SMIC Reports 2015 Fourth Quarter Results

SHANGHAI, Feb. 18, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (NYSE: SMI; SEHK: 981) ("SMIC" or the "Company"), one of the leading semiconductor foundries in the world, today announced its consolidated results of operations for the three months ended December 31, 2015.

Fourth Quarter 2015 Highlights

• Revenue was a record high of $610.1 million in 4Q15, increased by 7.1 % QoQ from $569.9 million in 3Q15 and increased by 25.6% YoY from $485.9 million in 4Q14.
• Gross profit was $173.9 million in 4Q15, compared to 182.4 million in 3Q15 and $109.3 million in 4Q14.
• Gross margin was 28.5% in 4Q15, compared to 32.0% in 3Q15 and 22.5% in 4Q14.
• Net profit for the period attributable to SMIC was $38.6 million in 4Q15, as compared to $82.6 million in 3Q15 and $28.4 million in 4Q14.

First Quarter 2016 Guidance: 

The following statements are forward looking statements which are based on current expectations and which involve risks and uncertainties, some of which are set forth under "Safe Harbor Statements" below. The Company expects:

• Revenue to increase by 1% to 3% quarter over quarter.
• Gross margin to range from 22% to 25%.
• Non-GAAP operating expenses excluding the effect of employee bonus accrual, government funding and gain from the disposal of living quarters to range from $121 million to $126 million.
• Non-controlling interests of our majority-owned subsidiaries to range from positive $16 million to positive $18 million (losses to be borne by non-controlling interests).

Dr. Tzu-Yin Chiu, SMIC's Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director commented, "In the fourth quarter of 2015 we achieved record-high revenue of $610.1 million, a growth of 25.6% year over year and 7.1% quarter over quarter, surpassing our original expectations and guidance. On an annual basis our revenue hit a record high of $2.24 billion, a growth of 13.5% compared to 2014. In 2015 we also achieved historical highs on all measures of profitability: gross margin, operating profit, and net profit. Despite the inventory correction in the industry during the year, we maintained full utilizations throughout 2015.

To address our 28nm status, we started to book minor 28nm revenue contribution in Q3 2015 and Q4 2015. We are pleased to have announced earlier this week that our high-k metal gate ("HKMG") technology is ready for commercialization with a purchase order from our customer, Leadcore. We target to reach double digit revenue contribution from 28nm in Q4 2016. We believe 28nm will be a long-lived node and is strategic for the long-term growth of SMIC. Our flexible 28nm and 40nm capacity has enabled us to best utilize our capacity and address our customers' needs.

To meet the strong customer demand and address the high utilization, we continue to improve operational efficiency and grow our capacity. By the end of this year we target to increase our Shenzhen fab capacity to approximately 30K 8" wafers per month, our Beijing joint-venture fab to 15K 12" wafers per month, and our Shanghai 12" fab to 20K 12" wafers per month.

Regionally, our China revenue contribution has grown more than 25% YoY in 2015 compared to 2014. Eurasia revenue contribution has grown more than 50% year over year. Meanwhile, North America has declined 9.3% year over year but has begun to recover in the second half of 2015.

With the large opportunities presented to us being in China, we strive to capture the attractive prospects with profitability as our underlying objective. In order to address many of the opportunities at hand, SMIC plans to grow through both organic and inorganic means.

We are optimistic about 2016 given our strategy and execution track record. So far the first half of 2016 looks strong and we stay committed to maintaining sustainable profitability and increasing value for all stakeholders."

Conference Call / Webcast Announcement

Date: February 19, 2016
Time: 8:30 a.m. Shanghai time
Dial-in numbers and pass code:

The call will be webcast live with audio at http://www.smics.com/eng/investors/ir_presentations.php or http://edge.media-server.com/m/p/v7wnwqhu.

An archived version of the webcast, along with an electronic copy of this news release will be available on the SMIC website for a period of 12 months following the webcast.

About SMIC

Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation ("SMIC"; NYSE: SMI; SEHK: 981) is one of the leading semiconductor foundries in the world and the largest and most advanced foundry in mainland China. SMIC provides integrated circuit (IC) foundry and technology services at 0.35-micron to 28-nanometer. Headquartered in Shanghai, China, SMIC has a 300mm wafer fabrication facility (fab) and a 200mm mega-fab in Shanghai; a 300mm mega-fab and a second majority owned 300mm fab under development for advance nodes in Beijing; and 200mm fabs in Tianjin and Shenzhen. SMIC also has marketing and customer service offices in the U.S., Europe, Japan, and Taiwan, and a representative office in Hong Kong.

For more information, please visit www.smics.com.

Safe Harbor Statements

(Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995)

This press release contains, in addition to historical information, "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements, including statements under "First Quarter 2016 Guidance", "CapEx Summary" and the statements contained in the quotes of our CEO regarding our target for sustained profit, our production capacity plans, industry growth and our strategy to capture growth opportunities brought by specific markets and products are based on SMIC's current assumptions, expectations and projections about future events. SMIC uses words like "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "expect," "project," "target" and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks, both known and unknown, uncertainties and other factors that may cause SMIC's actual performance, financial condition or results of operations to be materially different from those suggested by the forward-looking statements including, among others, risks associated with the cyclical nature of the semiconductor industry, changes in demand for our products, competition in our markets, our reliance on a small number of customers, orders or judgments from pending litigation, intensive intellectual property lawsuits in semiconductor industry and financial stability in end markets, general economic conditions and fluctuations in currency exchange rates.

Investors should consider the information contained in SMIC's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including its annual report on 20-F filed with the SEC on April 28, 2015, especially the consolidated financial statements, and such other documents that SMIC may file with the SEC or The Hong Kong Stock Exchange Limited ("SEHK") from time to time, including current reports on Form 6-K. Other unknown or unpredictable factors also could have material adverse effects on SMIC's future results, performance or achievements. In light of these risks, uncertainties, assumptions and factors, the forward-looking events discussed in this press release may not occur. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date stated, or if no date is stated, as of the date of this press release. Except as may be required by law, SMIC undertakes no obligation and does not intend to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About Non-Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("Non-GAAP") Financial Measures

To supplement SMIC's consolidated financial results presented in accordance with IFRS, SMIC uses in this press release non-GAAP operating expenses which consist of total operating expenses as adjusted to exclude the effect of employee bonus accrual, government funding and gain from the disposal of living quarters. This earnings release also includes first quarter 2016 guidance for non-GAAP operating expenses. The presentation of non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with IFRS.

SMIC believes that use of these non-GAAP financial measures facilitates investors' and management's comparisons to SMIC's historical performance. The Group's management regularly uses these non-GAAP financial measures to understand, manage and evaluate the Group's business and make financial and operational decisions.

The accompanying table has more information and reconciliations of each non-GAAP financial measure to its most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. A reconciliation of non-GAAP guidance measures to corresponding GAAP measures is not available on a forward-looking basis.

To see full financial tables and click here.

SOURCE Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation

Related Links

http://www.smics.com