As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 23, 2005
===============================================================================
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 20-F
[_] REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR 12(g) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
OR
[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004
OR
[_] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Commission file number: 001-16125
[LOGO]
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc.
(Translation of Registrant's Name into English)
REPUBLIC OF CHINA
(Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
26 Chin Third Road
Nantze Export Processing Zone
Nantze, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Republic of China
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
None
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Title of Each Class Name of Each Exchange on which Registered
------------------------ -----------------------------------------
Common Shares, par value The New York Stock Exchange*
NT$10.00 each
*Traded in the form of American Depositary Receipts evidencing American
Depositary Shares, each representing five Common Shares
(Title of Class)
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d)
of the Act:
None
(Title of Class)
Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer's classes of
capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual
report:
4,100,000,000 Common Shares, par value NT$10 each
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
Registrant was required t-o file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes [X] No [_]
Indicate by check mark which financial statement item the Registrant has
elected to follow.
Item 17 [_] Item 18 [X]
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
-----------------
Page
USE OF CERTAIN TERMS.........................................................1
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS............................1
PART I.......................................................................3
Item 1. Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers...........3
Item 2. Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable.........................3
Item 3. Key Information.................................................3
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA...........................................3
CAPITALIZATION AND INDEBTEDNESS...................................7
REASON FOR THE OFFER AND USE OF PROCEEDS..........................7
RISK FACTORS......................................................7
Item 4. Information on the Company.....................................21
HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMPANY...........................21
BUSINESS OVERVIEW................................................23
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE.........................................43
PROPERTY, PLANTS AND EQUIPMENT...................................46
Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects...................47
OPERATING RESULTS AND TREND INFORMATION..........................47
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES..................................62
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.........................................65
OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS...................................66
TABULAR DISCLOSURE OF CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS....................67
Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees.....................67
DIRECTORS AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND BOARD PRACTICES..............67
COMPENSATION.....................................................70
EMPLOYEES........................................................71
SHARE OWNERSHIP..................................................72
Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions..............73
MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS...............................................73
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS.......................................74
Item 8. Financial Information..........................................75
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION..........75
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS................................................75
DIVIDENDS AND DIVIDEND POLICY....................................75
SIGNIFICANT CHANGES..............................................77
Item 9. The Offer and Listing..........................................77
OFFER AND LISTING DETAILS........................................77
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION.............................................79
MARKETS..........................................................79
SELLING SHAREHOLDERS.............................................79
DILUTION.........................................................79
EXPENSES OF THE ISSUE............................................79
Item 10. Additional Information........................................80
SHARE CAPITAL....................................................80
ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION........................................80
MATERIAL CONTRACTS...............................................85
EXCHANGE CONTROLS................................................86
TAXATION.........................................................86
DIVIDENDS AND PAYING AGENTS......................................90
STATEMENT BY EXPERTS.............................................90
DOCUMENTS ON DISPLAY.............................................90
SUBSIDIARY INFORMATION...........................................90
Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk....90
Item 12. Description of Securities Other Than Equity Securities........93
PART II.....................................................................93
Item 13. Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies...............93
Item 14. Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders
and Use of Proceeds.....................................................93
Item 15. Controls and Procedures.......................................93
Item 16. [Reserved]....................................................94
Item 16A. Audit Committee Financial Expert.............................94
Item 16B. Code of Ethics...............................................94
Item 16C. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.......................94
Item 16D. Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees...95
Item 16E. Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated
Purchasers..............................................................95
PART III....................................................................95
Item 17. Financial Statements..........................................95
Item 18. Financial Statements..........................................95
Item 19. Exhibits......................................................95
USE OF CERTAIN TERMS
All references herein to (i) the "Company", "ASE Group", "ASE Inc.", "we",
"us", or "our" are to Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc. and, unless the
context requires otherwise, its subsidiaries, (ii) "ASE Test" are to ASE Test
Limited and its subsidiaries, (iii) "ASE Test Taiwan" are to ASE Test, Inc., a
company incorporated under the laws of the ROC, (iv) "ASE Test Malaysia" are to
ASE Electronics (M) Sdn. Bhd., a company incorporated under the laws of
Malaysia, (v) "ISE Labs" are to ISE Labs, Inc., a corporation incorporated under
the laws of the State of California, (vi) "ASE Philippines" are to ASE Holdings
Electronics (Philippines) Inc., a company previously incorporated under the laws
of the Philippines, (vii) "Universal Scientific" are to Universal Scientific
Industrial Co., Ltd., a company incorporated under the laws of the ROC, (viii)
"ASE Material" are to ASE Material Inc., a company previously incorporated under
the laws of the ROC that merged into ASE Inc. on August 1, 2004, (ix) "ASE
Korea" are to ASE (Korea) Inc., a company incorporated under the laws of the
Republic of Korea, (x) "ASE Chung Li" are to ASE (Chung Li) Inc., a company
previously incorporated under the laws of the ROC that merged into ASE Inc. on
August 1, 2004, (xi) "ASE Shanghai" are to ASE (Shanghai) Ltd., a company
incorporated under the laws of the PRC, (xii) "Hung Ching" are to Hung Ching
Development & Construction Co. Ltd., a company incorporated under the laws of
the ROC, (xiii) the "Securities Act" are to the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, and (xiv) the "Exchange Act" are to the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended.
All references to the "Republic of China", the "ROC" and "Taiwan" are to
the Republic of China, including Taiwan and certain other possessions. All
references to "Korea" or "South Korea" are to the Republic of Korea. All
references to the "PRC" are to the People's Republic of China and exclude
Taiwan, Macau and Hong Kong.
We publish our financial statements in New Taiwan dollars, the lawful
currency of the ROC. In this annual report, references to "United States
dollars", "U.S. dollars" and "US$" are to the currency of the United States;
references to "New Taiwan dollars", "NT dollars" and "NT$" are to the currency
of the ROC; references to "RMB" are to the currency of the PRC; references to
"JP(Y)" are to the currency of Japan; references to "EUR" are to the currency of
the European Union; and references to "KRW" are to the currency of the Republic
of Korea. Unless otherwise noted, all translations from NT dollars to U.S.
dollars were made at the noon buying rate in The City of New York for cable
transfers in NT dollars per U.S. dollar as certified for customs purposes by the
Federal Reserve Bank of New York as of December 31, 2004, which was
NT$31.74=US$1.00. All amounts translated into U.S. dollars in this annual report
are provided solely for your convenience and no representation is made that the
NT dollar or U.S. dollar amounts referred to herein could have been or could be
converted into U.S. dollars or NT dollars, as the case may be, at any particular
rate or at all. On May 31, 2005, the noon buying rate was NT$31.13=US$1.00.
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This annual report on Form 20-F contains "forward-looking statements"
within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including
statements regarding our future results of operations and business prospects.
Although these forward-looking statements, which may include statements
regarding our future results of operations, financial condition or business
prospects, are based on our own information and information from other sources
we believe to be reliable, you should not place undue reliance on these
forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this annual
report. Some of these forward-looking statements are derived from projections
made and published by Gartner Dataquest and Semiconductor Industry Association.
We were not involved in the preparation of these projections. The words
"anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "plan" and similar
expressions, as they relate to us, are intended to identify these
forward-looking statements in this annual report. Our actual results of
operations, financial condition or business prospects may differ materially from
those expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements for a variety of
reasons, including risks associated with cyclicality and market conditions in
the semiconductor industry; demand for the outsourced semiconductor packaging
and testing services we offer and for such outsourced services generally; the
highly competitive semiconductor industry; our ability to introduce new
packaging, interconnect materials and testing technologies in order to remain
competitive; our ability to successfully integrate pending and future mergers
and acquisitions; international business activities; our business strategy; our
future expansion plans and capital expenditures; the strained relationship
between the ROC and the
1
People's Republic of China, or the PRC; general economic and political
conditions; possible disruptions in commercial activities caused by natural or
human-induced disasters, including terrorist activity and armed conflict;
fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; and other factors. For a
discussion of these risks and other factors, see "Item 3. Key Information--Risk
Factors".
2
PART I
Item 1. Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers
Not applicable.
Item 2. Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable
Not applicable.
Item 3. Key Information
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The selected consolidated income statement data and cash flow data for the
years ended December 31, 2002, 2003 and 2004, and the selected consolidated
balance sheet data as of December 31, 2003 and 2004, set forth below are derived
from our audited consolidated financial statements included in this annual
report and should be read in conjunction with, and are qualified in their
entirety by reference to, these consolidated financial statements. Our
consolidated financial statements as of and for the years ended December 31,
2003 and 2004 have been audited by Deloitte & Touche, a member firm of Deloitte
Touche Tohmatsu. Our consolidated financial statements as of and for the year
ended December 31, 2002 have been audited by TN Soong & Co, independent public
accountants, which was at the time of such financial statements an associate
member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu. TN Soong & Co and Deloitte & Touche
(Taiwan) combined on June 1, 2003 to establish Deloitte & Touche, a member firm
of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu. The selected consolidated income statement data and
cash flow data for the years ended December 31, 2000 and 2001 and the selected
consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2000, 2001 and 2002 set forth
below are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements not
included in this annual report. Our consolidated financial statements as of and
for the years ended December 31, 2000 and 2001 have been audited by TN Soong &
Co, independent public accountants, which was at the time of such financial
statements an associate member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu. Prior to April
22, 2002, TN Soong & Co was a member firm of Andersen Worldwide SC. Our
consolidated financial statements have been prepared and presented in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles in the ROC, or ROC GAAP, which
differ in material respects from generally accepted accounting principles in the
United States, or U.S. GAAP. See notes 29 and 30 to our consolidated financial
statements for a description of the principal differences between ROC GAAP and
U.S. GAAP for the periods covered by these consolidated financial statements.
As of and for the Year Ended December 31,
-----------------------------------------------------------------
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
---------- --------- ---------- ---------- ----------------------
NT$ NT$ NT$ NT$ NT$ US$
(in millions, except earnings per share and per ADS data)
ROC GAAP:
Income Statement Data:
Net revenues.................. 50,893.4 38,367.8 45,586.8 57,311.8 81,712.6 2,574.5
Cost of revenues.............. (35,567.3) (32,957.0) (38,492.2) (46,466.5) (65,447.1) (2,062.0)
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------
Gross profit.................. 15,326.1 5,410.8 7,094.6 10,845.3 16,265.5 512.5
Total operating expenses...... (5,449.0) (5,872.9) (6,554.2) (7,574.8) (8,714.3) (274.6)
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------
Operating expenses:
Selling..................... (1,020.5) (877.9) (909.4) (1,204.9) (1,041.2) (32.8)
General and
administrative............. (2,606.2) (2,797.6) (2,780.2) (3,196.6) (4,211.0) (132.8)
Goodwill amortization....... (559.8) (692.9) (815.6) (819.3) (877.6) (27.6)
Research and development.... (1,262.5) (1,504.5) (2,049.0) (2,354.0) 2,584.5) (81.4)
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------
Income (loss) from
operations.................. 9,877.1 (462.1) 540.4 3,270.5 7,551.2 237.9
Net non-operating income
(expense):
Investment income
(loss) on long-term
investments--net........... 195.7 (868.8) (162.4) (20.1) (174.4) (5.5)
Goodwill amortization....... (363.0) (378.0) (247.9) (220.6) (220.6) (7.0)
Gain (loss) on sale of
investments--net........... 91.7 50.7 101.3 618.9 57.1 1.8
Foreign exchange gain
(loss)--net................ 302.7 247.5 (397.9) (386.8) (146.2) (4.6)
Realized loss on
long-term investments...... -- -- -- (354.8) - - --
Interest income
(expense)--net............. (1,538.0) (1,739.3) (1,578.6) (1,304.7) (898.7) (28.3)
3
As of and for the Year Ended December 31,
-----------------------------------------------------------------
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
---------- --------- ---------- ---------- ----------------------
NT$ NT$ NT$ NT$ NT$ US$
(in millions, except earnings per share and per ADS data)
Impairment of
long-lived assets(1). -- -- (1,225.6) -- -- --
Impairment of
goodwill(2).......... -- -- -- -- (1,950.1) (61.4)
Other investment loss(3) -- -- -- -- (512.0) (16.1)
Others--net............ (162.6) 164.5 261.0 (114.6) (174.5) (5.5)
--------- --------- ---------- ---------- -------- --------
Income (loss) before
income tax............ 8,403.6 (2,985.5) (2,709.7) 1,487.8 3,531.8 111.3
Income tax benefit
(expense)............. (1,065.8) 199.2 1,140.3 1,278.1 1,396.3 44.0
--------- --------- ---------- ---------- -------- --------
Income (loss) before
extraordinary loss and
cumulative effect of
change in accounting
principle............. 7,337.8 (2,786.3) (1,569.4) 2,765.9 4,928.1 155.3
Extraordinary loss...... -- (144.6) (34.6) (75.7) -- --
Cumulative effect of
change in accounting
principle(4).......... -- -- -- -- (26.8) (0.9)
Minority interest in net
loss (income) of
subsidiaries.......... (1,500.6) 788.7 1,733.0 52.6 (691.6) (21.8)
--------- --------- ---------- ---------- -------- --------
Net income (loss)....... 5,837.2 (2,142.2) 129.0 2,742.8 4,209.7 132.6
========= ========= ========== ========== ======== ========
Earnings per common
share(5):
Basic................. 1.58 (0.56) 0.04 0.74 1.09 0.03
Diluted............... 1.54 (0.56) 0.04 0.73 1.06 0.03
Dividends per common
share(6).............. 3.15 1.70 -- 1.00 0.57 0.02
Earnings per equivalent
ADS(5):
Basic................. 7.89 (2.82) 0.18 3.69 5.46 0.17
Diluted............... 7.71 (2.82) 0.18 3.65 5.31 0.17
Number of common
shares(7):
Basic................. 3,698.7 3,801.5 3,609.8 3,721.2 3,856.0 3,856.0
Diluted............... 3,698.7 3,801.5 3,609.8 3,755.6 4,110.1 4,110.1
Number of equivalent ADSs:
Basic................. 739.7 760.3 722.0 744.2 771.2 771.2
Diluted............... 739.7 760.3 722.0 751.1 822.0 822.0
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Current assets:
Cash and cash
equivalents.......... 14,166.5 11,770.7 9,829.5 8,562.4 5,975.1 188.3
Short-term investments 1,682.7 4,601.2 2,590.4 3,017.8 3,194.2 100.6
Notes and accounts
receivable........... 9,260.6 7,126.1 8,998.5 12,909.7 13,676.2 430.9
Inventories........... 3,246.3 2,768.4 3,131.7 4,691.8 9,437.3 297.3
Others................ 2,431.6 3,383.2 2,481.7 2,276.2 3,612.1 113.8
--------- --------- ---------- ---------- -------- --------
Total................. 30,787.7 29,649.6 27,031.8 31,457.9 35,894.9 1,130.9
Long-term investments... 10,712.2 9,530.4 6,566.7 6,342.8 4,907.4 154.6
Properties.............. 60,566.2 60,555.1 63,088.9 67,339.9 82,386.9 2,595.7
Other assets............ 1,275.6 1,342.3 2,675.8 4,587.4 7,425.3 234.0
Goodwill................ 4,999.5 5,248.9 5,541.8 4,596.2 3,336.4 105.1
--------- --------- ---------- ---------- -------- --------
Total assets............ 108,341.2 106,326.3 104,905.0 114,324.2 133,950.9 4,220.3
========= ========= ========== ========== ======== ========
Short-term borrowings(8) 13,768.0 13,983.1 13,453.8 14,090.2 6,852.8 215.9
Long-term liabilities(9) 25,976.9 30,674.3 30,553.7 30,840.1 46,529.6 1,466.0
Other liabilities and
minority interest..... 24,927.1 19,722.6 21,466.8 24,271.3 29,256.7 921.8
--------- --------- ---------- ---------- -------- --------
Total liabilities and
minority interest..... 64,672.0 64,380.0 65,474.3 69,201.6 82,639.1 2,603.7
========= ========= ========== ========== ======== ========
Capital stock........... 27,520.0 32,548.0 32,548.0 35,802.8 41,000.0 1,291.7
Shareholders' equity.... 43,669.2 41,946.3 39,430.7 45,122.6 51,311.8 1,616.6
CASH FLOW DATA:
Net cash outflow from
acquisition of fixed
assets................ (30,063.6) (13,816.5) (12,657.9) (17,534.1) (28,523.5) (898.7)
Depreciation and
amortization.......... 8,593.8 11,127.3 12,286.3 12,766.6 14,786.3 465.9
Net cash inflow from
operations............ 17,459.9 11,578.4 11,313.8 13,306.2 19,487.0 614.0
Net cash inflow from sale
of ASE Inc.
common shares......... -- -- -- 2,850.5 -- --
Net cash outflow from
investing activities.. (33,392.0) (17,302.0) (13,719.7) (18,572.6) (30,825.3) (971.2)
Net cash inflow from
financing activities.. 17,607.3 2,854.5 530.5 4,210.9 9,166.3 288.8
4
As of and for the Year Ended December 31,
-----------------------------------------------------------------
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
---------- --------- ---------- ---------- ----------------------
NT$ NT$ NT$ NT$ NT$ US$
(in millions, except earnings per share and per ADS data)
Segment Data:
Net revenues:
Packaging............. 38,028.8 28,898.2 35,515.4 45,026.9 64,736.8 2,039.6
Testing............... 12,768.4 9,459.2 10,060.6 12,142.4 16,473.9 519.1
Others................ 96.2 10.4 10.8 142.5 501.9 15.8
Gross profit:
Packaging............. 10,016.9 4,625.8 6,255.4 7,984.3 11,814.9 372.3
Testing............... 5,294.4 782.8 841.2 2,855.3 4,332.7 136.5
Others................ 14.8 2.2 (2.0) 5.7 117.9 3.7
As of and for the Year Ended December 31,
-----------------------------------------------------------------
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
---------- --------- ---------- ---------- ----------------------
NT$ NT$ NT$ NT$ NT$ US$
(in millions, except earnings per share and per ADS data)
U.S. GAAP:
Income Statement Data:
Net revenues............ 50,893.4 38,367.8 45,586.8 57,311.8 81,712.6 2,574.4
Cost of revenues........ 37,081.2 34,538.3 39,308.2 47,747.5 65,836.0 2,074.2
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -------
Gross profit............ 13,812.2 3,829.5 6,278.6 9,564.3 15,876.6 500.2
Total operating expenses 5,820.8 6,209.9 9,294.2 7,116.9 7,302.1 230.1
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -------
Income (loss) from
operations............ 7,991.4 (2,380.4) (3,015.6) 2,447.4 8,574.5 270.1
Net non-operating income
(expense)............. (1,502.5) (2,704.6) (2,793.8) (1,314.0) (5,152.7) (162.3)
Income tax benefit
(expense)............. (1,059.2) 254.4 1,162.6 1,289.1 1,505.4 47.4
Cumulative effect of
change in accounting
principle(4).......... -- -- -- -- (26.8) (0.8)
Minority interest in net
loss (income) of
subsidiaries.......... (1,499.7) 784.0 1,572.5 (70.5) (603.3) (19.0)
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -------
Net income (loss)....... 3,930.0 (4,046.6) (3,074.3) 2,352.0 4,297.1 135.4
========= ========= ========= ========= ========= =======
Earnings per common
share(5):
Basic................. 1.15 (1.13) (0.85) 0.63 1.11 0.03
Diluted............... 1.11 (1.13) (0.85) 0.63 1.09 0.03
Earnings per equivalent
ADS(5):
Basic................. 5.73 (5.64) (4.26) 3.16 5.57 0.18
Diluted............... 5.54 (5.64) (4.26) 3.13 5.43 0.17
Number of common
shares(10):
Basic................. 3,431.5 3,587.1 3,609.8 3,721.2 3,856.0 3,856.0
Diluted............... 3,431.5 3,587.1 3,609.8 3,755.6 4,110.1 4110.1
Number of equivalent ADSs:
Basic................. 686.3 717.4 722.0 744.2 771.2 771.2
Diluted............... 686.3 717.4 722.0 751.1 822.0 822.0
Balance Sheet Data:
Current Assets
Cash and cash
equivalents.......... 14,166.5 11,770.7 9,829.5 8,562.4 5,975.1 188.3
Short-term investments 1,717.6 4,642.1 2,592.4 3,022.9 3,198.4 100.8
Notes and accounts
receivable........... 9,260.6 7,126.1 8,998.5 12,909.8 13,676.2 430.9
Inventories........... 3,246.3 2,768.4 3,131.7 4,691.8 9,437.3 297.3
Others................ 2,431.6 3,383.2 2,481.7 2,276.2 3,612.1 113.8
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -------
Total................. 30,822.6 29,690.5 27,033.8 31,463.1 35,899.1 1,131.1
Long-term investments... 8,044.2 6,608.3 5,609.3 5,571.4 3,377.6 106.4
Properties.............. 60,422.6 60,363.1 62,797.4 66,947.6 81,896.2 2,580.2
Other assets............ 1,275.6 1,371.0 2,715.3 4,637.8 7,584.9 239.0
Consolidated debits..... 4,951.9 4,331.6 3,227.0 3,100.8 3,330.9 104.9
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -------
Total assets............ 105,516.9 102,364.5 101,382.8 111,720.7 132,088.7 4,161.6
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -------
Short-term borrowings(8) 13,768.0 13,983.1 13,453.8 14,090.2 6,852.8 215.9
Long-term liabilities(9) 25,976.9 30,674.3 30,553.7 30,840.1 46,529.6 1,466.0
Other liabilities and
minority interest..... 25,042.9 19,746.8 21,658.5 24,707.4 30,059.7 947.0
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -------
Total liabilities and
minority interest..... 64,787.8 64,404.2 65,666.0 69,637.7 83,442.1 2,628.9
========= ========= ========= ========= ========= =======
Capital stock........... 27,520.0 32,548.0 32,548.0 35,802.0 41,000.0 1,291.7
Shareholders' equity.... 40,729.1 37,960.3 35,716.8 42,083.0 48,646.6 1,532.7
5
----------
(1) In 2002, we took a NT$1,225.6 million impairment charge against some of our
testing equipment to reflect the decline in economic value of such
equipment. Whereas this impairment charge was previously recognized under
general and administrative operating expenses, in 2004, as a result of our
adoption of ROC SFAS No. 35, "Impairment of Assets", we reclassified this
2002 impairment charge as an individual line item under non-operating
income (expenses). For more information on the reclassification, see "Item
5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects--Operating Results and
Trend Information--Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates" and note 9
to our consolidated financial statements.
(2) For the year ended December 31, 2004, we adopted ROC SFAS No. 35,
"Impairment of Assets". In addition to yearly amortization, under ROC SFAS
No. 35, goodwill is evaluated at least annually to determine if it is
impaired. As a result of our annual impairment review, we recognized an
impairment charge of NT$1,950.1 million (US$61.4 million) for goodwill
relating to our shares of ASE Test and ISE Labs. For more information on
impairment of goodwill, see "Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and
Prospects--Operating Results and Trend Information-- Critical Accounting
Policies and Estimates" and notes 3 and 10 to our consolidated financial
statements.
(3) As a result of our annual impairment review, we recognized an impairment
charge of NT$512.0 million (US$16.1 million) for goodwill relating to our
unconsolidated affiliate Universal Scientific. See "Item 5. Operating and
Financial Review and Prospects--Operating Results and Trend
Information--Critical Accounting Polices and Estimates" and notes 3 and 8
to our consolidated financial statements.
(4) As a result of our introduction of enterprise resource planning, or ERP, in
order to increase our ability to effectively monitor our entire
organization's resource allocation, we switched from using the
weighted-average method to using the moving-average method to price our raw
materials and supplies. For more information on this accounting change, see
"Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects--Operating Results
and Trend Information--Critical Accounting Policies and
Estimates--Inventories" and note 3 to our consolidated financial
statements.
(5) The denominators for diluted earnings per common share and diluted earnings
per equivalent ADS are calculated to account for the potential conversion
of our convertible bonds into our common shares and ADS. See "Item 5.
Operating and Financial Review and Prospects--Liquidity and Capital
Resources" and note 22 to our consolidated financial statements.
(6) Dividends per common share issued as a stock dividend.
(7) Represents the weighted average number of shares after retroactive
adjustments to give effect to stock dividends and employee stock bonuses.
Beginning in 2002, common shares held by consolidated subsidiaries are
classified for accounting purposes as "treasury stock", and are deducted
from the number of common shares outstanding.
(8) Includes current portions of long-term debt, obligations under capital
leases and long-term payable for investments.
(9) Excludes current portions of long-term debt, obligations under capital
leases and long-term payable for investments.
(10) Represents the weighted average number of common shares after retroactive
adjustments to give effect to stock dividends.
Exchange Rates
Fluctuations in the exchange rate between NT dollars and U.S. dollars will
affect the U.S. dollar equivalent of the NT dollar price of the common shares on
the Taiwan Stock Exchange and, as a result, will likely affect the market price
of the American depositary shares, or ADSs. Fluctuations will also affect the
U.S. dollar conversion by the depositary under our ADS deposit agreement
referred to below of cash dividends paid in NT dollars on, and the NT dollar
proceeds received by the depositary from any sale of, common shares represented
by ADSs, in each case, according to the terms of the deposit agreement dated
September 29, 2000 among us, Citibank N.A., as depositary, and the holders and
beneficial owners from time to time of the ADSs, and supplemented by a letter
agreement between us and the depositary dated September 25, 2003, which we
collectively refer to as the deposit agreement.
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, information
concerning the number of NT dollars for which one U.S. dollar could be exchanged
based on the noon buying rate for cable transfers in NT dollars as certified for
customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
6
NT Dollars per U.S. Dollar Noon Buying Rate
-------------------------------------------
Average High Low Period-End
---------- -------- ------- ----------
2000............................. 31.37 33.25 30.35 33.17
2001............................. 33.91 35.13 32.23 35.00
2002............................. 34.53 34.79 34.70 34.70
2003............................. 34.40 34.98 33.72 33.99
2004............................. 33.37 33.98 33.10 33.24
November....................... 32.78 33.48 32.17 32.20
December....................... 32.17 32.49 31.74 31.74
2005
January........................ 31.85 32.22 31.65 31.71
February....................... 31.50 31.79 31.06 31.06
March.......................... 31.11 31.73 30.65 31.46
April.......................... 31.48 31.70 31.23 31.23
May............................ 31.27 31.47 30.98 31.13
------------------
Source: Federal Reserve Statistical Release, Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System.
On May 31, 2005, the noon buying rate was NT$31.13 to US$1.00.
CAPITALIZATION AND INDEBTEDNESS
Not applicable.
REASON FOR THE OFFER AND USE OF PROCEEDS
Not applicable.
RISK FACTORS
Risks Relating to Our Business
Since we are dependent on the highly cyclical semiconductor industry and
conditions in the markets for the end-use applications of our products, our
revenues and net income may fluctuate significantly.
Our semiconductor packaging and testing business is affected by market
conditions in the highly cyclical semiconductor industry. All of our customers
operate in this industry, and variations in order levels from our customers and
service fee rates may result in volatility in our revenues and net income. From
time to time, the semiconductor industry has experienced significant, and
sometimes prolonged, downturns. As our business is, and will continue to be,
dependent on the requirements of semiconductor companies for independent
packaging and testing services, any future downturn in the semiconductor
industry would reduce demand for our services. For example, in the fourth
quarter of 2000, a worldwide downturn resulted in a significant deterioration in
the average selling prices of, as well as demand for, our services in 2001, and
significantly and adversely affected our operating results in 2001. Although the
modest recovery in the semiconductor industry, evident in 2002 and 2003,
strengthened in 2004, we expect market conditions to continue to exert downward
pressure on the average selling prices for our packaging and testing services.
If we cannot reduce our costs to sufficiently offset any decline in average
selling prices, our profitability will suffer and we may incur losses.
Market conditions in the semiconductor industry depend to a large degree on
conditions in the markets for the end-use applications of semiconductor
products, such as communications, personal computer and consumer electronics
products. Any deterioration of conditions in the markets for the end-use
applications of the semiconductors we package and test would reduce demand for
our services, and would likely have a material adverse effect on our financial
condition and results of operations. In 2004, approximately 42.5%, 29.8% and
24.5% of our net revenues were attributed to the packaging and testing of
semiconductors used in communications, personal computer, and consumer
electronics applications, respectively. In 2003, approximately 34.9%, 35.7% and
28.3% of our net revenues were attributable to the packaging and testing of
semiconductors used in communications, personal computer, and consumer
electronics applications, respectively. In 2002, approximately 34.4%, 35.4% and
28.8% of our net revenues were attributable to the packaging and testing of
semiconductors used in
7
communications, personal computer, and consumer electronics applications,
respectively. Each of the markets for end-use applications is subject to intense
competition and significant shifts in demand, which could put pricing pressure
on the packaging and testing services provided by us and adversely affect our
revenues and net income.
A reversal or slowdown in the outsourcing trend for semiconductor packaging
and testing services could adversely affect our growth prospects and
profitability.
In recent years, semiconductor manufacturers that have their own in-house
packaging and testing capabilities, known as integrated device manufacturers,
have increasingly outsourced stages of the semiconductor production process,
including packaging and testing, to independent companies in order to reduce
costs and shorten production cycles. In addition, the availability of advanced
independent semiconductor manufacturing services has also enabled the growth of
so-called "fabless" semiconductor companies that focus exclusively on design and
marketing, and that outsource their manufacturing, packaging and testing
requirements to independent companies. We cannot assure you that these
integrated device manufacturers and fabless semiconductor companies will
continue to outsource their packaging and testing requirements to third parties
like us. A reversal of, or a slowdown in, this outsourcing trend could result in
reduced demand for our services and adversely affect our growth prospects and
profitability.
If we are unable to compete favorably in the highly competitive
semiconductor packaging and testing markets, our revenues and net income
may decrease.
The semiconductor packaging and testing markets are very competitive. We
face competition from a number of sources, including other independent
semiconductor packaging and testing companies, especially those that offer
turnkey packaging and testing services. We believe that the principal
competitive factors in the markets for our products and services are:
o the ability to provide total solutions to our customers;
o technological expertise;
o range of package types and testing platforms available;
o the ability to design and produce advanced and cost-competitive
interconnect materials;
o the ability to work closely with our customers at the product
development stage;
o responsiveness and flexibility;
o capacity;
o production cycle time;
o production yield; and
o price.
We face increasing competition from other packaging and testing companies,
as most of our customers obtain packaging or testing services from more than one
source. In addition, some of our competitors may have access to more advanced
technologies and greater financial and other resources than we do. Many of our
competitors have shown a willingness to quickly and sharply reduce prices, as
they did in 2001, in order to maintain capacity utilization in their facilities
during periods of reduced demand. Although prices have stabilized, any renewed
erosion in the prices for our packaging and testing services could cause our
revenues and net income to decrease and have a material adverse effect on our
financial condition and results of operations.
Our profitability depends on our ability to respond to rapid technological
changes in the semiconductor industry.
The semiconductor industry is characterized by rapid increases in the
diversity and complexity of semiconductors. As a result, we expect that we will
need to constantly offer more sophisticated packaging and testing technologies
and processes in order to respond to competitive industry conditions and
customer
8
requirements. If we fail to develop, or obtain access to, advances in
packaging or testing technologies or processes, we may become less competitive
and less profitable. In addition, advances in technology typically lead to
declining average selling prices for semiconductors packaged or tested with
older technologies or processes. As a result, if we cannot reduce the costs
associated with our services, the profitability of a given service and our
overall profitability, may decrease over time.
Our operating results are subject to significant fluctuations, which could
adversely affect the market value of your investment.
Our operating results have varied significantly from period to period and
may continue to vary in the future. Downward fluctuations in our operating
results may result in decreases in the market price of the common shares and the
ADSs. Among the more important factors affecting our quarterly and annual
operating results are the following:
o changes in general economic and business conditions, particularly
given the cyclical nature of the semiconductor industry and the
markets served by our customers;
o our ability to quickly adjust to unanticipated declines or shortfalls
in demand and market prices for our packaging and testing services,
due to our high percentage of fixed costs;
o timing of capital expenditures in anticipation of future orders;
o changes in prices of our packaging and testing services;
o volume of orders relative to our packaging and testing capacity;
o our ability to design and produce advanced and cost-competitive
interconnect materials;
o our ability to obtain adequate packaging and testing equipment on a
timely basis;
o changes in costs and availability of raw materials, equipment and
labor; and
o earthquakes, drought, epidemics and other natural disasters, as well
as industrial and other incidents such as fires and power outages.
Due to the factors listed above, our future operating results or growth
rates may be below the expectations of research analysts and investors. If so,
the market price of the common shares and the ADSs, and thus the market value of
your investment, may fall.
If we are not successful in developing and enhancing our in-house
interconnect materials capabilities, our margins and profitability may be
adversely affected.
We expect that interconnect materials will become an increasingly important
value-added component of the semiconductor packaging business as technology
migrates from the traditional wirebonding process towards the flip-chip wafer
bumping process and interconnect materials such as advanced substrates represent
a higher percentage of the cost of the packaging process. As a result, we expect
that we will need to offer more advanced interconnect materials designs and
production processes in order to respond to competitive industry conditions and
customer requirements. In particular, our competitive position will depend to a
significant extent on our ability to design and produce interconnect materials
that are comparable to or better than those produced by independent suppliers
and others. Many of these independent suppliers have dedicated greater resources
than we have for the research and development and design and production of
interconnect materials. In addition, we may not be able to acquire the
technology and personnel that would enable us to further develop our in-house
expertise and enhance our design and production capabilities. We intend to
enhance our interconnect materials capabilities through our merger with ASE
Material and our joint venture with Compeq Manufacturing Co. Ltd., or Compeq.
For more information on the merger, see "Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related
Party Transactions--Related Party Transactions". For more information on the
joint venture, see "Item 4. Information on the Company--History and Development
of the Company--Joint Venture with Compeq Manufacturing Co. Ltd." If we are
unable to maintain and enhance our in-
9
house interconnect materials expertise to offer advanced interconnect materials
that meet the requirements of our customers, we may become less competitive and
our margins and profitability may suffer as a result.
If any of our acquisition of NEC's packaging and testing business or our
joint venture with Compeq or our merger with ASE Chung Li and ASE Material
does not result in successful integration with our operations or is
otherwise not successful, we may not be able to realize the anticipated
benefits of such transactions and our business prospects and profitability
may be adversely affected.
On February 3, 2004, we and J&R Holding Limited, our wholly-owned
subsidiary, entered into a share sale and purchase agreement with NEC
Electronics Corporation, or NEC, and NEC Yamagata in connection with the
acquisition of the semiconductor packaging and testing business of NEC Yamagata,
a wholly-owned subsidiary of NEC. Pursuant to the terms and conditions of the
agreement, the packaging and testing business of NEC Yamagata was transferred to
a newly established company named ASE Japan Co., Ltd., or ASE Japan, and all of
the issued and outstanding shares of ASE Japan were purchased by J&R Holding
Limited. The acquisition was completed on May 31, 2004. The acquisition of the
packaging and testing business of NEC Yamagata involves certain risks,
including: integration and management of the acquired business; retention of
select management personnel; unforeseen difficulties and liabilities of the
acquired business; and diversion of our management's attention from other
business concerns. These risks may adversely affect our short-term results of
operations as we integrate and operate the acquired business.
On October 28, 2003, we entered into a joint venture agreement with Compeq
to establish ASE-Compeq Technologies, Inc. This joint venture is intended to
provide us with access to Compeq's production capabilities and expertise in
advanced substrates and has been approved by the ROC Fair Trade Commission.
Pursuant to the joint venture agreement, either party can terminate the joint
venture at any time with 90 days' prior written notice. The success of our joint
venture depends on a number of factors, including the ability of Compeq to meet
the design and production requirements of the customers of the joint venture,
the ability of the management of the two companies to work effectively together
and the effectiveness of the sales and marketing strategy of ASE-Compeq
Technologies, Inc. If the joint venture with Compeq is not successful, and we
are not able to enter into a similar joint venture, or otherwise obtain access
to similar capacity, expertise and capabilities, our interconnect materials
design and production capability may be adversely affected and we may not be
able to meet our customers' demand for advanced interconnect materials, which
could have an adverse effect on our profitability.
On August 1, 2004, ASE Chung Li and ASE Material merged with and into us
pursuant to a merger agreement dated October 28, 2003. We are the surviving
corporation. Upon the completion of the merger, all of the assets and
liabilities of ASE Chung Li and ASE Material are owned and have been assumed by
us, and the operations of ASE Chung Li and ASE Material have been integrated
with the operations of us. The merger is intended to enhance our ability to
provide to our customers turnkey packaging and testing services and turnkey
services that incorporate interconnect materials, increase our economies of
scale, improve our operating efficiency and simplify our corporate structure.
The continued success of the merger will depend on a number of factors,
including our ability to integrate the operations of ASE Chung Li and ASE
Material with our own and our retention of select management personnel. If we
are not successful in integrating the operations of the merged companies, we may
not be able to realize the anticipated benefits of the merger and our business
prospects and profitability may be adversely affected.
Due to our high percentage of fixed costs, we will be unable to maintain
our gross margin at past levels if we are unable to achieve relatively high
capacity utilization rates.
Our operations, in particular our testing operations, are characterized by
relatively high fixed costs. We expect to continue to incur substantial
depreciation and other expenses as a result of our previous acquisitions of
packaging and testing machinery and equipment and facilities. Our profitability
depends not only on the pricing levels for our services, but also on utilization
rates for our packaging and testing machinery and equipment, commonly referred
to as "capacity utilization rates". In particular, increases or decreases in our
capacity utilization rates can significantly affect gross margins since the unit
cost of packaging and testing services generally decreases as fixed costs are
allocated over a larger number of units. In periods of low demand, we experience
relatively low capacity utilization rates in our operations, which leads to
reduced margins. During 2001, we experienced lower than anticipated utilization
rates in our operations due to a significant decline in worldwide demand for our
packaging and testing services, which resulted in reduced margins during that
period. Although our capacity utilization rates have
10
improved recently, we cannot assure you that we will be able to maintain or
surpass our past gross margin levels if we cannot consistently achieve or
maintain relatively high capacity utilization rates.
If we are unable to manage our expansion effectively, our growth prospects
may be limited and our future profitability may be affected.
We have significantly expanded our packaging and testing operations in
recent years, and expect to continue to expand our operations in the future,
including the expansion of our interconnect materials operations. In particular,
we intend to provide total solutions for the packaging and testing of
semiconductors in order to attract new customers and broaden our product range
to include products packaged and tested for a variety of end-use applications.
In the past, we have expanded through both internal growth and the acquisition
of new operations. Rapid expansion puts strain on our managerial, technical,
financial, operational and other resources. As a result of our expansion, we
have implemented and will continue to need to implement additional operational
and financial controls and hire and train additional personnel. Any failure to
manage our growth effectively could lead to inefficiencies and redundancies and
result in reduced growth prospects and profitability.
Because of the highly cyclical nature of our industry, our capital
requirements are difficult to plan. If we cannot obtain additional capital
when we need it, our growth prospects and future profitability may be
adversely affected.
Our capital requirements are difficult to plan in our highly cyclical and
rapidly changing industry. We will need capital to fund the expansion of our
facilities as well as research and development activities in order to remain
competitive. We believe that our existing cash and cash equivalents, short-term
investments, expected cash flow from operations and existing credit lines under
our short-term loan facilities will be sufficient to meet our capital
expenditures, working capital, cash obligations under our existing debt and
lease arrangements, and other requirements for at least the next twelve months.
However, future capacity expansions or market or other developments may cause us
to require additional funds. Our ability to obtain external financing in the
future is subject to a variety of uncertainties, including:
o our future financial condition, results of operations and cash flows;
o general market conditions for financing activities by semiconductor
companies; and
o economic, political and other conditions in Taiwan and elsewhere.
If we are unable to obtain funding in a timely manner or on acceptable
terms, our growth prospects and future profitability may decline.
Restrictive covenants and broad default provisions in our existing debt
agreements may materially restrict our operations as well as adversely
affect our liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.
We are a party to numerous loan and other agreements relating to the
incurrence of debt, many of which include restrictive covenants and broad
default provisions. In general, covenants in the agreements governing our
existing debt, and debt we may incur in the future, may materially restrict our
operations, including our ability to incur debt, pay dividends, make certain
investments and payments and encumber or dispose of assets. In the event of a
prolonged downturn in the demand for our services as a result of a downturn in
the worldwide semiconductor industry or otherwise, we cannot assure you that we
will be able to remain in compliance with our financial covenants which, as a
result, may lead to a default. Furthermore, a default under one agreement by us
or one of our subsidiaries may also trigger cross-defaults under other
agreements. In the event of default, we may not be able to cure the default or
obtain a waiver on a timely basis, and our operations would be significantly
disrupted or harmed and our liquidity would be adversely affected. An event of
default under any agreement governing our existing or future debt, if not cured
or waived, would have a material adverse effect on our liquidity, financial
condition and results of operations.
We have on occasion failed to comply with certain financial covenants in
some of our loan agreements. Such non-compliance may also have, through broadly
worded cross-default provisions, resulted in default under some of the
agreements governing our other existing debt. For example, in 2004, we increased
our borrowings in order to
11
fund increases in our capital expenditure, which resulted in our failure to
comply with certain debt ratios. We are in the process of obtaining waivers from
the relevant lenders relating to such non-compliance and, while we believe that
we will be able to obtain such waivers, we can provide no guarantee that we will
be able to do so. Such non-compliance has not had any significant effect on our
ability to repay or refinance amounts due in respect of our existing debt. For
these and other reasons, including our financial condition and our relationship
with our lenders, no lender has to date sought and we do not believe that any of
our lenders would seek to declare a default or enforce remedies in respect of
our existing debt, as a result of cross-default provisions or otherwise,
although we cannot provide any assurance in this regard.
We depend on select personnel and could be affected by the loss of their
services.
We depend on the continued service of our executive officers and skilled
technical and other personnel. Our business could suffer if we lose the services
of any of these personnel and cannot adequately replace them. Although some of
these management personnel have entered into employment agreements with us, they
may nevertheless leave before the expiration of these agreements. We are not
insured against the loss of any of our personnel. In addition, we may be
required to increase substantially the number of these employees in connection
with our expansion plans, and there is intense competition for their services in
the semiconductor industry. We may not be able to either retain our present
personnel or attract additional qualified personnel as and when needed. In
addition, we may need to increase employee compensation levels in order to
attract and retain our existing officers and employees and the additional
personnel that we expect to require. Furthermore, a portion of the workforce at
our facilities in Taiwan are foreign workers employed by us under work permits
which are subject to government regulations on renewal and other terms.
Consequently, our business could also suffer if the Taiwan regulations relating
to the import of foreign workers were to become significantly more restrictive
or if we are otherwise unable to attract or retain these workers at a reasonable
cost.
If we fail to maintain an effective system of internal controls, we may not
be able to accurately report our financial results or prevent fraud.
The United States Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, as
required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, adopted rules
requiring every public company to include a management report on such company's
internal controls over financial reporting in its annual report, which contains
management's assessment of the effectiveness of the company's internal controls
over financial reporting. In addition, an independent registered public
accounting firm must attest to and report on management's assessment of the
effectiveness of the company's internal controls over financial reporting. These
requirements will first apply to our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal
year ending December 31, 2006. Our management may conclude that our internal
controls over our financial reporting are not effective. Moreover, even if our
management concludes that our internal controls over financial reporting are
effective, our independent registered public accounting firm may still decline
to attest to our management's assessment or may issue a report that is qualified
if it is not satisfied with our controls or the level at which our controls are
documented, designed, operated or reviewed, or if it interprets the relevant
requirements differently from us. Furthermore, during the course of the
evaluation, documentation and attestation, we may identify deficiencies that we
may not be able to remedy in time to meet the deadline imposed by the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act for compliance with the requirements of Section 404. If we
fail to achieve and maintain the adequacy of our internal controls, we may not
be able to conclude that we have effective internal controls, on an ongoing
basis, over financial reporting in accordance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
Moreover, effective internal controls, particularly those related to revenue
recognition, are necessary for us to produce reliable financial reports and are
important to help prevent fraud. As a result, our failure to achieve and
maintain effective internal controls over financial reporting could result in
the loss of investor confidence in the reliability of our financial statements,
which in turn could harm our business and negatively impact the trading price of
our ADSs. Furthermore, we anticipate that we will incur considerable costs and
use significant management time and other resources in an effort to comply with
Section 404 and other requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
If we are unable to obtain additional packaging and testing equipment or
facilities in a timely manner and at a reasonable cost, our competitiveness
and future profitability may be adversely affected.
The semiconductor packaging and testing business is capital intensive and
requires significant investment in expensive equipment manufactured by a limited
number of suppliers. The market for semiconductor packaging and
12
testing equipment is characterized, from time to time, by intense demand,
limited supply and long delivery cycles. Our operations and expansion plans
depend on our ability to obtain a significant amount of such equipment from a
limited number of suppliers, including, in the case of wire bonders, Kulicke &
Soffa Industries Inc., and in the case of testers, Agilent Technologies, Inc.,
Credence Systems Corporation, LTX Corporation and Teradyne, Inc. We have no
binding supply agreements with any of our suppliers and acquire our packaging
and testing equipment on a purchase order basis, which exposes us to changing
market conditions and other substantial risks. For example, shortages of capital
equipment could result in an increase in the price of equipment and longer
delivery times. Semiconductor packaging and testing also requires us to operate
sizeable facilities. If we are unable to obtain equipment or facilities in a
timely manner, we may be unable to fulfill our customers' orders, which could
adversely affect our growth prospects as well as financial condition and results
of operations. See "Item 4. Information on the Company--Business
Overview--Equipment".
Fluctuations in exchange rates could result in foreign exchange losses.
Currently, the majority of our revenues from packaging and testing services
are denominated in U.S. dollars and NT dollars. Our costs of revenues and
operating expenses associated with packaging and testing services, on the other
hand, are incurred in several currencies, primarily NT dollars and U.S. dollars,
as well as, to a lesser extent, Malaysian ringgit, Korean won and Japanese yen.
In addition, a substantial portion of our capital expenditures, primarily for
the purchase of packaging and testing equipment, has been, and is expected to
continue to be, denominated in U.S. dollars, with much of the remainder in
Japanese yen. Fluctuations in exchange rates, primarily among the U.S. dollar,
the NT dollar and the Japanese yen, will affect our costs and operating margins.
In addition, these fluctuations could result in exchange losses and increased
costs in NT dollar and other local currency terms. Despite hedging and
mitigating techniques implemented by us, fluctuations in exchange rates have
affected, and may continue to affect, our financial condition and results of
operations. We incurred a foreign exchange loss of NT$146.2 million (US$4.6
million), NT$386.8 million and NT$397.9 million in 2004, 2003 and 2002,
respectively. See "Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about
Market Risk--Market Risk--Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk".
The loss of a large customer or disruption of our strategic alliance or
other commercial arrangements with semiconductor foundries and providers of
other complementary semiconductor manufacturing services may result in a
decline in our revenues and profitability.
Although we have over 200 customers, we have derived and expect to continue
to derive a large portion of our revenues from a small group of customers during
any particular period due in part to the concentration of market share in the
semiconductor industry. Our five largest customers together accounted for
approximately 34.7%, 34.8% and 39.6% of our net revenues in 2004, 2003 and 2002,
respectively. Other than Motorola, Inc., no other customer accounted for more
than 10% of our net revenues in 2003 or 2002. In 2004, no customer accounted for
more than 10% of our net revenues. The demand for our services from each
customer is directly dependent upon that customer's level of business activity,
which could vary significantly from year to year. The loss of a large customer
may adversely affect our revenues and profitability. Our key customers typically
operate in the cyclical semiconductor business and, in the past, have varied,
and may vary in the future, order levels significantly from period to period.
Some of these companies are relatively small, have limited operating histories
and financial resources, and are highly exposed to the cyclicality of the
industry. We cannot assure you that these customers or any other customers will
continue to place orders with us in the future at the same levels as in past
periods. The loss of one or more of our significant customers, or reduced orders
by any one of them, and our inability to replace these customers or make up for
such orders could reduce our profitability. In addition, we have in the past
reduced, and may in the future be requested to reduce, our prices to limit the
level of order cancellations. Any price reduction would likely reduce our
margins and profitability.
Our strategic alliance with TSMC, the world's largest dedicated
semiconductor foundry, as well as our other commercial arrangements with
providers of other complementary semiconductor manufacturing services, enable us
to offer total semiconductor manufacturing solutions to our customers. This
strategic alliance and any of our other commercial arrangements may be
terminated at any time. A termination of this strategic alliance and other
commercial arrangements, and our failure to enter into substantially similar
alliances and commercial arrangements, may adversely affect our competitiveness
and our revenues and profitability.
13
We depend on our agent for a portion of our sales in North America and
Europe. Any serious disruption in our relationship with our agent, or
substantial loss in its effectiveness, could significantly reduce our
revenues and profitability.
We depend on a non-exclusive agent, Gardex International Limited, or
Gardex, for a portion of our sales service in North America and Europe. Gardex
helps us identify customers and, within parameters set by us, helps us negotiate
price, delivery and other terms with our customers. Purchase orders are placed
directly with us by our customers.
Currently, Gardex performs services only for us and our subsidiaries but
Gardex is not owned or controlled by us. Gardex is free to perform sales and
support services for others, including our competitors. While the purchase of
ASE (U.S.) Inc. by our subsidiary J&R Holding Limited has significantly
decreased our dependence upon non-exclusive agents for sales and customer
service in North America and Europe, we may not be able to develop sufficient
capabilities internally on a timely basis or to find an adequate replacement for
Gardex should our relationship with Gardex change unexpectedly. Any serious
disruption in our relationship with Gardex or substantial loss in Gardex's
effectiveness in performing its sales functions could significantly reduce our
revenues and profitability. See "Item 4. Information on the Company--Business
Overview--Sales and Marketing--Sales and Customer Service Agents".
Our revenues and profitability may decline if we are unable to obtain
adequate supplies of raw materials in a timely manner and at a reasonable
price.
Our packaging operations require that we obtain adequate supplies of raw
materials on a timely basis. Shortages in the supply of raw materials
experienced by the semiconductor industry have in the past resulted in
occasional price increases and delivery delays. For example, in 1999 and the
first half of 2000, the industry experienced a shortage in the supply of
advanced substrates used in ball grid array, or BGA, packaging. Raw materials
such as advanced substrates are prone to supply shortages since such materials
are produced by a limited number of suppliers such as IBIDEN Co., Ltd., Japan
Circuit Industrial Co., Ltd. and Phoenix Precision Technology Corporation. Our
merger with ASE Material and our joint venture with Compeq to establish
ASE-Compeq Technologies, Inc. are expected to help improve our ability to obtain
advanced substrates on a timely basis and at a reasonable cost. However, we do
not expect that our internal substrates operations, even after the ASE Material
merger and the formation of ASE-Compeq Technologies, Inc., to be able to meet
all of our raw materials requirements. Consequently, we will remain dependent on
market supply and demand for our raw materials. Recently, we have experienced a
tightening in the market supply of raw materials, and the fire in May 2005 at
our facilities in Chung Li, Taiwan has damaged a substantial portion of our
production capacity of interconnect materials for use in our packaging
operations. See "Item 8. Financial Information--Significant Changes" for a
description of the fire. We cannot guarantee that we will not experience
shortages in the near future or that we will be able to obtain adequate supplies
of raw materials in a timely manner and at a reasonable price. Our revenues and
net income could decline if we were unable to obtain adequate supplies of high
quality raw materials in a timely manner or if there were significant increases
in the costs of raw materials that we could not pass on to our customers. See
"Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects--Operating Results and
Trend Information--Raw Material Costs".
Any environmental claims or failure to comply with any present or future
environmental regulations, as well as any fire or other industrial
accident, may require us to spend additional funds and may materially and
adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
We are subject to a variety of laws and regulations relating to the use,
storage, discharge and disposal of chemical by-products of, and water used in,
our packaging and interconnect materials production processes. Although we have
not suffered material environmental claims in the past, the failure to comply
with any present or future regulations could result in the assessment of damages
or imposition of fines against us, suspension of production or a cessation of
our operations. New regulations could require us to acquire costly equipment or
to incur other significant expenses that we may not be able to pass on to our
customers. For example, as a result of new restrictions in the European Union
governing the use of hazardous substances, we expect that our customers will
increasingly request that the materials used in our packaging processes be
compliant with new European Union regulations, which will likely increase our
raw material costs as a result. See "Item 4. Information on the
14
Company--Business Overview--Raw Materials and Suppliers--Packaging".
Additionally, any failure on our part to control the use, or adequately restrict
the discharge, of hazardous substances could subject us to future liabilities
that may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results
of operations.
Our controlling shareholders may take actions that are not in, or may
conflict with, our public shareholders' best interest.
Members of the Chang family own, directly or indirectly, a controlling
interest in our outstanding common shares. See "Item 7. Major Shareholders and
Related Party Transactions--Major Shareholders". Accordingly, these shareholders
will continue to have the ability to exercise a controlling influence over our
business, including matters relating to:
o our management and policies;
o the timing and distribution of dividends; and
o the election of our directors and supervisors.
Members of the Chang family may take actions that you may not agree with or
that are not in our or our public shareholders' best interests.
We are an ROC company and, because the rights of shareholders under ROC law
differ from those under U.S. law and the laws of certain other countries,
you may have difficulty protecting your shareholder rights.
Our corporate affairs are governed by our Articles of Incorporation and by
the laws governing corporations incorporated in the ROC. The rights of
shareholders and the responsibilities of management and the members of the board
of directors under ROC law are different from those applicable to a corporation
incorporated in the United States and certain other countries. As a result,
public shareholders of ROC companies may have more difficulty in protecting
their interest in connection with actions taken by management or members of the
board of directors than they would as public shareholders of a corporation in
the United States or certain other countries.
Any required impairment charges may have a material adverse effect on our
financial condition and results of operations.
Under currently effective accounting principles, we are required to
evaluate our equipment, goodwill and other indefinite-lived assets for possible
impairment whenever there is an indication of impairment. If certain criteria
are met, we are required to record an impairment charge. As a result of an
impairment test performed for 2002, we took an impairment loss of NT$1,225.6
million for equipment held by ASE Test for the year ended December 31, 2002. No
impairment charges with regards to our equipment were recorded for the years
ended December 31, 2003 and 2004. We can give no assurance that additional
impairment charges will not be required in periods subsequent to December 31,
2004.
As a result of standards under U.S. GAAP that became effective on January
1, 2002, we are no longer permitted to amortize remaining goodwill. Starting
from January 2002, all goodwill must be tested at least annually for impairment
under U.S. GAAP. As a result of an impairment test performed for 2002 under U.S.
GAAP, we wrote off the remaining goodwill of NT$2,213.0 million associated with
our purchase of shares of ASE Test for the year ended December 31, 2002. No
impairment charges relating to our goodwill were required to be recognized for
the year ended December 31, 2003. We recognized an impairment charge in 2004
under U.S. GAAP of NT$1,337.7 million (US$42.1 million) for goodwill relating to
our purchase of shares of ISE Labs. As of December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002,
goodwill under U.S. GAAP amounted to NT$3,330.9 million (US$104.9 million),
NT$3,100.7 million and NT$3,227.0 million, respectively. Any goodwill impairment
charge required under U.S. GAAP may have a material adverse effect on our
financial condition and results of operations on a U.S. GAAP reconciled basis.
For the year ended December 31, 2004, we adopted ROC SFAS No. 35,
"Impairment of Assets". In addition to yearly amortization, under ROC SFAS No.
35, goodwill is also evaluated at least annually to determine if it is impaired.
As a result of our annual impairment review, under ROC GAAP, we recognized an
impairment charge of NT$1,950.1 million (US$61.4 million) in 2004 for goodwill
relating to our purchase of shares of ASE Test and ISE
15
Labs. Under ROC GAAP, total goodwill amortization amounted to NT$877.6 million
(US$27.6 million), NT$819.3 million and NT$815.6 million in 2004, 2003 and 2002,
respectively. Any goodwill impairment charge required under ROC GAAP may have a
material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
We are unable to estimate the extent and timing of goodwill impairment
charges for future periods. The determination of an impairment charge at any
given time is based significantly on our expected results of operations over a
number of years subsequent to that time. As a result, an impairment charge is
more likely to occur during a period in which our operating results and outlook
are otherwise already depressed.
Terrorist attacks, such as the attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001,
military action in Iraq and general instability in the Middle East may
adversely affect the markets in which we operate, our operations and our
profitability.
The attacks of September 11, 2001 and subsequent events, including military
action in Iraq, have caused volatility in the world financial markets and have
led, and may continue to lead to, further armed hostilities, prolonged military
action in Iraq, or further acts of terrorism in the United States or abroad,
which could cause further instability in financial markets. These developments
could have an adverse impact on, among other things, our ability to expand the
market for our services, obtain financing as needed and enter into strategic
relationships, and, depending on their magnitude, could have a material adverse
effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash
flows.
Risks Relating to Taiwan, ROC
Strained relations between the ROC and the PRC could negatively affect our
business and the market value of your investment.
Our principal executive offices and our principal packaging and testing
facilities are located in Taiwan and approximately 69.8%, 77.0% and 77.4% of our
net revenues in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively, were derived from our
operations in Taiwan. The ROC has a unique international political status. The
government of the PRC asserts sovereignty over all of China, including Taiwan,
and does not recognize the legitimacy of the ROC government. Although
significant economic and cultural relations have been established in recent
years between the ROC and the PRC, relations have often been strained and the
government of the PRC has indicated that it may use military force to gain
control over Taiwan in some circumstances, such as the declaration of
independence by the ROC. Relations between the ROC and the PRC have been
particularly strained in recent years. On March 14, 2005, the PRC adopted an
anti-secession law which states that the PRC may use non-peaceful means and
other necessary measures if Taiwan formally declares its independence or if the
PRC determines that there is no possibility for a peaceful reunification.
Political uncertainty could adversely affect the prices of our common shares and
ADSs. Relations between the ROC and the PRC and other factors affecting the
political or economic conditions in Taiwan could have a material adverse effect
on our financial condition and results of operations, as well as the market
price and the liquidity of our common shares and ADSs.
Currently, we manufacture interconnect materials as well as provide module
assembly services from time to time in the PRC through our wholly-owned
subsidiary, ASE Shanghai. See "Item 4. Information on the
Company--Organizational Structure--Our Consolidated Subsidiaries--ASE Shanghai".
The ROC government currently restricts certain types of investments by ROC
companies, including ourselves, in the PRC, and such restrictions include
limitations on investments in facilities for the packaging and testing of
semiconductors. We do not know when or if such laws and policies governing
investment in the PRC will be further amended, and we cannot assure you that
such ROC investment laws and policies will permit us to make further investments
in the PRC in the future that we consider beneficial to us. Our growth prospects
and profitability may be adversely affected if we are restricted from making
certain additional investments in the PRC and are not able to fully capitalize
on the growth of the semiconductor industry in the PRC.
16
As a substantial portion of our business and operations is located in
Taiwan, we are vulnerable to earthquakes, typhoons, drought and other
natural disasters, as well as power outages and other industrial incidents,
which could severely disrupt the normal operation of our business and
adversely affect our results of operations.
Taiwan is susceptible to earthquakes and has experienced severe earthquakes
which caused significant property damage and loss of life, particularly in the
central and eastern regions of Taiwan. Earthquakes have damaged production
facilities and adversely affected the operations of many companies involved in
the semiconductor and other industries. We have never experienced structural
damage to our facilities and damage to our machinery and equipment as a result
of these earthquakes. In the past, however, we have experienced interruptions to
our production schedule primarily as a result of power outages caused by
earthquakes.
Taiwan is also susceptible to typhoons, which may cause damage and business
interruptions to companies with facilities located in Taiwan. In 2001, Taiwan
experienced severe damage from typhoons, including a typhoon on September 16
that caused over 100 deaths, severe flooding and extensive damage to property
and businesses. In the third quarter of 2004, a typhoon caused a partial
interruption for approximately two weeks in our water supply at ASE Chung Li's
substrate operations.
We are dependent upon water for our packaging and substrates operations and
a drought could interrupt such operations. In May 2002, Taiwan experienced a
severe drought. Although we were not affected by the May 2002 drought directly,
a drought may interrupt the manufacturing process of the foundries located in
Taiwan, in turn disrupting some of our customers' production, which could result
in a decline in the demand for our services. In addition, the supply of
electrical power in Taiwan, which is primarily provided by Taiwan Power Company,
the state-owned electric utility, is susceptible to disruption that could be
prolonged and frequent, caused by overload as a result of high demand or other
reasons.
Our production facilities as well as many of our suppliers and customers
and providers of complementary semiconductor manufacturing services, including
foundries, are located in Taiwan. If our customers are affected by an
earthquake, a typhoon, a drought or other natural disasters, or power outage or
other industrial incidents, it could result in a decline in the demand for our
packaging and testing services. If our suppliers and providers of complementary
semiconductor manufacturing services are affected, our production schedule could
be interrupted or delayed. As a result, a major earthquake, typhoon, drought, or
other natural disasters in Taiwan, or power outage or other industrial incidents
could severely disrupt the normal operation of business and have a material
adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Any recurrence of SARS or outbreak of avian flu or other contagious disease
may have an adverse effect on the economies of certain Asian countries and
may adversely affect our results of operations.
In the first half of 2003, the PRC, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Vietnam
and certain other countries encountered an outbreak of severe acute respiratory
syndrome, or SARS, which is a highly contagious form of atypical pneumonia. The
SARS outbreak had an adverse effect on our results of operations for the first
half of 2003, primarily due to the lower than expected demand for our packaging
and testing services that resulted from the adverse effect of such SARS outbreak
on the level of economic activity in the affected regions. Additionally, the
World Health Organization, or WHO, reported in January 2005 that "during 2004,
large parts of Asia experienced unprecedented outbreaks of highly pathogenic
avian influenza, caused by the H5N1 virus," which moved the world closer than
any time since 1968 to an influenza pandemic "with high morbidity, excess
mortality, and social and economic disruption." There is no guarantee that an
outbreak of SARS, avian flu or other contagious disease will not occur again in
the future and that any future outbreak of SARS, avian flu or other contagious
disease or the measures taken by the governments of the ROC, Hong Kong, the PRC
or other countries against such potential outbreaks, will not seriously
interrupt our production operations or those of our suppliers and customers,
which may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. The
perception that an outbreak of SARS, avian flu or other contagious disease may
occur again may have an adverse effect on the economic conditions of certain
countries in Asia.
17
Risks Relating to Ownership of the ADSs
The market for the common shares and the ADSs may not be liquid.
Active, liquid trading markets generally result in lower price volatility
and more efficient execution of buy and sell orders for investors, compared to
less active and less liquid markets. Liquidity of a securities market is often a
function of the volume of the underlying shares that are publicly held by
unrelated parties.
There has been no trading market for the common shares outside the ROC and
the only trading market for the common shares will be the Taiwan Stock Exchange.
The outstanding ADSs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange. There is no
assurance that the market for the common shares or the ADSs will be active or
liquid.
Although ADS holders are entitled to withdraw the common shares underlying
the ADSs from the depositary at any time, ROC law requires that the common
shares be held in an account in the ROC or sold for the benefit of the holder on
the Taiwan Stock Exchange. In connection with any withdrawal of common shares
from our ADS facility, the ADSs evidencing these common shares will be
cancelled. Unless additional ADSs are issued, the effect of withdrawals will be
to reduce the number of outstanding ADSs. If a significant number of withdrawals
are effected, the liquidity of our ADSs will be substantially reduced. We cannot
assure you that the ADS depositary will be able to arrange for a sale of
deposited shares in a timely manner or at a specified price, particularly during
periods of illiquidity or volatility.
If a non-ROC holder of ADSs withdraws common shares, such holder of ADSs
will be required to appoint a tax guarantor, local agent and custodian bank
in the ROC and register with the Taiwan Stock Exchange in order to buy and
sell securities on the Taiwan Stock Exchange.
When a non-ROC holder of ADSs elects to withdraw common shares represented
by ADSs, such holder of the ADSs will be required to appoint an agent for filing
tax returns and making tax payments, or a tax guarantor, in the ROC. The tax
guarantor will be required to meet the qualifications set by the ROC Ministry of
Finance and will act as the guarantor of the withdrawing holder's tax payment
obligations. Evidence of the appointment of a tax guarantor, the approval of
such appointment by the ROC tax authorities and tax clearance certificates or
evidentiary documents issued by such tax guarantor may be required as conditions
to such holder repatriating the profits derived from the sale of common shares.
We cannot assure you that a withdrawing holder will be able to appoint and
obtain approval for a tax guarantor in a timely manner.
In addition, under current ROC law, such withdrawing holder is required to
appoint a local agent in the ROC to, among other things, open a bank account,
open an account with the Taiwan Securities Central Depository Co., Ltd., open a
securities trading account with a local securities brokerage firm, pay taxes,
remit funds and exercise such holder's rights as a shareholder. Furthermore,
such withdrawing holder must appoint a local bank to act as custodian for
confirmation and settlement of trades, safekeeping of securities and cash
proceeds and reporting and declaration of information. Without satisfying these
requirements, non-ROC holders of ADSs that withdraw and hold the common shares
represented thereby would not be able to hold or otherwise transfer the common
shares on the Taiwan Stock Exchange or otherwise.
In addition, non-ROC holders of common shares will be required to register
with the Taiwan Stock Exchange in order to buy and sell securities on the Taiwan
Stock Exchange prior to withdrawing common shares.
The market value of your investment may fluctuate due to the volatility of
the ROC securities market.
The ROC securities market is smaller and more volatile than the securities
markets in the United States and in many European countries. The Taiwan Stock
Exchange has experienced substantial fluctuations in the prices and volumes of
sales of listed securities and there are currently limits on the range of daily
price movements on the Taiwan Stock Exchange. The Taiwan Stock Exchange Index
peaked at 12,495.3 in February 1990, and subsequently fell to a low of 2,560.5
in October 1990. On April 29, 2005, the Taiwan Stock Exchange Index closed at
5,818.1. The Taiwan Stock Exchange has experienced problems such as market
manipulation, insider trading and payment defaults. The recurrence of these or
similar problems could have a material adverse effect on the market price and
18
liquidity of the securities of ROC companies, including the common shares and
the ADSs, in both the domestic and the international markets.
Holders of common shares and ADSs may incur dilution as a result of the
practice among ROC technology companies of issuing stock bonuses and stock
options to employees.
Similar to other ROC technology companies, we issue bonuses from time to
time in the form of common shares valued at par under our employee stock bonus
plan. In 2004, we granted an aggregate of 15,427,203 common shares as stock
bonuses with an aggregate value of NT$154.3 million (US$4.9 million). In
addition, under the revised ROC Company Law we may, upon approval from our board
of directors and the ROC Securities and Futures Bureau (formerly known as the
Securities and Futures Commission), establish employee stock option plans. We
currently maintain two employee stock option plans pursuant to which our
full-time employees and the full-time employees of our domestic and foreign
subsidiaries are eligible to receive stock option grants. As of December 31,
2004, 284,885,000 options have been granted. See "Item 6. Directors, Senior
Management and Employees--Compensation--ASE Inc. Employee Bonus and Stock Option
Plans". The issuance of our common shares pursuant to stock bonuses or stock
options may have a dilutive effect on the holders of outstanding common shares
and ADSs.
Restrictions on the ability to deposit our common shares into our ADS
facility may adversely affect the liquidity and price of our ADSs.
The ability to deposit common shares into our ADS facility is restricted by
ROC law. A significant number of withdrawals of common shares underlying our
ADSs would reduce the liquidity of the ADSs by reducing the number of ADSs
outstanding. As a result, the prevailing market price of our ADSs may differ
from the prevailing market price of our common shares on the Taiwan Stock
Exchange. Under current ROC law, no person or entity, including you and us, may
deposit our common shares in our ADS facility without specific approval of the
ROC Securities and Futures Bureau, unless:
(1) we pay stock dividends on our common shares;
(2) we make a free distribution of common shares;
(3) holders of ADSs exercise preemptive rights in the event of capital
increases for cash; or
(4) to the extent permitted under the deposit agreement and the relevant
custody agreement, investors purchase our common shares, directly or
through the depositary, on the Taiwan Stock Exchange, and deliver our
common shares to the custodian for deposit into our ADS facility, or
our existing shareholders deliver our common shares to the custodian
for deposit into our ADS facility.
With respect to item (4) above, the depositary may issue ADSs against the
deposit of those common shares only if the total number of ADSs outstanding
following the deposit will not exceed the number of ADSs previously approved by
the ROC Securities and Futures Bureau, plus any ADSs issued pursuant to the
events described in subparagraphs (1), (2) and (3) above.
In addition, in the case of a deposit of our common shares requested under
item (4) above, the depositary will refuse to accept deposit of our common
shares if such deposit is not permitted under any legal, regulatory or other
restrictions notified by us to the depositary from time to time, which
restrictions may include blackout periods during which deposits may not be made,
minimum and maximum amounts and frequency of deposits.
The depositary will not offer holders of ADSs preemptive rights unless the
distribution of both the rights and the underlying common shares to our ADS
holders are either registered under the Securities Act, or exempt from
registration under the Securities Act.
19
Holders of ADSs will not have the same voting rights as our shareholders,
which may affect the value of their ADSs.
The voting rights of a holder of ADSs as to the common shares represented
by its ADSs are governed by the deposit agreement. Holders of ADSs will not be
able to exercise voting rights on an individual basis. If holders representing
at least 51% of the ADSs outstanding at the relevant record date instruct the
depositary to vote in the same manner regarding a resolution, including the
election of directors and supervisors, the depositary will cause all common
shares represented by the ADSs to be voted in that manner. If the depositary
does not receive timely instructions representing at least 51% of the ADSs
outstanding at the relevant record date to vote in the same manner for any
resolution, including the election of directors and supervisors, holders of ADSs
will be deemed to have instructed the depositary or its nominee to authorize all
the common shares represented by the ADSs to be voted at the discretion of our
chairman or his designee, which may not be in the interest of holders of ADSs.
The right of holders of ADSs to participate in our rights offerings is
limited, which could cause dilution to your holdings.
We may from time to time distribute rights to our shareholders, including
rights to acquire our securities. Under the deposit agreement, the depositary
will not offer holders of ADSs those rights unless both the distribution of the
rights and the underlying securities to all our ADS holders are either
registered under the Securities Act or exempt from registration under the
Securities Act. Although we may be eligible to take advantage of certain
exemptions under the Securities Act available to certain foreign issuers for
rights offerings, we can give no assurances that we will be able to establish an
exemption from registration under the Securities Act, and we are under no
obligation to file a registration statement for any of these rights.
Accordingly, holders of ADSs may be unable to participate in our rights
offerings and may experience dilution of their holdings.
If the depositary is unable to sell rights that are not exercised or not
distributed or if the sale is not lawful or reasonably practicable, it will
allow the rights to lapse, in which case holders of ADSs will receive no value
for these rights.
Changes in exchange controls which restrict your ability to convert
proceeds received from your ownership of ADSs may have an adverse effect on
the value of your investment.
Under current ROC law, the depositary, without obtaining approvals from the
Central Bank of China or any other governmental authority or agency of the ROC,
may convert NT dollars into other currencies, including U.S. dollars, for:
o the proceeds of the sale of common shares represented by ADSs or received
as stock dividends from the common shares and deposited into the depositary
receipt facility; and
o any cash dividends or distributions received from the common shares.
In addition, the depositary may also convert into NT dollars incoming
payments for purchases of common shares for deposit in the ADS facility against
the creation of additional ADSs. The depositary may be required to obtain
foreign exchange approval from the Central Bank of China on a payment-by-payment
basis for conversion from NT dollars into foreign currencies of the proceeds
from the sale of subscription rights for new common shares. Although it is
expected that the Central Bank of China will grant this approval as a routine
matter, we cannot assure you that in the future any approval will be obtained in
a timely manner, or at all.
Under current ROC law, a holder of the ADSs, without obtaining further
approval from the Central Bank of China, may convert from NT dollars into other
currencies, including U.S. dollars, the following:
o the proceeds of the sale of any underlying common shares withdrawn
from the depositary receipt facility or received as a stock dividend
that has been deposited into the depositary receipt facility; and
o any cash dividends or distribution received from the common shares.
20
However, such holder may be required to obtain foreign exchange approval
from the Central Bank of China on a payment-by-payment basis for conversion from
NT dollars into foreign currencies of the proceeds from the sale of subscription
rights for new common shares. Although the Central Bank of China is generally
expected to grant this approval as a routine matter, we cannot assure you that
you will actually obtain this approval in a timely manner, or at all.
Under the ROC Foreign Exchange Control Law, the Executive Yuan of the ROC
government may, without prior notice but subject to subsequent legislative
approval, impose foreign exchange controls in the event of, among other things,
a material change in international economic conditions. We cannot assure you
that foreign exchange controls or other restrictions will not be introduced in
the future.
The value of your investment may be reduced by possible future sales of
common shares or ADSs by us or our shareholders.
While we are not aware of any plans by any major shareholders to dispose of
significant numbers of common shares, we cannot assure you that one or more
existing shareholders or owners of securities convertible or exchangeable into
or exercisable for our common shares or ADSs will not dispose of significant
numbers of common shares or ADSs. In addition, several of our subsidiaries and
affiliates hold common shares, depositary shares representing common shares and
options to purchase common shares or ADSs. We or they may decide to sell those
securities in the future. See "Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party
Transactions--Major Shareholders" for a description of our significant
shareholders and affiliates that hold our common shares.
On August 1, 2004, ASE Chung Li and ASE Material merged with and into ASE
Inc. pursuant to a merger agreement dated October 28, 2003, with ASE Inc. as the
surviving corporation. The merger was consummated by means of a share exchange
pursuant to which the respective shareholders of ASE Chung Li and ASE Material,
other than ourselves but including our subsidiaries ASE Test and ASE Test
Taiwan, received our common shares in exchange for the common shares of each of
ASE Chung Li and ASE Material. 282,315,437 common shares were issued in
connection with the merger, representing approximately 7.9% of our outstanding
shares as of October 28, 2003 before giving effect to such issuance. Of these
shares, the 149,175,000 common shares issued to ASE Test, our consolidated
subsidiary, are subject to certain transfer restrictions and are available for
resale in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Taiwan Stock
Exchange. See "Item 10. Additional Information--Articles of
Incorporation--Transfer Restrictions--Common Shares Issued to Substantial
Shareholders in Connection with a Merger". The 5,000,000 common shares issued to
ASE Test Taiwan are not subject to transfer restrictions under the rules and
regulations of the Taiwan Stock Exchange. In order to comply with Singapore law,
trusts have been set up to hold and dispose of our shares issued to ASE Test and
ASE Test Taiwan in connection with our merger with ASE Chung Li and ASE
Material. See "Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party
Transactions--Related Party Transactions".
We cannot predict the effect, if any, that future sales of common shares or
ADSs, or the availability of common shares or ADSs for future sale, will have on
the market price of the common shares or the ADSs prevailing from time to time.
Sales of substantial numbers of common shares or ADSs in the public market, or
the perception that such sales may occur, could depress the prevailing market
prices of the common shares or the ADSs.
Item 4. Information on the Company
HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMPANY
We were incorporated on March 23, 1984 as a company limited by shares under
the ROC Company Law, with facilities in the Nantze Export Processing Zone
located in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. We were listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange in
1989. In 1990, we acquired ASE Test Taiwan, which provides our customers with
testing services. In 1991, we established ASE Test Malaysia, which provides our
customers with testing and packaging services. In 1997, we established ASE
Material, which designs and produces interconnect materials. In 1997, we
constructed a new facility in Kaohsiung, Taiwan for packaging services and
established a research and development laboratory. Our principal executive
offices are located at 26 Chin Third Road, Nantze Export Processing Zone,
Nantze, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC and our telephone number at the above address is
(8867) 361-7131. Our agent for service
21
in the United States is CT Corporation, 111 Eighth Avenue, New York, New York
10011, and our agent's telephone number is (212) 894-8940.
ASE Chung Li and ASE Korea
In July 1999, we purchased Motorola's Semiconductor Products Sector
operations in Chung Li, Taiwan and Paju, South Korea for the packaging and
testing of semiconductors with principally communications, consumer and
automotive applications. We acquired substantially all of the assets of ASE
Chung Li for a base price of US$150.0 million in cash, consisting of an initial
payment at closing and additional payments in installments contingent upon
certain targets of revenue from packaging and testing services provided to
Motorola being met. All such installments were paid by July 2004. We acquired
100% of the outstanding shares of ASE Korea for a base price of US$140.0 million
in cash, consisting of an initial payment, with the remainder payable over five
years. In addition to the combined base price of US$290.0 million, we also paid
an aggregate of approximately US$60.1 million in cash to purchase capital assets
at both facilities which were acquired after January 1, 1999 and specified
inventories and cash positions. Under the acquisition agreements, we acquired a
70.0% interest in each of the two businesses, and ASE Test acquired the
remaining 30.0% interest. This division of the investment reflected in part our
estimate of the relative packaging and testing values at the facilities.
ISE Labs
In May 1999, we acquired 70.0% of the outstanding shares of ISE Labs, a
semiconductor testing company with its principal facilities located in Fremont,
California at a purchase price of US$100.1 million. We subsequently increased
our holding to 100% through purchases made in April, July and November 2000 and
in January 2002. The total price for our acquisition of 100% of the outstanding
shares of ISE Labs amounted to US$221.2 million.
Universal Scientific
From February through July of 1999, we purchased 22.6% of the outstanding
shares of Universal Scientific for approximately NT$3,532.5 million, principally
through open market purchases on the Taiwan Stock Exchange. We subsequently
increased our holding to 23.3% following open market purchases of additional
shares in July and August of 2000. As of May 31, 2005, we held 23.3% of
Universal Scientific's outstanding equity shares. Six out of the nine directors
on the Universal Scientific board of directors, including the chairman, are our
representatives.
Acquisition of NEC's Packaging and Testing Operations in Yamagata, Japan
On February 3, 2004, we and J&R Holding Limited, our wholly-owned
subsidiary, entered into a share sale and purchase agreement with NEC
Electronics Corporation, or NEC, and NEC Yamagata, Ltd. in connection with the
acquisition of the semiconductor packaging and testing business of NEC Yamagata,
a wholly-owned subsidiary of NEC. The acquisition was completed on May 31, 2004
and the purchase price, after accounting for certain purchase price adjustments,
was approximately US$25.6 million. The acquisition was consummated by means of a
company split under the Japanese Commercial Code through which the packaging and
testing business of NEC Yamagata was transferred to a company formed by NEC
Yamagata named ASE Japan Co., Ltd. Pursuant to the terms and conditions of the
share sale and purchase agreement, all of the issued and outstanding shares of
ASE Japan were purchased by J&R Holding Limited, and ASE Japan now owns and
operates the semiconductor packaging and testing business acquired from NEC
Yamagata. In connection with the acquisition, we and ASE Japan also entered into
a packaging and testing services agreement with NEC to provide packaging and
testing services to NEC for an initial period of four years after the completion
of the acquisition.
Merger with ASE Chung Li and ASE Material
On October 28, 2003, we entered into a merger agreement with ASE Chung Li
and ASE Material, pursuant to which ASE Chung Li and ASE Material merged with us
on August 1, 2004. We are the surviving corporation. Upon the completion of the
merger, all of the assets and liabilities of ASE Chung Li and ASE Material are
owned and have been assumed by us, and the operations of ASE Chung Li and ASE
Material have been integrated with our operations.
22
The merger was consummated by means of a share exchange pursuant to which
the respective shareholders of ASE Chung Li and ASE Material, other than
ourselves but including our subsidiaries J&R Holding Limited, ASE Test and ASE
Test Taiwan, received our common shares in exchange for the common shares of
each of ASE Chung Li and ASE Material. 282,315,437 common shares were issued in
connection with the merger, representing 7.9% of our outstanding shares as of
October 28, 2003 before giving effect to such issuance.
As of October 28, 2003, 57.6% of the outstanding common shares of ASE Chung
Li was held by us, 14.8% was held by J&R Holding Limited, our wholly-owned
subsidiary, and 27.6% was held by ASE Test, our consolidated subsidiary.
Pursuant to the merger agreement, all of the common shares of ASE Chung Li held
by shareholders of ASE Chung Li, other than ourselves but including our
subsidiaries J&R Holding Limited, ASE Test and ASE Test Taiwan, were exchanged
for our common shares at an exchange ratio of 0.85 ASE Inc. common share per ASE
Chung Li common share. In connection with the merger, we issued 79,914,225
common shares to J&R Holding Limited, 149,175,000 common shares to ASE Test and
four common shares to certain individuals who were the original shareholders of
ASE Chung Li. See "Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party
Transactions--Related Party Transactions". The merger with ASE Chung Li had a
transaction value of approximately NT$7,101.8 million (US$223.7 million), based
on NT$31.00 per ASE Inc. common share, which was the average of the closing
prices of our common shares on the Taiwan Stock Exchange for two days prior to
and following October 28, 2003.
As of October 28, 2003, 57.4% of the outstanding common shares of ASE
Material was held by us and 4.0% was held by ASE Test Taiwan, with the remaining
38.6% held by the management and employees of ASE Material and ASE Inc., our
affiliates, and others. Pursuant to the merger agreement, all of the common
shares of ASE Material held by these shareholders other than ourselves were
exchanged for our common shares at an exchange ratio of 0.50 ASE Inc. common
share per ASE Material common share. In connection with the merger, we issued
53,226,208 common shares to these shareholders of ASE Material. The merger with
ASE Material had a transaction value of approximately NT$1,650.0 million
(US$52.0 million), based on NT$31.00 per ASE Inc. common share, which was the
average of the closing prices of our common shares on the Taiwan Stock Exchange
for two days prior and following October 28, 2003. See "Item 7. Major
Shareholders and Related Party Transactions--Related Party Transactions".
Joint Venture with Compeq Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
On October 28, 2003, we entered into a joint venture agreement with Compeq
to establish ASE-Compeq Technologies, Inc. to focus on the design and production
of interconnect materials for packaging semiconductors. Pursuant to the joint
venture agreement, we own 60% of the equity interest in ASE-Compeq Technologies,
Inc. and Compeq owns the remaining 40%. As of May 31, 2005, we had invested
NT$12 million (US$0.4 million) in ASE-Compeq Technologies, Inc. Our Chairman,
Jason C.S. Chang, serves as the Chairman of ASE-Compeq Technologies, Inc. The
joint venture has been approved by the ROC Fair Trade Commission and was
incorporated in January 2004. The initial focus of ASE-Compeq Technologies, Inc.
is on meeting our substrates requirements by providing us access to Compeq's
production capacity and expertise, know-how and engineering capabilities in the
design and production of advanced substrates and gradually expand its customer
base to include integrated device manufacturers and other backend
subcontractors. ASE-Compeq Technologies, Inc. will initially utilize Compeq's
existing facilities in Ta Yuan, Taiwan.
Acquisition of ASE (U.S.) Inc.
In order to decrease our dependence upon sales agents for sales and
customer service in North America and Europe, in July 2004, we, through our
subsidiary J&R Holding Limited, purchased all of the outstanding shares of ASE
(U.S.) Inc. from Y.C. Hsu, ASE (U.S.) Inc.'s sole shareholder, for a purchase
price of US$4.6 million. ASE (U.S.) Inc. is now our wholly-owned subsidiary
through which we provide sales and customer service in North American and
Europe. See "--Business Overview--Sales and Marketing--Sales and Customer
Service Agents".
BUSINESS OVERVIEW
Together with our subsidiary ASE Test, we are the world's largest
independent provider of semiconductor packaging and testing services based on
2004 revenues. Our services include semiconductor packaging, design and
production of interconnect materials, front-end engineering testing, wafer
probing and final testing services. We
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believe that, as a result of the following, we are better positioned than our
competitors to meet the requirements of semiconductor companies worldwide for
outsourced packaging and testing services across a wide range of end-use
applications:
o our ability to provide a broad range of advanced semiconductor
packaging and testing services on a large-scale turnkey basis;
o our expertise in developing and providing advanced packaging,
interconnect materials and testing technologies and solutions;
o our scale of operations and financial position, which enable us to
make significant investments in capacity expansion and research and
development as well as to make selective acquisitions;
o our geographic presence in key centers of outsourced semiconductor and
electronics manufacturing; and
o our long-term relationships with providers of complementary
semiconductor manufacturing services, including our strategic alliance
with TSMC, the world's largest dedicated semiconductor foundry.
We believe that the trend for semiconductor companies to outsource their
packaging and testing requirements is accelerating as semiconductor companies
increasingly rely on independent providers of foundry and advanced packaging and
testing services. In response to the increased pace of new product development
and shortened product life and production cycles, semiconductor companies are
increasingly seeking independent packaging and testing companies that can
provide turnkey services in order to reduce time-to-market. We believe that our
expertise and scale in advanced technology and our ability to integrate our
broad range of solutions into turnkey services allow us to benefit from the
accelerated outsourcing trend and better serve our existing and potential
customers.
We believe that we have benefited, and will continue to benefit, from our
geographic location in Taiwan. Taiwan is currently the largest center for
outsourced semiconductor manufacturing in the world and, in addition, has a high
concentration of electronics manufacturing service providers, which are the end
users of our customers' products. Our close proximity to foundries and other
providers of complementary semiconductor manufacturing services is attractive to
our customers who wish to take advantage of the efficiencies of a total
semiconductor manufacturing solution by outsourcing several stages of their
manufacturing requirements. Our close proximity to end users of our customers'
products is attractive to our customers who wish to take advantage of the
logistical efficiencies of direct shipment services that we offer. We believe
that, as a result, we are well positioned to meet the advanced semiconductor
engineering and manufacturing requirements of our customers.
Our global base of over 200 customers includes leading semiconductor
companies across a wide range of end-use applications:
o Agilent Technologies, Inc. o NEC Electronics Corporation
o Altera Corporation o NVIDIA Corporation
o ATI Technologies, Inc. o ON Semiconductor Corp.
o Conexant Systems, Inc. o Philips Semiconductors Inc.
o Freescale Semiconductor, o Qualcomm Incorporated
Inc. (formerly the o RF Micro Devices, Inc.
semiconductor operations o Silicon Integrated Systems Corp.
of Motorola, Inc.) o STMicroelectronics N.V.
o IBM Corporation o Sunplus Technology Co., Ltd.
o LSI Logic Corporation o VIA Technologies, Inc.
Industry Background
General
Semiconductors are the basic building blocks used to create an increasing
variety of electronic products and systems. Continuous improvements in
semiconductor manufacturing processes and design technologies have enabled
manufacturers to produce smaller, more complex and more reliable semiconductors
at a lower cost per
24
function. These improvements have resulted in significant performance and price
benefits to manufacturers of electronic systems. As a result, semiconductor
demand has grown substantially in our primary end-user markets for
communications, personal computers and consumer electronics, and has experienced
increased growth in other markets such as automotive products, industrial
automation and control systems.
The semiconductor industry is characterized by strong long-term growth,
with periodic and sometimes severe cyclical downturns. The Semiconductor
Industry Association estimates that worldwide sales of semiconductors increased
from approximately US$51 billion in 1990 to US$213 billion in 2004. The
semiconductor industry experienced strong growth between 1992 and 1995 and
between 1998 and 2000, with declines between 1996 and the first half of 1997 as
well as in 1998. Starting from the fourth quarter of 2000, the semiconductor
industry experienced a severe downturn due to a slowdown in the global economy,
overcapacity in the semiconductor industry and worldwide inventory adjustment.
The semiconductor industry started to show signs of a modest recovery in 2002,
primarily as a result of inventory replenishment and the introduction of new
products. This modest recovery, evident in 2002 and 2003, strengthened in 2004
and is expected to maintain its strength throughout most of 2005, according to
the Semiconductor Industry Association. We believe that the pattern of long-term
growth and cyclical fluctuations will continue in the semiconductor industry.
Outsourcing Trends in Semiconductor Manufacturing
Historically, semiconductor companies designed, manufactured, packaged and
tested semiconductors primarily in their own facilities. Over the past several
years, there has been a trend in the industry to outsource stages in the
manufacturing process. Virtually every significant stage of the manufacturing
process can be outsourced. Wafer foundry services and semiconductor packaging
services are currently the largest segments of the independent semiconductor
manufacturing services market. Most of the world's major integrated device
manufacturers use some independent manufacturing services to maintain a
strategic mix of internal and external manufacturing capacity.
The availability of technologically advanced independent manufacturing
services has also enabled the growth of "fabless" semiconductor companies that
focus on semiconductor design and marketing and outsource their fabrication,
packaging and testing requirements to independent semiconductor manufacturing
companies. The growth in the number and scale of fabless semiconductor companies
that rely solely on independent companies to meet their manufacturing
requirements will continue to be a driver of growth in the market for
independent foundry, packaging and testing services. Similarly, the availability
of technologically advanced independent manufacturing services has encouraged
integrated device manufacturers, which had traditionally relied on in-house
semiconductor manufacturing capacity, to increasingly outsource their
manufacturing requirements to independent semiconductor manufacturing companies.
We believe the outsourcing of semiconductor manufacturing services will
increase in the future from current levels for many reasons, including the
following:
Technological Expertise and Significant Capital Expenditure. Semiconductor
manufacturing processes have become highly complex, requiring substantial
investment in specialized equipment and facilities and sophisticated engineering
and manufacturing expertise. Technical expertise becomes increasingly important
as the industry transitions from one generation of technology to another, as
evidenced by the current migration of fabrication technology from 8-inch to
12-inch wafers. In addition, product life cycles have been shortening,
magnifying the need to continuously upgrade or replace manufacturing equipment
to accommodate new products. As a result, new investments in in-house packaging,
testing and fabrication facilities are becoming less desirable to integrated
device manufacturers because of the high investment costs as well as the
inability to achieve sufficient economies of scale and utilization rates
necessary to be competitive with the independent service providers. Independent
packaging, testing and foundry companies, on the other hand, are able to realize
the benefits of specialization and achieve economies of scale by providing
services to a large base of customers across a wide range of products. This
enables them to reduce costs and shorten production cycles through high capacity
utilization and process expertise. In the process, they are also able to focus
on discrete stages of semiconductor manufacturing and deliver services of
superior quality.
Since the recent industry downturn beginning in the fourth quarter of 2000,
semiconductor companies have significantly reduced their investment in in-house
packaging and testing technologies and capacity. As a result, some
25
semiconductor companies may have limited in-house expertise and capacity to
accommodate large orders following a recovery in demand, particularly in the
area of advanced technology. We expect semiconductor companies to increasingly
outsource their packaging and testing requirements to take advantage of the
advanced technology and scale of operations of independent packaging and testing
companies.
Focus on Core Competencies. As the semiconductor industry becomes more
competitive, semiconductor companies are expected to further outsource their
semiconductor manufacturing requirements in order to focus their resources on
core competencies, such as semiconductor design and marketing.
Time-to-Market Pressure. The increasingly short product life cycle has
accelerated time-to-market pressure for semiconductor companies, leading them to
rely increasingly on outsourced suppliers as a key source for effective
manufacturing solutions.
Gartner Dataquest forecasts that the total outsourced semiconductor
packaging market will grow from US$8.2 billion in 2003 to US$21.3 billion in
2009. Gartner Dataquest also forecasts that the total outsourced semiconductor
testing market will grow from US$2.3 billion in 2003 to US$6.5 billion in 2009.
The Semiconductor Industry in Taiwan
The semiconductor industry in Taiwan has been a leader in, and a major
beneficiary of, the trend in outsourcing. The growth of the semiconductor
industry in Taiwan has been the result of several factors. First, semiconductor
manufacturing companies in Taiwan typically focus on one or two stages of the
semiconductor manufacturing process. As a result, these companies tend to be
more efficient and are better able to achieve economies of scale and maintain
higher capacity utilization rates. Second, semiconductor manufacturing companies
in Taiwan that provide the major stages of the manufacturing process are located
close to each other and typically enjoy close working relationships. This close
network is attractive to customers who wish to outsource several stages of the
semiconductor manufacturing process. For instance, a customer could reduce
production cycle time and unit cost and streamline logistics by outsourcing its
foundry, packaging, testing and drop shipment services to semiconductor
manufacturing companies in Taiwan. Third, Taiwan also has an educated labor pool
and a large number of engineers suitable for sophisticated manufacturing
industries such as semiconductors.
As a result of the growth of the global semiconductor market, the
semiconductor industry in Taiwan has in recent years made significant capital
expenditures to expand capacity and technological capabilities. The ROC
government has also provided tax incentives, long-term loans at favorable rates
and research and development support, both directly and indirectly through
support of research institutes and universities. As a result of investments made
in recent years, Taiwan has achieved substantial market share in the outsourced
semiconductor manufacturing industry. Furthermore, the growth of Taiwan's
electronics manufacturing industry, particularly in personal computer design and
manufacturing, has created substantial local demand for semiconductors.
The Semiconductor Industry in Other Asian Regions
Many of the factors that contributed to the growth of the semiconductor
industry in Taiwan have also contributed to the recent development of the
semiconductor industry in Southeast Asia. Access to expanding semiconductor
foundry services in Singapore, convenient proximity to major downstream
electronics manufacturing operations in Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand,
government-sponsored infrastructure support, tax incentives and pools of skilled
engineers and labor at relatively low cost have all encouraged the development
of back-end semiconductor service operations in Southeast Asia. The downstream
electronics manufacturers in Southeast Asia have typically focused on products
used in the communications, industrial and consumer electronics and personal
computer peripheral sectors. The proximity to both semiconductor foundries and
end users has influenced local and international semiconductor companies
increasingly to obtain packaging, testing and drop shipment services from
companies in Southeast Asia.
In addition, the world's leading electronics manufacturing service
providers, many of them from Taiwan, are increasingly establishing manufacturing
facilities in the PRC in order to take advantage of lower labor costs,
government incentives for investment and the potential size of the domestic
market for end users of electronics products. Many of the factors that
contributed to the growth of the semiconductor industry in Taiwan are beginning
26
to emerge in the PRC and may play an increasingly important role in the growth
of its semiconductor industry over the long term.
Overview of Semiconductor Manufacturing Process
The manufacturing of semiconductors is a complex process that requires
increasingly sophisticated engineering and manufacturing expertise. The
manufacturing process may be divided into the following stages from circuit
design to shipment:
[GRAPHICS OMITTED]
We are involved in all stages of the semiconductor manufacturing process
except circuit design and wafer fabrication.
Process Description
---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
Circuit Design.......................... The design of a semiconductor is
developed by laying out circuit
components and interconnections. A
complex circuit may be designed with as
many as 20 layers of patterns or more.
Front-End Engineering Test.............. Throughout and following the design
process, prototype semiconductors
undergo front-end engineering testing,
which involves software development,
electrical design validation,
reliability and failure analysis.
Wafer Fabrication....................... Process begins with the generation of
a photomask through the definition of
the circuit design pattern on a
photographic negative, known as a
mask, by an electron beam or laser
beam writer. These circuit patterns
are transferred to the wafers using
various advanced processes.
Wafer Probe............................. Each individual die is electrically
tested, or probed, for defects. Dies
that fail this test are marked to be
27
Process Description
---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
discarded.
Packaging............................... Packaging, also called assembly, is
the processing of bare semiconductors
into finished semiconductors and
serves to protect the die and
facilitate electrical connections and
heat dissipation. The patterned
silicon wafers received from our
customers are diced by means of
diamond saws into separate dies, also
called chips. Each die is attached to
a leadframe or a laminate (plastic or
tape) substrate by epoxy resin. A
leadframe is a miniature sheet of
metal, generally made of copper and
silver alloys, on which the pattern of
input/output leads has been cut. On a
laminate substrate, typically used in
BGA packages, the leads take the shape
of small bumps or balls. Leads on the
leadframe or the substrate are
connected by extremely fine gold wires
or bumps to the input/output terminals
on the chips, through the use of
automated machines known as "bonders".
Each chip is then encapsulated,
generally in a plastic casing molded
from a molding compound, with only the
leads protruding from the finished
casing, either from the edges of the
package as in the case of the
leadframe-based packages, or in the
form of small bumps on a surface of
the package as in the case of BGA or
other substrate-based packages.
Final Test.............................. Final testing is conducted to ensure
that the packaged semiconductor meets
performance specifications. Final
testing involves using sophisticated
testing equipment known as testers and
customized software to electrically
test a number of attributes of
packaged semiconductors, including
functionality, speed, predicted
endurance and power consumption. The
final testing of semiconductors is
categorized by the functions of the
semiconductors tested into
logic/mixed-signal final testing and
memory final testing. Memory final
testing typically requires simpler
test software but longer testing time
per device tested.
Strategy
Our objective is to provide advanced semiconductor packaging and testing
services and interconnect materials design and production capabilities which set
industry standards and to lead and facilitate the industry trend towards
outsourcing semiconductor manufacturing requirements. The principal elements of
our strategy are to:
Maintain Our Focus on Providing a Complete Range of Semiconductor Packaging
and Testing Services
We believe that an important factor in our ability to attract leading
semiconductor companies as our customers has been our ability to provide turnkey
services on a large scale. Turnkey services consist of the integrated packaging,
testing and direct shipment of semiconductors to end users designated by our
customers. As part of our integrated packaging solution, we also design and
produce advanced and cost-competitive interconnect materials, substantially all
of which are for internal use in our packaging operations. As a result of our
technical expertise and large production capacity in both packaging and testing,
we are able to provide turnkey services on a large scale. As product lives and
production cycles shorten and packaging and testing technologies advance more
rapidly, our
28
customers increasingly value our ability to work with them as an integral and
strategic partner in the development of their products. The front-end
engineering testing expertise of ISE Labs has greatly enhanced our ability to
participate in the earlier stages of circuit design and the semiconductor
manufacturing process. Our establishment of ASE Material in 1997 for the design
and production of interconnect materials, such as substrates and leadframes, has
provided us with expertise in interconnect materials technology, which has
become increasingly critical for our customers both in terms of cost and
production cycle time. With the merger of ASE Material into us in 2004, we
believe we are better positioned to provide effective and efficient service to
our customers.
Continue to Focus on Advanced Technological, Processing and Interconnect
Materials Capabilities
We intend to continue our focus on developing advanced process and product
technologies in order to meet the advanced semiconductor engineering
requirements of our customers. Our expertise in packaging technology has enabled
us to develop advanced solutions such as fine-pitch wire bonding, stacked die
packaging and bump chip carrier packaging. We are continuously investing in
research and development in response to and in anticipation of migrations in
technology and intend to continue to acquire access to new technologies through
strategic alliances and licensing arrangements.
We intend to continue to focus on developing and enhancing our existing
interconnect materials capabilities, both through our interconnect materials
operations (formerly operated by ASE Material prior to its merger with us), and
through our joint venture with Compeq. We expect that interconnect materials
will become an increasingly important value-added component of the semiconductor
packaging business as packaging technology migrates from the traditional wire
bonding process towards the flip-chip wafer bumping process and interconnect
materials such as advanced substrates represent a higher percentage of the cost
of the packaging process. By focusing on the design and production of
interconnect materials, we plan to capture most of the value added components of
the packaging business and lead the migration in packaging technology. In 2004,
our interconnect materials operations supplied approximately one-half of our
consolidated substrate requirements by value. We intend to capture more of the
value-added components of the packaging business by increasing the percentage of
our substrate requirements obtained from our own operations and through our
joint venture with Compeq. We believe that our merger with ASE Material will
further strengthen our ability to provide turnkey services that incorporate
interconnect materials to our customers and finance the growth of the
interconnect materials business. In addition, we expect that our joint venture
with Compeq will further strengthen our capabilities in the interconnect
materials business by providing us access to Compeq's production capacity and
expertise, know-how and engineering capability in the design and production of
advanced substrates.
We intend to continue to strengthen our capabilities in testing complex,
high-performance semiconductors. In particular, we plan to focus on testing
logic/mixed-signal semiconductors that are characterized by very high clock
speeds, high pin count and high levels of integration.
The increasing miniaturization of semiconductors and the growing complexity
of interconnect technology have also resulted in the blurring of the traditional
distinctions among assembly at different levels of integration: chip, module,
board and system. We currently provide module assembly services primarily at our
facilities in Malaysia, Korea and the PRC. Our controlling interest in Universal
Scientific has provided us with access to process and product technologies at
the levels of module, board and system assembly and test, which helps us to
better anticipate industry trends and take advantage of potential growth
opportunities.
Strategically Expand Production Capacity
We intend to strategically expand our production capacity, both through
internal growth and through selective acquisitions and joint ventures, with a
focus on providing more advanced packaging and testing services, which we
believe present greater opportunities to achieve higher growth in our revenues
and higher margins. We believe that the demand for advanced semiconductor
packaging and testing services will grow at a faster pace than demand for
traditional packaging and testing services. The gradual upturn in the demand for
advanced packaging and testing services is partially due to the trend of
integrated device manufacturers outsourcing their manufacturing requirements for
advanced packaging and testing services rather than undertaking the high capital
investment costs of maintaining in-house advanced packaging and testing
capabilities. Packaging and testing services for more advanced semiconductors
also generally have higher margins for two reasons. First, as the packaging and
testing of
29
advanced semiconductors become more complex, requiring greater expertise in
process and technology, such services typically command higher average selling
prices. Second, we have been able to achieve higher utilization rates for the
equipment we use for more advanced packaging and testing, compared to other
equipment that we maintain. We believe that our technical expertise, as well as
our scale of operations and financial position, which had enabled us to continue
to make investments in more advanced packaging and testing equipment even in
times of market downturn, have enabled us to attract a greater proportion of the
demand for more advanced packaging and testing services.
We evaluate acquisition opportunities on the basis of access to new markets
and technology, the enhancement of our production capacity, economies of scale
and management resources, and closer proximity to existing and potential
customers. In 1999, we acquired ISE Labs, an independent testing company with
operations in California, Texas, Hong Kong and Singapore. Through combining the
front-end engineering testing capabilities of ISE Labs with our existing final
testing capabilities, we are able to provide our customers with complete
semiconductor testing solutions. In 1999, we acquired the semiconductor
packaging and testing operations of Motorola, Inc. located in Chung Li, Taiwan
and Paju, South Korea, which enabled us to expand our capacity and gain access
to specialized packaging and testing technologies with a focus on wireless
communications and automotive end-products. In February 2004, we acquired NEC's
semiconductor packaging and testing operations located in Yamagata, Japan, which
enabled us to expand our capacity and gain access to the Japanese market and
advanced packaging and testing facilities and know-how.
Continue to Leverage Our Presence in Key Centers of Semiconductor and
Electronics Manufacturing
We intend to continue leveraging our presence in key centers of
semiconductor and electronics manufacturing to further grow our business. We
have significant packaging and testing operations in Taiwan, currently the
largest center for outsourced semiconductor manufacturing in the world. This
presence enables our engineers to work closely with our customers as well as
foundries and other providers of complementary semiconductor manufacturing
services early in the semiconductor design process, enhances our responsiveness
to the requirements of our customers and shortens production cycles. In
addition, as a turnkey service provider, we are able to offer in Taiwan
packaging and testing services, including interconnect materials solutions, all
within relatively close geographic proximity to our customers, complementary
service providers and the end users of our customers' products. In addition to
our current operations, we intend to expand our packaging, testing and
interconnect materials operations in Chung Li, Taiwan to better serve our
customers located in northern Taiwan and customers who request that we maintain
the capability of packaging and testing their products at more than one location
in Taiwan.
In addition to our locations in Taiwan, we have operations in the following
locations:
o Korea -- an increasingly important center for the manufacturing of
memory and communications devices with a concentration of integrated
device manufacturers specializing in these products;
o Malaysia and Singapore -- an emerging center for outsourced
semiconductor manufacturing in Southeast Asia with a concentration of
integrated device manufacturers;
o Silicon Valley in California -- the preeminent center for
semiconductor design with a concentration of fabless customers; and
o Japan -- an emerging market for semiconductor packaging and testing
services as Japanese integrated device manufacturers increasingly
outsource their semiconductor manufacturing requirements.
Strengthen and Develop Strategic Relationships with Providers of
Complementary Semiconductor Manufacturing Services
We intend to strengthen existing and develop new strategic relationships
with providers of other complementary semiconductor manufacturing services, such
as foundries, as well as equipment vendors, raw material suppliers and
technology research institutes, in order to offer our customers total
semiconductor manufacturing solutions covering all stages of the manufacturing
of their products from design to shipment.
30
Since 1997, we have maintained a strategic alliance with TSMC, the world's
largest dedicated semiconductor foundry, which designates us as the
non-exclusive preferred provider of packaging and testing services for
semiconductors manufactured by TSMC. Through our strategic alliance with and
close geographic proximity to TSMC, we are able to offer our customers a total
semiconductor manufacturing solution that includes access to foundry services in
addition to our packaging, testing and direct shipment services.
Principal Products and Services
We offer a broad range of advanced semiconductor packaging and testing
services. Our package types employ either leadframes or substrates as
interconnect materials. The semiconductors we package are used in a wide range
of end-use applications, including communications, personal computers, consumer
electronics, industrial, automotive and other applications. Our testing services
include front-end engineering testing, which is performed during and following
the initial circuit design stage of the semiconductor manufacturing process,
wafer probe, final testing and other related semiconductor testing services. We
focus on packaging and testing logic semiconductors. We offer our customers
turnkey services which consist of packaging, testing and direct shipment of
semiconductors to end users designated by our customers. In 2004, 2003 and 2002,
our packaging revenues, including revenues from module assembly, accounted for
79.2%, 78.6% and 77.9% of our net revenues, respectively, and our testing
revenues accounted for 20.2%, 21.2% and 22.1% of our net revenues, respectively.
Packaging Services
We offer a broad range of package types to meet the requirements of our
customers, with a focus on advanced packaging solutions. Within our portfolio of
package types, we focus on the packaging of semiconductors for which there is
expected to be strong demand. These include advanced leadframe-based package
types such as quad flat package, thin quad flat package, bump chip carrier and
quad flat no-lead package, and package types based on substrates, such as
flip-chip BGA and other BGA types as well as other advanced packages such as
wafer-bumping products. We are among the leaders in such advanced packaging
processes and technologies and are well positioned to lead the technology
migration in the semiconductor packaging industry.
The semiconductor packaging industry has evolved to meet the advanced
packaging requirements of high-performance semiconductors. The development of
high-performance electronics products has spurred the innovation of
semiconductor packages that have higher interconnect density and better
electrical performance. As a part of this technology migration, semiconductor
packages have evolved from leadframe-based packages to substrate-based packages.
The key differences of these package types are:
o the size of the package;
o the density of electrical connections the package can support; and
o the thermal and electrical characteristics of the package.
Leadframe-Based Packages. Leadframe-based packages are packaged by
connecting the die, using wire bonders, to the leadframe with gold wire. As
packaging technology improves, the number of leads per package increases.
Packages have evolved from the lower pin-count plastic dual in-line packages to
higher pin-count quad flat packages. In addition, improvements in
leadframe-based packages have reduced the footprint of the package on the
circuit board and improved the electrical performance of the package. The
following table sets forth our principal leadframe-based packages.
Number
of
Package Types Leads Description End-Use Applications
---------------------- ----- ---------------------- -----------------------
Quad Flat Package
(QFP)/ Thin Quad Flat 44-256 Designed for advanced Multimedia
Package (TQFP)........ processors and applications, cellular
controllers, phones, personal
application-specific computers, automotive
integrated circuits and and industrial
digital signal products, hard disk
processors. drives, communication
boards such as
ethernet, integrated
services
31
Number
of
Package Types Leads Description End-Use Applications
---------------------- ----- ---------------------- -----------------------
digital network, and
notebook computers.
Quad Flat No-Lead
Package (QFN)/Microchip
Carrier (MCC)......... 12-84 QFN, also known as MCC, Cellular phones,
uses half-encapsulation wireless local access
technology to expose network, or wireless
the rear side of the LAN, personal digital
die pad and the tiny assistant devices and
fingers, which are used digital cameras.
to connect the chip and
bonding wire with
printed circuit boards.
Bump Chip Carrier (BCC) 16-156 BCC packages use Cellular phones,
plating metal pads to wireless LAN, personal
connect with printed digital assistant
circuit boards, devices and digital
creating enhanced cameras.
thermal and electrical
performance.
Small Outline Plastic
Package (SOP)/Thin
Small Outline Plastic 8-56 Designed for memory Consumer audio/video
Package (TSOP)........ devices including and entertainment
static random access products, cordless
memory, or SRAM, telephones, pagers,
dynamic random access fax machines,
memory, or DRAM, fast printers, copiers,
static RAM, also called personal computer
FSRAM, and flash memory peripherals,
devices. automotive parts,
telecommunications
products, recordable
optical disks and hard
disk drives.
Small Outline Plastic
J-Bend Package (SOJ).. 20-44 Designed for memory and DRAM memory devices,
low pin-count microcontrollers,
applications. digital analog
conversions and
audio/video
applications.
Plastic Leaded Chip
Carrier (PLCC)........ 28-84 Designed for Personal computers,
applications that do scanners, electronic
not require low-profile games and monitors.
packages with high
density of
interconnects.
Plastic Dual In-line
Package (PDIP)........ 8-64 Designed for consumer Telephones,
electronic products. televisions,
audio/video
applications and
computer peripherals.
Substrate-Based Packages. Substrate-based packages generally employ the BGA
design, which utilizes a substrate rather than a leadframe. Whereas traditional
leadframe technology places the electrical connection around the perimeter of
the package, the BGA package type places the electrical connection at the bottom
of the package surface in the form of small bumps or balls. These small bumps or
balls are typically distributed evenly across the bottom surface of the package,
allowing greater distance between individual leads and higher pin-counts.
32
The BGA package type was developed in response to the requirements of
advanced semiconductors. The benefits of the BGA package type include:
o smaller package size;
o higher pin-count;
o greater reliability;
o superior electrical signal transmission; and
o better heat dissipation.
The industry demand for BGA packages has grown significantly in recent
years. BGA packages are generally used in applications where size, density and
performance are important considerations, such as cellular handsets and high
pin-count graphic chipsets. Our expertise in BGA packages also includes
capabilities in stacked-die BGA, which assembles multiple dies into a single
package. As an extension to stacked-die BGA, we also assemble
system-in-a-package products, which involve the integration of more than one
chip into the same package. We believe that we are among the leaders in these
packaging technologies.
We believe that there will continue to be growing demand for packaging
solutions with increased input/output density, smaller size and better heat
dissipation characteristics. In anticipation of this demand, we have focused on
developing our capabilities in some advanced packaging solutions, such as
flip-chip BGA. Flip-chip BGA technology replaces wire bonding with wafer bumping
for interconnections within the package. Wafer bumping involves the placing of
tiny solder balls, instead of wires, on top of dies for connection to
substrates. As compared with more traditional packages which allow input/output
connection only on the boundaries of the dies, flip-chip packages significantly
enhance the input/output flow by allowing input/output connection over the
entire surface of the dies.
The following table sets forth our principal substrate-based packages.
Number
Package Types of Leads Description End-Use Applications
---------------- -------- ---------------------- ----------------------
Plastic BGA........ 5-1296 Designed for Wireless products,
semiconductors which cellular phones,
require the enhanced global positioning
performance provided by systems, notebook
plastic BGA, including computers, disk drives
personal computer and video cameras.
chipsets, graphic
controllers and
microprocessors,
application-specific
integrated circuits,
digital signal
processors and memory
devices.
Film BGA........... 100-280 Substrate-based package Cellular phones,
that has higher pagers, wireless
performance and lower communications,
profile than plastic digital signal
BGA. processors and
micro-controller
applications and high
performance disk
drives.
Cavity Down BGA.... 256-1140 Designed for memory Cellular and other
devices such as flash telecommunications
memory devices, SRAM, products, wireless and
DRAM and FSRAM, consumer systems,
microprocessors/controllepersonal digital
and high-value, assistants, or PDAs,
application-specific disk drives, notebook
integrated circuits computers and memory
requiring a low boards.
profile, light and
small package.
33
Number
Package Types of Leads Description End-Use Applications
---------------- -------- ---------------------- ----------------------
Stacked-Die BGA.... 44-591 Combination of multiple Cellular phones, local
dies in a single area networks, graphic
package enables package and processors,
to have multiple digital cameras and
functions within a pagers.
small surface area.
Flip-Chip BGA...... 16-2401 Using advanced High-performance
interconnect networking, graphics
technology, the and processor
flip-chip BGA package applications.
allows higher density
of input/output
connection over the
entire surface of the
dies. Designed for
high-performance
semiconductors that
require high density of
interconnects in a
small package.
Land Grid Array 10-72 Leadless package which High frequency
(LGA).............. .. is essentially a BGA integrated circuits
package without the such as wireless
solder balls. Based on communications
laminate substrate, products, computers
land grid array servers and personal
packages allow flexible computer peripherals.
routing and are capable
of multichip module
functions.
Module Assembly. We also offer module assembly services, which combine one
or more packaged semiconductors with other components in an integrated module to
enable increased functionality, typically using automated surface mount
technology, or SMT, machines and other machinery and equipment for system-level
assembly. End-use applications for modules include PDAs, wireless LAN
applications, Bluetooth applications, camera modules, automotive applications
and toys. Historically, the majority of our module assembly services was
provided at our facilities in Malaysia to a customer for the assembly of camera
modules used in handsets. We expect revenues from such services to decrease
substantially in 2005 as such customer moves its camera module assembly
in-house. We also provide module assembly services at our facilities in Korea
for radio frequency and power amplifier modules used in wireless communications
and automotive applications.
Interconnect Materials. Interconnect materials connect the input/output on
the semiconductor dies to the printed circuit board. Interconnect materials
include leadframe, which is a miniature sheet of metal, generally made of copper
and silver alloys, on which the pattern of input /output leads has been cut, and
substrate, which is a multi-layer miniature printed circuit board. Interconnect
materials are an important element of the electrical characteristics and overall
performance of semiconductors. We produce both leadframes and substrates for use
in our packaging operations. In 2004, our interconnect materials operations
supplied approximately one-half of our consolidated substrate requirements by
value.
We expect substrates will become an increasingly important value-added
component of the semiconductor packaging business. The demand for higher
performance semiconductors in smaller packages will continue to spur the
development of advanced substrates that can support the advancement in circuit
design and fabrication. As a result, we believe that the market for substrates
will grow and the cost of substrates as a percentage of the total packaging
process will increase, especially for advanced packages such as flip-chip BGA
packages. In the past, substrates we designed for our customers were produced by
independent substrate manufacturers. In anticipation of the migration in
packaging technology, we established ASE Material in 1997 to develop our
capabilities in the design and production of interconnect materials for use in
our packaging operations. On August 1, 2004, we merged ASE Material with and
into us. We are the surviving corporation. In addition, on October 28, 2003, we
established ASE-Compeq Technologies Inc., a joint venture with Compeq, to focus
on the design and production of interconnect materials for packaging
semiconductors. Through our merger with ASE Material and our joint venture with
Compeq, we believe we can capture growth opportunities in the interconnect
materials business as well as reduce the production cycle time for our customers
by integrating substrate design and Compeq's existing production
34
capacity into our packaging services. See "Item 3. Key Information--Risk
Factors--Risk Relating to Our Business--If we are not successful in developing
and enhancing our in-house interconnect materials capabilities, our margins and
profitability may be adversely affected."
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the percentage
of our packaging revenues accounted for by each principal type of packaging
products or services.
Year Ended December 31,
----------------------------------------
2002 2003 2004
------------ -------------- ------------
(percentage of packaging revenues)
Advanced substrate and
leadframe-based packages(1). 80.8% 78.5% 71.4%
Traditional leadframe-based
packages(2)................. 11.0 7.4 7.8
Module assembly............... 2.7 8.7 17.4
Other......................... 5.5 5.4 3.4
------------ -------------- ------------
Total....................... 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
============ ============== ============
------------------
(1) Includes leadframe-based packages such as QFP/TQFP, QFN/MCC and BCC and
substrate-based packages such as various BGA package types (including
flip-chip and others) and LGA.
(2) Includes leadframe-based packages such as SOP/TSOP, SOJ, PLCC and PDIP.
Testing Services
We provide a complete range of semiconductor testing services, including
front-end engineering testing, wafer probing, final testing of
logic/mixed-signal and memory semiconductors and other test-related services.
The testing of semiconductors requires technical expertise and knowledge of
the specific applications and functions of the semiconductors tested as well as
the testing equipment utilized. We believe that our testing services employ
technology and expertise which are among the most advanced in the semiconductor
industry. In addition to maintaining different types of testing equipment, which
enables us to test a variety of semiconductor functions, we work closely with
our customers to design effective testing and conversion programs on multiple
equipment platforms for particular semiconductors.
In recent years, complex, high-performance logic/mixed-signal
semiconductors have accounted for an increasing portion of our testing revenues.
As the testing of complex, high-performance semiconductors requires a large
number of functions to be tested using more advanced testing equipment, these
products generate higher revenues per unit of testing time, as measured in
central processing unit seconds.
Front-End Engineering Testing. We provide front-end engineering testing
services, including customized software development, electrical design
validation, and reliability and failure analysis.
o Customized Software Development. Test engineers develop customized
software to test the semiconductor using advanced testing equipment.
Customized software, developed on specific testing platforms, is
required to test the conformity of each particular semiconductor type
to its unique functionality and specification.
o Electrical Design Validation. A prototype of the designed
semiconductor is subjected to electrical tests using advanced test
equipment and customized software. These tests assess whether the
prototype semiconductor complies with a variety of different operating
specifications, including functionality, frequency, voltage, current,
timing and temperature range.
o Reliability Analysis. Reliability analysis is designed to assess the
long-term reliability of the semiconductor and its suitability of use
for intended applications. Reliability testing can include "burn-in"
services, which electrically stress a device, usually at high
temperature and voltage, for a period of time long enough to cause the
failure of marginal devices.
35
o Failure Analysis. In the event that the prototype semiconductor does
not function to specifications during either the electrical design
validation or reliability testing processes, it is typically subjected
to failure analysis to determine the cause of the failure to perform
as anticipated. As part of this analysis, the prototype semiconductor
may be subjected to a variety of analyses, including electron beam
probing and electrical testing.
Wafer Probing. Wafer probing is the step immediately before the packaging
of semiconductors and involves visual inspection and electrical testing of the
processed wafer for defects to ensure that it meets our customers'
specifications. Wafer probing services require expertise and testing equipment
similar to that used in final testing, and most of our testers can also be used
for wafer probing.
Logic/Mixed-Signal Final Testing. We conduct final tests of a wide variety
of logic/mixed signal semiconductors, with the number of leads ranging from the
single digits to over one thousand and operating frequencies of over 2.5 Gbps
for digital semiconductors and 6 GHz for radio frequency semiconductors, which
are at the high end of the range for the industry. The products we test include
semiconductors used for networking and wireless communications, graphics and
disk controllers for home entertainment and personal computer applications, as
well as a variety of application-specific integrated circuits for various
specialized applications.
Memory Final Testing. We provide final testing services for a variety of
memory products, such as SRAM, DRAM, single-bit erasable programmable read-only
memory semiconductors and flash memory semiconductors.
Other Test-Related Services. We provide a broad range of additional
test-related services, including:
o Burn-in Testing. Burn-in testing is the process of electrically
stressing a device, usually at high temperature and voltage, for a
period of time to simulate the continuous use of the device to
determine whether this use would cause the failure of marginal
devices.
o Dry Pack. Process which involves heating semiconductors in order to
remove moisture before packaging and shipping to customers.
o Tape and Reel. Process which involves transferring semiconductors from
a tray or tube into a tape-like carrier for shipment to customers.
Drop Shipment Services. We offer drop shipment services for shipment of
semiconductors directly to end users designated by our customers. Drop shipment
services are provided mostly in conjunction with logic/mixed-signal testing. We
provide drop shipment services to a significant percentage of our testing
customers. A substantial portion of our customers at each of our facilities have
qualified these facilities for drop shipment services. Since drop shipment
eliminates the additional step of inspection by the customer before shipment to
the end user, quality of service is a key consideration. We believe that our
ability to successfully execute our full range of services, including drop
shipment services, is an important factor in maintaining existing customers as
well as attracting new customers.
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the percentage
of our testing revenues accounted for by each type of testing service.
Year Ended December 31,
--------------------------------------------
2002 2003 2004
--------------- ------------ ---------------
(percentage of testing revenues)
Testing Services:
Front-end engineering test.... 7.4% 4.3% 3.6%
Wafer probe................... 8.9 14.9 21.5
Final test.................... 83.7 80.8 74.9
--------------- ------------ ---------------
Total....................... 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
=============== ============ ===============
36
Seasonality
See "Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects--Operating
Results and Trend Information--Quarterly Net Revenues, Gross Profit and Gross
Margin".
Sales and Marketing
Sales and Marketing Offices
We maintain sales and marketing offices in Taiwan, the United States,
Austria, Belgium, Germany, Korea, Malaysia and Japan. Our sales and marketing
offices in Taiwan, which are located in Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, are staffed with
both our and ASE Test Taiwan's employees. We conduct marketing research through
our customer service personnel and those of our sales agent and through our
relationships with our customers and suppliers to keep abreast of market trends
and developments. We also provide advice in the area of production process
technology to our major customers planning the introduction of new products. In
placing orders with us, our customers specify which of our facilities these
orders will go to. Our customers conduct separate qualification and correlation
processes for each of our facilities that they use. See "Item 4. Information on
the Company--Business Overview--Sales and Marketing--Qualification and
Correlation by Customers".
Sales and Customer Service Agents
Under commission agreements, each of ASE Inc., ASE Test Taiwan, ASE Korea
and ASE Test Malaysia has appointed Gardex as the non-exclusive sales agent for
its services and products worldwide. Gardex helps us identify customers and,
within parameters set by us, negotiate price, delivery and other terms with our
customers. Gardex currently focuses on markets outside of Asia. Purchase orders
are placed directly with us by our customers. We currently pay Gardex a
commission of between 0.4% and 0.5% of our sales outside of Asia, payable
quarterly, depending on the amount of these sales. In 2004, 2003 and 2002, we
paid US$8.3 million, US$6.7 million and US$5.6 million, respectively, in
commissions to Gardex.
Gardex is wholly-owned by Y.C. Hsu, who has had a long personal
relationship with Jason C.S. Chang, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer,
that predates the founding of our company. We have maintained a business
relationship with Gardex and its predecessors since 1985. Gardex currently
performs services only for us and our subsidiaries. See "Item 3. Key
Information--Risk Factors--We depend on our agent for a portion of our sales in
North America and Europe. Any serious disruption in our relationship with our
agent, or substantial loss in its effectiveness, could significantly reduce our
revenues and profitability."
Before we acquired ASE (U.S.) Inc. in July 2004, ASE (U.S.) Inc. was our
non-exclusive agent that provided customer service and after-sales support to
our customers in Europe and North America. See "Item 4. Information on the
Company--History and Development of the Company--Acquisition of ASE (U.S.) Inc."
In 2004, 2003 and 2002, we paid US$26.4 million, US$21.8 million and US$15.6
million, respectively, in fees and service charges to ASE (U.S.) Inc.
Customers
Our global base of over 200 customers includes leading semiconductor
companies across a wide range of end-use applications:
o Agilent Technologies, Inc. o NVIDIA Corporation
o Altera Corporation o ON Semiconductor Corp.
o ATI Technologies, Inc. o Philips Semiconductors Inc.
o Conexant Systems, Inc. o Qualcomm Incorporated
o Freescale Semiconductor, o RF Micro Devices, Inc.
Inc. (formerly the o Silicon Integrated Systems Corp.
semiconductor operations o STMicroelectronics N.V.
of Motorola, Inc.) o Sunplus Technology Co., Ltd.
o IBM Corporation
37
o LSI Logic Corporation o VIA Technologies, Inc.
o NEC Electronics Corporation
Our five largest customers together accounted for approximately 34.7%,
34.8% and 39.6% of our net revenues in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. Other
than Motorola, Inc. in 2003 and 2002, no other customer accounted for more than
10% of our net revenues in 2003 or 2002. No customer accounted for more than 10%
of our net revenues in 2004.
We package and test for our customers a wide range of products with end-use
applications in the communications, personal computers, consumer electronics,
industrial and automotive sectors. The following table sets forth a breakdown of
the percentage of our net revenues, for the periods indicated, by the principal
end-use applications of the products which we packaged and tested.
Year Ended December 31,
---------------------------------------
2002 2003 2004
------------- -------------- ----------
Communications.................... 34.4% 34.9% 42.5%
Personal computers................ 35.4 35.7 29.8
Consumer
electronics/industrial/automotive 28.8 28.3 24.5
Other............................. 1.4 1.1 3.2
------------- -------------- ----------
Total........................... 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
============= ============== ==========
Many of our customers are leaders in their respective end-use markets. For
example, we provide Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. (formerly the semiconductor
operations of Motorola, Inc.), an industry leader in automotive and wireless
communications semiconductor products, with most of its outsourced packaging and
testing requirements. The following table sets forth some of our largest
customers, in alphabetical order, categorized by the principal end-use
applications of the products which we package and test for them.
Consumer
Electronics/Industrial/
Communications Personal Computers Automotive
-------------------------- ------------------------ -------------------------
Agilent Technologies, Inc. ATI Technologies, Inc. Altera Corporation
Conexant Systems, Inc. IBM Corporation Freescale Semiconductor,
Freescale Semiconductor, Marvell Technology Group Inc. (formerly the
Inc. (formerly the Ltd. semiconductor
semiconductor operations NVIDIA Corporation operations of Motorola,
of Motorola, Inc.) Silicon Integrated Inc.)
NEC Electronics Corporation Systems Corp. LSI Logic Corporation
Philips Semiconductors Inc. VIA Technologies, Inc. Micronas Semiconductor
Qualcomm Incorporated Winbond Electronics Holding AG
RF Micro Devices, Inc. Corporation NEC Electronics
STMicroelectronics N.V. Corporation
ON Semiconductor Corp.
STMicroelectronics N.V.
Sunplus Technology Co.,
Ltd.
We categorize our packaging and testing revenues geographically based on
the country in which the customer is headquartered. The following table sets
forth, for the periods indicated, the percentage breakdown by geographic regions
of our packaging and testing revenues.
Year Ended December 31,
---------------------------------------
2002 2003 2004
----------- ----------- ---------------
North America............. 59.1% 60.2% 58.2%
Taiwan.................... 24.9 27.0 21.6
Europe.................... 6.1 8.3 8.2
Other..................... 9.9 4.5 12.0
----------- ----------- ---------------
Total................... 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
=========== =========== ===============
38
The majority of our testing revenues is accounted for by the testing of
semiconductors that were also packaged at our packaging facilities. The balance
represented testing revenues from customers who delivered packaged
semiconductors directly to our facilities for testing services alone. A
substantial minority of our packaging revenues is accounted for by the packaging
of semiconductors which were subsequently tested at our facilities. We expect
that more customers of our packaging facilities will begin to contract for our
packaging and testing services on a turnkey basis.
Qualification and Correlation by Customers
Customers generally require that our facilities undergo a stringent
qualification process during which the customer evaluates our operations and
production processes, including engineering, delivery control and testing
capabilities. The qualification process typically takes up to eight weeks, but
can take longer depending on the requirements of the customer. In the case of
our testing operations, after we have been qualified by a customer and before
the customer delivers semiconductors to us for testing in volume, a process
known as correlation is undertaken. During the correlation process, the customer
provides us with sample semiconductors to be tested and either provides us with
the test program or requests that we develop a conversion program. In some
cases, the customer also provides us with a data log of results of any testing
of the semiconductors which the customer may have conducted previously. The
correlation process typically takes up to two weeks, but can take longer
depending on the requirements of the customer. We believe our ability to provide
turnkey services reduces the amount of time spent by our customers in the
qualification and correlation process. As a result, customers utilizing our
turnkey services are able to achieve shorter production cycles.
Pricing
We price our packaging services primarily on a cost-plus basis with
reference to prevailing market prices. We price our testing services primarily
on the basis of the amount of time, measured in central processing unit seconds,
taken by the automated testing equipment to execute the test programs specific
to the products being tested, as well as the cost of the equipment, with
reference to prevailing market prices. Prices for our packaging and testing
services are confirmed at the time firm orders are received from customers,
which is typically four to eight weeks before delivery.
Raw Materials and Suppliers
Packaging
The principal raw materials used in our packaging processes are
interconnect materials such as leadframes and substrates, gold wire and molding
compound. Interconnect materials, such as leadframes, substrates, gold wire and
molding compound represented approximately 15.6%, 43.6%, 18.4% and 7.6%,
respectively, of our total cost of packaging materials in 2004.
The silicon die, which is the functional unit of the semiconductor to be
packaged, is supplied in the form of silicon wafers. Each silicon wafer contains
a number of identical dies. We receive the wafers from the customers or the
foundries on a consignment basis. Consequently, we generally do not incur
inventory costs relating to the silicon wafers used in our packaging process.
We do not maintain large inventories of leadframes, substrates, gold wire
or molding compound, but generally maintain sufficient stock of each principal
raw material for approximately one month's production based on blanket orders
and rolling forecasts of near-term requirements received from customers. In
addition, several of our principal suppliers dedicate portions of their
inventories, typically in amounts equal to the average monthly amounts supplied
to us, as reserves to meet our production requirements. However, shortages in
the supply of materials experienced by the semiconductor industry have in the
past resulted in occasional price adjustments and delivery delays. For example,
in the first half of 2000, the industry experienced a shortage in the supply of
advanced substrates used in BGA packages, which, at the time, were only
available from a limited number of suppliers located primarily in Japan.
Recently, we have experienced a tightening in the market supply of raw
materials, and the fire in May 2005 at our facilities in Chung Li, Taiwan has
damaged a substantial portion of our production capacity of interconnect
materials for use in our packaging operations. See "Item 8. Financial
Information--Significant Changes" for a
39
description of the fire. We cannot guarantee that we will not experience
shortages in the near future or that we will be able to obtain adequate supplies
of raw materials in a timely manner and at a reasonable price. In the event of a
shortage, we generally inform our customers and work together to accommodate
changes in delivery schedules. See "Item 4. Information on the Company--Business
Overview--Strategy--Continue to Focus on Advanced Technological, Processing and
Interconnect Materials Capabilities".
We produce both leadframe and substrates for use in our packaging
operations. In 2004, our interconnect materials operations supplied
approximately one-half of our consolidated substrate requirements by value. See
"Item 4. Information on the Company--Business Overview--Principal Products and
Services--Interconnect Materials".
As a result of the "Directive 2002/95/EC on the restriction of the use of
certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment", or RoHS,
becoming effective on July 1, 2006, we have begun adjusting our purchases of raw
materials and our production processes in order to use raw materials that comply
with this legislation for part of our production. The aim of this new
legislation is to restrict the use in the European Union, or EU, of certain
substances the EU has deemed harmful to consumers, which includes certain grades
of molding compounds, solder and other raw materials that are used in our
products. Manufacturers of electrical and electronic equipment will need to
comply with this legislation in order to sell their products in an EU member
state. As a result of this legislation, we expect that our customers will
increasingly request that RoHS-compliant materials be used in our packaging
processes, which will likely increase our raw material and other costs as a
result.
Testing
Apart from packaged semiconductors, no other raw materials are needed for
the functional and burn-in testing of semiconductors. For the majority of our
testing equipment, we often base our purchases on prior discussions with our
customers about their forecast requirements. The balance consists of testing
equipment on consignment from customers and which are dedicated exclusively to
the testing of these customers' specific products.
Equipment
Packaging
The most important equipment used in the semiconductor packaging process is
the wire bonder. Wire bonders connect the input/output terminals on the silicon
die using extremely fine gold wire to leads on leadframes or substrates.
Typically, a wire bonder may be used, with minor modifications, for the
packaging of different products. We purchase our wire bonders principally from
Kulicke & Soffa Industries Inc. As of April 30, 2005, we operated an aggregate
of 6,676 wire bonders, of which 5,485 were fine-pitch wire bonders. As of the
same date, 33 of the wire bonders operated by us were consigned by customers.
For the packaging of certain types of substrate-based packages, such as
flip-chip BGA, die bonders are used in place of wire bonders. The number of
bonders at a given facility is commonly used as a measure of the packaging
capacity of the facility. In addition to bonders, we maintain a variety of other
types of packaging equipment, such as wafer grind, wafer mount, wafer saw,
automated molding machines, laser markers, solder plate, pad printers,
dejunkers, trimmers, formers, substrate saws and scanners.
Testing
Testing equipment is the most capital intensive component of the testing
process. We generally seek to purchase testers from different suppliers with
similar functionality and the ability to test a variety of different
semiconductors. We purchase testers from major international manufacturers,
including Agilent Technologies, Inc., Credence Systems Corporation, LTX
Corporation and Teradyne, Inc. Upon acquisition of new testers, we install,
configure, calibrate, perform burn-in diagnostic tests on and establish
parameters for the testers based on the anticipated requirements of existing and
potential customers and considerations relating to market trends. As of April
30, 2005, we operated an aggregate of 1,467 testers, of which 227 were consigned
by customers and 107 were leased under operating leases. In addition to testers,
we maintain a variety of other types of testing equipment, such as automated
handlers and probers (special handlers for wafer probing), scanners, reformers
and computer workstations for use in software development. Each tester may be
attached to a handler or prober. Handlers attach to testers and transport
40
individual packaged semiconductor to the tester interface. Probers similarly
attach to the tester and align each individual die on a wafer with the interface
to the tester.
Test programs, which are the software that drive the testing of specific
semiconductors, are written for a specific testing platform. We often perform
test program conversions that enable us to test semiconductors on multiple test
platforms. This portability between testers enables us to allocate
semiconductors tested across our available test capabilities and thereby improve
capacity utilization rates. In cases where a customer requires the testing of a
semiconductor product that is not yet fully developed, the customer may provide
personal computer workstations to us to test specific functions. In cases where
a customer has specified testing equipment that was not widely applicable to
other products which we test, we have required the customer to furnish the
equipment on a consignment basis.
Intellectual Property
As of May 31, 2005, we held 597 Taiwan patents and 184 U.S. patents related
to various semiconductor packaging technologies. In addition, we registered
"ASE" as a trademark and as a servicemark in Taiwan.
We have also entered into various non-exclusive technology license
agreements with other companies involved in the semiconductor manufacturing
process, including Motorola, Inc., Tessera Inc., Fujitsu Limited, Flip Chip
International, L.L.C. and LSI Logic Corporation. We paid royalties under our
license agreements in the amount of NT$164.0 million (US$5.2 million), NT$218.8
million and NT$176.7 million in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. The
technology we license from these companies includes solder bumping,
redistribution, ultra CSP assembly and other technologies used in the production
of package types, such as BCC, flip-chip BGA and film BGA. The license agreement
with Tessera Inc. will not expire until the expiration of the Tessera Inc.
patents licensed by the agreement. The license agreements with Motorola, Inc.
and LSI Logic Corporation will expire on December 31, 2010 and January 1, 2010,
respectively. Our license agreements with Flip Chip International, L.L.C. will
expire on March 1, 2009 and December 25, 2010. Historically, we negotiate
annually the renewal of our license agreement with Fujitsu Limited, and we are
currently in the process of negotiating the renewal of our license agreement
with them.
Our success depends in part on our ability to obtain, maintain and protect
our patents, licenses and other intellectual property rights, including rights
under our license agreement with Motorola, Inc.
Quality Control
We believe that our advanced process technology and reputation for high
quality and reliable services have been important factors in attracting and
retaining leading international semiconductor companies as customers for our
packaging and testing services. We have maintained an average packaging yield
rate of 99.8% or greater in each of the last three years. We maintain a quality
control staff at each of our facilities. Our quality control staff typically
includes engineers, technicians and other employees who monitor packaging and
testing processes in order to ensure high quality. Our quality assurance systems
impose strict process controls, statistical in-line monitors, supplier control,
data review and management, quality controls and corrective action systems. Our
quality control employees operate quality control stations along production
lines, monitor clean room environments and follow up on quality through outgoing
product inspection and interaction with customer service staff. We have
established quality control systems which are designed to ensure high quality
service to customers, high product and testing reliability and high production
yields at our facilities. We also have established an environmental management
system in order to ensure that we can comply with the environmental standards of
our customers and the countries within which they operate. See "Item 4.
Information on the Company--Business Overview--Raw Materials and
Suppliers--Packaging". In addition, our packaging and testing facilities have
been qualified by all of our major customers after satisfying stringent quality
standards prescribed by these customers.
Our packaging and testing operations are undertaken in clean rooms where
air purity, temperature and humidity are controlled. To ensure stability and
integrity of our operations, we maintain clean rooms at our facilities that meet
U.S. Federal 209E class 1,000, 10,000 and 100,000 standards.
41
Our packaging and testing facilities in Taiwan, Malaysia, Japan and Korea
have been certified as meeting TS 16949 standards. Such standards were
originally created by the International Automotive Task Force in conjunction
with the International Standards Organization, or ISO. These standards provide
for continuous improvement with an emphasis on the prevention of defects and
reduction of variation and waste in the supply chain. The TS 16949 certification
is required by some semiconductor manufacturers as a threshold indicator of
company's quality control standards.
ISE Labs' testing facilities in Fremont, California have been approved by
the U.S. military's Defense Supply Center, Columbus, Sourcing and Qualifications
Unit as a laboratory possessing the requisite level of performance, quality and
reliability required of suppliers for the U.S. Department of Defense.
ISE Lab's testing facilities in Fremont, California have been certified as
meeting the ISO 9001 quality standards set by the ISO. In addition, our
packaging and testing facilities Taiwan, Korea, Japan and Malaysia and our
interconnect materials facilities have also been certified as meeting the ISO
14001 quality standards. ISO certifications are required by many countries in
connection with sales of industrial products.
Our testing facilities in Kaohsiung, Taiwan have also been certified to be
in compliance with OHSAS 18001:1999, a set of standards designed upon
collaboration with occupational health and safety experts and now offered by
many certification organizations as an indication of compliance with certain
standards for occupational health and safety.
Our packaging, testing and interconnect materials facilities in Kaohsiung,
Taiwan have been certified as a "Sony Green Partner", which indicates our
compliance with the "Sony Green Package" standard requirements.
In addition, we have received various vendor awards from our customers for
the quality of our products and services.
Competition
We compete in the highly competitive independent semiconductor packaging
and testing markets. We face competition from a number of sources, including
other independent semiconductor packaging and testing companies. More
importantly, we compete for the business of integrated device manufacturers with
in-house packaging and testing capabilities and fabless semiconductor design
companies with their own in-house testing capabilities. Some of these integrated
device manufacturers have commenced, or may commence, in-house packaging and
testing operations in Asia. Substantially all of the independent packaging and
testing companies that compete with us have established operations in Taiwan.
Integrated device manufacturers that use our services continuously evaluate
our performance against their own in-house packaging and testing capabilities.
These integrated device manufacturers may have access to more advanced
technologies and greater financial and other resources than we do. We believe,
however, that we can offer greater efficiency at lower cost while maintaining
equivalent or higher quality for several reasons. First, as we benefit from
specialization and economies of scale by providing services to a large base of
customers across a wide range of products, we are better able to reduce costs
and shorten production cycles through high capacity utilization and process
expertise. Second, as a result of our customer base and product offerings, our
equipment generally has a longer useful life. Third, as a result of the
continuing reduction of investments in in-house packaging and testing capacity
and technology at integrated device manufacturers, we are better positioned to
meet their advanced packaging and testing requirements on a large scale.
Environmental Matters
Our packaging and interconnect materials operations generate environmental
wastes, including gaseous chemical, liquid and solid industrial wastes. We have
installed various types of anti-pollution equipment for the treatment of liquid
and gaseous chemical waste generated at all of our semiconductor packaging
facilities. We believe that we have adopted adequate anti-pollution measures for
the effective maintenance of environmental protection standards that are
consistent with the industry practice in the countries in which our facilities
are located.
42
In addition, we believe we are in compliance in all material respects with
present environmental laws and regulations applicable to our operations and
facilities.
Insurance
We have insurance policies covering property damage and damage to our
production facilities, buildings and machinery. In addition, we have insurance
policies covering our liabilities in connection with certain accidents.
Significant damage to any of our production facilities would have a material
adverse effect on our results of operations.
We are not insured against the loss of key personnel.
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
The following chart illustrates our corporate structure and our effective
equity interest in each of our principal operating subsidiaries and affiliates
as of May 31, 2005. The following chart does not include wholly-owned
intermediate holding companies.
===================================================
|| ||
|| ADVANCED SEMICONDUCTOR ENGINEERING, INC.(1) ||
|| ||
===================================================
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
70.0% 51.0% 100.0% 100.0% 60.0% 23.3% 26.4%
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| -------------- | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | ASE Test | | | | | |
| | Limited(2) | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| -------------- | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| --------------------------------------- | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| 30.0% 100.0% 100.0% 99.99% | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
-------------- --------------- ----------- ----------- ------------- ------------ --------------- -------------- ---------------
| | | ASE | | | | | | | | | | | | Universal | | Hung Ching |
| ASE | | Electronics | |ISE Labs,| |ASE Test,| |ASE Japan | | ASE | | ASE-Compeq | | Scientific | |Development &|
|(Korea) Inc.| |(M) Sdn. Bhd.| | Inc. | | Inc. | |Co. Ltd.(3)| |(Shanghai)| |Technologies,| | Industrial | |Construction |
| | | | | | | | | | | Inc.(4) | | Inc.(5) | |Co., Ltd.(6)| |Co., Ltd.(7) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
-------------- --------------- ----------- ----------- ------------- ------------ --------------- -------------- ---------------
------------------
(1) The common shares of ASE Inc. are listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange under
the symbol "2311". ADSs representing the shares of ASE Inc. are listed on
the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "ASX". [GRAPHICS OMITTED]
(2) The ordinary shares of ASE Test are quoted for trading on the Nasdaq
National Market under the symbol "ASTSF". ASE Test's Taiwan depositary
shares, which represent its ordinary shares, are listed for trading on the
Taiwan Stock Exchange under the symbol "9101".
(3) Our acquisition of ASE Japan was completed in May 2004. For more
information on the acquisition, see "--History and Development of the
Company--Acquisition of NEC's Packaging and Testing Operations in Yamagata,
Japan".
(4) ASE Shanghai began operations in June 2004. See "--Our Consolidated
Subsidiaries--ASE Shanghai".
(5) In October 2003, we established ASE-Compeq Technologies, Inc., a joint
venture with Compeq in which we own 60% of the equity interest, to focus on
the design and production of interconnect materials for packaging
semiconductors. For more information on the joint venture, see "--History
and Development of the Company--Joint Venture with Compeq Manufacturing Co.
Ltd."
(6) The common shares of Universal Scientific Industrial Co., Ltd. are listed
on the Taiwan Stock Exchange under the symbol "2350".
(7) The common shares of Hung Ching are listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange
under the symbol "2527".
43
Our Consolidated Subsidiaries
ASE Test
ASE Test is the largest independent testing company in the world, providing
a complete range of semiconductor testing services to leading international
semiconductor companies. ASE Test also provides semiconductor packaging
services. ASE Test has testing operations in Taiwan, the United States and
Singapore, and also maintains testing and packaging operations in Malaysia.
ASE Test was incorporated in 1995 and its ordinary shares have been quoted
for trading on the Nasdaq National Market since June 1996 under the symbol
"ASTSF". ASE Test's Taiwan depositary shares representing its ordinary shares
have been listed for trading on the Taiwan Stock Exchange under the symbol
"9101" since January 1998. As of May 31, 2005, we held 51.0% of the outstanding
shares of ASE Test.
ASE Test is a holding company incorporated in Singapore whose significant
assets are its ownership interests in the following operating companies as of
May 31, 2005:
o ASE Test Taiwan. ASE Test Taiwan is ASE Test's 99.99%-owned
subsidiary. It is incorporated in Taiwan and is engaged in the testing
of integrated circuits;
o ASE Test Malaysia. ASE Test Malaysia is ASE Test's wholly-owned
subsidiary. It is incorporated in Malaysia and is engaged in the
packaging and testing of integrated circuits;
o ISE Labs. ISE Labs is ASE Test's wholly-owned subsidiary. It is
incorporated in the United States and is engaged in the testing of
integrated circuits. See "--History and Development of the
Company--ISE Labs"; and
o ASE Korea. ASE Test owns 30% of ASE Korea. We own the remaining 70%.
It is incorporated in Korea and is engaged in the packaging and
testing of semiconductors. See "--History and Development of the
Company--ASE Chung Li and ASE Korea".
In 2004, ASE Test recorded net revenues of US$621.1 million, operating
income of US$27.8 million and net income of US$25.1 million. In 2003, ASE Test
recorded net revenues of US$391.9 million, operating income of US$1.2 million
and a net loss of US$3.5 million. In 2002, ASE Test recorded net revenues of
US$302.0 million, an operating loss of US$40.6 million and a net loss of US$81.3
million.
ASE Korea
In July 1999, we and our subsidiary, ASE Test, jointly acquired Motorola's
Semiconductor business in Paju, South Korea for the testing and packaging of
semiconductors, thereby forming ASE Korea. We own 70% of ASE Korea and ASE Test
owns the remaining 30%. See "--History and Development of the Company--ASE Chung
Li and ASE Korea".
ASE Japan
ASE Japan was incorporated in Japan in May 2004 and is engaged in the
packaging and testing of semiconductors. See "--History and Development of the
Company--Acquisition of NEC's Packaging and Testing Operations in Yamagata,
Japan".
ASE Shanghai
ASE Shanghai was established in 2001 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of ASE
Inc. and began operations in June 2004. Located in the Pudong New Area of
Shanghai, ASE Shanghai currently has a lot size of approximately 195,000 square
feet and production floor space of approximately 431,000 square feet. ASE
Shanghai primarily manufactures and supplies interconnect materials for our
packaging operations and also provides module assembly services to third parties
on a contract basis. As of May 31, 2005, ASE Shanghai had 1,811 employees.
44
ASE-Compeq Technologies, Inc.
In October 2003, we established ASE-Compeq Technologies, Inc., a joint
venture with Compeq in which we own 60% of the equity interest, to focus on the
design and production of interconnect materials for packaging semiconductors.
See "--History and Development of the Company--Joint Venture with Compeq
Manufacturing Co. Ltd."
Our Unconsolidated Affiliates
As of May 31, 2005, we held approximately 23.3% of the outstanding shares
of Universal Scientific and 26.4% of the outstanding shares of Hung Ching.
Universal Scientific
Universal Scientific, which is an ROC company, manufactures electronics
products in varying degrees of system integration principally on a contract
basis for original equipment manufacturers, including:
o electronic components such as thick film mixed-signal devices, thick
film resistors, high frequency devices and automotive and power
electronic devices;
o board and sub-system assemblies such as customized surface mount
technology board assemblies, mother boards for personal computers,
wireless local area network cards and fax control boards; and
o system assemblies such as portable computers, desktop personal
computers, network computers and servers.
We are the largest shareholder in Universal Scientific and six out of the
nine directors on its board of directors, including the chairman, are
representatives of ASE Inc.
Universal Scientific's principal manufacturing facilities are located in
Nantou, Taiwan. In 2004, Universal Scientific recorded net revenues of
NT$53,231.5 million (US$1,677.1 million), operating income of NT$1,327.0 million
(US$41.8 million) and a net income of NT$1,044.3 million (US$32.9 million). In
2003, Universal Scientific recorded net revenues of NT$40,928.1 million, an
operating income of NT$967.7 million and net income of NT$776.3 million. In
2002, Universal Scientific recorded net revenues of NT$31,775.9 million,
operating income of NT$803.4 million and net income of NT$276.0 million. The
shares of Universal Scientific are listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange under the
symbol "2350". As of May 31, 2005, Universal Scientific had a market
capitalization of NT$8,499.0 million (US$267.8 million).
Hung Ching
Hung Ching is an ROC company engaged in the development and management of
commercial, residential and industrial real estate properties in Taiwan. Hung
Ching's completed development projects include the ASE Design Center commercial
project and the Earl Village residential project, both located in Hsichih,
Taiwan. Hung Ching was founded in 1986 by Chang Yao Hung-ying. Chang Yao
Hung-ying is the mother of both Jason C.S. Chang, our Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer, and Richard H.P. Chang, our Vice Chairman and President, and
was a director of ASE Inc. from 1984 to June 2003. Jason C.S. Chang, Richard
H.P. Chang, Chang Yao Hung-ying and other members of the Chang family are
controlling shareholders of Hung Ching.
In 2004, Hung Ching recorded net revenues of NT$845.1 million (US$26.6
million), an operating loss of NT$374.4 million (US$11.8 million) and a net loss
of NT$1,150.0 million (US$36.2 million). In 2003, Hung Ching recorded net
revenues of NT$1,014.9 million, an operating loss of NT$491.5 million and a net
loss of NT$483.8 million. In 2002, Hung Ching recorded net revenues of NT$546.7
million, an operating loss of NT$253.8 million and a net loss of NT$521.5
million. The shares of Hung Ching are listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange under
the symbol "2527". As of May 31, 2005, Hung Ching had a market capitalization of
NT$1,631.4 million (US$51.4 million).
45
PROPERTY, PLANTS AND EQUIPMENT
We operate a number of packaging and testing facilities in Asia and the
United States. Our facilities provide varying types or levels of services with
respect to different end-product focus, customers, technologies and geographic
locations. With our diverse facilities we are able to tailor our packaging and
testing solutions closely to our customers' needs. The following table sets
forth the location, commencement of operation, primary use, approximate floor
space and ownership of our facilities as of April 30, 2005.
Approximate
Commencement of Floor Space (in
Facility Location Operation Primary Use sq. ft.) Owned or Leased
------------------- -------------- --------------- ------------------------------- ---------------- -----------------
ASE Inc. Kaohsiung, March 1984 Our primary packaging facility, 3,040,000 Land: leased
Taiwan which offers complete Buildings: owned
semiconductor manufacturing
solutions in conjunction with
ASE Test Taiwan and foundries
located in Taiwan. Focuses
primarily on advanced packaging
services, including flip-chip,
wafer bumping and fine-pitch
wire bonding. Also have
facilities for the design and
production of interconnect
materials.
Chung Li, Acquired in An integrated packaging and 900,000 Land and
Taiwan August 1999 testing facility that buildings:
specializes in semiconductors owned
for communications and consumer
applications. Also
facilities for the
design and production
of substrates.
ASE Test Taiwan Kaohsiung, December 1987 Our primary testing facilities, 1,013,000 Land: leased
Taiwan which offer complete Buildings: owned
semiconductor
manufacturing
solutions in
conjunction with ASE
Inc.'s facility in
Kaohsiung and
foundries located in
Taiwan. Focuses
primarily on advanced
logic/mixed-signal
testing for
integrated device
manufacturers,
fabless design
companies and system
companies.
Chung Li, October 2001 Our primary wafer probing 70,000 Land and
Taiwan testing facilities. building: leased
ASE Test Malaysia Penang, February 1991 An integrated packaging and 827,000 Land: leased
Malaysia testing facility that focuses Buildings:
primarily on the requirements of owned and leased
integrated device manufacturers
and system companies, including
those for module assembly.
ASE Korea Paju, Korea March 1967 An integrated packaging and 508,000 Land and
testing facility that buildings:
specializes in semiconductors owned, subject
for radio frequency, sensor and to mortgage
automotive applications.
ISE Labs Fremont, November 1983 Front-end engineering and final 363,000 Land and
California testing facilities located in buildings:
Austin, Texas northern California in close leased
Singapore proximity to some of the world's
largest fabless
design companies.
Testing facilities
located in close
proximity to
integrated device
manufacturers and
fabless companies in
Texas and
46
Approximate
Commencement of Floor Space (in
Facility Location Operation Primary Use sq. ft.) Owned or Leased
------------------- -------------- --------------- ------------------------------- ---------------- -----------------
Southeast Asia.
ASE Shanghai Shanghai, PRC June 2004 Design and production of 787,000 Land: leased
semiconductor packaging Buildings: owned
materials and provision of
module assembly services on a
contract basis.
ASE Japan Takahata, Japan Acquired in An integrated packaging and 274,000 Land and
June 2004 testing facility that buildings:
specializes in semiconductors leased
for cellular phone, household
appliance and automotive
applications.
Our leased property in Kaohsiung consists primarily of approximately twenty
leases of land in the Kaohsiung Nantze Export Processing Zone between ASE Inc.
and ASE Test Taiwan, as the lessees, and the Export Processing Zones
Administration, or the EPZA, under the Ministry of Economic Affairs. The leases
have ten year terms that expire between the end of June 2005 and May 2014. No
sublease or lending of the land is allowed. The EPZA has the right to adjust the
rental price in the event the government revalues the land. The leases are
typically renewable with three months notice prior to the termination date.
For information on the aggregate capacity of our facilities in terms of the
number of bonders and testers we operate, see "--Business Overview--Equipment".
Closure of ASE Philippines
In order to consolidate our operations and improve operating efficiency
across our various locations, we closed our facilities and discontinued our
operations in the Philippines in October 2003, which had been conducted through
ASE Philippines. We estimate that the charges associated with the closure of our
operations in the Philippines will amount to approximately NT$350 million (US$11
million), of which NT$148.5 million (US$4.7 million) and NT$101.5 million was
recognized in 2004 and 2003, respectively.
Expansion
We have completed the construction of two new buildings in Chung Li, Taiwan
with Hung Ching. The new buildings have floor space of approximately 1,022,000
square feet and are intended to house a part of our testing and packaging
operations and a part of our interconnect materials operations. Construction
commenced in September 2003 and was completed in May 2005. The total cost of the
construction project to Hung Ching before its sale to us is estimated to be
approximately NT$1,200.0 million (US$37.8 million). We are currently in
discussions with Hung Ching to finalize the purchase price of the two new
buildings. We plan to finance this construction project with internally
generated cash or through bank loans. We have not yet paid Hung Ching for any
portion of the construction costs for either of these two new buildings in Chung
Li, Taiwan.
We have not finalized the portion of our productive capacity, either
existing capacity or new capacity budgeted to be added in 2005, which will be
allocated to these new buildings upon their completion.
Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects
OPERATING RESULTS AND TREND INFORMATION
The following discussion of our business, financial condition and results
of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial
statements, which are included elsewhere in this annual report. This discussion
contains forward-looking statements that reflect our current views with respect
to future events and financial performance. Our actual results may differ
materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a
result of any number of factors, such as those set forth under "Item 3. Key
Information--Risk Factors" and elsewhere in this annual report. See
"Forward-Looking Statements".
47
Overview
We offer a broad range of semiconductor packaging and testing services. In
addition to offering each service separately, we also offer turnkey services,
which consist of the integrated packaging, testing and direct shipment of
semiconductors to end users designated by our customers. Our net revenues
increased to NT$81,712.6 million (US$2,574.5 million) in 2004 from NT$57,311.8
million in 2003 and NT$45,586.8 million in 2002. The increase in our net
revenues in 2003 and 2004 reflected a modest recovery in the semiconductor
industry and increased outsourcing of the packaging of advanced package types
such as BGA. In 2004 and 2003, we experienced a gradual improvement in our net
revenues compared to 2002 across each of the end-use applications of the
semiconductors that we packaged and tested. In addition to our overall increase
in production volume, our improvement was also concentrated in the packaging of
more advanced package types, the testing of more complex, high-performance
semiconductors and the assembly of modules.
Pricing and Revenue Mix
We price our services on a cost-plus basis, taking into account the actual
costs involved in providing these services, with reference to prevailing market
prices. The majority of our prices and revenues are denominated in U.S. dollars.
However, as more than half of our costs, including most of our labor and
overhead costs, are denominated in NT dollars, we consider the NT dollar to be
our functional currency. Furthermore, the majority of our financing costs are
denominated in NT dollars.
In the case of semiconductor packaging, the cost of the silicon die, by
most accounts the most costly component of the packaged semiconductor, is
typically not reflected in our costs (or revenues) since it is typically
supplied by our customers on a consignment basis. In the case of module
assembly, we typically procure the substantial majority of the components and
raw materials to be assembled, including packaged semiconductors, which are
reflected both in our costs and our revenues. Compared to semiconductor
packaging, module assembly typically generates higher revenues and incurs higher
costs for a given amount of gross profit, and affects our margins accordingly.
The semiconductor industry is characterized by a general trend towards
declining prices for products and services of a given technology over time. In
addition, during periods of intense competition and adverse conditions in the
semiconductor industry, the pace of this decline may be more rapid than that
experienced in other years. The average selling prices of our packaging and
testing services have experienced sharp declines during such periods as a result
of intense price competition from other independent packaging and testing
companies that attempt to maintain high capacity utilization levels in the face
of reduced demand. During the industry downturn commencing in the fourth quarter
of 2000, we experienced a significant deterioration in average selling prices
which resulted in our company incurring a net loss in 2001 and a significant
decrease in net income in 2002, as compared with the years prior to 2001. As a
result of the modest recovery in the semiconductor industry and a gradual upturn
in the outsourcing trend in 2002, 2003 and 2004, our average selling prices for
packaging and testing services stabilized in 2002, 2003 and 2004 as compared to
2001.
In 2004, 2003 and 2002, packaging revenues, including revenues from module
assembly, accounted for 79.2%, 78.6% and 77.9% while testing revenues accounted
for 20.2%, 21.2% and 22.1%, respectively, of our net revenues. Testing revenues
as a percentage of our net revenues decreased in 2004 and 2003 primarily as a
result of the increase in revenues from module assembly, but also in part
because the average selling prices of our testing services are more severely
affected by a downturn in the semiconductor industry than the average selling
prices of our packaging services. In periods of an industry downturn, the
decline in the average selling prices of our testing services is often
exacerbated by the decrease in demand from our integrated device manufacturer
customers, who typically maintain larger in-house testing capacity than in-house
packaging capacity. These price declines are also exacerbated by the intense
price competition from other independent testing service providers, who
typically offer large price discounts during periods of depressed demand, such
as in 2001, in order to maintain higher capacity utilization rates to defray the
high fixed costs associated with testing operations.
We believe that, over the long term, the market for outsourced
semiconductor testing services has more potential for growth than the market for
outsourced semiconductor packaging services for two reasons. First, the portion
of the semiconductor testing market that is currently accounted for by
independent testing service providers is smaller than that for packaging.
Second, the large capital expenditures needed for increasingly sophisticated
48
testing equipment, as compared to less expensive packaging equipment, are also a
driver for further outsourcing of testing services by integrated device
manufacturers.
Declines in average selling prices have been partially offset over the last
three years by a change in our revenue mix. In particular, revenues derived from
packaging more advanced package types, such as flip-chip BGA, higher density
packages with finer lead-to-lead spacing, or pitch, and testing of more complex,
high-performance semiconductors have increased as a percentage of total
revenues. In addition, module assembly, which typically commands higher unit
prices, has accounted for an increased portion of our net revenues. We intend to
continue to focus on packaging more advanced package types, such as BGA and
flip-chip BGA, developing and offering new technologies in packaging and testing
services and expanding our capacity to achieve economies of scale, as well as
improving production efficiencies for older technology, in order to mitigate the
effects of declining average selling prices on our profitability.
High Fixed Costs
Our operations, in particular our testing operations, are characterized by
relatively high fixed costs. We expect to continue to incur substantial
depreciation and other expenses as a result of our previous acquisitions of
packaging and testing equipment and facilities. Our profitability depends in
part not only on absolute pricing levels for our services, but also on
utilization rates for our packaging and testing equipment, commonly referred to
as "capacity utilization rates". In particular, increases or decreases in our
capacity utilization rates could have a significant effect on gross margins
since the unit cost of packaging and testing services generally decreases as
fixed costs are allocated over a larger number of units. The capacity
utilization rates of the machinery and equipment installed at our production
facilities typically depend on factors such as the volume and variety of
different products packaged or tested using such machinery and equipment, the
efficiency of our operations in terms of the loading and adjustment of machinery
and equipment for the packaging or testing of different products, the complexity
of the different products to be packaged or tested, the amount of time set aside
for the maintenance and repair of the machinery and equipment, the experience
and schedule of work shifts of operators, and others.
The current generation of advanced testers typically cost between US$1.0
million and US$3.0 million each, while wire bonders used in packaging typically
cost between US$50,000 - US$150,000 each. In 2004, 2003 and 2002, our
depreciation as a percentage of net revenues was 16.2%, 20.1% and 24.9%,
respectively. The decrease in depreciation as a percentage of net revenues in
2004 compared to 2003 was primarily a result of higher equipment utilization and
an increase in revenues from advanced processes that translated into higher
average selling prices in 2004, as well as increased reliance upon equipment
that was leased instead of purchased. See "Item 4. Information on the
Company--Business Overview--Equipment". We begin depreciating our equipment when
it is placed into service. There may sometimes be a time lag between when our
equipment is placed into service and when it achieves high levels of
utilization. In periods of depressed industry conditions, we may experience
lower than expected demand from customers and a sharp decline in the average
selling price of our testing services, resulting in an increase in depreciation
relative to net revenues. In particular, the capacity utilization rates for our
testing equipment are more severely affected during an industry downturn as a
result of the decrease in outsourcing demand from integrated device
manufacturers, which typically maintain larger in-house testing capacity than
in-house packaging capacity.
In 2003, we entered into operating leases with leasing companies to lease
advanced testers, generally for a term of three years. We believe that these
operating leases will allow us to better manage our capacity utilization rates
and cash flow. Since testers operated under operating leases could be replaced
with more advanced testers upon the expiration of the lease, we expect that
these operating leases would improve our capacity utilization rate by reducing
the number of testers with lower utilization. In 2004, we, along with ASE Test
Taiwan, have also entered into a lease receivables purchase facility agreement
in order to assist with our leasing of testing equipment. See "--Liquidity and
Capital Resources" and note 25 to our consolidated financial statements. For
more information about our testers, including the number of testers under lease,
see "Item 4. Information on the Company--Business Overview--Equipment--Testing".
49
Raw Material Costs
Substantially all of our raw material costs are accounted for by packaging
and the production of interconnect materials, as testing requires minimal raw
materials. In 2004, 2003 and 2002, raw material cost as a percentage of our net
revenues was 27.2%, 28.8% and 30.2%, respectively. We expect interconnect
materials to become an increasingly important component of the cost of our
packaging revenues and we plan to continue to develop and enhance our in-house
interconnect materials capabilities in order to maintain and enhance our
profitability, ensure an adequate supply of interconnect materials at
competitive prices and reduce production time. On August 1, 2004, we merged with
ASE Material. On October 28, 2003, we established ASE-Compeq Technologies, Inc.,
a joint venture with Compeq, to focus on the design and production of
interconnect materials for packaging semiconductors. We believe that our merger
with ASE Material and our joint venture with Compeq will enhance our
interconnect materials capabilities. For more information on the merger, see
"Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions--Related Party
Transactions". For more information on the joint venture, see "Item 4.
Information on the Company--History and Development of the Company--Joint
Venture with Compeq Manufacturing Co. Ltd." As a result of new restrictions in
the European Union governing the use of hazardous substances, we expect that our
customers will increasingly request that the materials used in our packaging
processes be compliant with new European Union regulations, which will likely
increase our raw material costs as a result. See "Item 4. Information on the
Company--Business Overview--Raw Materials and Suppliers--Packaging".
Goodwill Amortization under ROC GAAP
Our operating income and non-operating income in recent years have been
affected by goodwill amortization charges in connection with the restructuring
of our investment holdings and other share repurchases. Under ROC GAAP,
additional purchases of shares of consolidated subsidiaries (majority owned) or
of companies accounted for using the equity method (less than majority but at
least 20% owned) will generate goodwill in an amount equal to the difference
between the purchase price and the investors' proportionate equity in the fair
value of net assets of the investees. The goodwill generated is amortized over
ten years. Goodwill amortization from the purchases of shares of consolidated
subsidiaries are recognized under general and administrative expense. Goodwill
amortization from the purchases of shares of companies accounted for using the
equity method are recognized as a debit under investment income. Transactions
which created significant goodwill were (1) our merger with ASE Chung Li and ASE
Material (2) the purchase of additional ordinary shares of ASE Test in 2001 from
two of our directors at the prevailing market price, (3) the purchase of a total
of 26,250,000 shares of ISE Labs in 1999, 2000 and 2002, (4) the open market
purchase of shares of Universal Scientific between 1999 and 2000 and (5) the
purchase of additional ordinary shares of ASE Test in the open market in 2002
and 2004. See "Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party
Transactions--Related Party Transactions" and notes 1 and 10 to the consolidated
financial statements.
Merger of ASE Chung Li and ASE Material
On August 1, 2004, ASE Chung Li and ASE Material merged with and into us
pursuant to a merger agreement dated October 28, 2003. We are the surviving
corporation. The merger was consummated by means of a share exchange pursuant to
which the respective shareholders, other than ourselves, of ASE Chung Li and ASE
Material received our common shares in exchange for the common shares of each of
ASE Chung Li and ASE Material. The share exchange pursuant to the merger
agreement between ourselves and entities under our control was treated as a
transaction between entities under common control, and all assets and
liabilities exchanged were transferred at their carrying amounts. With respect
to the share exchange between ourselves and the outstanding minority interests,
the purchase method of accounting was applied as the exchange represents the
acquisition of non-controlling equity interests in a subsidiary. Because the
"fair value" of our common shares (based on NT$31.00 per ASE Inc. common share,
which was the average of the closing prices of our common shares on the Taiwan
Stock Exchange for two days prior to and following October 28, 2003) exchanged
for the non-controlling equity interests exceeded the "fair value" of the
acquired net assets (based on the appraised value on the effective date of the
merger), the merger generated goodwill of NT$1,608.7 million (US$50.7 million).
For more information on the merger, see "Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related
Party Transactions--Related Party Transactions".
50
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Preparation of our consolidated financial statements requires us to make
estimates and judgments in applying our critical accounting policies which have
a significant impact on the results we report in our consolidated financial
statements. We continually evaluate these estimates, including those related to
revenue recognition, allowances for doubtful accounts, inventories, allowances
for deferred income tax assets, useful lives of properties, realizability of
long-term assets, goodwill and the valuation of marketable securities and
long-term investments. We base our estimates on historical experience and other
assumptions which we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual
results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions and
conditions. We have identified below the accounting policies that are the most
critical to our consolidated financial statements.
Revenue Recognition. Revenues from semiconductor packaging services that we
provide are recognized upon shipment. Revenues from testing services that we
provide are recognized upon completion of the services. We do not take ownership
of:
o bare semiconductor wafers received from customers that we package into
finished semiconductors; and
o packaged semiconductors received from customers that we test.
The title and risk of loss remains with the customer for those bare
semiconductors and/or packaged semiconductors. Accordingly, the cost of
customer-supplied semiconductor materials is not included in our consolidated
financial statements. Other criteria that we use to determine when to recognize
revenue are:
o existence of persuasive evidence of the services provided;
o the selling price is fixed or determinable; and
o collectibility is reasonably assured.
These policies are consistent with provisions in the Staff Accounting Bulletin
No. 101 issued by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC.
We do not provide warranties to our customers except in cases of defects in the
packaging services provided and deficiencies in testing services provided. An
appropriate sales allowance is recognized in the period during which the sale is
recognized, and is estimated based on historical experience.
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts. We periodically record a provision for
doubtful accounts based on our evaluation of the collectibility of our accounts
receivable. The total amount of this provision is determined by us as follows.
We first identify the receivables of customers that are considered to be a
higher credit risk based on their current overdue accounts with us, difficulties
collecting from these customers in the past or their overall financial
condition. For each of these customers, we estimate the extent to which the
customer will be able to meet its financial obligations to us, and we record an
allowance that reduces our accounts receivable for that customer to the amount
that we reasonably believe will be collected. For all other customers, we
maintain an allowance for doubtful accounts equal to a percentage of their
aggregate accounts receivable. Based on our experience, we currently maintain an
allowance for the accounts receivables of these other customers which average
between 3% and 4%, on a consolidated basis, of our net revenues. Additional
allowances may be required in the future if the financial condition of our
customers or general economic conditions deteriorate, and this additional
allowance would reduce our net income.
Inventories. In January 2004, we implemented enterprise resource planning,
or ERP, in order to increase our ability to effectively monitor our resource
allocation throughout our company. As a result, we switched from using the
weighted-average method to using the moving-average method to price our raw
materials and supplies. As a result of the change, our net income for 2004
decreased NT$26.8 million (US$0.8 million) and our earnings per share decreased
NT$0.01. See also note 3 to the consolidated financial statements. Otherwise,
inventories are recorded at cost when acquired and stated at the lower of
weighted average cost or market value. Unbilled processing charges incurred are
included in finished goods and work in progress and are stated at actual cost.
Market value for finished goods and work in process is estimated to be the net
realizable value. Market value for raw materials, supplies and spare parts is
the replacement cost. Materials received from customers for processing, mainly
51
of semiconductor wafers, are excluded from inventories, as title and risk of
loss remains with the customers. An allowance for loss on decline in market
value and obsolescence is provided based on the difference between the cost of
inventory and the estimated market value based upon assumptions about future
demand and market conditions. An additional inventory provision may be required
if actual market conditions are less favorable than those projected.
Allowances for Deferred Income Tax Assets. Tax benefits arising from
deductible temporary differences, unused tax credits and net operating loss
carryforwards are recognized as deferred tax assets. We record a valuation
allowance to reduce our deferred income tax assets to an amount that we believe
will more likely than not be realized. We have considered future taxable income
and ongoing prudent and feasible tax planning strategies in assessing the need
and amount for the valuation allowance. In the event we were to determine that
we would be able to realize our deferred income tax assets in the future in
excess of our net recorded amount, an adjustment to our deferred income tax
assets would increase income in the period such determination was made.
Alternatively, should we determine that we would not be able to realize all or
part of our net deferred income tax assets in the future, an adjustment to our
deferred income tax assets would decrease income in the period such
determination was made.
Useful Lives of Properties. Our properties primarily consist of machinery
and equipment, buildings and improvements and land improvements. As our
operations are capital intensive, we have significant investments in expensive
packaging and testing equipment. Properties represented 61.5%, 58.9% and 60.1%
of our total assets as of December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. We
depreciate our properties based on our estimate of their economic useful lives
to us, which is in turn based on our judgment, historical experience and the
potential obsolescence of our existing equipment brought about by the
introduction of more sophisticated packaging and testing technologies and
processes. If we subsequently determine that the actual useful life of
properties is shorter than what we had estimated, we will depreciate the
remaining undepreciated value of that asset over its remaining economic useful
life. This would result in increased depreciation and decreased net income
during those periods. Similarly, if the actual lives of properties are longer
than what we had estimated, we would have less depreciation and higher net
income in subsequent periods. As a result, if our estimations of the useful
lives of our properties are not accurate or are required to be changed in the
future, our net income in future periods would be affected.
Realizability of Long-Term Assets. We are required to evaluate our
equipment, goodwill and other long-lived assets for impairment whenever there is
an indication of impairment. If certain criteria are met, we are required to
record an impairment charge. In accordance with U.S. Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards, or U.S. SFAS, No. 144, "Accounting for the Impairment or
Disposal of Long-Lived Assets", long-lived assets held and used by us are
reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate
that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. For purposes of
evaluating the recoverability of long-lived assets, the recoverability test is
performed by comparing undiscounted net cash flows of the assets against the net
book value of the assets. If the recoverability test indicates that an
impairment has occurred, the impairment loss is the amount of the asset's net
book value in excess of the related fair value. For example, we took a
NT$1,225.6 million impairment charge in 2002 against some of our testing
equipment to reflect the decline in economic value of this equipment.
For the year ended December 31, 2004, we adopted ROC Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards, or ROC SFAS, No. 35, "Impairment of Assets" to account for
the impairment of our long-lived assets under ROC GAAP. In accordance with ROC
SFAS No. 35, long-lived assets held and used by us are reviewed for impairment
whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of
an asset may not be recoverable. Prior to 2004, there were no requirements
related to the evaluation of recoverability of long-lived assets' impairment
under ROC GAAP, and we applied U.S. SFAS No. 144 when accounting for impairment
of long-lived assets for both ROC GAAP and U.S. GAAP.
We have reclassified the impairment charge of NT$1,225.6 million, formerly
recognized under general and administrative operating expenses, as an individual
line item under non-operating income (expense) as a result of our adoption of
ROC SFAS No. 35. In 2003 and 2004, we did not take any impairment charges
against long-lived assets.
Goodwill. Effective January 1, 2002, we adopted U.S. SFAS No. 142,
"Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets", which requires that goodwill no longer
be amortized, and instead be tested for impairment annually or more frequently
if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired.
Under U.S. GAAP, we
52
realized an impairment charge as of December 31, 2002 related to the goodwill
from the acquisition of ASE Test. See "--U.S. GAAP Reconciliation". Under U.S.
GAAP, we continue to carry significant goodwill resulting from the acquisition
of ASE Korea and the purchase of shares of ISE Labs, and will have to assess
such goodwill for impairment on at least an annual basis in the future. The
merger of ASE Chung Li and ASE Material generated goodwill of NT$1,608.7 million
(US$50.7 million). See "--Merger of ASE Chung Li and ASE Material". In 2004, as
a result of our annual impairment review under U.S. GAAP, we recognized an
impairment charge of NT$1,337.7 million (US$42.1 million) for goodwill relating
to our purchase of shares of ISE Labs. If events and circumstances warrant in
the future, the value of the goodwill could be further impaired under U.S. GAAP.
For the year ended December 31, 2004, we adopted ROC SFAS No. 35,
"Impairment of Assets". In addition to yearly amortization, under ROC SFAS No.
35, goodwill is also evaluated at least annually to determine if it is impaired.
As a result of our annual impairment review, under ROC GAAP, we recognized an
impairment charge of NT$1,950.1 million (US$61.4 million) for goodwill relating
to our shares of ASE Test and ISE Labs. See note 10 to the consolidated
financial statements.
Valuation of Long-term Investments. We hold significant long-term
investments in public and non-public entities. We periodically evaluate these
long-term investments based on market prices, if available, the financial
condition of the investee company, economic conditions in the industry, and our
intent and ability to hold the investment for a long period of time. These
assessments usually require a significant amount of judgment as a significant
decline in the market price may not be the best indicator of impairment. Under
U.S. GAAP, we evaluate long-term investments using the above mentioned criteria
and, to the extent any decline in the value of a long-term investment is
determined to be other than temporary, an impairment charge is recorded in the
current period. The methods to measure the amount of impairment under ROC GAAP
and U.S. GAAP may be based on different estimates of fair value depending on the
circumstances. Under U.S. GAAP, market price is to be used, if available, to
determine the fair value. Under ROC GAAP, however, if the market price is deemed
to be a result of an inactive market, other measures of fair value may be used.
Several of the long-term investments held by us are accounted for under the
equity method. Any significant decline in the operations of an equity method
investee could affect the value of the long-term investment and an impairment
charge may occur.
After determining that other-than-temporary impairment occurred in our
long-term investments as of December 31, 2004, an impairment charge of NT$512.0
million (US$16.1 million) was recorded under ROC GAAP based on the difference
between the book value and the calculated recoverable amount of Universal
Scientific with adjustments made to significant assets of Universal Scientific
using appraised values and other appropriate information. In 2004, we incurred
an impairment charge of NT$1,707.0 million (US$53.8 million) under U.S. GAAP
relating to our shares of Universal Scientific. See "--U.S. GAAP Reconciliation"
and note 29 to the consolidated financial statements.
ROC Labor Pension Act
In accordance with ROC Labor Pension Act, effective July 1, 2005, all ROC
companies, including us, will be required to contribute at least 6% of their
employees' monthly salary to the pension fund accounts of those employees who
decide to participate in the "portable" pension plans available under the new
law. Under the prior applicable pension law, the required contribution amount
was no less than 2%. It is not yet clear how many of our employees will decide
to participate in the "portable" pension plans available under the new law, but
we anticipate that our pension costs will increase as a result of the ROC Labor
Pension Act.
53
Results of Operations
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, financial data
from our consolidated statements of income, expressed as a percentage of net
revenues.
Year Ended December 31,
-------------------------------------------------
2002 2003 2004
-------------------------------------------------
(percentage of net revenues)
ROC GAAP:
Net revenues.............................................. 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
Packaging.............................................. 77.9 78.6 79.2
Testing................................................ 22.1 21.2 20.2
Others................................................. 0.0 0.2 0.6
Cost of revenues.......................................... (84.4) (81.1) (80.1)
Gross profit.............................................. 15.6 18.9 19.9
Operating expenses........................................ (14.4) (13.2) (10.7)
Income (loss) from operations............................. 1.2 5.7 9.2
Non-operating income (expenses)........................... (7.1) (3.2) (4.9)
Income (loss) before income tax and minority interest..... (5.9) 2.5 4.3
Income tax benefit (expense).............................. 2.5 2.3 1.7
Income (loss) before extraordinary loss and cumulative
effect of change in accounting principle............... (3.4) 4.8 6.0
Extraordinary loss........................................ (0.1) (0.1) --
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle....... -- -- *
Minority interest in net (income) loss of subsidiaries.... 3.8 0.1 (0.8)
-------------------------------------------------
Net income (loss)......................................... 0.3% 4.8% 5.2%
=================================================
-----------------
* Indicates percentage is less than 0.1%.
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the gross
margins for our packaging and testing services and our total gross margin. Gross
margin is calculated by dividing gross profits by net sales.
Year Ended December 31,
-----------------------------------------------
2002 2003 2004
-----------------------------------------------
(percentage of net revenues)
ROC GAAP:
Gross margin
Packaging............................................. 17.6% 17.7% 18.3%
Testing............................................... 8.4 23.5 26.3
Overall.................................................. 15.6% 18.9% 19.9%
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, a breakdown of
our total cost of revenues and operating expenses, expressed as a percentage of
net revenues.
Year Ended December 31,
-----------------------------------------------
2002 2003 2004
-----------------------------------------------
(percentage of net revenues)
ROC GAAP:
Cost of revenues
Raw materials......................................... 30.2% 28.8% 27.2%
Labor................................................. 14.8 15.1 15.3
Depreciation.......................................... 24.9 20.1 16.2
Others................................................ 14.5 17.1 21.4
-----------------------------------------------
54
Year Ended December 31,
-----------------------------------------------
2002 2003 2004
-----------------------------------------------
(percentage of net revenues)
Total cost of revenues.......................... 84.4% 81.1% 80.1
===============================================
Operating expenses
Selling............................................... 2.0% 2.1% 1.3%
General and administrative(1)......................... 6.1 5.6 5.1
Goodwill amortization(2).............................. 1.8 1.4 1.1
Research and development.............................. 4.5 4.1 3.2
-----------------------------------------------
Total operating expenses........................ 14.4% 13.2% 10.7%
===============================================
------------------
(1) Excludes goodwill amortization for purposes of this table only.
(2) Included in general and administrative expense in the consolidated financial
statements.
Year Ended December 31, 2004 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2003
Net Revenues. Net revenues increased 42.6% to NT$81,712.6 million
(US$2,574.5 million) in 2004 from NT$57,311.8 million in 2003. Packaging
revenues increased 43.8% to NT$64,736.8 million (US$2,039.6 million) in 2004
from NT$45,026.9 million in 2003. Testing revenues increased 35.7% to
NT$16,473.9 million (US$519.1 million) in 2004 from NT$12,142.4 million in 2003.
The increase in packaging revenues was primarily due to an increase in packaging
volume. The increase in testing revenues was primarily due to an increase in
testing volume, which was partially offset by a decrease in the average selling
prices for testing services. The increase in packaging and testing volume
resulted primarily from the recovery in the semiconductor industry and the
increase in outsourcing of the packaging and testing of semiconductor devices.
The decrease in the average selling prices for testing services reflected the
general trend in the semiconductor industry of declining prices for testing
services.
Gross Profit. Gross profit increased 50.0% to NT$16,265.5 million (US$512.5
million) in 2004 from NT$10,845.3 million in 2003. Our gross margin increased to
19.9% in 2004 compared to 18.9% in 2003. This increase was primarily a result of
a decrease in depreciation and raw material costs, partially offset by increases
in rental expense and cost of wafers, testing and materials, all as a percentage
of net revenues. Our gross margin for packaging increased to 18.3% in 2004 from
17.7% in 2003. This increase was primarily due to a decrease in raw material
costs and depreciation, partially offset by an increase in factory supplies and
components for use in modules, all as a percentage of packaging revenues. Our
gross margin for testing increased to 26.3% in 2004 from 23.5% in 2003. This
increase was primarily due to a decrease in depreciation, partially offset by an
increase in rental expenses for testing equipment, all as a percentage of net
revenues. Depreciation in 2004 was NT$13,247.1 million (US$417.4 million),
compared to NT$11,517.0 million in 2003. As a percentage of net revenues,
however, depreciation decreased to 16.2% in 2004 from 20.1% in 2003, reflecting
higher capacity utilization rates.
Operating Income. We had an operating income of NT$7,551.2 million
(US$237.9 million) in 2004, compared to NT$3,270.5 million in 2003. Operating
expenses increased 15.0% to NT$8,714.3 million (US$274.6 million) in 2004,
compared to NT$7,574.8 million in 2003. The increase in operating expenses was
primarily due to higher general and administrative expenses and, to a lesser
extent, higher research and development expenses, partially offset by a decrease
in selling expenses. General and administrative expense, excluding goodwill
amortization, increased 31.7% to NT$4,211.0 million (US$132.8 million) in 2004
from NT$3,196.6 million in 2003. This increase was primarily the result of an
increase in our salaries and bonuses expense. General and administrative
expense, excluding goodwill amortization, represented 5.1% of our net revenues
in 2004, compared to 5.6% in 2003. Goodwill amortization was NT$877.6 million
(US$27.6 million) in 2004 compared to NT$819.3 million in 2003. Goodwill
amortization represented 1.1% of our net revenues in 2004, compared to 1.4% in
2003. Research and development expense increased 9.8% to NT$2,584.5 million
(US$81.4 million) in 2004 from NT$2,354.0 million in 2003. This increase was
primarily a result of increases in our salaries and bonuses expense and the cost
of maintaining our research and development equipment. Research and development
expense accounted for 3.2% of our net revenues in 2004, compared to 4.1% in
2003. Selling expense decreased 13.6% to NT$1,041.2 million (US$32.8 million) in
2004 from NT$1,204.9 million in 2003. This decrease was primarily due to
decreased commission and fee payments to our sales and customer service agents
following our acquisition of ASE (U.S.) Inc.,
55
which was previously our agent providing customer service and after-sales
support to our customers in Europe and North America. See "Item 4. Information
on the Company--Business Overview--Sales and Marketing--Sales and Customer
Service Agents". Selling expense represented 1.3% of our net revenues in 2004,
compared to 2.1% in 2003. Operating margin increased to 9.2% in 2004 from 5.7%
in 2003, primarily as a result of a decrease in our operating expenses as a
percentage of net revenues. Such decrease resulted primarily from the
significant increase in our net revenues while most components of our operating
expenses did not increase as significantly, reflecting efficiencies realized
from increased scale of operations and the acquisition of ASE (U.S.) Inc.
Net Non-Operating Income (Expense). We incurred a net non-operating expense
of NT$4,019.4 million (US$126.6 million) in 2004, compared to a net
non-operating expense of NT$1,782.7 million in 2003. This overall increase was
primarily a result of an impairment of goodwill under ROC GAAP, other investment
loss and a decrease in our gain on sales of investments, partially offset by a
decrease in our interest expense and a decrease in our realized loss on
long-term investments. Pursuant to our yearly review of goodwill under ROC GAAP,
we determined that NT$1,950.1 million (US$61.4 million) of our goodwill relating
to our purchase of shares of ISE Labs and ASE Test was impaired in 2004,
compared to zero in 2003. Our other investment loss also increased to NT$512.0
million (US$16.1 million) in 2004 from zero in 2003 after we determined that
some of the goodwill relating to our affiliate, Universal Scientific, was
impaired. Our gain on sale of investment decreased 90.8% to NT$57.1 million
(US$1.8 million) in 2004, compared to NT$618.9 million in 2003. Net interest
expense decreased 31.1% to NT$898.7 million (US$28.3 million) in 2004 from
NT$1,304.7 million in 2003, primarily due to lower interest rates on our bank
loans. Our realized loss on long-term investments decreased to zero in 2004 from
NT$354.8 million in 2003. We recorded net other non-operating expense of
NT$174.5 million (US$5.5 million) in 2004, compared to net other non-operating
expense of NT$114.6 million in 2003.
Net Income. We had a net income of NT$4,209.7 million (US$132.6 million) in
2004, compared to a net income of NT$2,742.8 million in 2003. Our net income per
ADS was NT$5.31 (US$0.17) in 2004, compared to a net income per ADS of NT$3.65
in 2003 (retroactively adjusted to account for stock dividends issued in 2004).
We had an income tax benefit of NT$1,396.3 million (US$44.0 million) in 2004,
compared to an income tax benefit of NT$1,278.1 million in 2003, primarily as a
result of tax credits resulting from an increase in capital expenditures
relating to our facilities in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Year Ended December 31, 2003 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2002
Net Revenues. Net revenues increased 25.7% to NT$57,311.8 million in 2003
from NT$45,586.8 million in 2002. Packaging revenues increased 26.8% to
NT$45,026.9 million in 2003 from NT$35,515.4 million in 2002. Testing revenues
increased 20.7% to NT$12,142.4 million in 2003 from NT$10,060.6 million in 2002.
The increase in packaging revenues was primarily due to an increase in packaging
volume. The increase in testing revenues was primarily due to an increase in
testing volume, which was partially offset by a decrease in the average selling
prices for testing services. The increase in packaging and testing volume
resulted primarily from the recovery in the semiconductor industry and the
increase in outsourcing of the packaging and testing of semiconductor devices.
This increase was tempered in part by adverse global political and economic
conditions as well as the impact of the outbreak of SARS in the first half of
2003. The decrease in the average selling prices for testing services reflected
the general trend in the semiconductor industry of declining prices for testing
services.
Gross Profit. Gross profit increased 52.9% to NT$10,845.3 million in 2003
from NT$7,094.6 million in 2002. Our gross margin increased to 18.9% in 2003
compared to 15.6% in the comparable period in 2002. This increase was primarily
a result of a decrease in depreciation and raw material costs, partially offset
by an increase in factory supplies, all as a percentage of net revenues. Our
gross margin for packaging increased slightly to 17.7% in 2003 from 17.6% in
2002. This increase was primarily due to a decrease in raw material costs and
depreciation, which was partially offset by an increase in factory supplies and
components for use in modules, all as a percentage of packaging revenues. Our
gross margin for testing increased to 23.5% in 2003 from 8.4% in 2002. This
increase was primarily due to higher utilization rates for our testers, which
resulted in a decrease in depreciation as a percentage of testing revenues.
Depreciation in 2003 was NT$11,517.0 million, compared to NT$11,366.9 million in
2002. As a percentage of net revenues, however, depreciation decreased to 20.1%
in 2003 from 24.9% in 2002, reflecting higher capacity utilization rates.
56
Operating Income (Loss). We had an operating income of NT$3,270.5 million
in 2003, compared to NT$540.4 million in 2002. Operating margin was 5.7% in
2003, compared to 1.2% in 2002. Operating expenses increased 15.6% to NT$7,574.8
million in 2003, compared to NT$6,554.2 million in 2002. The increase in
operating expenses was primarily due to higher selling, general and
administrative, and research and development expenses. Selling expense increased
32.5% to NT$1,204.9 million in 2003 from NT$909.4 million in 2002. This increase
was primarily due to increased commission and fee payments to our sales and
customer service agents, reflecting increased sales. Selling expense represented
2.1% of our net revenues in 2003, compared to 2.0% in 2002. General and
administrative expense, excluding goodwill amortization, increased 15.0% to
NT$3,196.6 million in 2003 from NT$2,780.2 million in 2002. General and
administrative expense, excluding goodwill amortization, represented 5.6% of our
net revenues in 2003, compared to 6.1% in 2002. Goodwill amortization was
NT$819.3 million in 2003 compared to NT$815.6 million in 2002. Goodwill
amortization represented 1.4% of our net revenues in 2003, compared to 1.8% in
2002. Research and development expense increased 14.9% to NT$2,354.0 million in
2003 from NT$2,049.0 million in the comparable period in 2002. This increase was
primarily a result of an increase in the number of our research and development
employees. Research and development expense accounted for 4.1% of our net
revenues in 2003, compared to 4.5% of our net revenues in 2002.
Net Non-Operating Income (Expense). We incurred a net non-operating expense
of NT$1,782.7 million in 2003, compared to a net non-operating expense of
NT$3,250.1 million in 2002. This overall decrease was primarily a result of an
asset impairment charge of NT$1,225.6 million which was recorded as an
impairment of long-lived assets in 2002, but for which there was no similar
charge in 2003, and to a lesser degree, a decrease in net interest expense and
an increase in gain on disposal of investments, which was partially offset by an
increase in realized loss on long-term investments. Net interest expense
decreased 17.4% to NT$1,304.7 million in 2003 from NT$1,578.6 million in 2002,
primarily due to lower interest rates on our bank loans and NT$511.5 million in
interest income recognized in connection with the redemption of the US$160
million 1% guaranteed convertible notes due 2004 issued by ASE Test through its
finance subsidiary. We recorded a realized loss on long-term investments of
NT$354.8 million in 2003 due to the recognition of a loss on the sale of our
common shares by our wholly-owned subsidiary ASE Capital Inc. in connection with
our ADS offering in June 2003.
Net Income (Loss). We had a net income of NT$2,742.8 million in 2003,
compared to a net income of NT$129.0 million in 2002. Our net income per ADS was
NT$3.65 in 2003, compared to a net income per ADS of NT$0.18 per ADS in 2002. We
had an income tax benefit of NT$1,278.1 million in 2003, compared to an income
tax benefit of NT$1,140.3 million in 2002, primarily as a result of tax credits
resulting from an increase in capital expenditures relating to our facilities in
Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Quarterly Net Revenues, Gross Profit and Gross Margin
The following table sets forth our unaudited consolidated net revenues,
gross profit and gross margin for the quarterly periods indicated. You should
read the following table in conjunction with the consolidated financial
statements and related notes included in this annual report. Our net revenues,
gross profit and gross margin for any quarter are not necessarily indicative of
the results for any future period. Our quarterly net revenues, gross profit and
gross margin may fluctuate significantly.
Quarter Ended
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jun. 30, Sept. Dec. 31, Mar. 31, Jun. 30, Sept. Dec. 31, Mar. 31,
2003 30, 2003 2003 2004 2004 30, 2004 2004 2005
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NT$ NT$ NT$ NT$ NT$ NT$ NT$ NT$
(in millions)
Consolidated Net Revenues
Packaging............... 9,986.6 11,420.1 14,598.6 13,745.0 16,131.7 17,249.6 17,610.5 14,680.5
Testing................. 2,752.3 3,065.7 3,789.7 3,418.5 4,101.6 4,596.5 4,357.3 3,692.8
Others.................. 33.9 38.8 41.7 57.4 57.0 176.3 211.2 196.0
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total................ 12,772.8 14,524.6 18,430.0 17,220.9 20,290.3 22,022.4 22,179.0 18,569.3
====================================================================================
Consolidated Gross Profit
Packaging 1,437.5 2,018.0 3,368.9 2,885.4 3,263.4 3,101.9 2,564.2 1,506.5
Testing................. 531.6 758.8 1,209.6 853.6 1,188.8 1,295.0 995.3 377.5
Others.................. 1.1 6.0 2.7 29.7 16.8 38.6 32.8 (0.7)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total................. 1,970.2 2,782.8 4,581.2 3,768.7 4,469.0 4,435.5 3,592.3 1,883.3
====================================================================================
57
Quarter Ended
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jun. 30, Sept. 30, Dec. 31, Mar. 31, Jun. 30, Sept. 30, Dec. 31, Mar. 31,
2003 2003 2003 2004 2004 2004 2004 2005
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NT$ NT$ NT$ NT$ NT$ NT$ NT$ NT$
(in millions)
Consolidated Gross Margin
Packaging............... 14.4% 17.7% 23.1% 21.0% 20.2% 18.0% 14.6% 10.3%
Testing................. 19.3% 24.8% 31.9% 25.0% 29.0% 28.2% 22.8% 10.2%
Overall................. 15.4% 19.2% 24.9% 21.9% 22.0% 20.1% 16.2% 10.1%
Our results of operations have been adversely affected by the global
semiconductor industry downturn which commenced in the fourth quarter of 2000
and continued through the fourth quarter of 2001. Beginning the second quarter
of 2002, we experienced an improvement in our net revenues as a result of a
modest recovery in the semiconductor industry. However, in the first quarter of
2003, our net revenues were adversely affected by global political and economic
conditions. To a lesser extent, our results of operations have also been
affected by seasonality. Our first quarter net revenues have historically
decreased over the preceding fourth quarter, primarily due to the combined
effects of holidays in the United States, Taiwan and elsewhere in Asia.
Moreover, the increase or decrease in net revenues of a particular quarter as
compared with the immediately preceding quarter varies significantly. See "Item
3. Key Information--Risk Factors--Risks Relating to Our Business--Our operating
results are subject to significant fluctuations, which could adversely affect
the market value of your investment."
Our testing operations historically have higher gross margins than our
packaging operations. However, during periods of lower-than-normal capacity
utilization, such as the full year of 2002 and the first quarter of 2005, our
testing operations have experienced lower gross margins than our packaging
operations.
Exchange Rate Fluctuations
For a quantitative and qualitative disclosure of our exposure to foreign
currency exchange rate risk, see "Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative
Disclosures about Market Risk--Market Risk--Foreign Currency Exchange Rate
Risk".
Taxation
The regular corporate income tax rate in the ROC applicable to us is 25%.
Under the ROC Statute of Upgrading Industries, which gives certain preferential
tax treatment to companies that qualify as operating in an "important technology
industry", we have two five-year tax exemptions on income derived from the
packaging of BGA products, as well as other products, which expire at the end of
2005 and 2007. We also received two five-year tax exemptions, one that expired
at the end of 2004 and one that will expire at the end of 2007, on income
derived from a portion of our Chung Li manufacturing, processing and testing
operations. ASE Test Taiwan has one five-year tax exemption that will expire in
December 2005 on income derived from a portion of its testing operations. We are
currently in the process of applying for additional five-year exemptions under
the ROC Statute for Upgrading Industries. In addition, ASE Test Malaysia
qualified as a "pioneer" company in Malaysia and enjoyed a tax exemption which
expired on June 30, 1999. ASE Test Malaysia subsequently obtained the status of
"high-tech pioneer" and was granted a five-year tax exemption which expired on
June 30, 2004. These tax exemptions resulted in tax savings for us of
approximately NT$642.3 million (US$20.2 million), NT$481.2 million and NT$52.1
million in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. In order to qualify for a more
beneficial reinvestment allowance, ASE Test Malaysia applied for and was granted
cancellation of its pioneer status, which was deemed to have been cancelled on
September 21, 2002. ASE Test Malaysia's current reinvestment allowance applies
to certain of our qualifying equipment and allows us to reduce our tax payments
on income from our operations that use such equipment until we use up such
allowance.
We also have tax credits under the ROC Statute for Upgrading Industries.
Under the previous tax credit rules, we obtained a tax credit of 20% for the
purchase of equipment manufactured in Taiwan and 10% for the purchase of
equipment manufactured outside Taiwan. In July and December 2004, the ROC
Executive Yuan amended the tax credit rules and adopted tax credits ranging from
5% to 13% to be applied to the purchase of equipment regardless of where it was
manufactured.
58
Under the ROC Statute for Upgrading Industries, we may apply for additional
tax holidays covering the portion of our income allocable to eligible machinery
and equipment upon receipt of a cash infusion from our shareholders, including
through rights offerings, if the proceeds of which are used to purchase eligible
machinery and equipment. We may also apply for this tax holiday after the
capitalization of retained earnings through the issuance of stock dividends. See
note 21 to our consolidated financial statements.
In addition, since we have facilities located in special export zones such
as the Nantze Export Processing Zone in Taiwan and the Bayan Lepas Free
Industrial Zone in Malaysia, we enjoy exemptions from various import duties and
commodity taxes on imported machinery, equipment, raw materials and components.
Goods produced by companies located in these zones and exported or sold to
others within the zones are exempt from otherwise applicable commodity or
business taxes.
Our effective income tax rate was 0% in 2004 and 2003 primarily as a result
of tax credits generated from qualifying equipment purchases made at our
facilities in Kaohsiung, Taiwan and 0% in 2002 because we incurred a net loss
before income tax, minority interests and extraordinary loss.
We generated additional tax credits in 2004, 2003 and 2002 and believe that
the future estimated taxable income will be sufficient to realize the current
and long-term portion of our net deferred tax assets recorded as of December 31,
2004, 2003 and 2002.
Under the ROC Income Tax Law, all retained earnings generated in a year
which are not distributed to shareholders as dividends in the following year
will be assessed a 10% retained earnings tax. As a result, if we do not
distribute all of our annual retained earnings as either cash or stock dividends
in the following year, these earnings will be subject to the 10% retained
earnings tax.
Inflation
We do not believe that inflation in Taiwan or elsewhere has had a material
impact on our results of operations.
U.S. GAAP Reconciliation
Our financial statements are prepared in accordance with ROC GAAP, which
differ in certain material respects from U.S. GAAP. The following table sets
forth a comparison of our net income and shareholders' equity in accordance with
ROC GAAP and U.S. GAAP as of and for the periods indicated.
As of and For the Year Ended December 31,
------------------------------------------------
2002 2003 2004
------------------------------------------------
NT$ NT$ NT$ US$
(in millions)
Net income (loss):
ROC GAAP................. 129.0 2,742.8 4,209.7 132.6
U.S. GAAP................ (3,074.3) 2,352.0 4,297.1 135.4
Shareholders' equity:
ROC GAAP................. 39,430.7 45,122.6 51,311.8 1,616.6
U.S. GAAP................ 35,716.8 42,083.0 48,646.6 1,532.7
Note 29 to the consolidated financial statements provides a description of
the principal differences between ROC GAAP and U.S. GAAP as they relate to us
and a reconciliation to U.S. GAAP of select items, including net income and
shareholders' equity. Differences between ROC GAAP and U.S. GAAP, which
primarily affect our net income as reported under ROC GAAP, relate to impairment
of goodwill and long-term investments and compensation expense pertaining to
bonuses to employees, directors and supervisors.
Effective January 1, 2002, we adopted U.S. SFAS No. 142, "Goodwill and
Other Intangible Assets", which requires that goodwill no longer be amortized,
and instead, be tested for impairment annually or more frequently if events or
changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. In
conjunction with the implementation of U.S. SFAS No. 142, we completed a
goodwill impairment review as of January 1, 2002 in accordance with the
provisions of the standard and found no impairment. SFAS No. 142 also requires
companies to
59
discontinue amortizing goodwill and other indefinite lived assets beginning
January 1, 2002. This resulted in a decrease in amortization of approximately
NT$877.6 million (US$27.6 million), NT$819.3 million and NT$815.6 million in
2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively, which continues to be recorded for ROC GAAP
purposes. Under U.S. GAAP, we completed our annual goodwill impairment tests as
of December 31, 2002 and determined that NT$2,213.0 million of the goodwill
attributable to shares of ASE Test was impaired and accordingly wrote off the
full amount of the goodwill. No impairment charges were recorded for goodwill,
attributable to other reporting units, for the year ended December 31, 2003. For
the year ended December 31, 2004, we took an impairment charge under U.S. GAAP
of NT$1,337.7 million (US$42.1 million) relating to our purchase of shares of
ISE Labs.
For the year ended December 31, 2004, we adopted ROC SFAS No. 35,
"Impairment of Assets". In addition to yearly amortization, under ROC SFAS No.
35, goodwill is evaluated at least annually to determine if it is impaired. As a
result of our annual impairment review, under ROC GAAP we recognized an
impairment charge of NT$1,950.1 million (US$61.4 million) for goodwill relating
to our purchase of shares of ASE Test and ISE Labs. See note 10 to the
consolidated financial statements.
ROC GAAP and U.S. GAAP require an assessment of impairment of long-term
investments whenever events or circumstances indicate a decline in value may be
other-than-temporary. The criteria for determination are similar under ROC GAAP
and U.S. GAAP. However, the methods to measure the amount of impairment may be
based on different estimates of fair values depending on the circumstances. When
impairment is determined to have occurred, U.S. GAAP requires the market price
to be used, if available, to determine the fair value of the long-term
investment and measure the amount of impairment at the reporting date. Under ROC
GAAP, if the market price is deemed to be a result of an inactive market,
another measure of fair value may be used. As such, when determining whether an
other-than-temporary impairment occurred in our long-term investment in Hung
Ching as of December 31, 2002, the fair value, under ROC GAAP, was based on the
difference between the carrying value and the net-asset value of Hung Ching with
adjustments made to significant assets of Hung Ching using appraised values and
other appropriate information. Using this method under ROC GAAP, we determined
that no impairment occurred in our long-term investment in Hung Ching in 2002.
Under U.S. GAAP, we determined an other-than-temporary impairment occurred in
our long-term investment in Hung Ching as of December 31, 2002 in the amount of
NT$883.6 million. We did not record any impairment charge for long-term
investments in 2003. For the year ended December 31, 2004, under U.S. GAAP we
took an impairment charge of NT$1,707.0 million (US$53.8 million) relating to
our investment in Universal Scientific.
We typically pay all or a portion of employee bonuses in the form of common
shares. The number of common shares distributed as part of employee bonuses is
obtained by dividing the total nominal NT dollar amount of the bonus to be paid
in the form of common shares by the par value of the common shares, or NT$10 per
share, rather than their market value, which has generally been substantially
higher than par value. We paid employee bonuses in 2004 in the form of common
shares with respect to the results of the preceding fiscal year. We did not pay
any employee bonuses in the form of common shares in 2003 or 2002 because we had
minimal net income in 2002 and incurred a net loss in 2001. Under ROC GAAP, the
distribution of employee bonus shares is treated as an allocation from retained
earnings, and we are not required to, and do not, charge the value of the
employee bonus shares to employee compensation expense. Under U.S. GAAP,
however, we are required to charge the market value of the employee bonus shares
to employee compensation expense in the period to which they relate, and
correspondingly reduce our net income and income per common share. See "Item 6.
Directors, Senior Management and Employees--Compensation--ASE Inc. Employee
Bonus and Stock Option Plans".
The amount and the form of the payment of this compensation is subject to
approval at our annual general shareholders' meeting. Under U.S. GAAP, the
compensation expense is initially accrued at the nominal NT dollar amount of the
aggregate bonus in the period to which it relates. For U.S. GAAP purposes, the
difference between the amount initially accrued and the market value of the
common shares issued as payment of all or any part of the bonus is recorded as
employee compensation expense in the period in which shareholders' approval is
obtained, which normally occurs during the second quarter of each year.
Recent U.S. GAAP Accounting Pronouncements
In March 2004, the Emerging Issues Task Force, or EITF, reached a consensus
on EITF 03-1, "The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and Its
Application to Certain Investments". The consensus was that certain
60
quantitative and qualitative disclosure should be required for debt and
marketable equity securities classified as available-for-sale or
held-to-maturity under SFAS Nos. 115 and 124 that are impaired at the balance
sheet date but for which an other-than-temporary impairment has not been
recognized. This EITF consensus is effective for fiscal years ending after
December 15, 2003. Adoption of the EITF consensus did not result in an impact on
our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
In November 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 151, "Inventory Costs - An
Amendment of ARB No. 43, Chapter 4". SFAS No. 151 clarifies the accounting that
requires abnormal amounts of idle facility expenses, freight, handling costs and
spoilage costs to be recognized as current-period charges. It also requires that
allocation of fixed production overhead to the costs of conversion be based on
the normal capacity of the production facilities. SFAS No. 151 will be effective
for inventory costs incurred on or after July 1, 2005. We are currently
evaluating the impact of this standard on our consolidated financial statements.
In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 123R, "Share-Based Payment".
This statement is a revision of SFAS No. 123 and supercedes APB Opinion No. 25.
This statement establishes standards for the accounting of transactions in which
an entity exchanges its equity instruments for goods or services, primarily
focusing on the accounting for transactions in which an entity obtains employee
services in share-based payment transactions. Entities will be required to
measure the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of
equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value of the award (with limited
exceptions). That cost will be recognized over the period during which an
employee is required to provide service, the requisite service period (usually
the vesting period), in exchange for the award. The grant-date fair value of
employee share options and similar instruments will be estimated using
option-pricing models. If an equity award is modified after the grant date,
incremental compensation cost will be recognized in an amount equal to the
excess of the fair value of the modified award over the fair value of the
original award immediately before the modification. This statement is effective
as of the beginning of the first interim or annual reporting period that begins
after January 1, 2006.
Upon adoption, we have two application methods to choose from: the
modified-prospective transition approach or the modified-retrospective
transition approach. Under the modified-prospective transition method, we would
be required to recognize compensation cost for:
o share-based awards to employees based on their grant-date fair value
from the beginning of the fiscal period in which the recognition
provisions are first applied; and
o awards that were granted prior to, but not vested as of the date of
adoption.
Prior periods remain unchanged and pro forma disclosures previously required by
SFAS No. 123 continue to be required. Under the modified-retrospective
transition method, we would restate prior periods by recognizing compensation
cost in the amounts previously reported in the pro forma footnote disclosure
under SFAS No. 123. Under this method, we are permitted to apply this
presentation to all periods presented or to the start of the fiscal year in
which SFAS No. 123R is adopted. We would follow the same guidelines as in the
modified-prospective transition method for awards granted subsequent to adoption
and those that were granted and not yet vested. We have not yet determined which
methodology we will adopt but we believe that the impact the adoption of SFAS
No. 123R will have on our financial position or results of operations will
approximate the magnitude of our stock-based employee compensation cost
disclosed in note 30 to our consolidated financial statements pursuant to the
disclosure requirements of SFAS No. 148.
In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 153, "Exchanges of Non-Monetary
Assets - An Amendment of APB Opinion No. 29", or SFAS No. 153. The amendments
made by SFAS No. 153 are based on the principle that exchanges of non-monetary
assets should be measured based on the fair value of the assets exchanged.
Further, the amendments eliminate the exception for non-monetary exchanges of
similar productive assets and replace it with a general exception for exchanges
of non-monetary assets that do not have commercial substance. The provisions in
SFAS No. 153 are effective for non-monetary asset exchanges occurring in fiscal
periods beginning after June 15, 2005 (July 1, 2005 for us). Early application
of the SFAS No. 153 is permitted. The provisions of this Statement shall be
applied prospectively. We do not expect the adoption of SFAS No. 153 to have a
material effect on our financial statements or our results of operations.
61
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
We have historically been able to satisfy our working capital needs from
our cash flow from operations. We have historically funded our capacity
expansion from internally generated cash and, to the extent necessary, the
issuance of equity securities and long-term borrowings. If adequate funds are
not available on satisfactory terms, we may be forced to curtail our expansion
plans. Moreover, our ability to meet our working capital needs from cash flow
from operations will be affected by the demand for our packaging and testing
services, which in turn may be affected by several factors. Many of these
factors are outside of our control, such as economic downturns and declines in
the prices of our services caused by a downturn in the semiconductor industry.
See "Item 3. Key Information--Risk Factors--Risks Relating to Our Business--Our
operating results are subject to significant fluctuations, which could adversely
affect the market value of your investment." The average selling prices of our
packaging and testing services are likely to be subject to further downward
pressure in the future. To the extent we do not generate sufficient cash flow
from our operations to meet our cash requirements, we will have to rely on
external financing. We have not historically relied, and we do not plan to rely
in the foreseeable future, on off-balance sheet financing arrangements to
finance our working capital or capacity expansion.
Net cash provided by operating activities amounted to NT$19,487.0 million
(US$614.0 million) in 2004, partially as a result of adjusting for non-cash
depreciation and amortization, including amortization of goodwill, and to a
lesser extent, as a result of adjusting for the impairment of goodwill and
long-term investment of NT$18,126.0 million (US$571.1 million). Net cash
provided by operating activities amounted to NT$13,306.2 million in 2003,
partially as a result of adjusting for non-cash depreciation and amortization,
including amortization of goodwill, of NT$13,585.9 million. Net cash provided by
operating activities amounted to NT$11,313.8 million in 2002, partially as a
result of adjusting for non-cash depreciation and amortization, including
amortization of goodwill, of NT$13,101.9 million. The increase in net cash
generated by operating activities in 2004 compared to 2003 was primarily due to
a significant increase in net income to NT$4,209.7 million (US$132.6 million) in
2004 from NT$2,742.8 million in 2003 and non-cash depreciation, amortization and
impairment of goodwill and long-term investment to NT$18,126.0 million (US$571.1
million) in 2004 from NT$13,585.9 million in 2003. The increase in net cash
generated by operating activities in 2003 compared to 2002 was primarily due to
a significant increase in net income from NT$129.0 million in 2002 to NT$2,742.8
million in 2003, and adjustments for loss on long-term investments of NT$354.8
million in 2003 due to the recognition of a loss for the sale of our common
shares by our wholly-owned subsidiary ASE Capital Inc. in connection with our
ADS offering in June 2003. Depreciation and amortization increased in 2002 and
2003 compared to the prior year primarily due to an increase in capital
expenditure in 2002 and the first half of 2003.
Net cash used in investing activities amounted to NT$30,825.3 million
(US$971.2 million) in 2004, primarily as a result of the acquisition of
properties, such as machinery and equipment for our packaging, testing and
interconnect materials operations, of NT$28,523.5 million (US$898.7 million).
Net cash used in investing activities amounted to NT$18,572.6 million in 2003,
primarily as a result of the acquisition of properties of NT$17,534.1 million.
Net cash used in investing activities amounted to NT$13,719.7 million in 2002,
primarily due to the acquisition of properties of NT$12,657.9 million and the
purchases of ASE Test shares and ISE Labs shares of NT$2,072.1 million.
Net cash provided by financing activities in 2004 was NT$9,166.3 million
(US$288.8 million). This amount reflected primarily an increase in long-term
debt of NT$5,997.2 million (US$188.9 million), our issuance of domestic secured
bonds of NT$2,733.1 million (US$86.1 million) and an increase in short-term
borrowings of NT$2,696.0 million (US$84.9 million), which was partially offset
by investments payable of NT$2,310.0 million (US$72.8 million). Net cash
provided by financing activities in 2003 was NT$4,210.9 million. This amount
reflected proceeds from the sale of our common shares of NT$2,850.5 million and
proceeds of NT$6,684.9 million from the issuance of our zero coupon convertible
bonds due 2008, which was partially offset by the early redemption of foreign
convertible bonds issued by ASE Test through a finance subsidiary totaling
NT$4,908.4 million. Net cash provided by financing activities in 2002 amounted
to NT$530.5 million. This amount reflected proceeds from short-term and
long-term debt of NT$3,536.8 million, which was partially offset by the
reduction in commercial papers and bank acceptances payable of NT$1,739.3
million, and payment of NT$1,674.1 million for the repurchase of the remaining
outstanding portion of our US$200 million zero coupon convertible bonds due
2002.
62
As of December 31, 2004, our primary source of liquidity was NT$5,975.1
million (US$188.3 million) of cash and cash equivalents and NT$3,194.2 million
(US$100.6 million) of short-term investments. Our short-term investments
primarily consisted of investments in fixed income mutual funds. As of December
31, 2004, we had total unused short-term credit lines of NT$12,877.0 million
(US$405.7 million), and total unused long-term credit lines of NT$1,793.0
million (US$56.5 million). As of December 31, 2004, we had working capital of
NT$10,691.0 million (US$336.8 million).
As of December 31, 2004, we had total borrowings of NT$53,382.4 million
(US$1,681.9 million), NT$4,642.3 million (US$146.3 million) of which were
short-term borrowings and NT$48,740.1 million (US$1,535.6 million) of which were
long-term borrowings. The interest rate for borrowings under our short-term
borrowings ranged from 0.6% to 7.0% per year as of December 31, 2004. All of our
short-term loans are revolving facilities with a term of one year, each of which
may be extended on an annual basis with lender consent. Our long-term borrowings
consist primarily of bank loans and bonds payable. As of December 31, 2004, we
had outstanding long-term borrowings, less current portion, of NT$46,529.6
million (US$1,466.0 million). As of December 31, 2004, the current portion of
our long-term borrowings was NT$2,210.5 million (US$69.6 million). Our long-term
borrowings carried variable interest rates which ranged between 1.2% and 11.0%
per year as of December 31, 2004.
We have pledged a portion of our assets, with a carrying value of
NT$11,423.1 million (US$359.9 million) as of December 31, 2004, to secure our
obligations under our short-term and long-term facilities.
We have also entered into a lease receivables purchase facility agreement
in connection with our leasing of testing equipment. In August 2004, we, along
with ASE Test Taiwan, entered into an agreement with a syndicate of banks
arranged by Citibank, N.A., Taipei Branch whereby such syndicate agrees to
purchase up to US$90.0 million of qualifying lease receivables from eligible
leasing companies for twelve months from the date of the agreement. As evidence
of the obligations entered into under the transaction, we and ASE Test Taiwan
are required to issue promissory notes to such leasing companies that are
indorsed to Citibank, N.A., Taipei Branch. The leasing companies also execute a
mortgage agreement granting Citibank N.A., Taipei Branch a mortgage on the
leased equipment.
In connection with ASE Chung Li's merger into us in August 2004, we assumed
the remaining NT$914.2 million (US$28.8 million) of a NT$4.0 billion syndicated
bank loan which ASE Chung Li originally entered into in November 2000. The loan
is due in May 2006, and we were in compliance with the loan's covenants as of
December 31, 2004.
In January 2004, we issued eleven series of secured non-convertible bonds
in the aggregate principal amount of NT$2.75 billion (US$86.6 million). These
bonds bear semi-annual interest at floating LIBOR-based rates. We are required
to repay half of the aggregate principal amount of the bonds in January 2008
with the remaining due in January 2009. Our payment obligations under the bonds
are secured by guarantees provided by syndicate banks pursuant to a guarantee
agreement entered into in December 2003, for which Chinatrust Commercial Bank,
Ltd. and The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, Taipei Branch
acted as arrangers.
In September 2003, we issued US$200 million in aggregate principal amount
of zero coupon convertible bonds due 2008. The convertible bonds are convertible
into our common shares and ADSs. As of May 31, 2005, these convertible bonds are
convertible into our common shares at a conversion price of NT$35.53 per common
share. As of May 31, 2005, none of the convertible bonds had been converted.
In September 2003, we entered into a NT$7.0 billion five-year syndicated
credit facility, for which Citibank, N.A., Taipei Branch acted as the lead
manager. We used NT$3.0 billion of the amount available to refinance our NT$6.0
billion syndicated loan facility, for which Citibank, N.A., Taipei Branch acted
as the lead manager, entered into on December 11, 2001. The remaining NT$4.0
billion was used to fund our capital expenditure requirements.
In August 2003, ASE Test redeemed US$159.9 million aggregate principal
amount of the US$160 million 1% guaranteed convertible notes due 2004 issued
through its finance subsidiary. The early redemption of the US$160 million 1%
guaranteed convertible notes due 2004 was financed in part through a five-year
syndicated credit facility entered into in June 2003 by ASE Test Finance
Limited, a wholly-owned finance subsidiary of ASE Test. The total
63
commitments under the facility totaled US$150 million. In addition to ASE Inc.,
guarantees were also provided by ASE Test and ASE Test Taiwan for ASE Test
Finance Limited's payment obligations under the facility.
In August 2003, ASE Test Finance Limited obtained a loan of US$60.0 million
from J&R Holding Limited in connection with the redemption of its convertible
notes issued in 1999. The loan was originally due in February 2005 but was
repaid in full in July 2004. In connection with the repayment of the loan to J&R
Holding Limited in June 2004, ASE Test entered into a two-year revolving loan
facility agreement for US$30.0 million which was guaranteed by ASE Test Taiwan
and, as of December 31, 2004, bears interest at 3.299%. Also in connection with
the repayment of the loan to J&R Holding Limited, ASE Test Finance Limited
entered into a credit facility for US$30.0 million which was guaranteed by ASE
Test and, as of December 31, 2004, bears interest at 3.52%. Both of these loans
are due in June 2006.
In June 2003, our wholly-owned subsidiaries, ASE Investment Inc. and ASE
Capital Inc., sold an aggregate of 32,757,600 of our ADSs. The net proceeds from
the offering were approximately NT$2,850.5 million. We used the net proceeds to
repay our borrowings of an aggregate principal amount of NT$6.0 billion,
borrowings of ASE Investment Inc. in an aggregate principal amount of NT$1.2
billion and borrowings of ASE Capital Inc. in an aggregate principal amount of
NT$150 million. In addition, pursuant to a merger agreement dated July 17, 2002,
ASE Investment Inc. and ASE Capital Inc. merged with and into us on July 1,
2003, and we assumed all of the assets and liabilities of both ASE Investment
Inc. and ASE Capital Inc.
In December 2002, we entered into a NT$7.0 billion three-year syndicated
credit facility, for which Citibank, N.A., Taipei Branch acted as the lead
arranger. We used NT$5.2 billion of the amount available under the facility to
refinance a NT$5.2 billion syndicated credit facility, for which Citibank, N.A.,
Taipei Branch acted as the lead arranger, entered into on June 22, 2001. The
remaining NT$1.8 billion was used to repay a portion of our existing revolving
credit lines.
Our long-term loans and facilities contain various financial and other
covenants that could trigger a requirement for early payment. Among other
things, these covenants require the maintenance of certain financial ratios,
such as liquidity ratio, indebtedness ratio, interest coverage ratio and other
technical requirements. In general, covenants in the agreements governing our
existing debt, and debt we may incur in the future, may materially restrict our
operations, including our ability to incur debt, pay dividends, make certain
investments and payments and encumber or dispose of assets. A default under one
debt instrument may also trigger cross-defaults under our other debt
instruments. An event of default under any debt instrument, if not cured or
waived, could have a material adverse effect on our liquidity, as well as our
financial condition and operations.
We have on occasion failed to comply with certain financial covenants in
some of our loan agreements. Such non-compliance may also have, through broadly
worded cross-default provisions, resulted in default under some of the
agreements governing our other existing debt. For example, in 2004, in
connection with increases in our capital expenditures, we borrowed more money
which resulted in our failure to comply with certain debt ratios. We are in the
process of obtaining waivers from the relevant lenders relating to such
non-compliance. We cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain such waivers
or that we will be able to otherwise remain in compliance with our financial
covenants under our loan agreements. In the event of default, we may not be able
to cure the default or obtain a waiver, and our operations could be
significantly disrupted and harmed. See "Item 3. Key Information--Risk
Factors--Risks Relating to Our Business--Restrictive covenants and broad default
provisions in the agreements governing our existing debt may materially restrict
our operations as well as adversely affect our liquidity, financial condition
and results of operations."
Our contingent obligations consist of guarantees provided by us to our
subsidiaries and affiliates. As of December 31, 2004, we endorsed and guaranteed
the promissory notes of our subsidiaries and affiliates in the amount of
NT$11,382.7 million (US$358.6 million). Other than such guarantees, we have no
other contingent obligations. See note 25 to our consolidated financial
statements.
We have made, and expect to continue to make, substantial capital
expenditures in connection with the expansion of our production capacity. The
table below sets forth our principal capital expenditures incurred for the
periods indicated.
64
Year Ended December 31,
------------------------------------------------
2002 2003 2004
------------------------------------------------
NT$ NT$ NT$ US$
(in millions)
Machinery and equipment....... 13,786.8 14,833.9 26,063.0 821.1
Building and improvements..... 1,963.0 2,400.4 4,525.3 142.6
We have budgeted capital expenditures of approximately NT$11,109 million
(US$350 million) for 2005, primarily to purchase machinery and equipment in
connection with the expansion of our packaging, testing, and interconnect
materials operations. We may adjust the amount of our capital expenditures
upward or downward based on market conditions, the progress of our expansion
plans and cash flow from operations. Due to the rapid changes in technology in
the semiconductor industry, we frequently need to invest in new machinery and
equipment, which may require us to raise additional capital. We cannot assure
you that we will be able to raise additional capital should it become necessary
on terms acceptable to us or at all. See "Item 3. Key Information--Risk
Factors--Risks Relating to Our Business--Because of the highly cyclical nature
of our industry, our capital requirements are difficult to plan. If we cannot
obtain additional capital when we need it, our growth prospects and future
profitability may be adversely affected."
We believe that our existing cash and cash equivalents, short-term
investments, expected cash flow from operations and existing credit lines under
our short-term loan facilities will be sufficient to meet our capital
expenditures, working capital, cash obligations under our existing debt and
lease arrangements, and other requirements for at least the next twelve months.
We currently hold cash and cash equivalents primarily in U.S. dollars, New
Taiwan dollars and Malaysian Ringgit. See note 4 to our consolidated financial
statements. As of December 31, 2004, we had contractual obligations of
NT$33,339.8 million (US$1,050.4 million) due in the next three years. We intend
to meet our payment obligations through the expected cash flow from operations,
long-term borrowings and the issuance of additional equity or equity-linked
securities. We will continue to evaluate our capital structure and may decide
from time to time to increase or decrease our financial leverage through equity
offerings or borrowings. The issuance of additional equity or equity-linked
securities may result in additional dilution to our shareholders.
From time to time, we evaluate possible investments, acquisitions or
divestments and may, if a suitable opportunity arises, make an investment,
acquisition or divestment. Other than disclosed elsewhere in this annual report,
we currently have no commitments to make any material investment, acquisition or
divestment.
Our treasury team, under the supervision of our chief financial officer, is
responsible for setting our funding and treasury policies and objectives. Our
exposure to financial market risks relate primarily to changes in interest rates
and foreign currency exchange rates. To mitigate these risks, we utilize
derivative financial instruments, the application of which is primarily to
manage these exposures, and not for speculative purposes.
We have, from time to time, entered into interest rate swap transactions to
hedge our interest rate exposure. As of December 31, 2004, we had US$157.0
million and NT$2,750.0 million (US$86.6 million) outstanding interest rate swap
transactions. See "Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about
Market Risk--Market Risk--Interest Rate Risk". We have entered into foreign
currency option contracts and forward exchange contracts to hedge our existing
assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies and identifiable
foreign currency purchase commitments. As of December 31, 2004, we had US$912.4
million outstanding in foreign currency option contracts and no forward exchange
contracts outstanding. In October 2003, we entered into cross-currency swap
contracts to hedge against reductions in value caused by changes in foreign
currency exchange rates in connection with the proceeds received from our
offering of US$200.0 million zero coupon convertible bonds due 2008. See "Item
11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk" and note 26 to
the consolidated financial statements.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
For 2004, 2003 and 2002, our research and development expenditures totaled
approximately NT$2,584.5 million (US$81.4 million), NT$2,354.0 million and
NT$2,049.0 million, respectively. These expenditures represented approximately
3.2%, 4.1% and 4.5% of net revenues in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. We
have
65
historically expensed all research and development costs as incurred and none is
currently capitalized. As of May 31, 2005, we employed 2,105 employees in
research and development.
Packaging
We centralize our research and development efforts in packaging technology
in our Kaohsiung, Taiwan facilities. After initial phases of development, we
conduct pilot runs in one of our facilities before the new technologies or
processes are implemented commercially at other sites. Facilities with special
product expertise, such as ASE Korea, also conduct research and development of
these specialized products and technologies at their sites. One of the areas of
emphasis for our research and development efforts is improving the efficiency
and technology of our packaging processes. We expect these efforts to continue.
We are now also putting significant research and development efforts into the
development and adoption of new technology. We work closely with the
manufacturers of our packaging equipment, including Kulicke & Soffa Industries
Inc., in designing and modifying the equipment used in our production process.
We also work closely with our customers to develop new product and process
technology.
A significant portion of our research and development efforts is also
focused on the development of advanced substrate production technology for BGA
packaging. Substrate is the principal raw material for BGA packages. Development
and production of advanced substrates involve complex technology and, as a
result, high quality substrates are currently available only from a limited
number of suppliers, located primarily in Japan. We believe that our successful
development of substrate production capability will, among other things, enable
us to capture an increasingly important value-added component of the packaging
process, help ensure a stable and cost-effective supply of substrates for our
BGA packaging operations and shorten production time. See "Item 7. Major
Shareholders and Related Party Transactions--Related Party Transactions".
Testing
Our research and development efforts in the area of testing have focused
primarily on improving the efficiency and technology of our testing processes.
The efforts include developing software for parallel testing of logic
semiconductors, rapid automatic generation and cross-platform conversion of test
programs to test logic/mixed-signal semiconductors, automatic code generation
for converting and writing testing programs, testing new products using existing
machines and providing customers remote access to monitor test results. We are
also continuing the development of interface designs to provide for
high-frequency testing by minimizing electrical noise. We work closely with our
customers in designing and modifying testing software and with equipment vendors
to increase the efficiency and reliability of testing equipment. Our research
and development operations also include a mechanical engineering group, which
currently designs handler kits for semiconductor testing and wafer probing, as
well as software to optimize capacity utilization.
OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
We have no off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably
likely to have a material current or future effect on our financial condition,
changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations,
liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.
66
TABULAR DISCLOSURE OF CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS
The following table sets forth the maturity of our contractual obligations
as of December 31, 2004.
Payments Due by Period
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1 to 3 After 5
Total Under 1 Year Years 3 to 5 Years Years
-----------------------------------------------------------------
NT$ NT$ NT$ NT$ NT$
(in millions)
Contractual Obligations:
Long-term debt(1)................. 48,343.8 2,011.7 25,305.6 20,728.9 297.6
Capital lease obligations(2)...... 396.3 198.8 195.6 1.9 --
Operating leases(3)............... 4,409.8 1,810.7 2,127.6 413.8 57.7
Purchase obligations(4)........... 1,689.8 1,689.8 -- -- --
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total(5)(6)(7)................ 54,839.7 5,711.0 27,628.8 21,144.6 355.3
=================================================================
------------------
(1) Excludes interest payments.
(2) Represents our commitments under property leases less imputed interest.
These obligations are recorded on our consolidated balance sheets. See note
16 to our consolidated financial statements.
(3) Represents our commitments under leases for land, machinery and equipment
such as testers, and office buildings and equipment. See note 25 to our
consolidated financial statements.
(4) Represents unpaid commitments for construction. These commitments are not
recorded on our consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2004. See
note 25 to our consolidated financial statements. Total commitments for
construction of buildings were approximately NT$3,264.0 million (US$102.8
million), of which NT$1,574.2 million (US$49.6 million) had been paid as of
December 31, 2004.
(5) Excludes payments that vary based upon our net sales or sales volume, such
as commissions, service fees and royalty payments for technology license
agreements. Commission and service fee expenses in 2004 were approximately
NT$769.6 million (US$24.2 million). Royalty expenses in 2004 were
approximately NT$164.0 million (US$5.2 million). See note 25 to our
consolidated financial statements.
(6) Excludes non-binding commitments to purchase machinery and equipment of
approximately NT$7,600.0 million (US$239.4 million) as of December 31,
2004.
(7) Excludes our minimum pension funding requirements since such amounts have
not been determined. We made pension contributions of approximately
NT$133.4 million (US$4.2 million) in 2004 and we estimate that we will
contribute approximately NT$215.2 million (US$6.8 million) in 2005. See
"--Operating Results and Trend Information--Critical Accounting Policies"
and note 17 to our consolidated financial statements.
Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees
DIRECTORS AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND BOARD PRACTICES
Directors
Our board of directors is elected by our shareholders in a general meeting
at which a quorum, consisting of a majority of all issued and outstanding common
shares, is present. The chairman is elected by the board from among the
directors. Our six-member board of directors is responsible for the management
of our business.
The term of office for our directors is three years from the date of
election. The current board of directors began serving on June 19, 2003. The
terms of the current directors will expire on June 18, 2006. Directors may serve
any number of consecutive terms and may be removed from office at any time for a
valid reason by a resolution adopted at a general meeting of shareholders.
Normally, all board members are elected at the same time, except where the posts
of one-third or more of the directors are vacant, at which time a special
meeting of shareholders shall be convened to elect directors to fill the
vacancies. We and our subsidiaries do not have service contracts with our
directors that provide for benefits upon termination of employment.
Under Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act and the rules of the New York Stock
Exchange, we are required to have an audit committee that meets certain
requirements by July 31, 2005. We are currently in the process of reviewing
examples of audit committee charters and considering candidates for appointment
as audit committee members with a view to fully comply with these new
requirements in the specified time period, including the appointment of an audit
committee financial expert, as defined under Item 16A of Form 20-F.
67
The following table sets forth information regarding all of our directors
as of May 31, 2005.
Director Other Significant
Name Position Since Age Positions Held
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jason C.S. Chang(1)........ Director, Chairman and 1984 61 Chairman of ASE Test; Chairman of
Chief Executive Officer ASE Test Taiwan
Richard H.P. Chang(1)...... Director, Vice Chairman and 1984 58 Vice Chairman of ASE Test; Chairman
President of Universal Scientific
Joseph Tung(2)............. Director and Chief Financial 1997 46 Supervisor of Universal Scientific;
Officer Director of ASE Test
Chin Ko-Chien(2)........... Director and Executive Vice 1997 59 Director of ASE Test
President
Jeffrey Chen(2)............ Director and Vice President 2003 41 Director of ASE Test
Tien Wu(2)................. Director 2003 47 Chief Executive Officer of ISE Labs
------------------
(1) Jason C.S. Chang and Richard H.P. Chang are brothers.
(2) Representative of ASE Enterprises, a company organized under the laws of
Hong Kong, which held 17.77% of our outstanding common shares as of April
30, 2005. All of the outstanding shares of ASE Enterprises are held by a
company organized under the laws of the British Virgin Islands in trust for
the benefit of the family of our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer,
Jason C.S. Chang, who is the sole shareholder and director of that company.
Supervisors
We currently have five supervisors, each serving a three-year term. The
current supervisors began serving on June 15, 2004, and their terms will expire
on June 14, 2007. The supervisors' duties and powers include investigation of
our business condition, inspection of our corporate records, verification and
review of financial statements presented by our board of directors at
shareholders' meetings, convening of shareholders' meetings, representing us in
negotiations with our directors and notification, when appropriate, to the board
of directors to cease acting in contravention of any applicable law or
regulation or in contravention of our Articles of Incorporation. Each supervisor
is elected by our shareholders and cannot concurrently serve as a director,
managerial officer or other staff member. The ROC Company Law requires at least
one supervisor be appointed at all times, or two supervisors for a company with
publicly issued equity shares, and that a supervisor's term of office be no more
than three years.
The following table sets forth information regarding all of our supervisors
as of May 31, 2005.
Supervisor Other Significant
Name Position Since Age Positions Held
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Feng Mei-Jean(1)........... Supervisor 1984 50 Supervisor of J&R Industrial Inc.
Yen-Yi Tseng(2)............ Supervisor 2000 63 Chairman of Hung Ching
John Ho(2)................. Supervisor 1998 50 Director of Universal Scientific
Raymond Lo(2).............. Supervisor 2000 51 President of ASE Test
Samuel Liu(2).............. Supervisor 2005 57 Chief Technical Officer (Test) of
ASE Inc.
------------------
(1) Feng Mei-Jean is the wife of Richard H.P. Chang.
(2) Representative of ASE Enterprises.
In accordance with ROC law, each of our directors and supervisors is
elected either in his or her capacity as an individual or as an individual
representative of a corporation or government. Persons designated to represent
corporate or government shareholders as directors are typically nominated by
such shareholders at the annual general meeting and may be replaced as
representatives by such shareholders at will. Of the current directors and
supervisors, eight represent ASE Enterprises. The remaining directors and
supervisors serve in their capacity as individuals.
68
Executive Officers
The following table sets forth information regarding all of our executive
officers as of May 31, 2005.
Years
with the
Name Position Company Age
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jason C.S. Chang..................... Chairman and Chief Executive Officer 21 61
Richard H.P. Chang................... Vice Chairman and President 21 58
Chin Ko-Chien........................ Executive Vice President and General Manager, 21 59
Kaohsiung packaging facility
Raymond Lo........................... President, ASE Test; President, ASE Test Taiwan 19 51
Joseph Tung.......................... Chief Financial Officer 10 46
Fu-Sing Chang........................ President, ASE Test Malaysia 6 54
Sang Jin Maeng....................... President, ASE Korea 6 53
Tien Wu.............................. Chief Executive Officer, ISE Labs 5 47
Biographies of Directors, Supervisors and Executive Officers
Jason C.S. Chang has served as Chairman of ASE Inc. since its founding in
March 1984 and as its Chief Executive Officer since May 2003. Mr. Chang is also
the Chairman of ASE Test. He holds a degree in electrical engineering from
National Taiwan University and a master's degree from the Illinois Institute of
Technology. He is the brother of Richard H.P. Chang, our Vice Chairman and
President.
Richard H.P. Chang has served as Vice Chairman of ASE Inc. since November
1999 after having served as President of ASE Inc. since its founding in March
1984, and served as Chief Executive Officer of ASE Inc. from July 2000 to April
2003. In February 2003, he was again appointed President of ASE Inc. upon the
retirement of Mr. Leonard Y. Liu. Mr. Chang is also the Vice Chairman of ASE
Test. He holds a degree in industrial engineering from Chung Yuan Christian
University of Taiwan. He is the brother of Jason C.S. Chang, our Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer.
Joseph Tung has served as a director of ASE Inc. since April 1997 and Chief
Financial Officer since December 1994. He is also a director of ASE Test. Before
joining ASE Inc., Mr. Tung was a Vice President at Citibank, N.A. He received a
degree in economics from the National Chengchi University of Taiwan and a
master's degree in business administration from the University of Southern
California.
Chin Ko-Chien has served as a director of ASE Inc. since March 1984 and
Executive Vice President and General Manager of our packaging facility in
Kaohsiung, Taiwan since March 1990. Mr. Chin is also a director of ASE Test.
Before joining ASE Inc., he held managerial positions at Fu Hua Construction Co.
Ltd. and De Ji Trading Company. He holds a degree in bearings technology from
Taiwan Ocean University.
Jeffrey Chen has served as a director of ASE Inc. since June 2003 and a
director of ASE Test since 1998. He is also a Vice President of ASE Inc. and a
Special Assistant to the Chairman of ASE Inc. He was the Chief Financial Officer
of ASE Test from July 1998 to August 2002. Prior to joining the ASE group, he
worked in the corporate banking department of Citibank, N.A. in Taipei and as
the Vice President of corporate finance at Bankers Trust in Taipei. He holds a
degree in finance and economics from Simon Fraser University in Canada and a
master's degree in business administration from the University of British
Columbia in Canada.
Tien Wu has served as a director of ASE Inc. since June 2003 and the Chief
Executive Officer of ISE Labs since March 2003. He also serves as the Vice
President of Worldwide Marketing and Strategy of the ASE group. Prior to joining
ASE Inc. in March 2000, Mr. Wu held various managerial positions with IBM. He
holds a B.S.C.E. degree from the National Taiwan University and a M.S. degree in
mechanical engineering and a Ph.D. in applied mechanics from the University of
Pennsylvania.
Feng Mei-Jean has served as a supervisor of ASE Inc. since March 1984. She
holds a degree in economics from National Taiwan University. She is the wife of
Richard H.P. Chang, our Vice Chairman and President.
69
Yen-Yi Tseng has served as a supervisor of ASE Inc. since July 2000 and
Chairman of Hung Ching since July 2002. Mr. Tseng served as President of Ret-Ser
Engineering Agency from 1991 to 1998. He holds a degree in civil engineering
from National Taiwan University and a master's degree in system engineering from
Asian Institute of Technology in Thailand. He was also a participant in the
Program for Management Development at Harvard Business School.
John Ho has served as a supervisor of ASE Inc. since April 1998. He is also
a director of Universal Scientific. He served as Chief Financial Officer of ASE
Inc. from 1988 until 1995. He holds a degree in business administration from
National Taiwan University and a master's degree in business administration from
the University of Iowa.
Raymond Lo has served as a supervisor of ASE Inc. since July 2000 and
President of ASE Test since April 2004, after serving as President of ASE Test
Taiwan since 1999 and Vice President of Operations of ASE Inc. since July 1993.
Before joining ASE Inc., Mr. Lo was the Director of Quality Assurance at Zeny
Electronics Co. He holds a degree in electronic physics from the National Chiao
Tung University of Taiwan.
Samuel Liu has served as a supervisor of ASE Inc. since May 2005. He is
currently the Chief Technical Officer for testing operations. Prior to joining
ASE Inc. in 2004, Mr. Liu worked at Intel and other chip companies in various
technical and management positions for over 25 years. He holds a B.S.E.E. degree
from National Taiwan University and a Ph.D. from Stanford University.
Fu-Sing Chang has served as President of ASE Test Malaysia since August
2004. Before joining ASE Test Malaysia, Mr. Chang was a special assistant to the
General Manager of our packaging facility in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. He holds a
degree in mechanical engineering from Chung Kung University in Taiwan.
Sang Jin Maeng has served as President of ASE Korea since January 2004,
after serving as Senior Vice President of ASE Korea since July 1999. Mr. Maeng
was Vice President of Motorola Korea, Limited before joining ASE Korea when we
acquired Motorola Korea, Limited. He holds a degree in communication and
electronic engineering from the Civil Aviation College of Korea.
The business address of our directors, supervisors and executive officers
is our registered office.
COMPENSATION
In 2004, we paid to our directors, supervisors and executive officers
approximately NT$117.0 million (US$3.7 million) in cash remuneration. In June
2004, we granted an aggregate of 11,150,000 options to our directors,
supervisors and executive officers under our employee stock option plan at an
initial exercise price of NT$26.60 per share, which as of May 31, 2005 has been
adjusted to an exercise price of NT$25.10 per share due to subsequent stock
dividends. In 2004, we did not set aside any pension, retirement and similar
benefits for our executive officers pursuant to existing plans provided by or
contributed to by our company or its subsidiaries. We did not pay any
remuneration in kind to our directors, supervisors or executive officers in
2004. We have not provided any loans to or guarantees for the benefit of any of
our directors, supervisors or executive officers. For information regarding our
pension and other retirement plans and those of our subsidiaries, see
"--Employees", "Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects--Operating
Results and Trend Information--ROC Labor Pension Act" and note 17 to our
consolidated financial statements.
ASE Inc. Employee Bonus and Stock Option Plans
We award bonuses to employees of ASE Inc. and its subsidiaries who are
located in Taiwan based on overall income and individual performance targets.
These employees are eligible to receive bonuses in the form of our common shares
valued at par. Actual amounts of bonuses to individual employees are determined
based upon the employee meeting specified individual performance objectives. We
did not grant any stock bonuses to employees of ASE Inc. or its subsidiaries in
2002 or 2003. In 2004, we granted an aggregate of 15,427,203 common shares as
stock bonuses with an aggregate value of NT$154.3 million (US$4.9 million). At
our annual shareholders' meeting held on June 15, 2004, our shareholders, in
addition to approving such stock bonus, also approved NT$18.4 million (US$0.6
million) as cash bonuses to employees. See "Item 5. Operating and Financial
Review and Prospects--
70
Operating Results and Trend Information--U.S. GAAP Reconciliation" for a
discussion of how stock bonuses are calculated under ROC GAAP.
We currently maintain two option plans, adopted in 2002 and 2004. Pursuant
to these plans, our full-time employees as well as the full-time employees of
our domestic and foreign subsidiaries are eligible to receive stock option
grants. Under the 2002 plan, for a period of one year from August 28, 2002, we
could grant up to 160,000,000 options. Under the 2004 plan, for a period of one
year from May 27, 2004, we can grant up to 140,000,000 options. Each option
entitles the holder to purchase one ASE Inc. common share at a price equal to
the closing market price on the date of the option issuance. Each option is
exercisable upon vesting for five years. Typically, 40% of the options
originally granted vest upon the second anniversary of the grant date, and an
additional 10% of the options originally granted vest every six months
thereafter. Each option expires at the end of the 10th year following its grant
date. The options are generally not transferable. As of December 31, 2004, a
total of 159,968,000 options had been granted under the 2002 plan, 145,989,000
of which had an initial exercise price of NT$17.80 per share and 13,979,000 of
which had an initial exercise price of NT$23.20 per share. As of December 31,
2004, a total of 124,917,000 options with an initial exercise price of NT$25.10
per share had been granted under the 2004 plan.
ASE Test Share Option Plans
As of December 31, 2004, ASE Test maintained six option plans, which
included plans adopted in each year from 1996 to 2000, and a sixth option plan,
which became effective on June 25, 2004. The option plans that ASE Test adopted
in 1996, 1997 and 1998 expired on April 19, 2005. Under ASE Test's share option
plans, ASE Test's directors, employees, advisors, consultants and affiliates,
some of whom serve as our directors, supervisors and employees, may, at the
discretion of a committee of its directors administering the plan, be granted
options to purchase its shares at an exercise price of no less than their market
value on the date of grant. The committee has complete discretion to determine
which eligible individuals are to receive option grants, the number of shares
subject to each grant, the vesting schedule for each option grant and the
maximum term for which each granted option is to remain outstanding, up to a
maximum term of ten years in the case of the 1999, 2000 and 2004 option plans.
ASE Test's board of directors may amend or modify the plans at any time. As of
December 31, 2004, an aggregate of 31,300,000 of ASE Test's shares had been
reserved for issuance and 10,877,448 options to purchase its shares remained
outstanding under its various option plans. An aggregate of 10,381,000 options
(of which 5,175,000 was outstanding as of December 31, 2004) had been granted to
the directors and executive officers of ASE Test. Options granted under the
various plans are exercisable at exercise prices ranging from US$5.50 to
US$25.00 per share.
EMPLOYEES
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, certain
information concerning our employees for the dates indicated.
As of December 31,
-----------------------------------
2002 2003 2004
-----------------------------------
Total.................................. 20,401 24,443 34,649
Function
Direct labor........................ 13,059 15,808 23,184
Indirect labor (manufacturing)...... 4,264 5,389 7,238
Indirect labor (administration)..... 1,517 1,704 2,017
Research and development............ 1,561 1,542 2,210
Location
Taiwan.............................. 15,061 18,202 22,893
Malaysia............................ 3,140 4,207 5,787
PRC(1).............................. -- -- 2,561
Korea............................... 1,305 1,617 1,912
Japan(2)............................ -- -- 988
Singapore........................... 65 116 304
United States....................... 361 273 195
71
As of December 31,
-----------------------------------
2002 2003 2004
-----------------------------------
Philippines(3)...................... 461 20 --
Hong Kong(4)........................ 8 8 9
------------------
(1) We commenced our operations in the PRC in June 2004. See "Item 4.
Information on the Company--Organizational Structure--Our Consolidated
Subsidiaries--ASE Shanghai".
(2) We commenced our operations in Japan in May 2004. See "Item 10. Additional
Information--Material Contracts--Share Sale and Purchase Agreement dated as
of February 3, 2004 among NEC Electronics Corporation, NEC Yamagata Ltd.,
J&R Holding Limited and ASE Inc."
(3) In October 2003, we closed our facilities and discontinued our operations
in the Philippines.
(4) We are currently in the process of discontinuing our operations in Hong
Kong.
Eligible employees may participate in our employee share bonus plan and
stock option plans and the ASE Test's share option plans. See
"--Compensation--ASE Inc. Employee Bonus and Stock Option Plans" and
"--Compensation--ASE Test Share Option Plans". See also "Item 5. Operating and
Financial Review and Prospects--Operating Results and Trend Information--ROC
Labor Pension Act".
With the exception of ASE Korea's employees, our employees are not covered
by any collective bargaining arrangements. We believe that our relationship with
our employees is good.
SHARE OWNERSHIP
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to our
common shares and options exercisable for our common shares held by our
directors, supervisors and executive officers as of April 30, 2005.
Percentage of
Total ASE Inc. Exercise
Number of ASE Common Shares Price of
Director, Supervisor or Inc. Common Issued and Number of Options Expiration Date
Executive Officer Shares Held Outstanding Options Held (NT$) of Options
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jason C.S. Chang..... 36,084,709(1) 0.88% 9,800,000(2) 17.8-25.1 12/23/2012-6/29/2014
Richard H.P. Chang... 51,632,748 1.26% 6,200,000(2) 17.8-25.1 12/23/2012-6/29/2014
Joseph Tung.......... 1,259,635 0.03% * 17.8-25.1 12/23/2012-6/29/2014
Chin Ko-Chien........ 1,031,771 0.03% * 17.8-25.1 12/23/2012-6/29/2014
Jeffrey Chen......... 34,627 + * 17.8-25.1 12/23/2012-6/29/2014
Tien Wu.............. 203,907 + * 17.8-25.1 12/23/2012-6/29/2014
Feng Mei-Jean........ 67,027,344 1.63% -- -- --
Yen-Yi Tseng......... 52,427 + * 17.8-25.1 12/23/2012-6/29/2014
John Ho.............. 893,864 0.02% * 17.8-25.1 12/23/2012-6/29/2014
Raymond Lo........... 746,882 0.02% * 17.8-25.1 12/23/2012-6/29/2014
Samuel Liu........... -- -- * 25.1 6/29/2014
Fu-Sing Chang........ 150,000 + * 17.8-25.1 12/23/2012-6/29/2014
Sang Jin Maeng....... -- -- * 17.8-25.1 12/23/2012-6/29/2014
------------------
(1) In addition to holding 0.88% of our common shares directly, Jason C.S.
Chang is the sole shareholder and director of a company that holds all the
outstanding shares of ASE Enterprises, which holds 17.77% of our common
shares. See "Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party
Transactions--Major Shareholders".
(2) Each option covers one of our common shares.
* The sum of the number of common shares held and the number of common shares
issuable upon exercise of all options held is less than 1% of our total
outstanding common shares.
+ Represents less than 0.01% of our total outstanding common shares.
72
Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions
MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS
The following table sets forth information known to us with respect to the
beneficial ownership of our common shares, as of April 30, 2005, by each
shareholder known by us to beneficially own more than 5% of our outstanding
common shares and all directors, supervisors and executive officers as a group.
Common Shares Beneficially Owned
--------------------------------
Name of Shareholder or Group Number Percentage
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASE Enterprises(1).............................................. 730,912,329 17.8%
Capital Group International, Inc.(2)............................ 251,874,420 6.1%
Capital International, Inc.(2).................................. 243,206,070 5.9%
Directors, supervisors and executive officers as a group(3)..... 889,049,325 21.6%
------------------
(1) ASE Enterprises is a company organized under the laws of Hong Kong. All of
the outstanding shares of ASE Enterprises are held by a company organized
under the laws of the British Virgin Islands in trust for the benefit of
the family of our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Jason C.S. Chang,
who is the sole shareholder and director of that company.
(2) Beneficial ownership information as of December 31, 2004 as reported by
Capital Group International, Inc.'s and Capital International, Inc.'s
Schedule 13G filed jointly with the SEC on February 11, 2005. Capital Group
International, Inc. and Capital International, Inc. are companies organized
under the laws of the state of California. Capital Group International,
Inc. is the parent holding company of investment management companies,
including Capital International, Inc., an investment advisor providing
investment advisory and management services to its clients. We do not have
any information with respect to the ownership of our common shares by
Capital Group International, Inc. or Capital International, Inc. other than
what is disclosed in their Schedule 13G filed on February 11, 2005.
(3) Includes shareholding of ASE Enterprises.
The following table sets forth information relating to our common shares
held by our consolidated subsidiaries and unconsolidated affiliates as of April
30, 2005.
Common Shares Beneficially Owned
--------------------------------
Name of Shareholder Number Percentage
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASE Test Taiwan(1)........................ 759,196 0.02%
Hung Ching(2)............................. 44,576,204 1.08%
J&R Holding Limited(3).................... 84,501,301 2.05%
------------------
(1) ASE Test Taiwan is a 99.99%-owned subsidiary of ASE Test, our 51%-owned
subsidiary.
(2) As of April 30, 2005, we held 26.4% of the outstanding shares of Hung
Ching. Chang Yao Hung-ying, who was our director from 1984 to June 2003,
our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Jason C.S. Chang, our Vice
Chairman and President, Richard H.P. Chang, and other members of the Chang
family are controlling shareholders of Hung Ching. See "Item 4. Information
on the Company--Organizational Structure--Our Unconsolidated Affiliates".
(3) J&R Holding Limited is our wholly-owned subsidiary. J&R Holding Limited's
ownership of our common shares is the result of the merger of ASE Chung Li
with and into us and subsequent dividends upon shares received in
connection with such merger. See "--Related Party Transactions.
In connection with the merger of ASE Chung Li with and into ASE Inc., we
and ASE Test have established a trust to hold and dispose of 149,175,000 and
5,000,000 of our common shares that were issued to ASE Test and ASE Test Taiwan,
respectively, upon completion of the merger. As a result, the trustee appointed
under the trust agreement has become one of our shareholders until such common
shares are sold as permitted under the rules and regulations of the Taiwan Stock
Exchange and the terms and conditions of the trust agreement. As of May 31,
2005, as a result of stock dividends, the total amount of our common shares held
by the trust was 163,024,645. See "Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party
Transactions--Related Party Transactions".
In June 2003, we completed an offering of ADSs in which our wholly-owned
subsidiaries ASE Investment Inc. and ASE Capital Inc. together sold 163,788,000
of our common shares. ASE Investment Inc. and ASE Capital Inc. also sold an
additional 1,144 of our common shares on the Taiwan Stock Exchange following the
ADS offering.
None of our major shareholders has voting rights different from those of
our other shareholders. Other than:
73
o Capital Group International, Inc. and Capital International, Inc.
becoming the beneficial owners of more than 5% of our outstanding
common shares in 2003 and 2004, respectively;
o the sale of our common shares in June 2003 by ASE Investment Inc. and
ASE Capital Inc. as described above; and
o the receipt by J&R Holding Limited, our wholly-owned subsidiary, of
79,914,225 of our outstanding shares in connection with the merger of
ASE Chung Li with and into ASE Inc. See "--Related Party
Transactions";
there were no changes in our major shareholders or significant changes in the
percentage ownership of any of our major shareholders in 2004, 2003 or 2002.
As of April 30, 2005, a total of 4,113,744,200 common shares were
outstanding. With certain limited exceptions, holders of common shares that are
not ROC persons are required to hold their common shares through a brokerage
account in the ROC. As of April 30, 2005, 138,135,270 common shares were
registered in the name of a nominee of Citibank, N.A., the depositary under our
ADS deposit agreement. Citibank, N.A., has advised us that, as of April 30,
2005, 27,625,611 ADSs, representing 138,128,055 common shares, were held of
record by Cede & Co., and 1,443 ADSs, representing 7,215 common shares, were
held by 7 other U.S. persons. We have no further information as to common shares
held, or beneficially owned, by U.S. persons.
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
In recent years, we have awarded our common shares to the employees of our
subsidiaries as part of their compensation, based in part on our consolidated
net income and the subsidiaries' contribution to the consolidated income. At our
annual shareholders' meeting held on June 15, 2004, our shareholders approved
the grant of 15,427,203 common shares as stock bonuses to employees. We expect
this practice to continue in the future.
Prior to its merger into us, ASE Material sold interconnect materials in
the aggregate amount of NT$3,766.2 million (US$118.7 million), NT$4,116.3
million and NT$2,885.6 million to us in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. In
2004, ASE Group purchased approximately 51% of its substrate requirements by
value for its packaging facilities from ASE Material (including the amount
provided by the former operations of ASE Material after ASE Material's merger
into us). Before the completion of our merger with ASE Material on August 1,
2004, we purchased materials from ASE Material at prevailing market prices.
On August 1, 2004, ASE Chung Li and ASE Material merged with and into us
pursuant to a merger agreement dated October 28, 2003. We are the surviving
corporation. The merger was consummated by means of a share exchange pursuant to
which the respective shareholders (other than ourselves) of ASE Chung Li and ASE
Material received our common shares in exchange for the common shares of each of
ASE Chung Li and ASE Material. We issued 282,315,437 common shares, or
approximately 7.9% of our outstanding shares as of October 28, 2003, in
connection with the merger. In connection with our merger with ASE Chung Li, we
issued 149,175,000 of our common shares to ASE Test, our consolidated
subsidiary, 79,914,225 of our common shares to J&R Holding Limited, our
wholly-owned subsidiary, and four common shares to certain individuals who were
the original shareholders of ASE Chung Li. The merger with ASE Chung Li had a
transaction value of approximately NT$7,101.8 million, based on NT$31.00 per ASE
Inc. common share, which was the average of the closing prices of our common
shares on the Taiwan Stock Exchange for two days prior to and following October
28, 2003. In connection with our merger with ASE Material, we issued 5,000,000
of our common shares to ASE Test Taiwan, a consolidated subsidiary of ASE Test,
1,086,800 of our common shares to Hung Ching, our affiliate, and 47,139,409 of
our common shares to employees and other shareholders (other than ourselves) of
ASE Material and a strategic investor. The merger with ASE Material had a
transaction value of approximately NT$1,650.0 million (US$52.0 million), based
on NT$31.00 per ASE Inc. common share, which was the average of the closing
prices of our common shares on the Taiwan Stock Exchange for two days prior to
and following October 28, 2003. In connection with our merger with ASE Material,
Richard H.P. Chang, our Vice Chairman and President, in his individual capacity
as a shareholder and director of ASE Material, also received our common shares
in exchange for common shares of ASE Material held by him.
74
All of the assets and liabilities of ASE Chung Li and ASE Material are
owned and have been assumed by ourselves and the operations of ASE Chung Li and
ASE Material have been integrated with our operations. The merger agreement was
approved by our board of directors and shareholders as well as the board of
directors and shareholders of each of ASE Chung Li and ASE Material.
In order to comply with Singapore law, trusts organized under ROC law have
been established to hold and dispose of our 149,175,000 common shares issued to
ASE Test and our 5,000,000 common shares issued to ASE Test Taiwan in connection
with the merger. Under Section 76(1)(b)(ii) of the Companies Act, Chapter 50, of
Singapore, ASE Test, a Singapore company, may not purport to acquire, directly
or indirectly, shares or units of shares in our company, ASE Test's parent
company. Pursuant to the applicable trust agreements, the trustee under each
trust is (1) the registered owner of the common shares, (2) able to exercise all
of the rights as a shareholder of the common shares, (3) able to sell the common
shares pursuant to the terms and conditions of the trust agreement and (4) able
to transfer and deliver to ASE Test or ASE Test Taiwan the proceeds from the
sale of our common shares and any cash dividends distributed, as the case may
be. Neither ASE Test nor ASE Test Taiwan have any rights with respect to the
common shares held in trust pursuant to the applicable trust agreements other
than the right to receive the proceeds from the sale of such common shares and
cash dividends.
We have historically guaranteed the promissory notes of many of our
subsidiaries and affiliates. As of December 31, 2004, we had endorsed and
guaranteed an aggregate amount of NT$11,382.7 million (US$358.6 million) of the
outstanding promissory notes of our subsidiaries.
We have constructed a new building in Kaohsiung, Taiwan with Hung Ching,
our affiliate engaged in the development and management of commercial,
residential and industrial real estate in Taiwan. The new building was completed
in July 2004 and has approximately 1,172,000 square feet of floor space. We and
ASE Test Taiwan purchased Hung Ching's interest in the development in January
2005. We own the first eight floors of the building with floor space of
approximately 940,000 square feet and ASE Test Taiwan owns the remaining two
floors with floor space of approximately 232,000 square feet. We use our floor
space to house part of our operations in Kaohsiung. The total cost to us of the
construction project was approximately NT$1,329.2 million (US$41.9 million).
We are currently in discussions with Hung Ching to finalize the purchase
price of the two new buildings in Chung Li, Taiwan that we have built with Hung
Ching. See "Item 4. Information on the Company--Property, Plants and
Equipment--Expansion".
Item 8. Financial Information
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Consolidated financial statements are set forth under "Item 18. Financial
Statements".
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
We are not involved in material legal proceedings the outcome of which we
believe would have a material adverse effect on us.
DIVIDENDS AND DIVIDEND POLICY
To date, we have not paid cash dividends on our common shares, and, while
we anticipate paying a percentage of our dividends in cash in the near future,
we expect that we will continue to pay a substantial portion of our dividends in
the form of stock. We have paid annual stock dividends on our common shares
since 1989, except in 2002 when we did not pay any dividend due to the losses we
incurred in the 2001 fiscal year.
75
The following table sets forth the stock dividends paid during each of the
years indicated and related information.
Percentage of
Total Common Shares Outstanding Common Outstanding Common Shares
Stock Dividends Per Issued as Stock Shares Represented by Stock
Common Shares(1) Dividends on Record Date(2) Dividends
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NT$
1995.................. 3.60 93,600,000 260,000,000 36.0%
1996.................. 8.00 319,840,000 399,800,000(3) 80.0%
1997.................. 3.80 277,020,000 729,000,000 38.0%
1998.................. 7.20 732,240,000 1,017,000,000 72.0%
1999.................. 1.07 190,460,000 1,780,000,000 10.7%
2000.................. 3.15 623,811,852 1,980,355,086 31.5%
2001.................. 1.70 467,840,000 2,752,000,000 17.0%
2002.................. -- -- 3,254,800,000 --
2003.................. 1.00 325,480,000 3,254,800,000 10.0%
2004.................. 0.57 221,977,360 3,862,595,437 5.7%
------------------
(1) Holders of common shares receive as a stock dividend the number of common
shares equal to the NT dollar value per common share of the dividend
declared multiplied by the number of common shares owned and divided by the
par value of NT$10 per share. Fractional shares are not issued but are paid
in cash.
(2) Aggregate number of common shares outstanding on the record date applicable
to the dividend payment. Includes common shares issued in the previous year
under our employee bonus plan.
(3) Includes 43,000,000 common shares issued in connection with an offering of
global depositary shares in July 1995.
We have historically paid stock dividends on our common shares with respect
to the results of the preceding year following approval by our shareholders at
the annual general meeting of shareholders. At our annual shareholders' meeting
held on June 15, 2004, our shareholders approved a stock dividend of 221,977,360
common shares, or NT$0.57 (US$0.02) per common share. The form, frequency and
amount of future cash or stock dividends on our common shares will depend upon
our net income, cash flow, financial condition and other factors. See "Item 10.
Additional information--Articles of Incorporation--Dividends and Distributions".
In general, we are not permitted to distribute dividends or make other
distributions to shareholders for any year where we did not record net income or
retained earnings (excluding reserves). The ROC Company Law also requires that
10% of annual net income (less prior years' losses, if any) be set aside as a
legal reserve until the accumulated legal reserve equals our paid-in capital. In
addition, our Articles of Incorporation require that before a dividend is paid
out of our annual net income:
o up to 2% of our annual net income (less prior years' losses and legal and
special reserves, if any) should be paid to our directors and supervisors
as compensation; and
o between 5% and 7% of the annual net income (less prior years' losses and
legal and special reserves, if any) should be paid to our employees as
bonuses; the 5% portion is to be distributed to all employees in accordance
with our employee bonus distribution rules, while any portion exceeding 5%
is to be distributed in accordance with rules established by our board of
directors to individual employees who have been recognized as having made
special contributions to our company.
In order to meet the needs of our present and future capital expenditures,
our dividend distribution will be primarily in the form of common shares. Cash
dividends may also be distributed in certain circumstances. However, in
accordance with our Articles of Incorporation, the percentage of cash dividends
shall not exceed 20% in any dividend distribution.
Holders of ADSs will be entitled to receive dividends, subject to the terms
of the deposit agreement, to the same extent as the holders of the common
shares. Cash dividends will be paid to the depositary in NT dollars and, except
as otherwise provided in the deposit agreement, will be converted by the
depositary into U.S. dollars and paid to holders of ADSs according to the terms
of the deposit agreement. Stock dividends will be distributed to the
76
depositary and, except as otherwise provided in the deposit agreement, will be
distributed by the depositary, in the form of additional ADSs, to holders of
ADSs according to the terms of the deposit agreement.
Holders of outstanding common shares on a dividend record date will be
entitled to the full dividend declared without regard to any prior or subsequent
transfer of common shares. Accordingly, holders of outstanding ADSs on the
relevant dividend record date will, subject to the terms of the deposit
agreement, be similarly entitled to the full amount of any dividend declared.
For information relating to ROC withholding taxes payable on dividends, see
"Item 10. Additional Information--Taxation--ROC Taxation--Dividends".
SIGNIFICANT CHANGES
On May 1, 2005, a fire broke out at the principal building of our
facilities in Chung Li, Taiwan. Before the fire, the building housed our
operations for the production of interconnect materials, as well as the
substantial majority of our packaging and testing operations, at Chung Li. Based
upon our initial assessment, the estimated net book value as of March 31, 2005
of our fixed assets, including the building, machinery and equipment, and the
estimated value of our inventory damaged by the fire totaled approximately
NT$12.2 billion (US$0.4 billion).
While we currently plan to return to pre-accident output levels in the
foreseeable future, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Our
failure to do so, as well as any inability to collect on insurance, prevent our
customers from switching to our competitors, or otherwise proceed with our plans
to restore our operations may have a material adverse effect on our financial
condition and results of operations.
Item 9. The Offer and Listing
OFFER AND LISTING DETAILS
Our common shares were first issued in March 1984 and have been listed on
the Taiwan Stock Exchange since July 1989. The Taiwan Stock Exchange is an
auction market where the securities traded are priced according to supply and
demand through announced bid and ask prices. As of April 30, 2005, there were an
aggregate of 4,113,744,200 of our common shares outstanding. The following table
sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low closing prices and the
average daily volume of trading activity on the Taiwan Stock Exchange for the
common shares and the high and low of the daily closing values of the Taiwan
Stock Exchange Index. The closing price for our common shares on the Taiwan
Stock Exchange on May 31, 2005 was NT$22.85 per share.
77
Average
Daily
Closing Price per Adjusted Closing Trading Taiwan Stock
Share Price per Share(1) Volume Exchange Index
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(in
thousands
of
High Low High Low shares) High Low
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
1999............................. 117.00 51.00 66.18 27.22 47,782 8,608.9 5,474.8
2000............................. 123.00 22.60 72.68 17.56 24,507 10,202.2 4,614.6
2001............................. 38.80 14.00 31.09 12.73 25,079 6,104.2 3,446.3
2002............................. 38.50 15.90 35.00 14.45 24,798 6,462.3 3,850.0
First Quarter.................. 35.80 26.00 32.55 23.64 35,735 6,242.6 5,488.3
Second Quarter................. 38.50 20.80 35.00 18.91 19,479 6,462.3 5,071.8
Third Quarter.................. 24.50 17.10 22.27 15.55 17,232 5,416.5 4,185.9
Fourth Quarter................. 24.30 15.90 22.09 14.45 28,264 4,823.7 3,850.0
2003............................. 35.50 16.90 35.50 15.36 24,852 6,142.3 4,139.5
First Quarter.................. 22.50 16.90 20.45 15.36 16,422 5,078.8 4,260.4
Second Quarter................. 22.50 17.80 20.45 16.18 27,240 5,048.9 4,139.5
Third Quarter.................. 27.80 21.50 27.80 19.55 33,764 5,757.9 5,017.8
Fourth Quarter................. 35.50 26.30 35.50 26.30 20,889 6,142.3 5,581.7
2004............................. 36.20 21.10 36.20 21.10 24,113 6,209.2 5,856.5
First Quarter.................. 39.30 33.20 39.30 33.20 26,838 7,034.1 5,890.7
Second Quarter................. 36.20 21.10 36.20 21.10 26,281 6,182.4 6,055.8
Third Quarter.................. 28.20 21.90 28.20 21.90 20,745 5,675.8 5,602.2
Fourth Quarter................. 26.00 22.20 26.00 22.20 27,733 5,944.3 5,877.5
November..................... 26.00 22.50 26.00 22.50 18,612 5,923.2 5,844.3
December..................... 24.50 22.90 24.50 22.70 21,410 5,983.7 5,930.4
2005
First Quarter.................. 24.85 20.00 24.85 20.00 27,239 6,074.8 6,018.1
January...................... 23.80 20.00 23.80 20.00 27,360 5,956.6 5,894.3
February..................... 24.80 21.40 24.80 21.40 47,029 6,131.6 6,077.3
March........................ 24.85 22.00 24.85 22.00 15,942 6,136.2 6,082.1
Second Quarter (through May 31) 23.65 19.35 23.55 19.35 20,560 5,932.1 5,877.8
April........................ 23.55 20.55 23.55 20.55 16,655 5,906.8 5,847.8
May.......................... 22.85 19.35 22.85 19.35 24,279 5,957.5 5,907.9
------------------
(1) As adjusted retroactively by the Taiwan Stock Exchange to give effect to
stock dividends paid in the periods indicated. See "Item 8. Financial
Information--Dividends and Dividend Policy".
The performance of the Taiwan Stock Exchange has in recent years been
characterized by extreme price volatility. There are currently limits on the
range of daily price movements on the Taiwan Stock Exchange. In the case of
equity securities traded on the Taiwan Stock Exchange, such as our common
shares, fluctuations in the price of a particular security may not exceed a 7%
change either above or below the previous day's closing price of such security.
Our ADSs have been listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol
"ASX" since September 26, 2000. The outstanding ADSs are identified by the CUSIP
number 00756M404. As of April 30, 2005, a total of 27,627,054 ADSs were
outstanding. The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high
and low closing prices and the average daily volume of trading activity on the
New York Stock Exchange for our ADSs and the highest and lowest of the daily
closing values of the New York Stock Exchange Index. The closing price for our
ADSs on the New York Stock Exchange on May 31, 2005 was US$3.54 per ADS.
78
Average
Daily
Adjusted Closing Trading New York Stock
Closing Price per ADS Price per ADS(1) Volume Exchange Index
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(In thousands
High Low High Low of ADSs) High Low
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
US$ US$ US$ US$
2000............................ 6.75 3.06 5.24 2.38 31 7,164.55 6,094.91
2001............................ 6.05 1.75 4.70 1.59 106 7,048.13 5,331.38
2002............................ 5.54 2.21 5.04 2.01 111 6,445.01 4,452.49
First Quarter................. 5.35 3.75 4.86 3.41 135 6,445.01 5,894.75
Second Quarter................ 5.54 3.05 5.04 2.77 130 6,327.11 5,543.28
Third Quarter................. 3.70 2.39 3.36 2.17 110 5,598.68 4,549.66
Fourth Quarter................ 3.50 2.21 3.18 2.01 72 5,247.64 4,452.49
2003............................ 5.27 2.45 5.27 2.23 195 6,440.30 4,486.70
First Quarter................ 3.23 2.45 2.94 2.23 41 5,255.39 4,486.70
Second Quarter............... 3.22 2.50 2.93 2.27 229 5,722.85 4,793.56
Third Quarter.................. 4.11 3.17 4.11 2.88 257 5,855.97 5,451.02
Fourth Quarter................. 5.27 3.88 5.27 3.88 244 6,440.30 5,768.32
2004............................. 5.95 3.18 5.16 3.03 219 7,253.06 6,217.06
First Quarter................. 5.95 5.12 5.62 4.34 328 6,780.03 6,375.67
Second Quarter................ 5.46 3.22 5.16 3.04 269 6,715.09 6,231.19
Third Quarter................. 3.87 3.18 3.75 3.03 202 6,633.22 6,217.06
Fourth Quarter................ 3.97 3.28 3.97 3.28 89 7,253.06 6,516.10
November.................... 3.97 3.36 3.97 3.36 94 7,046.69 6,699.86
December.................... 3.76 3.51 3.76 3.51 108 7,253.06 7,014.72
2005
First Quarter................. 4.07 3.20 4.07 3.20 165 7,441.18 6,996.56
January..................... 3.74 3.20 3.74 3.20 134 7,250.06 7,010.47
February.................... 4.03 3.40 4.03 3.40 177 7,361.89 7,146.21
March....................... 4.07 3.54 4.07 3.54 184 7,441.18 7,070.53
Second Quarter (through May
31)......................... 3.80 3.09 3.80 3.09 398 7,227.08 6,935.31
April....................... 3.80 3.29 3.80 3.29 508 7,227.08 6,935.31
May......................... 3.62 3.09 3.62 3.09 287 7,184.90 6,937.69
------------------
(1) As adjusted retroactively to give effect to stock dividends paid in the
periods indicated.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Not applicable.
MARKETS
The principal trading market for our common shares is the Taiwan Stock
Exchange and the principal trading market for ADSs representing our common
shares is the New York Stock Exchange.
SELLING SHAREHOLDERS
Not applicable.
DILUTION
Not applicable.
EXPENSES OF THE ISSUE
Not applicable.
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Item 10. Additional Information
SHARE CAPITAL
Not applicable.
ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
General
We are a company limited by shares organized under the laws of the ROC. Our
organizational document is our Articles of Incorporation. We have no by-laws.
Our Articles of Incorporation provide, in Article 2, that we are to engage
in the following types of business:
o the manufacture, assembly, processing, testing and export of various
types of integrated circuitry;
o the research, development, design and manufacture, assembly,
processing, testing and export of various computers, electronics,
communications, information products and their peripheral products;
o general import and export trading (excluding businesses that require
trading permits);
o the manufacture of electronic parts and components;
o the manufacture of mechanical and electronic devices and materials
(including integrated circuit leadframes, BGA substrates and flip-chip
substrates);
o wholesale and retail sales of electronic materials;
o technical support and consulting service for integrated circuit
leadframes, BGA substrates and flip-chip substrates;
o leasing; and
o except any business requiring a special permit, any business not
prohibited or restricted by law or regulation.
We were incorporated on March 23, 1984 as a company limited by shares under
the ROC Company Law. Our authorized capital was NT$51,500,000,000, divided into
5,150,000,000 common shares, 4,113,744,200 of which were issued in registered
form and outstanding as of April 30, 2005. We do not have any equity in the form
of preference shares or otherwise outstanding as of the date of this annual
report.
With the approval of our board of directors and the ROC Securities and
Futures Bureau, we may grant stock options to our employees, provided that the
shares to be issued under any option plan shall not exceed 10% of our
outstanding common shares and the total number of shares to be issued under all
option plans shall not exceed 15% of our outstanding common shares. The exercise
price of an option shall not be less than the closing price of our common shares
on the Taiwan Stock Exchange on the grant date of the option. As of December 31,
2004, we had granted 284,885,000 options pursuant to employee stock option plans
established on August 28, 2002 and May 27, 2004, to our full-time employees as
well as to full-time employees of our domestic and foreign subsidiaries. See
"Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees--Compensation--ASE Inc.
Employee Bonus Plan and Stock Option Plans". We have 300,000,000 common shares
reserved for issuance under our employee stock option plans.
Directors
Our Articles of Incorporation provide that we are to have from five to
seven directors with tenures of three years who are elected at a shareholders'
meeting. There is no minimum amount of shares necessary to stand for election to
a directorship. Many of our directors are representatives appointed by corporate
shareholders which
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appoint individual representatives. Re-elections are allowed. The directors have
certain powers and duties, including devising operations strategy, proposing to
distribute dividends or make up losses, proposing to increase or decrease
capital, reviewing material internal rules and contracts, hiring and discharging
the general manager, establishing and dissolving branch offices, reviewing
budgets and audited financial statements and other duties and powers granted by
or in accordance with the ROC Company Law, our Articles of Incorporation or
shareholders resolutions.
The board of directors is constituted by the directors, who elect a
chairman and a vice-chairman from among the directors to preside over the
meeting of the board. Meetings of the board may be held in the ROC or any place
abroad. A director may appoint another director to attend a meeting and vote by
proxy, but a director may accept only one proxy.
Our Articles of Incorporation contain no provisions relating to a
director's power to vote on a proposal in which that director is interested, the
directors' power to vote compensation to themselves, borrowing powers,
retirement or age-limit requirements.
Dividends and Distributions
In general, we are not permitted to distribute dividends or make other
distributions to shareholders in any year in which we did not record net income
or retained earnings (excluding reserves). The ROC Company Law also requires
that 10% of annual net income (less prior years' losses, if any) be set aside as
a legal reserve until the accumulated legal reserve equals our paid-in capital.
In addition, our Articles of Incorporation require that before a dividend is
paid out of our annual net income:
o up to 2% of our annual net income (less prior years' losses and legal
and special reserves, if any) should be paid to our directors and
supervisors as compensation; and
o between 5% and 7% of the annual net income (less prior years' losses
and legal and special reserves, if any) should be paid to our
employees as bonuses. The 5% portion is to be distributed to all
employees in accordance with our employee bonus distribution rules,
while any portion exceeding 5% is to be distributed in accordance with
rules established by our board of directors to individual employees
who have been recognized as having made special contributions to our
company. Such employees include those of our affiliated companies who
meet the criteria set by our board of directors.
At the annual general shareholders' meeting, our board of directors submits
to the shareholders for their approval any proposal for the distribution of
dividends or the making of any other distribution to shareholders from our net
income for the preceding fiscal year. All common shares outstanding and fully
paid as of the relevant record date are entitled to share equally in any
dividend or other distribution so approved. Dividends may be distributed in
cash, in the form of common shares or a combination of the two, as determined by
the shareholders at the meeting. Cash dividends should not exceed 20% of the
distribution for any given year.
We are also permitted to make distributions to our shareholders of
additional common shares by capitalizing reserves. However, the capitalized
portion payable out of our legal reserve is limited to 50% of the total
accumulated legal reserve and the capitalization can only be effected when the
accumulated legal reserve exceeds 50% of our paid-in capital.
For information on the dividends we paid in recent years, see "Item 8.
Financial Information--Dividends and Dividend Policy". For information as to ROC
taxes on dividends and distributions, see "--Taxation--ROC Taxation--Dividends".
Changes in Share Capital
Under ROC Company Law, any change in the authorized share capital of a
company limited by shares requires an amendment to its Articles of
Incorporation. In the case of a public company such as ourselves, the approval
of the ROC Securities and Futures Bureau and the ROC Ministry of Economic
Affairs is also required. Authorized but unissued common shares may be issued,
subject to applicable ROC law, upon terms as our board of directors may
determine.
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Preemptive Rights
Under the ROC Company Law, when an ROC company issues new shares for cash,
existing shareholders who are listed on the shareholders' register as of the
record date have preemptive rights to subscribe for the new issue in proportion
to their existing shareholdings, while a company's employees, whether or not
they are shareholders of the company, have rights to subscribe for 10% to 15% of
the new issue. Any new shares that remain unsubscribed at the expiration of the
subscription period may be offered by us to the public or privately placed.
In addition, in accordance with the ROC Securities and Exchange Law, a
public company that intends to offer new shares for cash must offer to the
public at least 10% of the shares to be sold. This percentage can be increased
by a resolution passed at a shareholders' meeting, which would diminish the
number of new shares subject to the preemptive rights of existing shareholders.
These preemptive rights provisions do not apply to offerings of new shares
through a private placement approved at a shareholders' meeting.
Meetings of Shareholders
We are required to hold an ordinary meeting of our shareholders within six
months following the end of each fiscal year. These meetings are generally held
in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Extraordinary shareholders' meetings may be convened by
resolution of the board of directors or by the board of directors upon the
written request of any shareholder or shareholders who have held 3% or more of
the outstanding common shares for more than one year. Shareholders' meetings may
also be convened by a supervisor. Notice in writing of general meetings of
shareholders, stating the place, time and purpose, must be dispatched to each
shareholder at least 30 days, in the case of ordinary meetings, and 15 days, in
the case of extraordinary meetings, before the date set for each meeting. A
majority of the holders of all issued and outstanding common shares present at a
shareholders' meeting constitutes a quorum for meetings of shareholders.
Voting Rights
Under the ROC Company Law, shareholders have one vote for each common share
held. Under the ROC Company Law, our directors and supervisors are elected at a
shareholders' meeting through cumulative voting, unless the articles of
incorporation of a company provide otherwise.
In general, a resolution can be adopted by the holders of at least a
majority of the common shares represented at a shareholders' meeting at which
the holders of a majority of all issued and outstanding common shares are
present. Under ROC Company Law, the approval by at least a majority of the
common shares represented at a shareholders' meeting in which a quorum of at
least two-thirds of all issued and outstanding common shares are represented is
required for major corporate actions, including:
o amendment to the Articles of Incorporation, including increase of
authorized share capital and any changes of the rights of different
classes of shares;
o transfer of the company's entire business or assets or substantial
part of its business or assets;
o execution, amendment or termination of any contract through which the
company leases its entire business to others, or the company appoints
others to operate its business or the company operates its business
with others on a continuous basis;
o acquisition of the entire business or assets of any other company,
which would have a significant impact on the company's operations;
o distribution of any stock dividend;
o dissolution, merger or spin-off of the company; and
o removal of the directors or supervisors.
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A shareholder may be represented at an ordinary or extraordinary meeting by
proxy if a valid proxy form is delivered to us five days before the commencement
of the ordinary or extraordinary shareholders' meeting.
Holders of ADSs do not have the right to exercise voting rights with
respect to the underlying common shares, except as described in the deposit
agreement.
Voting of Deposited Securities
Except as described below, holders of ADSs generally have no right under
the deposit agreement to instruct the depositary to exercise the voting rights
for the common shares represented by the ADSs. Instead, by accepting ADSs or any
beneficial interest in ADSs, holders of ADSs are deemed to have authorized and
directed the depositary to appoint our chairman or his designee to represent
them at our shareholders' meetings and to vote the common shares deposited with
the custodian according to the terms of the deposit agreement.
The depositary will mail to holders of ADSs any notice of shareholders'
meeting received from us together with information explaining how to instruct
the depositary to exercise the voting rights of the securities represented by
ADSs.
If we fail to timely provide the depositary with an English language
translation of our notice of meeting or other materials related to any meeting
of owners of common shares, the depositary will endeavor to cause all the
deposited securities represented by ADSs to be present at the applicable
meeting, insofar as practicable and permitted under applicable law, but will not
cause those securities to be voted.
If the depositary timely receives voting instructions from owners of at
least 51.0% of the outstanding ADSs to vote in the same direction regarding one
or more resolutions to be proposed at the meeting, including election of
directors and supervisors, the depositary will notify our chairman or his
designee to attend the meeting and vote all the securities represented by the
holders' ADSs in accordance with the direction received from owners of at least
51.0% of the outstanding ADSs.
If we have timely provided the depositary with the materials described in
the deposit agreement and the depositary has not timely received instructions
from holders of at least 51.0% of the outstanding ADSs to vote in the same
direction regarding any resolution to be considered at the meeting, then,
holders of ADSs will be deemed to have authorized and directed the depositary
bank to give a discretionary proxy to our chairman or his designee to attend and
vote at the meeting the common shares represented by the ADSs in any manner, our
chairman or his designee may wish, which may not be in the interests of holders.
The ability of the depositary to carry out voting instructions may be
limited by practical and legal limitations and the terms of the securities on
deposit. We cannot assure ADS holders that they will receive voting materials in
time to enable them to return voting instructions to the depositary in a timely
manner.
Register of Shareholders and Record Dates
Our share registrar, President Securities Corp., maintains our register of
shareholders at its offices in Taipei, Taiwan, enters transfers of common shares
in our register upon presentation of, among other documents, certificates
representing the common shares transferred and acts as paying agent for any
dividends or distributions with respect to our common shares. Under the ROC
Company Law and our Articles of Incorporation, we may, by giving advance public
notice, set a record date and close the register of shareholders for a specified
period in order for us to determine the shareholders or pledgees that are
entitled to rights pertaining to the common shares. The specified period
required is as follows:
o ordinary shareholders' meeting--60 days;
o extraordinary shareholders' meeting--30 days; and
o relevant record date--five days.
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Annual Financial Statements
At least ten days before the annual ordinary shareholders' meeting, our
annual financial statements must be available at our principal executive office
in Kaohsiung, Taiwan for inspection by the shareholders.
Transfer of Common Shares
The transfer of common shares in registered form is effected by endorsement
and delivery of the related share certificates but, in order to assert
shareholders' rights against us, the transferee must have his name and address
registered on our register of shareholders. Shareholders are required to file
their respective specimen seals, also known as chops, with us. Chops are
official stamps widely used in Taiwan by individuals and other entities to
authenticate the execution of official and commercial documents.
Acquisition of Common Shares by ASE Inc.
Under the ROC Securities and Exchange Law, we may purchase our own common
shares for treasury stock in limited circumstances, including:
o to transfer shares to our employees;
o to deliver shares upon the conversion or exercise of bonds with
warrants, preferred shares with warrants, convertible notes,
convertible preferred shares or warrants issued by us; and
o to maintain our credit and our shareholders' equity, provided that the
shares so purchased shall be canceled.
We may purchase our common shares on the Taiwan Stock Exchange or by means
of a public tender offer. These transactions require the approval of a majority
of our board of directors at a meeting in which at least two-thirds of the
directors are in attendance. The total amount of common shares purchased for
treasury stock may not exceed 10% of the total outstanding shares. In addition,
the total cost of the purchased shares shall not exceed the aggregate amount of
our retained earnings, any premium from share issuances and the realized portion
of our capital reserve.
Pursuant to the amended ROC Company Law, effective from November 14, 2001,
our subsidiaries are not permitted to acquire our common shares. This
restriction does not affect any acquisition of our common shares made by our
subsidiaries prior to November 14, 2001.
Liquidation Rights
In the event of our liquidation, the assets remaining after payment of all
debts, liquidation expenses and taxes will be distributed pro rata to the
shareholders in accordance with the relevant provisions of the ROC Company Law
and our Articles of Incorporation.
Transfer Restrictions
Substantial Shareholders
The ROC Securities and Exchange Law currently requires:
o each director, supervisor, executive officer or substantial
shareholder (that is, a shareholder who, together with his or her
spouse, minor children or nominees, holds more than 10% of the shares
of a public company) to report any change in that person's
shareholding to the issuer of the shares and the ROC Securities and
Futures Bureau; and
o each director, supervisor, executive officer or substantial
shareholder, after acquiring the status of director, supervisor,
executive officer or substantial shareholder for a period of six
months, to report his or her intent to transfer any shares on the
Taiwan Stock Exchange to the ROC Securities and Futures Bureau at
least three days before the intended transfer, unless the number of
shares to be transferred is less than 10,000 shares.
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In addition, the number of shares that can be sold or transferred on the
Taiwan Stock Exchange by any person subject to the restrictions described above
on any given day may not exceed:
o 0.2% of the outstanding shares of the company in the case of a company
with no more than 30 million outstanding shares; or
o 0.2% of 30 million shares plus 0.1% of the outstanding shares
exceeding 30 million shares in the case of a company with more than 30
million outstanding shares; or
o in any case, 5% of the average trading volume (number of shares) on
the Taiwan Stock Exchange for the ten consecutive trading days
preceding the reporting day on which the director, supervisor, manager
or substantial shareholder reports the intended share transfer to the
ROC Securities and Futures Bureau.
These restrictions do not apply to sales or transfers of our ADSs.
Common Shares Issued to Substantial Shareholders in Connection with a Merger
The rules and regulations of the Taiwan Stock Exchange impose certain
transfer restrictions on common shares of a Taiwan Stock Exchange listed company
issued to a substantial shareholder (as defined under the ROC Securities and
Exchange Law and described under "--Substantial Shareholders") of an unlisted
company to be merged with and into the acquiror. A substantial shareholder of an
unlisted company to be merged with and into a Taiwan Stock Exchange listed
company is restricted from selling or transferring common shares received in
connection with such merger for a period of six months after such shares are
listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange. After the initial six-month lock-up period,
such holder is permitted to sell or transfer 50% of its holdings of the common
shares received in the merger. After two years from the date of the listing of
the common shares, the holder is permitted to sell or transfer an additional 10%
of its holdings of the common shares and an additional 10% of the common shares
every six months thereafter.
MATERIAL CONTRACTS
Joint Venture Agreement dated October 28, 2003 by and between ASE Inc. and
Compeq
This contract was entered into with Compeq to establish the joint venture
ASE-Compeq Technologies, Inc., which will focus on the design and production of
interconnect materials for packaging semiconductors. We own a 60% equity
interest in ASE-Compeq Technologies, Inc. and Compeq owns the remaining 40%
equity interest. See "Item 4. Information on the Company--History and
Development of the Company--Joint Venture with Compeq Manufacturing Co. Ltd."
Merger Agreement dated October 28, 2003 by and among ASE Inc., ASE Chung Li
and ASE Material
Under this contract, ASE Chung Li and ASE Material merged with and into us.
We are the surviving corporation. As a result of the merger, all of the assets
and liabilities of ASE Chung Li and ASE Material are now owned and have been
assumed by us. The merger was consummated by means of a share exchange pursuant
to which each common share of ASE Chung Li not directly owned by us was
exchanged for 0.85 ASE Inc. common share and each common share of ASE Material
not directly owed by us was exchanged for 0.5 ASE Inc. common share. The merger
was completed on August 1, 2004. See "Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related
Party Transactions--Related Party Transactions".
Share Sale and Purchase Agreement dated as of February 3, 2004 among NEC
Electronics Corporation, NEC Yamagata Ltd., J&R Holding Limited and ASE Inc.
On February 3, 2004, we and J&R Holding Limited, our wholly-owned
subsidiary, entered into a share sale and purchase agreement with NEC and NEC
Yamagata, Ltd. in connection with the acquisition of the semiconductor packaging
and testing business of NEC Yamagata, a wholly-owned subsidiary of NEC. The
acquisition was completed on May 31, 2004 and the purchase price, after
accounting for certain purchase price adjustments, was approximately US$25.6
million. The acquisition was consummated by means of a company split under the
Japanese Commercial Code through which the packaging and testing business of NEC
Yamagata was transferred to a
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company formed by NEC Yamagata named ASE Japan Co., Ltd. Pursuant to the terms
and conditions of the share sale and purchase agreement, all of the issued and
outstanding shares of ASE Japan were purchased by J&R Holding Limited, and ASE
Japan now owns and operates the semiconductor packaging and testing business
acquired from NEC Yamagata.
See "Item 4. Information on the Company--Business Overview--Sales and
Marketing--Sales and Customer Service Agents" for a summary of contracts we have
entered into with agents for sales and customer service.
EXCHANGE CONTROLS
ROC Exchange Controls
The Foreign Exchange Control Statute and regulations provide that all
foreign exchange transactions must be executed by banks designated to handle the
business, by the ROC Financial Supervisory Commission and by the Central Bank of
China. Current regulations favor trade-related foreign exchange transactions.
Consequently, foreign currency earned from exports of merchandise and services
may now be retained and used freely by exporters, and all foreign currency
needed for the importation of merchandise and services may be purchased freely
from the designated foreign exchange banks.
Trade aside, ROC companies and resident individuals may, without foreign
exchange approval, remit into and outside the ROC foreign currency of up to
US$50 million (or its equivalent) and US$5 million (or its equivalent)
respectively in each calendar year. The above limits apply to remittances
involving a conversion of NT dollars to a foreign currency and vice versa. A
requirement is also imposed on all enterprises to register medium- and long-term
foreign debt with the Central Bank of China.
In addition, foreign persons may, subject to specified requirements, but
without foreign exchange approval of the Central Bank of China, remit outside
and into the ROC foreign currencies of up to US$100,000 (or its equivalent) for
each remittance. The above limit applies to remittances involving a conversion
of NT dollars to a foreign currency and vice versa. The above limit does not,
however, apply to the conversion of NT dollars into other currencies, including
U.S. dollars, from the proceeds of sale of any underlying shares withdrawn from
a depositary receipt facility.
TAXATION
ROC Taxation
The following discussion describes the material ROC tax consequences of the
ownership and disposition of the common shares or ADSs to a non-resident
individual or non-resident entity that holds the common shares or ADSs (referred
to here as a "non-ROC holder"). As used in the preceding sentence, a
"non-resident individual" is a foreign national who owns the common shares or
ADSs and is not physically present in the ROC for 183 days or more during any
calendar year and a "non-resident entity" is a corporation or a non-corporate
body that owns the common shares or ADSs, is organized under the laws of a
jurisdiction other than the ROC and has no fixed place of business or other
permanent establishment in the ROC.
Dividends
Dividends (whether in cash, common shares or ADSs) declared by us out of
retained earnings and distributed to a non-ROC holder in respect of common
shares or ADSs are subject to ROC withholding tax, currently at the rate of 20%
on the amount of the distribution (in the case of cash dividends) or on the par
value of the distributed common shares (in the case of stock dividends). A 10%
retained earnings tax is imposed on a ROC company for its after-tax earnings
generated after January 1, 1998 which are not distributed in the following year.
The retained earnings tax so paid will further reduce the retained earnings
available for future distribution. When we declare a dividend out of those
retained earnings, up to a maximum amount of 10% of the net dividend received
will be credited against the 20% withholding tax imposed on the non-ROC holders
of our common shares or ADSs.
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It is currently unclear whether dividends paid by us out of our capital
reserves are subject to ROC withholding tax because there are two possible
interpretations of the relevant tax laws and regulations that lead to different
conclusions on whether such dividends will be taxable, and there is currently no
authoritative guidance on this issue.
Capital Gains
Under current ROC law, capital gain realized upon the sale or other
disposition of securities is exempt from ROC income tax. This exemption
currently applies to capital gains derived from the sale of common shares.
Sales of ADSs by non-ROC holders are not regarded as sales of ROC
securities and thus any gains derived from transfers of ADSs are not currently
subject to ROC income tax.
Sale
Securities transaction tax will be imposed on the seller at the rate of
0.3% of the transaction price upon a sale of common shares. Transfers of ADSs
are not subject to ROC securities transaction tax.
Subscription Rights
Distributions of statutory subscription rights for the common shares in
compliance with the ROC Company Law are currently not subject to ROC tax.
Proceeds derived from sales of statutory subscription rights evidenced by
securities are currently exempted from income tax but are subject to securities
transaction tax, currently at the rate of 0.3% of the gross amount received.
Proceeds derived from sales of statutory subscription rights which are not
evidenced by securities are subject to capital gains tax at the rate of (i) 25%
of the gross amount realized for non-resident entities and (ii) 35% of the gross
amount realized for non-resident individuals. Subject to compliance with ROC
law, we, in our sole discretion, may determine whether statutory subscription
rights are securitized.
Inheritance and Gift Tax
ROC inheritance tax is payable on any property within the ROC of a deceased
non-resident individual, and ROC gift tax is payable on any property within the
ROC donated by a non-resident individual. Inheritance tax is currently imposed
at rates ranging from 2% of the first NT$600,000 to 50% of amounts in excess of
NT$100 million. Gift tax is imposed at rates ranging from 4% of the first
NT$600,000 donated to 50% of amounts donated in excess of NT$45 million. Under
ROC Inheritance and Gift Tax Law, shares and bonds issued by ROC companies are
deemed located in the ROC without regard to the location of the owner. It is
unclear whether a holder of ADSs will be considered to own common shares for
this purpose.
Tax Treaty
At present, the ROC has income tax treaties with Indonesia, Singapore, New
Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Gambia, Swaziland,
Malaysia, Macedonia, the Netherlands, Senegal, Sweden and Vietnam. These tax
treaties may limit the rate of ROC withholding tax on dividends paid with
respect to common shares in ROC companies. It is unclear whether a non-ROC
holder of ADSs will be considered to own common shares for the purposes of such
treaties. Accordingly, a holder of ADSs who is otherwise entitled to the benefit
of a treaty should consult its own tax advisers concerning eligibility for
benefit under the treaty with respect to the ADSs as the case may be. The United
States does not have an income tax treaty with the ROC.
United States Federal Income Taxation
The following discussion describes the material U.S. federal income tax
consequences of the ownership and disposition of common shares or ADSs to those
U.S. holders described below who hold such common shares or ADSs as capital
assets for U.S. federal income tax purposes. For these purposes, you are a U.S.
holder if you are a beneficial owner of common shares or ADSs that is, for U.S.
federal income tax purposes:
o a citizen or resident of the United States;
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o a corporation, or other entity taxable as a corporation, created or
organized under the laws of the United States or of any political
subdivision of the United States; or
o an estate or trust the income of which is subject to U.S. federal
income tax purposes regardless of its source.
This discussion assumes that we are not a passive foreign investment
company, as discussed below.
This discussion does not address all of the tax consequences that may be
relevant in light of your particular circumstances. In particular, it does not
address all of the tax consequences that may be relevant to holders subject to
special rules, including:
o persons subject to the alternative minimum tax;
o insurance companies;
o tax-exempt entities;
o dealers or traders in securities;
o financial institutions;
o partnerships or other entities classified as partnerships for U.S.
federal income tax purposes;
o persons carrying on a trade or business in the ROC;
o persons who hold or will hold common shares or ADSs as part of an
integrated investment, including a straddle, hedging or conversion
transaction, comprising common shares or ADSs and one or more other
positions for tax purposes;
o persons whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar; or
o persons who own 10% or more of our voting stock.
This discussion is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,
Treasury regulations, administrative announcements and judicial decisions
currently in effect. These laws and regulations may change, possibly with
retroactive effect. This discussion is also based in part on representations by
the depositary and assumes that each obligation under the deposit agreement and
any related agreement will be performed in accordance with its terms.
In general, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, a U.S. holder of ADSs
should be treated as the holder of the common shares represented by the ADSs.
The U.S. Treasury has expressed concerns that parties to whom ADSs are
pre-released may be taking actions that are inconsistent with the claiming of
foreign tax credits by the holders of ADSs. Such actions would also be
inconsistent with the claiming of the reduced rate of tax applicable to
dividends received by certain noncorporate U.S. holders. Accordingly, the
analysis of the creditability of ROC taxes, both described below, and the
availability of the reduced tax rate for dividends received by certain
noncorporate U.S. holders, could be affected by actions that may be taken by
parties to whom the ADSs are pre-released.
Please consult your tax advisor with regard to the application of the U.S.
federal income tax laws to common shares or ADSs as well as any tax consequences
arising under the laws of any state, local or non-U.S. taxing jurisdictions.
Dividends
Distributions paid on common shares or ADSs (other than certain pro rata
distributions of common shares to all shareholders, including holders of ADSs),
including the amount of any ROC taxes withheld thereon, reduced by any
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credit against the withholding tax on account of the 10% retained earnings tax
imposed on us, will constitute foreign source dividend income to the extent paid
out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits as determined in
accordance with U.S. federal income tax principles. The amount you will be
required to include in income for any dividend paid in NT dollars will be equal
to the U.S. dollar value of the NT dollars paid, calculated by reference to the
exchange rate in effect on the date the payment is received by the depositary
(in the case of ADSs) or by you (in the case of common shares), regardless of
whether the payment is converted into U.S. dollars on the date or receipt. If
you realize gain or loss on a sale or other disposition of NT dollars, it will
generally be U.S. source ordinary income or loss. The amount of any distribution
of property other than cash will be the fair market value of such property on
the date of distribution. You will not be entitled to a dividends-received
deduction for dividends you receive.
Subject to applicable limitations and the discussion above regarding
concerns expressed by the U.S. Treasury, dividends paid to certain noncorporate
U.S. holders in taxable years beginning before January 1, 2009 will be taxable
at a maximum tax rate of 15%. Noncorporate U.S. holders should consult their own
tax advisers to determine whether they are subject to any special rules that
limit their ability to be taxed at this favorable rate.
Subject to applicable limitations and restrictions and the discussion above
regarding concerns expressed by the U.S. Treasury, the ROC taxes withheld from
dividend distributions, reduced by any credit against the withholding tax on
account of the 10% retained earnings tax, will be eligible for credit against
your U.S. federal income tax liability. The limitation on foreign taxes eligible
for credit is calculated separately with respect to specific classes of income.
Certain pro rata distributions of common shares by a company to all of its
shareholders, including holders of ADSs, will not be subject to U.S. federal
income tax. Accordingly, these distributions will not give rise to U.S. federal
income against which the ROC tax imposed on these distributions may be credited.
Any ROC tax of this nature will only be creditable against a U.S. holder's U.S.
federal income tax liability with respect to income in the general category
income, subject to applicable limitations and restrictions.
Capital Gains
You will generally recognize U.S. source capital gain or loss for U.S.
federal income tax purposes on the sale or exchange of common shares or ADSs,
which will be long-term capital gain or loss if the common shares or ADSs were
held for more than one year. The amount of gain or loss will be equal to the
difference between your tax basis in the common shares or ADSs disposed of and
the amount realized on disposition. You should consult your own tax advisor
about the treatment of capital gains, which may be taxed at lower rates than
ordinary income for non-corporate taxpayers, and capital losses, the
deductibility of which may be limited.
Deposits and withdrawals of common shares by a U.S. holder in exchange for
ADSs will not result in realization of gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax
purposes.
Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules
We believe that we were not a passive foreign investment company for the
2004 taxable year. In general, a foreign corporation is a passive foreign
investment company for any taxable year in which (1) 75% or more of its gross
income consists of passive income (such as dividends, interest, rents and
royalties) or (2) 50% or more of the average quarterly value of its assets
consists of assets that produce, or are held for the production of, passive
income. The determination of whether we are a passive foreign investment company
will be based on the composition of our income and assets, as well as those of
our subsidiaries and certain affiliates, from time to time. Since the
composition of our income and assets will vary over time, there can be no
assurance that we will not be considered a passive foreign investment company
for any taxable year. If we are a passive foreign investment company at any time
that you own common shares or ADSs:
o you may be subject to additional taxes and interest charges on any
gain realized on the disposition of the common shares or ADSs and on
certain "excess distributions" on the common shares or ADSs. The
additional taxes are assessed at the highest tax rate applicable for
corporate or individual taxpayers for the relevant tax periods;
89
o you will be subject to additional U.S. tax filing requirements for
each year that you hold ADSs; and
o the 15% dividend rate discussed above with respect to dividends paid
to certain noncorporate U.S. holders would not apply to dividends paid
in any taxable year that we are a PFIC or the taxable year succeeding
any taxable year that we are a PFIC.
Please consult your tax advisors about the possibility that ASE Inc. may be
a passive foreign investment company and the rules that would apply to you if it
were.
DIVIDENDS AND PAYING AGENTS
Not applicable.
STATEMENT BY EXPERTS
Not applicable.
DOCUMENTS ON DISPLAY
We file annual reports on Form 20-F and periodic reports on Form 6-K with
the SEC. You can read and copy these reports and other information at the SEC's
Public Reference Room at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. You can
also request copies of the documents, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by
writing to the Public Reference Section of the SEC. Please call the SEC at
1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the Public Reference
Room. The reports and other information we file electronically with the SEC are
also available to the public from the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov.
SUBSIDIARY INFORMATION
Not applicable.
Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Market Risk
Our exposure to financial market risks relates primarily to changes in
interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates. To mitigate these risks we
utilize derivative financial instruments, the application of which is primarily
to manage these exposures and not for speculative purposes.
Interest Rate Risk. Our exposure to interest rate risks relates primarily
to our long-term floating rate debt, which is normally incurred to support our
corporate activities and capital expenditures. In May 2004, we entered into an
interest rate swap contract with a bank to manage our exposure to interest rate
fluctuations associated with our long-term debt. The contract will expire in
January 2009. The terms of the contract provide for a semi-annual exchange of
interest payments whereby we pay NT$ 90-day BA rate minus 0.70% on an underlying
nominal amount of $2.75 billion.
In May 2004, we entered into an interest rate swaption contract with a bank
whereby we pay a floating interest rate, 6-month US$-LIBOR-BBA and receive a
fixed annual rate of 3.65% on a notional amount of US$20.0 million. Payment
dates are November 23, 2005 and May 23, 2006 (the contract expiration date). As
of December 31, 2004, the contract's fair value was negative US$0.03 million.
In April 2004, we entered into an interest rate swaption contract with a
bank, which will expire on October 20, 2007. The terms of the contract provide
that if the 6-month US$-LIBOR-BBA rate ever reaches 5% before the expiration of
the contract, the interest to be paid to the bank during the contract period
will be based on a fixed rate of 2.7% multiplied by the number of days for which
the 6-month US$-LIBOR-BBA rate exceeded 5% divided by the number of days in the
contract period. The notional amount of the contract is US$157.0 million.
Payment dates are every April 20 and October 20 starting from October 20, 2004
through the expiration date. As of December 31, 2004, the contract's fair value
was negative US$1.6 million.
90
On December 2003, we entered into an interest rate swap contract whereby
we pay NT dollars at a 90-day BA rate minus 0.70% in exchange for three possible
payoff scenarios: (1) if the US$ 6-month LIBOR is below 0.95%, we receive the
US$ 6-month LIBOR per annum; (2) if the US$ 6-month LIBOR is equal to or above
0.95% and equal to or below 2.00%, we receive 3.60% per annum; and (3) if the
US$ 6-month LIBOR is above 2.00%, we receive either 4.00% minus US$ 6-month
LIBOR or 0%, whichever is greater. The contract has a notional amount of
NT$2,750.0 million and expires in January 2009. As of December 31, 2004, the
contract's fair value was negative US$0.06 million.
In October 2003, we entered into two cross-currency swap contracts to
hedge against reductions in value caused by changes in foreign currency exchange
rates, as well as to manage our exposure to interest rates. See "--Foreign
Currency Exchange Rate Risk".
The table below sets forth information relating to our significant
obligations that are sensitive to interest rate fluctuations as of December 31,
2004.
Expected Maturity Date
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fair
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Thereafter Total Value
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(in millions, except percentages)
Short-term debt:
Variable rate (NT$).... 1,016.8 - - - - - 1,016.8 1,016.8
Average interest rate 1.58% - - - - - 1.58%
Variable rate (US$).... 76.4 - - - - - 76.4 76.4
Average interest rate 4.37% - - - - - 4.37%
Variable rate (JP(Y)).. 25.6 - - - - 25.6 25.6
Average interest rate 0.78% - - - - - 0.78%
Variable rate (EUR).... 1.3 - - - - - 1.3 1.3
Average interest rate 2.81% - - - - - 2.81%
Variable rate (KRW).... 2,729.9 - - - - - 2,729.9 2,729.9
Average interest rate 6.96% - - - - - 6.96%
Variable rate (RMB).... 268.8 - - - - - 268.8 268.8
Average interest rate 5.03% - - - - - 5.03%
Long-term debt:
Variable rate (NT$).... 714.6 10,955.2 5,230.5 6,909.1 4,000.3 47.5 27,857.2 27,857.2
Average interest rate 3.83% 2.78% 3.04% 3.60% 4.36% 2.91% 3.29%
Fixed rate (NT$)....... 42.4 44.1 25.8 1.4 0.5 - 114.2 114.2
Average interest rate 4.98% 5.01% 5.20% 8.49% 6.35% - 5.09%
Variable rate (US$).... 40.1 169.5 106.2 81.6 13.9 4.2 415.5 415.5
Average interest rate 4.51% 4.60% 4.82% 4.77% 4.42% 5.21% 4.68%
Fixed rate (US$)....... 5.4 3.1 1.9 209.7 - - 220.1 220.1
Average interest rate 8.56% 8.76% 8.65% 3.75% - - 3.98%
Variable rate (JP(Y)).. - 800.0 - - - - 800.0 800.0
Average interest rate - 0.92% - - - - 0.92%
Variable rate (RMB).... - - 10.2 10.2 10.2 30.4 61.0 61.0
Average interest rate - - 5.02% 5.02% 5.02% 5.02% 5.02%
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk. Our foreign currency exposure gives
rise to market risk associated with exchange rate movements against the NT
dollar, our functional currency. Currently, the majority of our revenues from
packaging and testing services are denominated in U.S. dollars, with a portion
denominated in NT dollars. Our costs of revenues and operating expenses
associated with packaging and testing services are incurred in several
currencies, primarily in NT dollars and U.S. dollars, as well as, to a lesser
extent, Malaysian ringgit, Korean won and Japanese yen. In addition, a
substantial portion of our capital expenditures, primarily for the purchase of
packaging and testing equipment, has been, and is expected to continue to be,
denominated primarily in U.S. dollars with the remainder in Japanese yen.
Fluctuations in exchange rates, primarily among the U.S. dollar, the NT dollar
91
and the Japanese yen, will affect our costs and operating margins and could
result in exchange losses and increased costs in NT dollar and other local
currency terms. Despite hedging and mitigating techniques implemented by us,
fluctuations in exchange rates have affected, and may continue to affect, our
financial condition and results of operations. We recorded a net foreign
exchange loss of NT$146.2 million (US$4.6 million), NT$386.8 million and
NT$397.9 million in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. In 2004, 2003 and 2002,
the average exchange rate of the NT dollar to the U.S. dollar was 33.37, 34.40
and 34.53, respectively, calculated using noon buying rates in The City of New
York for cable transfers in NT dollars as certified for customs purposes by the
Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
Foreign currency denominated liabilities as of December 31, 2004 include
U.S. dollar debt and Japanese yen debt. As of December 31, 2004, approximately
62% of our cash and accounts receivable were denominated in U.S. dollars, with a
substantial portion of the remainder denominated in NT dollars. As of December
31, 2004, approximately 72% of our accounts payable and payable for fixed assets
were denominated in currencies other than the NT dollar. To protect against
reductions in value and the volatility of future cash flows caused by changes in
foreign currency exchange rates, we utilize currency forward contracts from time
to time to reduce the impact of foreign currency fluctuations on our results of
operations. Our policy is to account for these contracts on a mark-to-market
rate basis, and the premiums are amortized on a straight-line basis over the
life of the contract.
In October 2003, we entered into two cross-currency swap contracts to hedge
against reductions in value caused by changes in foreign currency exchange rates
and to manage our exposure to interest rates in connection with the proceeds
received from our offering of US$200.0 million zero coupon convertible bonds due
2008.
The terms of one of such contracts provide that we pay NT dollars at a
fixed rate of 1.7% and receive U.S. dollars at a fixed rate of 2.7%. The
contract rate is US$/NT$33.95. The contract has a notional amount of US$157.0
million/NT$5,330.2 million and, as of December 31, 2004, had a fair value of
negative US$6.0 million. The contract expires in October 2007.
The terms of the other of such contracts provide that we pay U.S. dollars
at a floating rate that is the percentage by which LIBOR is greater than 2% and
receive NT dollars at a floating rate that is the percentage by which LIBOR is
less than 2%. The contract rate is US$/NT$33.95. The contract has a notional
amount of US$43.0 million/NT$1,459.8 million and, as of December 31, 2004, had a
fair value of negative US$2.9 million. The contract expires in September 2008.
The table below sets forth our outstanding foreign currency option
contracts in aggregate terms by type of contract as of December 31, 2004.
Foreign Currency Option Contracts
Buy US$ Put/JP(Y) Call
Notional Amount US$66.6 million
Weighted Average Strike Price US$/JP(Y)104.96
Fair Value US$0.1 million
Buy US$ Put/KRW Call
Notional Amount US$54.0 million
Weighted Average Strike Price US$/KRW1,062.72
Fair Value US$1.3 million
Buy US$ Put/NT$ Call
Notional Amount US$223.0 million
Weighted Average Strike Price US$/NT$32.18
Fair Value US$4.1 million
Buy US$ Call/NT$ Call
Notional Amount US$43.0 million
Weighted Average Strike Price US$/NT$33.95
92
Foreign Currency Option Contracts
Fair Value US$0.1 million
Sell US$ Call/JP(Y) Put
Notional Amount US$152.8 million
Weighted Average Strike Price US$/JP(Y)103.98
Fair Value (US$0.1 million)
Sell US$ Call/KRW Put
Notional Amount US$104.0 million
Weighted Average Strike Price US$/KRW1,057.42
Fair Value (US$0.9 million)
Sell US$ Call/NT$ Put
Notional Amount US$112.0 million
Weighted Average Strike Price US$/NT$32.41
Fair Value (US$0.5 million)
Sell US$ Put/NT$ Call
Notional Amount US$157.0 million
Weighted Average Strike Price US$/NT$31.37
Fair Value (US$3.0 million)
Item 12. Description of Securities Other Than Equity Securities
Not applicable.
PART II
Item 13. Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies
Not applicable.
Item 14. Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of
Proceeds
Not applicable.
Item 15. Controls and Procedures
As of December 31, 2004, we, under the supervision and with the
participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief
Financial Officer, performed an evaluation of the effectiveness of our
disclosure controls and procedures. Based on this evaluation, our Chief
Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure
controls and procedures are effective for gathering, analyzing and disclosing
the information we are required to disclose in the reports we file under the
Exchange Act, within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms.
Our management necessarily applied its judgment in assessing the costs and
benefits of such controls and procedures, which by their nature can provide only
reasonable assurance regarding management's control objectives.
There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting
that occurred during the period covered by this annual report that has
materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal
control over financial reporting.
93
Item 16. [Reserved]
Item 16A. Audit Committee Financial Expert
Under Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act and the rules of the New York Stock
Exchange, we are required to have an audit committee that meets certain
requirements by July 31, 2005. We have identified a potential candidate for our
audit committee. Subject to such candidate's election to the board of directors
as a new director by our shareholders during our annual shareholders' meeting in
June 2005, we anticipate considering such candidate's installation as the audit
committee member at a board of directors meeting following such annual
shareholders' meeting. We also plan to consider his eligibility to serve as our
audit committee financial expert. We have drafted an audit committee charter
which is subject to approval by our board of directors upon our establishment of
an audit committee.
Item 16B. Code of Ethics
We have drafted a code of ethics for our principal executive officer,
principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or
persons performing similar functions and we plan to address the adoption of such
code of ethics with the board of directors before the end of 2005. Historically,
ethical oversight and actual or apparent conflicts of interest have been handled
informally by senior management and the board of directors.
Item 16C. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
Policy on Pre-Approval of Audit and Non-Audit Services of Independent Auditors
Until the establishment of our audit committee, the full board of directors
is responsible for the oversight of our independent auditor's work. Our board of
directors pre-approves all audit and non-audit services provided by our
independent auditors, including audit services, audit-related services, tax
services and other services, on a case-by-case basis. Accordingly, we have not
established any pre-approval policies and procedures. All audit and non-audit
services performed by Deloitte & Touche, our independent auditors, after May 6,
2003, the effective date of revised Rule 2-01(c)(7) of Regulation S-X entitled
"Audit Committee Administration of the Engagement", were pre-approved by the
board of directors.
Independent Auditor Fees
TN Soong & Co, independent public accountants, an associate member firm of
Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, combined on June 1, 2003 with Deloitte & Touche
(Taiwan) to establish Deloitte & Touche, a member firm of Deloitte Touche
Tohmatsu, or Deloitte & Touche, at which time Deloitte & Touche became our
principal independent auditor. Prior to June 1, 2003, TN Soong & Co had served
as our principal independent auditor for the periods indicated in the table
below.
The following table sets forth the aggregate fees by categories specified
below in connection with certain professional services rendered by Deloitte &
Touche or TN Soong & Co, as applicable. We did not pay any other fees to our
auditors during the periods indicated below.
For the Year Ended December 31,
-----------------------------------------
2003 2004
-----------------------------------------
NT$ NT$ US$
(in thousands)
Audit fees(1).................... 26,582.3 28,332.3 892.6
Audit-related fees(2)............ 14,898.3 39,156.4 1,233.7
Tax fees(3)...................... 813.5 4,034.6 127.1
Other fees(4).................... 5,454.1 410.0 12.9
-----------------------------------------
Total....................... 47,748.2 71,933.3 2,266.3
=========================================
------------------
(1) Consists of fees for professional services in connection with the audit of
our annual financial statements, reviews of interim financial statements
and statutory and regulatory filings or engagements.
94
(2) Principally comprises fees associated with the issuance of agreed-upon
procedure letters.
(3) Consists of fees for tax advice.
(4) Consists of risk management consulting fees.
Item 16D. Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees.
Not applicable.
Item 16E. Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated
Purchasers.
None of our equity securities were purchased by ourselves or our affiliated
purchasers in 2004.
PART III
Item 17. Financial Statements
The Company has elected to provide financial statements for fiscal year
2004 and the related information pursuant to Item 18.
Item 18. Financial Statements
Reference is made to pages F-1 to F-73 of this annual report.
The consolidated financial statements of the Company and the report thereon
by its independent auditors listed below are attached hereto as follows:
(a) Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm of the Company
dated February 1, 2005 (page F-1).
(b) Consolidated Balance Sheets of the Company and subsidiaries as of
December 31, 2003 and 2004 (page F-3).
(c) Consolidated Statements of Income of the Company and subsidiaries for
the years ended December 31, 2002, 2003 and 2004 (page F-4 to F-6).
(d) Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity of the
Company and subsidiaries for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2003
and 2004 (page F-7 to F-8).
(e) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows of the Company and subsidiaries
for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2003 and 2004 (pages F-9 to
F-11).
(f) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company and
subsidiaries (pages F-12 to F-73).
Item 19. Exhibits
1. Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant (in Chinese with English
translation) (incorporating all amendments as of May 31, 2005).
2. Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement dated as of September 29, 2000
among ASE Inc., Citibank N.A., as depositary, and Holders and
Beneficial Holders of American Depositary Shares evidenced by American
Depositary Receipts issued thereunder, including the form of American
Depositary Receipt (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to our
registration statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-87428) filed on March
31, 2003).
4. (a) Asset Purchase Agreement dated as of July 3, 1999 among ASE (Chung Li)
Inc., ASE Inc., Motorola Electronics Taiwan, Ltd. and Motorola, Inc.
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to ASE Test's
95
registration statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-10892) filed on
September 27, 1999 (the "ASE Test 1999 Form-3")).
(b) Agreement dated as of June 5, 2002 among ASE (Chung Li) Inc., ASE
Inc., Motorola Electronics Taiwan, Ltd. and Motorola, Inc. amending
certain earn-out arrangements provided for in Section 2.09(b)(ii)(D)
of the Asset Purchase Agreement dated as of July 3, 1999 among the
same parties (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(b) to our annual
report on Form 20-F (File No. 001-16125) for the year ended December
31, 2002 filed on June 30, 2003).
(c) Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of July 3, 1999 among ASE Investment
(Labuan) Inc., ASE Inc., Motorola Asia Ltd. and Motorola, Inc.
relating to the purchase and sale of 100% of the common stock of
Motorola Korea Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the
ASE Test 1999 Form F-3).
(d)+ BGA Immunity Agreement dated as of January 25, 1994 between ASE Inc.
and Motorola, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the
Form F-1).
(e)++ Amendment dated March 18, 2003 renewing the BGA Immunity Agreement
dated as of January 25, 1994 between ASE Inc. and Motorola, Inc.
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(g) to our annual report on
Form 20-F (File No. 001-16125) for the year ended December 31, 2003
filed on June 30, 2004).
(f) Consent dated June 10, 2004 to the Assignment of the BGA Immunity
Agreement between ASE Inc. and Motorola, Inc. dated January 25, 1994
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(h) to our annual report on
Form 20-F (File No. 001-16125) for the year ended December 31, 2003
filed on June 30, 2004).
(g) Commission Agreement dated as of August 1, 2004 between ASE
Electronics (M) Sdn. Bhd. and Gardex International Limited.
(h) Commission Agreement dated as of August 1, 2004 between ASE Test, Inc.
and Gardex International Limited.
(i) Commission Agreement dated as of August 1, 2004 between ASE (Korea)
Inc. and Gardex International Limited.
(j) Commission Agreement dated as of August 1, 2004 between Advanced
Semiconductor Engineering, Inc. and Gardex International Limited.
(k) Joint Venture Agreement dated as of October 28, 2003 by and between
ASE Inc. and Compeq Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (in Chinese with English
translation) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.51 to our
registration statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-111172) filed on
December 15, 2003 (the "December 2003 Form F-3"))
8. List of Subsidiaries.
12. (a) Certification of Jason C.S. Chang, Chief Executive Officer of Advanced
Semiconductor Engineering, Inc. required by Rule 13a-14(a) of the
Exchange Act.
(b) Certification of Joseph Tung, Chief Financial Officer of Advanced
Semiconductor Engineering, Inc. required by Rule 13a-14(a) of the
Exchange Act.
13. Certification of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial
Officer of Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc. required by Rule
13a-14(b) of the Exchange Act and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title
18 of the United States Code.
--------------------
+ Does not contain portions for which confidential treatment has been
granted.
96
++ Does not contain portions for which confidential treatment has been
requested.
The Company agrees to furnish to the Securities and Exchange Commission
upon request a copy of any instrument which defines the rights of holders of
long-term debt of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries.
97
SIGNATURES
The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for
filing on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned
to sign this annual report.
ADVANCED SEMICONDUCTOR
ENGINEERING, INC.
By: /s/ Joseph Tung
-------------------------------
Joseph Tung
Chief Financial Officer
Date: June 23, 2005
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Page
----
Consolidated Financial Statements of Advanced Semiconductor Engineering,
Inc. and Subsidiaries
Independent Registered Public Acounting Firm's Report............... F-1
Consolidated Balance Sheets......................................... F-3
Consolidated Statements of Income................................... F-4
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity.......... F-7
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows............................... F-9
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statement........................... F-12
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
February 1, 2005
The Board of Directors and Shareholders
Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc.
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Advanced
Semiconductor Engineering, Inc., a corporation incorporated under the laws of
the Republic of China, and its consolidated subsidiaries (the "Company") as of
December 31, 2003 and 2004, and the related consolidated statements of income,
changes in shareholders' equity and cash flows for each of the years in the
three year period ended December 31, 2004, which are required to be prepared in
accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the Republic of
China and expressed in New Taiwan dollars. These financial statements are the
responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the Rules Governing the Audit of
Financial Statements by Certified Public Accountants, auditing standards
generally accepted in the Republic of China and the Standards of the Public
Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). These rules and standards
require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about
whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. (The Company
is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its
internal control over financial reporting.) Our audit includes consideration of
internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit
procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of
expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control
over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also
includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and
disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles
used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the
overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a
reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present
fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of
December 31, 2003 and 2004, and the results of their operations and their cash
flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2004, in
conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the Republic of
China.
As disclosed in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company
adopted Republic of China Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 35
"Impairment of Assets" on December 31, 2004.
F-1
Accounting principles generally accepted in the Republic of China vary in
certain significant respects from accounting principles generally accepted in
the United States of America. Information relating to the nature and effect of
such differences is presented in Note 29 to the consolidated financial
statements.
Our audits also comprehended the translation of New Taiwan dollar amounts into
U.S. dollar amounts and, in our opinion, such translation has been made in
conformity with the basis stated in Note 2. Such U.S. dollar amounts are
presented solely for the convenience of the readers.
Deloitte & Touche
Taipei, Taiwan
Republic of China
F-2
ADVANCED SEMICONDUCTOR ENGINEERING, INC. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Amounts In Thousands, Except Par Value)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
December 31
--------------------------------------------------
2003 2004
-------------- ----------------------------
ASSETS NT$ NT$ US$
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents (Notes 2 and 4) 8,562,425 5,975,103 188,252
Short-term investments (Notes 2, 5 and 24) 3,017,779 3,194,183 100,636
Notes receivable 111,596 89,612 2,823
Accounts receivable-net (Notes 2, 6 and 23) 12,798,135 13,586,635 428,060
Other receivables (Note 6) 206,475 967,616 30,486
Inventories (Notes 2, 3 and 7) 4,691,771 9,437,257 297,330
Deferred income tax assets (Notes 2 and 21) 1,224,501 1,375,450 43,335
Pledged time deposit (Note 24) 167,426 125,599 3,957
Prepayments and other 677,794 1,143,417 36,024
-------------- ----------- ------------
Total current assets 31,457,902 35,894,872 1,130,903
-------------- ----------- ------------
LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS (Notes 2, 3 and 8)
Long-term stock investments-equity method 4,521,113 3,534,289 111,351
Long-term stock investments- cost method 1,756,542 1,323,074 41,685
Prepaid for long-term investments 12,000 - -
Other long-term investments 50,000 50,000 1,575
Other financial assets - non-current 3,140 - -
-------------- ----------- ------------
Total long-term investments 6,342,795 4,907,363 154,611
-------------- ----------- ------------
PROPERTIES (Notes 2, 9, 16, 23, 24 and 25)
Cost
Land 3,794,571 2,388,264 75,244
Buildings and improvements 18,391,271 21,023,396 662,363
Machinery and equipment 81,840,769 95,462,106 3,007,628
Transportation equipment 107,400 122,160 3,849
Furniture and fixtures 1,781,292 2,479,940 78,133
Leased assets and leasehold improvements 1,026,848 1,095,910 34,528
Long-term land leasehold rights 60,808 60,808 1,915
-------------- ----------- ------------
Total cost 107,002,959 122,632,584 3,863,660
Accumulated depreciation (48,281,935) (59,126,412) (1,862,836)
-------------- ----------- ------------
58,721,024 63,506,172 2,000,824
Construction in progress 2,425,310 4,318,509 136,059
Machinery in transit and prepayments 6,193,613 14,562,234 458,798
-------------- ----------- ------------
Net properties 67,339,947 82,386,915 2,595,681
-------------- ----------- ------------
GOODWILL (Notes 2, 3 and 10) 4,596,234 3,336,376 105,116
-------------- ----------- ------------
OTHER ASSETS
Guarantee deposits (Note 24) 359,908 383,131 12,071
Deferred charges (Notes 2 and 25) 1,519,268 2,257,876 71,136
Deferred income tax assets (Notes 2 and 21) 2,230,229 3,838,132 120,925
Other 477,960 946,211 29,811
-------------- ----------- ------------
Total other assets 4,587,365 7,425,350 233,943
-------------- ----------- ------------
TOTAL 114,324,243 133,950,876 4,220,254
============== =========== ============
December 31
-------------------------------------------------
2003 2004
-------------- ---------------------------
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY NT$ NT$ US$
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Short-term borrowings (Note 11) 5,048,230 3,733,433 117,625
Commercial papers and bank acceptances payable (Notes 11 and 12) 1,075,965 908,816 28,633
Notes payable 4,612 20,538 647
Accounts payable (Note 23) 6,484,377 7,879,412 248,249
Payable for properties 4,392,340 6,500,851 204,816
Income tax payable (Note 21) 217,846 287,709 9,065
Current portion of long-term bank loans (Notes 14 and 24) 5,491,389 2,011,673 63,380
Current portion of obligations under capital leases (Notes 2 and 16) 164,612 198,831 6,264
Current portion of long-term payable for investments (Note 15) 2,309,960 - -
Accrued expenses (Note 17) 1,839,276 3,163,155 99,658
Other 324,244 499,454 15,736
-------------- ----------- -------------
Total current liabilities 27,352,851 25,203,872 794,073
-------------- ----------- -------------
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
Long-term bonds payable (Notes 2 and 13) 6,861,232 9,440,582 297,435
Long-term bank loans (Notes 14 and 24) 23,873,312 36,891,546 1,162,304
Obligations under capital leases (Notes 2 and 16) 105,517 197,513 6,223
-------------- ----------- ------------
Total long-term liabilities 30,840,061 46,529,641 1,465,962
-------------- ----------- ------------
OTHER LIABILITIES
Accrued pension cost (Notes 2 and 17) 896,480 2,120,686 66,814
Deferred income tax liabilities (Notes 2 and 21) 34,674 32,424 1,022
Other (Notes 8 and 26) - 347,668 10,953
-------------- ----------- ------------
Total other liabilities 931,154 2,500,778 78,789
-------------- ----------- ------------
Total liabilities 59,124,066 74,234,291 2,338,824
-------------- ----------- ------------
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 25)
MINORITY INTEREST IN CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES 10,077,575 8,404,826 264,802
-------------- ----------- ------------
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (Notes 2 and 18)
Capital stock - NT$10 par value
Authorized - 5,150,000 thousand shares in 2003 and 2004
Issued - 3,580,280 thousand shares in 2003 and 4,100,000 thousand
shares in 2004 35,802,800 41,000,000 1,291,745
-------------- ----------- ------------
Capital received in advance - 42,759 1,347
-------------- ----------- ------------
Capital surplus
Capital in excess of par value 14,777 3,168,119 99,815
Treasury stock transaction 220,735 220,735 6,954
Long-term investment 3,811,262 3,583,802 112,911
-------------- ----------- ------------
Total capital surplus 4,046,774 6,972,656 219,680
-------------- ----------- ------------
Retained earnings 3,808,436 5,576,332 175,687
-------------- ----------- ------------
Other equity adjustments
Unrealized loss on long-term investments in shares of stock (68,833) (70,614) (2,225)
Cumulative translation adjustments 1,559,599 640,379 20,176
Unrecognized pension cost (16,137) (4,710) (148)
Other - (36,607) (1,153)
-------------- ----------- ------------
Total other equity adjustments 1,474,629 528,448 16,650
-------------- ----------- ------------
Treasury stock - 366 thousand shares in 2003 and 167,949 thousand shares
in 2004 (10,037) (2,808,436) (88,481)
-------------- ----------- ------------
Total shareholders' equity 45,122,602 51,311,759 1,616,628
-------------- ----------- ------------
TOTAL 114,324,243 133,950,876 4,220,254
============== =========== ============
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
F-3
ADVANCED SEMICONDUCTOR ENGINEERING, INC. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Amounts In Thousands, Except Share Data)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Year Ended December 31
----------------------------------------------------------
2002 2003 2004
------------ ------------ --------------------------
NT$ NT$ NT$ US$
NET REVENUES (Notes 2 and 28)
Packaging 35,515,397 45,026,868 64,736,754 2,039,595
Testing 10,060,635 12,142,396 16,473,924 519,027
Other 10,806 142,506 501,966 15,815
------------ ------------ ----------- -----------
Total revenues 45,586,838 57,311,770 81,712,644 2,574,437
------------ ------------ ----------- -----------
COST OF REVENUES (Note 20)
Packaging 29,260,015 37,042,539 52,921,805 1,667,354
Testing 9,219,424 9,287,142 12,141,233 382,522
Other 12,831 136,772 384,101 12,101
------------ ------------ ----------- -----------
Total cost of revenues 38,492,270 46,466,453 65,447,139 2,061,977
------------ ------------ ----------- -----------
GROSS PROFIT 7,094,568 10,845,317 16,265,505 512,460
------------ ------------ ----------- -----------
OPERATING EXPENSES (Notes 2, 10, 20 and 25)
Selling 909,440 1,204,912 1,041,232 32,805
General and administrative 3,595,829 4,015,850 5,088,647 160,323
Research and development 2,048,973 2,354,034 2,584,470 81,426
------------ ------------ ----------- -----------
Total operating expenses 6,554,242 7,574,796 8,714,349 274,554
------------ ------------ ----------- -----------
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS 540,326 3,270,521 7,551,156 237,906
------------ ------------ ----------- -----------
NON-OPERATING INCOME
Interest (Note 26) 392,593 114,627 79,678 2,510
Gain on sale of investment 101,314 618,857 57,140 1,800
Other 481,526 336,546 339,042 10,682
------------ ------------ ----------- -----------
Total non-operating income 975,433 1,070,030 475,860 14,992
------------ ------------ ----------- -----------
NON-OPERATING EXPENSES
Interest (Notes 2 and 9) 1,971,227 1,419,352 978,405 30,825
Investment loss under equity method (Notes 2 and 8) 410,348 240,656 394,995 12,445
Foreign exchange loss, net (Notes 2 and 26) 397,874 386,844 146,207 4,606
Realized loss on long-term investments (Note 18) - 354,787 - -
Impairment of long-lived assets (Note 9) 1,225,555 - - -
Other investment loss (Notes 2, 3 and 8) - - 512,000 16,131
Impairment of goodwill (Notes 2, 3 and 10) - - 1,950,097 61,440
Other 220,460 451,182 513,496 16,178
------------ ------------ ----------- -----------
Total non-operating expenses 4,225,464 2,852,821 4,495,200 141,625
------------ ------------ ----------- -----------
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAX (2,709,705) 1,487,730 3,531,816 111,273
INCOME TAX BENEFIT (Notes 2 and 21) 1,140,324 1,278,148 1,396,326 43,993
------------ ------------ ----------- -----------
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE EXTRAORDINARY LOSS AND
CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF CHANGE IN ACCOUNTING
PRINCIPLE (1,569,381) 2,765,878 4,928,142 155,266
EXTRAORDINARY LOSS (NET OF TAX BENEFIT
NT$11,538 thousand in 2002)(Note 13) (34,613) (75,668) - -
(Continued)
F-4
Year Ended December 31
----------------------------------------------------------
2002 2003 2004
------------ ------------ --------------------------
NT$ NT$ NT$ US$
CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF CHANGE IN ACCOUNTING
PRINCIPLE (Note 3) - - (26,844) (846)
MINORITY INTEREST IN NET LOSS (INCOME) OF
SUBSIDIARIES 1,733,029 52,586 (691,608) (21,790)
------------ ------------ ------------ ----------
NET INCOME 129,035 2,742,796 4,209,690 132,630
============ ============ ============ ==========
EARNINGS PER SHARE (Note 22)
Basic EPS
Based on weighted average number of outstanding shares
after giving retroactive adjustment to 2003 and 2004
stock dividends
Before income tax
Income (loss) before extraordinary loss and
cumulative effect of change in accounting
principle (0.22) 0.48 0.85 0.03
Extraordinary loss (0.01) (0.02) - -
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle - - (0.01) -
------------ ------------ ----------- -----------
Net income (loss) (0.23) 0.46 0.84 0.03
============ ============ ============ ===========
After income tax
Income before extraordinary loss and cumulative
effect of change in accounting principle 0.05 0.76 1.10 0.03
Extraordinary loss (0.01) (0.02) - -
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle - - (0.01) -
------------ ------------ ----------- -----------
Net income 0.04 0.74 1.09 0.03
============ ============ ============ ===========
Diluted EPS
Based on weighted average number of outstanding shares
after giving retroactive adjustment to 2003 and 2004
stock dividends
Before income tax
Income (loss) before extraordinary loss and
cumulative effect of change in accounting principle (0.22) 0.47 0.85 0.03
Extraordinary loss (0.01) (0.02) - -
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle - - (0.01) -
------------ ------------ ----------- -----------
Net income (loss) (0.23) 0.45 0.84 0.03
============ ============ ============ ===========
After income tax
Income before extraordinary loss and cumulative
effect of change in accounting principle 0.05 0.75 1.07 0.03
Extraordinary loss (0.01) (0.02) - -
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle - - (0.01) -
------------ ------------ ----------- -----------
Net income 0.04 0.73 1.06 0.03
============ ============ ============ ===========
EARNINGS PER EQUIVALENT ADS (Note 22)
Basic EPS
Based on weighted average number of outstanding shares
after giving retroactive effect for the 2003 and 2004
stock dividends
Before income tax
Income (loss) before extraordinary loss and
cumulative effect of change in accounting principle (1.10) 2.39 4.26 0.13
Extraordinary loss (0.06) (0.10) - -
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle - - (0.03) (0.00)
------------ ------------ ----------- -----------
Net income (loss) (1.16) 2.29 4.23 0.13
============ ============ ============ ===========
After income tax
Income before extraordinary loss and cumulative
effect of change in accounting principle 0.23 3.79 5.49 0.17
Extraordinary loss (0.05) (0.10) - -
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle - - (0.03) (0.00)
------------ ------------ ----------- -----------
Net income 0.18 3.69 5.46 0.17
============ ============ ============ ===========
(Continued)
F-5
Year Ended December 31
----------------------------------------------------------
2002 2003 2004
------------ ------------ --------------------------
NT$ NT$ NT$ US$
Diluted EPS
Based on weighted average number of outstanding shares
after giving retroactive effect for the 2003 and 2004
stock dividends
Before income tax
Income (loss) before extraordinary loss and
cumulative effect of change in accounting
principle (1.10) 2.37 4.23 0.13
Extraordinary loss (0.06) (0.10) - -
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle - - (0.03) (0.00)
------------ ------------ ----------- -----------
Net income (loss) (1.16) 2.27 4.20 0.13
============ ============ ============ ===========
After income tax
Income before extraordinary loss and cumulative
effect of change in accounting principle 0.23 3.75 5.34 0.17
Extraordinary loss (0.05) (0.10) - -
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle - - (0.03) (0.00)
------------ ------------ ----------- -----------
Net income 0.18 3.65 5.31 0.17
============ ============ ============ ===========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements. (Concluded)
F-6
ADVANCED SEMICONDUCTOR ENGINEERING, INC. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
(Amounts In Thousands)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Retained Earnings
---------------------------------
Capital Surplus
--------------------------------------------------- Unappropri-
Gain on ated
Capital Treasury Disposal Long- Earnings
Received Capital in Stock of term (Acummu-
Capital in Excess of Trans- Proper- Invest- Legal lated
Stock Advance Par Value action ties ment Total Reserve Losses) Total
New Taiwan Dollars
BALANCE,
JANUARY 1, 2002 32,548,000 - 3,171,933 - 23,109 3,656,472 6,851,514 2,912,716 (1,897,062) 1,015,654
Transfer of ASE Inc.
shares held by
subsidiaries as
treasury stock - - - - - - - - - -
Reversal of prior
years' gain on
disposal of
properties - - - - (23,109) - (23,109) 2,310 20,799 23,109
Legal reserve
offsets against
deficit - - - - - - - (1,876,264) 1,876,264 -
Reversal of
unrealized loss
on long-term
investments in
share of stock - - - - - - - - - -
Adjustment of equity
in subsidiary due
to change in
percentage of
ownership - - - - - 104,474 104,474 - (1,586) (1,586)
Adjustment of equity
in subsidiary due
to reversal of
oprior years' gain
on disposal of
properties - - - - - (7,352) (7,352) - 7,352 7,352
Consolidated net
income in 2002 - - - - - - - - 129,035 129,035
Cumulative
translation
adjustments - - - - - - - - - -
---------- ------- ---------- -------- -------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
BALANCE,
DECEMBER 31, 2002 32,548,000 - 3,171,933 - - 3,753,594 6,925,527 1,038,762 134,802 1,173,564
Appropriations of
2002 earnings
Legal reserve - - - - - - - 12,903 (12,903) -
Compensation to
directors
and supervisors - - - - - - - - (2,280) (2,280)
Bonus to
employees - cash - - - - - - - - (8,000) (8,000)
Stock dividends -
0.3% 97,644 - - - - - - - (97,644) (97,644)
Capital surplus
transfer to
common stock -
9.7% 3,157,156 - (3,157,156) - - - (3,157,156) - - -
Sales of ASE Inc.
shares held
by subsidiaries - - - 220,735 - - 220,735 - - -
Adjustment of equity
in subsidiary due
to change in
percentage of
ownership - - - - - 57,668 57,668 - - -
Adjustment of equity
in subsidiary due
to unrecognized
pension cost - - - - - - - - - -
Consolidated net
income in 2003 - - - - - - - - 2,742,796 2,742,796
Cumulative
translation
adjustments - - - - - - - - - -
---------- ------- ---------- -------- -------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
BALANCE,
DECEMBER 31, 2003 35,802,800 - 14,777 220,735 - 3,811,262 4,046,774 1,051,665 2,756,771 3,808,436
Appropriations of
2003 earnings
Legal reserve - - - - - - - 274,279 (274,279) -
Compensation to
directors
and supervisors - - - - - - - - (49,320) (49,320)
Bonus to
employees - cash - - - - - - - - (18,428) (18,428)
Bonus to
employees - stock 154,272 - - - - - - - (154,272) (154,272)
Stock dividends -
5.7% 2,219,774 - - - - - - - (2,219,774)(2,219,774)
Capital received in
advance from stock
option exercised
by employees - 42,759 - - - - - - - -
Transfer of ASE Inc.
shares held by
subsidiaries as
treasury stock - - - - - - - - -
Evaluation on
derivatives
financial
instruments - loss - - - - - - - - - -
Adjustment of equity
in subsidiary due
to change in
percentage of
ownership - - - - - 15,332 15,332 - - -
Unrealized loss on
long-term
investment - - - - - - - - - -
Issuance of common
stock through
merge 2,823,154 - 3,153,342 - - - 3,153,342 - -
Elimination of
long-term
investment balance
on consolidation - - - - - (242,792) (242,792) - - -
Consolidated net
income in 2004 - - - - - - - - 4,209,690 4,209,690
Adjustment of equity
in subsidiary due
to unrecognized
pension cost - - - - - - - - - -
Cumulative
translation
adjustments - - - - - - - - - -
---------- ------- ---------- -------- -------- --------- --------- ---------- ---------- ----------
BALANCE,
DECEMBER 31, 2004 41,000,000 42,759 3,168,119 220,735 - 3,583,802 6,972,656 1,325,944 4,250,388 5,576,332
========== ======= ========== ======== ======== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
Unrealized
Loss on
Long-term
Investments Cumulative Unrecognized Total
in Shares Translation Pension Treasury Shareholders'
of Stock Adjustments Cost Other Stock Equity
New Taiwan Dollars
BALANCE, JANUARY 1, 2002 (442,246) 1,973,399 - - - 41,946,321
Transfer of ASE Inc. shares held
by subsidiaries as treasury stock - - - - (2,639,826) (2,639,826)
Reversal of prior years' gain on
disposal of properties - - - - - -
Legal reserve offsets against
deficit - - - - - -
Reversal of unrealized loss on
long-term investments in share
of stock 18,626 - - - - 18,626
Adjustment of equity in subsidiary
due to change in percentage of
ownership - - - - - 102,888
Adjustment of equity in subsidiary
due to reversal of prior years'
gain on disposal of properties - - - - - -
Consolidated net income in 2002 - - - - - 129,035
Cumulative translation adjustments - (126,378) - - - (126,378)
---------- ------------ --------- --------- ------------ -------------
BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 2002 (423,620) 1,847,021 - - (2,639,826) 39,430,666
Appropriations of 2002 earnings
Legal reserve - - - - - -
Compensation to directors and
supervisors - - - - - (2,280)
Bonus to employees - cash - - - - - (8,000)
Stock dividends - 0.3% - - - - - -
Capital surplus transfer to
common stock - 9.7% - - - - - -
Sales of ASE Inc. shares held by
subsidiaries 354,787 - - - 2,629,789 3,205,311
Adjustment of equity in subsidiary
due to change in percentage of
ownership - - - - - 57,668
Adjustment of equity in subsidiary
due to unrecognized pension cost - - (16,137) - - (16,137)
Consolidated net income in 2003 - - - - - 2,742,796
Cumulative translation adjustments - (287,422) - - - (287,422)
---------- ------------ --------- --------- ------------ -------------
BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 2003 (68,833) 1,559,599 (16,137) - (10,037) 45,122,602
Appropriations of 2003 earnings
Legal reserve - - - - - -
Compensation to directors and
supervisors - - - - - (49,320)
Bonus to employees - cash - - - - - (18,428)
Bonus to employees - stock - - - - - -
Stock dividends - 5.7% - - - - - -
Capital received in advance from
stock option exercised by employees - - - - - 42,759
Transfer of ASE Inc. shares held
by subsidiaries as treasury stock - - - (2,798,399) (2,798,399)
Evaluation on derivatives financial
instruments - loss - - - (36,607) - (36,607)
Adjustment of equity in subsidiary
due to change in percentage of
ownership - - - - - 15,332
Unrealized loss on long-term investme (1,781) - - - - (1,781)
Issuance of common stock through merg - - - - - 5,976,496
Elimination of long-term investment
balance on consolidation - - - - - (242,792)
Consolidated net income in 2004 - - - - - 4,209,690
Adjustment of equity in subsidiary
due to unrecognized pension cost - - 11,427 - - 11,427
Cumulative translation adjustments - (919,220) - - - (919,220)
---------- ------------ --------- --------- ------------ -------------
BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 2004 (70,614) 640,379 (4,710) (36,607) (2,808,436) 51,311,759
========== ============ ========= ========= ============ =============
(Continued)
F-7
ADVANCED SEMICONDUCTOR ENGINEERING, INC. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
(Amounts In Thousands)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Retained Earnings
---------------------------------
Capital Surplus
--------------------------------------------------- Unappropri-
Gain on ated
Capital Treasury Disposal Long- Earnings
Received Capital in Stock of term (Acummu-
Capital in Excess of Trans- Proper- Invest- Legal lated
Stock Advance Par Value action ties ment Total Reserve Losses) Total
New Taiwan Dollars
U.S. Dollars
BALANCE,
JANUARY 1, 2004 1,128,003 - 466 6,954 - 120,077 127,497 33,134 86,854 119,988
Appropriations of
2003 earnings
Legal reserve - - - - - - - 8,641 (8,641) -
Compensation to
directors and
supervisors - - - - - - - - (1,554) (1,554)
Bonus to
employees
- cash - - - - - - - - (581) (581)
Bonus to
employees
- stock 4,860 - - - - - - - (4,860) (4,860)
Stock
dividends -
5.7% 69,936 - - - - - - - (69,936) (69,936)
Capital received in
advance from
stock option
exercised
by employees - 1,347 - - - - - - - -
Transfer of ASE Inc.
shares held by
subsidiaries
as treasury stock - - - - - - - - - -
Evaluation on
derivative
financial
instruments
- loss - - - - - - - - - -
Adjustment of
equity in
subsidiary due to
change in
percentage of
ownership - - - - - 483 483 - - -
Unrealized loss on
long-term
investment - - - - - - - - - -
Issuance of
common stock
through merger 88,946 - 99,349 - - - 99,349 - - -
Elimination of
long-term
investment
balance on
consolidation - - - - - (7,649) (7,649) - - -
Consolidated net
income
in 2004 - - - - - - - - 132,630 132,630
Adjustment of
equity in
subsidiary due to
unrecognized loss
on pension cost - - - - - - - - - -
Cumulative
translation
adjustments - - - - - - - - - -
--------- -------- -------- -------- -------- ------- ------- -------- --------- ---------
BALANCE,
DECEMBER 31, 2004 1,291,745 1,347 99,815 6,954 - 112,911 219,680 41,775 133,912 175,687
========= ========= ======== ======== ======== ======= ======= ======== ======== =========
Unrealized
Loss
Long-term
Investments Cumulative Unrecognized Total
in Shares Translation Pension Treasury Shareholders'
of Stock Adjustments Cost Other Stock Equity
New Taiwan Dollars
U.S. Dollars
BALANCE, JANUARY 1, 2004 (2,169) 49,137 (508) - (316) 1,421,632
Appropriations of 2003
earnings
Legal reserve - - - - - -
Compensation to directors
and supervisors - - - - - (1,554)
Bonus to employees - cash - - - - - (581)
Bonus to employees - stock - - - - - -
Stock dividends - 5.7% - - - - - -
Capital received in advance
from stock option exercised
by employees - - - - - 1,347
Transfer of ASE Inc. shares
held by subsidiaries as
treasury stock - - - (88,165) (88,165)
Evaluation on derivative
financial instruments -
loss - - - (1,153) - (1,153)
Adjustment of equity in
subsidiary due to change in
percentage of ownership - - - - - 483
Unrealized loss on long-term
investment (56) - - - - (56)
Issuance of common stock
through merger - - - - - 188,295
Elimination of long-term
investment balance on
consolidation - - - - - (7,649)
Consolidated net income in -
2004 - - - - - 132,630
Adjustment of equity in
subsidiary due to
unrecognized loss on
pension cost - - 360 - - 360
Cumulative translation
adjustments - (28,961) - - - (28,961)
-------- ---------- --------- -------- ---------- -----------
BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 2004 (2,225) 20,176 (148) (1,153) (88,481) 1,616,628
======== ========== ========= ======== ========== ===========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statement (Concluded)
F-8
ADVANCED SEMICONDUCTOR ENGINEERING, INC. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Amounts In Thousands)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Year Ended December 31
-------------------------------------------------------
2002 2003 2004
------------ ------------ ------------------------
NT$ NT$ NT$ US$
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income 129,035 2,742,796 4,209,690 132,630
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by
operating activities:
Minority interest in net income (loss) of subsidiaries (1,733,029) (52,586) 691,608 21,790
Depreciation 11,841,331 12,210,910 13,898,098 437,873
Amortization 444,995 555,658 888,174 27,983
Investment loss under equity method 410,348 240,656 394,995 12,445
Impairment of goodwill - - 1,950,097 61,440
Other investment loss - - 512,000 16,131
Accrued interest on foreign convertible bonds 576,437 358,286 255,172 8,039
Exchange gain on:
Long-term foreign bonds payable (69,321) (110,655) (425,822) (13,416)
Long-term foreign investment payable (34,926) (62,747) - -
Provision for doubtful accounts and sales allowance 85,823 207,018 151,358 4,769
Gain on sale of investments (101,314) (618,857) (57,140) (1,800)
Allowance for inventory valuation - 240,844 75,842 2,389
Loss on early redemption of foreign convertible bonds 46,151 75,668 - -
Loss from sale of treasury stock - 354,787 - -
Reversal of accrued interest from long-term investment
payable (145,238) - - -
Impairment loss of long-lived assets 1,225,555 - - -
Loss on disposal of properties 15,668 62,792 83,826 2,641
Loss on assets to be disposed of 78,120 176,841 96,138 3,029
Amortization of goodwill 815,573 819,253 877,582 27,649
Loss (gain) on derivative financial instruments - (3,140) 308,138 9,708
Deferred income taxes (1,130,358) (1,190,500) (1,660,695) (52,322)
Accrued pension cost 122,233 479,809 372,580 11,739
Effect of exchange rate changes 65,858 211,640 506,025 15,943
Other - - 71,594 2,255
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Notes receivable (7,482) 1,071 21,984 692
Accounts receivable (1,950,738) (4,119,274) (696,501) (21,943)
Other receivable - (76,165) (492,059) (15,503)
Inventories (363,216) (1,800,963) (4,691,419) (147,808)
Prepayments and other current assets (231,154) 160,329 (469,247) (14,784)
Notes and accounts payable 1,078,392 2,441,818 1,485,391 46,799
Income tax payable (72,165) 45,393 62,727 1,976
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 217,222 (44,449) 1,066,867 33,613
------------ ------------ ------------ -----------
Net cash provided by operating activities 11,313,800 13,306,233 19,487,003 613,957
------------ ------------ ------------ -----------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Acquisition of properties (12,657,920) (17,534,057) (28,523,467) (898,660)
Decrease (increase) in short-term investments 2,112,050 (371,561) (126,277) (3,978)
Decrease (increase) in pledged time deposits (287,794) 261,317 41,827 1,318
Payments for long-term stock investments (49,716) (138,019) (61,713) (1,944)
Increase in other assets (831,279) (1,125,361) (2,006,620) (63,222)
Proceeds from sales of:
Properties 77,142 250,535 628,508 19,802
Others - 105,536 505,546 15,928
Purchase of ASE Japan Co., Ltd. shares - - (830,678) (26,171)
Purchase of ASE (U.S.) Inc. shares - - (112,824) (3,555)
Purchase of ASE Material Inc. shares (10,000) (20,976) - -
Purchase of ASE Test Limited shares (317,004) - (339,644) (10,701)
Purchase of ISE Labs, Inc. shares (1,755,133) - - -
------------ ------------ ------------ -----------
Net cash used in investing activities (13,719,654) (18,572,586) (30,825,342) (971,183)
------------ ------------ ------------ -----------
(Continued)
F-9
Year Ended December 31
-------------------------------------------------------
2002 2003 2004
------------ ------------ ------------------------
NT$ NT$ NT$ US$
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from (repayments of):
The issuance of foreign convertible bonds - 6,684,882 - -
The issuance of domestic secured bonds - - 2,733,112 86,109
Long-term debts 1,161,489 (102,881) 5,997,199 188,948
Investment payable (249,250) (954,411) (2,309,960) (72,778)
Commercial papers and bank acceptances payable (1,739,263) (629,086) (167,149) (5,266)
Proceeds from sales of ASE Inc. shares - 2,850,524 - -
Proceeds from short-term borrowings 2,375,322 1,161,183 2,695,984 84,940
Early redemption of foreign convertible bonds (1,674,053) (4,908,389) - -
Increase in minority interest 656,246 119,368 242,059 7,626
Compensation to directors and supervisors and bonus to
employees - (10,280) (67,748) (2,134)
Capital received in advance - - 42,759 1,347
------------ ------------ ------------ -----------
Net cash provided by financing activities 530,491 4,210,910 9,166,256 288,792
------------ ------------ ------------ -----------
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES (65,858) (211,640) (415,239) (13,082)
------------ ------------ ------------ -----------
NET DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS (1,941,221) (1,267,083) (2,587,322) (81,516)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF YEAR 11,770,729 9,829,508 8,562,425 269,768
------------ ------------ ------------ -----------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF YEAR 9,829,508 8,562,425 5,975,103 188,252
============ ============ ============ ===========
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Interest paid (excluding capitalized interest) 1,248,726 1,120,215 951,281 29,971
Income tax paid 88,884 57,633 113,882 3,588
Cash paid for acquisition of properties
Acquisition of properties 15,749,807 17,234,324 30,588,311 963,715
Decrease (increase) in payable (2,566,359) 102,488 (1,961,788) (61,808)
Decrease (increase) in obligation under capital leases (525,528) 197,245 (103,056) (3,247)
------------ ------------ ------------ -----------
12,657,920 17,534,057 28,523,467 898,660
============ ============ ============ ===========
Cash received from issuance of foreign convertible bonds
Proceeds - 6,818,000 - -
Issuance expense - (119,315) - -
Increase in payable - (13,803) - -
------------ ------------ ------------ -----------
Net cash inflow - 6,684,882 - -
============ ============ ============ ===========
Cash received from issuance of domestic secured bonds
Proceeds - - 2,750,000 86,641
Issuance expense - - (16,888) (532)
------------ ------------ ------------ -----------
Net cash inflow - - 2,733,112 86,109
============ ============ ============ ===========
Cash paid for redemption of foreign convertible bonds
Redemption price for foreign convertible bonds 3,242,110 4,908,389 - -
Cash paid from sinking fund (1,568,057) - - -
------------ ------------ ------------ -----------
1,674,053 4,908,389 - -
============ ============ ============ ===========
Total assets acquired from acquisition of ASE Japan Co., Ltd. - - 2,162,468 68,130
Less: Liabilities assumed - - (1,310,428) (41,286)
------------ ------------ ------------ -----------
Cash paid - - 852,040 26,844
Less: Cash received at the date of acquisition - - (21,362) (673)
------------ ------------ ------------ -----------
Net cash outflow - - 830,678 26,171
============ ============ ============ ===========
Total assets acquired from acquisition of ASE (U.S.) Inc. - - 171,999 5,419
Less: Liabilities assumed - - (16,240) (512)
------------ ------------ ------------ -----------
Cash paid - - 155,759 4,907
Less: Cash received at the date of acquisition - - (42,935) (1,352)
------------ ------------ ------------- ------------
Net cash outflow - - 112,824 3,555
============ ============ ============ ===========
(Continued)
F-10
Year Ended December 31
-------------------------------------------------------
2002 2003 2004
------------ ------------ ------------------------
NT$ NT$ NT$ US$
NON-CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING AND FINANCING
ACTIVITIES
Reclassification of the ASE Inc. shares held by consolidated
subsidiaries from long-term investment to treasury
stock 2,639,826 - 2,798,399 88,165
Reversal of treasury stock due to sale of ASE Inc.'s shares
held by consolidated subsidiaries - 1,405,632 - -
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements. (Concluded)
F-11
ADVANCED SEMICONDUCTOR ENGINEERING, INC. AND ITS
SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2002, 2003 AND 2004
(Amounts in Thousands, Except Share Data and Unless Otherwise Stated)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. HISTORY AND ORGANIZATION
Overview
Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc. (the "Company"), a corporation
incorporated under the laws of Republic of China (the "ROC"), is an
independent provider of semiconductor packaging and testing services and is
engaged in design and production of leadframes and substrates in the
packaging of semiconductors. The Company's common shares are traded on the
Taiwan Stock Exchange under the symbol "2311". Since September 2000, the
Company's common shares in the form of American depositary shares ("ADS")
have been traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "ASX". The
Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and affiliates are together
referred to as the "ASE Group".
On July 1, 2003, ASE Investment Inc. and ASE Capital Inc. were merged with
and into the Company. On October 28, 2003, the Board of Directors of the
Company passed a resolution whereby ASE (Chung Li) Inc. ("ASE Chung Li")
and ASE Material Inc. ("ASE Material") would be merged into the Company.
The Company issued 282,315 thousand shares, in connection with the merger
at exchange ratios of 0.85 of the Company's share for one ASE Chung Li
share and 0.5 of the Company's share for one ASE Material share. Upon
completion of the merger, all of the assets and liabilities of ASE Chung Li
and ASE Material were assumed by the Company. The merger was effective on
August 1, 2004.
As of December 31, 2003 and 2004, the Company and its subsidiaries had
24,443 and 34,649 employees, respectively.
Set forth is a brief overview of the Company's organizational structure and
its respective equity stake in its consolidated subsidiaries.
The Company has six wholly-owned subsidiaries:
a. ASE Holding Limited (incorporated in Bermuda in April 1990), which
holds shares in ASE Group companies;
b. ASE Marketing Services Ltd. (incorporated in Hong Kong in February
1991), which engages in trading;
c. J&R Holding Limited (incorporated in Bermuda in May 1996), which
holds shares in ASE Group companies;
d. ASE Marketing & Service Japan Co., Ltd. (incorporated in Japan in
December 2003), which engages in marketing and provides sales
services relating to packaging and testing.
e. Omniquest Industrial Ltd. (ASE Chung Li's wholly-owned subsidiary,
incorporated in the British Virgin Islands in June 2001, which holds
shares in ASE (Shanghai) Inc. On August 1, 2004, when ASE Chung Li
was merged with and into the Company, the Company assumed the
investment in Omniquest), which holds shares in ASE Group companies;
and
f. Innosource Limited (incorporated in the British Virgin Islands in
August 2004, which holds shares in ASE (Kun Shan) Inc.), which holds
shares in ASE Group companies.
F-12
As of December 31, 2004, the Company also held:
a. 99.5% equity stake in ASE Technologies, Inc. (incorporated in the ROC
in June 1991), which is engaged in the research and development,
manufacture and sales of computers and related accessories;
b. 90.0% equity stake in ASE Network Inc. (incorporated in the ROC in
January 2000), which has a 1.13% equity stake in Taiwan Fixed Network
Co., Ltd.; and
c. 60.0% equity stake in ASE-Compeq Technologies, Inc. (incorporated in
the ROC in February 2004), which is engaged in the manufacture and
sale of electronic components.
ASE Holding Limited has the following wholly-owned or majority-owned
subsidiaries:
a. ASEP Realty Corporation (incorporated in the Philippines in December
1995), which holds real estate of ASE Holding Electronics
(Philippines);
b. ASE Holding Electronics (Philippines) Incorporated (incorporated in
the Philippines in December 1995), which manufactures electronic
products, components and semiconductors. However, the board of ASE
Holding Electronics (Philippines) Incorporated decided to close the
facilities and discontinued operation in December 2003; and
c. 70.0% equity stake in ASE Investment (Labuan) Inc. (incorporated in
Malaysia in June 1999), which holds shares of ASE Korea Inc. In
addition, ASE Test Limited has a 30.0% equity stake in ASE Investment
(Labuan) Inc.
A portion of the share capital of the Company's subsidiaries incorporated
in Philippines is held by certain Filipino individuals, on behalf of the
Company, in order to comply with certain legal requirements.
J&R Holding Limited has five subsidiaries:
a. 100.0% equity stake of J&R Industrial Inc. (incorporated in the ROC
in April 1999), which is mainly engaged in the leasing of substrate,
packaging and testing equipment, to consolidated subsidiaries of the
Company;
b. 100.0% equity stake of Grand Innovation Co., Ltd. (incorporated in
the British Virgin Islands in March 2001), which holds convertible
preferred stock of Integrated Programmable Communication, Inc. that
represents a 6.1% equity interest;
c. 100% equity stake of ASE Japan Co., Ltd. (incorporated in the Japan
in May 2004), which is engaged in the packaging and testing of
semiconductors;
d. 100% equity stake of ASE (U.S.) Inc. (incorporated in the USA in July
2002), which is engaged in marketing and provides sales services
relating to packaging and testing; and
e. 39.8% equity stake of ASE Test Limited ("ASE Test") (incorporated in
Singapore in May 1996), which holds shares in ASE Group companies.
In addition, as of December 31, 2004, ASE Holding Limited held an 11.1%
equity stake in ASE Test. The shares of ASE Test have been listed on the
NASDAQ National Market in the United States since June 1996.
ASE Test has one 99.99%-owned and three wholly-owned subsidiaries:
a. ASE Test, Inc. (incorporated in the ROC in December 1987 and
99.99%-owned by ASE Test), which is
engaged in the testing of semiconductors;
F-13
b. ASE Holding (Singapore) Pte Ltd (incorporated in Singapore in
December 1994), which holds shares in ASE Group companies;
c. ASE Test Holdings, Limited ("ASE Test Holdings") (incorporated in
Cayman Islands in April 1999), which mainly holds shares in ASE Group
companies; and
d. ASE Test Finance Limited ("ASE Test Finance") (incorporation in
Mauritius in June 1999), which is engaged in financing activities.
ASE Test, Inc. has a wholly-owned subsidiary, ASE Test (USA) Inc.
(incorporated in the United States in October 1995), which was dissolved
in 2003.
ASE Holding (Singapore) Pte Ltd has a wholly-owned subsidiary, ASE
Electronics (M) Sdn., Bhd. ("ASE Test Malaysia") (incorporated in Malaysia
in February 1991), which is engaged in the packaging and testing of
semiconductors.
ASE Test Holdings has a wholly-owned subsidiary, ISE Labs, Inc. ("ISE
Labs"). Incorporated in California, U.S.A. in November 1983, ISE Labs and
its wholly-owned subsidiaries, ISE Labs Hong Kong Limited, ASE Singapore
Pte Ltd, ISE Technology, Inc. and Digital Testing Services Inc. are engaged
in the front-end engineering testing and final testing of semiconductors.
ASE Investment (Labuan) Inc. has a wholly-owned subsidiary, ASE Korea Inc.
("ASE Korea") (incorporated in the Republic of Korea in 1999), which is
engaged in the packaging and testing of semiconductors.
2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the ROC ("ROC
GAAP"). Significant accounting policies are summarized as follows:
Basis of Presentation
The Company prepares its consolidated financial statements in accordance
with ROC GAAP and prepares a reconciliation to generally accepted
accounting principles in the United States ("U.S. GAAP") (see Note 29). The
accompanying consolidated balance sheets are presented as of December 31,
2003 and 2004, and the accompanying consolidated statements of income,
changes in shareholders' equity and cash flows are presented for each of
the three years ended December 31, 2002, 2003 and 2004.
Unless otherwise stated and except for share and per share information,
amounts presented are in thousands of New Taiwan dollars (NT$).
Basis of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company
and all of the aforementioned subsidiaries.
All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated and
minority shareholders' interests in the equity and earnings of the
subsidiaries are presented separately in the consolidated financial
statements. The differences between the costs of investments and the
proportionate equity in each subsidiary when the stocks were acquired are
recorded as goodwill and are amortized over ten years.
F-14
Use of Estimates
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with ROC
GAAP requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the
recorded amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of the
Company. The Company continually evaluates these estimates, including those
related to allowances for doubtful accounts and sales allowances,
inventories, useful lives of properties, long-term investment, goodwill,
income tax valuation allowances, pension plans and the fair value of
financial instruments. The Company bases its estimates on historical
experience and other assumptions, which it believes to be reasonable under
the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates under
different assumptions and conditions.
Current and Non-current Assets and Liabilities
Current assets include cash or cash equivalents and other assets that are
reasonably expected to be realized in cash, or to be consumed within one
year from the balance sheet date. All other assets are classified as
non-current assets.
Current liabilities are liabilities which are reasonably expected to be
liquidated within one year. All other liabilities are classified as
non-current.
Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid investments within an original
maturity from date of purchase of three months or less to be cash
equivalents.
Short-term Investments
Short-term investments are carried at cost less allowance for a decline in
market value, if any.
Sales of Accounts Receivable
The following three conditions must be met before sales of accounts
receivable are recorded:
a. the accounts receivable have been legally isolated from the Company
and its creditors;
b. the transferees have obtained the right to pledge or exchange
accounts receivable, either the transferred accounts receivable or
beneficial interest in the transferred assets; and
c. the transferor does not maintain effective control over the
transferred accounts receivable through an agreement to repurchase or
redeem them prior to maturity.
If the three conditions are met, the difference between the proceeds and
the face value of the accounts receivable is recognized as a loss on the
sales of accounts receivable.
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
Allowance for doubtful accounts is provided based on an analysis of the
aging of accounts and an evaluation of the collectibility of receivables.
The total amount of the provision is determined based on the identification
of customers that the Company determines to have a higher credit risk based
on overdue accounts, past collection difficulties or their overall
financial condition. An estimation is made based on the extent to which the
customer will be able to meet its financial obligations to the Company and
a provision is recorded to reduce the accounts receivable balance to the
amount the Company reasonably believes will be collected. For all other
customers, an allowance is equal to a percentage of the aggregate accounts
receivable based on history of collection. An allowance for these other
customers ranges between 3% and 4%, on a consolidated basis, of the
Company's
F-15
accounts receivable.
Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of the weighted average cost or market
value. Unbilled processing charges incurred are included in finished goods
and work in process and are stated at actual cost. Market value represents
net realizable value for finished goods and work in process, and
replacement costs for raw materials, supplies and spare parts.
Materials received from customers for processing, mainly semiconductor
wafers, are excluded from inventories as title and risk of loss remains
with the customers.
At the start of 2004, the Company elected to change its method of
accounting for the costs of raw materials and supplies from the
weighted-average method to the moving-average method, as the Company
believes this provides a more precise measurement of the costs (Note 3).
Long-term Investments in Shares of Stock
Long-term investments of which the Company owns at least 20% of the
outstanding voting shares and where the Company exercises significant
influence over the investee company's operations are accounted for by the
equity method. Under the equity method, the investments are initially
carried at cost and subsequently adjusted for the Company's proportionate
share in the net earnings or losses of the investee companies. Such
proportionate share in the earnings or losses are recognized as investment
income or losses while any cash dividends declared are reflected as a
reduction in the carrying value of the investments. If an investor's share
of the investee's losses exceeds the carrying amount of the investment, it
is appropriate for the investor to continue to recognize investment loss by
the investor's proportionate share and record a corresponding liability if
the Company has an obligation to provide further financial support or if
the investee's losses are considered temporary and a return to profitable
operations appears to be assured. The goodwill representing the excess of
the investment cost over the Company's proportionate equity in the fair
value of the net assets of the investees at the time of investments or at
the time the equity method of accounting is first applied to a particular
investment, is amortized on the straight-line method over ten years.
Changes in the Company's ownership percentage of investees under the equity
method are accounted for as adjustments to long-term investments and a
corresponding adjustment to the capital surplus account.
Unrealized profits or losses arising from transactions with equity
investees or between equity investees are offset against investment income
or loss from long-term investments, based on percentage of ownership.
When an impairment loss is determined to have occurred, the long-term
investment recoverable amount is less than the carrying amount, and such
loss in value is recorded as a nonoperating loss.
Other investments over which the Company does not have significant
influence are accounted for by the cost method.
Properties
Properties, except for leased equipment, are stated at cost. Equipment held
under capital leases are recorded as an asset and an obligation at an
amount equal to the lower of: (i) the present value at the beginning of the
lease term of the minimum lease payments during the lease term (including
the payment called for under any bargain purchase option); or (ii) fair
value of the leased equipment at the inception of the lease. Machinery in
transit, construction in progress and prepayments under construction are
stated at cost. These include the cost of machinery, construction costs,
down payments and other direct costs plus interest charges attributable to
the borrowings used to finance the acquisitions of these assets. Major
renewals and improvements are capitalized, while maintenance and repairs
are expensed as incurred.
Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over estimated
service lives which range as
F-16
follows: long-term land leasehold rights, 53 to 60 years (lease period);
buildings and improvements, 3 to 55 years; machinery and equipment, 3 to 8
years; furniture and fixtures, 2 to 15 years; transportation equipment, 3
to 8 years; and leased assets and leasehold improvements, 3 to 5 years. In
the event that an asset which has been depreciated to its residual value
is deemed to have a further useful life, the residual value is depreciated
over its reestimated service life.
The Company reviews properties for impairment and determines whether an
event or change in facts and circumstances indicated that their carrying
amount may not be recoverable. Recoverable amount is measured as the higher
of net selling price and value in use. Upon recording of the impairment
loss, the adjusted carrying amount of the assets becomes its new cost
basis, which is depreciated or amortized over the remaining useful life of
the assets. Impairment losses on properties are recorded as a non-operating
expense.
When properties are retired or disposed of, their costs and accumulated
depreciation are removed from the accounts and any gain or loss is credited
or charged to income.
Deferred Charges
Deferred charges are amortized as follows: tools, 2 years; license fees, 2
years; telecommunications, electrical, computer network systems, 5 years;
bond issuance costs, 4 years; and others, 2 to 5 years.
Goodwill
Goodwill, as shown in the balance sheet, represents an amount arising from
acquisitions or investments in the consolidated subsidiaries and is
amortized over 10 years.
If the carrying amount of goodwill is determined to exceed its recoverable
amount, an impairment loss is recognized at an amount equal to that excess.
Reversal of a previously recognized goodwill impairment loss is prohibited.
Pension Cost
Pension cost is recorded based on actuarial calculations (Note 17).
Provisions for pension costs are accrued based on actuarially determined
amounts which include service costs, interest, amortization of unrecognized
net obligation and expected return on pension assets.
An additional accrued pension cost must be recognized if the accumulated
benefit obligation exceeds the fair value of plan assets. The debit is
either to an asset-deferred pension cost or to a contra account of
shareholders' equity entitled unrecognized pension cost. If the debit is
less than unamortized balances of transition obligation, it is reported as
an intangible asset. If the debit is greater than unamortized balances of
transition obligation, the excess debit is reported as a contra account to
shareholders' equity.
Convertible Bonds
Conversion of convertible bonds into common shares is accounted for by the
book value method. Under this method, unamortized bond issuance costs and
accrued interest which is no longer payable, together with the carrying
amount of converted bonds are written off, and the common shares issued are
recorded at their par value, and any excess is recorded as capital surplus.
F-17
Stock Option Compensation
All stock-based compensation for awards granted or modified after January
1, 2004 should be accounted for in conformity with the related
Interpretations of the Accounting Research and Development Foundation
(ARDF) in the ROC. The compensation cost is measured based on the intrinsic
value method and accordingly, compensation cost for stock options is
measured as the excess, if any, of the quoted market price of the Company's
stock at the date of the grant over the amount an employee must pay to
acquire the stock. The intrinsic value of the shares is recognized as
expense over the requisite service or vesting period.
Treasury Stock
The Company's shares held by its subsidiaries are accounted for as treasury
stock and, accordingly, the cost of such shares are reclassified from
long-term investments to treasury stock on consolidation.
Shipping and Handling Costs
Shipping and handling costs for goods sold are recorded as selling expense.
Revenue Recognition
Revenues from semiconductor packaging services that the Company provides
are recognized upon shipment. Revenues from semiconductor testing services
that the Company provides are recognized upon completion of the services.
The Company does not take ownership of: (i) bare semiconductor wafers
received from customers that the Company packages into finished
semiconductors and (ii) packaged semiconductors received from customers
that the Company tests as to whether they meet certain performance
specifications. The title and risk of loss remains with the customer for
those bare semiconductors and/or packaged semiconductors. Accordingly, the
cost of customer-supplied semiconductor materials is not included in the
accompanying consolidated financial statements. Other criteria that the
Company uses to determine when to recognize revenue are: (i) existence of
persuasive evidence of the services provided, (ii) the selling price is
fixed or determinable and (iii) collectibility is reasonably assured. The
Company does not provide warranties to its customers except in the case
where a defect in the packaging services provided or deficiencies in
testing services provided has occured. An appropriate sales allowance,
based on historical experience, is recognized in the period of the sale.
Income Tax
Tax effects of deductible temporary differences, unused tax credits and
operating loss carryforwards are recognized as deferred income tax assets,
and taxable temporary differences are recognized as deferred income tax
liabilities. A valuation allowance is provided for deferred income tax
assets based on their estimated realizability.
Tax credits of the Company from investments in machinery and equipment,
research and development and employees' training costs are recognized in
the year in which they are acquired and expended.
Adjustments of prior years' income tax are added to or deducted from the
current year's tax provision.
Income taxes on undistributed earnings (10%) as determined by tax authority
generated in 1998 and onwards for consolidated entities in the ROC are
recorded as expense in the following year when the shareholders have
resolved that the earnings shall be retained.
Foreign Currency Transactions and Translation of Foreign-currency
Financial Statements
The Company and its subsidiaries maintain their accounts in the currency of
their respective countries of incorporation (local currencies) and
functional currencies.
F-18
Foreign currency transactions, other than foreign currency forward exchange
contracts, are recorded in the local currencies at the rates of exchange in
effect when the transactions occur.
Gains or losses resulting from the application of different foreign
exchange rates when foreign-currency assets and liabilities are settled,
are credited or charged to income in the year of settlement. Year-end
balances of foreign currency assets and liabilities are restated based on
prevailing exchange rates and the resulting differences are credited or
charged to income.
The financial statements of the foreign subsidiaries are translated into
N.T. dollars at the following rates: assets and liabilities, current rate;
and income and expenses, average exchange rate during the year. The net
resulting translation adjustment is reported as a separate component of
shareholders' equity.
Derivative Financial Instruments
a. Forward exchange contracts
Forward exchange contracts, which the company enters into as an
economic hedge of foreign-currency denominated assets or liabilities,
are initially recorded in New Taiwan dollars at the spot rates on the
date of each forward contract. The differences between spot rates and
forward rates are amortized over the period of each forward contract
and recognized as gains or losses. On the balance sheet date,
balances of forward exchange contracts are restated at the prevailing
exchange rates and the resulting adjustments are credited or charged
to income. Any resulting gain or loss upon settlement is credited or
charged to income in the year of settlement.
For outstanding forward contracts as of the balance sheet date, the
related receivables and payables are netted out, and the resulting
balance is presented as a current asset or liability.
b. Option contracts
The premiums received, if any, from sale of option contracts entered
into for hedging purposes are recorded as income. The premiums paid,
if any, for purchase of option contracts entered into for hedging
purposes are recorded as expenses. Gains or losses upon settlement
are credited or charged to income. At period-end, outstanding written
option contracts and cross-currency swap contracts are marked to
market, and the resulting gains or losses are recorded to income and
the offset is recognized as an asset or liability, as appropriate,
with the exception of options entered into as a cash flow hedge,
which the Company has deemed to be effective. Any gain or loss
calculated on cash flow hedges as of the balance sheet date are
initially recorded as a separate component of shareholders' equity
and subsequently reclassified into earnings in the same period or
periods during which the hedged forecasted transaction affects
earnings.
c. Interest rate swap contracts
Interest rate swap contracts entered into to limit the impact of
interest rate fluctuations on certain long-term debt are not recorded
as assets or liabilities on the contract date. The difference between
fixed and variable rates to be paid or received on swaps is accrued
as an interest rate change based on the contracts and is included in
current interest income or expense.
d. Cross-currency swap contracts
The Company enters into cross-currency swap contracts in order to
manage their exposure to exchange rate fluctuations on
foreign-currency denominated assets and liabilities. The principal
amount is recorded at spot rates on the contract date. The difference
in interest between the contract starting date rate and the rate on
each settlement date or the balance sheet date is recorded as an
adjustment to the interest income or expense associated with the
hedged items. The differences in the New Taiwan dollar amounts
translated using the spot rates on the contract starting date and the
amounts translated using the contracted forward rate are amortized
over the terms of the contracts using the straight-line
F-19
method.
At the end of each year, the receivables or payables arising from
outstanding cross-currency swap contracts are restated at prevailing
spot rates and the difference is charged to income. In addition, the
receivables and payables under the contracts are presented on a net
basis as either an asset or a liability.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In December 2003, the ROC ARDF issued SFAS No. 34 "Accounting for Financial
Instruments", which will be required to be applied by the Company from
January 1, 2006. SFAS No. 34 will require the Company to classify all
financial instruments, excluding limited financial instruments specified by
SFAS No. 34, as either trading, available-for-sale or held-to-maturity.
Debt securities that the Company has the positive intent and ability to
hold to maturity are classified as held-to-maturity securities and reported
at amortized cost. Debt and equity securities that are bought and traded
for short-term profit are classified as trading securities and reported at
fair value, with unrealized gains and losses charged to earnings in the
current period. Debt and equity securities not classified as either
held-to-maturity or trading are classified as available-for-sale securities
and reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses excluded from
earnings and reported as a separate component of shareholders' equity.
Additionally, SFAS No. 34 will require the Company to recognize all
derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value. Derivatives that are not
hedges must be adjusted to fair value through income. If the derivative is
designated as a hedge, depending on the nature of the hedge, changes in the
fair value of the derivatives will either be offset against the change in
fair value of the hedged assets, liabilities or firm commitments through
earnings, or recognized in a separate component of shareholders' equity
until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. The change in a
derivative's fair value attributable to the ineffective portion of a hedge,
if any, will be immediately recognized in earnings.
In December 2004, ARDF revised SFAS No. 7 "Consolidated Financial
Statements", which will be adopted by the Company on January 1, 2005.
Revised SFAS No. 7 will require the Company to consolidate all investees
under the control of the Company. Control is not only presumed to exist
when a company holds more than half of the voting interests or rights in an
investee but may be deemed to exist if certain criteria established by
revised SFAS No.7 are met.
U.S. Dollar Amounts
The Company prepares its consolidated financial statements in New Taiwan
dollars. A translation of the 2004 financial statements into U.S. dollars
is included solely for the convenience of the reader, and has been based on
the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank of New York noon buying rate of NT$31.74 to
US$1.00 in effect at December 31, 2004. The convenience translations should
not be construed as representations that the New Taiwan dollar amounts have
been, could have been, or could in the future be, converted into U.S.
dollars at this or any other rate of exchange.
3. CHANGE IN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLE
The Company introduced enterprise resource planning (ERP) as part of its
strategy to enhance operations to enhance its competitiveness as well as
strengthen internal management and integrate resources. Thus, at the start
of 2004, the Company decided to change its method for pricing raw materials
and supplies from the weighted-average method to the moving-average method.
The cumulative effect of this accounting change resulted in a decrease of
the 2004 net income by NT$26,844 thousand and in earnings per share by
$0.01. The pro forma effects of this change in accounting principle on the
2002 and 2003 net income were immaterial.
On December 31, 2004, the Company adopted ROC SFAS No. 35. The adoption of
ROC SFAS No. 35 resulted in the decrease in the balance of long-term
investment and goodwill by NT$512,000 thousand (US$16,131 thousand) and
NT$1,950,097 thousand (US$61,440 thousand), respectively.
F-20
4. CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
December 31
--------------------------------------------------
2003 2004
--------------- --------------------------------
NT$ NT$ US$
Cash on hand 3,255 7,234 228
Checking accounts and current deposit 5,467,730 5,295,088 166,827
Time deposits 2,813,006 471,461 14,854
Cash equivalents 92,727 201,001 6,333
Cash in transit 185,707 319 10
--------------- --------------- --------------
8,562,425 5,975,103 188,252
=============== =============== ==============
As of December 31, 2004, foreign deposits consisted of the following:
NT$
USA (U.S. dollars $12,249 thousand) 390,940
Hong Kong (U.S. dollars $53,431 thousand) 1,705,366
Malaysia (Malaysia Ringgits $59,763 thousand) 501,963
Singapore (Singapore dollars $1,348 thousand and U.S. dollars $5,204 thousand) 192,457
Japan (Japanese yen $457,261 thousand) 140,973
China-Shanghai (U.S. dollars $2,963 thousand and China Yuan Renminbi
$13,014 thousand) 144,772
Korea (U.S. dollars $96 thousand and Korea Won $12,263 thousand) 3,465
--------------
3,079,936
==============
5. SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS
December 31
--------------------------------------------------
2003 2004
--------------- --------------------------------
NT$ NT$ US$
Mutual funds 3,012,264 3,196,210 100,700
Stocks 6,025 5,660 178
Convertible bonds 391 - -
--------------- --------------- --------------
3,018,680 3,201,870 100,878
Allowance for loss (901) (7,687) (242)
--------------- --------------- --------------
3,017,779 3,194,183 100,636
=============== =============== ==============
6. ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE
December 31
--------------------------------------------------
2003 2004
--------------- --------------------------------
NT$ NT$ US$
Accounts receivable 13,180,553 14,086,199 443,799
Allowance for doubtful accounts (337,311) (430,822) (13,573)
Allowance for sales allowances (45,107) (68,742) (2,166)
--------------- --------------- --------------
12,798,135 13,586,635 428,060
=============== =============== ==============
F-21
The change in allowance for doubtful accounts and sales allowances are as
follows:
Doubtful Sales
Accounts Allowances
--------------- ---------------
NT$ NT$
Balance, beginning of 2002 286,476 53,626
Additions 67,567 18,256
Deductions (53,330) (28,833)
--------------- ---------------
Balance, end of 2002 300,713 43,049
Additions 95,853 111,165
Deductions (59,255) (109,107)
--------------- ---------------
Balance, end of 2003 337,311 45,107
Additions 98,597 52,761
Deductions (5,086) (29,126)
--------------- ---------------
Balance, end of 2004 430,822 68,742
=============== ===============
US$ US$
Balance, beginning of 2004 10,627 1,421
Additions 3,106 1,663
Deductions (160) (918)
--------------- ---------------
Balance, end of 2004 13,573 2,166
=============== ===============
In 2004, the Company sold to a bank account receivables amounting to
NT$2,082,278 thousand (US$65,604 thousand). Under the terms of the
contract, the Company may sell up to an aggregate amount of outstanding
receivables of US$80,000 thousand and must pay certain financing costs and
remains responsible for handling any commercial disputes that may arise in
relation to the sold receivables.
7. INVENTORIES
December 31
--------------------------------------------------
2003 2004
--------------- --------------------------------
NT$ NT$ US$
Raw materials 3,365,079 6,478,395 204,108
General supplies and spare parts 573,240 841,635 26,517
Work in process 637,692 1,357,634 42,773
Finished goods 399,699 602,417 18,980
Supplies in transit 29,620 362,579 11,423
--------------- --------------- --------------
5,005,330 9,642,660 303,801
Allowance for obsolescence (313,559) (205,403) (6,471)
--------------- --------------- --------------
4,691,771 9,437,257 297,330
=============== =============== ==============
F-22
The movement of allowance for obsolescence is as follows:
NT$
Balance, beginning of 2002 220,548
Additions 34,379
Deductions (42,170)
---------------
Balance, end of 2002 212,757
Additions 240,844
Deductions (140,042)
---------------
Balance, end of 2003 313,559
Additions 75,842
Deductions (183,998)
---------------
Balance, end of 2004 205,403
===============
US$
Balance, beginning of 2004 9,879
Additions 2,389
Deductions (5,797)
---------------
Balance, end of 2004 6,471
===============
8. LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS AND DEFERRED CREDIT
December 31
--------------------------------------------------------
2003 2004
-------------------- ---------------------------------
% of % of
Direct Direct
Owner- Owner-
NT$ ship NT$ US$ ship
Equity method
Common stock
Universal Scientific Industrial Co., Ltd. (Note 10) 3,342,455 23.6 2,741,808 86,383 23.3
Hung Ching Development & Construction Co. 1,012,399 26.4 708,992 22,337 26.4
Hung Ching Kwan Co. 406,131 27.3 345,280 10,878 27.3
Inprocomm, Inc. 7,678 32.1 - - 32.1
Universal Access Technology Inc. - 25.0 - - -
Preferred stock
Intergrated Programmable Communication, Inc. 52,599 30.0 38,358 1,209 26.5
------------ ------------ -----------
4,821,262 3,834,438 120,807
Unrealized gain on sale of land (300,149) (300,149) (9,456)
------------ ------------ -----------
4,521,113 3,534,289 111,351
------------ ------------ -----------
Cost method
Taiwan Fixed Network Co., Ltd. 1,500,000 1.6 1,050,000 33,081 1.1
H&HH Venture Investment Corporation - - 50,000 1,576 13.2
InveStar Burgeon Venture Capital, Inc. 83,228 13.0 36,886 1,162 13.0
Global Strategic Investment, Inc. 67,940 2.5 63,834 2,011 2.5
Digital Communications International Inc. 50,167 15.0 47,135 1,485 15.0
UC Fund II 33,970 - 31,917 1,006 -
Crimson@Velocity Fund, L.P. 21,237 - 43,302 1,364 -
------------ ------------ -----------
1,756,542 1,323,074 41,685
------------ ------------ -----------
(Continued)
F-23
December 31
--------------------------------------------------------
2003 2004
-------------------- ---------------------------------
% of % of
Direct Direct
Owner- Owner-
NT$ ship NT$ US$ ship
Prepaid for long-term investments - ASE-Compeq
Technologies, Inc. 12,000 - -
------------ ------------ -----------
Other long-term investment - Asset Backed Security 50,000 50,000 1,575
------------ ------------ -----------
Other financial assets 3,140 - -
------------ ------------ -----------
6,342,795 4,907,363 154,611
============ ============ ===========
Deferred credits of long-term investments - included in
other Liabilities
Inprocomm, Inc. - 30,147 950 32.1
============ ============ ===========
From February 1999 to April 2000, the Company acquired shares of Universal
Scientific Industrial Co., Ltd. ("USI") from the open market on the Taiwan
Stock Exchange. As of December 31, 2004, the Company had an accumulated
total investment cost of NT$3,838,368 thousand (US$120,931 thousand). USI
is engaged in the manufacturing, processing and sale of computer
peripherals, integrated circuits, electrical parts, personal computers and
related accessories. USI declared stock and cash dividends in 2004 for
NT$0.20 and NT$0.50 per share, respectively. As of December 31, 2004, the
market value of the shares held in USI totaled NT$1,999,250 thousand
(US$62,988 thousand). The difference between the investment balance and the
Company's share in the net equity of USI is attributable to goodwill.
During the year ended December 31, 2004, the Company recorded an impairment
loss of NT$512,000 thousand (US$16,131 thousand) on its investment in USI,
based on the difference between the calculated recoverable amount and the
book value of the investment.
From March 1995 to February 1999, the Company acquired shares of Hung Ching
Development & Construction Co. ("HCDC") from the stock market. As of
December 31, 2004, the Company had an accumulated total investment cost of
NT$2,845,913 thousand (US$89,663 thousand). HCDC is engaged in the
development and management of commercial, residential and industrial real
estate properties in Taiwan. As of December 31, 2004, the market value of
the shares held in HCDC totaled NT$698,537 thousand (US$22,008 thousand).
The Company acquired its 27.3% equity interest in Hung Ching Kwan Co.
("HCKC") in 1992 by transferring to HCKC a parcel of land as an investment
in HCKC at an agreed value of NT$390,470 thousand. The resulting gain of
NT$300,149 thousand (US$9,456 thousand), which represents the excess of
such value over the cost of the land plus land value increment tax, has
been deferred until the disposal of this investment. As of December 31,
2004, the Company had a 44.1% effective interest in HCKC, which consisted
of 27.3% interest directly owned by the Company, and 16.8% interest
indirectly owned through HCDC (based on HCDC's 63.5% interest in HCKC).
The Company invested in Inprocomm, Inc. ("Inprocomm") in May 2003 with
capital of NT$52,000 thousand and directly acquired its 32.1% equity
interest. In addition, USI and Global Strategic Investment, Inc. have 17.3%
and 8.6% equity interests in Inprocomm, respectively. Inprocomm is engaged
in the design of semiconductors for wireless communication applications. As
of December 31, 2004, the accumulated loss of Inprocomm was NT$255,917
thousand (US$8,063 thousand).
The Company invested in Universal Access Technology Inc. ("UAT") in
December 2000 and directly acquired its 25.0% equity interest. In addition,
HCDC and USI have 10.0% and 25.0% equity interest in UAT, respectively.
Accordingly, as of December 31, 2003, the Company had a 33.3% effective
interest in UAT. UAT received approval to dissolve as of July 8, 2003 and
was liquidated as of December 31, 2003.
F-24
In December 2000, the Company invested in convertible preferred stock
issued by Intergrated Programmable Communication, Inc. ("IPC"). As of
December 31, 2004, the Company and its subsidiary, Grand Innovation Co.,
Ltd., have made total investments of US$5.2 million and own a 26.5% stake
in IPC. In addition, USI holds a 16% equity interest in IPC. IPC is
engaged in the design of semiconductors for wireless communication
applications.
The Company recorded net investment losses of NT$410,348 thousand in 2002,
NT$240,656 thousand in 2003 and NT$394,995 thousand (US$12,445 thousand) in
2004, respectively, from its investments in the aforementioned
equity-method investees.
In 2003 and 2004, the cumulative translation adjustments for investment in
foreign companies decreased by NT$287,422 thousand and NT$919,220 thousand
(US$28,961 thousand), respectively.
9. PROPERTIES
Accumulated depreciation consists of:
December 31
--------------------------------------------------
2003 2004
--------------- --------------------------------
NT$ NT$ US$
Buildings and improvements 3,734,503 5,228,222 164,720
Machinery and equipment 42,959,968 51,913,680 1,635,592
Transportation equipment 66,463 71,911 2,266
Furniture and fixtures 1,044,699 1,503,129 47,358
Leased assets and leasehold improvements 466,688 399,432 12,584
Long-term land leasehold rights 9,614 10,038 316
--------------- --------------- --------------
48,281,935 59,126,412 1,862,836
=============== =============== ==============
Certain machinery and equipment related to the testing business of ASE Test
and ISE Labs were impaired during 2002. As a result, an impairment loss of
NT$1,225,555 thousand was recognized and included in non-operating expenses
in 2002.
Interest capitalized and included as cost of properties amounted to
NT$145,985 thousand, NT$149,051 thousand and NT$298,062 thousand (US$9,391
thousand) for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2003 and 2004,
respectively.
Machinery in transit pertains to the purchase of packaging, testing and
substrate equipment that has been received but is not ready for use.
Prepayments are payments made to purchase machinery with non-cancellable
purchase orders.
Machinery in transit and prepayments consist of the following:
December 31
--------------------------------------------------
2003 2004
--------------- --------------------------------
NT$ NT$ US$
Bonders 457,944 1,148,272 36,177
Testers 2,726,211 2,015,784 63,509
Bumping 833,639 2,206,403 69,515
Flip Chip 503,225 1,028,663 32,409
Substrate 19,640 3,213,956 101,259
Others 1,652,954 4,949,156 155,929
--------------- --------------- --------------
6,193,613 14,562,234 458,798
=============== =============== ==============
F-25
10. GOODWILL
These represent goodwill arising from the purchases of:
December 31
--------------------------------------------------
2003 2004
--------------- --------------------------------
NT$ NT$ US$
ASE Chung Li shares - 1,068,681 33,670
ASE Material shares - 473,022 14,903
ASE Test shares 2,212,135 725,015 22,842
ISE Labs shares 2,113,500 817,443 25,754
ASE Korea shares 270,599 209,249 6,593
ASE Japan shares - 25,732 811
ASE (U.S.) shares - 17,234 543
--------------- --------------- --------------
4,596,234 3,336,376 105,116
=============== =============== ==============
Amortization of goodwill is reflected in general and administrative
expenses in the consolidated statement of income and was NT$815,573
thousand, NT$819,253 thousand and NT$877,582 thousand (US$27,649 thousand)
for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2003 and 2004, respectively. The
Company adopted ROC SFAS No. 35 "Impairment of Assets" on December 31,
2004, and recognized an impairment loss on goodwill of NT$1,950,097
thousand (US$61,440 thousand), which was determined based on the amount by
which the carrying amount of the cash-generating unit exceeded its
recoverable amount. In testing a cash-generating unit for impairment, the
Company identified the goodwill related to ASE Test and ISE Labs. The
recoverable amount was determined by the Company based on the
"value-in-use" of ASE Test and ISE Labs, which was determined based on
estimated cash flows, discounted at rate of 9.58%.
11. SHORT-TERM BORROWINGS
December 31
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2003 2004
------------------------------ --------------------------------------------
Interest Interest
Rate (%) NT$ Rate (%) NT$ US$
Letters of credit 0.86-3.60 2,967,178 0.60-3.41 604,770 19,054
Revolving 1.32-6.00 2,081,052 1.50-7.00 3,128,663 98,571
-------------- -------------- ------------
5,048,230 3,733,433 117,625
============== ============== ============
As of December 31, 2004, unused credit lines for short-term borrowings,
including commercial paper and bank acceptances, totaled approximately
NT$12,877,000 thousand (US$405,703 thousand).
12. COMMERCIAL PAPER AND BANK ACCEPTANCES PAYABLE
December 31
--------------------------------------------------
2003 2004
--------------- --------------------------------
NT$ NT$ US$
Commercial paper and bank acceptances
payable - interest at 1.10%-2.35% in
2003 and 1.24%-1.52% in 2004 1,077,000 910,000 28,670
Less: Unamortized discount 1,035 1,184 37
--------------- --------------- --------------
1,075,965 908,816 28,633
=============== =============== ==============
F-26
As of December 31, 2004, the guarantee/acceptance agencies were Fubon Bills
Finance Co., China Bills Finance Corporation, E.Sun Bills Finance Corp.,
China Trust Bills Finance Corporation, Taiwan Finance Corporation,
International Bills Finance Corporation and Dah Chung Bills Finance Corp.
The commercial paper and bank acceptances payable are due from January 2005
to March 2005.
13. LONG-TERM BONDS PAYABLE
December 31
--------------------------------------------------
2003 2004
--------------- --------------------------------
NT$ NT$ US$
Foreign convertible bonds 6,794,000 6,383,400 201,115
Accrued interest 67,232 307,182 9,678
--------------- ---------------- ---------------
6,861,232 6,690,582 210,793
Domestic secured bonds - 2,750,000 86,642
--------------- --------------- --------------
6,861,232 9,440,582 297,435
=============== =============== ==============
Information on the long-term bonds payable is as follows:
a. Foreign convertible bonds
In September 2003, the Company issued US$200,000 thousand of
unsecured zero coupon convertible bonds due September 2008,
consisting of 200,000 units with face values of US$1,000 each. The
bonds have an implied interest rate of 3.75%.
From the date 31 days after issuance through the date 10 days before
the due date, the bondholders have the right to convert the bonds
into the Company's common shares or ADS at the specified conversion
price. The conversion rate is based on the current market price at
the time of sale.
The Company may redeem the bonds at the redemption price if:
1) On or at any time after September 2007, the closing price of the
common shares for a period of 20 consecutive trading days is
higher than 130% of the conversion price (NT$35.53 per share at
December 31, 2004) in effect on each such trading day, and
2) at least 90% of the bonds have already been converted, redeemed,
or purchased and cancelled.
3) If the applicable tax law is unfavorably changed, the Company
may redeem at any time all, but not some, of the bonds.
In November 1997, the Company issued US$200.0 million of zero coupon
convertible bonds due November 2002. Except for US$1.0 million
aggregate principal amount of convertible bonds that were converted
into 355,086 common shares during 2001, the remaining US$199.0 million
aggregate principal amount of the outstanding bonds were repurchased
from the open market and cancelled in 2001 and 2002. During 2002, the
Company repurchased US$68.0 million in aggregate principal amount of
the outstanding bonds from the open market with payments of
NT$3,242,110 thousand, which resulted in an extraordinary loss of
NT$34,613 thousand (net of income tax benefit of NT$11,538 thousand).
F-27
b. Domestic secured bonds
In January 2004, the Company issued NT$2.75 billion in domestic
secured bonds, due in January 2009. The bonds consisted of 275 units
with par value of NT$10 million and repayable in January 2008 and
2009 in two equal payments. The interest, payable semiannually, was
3.6% in 2004. The bank has guaranteed the bonds and has the right to
redeem the bonds early in the event the Company violates certain
provisions of the bond agreement.
c. Foreign convertible notes - issued by ASE Test Finance
In June 1999, ASE Test, in connection with the acquisitions of ISE
Labs and Motorola's Semiconductor Products Sector Business in Taiwan
and Korea, issued US$160.0 million of 1% guaranteed convertible bonds
due July 1, 2004 through its subsidiary, ASE Test Finance. The
Company subscribed US$50.0 million of the convertible bonds and,
accordingly, the net balance of US$110,111 thousand is recorded in
the accompanying balance sheet as of December 31, 2002. On August 19,
2003, ASE Test Finance redeemed and cancelled the total outstanding
convertible notes with payments of NT$4,908,389 thousand, which
resulted in an extraordinary loss of NT$75,668 thousand.
Under ROC GAAP, the loss of NT$75,668 thousand was as a result of the
early redemption and cancellation of the convertible notes and was
recorded as an extraordinary loss. Under U.S. GAAP, the loss would
not qualify as extraordinary and would have been included in other
expenses.
14. LONG-TERM DEBTS
Long-term debts consist of the following:
December 31
--------------------------------------------------
2003 2004
--------------- --------------------------------
NT$ NT$ US$
Mortgage bank loans for purchase of
building and machinery 6,266,559 3,877,982 122,180
Acceptances payable 874,798 3,882,903 122,334
Revolving bank loans 13,440,020 20,496,874 645,774
Bank loans secured by assets 2,025,672 3,645,659 114,860
Letters of credit loans for purchase of
materials and machinery 1,662,152 2,212,251 69,699
Loans for redemption of convertible bond 5,095,500 4,787,550 150,837
--------------- --------------- --------------
29,364,701 38,903,219 1,225,684
Current portion (5,491,389) (2,011,673) (63,380)
--------------- --------------- ---------------
23,873,312 36,891,546 1,162,304
=============== =============== ==============
a. Mortgage bank loans for purchase of building and machinery
Mortgage bank loans obtained by the Company and ASE Test, Inc. are
repayable in quarterly or semi-annual installments, as well as in a
lump sum payment at maturity. The effective interest rates on the
loans ranged from 1.82% to 7.92% in 2003 and 2.57% to 7.92% in 2004,
respectively.
In November 2000 a subsidiary, ASE Chung Li, obtained a syndicated
bank loan of NT$4.0 billion in order to finance the expansion of
factory buildings. Upon completing its merger with ASE Chung Li, the
Company assumed all of the rights and obligations of ASE Chung Li.
The agreements require, among other things, the following:
1) Without the prior written consent from the majority of the
syndicate banks, the Company may not:
F-28
a) guarantee, or assume direct or indirect liabilities of
other parties, in excess of 50% of the Company's net worth;
b) merge or combine with any other entity, unless the Company
is the surviving entity, and the merger or combination will
unfavorably affect the Company's financial condition;
c) sell, lease or transfer operating assets in excess of 20%
of the Company's total assets, unless the transfer of an
account receivable to a financial institution is for the
increase in working capital;
d) pledge its assets in excess of NT$100,000 thousand outside
the normal course of business;
e) provide financing to any other entity;
f) make other investments in excess of NT$200,000 thousand;
g) invest in any other entity which may be presumed by the
syndicated bank to unfavorably impact the Company's
financial condition;
h) stop or revise the plan on expanding factory buildings in
Chung Li if the stoppage or revision will be unfavorable to
the Company;
i) dispose of the assets pledged under this agreement; and
j) make changes in the Company's operating items and plans
that will be unfavorable to the Company.
2) The Company's tangible net worth, as defined in a loan
agreement, should not be less than NT$38.0 billion.
3) The Company should maintain certain financial ratios.
Mortgage bank loans for purchase of machinery amount of NT$1,074,184
thousand (US$33,843 thousand) are due within one year and the Company
has received permission from the relevant banks to refinance these
loans or obtain a new long-term credit line to repay these loans.
b. Acceptance payables
December 31
--------------------------------------------------
2003 2004
--------------- --------------------------------
NT$ NT$ US$
Acceptance payables 875,000 3,900,000 122,873
Unamortized discounts (202) (17,097) (539)
--------------- --------------- --------------
874,798 3,882,903 122,334
=============== =============== ==============
Interest rate 1.03%-1.10% 1.238%-2.75%
The acceptance payable with a credit line of NT$820 million
stipulates, among other things, the following:
F-29
1) Unless there is a written consent from the majority of the
syndicate banks, the Company cannot pledge its assets, assume
liabilities or dispose of assets in excess of 20% of its total
assets, unless the transaction involves a transfer of assets
between affiliates;
2) Unless there is a written consent from the majority of the
syndicate banks, the Company cannot (a) merge with any other
entity or (b) split up according to the Company law, and (c)
make investments of more than NT$2.5 billion starting from the
day after the agreement date. (an exception was the Company's
joint venture agreement with Compeq to establish ASE-Compeq
Technologies, Inc.; total investment under the joint venture
agreement were not more than NT$5.0 billion); (d) acquire major
assets of another entity (except if the investment is in a
subsidiary that existed before the bank acceptance agreement;
the Company is the survivor entity of any merger, or if the
merger with subsidiaries will not harm the Company's operations,
financial condition or ability to meet the terms of the bank
acceptance agreement);
3) The Company's tangible net worth should not be less than NT$38.0
billion; and
4) The Company should maintain certain financial ratios.
Acceptances payable of NT$1,080,000 thousand (US$34,026 thousand) is
due for repayment by September 2005. The Company has obtained a new
long-term credit line to make the repayment.
c. Revolving bank loans
December 31
--------------------------------------------------
2003 2004
--------------- --------------------------------
NT$ NT$ US$
Syndicated bank loan - effective interest rate was
2.15%-2.53% in 2003 and 2.14%-2.30% in 2004
ASE 8,050,000 12,398,077 390,614
Revolving credit lines due February 2005 to June 2008
-effective interest rate was 1.45%-5.50% in 2003
and 1.60%-3.35% in 2004
ASE 3,513,760 3,669,005 115,596
Others 1,876,260 4,429,792 139,564
--------------- --------------- --------------
13,440,020 20,496,874 645,774
=============== =============== ==============
The syndicated bank loan of NT$7.0 billion is repayable in three
semi-annual installments from December 2004 to December 2005. The
Company made an early payment in the amount of NT$3.35 billion in
October 2003, repaid NT$1.252 billion in December 2004 and as a result
there was an outstanding balance of NT$2.398 billion as of December 31,
2004, which is repayable in accordance with the original payment
schedule.
The second syndicated bank loan of NT$7.0 billion outstanding as of
December 31, 2004 (including NT$5.0 billion revolving bank loan and
NT$2.0 billion acceptances payable) was repayable in seven semi-annual
installments from September 2005 to September 2008. A third syndicated
bank loan totaled NT$5.0 billion as of December 31, 2004 and is
repayable in five semi-annual installments from December 2007 to
December 2009.
The loan agreement's covenants specify the following:
1) Without the prior written consent from the majority of the
banks, the Company should not:
a) pledge its assets, assume liabilities or dispose of assets
in excess of 20% of total assets, unless the transaction
involves a transfer of assets between affiliates; and
F-30
b) merge with any other entity or make investments in excess
of NT$2.5 billion or acquire material assets from another
entity.
2) The Company's tangible net worth, as defined in a loan
agreement, should not be less than NT$45.0 billion; and
3) The Company should maintain certain financial ratios.
As of December 31, 2004, the revolving bank loan of NT$4,158,077
thousand (US$131,004 thousand) was due before the end of 2005. The
Company has received permission from the banks concerned to refinance
these loans or obtain a new long-term credit line to repay these
loans.
d. Bank loans secured by assets
These include various bank loans obtained by ASE Korea which are
secured by ASE Korea's land, buildings and improvements, and
machinery and equipment, which totaled NT$4,273,830 thousand
(US$134,651 thousand) as of December 31, 2004. The loans are
repayable in annual installments which are due 2008 and bear interest
from 3.15% to 3.87% in 2003 and 1.88% to 4.68% in 2004, respectively.
e. Letters of credit loans for purchase of materials and machinery
These represent various bank loans obtained by the Company with
original terms of one year or less, due from January 2005 through
June 2005 with interest rates ranging from 0.83% to 1.61% in 2003 and
2.13% to 5.02% in 2004. From October 2004 to January 2005, the
Company obtained new credit lines to repay these letters of credit
loans, which are due from January 2007 to July 2010.
f. Loans for redemption of convertible bonds
The loan obtained in 2003 by ASE Test Finance, specifically for the
purpose of redeeming the convertible bonds issued in 1999 (Note 13),
is repayable in semi-annual installments starting June 2005 to June
2008 and bears interest at 2.27% in 2003 and 3.63% in 2004. The
Company and its subsidiaries ASE Test and ASE Test, Inc. provided
guarantees for ASE Test Finance's payment obligations under the
facility. Under the guarantees, ASE Test is required to maintain
certain financial ratios and the tangible net worth of ASE Test shall
not be less than US$400 million at any time.
The abovementioned bank loan contracts have variable interest rates
and are subject to adjustments by banks or changes in prime rate. In
addition, several of the loan agreements have default provisions,
whereby a default under one debt agreement may also trigger
cross-defaults under other debt agreements.
As of December 31, 2004, unused long-term bank facilities
approximated NT$1,793,000 thousand (US$56,112 thousand).
F-31
As of December 31, 2004, the maturities of long-term bonds payable and
long-term bank loans were as follows:
Amount
--------------------------------
NT$ US$
Within the following year 2,011,673 63,380
During the second year 16,629,629 523,933
During the third year 8,675,985 273,345
During the fourth year 16,245,278 511,824
During the fifth year and thereafter 4,781,236 150,637
--------------- --------------
48,343,801 1,523,119
=============== ==============
Long-term bonds payable and long-term bank loans by currencies are
detailed as follows:
December 31
-------------------------------
2003 2004
New Taiwan dollars NT$ 18,052,221 NT$ 27,775,646
U.S. dollars US$ 519,805 US$ 629,329
Japanese yen Yen 1,622,970 Yen 800,000
China Yuan Renminbi RMB - RMB 61,000
15. LONG-TERM PAYABLE FOR INVESTMENT
In July 1999, the Company and ASE Test purchased equity interests of 70.0%
and 30.0%, respectively, in the Motorola's Semiconductor Products Sector
Businesses in Taiwan and Korea held through ASE Chung Li and ASE Korea,
respectively. Both ASE Chung Li and ASE Korea are engaged in the packaging
and testing of semiconductors. The total purchase price was approximately
US$350.1 million. As of December 31, 2001, US$246.8 million had been paid
to Motorola and the remaining amount of US$103.3 million and accrued
interest were to be paid within the following three years. In addition, a
portion of the purchase price, payable for investment US$23,333 thousand
and accrued interest US$4,486 thousand, was not paid because payment was
contingent upon achieving certain targets of revenue from the packaging and
testing services provided to Motorola, which were not met. In June 2002,
the Company and Motorola re-negotiated the agreement with respect to the
payment terms and the contingent payments. As of December 2004, the
contingent payments had been settled in full.
16. OBLIGATIONS UNDER CAPITAL LEASES
The Company and its subsidiaries, ASE Test, Inc., ASE Japan and ISE Labs
lease equipment and buildings under certain non-cancellable capital lease
agreements, which expire on various dates through December 2010. The net
book value, as of December 31, 2003 and 2004, of the equipment acquired
under such capital lease obligations amounted to NT$559,615 thousand and
NT$706,147 thousand (US$22,248 thousand), respectively. The effective
interest rates on obligations under capital leases ranged from 0.7% to 11%
in 2003 and 5.64% to 11% in 2004, respectively.
F-32
The future minimum lease payments under the above-mentioned capital leases
as of December 31, 2004 were as follows:
NT$ US$
Within the following year 218,603 6,887
Within the second year 136,614 4,304
Within the third year 71,413 2,250
Within the fourth year 1,499 47
Within the fifth year 560 18
--------------- --------------
Total minimum lease payments 428,689 13,506
Imputed interest (32,345) (1,019)
--------------- --------------
Present value of future lease obligations 396,344 12,487
Capital lease obligation, current (198,831) (6,264)
--------------- --------------
Capital lease obligation, long-term 197,513 6,223
=============== ==============
17. PENSION PLANS
The Company and its subsidiaries, ASE Test, Inc. maintain pension plans for
certain employees. Retirement benefits are based on the length of service
and average salaries or wages of the last six months before retirement. ISE
Labs has a defined contribution savings plan ("401k plan") for eligible
employees. This plan permits employees to make contributions up to the
maximum limits allowable under Internal Revenue Code Section 401k. ASE Test
Malaysia also has a defined contribution plan. In addition, ASE Korea has a
pension plan where eligible employees and directors with more than one year
of service are entitled to receive a lump-sum payment upon termination of
their service with ASE Korea, based on their length of service and rate of
pay at the time of termination. The Company, ASE Test, Inc. and ASE Japan
make monthly contributions, at a specified percentage of salaries and
wages, to pension funds which are in the name of, and are administered by,
the employee pension plan committee of the respective entities and are
deposited in financial institutions. The financial institutions may invest
the assets of the plan in stocks, bonds and other securities. The changes
in the retirement funds during the periods indicated are summarized as
follows:
Year Ended December 31
--------------------------------------------------------------------
2002 2003 2004
--------------- --------------- --------------------------------
NT$ NT$ NT$ US$
Balance, beginning of year 440,746 535,412 649,035 20,448
Acquisition from ASE Japan - - 299,142 9,425
Contributions 83,996 113,077 133,398 4,203
Payments (145) (8,803) (20,770) (654)
Interest income 10,815 9,349 20,781 655
--------------- --------------- --------------- --------------
Balance, end of year 535,412 649,035 1,081,586 34,077
=============== =============== =============== ==============
Of the Company's plan assets, approimately NT$29,360 thousand, NT$29,775
thousand and NT$30,126 thousand (US$949 thousand) as of December 31, 2002,
2003 and 2004, respectively, mainly represented amounts contributed by ASE
Technology, Inc, which no longer has employees. In accordance with laws of
Taiwan, such funds may not be used to settle obligations of the Company or
its other subsidiaries.
F-33
The plan assets deposited in the financial institutions as of December 31,
2004, by category, are as follows:
Type of Investment Allocation (%)
Cash 31
Government Loans 20
Equities 38
Notes 10
Bonds 1
------
100
=====
Pension costs for these entities consist of:
Year Ended December 31
--------------------------------------------------------------------
2002 2003 2004
--------------- --------------- --------------------------------
NT$ NT$ NT$ US$
Service costs 191,707 365,402 455,912 14,364
Interest 36,102 43,312 88,090 2,775
Projected return on pension assets (23,003) (19,413) (26,179) (825)
Amortization of prior period service cost,
gain or loss on plan assets 4,176 11,161 16,454 519
--------------- --------------- --------------- --------------
208,982 400,462 534,277 16,833
=============== =============== =============== ==============
Other pension information based on actuarial calculations of the plan
during the periods indicated is as follows:
December 31
--------------------------------------------------
2003 2004
--------------- --------------------------------
NT$ NT$ US$
a. Benefit obligations
Vested benefit obligation 372,423 547,519 17,250
Non-vested benefit obligation 971,450 1,275,640 40,190
--------------- --------------- --------------
Accumulated benefit obligation 1,343,873 1,823,159 57,440
Additional benefits based on future salaries 642,098 1,974,046 62,194
--------------- --------------- --------------
Projected benefit obligation 1,985,971 3,797,205 119,634
Fair value of assets (619,260) (1,060,860) (33,423)
--------------- --------------- --------------
Funded status 1,366,711 2,736,345 86,211
Unrecognized net transition obligation (96,979) (89,853) (2,831)
Unrecognized prior service cost (15,247) (14,521) (458)
Unrecognized net actuarial loss (368,778) (509,860) (16,064)
Additional pension cost 31,873 8,963 283
Portion in other current liabilities (21,100) (10,388) (327)
--------------- --------------- --------------
Accrued pension cost 896,480 2,120,686 66,814
=============== =============== ==============
F-34
December 31
--------------------------------------------------
2003 2004
--------------- --------------------------------
NT$ NT$ US$
b. Vested obligation 380,630 559,061 17,614
=============== =============== ==============
c. Actuarial assumptions used
Discount rate 3.25%-4.30% 2.50%-4.50%
Increase in future salary level 3.00%-5.00% 3.00%-5.00%
Expected rate of return on plan assets 3.25% 2.50%-3.25%
d. The consolidated entities expect to make contributions of NT$215,241
thousand (US$6,781 thousand) to retirement funds in 2005.
e. Expected benefit payments:
Year of Payments
2005 NT $ 91,139
2006 52,301
2007 83,461
2008 65,624
2009 88,774
2010 to 2053 14,555,112
Plan assets and obligations reflected herein were measured as of December
31, 2004.
The Company has no other post-retirement or post-employment benefit plans.
18. SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Common Stock
As of December 31, 2004, the Company had "capital received in advance" of
NT$42,759 thousand (US$1,347 thousand) as a result of employees exercising
their options in accordance with the 2002 Stock Option Plan. The "capital
received in advance" represents 2,402 thousand shares of commom stock, of
which only 660 thousand shares were issued and outstanding as of December
31, 2004. The remaining shares will be issued once they have been
registered with the Taiwan regulator.
American Depositary Shares
In July 1995, the Company issued 8,600,000 GDSs, representing 43,000,000
common shares. In September 2000, the Company issued 20,000,000 ADSs,
representing 100,000,000 common shares. In connection with the ADS offering
in 2000, the Company offered to exchange all outstanding GDSs for ADSs
listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
The GDS or ADS holders generally have the same rights and obligations as
other shareholders, subject to provisions of relevant laws. The exercise of
such rights and obligations shall comply with the related regulations and
the deposit agreement, which stipulate, among other things, that the GDS or
ADS holders can, through Citicorp Financial Services Limited as the nominee
holder: (a) exercise their voting rights; (b) sell their GDSs or ADSs; and
(c) receive dividends declared and subscribe to the issuance of new shares.
F-35
As of December 31, 2004, a portion of the outstanding ADSs were revoked in
exchange for approximately 360,549 thousand common shares of the Company,
which represented 8.79% of the Company's total outstanding common shares
(including treasury stock). As of December 31, 2004, the outstanding ADSs
represented 1.80% of the Company's total outstanding common shares
(including treasury stock).
Capital Surplus
Under the ROC Company Law, capital surplus from the paid-in capital in
excess of par value and from treasury stock transactions can be used to
offset a deficit. In addition, such capital surplus may be transferred to
capital and is subject to a specified limit under relevant regulations.
Capital surplus from long-term investments in shares of stock which are
accounted for by the equity method may not be used for any purpose.
Appropriation of Retained Earnings
The Company's Articles of Incorporation provide that the annual net income
shall be appropriated as follows:
a. offset against deficit, if any;
b. 10.0% of the remainder as legal reserve, until the accumulated amount
equals paid-in capital;
c. an amount equal to the income from long-term investments in shares of
stock accounted for by the equity method, excluding cash dividends,
as special reserve;
d. not more than 2.0% of the remainder, as compensation to directors and
supervisors;
e. between 5.0% to 7.0% of the remainder, as bonus to employees, of
which 5.0% will be distributed in accordance with the employee bonus
plan and the excess to be distributed to specific employees as
decided by the board of directors; and
f. the remainder, as dividends to shareholders.
The aforementioned appropriations shall be approved by the shareholders in
the following year and given effect in the financial statements of such
year.
Under the ROC Company Law, the aforementioned legal reserve may be used to
offset a deficit. Also, when the reserve has reached 50.0% of capital
stock, up to 50.0% thereof may be transferred to capital stock.
The appropriations of the 2002 and 2003 earnings, as resolved at the
Company's annual shareholder's meetings, were as follows:
Amount
--------------------------------------------------
2002 2003
--------------- --------------------------------
NT$ NT$ US$
Legal reserve 12,903 274,279 8,641
Compensations to directors and supervisors 2,280 49,320 1,554
Bonus to employees - cash 8,000 18,428 581
Bonus to employees - stock - 154,272 4,860
Stock dividends - NT$0.03 in 2002 and NT$0.57 in 2003
per share, respectively 97,644 2,219,774 69,936
--------------- --------------- --------------
120,827 2,716,073 85,572
=============== =============== ==============
F-36
The stock dividends per share represent dividends paid in the fiscal year
for shares outstanding on the record date applicable to the payment of
these dividends. However, such dividend was reduced from NT$0.62 to NT$0.57
upon the completion of the merger with ASE Chung Li and ASE Material.
The information related to appropriations of the 2002 and 2003 earnings may
be accessed through the website of the Taiwan Stock Exchange.
Dividend Policy
In order to meet the needs of the Company's present and future capital
expenditures, the Company's dividend distribution shall be primarily in the
form of stock dividends. Cash dividends may also be distributed in certain
circumstances. However, the percentage of cash dividends generally shall
not exceed 20.0% of any dividend declared.
With respect to the percentage of cash dividends to be paid referred to in
the preceding paragraph, the Company may decide the most suitable manner to
distribute such dividends in accordance with its current operational status
while taking into consideration the budget plan for the following year. The
board of directors shall propose a profit distribution plan, which shall be
submitted to the shareholders for approval before implementation.
Effect of Bonuses to Employees, Directors and Supervisors
Should the bonuses to employees, directors and supervisors be charged to
expense in 2003, the basic and diluted earnings per share (after tax) for
2003 would decrease from NT$0.74 and NT$0.73 to NT$0.68 and NT$0.67,
respectively. The common shares issued for bonus to employees represented
0.41% of the Company's total outstanding common shares as of December 31,
2003.
Imputation Tax System
Under the Integrated Income Tax System which became effective on January 1,
1998, non-corporate resident shareholders are allowed a tax credit for the
income tax paid or payable by the Company on earnings generated in 1998 and
onwards. Non-resident shareholders are allowed only a tax credit from the
10% income tax on undistributed earnings, which can be used to deduct the
withholding income tax on dividends paid. An Imputation Credit Account
("ICA") is maintained by the Company for such income tax and the tax credit
allocated to each shareholder. The maximum credit available for allocation
to each shareholder cannot exceed the balance shown in the ICA on the date
of distribution of dividends.
As of December 31, 2004, the creditable taxes aggregated NT$297,354
thousand (US$9,368 thousand). The actual percentage for the distribution of
2003 earnings and estimated percentage for the distribution of 2004
earnings were 4.40% and 4.32%, respectively.
Treasury Stock
Thousand
Shares, Thousand
Beginning Shares,
Purpose of year Increase Decrease End of Year
2003
Shares held by subsidiaries 164,442 65 163,789 718
========== ========== ========== ==========
2004
Shares held by subsidiaries 718 247,567 - 248,285
========== ========== ========== ==========
F-37
Effective January 1, 2002, the Company reclassified its shares held by its
subsidiaries with book value of NT$2,639,826 thousand, representing 164,442
thousand shares, from long-term investment to treasury stock.
The treasury stock increased by 65 thousand shares in 2003 and by 13,478
thousand shares in 2004 because of the Company's capitalization of retained
earnings. Of these shares, 163,789 thousand were sold at NT$2,850,524
thousand. The amount of NT$220,735 thousand in excess of the book value of
NT$2,629,789 thousand was recorded as capital surplus, while subsidiaries
recorded the excess as investment income. This transaction resulted in the
increase in realized loss on long-term investments of NT$354,787 thousand
in 2003.
As disclosed in Note 1, the Company issued common shares in connection with
the merger. The Company reclassified the shares held by its subsidiaries
with a book value of NT$2,798,399 thousand (US$88,166 thousand),
representing 234,089 thousand shares, from long-term investments to
treasury stock. The Company's subsidiary, ASE Test, is a Singapore
incorporated company, and may not acquire, directly or indirectly, shares
or units of shares in the Company under Singapore law. In order to comply
with relevant regulations, a trust has been established to hold and dispose
of the Company's shares obtained in connection with this merger. ASE Test
does not have any rights with respect to the common shares held in trust,
other than the right to receive the proceeds from the sale of such common
shares and any cash dividends declared while the shares remain in trust.
As of December 31, 2004, the book value of those shares was NT$2,645,575
thousand (US$83,351 thousand), representing 248,285 thousand shares, which
had a market value of NT$3,956,878 thousand (US$124,665 thousand).
Although these shares are treated as treasury stock in the financial
statements, the shareholders are entitled to exercise their rights on these
shares, except for participation in additional capital increases through
cash payment.
19. EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION PLANS
In order to attract, retain and incentivize employees, the Company adopted
two employee stock option plans, the 2002 Plan and the 2004 Plan, which
were approved in August 2002 and May 2004, respectively. The maximum number
of units authorized to be granted under 2002 Plan and 2004 Plan is 160,000
thousand and 140,000 thousand, respectively, with each unit representing
one common stock. Under the terms of the plans, stock option rights are
granted at an exercise price equal to the closing price of the Company's
common shares listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TSE) on the date of
grant. The option rights of both plans are valid for ten years and
exercisable at certain percentages subsequent to the second anniversary of
the grant date. Under the 2002 Plan, the number of units authorized,
including those which were never granted and those which had been granted
and subsequently cancelled, all expired as of August 2004. Under the 2004
Plan, 124,917 thousand units were granted and 83 thousand units will never
be granted. The remaining 15,000 thousand units have not yet been granted
and are expected to be granted before May 27, 2005.
ASE Test has six stock option plans, the 1996 Executive Management Option
Plan (the "1996 Plan"), and the 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2004 Option
Plans. Stock options granted under these plans are exercisable for ASE Test
ordinary shares based on a vesting schedule over five to ten years until
the options expire.
Information on the outstanding stock options in 2003 and 2004 is as
follows:
F-38
ASE Option Plan
2003 2004
--------------------------------- --------------------------------
Number of Number of
Outstanding Weighted- Outstanding Weighted-
Stock Option Average Stock Option Average
Rights Exercise Rights Exercise
(in Thousands) Prices (NT$) (in Thousands) Prices (NT$)
Beginning outstanding balance 145,989 $17.80 146,752 $18.30
Options granted 13,979 23.20 124,917 25.10
Options forfeited (13,216) 17.90 (9,220) 19.20
Options exercised - - (660) 17.80
---------- ----------
Ending outstanding balance 146,752 18.30 261,789 21.50
========== ==========
Ending options exercisable - 49,270
========== ==========
Fair value under the 2004 Plan (NT$) $ - $ 11.08
========== ==========
The number of outstanding options and their exercise prices have been
adjusted to reflect the dilution attributable to the distribution of stock
dividends in accordance with the terms of the plans.
Information on outstanding and exercisable option rights as of December
31, 2004 is as follows:
Number of
Outstanding Remaining
Exercise Options (in Contractual
Price (NT$) Thousands) Life (Years)
17.8 125,145 8.0
23.2 12,618 8.6
25.1 124,026 9.5
----------
261,789
==========
The Company used the Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model to evaluate the
fair market value of the 2004 Plan options, using the following
assumptions:
Expected dividend yield 3.00%
Expected volatility 59%
Risk free interest rate 2.50%
Expected life 5 years
ASE Test Option Plan
Information regarding the stock options granted or modified after January
1, 2004 is presented below:
F-39
Weighted
Average Weighted
Number of Exercise Average
Shares Price Grant Date
(in Per Share Fair Values
thousands) (US$) (US$)
Option granted 260 $ 6.18 $ 6.18
========
Option exercised - -
Option forfeited - -
Option expired - -
----------
Ending balance - December 31, 2004 260 6.18
==========
Above options outstanding at December 31, 2004 and the related weighted
average exercise price and remaining contractual life information is as
follows:
Outstanding Exercisable Weighted
------------------------ --------------------------
Weighted Weighted Average
Shares Average Shares Average Remaining
(in Price (in Price Life (Years)
thousands) (US$) Thousands) (US$)
Options with exercise price of $ 6.18 260 $ 6.18 - $ - 9.51
========= =========
ASE Test used the Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model to evaluate market
price of the 2004 Plan and the assumptions are as follows:
Expected dividend yield -
Expected volatility 78.28%
Risk free interest rate 3.50%-3.88%
Expected life 5 years
For purposes of the pro forma disclosure below, the estimated fair value of
the options is assumed to be amortized to expense over the option rights'
respective vesting periods. Had the Company and ASE Test used the fair
value based method to evaluate the options granted, the method, assumptions
and pro forma results of the Company in 2004 would have been as follows:
NT$ US$
Net income for calculation of basic EPS
As reported 4,209,690 132,629
Pro forma 3,784,386 119,231
Net Income for calculation of diluted EPS
As reported 4,373,239 137,783
Pro forma 3,947,935 124,384
Earnings per share (EPS):
Basic EPS as reported 1.09 0.03
Pro forma basic EPS 0.98 0.03
Diluted EPS as reported 1.06 0.03
Pro forma diluted EPS 0.96 0.03
F-40
20. PERSONNEL EXPENDITURE, DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION
Year Ended December 31, 2003 Year Ended December 31, 2004
------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------
Cost of Operating Cost of Operating
Revenues Expenses Total Revenues Expenses Total
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------------------
NT$ NT$ NT$ NT$ NT$ NT$ US$
Personnel
Salary 7,206,380 2,024,201 9,230,581 $10,401,732 2,611,914 13,013,646 410,008
Pension cost 343,734 94,601 438,335 506,552 147,318 653,870 20,601
Meal allowance 228,783 36,951 265,734 356,976 65,177 422,153 13,300
Welfare 25,300 7,120 32,420 69,761 17,926 87,687 2,762
Labor and health
insurance 476,816 153,492 630,308 787,325 222,287 1,009,612 31,809
Others 371,245 246,578 617,823 339,890 110,201 450,091 14,181
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------
8,652,258 2,562,943 11,215,201 12,462,236 3,174,823 15,637,059 492,661
=========== =========== =========== =========== =========== =========== ==========
Depreciation 11,516,968 693,942 12,210,910 13,247,095 651,003 13,898,098 437,873
Amortization 377,623 178,035 555,658 641,010 247,164 888,174 27,983
21. INCOME TAX
a. Income tax benefit is summarized as follows:
Year Ended December 31
--------------------------------------------------------------------
2002 2003 2004
--------------- --------------- --------------------------------
NT$ NT$ NT$ US$
Tax (benefit) based on pre-tax
accounting income (loss) at
statutory rate (950,597) 604,102 1,470,928 46,343
Add (less) tax effects of:
Permanent differences
Tax-exempt income
Tax holiday (52,126) (481,214) (642,285) (20,236)
Gain from sales of securities (16,798) (10,357) (9,527) (300)
Temporary differences
Investment loss 793,812 131,560 132,031 4,160
Other investment loss - - 123,345 3,886
Unfunded pension cost 24,239 86,255 73,436 2,314
Bond interest payable (163,289) 16,776 63,793 2,010
Other 629,545 (184,453) 4,113 129
--------------- --------------- --------------- --------------
264,786 162,669 1,215,834 38,306
Income taxes on undistributed
earnings 54,598 170,281 86,968 2,740
Credits for investments and research
and development (331,255) (439,457) (1,081,023) (34,059)
Net change in deferred income tax for
the period (1,130,358) (1,190,500) (1,660,695) (52,322)
Adjustment of prior year's income tax 1,905 18,859 42,590 1,342
--------------- --------------- --------------- --------------
(1,140,324) (1,278,148) (1,396,326) (43,993)
=============== =============== =============== ==============
b. The above-mentioned taxes on pre-tax accounting income (loss) based
on the applicable statutory rates for both domestic and foreign
entities are shown below:
F-41
Year Ended December 31
--------------------------------------------------------------------
2002 2003 2004
--------------- --------------- --------------------------------
NT$ NT$ NT$ US$
Domestic entities in ROC
(25% statutory rate) (173,787) 750,348 1,364,316 42,984
Foreign entities
ASE Korea (30.8% statutory rate) - 74,806 (37,683) (1,187)
ASE Japan (40% statutory rate) - - 101,429 3,196
ISE Labs (federal tax rate 35% and
state tax rate 6%) (725,744) (209,911) (16,852) (531)
ASE Test Malaysia (30% statutory
rate) (51,066) (11,141) 59,718 1,881
--------------- --------------- --------------- --------------
(950,597) 604,102 1,470,928 46,343
=============== =============== =============== ==============
c. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are summarized as follows:
December 31
--------------------------------------------------
2003 2004
--------------- --------------------------------
NT$ NT$ US$
Current deferred income tax assets
Unused tax credits 1,054,370 1,463,022 46,094
Provision for inventory obsolescence 50,475 19,572 617
Provision for doubtful accounts and sales allowance 33,754 38,436 1,211
Unrealized foreign exchange loss (gain) 65,118 (4,424) (139)
Other 29,752 86,259 2,717
--------------- --------------- --------------
1,233,469 1,602,865 50,500
Valuation allowance (8,968) (227,415) (7,165)
--------------- --------------- --------------
Net current deferred income tax assets 1,224,501 1,375,450 43,335
=============== =============== ==============
Non-current deferred income tax assets
Unused tax credits 3,101,039 4,376,234 137,878
Accrued pension costs 153,924 538,129 16,954
Loss carryforwards 483,538 236,759 7,459
Investment income (144,000) (144,000) (4,537)
Others 120,387 213,984 6,742
--------------- --------------- --------------
3,714,888 5,221,106 164,496
Valuation allowance (1,484,659) (1,382,974) (43,571)
--------------- --------------- --------------
Net non-current deferred income tax assets 2,230,229 3,838,132 120,925
=============== =============== ==============
Non-current liabilities
Goodwill amortization (34,674) (32,424) (1,022)
=============== =============== ==============
In assessing the realizability of deferred income tax assets, the
Company considers its future taxable earnings and expected timing of
the reversal of temporary differences. In addition, in the event
future taxable earnings do not materialize as forecasted, the Company
will consider executing certain tax planning strategies available to
realize the deferred income tax assets. The valuation allowance is
provided to reduce the gross deferred income tax assets to an amount
which the Company believes will more likely than not be realized.
Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are classified in the
consolidated balance sheets based on the classification of the
related assets or liabilities or the expected timing of the reversal
of temporary differences.
F-42
The U.S. Federal and California State net operating loss
carryforwards of ISE Labs as of December 31, 2004 approximated
US$16.3 million and US$30.8 million with expiration periods in 2024
and 2014, respectively.
A portion of the Company's and ASE Test, Inc.'s income from the
manufacturing, processing and testing of semiconductors is exempt
from income tax for the five years ending December 2005 and 2007,
respectively. A portion of ASE Chung Li's income from the
manufacturing, processing and testing of semiconductors is exempt
from income tax for the five years ending 2007.
ASE Test Malaysia had been granted pioneer status by Ministry of
International Trade and Industry in Malaysia for five years from July
1, 1999 to June 30, 2004. During the year 2003, the Company had
applied to the relevant authorities to surrender its pioneer status
in line with the 2003 budget proposal, which allows a pioneer company
that intends to undertake reinvestment before the expiry of its
pioneer status the option to surrender its pioneer certificate to
qualify for reinvestment allowance. On September 11, 2004, the
Malaysian Industrial Development Authority had approved the Company's
surrender of pioneer status with effect from September 21, 2002, the
date of announcement of the 2003 budget proposal.
The per share effect of this tax holiday was NT$0.02 in 2002, NT$0.14
in 2003 and NT$0.16 in 2004, respectively.
d. As of December 31, 2004, unused tax credits of subsidiaries which can
be utilized to offset their future income tax are set forth below:
ASE
ASE Test, Inc. ASE Korea Total
-------------- -------------- -------------- ----------------------------
Year of Expiry NT$ NT$ NT$ NT$ US$
2004 203,765 - - 203,765 6,420
2005 468,915 76,717 - 545,632 17,191
2006 882,384 305,193 170,245 1,357,822 42,780
2007 1,044,224 588,402 262,230 1,894,856 59,699
2008 and thereafter 1,252,324 441,773 143,084 1,837,181 57,882
-------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- ------------
3,851,612 1,412,085 575,559 5,839,256 183,972
============== ============== ============== ============== ============
In the ROC, the tax credits may be utilized to reduce up to 50% of
income tax payable each year. In the year of expiration, any
remainder of unused tax credits can be used entirely.
Income tax returns of the Company and ASE Test, Inc. in Taiwan have
been examined by the ROC tax authorities through the 2002 tax year.
(Income tax returns of ASE Material and ASE Chung Li have been
examined through 2001 and 2000, respectively.)
22. EARNINGS PER SHARE
The Company's common shares corresponding to the employees' stock options
and convertible bonds had a dilutive effect on the 2002, 2003 and 2004 EPS
calculation. The employee stock options issued by the Company's
subsidiary, ASE Test Limited, had no dilutive effect on the 2002, 2003 and
2004 EPS calculation. The numerators and denominators used in the EPS
calculations were as follows:
F-43
a. Numerator - net income
2002 2003
--------------------------- -------------------------
Before After Before After
Income Tax Income Tax Income Tax Income Tax
NT$ NT$ NT$ NT$
Income before extraordinary loss and cumulative effect
of change in accounting principle (799,520) 163,648 1,776,463 2,818,464
Extraordinary loss (46,151) (34,613) (75,668) (75,668)
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle - - - -
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Basic EPS
Income of common shareholders (845,671) 129,035 1,700,795 2,742,796
Interest, net of tax, paid on convertible bonds - - - -
----------- ----------- ------------ ------------
Diluted EPS
Income of common shareholders (845,671) 129,035 1,700,795 2,742,796
============ =========== ============ ============
2004
-------------------------------------------------------
Before Income Tax After Income Tax
--------------------------- --------------------------
NT$ US$ NT$ US$
Income before extraordinary loss and cumulative effect
of change in accounting principle 3,282,673 103,434 4,236,534 133,476
Extraordinary loss - - - -
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle (26,844) (846) (26,844) (846)
------------ ------------- ------------ -----------
Basic EPS
Income of common shareholders 3,255,829 102,578 4,209,690 132,630
Interest, net of tax, paid on convertible bonds 197,762 6,231 163,549 5,153
------------ ------------- ------------ -----------
Diluted EPS
Income of common shareholders 3,453,591 108,809 4,373,239 137,783
============ ============= ============ ===========
b. Denominator - shares (in thousands)
2002 2003 2004
Weighted-average number of common stock 3,254,800 3,580,280 3,580,280
Retroactive adjustments for capitalization of retained
earnings 546,660 221,180 212,554
Issuance of common stock in connection with the
merger - - 118,340
Stock Bonuses paid to employees - - 15,427
Shares issued in connection with stock options
exercised by employees - - 14
Shares held by subsidiaries (191,687) (80,249) (70,625)
--------------- --------------- ---------------
Number of shares used for purposes of the basic EPS
calculation 3,609,773 3,721,211 3,855,990
Potential number shares issuable upon exercise of
unvested options - 34,347 62,303
Potential number of outstanding shares assumed upon
conversion of convertible bonds - - 191,810
--------------- --------------- ---------------
Number of shares used in the diluted EPS calculation 3,609,773 3,755,558 4,110,103
=============== =============== ===============
For purposes of the ADS calculation, the denominator representes the
above-mentioned weighted average outstanding shares divided by five (one
ADS represents five common shares). The numerator was the same.
F-44
23. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
a. Related parties
Related Parties Relationship with the Company
-------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------
Hung Ching Development & Construction Co. ("HCDC") Affiliate
USI Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. ("USI-SH") Affiliate
b. The significant transactions with related parties are summarized as
follows:
Amount
-------------------------- % of
NT$ US$ Total
For the year, 2004
Purchase of materials
USI-SH 72,164 2,274 -
============ =========== ======
Purchase of properties
HCDC 398,766 12,563 2
USI-SH 126,310 3,980 -
------------ ----------- ------
525,076 16,543 2
============ =========== ======
The price of material bought from related parties was commensurate
with similar purchases from third parties. The collection terms range
from 30 days to 60 days, which is consistent with the terms provided
by third parties for similar transactions.
The price for property purchased from or sales to USI-SH is based on
book value. The payment term is one month, which is similar to those
for similar transactions with third parties.
The amount the Company paid in buying real estate from HCDC was based
on an appraiser's assessment.
Amount
-------------------------- % of
NT$ US$ Total
At end of year, 2004
Receivable 14,140 445 -
============ =========== ======
Payables 117,852 3,713 1
============ =========== ======
F-45
24. ASSETS PLEDGED OR MORTGAGED
The assets pledged or mortgaged as first priority collateral are
summarized as follows:
December 31
--------------------------------------------------
2003 2004
--------------- --------------------------------
NT$ NT$ US$
Land 374,621 351,992 11,090
Buildings and improvements 1,852,435 1,651,734 52,039
Machinery and equipment 9,544,523 9,419,416 296,768
Pledged time deposits 167,426 125,599 3,957
Guarantee deposit - time deposits 102,720 137,340 4,327
Short-term investment 90,000 - -
--------------- --------------- --------------
12,131,725 11,686,081 368,181
=============== =============== ==============
25. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2004
a. The Company and ASE Test, Inc. lease the land on which their
buildings are situated under various operating lease agreements with
the government expiring on various dates ranging from December 2012
to July 2014. The agreements grant these entities the option to renew
the leases and reserve the right for the lessor to adjust the lease
charges upon an increase in the assessed value of the land and to
terminate the leases under certain conditions. The Company, ASE Test,
Inc. and ASE Test Malaysia lease machinery and equipment under
non-cancelable operating leases. ISE Labs also leases office
buildings and equipment under non-cancellable operating lease
agreements. The rental expenses for the years ended December 31,
2002, 2003 and 2004 were US$9,936 thousand, US$10,427 thousand and
US$40,841 thousand, respectively.
The future minimum lease payments under the above-mentioned operating
leases are as follows:
Operating Leases NT$ US$
2005 1,810,650 57,046
2006 1,526,822 48,104
2007 600,773 18,928
2008 170,837 5,382
2009 and thereafter 300,688 9,474
--------------- --------------
Total minimum lease payments 4,409,770 138,934
=============== ==============
b. The Company, ASE Test, Inc., ISE Labs, ASE Test Malaysia and ASE
Korea engage outside sales agencies. Commissions and service fees
were paid based on monthly incurred service-related costs and
expenses plus a certain percentage (there are limited amounts
prescribed for costs and expenses incurred) or based on a certain
percentage of net export sales. Commissions and service fees paid in
2002, 2003 and 2004 were approximately NT$734,322 thousand,
NT$973,031 thousand and NT$769,637 thousand (US$24,248 thousand),
respectively.
c. As of December 31, 2004, unused letters of credit were approximately
NT$1,776,000 thousand (US$55,955 thousand).
d. As of December 31, 2004, commitments to purchase machinery and
equipment were approximately NT$7,600,000 thousand (US$239,445
thousand), including a commitment to buy machinery and equipment
(M&E) for US$69,317 thousand. Under the related contract, the Company
and the subsidiary must make fixed monthly payments at a certain
percentage of the purchase amount. The
F-46
amount paid may be used to offset a certain percentage of the cost of
future purchases, if any, of additional machinery and equipment from
these entities.
e. As of December 31, 2004, outstanding commitments related to the
construction of buildings were approximately NT$3,264,000 thousand
(US$102,836 thousand).
f. The Company entered into technology license agreements with foreign
companies which will expire on various dates through 2010 under which
the Company has licensed certain technologies used in the packaging
of certain products. Pursuant to such agreements, the Company shall
pay royalties, based on specified percentages of sales quantities,
and license fees. Such royalties in 2003 and 2004 were approximately
NT$218,764 thousand and NT$163,975 thousand (US$5,166 thousand),
respectively. As of December 31, 2004, the Company had paid license
fees of US$5,500 thousand related to such agreements, of which
NT$59,586 (US$1,877 thousand) was included in deferred charges.
g. The Company entered into a co-construction agreement with HCDC, an
affiliated company, in April 2003. The Company provided the land
leased from the government to Hung Ching to build an office building.
Under this agreement, after completion of the construction, the
Company will own 21,810 square meters and HCDC will own 86,214 square
meters. In December 2004, the Company and ASE Test Inc., entered into
contracts with HCDC to purchase HCDC's 85,702 square meters for NT$
1,329,217 thousand (US$41,878 thousand). As of December 31, 2004, the
amount paid pursuant to this agreement was approximately NT$398,766
thousand (US$12,564 thousand) and was recorded as construction in
process.
h. On August 27, 2004, the Company and the subsidiary, ASE Test, Inc.,
entered a syndicated lease receivables purchase facility agreement
with three eligible lessors and banks. Under this agreement, the
banks have agreed to purchase from the eligible lessors receivables,
if any, from the Company and ASE Test, Inc. in an amount up to
US$90,000 thousand and within 12 months after the contract date. The
Company and ASE Test, Inc. will be required to issue promissory notes
in favor of the banks as evidence of any obligations entered into
under the agreement.
i. As of December 31, 2004, the Company had endorsed and guaranteed the
promissory notes of its subsidiaries as follows:
NT$ US$
ASE Test Finance 4,787,550 150,836
ASE Japan 2,593,280 81,704
ASE Shanghai 1,755,435 55,307
HCDC 960,000 30,246
ASE Holding Electronics (Philippines),
Incorporated 92,559 2,916
Omniquest 319,170 10,056
ASE Singapore Pte Ltd 874,659 27,557
------------- ------------
11,382,653 358,622
============= ============
26. DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The Company, ASE Test, Inc., ASE Material and ASE Korea entered into
European foreign currency option contracts, forward exchange contracts,
cross-currency swaps, interest rate swap contracts and interest rate
swaptions in 2003 and 2004 in order to manage the Company's exposure to
fluctuations associated with foreign currency denominated assets and
liabilities, variable interest rates and foreign exchange rate
fluctuations. The Company does not enter into derivative contracts for
trading purposes.
F-47
Information on such derivative transactions is as follows:
a. European foreign currency option contracts
1) Because the Company expects to receive U.S. dollars from export
sales and to pay Japanese yen or New Taiwan dollars to settle
payables or bank borrowings, the Company occasionally enters
into European foreign currency option contracts to manage its
exposure to exchange rate fluctuations.
The outstanding contracts as of December 31, 2004 are shown in
Schedule I.
2) Because the Company expects to pay Japanese yen to settle
certain yen denominated payables, the Company occasionally
enters into European foreign currency option contracts to manage
its exposure to exchange rate fluctuations.
The outstanding contracts as of December 31, 2004 are shown in
Schedule II.
3) The Company occasionally enters into European foreign currency
option contracts to manage its exposure to exchange rate
fluctuations associated with its net investments in foreign
operations.
The outstanding contracts as of December 31, 2004 are shown in
Schedule III.
The gain on exchange rates arising from such contracts
approximated NT$79,758 thousand and NT$48,181 thousand (US$1,518
thousand) in 2003 and 2004 (including exchange loss of NT$7,162
thousand and exchange income of NT$33,310 thousand (US$1,049
thousand) arising from such contracts based on mark-to-market
valuation on the balance sheet date), respectively.
b. Forward exchange contracts
The Company entered into forward contracts to manage its exposure to
foreign exchange rate fluctuations associated with its long-term debt
and payables. As of December 31, 2004, there were no outstanding
contracts. The gain or loss arising from such contracts during the
years ended December 31, 2003 and 2004 was immaterial.
c. Cross-currency swap contract
In October 2003, the Company entered into two cross-currency swap
contracts with banks to manage its exposure to interest rate and
exchange rate fluctuations associated with its long-term bond
payables. These contracts will expire in October 2007 and September
2008, respectively. The terms of these contracts provide for a
semi-annual exchange of interest payment, whereby the Company pays an
annual interest rate of 1.7% and receives an annual interest rate of
2.7% on a nominal amount of US$200,000 thousand. The Company had net
interest income of NT$11,056 thousand (US$348 thousand) and NT$57,410
thousand (US$1,809 thousand) from these contracts in 2003 and 2004,
respectively, which was recorded as an offset to interest expense on
the bonds.
The Company adjusted the related receivables and payables associated
with the cross-currency swap contracts based on the spot rate as of
December 31, 2004. The exchange loss arising from such contracts,
based on the spot rate on December 31, 2004, was approximately
NT$322,321 thousand (US$10,155 thousand) in 2004, and the cumulated
unrealized exchange loss was NT$319,181 thousand (US$10,056
thousand).
d. Interest rate swap contracts
In December 2003, the Company entered into an interest rate swap
contract with a bank to manage its exposure to interest rate
fluctuations associated with its long-term debt. The contract will
expire in January 2009. The terms of the contract provide for a
semi-annual exchange of interest payments whereby the company pays a
floating rate and receives an annual interest rate 3.6% on an
underlying
F-48
nominal amount of NT$2.75 billion.
The Company recorded net interest income of NT$87,699 thousand
(US$2,763 thousand) from the contract in 2004, which was recorded as
an offset against interest expense on the bonds.
e. Interest rate swaption contract
In May 2004, the Company entered into an interest rate swaption
contract with a bank whereby the Company pays a floating interest
rate, 6-month USD-LIBOR-BBA, and receives a fixed annual rate of
3.65%. The notional amount of the contract is US$20,000 thousand.
Payment dates are November 23, 2005 and May 23, 2006, the contract
termination date.
In April 2004, the Company entered into another interest rate
swaption contract which will expire in October 2007. The terms of the
contract provide that if the 6-month USD-LIBOR-BBA rate ever reaches
5% before the expiration of the contract, the interest to be paid to
the bank during the contract period is calculated as the number of
days for which index rate 6-month USD-LIBOR-BBA is greater than 5%
divided by the numbers of days that have passed during the contract
period, multiplied by the fixed rate of 2.7%. The notional amount of
the contract is US$157,000 thousand. Payment dates are every April 20
and October 20 starting from October 20, 2004 through the expiration
date.
f. Transaction risk
1) Credit risk
The Company is exposed to credit risk in the event of
non-performance of the counter parties to forward contracts on
maturity. In order to manage this risk, the Company transacts
only with financial institutions with good credit ratings. As a
result, no material losses resulting from counter party defaults
are anticipated.
2) Market risk
The Company periodically purchases and sells products in
currencies other than its functional currencies. This subjects
the Company to the risks associated with fluctuations of foreign
currency exchange rates. The Company reduces this risk by
utilizing natural hedging (offsetting receivables and payables)
as well as by creating offsetting positions through the use of
derivative financial instruments, primarily foreign currency
options contracts with maturities of less than six months. The
market risk related to the foreign currency options contracts is
typically offset by the changes in valuation of the underlying
items being hedged. The amount of risk and the use of derivative
financial instruments described above are not material to the
Company's financial position or results of operations. As of
December 31, 2004, the Company had certain outstanding debt
which was in variable rate short-term instruments as well as
fixed rate instruments. Accordingly, the Company will be
impacted by any change in short-term interest rates. The Company
does not hedge either its investment in its foreign operations
or its floating interest rate exposures.
3) Liquidity risk and cash flow risk
The Company entered into European option contracts and forward
exchange contracts to manage its exposure to the effect of
exchange rate fluctuations on net assets or net liabilities. As
the Company has sufficient operating capital to meet cash
requirements upon the maturity of these contracts, the Company
believes there are no significant liquidity or cash flow risks.
F-49
27. NON-DERIVATIVE AND DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
December 31
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
2003 2004
----------------------- --------------------------------------------
Carrying
Values Fair Values Carrying Values Fair Values
----------- ----------- ---------------------- --------------------
NT$ NT$ NT$ US$ NT$ US$
Non-derivative financial instruments
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents 8,562,425 8,562,425 5,975,103 188,252 5,975,103 188,252
Short-term investments 3,017,779 3,023,055 3,194,183 100,636 3,198,369 100,768
Notes receivable 111,596 111,596 89,612 2,823 89,612 2,823
Accounts receivable 12,798,135 12,798,135 13,586,635 428,060 13,586,635 428,060
Other receivable 206,475 206,475 915,433 28,842 915,433 28,836
Pledged time deposit 167,426 167,426 127,629 4,021 127,629 4,021
Long-term investments including deferred
credit of long-term investment 6,339,655 4,736,368 4,877,216 153,661 4,079,448 128,527
Guarantee deposit 359,908 359,908 383,131 12,071 383,131 12,071
Liabilities
Short-term borrowings 5,048,230 5,048,230 3,733,433 117,625 3,733,433 117,625
C/P and B/A payable 1,075,965 1,075,965 908,816 28,633 908,816 28,633
Notes and Accounts payable 6,488,989 6,488,989 7,899,950 248,896 7,899,950 248,896
Accrued expense 1,839,276 1,839,276 3,163,155 99,658 3,163,155 99,658
Payables for properties 4,392,340 4,392,340 6,500,851 204,816 6,500,851 204,816
Long-term bonds payable 6,861,232 7,511,616 9,440,582 297,435 9,778,704 308,088
Long-term bank loan (included current
portion) 29,364,701 29,364,701 38,903,219 1,225,684 38,903,219 1,225,684
Capital lease obligation (included
current portion) 270,129 270,129 396,344 12,487 396,344 12,487
Long-term payable for investments
(included current portion) 2,309,960 2,309,960 - - - -
Derivative financial instruments
European options - - (3,297) (104) (3,297) (104)
Forward exchange contracts (7,162) (7,162) 42,335 1,334 42,335 1,334
Cross currency swap contract (68,110) (68,110) (310,089) (9,770) (310,089) (9,770)
The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, notes receivable,
accounts receivable, short-term borrowings, commercial paper and bank
acceptance payables, notes and accounts payable approximate their fair
values due to the short-term nature of these instruments. The fair values
of short-term and long-term investments are determined based on market
values or net equity values. The book value of pledged time deposits and
guarantee deposits represents their fair value. The fair values of
long-term bonds, capital lease obligations and payables for investments
are determined based on the market value or the estimated present value of
future cash flows using interest rates of similar debt instruments which
the Company is able to obtain as the discount rate. The fair value of
variable rate long-term bank loans approximate their carrying values. The
derivative financial instruments are recorded at their fair market values.
28. SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
a. Geographical sales information
1) Net revenue:
Year Ended December 31
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2002 2003 2004
----------------------- ----------------------- -----------------------------------
% of % of % of
Total Total Total
NT$ Revenues NT$ Revenues NT$ US$ Revenues
America 26,922,752 59 34,480,470 60 47,569,012 1,498,709 58
Taiwan 11,342,210 25 15,498,114 27 17,656,632 556,289 22
Europe 2,766,981 6 4,741,725 8 6,664,946 209,986 8
Asia and other areas 4,554,895 10 2,591,461 5 9,822,054 309,453 12
------------ ---- ------------ ---- ------------ ----------- ----
45,586,838 100 57,311,770 100 81,712,644 2,574,437 100
============ ==== ============ ==== ============ =========== ====
F-50
2) Long-lived assets:
December 31
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2003 2004
---------------------------- --------------------------------------------
% of Total % of Total
Long-lived Long-lived
NT$ Assets NT$ US$ Assets
Taiwan 52,020,556 77 61,258,813 1,930,019 74
Asia 14,442,830 22 20,286,615 639,150 25
America 876,561 1 841,487 26,512 1
--------------- ----- --------------- -------------- -----
67,339,947 100 82,386,915 2,595,681 100
=============== ===== =============== ============== =====
b. Major customers
Customers that account for 10% or more of total revenues are
shown below:
Year Ended December 31
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2002 2003 2004
----------------------- ----------------------- ------------------------------------
% of % of % of
Total Total Total
NT$ Revenues NT$ Revenues NT$ US$ Revenues
Customer A 7,703,767 17 5,815,933 10 6,389,929 201,321 8
c. Reported segment information
The Company has three reportable segments: packaging, testing
and investing. The Company packages bare semiconductors into
finished semiconductors with enhanced electrical and thermal
characteristics; provides testing services, including front-end
engineering testing, wafer probing and final testing services;
and engages in investing activities. The accounting policies of
the segments are the same as those described in Note 2. Segment
information for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2003 and 2004
is as follows:
Packaging Testing Investing All Other Total
2002
Revenue from external
customer NT$ 35,800,353 NT$ 9,784,007 NT$ - NT$ 2,478 NT$ 45,586,838
Inter-segment revenues 14,291 276,628 - 3,297,278 3,588,197
Interest revenue 277,096 12,619 90,127 12,751 392,593
Interest expense 1,109,241 183,967 639,896 38,124 1,971,227
Net interest expense (832,145) (171,348) (549,769) (25,373) (1,578,634)
Depreciation and
amortization 5,743,420 5,679,224 738 862,944 12,286,326
Impairment of long-lived
assets - 1,225,555 - - 1,225,555
Segment profit (loss) 1,304,013 (2,797,405) (654,314) (561,999) (2,709,705)
Segment asset 53,667,786 31,338,672 8,099,495 11,799,063 104,905,016
Expenditures for segment
assets 9,054,519 4,393,023 - 2,302,265 15,749,807
Goodwill 585,406 4,956,402 - - 5,541,808
2003
Revenue from external
customer NT$ 45,026,868 NT$ 12,142,396 NT$ - NT$ 142,506 NT$ 57,311,770
Inter-segment revenues 90,576 103,249 - 5,082,561 5,276,386
Interest revenue 53,678 7,593 47,621 5,735 114,627
Interest expense 734,312 147,975 429,750 107,315 1,419,352
Net interest revenue
(expense) (680,634) (140,382) (382,129) (101,580) (1,304,725)
Depreciation and
amortization 6,527,475 5,251,832 1,890 985,371 12,766,568
Segment profit (loss) 2,692,936 124,234 (706,384) (623,056) 1,487,730
Segment asset 61,923,742 33,343,057 6,578,117 12,479,327 114,324,243
Expenditures for segment
assets 9,084,929 6,027,521 - 2,121,874 17,234,324
Goodwill 481,123 4,115,111 - - 4,596,234
(Continued)
F-51
Packaging Testing Investing All Other Total
2004
Revenue from external
customer NT$ 64,735,754 NT$ 16,473,924 NT$ - NT$ 501,966 NT$ 81,712,644
Inter-segment revenues 122,131 128,398 - 5,254,736 5,505,265
Interest revenue 52,103 6,445 19,516 1,614 79,678
Interest expense 605,596 132,320 166,910 73,579 978,405
Net interest revenue
(expense) (553,493) (125,875) (147,394) (71,965) (898,727)
Depreciation and
amortization 7,648,147 5,881,685 - 1,256,440 14,786,272
Impairment on assets 175,348 1,774,749 - 512,000 2,462,097
Segment profit (loss) 5,603,930 691,150 (1,737,156) (1,026,108) 3,531,816
Segment asset 75,714,335 35,200,341 4,239,422 18,796,778 133,950,876
Expenditures for segment
assets 16,756,713 7,769,043 - 6,062,555 30,588,311
Goodwill 868,682 1,977,438 - - 3,336,376
2004
Revenue from external
customer US$ 2,039,595 US$ 519,027 US$ - US$ 15,815 US$ 2,574,437
Inter-segment revenues 3,848 4,045 - 165,556 173,449
Interest revenue 1,641 203 615 51 2,510
Interest expense 19,080 4,169 5,259 2,317 30,825
Net interest revenue
(expense) (17,439) (3,966) (4,644) (2,268) (28,315)
Depreciation and
amortization 240,962 185,308 - 39,586 465,856
Impairment on assets 5,525 55,915 - 16,131 77,571
Segment profit (loss) 176,557 21,775 (54,731) (32,329) 111,272
Segment asset 2,385,455 1,109,021 133,567 592,211 4,220,254
Expenditures for segment
assets 527,937 244,771 - 191,007 963,715
Goodwill 27,369 62,301 - - 105,116
29. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES FOLLOWED
BY THE CORPORATION AND GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES IN THE
UNITED STATES
The Company's consolidated financial statements have been prepared in
accordance with ROC GAAP, which differ in the following respects from U.S.
GAAP:
a. Pension benefits
The Company adopted U.S. Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
("U.S. SFAS") No. 87, "Accounting for Pensions", on January 1, 1987.
ROC SFAS No. 18, which is substantially similar in many aspects to
U.S. SFAS No. 87, became effective in 1996 for listed companies in
Taiwan. Therefore, pension expense, which includes an amount
attributable to the unrecognized net obligation at the date of
adoption, differs due to different adoption dates and is therefore
adjusted.
b. Short-term investments
Under ROC GAAP, marketable equity securities are carried at the lower
of aggregate cost or market, and debt securities are carried at cost,
with only unrealized losses recognized. Under U.S. SFAS No. 115,
"Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities",
debt and equity securities that have readily determinable fair values
are to be classified as either trading, available-for-sale or
held-to-maturity securities. Debt securities for which the Company
has the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity are
classified as held-to-maturity securities and reported at amortized
cost. Debt and equity securities that are bought and traded for
short-term profit are classified as trading securities and reported
at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses included in earnings.
Debt and equity securities not classified as either held-to-maturity
or trading are classified as available-for-sale securities and
reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses excluded
from earnings and reported as a separate component of shareholders'
equity.
All of the Company's short-term investments are classified as trading
securities under U.S. GAAP, with gains and losses recognized
currently in income. The unrealized gains included in earnings under
U.S. GAAP for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2003 and 2004 were
as follows:
F-52
Year Ended December 31
--------------------------------------------
2002 2003 2004
-------------- ------------ --------------
NT$ NT$ NT$ US$
Unrealized gain (loss) (38,844) 3,151 (1,011) (32)
All of the Company's short-term investments in mutual funds, stocks,
commercial papers and convertible bonds are held principally for the
purpose of selling them in the near term.
c. Bonuses to employees, directors and supervisors
According to ROC regulations and the Articles of Incorporation of the
Company, a portion of distributable earnings should be set aside as
bonuses to employees, directors and supervisors. Bonuses to directors
and supervisors are always paid in cash. However, bonuses to
employees may be granted in cash or stock or both. All of these
appropriations, including stock bonuses which are valued at par value
of NT$10, are charged against retained earnings under ROC GAAP after
such appropriations are formally approved by the shareholders in the
following year. Under U.S. GAAP, such bonuses are charged against
income earned in the current year. Shares issued as part of these
bonuses are recorded at fair market value. Since the amount and form
of such bonuses are not usually determinable until the shareholders'
board of directors meeting in the subsequent year, the total amount
of the aforementioned bonuses is initially accrued based on the
management's estimate regarding the amount to be paid based on the
Company's Articles of Incorporation. Any difference between the
initially accrued amount and the fair market value of any shares
issued as bonuses is recognized in the year of approval by the
shareholders.
Aside from the aforementioned bonus plan, the Company granted a
special stock bonus to employees of NT$2,506,617 thousand in 2000.
Employees who received the special stock bonus are required to
continue working for the Company for an additional three years.
Accordingly, the amount of special stock bonuses is being allocated
over three years as additional compensation expense in the
consolidated statement of income under U.S. GAAP.
d. Treasury stock
The common shares of the Company that are held by consolidated
subsidiaries are, under U.S. GAAP, reflected as treasury stock in the
consolidated balance sheet. The capital gain (loss) from sales of
treasury stock is deducted from or added to the consolidated balance of
capital surplus.
Beginning January 1, 2002, the Company adopted ROC SFAS No. 30,
"Accounting for Treasury Stock", which requires shares of parent stock
held by subsidiaries to be recorded as treasury stock. Prior to 2002,
common shares of the Company held by subsidiaries were presented as a
long-term investment in the consolidated balance sheets with the gain
or loss on the sale of the treasury stock reflected in the consolidated
statements of income.
Prospectively, any unrealized losses that have accumulated prior to the
effective date of the new standard will be recorded to the income
statement when the corresponding shares are sold under ROC GAAP.
F-53
e. Depreciation of buildings
Under ROC GAAP, the estimated life of a building can be up to 55
years based on ROC practices. For U.S. GAAP purposes, the useful
lives of buildings are estimated to be 25 years.
f. Excess of book value on transfer of buildings between consolidated
subsidiaries
ASE Test, Inc., a consolidated subsidiary, purchased buildings and
facilities from another consolidated subsidiary, ASE Technologies, in
1997. The purchase price of the building from ASE Technologies was
based on market value. Such additional payment for the excess of book
value of NT$17,667 thousand was capitalized by ASE Test, Inc. as
allowed under ROC GAAP. Under U.S. GAAP, transfers of assets between
entities under common control are accounted for using their historic
cost.
g. Gain on sales of subsidiary's stock
The carrying value of stock investments in ASE Test by J&R Holding
Limited under ROC GAAP is different from that under U.S. GAAP mainly
due to the differences in accounting for bonuses to employees,
directors and supervisors.
h. Effects of U.S. GAAP adjustments on equity-method investments
The carrying values of equity-method investments and the investment
income (loss) accounted for by the equity method in HCDC, HCKC, USI
and Inprocomm are reflected in the consolidated financial statements
under ROC GAAP. The financial statements of these equity investees
prepared under ROC GAAP are different from the financial statements
of such equity investees prepared under U.S. GAAP mainly due to the
differences in accounting for bonuses to employees, directors and
supervisors and the depreciation of buildings. Therefore, the
investment income (loss) has been adjusted to reflect the differences
between ROC GAAP and U.S. GAAP in the investees' financial
statements.
i. Impairment of long-lived assets
Under U.S. GAAP, in accordance with U.S. SFAS No. 144, "Accounting
for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets", long-lived
assets held and used by the Company are reviewed for impairment
whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the
carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. For purposes of
evaluating the recoverability of long-lived assets, the
recoverability test is performed by comparing undiscounted net cash
flows of the assets against the net book value of the assets. If the
recoverability test indicates that an impairment has occurred, the
impairment loss is the amount of the asset's net book value in excess
of the related fair value. Prior to 2004, there were no requirements
related to the evaluation of recoverability of the carrying value of
long-lived assets under ROC GAAP, and accordingly, the Company
applied the same accounting for impairment of long-lived assets as
U.S. SFAS No. 144 for both ROC GAAP and U.S. GAAP reporting. On
December 31, 2004, the Company adopted ROC SFAS No.35 "Impairment of
Assets", which requires that long-lived assets should be tested for
impairment annually.
j. Stock dividends
Under ROC GAAP, stock dividends are recorded at par value with a
charge to retained earnings. Under U.S. GAAP, if the ratio of
distribution is less than 25 percent of the same class of shares
outstanding, the fair value of the shares issued should be charged to
retained earnings. The difference for 2003 and 2004 stock dividends
would be treated as an additional reduction to retained earnings and
an increase to capital surplus amounting to NT$143 million and
NT$3,285 million (US$104 million), respectively.
F-54
k. Stock option compensation
Under ROC GAAP, all stock-based compensation for awards granted or
modified after January 1, 2004 should be accounted for in conformity
with the related Interpretations of ARDF in the ROC. The compensation
cost is measured based on the intrinsic value method and accordingly,
compensation cost for stock options is measured as the excess, if
any, of the quoted market price of the Company's stock at the date of
the grant over the amount an employee must pay to acquire the stock.
The intrinsic value of the shares is recognized as expense over the
requisite service or vesting period. For U.S. GAAP reporting, the
Company has elected to follow Accounting Principles Board ("APB")
Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees", which
measures compensation expense based on the difference, if any,
between the market price of the underlying common shares and the
exercise price of the stock option on the date of the grant. The
Company is required under U.S. SFAS No. 123, "Accounting for
Stock-based Compensation", to disclose the pro forma information
regarding option grants to its employees computed as if the fair
value method had been applied.
l. Derivative financial instruments
Under ROC GAAP, the Company accounts for certain derivative
instruments as cash flow hedges of certain forecasted transactions
and accordingly any gains or losses on such contracts have been
recorded to an other component of shareholder's equity. Under U.S.
GAAP, accounting for derivative instruments is covered under U.S.
SFAS No. 133, as amended, which requires that all entities recognize
derivative instruments as assets and liabilities in the statement of
financial positions at fair value. If certain conditions are met,
including certain rigorous documentation requirements, entities may
elect to designate a derivative instrument as a hedge. Under U.S.
GAAP, the Company does not apply hedge accounting, and derivatives
have historically been, and continue to be, recorded on the
consolidated balance sheet at fair value, with the changes in fair
values recorded in current period earnings.
m. Goodwill
Under ROC GAAP, the Company amortizes goodwill arising from
acquisitions over 10 years. Total amortization expenses of goodwill
under ROC GAAP in 2002, 2003 and 2004 are NT$815,573 thousand,
NT$819,253 thousand and NT$877,582 thousand (US$27,649 thousand),
respectively. Under U.S. GAAP, SFAS No. 142 requires the Company to
review for possible impairment goodwill existing at the date of
adoption and perform subsequent impairment tests on at least an
annual basis. In addition, existing goodwill and intangible assets
must be reassessed and classified consistently in accordance with the
criteria set forth in U.S. SFAS No. 141 and U.S. SFAS No. 142. As a
result, the Company will no longer amortize goodwill. Definite-lived
intangible assets will continue to be amortized over their estimated
useful lives. The Company completed its transitional impairment test
on January 1, 2002 and found no impairment. The Company performed its
annual impairment test during the fourth quarter and determined that
the goodwill related to the acquisition of ASE Test and ISE Labs was
impaired and recorded a charge of NT$2,213,045 thousand and
NT$1,337,670 thousand (US$42,145 thousand) in 2002 and 2004,
respectively.
On December 31, 2004, the Company adopted ROC SFAS No.35 "Impairment
of Assets" which requires that long-lived assets should be tested for
impairment annually. In conjunction of ROC SAFS No.35, the Company
recognized on impairment loss of NT$1,950,097 thousand (US$61,440
thousand). Under ROC GAAP, the Company will continue to amortize
goodwill.
n. Undistributed earnings tax
Undistributed earnings generated after 1997 are subject to a 10% tax
in compliance with the Income Tax Law of the ROC. Under ROC GAAP, the
10% tax on undistributed earnings is recorded as an expense at the
time shareholders resolve that the Company's earnings shall be
retained. Under U.S. GAAP, the Company measured its income tax
expense, including the tax effects of temporary differences, using
the rate that includes the tax on undistributed earnings.
F-55
o. Impairment of long-term investments
ROC GAAP and U.S. GAAP require an assessment of impairment of
long-term investments whenever events or circumstances indicate a
decline in value may be other than temporary. The criteria for
determining whether on not an impairment charge is required are
similar under ROC GAAP and U.S. GAAP; however, the methods to measure
the amount of impairment may be based on different estimates of fair
values depending on the circumstances. When impairment is determined
to have occurred, U.S. GAAP generally requires the market price to be
used, if available, to determine the fair value of the long-term
investment and measure the amount of impairment at the reporting
date. Under ROC GAAP, if the market price is deemed to be a result of
an inactive market, another measure of fair value may be used. As
such, the Company determined an other-than-temporary impairment
occurred in one of its long-term investments in an equity-method
investee at December 31, 2002. The amount recorded for U.S. GAAP was
based on the market price of the stock of the investee at December
31, 2002. The difference resulted in an additional impairment charge
for 2002 under U.S. GAAP of NT$883,620 thousand. No impairment charge
was incurred under U.S. GAAP in 2003 as a result of the increase of
the market price of the stock of investee companies. On December 31,
2004, the Company adopted ROC SFAS No. 35 and, in accordance with
this standard, determined that an impairment charge of NT$512,000
thousand (US$16,131 thousand) was required. Under U.S. GAAP, the
Company recorded an impairment charge of NT$1,707,000 thousand
(US$53,781 thousand) in 2004.
The following schedule reconciles net income (loss) and shareholders'
equity under ROC GAAP as reported in the consolidated financial statements
to the approximate net income (loss) and shareholders' equity amounts as
determined under U.S. GAAP, giving effect to adjustments for the
differences listed above.
Year Ended December 31
--------------------------------------------------------
2002 2003 2004
------------ ------------ ---------------------------
NT$ NT$ NT$ US$
Net income
Net income based on ROC GAAP 129,035 2,742,796 4,209,690 132,630
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Adjustments:
a. Pension benefits 2,619 3,172 2,568 81
b. Short-term investments (38,844) 3,151 (1,011) (32)
c. Bonuses to employees, directors and supervisors:
Accrued regular bonuses - (307,500) (609,008) (19,187)
Special stock bonuses (835,539) (417,769) - -
d. Loss from sale of treasury stock - 354,787 - -
e. Depreciation of buildings (99,981) (101,242) (98,828) (3,114)
f. Excess of book value of building transferred between
consolidated subsidiaries 432 432 432 13
h. Effects for U.S. GAAP adjustments on equity-method
investees 198,839 186,055 436,619 13,756
k. Stock option compensation - (819,027) 238,602 7,517
l. Derivative financial instruments - - (374,444) (11,797)
m. Goodwill
Amortization 815,573 819,253 877,582 27,649
Impairment loss (2,213,045) - 612,427 19,295
o. Net impact of impairment loss on equity-method
investees (883,620) - (1,195,000) (37,649)
Effect of U.S. GAAP adjustment on income tax 10,783 10,953 109,068 3,436
Effect of U.S. GAAP adjustment on minority interest (160,517) (123,050) 88,376 2,785
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Net decrease in net income (3,203,300) (390,785) 87,383 2,753
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Net income (loss) based on U.S. GAAP (3,074,265) 2,352,011 4,297,073 135,383
============ ============ ============ ============
Earnings (loss) per share
Basic (0.85) 0.63 1.11 0.03
Diluted (0.85) 0.63 1.09 0.03
(Continued)
F-56
Year Ended December 31
---------------------------------------------------------
2002 2003 2004
------------ ------------ ----------------------------
NT$ NT$ NT$ US$
Net income
Earnings (loss) per ADS (Note 30(i))
Basic (4.26) 3.16 5.57 0.18
Diluted (4.26) 3.13 5.43 0.17
Number of weighted average shares outstanding (Note 30(i))
Basic 3,609,773,466 3,721,211,293 3,855,990,735 3,855,990,735
Diluted 3,609,773,466 3,755,558,548 4,110,103,367 4,110,103,367
Number of ADS
Basic 721,954,693 744,242,259 771,198,147 771,198,147
Diluted 721,954,693 751,111,710 822,020,673 822,020,673
Shareholders' equity
Shareholders' equity based on ROC GAAP 39,430,666 45,122,602 51,311,759 1,616,628
------------ ------------ ------------- ------------
Adjustments:
a. Pension benefits (36,785) (33,613) (31,045) (978)
b. Restatement of short-term investments 2,046 5,197 4,186 132
c. Bonuses to employees, directors and supervisors - (124,424) (244,345) (7,698)
d. Treasury stock
Reversal of unrealized loss 367,662 12,875 12,875 406
Classification of treasury stock (378,138) (23,351) (23,351) (736)
e. Effect of U.S. GAAP adjustments on useful life (276,207) (377,449) (476,277) (15,006)
f. Excess of book value of building transferred between
related parties (15,327) (14,895) (14,463) (456)
g. Restate carrying value of subsidiaries' long-term
investment (8,619) (8,619) (8,619) (272)
h. Effects of the above adjustments on equity-method
investments (73,819) 112,236 548,855 17,292
k. Stock option compensation (908,661) (908,661) (908,661) (28,628)
l. Derivative financial instruments - - (337,837) (10,644)
m. Goodwill
Amortization 815,573 1,634,826 2,512,408 79,156
Impairment loss (2,213,045) (2,213,045) (1,600,618) (50,429)
o. Impairment loss on equity-method investments (883,620) (883,620) (2,078,620) (65,489)
Effect of U.S. GAAP adjustments on income tax 39,484 50,437 159,505 5,025
Effect on U.S. GAAP adjustments on minority interest (144,458) (267,508) (179,132) (5,643)
------------ ------------ ------------- ------------
Net decrease in shareholders` equity (3,713,914) (3,039,614) (2,665,139) (83,968)
------------ ------------ ------------- ------------
Shareholders' equity based on U.S. GAAP 35,716,752 42,082,988 48,646,620 1,532,660
============ ============ ============= ============
Changes in shareholders' equity based on U.S. GAAP:
Balance, beginning of year 37,960,342 35,716,752 42,082,988 1,325,866
Net income (loss) for the year (3,074,265) 2,352,011 4,297,073 135,383
Capital received in advance - - 42,759 1,347
Adjustment for common shares issued as bonuses to employees,
directors and supervisors 835,539 590,565 421,339 13,274
Adjustment for stock option compensation - 819,027 (238,602) (7,517)
Translation adjustment for subsidiaries (126,378) (287,422) (919,220) (28,961)
Adjustment from changes in ownership percentage of investees 102,888 57,668 15,332 483
Unrealized loss on long-term investment in shares of stock 18,626 - (1,781) (56)
Capital increase through the issuance of common stock
through merger - - 5,976,496 188,295
Elimination of long-term investment balance on consolidation - - (242,792) (7,649)
Sale (purchase) of treasury stock - 2,850,524 (2,798,399) (88,165)
Unrecognized pension cost - (16,137) 11,427 360
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Balance, end of year 35,716,752 42,082,988 48,646,620 1,532,660
============ ============ ============ ============
F-57
A reconciliation of the significant balance sheet accounts to the
approximate amounts as determined under U.S. GAAP is as follows:
December 31
-----------------------------------------
2003 2004
------------ --------------------------
NT$ NT$ US$
Short-term investments
As reported 3,017,779 3,194,183 100,636
U.S. GAAP adjustments
Restatement of investments to fair value 5,197 4,186 132
------------ ------------ ------------
As adjusted 3,022,976 3,198,369 100,768
============ ============ ============
Long-term investments
As reported 6,342,795 4,907,363 154,611
U.S. GAAP adjustments
Equity investments 112,236 548,855 17,292
Impairment loss (883,620) (2,078,620) (65,489)
------------ ------------ ----- ------
As adjusted 5,571,411 3,377,598 106,414
============ ============ ============
Buildings and improvement
As reported 18,391,271 21,023,396 662,363
U.S. GAAP adjustments
Effect of U.S. GAAP adjustments on useful life (377,449) (476,277) (15,006)
Excess of book value of building transferred
between related parties (14,895) (14,463) (456)
------------ ------------ ------------
As adjusted 17,998,927 20,532,656 646,901
============ ============ ============
Other assets
As reported 4,587,365 7,425,350 233,943
U.S. GAAP adjustments
Effect of U.S. GAAP adjustments on income tax 50,437 159,505 5,025
------------ ------------ ------------
As adjusted 4,637,802 7,584,855 238,968
============ ============ ============
Goodwill
As reported 4,596,234 3,336,376 105,116
U.S. GAAP adjustments
Restated carrying value of subsidiaries'
long-term investment (917,280) (917,280) (28,900)
Goodwill amortization 1,634,826 2,512,408 79,156
Impairment loss of goodwill (2,213,045) (1,600,618) (50,429)
------------ ------------ ------------
As adjusted 3,100,735 3,330,886 104,943
============ ============ ============
Current liabilities
As reported 27,352,851 25,203,872 794,073
U.S. GAAP adjustments
Bonuses to employees, directors and supervisors 124,424 244,345 7,698
------------ ------------ ------------
As adjusted 27,477,275 25,448,217 801,771
============ ============ ============
Other liabilities
As reported 931,154 2,500,778 78,789
U.S. GAAP adjustments
Pension benefits 33,613 31,045 978
Derivative financial instrumens - 337,837 10,644
------------ ------------ ------------
As adjusted 964,767 2,869,660 90,411
============ ============ ============
F-58
As a result of the adjustments presented above, the approximate amounts of
total assets based on U.S. GAAP were NT$111,720,650 thousand,
NT$132,088,572 thousand (US$4,161,581 thousand) as of December 31, 2003
and 2004, respectively. Total liabilities based on U.S. GAAP were
NT$59,282,103 thousand and NT$74,847,518 thousand (US$2,358,145 thousand)
as of December 31, 2003 and 2004, respectively.
30. ADDITIONAL DISCLOSURES REQUIRED BY U.S. GAAP
a. Recent accounting pronouncements
In March 2004, the Emerging Issues Task Force ("EITF") reached a
consensus on EITF 03-1, "The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary
Impairment and Its Application to Certain Investments". The consensus
was that certain quantitative and qualitative disclosures should be
required for debt and marketable equity securities classified as
available-for-sale or held-to-maturity under SFAS Nos. 115 and 124
that are impaired at the balance sheet date but for which an
other-than-temporary impairment has not been recognized. This EITF
consensus is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15,
2003. Adoption of the EITF consensus did not result in an impact on
the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash
flows.
In November 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 151, "Inventory Costs - An
Amendment of ARB No. 43, Chapter 4." SFAS No. 151 clarifies the
accounting that requires abnormal amounts of idle facility expenses,
freight, handling costs, and spoilage costs to be recognized as
current-period charges. It also requires that allocation of fixed
production overhead to the costs of conversion be based on the normal
capacity of the production facilities. SFAS No. 151 will be effective
for inventory costs incurred on or after July 1, 2005. The Company is
currently evaluating the impact of this standard on its consolidated
financial statements.
In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 123R, "Share-Based
Payment". This statement is a revision of SFAS No. 123 and supercedes
APB Opinion No. 25. This statement establishes standards for the
accounting of transactions in which an entity exchanges its equity
instruments for goods or services, primarily focusing on the
accounting for transactions in which an entity obtains employee
services in share-based payment transactions. Entities will be
required to measure the cost of employee services received in
exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant-date
fair value of the award (with limited exceptions). That cost will be
recognized over the period during which an employee is required to
provide service, the requisite service period (usually the vesting
period), in exchange for the award. The grant-date fair value of
employee share options and similar instruments will be estimated
using option-pricing models. If an equity award is modified after the
grant date, incremental compensation cost will be recognized in an
amount equal to the excess of the fair value of the modified award
over the fair value of the original award immediately before the
modification. This statement is effective as of the beginning of the
first fiscal year that begins after January 1, 2006.
Upon adoption, the Company has two application methods to choose
from: the modified-prospective transition approach or the
modified-retrospective transition approach. Under the
modified-prospective transition method the Company would be required
to recognize compensation cost for share-based awards to employees
based on their grant-date fair value from the beginning of the fiscal
period in which the recognition provisions are first applied as well
as compensation cost for awards that were granted prior to, but not
vested as of the date of adoption. Prior periods remain unchanged and
pro forma disclosures previously required by SFAS No. 123 continue to
be required. Under the modified-retrospective transition method, the
Company would restate prior periods by recognizing compensation cost
in the amounts previously reported in the pro forma footnote
disclosure under SFAS No. 123. Under this method, the Company is
permitted to apply this presentation to all periods presented or to
the start of the fiscal year in which SFAS No. 123R is adopted. The
Company would follow the same guidelines as in the
modified-prospective transition method for awards granted
F-59
subsequent to adoption and those that were granted and not yet
vested. The Company has not yet determined which methodology it will
adopt but believes that the impact that the adoption of SFAS No. 123R
will have on its financial position or results of operations will
approximate the magnitude of the stock-based employee compensation
cost disclosed in Note 30 (e) pursuant to the disclosure requirements
of SFAS No. 148.
In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 153, "Exchanges of
Non-Monetary Assets - An Amendment of APB Opinion No. 29" ("SFAS No.
153"). SFAS No. 153 amends APB Opinion No. 29, "Accounting for
Non-Monetary Transactions" (Opinion 29). The amendments made by SFAS
No. 153 are based on the principle that exchanges of non-monetary
assets should be measured based on the fair value of the assets
exchanged. Further, the amendments eliminate the exception for
non-monetary exchanges of similar productive assets and replace it
with a general exception for exchanges of non-monetary assets that do
not have commercial substance. The provisions in SFAS NO. 153 are
effective for non-monetary asset exchanges occurring in fiscal
periods beginning after June 15, 2005 (July 1, 2005 for the Company).
Early application of the SFAS No. 153 is permitted. The provisions of
this Statement shall be applied prospectively. The Company does not
expect the adoption of SFAS No. 153 to have a material effect on the
Company's financial statements or its results of operations.
b. Pension
Set forth below is pension information disclosed in accordance with
U.S. SFAS 132 (R):
Year Ended December 31
--------------------------------------------------------------------
2002 2003 2004
--------------- --------------- --------------------------------
NT$ NT$ NT$ US$
Components of net periodic benefit
cost
Service cost 261,810 355,624 455,913 14,364
Interest cost 43,209 54,218 88,087 2,775
Expected return on plan assets (23,003) (19,413) (25,961) (818)
Amortization of prior service cost 1,557 7,989 13,670 431
--------------- --------------- ------------- --------------
Net periodic benefit cost 283,573 398,418 531,709 16,752
=============== =============== =============== ==============
Changes in benefit obligation
Benefit obligation at beginning of
year 848,888 1,443,917 1,985,971 62,570
Benefit obligation from acquisition
from ASE Japan - - 1,133,061 35,698
Service cost 261,810 355,624 455,913 14,364
Interest cost 43,209 54,218 88,087 2,775
Plan amendments - 15,247 - -
Actuarial loss 288,441 150,332 142,752 4,498
Benefits paid (8,374) (21,414) (52,649) (1,659)
Exchange loss (Gain) 9,943 (11,953) 44,072 1,389
--------------- --------------- --------------- --------------
Benefit obligation at end of year 1,443,917 1,985,971 3,797,207 119,635
=============== =============== =============== ==============
Change in plan assets
Fair value of plan assets at
beginning of year 412,036 507,098 619,358 19,513
Acquire form ASE - Japan - - 299,142 9,425
Actual return on plan assets 10,157 7,890 20,428 644
Employer contribution 85,050 113,173 138,320 4,358
Benefits paid (145) (8,803) (25,788) (813)
--------------- --------------- --------------- --------------
507,098 619,358 1,051,460 33,127
--------------- --------------- --------------- --------------
(Continued)
F-60
Year Ended December 31
--------------------------------------------------------------------
2002 2003 2004
--------------- --------------- --------------------------------
NT$ NT$ NT$ US$
Funded status 936,819 1,366,613 2,745,747 86,508
Unrecognized actuarial gain (loss) (270,641) (461,562) (597,363) (18,821)
Additional pension cost - 28,627 8,867 279
--------------- --------------- --------------- --------------
Net amount recognized (recognized as
accrued pension cost) 666,178 933,678 2,157,251 67,966
=============== =============== =============== ==============
Actuarial assumptions:
2002 to 2004
Discount rate 2.50% to 5.00%
Rate of compensation increase 3.00% to 5.00%
Expected return on plan assets 2.50% to 5.00%
The Company has no other post-retirement or post-employment benefit
plans.
c. Short-term investments
At December 31, 2003 and 2004, certain investments carried at cost
under ROC GAAP were restated under U.S. SFAS 115:
December 31
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2003 2004
--------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------
Unrealized Unrealized
Carrying Fair Holding Holding
Value Value Gains Carrying Value Fair Value Gains
--------- --------- ----------- ------------------- ------------------ ----------------
NT$ NT$ NT$ NT$ US$ NT$ US$ NT$ US$
Short-term
investments 3,017,779 3,022,976 5,197 3,194,183 100,636 3,198,369 100,768 4,186 132
d. Income tax benefit
Year Ended December 31
--------------------------------------------------------------------
2002 2003 2004
--------------- --------------- --------------------------------
NT$ NT$ NT$ US$
Tax benefit (66,469) (276,788) 134,811 4,247
Net change in deferred income tax
assets (liabilities) for the period (1,261,021) (1,201,453) (1,769,763) (55,758)
Income tax on undistributed earnings 174,478 170,281 86,968 2,740
Adjustment of prior years' income
taxes 1,905 18,859 42,590 1,342
--------------- --------------- --------------- --------------
(1,151,107) (1,289,101) (1,505,394) (47,429)
=============== =============== =============== ==============
A reconciliation between the income tax calculated on pretax
financial statement income based on the
F-61
statutory tax rate and the income tax expense (benefit) which
conforms to U.S. GAAP is as follows:
Year Ended December 31
--------------------------------------------------------------------
2002 2003 2004
--------------- --------------- --------------------------------
NT$ NT$ NT$ US$
Tax (benefit) based on pre-tax
accounting income (loss) at
statutory rate (1,064,135) 527,790 1,391,754 43,848
Add (less) tax effects of:
Permanent differences
Tax-exempt income
Tax holiday (52,126) (481,214) (642,285) (20,236)
Gain from sale of securities (16,798) (10,357) (9,527) (300)
Bonus to employee and directors 52,221 96,519 92,602 2,918
Other 65,259 7,691 (22,094) (696)
Tax credits
Utilized (331,255) (439,457) (1,081,023) (34,059)
Deferred 139,224 (1,179,213) (1,364,379) (42,986)
Income taxes (10%) on undistributed
earnings 54,598 170,281 86,968 2,740
Adjustment of prior year's income tax 1,905 18,859 42,590 1,342
--------------- --------------- --------------- --------------
Income tax expense (benefit) (1,151,107) (1,289,101) (1,505,394) (47,429)
=============== =============== =============== ==============
The abovementioned taxes on pretax accounting income (loss) at the
statutory rates for domestic and foreign entities are shown below:
Year Ended December 31
--------------------------------------------------------------------
2002 2003 2004
--------------- --------------- --------------------------------
NT$ NT$ NT$ US$
Domestic entities in ROC
(25% statutory rate) (282,713) 674,036 1,287,255 40,556
Foreign entities
ASE Korea Inc. (30.8% statutory
rate) - 74,806 (37,683) (1,187)
ASE Japan (40% statutory rate) - - 101,429 3,195
ISE Labs, Inc. (33% statutory rate) (725,744) (209,911) (16,852) (531)
ASE Test Malaysia (30% statutory
rate) (55,678) (11,141) 57,605 1,815
--------------- --------------- -------------- ---------------
(1,064,135) 527,790 1,391,754 43,848
=============== =============== ============== ===============
F-62
Deferred income tax assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2002,
2003 and 2004 are summarized as follows:
December 31
--------------------------------------------------
2003 2004
--------------- --------------------------------
NT$ NT$ US$
Current deferred income tax assets
Unused tax credits 1,054,370 1,463,022 46,094
Provision for inventory obsolescence 50,475 19,572 617
Provision for doubtful accounts and sales allowance 33,754 38,436 1,211
Unrealized foreign exchange loss 65,118 (4,424) (139)
Other 29,752 86,259 2,717
--------------- --------------- --------------
1,233,469 1,602,865 50,500
Valuation allowance (8,968) (227,415) (7,165)
--------------- --------------- --------------
1,224,501 1,375,450 43,335
=============== =============== ==============
Non-current deferred income tax assets (liabilities)
Unused tax credits 3,101,039 4,376,234 137,878
Accrued pension costs 153,924 538,129 16,954
Loss carryforward 483,538 236,759 7,459
Investment income (144,000) (144,000) (4,537)
Others 170,824 373,489 11,767
--------------- --------------- --------------
3,765,325 5,380,611 169,521
Valuation allowance (1,484,659) (1,382,974) (43,572)
--------------- --------------- --------------
2,280,666 3,997,637 125,949
=============== =============== ==============
Non-current deferred income tax liabilities
Goodwill amortization (34,674) 32,424 1,021
=============== =============== ==============
e. Employee stock option plans
ASE Option Plan
Information regarding the Company's employee stock option plans is
provided in note 19.
ASE Test Option Plan
ASE Test has six stock option plans, the 1996 Executive Management
Option Plan (the "1996 Plan"), the 1997 Option Plan, the 1998 Option
Plan, the 1999 Option Plan, the 2000 Option Plan and the 2004 Option
Plan. Up to 10,000,000 shares, 3,200,000 shares, 1,600,000 shares,
2,000,000 shares, 12,000,000 shares and 2,500,000 shares have been
reserved for issuance under the 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2004
Option Plans, respectively.
The 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2004 Option Plans granted the
following stock options to purchase the ASE Test shares which are
exercisable based on a vesting schedule over a period of five years
until the expiration of options, to directors, officers and key
employees. If any granted shares are forfeited, the shares may be
granted again, to the extent of any such forfeiture.
Each aforementioned option exercise price was equal to the stock's
market price on the date of grant. Options granted under the 1996,
1997 and 1998 Option Plans expire 5 years after grant. Options
granted under the 1999, 2000 and 2004 Option Plan expire 10 years
after grant.
F-63
Further Information regarding the option plans of ASE Test is
presented below:
Weighted
Average Weighted
Exercise Average
Number of Price Grant Date
Shares Per Share Fair Values
Beginning balance - January 1, 2002 16,308,585 $ 11.15
Option granted 414,500 7.36 $ 10.46
========
Option exercised (2,420,591) 8.62
Option forfeited (882,051) 9.88
Option expired (89,080) 13.84
--------------
Ending balance - December 31, 2002 13,331,363 11.55
Option granted 2,000,000 12.95 $ 12.95
========
Option exercised (478,426) 8.99
Option forfeited (568,860) 13.72
Option expired (982,659) 11.08
--------------
Ending balance - December 31, 2003 13,301,418 11.80
Option granted 260,000 6.18 $ 6.18
========
Option exercised (512,815) 8.90
Option forfeited (417,815) 11.82
Option expired (1,753,340) 20.00
--------------
Ending balance - December 31, 2004 10,877,448 10.48
==============
Options outstanding on December 31, 2004 and the related weighted
average exercise price and remaining contractual life information are
as follows (in U.S. dollars):
Outstanding Exercisable
------------------------- ------------------------ Weighted
Weighted Weighted Average
Average Average Remaining
Shares Price Shares Price Life (Years)
Options with exercise price of:
$ 20-$25 724,800 $ 22.70 685,700 $ 22.57 4.56
$ 11.5-$12.95 2,232,450 12.81 341,200 12.39 8.69
$ 5.5-$9 7,920,198 8.70 4,930,822 8.82 6.23
-------------- --------------
Options outstanding at December 31,
2004 10,877,448 5,957,722
============== ==============
Under U.S. GAAP, SFAS 123, "Stock-Based Compensation" effective in
1996, establishes accounting and disclosure requirements using a fair
value-based method of accounting for stock-based employee
compensation plans. Under SFAS 123, the Company and ASE Test have
elected to use the intrinsic value-based method and provide pro forma
disclosures of net income and earnings per share as if the fair value
accounting provisions of this statement had been adopted.
ASE Test has computed, for pro forma disclosure purposes, the fair
value of each option grant, as defined by U.S. SFAS No. 123, using
the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following
assumptions:
F-64
2002 2003 2004
Risk-free interest rate 2.58%-4.48% 3.38% 3.5%-3.88%
Expected life 5 years 5 years 5 years
Expected volatility 62.14% 65.07% 78.28%
Expected dividend 0% 0% 0%
For purposes of pro forma disclosure, the estimated fair value of the
options is amortized to expense over the option rights vesting
periods. Had the Company and ASE Test recorded compensation costs
based on the estimated grant date fair value, as defined by SFAS No.
123, the Company's net income (loss) under U.S. GAAP would have been
reduced to the pro forma amounts below.
Ended December 31
--------------------------------------------------------------
2002 2003 2004
-------------- -------------- -----------------------------
NT$ NT$ NT$ US$
Net income (loss) based on U.S. GAAP (3,074,265) 2,352,011 4,297,073 135,383
Stock - based compensation expense
(net of tax) (331,872) (220,147) (375,135) (11,819)
-------------- -------------- -------------- ------------
Pro forma net income (loss) (3,406,137) 2,131,864 3,921,938 123,564
============== ============== =============== ============
Report EPS - Basic (0.85) 0.63 1.11 0.03
========= ========= ========= =========
- Diluted (0.85) 0.63 1.09 0.03
========= ========= ========= =========
Pro forma EPS - Basic (0.94) 0.57 1.02 0.03
========= ========= ========= =========
- Diluted (0.94) 0.57 0.99 0.03
========= ========= ========= =========
Reported EPS per ADS - Basic (4.26) 3.16 5.57 0.18
========= ========= ========= =========
- Diluted (4.26) 3.13 5.43 0.17
========= ========= ========= =========
Pro forma EPS per ADS - Basic (4.72) 2.86 5.09 0.16
========= ========= ========= =========
- Diluted (4.72) 2.84 4.97 0.16
========= ========= ========= =========
The pro forma amounts reflect compensation expense related to the
Company 2004 option plan and ASE Test 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000
and 2004 option plans granted and vested only. In future years, the
annual compensation expense may increase relative to the fair value
of the options granted and vested in those future years.
f. In accordance with U.S. SFAS No. 130, the statement of comprehensive
income (loss) for the each years ended December 31, 2002, 2003 and
2004 are presented below:
Year Ended December 31
--------------------------------------------------------------
2002 2003 2004
-------------- -------------- -----------------------------
NT$ NT$ NT$ US$
Net income (loss) based on U.S.
GAAP (3,074,265) 2,352,011 4,297,073 135,383
Translation adjustments on
subsidiaries, net of income tax
benefit of NT$31,595 thousand,
NT$71,856 thousand and NT$229,805
thousand in 2002, 2003 and 2004,
respectively (94,783) (215,566) (689,415) (21,720)
(Continued)
F-65
Year Ended December 31
-----------------------------------------------------------------
2002 2003 2004
-------------- -------------- --------------------------------
NT$ NT$ NT$ US$
Unrecognized pension cost - (16,137) 11,427 360
-------------- -------------- --------------- --------------
Comprehensive income (loss) (3,169,048) 2,120,308 3,619,085 114,023
============== ============== =============== ==============
g. U.S. GAAP cash flow information
The following schedule presents the major captions of cash flows in
accordance with SFAS 95:
Year Ended December 31
-----------------------------------------------------------------
2002 2003 2004
-------------- -------------- --------------------------------
NT$ NT$ NT$ US$
Cash flows
Net cash provided by operating
Activities 11,313,800 13,295,953 19,419,255 611,823
Net cash used in investing activities (13,719,654) (18,572,586) (30,825,342) (971,183)
Net cash provided by financing
Activities 530,491 4,221,190 9,234,004 290,926
-------------- -------------- --------------- ---------------
Net decrease in cash (1,875,363) (1,055,443) (2,172,083) (68,434)
Cash, beginning of year 11,770,729 9,829,508 8,562,425 269,768
Effect of exchange rate changes in
Cash (65,858) (211,640) (415,239) (13,082)
-------------- -------------- --------------- ---------------
9,829,508 8,562,425 5,975,103 188,252
============== ============== =============== ===============
The significant reclassifications for U.S. GAAP cash flow statements
pertain to the compensation to directors and supervisors and bonuses
to employees is shown in the operating activity under U.S. GAAP (as
opposed to financing activities under ROC GAAP).
h. Goodwill
On January 1, 2002, the Company adopted U.S. SFAS No. 142, "Goodwill
and Other Intangible Assets", which requires that goodwill no longer
be amortized, and instead, be tested for impairment on a periodic
basis. In conjunction with the implementation of U.S. SFAS No. 142,
the Company completed a goodwill impairment review as of January 1,
2002 using a fair-value based approach in accordance with the
provision of the standard and found no impairment.
Based on acquisitions completed as of June 30, 2001, application of
the goodwill non-amortization provisions resulted in a decrease in
amortization of approximately NT$815,573 thousand for 2002. The
Company completed its annual goodwill impairment test at December 31,
2002 and determined that it had impairment of NT$2,213,045 thousand
relating to the remaining goodwill associated with its acquisition of
ASE Test. The Company also completed its annual goodwill impairment
test at December 31, 2004 and determined impairment of NT$1,337,670
thousand (US$42,145 thousand) of the remaining goodwill associated
with its acquisition of ISE Labs. As of December 31, 2004, the
Company had goodwill of NT$3,330,886 thousand (US$104,943 thousand)
primarily from the reporting units of the testing operations.
F-66
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the years ended
December 31, 2003 and 2004, by reportable segment, are as follows:
Packaging Testing Other Total
--------------- --------------- --------------- --------------------------------
NT$ NT$ NT$ NT$ US$
Balance as of January
1, 2003 172,041 3,055,015 - 3,227,056 101,672
Translation adjustment (6,734) (119,587) - (126,321) (3,980)
--------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------
Balance as of
December 31, 2003 165,307 2,935,428 - 3,100,735 97,692
Goodwill acquired
during the period 683,774 459,893 512,818 1,656,485 52,189
Goodwill impairment - (1,337,670) - (1,337,670) (42,145)
Translation adjustment (4,141) (83,276) (1,247) (88,664) (2,793)
--------------- --------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
Balance as of
December 31, 2004 844,940 1,974,375 511,571 3,330,886 104,943
=============== =============== =============== =============== ===============
i. Earnings per share
The following table represents the computation of basic and diluted
earnings (loss) per share for each of the years ended at December 31:
2002 2003 2004
----------------- ----------------- -----------------------------------
NT$ NT$ NT$ US$
Basic EPS
Net Income (loss) (3,074,265) 2,352,011 4,297,073 135,383
Interest, net of tax,
paid on convertible bonds - - 163,549 5,153
----------------- ----------------- ----------------- -----------------
Diluted EPS
Net Income (Loss) (3,074,265) 2,352,011 4,460,622 140,536
================= ================= ================= =================
Weighted average shares
outstanding
Basic 3,609,773,466 3,721,211,293 3,855,990,735 3,855,990,735
Effect of
dilutive Securities - 34,347,255 254,112,632 254,112,632
----------------- ----------------- ----------------- -----------------
Diluted 3,609,773,466 3,755,558,548 4,110,103,367 4,110,103,367
================= ================= ================= =================
Diluted earnings per share for the year ended December 31, 2004 were
calculated as follows:
The denominator was the weighted average number of outstanding common
shares which equaled 4,110,103,367 shares in 2004 adjusted for the
effect of the ASE stock options and convertible bonds in 2004.
The denominator used for purposes of calculating earnings (loss) per
ADS was the above-mentioned weighted average outstanding shares
divided by five (one ADS represents five common shares). The
numerator was the same as mentioned in the above EPS calculation.
F-67
ADVANCED SEMICONDUCTOR ENGINEERING, INC. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
SCHEDULE I
Amount
Contract (in Million) Strike Price Maturity Date
ASE
Buy NTD Call / USD Put US$157 32 2005.03.25
Sell NTD Call / USD Put 157 31.37 2005.08.25
Buy USD Call / NTD Put 43 33.95 2008.09.25
Buy USD Put/NTD Call 5 Note 1 2005.01.05
Sell USD Call/NTD Put 5 Note 2 2005.01.05
Buy USD Put/JPY Call 1 Note 3 2005.01.06
Sell USD Call/JPY Put 2 Note 4 2005.01.06
Buy USD Put/NTD Call 6 Note 5 2005.01.06
Sell USD Call/NTD Put 12 Note 6 2005.01.06
Sell USD Call/JPY Put 5 Note 7 2005.01.05
Sell USD Call/JPY Put 5 Note 7 2005.02.03
Sell USD Call/JPY Put 5 Note 7 2005.03.03
Sell USD Call/JPY Put 5 Note 7 2005.04.05
Buy USD Put/JPY Call 0.6 Note 8 2005.01.12
Sell USD Call/JPY Put 1 Note 9 2005.01.12
Buy USD Put/JPY Call 1 Note 10 2005.01.14
Sell USD Call/JPY Put 1.75 Note 11 2005.01.14
Buy USD Put/NTD Call 5 Note 1 2005.02.03
Sell USD Call/NTD Put 5 Note 2 2005.02.03
Buy USD Put/NTD Call 6 Note 5 2005.02.04
Sell USD Call/NTD Put 12 Note 6 2005.02.04
Buy USD Put/JPY Call 1 Note 3 2005.02.09
Sell USD Call/JPY Put 2 Note 4 2005.02.09
Buy USD Put/NTD Call 5 Note 1 2005.03.03
Sell USD Call/NTD Put 5 Note 2 2005.03.03
Buy USD Put/JPY Call 1 Note 3 2005.03.04
Sell USD Call/JPY Put 2 Note 4 2005.03.04
Buy USD Put/NTD Call 6 Note 5 2005.03.08
Sell USD Call/NTD Put 12 Note 6 2005.03.08
Buy USD Put/NTD Call 5 Note 1 2005.04.05
Sell USD Call/NTD Put 5 Note 2 2005.04.05
Buy USD Put/JPY Call 1 Note 3 2005.04.06
Sell USD Call/JPY Put 2 Note 4 2005.04.06
Buy USD Put/NTD Call 6 Note 5 2005.04.07
Sell USD Call/NTD Put 12 Note 6 2005.04.07
Buy USD Put/JPY Call 1 Note 3 2005.05.05
Sell USD Call/JPY Put 2 Note 4 2005.05.05
Buy USD Put/NTD Call 6 Note 5 2005.05.06
Sell USD Call/NTD Put 12 Note 6 2005.05.06
Buy USD Put/NTD Call 6 Note 5 2005.06.08
Sell USD Call/NTD Put 12 Note 6 2005.06.08
F-68
Strike price is as follows:
Note 1: If 32.10=32.5, strike price is
32.50.
Note 3: If USD/JPY<=106.00, strike price is based on the spot rate plus
100bp.
If 106.00109.00, strike price is 109.00.
Note 5: If USD/NTD spot rate never reaches 33.00 at anytime before
expiration, and the settlement rate <=31.20, strike price is based
on the spot rate plus 380bp.
If USD/NTD spot rate ever reaches 33.00 at anytime before
expiration, and the settlement rate <=31.20, strike price is based
on the spot rate plus 380bp.
If USD/NTD spot rate never reaches 33.00 at anytime before
expiration, and the settlement rate 31.2032.58, there is no
transaction.
Note 6: If USD/NTD spot rate ever reaches 33.00 at anytime before
expiration, and the settlement rate 32.2032.58, strike price is 32.20.
Note 7: If USD/JPY>103.50, and spot rate ever reaches 106.20 at anytime
before expiration, strike price is 103.50.
Note 8: If USD/JPY<=106.50, strike price is based on the spot rate plus
200bp.
If 106.5110.00, and spot rate ever reaches 114.00 at anytime
before the expiry, strike price is 110.00.
Note 10: If USD/JPY<=106.50, strike price is based on the spot rate plus
100bp.
If 106.5110.00, and spot rate ever reaches 113.80 at anytime
before the expiry, strike price is 110.00.
Amount
Contract (in Millions) Strike Price Maturity Date
ASE Test Inc.
Sell USD Call/NTD Put $2 Note 1 January 12, 2005
Sell USD Call/NTD Put 2 Note 2 January 12, 2005
Buy USD Put/NTD Call 1 Note 3 January 12, 2005
Buy USD Put/NTD Call 1 Note 4 January 12, 2005
Sell USD Call/NTD Put 2 Note 1 February 14, 2005
Sell USD Call/NTD Put 2 Note 2 February 3, 2005
Buy USD Put/NTD Call 1 Note 3 February 14, 2005
Buy USD Put/NTD Call 1 Note 4 February 3, 2005
Sell USD Call/NTD Put 2 Note 1 March 10, 2005
Sell USD Call/NTD Put 2 Note 2 March 10, 2005
Buy USD Put/NTD Call 1 Note 3 March 10, 2005
Buy USD Put/NTD Call 1 Note 4 March 10, 2005
Sell USD Call/NTD Put 2 Note 1 April 12, 2005
Sell USD Call/NTD Put 2 Note 2 April 12, 2005
Buy USD Put/NTD Call 1 Note 3 April 12, 2005
Buy USD Put/NTD Call 1 Note 4 April 12, 2005
Sell USD Call/NTD Put 2 Note 1 May 12, 2005
Buy USD Put/NTD Call 1 Note 3 May 12, 2005
Sell USD Call/NTD Put 2 Note 1 June 10, 2005
Buy USD Put/NTD Call 1 Note 3 June 10, 2005
Note 1: If USD/NTD>=32.8, strike price=32.8.
Note 2: If USD/NTD>=32.6, strike price=32.6.
Note 3: If 311060.00, there is no right or
obligation.
Note 2: If the USD/KRW spot rate ever reaches 1080.00 at any time before
expiration and 1050.001060.00, the strike price is based on the spot rate
1050.00.
The exchange loss arising from such contract based on
mark-to-market valuation was NT$1,774, and which was offset against
the stockholders' equity.
F-73