Core Viewpoint - FOCI Fiber Optic Communications, Inc. has announced a private placement financing with Himax Technologies, Inc., where Himax will acquire a 5.3% equity stake in FOCI through the purchase of 5,000,000 shares at NT$104.4 per share, raising approximately NT$522 million (US$16 million) [1][2][6]. Group 1: Company Overview - FOCI is a leading global manufacturer of silicon photonics connectors, focusing on optical communication technology and recently developing silicon photonics packaging technology [2][9]. - The company has a strong history, established in 1995, and is recognized for its innovations in fiber optic interconnect and related technologies [9][10]. Group 2: Strategic Partnership - Himax Technologies will participate as a strategic investor, enhancing FOCI's capabilities in Co-Packaged Optics (CPO) technology, which integrates optical components for improved performance in high-speed applications [1][6][8]. - The collaboration aims to leverage Himax's Wafer Level Optics (WLO) technology with FOCI's CPO solutions to meet the growing demands in sectors such as High-Performance Computing (HPC) and Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) [2][4][5]. Group 3: Technological Advancements - CPO technology encapsulates silicon photonic chips and optical connectors in multi-chip modules, improving bandwidth, data transfer rates, and reducing latency and energy consumption [3][4]. - FOCI's ReLFAConTM is highlighted as an advanced CPO solution, integrating fiber optic array connectors for optimal signal transmission [3][4]. - Himax's WLO technology enhances the optical characteristics of FOCI's products, ensuring high-precision and low-loss transmission [4][5]. Group 4: Market Potential - The partnership is positioned to address the increasing demand for high-speed transmission technologies, particularly in computing and communications sectors [6][8]. - Both companies aim to strengthen their market positions by combining their respective technologies to cater to the explosive demand for high-speed optical communication [7][8].

HSINCHU and TAINAN, Taiwan, June 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FOCI Fiber Optic Communications, Inc. (TPEX: 3363) (“FOCI”), announced today that its Board of Directors has approved the issuance of 5,000,000 shares of common stock in a private placement financing with Himax Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: HIMX) (“Himax” or “Company”) participating as a strategic investor through its wholly-owned Taiwan subsidiary, Himax Technologies Limited. The subscription price is set at NT$104.4 per share (approximately US$3. ...

TAINAN, Taiwan, June 03, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Himax Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: HIMX) (“Himax” or “Company”), a leading supplier and fabless manufacturer of display drivers and other semiconductor products, today announced it is integrating its advanced WiseEye™ Ultralow Power AI Sensing solution with the powerful NVIDIA TAO platform to enable enterprise-ready intelligent AI capabilities and streamline on-device AI deployment for battery-powered devices. WiseEye™ seamlessly integrates Himax’s proprietar ...

Core Insights - Himax Technologies has made a strategic investment in Obsidian Sensors, focusing on high-resolution thermal imaging technology to enhance its product offerings and market position [1][6] - Obsidian Sensors is revolutionizing the thermal imaging industry with its proprietary Large Area MEMS Platform (LAMP), enabling high-volume production of low-cost, high-resolution thermal sensors [2][8] - The partnership aims to integrate Himax's ultralow power AI processors with Obsidian's thermal imaging solutions, targeting applications in automotive safety, security systems, and more [1][3] Company Overview - Himax Technologies is a leading fabless semiconductor provider specializing in display imaging processing technologies, with a strong presence in automotive display technology [7] - The company employs around 2,200 people and holds 2,772 patents granted and 398 patents pending as of March 31, 2024 [7] - Obsidian Sensors, founded in 2017, focuses on democratizing thermal imaging through innovative production technology, targeting sectors such as automotive, security, and surveillance [8] Market Potential - The demand for thermal imaging sensors is expected to grow significantly, particularly in automotive applications, driven by new safety regulations mandating advanced driver assistance systems [3][6] - Obsidian's technology is positioned to meet the needs of a rapidly growing market, with the capability to produce over 100 million sensors per year at VGA resolution or higher [2][8] - The collaboration between Himax and Obsidian is anticipated to create synergies that enhance their competitive edge in the thermal imaging market [5][6]

TAINAN, Taiwan and SAN DIEGO, May 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Himax Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: HIMX) (“Himax” or “Company”), a leading supplier and fabless manufacturer of display drivers and other semiconductor products, today announced its strategic investment in Obsidian Sensors, Inc. ("Obsidian"), a San Diego-based thermal imaging sensor solution manufacturer. Himax's strategic investment in Obsidian Sensors, as the lead investor in Obsidian’s convertible note financing, was motivated by the potential ...

TAINAN, Taiwan, May 20, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Himax Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:HIMX) ("Himax" or "Company"), a leading supplier and fabless manufacturer of display drivers and other semiconductor products, today announced that the Company will attend Baird 2024 Global Consumer, Technology and Services Conference on June 4 – June 6, 2024 at InterContinental New York Barclay Hotel in New York. Mr. Eric Li, Chief IR/PR Officer of Himax, will conduct a fireside chat in Session VI at Barclay Salon A, Lobby Le ...

TAINAN, Taiwan, May 20, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Himax Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: HIMX) (“Himax” or “Company”), a leading supplier and fabless manufacturer of display drivers and other semiconductor products, today announced that the Company will attend Baird 2024 Global Consumer, Technology and Services Conference on June 4 – June 6, 2024 at InterContinental New York Barclay Hotel in New York. Mr. Eric Li, Chief IR/PR Officer of Himax, will conduct a fireside chat in Session VI at Barclay Salon A, Lobby L ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics - Q1 2024 revenue was $207.6 million, a sequential decrease of 8.8%, exceeding the guidance range of a 9% to 16% decline [5] - Gross margin for Q1 was 29.3%, outperforming the guidance of around 28.5% [5] - Q1 profit per diluted ADS was 7.1 cents, surpassing the guidance range of 2.0 to 5.0 cents [5] - Q1 operating income was $10.0 million, or 4.8% of sales, compared to 7.2% of sales in the same period last year [9] - Q1 after-tax profit was $12.5 million, or 7.1 cents per diluted ADS, compared to $23.6 million last quarter [9] - Cash, cash equivalents, and other financial assets at the end of Q1 were $277.4 million, up from $206.4 million last quarter [10] - Q1 inventories were $201.9 million, down from $217.3 million last quarter, reflecting successful destocking efforts [11] Business Line Performance - Large display driver revenue decreased 7.0% sequentially to $31.3 million, with TV and monitor IC sales declining but notebook IC sales increasing double-digit QoQ [5][6] - Small and medium-sized display driver revenue declined 11.5% sequentially to $144.3 million, driven by strong automotive and OLED tablet sales [7] - Automotive business, including traditional DDIC, TDDI, Tcon, and OLED sales, contributed around 46% of total Q1 revenue [7] - Non-driver sales increased 3.4% sequentially to $32.0 million, driven by strong demand for large-sized display Tcon products [8] Market Performance - Automotive TDDI sales increased sequentially despite industry downturns, supported by a robust pipeline of design-win projects [7] - Automotive local dimming Tcon adoption is expanding rapidly, with increasing project awards from Tier-1 suppliers for new vehicle projects globally [8] - Smartphone IC sales declined sequentially but exceeded guidance, while tablet driver sales declined as expected due to seasonal demand weakness [7] Strategic Direction and Industry Competition - The company is focusing on cost optimization and supplier diversification to enhance supply flexibility and cost-effectiveness, particularly in the automotive market [17] - Himax is expanding its OLED offerings, including DDIC, Tcon, and touch controllers, in collaboration with leading panel manufacturers in Korea and China [23][25] - The company is leveraging its leadership in automotive TDDI and local dimming Tcon to capitalize on the megatrend of increasing display sophistication in vehicles [16][17] Management Commentary on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expects Q2 2024 revenue to increase 8% to 13% sequentially, with gross margin projected to be between 31.5% and 33.5% [13] - The automotive sector is expected to drive growth in Q2, with high single-digit to double-digit sequential revenue increases anticipated [19][21] - The company anticipates a rebound in demand in the second half of 2024, supported by major sporting events and festival shopping seasons [14] Other Important Information - The company declared an annual cash dividend of 29.0 cents per ADS, totaling $51 million, with a payout ratio of 100% of the previous year's profit [12] - Himax is advancing its WiseEye Ultralow Power AI Sensing solution, with applications in smart home, automotive, healthcare, and other AIoT sectors [29][30] - The company unveiled its new-generation Color Sequential Front-Lit LCoS Microdisplay at Display Week 2024, targeting the AR glasses market [32][33] Q&A Session Summary Question: Why is Himax optimistic about the auto sector while other semiconductor companies are cautious? - Himax attributes its optimism to lean inventory levels and strong demand for automotive display ICs, supported by rush orders from panel customers [36][38] - The company highlights the megatrend of increasing display sophistication in vehicles, which drives higher content value per vehicle for display IC vendors [39][40] Question: What is the potential for see-through AR glasses using Himax's LCoS technology? - Himax believes its new-generation LCoS Microdisplay, with a brightness of 250,000 nits and low power consumption, is a breakthrough for AR glasses targeting the general public [44][45] - The company sees significant potential in the AR glasses market, with its LCoS solution offering better power efficiency and mass production readiness compared to micro-LED alternatives [46][47]

Q1 2024 Revenues, EPS and Gross Margin All Exceeded Guidance Range Issued on February 6, 2024Company Q2 2024 Guidance: Revenues to Increase 8% to 13% QoQ,Gross Margin is Expected to be 31.5% to 33.5%, Profit per diluted ADS to be 13.0 Cents to 17.0 Cents Q1 2024 revenues were $207.6M, a decrease of 8.8% QoQ, exceeding the guidance range of a 9% to 16% decline QoQ. Q1 GM reached 29.3%, outperforming guidance of around 28.5% Q1 2024 after-tax profit was $12.5M, or 7.1 cents per diluted ADS, surpassing the gui ...