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Table of Contents

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

     
[X]   QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2002

OR

     
[   ]   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                  For the transition period from           to          .

Commission File No. 0-121

KULICKE AND SOFFA INDUSTRIES, INC.


(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
     
PENNSYLVANIA   23-1498399

 
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)   (IRS Employer
Identification No.)
     
2101 BLAIR MILL ROAD, WILLOW GROVE, PENNSYLVANIA   19090

 
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

(215) 784-6000


(Registrant’s telephone number)

Indicate by check mark whether registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

YES [X] NO [   ].

As of July 31, 2002, there were 49,336,497 shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock, Without Par Value outstanding.

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I. Financial Information
Item 1. Financial Statements
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Item 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Item 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION.
Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K.
SIGNATURES
RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
CERTIFICATION OF CEO
CERTIFICATION OF CFO


Table of Contents

KULICKE AND SOFFA INDUSTRIES, INC.

FORM 10-Q JUNE 30, 2002

INDEX

                 
            Page No.
           
PART I.   FINANCIAL INFORMATION        
Item 1.   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS        
        Consolidated Balance Sheets September 30, 2001 and June 30, 2002     3  
        Consolidated Statements of Operations Three and Nine Months Ended June 30, 2001 and 2002     4  
        Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Nine Months Ended June 30, 2001 and 2002     5  
        Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements     6-16  
Item 2.   MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS     17-44  
Item 3.   QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK     45  
PART II.   OTHER INFORMATION        
Item 6.   EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K     45  
Signatures         46  

 


Table of Contents

PART I. Financial Information

Item 1. Financial Statements

KULICKE AND SOFFA INDUSTRIES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands)

                       
          September 30,   June 30,
          2001   2002
         
 
                  (unaudited)
ASSETS                
CURRENT ASSETS:
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 155,036     $ 96,990  
Short-term investments
    47,892       35,253  
Accounts and notes receivable, (net of allowance for doubtful accounts: 9/30/01 - $6,242; 6/30/02 - $6,173)
    79,305       94,185  
Inventories, net
    74,364       55,776  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    9,013       11,549  
Deferred income taxes
    15,282       11,634  
 
   
     
 
 
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS
    380,892       305,387  
Property, plant and equipment, net
    127,952       112,591  
Intangible assets, (net of accumulated amortization: 9/30/01 - $9,416; 6/30/02 - $16,857)
    103,525       79,031  
Goodwill
    150,474       166,183  
Other assets
    14,583       30,314  
 
   
     
 
 
TOTAL ASSETS
  $ 777,426     $ 693,506  
 
   
     
 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
               
Notes payable and current portion of long term debt
  $ 753     $ 678  
Accounts payable
    51,420       57,277  
Accrued expenses
    48,965       51,026  
Income taxes payable
    14,399       3,352  
 
   
     
 
 
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES
    115,537       112,333  
Long term debt
    301,511       300,938  
Other liabilities
    13,777       13,824  
Deferred taxes
    8,054        
 
   
     
 
 
TOTAL LIABILITIES
    438,879       427,095  
 
   
     
 
Commitments and contingencies
           
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
               
Common stock, without par value
    193,058       199,288  
Retained earnings
    155,012       75,902  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
    (9,523 )     (8,779 )
 
   
     
 
 
TOTAL SHAREHOLDER’S EQUITY
    338,547       266,411  
 
   
     
 
 
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
  $ 777,426     $ 693,506  
 
   
     
 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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Table of Contents

KULICKE AND SOFFA INDUSTRIES, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)

                                     
        Three months ended   Nine months ended
        June 30,   June 30,
       
 
        2001   2002   2001   2002
       
 
 
 
Net Sales
  $ 134,358     $ 132,418     $ 437,212     $ 342,490  
Cost of goods sold
    92,348       97,398       299,577       271,451  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Gross profit
    42,010       35,020       137,635       71,039  
Selling, general and administrative
    33,378       34,278       108,399       101,201  
Research and development, net
    13,556       13,322       49,621       39,276  
Amortization of goodwill and intangibles
    6,730       2,479       16,048       7,441  
Resizing costs
          2,104       1,709       13,387  
Asset impairment
                      4,890  
Purchased in-process research and development
                11,709        
 
   
     
     
     
 
Loss from operations
    (11,654 )     (17,163 )     (49,851 )     (95,156 )
Interest income
    1,307       783       6,997       3,219  
Interest expense
    (3,481 )     (4,367 )     (9,591 )     (13,553 )
Other income
                8,016        
 
   
     
     
     
 
Loss before income taxes
    (13,828 )     (20,747 )     (44,429 )     (105,490 )
Income tax benefit
    (4,691 )     (2,645 )     (11,271 )     (26,370 )
 
   
     
     
     
 
Loss before minority interest and cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
    (9,137 )     (18,102 )     (33,158 )     (79,120 )
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of tax
                (8,163 )      
Minority interest in net loss of subsidiary
    15             343       10  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Net loss
  $ (9,122 )   $ (18,102 )   $ (40,978 )   $ (79,110 )
 
   
     
     
     
 
Net loss excluding cumulative effect of change in accounting principle per share:
                               
   
Basic
  $ (0.19 )   $ (0.37 )   $ (0.67 )   $ (1.61 )
   
Diluted
  $ (0.19 )   $ (0.37 )   $ (0.67 )   $ (1.61 )
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of tax per share:
                               
   
Basic
  $     $     $ (0.17 )   $  
   
Diluted
  $     $     $ (0.17 )   $  
Net loss per share:
                               
 
Basic
  $ (0.19 )   $ (0.37 )   $ (0.84 )   $ (1.61 )
 
Diluted
  $ (0.19 )   $ (0.37 )   $ (0.84 )   $ (1.61 )
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
                               
 
Basic
    48,929       49,263       48,829       49,148  
 
Diluted
    48,929       49,263       48,829       49,148  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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Table of Contents

KULICKE AND SOFFA INDUSTRIES, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)
(unaudited)

                       
          Nine months ended
          June 30,
         
          2001   2002
         
 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
               
Net loss
  $ (40,978 )   $ (79,110 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
               
 
Depreciation and amortization
    40,143       33,877  
 
Purchased in-process research and development
    11,709        
 
Resizing costs
    1,709       13,387  
 
Asset impairment
          4,890  
 
Minority interest in net loss of subsidiary
    (343 )     (10 )
 
Deferred taxes
    (17,271 )     (21,011 )
 
Changes in components of working capital, net
    73,793       (12,680 )
 
Other, net
    4,519       2,960  
 
   
     
 
     
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities
    73,281       (57,697 )
 
   
     
 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
               
 
Proceeds from sales of investments classified as available for sale
    100,240       46,343  
 
Purchases of investments classified as available for sale
    (40,149 )     (33,834 )
 
Purchases of property, plant and equipment
    (44,421 )     (15,449 )
 
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets
          185  
 
Purchase of Flip Chip equity units
    (5,000 )      
 
Purchase of Cerprobe Corp., net of cash received
    (216,409 )      
 
Purchase of Probe Technology Corp., net of cash received
    (62,512 )     1,472  
 
   
     
 
     
Net cash used in investing activities
    (268,251 )     (1,283 )
 
   
     
 
CASH FLOW FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
               
 
Net proceeds from borrowings
    58,000        
 
Payments on borrowings
    (6,598 )     (648 )
 
Proceeds from issuance of common stock
    1,111       1,582  
 
Proceeds from sale of receivables
    20,000        
 
   
     
 
     
Net cash provided by financing activities
    72,513       934  
 
   
     
 
Changes in cash and cash equivalents
    (122,457 )     (58,046 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    211,489       155,036  
 
   
     
 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 89,032     $ 96,990  
 
   
     
 
CASH PAID DURING THE PERIOD FOR:
               
   
Interest
  $ 11,187       12,599  
   
Income taxes
  $ 4,348       5,868  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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Table of Contents

Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

June 30, 2002

NOTE 1 — BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The condensed consolidated financial statement information included herein is unaudited, but in the opinion of management, contains all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial position at June 30, 2002, and the results of its operations for the three and nine month periods ended June 30, 2001 and 2002 and its cash flows for the nine month periods ended June 30, 2001 and 2002. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2001.

NOTE 2 — ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

SFAS 142. Effective October 1, 2001, the Company adopted SFAS 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets. The intangible assets that are classified as goodwill and those with indefinite lives will no longer be amortized under the provisions of this standard. Intangible assets with determinable lives will continue to be amortized over their estimated useful life. The standard also requires that an impairment test be performed to support the carrying value of goodwill and intangible assets at least annually.

The Company has completed the required transitional impairment testing of intangible assets, and based upon those analyses, the Company did not identify any impairment charges as a result of adoption of this standard. The Company has reviewed its business and determined that there are five reporting units which will be reviewed for impairment in accordance with the standard – the reporting units are included within three of the Company’s business segments, the packaging materials segment, the advanced packaging technology segment and the test segment. Included within the packaging materials segment are two reporting units, the bonding wire and saw blade businesses, and included in the advanced packaging technology segment are two reporting units, the substrate and flip chip businesses. The test segment is the Company’s final reporting unit. There is no goodwill associated with the Company’s equipment segment.

The following table outlines the components of goodwill and intangible assets by business segment at June 30, 2002 after adoption of the standard:

                                     
                Advanced                
        Packaging   Packaging                
        Materials   Technology   Test        
        Segment   Segment   Segment   Total
       
 
 
 
        (in thousands)
Goodwill
  $ 31,980     $ 5,570     $ 128,633     $ 166,183  
Intangible Assets:
                               
 
Customer accounts
                34,592       34,592  
 
Complete technology
          1,206       43,233       44,439  
 
   
     
     
     
 
   
Intangible assets, net of amortization
          1,206       77,825       79,031  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Balance, June 30, 2002
  $ 31,980     $ 6,776     $ 206,458     $ 245,214  
 
   
     
     
     
 

Upon adoption of the standard, the Company reclassified $17.2 million of intangibles relating to an acquired workforce in the test segment into goodwill. In the quarter ended June 30, 2002, the Company

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Table of Contents

Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

June 30, 2002

reduced goodwill associated with the test segment by $1.5 million reflecting the settlement of a purchase price dispute with the former owners of Probe Technology. Other than this item, and the adoption reclassification above, there were no other changes in the carrying value of goodwill.

The changes in the value of goodwill from September 30, 2001 to June 30, 2002 appears below:

           
      Nine Months
      Ended
      June 30,
      2002
     
      (unaudited)
      (in thousands)
Goodwill balance as of September 30, 2001
  $ 150,474  
 
Reclassifications of intangibles upon adoption of SFAS 142
    17,181  
 
Adjustment of purchase price related to Probe Tech settlement
    (1,472 )
 
   
 
Goodwill balance as of June 30, 2002
  $ 166,183  
 
   
 

The gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization of the intangible assets at June 30, 2002 are as follows:

                           
      Gross Carrying   Accumulated   Total Net
      Amount   Amortization   Book Value
     
 
 
      (in thousands)
Customer Accounts
  $ 41,100     $ 6,508     $ 34,592  
Complete Technology
    54,788       10,349       44,439  
 
   
     
     
 
 
Total
  $ 95,888     $ 16,857     $ 79,031  
 
   
     
     
 

The aggregate amortization expense related to these intangible assets for the three months and nine months ended June 30, 2002 was $2.5 million and $7.4 million, respectively ($2.5 million and $5.9 million for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2001). The aggregate amortization expense for the fiscal years ending September 30 is estimated to be as follows: $9.9 million in fiscal 2002 and 2003, $9.6 million in fiscal 2004 and $9.2 million in fiscal 2005 and 2006.

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Table of Contents

Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

June 30, 2002

The following table presents pro forma net earnings and earnings per share data reflecting the impact of adoption of SFAS 142 as of the beginning of the first quarter of fiscal 2001:

                     
        June 30,   June 30,
        2001   2002
       
 
        (in thousands,
        except per share data)
Reported net loss, before adoption of SFAS 142
  $ (40,978 )   $ (79,110 )
 
Addback:
               
   
Goodwill amortization, net of tax of $3,395
    6,740        
 
   
     
 
Pro forma net loss
  $ (34,238 )   $ (79,110 )
 
   
     
 
Net loss per share, as reported:
               
 
Basic
  $ (0.84 )   $ (1.61 )
 
Diluted
  $ (0.84 )   $ (1.61 )
Goodwill amortization, net of tax per share:
               
 
Basic
  $ 0.14     $  
 
Diluted
  $ 0.14     $  
Pro forma net loss per share:
               
 
Basic
  $ (0.70 )   $ (1.61 )
 
Diluted
  $ (0.70 )   $ (1.61 )

The Company’s annual earnings per share is expected to increase by approximately $.35 per share as a result of the adoption of this standard.

SFAS 143. In August 2001, the FASB issued SFAS 143, Accounting for Obligations Associated with the Retirement of Long-Lived Assets which is effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2002. The Standard provides guidance for financial reporting for obligations associated with the retirement of tangible long-lived assets and the associated asset retirement costs. The Standard applies to legal obligations associated with the retirement of long-lived assets that result from the acquisition, construction, development, and/or the normal operation of a long-lived asset, except for certain obligations of lessors. The Company is currently reviewing the provisions of this Statement but does not expect that the adoption of SFAS 143 will have a significant impact on its financial position and results of operations.

SFAS 144. In October 2001, the FASB issued SFAS 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets which supersedes FASB 121, Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Assets to Be Disposed Of and the accounting and reporting provisions of APB Opinion No. 30, Reporting the Results of Operations – Reporting the Effects of Disposal of a Segment of a Business, and Extraordinary, Unusual and Infrequently Occurring Events and Transactions. The Statement is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2001 and interim periods within those fiscal years. This Statement applies to all long-lived assets and requires that the assets to be disposed of by sale be measured at the lower of book value or fair value less costs to sell. The Company is currently reviewing the

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Table of Contents

Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

June 30, 2002

provisions of this Statement but does not expect that the adoption of SFAS 144 will have a significant impact on its financial position and results of operations.

SFAS 145. In April 2002, the FASB issued SFAS 145, Recission of FASB Statements No. 4, 44, and 64, Amendment of FASB Statement No. 13, and Technical Corrections. In rescinding FASB Statement No. 4 and FASB No. 64, FASB 145 eliminates the requirement that gains and losses from the extinguishment of debt be aggregated and, if material, classified as an extraordinary item, net of the related income tax effect, however, an entity would not be prohibited from classifying such gains and losses as extraordinary items so long as they meet the criteria of paragraph 20 of APB 30, Reporting the results of operations – Reporting the Effects of Disposal of a Segment of a Business, and Extraordinary, Unusual and Infrequently Occurring Events and Transactions. Further, the Statement amends SFAS 13 to eliminate an inconsistency between the accounting for sale leaseback transactions and certain lease modifications that have economic effects that are similar to sale leaseback transactions. The standard will be effective for transactions occurring after May 15, 2002. The Company is currently reviewing the provisions of this Statement but does not expect the adoption of SFAS 145 will have a significant impact on its financial position and results of operations.

SFAS 146. In June 2002, the FASB issued SFAS 146, Accounting for Exit or Disposal Activities which addresses significant issues regarding the recognition, measurement, and reporting of costs that are associated with exit and disposal activities, including restructuring activities that are currently accounted for pursuant to the guidance that the Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) has set forth in EITF 94-3 Liability Recognition for Certain Employee Termination Benefits and Other Costs to Exit an Activity (including Certain Costs Incurred in a Restructuring). The standard will be effective for exit or disposal activities that are initiated after December 31, 2002. The Company is currently reviewing the provisions of this Statement.

NOTE 3 — INVENTORIES

Inventories consist of the following:

                 
    September 30,   June 30,
    2001   2002
   
 
    (in thousands)
Raw materials and supplies
  $ 60,870     $ 41,284  
Work in process
    21,185       18,554  
Finished Goods
    21,418       16,956  
 
   
     
 
 
    103,473       76,794  
Inventory reserves
    (29,109 )     (21,018 )
 
   
     
 
 
  $ 74,364     $ 55,776  
 
   
     
 

NOTE 4 — EARNINGS PER SHARE

Basic net income (loss) per share (“EPS”) is calculated using the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. The calculation of diluted net income (loss) per share assumes the exercise of employee stock options and the conversion of convertible securities to common shares unless the inclusion of these will have an anti-dilutive impact on net income (loss) per share. In addition, in computing diluted net income (loss) per share, the after-tax amount of interest expense recognized in the period associated with the convertible subordinated notes is added back to net income

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Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

June 30, 2002

(loss) as if the convertible securities had been converted to common shares at the beginning of the period. For the three and nine month periods ended June 30, 2001 and 2002, the exercise of stock options and the conversion of the convertible securities were not assumed since their conversion to common stock would have an anti-dilutive effect on net loss per share.

Due to the Company’s net loss for the three month and nine month periods ended June 30, 2001 and 2002, potentially dilutive securities are deemed to be anti-dilutive. The weighted average number of shares for potentially dilutive securities (convertible notes and employee and director stock options) was 8,946,000 and 8,603,000, respectively, for the three and nine month periods ended June 30, 2001 and 15,319,000 and 15,394,000 for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2002.

NOTE 5 – ACQUISITIONS

In fiscal 2001, the Company acquired Cerprobe Corporation and Probe Technology Corporation. The businesses of Cerprobe and Probe Tech have been combined to form the Test Division. Refer to Note 2 of the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2001 for a description of the businesses acquired and the allocation of the purchase price. The pro forma results for the nine months ended June 30, 2001 are not material.

NOTE 6 – RESIZING AND ASSET IMPAIRMENT

Resizing

Historically, the semiconductor industry has been volatile, with sharp periodic downturns and slowdowns. The industry has experienced excess capacity and a severe contraction in demand for semiconductor manufacturing equipment for the past two years. In reaction to the prolonged industry downtown the Company has been resizing its cost structure to keep it in line with current and anticipated revenue levels.

Charges in Fiscal Year 2002

In the third quarter of fiscal 2002, the Company announced a resizing plan to reduce headcount and consolidate manufacturing in its test division. The resizing plan was a result of the Company’s decision to move towards a 24 hour per day manufacturing model in its major U.S. wafer test facility, which will provide its customers with faster turn-around time and delivery of orders and economies of scale in manufacturing. As part of this plan, the Company will move manufacturing of wafer test products from its Gilbert, Arizona facility and an Austin, Texas facility to its San Jose, California and Dallas, Texas facilities and from its Kaohsuing, Taiwan facility to its Hsin Chu, Taiwan facility. The resizing plan includes a severance charge of $1.6 million for the elimination of 149 positions as a result of the manufacturing consolidation. At June 30, 2002, two of the 149 positions have been eliminated. The remaining positions will be terminated in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2002 through the third quarter of fiscal 2003. The resizing plan also includes a charge of $0.5 million associated with the closure of the Kaohsuing, Taiwan facility and an Austin, Texas facility representing costs of non-cancelable lease obligations beyond the facility closure, costs required to restore the production facilities to their original state, and the write-off of building improvements associated with these facilities. Both facilities will be closed in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2002.

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Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

June 30, 2002

The table below details the spending and activity related to the resizing plan initiated in the third quarter of fiscal 2002:

                         
    Severance and Benefits   Commitments   Total
   
 
 
    (in thousands)
Third Quarter 2002 Charge                        

                       
Provision for resizing
  $ 1,652     $ 452     $ 2,104  
Satisfaction of obligations
                 
 
   
     
     
 
Balance, June 30, 2002
  $ 1,652     $ 452     $ 2,104  
 
   
     
     
 

In the second quarter of fiscal 2002, the Company announced a resizing plan comprised of a functional realignment of business management and the consolidation and closure of certain facilities. In connection with the resizing plan, the Company recorded a charge of $11.3 million, consisting of severance and benefits of $9.7 million for 372 positions that are being eliminated as a result of the functional realignment, facility consolidation, the shift of certain manufacturing to China and the move of the Company’s microelectronics products to Singapore and a charge of $1.6 million for the cost of lease commitments beyond the closure date of facilities to be exited as part of the facility consolidation plan. At June 30, 2002, 177 positions remain to be terminated through the first quarter of fiscal 2003. The severance accrual will be paid out during the remainder of fiscal 2002 and the first half of fiscal 2003, and the commitments will be substantially completed in the second quarter of fiscal 2003, but will continue into future years as a result of contractual agreements.

As a result of the functional realignment, the Company terminated employees at all levels of the organization from factory workers to vice presidents. The organizational change shifts management of the Company’s businesses to functional (i.e., sales, manufacturing, research and development, etc.) areas across product lines rather than by product line. For example, research and development activities for the equipment and packaging materials businesses are now controlled and coordinated by one corporate vice president under the functional organizational structure, rather than separately by each business unit. This structure provides for a more efficient allocation of human and capital resources to achieve corporate R&D initiatives.

In the second quarter, the Company closed five test facilities: two in the United States, one in France, one in Malaysia, and one in Singapore, whose operations were absorbed into other Company facilities. The resizing charge for the facility consolidation reflects the cost of lease commitments beyond the exit date that is associated with these closed test facilities. The Company also announced the closure of a dicing blade manufacturing facility in California, which will be closed in connection with the relocation of certain production to China. This relocation plan will provide the Company’s customers with more focused and efficient service and support, closer to their physical location. While the Company believes its cost structure will be reduced by transitioning production from the United States to less expensive sites in Asia, the cost savings will be temporarily offset by costs associated with the transition and training. For example, savings from reduced payroll, depreciation and lease costs would be partially offset by the initial start-up and operational costs of the Company’s planned facility in China. The amount and timing of these additional costs is not fully known at this time.

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Table of Contents

Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

June 30, 2002

The table below details the spending and activity related to the resizing plan initiated in the second quarter of fiscal 2002:

                         
    Severance and Benefits   Commitments   Total
   
 
 
    (in thousands)
Second Quarter 2002 Charge                        

                       
Provision for resizing
  $ 9,733 (1)   $ 1,550     $ 11,283  
Satisfaction of obligations
    (4,658 )(1)           (4,658 )
 
   
     
     
 
Balance, June 30, 2002
  $ 5,075     $ 1,550     $ 6,625  
 
   
     
     
 


    (1) Includes $2.6 million non-cash charge for modifications of stock option awards that were granted prior to December 31, 2001 to the employees affected by the resizing plans in accordance with the Company’s annual grant of stock options to employees.

Charges in Fiscal Year 2001

In the quarter ended September 30, 2001, the Company announced a resizing plan to close a bonding wire facility in the United States, and recorded a resizing charge for severance of $2.4 million for the elimination of 215 positions, of which 5 remained to be terminated at June 30, 2002. Also in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2001, the Company recorded an increase to goodwill of $0.8 million in connection with the acquisition of Probe Tech for additional lease costs associated with the elimination of four duplicate facilities in the United States. The remaining positions will be eliminated in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2002, and the cash payments for commitments will continue into fiscal 2003 due to the contractual obligations under those leases.

The resizing costs were included in accrued liabilities. The table below details the activity related to this resizing plan during fiscal 2001 and the current fiscal year:

                           
      Severance and Benefits   Commitments   Total
     
 
 
      (in thousands)
Fourth Quarter 2001 Charge                        

                       
Provision for resizing
  $ 2,457     $     $ 2,457  
Acquisition restructuring
          840       840  
Satisfaction of obligations
    (402 )           (402 )
 
   
     
     
 
 
Balance, September 30, 2001
    2,055       840       2,895  
Satisfaction of obligations
    (1,354 )     (640 )     (1,994 )
 
   
     
     
 
 
Balance, June 30, 2002
  $ 701     $ 200     $ 901  
 
   
     
     
 

In the quarter ended March 31, 2001, the Company announced a 7.0% reduction in its workforce. As a result, the Company recorded a resizing charge for severance of $1.7 million for the elimination of 296 positions across all levels of the organization, all of which were terminated prior to March 31, 2002. In connection with the Company’s acquisition of Probe Tech, the Company also recorded an increase to

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Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

June 30, 2002

goodwill for $0.6 million for severance, lease and other facility charges related to the elimination of four leased Probe Tech facilities in the United States which were found to be duplicative with the Cerprobe facilities. The plans have been substantially completed and cash payments related to this program will be finalized in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2002.

The resizing costs were included in accrued liabilities. The table below details the activity related to this resizing program during fiscal 2001 and the current fiscal year:

                           
      Severance and Benefits   Commitments   Total
     
 
 
      (in thousands)
Second Quarter 2001 Charge                        

                       
Provision for resizing
  $ 1,709     $     $ 1,709  
Acquisition restructuring
    84       562       646  
Satisfaction of obligations
    (1,699 )     (213 )     (1,912 )
 
   
     
     
 
 
Balance, September 30, 2001
    94       349       443  
Satisfaction of obligations
    (73 )     (310 )     (383 )
 
   
     
     
 
 
Balance, June 30, 2002
  $ 21     $ 39     $ 60  
 
   
     
     
 

Asset Impairment

In the second quarter of fiscal 2002, the Company recorded an asset impairment of $4.9 million. The write-off included a $3.6 million charge for the write-off of development and license costs of certain engineering and manufacturing software, which had not yet been completed or placed in service. In the second quarter of fiscal 2002, the Company determined that a new company-wide integrated information system would be implemented, and as a result, the existing engineering and manufacturing software would be redundant and would never be utilized. Also in the second quarter, the Company wrote-off $1.3 million related to leasehold improvements at the leased probe card manufacturing facilities in Malaysia and the United States, which were identified for closure and closed during this period.

In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2001, the Company recorded an asset impairment of $0.8 million related to the closure of a wire facility in the United States and the disposition of the associated equipment.

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Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

June 30, 2002

NOTE 7 — COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

For the three and nine month periods ended June 30, 2001 and 2002, the components of total comprehensive loss are as follows:

                                   
      Three months ended   Nine months ended
      June 30,   June 30,
     
 
      2001   2002   2001   2002
     
 
 
 
      (in thousands)
Net loss
  $ (9,122 )   $ (18,102 )   $ (40,978 )   $ (79,110 )
 
   
     
     
     
 
Foreign currency translation adjustment
    (980 )     2,456       (3,951 )     918  
Unrealized gain / (loss) on investments, net of taxes
    (157 )     82       1       (174 )
 
   
     
     
     
 
 
Other comprehensive income / (loss)
    (1,137 )     2,538       (3,950 )     744  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Comprehensive loss
  $ (10,259 )   $ (15,564 )   $ (44,928 )   $ (78,366 )
 
   
     
     
     
 

NOTE 8 — OPERATING RESULTS BY BUSINESS SEGMENT

Operating results by business segment for the three and nine-month periods ended June 30, 2001 and 2002 were as follows:

FISCAL 2002:

                                                   
                      Advanced                        
              Packaging   Packaging                        
      Equipment   Materials   Technology   Test (1)                
      Segment   Segment   Segment   Segment   Corporate   Total
     
 
 
 
 
 
                      (in thousands)                
Quarter ended June 30, 2002:
                                               
Net sales
  $ 50,815     $ 44,754     $ 6,094     $ 30,755     $     $ 132,418  
Cost of goods sold
    37,479       32,940       6,193       20,786             97,398  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
Gross profit
    13,336       11,814       (99 )     9,969             35,020  
Operating expenses
    20,615       7,133       5,539       12,315       4,477       50,079  
Resizing costs
                      2,104             2,104  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Income (loss) from operations
  $ (7,279 )   $ 4,681     $ (5,638 )   $ (4,450 )   $ (4,477 )   $ (17,163 )
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Nine months ended June 30, 2002:
                                               
Net sales
  $ 123,715     $ 114,277     $ 18,322     $ 86,176     $     $ 342,490  
Cost of goods sold
    108,020       86,705       19,194       57,532             271,451  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
Gross profit
    15,695       27,572       (872 )     28,644             71,039  
Operating expenses
    62,179       19,342       16,239       38,283       11,875       147,918  
Resizing costs
    6,064       736       1,104       4,900       583       13,387  
Asset impairment
    2,165       1,480             1,245             4,890  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Income (loss) from operations
  $ (54,713 )   $ 6,014     $ (18,215 )   $ (15,784 )   $ (12,458 )   $ (95,156 )
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Segment assets at June 30, 2002
  $ 141,737     $ 94,195     $ 31,739     $ 257,285     $ 168,550     $ 693,506  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 

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Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

June 30, 2002

FISCAL 2001:

                                                   
                      Advanced                        
              Packaging   Packaging                        
      Equipment   Materials   Technology   Test (1)                
      Segment   Segment   Segment   Segment   Corporate   Total
     
 
 
 
 
 
                      (in thousands)                
Quarter ended June 30, 2001: (2)
                                               
Net sales
  $ 55,653     $ 33,216     $ 11,340     $ 34,149     $     $ 134,358  
Cost of goods sold
    36,432       24,649       7,819       23,448             92,348  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
Gross profit
    19,221       8,567       3,521       10,701             42,010  
Operating expenses
    21,831       6,246       6,126       15,584       3,877       53,664  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Income (loss) from operations
  $ (2,610 )   $ 2,321     $ (2,605 )   $ (4,883 )   $ (3,877 )   $ (11,654 )
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Nine months ended June 30, 2001: (2)
                                               
Net sales
  $ 195,824     $ 121,355     $ 29,001     $ 91,032     $     $ 437,212  
Cost of goods sold
    124,792       87,873       24,288       62,624             299,577  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
Gross profit
    71,032       33,482       4,713       28,408             137,635  
Operating expenses
    82,194       22,398       19,421       38,441     $ 11,614       174,068  
Resizing costs
    1,424       254                   31       1,709  
Purchased in-process research and development
                      11,709             11,709  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Income (loss) from operations
  $ (12,586 )   $ 10,830     $ (14,708 )   $ (21,742 )   $ (11,645 )   $ (49,851 )
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Segment assets at September 30, 2001
  $ 155,220     $ 86,113     $ 38,260     $ 270,506     $ 227,327     $ 777,426  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 


(1)   Comprised of the activities of Cerprobe Corporation and Probe Technology Corporation. The Company acquired Cerprobe in November 2000 and Probe Technology in December 2000. The results of both companies, from the date of acquisition are included in loss from operations for the three and nine month periods ended June 30, 2001 and 2002 but are not included in the operating results of the Company for any period preceding their respective dates of acquisition.
(2)   Restated for the adoption of SAB 101.

NOTE 9 – INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CONTINGENCY

Occasionally, third parties assert that the Company is, or may be, infringing or misappropriating their intellectual property rights. In these cases, the Company will defend against claims or negotiate licenses where it considers these actions appropriate. In addition, some of the Company’s customers are parties to litigation brought by the Lemelson Medical, Education and Research Foundation Limited Partnership (the “Lemelson Foundation”), in which the Lemelson Foundation claims that certain manufacturing processes used by those customers infringe patents held by the Lemelson Foundation. The Company has never been named a party to any such litigation. Some of the Company’s customers have requested that the Company indemnify them to the extent their liability for these claims arises from use of the Company’s equipment. The Company does not believe that products sold by it infringe valid Lemelson patents. If a claim for contribution was brought against the Company, management believes the Company would have valid defenses to assert and also would have rights to contribution from and claims against its suppliers.

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Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

June 30, 2002

The Company has never incurred any material liability with respect to the Lemelson claims or any other pending intellectual property claim and the Company does not believe that these claims will materially and adversely affect its business, financial condition or operating results. The ultimate outcome of any infringement or misappropriation claim that might be made, however, is uncertain, and the Company cannot assure others that the resolution of any such claim will not materially and adversely affect it’s business, financial condition and operating results.

NOTE 10 – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

Termination of Receivable Securitization Program

On July 19, 2002, the Company terminated its accounts receivable securitization program and paid $20.0 million to repurchase previously sold accounts receivable. The Company financed the majority of the $20.0 million repurchase by selling certain other long term accounts receivable, that were supported by letters of credit, to a bank at a discount.

Resizing Charges in the Fourth Quarter of Fiscal 2002

In response to a slower than expected recovery in the semiconductor cycle, the Company will further reduce its cost structure with an additional workforce reduction in the fourth quarter ended September 30, 2002. The number of employees affected and costs associated with these reductions are currently being determined and are not known at this time.

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Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis

June 30, 2002

Item 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

In addition to historical information, this report contains statements relating to future events or our future results. These statements are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and are subject to the Safe Harbor provisions created by statute. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements that relate to our future revenue, product development, demand forecasts, competitiveness, gross margins, operating expenses and benefits expected as a result of:

  the projected growth rates in the overall semiconductor industry, the semiconductor assembly equipment market and the market for semiconductor packaging materials;
 
  the anticipated development, production and licensing of our advanced packaging technology;
 
  the successful operation of acquisitions and expected growth rates for these companies;
 
  the projected continuing demand for wire bonders; and
 
  the anticipated growing importance of the flip chip assembly process in high-end market segments.

Generally words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “plan,” “continue,” and “believe,” or the negative of or other variation on these and other similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this report. We do not undertake to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and involve risks and uncertainties and our future results could differ significantly from those expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, those described below and under the heading “Risk Factors” within this section and in our reports and registration statements filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes on pages 6 to 16 of this Form 10-Q for a full understanding of our financial position and results of operations for the three and nine month periods ended June 30, 2002.

INTRODUCTION

We design, manufacture and market capital equipment, packaging materials and a broad range of fixtures (used to test semiconductor wafers and devices), as well as apply solder bumps to silicon wafers (referred to as flip chip bumping) for sale to companies that manufacture and assemble semiconductor devices. We also service, maintain, repair and upgrade assembly equipment, license our flip chip bumping process technology and manufacture and market advanced substrates. These substrates consist of multiple layers of laminate applied to a core substrate that enables dense electrical connections (referred to as high density interconnect substrates).

We sell our products to semiconductor device manufacturers and contract manufacturers which are primarily located in or have operations in the Asia/Pacific region. Sales to customers outside of the United States accounted for 62% of net sales for fiscal 2001 and 65% of net sales for the nine months ended June 30, 2002, and are expected to continue to represent a substantial portion of our future revenues. To support our international sales, we currently have significant manufacturing operations in the United States, Israel and Singapore, sales facilities in the United States, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Scotland, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand, and applications labs in the United States, Singapore, Japan, Israel and Taiwan.

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Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis

June 30, 2002

The semiconductor industry has experienced excess capacity and a severe contraction in demand for semiconductor manufacturing equipment for the past two years. During the third quarter, the outlook for the semiconductor industry appeared to be improving and we believed that the industry was stabilizing. However, end use demand for electronics products continues to be sluggish and customer visibility is poor across the semiconductor and semiconductor capital equipment industries. The outlook for our business remains very uncertain for the near term as we are seeing slowdowns in new orders for most of our product offerings. We expect revenues in our fourth fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2002 to be $105.0 - $115.0 million and our backlog at September 30, 2002 to be below the June 30, 2002 level. Our backlog of customer orders at June 30, 2002 was $66.0 million compared to $49.0 million at September 30, 2001.

In February 2002, we implemented a functional organizational structure with certain disciplines combined across product lines. This replaced a traditional product-focused organization and will allow better integration of our various product offerings and at a lower cost. Under this model, marketing, engineering, manufacturing, and customer operations will operate with responsibility for all equipment, packaging materials and test interconnect products. Excluded from this model are the flip chip and substrate divisions, which will continue to operate as separate business units.

This functional realignment supports a parallel decision to establish a supply chain in China for our ball bonder products and to shift a portion of the manufacturing of capillaries, saw blades and selected test products to a facility outside of Shanghai, China. In addition, the manufacturing for our microelectronics products will be moved from Willow Grove, Pennsylvania to the ball bonder manufacturing facility in Singapore. The transfer of microelectronics products is expected to be completed later this year; the China facility is expected to be fully operational by late 2003. We expect to incur duplicate operation and transition costs associated with the move of manufacturing to China and Singapore until such time as the new China facility and our Singapore facility are fully qualified and operational.

In the second quarter, we recorded a resizing charge of $11.3 million related to the organizational change and the consolidation of facilities. The charge consisted of severance and employee benefits provided to employees affected by these programs and the continuing lease costs at certain facilities affected by the facility consolidation. In addition, we recorded an asset impairment charge of $4.9 million related to the cost of certain software which was made redundant by a new company-wide integrated information system and the write-off of other assets that were associated with the leased facilities affected by the facility consolidation.

In the third quarter, we recorded a resizing charge of $2.1 million related to the consolidation of facilities in the test division. The charge consisted of severance and employee benefits provided to employees whose positions would be terminated as a result of the consolidation, and the continuing lease costs at two facilities in the United States and Taiwan which will be closed in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2002.

In the fourth quarter, we will further reduce our cost structure with an additional workforce reduction. The number of employees affected and costs associated with these reductions are currently being determined and are not known at this time.

Our business is currently divided into four segments:

  Equipment

    We design, manufacture and market semiconductor assembly equipment. Our principal product line is our family of wire bonders, which are used to connect extremely fine wires, typically made of gold, aluminum or copper, between the bonding pads on the die and the leads on the IC package to which the die has been bonded. We are the world’s largest manufacturer of wire bonders, according to VLSI Research, Inc. In fiscal 2001, we began selling the Models 8028-S and 8028-PPS automatic ball

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Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis

June 30, 2002

    bonders which, with their improved technical performance and productivity, accounted for the majority of ball bonders we sold in fiscal 2001. In fiscal 2001, we also introduced the Maxµm, our latest generation IC ball bonder, which offers up to 20% more productivity than the Model 8028-PPS ball. In the second quarter of fiscal 2002, we began shipping the Maxµm, which has been tested and qualified by several of our customers.

  Packaging Materials

    We design, manufacture and market a range of packaging materials to semiconductor device assemblers including very fine (typically 0.001 inches in diameter) gold, aluminum and copper wire, capillaries, wedges, die collets and saw blades, all of which are used in the semiconductor packaging process. Our packaging materials are optimized for use with our wire bonders, to provide leading edge efficiencies and capabilities, as well as with our competitors assembly equipment.

  Test Interconnect

    Our test interconnect solutions provide a broad range of fixtures used to temporarily connect automatic test equipment to the semiconductor device under test during wafer fabrication (wafer probing) and after they have been assembled and packaged (package or final testing). Our products include probe cards, automatic test equipment (ATE) interface assemblies, ATE test boards, and test socket/contactors. Most of the test interconnect products we offer are custom designed or customized for a specific semiconductor or application.

  Advanced Packaging Technology

    This business segment reflects the operating results of our strategic initiative to develop new technologies for advanced semiconductor packaging. It is comprised of our flip chip business unit and our high-density substrate business unit.
 
    Through our flip chip business unit we license flip chip technology and provide wafer bumping services and market a wafer level chip scale package (UltraCSP).
 
    We established our substrate business unit to develop, manufacture and market high density interconnect substrates using either flip chip or advanced wire bonding interconnection schemes. We purchased advanced substrate technology for $8.0 million in fiscal 1999 and operate a research/manufacturing facility in Milpitas, California to fully develop and market the technology.
 
    Neither our flip chip nor our substrate business units have been profitable to date and we do not expect them to be profitable in fiscal 2002.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. We believe the following accounting policy is critical to the preparation of our financial statements:

Revenue Recognition. We changed our revenue recognition policy in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2001, effective October 1, 2000, based upon guidance provided in the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 101 (SAB 101), Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements. We recognize revenue when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred or services

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Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis

June 30, 2002

have been rendered, the price is fixed or determinable, the collectibility is reasonably assured, and we have satisfied any equipment installation obligations and received customer acceptance, or are otherwise released from our installation or customer acceptance obligations. In the event terms of the sale provide for a lapsing customer acceptance period, we recognize revenue based upon the expiration of the lapsing acceptance period or customer acceptance, whichever occurs first. Our standard terms are Ex works (K&S factory), with title transferring to our customer at our loading dock or upon embarkation. We do have a small percentage of sales with other terms, and revenue is recognized in accordance with the terms of the related customer purchase order. Revenue related to services is generally recognized upon performance of the services requested by a customer order. Revenue for extended maintenance service contracts with a term more than one month is recognized on a prorated straight-line basis over the term of the contract. Revenue from royalty arrangements and license agreements is recognized in accordance with the contract terms, generally prorated over the life of the contract or based upon specific deliverables. Our business is subject to contingencies related to customer orders as follows:

  Right of Return: A large portion of our revenue comes from the sale of machines that are used in the semiconductor assembly process. These items are generally built to order, and often include customization to a customer’s specifications. Revenue related to the semiconductor equipment is recognized upon customer acceptance. Other product sales relate to consumable products, which are sold in high-volume quantities, and are generally maintained in low stock at our customer’s facility. As a result, customer returns represent a very small percentage of customer sales on an annual basis. Our policy is to provide an allowance for customer returns based upon our historical experience and management assumptions.
 
  Warranties: Our products are generally shipped with a one-year warranty against manufacturer’s defects and we do not offer extended warranties in the normal course of our business. We recognize a liability for estimated warranty expense when revenue for the related product is recognized. The estimated liability for warranty is based upon historical experience and management estimates of future expenses.
 
  Conditions of Acceptance: Sales of our consumable products and bonding wire generally do not have customer acceptance terms. In certain cases, sales of our equipment products do have customer acceptance clauses which generally require that the equipment perform in accordance with specifications during an on-site factory inspection by the customer, as well as when installed at the customer’s facility. In such cases, if the terms of acceptance are satisfied at our facility prior to shipment, the revenue for the equipment will be recognized upon shipment. If the customer must first install the equipment in their own factory, then generally, revenue associated with that sale is not recognized until acceptance is received from the customer.
 
  Price protection: We do not provide price protection to our customers.

Prior to the adoption of SAB 101, we recorded revenue upon the shipment of products or the performance of services. Provisions for estimated product returns, warranty and installation costs were accrued in the period in which the revenue was recognized. This policy assumed customer acceptance when the product specifications were met and the products shipped. Product returns and disputes with customers due to dissatisfaction with the performance of our products have been immaterial; accordingly, we recognized revenue upon the transfer of title and did not require our customers to provide notice of acceptance.

Generally accepted accounting principles require the use of estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the

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Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis

June 30, 2002

financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The more significant areas involving the use of estimates in these financial statements include allowances for uncollectible accounts receivable, reserves for excess and obsolete inventory, carrying value and lives of fixed assets, goodwill and intangible assets, valuation allowances for deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which are the basis for making judgements about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

We believe the following accounting policies require judgements and estimates:

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts. We maintain allowances for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of our customers to make required payments. If the financial condition of our customers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required. We are also subject to concentrations of customers and sales to a few geographic locations, which may also impact the collectability of certain receivables. If economic or political conditions were to change in the countries where we do business, it could have a significant impact on the results of our operations, and our ability to realize the full value of our accounts receivable. Our average write-off of bad debts over the past five fiscal years has been less than 0.1% of net sales.

Inventory Reserves. We generally provide reserves for equipment inventory considered to be in excess of 6 months of forecasted future demand and we provide reserves for spare part and consumable inventories considered to be in excess of 18 months of forecasted future demand. The forecasted demand is based upon internal projections, historical sales volumes, customer order activity and a review of consumable inventory levels at our customers’ facilities. We communicate forecasts of our future demand to our suppliers and adjust commitments to those suppliers accordingly. If required, we reduce the carrying value of our inventory to the lower of cost or market value, based upon assumptions about future demand, market conditions and the next cyclical market upturn. If actual market conditions are less favorable than our projections, additional inventory write-downs may be required. We review and dispose of excess and obsolete inventory on a regular basis.

Valuation of Long-lived Assets. Our long-lived assets include property, plant and equipment, goodwill and intangible assets. Long-lived assets are depreciated over the estimated useful lives, and are reviewed for impairment whenever changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of these assets may not be recoverable. The fair value of our goodwill and intangible assets is based upon our estimates of future cash flows and other factors to determine the fair value of the respective assets. If these estimates or their related assumptions change in the future, we may be required to record an impairment charge in accordance with SFAS 142.

Deferred Taxes. We record a valuation allowance to reduce our deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. While we have considered future taxable income and ongoing prudent and feasible tax planning strategies in assessing the need for the valuation allowance, if we were to determine that we would be able to realize our deferred tax assets in the future in excess of our net recorded amount, an adjustment to the deferred tax asset would increase income in the period such determination was made. Likewise, should we determine that we would not be able to realize all or part of our net deferred tax assets in the future, an adjustment to the deferred tax asset would decrease income in the period such determination was made.

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Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis

June 30, 2002

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Bookings and Backlog

During the three months ended June 30, 2002 we reported bookings of $135.0 million, an increase of 7.1% from the $126.0 million recorded in the quarter ended March 31, 2002, and an increase of 29.8% from the $104.0 million reported for the quarter ended June 30, 2001. At June 30, 2002, we had a backlog of customer orders totaling $66.0 million, an increase of 4.8% as compared to the backlog of $63.0 million at March 31, 2002. Our backlog as of any date may not be indicative of sales for any period, since the timing of deliveries may vary and orders generally are subject to delay or cancellation.

Sales

Net sales for the quarter ended June 30, 2002 were $132.4 million, down 1.4% compared to the same period in the prior year. Net sales in the June 30, 2002 quarter were below the prior year in all business segments except packaging materials. Equipment segment sales were down 8.7% from the prior year in the June 30, 2002 quarter due to lower sales of dicing systems and tab bonders and a lower average selling price of 8028 model ball bonders partially offset by sales of the Max µm model ball bonder, which has a higher average selling price than the 8028 models, and higher unit sales of the 8028 models. Net sales in the packaging materials segment were up 34.7% from the same quarter in fiscal 2001, due to increased demand for gold wire and expendable tools. Net sales in the advanced packaging segment were down 46.3% from the prior year due to lower bumping revenue at Flip Chip. Sales in the test segment were down 9.9% from the same period in the prior year due primarily to lower unit volume of wafer test products.

Net sales for the nine months ended June 30, 2002 were $342.5 million, down 21.7% from the $437.2 million reported for the comparable period in prior year. Year-to-date sales for the equipment segment were down 36.8%, due to a lower average selling prices for our automatic ball bonders and lower sales of dicing systems and tab bonders, partially offset by higher unit sales of automatic ball bonders. Net sales in the packaging materials segment were down 5.8% year-to-date, as compared with the prior year, primarily due to reduced demand for gold wire and expendable tools in the December 2001 quarter. Net sales in the advanced packaging segment were down 36.8% year-to-date from the prior year due primarily to lower bumping revenue at Flip Chip. In the test segment, sales were down 5.3% from the same period in the prior year; however, the nine-month period ended June 30, 2001 included only the seven months of test segment results following the acquisitions of the businesses in November and December 2000. The test segment, like all of our operating segments, has been negatively impacted by the weakness in the semiconductor industry.

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Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis

June 30, 2002

For the three and nine months ended June 30, 2001 and 2002, the breakdown of shipments to major geographic regions is as follows:

                                 
    Three months ended   Nine months ended
    June 30,   June 30,
   
 
    2001   2002   2001   2002
   
 
 
 
North America
    38.2 %     36.5 %     40.4 %     34.7 %
Asia Pacific (1)
    39.3 %     54.4 %     42.7 %     56.7 %
Europe
    13.2 %     4.0 %     11.1 %     5.0 %
Japan
    9.3 %     5.1 %     5.8 %     3.6 %
 
   
     
     
     
 
 
    100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %
 
   
     
     
     
 


(1)   Includes sales to customers in Taiwan which accounted for 20% and 22% of our sales in the three and nine months ended June 30, 2002, and 17% and 12% of our sales for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2001, respectively.

Gross Profit

Gross profit decreased to $35.0 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2002 from $42.0 million in the comparable period of the prior year. The decline in gross profit in the quarter was due primarily to lower unit sales of dicing systems and tab bonders and lower average selling prices for automatic ball bonders in the equipment segment and lower sales volume at Flip Chip in the advanced packaging segment. Partially offsetting the decline in gross profit was higher unit sales of automatic ball bonders and higher unit volume of packaging materials. In the nine months ended June 30, 2002, the gross profit decreased to $71.0 million from $137.6 million for the same period in the prior year. Included in the results for the nine months ended June 30, 2002 are inventory write-offs of $13.4 million, $5.2 million of which was due to the discontinuance of a product. The inventory write-off in fiscal 2002 includes three distinct components. The largest component of the charge, amounting to approximately $7.8 million, relates to the write-off of spare parts inventories. We decided in the second quarter of fiscal 2002 to outsource our spare parts inventory management, then upon management’s review of existing inventory levels, determined that it was not cost effective or beneficial to have a third-party maintain certain identified parts. Accordingly, a charge was taken to write-off this inventory. The second component of the charge relates to the write-off of $5.2 million of inventory associated with the discontinuance of our model 7700 dual spindle saw. Annual revenue for this product over the past several fiscal years has been insignificant to our total revenues; therefore, the discontinuance of this product is not expected to have a material impact on sales, gross profit or net income. The smallest portion of the charge, amounting to $0.4 million, related to our normal excess and obsolescence reviews that are a recurring part of our normal business and ongoing operations. As of June 30, 2002, we have disposed of the majority of the written-off inventory and are in the process of disposing of the remaining written-off inventory. The inventory write-offs in fiscal 2002 should not have a significant impact on our future business or profitability. The decline in gross profit for the nine months ended June 30, 2002 was due primarily to the lower average selling price of automatic ball bonders, lower unit volumes of capillaries and bonding wire and lower sales volume of Flip Chip bumping revenue. Included in the results for the nine months ended June 30, 2001 are inventory write-offs of $7.9 million and an acquisition related inventory step-up charge of $4.2 million. The 2001 inventory write-offs relate to excess and obsolete ball bonder inventory and spare parts inventories resulting from the severe and continued downturn in the semiconductor industry.

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Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis

June 30, 2002

Gross margin (gross profit as a percentage of sales) was 26.4% for the current quarter, as compared to 31.3% for the same period in the prior year. The decline in gross margin for the quarter is due primarily to lower margin in the equipment segment due to lower average selling price of automatic ball bonders and dicing systems. Gross margin for the nine months ended June 30, 2002 was 20.7%, as compared to 31.5% for the same period in the prior year. Year-to-date gross margin, excluding the inventory write-offs and the acquisition charge, would have been 24.6% in 2002 and 34.2% in 2001. The decline in gross margin for the nine months ended June 30, 2002 was due primarily to the lower average selling prices for automatic ball bonders, lower unit volumes of capillaries, which created inefficient factory utilization by allocating fixed factory costs over a lower level of units in production in the packaging materials segment and a negative gross profit at Flip Chip in the advanced packaging technology segment.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses increased $0.9 million or 2.7% in the three months ended June 30, 2002 as compared to the same period in the prior year. The higher SG&A expense primarily reflects $0.9 million of training and start-up expenses associated with the transfer of bonding tool manufacturing to China, $0.5 million of expense for the transfer of microelectronics products to Singapore and $0.8 million of expenses for our company-wide information system. In the nine months ended June 30, 2002, SG&A expenses decreased $7.2 million or 6.6% from the same period in the prior year, due to the ongoing cost saving initiatives which began in fiscal 2001, principally headcount and salary reductions, and the elimination of redundant facilities in our test segment. The cost saving initiatives were partially offset by the above mentioned transition costs to move certain manufacturing to Asia.

Research and Development

Net research and development (“R&D”) expense for the three months ended June 30, 2002 decreased $0.2 million from the same period in the prior year. In the nine months ended June 30, 2002, net R&D expense decreased $10.3 million or 20.8% from the same period in the prior year. The lower R&D spending in both the June 2002 quarter and the year-to-date period ended June 2002 was due primarily to a reduction in R&D spending in our equipment segment. The lower R&D spending was due to a shift in certain engineering functions to lower cost foreign subsidiaries, and the ‘push-out’ of certain future product development initiatives. Our R&D expense includes internally developed software costs, which are expensed as incurred.

Resizing Costs

Historically, the semiconductor industry has been volatile, with sharp periodic downturns and slowdowns. The industry has experienced excess capacity and a severe contraction in demand for semiconductor manufacturing equipment for the past two years. In reaction to the prolonged industry downtown we have been resizing our company to keep our cost structure in line with our current and anticipated revenue levels.

         Charges in Fiscal Year 2002

In the third quarter of fiscal 2002, we announced a resizing plan to reduce headcount and consolidate manufacturing in our test division. The resizing plan was a result of our decision to move towards a 24 hour per day manufacturing model in our major U.S. wafer test facility, which will provide our customers with faster turn-around time and delivery of orders and economies of scale of our manufacturing facilities. As part of this plan, we will move manufacturing of wafer test products from an Austin, Texas facility

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Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis

June 30, 2002

and our Gilbert, Arizona facility to our Dallas, Texas and San Jose, California facilities and from our Kaohsuing, Taiwan facility to our Hsin Chu, Taiwan facility. The resizing plan includes a severance charge of $1.6 million for the elimination of 149 positions as a result of the manufacturing consolidation. At June 30, 2002, two of the 149 positions have been eliminated. The remaining positions will be terminated in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2002 through the third quarter of fiscal 2003. The resizing plan also includes a charge of $0.5 million associated with the closure of the Kaohsuing, Taiwan facility and an Austin, Texas facility representing costs of non-cancelable lease obligations beyond the facility closure, costs required to restore the production facilities to their original state and the write-off of building improvements associated with these facilities. Both facilities will be closed in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2002.

The table below details the spending and activity related to the resizing plan initiated in the third quarter of fiscal 2002:

                         
    Severance and Benefits   Commitments   Total
   
 
 
    (in thousands)
Third Quarter 2002 Charge                        

                       
Provision for resizing
  $ 1,652     $ 452     $ 2,104  
Satisfaction of obligations
                 
 
   
     
     
 
Balance, June 30, 2002
  $ 1,652     $ 452     $ 2,104  
 
   
     
     
 

In the second quarter of fiscal 2002, we announced a resizing plan comprised of a functional realignment of business management and the consolidation and closure of certain facilities. In connection with the resizing plan, we recorded a charge of $11.3 million, consisting of severance and benefits of $9.7 million for 372 positions that are being eliminated as a result of the functional realignment, facility consolidation, the shift of certain manufacturing to China and the move of the Company’s microelectronics products to Singapore and a charge of $1.6 million for the cost of lease commitments beyond the closure date of facilities to be exited as part of the facility consolidation plan. At June 30, 2002, 177 positions remain to be terminated through the first quarter of fiscal 2003. The severance accrual will be paid out during the remainder of fiscal 2002 and the first half of fiscal 2003, and the commitments will be substantially completed in the second quarter of fiscal 2003, but will continue into future years as a result of contractual agreements.

As a result of the functional realignment, we terminated employees at all levels of the organization; from factory workers to vice presidents. The organizational change shifts management of our businesses to functional (i.e., sales, manufacturing, research and development, etc.) areas across product lines rather than by product line. For example, research and development activities for the equipment and packaging materials are now controlled and coordinated by one corporate vice president under the functional organizational structure, rather than separately by each business unit. This structure provides for a more efficient allocation of human and capital resources to achieve corporate R&D initiatives.

In the second quarter, we closed five test facilities: two in the United States, one in France, one in Malaysia, and one in Singapore, whose operations were absorbed into other Company facilities. The resizing charge for the facility consolidation reflects the cost of lease commitments beyond the exit date that is associated with these closed test facilities. We also announced the closure of a dicing blade manufacturing facility in California, which will be closed in connection with the relocation of certain

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Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis

June 30, 2002

production to China. This relocation plan will provide our customers with more focused and efficient service and support, closer to their physical location. While we believe our cost structure will be reduced by transitioning production from the U.S. to less expensive sites in Asia, the cost savings will be temporarily offset by costs associated with the transition and training. For example, savings from reduced payroll, depreciation and lease costs would be partially offset by the initial start-up and operational costs of our planned facility in China. The amount and timing of these additional costs is not fully known at this time.

The table below details the spending and activity related to the resizing plan initiated in the second quarter of fiscal 2002:

                         
    Severance and Benefits   Commitments   Total
   
 
 
    (in thousands)
Second Quarter 2002 Charge                        

                       
Provision for resizing
  $ 9,733 (1)   $ 1,550     $ 11,283  
Satisfaction of obligations
    (4,658 )(1)           (4,658 )
 
   
     
     
 
Balance, June 30, 2002
  $ 5,075     $ 1,550     $ 6,625  
 
   
     
     
 


    (1) Includes $2.6 million non-cash charge for modifications of stock option awards that were granted prior to December 31, 2001 to the employees affected by the resizing plans in accordance with our annual grant of stock options to employees.

         Charges in Fiscal Year 2001

In the quarter ended September 30, 2001, we announced a resizing plan to close a bonding wire facility in the United States, and recorded a resizing charge for severance of $2.4 million for the elimination of 215 positions, of which 5 remained to be terminated at June 30, 2002. Also in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2001, we recorded an increase to goodwill of $0.8 million in connection with the acquisition of Probe Tech for additional lease costs associated with the elimination of four duplicate facilities in the United States. The remaining positions will be eliminated in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2002, and the cash payments for commitments will continue into fiscal 2003 due to the contractual obligations under those leases.

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Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis

June 30, 2002

The resizing and acquisition restructuring costs were included in accrued liabilities. The table below details the activity related to this resizing plan during fiscal 2001 and the current fiscal year:

                           
      Severance and Benefits   Commitments   Total
     
 
 
      (in thousands)
Fourth Quarter 2001 Charge                        

                       
Provision for resizing
  $ 2,457     $     $ 2,457  
Acquisition restructuring
          840       840  
Satisfaction of obligations
    (402 )           (402 )
 
   
     
     
 
 
Balance, September 30, 2001
    2,055       840       2,895  
Satisfaction of obligations
    (1,354 )     (640 )     (1,994 )
 
   
     
     
 
 
Balance, June 30, 2002
  $ 701     $ 200     $ 901  
 
   
     
     
 

In the quarter ended March 31, 2001, we announced a 7.0% reduction in our workforce. As a result, we recorded a resizing charge for severance of $1.7 million for the elimination of 296 positions across all levels of the organization, all of which were terminated prior to March 31, 2002. In connection with our acquisition of Probe Tech, we also recorded an increase to goodwill for $0.6 million for severance, lease and other facility charges related to the elimination of four leased Probe Tech facilities in the United States which were found to be duplicative with the Cerprobe facilities. The plans have been substantially completed and cash payments related to this program will be finalized in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2002.

The resizing costs were included in accrued liabilities. The table below details the activity related to this resizing plan during fiscal 2001 and the current fiscal year:

                           
      Severance and Benefits   Commitments   Total
     
 
 
      (in thousands)
Second Quarter 2001 Charge                        

                       
Provision for resizing
  $ 1,709     $     $ 1,709  
Acquisition restructuring
    84       562       646  
Satisfaction of obligations
    (1,699 )     (213 )     (1,912 )
 
   
     
     
 
 
Balance, September 30, 2001
    94       349       443  
Satisfaction of obligations
    (73 )     (310 )     (383 )
 
   
     
     
 
 
Balance, June 30, 2002
  $ 21     $ 39     $ 60  
 
   
     
     
 

Amortization of Goodwill and Intangibles

Amortization expense was $2.5 million and $7.4 million for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2002, down 63.2% and 53.6% from the comparable periods in the prior year. The lower amortization expense in fiscal 2002 was primarily the result of our adoption of SFAS 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets effective October 1, 2001, which resulted in the elimination of amortization on goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets. Intangible assets with determinable lives will continue to be

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Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis

June 30, 2002

amortized over their estimated useful life. The standard also requires that an impairment test be performed to support the carrying value of goodwill and intangible assets at least annually.

We have completed the required transitional impairment testing of intangible assets, and based upon those analyses, we did not identify any impairment charges as a result of adoption of this standard. We have reviewed our business and determined that there are five reporting units which will be reviewed for impairment in accordance with the standard – the reporting units are included within three of our business segments, the packaging materials segment, the advanced packaging technology segment and the test segment. Included within the packaging materials segment are two reporting units, our bonding wire and saw blade businesses, and included in the advanced packaging technology segment are two reporting units, the substrate and flip chip businesses. The test segment is our final reporting unit. There is no goodwill associated with our equipment segment.

The following table presents pro forma net earnings and earnings per share data reflecting the impact of adoption of SFAS 142 as of the beginning of the first quarter of fiscal 2001:

                     
        June 30,   June 30,
        2001   2002
       
 
        (in thousands,
        except per share data)
Reported net loss, before adoption of SFAS 142
  $ (40,978 )   $ (79,110 )
 
Addback:
               
   
Goodwill amortization, net of tax of $3,395
    6,740        
 
   
     
 
Pro forma net loss
  $ (34,238 )   $ (79,110 )
 
   
     
 
Net loss per share, as reported:
               
 
Basic
  $ (0.84 )   $ (1.61 )
 
Diluted
  $ (0.84 )   $ (1.61 )
Goodwill amortization, net of tax per share:
               
 
Basic
  $ 0.14     $  
 
Diluted
  $ 0.14     $  
Pro forma net loss per share:
               
 
Basic
  $ (0.70 )   $ (1.61 )
 
Diluted
  $ (0.70 )   $ (1.61 )

Our annual earnings per share is expected to increase by approximately $0.35 per share as a result of the adoption of this standard.

The agreement governing our purchase of Probe Tech from Siegel-Robert Corp. included a provision for reducing the purchase price if Probe Tech’s actual earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) were less than a projected amount. We disputed Probe Tech’s EBITDA calculation and initiated arbitration seeking a reduction in the purchase price. The arbitrator’s award reduced the purchase price by $2.4 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2002. In June 2002, we

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Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis

June 30, 2002

received the final settlement and reduced goodwill by $1.5 million, reflecting the award, less costs incurred in the arbitration.

Purchased in-process Research and Development

In fiscal 2001, we recorded a charge of $11.7 million for in-process R&D associated with the acquisitions of Cerprobe and Probe Tech representing the appraised value of products still in the development stage that did not have a future alternative use and which had not reached technological feasibility. As part of the acquisition, we acquired sixteen ongoing R&D projects, all aimed at increasing the technological features of the existing probe cards and therefore the number of test applications for which they could be marketed. The R&D projects ranged from researching the feasibility of producing multi-die testing probes to researching the feasibility of producing probes for specialized semiconductor package (CSP and BGA) configurations. The project stage of completion ranged from 10% to 90% and all projects were due for completion and product launch by the third quarter of 2002 at prices and costs similar to the existing probe cards marketed by Cerprobe and Probe Tech.

In the valuation of in-process technology, we utilized a variation of the income approach. We forecast revenue, earnings and cash flow for the products under development. Revenues were projected to extend out over the expected useful lives for each project. The technology was then valued through the application of the Discounted Cash Flow method. Values were calculated using the present value of their projected future cash flow at discount rates of between 28.4% and 49.1%. We anticipated that some of these projects might take longer to develop than originally thought and that some of these projects may never be marketable and there is a risk that the anticipated future cash flows might not be achieved. Of the sixteen ongoing R&D projects at the time of the acquisition; four have been completed, seven are still in progress, four have been cancelled due to overlapping technology with our Cobra line of vertical test products, and one was cancelled due to nonproductive results. We believe that the expected returns of the completed and in-progress R&D projects will be realized. We also believe that future revenues from our existing Cobra products will offset the expected future revenues from the R&D projects that were cancelled due to the overlapping technology and that there will be no adverse material impact on the Company’s future operating results or the expected return on its investment in the acquired companies. The one project that was cancelled due to lack of productive results is immaterial to our future operating results and expected return on our investment in the acquired companies.

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Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis

June 30, 2002

The major R&D projects in process at the time of the acquisition, along with their current status and estimated time for completion are as follows:

                                 
                    Estimated        
                    Cost to   Projected    
    Value   Percentage   Complete   Project   Current
    Assigned   Complete   Project   Launch   Status of
R&D project   at Purchase   at Purchase   at Purchase   Date   Project

 
 
 
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
Next generation contact technology     $2,700       10%     $ 290     Q3 2002   In process
Socket testing capability for CSP and BGA packages     $2,000       50%     $ 65     Q3 2001   Complete
ViProbe pitch reduction     $1,600       40%     $ 89     Q4 2001   Cancelled (1)
Vertical space transformer     $1,500       25%     $ 278     Q3 2001   Cancelled (1)
Extension of P4 technology to vertical test configurations     $1,300       40%     $ 229     Q1 2002   Cancelled (1)
Low-force, high-density interface
using P4 technology
    $1,300       30%     $ 138     Q4 2001   Cancelled
All other projects combined (total of ten projects)     $1,300       10-90%     $ 576     Q1 2001 - Q3 2001   3 complete; 5 in process; 2 cancelled


(1)   We purchased two companies; Cerprobe Corporation (“Cerprobe”) and Probe Technology Corporation (“Probe Tech”) that design and manufacture semiconductor test interconnect solutions, in its fiscal year 2001. Subsequent to the acquisitions, we determined that the vertical probe technology designed and marketed by Probe Tech was superior to the vertical probe technology of Cerprobe. We then shifted our R&D efforts to further enhancement of the Probe Tech vertical probe technology and cancelled the R&D projects at Cerprobe that were enhancing the Cerprobe vertical probe technology. The R&D projects identified by (1) in the above table were Cerprobe projects that were cancelled due to the shift in focus to the Probe Tech vertical probe technology. We expect the future revenue from the Probe Tech vertical probe technology will replace the anticipated revenue from the Cerprobe vertical probe R&D projected that have been cancelled.

Asset Impairment

In the March 2002 quarter, we recorded an asset impairment of $4.9 million. The write-off included a $3.6 million charge for the write-off of development and license costs of certain engineering and manufacturing software, which had not yet been completed or placed in service. In the March 2002 quarter, we determined that a new company-wide integrated information system would be implemented, and as a result, the existing engineering and manufacturing software, would be redundant and never be utilized. Also in the March 2002 quarter, we wrote-off $1.3 million related to leasehold improvements at the leased probe card manufacturing facilities in Malaysia and the United States, which were identified for closure and closed during this period.

Loss from Operations

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Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis

June 30, 2002

The loss from operations for the three months ended June 30, 2002 was $17.2 million as compared to $11.7 million for the comparable period in the prior year. The larger operating loss in the June 2002 quarter was due primarily to the lower gross profit. Additional costs associated with start-up activities in China, the move of microelectronics products to Singapore and the company-wide information system also contributed to the loss in the June 2002 quarter. The loss from operations for the nine months ended June 30, 2002 was $95.2 million as compared to $49.9 million for the same period in fiscal 2001. The larger operating loss in the nine months ended June 30, 2002 compared to the prior year was due primarily to the lower sales and associated gross profit, principally in the equipment segment, the inventory write-off of $13.3 million, the asset impairment of $4.9 million and the resizing charge of $13.4 million.

Interest

Interest income in the third quarter of fiscal 2002 was $0.8 million, a decline of $0.5 million from the $1.3 million reported for the same period in the prior year. Year-to-date interest income was $3.2 million as compared to $7.0 million in the prior year. The lower interest income for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2002 was due primarily to lower interest rates on our short-term investments in fiscal 2002 as compared to fiscal 2001. Interest expense for the quarter ended June 30, 2002 increased to $4.4 million from $3.5 million in fiscal 2001, and for the nine months ended June 30, 2002 increased to $13.6 million from $9.6 million for the same period in fiscal 2001. The increase in interest expense is due principally to the issuance of the $125.0 million principal 51/4% Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2006 in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2001.

Other Income

In fiscal 2000, we experienced a fire in our bonding tools facility which resulted in a temporary shutdown of the facility and subsequent lower production levels. We subsequently filed a claim under our property insurance policy for the damages suffered from the fire. In fiscal 2001, we recorded other income of $8.0 million in the three months ended March 31, 2001 as the result of a cash settlement of this claim which represents the portion of the $13.0 million settlement that we determined was associated with the temporary closure of the facility and subsequent lower production levels.

Cumulative Effect of Change in Accounting Principle

We adopted SAB 101, Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements, in the first quarter of fiscal 2001, resulting in a cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle of $8.2 million, net of taxes of $4.4 million. The cumulative effect reflects sales that were deferred upon adoption of the standard. In the quarter and nine months ended June 30, 2002, $1.0 million and $5.2 million, respectively, of sales were recognized that were included in our cumulative effect adjustment.

Tax Benefit

Our effective tax rate benefit for fiscal 2002 is expected to approximate 25.0%, compared to the 27.3% effective tax rate benefit in fiscal 2001. The lower expected tax rate for fiscal 2002 is due primarily to the tax provided on earned income from our Singapore equipment manufacturing subsidiary which had been previously considered permanently reinvested. In the third quarter of fiscal 2002, we determined that the earnings from the Singapore equipment manufacturing subsidiary would not be permanently reinvested and accordingly we provided US tax on all of its earnings. The 2001 effective tax rate benefit was

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Management’s Discussion and Analysis

June 30, 2002

favorably impacted by the write-off of in-process research and development for which no benefit was recorded.

Minority Interest in Net Loss of Subsidiary

In the nine months ended June 30, 2002, we recorded minority interest of $10 thousand reflecting the minority interest in certain foreign investments in the test division, compared to $15 thousand and $343 thousand for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2001, respectively. The minority interest in fiscal 2001 included certain foreign investments in the test division and investments in the loss incurred at Flip Chip prior to our purchase of all remaining outstanding Flip Chip equity units.

RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

SFAS 143. In August 2001, the FASB issued SFAS 143, Accounting for Obligations Associated with the Retirement of Long-Lived Assets which is effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2002. The Standard provides guidance for financial reporting for obligations associated with the retirement of tangible long-lived assets and the associated asset retirement costs. The Standard applies to legal obligations associated with the retirement of long-lived assets that result from the acquisition, construction, development, and/or the normal operation of a long-lived asset, except for certain obligations of lessors. We are currently reviewing the provisions of this Statement but do not expect that the adoption of SFAS 143 will have a significant impact on our financial position and results of operations.

SFAS 144. In October 2001, the FASB issued SFAS 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets which supersedes FASB 121, Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Assets to Be Disposed Of and the accounting and reporting provisions of APB Opinion No. 30, Reporting the Results of Operations – Reporting the Effects of Disposal of a Segment of a Business, and Extraordinary, Unusual and Infrequently Occurring Events and Transactions. The Statement is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2001 and interim periods within those fiscal years. This Statement applies to all long-lived assets and requires that the assets to be disposed of by sale be measured at the lower of book value or fair value less costs to sell. We are currently reviewing the provisions of this Statement but do not expect that the adoption of SFAS 144 will have a significant impact on our financial position and results of operations.

SFAS 145. In April 2002, the FASB issued SFAS 145, Recission of FASB Statements No. 4, 44, and 64, Amendment of FASB Statement No. 13, and Technical Corrections. In rescinding FASB Statement No. 4 and FASB No. 64, FASB 145 eliminates the requirement that gains and losses from the extinguishment of debt be aggregated and, if material, classified as an extraordinary item, net of the related income tax effect, however, an entity would not be prohibited from classifying such gains and losses as extraordinary items so long as they meet the criteria of paragraph 20 of APB 30, Reporting the results of operations – Reporting the Effects of Disposal of a Segment of a Business, and Extraordinary, Unusual and Infrequently Occurring Events and Transactions. Further, the Statement amends SFAS 13 to eliminate an inconsistency between the accounting for sale leaseback transactions and certain lease modifications that have economic effects that are similar to sale leaseback transactions. The standard will be effective for transactions occurring after May 15, 2002. We are currently reviewing the provisions of this Statement but do not expect the adoption of SFAS 145 will have a significant impact on our financial position and results of operations.

SFAS 146. In June 2002, the FASB issued SFAS 146, Accounting for Exit or Disposal Activities which addresses significant issues regarding the recognition, measurement, and reporting of costs that are

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June 30, 2002

associated with exit and disposal activities, including restructuring activities that are currently accounted for pursuant to the guidance that the Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) has set forth in EITF 94-3 Liability Recognition for Certain Employee Termination Benefits and Other Costs to Exit an Activity (including Certain Costs Incurred in a Restructuring). The standard will be effective for exit or disposal activities that are initiated after December 31, 2002. We are currently reviewing the provisions of this Statement.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

As of June 30, 2002, cash, cash equivalents and investments totaled $132.2 million, compared to $202.9 million at September 30, 2001.

Cash used by operating activities totaled $57.7 million in the nine months ended June 30, 2002, compared with cash provided by operating activities of $73.3 million during the same period in fiscal 2001. The cash used by operating activities in fiscal 2002 was primarily due to the net loss reported in the period.

Cash used by investing activities totaled $1.3 million in the nine months ended June 30, 2002, compared with $268.3 million in the prior year. In fiscal 2002, the investing activities consisted primarily of proceeds from sales of investments, offset by purchases of investments and capital expenditures. In the nine months ended June 30, 2002 we recorded $15.4 million in capital expenditures, $8.8 million of which was for software licenses and application development costs associated with our initiative to implement a state of the art worldwide ERP II system. These costs were accounted for in accordance with SOP 98-1. We expect to spend approximately $30.0 million for capital over the next three years to fully implement this integrated information system. In addition, we announced plans to build a facility in China to manufacture capillaries, saw blades and selected test products. We expect to spend approximately $13.5 million to build and outfit the facility, $0.8 million of which has been spent prior to June 30, 2002. In fiscal 2001, we acquired Cerprobe and Probe Tech and invested $44.4 million in additional manufacturing capacity at Flip Chip and in our packaging materials businesses, and information technology to develop corporate wide e-business capabilities. In November 2000, we completed a tender offer for 100% of the 9,575,270 outstanding shares of Cerprobe for $20 per share resulting in a cash purchase price (before the assumption of liabilities and transaction costs) of $191.5 million. In December 2000, we purchased for cash all the outstanding shares of Probe Tech (before the assumption of liabilities and transaction costs) for $64.0 million. Cash used for the acquisitions of Cerprobe and Probe Tech was $217.4 million and $62.5 million, respectively, net of cash acquired and the payment of certain acquisition related liabilities.

Net cash provided by financing activities was $934 thousand in fiscal 2002, principally due to proceeds from issuance of common stock resulting from employee stock option exercises. In fiscal 2001, we borrowed $58.0 million under our then existing revolving credit agreement, using $55.0 million of the proceeds of that borrowing to partially fund our acquisition of Probe Tech, and we entered into an accounts receivable securitization program, selling $20.0 million of accounts receivable to a third party bank in the transaction.

At June 30, 2002, the fair value of our $175.0 million 4 3/4% Convertible Subordinated Notes was $148.1 million, and the fair value of our $125.0 million 5 1/4% Convertible Subordinated Notes was $117.3 million. The fair values were determined using quoted market prices at the balance sheet date. The fair value of our other assets and liabilities approximates the book value of those assets and liabilities. On July 19, 2002, Standard & Poor’s lowered its rating on the above referenced Company Convertible Subordinated Notes to CCC+ from B- stating, “continued declines in the Company’s cash position, along

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Management’s Discussion and Analysis

June 30, 2002

with expectations that recovery in the semiconductor packaging equipment industry is likely to be slower than previously expected” as their reason for the downgrade.

In February 2002, we filed a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which will permit us, from time to time, to offer and sell various types of securities, including common stock, preferred stock, senior debt securities, senior subordinated debt securities, subordinated debt securities, warrants and units, having an aggregate sales price of up to $250.0 million. The SEC has not yet declared the registration statement effective.

We have certain obligations and contingent payments under various arrangements at June 30, 2002 as follows:

                                           
              Amounts                   Amounts
              due in   Amounts   Amounts   due in
              less than   due in   due in   more than
      Total   1 year   2-3 years   4-5 years   5 years
     
 
 
 
 
      (in thousands)
Contractual Obligations:
                                       
 
Long-term debt
  $ 300,000     $     $     $ 300,000     $  
 
Capital Lease obligations
    2,037       969       752       135       181  
 
Operating Lease obligations*
    50,276       11,517       18,350       10,595       9,814  
 
Inventory Purchase obligations*
    48,196       47,277       400             519  
Commercial Commitments:
                                       
 
Accounts Receivable Securitization*
    20,000       20,000                    
 
Standby Letters of Credit*
    2,986       2,386       600              
 
   
     
     
     
     
 
Total contractual obligations and commercial commitments
  $ 423,495     $ 82,149     $ 20,102     $ 310,730     $ 10,514  
 
   
     
     
     
     
 


*   Represents contractual amounts not reflected in the consolidated balance sheet at June 30, 2002.

Long-term debt includes the amounts due under our 4 3/4% Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2006 and our 5 1/4% Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2006. The capital lease obligations principally relate to equipment leases. The operating lease obligations at June 30, 2002 represent obligations due under various facility and capital equipment leases with terms up to fifteen years in duration. Inventory purchase obligations represent outstanding purchase commitments for inventory components ordered in the normal course of business.

In fiscal 2001, we entered into a receivable securitization program in which all domestic account receivables were transferred to KSI Funding Corporation, a “bankruptcy remote” special purpose corporation and our wholly owned subsidiary. Bankruptcy remote refers to a subsidiary that is operated and structured so that transfers of assets to it from a parent are characterized as true sales and are not available to creditors in the event of a bankruptcy of the parent until the obligations of the bankruptcy remote subsidiary are satisfied. Under the facility, KSI Funding Corporation can sell up to a $40.0 million interest in all of our domestic receivables. This facility was structured as a revolving securitization, whereby an interest in additional account receivables can be sold as collections reduce the previously sold interest. We entered into the receivable securitization program to generate additional cash flow to more closely match the cash requirements needed to manufacture our products with the cash

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June 30, 2002

generated from the sale of our products. The program enabled us to sell a portion of our trade accounts receivables to generate cash sooner than would be expected in the normal course of our business, due to the extension of payment terms to our customers.

We account for the sale of our receivables under the provisions of SFAS 140 Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities. This transfer of financial assets without recourse qualifies as a sale under the provisions of SFAS 140. Upon the sale of the receivables, the receivables are removed from our consolidated balance sheet, and the cash received from the participating bank is recorded. We pay a fee to the participating bank at the bank’s A-1/P-1 commercial paper rate plus a program fee of 0.625%.

At June 30, 2002, KSI Funding Corporation had sold receivables under this agreement amounting to $20.0 million and the subordinated retained interest in its receivables was $60.0 million. Accordingly, $20.0 million of account receivables were removed from our consolidated balance sheet at June 30, 2002. Net proceeds from the initial transaction totaled $19.6 million in fiscal 2001. Costs associated with the securitization arrangement totaled $566 thousand, net of servicing revenues associated with the program in the nine months ended June 30, 2002. Such amounts are recorded as operating expenses in the consolidated statement of operations and are primarily related to the discount and loss on sale of accounts receivables, partially offset by servicing revenue. On July 19, 2002, we terminated the securitization agreement with the bank and paid $20.0 million to repurchase the previously sold accounts receivable. We financed the majority of the $20.0 million repurchase by selling certain other long term accounts receivable, that were supported by letters of credit, to a bank at a discount.

The standby letters of credit represent obligations of the company for security under various facility leases and employee benefit programs.

We believe that anticipated cash flows from operations will be sufficient to meet our liquidity and capital requirements for at least the next 12 months. However, we may seek, as we believe appropriate, additional debt or equity financing to provide capital for corporate purposes and/or to fund strategic business opportunities, including possible acquisitions, joint ventures, alliances or other business arrangements which could require substantial capital outlays. The timing and amount of such potential capital requirements cannot be determined at this time and will depend on a number of factors, including demand for the our products, semiconductor and semiconductor capital equipment industry conditions, competitive factors and the nature and size of strategic business opportunities which we may elect to pursue.

RISK FACTORS

The semiconductor industry as a whole is volatile with sharp periodic downturns and slowdowns

Our operating results are significantly affected by the capital expenditures of large semiconductor manufacturers and their subcontract assemblers and vertically integrated manufacturers of electronic systems. Expenditures by semiconductor manufacturers and their subcontract assemblers and vertically integrated manufacturers of electronic systems depend on the current and anticipated market demand for semiconductors and products that use semiconductors, such as personal computers, telecommunications equipment, consumer electronics and automotive goods. Significant downturns in the market for semiconductor devices or in general economic conditions reduce demand for our products and materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.

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Management’s Discussion and Analysis

June 30, 2002

Historically, the semiconductor industry has been volatile, with sharp periodic downturns and slowdowns. These downturns have been characterized by, among other things, diminished product demand, excess production capacity and accelerated erosion of selling prices. This has severely and negatively affected the industry’s demand for capital equipment, including the assembly equipment that we manufacture and market and, to a lesser extent, the packaging materials and test interconnect solutions that we sell.

Our quarterly operating results fluctuate significantly and may continue to do so in the future

In the past, our quarterly operating results have fluctuated significantly, which we expect will continue to be the case. Although these fluctuations are partly due to the volatile nature of the semiconductor industry, they also reflect the impact of other factors. Many of the factors that affect our operating results are outside of our control.

Some of the factors that could cause our revenues and/or operating margins to fluctuate significantly from period to period are:

    market downturns;
 
    the mix of products that we sell because, for example:
 
    some packaging materials have lower margins than assembly equipment and test interconnect solutions;
 
    some lines of equipment are more profitable than others; and
 
    some sales arrangements have higher margins than others;
 
    the volume and timing of orders for our products and any order postponements and cancellations by our customers;
 
    the cancellation, deferral or rescheduling of orders, because virtually all orders are subject to cancellation, deferral or rescheduling by the customer without prior notice and with limited or no penalties;
 
    adverse changes in our pricing, or that of our competitors;
 
    higher than anticipated costs of development or production of new equipment models;
 
    the availability and cost of key components for our products;
 
    market acceptance of our new products and upgraded versions of our products;
 
    our announcement, or perception by others, that we will introduce new or upgraded products, which could cause customers to delay purchasing our products;
 
    the timing of acquisitions; and
 
    our competitors’ introduction of new products.

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Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis

June 30, 2002

Many of our expenses, such as research and development, selling, general and administrative expenses and interest expense, do not vary directly with our net sales. As a result, a decline in our net sales would adversely affect our operating results. In addition, if we were to incur additional expenses in a quarter in which we did not experience comparable increased net sales, our operating results would decline. Factors that could cause our expenses to fluctuate from period to period include:

    the timing and extent of our research and development efforts;
 
    severance, resizing and other costs of relocating facilities;
 
    inventory write-offs due to obsolescence; and
 
    inflationary increases in the cost of labor or materials.

Because our revenues and operating results are volatile and difficult to predict, we believe that period-to-period comparisons of our operating results are not a good indication of our future performance.

Our business depends on attracting and retaining management, marketing and technical employees who are in great demand

As is the case with many other technology companies, our future success depends on our ability to hire and retain qualified management, marketing and technical employees. Competition is intense in personnel recruiting in the semiconductor and semiconductor equipment industries, specifically with respect to some engineering disciplines. In particular, we have experienced periodic shortages of software engineers. If we are unable to continue to attract and retain the technical and managerial personnel we require, our business, financial condition and operating results could be materially and adversely affected.

We may not be able to rapidly develop and manufacture new and enhanced products required to maintain or expand our business

We believe that our continued success will depend on our ability to continuously develop and manufacture or acquire new products and product enhancements on a timely and cost-effective basis. We also must introduce these products and product enhancements into the market in response to customers’ demands for higher performance assembly equipment, leading-edge materials and for test interconnect solutions customized to address rapid technological advances in IC and capital equipment designs. Our competitors may develop enhancements to or future generations of competitive products that will offer superior performance, features and lower prices that may render our products non-competitive. The development and commercialization of new products may require significant capital expenditures over an extended period of time, and some products that we seek to develop may never become profitable. In addition, we may not be able to develop and introduce products incorporating new technologies in a timely manner or at a price that will satisfy our customers’ future needs or achieve market acceptance.

We may not be able to accurately forecast demand for our product lines

We typically operate our business with a relatively short backlog and order supplies and otherwise plan production based on internal forecasts of demand. Due to these factors, we have in the past, and may again in the future, fail to accurately forecast demand, in terms of both volume and configuration for either our current or next-generation wire bonders. This has led to and may in the future lead to delays in product shipments or, alternatively, an increased risk of inventory obsolescence. If we fail to accurately forecast

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Management’s Discussion and Analysis

June 30, 2002

demand for our products, including assembly equipment, packaging materials, test interconnect solutions and advanced packaging technologies, our business, financial condition and operating results could be materially and adversely affected.

Advanced packaging technologies other than wire bonding may render some of our products obsolete and our strategy for pursuing these other technologies may be costly and ineffective

Advanced packaging technologies have emerged that may improve device performance or reduce the size of an integrated circuit package, as compared to traditional die and wire bonding. These technologies include flip chip and wafer scale packaging. In general, these advanced technologies eliminate the need for wires to establish the electrical connection between a die and its package. For some devices, these advanced technologies have largely replaced wire bonding. We cannot assure you that the semiconductor industry will not, in the future, shift a significant part of its volume into advanced packaging technologies, such as those discussed above. If a significant shift to advanced technologies were to occur, demand for our wire bonders and related packaging materials and test interconnect solutions would diminish.

One component of our strategy is to develop next-generation technologies to allow us to prepare for any eventual decline in the use of wire bonding technology. There are a number of risks associated with our strategy to diversify into new technologies:

    the technologies that we have invested in represent only some of the advanced technologies that may one day supersede wire bonding;
 
    other companies are developing similar or alternative advanced technologies;
 
    wire bonding may continue as the dominant technology for longer than we anticipate;
 
    the cost of developing advanced technologies may be significantly greater than we expect; and
 
    we may not be able to develop the necessary technical, research, managerial and other related skills to develop, produce, market and support these advanced technologies.

As a result of these risks, we cannot assure you that any of our attempts to develop alternative technologies will be profitable or that we will be able to realize the benefits that we anticipate from them.

A decline in demand for any of our products could cause our revenues to decline significantly

If demand for, or pricing of, our wire bonders, advanced packaging technology or test interconnect solutions declines because our competitors introduce superior or lower cost systems, the semiconductor industry changes or because of other events beyond our control, our business, financial condition and operating results could be materially and adversely affected.

Because a small number of customers account for most of our sales, our revenues could decline if we lose any significant customer

The semiconductor manufacturing industry is highly concentrated, with a relatively small number of large semiconductor manufacturers and their subcontract assemblers and vertically integrated manufacturers of electronic systems purchasing a substantial portion of semiconductor assembly equipment, packaging materials, test interconnect solutions and flip chip bumping services and technology. Sales to a relatively

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Management’s Discussion and Analysis

June 30, 2002

small number of customers account for a significant percentage of our net sales. In fiscal 2001, no customer accounted for more than 10% of our net sales. In fiscal 2000, sales to Advanced Semiconductor Engineering and Amkor Technologies accounted for 15% and 10% of our net sales, respectively. In fiscal 1999, no customer accounted for more than 10% of total net sales.

We expect that sales of our products to a limited number of customers will continue to account for a high percentage of our net sales for the foreseeable future. If we lose orders from a significant customer, or if a significant customer reduces its orders substantially, these losses or reductions will materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.

We depend on a small number of suppliers for raw materials, components and subassemblies and, if our suppliers do not deliver their products to us, we may be unable to deliver our products to our customers

Our products are complex and require raw materials, components and subassemblies of an exceptionally high degree of reliability, accuracy and performance. We rely on subcontractors to manufacture many of the components and subassemblies for our products and we rely on sole source suppliers for some important components and raw materials, including gold. As a result, we are exposed to a number of significant risks, including:

    loss of control over the manufacturing process;
 
    changes in our manufacturing processes, dictated by changes in the market, that may delay our shipments;
 
    our inadvertent use of defective or contaminated raw materials;
 
    the relatively small operations and limited manufacturing resources of some of our contractors and suppliers, which may limit their ability to manufacture and sell subassemblies, components or parts in the volumes we require and at quality levels and prices we can accept;
 
    reliability and quality problems we experience with certain key subassemblies provided by single source suppliers;
 
    the exposure of our suppliers and subcontractors to disruption for a variety of reasons, including work stoppage, fire, earthquake, flooding or other natural disasters;
 
    delays in the delivery of raw materials or subassemblies, which, in turn, may cause delays in some of our shipments; and
 
    the loss of suppliers as a result of the consolidation of suppliers in the industry.

If we are unable to deliver products to our customers on time for these or any other reasons, if we are unable to meet customer expectations as to cycle time or if we do not maintain acceptable product quality or reliability in the future, our business, financial condition and operating results would be materially and adversely affected.

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Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis

June 30, 2002

We are expanding and diversifying our operations, and if we fail to manage our expanding and more diverse operations successfully, our business and financial results may be materially and adversely affected

In recent years, we have broadened our product offerings to include significantly more packaging materials and advanced packaging services and technology. Additionally, during fiscal 2001, we acquired two companies that design and manufacture test interconnect solutions, Cerprobe Corporation and Probe Technology Corporation, and we have combined their operations to create our test division. Although our strategy is to diversify and expand our products and services, we may not be able to develop, acquire, introduce or market new products in a timely or cost-effective manner and the market may not accept any new or improved products we develop, acquire, introduce or market.

Our diversification into new lines of business and our expansion through acquisitions and alliances has increased, and is expected to continue to increase, demands on our management, financial resources and information and internal control systems. Our success depends in significant part on our ability to manage and integrate acquisitions, joint ventures and other alliances and to continue to implement, improve and expand our systems, procedures and controls. If we fail to do this at a pace consistent with the development of our business, our business, financial condition and operating results could be materially and adversely affected.

As we expand our operations, we expect to encounter a number of risks, which will include:

    risks associated with hiring additional management and other critical personnel;
 
    risks associated with adding equipment and capacity; and
 
    risks associated with increasing the scope, geographic diversity and complexity of our operations.

In addition, sales and servicing of packaging materials, test interconnect solutions and advanced packaging technologies often require different organizational and managerial skills than sales of traditional wire bonding technology. We cannot assure you that we will be able to develop the necessary skills to successfully produce and market these different products.

We may be unable to continue to compete successfully in the highly competitive semiconductor equipment, packaging materials, test interconnect and advanced packaging technology industries

The semiconductor equipment, packaging materials, test interconnect solutions and advanced packaging technology industries are intensely competitive. In the semiconductor equipment, test interconnect solutions and advanced packaging technology markets, the significant competitive factors include performance, quality, customer support and price, and in the semiconductor packaging materials industry include price, delivery and quality.

In each of our markets, we face competition and the threat of competition from established competitors and potential new entrants, some of which have significantly greater financial, engineering, manufacturing and marketing resources than we have. Some of these competitors are Asian and European companies that have had and may continue to have an advantage over us in supplying products to local customers because many of these customers appear to prefer to purchase from local suppliers, without regard to other considerations.

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Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis

June 30, 2002

We expect our competitors to improve their current products’ performance, and to introduce new products and materials with improved price and performance characteristics. New product and materials introductions by our competitors or by new market entrants could hurt our sales. If a particular semiconductor manufacturer or subcontract assembler selects a competitor’s product or materials for a particular assembly operation, we may not be able to sell products or materials to that manufacturer or assembler for a significant period of time because manufacturers and assemblers sometimes develop lasting relations with suppliers, and assembly equipment in our industry often goes years without requiring replacement. In addition, we may have to lower our prices in response to price cuts by our competitors, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results. We cannot assure you that we will be able to continue to compete in these or other areas in the future.

We sell most of our products to customers that are located outside of the United States, we have substantial manufacturing operations located outside of the United States, and we rely on independent foreign distribution channels for certain product lines, all of which subject us to risks from changes in trade regulations, currency fluctuations, political instability and war

Approximately 65% of our sales for the nine months ended June 30, 2002, 62% of our net sales for fiscal 2001 and 91% of our net sales for fiscal 2000 were attributable to sales to customers for delivery outside of the United States. The lower percentage of international sales in fiscal 2002 and 2001 was due primarily to the sales of the test interconnect products which are more concentrated in the United States. We expect our sales outside of the United States to continue to represent a large portion of our future revenues. Our future performance will depend, in significant part, on our ability to continue to compete in foreign markets, particularly in Asia. Asian economies have been highly volatile, resulting in significant fluctuation in local currencies, and political and economic instability. These conditions may continue or worsen, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results. We also rely on non-United States suppliers for materials and components used in the equipment that we sell and we maintain substantial manufacturing operations in countries other than the United States, including operations in Israel and Singapore. We manufacture substantially all of our automatic ball bonders in Singapore, and we have begun to build a facility in China to manufacture capillaries, saw blades and selected test fixtures. In addition, we rely on independent foreign distribution channels for certain product lines. As a result, a major portion of our business is subject to the risks associated with international commerce, such as risks of war and civil disturbances or other events that may limit or disrupt markets; expropriation of our foreign assets; longer payment cycles in foreign markets; international exchange restrictions; the difficulties of staffing and managing dispersed international operations; tariff and currency fluctuations; changing political conditions; foreign governments’ monetary policies; and less protective foreign intellectual property laws.

Because most of our foreign sales are denominated in United States dollars, an increase in value of the United States dollar against foreign currencies, particularly the Japanese yen, will make our products more expensive than those offered by some of our foreign competitors. Our ability to compete overseas in the future could be materially and adversely affected by a strengthening of the United States dollar against foreign currencies.

The ability of our international operations to prosper also will depend, in part, on a continuation of current trade relations between the United States and foreign countries in which our customers operate and in which our subcontractors and materials suppliers have operations. A change toward more protectionist trade legislation in either the United States or foreign countries in which we do business, such as a change in the current tariff structures, export compliance or other trade policies, could materially and adversely affect our ability to sell our products in foreign markets.

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Management’s Discussion and Analysis

June 30, 2002

Our success depends in part on our intellectual property, which we may be unable to protect

Our success depends in part on our proprietary technology. To protect this technology, we rely principally on contractual restrictions (such as nondisclosure and confidentiality agreements) in our agreements with employees, vendors, consultants and customers and on the common law of trade secrets and proprietary “know-how.” We also rely, in some cases, on patent and copyright protection, which may become more important to us as we expand our investment in advanced packaging technologies. We may not be successful in protecting our technology for a number of reasons, including:

    our competitors may independently develop technology that is similar to or better than ours;
 
    employees, vendors, consultants and customers may not abide by their contractual agreements, and the cost of enforcing those agreements may be prohibitive, or those agreements may prove to be unenforceable or more limited than we anticipate;
 
    foreign intellectual property laws may not adequately protect our intellectual property rights; and
 
    our patent and copyright claims may not be sufficiently broad to effectively protect our technology; patents or copyrights may be challenged, invalidated or circumvented; and we may otherwise be unable to obtain adequate protection for our technology.

In addition, our partners and alliances may also have rights to technology that we develop through these alliances. We may incur significant expense to protect or enforce our intellectual property rights. If we are unable to protect our intellectual property rights, our competitive position may be weakened.

Third parties may claim we are infringing on their intellectual property, which could cause us to incur significant litigation costs or other expenses, or prevent us from selling some of our products

The semiconductor industry is characterized by rapid technological change, with frequent introductions of new products and technologies. As a result, industry participants often develop products and features similar to those introduced by others, increasing the risk that their products and processes may give rise to claims that they infringe on the intellectual property of others. We may unknowingly infringe on the intellectual property rights of others and incur significant liability for that infringement. If we are found to infringe on the intellectual property rights of others, we could be enjoined from continuing to manufacture, market or use the affected product, or be required to obtain a license to continue manufacturing or using the affected product. A license could be very expensive to obtain or may not be available at all. Similarly, changing our products or processes to avoid infringing the rights of others may be costly or impractical.

Occasionally, third parties assert that we are, or may be, infringing on or misappropriating their intellectual property rights. In these cases, we will defend against claims or negotiate licenses where we consider these actions appropriate. Intellectual property cases are uncertain and involve complex legal and factual questions. If we become involved in this type of litigation, it could consume significant resources and divert our attention from our business.

Some of our customers are parties to litigation brought by the Lemelson Medical, Education and Research Foundation Limited Partnership (the “Lemelson Foundation”), in which the Lemelson Foundation claims that certain manufacturing processes used by those customers infringe patents held by the Lemelson Foundation. We have never been named a party to any such litigation. Some customers have requested that we indemnify them to the extent their liability for these claims arises from use of our equipment. We

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Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis

June 30, 2002

do not believe that products sold by us infringe valid Lemelson patents. If a claim for contribution was brought against us, we believe we would have valid defenses to assert and also would have rights to contribution and claims against our suppliers. We have never incurred any material liability with respect to the Lemelson claims or any other pending intellectual property claim and we do not believe that these claims will materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition or operating results. The ultimate outcome of any infringement or misappropriation claim that might be made, however, is uncertain and we cannot assure you that the resolution of any such claim will not materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.

We may be materially and adversely affected by environmental and safety laws and regulations

We are subject to various and frequently changing federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations governing, among other things, the generation, storage, use, emission, discharge, transportation and disposal of hazardous material, investigation and remediation of contaminated sites and the health and safety of our employees. Increasingly, public attention has focused on the environmental impact of manufacturing operations and the risk to neighbors of chemical releases from such operations.

Proper waste disposal plays an important role in the operation of our manufacturing plants. In many of our facilities we maintain wastewater treatment systems that remove metals and other contaminants from process wastewater. These facilities operate under effluent discharge permits that must be renewed periodically. A violation of those permits may lead to revocation of the permits, fines, penalties or the incurrence of capital or other costs to comply with the permits.

In the future, applicable land use and environmental regulations may: (1) impose upon us the need for additional capital equipment or other process requirements, (2) restrict our ability to expand our operations, (3) subject us to liability, and/or (4) cause us to curtail our operations. We cannot assure you that any costs or liabilities associated with complying with these environmental laws will not materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.

Anti-takeover provisions in our articles of incorporation and bylaws and Pennsylvania law may discourage other companies from attempting to acquire us

Some provisions of our articles of incorporation and bylaws and of Pennsylvania law may discourage some transactions where we would otherwise experience a change in control. For example, our articles of incorporation and bylaws contain provisions that:

    classify our board of directors into four classes, with one class being elected each year;
 
    permit our board to issue ''blank check’’ preferred stock without shareholder approval; and
 
    prohibit us from engaging in some types of business combinations with a holder of 20% or more of our voting securities without super-majority board or shareholder approval.

Further, under the Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law, because our bylaws provide for a classified board of directors, shareholders may only remove directors for cause. These provisions and some provisions of the Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law could delay, defer or prevent us from experiencing a change in control and may adversely affect our common stockholders’ voting and other rights.

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Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis

June 30, 2002

We may be unable to generate enough cash to service our debt

Our ability to make payments on our indebtedness, and to fund planned capital expenditures and other activities will depend on our ability to generate cash in the future. This, to some extent, is subject to the volatile nature of our business, and general economic, competitive and other factors that are beyond our control. If our current convertible debt is not converted to our common shares, we will be required to make annual cash interest payments of $14.9 million through fiscal 2005, $14.1 million in fiscal 2006 and $1.7 million in fiscal 2007 on our $300.0 million of convertible subordinated notes. Principal payments of $175.0 million and $125.0 million in fiscal 2006 and fiscal 2007, respectively. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that our business will generate sufficient cash flow to service our debt. In addition, our gold supply agreement contains restrictions on the ability of certain of our subsidiaries to declare and pay dividends to us.

We may need to refinance all or a portion of our indebtedness on or before maturity. We cannot assure you that we will be able to refinance any of our indebtedness on commercially reasonable terms, if at all.

Terrorist attacks, such as the attacks that occurred in New York and Washington, D.C. on September 11, 2001, and other acts of violence or war may affect the markets in which we operate and our profitability

Terrorist attacks may negatively affect our operations and your investment. There can be no assurance that there will not be further terrorist attacks against the United States or United States businesses. These attacks or armed conflicts may directly impact our physical facilities or those of our suppliers or customers. Our primary facilities include administrative, sales and R&D facilities in the United States of America and manufacturing facilities in the United States, Israel and Singapore. Also, these attacks have disrupted the global insurance and reinsurance industries with the result that we may not be able to obtain insurance at historical terms and levels for all of our facilities. Furthermore, these attacks may make travel and the transportation of our supplies and products more difficult and more expensive and ultimately affect the sales of our products in the United States and overseas. As a result of terrorism, the United States has entered into an armed conflict, which could have a further impact on our domestic and internal sales, our supply chain, our production capability and our ability to deliver product to our customers. Political and economic instability in some regions of the world may also result and could negatively impact our business. The consequences of any of these armed conflicts are unpredictable, and we may not be able to foresee events that could have an adverse effect on our business or your investment.

Our stock price has been and is likely to continue to be highly volatile, which may make the common stock difficult to resell at attractive times and prices

In recent years, the price of our common stock has fluctuated greatly. These price fluctuations have been rapid and severe and have left investors little time to react. The price of our common stock may continue to fluctuate greatly in the future due to a variety of factors, including:

  quarter to quarter variations in our operating results;
 
  shortfalls in our revenue or earnings from levels expected by securities analysts;
 
  announcements of technological innovations or new products by us or other companies; and
 
  slowdowns or downturns in the semiconductor industry.

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Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc.
June 30, 2002

Item 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.

At June 30, 2002, we had a non-trading investment portfolio, excluding those classified as cash and cash equivalents, of $35.3 million. Due to the short term nature of the investment portfolio, if market interest rates were to increase immediately and uniformly by 100 basis points, there would be no material or adverse effect on our business, financial condition or operating results.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION.

Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K.

  (a)   Exhibits

     
3.1   Restated Articles of Incorporation of Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc. (Effective June 14, 2002)
99.1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
99.2   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

  (b)   Reports on Form 8-K
 
      The Company filed a current report on Form 8-K on April 18, 2002 making an Item 5 disclosure announcing its financial results for the second fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2002. A copy of the Company’s earnings press release was filed as exhibit 99.1 and incorporated in this report by reference.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

KULICKE AND SOFFA INDUSTRIES, INC.

     
     
Date: August 14, 2002   By: /s/ CLIFFORD G. SPRAGUE

 
    Clifford G. Sprague
    Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
    (Principal Financial Officer)

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