AMTECH SYSTEMS INC

We are a leading, global manufacturer of capital equipment, including thermal processing and wafer polishing and related consumables used in fabricating semiconductor devices, such as silicon carbide ("SiC") and silicon power devices, analog and discrete devices, electronic assemblies, and light-emitting diodes ("LEDs"). We sell these products to semiconductor device and module manufacturers worldwide, particularly in Asia, North America and Europe.

We operate in two reportable segments, based primarily on the industries they serve: (i) Semiconductor and (ii) Material and Substrate. In our Semiconductor segment, we supply thermal processing equipment, including solder reflow ovens, horizontal diffusion furnaces, and custom high-temp belt furnaces for use by semiconductor, electronics and electro/mechanical assembly manufacturers. Our semiconductor customers are primarily manufacturers of integrated circuits and optoelectronic sensors and discrete ("O-S-D") components used in analog, power and radio frequency ("RF"). In our Material and Substrate segment, we produce wafer cleaning equipment as well as substrate consumables and chemicals for lapping (fine abrading) and polishing of materials, such as silicon wafers for semiconductor products, sapphire wafers for LED applications, and compound substrates, like SiC wafers, for power device applications.

The semiconductor industry is cyclical, but not seasonal, and historically has experienced fluctuations. Our revenue is impacted by these broad industry trends.

Strategy

We continue to focus on our plans to profitably grow our business and have developed a strategic growth plan and a capital allocation plan that we believe will support our growth objectives. Our Power Semiconductor strategic growth plan leverages our experience, products and capabilities in pursuit of growth, profitability and sustainability. Our core focus areas are:

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Advanced Mobility - Advanced Mobility encompasses both the development and adoption of electric vehicles and charging infrastructure, including both electric vehicle (EV) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), as well as advanced automotive electronics including Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), infotainment and telematics. Our products intersect these markets in multiple ways: consumables and wafer cleaning systems for the SiC substrates used in power modules; thermal processing systems for cooling modules and DBC substrate manufacturing; and reflow ovens for ADAS, infotainment and telematics component assemblies.

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Supply Chain Resiliency - There is a global trend of creating supply chain resiliency by expanding and/or relocating operations outside of mainland China. These factory openings will create demand for new equipment and services in growing regions like Mexico and Southeast Asia.

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Artificial Intelligence - With Artificial Intelligence (AI), our reflow oven systems are the favored choice for Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test Services (OSATS) providers who perform advanced packaging of the AI chips.

We anticipate future investments will be required to meet the expected demand from our growing served markets to achieve our revenue growth targets, including investments in research and development as well as capital expenditures, which also includes further investments in talent and management information systems. In June 2022, we completed the sale of the real property where our manufacturing facility in Massachusetts is located. In connection with this sale, we entered into a two-year leaseback of the facility. This sale-leaseback transaction resulted in a net cash inflow of approximately $14.9 million, after repayment of the existing mortgage and settlement of related sale expenses. In September 2023, we signed a lease for a new location more in line with the needs of our Semiconductor product lines. The new location has less square footage as we expand our use of contract manufacturers. We expect to complete the move to this new facility in the third quarter of fiscal 2024. In addition, we are evaluating business continuity and resiliency within our operations, our management information systems, and our needs to allow for greater efficiencies and to ensure our infrastructure can support our future growth plans. As a capital equipment manufacturer, we will continue to invest in our business to drive future growth.