(Source: Business Wire)

Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing Ltd.
(Nasdaq:CHRT)(SGX-ST:CHARTEREDSC), one of the world's top dedicated
semiconductor foundries, today announced its results for third quarter
2009.
"Chartered revenues and revenues including our share of SMP were up
approximately 19 percent in third quarter 2009 compared to the previous
quarter. Revenues from 65-nanometer (nm) and below technologies,
including those from 45nm, grew around 27 percent and accounted for
approximately 31 percent of our total business base revenues. We ended
the quarter with a net loss attributable to Chartered of $4.7 million,
including transaction costs of $8.4 million relating to the proposed
acquisition of Chartered by Advanced Technology Investment Company
(ATIC) of Abu Dhabi, which is a substantial improvement of approximately
$35 million over the prior quarter," said George Thomas, senior vice
president and CFO of Chartered.
Summary of Third Quarter 2009 Performance
Revenues were $415.2 million in third quarter 2009, down 10.4 percent
from $463.7 million in third quarter 2008. Revenues including
Chartered's share of SMP were $439.8 million, down 9.7 percent from
$487.2 million in the year-ago quarter, primarily due to a decline in
semiconductor demand across all sectors. Sequentially, revenues were
up 19.0 percent compared to $349.0 million in second quarter 2009.
Revenues including Chartered's share of SMP were up 19.2 percent from
$368.8 million in second quarter 2009, primarily due to strength in
the communications sector and to a lesser extent the computer sector.
Gross profit was $88.0 million, or 21.2 percent of revenues, compared
to a gross profit of $65.6 million, or 14.1 percent of revenues in the
year-ago quarter. The increase was primarily due to a favorable
product mix arising from higher shipments of certain advanced
technologies and lower cost per wafer resulting from higher production
volumes in these advanced technologies over which fixed costs are
allocated, partially offset by lower selling prices. The fixed costs
in third quarter 2009 included the impact of an upward revision of
projected useful lives and a corresponding elimination of projected
residual values for 12-inch process equipment used for leading-edge
technologies. This upward revision of projected useful lives and
elimination of projected residual values, which was made in fourth
quarter 2008, resulted in a favorable impact of $27.1 million for
third quarter 2009. Gross profit in third quarter 2009 also included
an income of $8.9 million relating to unfulfilled purchase obligations
from a customer. Compared to the previous quarter, gross profit was up
from $30.9 million, or 8.9 percent, primarily due to higher revenues
resulting from higher shipments and lower cost per wafer resulting
from higher production volumes over which fixed costs are allocated,
partially offset by lower selling prices.
Research and development (R&D) expenses were $43.9 million, a decrease
of 0.7 percent from $44.2 million in the year-ago quarter, primarily
due to lower depreciation on R&D equipment and lower payroll-related
expenses, partially offset by lower reimbursement of expenses from
grants and higher cost of development activities related to the
advanced 32nm and 28nm technologies. Compared to the previous quarter,
R&D expenses were down 4.2 percent from $45.8 million in second
quarter 2009, primarily due to lower depreciation on R&D equipment.
Sales and marketing expenses were $14.9 million, down 23.5 percent
compared to $19.5 million in the year-ago quarter, primarily due to
lower Electronic Design Automation (EDA) expenses, lower financial
support for pre-contract customer design validation activities and
lower payroll-related expenses. Compared to the previous quarter,
sales and marketing expenses were up 9.4 percent from $13.6 million,
primarily due to higher financial support for pre-contract customer
design validation activities, partially offset by lower
payroll-related expenses.
General and administrative (G&A) expenses were $18.5 million, up 65.1
percent compared to $11.2 million in the year-ago quarter and up 76.3
percent from $10.5 million in second quarter 2009, primarily due to
investment banking and legal fees and other expenses amounting to $8.4
million related to the proposed acquisition of Chartered by ATIC.
Other operating expenses, net, were $6.5 million, compared to $1.4
million in the year-ago quarter and $5.6 million in the previous
quarter. Other operating expenses, net, included an accounting charge
of $3.2 million relating to a write-off of guaranteed capacity in a
vendor's facility due to the planned closure of their facility and an
exchange loss of $2.5 million in third quarter 2009.
Equity in income of Chartered's minority-owned joint-venture fab, SMP
(Fab 5), was $8.9 million compared to equity in income of $8.7 million
in the year-ago quarter and $6.7 million in the previous quarter,
primarily due to higher revenues resulting from higher shipments and
lower cost per wafer resulting from higher production volumes over
which fixed costs are allocated, partially offset by lower selling
prices.
Net interest expense was $13.2 million, compared to $13.6 million in
the year-ago quarter. Interest income in third quarter 2009 included
recognition of an accelerated amount of $2.2 million in imputed
interest on the deposit placed with a vendor for guaranteed capacity
in the vendor's facility. Due to the planned closure of their
facility, the deposit is expected to be repayable by the vendor in
January 2010. The decline in net interest expense in third quarter
2009 compared to the year-ago quarter was primarily due to lower
interest expense arising from lower interest rates and higher interest
income, partially offset by lower interest capitalization associated
with the ramp of Fab 7. Compared to the previous quarter, net interest
expense was down 5.5 percent from $14.0 million, primarily due to
higher interest income and lower interest expense arising from lower
interest rates and lower outstanding debt, partially offset by lower
interest capitalization associated with the ramp of Fab 7.
The net profit of Chartered's consolidated joint venture fab,
Chartered Silicon Partners (CSP or Fab 6), was $15.0 million. As a
result of the adoption of Financial Accounting Standards Board
Accounting Standards Codification (ASC 810) on noncontrolling
interests in consolidated financial statements with effect from
January 1, 2009, a 49 percent share of CSP's profit amounting to $7.4
million was allocated to the noncontrolling interest in CSP. No profit
or loss was allocated to the noncontrolling interest in CSP in third
quarter 2008. In second quarter 2009, a 49 percent share of CSP's loss
amounting to $2.1 million was allocated to the noncontrolling interest
in CSP.
Net income was $2.7 million, or 0.6 percent of revenues, compared to a
net loss of $24.4 million, or negative 5.3 percent of revenues in the
year-ago quarter, and a net loss of $41.5 million or negative 11.9
percent of revenues in the previous quarter. Net loss attributable to
Chartered was $4.7 million in third quarter 2009.
Net loss
for third quarter 2008 included a tax expense of $10.8 million, which
was due primarily to the provision of additional valuation allowance
on a portion of existing deferred tax assets which were assessed,
based on the projection of future taxable income, to be not
realizable. Net loss for second quarter 2009 included a tax benefit of
$8.8 million. This tax benefit arose primarily from recognition of
deferred tax assets for Fab 3E's unabsorbed wear-and-tear allowances
and tax losses, which became available for carry forward upon approval
from the Singapore tax authorities in second quarter 2009. This tax
benefit is net of valuation allowances against a portion of the
deferred tax assets that is assessed to be not realizable for offset
against future taxable income. Such future taxable income is based on
Chartered's projection, which is contingent upon future market
conditions.
Basic and diluted loss per American Depositary Share (ADS) and basic
and diluted loss per share in third quarter 2009 were ($0.08) and
($0.01) respectively, compared with basic and diluted loss per ADS and
basic and diluted loss per share of ($0.70) and ($0.07) respectively
in third quarter 2008. The basic and diluted loss per ADS and loss per
share figures have been adjusted for the 27-for-10 rights offering and
the 10-into-1 share consolidation which were completed during second
quarter 2009.
Wafer Shipments and Average Selling Prices (eight-inch equivalent)
Shipments in third quarter 2009 were 449.3 thousand wafers, a decrease
of 12.6 percent compared to 514.3 thousand wafers in third quarter
2008. Shipments in third quarter 2009 increased by 25.2 percent
compared to 358.9 thousand wafers shipped in second quarter 2009.
Shipments including Chartered's share of SMP were 482.4 thousand
wafers, a decrease of 11.4 percent compared to 544.5 thousand wafers
in third quarter 2008. Shipments including Chartered's share of SMP in
third quarter 2009 increased by 25.3 percent compared to 385.1
thousand wafers shipped in second quarter 2009.
ASP was $879 per wafer in third quarter 2009, compared to $921 per
wafer in second quarter 2009. ASP including Chartered's share of SMP
was $870 per wafer in third quarter 2009 compared to $910 per wafer in
second quarter 2009.
Capacity and Utilization
Capacity utilization in third quarter 2009 was 75 percent compared to 85
percent in the year-ago quarter, and 60 percent in second quarter 2009.
Capacity utilization is based on total shipments and total capacity,
both of which include Chartered's share of SMP.
Utilization Table
Data including Chartered's share of SMP
Thousand 8" equivalent wafers 3Q 2008 4Q 2008 1Q 2009 2Q 2009 3Q 2009
Total wafers shipped 544.5 377.7 241.9 385.1 482.4
Total capacity 638.9 645.2 633.1 639.9 641.4
Utilization 85 % 59 % 38 % 60 % 75 %
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Capacity by Fab
Thousand 8" equivalent wafers 3Q 2008 4Q 2008 1Q 2009 2Q 2009 3Q 2009
Fab 2 155.5 155.5 152.2 153.8 155.5
Fab 3 83.1 83.1 81.3 82.2 83.1
Fab 3E 75.1 75.1 73.5 74.3 75.1
Fab 5 (Chartered's share) 35.9 35.9 33.7 34.0 34.4
Fab 6 127.4 130.2 130.5 131.9 111.9
Fab 7 161.9 165.4 161.9 163.7 181.4
Total 638.9 645.2 633.1 639.9 641.4
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Market Dynamics
The following business statistics tables provide information on revenues
including Chartered's share of SMP by market sector, region and
technology.
Breakdown by Market Sector
Revenues including Chartered's share of SMP (Percentage of Total)
3Q 2008 4Q 2008 1Q 2009 2Q 2009 3Q 2009
Communications 52 % 48 % 49 % 51 % 54 %
Computer 13 % 12 % 8 % 9 % 11 %
Consumer 31 % 33 % 37 % 37 % 29 %
Other 4 % 7 % 6 % 3 % 6 %
Total 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 %
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Breakdown by Region
Revenues including Chartered's share of SMP (Percentage of Total)
3Q 2008 4Q 2008 1Q 2009 2Q 2009 3Q 2009
Americas 60 % 63 % 53 % 56 % 53 %
Europe 10 % 10 % 8 % 8 % 10 %
Asia-Pacific 21 % 15 % 24 % 30 % 32 %
Japan 9 % 12 % 15 % 6 % 5 %
Total 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 %
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Breakdown by Technology (micron)
Revenues including Chartered's share of SMP (Percentage of Total)
3Q 2008 4Q 2008 1Q 2009 2Q 2009 3Q 2009
0.045 and below - - 3 % 2 % 1 %
Up to 0.065 19 % 23 % 21 % 27 % 30 %
Up to 0.09 3 % 1 % 1 % 1 % 1 %
Up to 0.13 34 % 34 % 38 % 35 % 34 %
Up to 0.15 - 1 % 1 % 1 % 1 %
Up to 0.18 18 % 17 % 20 % 15 % 13 %
Up to 0.25 10 % 9 % 5 % 9 % 6 %
Up to 0.35 9 % 8 % 5 % 6 % 8 %
Above 0.35 7 % 7 % 6 % 4 % 6 %
Total 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 %
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Outlook
In light of the proposed acquisition by ATIC, Chartered will not be
providing guidance for its fourth quarter ending December 31, 2009 and
will not host a conference call or web cast. Considering that Chartered
is in the midst of the acquisition, in order to be able to provide
fourth quarter guidance, it would need to make several assumptions and
estimates which are dependent on whether and when the acquisition will
be completed. This can result in significant uncertainty while
forecasting its results for the fourth quarter ending December 31, 2009.
APPENDIX A
US GAAP Reconciliation Table
In order to provide investors additional information regarding the
company's financial results as determined in accordance with US GAAP, in
this report Chartered also provides information on its total business
base revenues, which include the Company's share of Silicon
Manufacturing Partners ("Revenues including Chartered's share of SMP").
SMP is a minority-owned joint-venture company and under US GAAP
reporting, SMP revenues are not consolidated into Chartered's revenues
("Revenues"). References to revenues including Chartered's share of SMP
in this report are therefore not in accordance with US GAAP.