ASE Inc and ASE Test Enter into Agreement to Take ASE Test Private
TAIPEI, Taiwan, Sept. 4 -- Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc. ("ASE Inc.") and ASE Test Limited ("ASE Test"), a majority-owned subsidiary of ASE Inc., today jointly announced that the two companies have signed the Scheme Implementation Agreement for ASE Inc. to acquire the remaining ASE Test ordinary shares which ASE Inc. does not directly or indirectly own. ASE Test's ordinary shares are listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. ("Nasdaq") and, in the form of Taiwan Depositary Shares ("TDSs"), on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (where each TDS represents 1/80 ASE Test ordinary shares). Under the terms of the proposed acquisition, the all cash acquisition consideration consists of US$14.78 for each ASE Test ordinary share listed on Nasdaq and the NT$ equivalent of US$0.185 (based on the prevailing exchange rate) for each ASE Test TDS. The proposed acquisition will be effected by way of a scheme of arrangement under Section 210 of the Companies Act of Singapore ("Singapore Companies Act"). The proposed acquisition is subject to approval by a majority of ASE Test shareholders (other than ASE Inc. and its affiliates, including without limitation its directors and managers)("Unaffiliated Shareholders") holding at least 75% in value of the total outstanding ASE Test ordinary shares held by Unaffiliated Shareholders, present and voting either in person or by proxy at a meeting of Unaffiliated Shareholders to be convened in a court proceeding in Singapore in accordance with the Singapore Companies Act. The proposed acquisition is also subject to certain other conditions precedent, including customary approvals and filings in Singapore, Taiwan and the United States. If the requisite shareholder approval is obtained and the other conditions precedent are met, upon the consummation of the proposed transaction, ASE Test will become an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of ASE Inc. and the ASE Test ordinary shares will be delisted from Nasdaq and the TDSs will be delisted from the Taiwan Stock Exchange. The proposed acquisition is priced at a premium of 25.6% above ASE Test's closing price on Nasdaq as of August 31, 2007. Holders of ASE Test options will be separately informed regarding the treatment of their options in the proposed transaction. The estimated total acquisition value for this transaction is approximately US$784,000,000.
The proposed transaction is intended to simplify the organizational structure of ASE Inc. and its subsidiaries (the "ASE Group"), reduce costs and administrative burdens associated with filing and compliance requirements relating to ASE Test's Nasdaq and Taiwan Stock Exchange listings and United States public company reporting obligations, enhance recognition by customers and investors by promoting a single common brand for the ASE Group, and increase ASE Inc.'s flexibility to make investments and allocate resources within the ASE Group.
ASE Test reached agreement with ASE Inc. on the terms of the proposed acquisition following an evaluation by a special committee of the board of directors of ASE Test, comprising of two of ASE Test's independent directors, that was established to, among other things, review, evaluate, negotiate and consider all matters which may arise in connection with the proposed acquisition.
ASE Inc. engaged Citigroup Global Markets Taiwan Ltd. ("Citi") as its financial advisor for the transaction, and the ASE Test special committee engaged Lehman Brothers Inc. ("Lehman Brothers") to act as its financial advisor. If the requisite shareholder approval is obtained and the other conditions precedent are met, the proposed transaction is expected to be consummated by December 2007.
About ASE Inc.
ASE Inc. is one of the world's largest independent provider of integrated circuit ("IC") packaging services and, together with its approximately 51% owned subsidiary ASE Test Limited (NASDAQ:ASTSF), the world's largest independent provider of IC testing services, including front-end engineering test, wafer probe and final test services. ASE Inc. currently has approximately more than 200 international customers. With advanced technological capabilities and a global presence spanning Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and the United States, ASE Inc. has established a reputation for reliable, high quality products and services. For more information, visit our website at www.aseglobal.com/ .
The common shares of ASE Inc. are listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange under the symbol "2311". The American Depository Receipts of ASE Inc. are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "ASX".
About ASE Test
ASE Test is one of the world's largest independent providers of semiconductor testing services. It provides customers with a complete range of semiconductor testing services, including front-end engineering test, wafer probe, final test and other test-related services.
The ordinary shares of ASE Test are quoted for trading on the NASDAQ National Market under the symbol "ASTSF". ASE Test's TDSs which represent its ordinary shares, are listed for trading on the Taiwan Stock Exchange under the symbol "9101".
The directors of ASE Inc. (including any director who may have delegated detailed supervision of this press release) have taken all reasonable care to ensure that the facts stated and opinions expressed in this press release (other than those relating to ASE Test) are fair or accurate and that no material facts have been omitted from this press release and they jointly and severally accept responsibility accordingly. Where any information has been extracted from published or publicly available sources or obtained from ASE Test, the sole responsibility of the directors of ASE Inc. has been to ensure, through reasonable enquiries, that such information is accurately extracted from such sources or, as the case may be, reflected or reproduced in this press release.
The directors of ASE Test. (including any director who may have delegated detailed supervision of this press release) have taken all reasonable care to ensure that the facts stated and opinions expressed in this press release (other than those relating to ASE Inc.) are fair or accurate and that no material facts have been omitted from this press release and they jointly and severally accept responsibility accordingly. Where any information has been extracted from published or publicly available sources or obtained from ASE Inc., the sole responsibility of the directors of ASE Test has been to ensure, through reasonable enquiries, that such information is accurately extracted from such sources or, as the case may be, reflected or reproduced in this press release.
For further information please contact:
ASE Inc.
Citigroup Global Markets Taiwan Ltd.
Tel: +852-2501-2035
Freddie Liu (Vice President)
Tel: +8862-8780-5489
ASE Test
Lehman Brothers Inc.
Tel: +852-2252-1047
Source: Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc.;
ASE Test Limited
Web site: www.aseglobal.com/
