Macronix International Co Ltd

TWSE:2337

Earnings Call Transcript 2019-Q1

[Operator]

The presentation and discussion contain certain forward-looking statements with respect to the results of operations, financial condition and current expectations. The forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown uncertainties and risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Such risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to the impact of competitive products and pricing, timely design acceptance by our customers, timely introduction of new technologies, ability to ramp new products into volume, industry-wide shifts in supply and demand for semiconductor products, industry overcapacity, availability of manufacturing capacity, financial stability in end markets, and other risks. The forward-looking statement in the release reflect the current briefing (sic) [ belief ] of Macronix as the date of this release, and Macronix undertakes no obligations to update these forward-looking statements for events or circumstances that occur subsequent to such date.

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for standing by and welcome to Q1 2019 Macronix International Co., Ltd. Earnings Conference Call. [Operator Instructions]

I would now like to hand the conference over to your first speaker today, Dr. Wu. Please go ahead, sir.

[Miin Wu, executive]

Yes. Thank you. Well first, it's welcome to join the Macronix first quarter financial presentation. And later, my presentation will be done in Chinese Mandarin. First is I'd like to share with you that the -- after my welcome, and Paul will be -- handle the Q1 financial result, and then I will be coming back for the business update after that. And then I will be open for remark and Q&A. So now let's go to the first page. [Foreign Language]

[Pei-Fu Yeh, executive]

[Foreign Language]

[Miin Wu, executive]

[Foreign Language]

Operator, I think we are -- our presentation is done. Now we are open for Q&A. So can you open up to have someone to -- if they want to call or they want to use the e-mail, the Internet to ask questions.

[Operator]

[Operator Instructions]

[Miin Wu, executive]

Yes. The first question -- e-mail question is, can you please provide some guidance for 2Q '19?

Basically, we don't provide the guidance. So I cannot really answer that question.

The second question. [Foreign Language]

Regarding your question. Price trend and the supply-demand dynamic for NOR and SLC NAND in second half '19.

Basically, I think the -- in the second half, the price trend will be depend on the U.S.-China trade war settlement. If the settlement done earlier, I think then the pricing may be going to reverse for the NOR. But for SLC NAND, today, of course, if the trade war finish and then the demand in China will be coming back, the SLC NAND will be coming back to the -- for summer last year, then the demand will be very, very -- will be strong in second half. But right now, we plan on the very cold business environment at the time for SLC NAND. Nintendo China opportunity means for MXIC. All I can say is, if Nintendo have a good business in China, they probably require a lot of coverage, means this is good for Macronix. That's all I can say right now because we are the NAND supplier for their coverage.

90 nanometer progress. Now as I mentioned that we are moving along. We still have few problem we need to resolve. But however, the equipment we are purchase from the end of last year are moving in. So we will cooperate. In the second half, we will have the -- all equipment running. So the -- the backing will be probably start in the third quarter or fourth quarter for sure, and then we'll be running at 4,000 wafers in the beginning and hopefully will be increased to 10,000 wafers a month.

So MLC NAND update. We already have product out. We send -- we are sending the forms to buy devices to the customer, and also, we are released the 2-gigabyte solution, and hopefully, these 2 product will be bringing Macronix in good positions next year. Not this year. Next year. And then I believe after 2021, we'll be even better.

3D ROM and the 3D NAND update. So right now I think the 3D ROM will have better results. So, so far, we are hoping, next year, we can start providing 3D ROM. So 3D NAND, I think, will be 2 years from now. So will be coming soon in 2021, and we will be able to support the 96 wafer cell 3D NAND.

[Foreign Language]

I think, based on my understanding, the #1 [Foreign Language].

Operator, we are -- answer all the question from the Internet coming -- another question coming. So I think it'd be easier to have any people calling from telephone. They can interrupt any time. Okay?

[Operator]

Sure. We have one question from the audio.

[Miin Wu, executive]

Okay. So let me answer this question first, and then you can bring in from the audio.

The question [Foreign Language].

Okay. So can you bring in the telephone question -- audio question?

[Operator]

Our first question comes from the line of Daniel Yen from Morgan Stanley.

[Daniel Yen, analyst]

[Foreign Language]

[Miin Wu, executive]

[Foreign Language]

[Daniel Yen, analyst]

[Foreign Language]

[Miin Wu, executive]

[Foreign Language]

[Daniel Yen, analyst]

[Foreign Language]

[Miin Wu, executive]

[Foreign Language]

[Daniel Yen, analyst]

[Foreign Language]

[Miin Wu, executive]

[Foreign Language]

[Daniel Yen, analyst]

[Foreign Language]

[Miin Wu, executive]

[Foreign Language]

[Daniel Yen, analyst]

[Foreign Language]

[Miin Wu, executive]

[Foreign Language]

[Daniel Yen, analyst]

[Foreign Language]

[Miin Wu, executive]

[Foreign Language]

[Daniel Yen, analyst]

[Foreign Language]

[Miin Wu, executive]

[Foreign Language] In 5 minutes, if there's no more question, I think we will be close our conference. Now we have a new question come in. Okay. So we'll keep you informed on that. [Foreign Language]

So any more questions?

[Operator]

[Operator Instructions]

[Miin Wu, executive]

So right now, we only -- we extend for 2 minutes. Now we have a new question come in. [Foreign Language]

The next question for NAND. A Shanghai foundry is -- you've seen for some challenge. Is the China foundry a potential threat to supply in the future? There's always that competition, okay. There's always competition. But as I said, I think Macronix quality is way ahead of those people. So we are not worry about those people. I don't know if that answer your question. So those people are price-killers, but the -- I think we are probably working on different -- the customer base. Of course, in China, there's always a challenge. But the -- our technology is way ahead of those people. Probably way ahead of those -- way ahead of those. So we will close.

[Operator]

We have a question from the line of Daniel Yen.

[Daniel Yen, analyst]

[Foreign Language]

[Miin Wu, executive]

[Foreign Language]

[Daniel Yen, analyst]

Okay. Okay. [Foreign Language]

[Miin Wu, executive]

Yes.

[Daniel Yen, analyst]

[Foreign Language]

[Operator]

And there are no further questions. I would like to hand the conference back to our presenters today.

[Miin Wu, executive]

Yes. So I think we will have one more minute, right, so -- give the people one more minute and then we'll be closed right on time, 3:00. On behalf of my colleagues, I'd like to thank you, all the people who attend this conference. So hopefully, we'll see you 3 months later. Thank you.

[Operator]

Ladies and gentlemen, that does conclude your conference for today. Thank you for participating. You may all disconnect your lines now. Thank you.

[Miin Wu, executive]

Okay. Goodbye.