ChipMOS REPORTS THIRD QUARTER 2017 RESULTS

HSINCHU, , Nov. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --

Q3'17 Highlights (as compared to Q2'17):

• Net Revenue at US$146.1 Million Compared to US$149.7 Million
• Gross Profit of US$25.1 Million Compared to US$30.0 Million
• Gross Margin at 17.2% Compared to 20.1%
• Net Earnings of US$0.13 Per Diluted ADS Compared to US$0.25 Per Diluted ADS; Net Earnings of US$0.01 Per Diluted Common Share Compared to US$0.01 Per Diluted Common Share
• For the first nine months of 2017, total revenue was NT$13,532.6 million or US$446.2 million. Net earnings for the first nine months of 2017 were NT$66.39 or US$2.19 per diluted ADS, with NT$3.32 or US$0.11 per diluted common share in the same period.
• Retained Balance of Cash and Cash Equivalents at US$285.8 Million, with Net Debt Balance of US$94.4 Million

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 third quarter ended September 30, 2017. All U.S. dollar figures cited in this press release are based on the exchange rate of NT$30.33 against US$1.00 as of September 29, 2017.

All the figures were prepared in accordance with Taiwan-International Financial Reporting Standards ("Taiwan-IFRS"). In March 2017, the Company completed the sale and transfer of 54.98% equity interests of its former wholly-owned subsidiary ChipMOS TECHNOLOGIES (Shanghai) LTD. ("ChipMOS Shanghai") to Tsinghua Unigroup led investors ("Strategic Investors").  Under Taiwan-IFRS, starting in Q1 2017 the revenue generated by ChipMOS Shanghai is no longer included in the Company's consolidated revenue.  The Company, however, recognizes 45.02% of the net income generated from ChipMOS Shanghai on an ongoing basis.  Revenue from ChipMOS Shanghai has been excluded from all periods indicated. 

Net revenue for the third quarter of 2017 was NT$4,431.1 million or US$146.1 million, a decrease of 2.4% from NT$4,541.2 million or US$149.7 million in the second quarter of 2017 and a decrease of 7.1% from NT$4,769.0 million or US$157.2 million for the same period in 2016. 

Net earnings for the third quarter of 2017 was US$0.13 per diluted ADS, compared to US$0.25 per diluted ADS for the second quarter of 2017.  Net income attributable to equity holders of the Company for the third quarter of 2017 was NT$162.0 million or US$5.3 million, and NT$0.19 or US$0.01 per basic common share and NT$0.19 or US$0.01 per diluted common share, as compared to net income attributable to equity holders of the Company for the second quarter of 2017 of NT$321.4 million or US$10.6 million, and NT$0.38 or US$0.01 per basic common share and NT$0.38 or US$0.01 per diluted common share, and compared to net income attributable to equity holders of the Company in the third quarter of 2016 of NT$255.1 million or US$8.4 million, and NT$0.30 or US$0.01 per basic common share and NT$0.29 or US$0.01 per diluted common share.

For the first nine months of 2017, total revenue was NT$13,532.6 million or US$446.2 million.  Net earnings for the first nine months of 2017 were NT$66.39 or US$2.19 per diluted ADS, with NT$3.32 or US$0.11 per diluted common share in the same period.

S.J. Cheng, Chairman and President of ChipMOS, said, "The third quarter developed as expected and reflects the impact of a lower allocation from our largest DRAM customer, along with product mix changes in our Niche DRAM business.  On the positive side, we continue to benefit from growth in DDIC demand, which is being led by further adoption of 4K2K/UHD TVs, and higher driver demand from smartphone customers.  We expect this to be a multi-year demand catalyst due to the shift underway to 18 by 9 screen with narrow bezel or a full screen panel, along with higher demand for OLED, and TDDI.  We expect to see a margin benefit as we capture our increased share of these opportunities due to the required longer test times.  These models will use a more advanced driver solution with 12" fine pitch COF package, which we already have in volume production. As we move into 2018, we expect to also benefit from the increased adoption of optical sensors in the mobile market, where we are well positioned in the supply chain.  We are also encouraged by strong demand for NOR Flash, in particular, wafer test services. As a result our NOR wafer test capacity remains fully utilized."

Silvia Su, Senior Director of Finance and Accounting, commented, "Our gross margin was impacted by several items in the third quarter, including, the lower allocation from our largest DRAM customer, production disruption and loss from Taiwan's massive August power outage.  We reduced our short-term bank loans by about US$34.0 million.  We also paid cash dividend of approximately US$28.2 million in the third quarter.   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."

Investor Conference Call / Webcast Details

ChipMOS will host two conference calls on Thursday, November 9, 2017 to discuss the Company's financial results for the third quarter of 2017. 

1. Date: Thursday, November 9, 2017
Time: 4:00PM Taiwan (3:00AM New York)
Dial-In: +886-2-21928016
Password:  476667#
Replay Starting 2 Hours After Live Call Ends: www.chipmos.com.tw 
Language: Mandarin

2. Date: Thursday, November 9, 2017
Time: 8:00PM Taiwan (7:00AM New York)
Dial-In: +1-201-689-8562
Password: 13672147
Replay Starting 2 Hours After Live Call Ends: +1-412-317-6671, with ID 13672147
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 Millions 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:

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