Results of Operations Third Quarter 2009
Besi’s € 18.2 million (59.7%) revenue increase in the third quarter of 2009 as compared to the second quarter of 2009 was broad based but was primarily focused on increased die bonding shipments. The revenue increase for the quarter was above prior guidance (+ 30-40%).
Orders for the third quarter of 2009 were € 52.9 million, an increase of € 15.4 million as compared to the second quarter of 2009 and an increase of € 28.7 million, or 118.6%, as compared to the third quarter of 2008. The sequential 41.1% increase in the third quarter 2009 orders was across all product lines as customers accelerated purchases of assembly equipment for both array connect and leadframe applications. On a customer basis, bookings in the third quarter of 2009 as compared to the second quarter of 2009 reflected a € 13.0 million (60%) increase by subcontractors and a € 2.4 million (15%) increase by IDMs. Backlog at September 30, 2009 increased by € 4.3 million (10.6%) to € 44.9 million as compared to € 40.6 million at June 30, 2009, of which approximately 38% and 62% of backlog at September 30, 2009 was represented by array connect and leadframe assembly applications, respectively.
Besi’s gross margin for the third quarter of 2009 was 34.0% as compared to 35.9% in the second quarter of 2009 and 36.4% in the third quarter of 2008. Besi’s gross margin in the third quarter of 2009 included (i) a gain of € 3.0 million related to the successful settlement of certain Esec purchase obligations (6.3 points), (ii) a gain of € 0.4 million (0.8 points) due to a release of provisions related to the purchase price accounting for the Esec acquisition, (iii) an inventory provision of € 1.6 million primarily related to the write-off of legacy singulation equipment (3.3 points). In the second quarter of 2009, Besi’s gross margin benefitted from a net gain of € 1.7 million related to the successful settlement of certain Esec purchase obligations (€ 2.2 million) partially offset by an adjustment related to the Esec acquisition (€ 0.5 million). Excluding these Q2-2009 and Q3-2009 effects Besi's gross margin was 26.9% in the third quarter of 2009 as compared to 30.5% in the second quarter of 2009. As compared to the second quarter of 2009, Besi’s gross margin as stated above decreased primarily due to the inventory write-off of singulation systems and lower die bonding margins.
Besi’s total operating expenses were € 18.3 million in the third quarter of 2009 as compared to € 19.9 million in the second quarter of 2009 and € 13.4 million in the third quarter of 2008. The decrease in quarterly sequential operating expenses was primarily due to lower development spending as a result of lower headcount at Esec, the impact of government employment subsidies and lower materials purchases. Aggregate operating expenses in the third quarter of 2009 were lower than prior guidance (€ 19.9 million) and included € 0.9 million in restructuring costs (€ 0.6 million in the second quarter of 2009) primarily related to employee severance and charges associated with the sale of Besi’s Hungarian operations. In the third quarter of 2009, Besi capitalized € 1.7 million of expenses primarily related to the development of its next generation G-3 singulation system and next generation die sorting system (€ 1.8 million in the second quarter of 2009). The increase in operating expenses in Q3-2009 as compared to Q3-2008 is primarily related to the Esec acquisition.
Nine Month Results 2009/2008
Besi’s results of operations for the nine months of 2009 include its Esec subsidiary which was acquired on April 1, 2009. For the first nine months of 2009, Besi’s revenue was € 94.7 million as compared to € 118.8 million in the first nine months of 2008. The 20.3% revenue decrease in the first nine months of 2009 as compared to the first nine months of 2008 was due to the adverse impact of the global recession on Besi’s business particularly in the first and second quarters of 2009 partially offset by revenue contributed by Esec. Orders for the first nine months of 2009 were € 103.3 million, a decline of 4.4% as compared to € 108.1 million for the first nine months of 2008. For the first nine months of 2009, Besi recorded net income of € 18.9 million (or € 0.58 per share) due primarily to a one-time negative goodwill gain related to the Esec transaction as compared to a net profit of € 0.5 million (or € 0.02 per share) for the first nine months of 2008. Excluding such one-time gain and other adjustments related primarily to restructuring and gains on the settlement of certain Esec purchase obligations, Besi generated a net loss for the first nine months of 2009 of € 24.2 million, or (€ 0.74) per share. Dragon cost reduction efforts partially offset the impact of a 20% year over year revenue decline caused by the severe downturn in the global semiconductor and semiconductor equipment industries.
The Company’s quarterly financial performance has improved significantly during 2009 due to improved industry conditions, the acquisition of Esec on April 1, 2009 and benefits from its Dragon II and Esec integration efforts. Set forth below is a summary of Besi’s quarterly pro forma combined revenue, net income (loss) and adjusted net income (loss) for the first nine months of 2009 as if the Esec acquisition had occurred on January 1, 2009.
Q1 2009 Q2 2009 Q3 2009 Nine Months 2009
(Pro Forma) (Pro Forma)
Revenue 21.1 30.5 48.7 100.3
Adjusted Net Income (19.2) (10.9) (6.0) (36.1)
Financial Condition
Besi’s cash and cash equivalents decreased by € 4.2 million to € 68.0 million at September 30, 2009 as compared to € 72.2 million at June 30, 2009. At September 30, 2009, total debt and capital lease obligations declined to € 53.7 million as compared to € 54.1 million at June 30, 2009. The decrease in sequential quarterly cash was due to (i) a cash deficit from operations of € 0.8 million as a result of losses incurred during the third quarter and increased working capital required to support higher levels of sales and orders, (ii) debt reduction of € 0.4 million, (iii) funding for capitalized development costs of € 1.7 million and capital expenditures of € 1.3 million partially offset by € 3.3 million received as part of the Esec transaction. At September 30, 2009, Besi had € 49.2 million of cash and cash equivalents in excess of its bank borrowings and capital lease obligations outstanding and net cash and cash equivalents of € 14.3 million.
Outlook
Based on its September 30, 2009 backlog and feedback from customers, Besi guides for Q4-2009 that:
• Revenue will be approximately flat quarter over quarter,
• Gross margins will range between 30%-32% as compared to the 26.9% adjusted gross margin realized in the third quarter of 2009,
• Operating expenses will be approximately equal to the € 17.4 million (ex restructuring) reported in the third quarter of 2009, and
• Approximately € 0.5 million of capital expenditures will be made.
As a result, Besi anticipates reporting a reduction in its adjusted net loss in the fourth quarter of 2009 as compared to the third quarter of 2009.