Amkor Reports First Quarter 2008 Results

Amkor Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMKR) today reported its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2008. First quarter net sales of $699 million were down sequentially 6.3% from the fourth quarter of 2007 and up 7.4% from the first quarter of 2007. First quarter net income was $72 million, down 23% from the fourth quarter of 2007 and up 108% from the first quarter of 2007. First quarter earnings per diluted share was $0.36, down 22% from the fourth quarter of 2007 and up 100% from the first quarter of 2007. "We delivered solid first-quarter results, which reflected a seasonal slowdown in demand following an exceptionally strong fourth quarter,” said James Kim, Amkor’s chairman and chief executive officer. "We exceeded our sales and profitability targets for the first quarter due to select customer demand in certain wireless communications and networking applications, which partially offset the overall seasonal slowing that we had expected. Our first quarter net income included an approximately $9.5 million foreign currency gain principally due to the depreciation of the Korean won and the resulting remeasurement of our Korean employee benefit plan liability.” "We believe that our stability within a challenging economy comes as a result of our continued focus on advanced product development paired with long-standing relationships and collaboration with leading semiconductor companies as well as our world-class manufacturing capabilities,” added Kim. "As we look to the second quarter, we expect revenues to grow sequentially by 1% to 3%, slightly lower than historical seasonality but near historical peak revenues on a Dollar basis.” "Net sales decreased $47 million or 6.3% sequentially, while unit shipments decreased 7.2% compared to the fourth quarter of 2007,” said Joanne Solomon, Amkor’s chief financial officer. "First quarter 2008 sales reflect the benefit of our capital investments in advanced technologies and strong demand from our fabless customers supporting mobile phones and networking applications.” Gross margin for the first quarter was 25.2%, down from 27.2% in the fourth quarter of 2007, reflecting the impact of lower sales volume. Gross margin for the first quarter of 2008 improved from 22.6% for the first quarter of 2007, primarily as a result of higher capacity utilization, enriched product mix and improved factory performance. Amkor generated $92 million of free cash flow in the first quarter, compared to $113 million in the fourth quarter of 2007 and $72 million in the first quarter of 2007. "During the first quarter, we repaid $101 million of debt, which included the remaining $88 million of 9.25% senior notes we retired in February, bringing our total debt to under $1.7 billion at quarter end. Net interest expense for the quarter was $29 million, a 21% decrease from net interest expense of $37 million for the first quarter of 2007. We are scheduled to repay an additional $53 million of maturing and amortizing debt throughout the remainder of 2008. Our cash balance at the end of the first quarter was $412 million, roughly flat compared to year-end 2007,” said Solomon. "First quarter capital additions totaled $95 million, which was less than we anticipated due to a delay in timing of planned expenditures into the second quarter. Capital additions are expected to be approximately $140 million in the second quarter of 2008,” said Solomon. "Although our capital investment is expected to be higher in the first half of 2008 due to the longer lead times associated with the expansion of our wafer bumping capacity, we remain focused on disciplined capital spending for the full year. For 2008, we expect our capital intensity to be 12% to 14% of full year revenues. Our capital additions are aligned with our advanced product development roadmaps and are focused on expanding our product portfolio capabilities in support of the demand from our largest customers.” Amkor’s effective income tax rate for the first quarter was 7.6%, and the anticipated effective tax rate for the full year 2008 is approximately 8%. Selected operating data for the first quarter of 2008 is included in a section before the financial tables. Business Outlook On the basis of customers’ forecasts, we have the following expectations for the second quarter of 2008: Sales – Up 1% to 3% from the first quarter of 2008 Gross Margin – approximately 25% Net income – in the range of $0.32 to $0.36 per diluted share Our net income guidance includes an estimated $9.7 million gain, with no net tax effect, from a real estate transaction that closed in April 2008. Amkor will conduct a conference call on April 30, 2008 at 5:00 p.m. eastern time. The call can be accessed by dialing 303-205-0033, or by visiting the investor relations page of our website: www.amkor.com or CCBN’s website: www.companyboardroom.com. An archive of the webcast can be accessed through the same links, and will be available until our next quarterly earnings conference call. An audio replay of the call will be available for 48 hours following the conference call by dialing 303-590-3000 passcode: 11110795. About Amkor Amkor is a leading provider of semiconductor assembly and test services. The company offers semiconductor companies and electronics OEMs a complete set of microelectronics design and manufacturing services. More information on Amkor is available from the company’s SEC filings and on Amkor’s website: www.amkor.com. Forward Looking Statement Disclaimer This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws. All statements other than statements of historical fact are considered forward looking statements including, without limitation, statements regarding the following: our stability within a challenging economy; our anticipated revenue growth; our anticipated level of debt repayment in 2008; our focus on continuing a disciplined approach to capital spending; our expectations regarding capital intensity and the allocation of capital expenditures among our businesses; the expected dollar amount of our capital additions and the focus of our capital spending; the timing of our capital spending during the year; expectations regarding our effective tax rate for 2008; and the statements regarding sales, gross margin and net income per diluted share contained under Business Outlook. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that could affect future results and cause actual results and events to differ materially from historical and expected results and those expressed or implied in the forward looking statements, including, but not limited to, the following: the highly unpredictable nature of the semiconductor industry; inability to achieve high capacity utilization rates; volatility of consumer demand for products incorporating our semiconductor packages; weakness in the forecasts of Amkor’s customers; customer modification of and follow through with respect to forecasts provided to Amkor; curtailment of outsourcing by our customers; our substantial indebtedness and restrictive covenants; failure to realize sufficient cash flow to fund capital expenditures; deterioration of the U.S. or other economies; the highly unpredictable nature and costs of litigation and other legal activities and the risk of adverse results of such matters, including our litigation with Tessera; the outcome of the pending SEC investigation; worldwide economic effects of terrorist attacks, natural disasters and military conflict; competitive pricing and declines in average selling prices; timing and volume of orders relative to production capacity; fluctuations in manufacturing yields; competition; dependence on international operations and sales; dependence on raw material and equipment suppliers and changes in raw material costs; exchange rate fluctuations; dependence on key personnel; difficulties in managing growth; enforcement of intellectual property rights; environmental and other governmental regulations; and technological challenges. Other important risk factors that could affect the outcome of the events set forth in these statements and that could affect our operating results and financial condition are discussed in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 and in the company’s subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission made prior to or after the date hereof. Amkor undertakes no obligation to review or update any forward looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this press release. AMKOR TECHNOLOGY, INC. Selected Operating Data   Sales Data: Q1 2008 Q4 2007 Q1 2007   Packaging services: Wirebond - Leadframe 29 % 31 % 32 % Wirebond - Laminate 40 % 40 % 38 % Flip chip and wafer level processing   19 %   18 %   19 % Packaging services 88 % 89 % 89 % Test services   12 %   11 %   11 % Total Sales   100 %   100 %   100 %   Packaged units (in billions) 2.2 2.4 2.0 Net sales from top ten customers 50 % 49 % 44 % Capacity utilization 80 % 86 % 75 %   End Market Distribution Data (an approximation based on sampling of our largest customers): Communications 41 % 40 % 38 % Consumer 32 % 34 % 32 % Computing 17 % 17 % 20 % Other   10 %   9 %   10 % Total   100 %   100 %   100 %   Earnings per Share Data: Q1 2008 Q4 2007 Q1 2007 (in millions)   Net income $ 72 $ 94 $ 35 Adjustment for dilutive securities on net income: Interest on 2.5% convertible notes due 2011, net of tax 1 1 1 Interest on 6.25% convertible notes due 2013, net of tax   2     2     1   Net income - diluted $ 75   $ 97   $ 37     Weighted average shares outstanding - basic 182 182 179 Effect of dilutive securities: Stock options 1 1 2 2.5% convertible notes due 2011 13 13 13 6.25% convertible notes due 2013   13     13     13   Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted   209     209     207     Q1 2008 Q4 2007 Q1 2007 (in millions) Capital Investment Data: Capital additions $ 95 $ 101 $ 55 Net change in related accounts payable and deposits   (6 )   (25 )   (4 ) Payments for property, plant and equipment $ 89   $ 76   $ 51   Depreciation and amortization $ 74 $ 72 $ 71   Free Cash Flow Data: Net cash provided by operating activities $ 181 $ 189 $ 123 Less payments for property, plant and equipment   (89 )   (76 )   (51 ) Free cash flow* $ 92   $ 113   $ 72   *We define free cash flow as net cash provided by operating activities less purchases of property, plant and equipment. Free cash flow is not defined by generally accepted accounting principles. However, we believe free cash flow to be relevant and useful information to our investors because it provides them with additional information in assessing our liquidity, capital resources and financial operating results. Our management uses free cash flow in evaluating our liquidity, our ability to service debt and our ability to fund capital expenditures. However, this measure should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, cash flows or other measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and our definition of free cash flow may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. AMKOR TECHNOLOGY, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited)         For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2008 2007     (in thousands, except per share data)   Net sales $ 699,483 $ 650,988 Cost of sales   523,331     503,650   Gross profit   176,152     147,338     Operating expenses: Selling, general and administrative 65,449 62,667 Research and development   13,856     9,625   Total operating expenses   79,305     72,292   Operating income   96,847     75,046   Other (income) expense: Interest expense, net 27,433 35,160 Interest expense, related party 1,563 1,563 Foreign currency gain (9,477 ) (15 ) Other (income) expense, net     (806 )   (686 ) Total other expense, net     18,713     36,022   Income before income taxes and minority interests 78,134 39,024 Income tax expense   5,940     4,107   Income before minority interests 72,194 34,917 Minority interests, net of tax   (198 )   (327 ) Net income $ 71,996   $ 34,590     Net income per common share: Basic $ 0.40   $ 0.19   Diluted $ 0.36   $ 0.18     Shares used in computing net income per common share:   Basic   182,134     178,513   Diluted   209,396     206,540   AMKOR TECHNOLOGY, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)         March 31, December 31,   2008     2007   (In thousands) ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 411,713 $ 410,070 Restricted cash 2,635 2,609 Accounts receivable: Trade, net of allowances 362,879 393,493 Other 5,813 4,938 Inventories 151,480 149,014 Other current assets   36,265     27,290   Total current assets 970,785 987,414   Property, plant and equipment, net 1,492,455 1,455,111 Goodwill 682,725 673,385 Intangibles, net 18,574 20,321 Restricted cash 1,859 1,725 Other assets   55,479     54,650   Total assets $ 3,221,877   $ 3,192,606     LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities: Short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term debt $ 64,308 $ 152,489 Trade accounts payable 378,858 359,313 Accrued expenses   170,204     165,271   Total current liabilities 613,370 677,073   Long-term debt 1,502,549 1,511,570 Long-term debt, related party 100,000 100,000 Pension and severance obligations 202,578 208,387 Other non-current liabilities   30,765     33,935   Total liabilities   2,449,262     2,530,965     Minority interests   7,945     7,022     Stockholders’ equity: Preferred stock - - Common stock, $0.001 par value, 500,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding of 182,573 in 2008 and 181,799 in 2007 183 182 Additional paid-in capital 1,489,626 1,482,186 Accumulated deficit (749,530 ) (821,526 ) Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)   24,391     (6,223 ) Total stockholders’ equity   764,670     654,619   Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 3,221,877   $ 3,192,606   AMKOR TECHNOLOGY, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited) For the Three Months Ended March 31,   2008         2007   (In thousands) Cash flows from operating activities: Net income $ 71,996 $ 34,590 Depreciation and amortization 73,517 71,364 Other operating activities and non-cash items 3,798 (1,298 ) Changes in assets and liabilities   31,905     18,793   Net cash provided by operating activities   181,216     123,449     Cash flows from investing activities: Purchases of property, plant and equipment (88,839 ) (51,386 ) Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment 339 3,945 Other investing activities   (277 )   (1,177 ) Net cash used in investing activities   (88,777 )   (48,618 )   Cash flows from financing activities: Borrowings under revolving credit facilities 619 35,221 Payments under revolving credit facilities - (45,272 ) Payments of long-term debt (101,086 ) (145,149 ) Payments for debt issuance costs - (351 ) Proceeds from issuance of stock through stock compensation plans   6,088     12,524   Net cash used in financing activities   (94,379 )   (143,027 )   Effect of exchange rate fluctuations on cash and cash equivalents   3,583     640     Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 1,643 (67,556 ) Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period   410,070     244,694   Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 411,713   $ 177,138