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Press Release

Asyst Technologies Reports 96% Bookings
Growth For Fiscal Fourth Quarter; Upward Guidance


FREMONT, Calif., May 16, 2002 - Asyst Technologies, Inc., (Nasdaq NM: ASYT), a leading provider of integrated automation solutions that maximize the productivity of semiconductor manufacturing, today announced financial results for its fourth fiscal quarter and year ended March 31, 2002. Results were in line with company guidance.

Net sales for the quarter were $38.4 million, up sequentially from $37.3 million reported in the third fiscal quarter. Net orders in the quarter were $51.5 million, up 96% over $26.3 million reported in the prior sequential quarter, for a book-to-bill ratio of 1.34. Pro forma gross margin for the quarter was 23.8%, compared with 20.2% in the third fiscal quarter. Pro forma operating expenses were $25.7 million. (See footnote and tables for explanation of pro forma adjustments.)

"We are pleased to report sequential sales growth and strong sequential bookings growth after four consecutive quarters of declines due to the industry downturn," said Mihir Parikh, chairman and CEO of Asyst. "Although the recovery is only a couple of months old, we can see bookings growth across all of our core product lines, both 200mm and 300mm, and across a broad customer base. The relative strength of our core tool automation business is gratifying, as we believe it indicates market share gains in addition to market growth. Bookings in our OEM business are particularly strong, as global equipment manufacturers are embracing our unique Plus™ Portal as a fully integrated 300mm tool automation solution that includes load ports, wafer ID systems, atmospheric robotics and environmental control.

"We also are excited about recent developments in our new and emerging sources of revenue. First, in AMHS, where we have vaulted into the 300mm leadership position through the combination of our FasTrack™ system and our planned joint venture with Shinko. Second, in Connectivity Solutions, which was solidified early this quarter with our announcement of the acquisition of domainLogix, a premier product development and consulting services company, and with the creation of our India-based integration services platform."

Pro forma net loss for the quarter was $11.9 million, or $(0.33) per share. Including all items, the company reported a GAAP net loss of $13.2 million, or $(.37) per share.

At quarter-end, the company had $84.8 million of cash and short-term investments. As a result of improving business conditions, the company expects cash burn of approximately $5 million for its first fiscal quarter ending June 2002.

Outlook
For the first fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2002, the company expects net sales in the range of $50 to $55 million, which would represent quarterly sequential growth of approximately 35%. The company expects to achieve continued improvement in gross margin to the 28-30% range, and is currently forecasting operating expenses to increase slightly to $26.5 to $27.5 million as it discontinues bi-weekly shutdown days, a temporary cost-cutting measure, and adds the expenses of domainLogix.

Recent Highlights

  • On April 16, Asyst announced that it has signed a Basic Agreement to form a joint venture company, Asyst Shinko Inc., which will contain all of the highly successful Automated Materials Handling Systems (AMHS) business of Shinko Electric Co. Ltd. Asyst has agreed to purchase 51% interest in the joint venture, with Shinko retaining 49%. Shinko is the leader in AMHS for 300mm semiconductor manufacturing, having won more than half of the current worldwide installations, including the two largest 300mm production fabs.
  • On April 9, the company announced that it has formed a Connectivity Solutions Group. The group is comprised of Asyst's GW Associates, which is the leading developer of tool connectivity software products; domainLogix Corp., a newly acquired software product development, consulting, and services company; and Asyst Integration Services (India) Ltd., which will offer software development and integration services augmented by an exclusive partnership with Satyam Computer Services Ltd.
  • On April 8, Asyst announced the introduction of the Isoport™ 300mm load port. The company believes this new interface will offer industry-leading cost-of-ownership advantages in addition to high performance and functionality. Shipments are expected to commence in the company's third fiscal quarter.

Pro Forma Adjustments: Pro forma adjustments include the impact of amortized acquisition-related stock-based compensation and the amortization of acquired intangible assets.

About Asyst
Asyst Technologies, Inc. is a leading provider of integrated automation systems for the semiconductor manufacturing industry, which enable semiconductor manufacturers to increase their manufacturing productivity and protect their investment in silicon wafers during the manufacture of integrated circuits, or ICs. Encompassing isolation systems, work-in-process materials management, substrate-handling robotics, automated transport and loading systems, and connectivity automation software, Asyst's modular, interoperable solutions allow chipmakers and original equipment manufacturers, or OEMs, to select and employ the value-assured, hands-off manufacturing capabilities that best suit their needs. Asyst's homepage is http://www.asyst.com

Conference Call Details
A live webcast of the conference call to discuss the quarter's financial results will take place today at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The webcast will be publicly available on Asyst's website at http://www.asyst.com. A replay of the Webcast may be accessed via the same address. In addition, a standard telephone instant replay of the conference call is available by dialing (303) 590-3000, followed by the passcode 461905. The audio instant replay is available from May 16 at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time through May 30 at 7:30 p.m. ET.

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
Except for statements of historical fact, the statements in this press release are forward-looking. Such statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made. These factors include, but are not limited to: the volatility of semiconductor industry cycles, failure to respond to rapid demand shifts, dependence on a few significant customers, the transition of the industry from 200mm wafers to 300mm wafers, risks associated with the acceptance of new products and product capabilities, including our Plus Portal systems, competition in the semiconductor equipment industry, failure to efficiently integrate acquired companies, failure to retain employees, and other factors more fully detailed in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2001 and quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2001, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

                       ASYST TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
       PRO FORMA CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
           (Unaudited; in thousands, except per share data)

                                 Three Months 
                                    Ended
                                   March 31,    Pro Forma    Pro Forma
                                     2002      Adjustments(1) Results
                                 ------------  ------------- ---------

Net sales                            $ 38,350    $   --      $ 38,350
Cost of sales                          29,257         (17)     29,240
                                     --------    --------    --------
Gross profit                            9,093                   9,110
                                     --------    --------    --------
Operating expenses:
 Research and development               8,967        (233)      8,734
 Selling, general and
  administrative                       17,062         (54)     17,008
 Amortization of acquired
  intangible assets                     1,682      (1,682)       --
 Reduction of goodwill and
  other long-lived assets                --          --          --
 Non-recurring charges                   --          --          --
 In-process research and
  development costs of
  acquired business                      --          --
                                     --------    --------    --------
  Total operating expenses             27,711                  25,742
                                     --------    --------    --------

Operating income (loss)               (18,618)       --       (16,632)
Other income (expense), net            (2,143)       --        (2,143)
                                     --------    --------    --------

Income (loss) before
 provision (benefit) for
 income taxes                         (20,761)       --       (18,775)
Provision (benefit) for
 income taxes                          (7,588)        734      (6,854)
                                     --------    --------    --------

Net income (loss)                    $(13,173)   $           $(11,921)
                                     ========    ========    ========

Basic net income (loss)
 per share                           $  (0.37)               $  (0.33)

Diluted net income (loss)
 per share                           $  (0.37)               $  (0.33)
                                     ========                ========

Shares used in the per
 share calculation:
   Basic                               35,779                  35,779
                                     ========                ========
   Diluted                             35,779                  35,779
                                     ========                ========

	   (1) Pro forma adjustments include the impact of amortized
acquisition-related stock-based compensation, the amortization of
acquired intangible assets, and related tax effect.






                       ASYST TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
            CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
           (Unaudited; in thousands, except per share data)

                              Three     Three     Twelve     Twelve
                              Months    Months    Months     Months 
                              Ended      Ended    Ended       Ended
                             March 31, March 31, March 31,  March 31,
                               2002      2001      2002       2001
                            --------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Net sales                   $ 38,350  $ 115,079  $ 193,953  $ 491,542
Cost of sales                 29,257    101,503    160,133    305,796
                            --------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Gross profit                   9,093     13,576     33,820    185,746
                            --------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Operating expenses:                                           
 Research and development      8,967     11,649     40,071     44,263
 Selling, general and                                         
  administrative              17,062     21,763     80,536     90,435
 Amortization of acquired                                     
  intangible assets            1,682      2,559     14,373      6,963
 Impairment of goodwill and                                   
  other long-lived assets         --         --     60,354         --
 Non-recurring charges            --        979     26,121        979
 In-process research and                                      
  development costs of                                        
  acquired business               --         --      2,000         --
                            --------- ---------- ---------- ----------
  Total operating expenses    27,711     36,950    223,455    142,640
                            --------- ---------- ---------- ----------
                                                              
Operating income (loss)      (18,618)   (23,374)  (189,635)    43,106
Other income (expense), net   (2,143)       227     (4,002)     3,655
                            --------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Income (loss) before                                          
 provision (benefit) for                                      
 income taxes                (20,761)   (23,147)  (193,637)    46,761
Provision (benefit) for                                       
 income taxes                 (7,588)    (6,906)   (44,720)    17,229
                            --------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Income (loss) before                                          
 cumulative effect of change                                  
 in accounting principle     (13,173)   (16,241)  (148,917)    29,532
Cumulative effect of change                                   
 in accounting principle,                                     
 net of tax                       --         --         --     (2,506)
                            --------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Net Income (loss)            (13,173)   (16,241)  (148,917)    27,026
                            ========= ========== ========== ==========
Basic earnings (loss) per                                     
 share                                                        
  Income (loss) before                                        
   cumulative effect of                                       
   change in accounting                                       
   principle                $  (0.37) $   (0.48) $   (4.21) $    0.90
  Cumulative effect of                                        
   change in accounting                                       
   principle                      --         --         --      (0.08)
                                                              
                            --------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Basic net income (loss) per                                   
 share                      $  (0.37) $   (0.48) $   (4.21) $    0.82
                            ========= ========== ========== ==========
Diluted earnings (loss) per                                   
 share                                                        
  Income (loss) before                                        
   cumulative effect of                                       
   change in accounting                                       
   principle                $  (0.37) $   (0.48) $   (4.21) $    0.85
  Cumulative effect of                                        
   change in accounting                                       
   principle                     --         --         --       (0.07)
                            --------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Diluted earnings (loss) per                                   
 share                      $  (0.37) $   (0.48) $   (4.21) $    0.78
                            ========= ========== ========== ==========
Shares used in the per share                                  
 calculation:                                                 
  Basic                       35,779     33,901     35,373     32,697
                            ========= ========== ========== ==========
  Diluted                     35,779     33,901     35,373     34,928
                            ========= ========== ========== ==========
Net Income (loss) before                                      
 amortization of acquired                                     
 intangible assets          $(12,046) $ (14,445) $(139,287) $  31,423
                            ========= ========== ========== ==========
Basic earnings (loss) per                                     
 share before amortization                                    
 of intangibles             $  (0.34) $   (0.43) $   (3.94) $    0.96
                            ========= ========== ========== ==========




                       ASYST TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
                 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                            (In thousands)

                                    March 31,     Dec. 31,   March 31,
                                      2002          2001       2001
                                    ---------     --------   ---------
                                   (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)
ASSETS
Current assets:
 Cash and cash equivalents         $  74,738    $  94,738    $  34,749
 Restricted cash equivalents
  and short-term investments           5,052        3,242       52,500
 Short-term investments                5,000        7,636        3,000
 Accounts receivable, net             29,715       34,603       77,660
 Inventories                          45,110       50,419       76,972
 Deferred tax asset                   33,906       25,265       20,068
 Prepaid expenses and other
  current assets                      15,006        9,259       16,017
                                   ---------    ---------    ---------

      Total current assets           208,527      225,162      280,966
                                   ---------    ---------    ---------

Long-term assets:
 Property and equipment, net          38,366       40,543       40,160
 Deferred tax asset                   30,294       32,669         --
 Intangible assets and other
  assets, net                         67,228       66,776       87,306
                                   ---------    ---------    ---------

      Total long-term assets         135,888      139,988      127,466
                                   ---------    ---------    ---------

                                   $ 344,415    $ 365,150    $ 408,432
                                   =========    =========    =========

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
 Short-term loans                  $  16,707    $  20,144    $  28,776
 Current portion of long-term
  debt and finance leases              2,130        2,164        1,791
 Accounts payable                     10,246       13,488       29,560
 Accrued liabilities and other        47,859       57,071       36,495
 Deferred revenue                      4,476        5,136        5,190
                                   ---------    ---------    ---------

      Total current liabilities       81,418       98,003      101,812
                                   ---------    ---------    ---------

Long-term liabilities:
 Long-term debt and finance
  leases, net of current portion      91,265       90,615        3,683
 Other long-term liabilities           6,795          330          474
                                   ---------    ---------    ---------

      Total long-term liabilities     98,060       90,945        4,157
                                   ---------    ---------    ---------

Shareholders' equity:
 Common Stock                        294,046      292,407      282,925
  Retained earnings (deficit)       (129,109)    (116,205)      19,538
                                   ---------    ---------    ---------

      Total shareholders' equity     164,937      176,202      302,463
                                   ---------    ---------    ---------

                                   $ 344,415    $ 365,150    $ 408,432
                                   =========    =========    =========

Asyst Technologies, Inc.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 


Copyright © 2005 Asyst Technologies, Inc.  All rights reserved.