X-FAB announces double-digit sales growth in 2013

ERFURT, GERMANY: Analog/mixed-signal foundry group X-FAB Silicon Foundries announced sales of $290 million for fiscal year 2013, an increase of 12 percent compared to the previous year with sales of $259 million.

NRE revenue as an indicator for future growth has been increasing during the past four years with a compound annual growth rate of 17 percent. In 2013, bookings amounted to $320 million, up approximately 27 percent year-over-year. The book to bill ratio for 2013 came in at 1.1.

Operating income (EBIT) in 2013 amounted to $16 million, which is an increase of $36 million compared to the previous year, and earnings before tax (EBT) were at $18 million. The current year kicked off with further growth. First quarter sales in 2014 are expected to increase by 18 percent compared to the same quarter last year.

In addition to its financial reporting, X-FAB announced that Rudi De Winter will become sole chief executive officer of X-FAB Group as of June 2014, a move he and Hans-Juergen Straub planned and prepared together for the past three years while they served as co-CEOs. Hans-Juergen Straub, who has served as CEO since X-FAB's inception 22 years ago, will continue to serve on the Board of Directors of X-FAB Silicon Foundries SE.

In recent years, X-FAB successfully aligned its offerings and expertise to match market and customer demand. X-FAB now is engaged in three major business areas:

More than Moore. X-FAB remains one of the leading "More than Moore" Foundries offering its customers a broad spectrum of analog/mixed-signal technologies combined with outstanding support. Major target markets are the automotive and industrial segments.

MEMS. X-FAB has become a major MEMS foundry with sales in that field increasing significantly. In 2013, MEMS revenue grew by approximately 50 percent year-over-year. Customers benefit from X-FAB's more than 20 years of experience and have access to the expertise of two dedicated MEMS fabs located in Erfurt and Itzehoe, Germany.

These fabs offer a wide range of MEMS technologies ready for high-volume manufacturing. MEMS customers also benefit from having direct access to the CMOS fabs of X-FAB for integrating MEMS and CMOS on a single chip. X-FAB expects further growth in MEMS business and currently is expanding its MEMS manufacturing capacities.

Outsourcing partner. X-FAB is a well-established partner for outsourcing scenarios. In recent years, X-FAB observed an increasing number of inquiries by customers seeking to establish a second source to free in-house capacity or find an alternative source due to a fab closure. To date, X-FAB has completed more than 60 process transfers including special technologies, such as a project to manufacture lithium batteries on silicon wafers.