Tower are incorporated into a wide range of products in diverse and rapidly growing markets, including computer and office equipment, communication products and consumer electronics.
microFLASH(R) is a registered trademark of Tower Semiconductor Ltd.
This press release includes forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results may vary from those projected or implied by such forward-looking statements. Potential risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated with (i) successful completion of the development and introduction to production of the Company's microFLASH process and other advanced CMOS technologies which are currently under development and/or being introduced to production, (ii) market acceptance and competitiveness of the products to be manufactured by Tower for customers using these technologies, and (iii) conditions in the market for semiconductor products generally. A more complete discussion of risks and uncertainties which may affect the accuracy of these statements and Tower's business generally, is included at "Item 1. Business -- Factors Which May Influence Future Results and Accuracy of Forward-Looking Statements" in Tower's most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F as filed by Tower with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
TOWER SEMICONDUCTOR LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED) (dollars in thousands, except per share data)
Six months ended Three months ended June 30, June 30, --------------------- -------------------- 1999 1998 1999 1998 ---------- ---------- --------- ---------
SALES $ 29,142 $ 37,759 $ 14,825 $ 14,572
COST OF SALES 37,018 40,007 18,453 17,810 ---------- ---------- --------- --------
GROSS LOSS (7,876) (2,248) (3,628) (3,238) ---------- ---------- --------- --------
OPERATING COSTS AND EXPENSES
Research and development, net 4,825 4,210 2,499 2,070 Marketing, general and administrative 4,032 4,038 1,841 2,091 ---------- ----------- ---------- --------- 8,857 8,248 4,340 4,161 ========== ========== ========== =========
OPERATING LOSS (16,733) (10,496) (7,968) (7,399)
FINANCING INCOME, NET 1,464 1,789 478 830 ---------- ---------- ---------- --------
LOSS BEFORE INCOME TAX BENEFIT (15,269) (8,707) (7,490) (6,569)
INCOME TAX BENEFIT 2,405 2,321 605 1,578 ---------- ---------- --------- ----------
NET LOSS $ (12,864) $ (6,386) $ (6,885) $ (4,991) ========== ========== ========= ==========
BASIC LOSS PER ORDINARY SHARE
(a) Loss per share $ (1.02) $ (0.48) $ (0.55) $ (0.38) ========== ========== ========= ==========
Net loss used to compute basic loss per share $ (12,815) $ (6,386) $ (6,860) $ (4,991) ========== ========== ========= ==========
Weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding - in thousands 12,601 13,240 12,558 13,240 ========== ========== ========= ==========
(a) Basic and diluted loss per share in accordance with U.S. GAAP would be $1.07 and $0.58 for the six months and three months ended June 30, 1999, respectively.
TOWER SEMICONDUCTOR LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES INTERIM CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (dollars in thousands) June 30, December 31, 1999 1998 --------------- --------------- ASSETS (unaudited)
CURRENT ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents $ 8,851 $ 7,320 Short-term interest-bearing deposits 23,214 31,962 Marketable debt securities 25,151 25,160 Trade accounts receivable (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $360 and $530, respectively) 6,295 5,249 Other receivables 1,470 3,792 Inventories 8,890 9,839 Other current assets 1,685 1,963 ----------- ----------- Total current assets 75,556 85,285 ----------- -----------
LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS 6,000 6,000 ----------- -----------
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET 78,403 88,429 ----------- -----------
OTHER ASSETS 1,363 333 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- TOTAL ASSETS $ 161,322 $ 180,047 =========== ===========
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES Short-term debt $ 82 $ 21 Trade accounts payable 9,491 11,713 Current portion of long-term liability in respect of customer advances 3,040 4,560 Due to related parties 51 42 Other current liabilities 4,941 2,912 ----------- ----------- Total current liabilities 17,605 19,248
LONG-TERM DEBT 12,117 12,127
LONG-TERM LIABILITY IN RESPECT OF CUSTOMER ADVANCES -- 1,076
OTHER LIABILITIES 2,065 4,271 ----------- -----------
Total liabilities 31,787 36,722 ----------- -----------
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Ordinary shares, NIS 1 par value - authorized 30,000,000 shares; issued 13,244,744 and 13,241,502 shares, respectively 4,325 4,324 Additional paid-in capital 138,380 138,354 Shareholder receivables and unearned compensation (971) (981) Retained earnings (deficit) (3,127) 9,737 ----------- ----------- 138,607 151,434 Treasury stock, at cost - 1,300,000 and 1,157,500 shares, respectively (9,072) (8,109) ----------- ----------- Total shareholders' equity 129,535 143,325 ----------- -----------
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY $ 161,322 $ 180,047 =========== ===========
-Tables Follow- CONTACT: Tower Semiconductor Ltd. Yoav Nissan-Cohen, Ph.D., Co-CEO Rafael M. Levin, Ph.D., Co-CEO Amir Harel, Vice President & CFO 011-972-6-650-6611; 011-972-6-654-7788 (fax) Home page: towersemi.com or Wolfe Axelrod Associates Stephen D. Axelrod, CFA Allen Salzberg (Media) 212-370-4500; 212-370-4505 (fax) E-mail: steve@wolfeaxelrod.com
Dave |