News

3rd February 2003

Trading Statement
Further Job Cuts and Asset Impairment Charges

IQE plc, the leading provider of advanced customised wafers to the Semiconductor Industry, reports that due to the continuing difficult trading conditions in the global semiconductor industry it has decided to implement a further redundancy programme and to take further impairment charges on its assets.

Sales revenues for Q4 2002 are likely to be approximately 5% below the £5.6 million reported in the previous quarter, largely as a result of the adverse movement in the dollar sterling exchange rate, since the majority of IQE sales are dollar denominated.

In addition, IQE (Europe) has been particularly badly hit as the fibre optic components market continues to decline as R&D budgets come under even more severe pressure, despite continued strengthening in demand for wireless related products at IQE (Inc) and improving outlooks at both the IQE Silicon Compounds and Wafer Technology divisions.

IQE (Europe) has been diversifying away from its traditional reliance on the fibre communications business, and this, together with improved trading in other divisions, means overall wafer volumes for the Group are expected to improve throughout 2003. Despite these increased wafer shipments, however, revenues for the Group for 2003 are expected to remain relatively flat as a consequence of the continuing weakness in the dollar sterling exchange rate and strong industry price reductions. First quarter revenues will be affected by the usual seasonal weakness in demand.

The redundancy programme will result in a further 60 job cuts, of which the majority will be at IQE (Europe), but savings will also be made elsewhere within the Group. Overall, these and other measures are expected to generate savings of a further £2 million per annum. Exceptional costs associated with these cuts of approximately £500,000 will be taken in the Q1 2003 accounts. At 31 December 2002, the Group had gross cash of approximately £17.4 million.

As a result of continued underutilisation of the Group's asset base, the Board has decided to take an asset impairment charge in the Group's 2002 accounts of approximately 80% of the current net book value of the Group's assets. This will be a non-cash charge and will be quantified in detail in the Group's preliminary 2002 full year accounts announcement, currently scheduled for 26th March 2003.

Commenting Dr Drew Nelson, CEO said, 'Although we are now seeing improved trading in three of our four divisions, continuing declines in the fibre optic market and industry uncertainty on the timing and strength of a convincing upturn in the overall economic climate, means that we must continue to bear down on our cost base to ensure our cash position remains strong. We are convinced that our outsourcing model is continuing to strengthen as customers rebuild their own balance sheets, customer capex is reduced and companies strive for more flexible business models to address increased uncertainty and cyclicality within the semiconductor industry'


For further information please contact:

 

IQE:

Drew Nelson / Tim Hawkes ........ Tel: +44 (0)29 2083 9400

Chris Meadows ........ Tel: +44 (0)29 2083 9400
 

Buchanan Communications:

Tim Thompson/Nicola Cronk Tel: +44 (0)20 7466 5000