FORM 8K

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF  THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 1, 2003

 

Axcelis Technologies, Inc.


(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

Delaware


 

000-30941


 

34-1818596


(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

 

(Commission File Number)

 

(IRS Employer Identification No.)

 

55 Cherry Hill Drive, Beverly, Massachusetts


  

01915


(Address of principal executive offices)

  

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (978) 787-4000

 

 


(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 


 

Item 9.    Regulation FD Disclosure (Information furnished pursuant to Item 12, “Disclosure of Results of Operations and Financial Condition”).

 

On May 1, 2003, Axcelis Technologies, Inc. announced its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2003. The full text of the press release issued in connection with the announcement is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

In accordance with the procedural guidance in SEC Release No. 33-8216, the information in this Form 8-K and the Exhibit attached hereto is being furnished under “Item 9. Regulation FD Disclosure” rather than under “Item 12. Disclosure of Results of Operations and Financial Condition.” The information shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

 


 

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

Date: May 1, 2003

     

Axcelis Technologies, Inc.

           

By:

 

/S/ CORNELIUS F. MOSES, III


               

Cornelius F. Moses, III

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer


 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.


  

Description


99.1

  

Press release dated May 1, 2003

PRESS RELEASE
Company Contact: Investor Contact: Agency Contact:
Maureen Hart Mark Namaroff Stacy Grisinger
Axcelis Technologies, Inc. Axcelis Technologies, Inc. Axcelis Technologies, Inc.
Tel: (978) 787-4266 Tel: (978) 787-4000 Tel:(617) 638-0022
Fax: (978) 787-4275 Fax: (978) 787-4212 Fax: (617) 638-0033
maureen.hart@axcelis.com investor.relations@axcelis.com grisingers@loomisgroup.com

AXCELIS ANNOUNCES FINANCIAL
RESULTS FOR THE FIRST QUARTER 2003

Beverly, MA, May 1, 2003 - Axcelis Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: ACLS) today announced financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2003. Worldwide sales for the first quarter, including SEN, Axcelis' unconsolidated joint venture in Japan, were $126.0 million, up 29% sequentially from the fourth quarter of 2002, and up 68% from the first quarter of 2002. Net sales (excluding SEN) for the first quarter were $82.4 million, up 26% sequentially from the fourth quarter and up 33% from the first quarter of 2002. Net loss for the first quarter 2003 was $6.3 million compared to a net loss of $ 6.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2002 and a net loss of $17.8 million in the first quarter of 2002. Net loss per share was $0.06 compared with a loss per share of $0.07 in the fourth quarter of 2002 and a loss per share of $0.18 in the first quarter of 2002.

Axcelis believes that the information regarding the aggregate quarterly sales of SEN, a 50% owned unconsolidated subsidiary of Axcelis, combined with Axcelis' own sales for the quarter, is useful to investors. SEN's ion implant products are covered by a license from Axcelis and therefore the combined sales of the two companies indicates the full market penetration of Axcelis' technology.

First Quarter Highlights:

Mary Puma, President and CEO said, "We are pleased with our improving first quarter results, especially the 58% improvement in our pre-tax loss on a 26% increase in net sales. This is a direct result of the significant cost reduction actions we have taken. We believe that this positions us very well to build upon the recent market share gains we achieved in all of our served markets . Our optimism however is tempered by heightened competition for new business during this downturn and by ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty."

Revenue
The company's net revenue for the first quarter of $82.4 million was up 26% sequentially compared with the fourth quarter of 2002. The increase in revenue was due to strong sales to the three major memory manufacturers and a major logic integrated device manufacturer. Service revenue (service contracts, spare parts and consumables) of $29.8 million represented 36% of net revenues for the quarter. Geographically, systems revenue (excluding SEN) was as follows: Asia 58%, North America 27%, and Europe 15%. Including SEN, 75% of worldwide systems revenues came from Asia.

The ion implantation business accounted for 79% of total revenue in the first quarter, driven by customer spending for 0.13 micron low energy high current implanter systems.

Orders and Backlog
Net orders (systems and service), excluding SEN, received for the first quarter totaled $80.7 million, up 27% from the fourth quarter of 2002. The increase in orders was primarily due to the major memory manufacturers as 67% of new bookings were received from these customers. Geographically, systems orders were as follows: Asia 45%, Europe 33% and North America 21%.

Backlog for the quarter ended at $58.1 million, a decline of 3% since the fourth quarter of 2002. (Reported backlog consists of systems only (excluding service contracts) that are generally scheduled to ship within six months).

Gross Margin
Gross margin for the first quarter was 33.6%, compared with fourth quarter 2002 gross margin of 28.8% due to a greater mix of higher margin 200mm tools in the quarter (200mm tools represented 62% of equipment revenue in the first quarter of 2003 compared with 47% in the fourth quarter of 2002). The margin benefit was partially offset by pricing pressure due to the limited number of customers currently purchasing semiconductor capital equipment. Pricing pressure is likely to continue through the first half of the year as the major Asian memory manufacturers make up a significant portion of Axcelis' order book.

Operating Expenses
Total operating expenses for the first quarter (excluding amortization of intangible assets) were $38.7 million, up 2% sequentially from the fourth quarter of 2002. This increase was primarily due to increased expense in a patent litigation case and severance expenses associated with additional headcount reductions in the first quarter. Total headcount was 1,785 at the end of the first quarter, a 3% reduction from the fourth quarter of 2002.

SEN Contribution
SEN contributed $4.9 million in equity income and royalties on $43.5 million in revenues for the first quarter. Strong sales in Japan to both logic and memory manufacturers contributed to this result.

Pre-Tax Loss and Net Loss
The loss before tax for the first quarter of 2003 was $7.6 million compared with a pre-tax loss of $18 million in the fourth quarter of 2002 and a pre-tax loss of $27.9 million in the first quarter of 2002.

Net loss for the first quarter was $6.3 million compared with a net loss of $6.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2002 and a net loss of $17.8 million in the first quarter of 2002. The effective tax rate for the quarter was 16.5%.

Balance Sheet
Axcelis ended the first quarter with $157 million in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments compared with $186 million at the end of the fourth quarter of 2002. This change was primarily due to our pre-tax loss and a $19 million increase in accounts receivable during the quarter resulting from the sequential increase in revenue as well as the timing of first quarter shipments and related collection activity. Total liquidity (including our bank line of credit) is now $207 million.

Second Quarter 2003 Outlook
Worldwide revenue (including SEN) is expected to be flat, ranging from $120 million to $130 million. Net revenue (excluding SEN) is expected to be in the range of $75 million to $85 million. Axcelis' net loss per share is projected to range from $.10 to $.12 due to projected lower gross margins and lower SEN income and royalties. Gross margins should approximate 30% and Axcelis' share of SEN income and royalties should approximate $3 million. The company expects to achieve breakeven cash flow as working capital reductions should offset the projected operating loss.

First Quarter Earnings Conference Call
Please join us for our first quarter conference call on May 1st at 5:00 pm EST. The call will be available to interested listeners via an audio webcast that can be accessed through Axcelis' home page at www.axcelis.com, or by dialing 1-800-915-4836 (1-973-317-5319 outside North America). Participants calling into the conference call will be requested to provide the company name: Axcelis Technologies, the conference leader: Mark Namaroff, and pass code: Axcelis 1Q. A telephone replay will be available from 8:00 pm EST on May 1, 2003 until 11:59 pm EST on May 8, 2003. Dial 1-800-428-6051 (1-973-709-2089 outside North America), and enter conference ID code # 287747. A webcast replay will be available from 8:00 pm EST on May 1, 2003 until 5:00 pm EST on June 1, 2003.

Safe Harbor Statement
This document contains forward-looking statements under the SEC safe harbor provisions. These statements are based on management's current expectations and should be viewed with caution. They are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside the control of the Company, including our ability to implement successfully our profit plans, the continuing demand for semiconductor equipment, relative market growth, continuity of business relationships with and purchases by major customers, competitive pressure on sales and pricing, increases in material and other production costs that cannot be recouped in product pricing and global economic, political and financial conditions. These risks and other risk factors relating to Axcelis are described more fully in the most recent Form 10-K filed by Axcelis and in other documents filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

About Axcelis Technologies, Inc.
Axcelis Technologies, Inc., headquartered in Beverly, Massachusetts, provides innovative, high-productivity solutions for the semiconductor industry. Axcelis is dedicated to developing enabling process applications through the design, manufacture and complete life cycle support of ion implantation, rapid thermal processing, and cleaning and curing systems. Axcelis Technologies has key technology centers in Beverly, Massachusetts, and Rockville, Maryland as well as in Toyo, Japan through its joint venture, SEN. The company's Internet address is: www.axcelis.com.


Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands)

                   
March 31, December 31,
2003 2002


ASSETS
                 
Current assets:
               
 
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 122,255     $ 150,651  
 
Short-term investments
  $ 35,021     $ 34,992  
 
Accounts receivable
    79,216       60,311  
 
Inventories
    113,434       115,290  
 
Deferred income taxes & other current assets
    20,683       18,329  
     
     
 
Total current assets
    370,609       379,573  
                 
Property, plant & equipment, net
    91,712       93,597  
Investment in Sumitomo Eaton Nova Corporation
    61,396       57,868  
Goodwill
    40,682       40,682  
Intangible assets
    12,776       13,141  
Deferred income taxes
    57,147       57,136  
Other assets
    29,656       27,454  
     
     
 
Total assets
  $ 663,978     $ 669,451  
     
     
 
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
                 
Current liabilities:
               
 
Accounts payable
  $ 37,386     $ 32,594  
 
Accrued compensation
    7,983       6,745  
 
Warranty reserve
    14,363       16,625  
 
Income taxes payable
    11,668       12,823  
 
Other current liabilities
    15,782       18,400  
     
     
 
Total current liabilities
    87,182       87,187  
                 
Long-term debt
    125,000       125,000  
Other long-term liabilities
    4,423       4,756  
Stockholders’ equity:
               
 
Common stock
    99       98  
 
Additional paid-in capital
    448,276       447,533  
 
Deferred compensation
    (731 )     (782 )
 
Treasury stock - at cost
    (1,218 )     (1,218 )
 
Retained earnings
    6,043       12,369  
 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
    (5,096 )     (5,492 )
     
     
 
Total stockholders’ equity
    447,373       452,508  
     
     
 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 663,978     $ 669,451  
     
     
 



Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
                   
Three Months Ended
March 31,

2003 2002


Net sales
  $ 82,405     $ 62,085  
Cost of products sold
    54,730       46,688  
     
     
 
Gross profit
    27,675       15,397  
Other costs & expenses
               
 
Research & development
    16,176       17,712  
 
Selling
    12,098       11,238  
 
General & adminstrative
    10,443       11,947  
 
Amortization of goodwill & intangible assets
    365       365  
     
     
 
Income (loss) from operations
    (11,407 )     (25,865 )
                 
Other income (expense):
               
 
Royalty income
    1,765       567  
 
Equity income (loss)of Sumitomo Eaton Nova Corporation
    3,195       (1,962 )
 
Interest income
    531       957  
 
Interest expense
    (1,378 )     (1,198 )
 
Other income (expense)-net
    (283 )     (361 )
     
     
 
Total other income (expense)
    3,830       (1,997 )
     
     
 
Income (loss) before taxes
    (7,577 )     (27,862 )
Income taxes (credit)
    (1,251 )     (10,031 )
     
     
 
Net income (loss)
  $ (6,326 )   $ (17,831 )
     
     
 
Basic net income (loss) per share
  $ (0.06 )   $ (0.18 )
Diluted net income (loss) per share
  $ (0.06 )   $ (0.18 )
Shares used in computing:
               
 
Basic net income (loss) per share
    98,280       97,816  
 
Diluted net income (loss) per share
    98,280       97,816