UMC Group would
like to report the following news regarding our earthquake recovery
status:
As of today,
UMC Group has returned to 100% pre-earthquake production levels
in all of our facilities in Hsinchu. Furthermore, our power supply
needs are being fully met and we foresee no further interruption
of production.
There is no change in our earlier estimates for revenue losses resulting
from interruption of production at UMC Group.
In addition to the NT$300 million (US$ 9.5 million) pledge from
UMC Group, our employees continue to make individual donations towards
disaster relief. Employees in our USA office have also donated about
US$20,000 dollars to Taiwanese charitable institutes, and UMC Group
(USA) has committed to match all employee donations with equal contributions.
Finally, we would like to thank our equipment and material suppliers
for their tremendous support and responsiveness during this crisis.
Without their efforts, it would have been difficult for us to return
to full production in such a short time frame. We would also like
to thank all UMC Group customers and shareholders for their patience
and understanding over the last ten days.
ANNOUNCEMENT
UPDATE - 12:00pm 9/28 (Taiwan time)
UMC Group continues
its efforts to return to full production. We have also completed
a more thorough estimate of the damage caused to UMC Group's operations.
We would like to announce the following:
Based on a more
complete estimation of losses, business interruption revenue loss
for UMC Group's publicly listed companies UMC and UTEK will be 25%
of revenues in September and 12.5% of revenues in October. Therefore,
total revenue loss at UMC attributable to the earthquake is NT$1
billion (US$ 31.3 million), while the figure is NT$270 million (US$
8.4 million) for UTEK.
Total profit loss resulting from loss in revenues at UMC is estimated
at NT$ 400 million (US$ 12.5 million). Total profit loss for UTEK
is estimated at about NT$ 60 million (US$ 1.9 million).
UMC Group has insurance coverage for damages caused by the earthquake,
as well as for interruption of business operations. Therefore, the
actual financial loss for UMC and UTEK will be significantly less
than the above numbers.
Based on our current estimates, less than 10% of the total wafers
in production at UMC Group fabs at the time of the earthquake will
have to be scrapped.
ANNOUNCEMENT
UPDATE - 1:00pm 9/27 (Taiwan time)
UMC Group has
completed its initial appraisal of the damages caused by the Sept.
21 earthquake that struck Taiwan. Generally speaking, we can report
that the damages were significantly less severe than originally
estimated. We would like to announce the following:
Power at UMC
Group has been restored, and 90% of the machinery in UMC Group's
fabs has already returned to production. We expect to return to
full capacity production in the coming days, in response to extremely
strong demand from our international customer base.
Based on our initial investigation, all of the fab installations
and equipment are in good condition. However, there was some damage
caused to certain materials required for the operation of some production
equipment. NT$300 million has been allocated for the replacement
of these materials, including the procurement of quartz furnace
tubes. Most of these materials have already been installed in the
appropriate equipment and are being used in production now.
As a result of the power loss associated with the earthquake, the
overall monthly revenues for UMC Group will drop by approximately
25% for the month of September, or approximately NT$1.37 billion.
However, since UMC Group has insurance coverage for natural disasters
and the interruption of business operations, the actual financial
loss will be below the above figure.
UMC Group would also like to thank the government and general public
for their support and consideration. We thank everyone for helping
us to keep our losses to the bare minimum, allowing us to quickly
return to production
The
Sunnyvale, California office of UMC Group has received many inquiries
from customers, business associates, and other concerned citizens
on how to assist earthquake victims in Taiwan. We are recommending
that donations be made to:
The Taiwan
Earthquake Relief Fund (or TERF)
c/o Bank of Canton
555 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94111
Please make
checks payable to Taiwan Earthquake Relief Fund and note that the
account number is 01-701-266. Also, for reference, the tax exemption
number is 77-0522942. All donations by USA employees of UMC Group
will be matched 100% by UMC Group.
ANNOUNCEMENT
UPDATE - 2:30pm 9/23 (Taiwan time)
At the time
of this announcement, the Hsinchu Science Park is still without
power. However, UMC Group has already begun its inspection and recovery
activities wherever possible. We expect that this will shorten the
time needed to return to normal production. At present, we would
like to report the following developments:
Taiwan Power
Company estimates that 70% of UMC Group's power requirements in
the Science Park will be restored by this afternoon (9/23 Taiwan
time). This will allow us to begin the inspection process and make
any necessary adjustments to our production equipment, accelerating
the return to production.
UMC Group is already in the process of procuring miscellaneous components,
such as quartz furnace tubes, necessary to replace those damaged
in the earthquake.
According to our estimates, after Taiwan Power Company has begun
supplying power, it will require three days to complete our inspection
and maintenance operations before returning to normal production.
Finally, UMC Group would like to express its support for the families
and individuals caught up in this terrible disaster. UMC Group has
made a donation of 300 million New Taiwan Dollars to be used to
aid the victims of the tragedy. Hopefully, it can help alleviate
their pain and grief, and return their lives to normal as soon as
possible.
From
9/24 through 9/26, it is a public holiday in Taiwan. Therefore,
our next fab status update will be on Monday, Sept. 27th. Thank
you for your understanding.
ANNOUNCEMENT
9/22 (Taiwan time)
Initial Inspection
Shows No Apparent Damage To Fabs After Earthquake
First of all,
we are thankful to report that the earthquake in Taiwan caused no
injuries to UMC Group employees. Also, based on initial inspections,
there is no apparent damage to the fab buildings or machinery, except
for some glass (e.g., quartz furnace tubes) breakage, and a few
ceiling tiles. All process gas, water, air handling, and power lines
appear to be fully intact. Our back-up power systems operated as
intended in response to the disruption, allowing the clean room
to maintain the required level of air purity. Due to the maintenance
of the appropriate temperature and humidity within the clean room,
the majority of wafers within the fab were unaffected. However,
it is possible that some of the wafers that were in the production
line during the power failure may have to be scrapped. It will only
be possible to make an accurate assessment of the situation when
the power supply has been fully restored. Please visit the UMC Group
website (www.umcgroup.com) for the latest update on fab conditions.
At present,
the government of the Republic of China has decided that restoring
electricity to the general public is the first priority. Therefore,
at this time, it is not exactly clear when electrical power will
be restored to our facilities and normal production can resume.
We also foresee that it will require a period of time for a full
equipment inspection after Taiwan Power Company has resumed power
supply to the facilities. Currently, we estimate that it will require
three to five days after power restoration to return to full production.
Thank you for your concern.