Cymer Announces Fourth Quarter and Year-End Results for 1998
  SAN DIEGO, Feb. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Cymer, Inc. (Nasdaq: CYMI), the world's leading supplier of excimer laser illumination sources for deep ultraviolet (DUV) photolithography, today reported fourth quarter and year-end results for 1998.
  Revenues for the quarter declined 15 percent to $37,992,000, as compared to third quarter revenues of $44,448,000.  Net loss for the quarter was $3,322,000 or $0.12 per share (diluted) as compared to third quarter net income of $1,453,000, or $0.05 per share (diluted).  For comparative purposes, fourth quarter 1997 revenues and net income were $59,076,000 and $7,173,000, or $0.24 per share (diluted), respectively.
  For the twelve months ended December 31, 1998, Cymer recorded net income of $2,523,000, or $0.09 per share (diluted) on revenues of $185,141,000 compared to net income of $26,058,000, or $0.86 per share (diluted) on revenues of $203,647,000 for the year ended December 31, 1997.
  "On a sequential basis total units shipped for the quarter declined by 26 percent," said William Angus, senior vice president and chief financial officer. "However the average selling price of our lasers increased as customer demand continued to shift to our newer model lasers resulting in an overall revenue decline of 15 percent.  Lower revenues combined with a write-off of obsolete inventory of $5.8 million, again due to the more rapid adoption of our ELS-5010 laser, resulted in a net operating loss for the quarter of  $6,674,000.  Gross margins for the quarter and the year ended December 31, 1998 declined to 15 percent and 32 percent respectively, compared to 40 percent and 39 percent for the same periods in 1997, primarily due to the inventory write-off as well as overall lower sales volumes."
  Angus observed that the net loss for the quarter was lower than anticipated, primarily due to net foreign currency gains resulting from fluctuations in the yen and from tax credits and permanent differences between taxable income and book income which resulted in a negative effective tax rate for the year.  "Going forward, we are increasing our operating breakeven point from approximately $43,000,000 in revenues to approximately $46,000,000 per quarter.  In addition, we are currently projecting a modest increase in revenues on a sequential basis for the first quarter of 1999.  These two factors combined, are expected to result in a net  loss of $0.10 to $0.15 per share for the first quarter of 1999."
  Robert Akins, president and chief executive officer of Cymer explained, "The increase in breakeven for 1999 is a calculated decision on our part to increase sales and marketing staff to address integrator customers and chipmaker requirements as well as competitive activity.  We are also making further investments in process infrastructure that we expect will improve our financial performance through increased efficiency when the industry recovery accelerates. While we remain cautious about the timing of the recovery, we remain confident in Cymer's ability to help enable the industry's commitment to continued geometry shrinks and enhanced productivity."
  Backlog at December 31, 1998, including both new systems and spare parts was $37,316,000 as compared to September 30, 1998 backlog of $43,655,000. Cash and cash equivalents, and short and long-term investments totaled $162,168,000. During the quarter, the Company purchased an additional 137,000 shares under its stock repurchase plan, bringing the total number of repurchased shares to 2,000,000 as of December 31, 1998. Working capital totaled $198,645,000, and capital spending was approximately $4,000,000 for the quarter.
  Forward Looking Statements  
  Statements in this press release regarding our anticipated operating breakeven point, our intention to increase our sales and marketing staff and our expectations for our operating results for the first quarter of 1999 and for improved financial performance when the industry recovery accelerates are forward looking statements, are based on current expectations and involve a number of risks and uncertainties.  Actual results may differ materially from those projected in any such statements due to various factors, including, but not limited to: the demand for semiconductors in general, and, in particular, for leading-edge devices with smaller geometries; changing business and economic conditions in various geographic regions, including Asia, and the effect of these conditions on capital spending plans by the Company's customers and end-users; the rate at which semiconductor manufacturers take delivery of photolithography tools from the Company's customers, which in turn may be affected by delays and cancellations of new factory construction; the timing of customer orders, shipments, and acceptances; the effect of recent price increases instituted by the Company on new orders for the Company's 5010 lasers; new and enhanced product offerings by competitors; the Company's ability to meet its production goals; and failure by the Company to match expense levels with revenue fluctuations.
  Corporate Profile  
  Cymer, Inc. is the world's leading supplier of excimer laser illumination sources, the essential light source for deep ultraviolet (DUV) photolithography systems.  DUV lithography is a key enabling technology that has allowed the semiconductor industry to meet the exact specifications and manufacturing requirements for volume production of today's most advanced semiconductor chips.  Further information on Cymer may be obtained from the Company's SEC filings, the Internet at cymer.com or by contacting the Company directly.
  Cymer, Inc.        Quarter ending December 31    Year ending December31  
  1997           1998        1997           1998  
  Revenues           $59,076,000   $37,992,000 $203,647,000  $185,141,000  
  Net income (loss)   $7,173,000   ($3,322,000) $26,058,000    $2,523,000  
  Avg. diluted shares 30,042,000    28,135,000   30,267,000    29,566,000  
  Share earnings  
  (basic):  
  Net income (loss)        $0.25       ($0.12)        $0.92         $0.09  
  Share earnings (diluted):  
  Net income (loss)        $0.24       ($0.12)        $0.86         $0.09
  CYMER, INC.
  CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)  
  (In thousands, except per share data)
  For the three months  For the twelve months  ended  
  December 31             ended December 31  
  1997       1998     1997       1998  
  REVENUES:  
  Product sales                   $58,653   $37,886  $201,191  $184,828  
  Other                               423       106     2,456       313  
  Total revenues               59,076    37,992   203,647   185,141
  COSTS AND EXPENSES:  
  Cost of product sales            35,181    32,118   123,654   125,713  
  Research and development          7,619     6,463    24,971    30,152  
  Sales and marketing               3,671     3,634    11,992    14,528  
  General and administrative        2,706     2,451     8,586     9,487
  Total costs and expenses      49,177    44,666   169,203   179,880
  OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)              9,899    (6,674)   34,444     5,261  
  OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):  
  Foreign currency exchange  
  gain (loss) -- net                 37     1,333      (359)      692  
  Interest and other income         2,435     1,763     5,318     7,384  
  Interest and other expense       (2,829)   (3,205)   (4,847)  (11,644)  
  Total other income  
  (expense) -- net                  (357)     (109)      112    (3,568)
  INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE PROVISION  
  FOR (BENEFIT FROM) INCOME  
  TAXES AND MINORITY INTEREST        9,542    (6,783)   34,556     1,693  
  Provision for (benefit from)  
  income taxes                      (2,386)    3,772    (8,639)    1,250  
  Minority interest                       17      (311)      141      (420)  
  NET INCOME (LOSS)                   $7,173   ($3,322)  $26,058    $2,523  
  EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE:  
  Basic:  
  Earnings (loss) per share         $0.25   ($0.12)     $0.92     $0.09  
  Weighted average common shares  
  outstanding                    28,643    27,135    28,212    28,226  
  Diluted:  
  Earnings (loss) per share         $0.24   ($0.12)     $0.86     $0.09  
  Weighted average common and  
  potential common shares  
  outstanding                    30,042    28,135    30,267    29,566
  CYMER, INC.
  CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)  
  (In thousands, except share data)  
  December 31,  
  1997       1998  
  ASSETS  
  CURRENT ASSETS:  
  Cash and cash equivalents                        $51,903    $53,130  
  Short-term investments                            80,387     85,558  
  Accounts receivable _ net                         59,140     50,909  
  Foreign exchange contracts receivable             31,267     22,145  
  Inventories                                       47,502     50,786  
  Deferred income taxes                             12,690     12,824  
  Prepaid expenses and other                         2,847      3,706  
  Total current assets                        285,736    279,058  
  PROPERTY _ net                                         48,031     51,937  
  LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS                                  42,667     23,480  
  OTHER ASSETS                                            8,446      8,897
  TOTAL ASSETS                                        $ 384,880  $ 363,372  
  LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
  CURRENT LIABILITIES:  
  Revolving loan                                              $11,609  
  Accounts payable                                 $22,615      8,581  
  Accrued and other liabilities                     26,860     33,204  
  Foreign exchange contracts payable                27,278     24,873  
  Income taxes payable                               6,444      2,146  
  Total current liabilities                     83,197     80,413  
  CONVERTIBLE SUBORDINATED NOTES                        172,500    172,500  
  OTHER LIABILITIES                                       3,566      3,425  
  MINORITY INTEREST                                       1,077      1,450
  COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
  STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:  
  Preferred Stock - authorized 5,000,000 shares;  
  .001 par value, no shares issued or outstanding  
  Common stock - authorized 50,000,000 shares; $.001  
  par value, issued and outstanding 28,724,000 and  
  27,174,000 shares                                    29         27  
  Paid-in capital                                   109,367    111,842  
  Retained earnings                                  18,637     21,159  
  Accumulated other comprehensive loss               (3,493)    (2,573)  
  Treasury stock at cost (2,000,000  
  common shares)                                             (24,871)
  Total stockholders' equity                  124,540    105,584 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY   $384,880  $363,372 SOURCE  Cymer, Inc.
  CO:  Cymer, Inc.
  ST:  California
  IN:  CPR
  SU:  ERN
  02/01/99 16:30 EST prnewswire.com |