Shanghai [2006-10-31]
Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (NYSE: SMI; SEHK: 981) ("SMIC" or the "Company"), one of the leading semiconductor foundries in the world, today announced its consolidated results of operations for the three months ended September 30, 2006.Sales increased 2.1% in the third quarter of 2006 to $368.9 million from $361.4 million in the second quarter. The Company reported an increase in capacity to 176,625 8-inch equivalent wafers per month and a utilization rate of 84.3% in the third quarter of 2006. Gross margins were 8.9% in the third quarter of 2006 compared to 13.6% in the second quarter of 2006. Net loss of $35.1 million in the third quarter of 2006, compared to a net loss of $26.1 million in the third quarter of 2005 and a net gain of $2.2 million in the second quarter of 2006.
The Company is subject to a pending lawsuit with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Limited ("TSMC"), related to the intangible assets, with a net book value of $99.5 million, the Company recorded for patents licensed from TSMC and TSMC's covenant not to sue the Company regarding certain allegations of acts of trade secret misappropriation. Under SFAS 144, the Company is required to make a determination as to whether or not this pending litigation represents an event that requires a further analysis of whether such assets have been impaired. We believe that the lawsuit is at a very early stage and we are still evaluating whether or not the litigation represents such an event. The Company expects further information to become available to us which will aid us in making a determination. The outcome of any impairment analysis performed under SFAS 144 might result in a material impact on our financial positions and results of operations.
"In the third quarter, our first 90 nanometer logic product moved into mass production at our 300 millimeter facility in Beijing," said Dr. Richard Chang, Chief Executive Officer of SMIC. "Elpida's 512M-bit DDR2 DRAM using the 90 nanometer manufacturing process also moved into mass production. Our second 90 nanometer DRAM product for Qimonda will go into commercial production in the fourth quarter 2006. In the third quarter, 90 nanometer technology contributed 4.9% of total wafer revenues.
We are also pleased to announce that SMIC entered into a strategic agreement with Qualcomm. We will provide integrated circuit manufacturing services to Qualcomm using a specialized BiCMOS process technology at our Tianjin facility. This agreement will combine SMIC's wafer fabrication capabilities and subcontractor infrastructure with Qualcomm's leadership in 3G wireless technologies, with a focus on power management ICs.
We continue to see customers going through a period of inventory correction carrying over into the fourth quarter. This inventory situation is improving and depending on the holiday sell-through, it may continue to improve.
As we manage for the long-term, we will continue to march ahead towards the leading edge technology frontier. We will continue to invest significantly in research and development. Our development of the 65 nanometer technology is expected to bear fruit in the second half of 2007. We will expand our business in a financially disciplined manner with the clear goal of returning to profitability."
SMIC Q3 earnings release
About SMIC
SMIC (NYSE: SMI; SEHK: 981) is one of the leading semiconductor foundries in the world and the largest and most advanced foundry in Mainland China, providing integrated circuit (IC) manufacturing service at 0.35mm to 90nm and finer line technologies. Headquartered in Shanghai, China, SMIC operates three 200mm fabs in Shanghai and one in Tianjin, and one 300mm fab in Beijing, the first of its kind in Mainland China. SMIC has customer service and marketing offices in the U.S., Italy, and Japan as well as a representative office in Hong Kong. For additional information, please visit http://www.smics.com.
Safe Harbor Statements
(Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995)
This press release may contain, in addition to historical information, "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements, including statements under"Capex Summary"and "Fourth Quarter 2006 Guidance" below, are based on SMIC's current assumptions, expectations and projections about future events. SMIC uses words like "believe," "anticipate,""intend," "estimate,""expect,""project" and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. These forward-looking statements are necessarily estimates reflecting the best judgment of SMIC’s senior management and involve significant risks, both known and unknown, uncertainties and other factors that may cause SMIC's actual performance, financial condition or results of operations to be materially different from those suggested by the forward-looking statements including, among others, risks associated with cyclicality and market conditions in the semiconductor industry, intense competition, timely wafer acceptance by SMIC's customers, timely introduction of new technologies, SMIC's ability to ramp new products into volume, supply and demand for semiconductor foundry services, industry overcapacity, shortages in equipment, components and raw materials, availability of manufacturing capacity and financial stability in end markets.
Investors should consider the information contained in SMIC's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including its annual report on Form 20-F, as amended, filed with the SEC on June 29, 2006, especially in the "Risk Factors"and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" sections, and its registration statement on Form A-1 as filed with the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (SEHK) on March 8, 2004, and such other documents that SMIC may file with the SEC or SEHK from time to time, including on Form 6-K. Other unknown or unpredictable factors also could have material adverse effects on SMIC's future results, performance or achievements. In light of these risks, uncertainties, assumptions and factors, the forward-looking events discussed in this press release may not occur. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date stated, or if no date is stated, as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, SMIC undertakes no obligation and does not intend to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Investor Contacts:
Peter Yu
Tel: 86-21-5080-2000, ext. 11319
peter_yu@smics.com
Mobile: 86-13918940553
Douglas Hsiung
Tel: 86-21-5080-2000, ext. 12804
douglas_hsiung@smics.com
Mobile: 86-13795272240
Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (NYSE: SMI; SEHK: 981) ("SMIC" or the "Company"), one of the leading semiconductor foundries in the world, today announced its consolidated results of operations for the three months ended September 30, 2006.Sales increased 2.1% in the third quarter of 2006 to $368.9 million from $361.4 million in the second quarter. The Company reported an increase in capacity to 176,625 8-inch equivalent wafers per month and a utilization rate of 84.3% in the third quarter of 2006. Gross margins were 8.9% in the third quarter of 2006 compared to 13.6% in the second quarter of 2006. Net loss of $35.1 million in the third quarter of 2006, compared to a net loss of $26.1 million in the third quarter of 2005 and a net gain of $2.2 million in the second quarter of 2006.
The Company is subject to a pending lawsuit with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Limited ("TSMC"), related to the intangible assets, with a net book value of $99.5 million, the Company recorded for patents licensed from TSMC and TSMC's covenant not to sue the Company regarding certain allegations of acts of trade secret misappropriation. Under SFAS 144, the Company is required to make a determination as to whether or not this pending litigation represents an event that requires a further analysis of whether such assets have been impaired. We believe that the lawsuit is at a very early stage and we are still evaluating whether or not the litigation represents such an event. The Company expects further information to become available to us which will aid us in making a determination. The outcome of any impairment analysis performed under SFAS 144 might result in a material impact on our financial positions and results of operations.
"In the third quarter, our first 90 nanometer logic product moved into mass production at our 300 millimeter facility in Beijing," said Dr. Richard Chang, Chief Executive Officer of SMIC. "Elpida's 512M-bit DDR2 DRAM using the 90 nanometer manufacturing process also moved into mass production. Our second 90 nanometer DRAM product for Qimonda will go into commercial production in the fourth quarter 2006. In the third quarter, 90 nanometer technology contributed 4.9% of total wafer revenues.
We are also pleased to announce that SMIC entered into a strategic agreement with Qualcomm. We will provide integrated circuit manufacturing services to Qualcomm using a specialized BiCMOS process technology at our Tianjin facility. This agreement will combine SMIC's wafer fabrication capabilities and subcontractor infrastructure with Qualcomm's leadership in 3G wireless technologies, with a focus on power management ICs.
We continue to see customers going through a period of inventory correction carrying over into the fourth quarter. This inventory situation is improving and depending on the holiday sell-through, it may continue to improve.
As we manage for the long-term, we will continue to march ahead towards the leading edge technology frontier. We will continue to invest significantly in research and development. Our development of the 65 nanometer technology is expected to bear fruit in the second half of 2007. We will expand our business in a financially disciplined manner with the clear goal of returning to profitability."
SMIC Q3 earnings release
About SMIC
SMIC (NYSE: SMI; SEHK: 981) is one of the leading semiconductor foundries in the world and the largest and most advanced foundry in Mainland China, providing integrated circuit (IC) manufacturing service at 0.35mm to 90nm and finer line technologies. Headquartered in Shanghai, China, SMIC operates three 200mm fabs in Shanghai and one in Tianjin, and one 300mm fab in Beijing, the first of its kind in Mainland China. SMIC has customer service and marketing offices in the U.S., Italy, and Japan as well as a representative office in Hong Kong. For additional information, please visit http://www.smics.com.
Safe Harbor Statements
(Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995)
This press release may contain, in addition to historical information, "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements, including statements under"Capex Summary"and "Fourth Quarter 2006 Guidance" below, are based on SMIC's current assumptions, expectations and projections about future events. SMIC uses words like "believe," "anticipate,""intend," "estimate,""expect,""project" and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. These forward-looking statements are necessarily estimates reflecting the best judgment of SMIC’s senior management and involve significant risks, both known and unknown, uncertainties and other factors that may cause SMIC's actual performance, financial condition or results of operations to be materially different from those suggested by the forward-looking statements including, among others, risks associated with cyclicality and market conditions in the semiconductor industry, intense competition, timely wafer acceptance by SMIC's customers, timely introduction of new technologies, SMIC's ability to ramp new products into volume, supply and demand for semiconductor foundry services, industry overcapacity, shortages in equipment, components and raw materials, availability of manufacturing capacity and financial stability in end markets.
Investors should consider the information contained in SMIC's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including its annual report on Form 20-F, as amended, filed with the SEC on June 29, 2006, especially in the "Risk Factors"and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" sections, and its registration statement on Form A-1 as filed with the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (SEHK) on March 8, 2004, and such other documents that SMIC may file with the SEC or SEHK from time to time, including on Form 6-K. Other unknown or unpredictable factors also could have material adverse effects on SMIC's future results, performance or achievements. In light of these risks, uncertainties, assumptions and factors, the forward-looking events discussed in this press release may not occur. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date stated, or if no date is stated, as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, SMIC undertakes no obligation and does not intend to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Investor Contacts:
Peter Yu
Tel: 86-21-5080-2000, ext. 11319
peter_yu@smics.com
Mobile: 86-13918940553
Douglas Hsiung
Tel: 86-21-5080-2000, ext. 12804
douglas_hsiung@smics.com
Mobile: 86-13795272240
