UMS Holdings

[Boon]

New 2016 McClean Report Examines Worldwide GDP Growth and its Impact on 2016 IC Market Growth
Slow-growth regional GDPs weigh heavy on potential global IC growth. 
16 Feb 2016, by IC Insights
http://www.icinsights.com/data/articles/...ts/859.pdf
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58% of Pure-Play Foundry Capacity Under High Risk for Seismic Activity
Many of the world’s largest foundry facilities lie directly within the earthquake-prone Ring of Fire. 
09 Feb 2016, by IC Insights
http://www.icinsights.com/data/articles/...ts/858.pdf
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China Smartphone Market Sees Its Highest Shipment Ever of 117.3 Million in 2015Q4 
14 Feb 2016, by IDC
https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prAP41028416
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[Boon]

AMAT reported results for its first quarter ending 31 Jan 2016.
 
For 1Q2016, SSG’s orders were 12% lower sequentially while backlog remained healthy at around USD 1.6 billion. Revenue declined by 8% in 1Q but Management believes demand would increase in 2Q and second half - Net sales of SSG in 2Q is expected to be up by 11% to 17%.
 
SSG : Revenue (USD million):
1Q2014 = 1,484
2Q2014 = 1,584
3Q2014 = 1,476
4Q2014 = 1,434  (FY2014 = 5,978)
1Q2015 = 1,446
2Q2015 = 1,560
3Q2015 = 1.635
4Q2015 = 1,494  (FY2015 = 6,135)
1Q2016 = 1,373  (DOWN 8%)
 
SSG : New Orders (USD million)
1Q2014 = 1,569
2Q2014 = 1,664
3Q2014 = 1,565
4Q2014 = 1,334   (FY2014 = 6,132)
1Q2015 = 1,426
2Q2015 = 1,704
3Q2015 = 2,007
4Q2015 = 1,444   (FY2015 = 6,581)
1Q2016 = 1,275   (DOWN 12%)
 
SSG : Backlog (USD million)
1Q2014 = 1,366
2Q2014 = 1,452
3Q2014 = 1,515
4Q2014 = 1,401
1Q2015 = 1,362
2Q2015 = 1,473
3Q2015 = 1,767
4Q2015 = 1,727
1Q2016 = 1,586

http://www.appliedmaterials.com/company/...-relations

http://seekingalpha.com/article/3909956-...art=single
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[Boon]

Gartner Says Worldwide Smartphone Sales Grew 9.7 Percent in Fourth Quarter of 2015
Global Smartphone Sales Exhibited Slowest Growth Since 2008
iPhone Sales Declined for the First Time
Egham, UK, February 18, 2016
http://www.gartner.com/newsroom/id/3215217
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The Big Shift
As it becomes harder to reach the next nodes, chipmakers may alter their build vs. buy strategies.
FEBRUARY 18TH, 2016 - BY: ED SPERLING
http://semiengineering.com/the-big-shift/
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The Economics Of Moore’s Law
Ten years from now, CMOS will seem as old-fashioned as vacuum tubes.
FEBRUARY 18TH, 2016 - BY: IMEC
http://semiengineering.com/the-economics-of-moores-law/
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[Boon]

North American Semiconductor Equipment Industry Posts January 2016 Book-to-Bill Ratio of 1.08

SAN JOSE, Calif. — February 23, 2016 — North America-based manufacturers of semiconductor equipment posted $1.32 billion in orders worldwide in January 2016 (three-month average basis) and a book-to-bill ratio of 1.08, according to the January EMDS Book-to-Bill Report published today by SEMI.  A book-to-bill of 1.08 means that $108 worth of orders were received for every $100 of product billed for the month.

SEMI reports that the three-month average of worldwide bookings in January 2016 was $1.32 billion. The bookings figure is 1.4 percent lower than the final December 2015 level of $1.34 billion, and is 0.1 percent lower than the January 2015 order level of $1.33 billion.

The three-month average of worldwide billings in January 2016 was $1.23 billion. The billings figure is 8.8 percent lower than the final December 2015 level of $1.35 billion, and is 3.7 percent lower than the January 2015 billings level of $1.28 billion.

"Recent semiconductor order activity is on par with the figures reported one year ago," said Denny McGuirk, president and CEO of SEMI.  “While uncertainty clouds the near-term economic outlook, we currently expect 2016 capex to remain in range of 2015 spending."......................................................................

http://www.semi.org/en/node/76926
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[Boon]

How IBM Plans To Innovate Past Moore's Law
FEB 24, 2016
Greg Satell
http://www.forbes.com/sites/gregsatell/2...9ab5c371fd
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Semiconductor Capital Spending Rebound Fails to Materialize in 2015
Recent capital spending trends indicative of maturing semiconductor industry. 
22 Feb 2016, by IC Insights
http://www.icinsights.com/data/articles/...ts/860.pdf
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The Worldwide Wearables Market Leaps 126.9% in the Fourth Quarter and 171.6% in 2015, According to IDC 
23 Feb 2016, By IDC
https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS41037416
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[Boon]

FY2015 Results:
 
Revenue (SGD million）:
FY2010 = 129.033
FY2011 = 114.427
FY2012 = 113.212
FY2013 = 120.486
FY2014 = 109.819
FY2015 = 111.090
 
NPAT (SGD million):
FY2010 = 28.745
FY2011 = 27.640 
FY2012 = 16.998  
FY 2013 = 28.880  
FY2014 = 24.929
FY2015 = 34.299 (+38%) at record high
 
Gross Profit Margin :
FY2010 = 56.0%
FY2011 = 55.8%
FY2012 = 49.3%
FY2013 = 53.9%
FY2014 = 54%
FY2015 = 60% (mainly due to favorable USD exchange rate)
 
Net Profit Margin :
FY2010 = 22.3%
FY2011 = 24.2%
FY2012 = 15.0%
FY2013 = 24.0%
FY2014 = 22.7%
FY2015 = 31%
 
EPS (SGD cent)
FY2010 = 8.25
FY2011 = 8.04
FY2012 = 4.94
FY2013 = 8.40
FY2014 = 5.81
FY2015 = 7.99
 
FCF Generated (SGD million):
FY2010 = 23.7
FY2011 = 31.7
FY2012 = 29.3
FY2013 = 25.8 
FY2014 = 28.9
FY2015 = 31.3
 
Cash & Cash Equivalent (SGD million)
FY2010 = 20.5 (Debt = 7.139)
FY2011 = 37.9 (Debt = 2.665)
FY2012 = 32.5 (Debt = 17.238)
FY2013 = 29.2 (Debt = 0.0)
FY2014 = 33.8 (Debt = 0.0)
FY2015 = 38.9 (Debt = 0.0) at all time high
 
Capex : Purchase of PPE (SGD million)
FY2010 = 7.6
FY2011 = 7.5
FY2012 = 1.7
FY2013 = 2.0
FY2014 = 6.7
FY2015 = 4.5
 
DPS (SGD cent)
FY2010 = 5.0
FY2011 = 6.0
FY2012 = 5.0
FY2013 = 6.5
FY2014 = 6.0 (Equivalent to 7.5 cents pre-bonus issue)
FY2015 = 6.0 (Equivalent to 7.5 cents pre-bonus issue)
 
Comments:
1)   FY2015 revenue is only 1% higher than FY2014.
2)   FY2015 NPAT of 34.299 m (+38% compared to FY2014) is at record high - due to good component business, favorable FX and tight rein over costs.
3)   System integration sales were not as robust in FY2015.
4)   FCF generation ability is intact – in FY2015, FCF generated was 31.3 million despite having spent 4.5 million capex on purchase of PPE.
5)   Cash & cash equivalent as at 31 Dec 2015 amounts to 38.9 million (with no debt), this is an all time high record.
6)   DPS of 6.0 cents (equivalent to 7.5 cents pre-bonus) is in line with my expectation.
7)   Moving forward, Management’s comment: “The slower orders in the last quarter of FY2015 is expected to continue into the first half of FY2016, in line with the slowdown in global economy and the Group expects business activities in1H2016 to be subdued.On the other hand, the Group's major customer had forecasted global foundry investment levels to be slightly higher in 2016 with the bulk of spending in the second half of the year. Additionally, SEMI, a leading global semiconductor trade association, had expected global semiconductor equipment sales to grow, albeit nominally at 1.4% in 2016." 
8)   Overall, a good set of FY2015 results, I reckon.
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[Boon]

Global Semiconductor Sales Off to Sluggish Start in 2016
SALES IN JANUARY DOWN 5.8 PERCENT YEAR-TO-YEAR AND 2.7 PERCENT MONTH-TO-MONTH
Published Thursday, March 3, 2016 4:30 pm
by Dan Rosso

WASHINGTON—March 3, 2016—The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), representing U.S. leadership in semiconductor manufacturing, design, and research, today announced worldwide sales of semiconductors reached $26.9 billion for the month of January 2016, 2.7 percent lower than the previous month’s total of $27.6 billion and 5.8 percent down from the January 2015 total of $28.5 billion. Sales into the Americas were particularly sluggish, decreasing 5.9 percent month-to-month and 16.9 percent year-to-year. All monthly sales numbers are compiled by the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) organization and represent a three-month moving average. 

“Global semiconductor sales decreased in January across most regional markets and product categories, largely due to softening demand and lingering macroeconomic headwinds,” said John Neuffer, president and CEO, Semiconductor Industry Association. “Despite these challenges, modest market growth is projected for 2016, following essentially flat sales last year.”

Regionally, sales decreased in most regions: China (-0.4 percent month-to-month/+4.3 percent year-to-year), Europe (-1.7 percent/-7.7 percent), Japan (-3.3 percent/-5.1 percent), Asia Pacific/All Other (-2.8 percent/-6.5 percent), and the Americas (-5.9 percent/-16.9 percent). 

Sales also decreased across most major semiconductor product categories, with the notable exception of microprocessors, which increased year-to-year by 2.1 percent. 

To find out how to purchase the WSTS Subscription Package, which includes comprehensive monthly semiconductor sales data and detailed WSTS Forecasts, please visit http://www.semiconductors.org/industry_statistics/wsts_subscription_package/.  

January 2016 chart and graph

http://www.semiconductors.org/news/2016/...t_in_2016/
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[ethys]

With Andy we never know so I would not jump to conclusions yet but usually he sells shares 2 working days after the full year financial results are disclosed so unless he is late this year it seems that he is not selling shares this year

[Boon]

Semiconductor Unit Shipments To Exceed One Trillion Devices in 2018
Updated forecast expects 7.2% average annual unit shipment growth through 2020. 
07 March 2016, by IC Insights
http://www.icinsights.com/data/articles/...ts/862.pdf
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Smartphone Growth Expected to Drop to Single Digits in 2016, Led by China's Transition from Developing to Mature Market, According to IDC 
03 Mar 2016 
https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS41061616
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APPLIED MATERIALS HONORED AS A 2016 WORLD'S MOST ETHICAL COMPANY

• Recognized for five consecutive years for ethical business practices by the Ethisphere Institute
  

07 March 2016
http://www.appliedmaterials.com/company/...al-company
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[Boon]

Saturday, 2 January 2016
Big business potential in aerospace
BY NG BEI SHAN

LAST month, SGX-listed equipment manufacturer and engineering services provider UMS Holdings Ltd signed an agreement with a Malaysian-based aerospace metallic component manufacturer All Star Fortress Sdn Bhd (ASF).

Under the memorandum of understanding, UMS will be taking up a 10% equity stake in ASF for RM100,000.

On top of that, UMS will extend secured convertible loans up to a total of US$7.5mil (RM32.32mil) to ASF for the aerospace part maker to expand its manufacturing capacity.

ASF targets to attract RM100mil in investment by 2020 while the aim for its revenue by then is RM350mil.

It also expects to hire 1,000 engineers by then.

Under the plan, ASF will be relocating to UMS’ Penang facilities from its current two-acre factory in Malacca for better synergies.

UMS, a firm with a market cap of S$217mil (RM665mil) headquartered in Singapore with operations in Malaysia and the United States, says the latest collaboration will allow it to further diversify its business, particularly into the aerospace industry, which provides great potential. Its Singapore headquarters is 211,500 sq ft while its Penang factory is 600,000 sq ft.

The company is making S$28mil in profit on the back of S$111.3mil in revenue up to end-September.

As for ASF, its customers in the aerospace industry include: British automotive and aerospace group GKN, US-based Spirit AeroSyatems, US-based UTC Aerospace and Main Market-listed SAM Engineering Bhd. 

This is just one of the tie-ups that marks the underlying growth of the aerospace industry in Malaysia.

More importantly, the trend of international aerospace players outsourcing more work the players in the region coupled with the Malaysian government’s efforts to develop the industry bode well for its growth plan...........................................................................

http://www.thestar.com.my/business/busin...aerospace/
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