ASM International N.V. (NASDAQ: ASMI and Euronext Amsterdam: ASM) reports today its third quarter 2014 operating results (unaudited) in accordance with US GAAP.

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS Quarter
EUR million Q3 2013 Q2 2014 Q3 2014New orders 112.2 119.5 156.2
Net sales 116.4 148.4 122.2
Gross profit margin % 39.1 % 42.3 % 43.2 %
Operating result 11.6 27.4 17.2
Result from investments (excl. amortization and fair value purchase price allocation) 10.8 15.8 30.7
Remeasurement gain, realized gain on sale of ASMPT shares, amortization and fair value adjustments1) (17.2 ) (5.5 ) (5.7 )Net earnings (0.9 ) 34.6 54.6

Normalized net earnings (excl. remeasurement gain realized gain on sale of ASMPT shares, amortization and fair value adjustments)
16.3 40.1 60.2

Net sales for the third quarter 2014 decreased with 18% compared to the second quarter. Year-on-year net sales increased with 5%.

New orders at €156 million were 31% above the Q2 level. The upward deviation with our guidance of stable order intake compared to Q2 was caused by specific orders for ALD and PEALD products which came in earlier than anticipated.

Normalized net earnings for the third quarter 2014 increased compared to the second quarter mainly due to a higher result from investments and positive currency effects on cash we hold in foreign currencies (especially US$) fully compensating for the lower operating result due to a lower activity level. Compared to the same quarter last year, besides the effect of higher results from investments and currencies, the improvement was mainly due to higher sales in combination with effects of changes in our manufacturing operations and supply chain.

1) Following the close of the sale on March 15, 2013 of a 12% share in ASMPT, the entity in which the Back-end segment is organized, ASMI's shareholding is reduced to 40%. As a consequence, as from March 15, 2013 the results of ASMPT are deconsolidated. From that date onwards the net result of ASMPT is reported on the line 'result from investments'. In 2013 a purchase price allocation took place, which was finalized in the fourth quarter, resulting in the recognition and subsequent amortization of certain intangible assets.

COMMENT
Commenting on the results, Chuck del Prado, President and Chief Executive Officer of ASM International said:

"The third quarter of 2014 showed the anticipated sales decrease as a result of the lower order intake in Q2. As shared in July this was caused by some customers absorbing the investments they made in the preceding quarters. In the third quarter our order book developed favorably, supported by orders coming in earlier than expected. Despite the lower sales level our gross profit margin remained strong at a 43% level. Our company performance in combination with a healthy cash situation has led to today's announcement of a €100 million share buy back program."

OUTLOOK
For Q4 we expect a flat to single digit sales increase (on a currency comparable level), while our new orders are expected to be in the €130-150 million range. This would bring new orders for the second half of the year at approximately the same level as for the first half of the year.

SHARE BUYBACK PROGRAM
ASMI announced today that its Management Board authorized the repurchase of up to €100 million of the Company's common shares within the 2014-2015 time frame. This buyback program will be executed by intermediaries through on-exchange purchases and will end as soon as the aggregate purchase price of the common shares acquired by ASMI has reached €100 million. The program does not include repurchases of ASMI's American Depositary Receipts (ADRs).

On May 21, 2014 the General Meeting of Shareholders authorized ASMI to acquire shares for a period of 18 months.

The repurchase program is part of ASMI's commitment to use excess cash for the benefit of its shareholders. It is ASMI's intention to use part of the shares for commitments under employee share-based compensation.

tijd 09.14
ASMI EUR 30,23 +2,265 vol. 177.170