SUNNYVALE, Calif., Dec. 20, 2004 -- SST (Silicon Storage Technology, Inc., NASDAQ: SSTI) announced today that its revenue in the fourth quarter is expected to be between $102 and $108 million versus previous guidance of $120 to $130 million. Due to current market conditions, the company expects to record an inventory charge of between $20 and $25 million for excess inventory and to write certain products down to their current estimated market values. As a result, gross margin for the fourth quarter is expected to be in the range of 1 and 3 percent, versus previous guidance of between 28 and 32 percent. In addition, the company has completed a preliminary valuation of the G-Plus acquisition and expects to record a non-cash charge of approximately $5.5 million related to purchased in-process research and development. Loss per share on a GAAP basis is expected to be between $0.24 and $0.28, versus previous guidance of earnings per share between $0.10 and $0.12.
The shortfall in revenue is primarily due to lower than expected demand across all segments and decreasing average selling prices caused by industry-wide oversupply and increased competition. Despite the revenue shortfall, unit shipments are expected to increase by approximately 10 percent to mark another record quarter with respect to units shipped.
About SuperFlash Technology
SST's SuperFlash technology is a NOR type, split-gate cell architecture which uses a reliable thick-oxide process with fewer manufacturing steps resulting in a low-cost, nonvolatile memory solution with excellent data retention and higher reliability. The split-gate NOR SuperFlash architecture facilitates a simple and flexible design suitable for high performance, high reliability, small or medium sector size, in- or off-system programming and a variety of densities, all in a single CMOS-compatible technology.
About Silicon Storage Technology, Inc.
Headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, SST designs, manufactures and markets a diversified range of nonvolatile memory solutions, based on proprietary, patented SuperFlash technology, for high volume applications in the digital consumer, networking, wireless communications and Internet computing markets. SST's product families include various densities of high functionality flash memory components, flash mass storage products and flash microcontrollers. SST also offers its SuperFlash technology for embedded applications through its world-class manufacturing partners and technology licensees including 1st Silicon (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Grace Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (Grace), IBM, Motorola, Inc., National Semiconductor Corporation, NEC Corporation, Oki Electric Industry Co. Ltd., Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., SANYO Electric Co., Ltd., Seiko Epson Corp., Shanghai Hua Hong NEC Electronics Co., Ltd., Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (TSMC), Toshiba Corporation, Vanguard International Semiconductor Corporation and Winbond Electronics Corp. TSMC offers embedded SuperFlash under its trademark Emb-FLASH. Further information on SST can be found on the company's Web site at http://www.sst.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Except for the historical information contained herein, this news release contains forward-looking statements regarding flash memory market conditions, the company’s future financial performance, the performance of new products and the company’s ability to bring new products to market that involve risks and uncertainties. These risks may include timely development, acceptance and pricing of new products, the terms and conditions associated with licensees’ royalty payments, the impact of competitive products and pricing, and general economic conditions as they affect the company’s customers, as well as other risks detailed from time to time in the company’s SEC reports, including the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 and on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, June 30 and September 30, 2004.
For more information about SST and the company’s comprehensive list of product offerings, please call 1-888/SST-CHIP. Information can also be requested via email to literature@sst.com or through SST’s Web site at http://www.sst.com. SST’s head office is located at 1171 Sonora Court, Sunnyvale, Calif.; telephone: 408/735-9110; fax: 408/735-9036.
The SST logo and SuperFlash are registered trademarks of Silicon Storage Technology, Inc. Emb-FLASH is a trademark of TSMC. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective holders.
# # #
