January 9, 2004 – Kulicke & Soffa, Willow Grove, PA, Nanometrics, Milpitas, CA, joined a collection of semiconductor equipment companies who have said their latest quarterly performance will be better than expected.
Kulicke & Soffa said its 1Q04 revenues would be at the high end of earlier estimates of $150 million, plus or minus 5%. The company will release full earnings 1Q earnings on January 21. Kulicke & Soffa has also completed the redemption of its 4-3/4% notes due 2006, with funds of approximately $178.6 million coming from the net proceeds of a recent $205 million placement of notes due 2008.
Also, Nanometrics says its 4Q revenue will be up 15%-20% sequentially, better than the flat-to-10% increase it earlier predicted. The company will release final results in mid-February.