FSI International, Inc. Announces Second Quarter Fiscal 2003 Financial Results
  Tuesday March 18, 4:01 pm ET  
  The Company Begins the Second Half of Fiscal 2003 with $44 Million in Cash and No Debt 
  MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 18, 2003--FSI International, Inc. (Nasdaq:FSII - News), a manufacturer of capital equipment for the microelectronics industry, today reported financial results for the fiscal 2003 second quarter and first half ended March 1, 2003.    Sales for the fiscal 2003 second quarter were $21.3 million, compared to $41.9 million for the same period of fiscal 2002. The Company's net loss for the second quarter of fiscal 2003 was $37.4 million or $1.27 per share (diluted), compared to a net loss of $6.5 million or $0.25 per share (diluted) for the second quarter of fiscal 2002. 
  Sales for the first half of fiscal 2003 were $47.2 million, compared to $84.5 million for the same period of fiscal 2002. The Company's net loss for the first half of fiscal 2003 was $61.1 million or $2.07 per share (diluted), compared to a net loss of $11.3 million or $0.43 per share (diluted) for the first half of fiscal 2002. 
  Balance Sheet 
  After recording a $26.0 million write-down in the second quarter related to the planned wind down of the Company's Microlithography business, the Company continues to maintain a strong balance sheet with over $154 million in assets, including $44 million in cash, restricted cash and cash equivalents. As of March 1, 2003, the end of the second quarter, the Company had a current ratio of 2.8 to 1.0, no debt and a book value of $119 million or $4.03 per share. 
  Non-Cash Charges 
  As discussed below, the Company reported significant non-cash charges during the second quarter and first half of fiscal 2003. We believe the disclosure of these non-cash charges will assist investors as they measure the impact these charges had on the Company's financial performance during these periods. The Company's liquidity and financial strength is easier to establish through a thorough understanding of these non-cash charges. 
  Microlithography Business Asset Write-Down 
  FSI previously announced that it will exit the resist processing market and that it will wind down the Company's Microlithography business over the next several quarters.(a) As a result, the Company recorded a non-cash asset write-down charge of $26.0 million or $0.88 per share in the second quarter of fiscal 2003. Approximately $19.0 million of the charge related to an inventory write-down that was recorded in cost of goods sold based on estimated future sales and recoverability given the decision to exit the resist processing market. The remaining $7.0 million was recorded as a write-down of the Microlithography business's fixed assets to estimated realizable value. 
  Transition to a Direct Distribution Organization 
  On October 9, 2002, the Company entered into a Transition Agreement with Metron Technology ("Metron") related to the early termination of its distribution agreements with Metron for Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, effective March 1, 2003. Under the terms of the Transition Agreement, FSI assumed direct sales, service and applications support and logistics responsibilities for its surface conditioning and microlithography products in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, while Metron continues to be the representative for FSI products in Israel. 
  Early Termination Fee 
  Under the terms of the Transition Agreement, the Company agreed to pay Metron an early termination fee of approximately $2.8 million or $0.09 per share using Company-owned Metron common shares. As a result, the Company recorded a non-cash charge of approximately $2.8 million to selling, general and administrative expenses in the first quarter of fiscal 2003. 
  In connection with entering into the Transition Agreement, FSI advanced Metron $3.0 million in cash primarily related to its obligation under the Distribution Agreements to repurchase Metron's inventory. After completing a review of the inventory relative to FSI's repurchase obligations, it was determined that FSI's obligation to repurchase inventory was approximately $2.0 million. As a result, FSI will deliver less than the 1.154 million Metron common shares originally contemplated. 
  Impairment Charges 
  During the first quarter of 2003, the Company revalued its entire investment in Metron to $2.38 per share and recognized $10.2 million or $0.35 per share in non-cash impairment charges related to its investment in Metron common stock. 
  Outlook 
  At the end of the second quarter, the Company's Microlithography business had approximately $11 million in backlog scheduled to ship over the next few quarters. In addition, the Company continues to expect follow-on orders from a few customers.(a) 
  Representatives of the Company will be meeting with its Microlithography business customers over the next several weeks to review open orders and develop longer term service and spare parts logistics support plans. Until the status of open orders is known and the customer support plans are developed, the Company will not provide detailed financial guidance for the third quarter of fiscal 2003. 
  The Company expects to record between $6.0 and $7.0 million of severance costs spread over the next several quarters associated with winding down the Company's Microlithography business and realigning its remaining business.(a) 
  "We remain focused on resizing the Company to achieve breakeven financial performance at a $20 to $25 million quarterly sales level," stated Don Mitchell, FSI's chairman and chief executive officer.(a) "The rate at which we reduce our employee headcount in support of this goal will depend on the resources required to support the customer plans that are being developed. We intend to fully support our obligation with our customers as we exit the resist processing market." 
  Conference Call Details 
  Investors will have the opportunity to listen to the conference call at 3:30 p.m. CST over the Internet. The web cast is being distributed over CCBN's Investor Distribution Network to both institutional and individual investors. Individual investors can listen to the call through CCBN's individual investor center at www.companyboardroom.com or by visiting any of the investor sites in CCBN's Individual Investor Network such as America Online's Personal Finance Channel, Fidelity Investments® (Fidelity.com) and others. Institutional investors can access the call via CCBN's password-protected event management site, StreetEvents (www.streetevents.com). For those who cannot listen to the live broadcast, a replay will be available shortly after the call. 
  About FSI 
  FSI International Inc., a global supplier of surface conditioning equipment and technology, delivers economic and technical advantages for current and emerging microelectronics manufacturing challenges. Using the Company's broad portfolio of products, which include immersion, spray, vapor and CryoKinetic systems for wafer cleaning, customers are able to efficiently achieve their goals. FSI's customers include microelectronics manufacturers located throughout North America, Europe, Japan and the Asia-Pacific region. 
  FSI is a 2002 recipient of the VLSI Research 10 BEST Award. In seven of the last ten years, FSI has been recognized for its superior customer satisfaction in the category of Small Suppliers of Wafer Processing Equipment. 
  FSI maintains a Web site at fsi-intl.com. 
  "Safe Harbor" Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 
  This press release contains certain "forward-looking" statements (a), including, but not limited to, expected wind down of Microlithography business, expected follow-on orders from customers, the expected severance costs and breakeven financial performance. Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this news release are forward-looking statements involving risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, results of discussions with Microlithography business customers, the length and extent of the current industry downturn; additional order delays or cancellations; savings from our cost-cutting measures may be less than anticipated; we may incur unexpected additional costs as part of our cost cutting measures; general economic conditions; changes in customer capacity requirements and demand for microelectronics; the extent of demand for our products and our ability to meet demand; global trade policies; worldwide economic and political stability; the Company's successful execution of internal performance plans; the cyclical nature of the Company's business; volatility of the market for certain products; performance issues with key suppliers and subcontractors; the transition to 300mm products; the level of new orders; the timing and success of current and future product and process development programs; the success of the Company's affiliated distributors; legal proceedings; and the potential impairment of long-lived assets; as well as other factors listed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports including, but not limited to, the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the 2002 fiscal year and the Company's quarterly report on Form 10Q for the first quarter of fiscal 2003. The Company assumes no duty to update the information in this press release. 
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                  FSI INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES                  CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS                  (in thousands, except per share data)
                               Second Quarter Ended     Six Months Ended                             ---------------------- -------------------                               Mar. 1,   Feb. 23,     Mar. 1,  Feb. 23,                                2003       2002        2003      2002                             ---------  ---------   --------- ---------                                  (unaudited)            (unaudited)
  Sales                       $ 21,281   $ 41,889    $ 47,213  $ 84,516 Cost of goods sold            33,694     29,729     (52,811)   59,090 -------------------------   ---------  ---------   --------- --------- Gross (loss) profit          (12,413)    12,160      (5,598)   25,426 Selling, general and  administrative expenses       8,617      9,020      17,373    19,863 Research and development  expenses                      8,714      9,680      17,012    17,938 Transition agreement  termination fee                 ---        ---       2,750       --- Write-down of  Microlithography fixed   assets                       7,000        ---       7,000       --- -------------------------   ---------  ---------   --------- --------- Operating loss               (36,744)    (6,540)    (49,733)  (12,375) Interest and other income  net                             192        371         352       730 Impairment of investment  in affiliates                   ---        ---     (10,195)      --- -------------------------   ---------  ---------   --------- --------- Loss before income taxes     (36,552)    (6,169)    (59,576)  (11,645) Income tax expense                25        ---          50       --- -------------------------   ---------  ---------   --------- --------- Loss before equity in  (loss) earnings of   affiliates                 (36,577)    (6,169)    (59,626)  (11,645) Equity in (loss) earnings  of affiliates                  (831)      (365)     (1,434)      368 -------------------------   ---------  ---------   --------- --------- Net loss                    $(37,408)  $ (6,534)   $(61,060) $(11,277) -------------------------   =========  =========   ========= ========= Loss per share (Basic and  Diluted)                   $  (1.27)  $  (0.25)   $  (2.07) $  (0.43) -------------------------   ---------  ---------   --------- --------- Weighted average common  shares   Basic                       29,530     26,124      29,498    26,109   Diluted                     29,530     26,124      29,498    26,109 -------------------------   ---------  ---------   --------- ---------
                  FSI INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES                       CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS                             (in thousands)                              (unaudited)
                                             March 1,      August 31,                                              2003           2002                                          -----------    -----------
  Assets --------------------------------------- Current assets:  Cash, restricted cash, cash   equivalents and marketable securities    $ 43,776       $ 63,868  Receivables, net                            26,120         19,428  Inventories                                 19,480         44,693  Other current assets                         8,026          4,731 ---------------------------------------  -----------    -----------       Total current assets                   97,402        132,720
  Property, plant and equipment, net           37,856         47,350 Investment in affiliates                     11,353         22,723 Intangible assets, net                        5,455          6,636 Other assets                                  2,333          2,341 ---------------------------------------  -----------    -----------       Total assets                         $154,399       $211,770 ---------------------------------------  ===========    ===========
  Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity --------------------------------------- Current liabilities:  Trade accounts payable                       6,937          9,146  Deferred profit(a)                           6,692          4,115  Accrued expenses                            21,560         18,877 ---------------------------------------  -----------    -----------       Total current liabilities              35,189         32,138
  Total stockholders' equity                  119,210        179,632 ---------------------------------------  -----------    ----------- Total liabilities and stockholders'  equity                                    $154,399       $211,770 ---------------------------------------  ===========    ===========
  (a) Deferred profit reflects deferred revenue less manufacturing and other related costs.
                   FSI INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES                    MISCELLANEOUS FINANCIAL INFORMATION                   (in thousands, except per share data)                                (unaudited)
                                               Six Months Ended                                        ----------------------------                                           Mar. 1,       Feb. 23,                                             2003          2002                                           --------      --------
  SALES BY AREA
  United States                                76%           79% International                                24%           21%
  CASH FLOW STATEMENT
  Capital expenditures                      $ 2,571       $ 1,028 Depreciation                              $ 5,064       $ 5,551 Amortization                              $ 1,181       $ 1,390
  MISCELLANEOUS DATA
  Total employees, including contract           714           621 Book value per share                      $  4.03       $  6.63 Shares outstanding                         29,562        26,164 
  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Contact:       FSI International, Inc., Minneapolis      Investor and Financial Media:      Benno Sand, 952/448-8936      or      Trade Media:      Laurie Walker, 952/448-8066
  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Source: FSI International, Inc. |