ChipMOS REPORTS FIRST QUARTER 2017 RESULTS

HSINCHU, , May 11, 2017 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --

1Q17 Highlights (as compared to 4Q16):

• Net Revenue Above Guidance at US$150.1 Million Compared to US$153.6 Million
• Gross Profit of US$26.9 Million Compared to US$31.7 Million
• Gross Margin In-Line with Guidance at 17.9% Compared to 20.6%
• Net Earnings of US$1.82 Per Diluted ADS Compared to US$0.47 Per Diluted ADS
• Net Earnings of US$0.09 Per Diluted Common Share Compared to US$0.02 Per Diluted Common Share
• Completed ChipMOS Shanghai Equity Interest Transfer to Tsinghua Unigroup Led Strategic Investors Resulting in a US$62.8 Million Benefit to Net Income
• Retained Balance of Cash and Cash Equivalents at US$384.9 Million Compared to US$249.2 Million, with Net Debt Balance of US$3.6 Million
• Board Resolved on March 9, 2017 That NT$0.30 Per Common Share Will Be Distributed to Shareholders from Earnings and NT$0.70 Per Common Share Will Be Distributed to Shareholders from Capital Surplus.  On An ADS Basis, The Total Amount Distributed to Shareholders Will Be Approximately US$0.66 Per ADS.  The Distribution and its Date Are Pending Approval by Shareholders at the Company's Annual General Meeting on May 26, 2017.

ChipMOS TECHNOLOGIES INC. ("ChipMOS" or the "Company") (Taiwan Stock Exchange: 8150 and NASDAQ: IMOS), an industry leading provider of outsourced semiconductor assembly and test services ("OSAT"), today reported unaudited consolidated financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2017. All U.S. dollar figures in this release are based on the exchange rate of NT$30.38 against US$1.00 as of March 31, 2017.

All the figures were prepared in accordance with Taiwan-International Financial Reporting Standards ("Taiwan-IFRS").

Net revenue for the first quarter of 2017 was NT$4,560.3 million or US$150.1 million, a decrease of 2.3% from NT$4,667.1 million or US$153.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2016 and an increase of 2.5% from NT$4,447.5 million or US$146.4 million for the same period in 2016.  This compares to guidance for the first quarter of 2017 revenue to be approximately 4% to 8% lower than the prior fourth quarter of 2016.

Net earnings for the first quarter of 2017 was US$1.82 per diluted ADS, compared to US$0.47 per diluted ADS for the fourth quarter of 2016.  Net income attributable to equity holders of the Company for the first quarter of 2017 was NT$2,380.1 million or US$78.3 million, and NT$2.82 or US$0.09 per basic common share and NT$2.77 or US$0.09 per diluted common share, as compared to net income attributable to equity holders of the Company for the fourth quarter of 2016 of NT$613.9 million or US$20.2 million, and NT$0.72 or US$0.02 per basic common share and NT$0.72 or US$0.02 per diluted common share, and compared to net income attributable to equity holders of the Company in the first quarter of 2016 of NT$348.4 million or US$11.5 million, and NT$0.40 or US$0.01 per basic common share and NT$0.40 or US$0.01 per diluted common share. Net income for the first quarter of 2017 includes US$62.8 million related to the completion of ChipMOS Shanghai equity interest transfer to Tsinghua Unigroup led investors ("Strategic Investors").

S.J. Cheng, Chairman and President of ChipMOS, said, "Revenue for the first quarter of 2017 came in above our guidance in what is traditionally the seasonally lowest quarter for the OSAT sector.  This reflects strength in our LCD driver business, led by demand from both small and large panels.  We expect the LCD driver demand environment will continue to improve in as we benefit from the ongoing 4K2K TV and UHD market development, combined with the anticipated smartphone recovery, led by new model introductions and technology innovations, including OLED, 3D sensing and fingerprint sensors.  There was a mixed performance in our memory business, with commodity DRAM demand slightly higher in Q1 and flash-related revenue down approximately 9% compared to the prior fourth quarter.  Revenue in our mixed-signal business was down slightly compared to 4Q16, which was offset by an uptick in our WLCSP revenue.  We exited Q1 with our balance sheet in the strongest position in the Company's history and our growth prospects highly robust, bolstered by the diversification of our end markets, our unique position in the Taiwan and China supply chain and the positive demand outlooks of our key customers.  With respect to the China market, we were pleased to report on March 24, 2017 that we completed the previously disclosed equity interest transfer to a group of Strategic Investors.  We are excited to move forward with our partner Tsinghua Unigroup given the synergies, financial and strategic support, and critical advocacy of a powerful partner in the fast growing China market, which we expect to be central to our longer-term success."

S.K. Chen, Chief Financial Officer of ChipMOS, said, "We ended the first quarter with a balance of cash and cash equivalents of US$384.9 million, and a net debt balance of just US$3.6 million.  We continue to execute on our core business, target sustainable higher margin growth opportunities, and prioritize capital expenditures in support of our long-term growth strategy in both Taiwan and China.  Gross margin for the first quarter of 2017 came in at 17.9%, which was in-line with our guidance of 16% to 20%, while net earnings were US$1.82 per diluted ADS or US$0.09 per diluted common share.  There were a variety of factors that adversely impacted first quarter results, including but not limited to, the higher accrual for employees' bonuses, and foreign exchange loss, which were offset by the positive impact of the closure of the ChipMOS Shanghai equity interest transfer, and an insurance settlement from the 2016 earthquake.  Given the closure of our China JV and our historically strong balance sheet, we plan to move forward with our efforts to return capital to shareholders.  As a next step, our Board resolved on March 9, 2017 that NT$0.30 per common share will be distributed to shareholders from earnings and NT$0.70 per common share will be distributed to shareholders from capital surplus.  The total amount of cash to be distributed is NT$856.8 million or approximately US$28.2 million.  On an ADS basis, the total amount distributed to shareholders will be approximately US$0.66 per ADS.  The distribution date will be set pending shareholder approval of the distribution at the Company's annual general meeting on May 26, 2017.  We do not have an active share repurchase program in place at this time but have not ruled out putting a new one in place at a future date."

Investor Conference Call / Webcast Details

ChipMOS will host two conference calls on Thursday, May 11, 2017 to discuss the Company's financial results for the first quarter of 2017. 

1. Date: Thursday, May 11, 2017
Time: 4:00PM Taiwan (4:00AM New York)
Dial-In: +886-2-21928016
Password:  797842#
Replay Starting 2 Hours After Live Call Ends: www.chipmos.com
Language: Mandarin

2. Date: Thursday, May 11, 2017
Time: 7:00PM Taiwan (7:00AM New York)
Dial-In: +1-201-689-8562
Password: 13660049
Replay Starting 2 Hours After Live Call Ends: +1-412-317-6671, with ID 13660049
Webcast of Live Call and Replay: www.chipmos.com
Language: English

About ChipMOS TECHNOLOGIES INC.:

ChipMOS TECHNOLOGIES INC. ("ChipMOS" or the "Company") (Taiwan Stock Exchange: 8150 and NASDAQ: IMOS) (http://www.chipmos.com ) is an industry leading provider of outsourced semiconductor assembly and test services. With advanced facilities in Hsinchu Science Park, Hsinchu Industrial Park and Southern Taiwan Science Park in Taiwan, ChipMOS provide assembly and test services to a broad range of customers, including leading fabless semiconductor companies, integrated device manufacturers and independent semiconductor foundries.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as 'believes,' 'expects,' 'anticipates,' 'projects,' 'intends,' 'should,' 'seeks,' 'estimates,' 'future' or similar expressions or by discussion of, among other things, strategy, goals, plans or intentions. These statements may include financial projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions, statements regarding plans, objectives and expectations with respect to future operations, products and services, and statements regarding future performance. Actual results may differ materially in the future from those reflected in forward-looking statements contained in this document, due to various factors. Further information regarding these risks, uncertainties and other factors are included in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange commission (the "SEC") and in the Company's other filings with the SEC.

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

To supplement the consolidated financial results presented in accordance with the Taiwan-IFRS, ChipMOS uses non-GAAP free cash flow, non-GAAP earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") and non-GAAP net debt to equity ratio in this press release. The non-GAAP free cash flow represents operating profit plus depreciation, amortization and interest income and less capital expenditures, predecessors' interests, interest expenses, income tax expense and dividend. The non-GAAP EBITDA represents operating profit plus depreciation and amortization. The non-GAAP net debt to equity ratio represents the ratio of net debt, the sum of debt less cash and cash equivalent, divided by equity attributable to equity holders of the Company.  These non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies. Other companies may calculate similarly titled measures differently.

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 the Taiwan-IFRS.

ChipMOS considers the use of non-GAAP free cash flow, non-GAAP EBITDA and non-GAAP net debt to equity ratio provides useful information to management to manage the Company's business and make financial and operational decisions and also to the investors to understand and evaluate the Company's business and operating performance. For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, please refer to the table captioned "Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Measures to the Nearest Comparable GAAP Measures" in this press release.

- FINANCIAL TABLES FOLLOW BELOW -

RECONCILIATIONS OF NON-GAAP MEASURES TO THE NEAREST COMPARABLE GAAP MEASURES
(Figures in Million of U.S. dollars (USD)) 

The table below sets forth a reconciliation of our operating profit to non-GAAP free cash flow for the periods indicated:

The table below sets forth a reconciliation of our operating profit to non-GAAP EBITDA for the periods indicated:

The table below sets forth a calculation of our non-GAAP net debt to equity ratio for the periods indicated:

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