Tower Semiconductor Ltd. Announces Third Quarter and Nine Months 2003 Results

MIGDAL HAEMEK, Israel--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 2, 2003-- Tower Semiconductor Ltd. (NASDAQ: TSEM; TASE: TSEM) today announced results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2003.

Sales for the third quarter of 2003 were $16.1 million, an increase of 25 percent over sales of $12.9 million in the prior quarter. In the third quarter of 2002, the company reported revenues of $16.2 million, which were comprised of $12.2 million in sales from operations and $4.0 million from a technology-transfer revenue. Total third quarter loss was $37.1 million, or $0.77 per share, compared with a loss of $16.8 million, or $0.37 per share, for the second quarter of 2003, and compared with a loss of $14.5 million, or $0.48 per share, for the third quarter of 2002. The increase in loss results mainly from the commencement of Fab 2 depreciation and amortization expenses, which totaled $17.3 million for the quarter.

Sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2003, were $41.5 million, versus revenues of $36.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2002, which were comprised of $32.2 million in sales from operations and $4.0 million from a technology-transfer revenue.

The company reported a loss of $68.3 million, or $1.49 per share, for the nine months ended September 30, 2003, compared with a loss of $37.8 million, or $1.34 per share, in the nine months ended September 30, 2002.

"In the third quarter, Tower began to recognize Fab 2 sales in its financial results. This is a significant milestone for our customers, our investors and us. We are encouraged by the general improvement in demand for wafer-foundry services, and remain focused on ramping our 0.18-micron wafer outputs for the next several quarters. Accordingly, we are expecting moderate sales growth for the fourth quarter," said Carmel Vernia, chairman and CEO of Tower Semiconductor.

Tower's two fabs generated positive results during the reporting period. The third quarter marked the sixth consecutive quarter that Tower's Fab 1 had positive cash flow from operations. Fab 2 began to generate production revenue from 0.18-micron wafers during the quarter, with SanDisk Corporation representing the fab's largest customer.

Fab 2 capacity installation continues to progress on schedule. The company expects Fab 2 to achieve 8,500 wafer starts per month at the 0.18-micron technology node by year-end.

In addition to Fab 1's continuing strong presence in the CMOS image-sensor market, Fab 2 is already in the advanced stages of developing prototype CMOS image sensors using 0.18-micron technology. Tower seeks to broaden its position in the CMOS image-sensor market by offering differentiated and value-added services and technologies.

Harold Blomquist announced his resignation as CEO of Tower Semiconductor USA and senior vice president of Tower Semiconductor, Ltd. for personal reasons. Company management intends to quickly identify a qualified replacement.

Tower will host a conference call to discuss these results on Monday, November 3, 2003, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time / 18:00 Israel time. To participate, call 1-800-915-4836 (U.S. toll-free number) or 1-973-317-5319 (international) and mention ID code: TOWER. Callers in Israel are invited to call local 03-925-5910. The conference call also will be webcast live at www.companyboardroom.com and at www.towersemi.com, and will be available thereafter on both Web sites for replay for 90 days, starting at 2:00 p.m. Eastern time on the day of the call.

About Tower Semiconductor Ltd.
Tower Semiconductor Ltd. is a pure-play independent wafer foundry established in 1993. The company manufactures integrated circuits with geometries ranging from 1.0 to 0.18 microns; it also provides complementary technical services and design support. In addition to digital CMOS process technology, Tower offers advanced non-volatile memory solutions, mixed-signal and CMOS image-sensor technologies. To provide world-class customer service, the company maintains two manufacturing facilities: Fab 1 has process technologies from 1.0 to 0.35 microns and can produce up to 20,000 150mm wafers per month. Fab 2 features 0.18-micron and below process technologies, including foundry-standard technology. When complete, Fab 2 is expected to offer full production capacity of 33,000 200mm wafers per month. The Tower Web site is located at www.towersemi.com.

Safe Harbor
This press release includes forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may vary from those projected or implied by such forward-looking statements. Potential risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated with (i) Our need to complete our financing package with our banks, which is a condition to receipt of the remainder of the fifth milestone payment from our wafer and equity investors in the amount of approximately $25.1 million, (ii) Our need to amend our previously approved revised fifth milestone arrangements with our wafer and equity partners to conform the fifth milestone terms to the arrangements we have concluded with our banks, (iii) Our need to obtain shareholders approval to our further revised fifth milestone arrangements and our financing package with our banks, (iii) obtaining the approval of the Israeli Investment Center to extend the five-year investment period under our Fab 2 approved enterprise program and of amendments to our modified business plan, (iv) market acceptance and competitiveness of the products to be manufactured by us for customers using these technologies, as well as obtaining additional business from new and existing customers, (v) our need to renegotiate our credit arrangements with our banks, to restructure certain financial covenants and to extend the deadlines by which we were and are required to meet the fifth and sixth milestones, which, in the absence of a renegotiated agreement, would result in an event of default under the credit facility in which event our banks would have the right to call our loans and exercise their liens against our assets and we would most likely face claims from our wafer partners, financial investors and the Investment Center, (vi) our ability to obtain additional financing for the Fab 2 project from equity and/or wafer partners, the Israeli Investment Center, our banks, and/or other sources, as required under the Fab 2 business plan and pursuant to our agreements with our wafer and equity partners, banks and the Israeli Investment Center, (vii) ramp-up of production at Fab 2 (viii) completion of the development and/or transfer of advanced process technologies to be utilized in our existing facility and in Fab 2, (ix) initial production difficulties we may experience in connection with the functionality of the equipment installed in Fab 2 during its early manufacturing period , and (x) conditions in the market for foundry manufacturing services and for semiconductor products generally . A more complete discussion of risks and uncertainties that may affect the accuracy of forward-looking statements included in this press release or which may otherwise affect our business is included at "Risk Factors" in our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F and form F-3, as were filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Israel Securities Authority.