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ASM International reports 2003 first quarter operating results Please use the following link to view the press release including financial results:
Book-to-Bill ratio for the first quarter of 1.27 BILTHOVEN, THE NETHERLANDS, April 22, 2003 --- ASM International N.V. (NASDAQ: ASMI and Euronext Amsterdam: ASM) reported today the operating results for the first quarter of 2003. The net loss for the first quarter amounted to € (8.3) million, or € (0.17) diluted net loss per share compared to a net loss of € (12.2) million or € (0.25) diluted net loss per share for the first quarter of 2002.
Net sales
Net sales amounted to € 117.8 million for the first quarter of 2003, an increase of 17.1% compared to net sales for the first quarter of 2002 and 14.2% below the sales level of the fourth quarter of 2002.
The economic and geopolitical environment continues to impact the semiconductor equipment industry, which is still in a downturn since late 2000. Despite this ASMI continued to see customer demand for new technology and 300mm systems.
The weak US dollar and US dollar related currencies also negatively impacted ASMI's consolidated net sales levels as expressed in Euro. The growth in sales would have been as high as 39.2%, when we apply the first quarter 2003 exchange rates to the first quarter 2002 sales levels expressed in their original local currencies.
Operations
The gross profit margin amounted to 32.4% of net sales, 0.6 percentage points below the gross profit margin of 33.0% of net sales in the first quarter of 2002, and 4.7 percentage points below the 37.1% gross profit margin realized in the fourth quarter of 2002. The decrease in gross margin as compared to the fourth quarter of 2002 is the result of the lower sales volumes and related lower-utilization of the manufacturing capacity, the impact of the lower US dollar exchange rate and lower margins on some of our products, both related to capacity-driven 200mm sales as well as new technology sales for 300mm.
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased 7.3% from € 22.4 million in the first quarter of 2002 to € 24.0 million in the first quarter of 2003. As a result of cost control measures and the lower US dollar exchange rate, the level of SG&A expenses decreased relative to the fourth quarter 2002. This even when taking into account that the € 28.8 million in the fourth quarter 2002 included a € 2.5 million one-time charge for relocation expenses of Back-end production facilities to the mainland of China.
As a percentage of net sales, selling, general and administrative expenses were 20.4% in the first quarter of 2003, compared to 22.3% in the first quarter of 2002, and 21.0% of net sales in the fourth quarter of 2002.
Research and development expenses decreased from € 20.5 million or 20.4% of net sales in the first quarter of 2002 to € 18.4 million or 15.6% of net sales in the first quarter of 2003, and 24.9% below the € 24.5 million in research and development expenses in the fourth quarter of 2002. In the fourth quarter of 2002, ASMI incurred some additional expenses related to the development of the Rapid Thermal Processing and 300mm vertical furnace programs in its Front-end operations as well as bonus programs in its Back-end operations. Besides the absence of these expenses and the impact of the lower US dollar exchange rate in the first quarter of 2003, ASMI further implemented cost control measures in its research and development activities, while at the same time continuing its strong research and development commitments to the industry.
Earnings (loss) from operations amounted to a loss of € (4.3) million for the first quarter of 2003 compared to a loss from operations of € (9.8) million for the same period in 2002.
Net interest and other financial expenses decreased from a net expense of € 2.3 million in the first quarter of 2002 to a net expense of € 1.7 million in the first quarter of 2003. The decrease is the result of lower interest rates on our variable borrowings, the lower US dollar exchange rate and € 0.2 million in foreign currency transactions gains as compared to € 0.2 million in foreign currency transaction losses in the first quarter of 2002.
Bookings and backlog
New orders received in the first quarter of 2003 amounted to € 149.9 million, 50.5% higher than the € 99.6 million level of new orders received in the fourth quarter of 2002. The largest part of the increase in new orders was achieved by our Front-end operations. Besides new orders for new technology purchases, we also have seen an increased interest and orders for capacity-driven 200mm equipment. The backlog at the end of March 2003 amounted to € 175.0 million, an increase of 22.5% compared to € 142.9 million at the end of December 31, 2002. The book-to-bill ratio for the first quarter of 2003 was 1.27 compared to 0.73 in the fourth quarter of 2002. Outlook
The new orders received in the first three months of 2003 demonstrate that ASMI continues to be well positioned to benefit from its strong commitment in research and development in leading edge technology. For the second quarter of 2003 the Company believes that its sales level will see growth as compared to the first quarter level, and an improved bottom line.
Good visibility for the second half of 2003 is still lacking, although we are optimistic that ASMI can increasingly benefit from its strong position in leading edge technology and market position in the next industry recovery.
ASM INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CALL
ASM International will host an investor conference call and web cast on
WEDNESDAY, April 23, 2003 at
9:00 a.m. US Eastern time
15:00 Continental European time.
The teleconference dial-in numbers are as follows:
United States: 800.237.9752
International: +1 617.847.8706
The participation pass code is 289753
A simultaneous audio web cast will be accessible at www.asm.com and www.companyboardroom.com.
The teleconference will be available for replay for 48-hours, beginning one hour after completion of the live broadcast. The replay dial-in numbers are: United States: 888.286.8010
International: +1 617.801.6888.
The participation pass code is 9344091
About ASM
ASM International N.V., headquartered in Bilthoven, the Netherlands, is a global company servicing one of the most important and demanding industries in the world. The Company possesses a strong technology base, state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, a competent and qualified workforce and a highly trained, strategically distributed support network. ASM International and its subsidiaries design and manufacture equipment and materials used to produce semiconductor devices. ASM International and its subsidiaries provide production solutions for wafer processing (Front-end segment) as well as assembly and packaging (Back-end segment) through facilities in the United States, Europe, Japan and Asia. ASM International's common stock trades on Nasdaq (symbol ASMI) and the Euronext Amsterdam Stock Exchange (symbol ASM). For more information, visit ASMI's website at http://www.asm.com.
Safe Harbor Statement under the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: All matters discussed in this statement, except for any historical data, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These include, but are not limited to, economic conditions and trends in the semiconductor industry, currency fluctuations, the timing of significant orders, market acceptance of new products, competitive factors, litigation involving intellectual property, shareholder and other issues, commercial and economic disruption due to terrorist activity, armed conflict or political instability and other risks indicated in the Company's filings from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, the Company's report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2002.
Please use the following link to view the press release including financial results: |
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