Press Room

NEWS
2016 / 06 / 30

Joint Announcement by ASE and SPIL

Taipei, Taiwan, June 30, 2016 – Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc. (TWSE code: 2311, NYSE code: ASX, hereafter “ASE”) and Siliconware Precision Industry Co., Ltd. (TWSE code: 2325, NASDAQ code: SPIL, hereafter “SPIL”) jointly announced today that each party’s respective board of directors has adopted resolution to approve the entering into and execution of a joint share exchange agreement between ASE and SPIL (the “Agreement”) and agreement to establish a new holding company (the “Holdco”). Major terms of the Agreement are set forth below:

  1. ASE and SPIL jointly agree to establish Holdco, which will be listed in the Taiwan Stock Exchange and whose American depositary shares will be listed in the New York Stock Exchange. Upon the establishment of the Holdco, ASE and SPIL will become wholly‐owned subsidiaries of the HoldCo and become sibling companies. Through this parallel operation model which incentivizes healthy internal competition and promotes cooperation, ASE and SPIL will strive to improve each company’s operating efficiency, economies of scale as well as research and development and innovation results, thereby creating an environment of mutual assistance and win‐win mentality, strengthening competitiveness and improving the performance of Holdco, with the main goals of improving the quality of customer service, creating shareholders value and benefiting the employees.
  2. Upon the establishment of the Holdco, ASE and SPIL will each maintain its legal status as separate entities, retain its respective legal entity name as well as independent business and operation model. ASE and SPIL will each retain its respective management team and employees and maintain its current organizational structure, compensation and relevant benefits and personnel policies.
  3. The share exchange will be conducted (1) at an exchange ratio of one ASE common share for 0.5 HoldCo common share, and (2) at NT$55 in cash for each of SPIL’s common shares, with ASE and SPIL becoming wholly‐owned subsidiaries of HoldCo. The cash consideration of NT$55 has been adjusted to NT$51.2 after excluding the NT$2.8 per share cash dividend distribution approved by resolution at SPIL’s annual shareholders’ meeting in 2016 as well as a NT$1.0 per share payment from capital reserve. The NT$51.2 cash consideration aforementioned will not be subject to further adjustment if the cash dividends distribution by SPIL in 2017 is less than 85% of SPIL’s after‐tax net profit for the year 2016.
  4. The long stop date of the Agreement (the “Long Stop Date”), which means the expiration of the Agreement, is set at 18 months after the execution date of the Agreement (i.e., December 31, 2017) or a later date otherwise agreed upon in writing by both parties. If the closing of this transaction cannot be consummated due to failure of the conditions precedent to be satisfied on or before the Long Stop Date, the Agreement shall be terminated automatically at 0:00 on the day immediately following the Long Stop Date, unless otherwise agreed in writing.
  5. The closing of the transaction will be subject to the execution of the Agreement, the necessary approvals by relevant domestic and foreign competent authorities, the approvals by ASE and SPIL’s respective shareholders’ meeting as well as the satisfaction of other conditions precedent.

The management teams of ASE and SPIL have agreed to jointly plan, with the utmost sincerity and determination and on the basis of equality, reciprocity and mutual benefit, the establishment of the HoldCo to consolidate the current operations and excellent talents of ASE and SPIL. The collaboration between the parties will result in synergies that can create competitive advantages and opportunities for the future development and sustained growth of the semiconductor industry by enhancing efficiency and economies of scale as well deeply strengthening research and development and innovation capabilities, thereby providing customers with higher quality, more efficient, and well‐rounded packaging and testing services. ASE and SPIL have always strived for research and development innovation and improving economies of scale and operating efficiency to maximize shareholder value and improve the semiconductor packaging and testing industry’s advantage. Both parties also believe that one of their main tasks and social responsibilities is to continue to cultivate and nurture excellent talents for years to come.

Safe Harbor Notice:

This press release contains “forward‐looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements regarding ASE’s or HoldCo’s future results of operations and business prospects. Although these forward‐looking statements, which may include statements regarding ASE’s or HoldCo’s (if established) future results of operations, financial condition or business prospects, are based on ASE’s or HoldCo’s (if established) own information and information from other sources we believe to be reliable, you should not place undue reliance on these forward‐looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this press release. The words “anticipate, ” “believe, ” “estimate, ” “expect, ” “intend, ” “plan” and similar expressions, as they relate to ASE or HoldCo (if established), are intended to identify these forward‐looking statements in this press release. These statements discuss future expectations, identify strategies, contain projections of results of operations of ASE’s or HoldCo’s (if established) financial condition, or state other forward‐looking information. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could cause the actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward‐looking statement. ASE cannot promise that its expectations expressed in these forward‐looking statements will turn out to be correct. ASE’s or HoldCo’s (if established)actual results could be materially different from and worse than those expectations. For a discussion of important risks and factors that could cause ASE’s or HoldCo’s (if established) actual results to be materially different from its expectations, please see the documents we file from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“U.S. SEC”), including ASE’s 2015 Annual Report on Form 20‐F filed on April 29, 2016.

This press release is not an offering of securities for sale in any jurisdiction:

ASE may file a registration statement on Form F‐4 with the U.S. SEC in connection with the proposed Joint Share Exchange. The Form F‐4 (if filed) will contain a prospectus and other documents. The Form F‐4 (if filed) and prospectus, as they may be amended from time to time, will contain important information about ASE, SPIL, the Joint Share Exchange and related matters. U.S. shareholders of ASE are urged to read the Form F‐4 (if filed), the prospectus and the other documents, as they may be amended from time to time, that may be filed with the U.S. SEC in connection with the Joint Share Exchange carefully before they make any decision at any shareholders’ meeting of ASE with respect to the Joint Share Exchange. The Form F‐4 (if filed), the prospectus and all other documents filed with the U.S. SEC in connection with the Joint Share Exchange will be available when filed, free of charge, on the U.S. SEC’s website at www.sec.go v. In addition, the Form F‐4 (if filed), the prospectus and all other documents filed with the U.S. SEC in connection with the Joint Share Exchange will be made available, free of charge, to U.S. shareholders of ASE who make a written request to ir@aseglobal.com.


 

About ASE, Inc.

ASE, Inc. is the leading global provider of semiconductor manufacturing services in assembly and test. Alongside a broad portfolio of established assembly and test technologies, ASE is also delivering innovative advanced packaging and system-in-package solutions to meet growth momentum across a broad range of end markets, including 5G, AI, Automotive, High-Performance Computing, and more. To learn about our advances in SiP, Fan-out, MEMS & Sensor, Flip Chip, and 2.5D, 3D & TSV technologies, all ultimately geared towards applications to improve lifestyle and efficiency, please visit: aseglobal.com or follow us on on LinkedIn and X: @aseglobal.