Semitool Announces Fiscal 2009 First Quarter Financial Results

• Press Release
• Source: Semitool
• On 4:05 pm EST, Thursday January 29, 2009

KALISPELL, MT--(MARKET WIRE)--Jan 29, 2009 -- Semitool, Inc. (NasdaqGS:SMTL - News), a leading manufacturer of wafer processing equipment for the semiconductor industry, today reported financial results for its fiscal 2009 first quarter ended December 31, 2008.

Related Quotes Symbol Price Change SMTL 10.98 0.00 {"s" : "smtl","k" : "c10,l10,p20,t10","o" : "","j" : ""}

Revenue in the quarter was $33.1 million compared with $48.6 million in the first quarter a year ago. Gross margin was 43 percent versus 50 percent in last year's first quarter. The company reported a net loss of $7.4 million, or $0.23 per share, which included restructuring costs of $0.9 million, or $0.02 per share. The net loss was greater than the company projected in a January 15, 2009 pre-release announcement due to a $3.5 million write down of receivables related to a customer's insolvency filing in a German court on January 23, 2009. Semitool reported a net loss in last year's first quarter of $0.8 million, or $0.02 per share.

First quarter bookings were $22.1 million. Deferred revenue at the end of the quarter was $12.2 million and shipping backlog was $44.9 million, combining for a total revenue backlog of $57.1 million. Total shipments in the first quarter were $31.7 million.

Larry Murphy, president and chief operating officer, said, "We have aggressively reduced our costs during the last three months, and have effectively managed our cash position. We have lowered our annual breakeven point by approximately $100 million during the past four months. While the semiconductor equipment market is largely frozen, we continue to work with our customers and joint development partners on copper interconnect for memory, through-silicon via, advanced packaging and solar. We are optimistic about the booking opportunities that could result from these programs this year."

Guidance

Management expects second quarter revenue will be in a range of $31 million to $35 million. Second quarter loss per share is expected to range from $0.02 to $0.07, which includes $0.03 in anticipated restructuring costs. Shipments for the quarter are expected to range from $33 million to $36 million.

Conference Call Information

Semitool will host an investor conference call today at 5:00 p.m. Eastern. The call can be accessed by dialing 877-356-3834 (706-679-0445 for international callers) and entering the passcode 82924971. A simultaneous webcast will be available via the Internet at www.semitool.com. Webcast participants should access the website at least 10 minutes early to register and download any necessary audio software. A replay of the webcast will be available for 90 days. An audio replay of the call will be accessible approximately two hours after the call has ended and will be available until 11:59 p.m. Eastern on January 31, 2009. The replay can be accessed by dialing 800-642-1687 (706-645-9291 for international callers) and entering the passcode 82924971.

About Semitool, Inc.

Semitool designs, manufactures and supports highly engineered, multi-chamber single-wafer and batch wet chemical processing equipment used in the fabrication of semiconductor devices.The company's primary suites of equipment include electrochemical deposition systems for electroplating copper, gold, solder and other metals; surface preparation systems for cleaning, stripping and etching silicon wafers; and wafer transport container cleaning systems.The company's equipment is used in semiconductor fabrication front-end and back-end processes, including wafer-level packaging.

Headquartered in Kalispell, Montana, Semitool maintains sales and support centers in the United States, Europe and Asia. The company's stock trades on Nasdaq under the symbol SMTL. For more information, please visit the company's website at www.semitool.com.

Semitool is a registered trademark of Semitool, Inc.

Safe Harbor Statement

The matters discussed in this news release include forward-looking statements, including statements related to (i) our optimism that our work on various programs could result in booking opportunities later this year and (ii) the financial guidance for the second quarter of fiscal year 2009. These forward-looking statements are based on management's assumptions, estimates and projections as of the date hereof and are subject to risks and uncertainties that are discussed in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including specifically our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008 and subsequent filings with the SEC. Booking opportunities can be adversely affected by a number of factors, including customers' preference for our tools and the tools' performance, and the world economic slowdown. In addition, many factors can adversely affect forecasted financial performance, including cancellations and push-outs, delays in acceptance and payment for shipped tools, unanticipated costs, including restructuring costs in response to world economic conditions, the financial health of our customers and unexpected customer insolvencies, as well as a number of other risk factors described in our Form 10-K. We assume no obligation to update forward-looking statements that become untrue because of subsequent events.

 
                              SEMITOOL, INC.
              CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
             (Amounts in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
                                (Unaudited)

                                               Three Months   Three Months
                                                   Ended          Ended
                                               December 31,   December 31,
                                                   2008           2007
                                               ------------   ------------

Net sales                                      $     33,066   $     48,592
Cost of sales                                        18,905         24,420
                                               ------------   ------------
Gross profit                                         14,161         24,172
                                               ------------   ------------

Operating expenses:
   Selling, general and administrative               18,463         18,696
   Research and development                           7,834          6,979
   Downsizing costs                                     881             --
                                               ------------   ------------
     Total operating expenses                        27,178         25,675
                                               ------------   ------------

Loss from operations                                (13,017)        (1,503)
Other income (loss), net                               (373)           447
                                               ------------   ------------
Loss before income tax                              (13,390)        (1,056)
Income tax benefit                                   (5,969)          (280)
                                               ------------   ------------

Net loss                                       $     (7,421)  $       (776)
                                               ============   ============


Loss per share:
   Basic                                       $      (0.23)  $      (0.02)
                                               ============   ============
   Diluted                                     $      (0.23)  $      (0.02)
                                               ============   ============

Weighted average common shares:
   Basic                                             32,533         32,155
   Diluted                                           32,533         32,155



                              SEMITOOL, INC.
                  CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                          (Amounts in Thousands)
                                (Unaudited)


                                               December 31,   September 30,
                                                   2008           2008
                                               ------------   ------------
                 ASSETS

Current assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents                    $     26,603   $     12,441
  Marketable securities                                  70            380
  Trade receivables, net                             46,558         73,695
  Inventories                                        83,507         88,773
  Prepaid expenses and other current assets          24,128         19,018
                                               ------------   ------------
    Total current assets                            180,866        194,307
Property, plant and equipment, net                   48,743         49,909
Other assets, net                                     8,870          8,596
                                               ------------   ------------
    Total assets                               $    238,479   $    252,812
                                               ============   ============

  LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Current liabilities:
  Trade accounts payable                       $      8,100   $     19,007
  Other current liabilities                          43,521         39,785
                                               ------------   ------------
    Total current liabilities                        51,621         58,792
Long-term liabilities                                15,498         15,663
                                               ------------   ------------
    Total liabilities                                67,119         74,455
                                               ------------   ------------

Shareholders' equity:
  Common stock                                       87,593         87,293
  Retained earnings                                  84,075         91,496
  Accumulated other comprehensive loss                 (308)          (432)
                                               ------------   ------------
    Total shareholders' equity                      171,360        178,357
                                               ------------   ------------
      Total liabilities and shareholders’
       equity                                  $    238,479   $    252,812
                                               ============   ============

     Contacts:
      
     Semitool, Inc.
     Larry Viano
     Chief Financial Officer
     406.752.2107
     Email Contact
      
     Pfeiffer High Investor Relations, Inc.
     Geoff High
     303.393.7044
     http://www.pfeifferhigh.com