TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LIMITED
Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1)
Registration Statement No. 333-126380
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
(Incorporated as a company limited by shares in the Republic of
China)
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151,655,000 American Depositary
Shares Representing 758,275,000
Common Shares
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This is a global offering of 151,655,000 American
depositary shares, or ADSs, representing common shares of Taiwan
Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited, or Taiwan
Semiconductor. The selling shareholders named on page 25
are selling all of the ADSs being offered in this offering. We
will not receive any proceeds from the sale of ADSs by the
selling shareholders. The ADSs are not being offered in the
Republic of China, or ROC. Each ADS represents five common
shares, par value NT$10 per share, of Taiwan Semiconductor. The
ADSs are evidenced by American depositary receipts, or ADRs.
Some of the underwriters are expected to offer the ADSs through
their respective selling agents.
Our ADSs are listed on The New York Stock Exchange under the
symbol TSM. The last reported sale price of the ADSs
on The New York Stock Exchange on August 4, 2005 was
US$8.65 per ADS. Our outstanding common shares are listed
on the Taiwan Stock Exchange under the symbol 2330.
The closing price of our common shares on the Taiwan Stock
Exchange on August 4, 2005 was NT$54.70 per share, which is
equivalent to approximately US$1.72, assuming an exchange rate
of NT$31.85=US$1.00.
See Risk Factors beginning on page 12 to
read about factors you should consider before buying the
ADSs.
Neither the United States Securities and Exchange Commission
nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of
these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this
prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal
offense.
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Per ADS |
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Total |
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Initial price to public
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US$ |
8.6000 |
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US$ |
1,304,233,000 |
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Underwriting discount
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US$ |
0.1462 |
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US$ |
22,171,961 |
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Proceeds, before
expenses(1),
to the selling shareholders
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US$ |
8.4538 |
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US$ |
1,282,061,039 |
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(1) |
The underwriters have agreed to pay certain expenses of Taiwan
Semiconductor and the selling shareholders in connection with
this offering. For more information, see
Underwriting. |
The selling shareholders have granted the underwriters an option
exercisable within 30 days from the date of this prospectus
to purchase up to an aggregate of 22,745,000 additional ADSs
from them to cover overallotments, if any.
The underwriters expect to deliver the ADRs evidencing the ADSs
through the book-entry transfer facilities of The Depository
Trust Company against payment in U.S. dollars in New York,
New York on or about August 10, 2005.
Sole Global Coordinator
Goldman Sachs International
Joint Bookrunners
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Goldman Sachs International |
JPMorgan |
Joint Lead Manager
Merrill Lynch & Co.
Co-Managers
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ABN AMRO Rothschild |
Banc of America Securities LLC |
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CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets |
Credit Suisse First Boston |
Deutsche Bank Securities
Prospectus dated August 4, 2005.
THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD, DIRECTLY OR
INDIRECTLY, IN THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA, EXCEPT AS PERMITTED BY
APPLICABLE LAW OF THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA.
This document is only being distributed to and is only directed
at (i) persons who are outside the United Kingdom or
(ii) to investment professionals falling within
Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act
2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the Order) or
(iii) high net worth entities, and other persons to whom it
may lawfully be communicated, falling within
Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons
together being referred to as relevant persons). The
ADSs are only available to, and any invitation, offer or
agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such ADSs
will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who
is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document
or any of its contents.
To the extent that the offer of the ADSs is made in any EEA
member state that has implemented Directive 2003/71/EC
(together with any applicable implementing measures in any
member state, the Prospectus Directive) before the
date of publication of a prospectus in relation to the ADSs
which has been approved by the competent authority in that
member state in accordance with the Prospectus Directive (or,
where appropriate, published in accordance with the Prospectus
Directive and notified to the competent authority in that member
state in accordance with the Prospectus Directive), the offer
(including any offer pursuant to this document) is only
addressed to qualified investors in that member state within the
meaning of the Prospectus Directive or has been or will be made
otherwise in circumstances that do not require us to publish a
prospectus pursuant to the Prospectus Directive.
This prospectus, including the information summarized below,
contains translations of some NT dollar amounts into U.S.
dollars at specified rates solely for the convenience of the
reader. Unless otherwise noted, all translations from
NT dollars to U.S. dollars and from U.S. dollars
to NT dollars were made at the noon buying rate in The City
of New York for cable transfers in NT dollars per
U.S. dollar as certified for customs purposes by the
Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or the noon buying rate, as of
June 30, 2005, which was NT$31.64 to US$1.00. We make no
representation that the NT dollar or US dollar amounts
referred to herein could have been or could be converted into
U.S. dollars or NT dollars, as the case may be, at any
particular rate or at all. On August 4, 2005, the noon
buying rate was NT$31.85 to US$1.00.
In connection with this offering, Goldman Sachs International
and J.P. Morgan Securities Ltd., or any person acting
for them, may overallot or effect transactions with a view to
supporting the market price of the ADSs and, subject to
applicable ROC Laws, the common shares at a level higher than
that which might otherwise prevail for a limited period of time
after the issue date. However, there is no obligation on Goldman
Sachs International, J.P. Morgan Securities Ltd., or
their agents, to do this. Such stabilizing, if commenced, may be
discontinued at any time, and must be brought to an end after a
limited period. See Underwriting.
All references in this prospectus to silicon wafer quantities
are specified in 200 mm wafer equivalents, unless otherwise
specified. When we refer to the capacity of wafer fabrication
facilities, we are referring to the installed capacity based on
specifications established with the manufacturer of the
equipment used in those facilities. We can exceed 100% of these
capacity levels through, for example, enhanced productivity
beyond that assumed when these specifications were initially
established.
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
Financial and other information about us is set forth in our
annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended
December 31, 2004 and other documents incorporated herein
by reference, copies of which may be obtained as indicated under
Where You Can Find More Information.
Our Business
We are currently the worlds largest dedicated
semiconductor foundry. We were founded in 1987 as a joint
venture among the ROC government, Koninklijke Philips
Electronics N.V., or Philips, and other private investors and
were incorporated in the ROC on February 21, 1987. Our
common shares have been listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange
since September 5, 1994 and our ADSs have been listed on
The New York Stock Exchange since October 8, 1997.
As a foundry, we manufacture semiconductors using our advanced
production processes for our customers based on their own or
third parties proprietary integrated circuit designs. We
offer a comprehensive range of leading-edge wafer fabrication
processes, including processes to manufacture CMOS logic,
mixed-signal, radio frequency and embedded memory and BiCMOS
mixed-signal and other semiconductors. IC Insights estimates
that our revenue market share among dedicated foundries
worldwide was 53% in 2003 and 47% in 2004. We also offer design,
mask making, probing, testing and assembly services.
We believe that we are the technology leader among the dedicated
foundries in terms of our net sales of advanced semiconductors
with a resolution of 0.13 micron and below, and are one of
the leaders in the semiconductor industry generally. For
example, in February 2004, we announced that our
industry-leading low-k technology had entered commercial
production and that we were the first semiconductor foundry with
proven low-k technology in commercial production, in both the
0.13 micron process technology and the 90-nanometer
Nexsyssm
technology. The 90-nanometer
Nexsyssm
technology is the first process technology based entirely on
low-k dielectrics. We also believe that our large capacity,
particularly for advanced technologies, is a major competitive
advantage.
We currently operate one 150 mm wafer fab, seven
200 mm wafer fabs and two 300 mm wafer fabs, including
Fab 14, where we commenced production in the fourth quarter of
2004. As of December 31, 2004, our monthly capacity was
479,734 wafers, compared to 402,774 wafers at the end of
2003. This increase was primarily due to the expansion of our
0.18, 0.15, 0.13 and 0.09 micron advanced technologies.
Based upon preliminary estimates, we currently expect our
monthly capacity to be approximately 585,100 wafers at the end
of 2005.
We count among our customers many of the worlds leading
semiconductor companies, ranging from fabless semiconductor
companies such as Altera Corporation, ATI Technology Inc.,
Broadcom Corporation, NVIDIA Corporation, Qualcomm and VIA
Technology, Inc., to integrated device manufacturing companies
such as Analog Devices, Inc., Freescale Semiconductor Inc. and
Philips, and systems companies. Fabless semiconductor companies
and integrated device manufacturers accounted for approximately
68% and 31%, respectively, of our net sales in 2004, and
approximately 71% and 28%, respectively, of our net sales
in 2003.
Our principal executive office is currently located at
No. 8, Li-Hsin Road 6, Hsinchu Science Park, Taiwan,
Republic of China. Our telephone number at that office is
(886-3) 563-6688. Our web site is www.tsmc.com. Information
contained on our web site does not constitute part of this
prospectus.
1
THE OFFERING
See Selling Shareholders on page 25 for a list of
the selling shareholders.
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Offering Price |
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US$8.60 per ADS |
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ADSs offered by the selling shareholders |
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151,655,000 ADSs |
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ADSs outstanding after this
offering |
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853,421,424 ADSs |
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Common shares outstanding after this offering |
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24,726,128,803 common shares |
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ADS:common share ratio |
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1:5 |
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Overallotment option |
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The selling shareholders have granted to the underwriters an
option exercisable within 30 days from the date hereof to
purchase up to an aggregate of 22,745,000 additional ADSs solely
to cover overallotments, if any. |
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Trading market for the common shares |
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The only trading market for the common shares is the Taiwan
Stock Exchange. The common shares have been listed on the Taiwan
Stock Exchange since 1994 under the symbol 2330. |
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New York Stock Exchange symbol for ADSs |
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TSM |
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ADS Depositary |
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Citibank, N.A. |
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Use of proceeds |
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We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of ADSs by the
selling shareholders. |
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Timing and settlement for
the ADSs |
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The ADSs are expected to be delivered against payment on or
about August 10, 2005. |
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The ADSs will be deposited with a custodian for, and registered
in the name of a nominee of, The Depository Trust Company in New
York, New York. In general, beneficial interests in the ADSs
will be shown on, and transfers of these beneficial interests
will be effected only through, records maintained by The
Depository Trust Company and its direct and indirect
participants, including Euroclear Bank S.A./ N.V., as operator
of the Euroclear System, and Clearstream Banking,
société anonyme. |
2
SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND OPERATING
DATA
The summary financial information below should be read in
conjunction with Item 5. Operating and Financial
Reviews and Prospects and the consolidated financial
statements, notes to the consolidated financial statements and
other financial information included in our Form 20-F for
the year ended December 31, 2004, incorporated by reference
in this prospectus. The summary income statement data and cash
flow data for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2003 and
2004 and the summary balance sheet data as of December 31,
2003 and 2004 set forth below are derived from our audited
consolidated financial statements included in our Form 20-F
for the year ended December 31, 2004, incorporated by
reference in this prospectus, and should be read in conjunction
with, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, these
consolidated financial statements, including the notes to these
consolidated financial statements. The summary income statement
data and cash flow data for the years ended December 31,
2000 and 2001 and the summary balance sheet data as of
December 31, 2000, 2001 and 2002 set forth below are
derived from our audited consolidated financial statements not
included in our Form 20-F for the year ended
December 31, 2004. The consolidated financial statements
set forth below have been prepared and presented in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles in the Republic of
China, also called ROC GAAP, which differ in some material
respects from generally accepted accounting principles in the
United States of America, also called US GAAP. Please see note
27 to our audited consolidated financial statements included in
our Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2004,
incorporated by reference in this prospectus, for a description
of the principal differences between ROC GAAP and US GAAP for
the periods covered by these financial statements.
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Year ended and as of December 31, |
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2000 |
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2001 |
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2002 |
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2003 |
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2004 |
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2004(1) |
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NT$ |
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NT$ |
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NT$ |
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NT$ |
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NT$ |
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US$ |
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(in millions, except for percentages, |
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|
earnings per share and per ADS, and operating data) |
Income Statement Data:
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ROC GAAP
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Net sales
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166,198 |
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125,885 |
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162,301 |
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|
202,997 |
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|
257,213 |
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|
8,129 |
|
Cost of
sales(2)
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|
|
(87,610 |
) |
|
|
(92,228 |
) |
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|
(109,988 |
) |
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(128,113 |
) |
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|
(141,394 |
) |
|
|
(4,468 |
) |
Gross
profit(2)
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|
78,588 |
|
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|
33,657 |
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|
|
52,313 |
|
|
|
74,884 |
|
|
|
115,819 |
|
|
|
3,661 |
|
Operating
expenses(2)
|
|
|
(17,293 |
) |
|
|
(20,879 |
) |
|
|
(20,724 |
) |
|
|
(23,583 |
) |
|
|
(27,337 |
) |
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|
(864 |
) |
Income from operations
|
|
|
61,295 |
|
|
|
12,778 |
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|
|
31,589 |
|
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|
51,301 |
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88,482 |
|
|
|
2,797 |
|
Non-operating income and gains
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|
|
6,120 |
|
|
|
6,476 |
|
|
|
2,350 |
|
|
|
5,669 |
|
|
|
6,090 |
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|
|
192 |
|
Non-operating expenses and losses
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|
|
(3,513 |
) |
|
|
(8,467 |
) |
|
|
(6,717 |
) |
|
|
(5,791 |
) |
|
|
(2,606 |
) |
|
|
(82 |
) |
Income before income tax and
minority interest
|
|
|
63,902 |
|
|
|
10,787 |
|
|
|
27,222 |
|
|
|
51,179 |
|
|
|
91,966 |
|
|
|
2,907 |
|
Income tax (expense) benefit
|
|
|
1,167 |
|
|
|
3,740 |
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|
|
(5,637 |
) |
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|
(3,923 |
) |
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|
363 |
|
|
|
11 |
|
Income before minority interest
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65,069 |
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|
14,527 |
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21,585 |
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47,256 |
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|
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92,329 |
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|
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2,918 |
|
Minority interest in loss
(income) of subsidiaries
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37 |
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(44 |
) |
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25 |
|
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3 |
|
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(13 |
) |
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Net income
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65,106 |
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14,483 |
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21,610 |
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47,259 |
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|
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92,316 |
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|
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2,918 |
|
Basic earnings per
share(3)
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|
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2.85 |
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0.60 |
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0.91 |
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2.02 |
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|
|
3.97 |
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|
0.13 |
|
Diluted earnings per
share(3)
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|
|
2.85 |
|
|
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0.60 |
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|
|
0.91 |
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2.02 |
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|
3.97 |
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|
|
0.13 |
|
Basic earnings per ADS equivalent
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14.27 |
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|
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3.00 |
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4.53 |
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|
|
10.09 |
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|
|
19.85 |
|
|
|
0.63 |
|
Diluted earnings per ADS equivalent
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14.27 |
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3.00 |
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4.53 |
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10.09 |
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19.85 |
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0.63 |
|
Basic average shares
outstanding(3)
|
|
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22,800 |
|
|
|
23,377 |
|
|
|
23,325 |
|
|
|
23,327 |
|
|
|
23,249 |
|
|
|
23,249 |
|
Diluted average shares
outstanding(3)
|
|
|
22,800 |
|
|
|
23,377 |
|
|
|
23,325 |
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|
|
23,337 |
|
|
|
23,255 |
|
|
|
23,255 |
|
3
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|
|
|
|
|
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|
Year ended and as of December 31, |
|
|
|
|
|
2000 |
|
2001 |
|
2002 |
|
2003 |
|
2004 |
|
2004(1) |
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NT$ |
|
NT$ |
|
NT$ |
|
NT$ |
|
NT$ |
|
US$ |
|
|
(in millions, except for percentages, |
|
|
earnings per share and per ADS, and operating data) |
US GAAP
|
|
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Net sales
|
|
|
166,860 |
|
|
|
127,242 |
|
|
|
162,990 |
|
|
|
203,600 |
|
|
|
260,035 |
|
|
|
8,219 |
|
Cost of sales
|
|
|
(105,359 |
) |
|
|
(107,194 |
) |
|
|
(115,374 |
) |
|
|
(133,493 |
) |
|
|
(154,785 |
) |
|
|
(4,892 |
) |
Operating expenses
|
|
|
(44,472 |
) |
|
|
(41,712 |
) |
|
|
(20,764 |
) |
|
|
(25,744 |
) |
|
|
(32,423 |
) |
|
|
(1,025 |
) |
Income (loss) from operations
|
|
|
17,029 |
|
|
|
(21,664 |
) |
|
|
26,852 |
|
|
|
44,363 |
|
|
|
72,827 |
|
|
|
2,302 |
|
Income (loss) before income
tax and minority interest
|
|
|
20,537 |
|
|
|
(25,672 |
) |
|
|
20,210 |
|
|
|
42,441 |
|
|
|
76,838 |
|
|
|
2,429 |
|
Income tax (expense) benefit
|
|
|
1,166 |
|
|
|
3,741 |
|
|
|
(5,638 |
) |
|
|
(3,881 |
) |
|
|
(508 |
) |
|
|
(16 |
) |
Net income (loss)
|
|
|
21,740 |
|
|
|
(21,975 |
) |
|
|
14,534 |
|
|
|
38,661 |
|
|
|
76,253 |
|
|
|
2,410 |
|
Cumulative preferred dividends
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(455 |
) |
|
|
(455 |
) |
|
|
(184 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) attributable to
common shareholders
|
|
|
21,740 |
|
|
|
(22,430 |
) |
|
|
14,079 |
|
|
|
38,477 |
|
|
|
76,253 |
|
|
|
2,410 |
|
Basic earnings per
share(4)
|
|
|
1.01 |
|
|
|
(1.00 |
) |
|
|
0.62 |
|
|
|
1.67 |
|
|
|
3.29 |
|
|
|
0.10 |
|
Diluted earnings per
share(4)
|
|
|
1.01 |
|
|
|
(1.00 |
) |
|
|
0.62 |
|
|
|
1.67 |
|
|
|
3.29 |
|
|
|
0.10 |
|
Basic earnings per ADS equivalent
|
|
|
5.06 |
|
|
|
(4.98 |
) |
|
|
3.08 |
|
|
|
8.37 |
|
|
|
16.47 |
|
|
|
0.52 |
|
Diluted earnings per ADS equivalent
|
|
|
5.06 |
|
|
|
(4.98 |
) |
|
|
3.08 |
|
|
|
8.37 |
|
|
|
16.46 |
|
|
|
0.52 |
|
Basic average shares
outstanding(4)
|
|
|
21,478 |
|
|
|
22,508 |
|
|
|
22,831 |
|
|
|
22,975 |
|
|
|
23,151 |
|
|
|
23,151 |
|
Diluted average shares
outstanding(4)
|
|
|
21,478 |
|
|
|
22,508 |
|
|
|
22,831 |
|
|
|
22,985 |
|
|
|
23,157 |
|
|
|
23,157 |
|
Balance Sheet Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ROC GAAP
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Working
capital(5)
|
|
|
44,920 |
|
|
|
37,472 |
|
|
|
62,705 |
|
|
|
136,121 |
|
|
|
120,530 |
|
|
|
3,809 |
|
Long-term investments
|
|
|
10,664 |
|
|
|
11,599 |
|
|
|
10,635 |
|
|
|
10,748 |
|
|
|
38,102 |
|
|
|
1,204 |
|
Properties
|
|
|
244,748 |
|
|
|
251,288 |
|
|
|
246,498 |
|
|
|
211,854 |
|
|
|
258,911 |
|
|
|
8,183 |
|
Goodwill
|
|
|
11,531 |
|
|
|
11,438 |
|
|
|
10,159 |
|
|
|
8,721 |
|
|
|
7,116 |
|
|
|
225 |
|
Total assets
|
|
|
370,886 |
|
|
|
366,518 |
|
|
|
390,542 |
|
|
|
407,401 |
|
|
|
499,454 |
|
|
|
15,786 |
|
Long-term bank
borrowing(6)
|
|
|
23,339 |
|
|
|
22,399 |
|
|
|
11,051 |
|
|
|
8,800 |
|
|
|
1,915 |
|
|
|
61 |
|
Long-term bonds payable
|
|
|
29,000 |
|
|
|
24,000 |
|
|
|
35,000 |
|
|
|
30,000 |
|
|
|
19,500 |
|
|
|
616 |
|
Guaranty deposit-in and other
liabilities(5)(7)
|
|
|
9,046 |
|
|
|
9,479 |
|
|
|
8,710 |
|
|
|
8,876 |
|
|
|
15,079 |
|
|
|
477 |
|
Total liabilities
|
|
|
108,810 |
|
|
|
89,208 |
|
|
|
94,594 |
|
|
|
78,098 |
|
|
|
100,413 |
|
|
|
3,174 |
|
Minority interest equity
|
|
|
322 |
|
|
|
120 |
|
|
|
95 |
|
|
|
89 |
|
|
|
76 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
Capital stock
|
|
|
129,894 |
|
|
|
181,326 |
|
|
|
199,229 |
|
|
|
202,666 |
|
|
|
232,520 |
|
|
|
7,349 |
|
Cash dividend on common shares
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12,160 |
|
|
|
384 |
|
Shareholders equity
|
|
|
261,754 |
|
|
|
277,190 |
|
|
|
295,853 |
|
|
|
329,214 |
|
|
|
398,965 |
|
|
|
12,610 |
|
US GAAP
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Goodwill
|
|
|
58,348 |
|
|
|
47,464 |
|
|
|
47,476 |
|
|
|
47,287 |
|
|
|
46,757 |
|
|
|
1,478 |
|
Total assets
|
|
|
407,830 |
|
|
|
393,990 |
|
|
|
420,528 |
|
|
|
439,853 |
|
|
|
536,286 |
|
|
|
16,950 |
|
Total liabilities
|
|
|
114,884 |
|
|
|
91,419 |
|
|
|
96,747 |
|
|
|
81,977 |
|
|
|
108,416 |
|
|
|
3,427 |
|
Capital Stock
|
|
|
116,894 |
|
|
|
168,326 |
|
|
|
186,229 |
|
|
|
202,666 |
|
|
|
232,520 |
|
|
|
7,349 |
|
Mandatory redeemable preferred stock
|
|
|
13,000 |
|
|
|
13,000 |
|
|
|
13,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shareholders equity
|
|
|
279,946 |
|
|
|
289,450 |
|
|
|
310,623 |
|
|
|
357,173 |
|
|
|
427,125 |
|
|
|
13,500 |
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year ended and as of December 31, |
|
|
|
|
|
2000 |
|
2001 |
|
2002 |
|
2003 |
|
2004 |
|
2004(1) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NT$ |
|
NT$ |
|
NT$ |
|
NT$ |
|
NT$ |
|
US$ |
|
|
(in millions, except for percentages, |
|
|
earnings per share and per ADS, and operating data) |
Other Financial Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ROC GAAP
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross margin
|
|
|
47 |
% |
|
|
27 |
% |
|
|
32 |
% |
|
|
37 |
% |
|
|
45 |
% |
|
|
45 |
% |
Operating margin
|
|
|
37 |
% |
|
|
10 |
% |
|
|
19 |
% |
|
|
25 |
% |
|
|
34 |
% |
|
|
34 |
% |
Net margin
|
|
|
39 |
% |
|
|
12 |
% |
|
|
13 |
% |
|
|
23 |
% |
|
|
36 |
% |
|
|
36 |
% |
Capital expenditures
|
|
|
103,762 |
|
|
|
70,201 |
|
|
|
55,236 |
|
|
|
37,871 |
|
|
|
81,095 |
|
|
|
2,563 |
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
41,446 |
|
|
|
55,323 |
|
|
|
65,001 |
|
|
|
69,161 |
|
|
|
69,819 |
|
|
|
2,207 |
|
Cash provided by operating
activities
|
|
|
94,786 |
|
|
|
75,818 |
|
|
|
98,507 |
|
|
|
116,037 |
|
|
|
153,151 |
|
|
|
4,840 |
|
Cash used in investing
activities(8)
|
|
|
(120,949 |
) |
|
|
(77,232 |
) |
|
|
(62,190 |
) |
|
|
(53,706 |
) |
|
|
(148,013 |
) |
|
|
(4,678 |
) |
Cash provided by (used in)
financing
activities(8)
|
|
|
35,366 |
|
|
|
897 |
|
|
|
(6,346 |
) |
|
|
(27,070 |
) |
|
|
(32,155 |
) |
|
|
(1,016 |
) |
Net cash flow
|
|
|
9,323 |
|
|
|
(1,284 |
) |
|
|
30,234 |
|
|
|
35,199 |
|
|
|
(28,687 |
) |
|
|
(907 |
) |
Operating Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wafers
sold(9)
|
|
|
3,408 |
|
|
|
2,159 |
|
|
|
2,675 |
|
|
|
3,700 |
|
|
|
5,008 |
|
|
|
5,008 |
|
Average utilization
rate(10)
|
|
|
106 |
% |
|
|
51 |
% |
|
|
73 |
% |
|
|
89 |
% |
|
|
100 |
% |
|
|
100 |
% |
|
|
(1) |
Translations from NT dollars to U.S. dollars were made at the
noon buying rate as of June 30, 2005, which was NT$31.64 to
US$1.00 on that date, and are presented for your convenience
only. |
|
(2) |
Amounts in 2000 reflect the reclassification of
NT$2,072 million from cost of sales to research and
development. |
|
(3) |
Retroactively adjusted for all subsequent stock dividends and
employee stock bonuses paid prior to the date hereof. |
|
(4) |
Retroactively adjusted for all subsequent stock dividends paid
prior to the date hereof. |
|
(5) |
Amounts in 2003 reflect the reclassification of
NT$727 million from current liabilities to long-term
liabilities. |
|
(6) |
Excludes bonds payable. |
|
(7) |
Consists of other long term payables and total other liabilities. |
|
(8) |
Amounts in 2003 reflect the reclassification of
NT$300 million from cash used in investing activities to
cash used in financing activities. |
|
(9) |
In thousands. |
|
|
(10) |
Commencing in 2003, utilization rates exclude engineering wafers
and all capacity and production at Vanguard. |
5
Recent Developments
Change of Chief Executive Officer and Other Key
Management. Effective July 1, 2005, Mr. Rick
Tsai replaced Mr. Morris Chang as our Chief Executive
Officer. Mr. Rick Tsai continues to serve also as a
director and President, but ceased to serve as our Chief
Operating Officer. Mr. Morris Chang continues to serve as
our Chairman. Moreover, also effective July 1, 2005,
Mr. F.C. Tseng ceased to serve as our Deputy Chief
Executive Officer and assumed the position as our Vice Chairman.
Audit Committee Financial Expert. Due to the
resignation of Mr. Robbert Brakel, our previous audit
committee financial expert, as a member of our audit committee,
effective since June 1, 2005, our audit committee consists
of three members, each of which is an independent director. In
addition, Mr. Michel Besseau has been appointed to serve as
an outside financial expert consultant to the audit committee
effective June 1, 2005.
Stock Dividend. A stock dividend of approximately
4.99971 common shares per 100 common shares in respect of net
income in the year ended December 31, 2004 was paid on
July 7, 2005 to holders of common shares and on
July 12, 2005 to holders of ADSs. Since the record date for
such stock dividend was June 19, 2005 for common shares and
June 15, 2005 for ADSs, the numbers of common shares and
ADSs owned, the numbers of common shares and ADSs outstanding
and the related percentage amounts as of June 30, 2005
include such stock dividend. Accordingly, as of June 30,
2005, a total of 24,726,128,803 common shares was outstanding,
3,508,832,129 of which were represented by ADSs.
Unconsolidated Financial Information as of and for the Six
Months Ended June 30, 2004 and 2005
As a result of our common shares being publicly issued, we are
required on an on-going basis to file with the ROC Financial
Supervisory Commission and the Taiwan Stock Exchange unaudited
unconsolidated financial statements as of and for the
year-to-date period ending on each of March 31 and
September 30. We also regularly release unconsolidated
financial statements as of and for the six months ended
June 30 and as of and for the year ended December 31,
prepared in accordance with ROC GAAP. ROC GAAP differ in some
material respects from US GAAP. Please see note 27 to our
audited consolidated financial statements included in our
Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2004, which
is incorporated by reference in this prospectus, for a
discussion of the material differences between ROC GAAP and US
GAAP for the periods covered by these financial statements. In
addition, by their nature, unconsolidated financial statements
are not comparable in material respects with consolidated
financial statements, and should not be compared to the
consolidated financial statements for prior periods. Because we
have released certain unconsolidated financial information as of
and for the six months ended June 30, 2005, we are required
under applicable rules of the SEC to include this unconsolidated
financial information in this prospectus.
The unconsolidated financial information summarized below does
not consolidate the financial position and operations of any of
our subsidiaries. Instead, on an unconsolidated basis, we
account for our investments in our subsidiaries, including TSMC
International Investment Ltd. and TSMC Development, Inc., our
holding companies for WaferTech, by using equity method
accounting, which differs materially from consolidation. Other
differences resulting from non-consolidation include:
|
|
|
|
|
the level of our bank debt, which is zero on an unconsolidated
level because all of our bank debt is borrowed by one or more of
our subsidiaries; |
|
|
|
intercompany sales and expenses between Taiwan Semiconductor and
its subsidiaries are not eliminated; and |
|
|
|
individual assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses of
unconsolidated subsidiaries are not included in the
unconsolidated financial statements. |
Because we account for subsidiaries in our unconsolidated
accounts based on the equity method, our unconsolidated net
assets and net income would generally be the same as in our
consolidated accounts. Other amounts in other line items may be
materially different in our
6
unconsolidated financial statements from our consolidated
financial statements. We can give no assurance as to what the
relative level of unconsolidated and consolidated assets, net
sales, net income or any other financial statement line item
will be for the year ending December 31, 2005. In addition,
unconsolidated results of operations for the six months ended
June 30, 2005 may not be indicative of our unconsolidated
or consolidated results of operations for the full year ending
December 31, 2005.
Summary Unconsolidated Financial Information
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Six months ended and as of |
|
|
June 30, |
|
|
|
|
|
2004 |
|
2005 |
|
2005(1) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NT$ |
|
NT$ |
|
US$ |
|
|
(in millions, except for |
|
|
percentages, earnings per share |
|
|
and per ADS, and operating data) |
Income Statement Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ROC GAAP
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net sales
|
|
|
122,382 |
|
|
|
114,169 |
|
|
|
3,608 |
|
Cost of sales
|
|
|
(71,514 |
) |
|
|
(69,315 |
) |
|
|
(2,191 |
) |
Gross profit
|
|
|
50,868 |
|
|
|
44,854 |
|
|
|
1,417 |
|
Operating expenses
|
|
|
(11,194 |
) |
|
|
(10,994 |
) |
|
|
(347 |
) |
Income from operations
|
|
|
39,674 |
|
|
|
33,860 |
|
|
|
1,070 |
|
Non-operating income
|
|
|
3,075 |
|
|
|
2,853 |
|
|
|
90 |
|
Non-operating expenses
|
|
|
(1,193 |
) |
|
|
(2,715 |
) |
|
|
(86 |
) |
Income before income taxes
|
|
|
41,556 |
|
|
|
33,998 |
|
|
|
1,074 |
|
Income tax benefit
|
|
|
643 |
|
|
|
1,189 |
|
|
|
38 |
|
Net income
|
|
|
42,199 |
|
|
|
35,187 |
|
|
|
1,112 |
|
Basic earnings per share
|
|
|
1.70 |
|
|
|
1.43 |
|
|
|
0.05 |
|
Diluted earnings per share
|
|
|
1.70 |
|
|
|
1.43 |
|
|
|
0.05 |
|
Basic earnings per ADS equivalent
|
|
|
8.52 |
|
|
|
7.13 |
|
|
|
0.23 |
|
Diluted earnings per ADS equivalent
|
|
|
8.52 |
|
|
|
7.13 |
|
|
|
0.23 |
|
Average shares outstanding
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
|
24,761 |
|
|
|
24,677 |
|
|
|
24,677 |
|
|
Diluted
|
|
|
24,770 |
|
|
|
24,687 |
|
|
|
24,687 |
|
Balance Sheet Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ROC GAAP
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Working capital
|
|
|
121,404 |
|
|
|
95,103 |
|
|
|
3,006 |
|
Long-term investments
|
|
|
52,581 |
|
|
|
76,435 |
|
|
|
2,416 |
|
Properties
|
|
|
200,282 |
|
|
|
225,063 |
|
|
|
7,113 |
|
Total assets
|
|
|
439,827 |
|
|
|
499,432 |
|
|
|
15,785 |
|
Long-term bank
borrowing(2)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long-term bonds payable
|
|
|
30,000 |
|
|
|
19,500 |
|
|
|
616 |
|
Guaranty deposit-in and other
long-term
liabilities(3)
|
|
|
9,706 |
|
|
|
9,008 |
|
|
|
285 |
|
Total liabilities
|
|
|
88,753 |
|
|
|
115,232 |
|
|
|
3,642 |
|
Shareholders equity
|
|
|
351,074 |
|
|
|
384,200 |
|
|
|
12,143 |
|
7
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Six months ended and as of |
|
|
June 30, |
|
|
|
|
|
2004 |
|
2005 |
|
2005(1) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NT$ |
|
NT$ |
|
US$ |
|
|
(in millions, except for |
|
|
percentages, earnings per share |
|
|
and per ADS, and operating data) |
Other Financial Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ROC GAAP
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross margin
|
|
|
41.6 |
% |
|
|
39.3 |
% |
|
|
39.3 |
% |
Operating margin
|
|
|
32.4 |
% |
|
|
29.7 |
% |
|
|
29.7 |
% |
Net margin
|
|
|
34.5 |
% |
|
|
30.8 |
% |
|
|
30.8 |
% |
Capital expenditures
|
|
|
39,179 |
|
|
|
51,194 |
|
|
|
1,618 |
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
31,086 |
|
|
|
34,330 |
|
|
|
1,085 |
|
Cash provided by operating
activities
|
|
|
68,787 |
|
|
|
63,676 |
|
|
|
2,013 |
|
Cash used in investing activities
|
|
|
(80,761 |
) |
|
|
(51,601 |
) |
|
|
(1,631 |
) |
Cash provided by (used in)
financing activities
|
|
|
(7,536 |
) |
|
|
991 |
|
|
|
31 |
|
Net cash flow
|
|
|
(19,510 |
) |
|
|
13,066 |
|
|
|
413 |
|
Operating Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wafers
sold(4)
|
|
|
2,454 |
|
|
|
2,387 |
|
|
|
2,387 |
|
Average utilization rate
|
|
|
105.6 |
% |
|
|
81.7 |
% |
|
|
81.7 |
% |
|
|
(1) |
Translations from NT dollars to U.S. dollars were made at the
noon buying rate as of June 30, 2005, which was NT$31.64 to
US$1.00 on that date, and are presented for your convenience
only. |
|
(2) |
Excludes bonds payable. On an unconsolidated basis, we do not
have any bank loans. |
|
(3) |
Consists of other long-term payables and total other liabilities. |
|
(4) |
In thousands. |
Six Months Ended June 30, 2005 Compared to Six Months
Ended June 30, 2004
Net Sales and Gross Margin
Our unconsolidated net sales for the first half of 2005
decreased by NT$8,213 million, or 6.7%, from the first half of
2004. This decrease was primarily due to a decrease in customer
demand compared with the first half of 2004, which resulted in a
2.7% decrease in wafers sold for the first half of 2005, from
2,454 thousand in the first half of 2004 to 2,387 thousand in
the first half of 2005. The decrease in sales volume was
partially offset by a 1.5% increase in the average selling price
of our wafers in US dollar terms for the first half of 2005. The
increase in the average selling price of our wafers in US dollar
terms was mainly the result of a more favorable product mix as
we saw a shift in product mix toward higher priced products
using more advanced technology, partially offset by a decline in
pure pricing. Our net sales for the first half of 2005 compared
with the first half of 2004 were also negatively impacted by a
stronger NT dollar against the US dollar, as the majority of our
sales are denominated in US dollars. We currently expect
our wafer shipments to increase by a mid-teen percentage point
and the average selling price to decline by a low- to mid-single
digit percentage point in the third quarter of 2005 compared
with the second quarter of 2005.
Our unconsolidated gross margin fluctuates, depending on the
level of utilization of manufacturing capacity, wafer shipments
and product mix, among other factors. Our gross margin decreased
to 39.3% of net sales for the first half of 2005 from 41.6% of
net sales for the first half of 2004. This decrease was mainly
attributable to lower capacity utilization, as we saw our
capacity utilization decrease to 82% in the first half of 2005
from 106% in the first half of 2004. Depreciation and
amortization expenses related to cost of sales increased from
NT$28,760 million in the first half of 2004 to
NT$31,973 million (US$1,011 million) in the first half
of 2005. This increase in depreciation and amortization expenses
in the first half of 2005 reflects our capital investment in
order to ramp up Fab 12 (Phase I and II) and
Fab 14 (Phase I). The unfavorable impact of lower
8
wafer shipment, pure price declines and higher fixed
manufacturing costs was partially offset by improvement in the
overall product mix for the first half of 2005.
Operating Expenses
Our unconsolidated operating expenses decreased by
NT$200 million in the first half of 2005, or 1.8%, from the
first half of 2004.
Research and Development Expenses
Unconsolidated research and development expenses increased by
NT$807 million, or 13.9%, to NT$6,632 million
(US$210 million) in the first half of 2005 from
NT$5,825 million in the first half of 2004. This increase
in research and development expenses was primarily due to the
increase in expenses relating to development activities in
65-nanometer technologies in the first half of 2005. We
currently anticipate that our annual research and development
expenses will remain at a similar absolute level in 2005 as in
2004.
Marketing, General and Administrative Expenses
Unconsolidated marketing, general and administrative expenses
decreased by NT$1,007 million, or 18.8%, to
NT$4,362 million (US$138 million) in the first half of
2005 from NT$5,369 million in the first half of 2004. The
decrease in marketing, general and administrative expenses was
mainly due to the decrease in expenses in connection with the
opening of Fab 14 (Phase I).
Non-Operating Income and Expenses
Unconsolidated non-operating income and gains decreased by
NT$222 million in the first half of 2005, or 7.2%, from the
first half of 2004. This decrease primarily resulted from a
NT$2,054 million decrease in net investment income
recognized by the equity method as a result of lower levels of
profit from investees, partially offset by a
NT$1,067 million increase in interest income reflecting the
addition of a significant amount of interest bearing instruments
to our investment portfolio and the additional hedging
activities using cross currency swap (CSS)
agreements, and a NT$711 million settlement income as a
result of the receipt of payments from the settlement of the
lawsuit against Semiconductor Manufacturing International
(Shanghai) Corporation and SMIC Americas.
Unconsolidated non-operating expenses and losses increased by
NT$1,522 million in the first half of 2005, or 127.6%, from
the first half of 2004. This increase was mainly attributable to
a NT$786 million increase in net investment loss recognized
by the equity method as a result of lower levels of performance
of investees and a NT$784 million increase in interest
expenses as a result of the aforementioned CCS hedging
activities.
Income Tax Benefit
Unconsolidated income tax benefit increased by
NT$547 million in the first half of 2005, or 85%, from the
first half of 2004. This increase mainly resulted from an
increase in tax credits as a result of increased capital
expenditures in the first half of 2005 compared with the first
half of 2004.
Consolidated Financial Information as of and for the Six
Months Ended June 30, 2005
Beginning from 2005, in addition to annual consolidated
financial statements as of and for the year ended
December 31, we are also required under applicable rules
issued by the ROC Financial Supervisory Commission to file
interim consolidated financial statements as of and for the six
months ended June 30, prepared in accordance with ROC GAAP,
which differ in some material respects from US GAAP. Please
see note 27 to our audited consolidated financial
statements included in our Form 20-F for the year ended
December 31, 2004, which is incorporated by reference in
this prospectus for a discussion of the material differences
between ROC GAAP and US GAAP for the periods covered by these
financial statements. Because this requirement of the ROC
Financial Supervisory Commission has come into effect for the
first time in 2005, we have not prepared comparative
consolidated financial statements as of and for the six months
ended June 30, 2004.
9
In addition, consolidated results of operations for the six
months ended June 30, 2005 may not be indicative of our
unconsolidated or consolidated results of operations for the
full year ending December 31, 2005.
Summary Consolidated Financial Information
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Six months ended |
|
|
and as of |
|
|
June 30, |
|
|
|
|
|
2005 |
|
2005(1) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NT$ |
|
US$ |
|
|
(in millions, except |
|
|
for percentages, |
|
|
earnings per share and |
|
|
per ADS, and operating |
|
|
data) |
Income Statement Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ROC GAAP
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net sales
|
|
|
116,836 |
|
|
|
3,692 |
|
Cost of sales
|
|
|
(70,904 |
) |
|
|
(2,241 |
) |
Gross profit
|
|
|
45,932 |
|
|
|
1,451 |
|
Operating expenses
|
|
|
(13,550 |
) |
|
|
(428 |
) |
Income from operations
|
|
|
32,382 |
|
|
|
1,023 |
|
Non-operating income
|
|
|
3,921 |
|
|
|
124 |
|
Non-operating expenses
|
|
|
(2,096 |
) |
|
|
(66 |
) |
Income before income taxes
|
|
|
34,207 |
|
|
|
1,081 |
|
Income tax benefit
|
|
|
1,004 |
|
|
|
32 |
|
Minority interest in income of
subsidiaries
|
|
|
(24 |
) |
|
|
(1 |
) |
Net income
|
|
|
35,187 |
|
|
|
1,112 |
|
Basic earnings per share
|
|
|
1.43 |
|
|
|
0.05 |
|
Diluted earnings per share
|
|
|
1.43 |
|
|
|
0.05 |
|
Basic earnings per ADS equivalent
|
|
|
7.13 |
|
|
|
0.23 |
|
Diluted earnings per ADS equivalent
|
|
|
7.13 |
|
|
|
0.23 |
|
Average shares outstanding
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
|
24,677 |
|
|
|
24,677 |
|
Diluted
|
|
|
24,687 |
|
|
|
24,687 |
|
10
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Six months ended |
|
|
and as of |
|
|
June 30, |
|
|
|
|
|
2005 |
|
2005(1) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NT$ |
|
US$ |
|
|
(in millions, except |
|
|
for percentages, |
|
|
earnings per share and |
|
|
per ADS, and operating |
|
|
data) |
Balance Sheet Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ROC GAAP
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Working capital
|
|
|
103,895 |
|
|
|
3,284 |
|
Long-term investments
|
|
|
39,251 |
|
|
|
1,241 |
|
Properties
|
|
|
257,006 |
|
|
|
8,123 |
|
Total assets
|
|
|
511,421 |
|
|
|
16,164 |
|
Long-term bank
borrowing(2)
|
|
|
958 |
|
|
|
30 |
|
Long-term bonds payable
|
|
|
19,500 |
|
|
|
616 |
|
Guaranty deposit-in and other
long-term
liabilities(3)
|
|
|
15,961 |
|
|
|
504 |
|
Total liabilities
|
|
|
126,480 |
|
|
|
3,997 |
|
Shareholders equity
|
|
|
384,941 |
|
|
|
12,166 |
|
Other Financial Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ROC GAAP
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross margin
|
|
|
39.3 |
% |
|
|
39.3 |
% |
Operating margin
|
|
|
27.7 |
% |
|
|
27.7 |
% |
Net margin
|
|
|
30.1 |
% |
|
|
30.1 |
% |
Capital expenditures
|
|
|
55,662 |
|
|
|
1,759 |
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
37,980 |
|
|
|
1,200 |
|
Cash provided by operating
activities
|
|
|
67,013 |
|
|
|
2,118 |
|
Cash used in investing activities
|
|
|
(53,135 |
) |
|
|
(1,679 |
) |
Cash provided by financing
activities
|
|
|
43 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
Net cash flow
|
|
|
13,921 |
|
|
|
440 |
|
Operating Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wafers
sold(4)
|
|
|
2,387 |
|
|
|
2,387 |
|
Average utilization rate
|
|
|
81.7 |
% |
|
|
81.7 |
% |
|
|
(1) |
Translations from NT dollars to U.S. dollars were made at the
noon buying rate as of June 30, 2005, which was NT$31.64 to
US$1.00 on that date, and are presented for your convenience
only. |
|
(2) |
Excludes bonds payable. On an unconsolidated basis, we do not
have any bank loans. |
|
(3) |
Consists of other long-term payables and total other liabilities. |
|
(4) |
In thousands. |
11
RISK FACTORS
We wish to caution readers that the following important
factors, and those important factors described in other reports
submitted to, or filed with, the Securities and Exchange
Commission, among other factors, could affect our actual results
and could cause our actual results to differ materially from
those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by us or
on our behalf. In particular, as we are a non-U.S. company,
there are risks associated with investing in our ADSs that are
not typical for investments in the shares of U.S. companies.
Prior to making an investment decision, you should carefully
consider all of the information contained in this prospectus,
including the following risk factors.
Risks Relating to Our Business
Since we are dependent on the highly cyclical
semiconductor and microelectronics industries, which have
experienced significant and sometimes prolonged downturns, our
revenues, earnings and margins may fluctuate
significantly.
Our semiconductor foundry business is affected by market
conditions in the highly cyclical semiconductor and
microelectronics industries. Most of our customers operate in
these industries. Variations in order levels from our customers
result in volatility in our revenues and earnings. From time to
time, the semiconductor and microelectronics industries have
experienced significant, and sometimes prolonged, downturns.
Because our business is, and will continue to be, dependent on
the requirements of semiconductor and microelectronics companies
for our services, downturns in the semiconductor and
microelectronics industries lead to reduced demand for our
services. If we cannot take appropriate actions such as reducing
our costs to sufficiently offset declines in demand, our
revenues and earnings will suffer during downturns.
Overcapacity in the semiconductor industry may reduce our
revenues, earnings and margins.
The prices we can charge our customers for our services are
significantly dependent on the overall worldwide supply of
integrated circuits and semiconductor products, which is outside
of our control. In a period of overcapacity, we may have to
lower the prices we charge our customers for our services and/or
we may have to operate at significantly less than full capacity.
Such actions could reduce our margin and weaken our financial
condition and results of operations. For example, due to the
decreased annualized demand for semiconductors in 2001 and 2002,
our average capacity utilization rate decreased to 51% during
2001 and 73% during 2002, as compared with 106% during 2000.
Decreases in demand and average selling prices for
products that contain semiconductors may adversely affect demand
for our products and may result in a decrease in our revenues
and earnings.
A vast majority of our sales revenue is derived from customers
who use our products in personal computers, communications
devices and consumer electronics. Any significant decrease in
the demand for these products may decrease the demand for our
products and adversely affect our revenues. In addition, the
historical and continuing trend of declining average selling
prices of end use applications places pressure on the prices of
the components that go into these end use applications. If the
average selling prices of end use applications continue to
decrease, the pricing pressure on components produced by us may
lead to a reduction of our revenue.
If we are unable to compete effectively in the highly
competitive foundry segment of the semiconductor industry, we
may lose customers and our profit margin and earnings may
decrease.
The markets for our foundry services are highly competitive both
in Taiwan and internationally. We compete with other dedicated
foundry service providers, as well as integrated device
manufacturers. Some of these companies may have access to more
advanced technologies and greater financial and other resources
than us. Increases in competition may cause us to lose customers
or to decrease our average selling prices.
12
If we are unable to remain a technological leader in the
semiconductor industry, we may become less competitive.
The semiconductor industry and the technologies used in it are
constantly changing. If we do not anticipate these changes in
technologies and rapidly develop new and innovative
technologies, we may not be able to provide advanced foundry
services on competitive terms. If we fail to achieve advances in
technology or processes, or to obtain access to advanced
technologies or processes developed by others, we may become
less competitive.
If we are unable to manage our expansion and the
modification of our production facilities effectively, our
growth prospects may be limited.
We have recently been ramping up production at the Fab 12 (Phase
II and III) facility in the Hsinchu Science Park and the Fab 14
(Phase I) facility in the Southern Taiwan Science Park. We have
also recently completed the exterior construction of our Fab 14
(Phase II) facility in the Southern Taiwan Science Park.
Although we have studied the potential effects of vibration from
the high speed railway currently planned to pass through the
Southern Taiwan Science Park and believe that the vibrations
will not affect our yield rate for production in the Southern
Taiwan Science Park, we can give no assurances that our yield
will not be negatively affected after the high-speed railway has
commenced operation.
Expansion and modification of our production facilities will
increase our costs. We will need to purchase additional
equipment, train personnel to operate the new equipment or hire
additional personnel. If we do not increase our net sales
accordingly in order to offset these higher costs, our financial
performance may be adversely affected.
We may not be able to implement our planned growth or
development if we are unable to accurately forecast and
sufficiently meet our future capital requirements.
Capital requirements are difficult to plan in the highly
cyclical and rapidly changing semiconductor industry. We will
continue to need capital to fund our operations and growth. Our
ability to obtain external financing in the future is subject to
a variety of uncertainties, including:
|
|
|
|
|
our future financial condition, results of operations and cash
flows; |
|
|
|
general market conditions for financing activities by
semiconductor companies; and |
|
|
|
economic, political and other conditions in Taiwan and elsewhere. |
Sufficient external financing may not be available to us on a
timely basis, on acceptable terms, or at all. As a result, we
may be forced to curtail our expansion and modification plans or
delay the deployment of our services.
We are dependent upon hiring and retaining qualified
management and skilled technical and service personnel and our
business could suffer if we are unable to retain and recruit
such personnel.
We depend on the continued services of our executive officers
and skilled technical and other personnel. Our business could
suffer if we lose the services of some of these personnel and we
cannot adequately replace them. Moreover, we may be required to
increase the number of employees in connection with any
expansion, and there is intense competition for the services of
these personnel.
We may be unable to obtain in a timely manner and at a
reasonable cost the equipment necessary for us to remain
competitive.
Our operations and expansion plans depend on our ability to
obtain a significant amount of equipment from a limited number
of suppliers and in a market that is characterized, from time to
time, by intense demand, limited supply and long delivery
cycles. During times of significant demand for this type of
equipment, lead times for delivery can be as long as four to ten
months or more. Shortages of equipment could result in an
increase in their prices and longer delivery times. If we are
unable to obtain equipment in a timely manner and at a
reasonable cost, we may be unable to fulfill our customers
orders, which could negatively impact our financial condition
and results of operations.
13
Our revenue and profitability may decline if we are unable
to obtain adequate supplies of raw materials in a timely manner
and at reasonable prices.
Our production operations require that we obtain adequate
supplies of raw materials, such as silicon wafers, gases and
chemicals, and photoresistors, on a timely basis. Shortages in
the supply of some materials experienced by the semiconductor
industry have in the past resulted in occasional price
adjustments and delivery delays. Our revenue and earnings could
decline if we are unable to obtain adequate supplies of high
quality raw materials in a timely manner or if there are
significant increases in the costs of raw materials that we
cannot pass on to our customers.
If the Ministry of Economic Affairs uses a substantial
portion of our production capacity, we will not be able to
service our other customers.
According to our agreement with the Industrial Technology
Research Institute of Taiwan, or ITRI, the Ministry of Economic
Affairs of the ROC, or an entity designated by the Ministry of
Economic Affairs, has an option to purchase up to 35% of our
capacity. Although the Ministry of Economic Affairs has never
exercised this option, if this option is exercised to any
significant degree during tight market conditions, we may not be
able to provide services to all of our other customers unless we
are able to increase our capacity accordingly or outsource such
increased demand and in a timely manner.
Any inability to obtain, preserve and defend our
intellectual property rights could harm our competitive
position.
Our ability to compete successfully and to achieve future growth
will depend, in part, on our ability to protect our proprietary
technologies and to secure on commercially reasonable terms
certain technologies that we do not already own or license. In
this regard, we are the beneficiary of both technology licenses
and a significant number of patent cross-license agreements that
provide us with technologies or patent protection, as the case
may be, that may be material to our business.
We cannot ensure that we will be able to develop independently,
or secure from any third party, all of the technologies required
for upgrading our production capabilities.
Litigation may also be necessary to enforce or defend our
manufacturing processes, patents or other intellectual property
rights. We have no means of knowing what patent applications
have been filed in Taiwan, the United States or other
jurisdictions until they are published or granted. Because of
the complexity of the technologies used and the multitude of
patents, copyrights and other overlapping intellectual property
rights, it is often difficult for semiconductor companies to
determine infringement. Therefore, the semiconductor industry is
characterized by frequent litigation regarding patent, trade
secret and other intellectual property rights. We have received,
from time-to-time, communications from third parties asserting
that our technologies, manufacturing processes, the design of
the integrated circuits made by us or the use by our customers
of semiconductors made by us may infringe their patents or other
intellectual property rights. And, because of the nature of the
industry, we may continue to receive such communications in the
future. In some instances, these disputes have resulted in
litigation. In the event any third party were to assert
infringement claims against us or our customers, we may have to
consider alternatives including, but not limited to:
|
|
|
|
|
negotiating cross-license agreements using the strength of our
patent portfolio to try to offset any financial costs; |
|
|
|
seeking to acquire licenses to the allegedly infringed patents,
which may not be available on commercially reasonable terms, if
at all; |
|
|
|
discontinuing using certain process technologies, which could
cause us to stop manufacturing certain semiconductor products or
applying particular technologies if we were unable to design
around the allegedly infringed patents; or |
|
|
|
fighting the matter in court and paying substantial monetary
judgments in the event we were to lose. |
Any one or several of these and other developments could place
substantial financial and administrative burdens on us and
hinder our business. If we fail to obtain certain licenses and if
14
litigation relating to alleged patent infringement or other
intellectual property matters occur, it could prevent us from
manufacturing particular products or applying particular
technologies, which could reduce our opportunities to generate
revenues. See Item 8. Financial
Information Legal Proceedings included in our
Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2004, which
is incorporated by reference in this prospectus, for a further
discussion.
We are subject to the risk of loss due to explosion and
fire because some of the materials we use in our manufacturing
processes are highly combustible.
We use highly combustible materials such as silane and hydrogen
in our manufacturing processes and are therefore subject to the
risk of loss arising from explosion and fire which cannot be
completely eliminated. Although we maintain comprehensive fire
and casualty insurance up to policy limits, including insurance
for loss of property and loss of profit resulting from business
interruption, our insurance coverage may not be sufficient to
cover all of our potential losses. If any of our fabs were to be
damaged or cease operations as a result of an explosion and
fire, it could reduce our manufacturing capacity and may cause
us to lose important customers.
Any impairment charges required under US GAAP may have a
material adverse effect on our net income on a US GAAP
reconciled basis.
Under US GAAP, we are required to evaluate our equipment and
other long-lived assets for impairment whenever there is an
indication of impairment. If certain criteria are met, we are
required to record an impairment charge. Please see
note 27.c. to our consolidated financial statements
included in our Form 20-F for the year ended
December 31, 2004, which is incorporated by reference in
this prospectus, for a discussion of the criteria which, if met,
may require impairment charges.
We currently are not able to estimate the extent or timing of
any impairment charge for future years. Any impairment charge
required under US GAAP may have a material adverse effect on our
net income for subsequent periods on a US GAAP reconciled basis.
The determination of an impairment charge at any given time is
based significantly on our expected results of operations over a
number of years subsequent to that time. As a result, an
impairment charge is more likely to occur during a period when
our operating results are otherwise already depressed. See
Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and
Prospects Critical Accounting Policies
included in our Form 20-F for the year ended
December 31, 2004, which is incorporated by reference in
this prospectus, for a discussion of our estimates made for
determining an impairment charge.
Any significant decrease in sales to one or more of our
major customers may decrease our net sales and net
income.
In 2003 and 2004, our ten largest customers have accounted for
54% and 49%, respectively, of our net sales. In particular, our
largest customer in 2003, NVIDIA Corporation, accounted for
approximately 15% of our net sales in 2003. In 2004, no customer
accounted for 10% or more of our net sales, and our five largest
customers accounted for 32% of our net sales. The fact that a
relatively limited number of customers constitute a significant
portion of our revenue may remain as a business characteristic
inherent to our extensive presence in the dedicated foundry
segment of the semiconductor market. Also, we are the sole
foundry service provider for certain of our customers. We cannot
assure you that there will be no loss or cancellation of
business from any of our major customers in the future. Loss or
cancellation of business from our most significant customers,
should there be any, could significantly reduce our net sales
and net income.
Risks Relating to the ROC
Relations between the Republic of China and the
Peoples Republic of China (PRC) could
negatively affect our business and financial status and
therefore the market value of your investment.
Taiwan has a unique international political status. The PRC does
not recognize the sovereignty of the ROC. Although significant
economic and cultural relations have been established during
recent years between Taiwan and the PRC, relations have often
been strained. The government of the PRC
15
has threatened to use military force to gain control over Taiwan
in limited circumstances. In particular, on March 14, 2005,
the PRC adopted an anti-secession law which, among other things,
includes such a threat. Past developments in relations between
the ROC and the PRC have on occasion depressed the market prices
of the securities of Taiwanese companies, including our own.
Our principal executive officers and our principal production
facilities are located in Taiwan and a substantial majority of
our net revenues is derived from our operations in Taiwan.
Therefore, factors affecting military, political or economic
conditions in Taiwan could have a material adverse effect on our
results of operations, as well as the market price and the
liquidity of our ADSs and common shares.
Our production may be interrupted if we do not have access
to sufficient amounts of fresh water or a sufficient supply of
electricity.
The semiconductor manufacturing process uses extensive amounts
of fresh water and electricity. Due to the growth in
semiconductor manufacturing capacity in Hsinchu Science Park and
Southern Taiwan Science Park, the requirements for fresh water
and power in these industrial parks have grown substantially.
Taiwan experiences droughts from time to time, and in 2002 and
2003, Taiwan experienced serious droughts. In addition, we have
sometimes suffered power outages caused by our major electricity
supplier, the Taiwan Power Company, or other power consumers on
the same power supply line, which have caused interruptions in
our production schedule. For example, on April 10, 2004, a power
outage caused by a circuit trip of a high voltage underground
cable line of Taiwan Power Company affected our fabs in Hsinchu
Science Park. Material power outages or water insufficiencies
could disrupt the normal operation of our business and have an
adverse effect on our financial condition and results of
operations.
We are vulnerable to natural disasters which could
severely disrupt the normal operation of our business and
adversely affect our earnings.
Most of our production facilities, as well as many of our
suppliers and customers and upstream providers of complementary
semiconductor manufacturing services, are located in Taiwan.
Taiwan is susceptible to earthquakes and typhoons. On
September 21, 1999, Taiwan experienced a severe earthquake
that caused significant property damage and loss of life,
particularly in the central part of Taiwan. This earthquake
caused damage to production facilities and adversely affected
the operations of many companies in the semiconductor and other
industries, including our own. Although we maintain
comprehensive natural perils insurance up to policy limits,
including insurance for loss of property and loss of profit
resulting from business interruption, our insurance coverage may
not be sufficient to cover all of our potential losses.
A major earthquake or natural disaster in Taiwan could
severely disrupt the normal operation of our business and have a
material adverse effect on our financial condition and results
of operations.
Fluctuations in exchange rates could result in foreign
exchange losses.
Over half of our capital expenditures and manufacturing costs
are denominated in currencies other than NT dollars, primarily
U.S. dollars, Japanese yen and Euros. A larger portion of
our sales are denominated in U.S. dollars and currencies
other than NT dollars. Therefore, any significant
fluctuation to our disadvantage in such exchange rate may have
an adverse effect on our financial condition. In addition,
fluctuations in the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar
and the NT dollar will affect the U.S. dollar value of our
common shares and the market price of the ADSs and of any cash
dividends paid in NT dollars on our common shares
represented by ADSs.
Any future outbreak of new or unusual diseases may
materially affect our operations and business.
Any outbreak of a contagious disease such as severe acute
respiratory syndrome for which there is no known cure or
vaccine, may potentially result in a quarantine of infected
employees and related persons, and may affect the operations at
one or more of our facilities. We cannot predict at this time
the impact any future outbreak could have on our financial
condition and results of operations. In particular, we cannot
assure you that our business or prospects would not be
materially and adversely affected.
16
Risks Relating to ownership of ADSs
Your voting rights as a holder of ADSs will be
limited.
Holders of American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) evidencing ADSs
may exercise voting rights with respect to the common shares
represented by these ADSs only in accordance with the provisions
of our ADS deposit agreement. The deposit agreement provides
that, upon receipt of notice of any meeting of holders of our
common shares, the depositary bank will, as soon as practicable
thereafter, mail to the holders (i) the notice of the
meeting sent by us, (ii) voting instruction forms and
(iii) a statement as to the manner in which instructions
may be given by the holders.
ADS holders will not generally be able to exercise the voting
rights attaching to the deposited securities on an individual
basis. According to the ROC Company Law, the voting rights
attaching to the deposited securities must be exercised as to
all matters subject to a vote of shareholders collectively in
the same manner, except in the case of an election of directors
and supervisors. Election of directors and supervisors is by
means of cumulative voting. See Description of American
Depositary Receipts for a more detailed discussion of the
manner in which a holder of ADSs can exercise its voting rights.
You may not be able to participate in rights offerings and
may experience dilution of your holdings.
We may, from time to time, distribute rights to our
shareholders, including rights to acquire securities. Under our
ADS deposit agreement, the depositary bank will not distribute
rights to holders of ADSs unless the distribution and sale of
rights and the securities to which these rights relate are
either exempt from registration under the United States
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, with
respect to all holders of ADSs, or are registered under the
provisions of the Securities Act. Although we may be eligible to
take advantage of certain exemptions for rights offerings by
certain foreign companies, we can give no assurance that we can
establish an exemption from registration under the Securities
Act, and we are under no obligation to file a registration
statement with respect to any such rights or underlying
securities or to endeavor to have such a registration statement
declared effective. Accordingly, holders of ADSs may be unable
to participate in our rights offerings and may experience
dilution of their holdings as a result.
If the depositary bank is unable to sell rights that are not
exercised or not distributed or if the sale is not lawful or
reasonably practicable, it will allow the rights to lapse, in
which case you will receive no value for these rights.
The value of your investment may be reduced by possible
future sales of common shares or ADSs by us or our
shareholders.
Except for the sale of ADSs by the selling shareholders, the
selling shareholders have agreed, during the period beginning
from the date of this prospectus to and including
December 31, 2006 with respect to Philips and The
Development Fund and 90 days after the date of this
prospectus with respect to Messrs. Morris Chang, F.C.
Tseng, Stephen T. Tso, J.B. Chen, M.C. Tzeng and Richard
Thurston, not to, and not to announce an intention to, offer,
sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of, or file a
registration statement or similar document relating to, any
common shares or depositary shares representing our common
shares, or any securities that are substantially similar to
common shares or ADSs representing our common shares, including
but not limited to any securities that are convertible into or
exchangeable for, or that represent the right to receive, any of
these securities or any substantially similar securities,
without the prior written consent of Goldman Sachs International
and J.P. Morgan Securities Ltd. We have also agreed,
during the period beginning from the date of this prospectus to
and including the date 90 days after the date of this
prospectus, not to, and not to announce an intention to, issue
any common shares, including common shares represented by ADSs
(other than pursuant to employee stock option plans that we may
adopt or have already adopted or any common shares to be issued
as an annual dividend to shareholders or annual bonus to
employees which is approved by our shareholders), without the
prior written consent of Goldman Sachs International and
J.P. Morgan Securities Ltd. Although we have no
current plans to make
17
such issuance during this 90-day period, we are not precluded
from issuing any securities that are convertible into or
exchangeable for, or that represent the right to receive, our
common shares. The representatives of the underwriters may, in
their discretion, waive or terminate these restrictions. See
Common Shares Eligible for Future Sale in this
prospectus for a more detailed discussion of restrictions that
may apply to future sales of our ADSs or common shares by us and
our affiliates.
One or more of our existing shareholders may, from time to time,
dispose of significant numbers of common shares or ADSs. One of
our two largest shareholders, Philips, which currently owns
18.74% of our outstanding common shares, sold an aggregate of
100,000,000 ADSs in November 2003 and is offering in this
prospectus to sell an aggregate of 105,602,000 ADSs. Since
October 1997, Philips has sold a total of 124,000,000 ADSs
(without adjustment for subsequent dividend distributions) in
two transactions, including the transaction in November 2003. In
October 2003, Philips announced its intention to gradually and
orderly reduce its equity interest in us and reiterated this
intention in May 2005. Therefore, further sales, which may
be sales similar to the present sale, by Philips of our common
shares or ADSs may occur in the coming years after the
expiration of the above lock-up period. Moreover, the
Development Fund, which as of June 30, 2005 owned
approximately 7.29% of our outstanding common shares, has sold a
total of 187,532,800 ADSs (without adjustments for subsequent
stock dividends) in several transactions since 1997 and is
offering in this prospectus to sell an aggregate of
41,091,000 ADSs.
In addition, we have in place a conversion sale program that
allows some of our shareholders to sell their common shares in
ADS form to a specified financial intermediary during a 30-day
period not more than once every three months. Since the
establishment of the program in 1999, a total of 42,076,000 ADSs
(without adjustments for subsequent stock dividends) were sold
in several transactions under the program. We cannot predict the
effect, if any, that future sales of ADSs or common shares, or
the availability of ADSs or common shares for future sale, will
have on the market price of ADSs or common shares prevailing
from time to time. Sales of substantial amounts of ADSs or
common shares in the public market, or the perception that such
sales may occur, could depress the prevailing market price of
our ADSs or common shares and could reduce the premium, if any,
that the price per ADS on the New York Stock Exchange represents
over the corresponding aggregate price of the underlying five
common shares on the Taiwan Stock Exchange.
The market value of our shares may fluctuate due to the
volatility of, and government intervention in, the ROC
securities market.
The Taiwan Stock Exchange has experienced substantial
fluctuations in the prices and volumes of sales of listed
securities and there are currently limits on the range of daily
price movements on the Taiwan Stock Exchange. In response to
past declines and volatility in the securities markets in
Taiwan, and in line with similar activities by other countries
in Asia, the government of the ROC formed the Stabilization
Fund, which has purchased and may from time to time purchase
shares of Taiwan companies to support these markets. In
addition, other funds associated with the ROC government have in
the past purchased, and may from time to time purchase, shares
of Taiwan companies on the Taiwan Stock Exchange or other
markets. In the future, market activity by government entities,
or the perception that such activity is taking place, may take
place or has ceased, may cause fluctuations in the market prices
of our ADSs and common shares.
18
USE OF PROCEEDS
We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of ADSs by the
selling shareholders.
19
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
As required by the United States Securities Act of 1933, we have
filed a registration statement on Form F-3 relating to the
securities offered by this prospectus with the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC. This prospectus
is a part of that registration statement, which includes
additional information.
We file annual reports on Form 20-F with, and furnish
periodic reports on Form 6-K to, the SEC. You may read and
copy this information at the SECs public reference room at
100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549.
You can also request copies of the documents, upon payment of a
duplicating fee, by writing to the public reference section of
the SEC. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further
information on the operation of the public reference room. Our
filings with the SEC are also available to the public from the
SECs website at http://www.sec.gov. The SEC website
contains reports, proxy and information statements and other
information regarding registrants that make electronic filings
with the SEC using its EDGAR system. Since November 4,
2002, we have been required to file annual reports on
Form 20-F with, and submit reports on Form 6-K and
other information to, the SEC through the EDGAR system.
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the
information we file with the SEC. This means that we can
disclose important information to you by referring you to
another document filed separately with the SEC. The information
incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this
prospectus. Any information that we file later with the SEC and
that is deemed incorporated by reference will automatically
update and supersede the information in this prospectus. In all
such cases, you should rely on the later information over
different information included in this prospectus.
This prospectus will be deemed to incorporate by reference the
following documents:
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our annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended
December 31, 2004, filed on May 16, 2005, to the
extent the information in that report has not been updated or
superseded by this prospectus; |
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|
our report on Form 6-K, dated May 5, 2005, which
contains the unaudited unconsolidated interim financial
statements as of and for the three months ended March 31,
2004 and 2005, excluding the report by our independent public
accountants contained therein. These unaudited unconsolidated
financial statements are prepared in accordance with ROC GAAP
and are not indicative of our consolidated financial position or
results of operations; |
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any amendment to our annual report on Form 20-F for the
year ended December 31, 2004, and any annual report on
Form 20-F or amendment thereto filed subsequent to the date
hereof and prior to the termination of this offering; and |
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|
any report on Form 6-K submitted by us to the SEC prior to
the termination of this offering and identified by us as being
incorporated by reference into this prospectus. |
You may request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing
or telephoning us at No.8, Li-Hsin Road 6, Hsinchu Science
Park, Hsinchu, Taiwan, Attention: Wendell Huang or Diane Kao,
telephone number: (886-3) 666-5920 or (886-3) 666-5923.
We will furnish to Citibank, N.A., as depositary of the ADSs,
our annual reports. When the depositary receives these reports,
it will upon our request promptly provide them to all holders of
record of ADSs. We also will furnish the depositary with all
notices of shareholders meetings and other reports and
communications that we make available to our shareholders (or
English language translations thereof, if necessary). The
depositary will make these notices, reports and communications
available to holders of ADSs and will upon our request mail to
all holders of record of ADSs the information contained in any
notice of a shareholders meeting it receives.
You should rely only on the information that we incorporate by
reference or provide in this document. We have not authorized
anyone to provide you with different information. You should not
assume that the information in this document is accurate as of
any date other than the date on the front of this document.
20
MARKET PRICE INFORMATION FOR OUR ADSS AND COMMON SHARES
The principal trading market for our common shares is the Taiwan
Stock Exchange. The common shares have been listed on the Taiwan
Stock Exchange under the symbol 2330 since
September 5, 1994, and the ADSs have been listed on The New
York Stock Exchange under the symbol TSM since
October 8, 1997. The outstanding ADSs are identified by the
CUSIP number 874039100. The table below sets forth, for the
periods indicated, the high and low closing prices and the
average daily volume of trading activity on the Taiwan Stock
Exchange for the common shares and the high and low closing
prices and the average daily volume of trading activity on The
New York Stock Exchange for the common shares represented by
ADSs.
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Taiwan Stock Exchange |
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New York Stock Exchange(1) |
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Closing price |
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|
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|
per common |
|
Average daily |
|
Closing price |
|
Average daily |
|
|
share(2) |
|
Trading volume |
|
per ADS(2) |
|
Trading volume |
|
|
|
|
(in thousands |
|
|
|
(in thousands |
|
|
High |
|
Low |
|
of shares)(2) |
|
High |
|
Low |
|
of ADSs)(2) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(NT$) |
|
(NT$) |
|
|
|
(US$) |
|
(US$) |
|
|
2000
|
|
|
85.87 |
|
|
|
37.64 |
|
|
|
68,484 |
|
|
|
26.91 |
|
|
|
8.34 |
|
|
|
3,569 |
|
2001
|
|
|
62.54 |
|
|
|
30.99 |
|
|
|
59,828 |
|
|
|
13.41 |
|
|
|
6.22 |
|
|
|
6,049 |
|
2002
|
|
|
68.51 |
|
|
|
27.52 |
|
|
|
65,261 |
|
|
|
14.58 |
|
|
|
4.14 |
|
|
|
7,726 |
|
2003
|
|
|
59.69 |
|
|
|
31.07 |
|
|
|
55,941 |
|
|
|
10.79 |
|
|
|
4.95 |
|
|
|
8,763 |
|
|
First Quarter
|
|
|
39.03 |
|
|
|
31.07 |
|
|
|
63,260 |
|
|
|
6.62 |
|
|
|
4.95 |
|
|
|
6,785 |
|
|
Second Quarter
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|
|
45.60 |
|
|
|
32.62 |
|
|
|
67,732 |
|
|
|
8.24 |
|
|
|
5.33 |
|
|
|
8,894 |
|
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Third Quarter
|
|
|
59.69 |
|
|
|
45.22 |
|
|
|
51,050 |
|
|
|
10.79 |
|
|
|
7.88 |
|
|
|
9,837 |
|
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Fourth Quarter
|
|
|
59.27 |
|
|
|
49.67 |
|
|
|
43,098 |
|
|
|
10.00 |
|
|
|
7.89 |
|
|
|
9,445 |
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2004
|
|
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57.18 |
|
|
|
38.95 |
|
|
|
55,521 |
|
|
|
9.71 |
|
|
|
6.32 |
|
|
|
7,413 |
|
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First Quarter
|
|
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57.18 |
|
|
|
45.91 |
|
|
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60,794 |
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|
|
9.71 |
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|
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7.76 |
|
|
|
8,403 |
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Second Quarter
|
|
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53.43 |
|
|
|
40.76 |
|
|
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58,796 |
|
|
|
9.39 |
|
|
|
6.90 |
|
|
|
8,045 |
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Third Quarter
|
|
|
46.29 |
|
|
|
38.95 |
|
|
|
48,005 |
|
|
|
7.57 |
|
|
|
6.32 |
|
|
|
6,711 |
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Fourth Quarter
|
|
|
48.10 |
|
|
|
39.90 |
|
|
|
55,112 |
|
|
|
8.35 |
|
|
|
6.56 |
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|
|
6,533 |
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2005
|
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First Quarter
|
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52.38 |
|
|
|
44.57 |
|
|
|
48,413 |
|
|
|
8.98 |
|
|
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7.31 |
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|
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6,804 |
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Second Quarter
|
|
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57.20 |
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|
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47.24 |
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45,422 |
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|
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9.43 |
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|
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7.69 |
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|
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6,163 |
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February
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52.38 |
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50.00 |
|
|
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65,337 |
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|
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8.98 |
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8.31 |
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6,523 |
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March
|
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51.71 |
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47.90 |
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|
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39,491 |
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|
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8.77 |
|
|
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7.86 |
|
|
|
6,487 |
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April
|
|
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50.48 |
|
|
|
47.24 |
|
|
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39,326 |
|
|
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8.22 |
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|
|
7.69 |
|
|
|
5,803 |
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May
|
|
|
54.19 |
|
|
|
49.81 |
|
|
|
45,495 |
|
|
|
8.86 |
|
|
|
8.24 |
|
|
|
5,826 |
|
|
June
|
|
|
57.20 |
|
|
|
53.24 |
|
|
|
50,894 |
|
|
|
9.43 |
|
|
|
8.86 |
|
|
|
6,828 |
|
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July
|
|
|
57.10 |
|
|
|
53.10 |
|
|
|
49,489 |
|
|
|
9.40 |
|
|
|
8.59 |
|
|
|
8,391 |
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|
August (through August 4, 2005)
|
|
|
55.90 |
|
|
|
53.30 |
|
|
|
37,832 |
|
|
|
8.93 |
|
|
|
8.62 |
|
|
|
7,807 |
|
|
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(1) |
Trading in ADSs commenced on October 8, 1997 on the New
York Stock Exchange. Each ADS represents the right to receive
five common shares. |
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(2) |
As adjusted for a 28% stock dividend in July 2000, a 40% stock
dividend in July 2001, a 10% stock dividend in July 2002, an 8%
stock dividend in July 2003, a 14.1% stock dividend in July 2004
and a stock dividend of approximately 4.99971 common shares
per 100 common shares in respect of net income in the year
ended December 31, 2004 paid on July 7, 2005 to
holders of common shares and on July 12, 2005 to holders of
ADSs. |
The ADSs offered in this offering will be fully fungible with,
will be identified by the same CUSIP number and will be eligible
for trading under the same New York Stock Exchange trading
symbol as, the existing ADSs.
As of June 30, 2005, a total of 24,726,128,803 common
shares were outstanding, including 3,508,832,129 common
shares represented by ADSs (including a stock dividend of
approximately 4.99971 common shares per 100 common
shares in respect of net income in the year ended
December 31, 2004, the record date for which was
June 19, 2005 for common shares and June 15, 2005 for
ADSs and which was paid on July 7, 2005 to holders of
common shares and on July 12, 2005 to holders of ADSs).
21
CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth our consolidated capitalization
as of June 30, 2005 (including the appropriation from the
earnings of 2004 approved by our shareholders as of May 10,
2005, comprised of the stock dividend of approximately
4.99971 common shares per 100 common shares,
representing 1,162,602,422 common shares, cash dividend of
NT$1.9998 per common share, employee bonus and remuneration to
directors and supervisors). You should read this table together
with our consolidated financial statements contained in our
Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2004, which
is incorporated by reference herein.
We do not have any unguaranteed and secured long-term
obligations, nor do we have any guaranteed and secured long-term
obligations.
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|
|
|
|
|
|
June 30, 2005 |
|
|
|
|
|
(NT$) |
|
|
(in thousands) |
Long-term obligations (excluding
current portion of long-term obligations)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unguaranteed and unsecured
long-term debt
|
|
|
19,508,970 |
|
|
Guaranteed and unsecured long-term
debt
|
|
|
948,540 |
|
|
Unguaranteed and unsecured other
long-term payable
|
|
|
10,309,039 |
|
|
Total long-term
obligations
|
|
|
30,766,549 |
|
Shareholders
equity
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common shares, NT$10 par value
|
|
|
247,261,288 |
|
|
Capital surplus
|
|
|
56,720,875 |
|
|
Retained earnings
|
|
|
84,383,333 |
|
|
Cumulative translation adjustments
|
|
|
(2,612,996 |
) |
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Treasury stock
|
|
|
(1,552,573 |
) |
|
Minority interest in subsidiaries
|
|
|
740,907 |
|
|
Total shareholders
equity
|
|
|
384,940,834 |
|
|
|
Total capitalization
|
|
|
415,707,383 |
|
22
MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS
The following table sets forth certain information as of
June 30, 2005 with respect to our common shares owned by
(i) each person who, according to our records, beneficially
owned five percent or more of our common shares and by
(ii) all directors, supervisors and executive officers as a
group.
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|
|
Percentage of |
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
|
Number of |
|
Outstanding |
|
|
Common Shares |
|
Common |
Names of Shareholders |
|
Owned(1) |
|
Shares(1) |
|
|
|
|
|
Philips(2)
|
|
|
4,633,651,793 |
|
|
|
18.74 |
% |
Development
Fund(3)
|
|
|
1,802,512,466 |
|
|
|
7.29 |
% |
Capital Research and Management
Company(4)
|
|
|
1,542,830,520 |
|
|
|
6.24 |
% |
Directors, supervisors and
executive officers as a group
(5)
|
|
|
283,469,344 |
|
|
|
1.15 |
% |
|
|
(1) |
Includes shares issued as stock dividends of approximately
4.99971 common shares per 100 common shares in respect
of net income in the year ended December 31, 2004, the
record date for which was June 19, 2005 for common shares
and June 15, 2005 for ADSs and which were paid on
July 7, 2005 to holders of common shares and on
July 12, 2005 to holders of ADSs. |
|
(2) |
Includes 2,705,839,885 common shares held by Koninklijke Philips
Electronics N.V. and 1,927,811,908 common shares held by Philips
Electronics Industries (Taiwan) Ltd. See Selling
Shareholders. |
|
(3) |
Excludes any common shares that may be owned by other funds
controlled by the ROC government. |
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(4) |
According to the Schedule 13G of Capital Research and
Management Corporation (CRMC) filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on February 14, 2005,
CRMC beneficially owned 1,542,830,520 common shares as of
December 31, 2004. According to this Schedule 13G,
CRMC is an investment adviser registered under the Investment
Advisers Act of 1940. We do not have further information with
respect to CRMCs ownership in us subsequent to CRMCs
Schedule 13G filed on February 14, 2005. |
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(5) |
Excludes ownership of Philips and Development Fund. |
Of our nine directors, two are representatives of Philips and
one is a representative of the Development Fund. Philips and the
Development Fund could each be deemed under the
U.S. securities laws to be a controlling shareholder.
In June 2001, the Development Fund sold 14,000,000 ADSs,
representing 70,000,000 common shares, in November 2001, the
Development Fund sold 20,000,000 ADSs, representing 100,000,000
common shares, in February 2002, the Development Fund sold an
additional 30,207,200 ADSs, representing 151,036,000 common
shares, and in July 2003, the Development Fund sold an
additional 86,457,200 ADSs, representing 432,286,000 common
shares. In November 2000, Philips purchased from us
1,299,925,653 Preferred A shares, par value NT$10 per share,
which pay a cumulative annual cash dividend at the rate of 3.5%
per annum. As a result, as of November 2000, Philips
ownership percentage of our outstanding equity securities,
including the Preferred A shares, increased from 22.47% to
30.23%. On May 29, 2003, we redeemed all of our Preferred A
shares. In November 2003, Philips sold 100,000,000 ADSs,
representing 500,000,000 common shares. As a result of our
redemption of all our Preferred A shares on May 29, 2003
and this sale in November 2003, Philips ownership
percentage decreased to 19.09%. In October 2003, Philips
announced its intention to gradually and orderly reduce its
equity interest in us and reiterated this intention in
May 2005.
As of June 30, 2005, a total of 24,726,128,803 common
shares were outstanding (including shares issued as a stock
dividend of approximately 4.99971 common shares per
100 common shares in respect of net income in the year
ended December 31, 2004, the record date for which was on
June 19, 2005 for common shares and on June 15, 2005
for ADSs and which was paid on July 7, 2005 to holders of
common shares and on July 12, 2005 to holders of ADSs).
With certain limited exceptions, holders of common shares that
are not ROC persons are required to hold their common shares
through a brokerage account in the ROC. As of June 30,
2005, 3,508,832,129 common shares were registered in the name of
a nominee of Citibank, N.A., the depositary under our ADS
deposit agreement (including the aforementioned shares issued as
stock dividends).
23
Citibank, N.A., has advised us that, as of June 30, 2005,
668,350,778 ADSs, representing 3,341,753,899 common shares, were
held of record by Cede & Co. and 268 other registered
holders domiciled in and outside of the United States (excluding
the aforementioned shares issued as stock dividends). We have no
further information as to common shares held, or beneficially
owned, by U.S. persons.
Our major shareholders have the same voting rights as our other
shareholders. For a description of the voting rights of our
shareholders see Item 10. Additional
Information Description of Common Shares
Voting Rights in our annual report on Form 20-F for
the year ended December 31, 2004, incorporated by reference
in this prospectus.
We are not aware of any arrangement that may at a subsequent
date result in a change of control of us.
24
SELLING SHAREHOLDERS
All of the ADSs being offered in this offering are being offered
by the selling shareholders listed below. As of June 30,
2005, the selling shareholders held an aggregate of
6,641,734,759 of our common shares, representing 26.86% of the
total common shares outstanding (including shares issued as
stock dividends as disclosed in footnote 1 to the table
below). Following this offering, the selling shareholders will
own an aggregate of 5,883,459,759 of our common shares,
representing 23.79% of the total common shares outstanding (or
an aggregate of 5,769,734,759 of our common shares, representing
23.33% of the total common shares outstanding, if the
underwriters fully exercise their option to purchase additional
ADSs). The table below sets forth the beneficial ownership of
our common shares by each of the selling shareholders prior to
this offering and after giving effect to the sale of all of the
ADSs offered in this offering.
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After this offering |
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(assuming the |
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After this offering |
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underwriters do not |
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(assuming the |
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exercise their option to |
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underwriters fully exercise |
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Before this offering |
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purchase additional |
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their option to purchase |
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(as of June 30, 2005)(1) |
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ADSs)(1) |
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additional ADSs)(1) |
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Percentage |
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Percentage |
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Percentage |
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of total |
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of total |
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of total |
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Number of |
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outstanding |
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Number of |
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outstanding |
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Number of |
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outstanding |
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common |
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common |
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common |
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common |
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common |
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common |
Name |
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Status/Position |
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shares |
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shares |
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shares |
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shares |
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shares |
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shares |
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Philips(2)
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Founding Shareholder |
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4,633,651,793 |
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18.74 |
% |
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4,105,641,793 |
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16.60 |
% |
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4,026,451,793 |
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16.28 |
% |
Development
Fund(3)
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Founding Shareholder |
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1,802,512,466 |
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7.29 |
% |
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1,597,057,466 |
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6.46 |
% |
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1,566,242,466 |
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6.33 |
% |
Morris Chang
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Chairman |
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132,082,772 |
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0.53 |
% |
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114,027,772 |
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0.46 |
% |
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111,317,772 |
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0.45 |
% |
F.C. Tseng
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Director and Vice Chairman |
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43,977,891 |
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0.18 |
% |
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39,647,891 |
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0.16 |
% |
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38,997,891 |
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0.16 |
% |
Stephen T. Tso
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Senior Vice President of Information Technology and CIO |
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13,640,380 |
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0.06 |
% |
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12,195,380 |
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0.05 |
% |
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11,980,380 |
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0.05 |
% |
J.B. Chen
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Vice President |
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7,513,645 |
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0.03 |
% |
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7,078,645 |
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0.03 |
% |
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7,013,645 |
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0.03 |
% |
M.C. Tzeng
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Vice President |
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5,813,601 |
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0.02 |
% |
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5,378,601 |
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0.02 |
% |
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5,313,601 |
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0.02 |
% |
Richard Thurston
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Vice President and General Counsel |
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2,542,211 |
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0.01 |
% |
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2,432,211 |
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0.01 |
% |
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2,417,211 |
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0.01 |
% |
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(1) |
Includes shares issued as stock dividends of approximately
4.99971 common shares per 100 common shares in respect of
net income in the year ended December 31, 2004, the record
date for which was June 19, 2005 for common shares and
June 15, 2005 for ADSs and which were paid on July 7,
2005 to holders of common shares and on July 12, 2005 to
holders of ADSs. |
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(2) |
Includes 2,705,839,885 common shares held by Koninklijke Philips
Electronics N.V. and 1,927,811,908 common shares held by Philips
Electronics Industries (Taiwan) Ltd. After this offering
(assuming the underwriters do not exercise their option to
purchase additional ADSs), includes 2,177,829,885 common
shares held by Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. and
1,927,811,908 common shares held by Philips Electronics
Industries (Taiwan) Ltd. After this offering (assuming the
underwriters fully exercise their option to purchase additional
ADSs), includes 2,098,639,885 common shares held by
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. and
1,927,811,908 common shares held by Philips Electronics
Industries (Taiwan) Ltd. |
|
(3) |
Excludes any common shares that may be owned by other funds
controlled by the ROC government. |
In October 2003, Philips announced that it intends to gradually
and orderly reduce its equity interest in us and reiterated this
intention in May 2005 and is offering in this prospectus to sell
an aggregate of 105,602,000 ADSs, representing
528,010,000 common shares (or an aggregate of
121,440,000 ADSs, representing 607,200,000 common shares,
if the underwriters fully exercise their option to purchase
additional ADSs). Philips has also announced that it does not
expect that this offering will affect the strategic relationship
between the two companies and that Philips anticipates remaining
among our largest shareholders for the foreseeable future.
The Development Fund announced in January 2005 its intention to
sell up to approximately 130 million of our common shares
in 2005 and is offering in this prospectus to sell an aggregate
of 41,091,000 ADSs, representing 205,455,000 common shares (or
an aggregate of 47,254,000 ADSs, representing 236,270,000
common shares, if the underwriters fully exercise their option
to purchase additional ADSs).
The principal executive offices of Philips are located at
Breitner Center, Amstelplein 2, 1096 BC Amsterdam, The
Netherlands. The principal executive offices of the Development
Fund are located at 7th Floor, No. 49 Guanchian Road,
Taipei, Taiwan, 100, ROC. The offices of Messrs. Morris
Chang, F.C. Tseng, Stephen T. Tso, J.B. Chen, M.C. Tzeng
and Richard Thurston are located at No. 8, Li-Hsin Road 6,
Hsinchu Science Park, Taiwan, Republic of China.
25
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference in
this prospectus contain statements that are, or may be deemed to
be, forward-looking statements within the meaning of
U.S. securities laws. The terms anticipates,
expects, may, will,
should and other similar expressions identify
forward-looking statements. These statements appear in a number
of places throughout this prospectus and the documents
incorporated by reference in this prospectus and include
statements regarding our intentions, beliefs or current
expectations concerning, among other things, our results of
operations, financial condition, liquidity, prospects, growth,
strategies and the industries in which we operate.
By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and
uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on
circumstances that may or may not occur in the future.
Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future
performance and our actual results of operations, financial
condition and liquidity, and the development of the industries
in which we operate may differ materially from those made in or
suggested by the forward-looking statements contained in this
annual report. Important factors that could cause those
differences include, but are not limited to:
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the volatility of the semiconductor and microelectronics
industry; |
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overcapacity in the semiconductor industry; |
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the increased competition from other companies and our ability
to retain and increase our market share; |
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our ability to develop new technologies successfully and remain
a technological leader; |
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our ability to maintain control over expansion and facility
modifications; |
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our ability to generate growth or profitable growth; |
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our ability to hire and maintain qualified personnel; |
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our ability to acquire required equipment and supplies necessary
to meet customer demand; |
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our reliance on certain major customers; |
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the political stability of our local region; and |
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general local and global economic conditions. |
Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to,
statements regarding our strategy and future plans, future
business condition and financial results, our capital
expenditure plans, our capacity expansion plans, our expansion
plans in mainland China, expectations as to the commencement of
commercial production using 90-nanometer technology,
technological upgrades, investment in research and development,
future market demand, future regulatory or other developments in
our industry. Please see Risk Factors for a further
discussion of certain factors that may cause actual results to
differ materially from those indicated by our forward-looking
statements.
26
DESCRIPTION OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS
Citibank, N.A. is the depositary bank for the ADSs.
Citibanks depositary offices are located at
388 Greenwich Street, 14th Floor, New York,
New York 10013. ADSs represent ownership interests in
securities that are on deposit with the depositary bank. ADSs
are normally represented by certificates that are commonly known
as ADRs. The depositary bank typically appoints a custodian to
safekeep the securities on deposit. In this case, the custodian
is Citibank, N.A. Taipei Branch, located at
B1, No. 16, Nanking E. Road, Section 4,
Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
We have appointed Citibank as depositary bank pursuant to an
amended and restated deposit agreement, dated April 13,
2005, entered into among us, Citibank and the holders and owners
of beneficial interests in our ADSs. A copy of the form of the
amended and restated deposit agreement is on file with the SEC
under cover of a registration statement on Form F-6 filed
with the SEC on April 4, 2005. You may obtain a copy of
that registration statement that includes a copy of the deposit
agreement from the SECs Public Reference Room at
450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549 and
from the SECs website at www.sec.gov.
We are providing you with a summary description of the ADSs and
your rights as an owner of ADSs. Please remember that summaries
by their nature lack the precision of the information summarized
and that a holders rights and obligations as an owner of
ADSs will be determined by the deposit agreement and not by this
summary. We urge you to review the deposit agreement in its
entirety as well as the form of ADR attached to the deposit
agreement. Statements printed in italics in this description are
provided for your information, but are not contained in the
deposit agreement.
Each ADS represents five common shares on deposit with the
custodian. An ADS will also represent any other property
received by the depositary bank or the custodian on behalf of
the owner of the ADSs but that has not been distributed to the
owners of ADSs because of legal restrictions or practical
considerations.
If you become an owner of ADSs, you will become a party to the
deposit agreement and therefore will be bound to its terms and
to the terms of the ADR that represents your ADSs. The deposit
agreement and the ADR specify our rights and obligations as well
as your rights and obligations as an owner of ADSs and those of
the depositary bank. As a holder of ADSs, you appoint the
depositary bank to act on your behalf in certain circumstances.
The deposit agreement is governed by New York law. However, our
obligations to the holders of common shares will continue to be
governed by the laws of the Republic of China, which may be
different from the laws in the United States.
As an owner of ADSs, you may hold your ADSs either by means of
an ADR registered in your name or through a brokerage or
safekeeping account. If you decide to hold your ADSs through
your brokerage or safekeeping account, you must rely on the
procedures of your broker or bank to assert your rights as an
ADS owner. Please consult with your broker or bank to determine
what those procedures are. This summary description assumes you
have opted to own the ADSs directly by means of an ADR
registered in your name and, as such, we will refer to you as
the holder, when we refer to you, we
assume the reader owns ADSs or will own ADSs at the relevant
time.
Dividends and Distributions
As a holder, you generally have the right to receive the
distributions we make on the securities deposited with the
custodian. Your receipt of these distributions may be limited,
however, by practical considerations, legal limitations and the
terms of the deposit agreement. Holders will receive such
distributions under the terms of the deposit agreement in
proportion to the number of ADSs held as of a specified record
date.
Distributions of Cash. Whenever we make a cash
distribution for the securities on deposit with the custodian,
the depositary bank will arrange for the funds to be converted
into U.S. dollars and for the distribution of the
U.S. dollars to the holders subject to any restrictions
imposed by applicable laws and regulations.
The conversion into U.S. dollars will take place only if
practicable and only if the U.S. dollars are transferable
to the United States. The amounts distributed to holders will be
net of the fees,
27
expenses, taxes and governmental charges payable by holders
under the terms of the deposit agreement.
Distributions of Shares. Subject to applicable
laws, whenever we declare a dividend in or make a free
distribution of common shares for the securities on deposit with
the custodian, the depositary bank may, and will upon our
request, distribute to holders new ADSs representing the common
shares deposited. Only whole new ADSs will be distributed.
Fractional entitlements will be sold and the proceeds of such
sale will be distributed as in the case of a cash distribution.
If additional ADSs are not distributed, the ADS-to-common share
ratio will be modified subject to applicable ROC law, in which
case each ADS you hold will represent rights and interests in
the additional common shares so deposited.
The distribution of new ADSs or the modification of the
ADS-to-common share ratio upon a distribution of common shares
will be made net of the fees, expenses, taxes and governmental
charges payable by holders under the terms of the deposit
agreement. In order to pay such taxes or governmental charges,
the depositary bank may sell all or a portion of the new common
shares so distributed.
No such distribution of new ADSs or modification of the
ADS-to-common share ratio will be made if it would violate a law
(i.e., the U.S. securities laws). If the depositary
bank does not distribute new ADSs or modify the ADS-to-common
share ratio as described above, it is expected to use its best
efforts to sell the common shares received and would distribute
the proceeds of the sales as in the case of a distribution
in cash.
Distributions of Rights. Subject to applicable
laws, whenever we distribute rights to purchase additional
common shares, we will assist the depositary bank in determining
whether it is lawful and reasonably practicable to distribute
rights to purchase additional ADSs to holders.
The depositary bank will establish procedures to distribute
rights to purchase additional ADSs to holders if it is lawful
and reasonably practicable to make the rights available to
holders of ADSs, and if we provide all of the documentation
contemplated in the deposit agreement (including opinions to
address the legality of the transaction). You may have to pay
fees, expenses, taxes and other governmental charges to
subscribe for the new ADSs upon the exercise of your rights.
In circumstances in which rights would not otherwise be
distributed, if you request the distribution of warrants or
other instruments in order to exercise the rights allocable to
your ADSs, the depositary bank will make such rights available
to you as allowed by applicable law upon written notice from us.
Our notice to the depositary bank must indicate that:
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we have elected in our sole discretion to permit the rights to
be exercised; and |
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you have executed such documents as we have determined in our
sole discretion are reasonably required under applicable law. |
The depositary bank may sell the rights that are not exercised
or not distributed if such sale is lawful and reasonably
practicable. The proceeds of such sale will be allocated to the
account of the holders otherwise entitled to the rights. If the
depositary bank is unable to sell the rights, it will allow the
rights to lapse.
Other Distributions. Subject to applicable laws,
whenever we distribute property other than cash, common shares
or rights in respect of the deposited securities, the depositary
bank will determine whether such distribution to holders is
feasible. If it is feasible to distribute such property to you,
the depositary bank will distribute the property to the holders
in a manner it deems practicable. If the depositary bank
considers such distribution not to be feasible, it may sell all
or a portion of the property received. The proceeds of such a
sale will be distributed to holders as in the case of a
distribution in cash.
Any distribution will be made net of fees, expenses, taxes and
governmental charges payable by holders under the terms of the
deposit agreement.
28
Changes Affecting Common Shares
The common shares held on deposit for your ADSs may change from
time to time. For example, there may be a change in nominal or
par value, a split-up, consolidation or reclassification of such
common shares, or a recapitalization, reorganization, merger,
consolidation or sale of assets.
If any such change were to occur, your ADSs would, to the extent
permitted by law, represent the right to receive the property
received or exchanged in respect of the common shares held on
deposit. The depositary bank may in such circumstances deliver
new ADSs to you or call for the exchange of your existing ADSs
for new ADSs. If the depositary bank may not lawfully distribute
such property to you, the depositary bank may sell such property
and distribute the net proceeds to you in cash.
Issuance of ADSs upon Deposit of Common Shares
Under current ROC law, no deposit of common shares may be made
into the depositary facility, and no ADSs may be issued against
such deposits, without specific approval by the ROC Financial
Supervisory Commission, except in connection with
(i) dividends on or free distributions of common shares,
(ii) the exercise by holders of existing ADSs of their
pre-emptive rights in connection with rights offerings or
(iii) if permitted under the deposit agreement and the
custodian agreement, the deposit of common shares purchased by
any person directly or through the depositary bank on the Taiwan
Stock Exchange or GreTai Securities Market (as applicable)
or held by such person for deposit in the depositary facility;
provided that the total number of ADSs outstanding after an
issuance described in clause (iii) above does not exceed
the number of issued ADSs previously approved by the ROC
Financial Supervisory Commission (plus any ADSs created pursuant
to clauses (i) and (ii) above) and subject to any
adjustment in the number of common shares represented by each
ADS. Under current ROC law, issuances under clause
(iii) above will be permitted only to the extent that
previously issued ADSs have been cancelled and the underlying
shares have been withdrawn from the ADR facility. The depositary
bank will refuse to accept common shares for deposit pursuant to
clause (iii) unless it receives satisfactory legal opinions
as described in the deposit agreement. In addition, the
depositary bank may, or if so directed by us, will, refuse to
accept common shares for deposit whenever we have notified the
depositary bank that (i) there are outstanding common
shares with rights, including rights to dividends, that are
different from the common shares held by the depositary bank,
(ii) we have restricted the transfer of these common shares
to comply with delivery, transfer or ownership restrictions
referred to in the deposit agreement or under applicable law or
otherwise or (iii) we have otherwise restricted the deposit
of common shares pursuant to the deposit agreement.
The depositary bank may create ADSs on your behalf if you or
your broker deposits common shares with the custodian and meets
the foregoing requirements. The depositary bank will deliver
these ADSs to the person you indicate only after you pay any
applicable fees, charges and taxes payable for the transfer of
the common shares to and the issuance and delivery of the ADSs
by the depositary bank or custodian.
The issuance of ADSs may be delayed until the depositary bank or
the custodian receives confirmation that all required approvals
have been given and that the common shares have been duly
transferred to the custodian. The depositary bank will only
issue ADSs in whole numbers.
When you make a deposit of common shares, you will be
responsible for transferring good and valid title to the
depositary bank. As such, you will be deemed to represent and
warrant that:
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the common shares are duly and validly authorized, issued and
outstanding, fully paid and non-assessable and free of any
preemptive rights; |
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you are duly authorized to deposit the common shares; and |
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the common shares are not restricted securities and your deposit
of common shares is not restricted by United States federal
securities laws and does not violate the deposit agreement. |
29
If any of the representations or warranties are incorrect in any
way, we and the depositary bank may, at your cost and expense,
take any and all actions necessary to correct the consequences
of the misrepresentations.
Withdrawal of Common Shares Upon Cancellation of ADSs
You may withdraw and hold the common shares represented by your
ADSs unless you are a citizen of the Peoples Republic of
China, or the PRC, or an entity organized under the laws of the
PRC or request the depositary bank to sell the common shares
represented by your ADSs. If you are a non-ROC person and elect
to withdraw common shares and hold the withdrawn common shares,
you will be required to appoint a tax guarantor as well as an
agent and a custodian in the ROC.
In addition, if you are a non-ROC person not having
registered as a foreign investor and elect to withdraw and hold
common shares from the depositary facility, you will be required
to first register with the Taiwan Stock Exchange and then
appoint a local agent to, among other things, open a general
securities trading account with a local securities brokerage
firm to hold or trade the withdrawn common shares. Offshore
overseas Chinese and foreign individual investors are subject to
a maximum investment ceiling that will be separately determined
by the ROC Financial Supervisory Commission after consultation
with the Central Bank of China. On the other hand, foreign
institutional investors (i.e., companies incorporated and
registered in accordance with foreign laws outside of the ROC)
are not subject to any ceiling for investment in the ROC
securities market.
If you or someone on your behalf plans to withdraw common
shares from the depositary facility, you would be the recipient
of such common shares and (i) you are a related party to us
(as defined in the ROC Statements of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 6) or (ii) you would be the beneficial
owner of 10% or more of our issued common shares previously in
the depositary facility, your withdrawal will be subject to ROC
governmental disclosure and reporting requirements.
In order to withdraw the common shares represented by your ADSs,
you will be required to pay to the depositary the fees for
cancellation of ADSs and any charges and taxes payable upon the
transfer of the common shares being withdrawn. You assume the
risk for delivery of all funds and securities upon withdrawal.
Once canceled, the ADSs will not have any rights under the
deposit agreement.
If you hold any ADSs registered in your name, the depositary
bank may ask you to provide proof of citizenship, residence, tax
payer status, exchange control approval, payment of taxes and
other governmental charges, compliance with applicable laws and
regulations and certain other documents as the depositary bank
may deem appropriate before it will effect any withdrawal of the
common shares represented by such ADS. The withdrawal of the
common shares represented by your ADSs may be delayed until the
depositary bank receives satisfactory evidence of compliance
with all applicable laws and regulations. If the common shares
are withdrawn to or for the account of any person other than the
person receiving the proceeds from the sale of ADSs, such
evidence may include the disclosure of:
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your name; |
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the name and nationality (and the identity number, if such
person is a ROC citizen) of any person in whose name the common
shares you are withdrawing will be registered; |
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the number of common shares such person will receive upon such
withdrawal; |
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the aggregate number of common shares such person has received
upon all withdrawals since the establishment of the depositary
facility; and |
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any other information that we or the depositary bank may deem
necessary or desirable to comply with any ROC disclosure or
reporting requirements. |
The depositary bank will only accept ADSs for cancellation that
represent a whole number of common shares on deposit. If you
surrender a number of ADSs for withdrawal representing other
than a whole number of common shares the depositary bank will
either return the number of ADSs representing any remaining
fractional common shares or sell the common shares represented
by the
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ADSs you surrendered and remit the net proceeds of that sale to
you as in the case of a distribution in cash. Common shares
sold in lots other than integral multiples of 1,000 may realize
a lower price on the Taiwan Stock Exchange.
You will have the right to withdraw the securities represented
by your ADSs at any time subject to the requirements listed
above and:
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temporary delays that may arise because (i) the transfer
books for the shares or ADSs are closed, or (ii) common
shares are immobilized on account of a shareholders
meeting, a payment of dividends or rights offering; |
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obligations to pay fees, taxes and similar charges; and |
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restrictions imposed because of laws or regulations applicable
to ADSs or the withdrawal of securities on deposit. |
The deposit agreement may not be modified to impair your right
to withdraw the securities represented by your ADSs except to
comply with mandatory provisions of law.
Voting Rights
You may direct the exercise of voting rights with respect to the
common shares represented by the ADSs only in accordance with
the provisions of the deposit agreement as described below and
applicable ROC law. See Risk
Factors Risks Relating to Ownership of
ADSs Your voting rights as a holder of ADSs
will be limited.
Except as described below, you will not be able to exercise the
voting rights attaching to the common shares represented by your
ADSs on an individual basis. According to the ROC Company Law, a
shareholders voting rights attached to shareholdings in an
ROC company must, as to all matters subject to a vote of
shareholders (other than the election of directors and
supervisors, if such election is done by means of cumulative
voting), be exercised as to all shares held by such shareholder
in the same manner. Accordingly, the voting rights attaching to
the common shares represented by ADSs must be exercised as to
all matters subject to a vote of shareholders by the depositary
bank or its nominee, who represents all holders of ADSs,
collectively in the same manner, except in the case of an
election of directors and supervisors, if such election is done
by means of cumulative voting. Directors and supervisors are
elected by cumulative voting unless our articles of
incorporation stipulate otherwise.
In the deposit agreement, you will appoint the depositary bank
as your representative to exercise the voting rights with
respect to the common shares represented by your ADSs.
We will provide the depositary bank with copies (including
English translations) of notices of meetings of our shareholders
and the agenda of these meetings, including an indication of the
number of directors or supervisors to be elected if an election
of directors or supervisors is to be held at the meeting. The
depositary bank has agreed to request and we will, therefore,
also provide a list of the candidates who have expressed their
intention to run for an election of directors or supervisors.
The depositary bank will mail these materials, together with a
voting instruction form to holders as soon as practicable after
the depositary bank receives the materials from us. In order to
validly exercise its voting rights, the holder of ADSs must
complete, sign and return to the depositary bank the voting
instruction form by a date specified by the depositary bank.
Additional or different candidates may be nominated at the
meeting of the shareholders than those proposed in the list
provided by us and after the depositary bank has mailed the
voting instruction form to you. If such change were to occur,
the depositary bank may calculate your votes according to
procedures not inconsistent with the provisions of the deposit
agreement, but shall not exercise any discretion regarding your
voting rights, and if the depositary bank elects to develop such
procedures, it has agreed to do so in a manner so as to give
effect, to the extent practicable, to the instructions received
from the holders.
Subject to the provisions described in the second succeeding
paragraph, which will apply to the election of directors and
supervisors done by means of cumulative voting, if persons
together holding at least 51% of the ADSs outstanding at the
relevant record date instruct the depositary bank to vote in the
same manner in respect of one or more resolutions to be proposed
at the meeting (other than
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the election of directors or supervisors), the depositary bank
will notify the instructions to the chairman of our board of
directors or a person he may designate. The depositary bank will
appoint the chairman or his designated person to serve as the
voting representative of the depositary bank or its nominee and
the holders. The voting representative will attend such meeting
and vote all the common shares represented by ADSs to be voted
in the manner so instructed by such holders in relation to such
resolution or resolutions.
If, for any reason, the depositary bank has not by the date
specified by it received instructions from persons together
holding at least 51% of all the ADSs outstanding at the relevant
record date to vote in the same manner in respect of any
resolution specified in the agenda for the meeting (other than
the election of directors or supervisors done by means of
cumulative voting), then the holders will be deemed to have
instructed the depositary bank or its nominee to authorize and
appoint the voting representative as the representative of the
depositary bank and the holders to attend such meeting and vote
all the common shares represented by all ADSs as the voting
representative deems appropriate with respect to such resolution
or resolutions, which may not be in your interests; provided,
however, that the depositary bank or its nominee will not give
any such authorization and appointment unless it has received an
opinion of ROC counsel addressed to the depositary bank and in
form and substance satisfactory to the depositary bank, at its
sole expense, to the effect that, under ROC law (i) the
deposit agreement is valid, binding and enforceable against us
and the holders and (ii) the depositary bank will not be
deemed to be authorized to exercise any discretion when voting
in accordance with the deposit agreement and will not be subject
to any potential liability for losses arising from such voting.
We and the depositary bank will take such actions, including
amendment of the provisions of the deposit agreement relating to
voting of common shares, as we deem appropriate to endeavor to
provide for the exercise of voting rights attached to the common
shares at shareholders meetings in a manner consistent
with applicable ROC law.
The depositary bank will notify the voting representative of the
instructions for the election of directors and supervisors
received from holders and appoint the voting representative as
the representative of the depositary bank and the owners to
attend such meeting and vote the common shares represented by
ADSs as to which the depositary bank has received instructions
from holders for the election of directors and supervisors,
subject to any restrictions imposed by ROC law and our articles
of incorporation. Holders who by the date specified by the
depositary bank have not delivered instructions to the
depositary bank will be deemed to have instructed the depositary
bank to authorize and appoint the voting representative as the
representative of the depositary bank or its nominee and the
holders to attend such meeting and vote all the common shares
represented by ADSs as to which the depositary bank has not
received instructions from the holders for the election of
directors and supervisors as the voting representative deems
appropriate, which may not be in your best interests. Candidates
standing for election as representatives of a shareholder may be
replaced by such shareholder prior to the meeting of the
shareholders, and the votes cast by the holders for such
candidates shall be counted as votes for their replacements.
By accepting and continuing to hold ADSs or any interest
therein, you will be deemed to have agreed to the voting
provisions set forth in the deposit agreement, as such
provisions may be amended from time to time to comply with
applicable ROC law.
There can be no assurance that you will receive notice of
shareholders meetings sufficiently prior to the date
established by the depositary bank for receipt of instructions
to enable you to give voting instructions before the cutoff date.
32
Fees and Charges
As an ADS holder, you will be required to pay the following
service fees to the depositary bank:
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Issuance of ADSs upon deposit of
Eligible Securities
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Up to 5¢ per ADS issued
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Delivery of deposited securities,
property and cash upon surrender of ADSs
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Up to 5¢ per ADS surrendered
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Distribution of ADSs pursuant to
exercise of rights or other free distribution of stock
(excluding stock dividends)
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Up to 5¢ per ADS issued
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Distribution of cash upon sale of
rights and other entitlements
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Up to 2¢ per ADS held
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As an ADS holder, you will also be responsible to pay certain
fees and expenses incurred by the depositary bank and certain
taxes and governmental charges, such as:
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Fees for the transfer, custody and registration of common shares
(i.e., upon deposit, transfer and withdrawal of common shares); |
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Expenses incurred for converting foreign currency into U.S.
dollars and in compliance with exchange control regulations; |
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Expenses for cable, telex and fax transmissions and for delivery
of securities; and |
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Taxes and duties upon the transfer of securities (i.e., when
common shares are deposited or withdrawn from deposit). |
We have agreed to pay certain other charges and expenses of the
depositary bank. Note that the fees and charges you may be
required to pay may vary over time and may be changed by
agreement between us and the depositary bank. Any change will
apply to you 30 days after the depositary bank provides
notice of such changes.
Amendments and Termination
We may agree with the depositary bank to modify the deposit
agreement at any time without your consent. We undertake to give
holders 30 days prior notice of any modifications
that would prejudice any of their substantial rights under the
deposit agreement (except in very limited circumstances
enumerated in the deposit agreement).
You will be bound by the modifications to the deposit agreement
if you continue to hold your ADSs after the modifications to the
deposit agreement become effective. The deposit agreement cannot
be amended to prevent you from withdrawing the common shares
represented by your ADSs (except to comply with applicable law).
We have the right to direct the depositary bank to terminate the
deposit agreement. Similarly, the depositary bank may in certain
circumstances on its own initiative terminate the deposit
agreement. In either case, the depositary bank must give notice
to the holders at least 60 days before termination.
Upon termination, the following will occur under the deposit
agreement:
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for a period of six months after termination, you will be able
to request the cancellation of your ADSs and the withdrawal of
the common shares represented by your ADSs and the delivery of
all other property held by the depositary bank in respect of
those common shares on the same terms as prior to the
termination. During this six-month period, the depositary bank
will continue to collect all distributions received on the
common shares on deposit (i.e., dividends) but will not
distribute any property to you until you request the
cancellation of your ADSs; and |
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after the expiration of the six-month period, the depositary
bank may sell the securities held on deposit. The depositary
bank will hold the proceeds from such sale and any other funds
then held for the holders of ADSs in a non-interest bearing
account. At that point, the depositary bank will have no further
obligations to holders other than to account for the funds then
held for the holders of ADSs still outstanding. |
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Books of the Depositary Bank
The depositary bank will maintain ADS holder records at its
depositary office. You may inspect such records at that office
during regular business hours, but solely for the purpose of
communicating with other holders in the interest of our business
or matters relating to the ADSs and the deposit agreement.
The depositary bank will maintain in The City of New York
facilities to record and process the execution and delivery,
registration, registration of transfers and surrender of ADRs.
These facilities may be closed from time to time, to the extent
not prohibited by law.
Limitations on Obligations and Liabilities
The deposit agreement limits our obligations and the depositary
banks obligations to you. Please note the following:
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We and the depositary bank are obligated only to take the
actions specifically stated in the depositary agreement without
negligence and in good faith. |
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The depositary bank disclaims any liability for any failure to
carry out voting instructions, for any manner in which a vote is
cast or for the effect of any vote, provided it acts in good
faith and in accordance with the terms of the deposit agreement. |
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The depositary bank disclaims any liability to monitor or
enforce our obligations under the deposit agreement, including
our obligation to replace the certificate of payment in respect
of common shares. |
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We and the depositary bank will not be obligated to perform any
act that is not set forth in the deposit agreement. |
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We and the depositary bank disclaim any liability if we are
prevented or forbidden from acting on account of any law or
regulation, any provision of our articles of incorporation, any
provision of any securities on deposit or by reason of any act
of God or war or other circumstances beyond our control. |
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We and the depositary bank disclaim any liability by reason of
any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any discretion provided
for in the deposit agreement. |
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We and the depositary bank further disclaim any liability for
any action or inaction in reliance on the advice or information
received from legal counsel, accountants, any person presenting
common shares for deposit, any holder of ADSs or authorized
representative thereof, or any other person believed by either
of us in good faith to be competent to give such advice or
information. |
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We and the depositary bank also disclaim liability for the
inability by a holder to benefit from any distribution,
offering, right or other benefit which is made available to
holders of common shares but is not, under the terms of the
deposit agreement, made available to that holder. |
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We and the depositary bank may rely without any liability upon
any written notice, request or other document believed to be
genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper
parties. |
Pre-Release Transactions
The depositary bank may, to the extent permitted by applicable
laws and regulations, issue ADSs before receiving a deposit of
common shares. These transactions are commonly referred to as
pre-release transactions. The deposit agreement
limits the aggregate size of pre-release transactions and
imposes a number of conditions on such transactions (i.e., the
need to receive collateral, the type of collateral required, the
representations required from brokers, etc.). The depositary
bank may retain the compensation received from the pre-release
transactions. We have been advised by the depositary that
under its current policy it does not permit any pre-release
transactions in respect of our ADSs.
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Taxes
You will be responsible for the taxes and other governmental
charges payable on your ADSs and the securities represented by
your ADSs. We, the depositary bank and the custodian may deduct
from any distribution the taxes and governmental charges payable
by holders and may sell any and all property on deposit to pay
the taxes and governmental charges payable by holders. You will
be liable for any deficiency if the sale proceeds do not cover
the taxes that are due on your ADSs and the securities
represented by your ADSs.
The depositary bank may refuse to transfer ADRs or to release
securities on deposit until all taxes and charges are paid by
the applicable holder. You may be required to provide to the
depositary bank and to the custodian proof of taxpayer status
and residence and such other information as the depositary bank
and the custodian may require to fulfill legal obligations.
Although in certain circumstances ROC income tax imposed on
certain stock dividends distributed by us may be deferred until
the sale or other disposition of such stock dividends, the
depositary bank will elect to waive the deferral of income tax
on such stock dividends.
Foreign Currency Conversion
Subject to ROC law, the depositary bank may arrange for the
conversion of all foreign currency received into U.S. dollars
only if such conversion is reasonably practicable, and it will
distribute the U.S. dollars in accordance with the terms of the
deposit agreement. You may be required to pay fees and expenses
incurred in converting foreign currency, such as fees and
expenses incurred in complying with currency exchange controls
and other governmental requirements.
If the conversion of foreign currency is not reasonably
practicable or lawful, or if any required approvals are denied
or not obtainable at a reasonable cost or within a reasonable
period, the depositary bank may take the following actions in
its discretion:
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convert the foreign currency and distribute the U.S. dollars to
the holders for whom the conversion and distribution is
permissible; |
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distribute the foreign currency to holders entitled to the
distribution; or |
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hold the foreign currency (without liability for interest) for
the applicable holders. |
The Custodian
The depositary bank has agreed with the custodian that the
custodian will receive and hold the deposited securities for the
account of the depositary bank in accordance with the deposit
agreement. If the custodian resigns or is discharged from its
duties under the deposit agreement, the depositary bank will
promptly appoint a successor custodian that is organized under
the laws of the ROC. The resigning or discharged custodian will
deliver the deposited securities and related records to the
custodian designated by the depositary bank. The depositary bank
may also appoint an additional custodian for any deposited
securities. The depositary bank will give you written notice of
any such changes. If the depositary bank resigns or is
discharged from its duties under the deposit agreement, the
custodian will, unless otherwise instructed by the depositary
bank, continue to act as custodian and will be subject to the
direction of the successor depositary bank.
Governing Law
The deposit agreement is governed by the laws of the State of
New York. With respect to the authorization of the deposit
agreement by us, such authorization shall be governed by the
laws of the ROC. We and the depositary bank have agreed that the
federal or state courts in the City of New York shall have
jurisdiction to hear and determine any suit, action or
proceeding and to settle any dispute between us that may arise
out of or in connection with the deposit agreement. We have also
submitted to the jurisdiction of such courts for such purpose
only and have appointed an agent for service of process in the
City of New York.
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COMMON SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
Upon completion of this offering, the 151,655,000 ADSs sold in
this offering will be freely tradeable within the United States
without restriction or further registration under the Securities
Act by persons other than us or our affiliates, as
such term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act.
The selling shareholders have agreed, during the period
beginning from the date of this prospectus to and including
December 31, 2006 with respect to Philips and The
Development Fund and 90 days after the date of this
prospectus with respect to Messrs. Morris Chang,
F.C. Tseng, Stephen T. Tso, J.B. Chen,
M.C. Tzeng and Richard Thurston, not to, and not to
announce an intention to, offer, sell, contract to sell or
otherwise dispose of, or file a registration statement or
similar document relating to, any common shares or depositary
shares representing our common shares, or any securities that
are substantially similar to common shares or ADSs representing
our common shares, including but not limited to any securities
that are convertible into or exchangeable for, or that represent
the right to receive, any of these securities or any
substantially similar securities, without the prior written
consent of Goldman Sachs International and J.P. Morgan
Securities Ltd. These restrictions do not apply to the
151,655,000 ADSs and the common shares represented thereby being
offered in connection with this offering and up to
22,745,000 ADSs and the common shares represented thereby
that may be purchased by the underwriters pursuant to their
overallotment option.
We have also agreed, during the period beginning from the date
of this prospectus to and including the date 90 days after
the date of this prospectus, not to, and not to announce an
intention to, issue any common shares, including common shares
represented by ADSs (other than pursuant to employee stock
option plans that we may adopt or have already adopted or any
common shares to be issued as an annual dividend to our
shareholders or annual bonus to employees which is approved by
our shareholders), without the prior written consent of Goldman
Sachs International and J.P. Morgan Securities Ltd.
Although we have no current plans to make such issuance during
this 90-day period, we are not precluded from issuing any
securities that are convertible into or exchangeable for, or
that represent the right to receive, our common shares.
Additional common shares may be sold in ADS form as part of our
conversion sale program, which was adopted in May 1999 and which
may be amended from time to time. The purpose of this program is
to enable sales of common shares in ADS form by certain of our
long-term common shareholders in a gradual and coordinated
fashion. Any of our shareholders, excluding our affiliates, who
are holding at least 0.02% of our outstanding common shares as
of the relevant announcement date and have held such shares for
at least one year as of that date are eligible to file an
application to sell shares under this program. Based on the
24,726,128,803 common shares outstanding as of
June 30, 2005, 0.02% represents 4,945,226 common
shares. The maximum amount that will be approved for
participation in the program during any three-month period will
be 0.5% of our outstanding shares, which, based on the
24,726,128,803 common shares outstanding as of
June 30, 2005, is 123,630,644 shares. We do not
recommend or promote the sale of our shares by our shareholders.
Each transaction under the conversion sale program is subject to
the approval by our board of directors, the approvals by certain
ROC and US regulatory authorities and stock exchanges and market
conditions. Eligible selling shareholders who have submitted a
written application to participate in the program, whether or
not required regulatory approvals are granted or whether or not
any sales are made, must pay, on a pro rata basis, all fees and
expenses incurred by us, the administrative agent, advisors and
trade facilitator in connection with the program. We have
advised the underwriters that we will not effect conversions or
exchanges of common shares into ADSs for 90 days after the
date of this prospectus; provided, however, that we may, during
such 90-day period, commence preparatory work, including making
public announcements, engaging in the application process and
other activities prior to any actual sale of ADSs, pursuant to
the conversion sale program.
Other than as discussed above or under Selling
Shareholders, we are not aware of any plans by any major
shareholders to dispose of significant numbers of common shares.
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FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN THE ROC
Historically, foreign investment in the ROC securities market
has been restricted. Since 1983, the ROC government has
periodically enacted legislation and adopted regulations to
permit foreign investment in the ROC securities market.
On September 30, 2003, the Executive Yuan approved an
amendment to Regulations Governing Investment in Securities by
Overseas Chinese and Foreign National, or the Regulations, which
took effect on October 2, 2003. According to the
Regulations, the ROC Financial Supervisory Commission abolished
the mechanism of the so-called qualified foreign
institutional investors and general foreign
investors as stipulated in the Regulations before the
amendment.
Under the Regulations, foreign investors are classified as
either onshore foreign investors or offshore
foreign investors according to their respective
geographical location. Both onshore and offshore foreign
investors are allowed to invest in ROC securities after they
register with the Taiwan Stock Exchange. The Regulations further
classify foreign investors into foreign institutional investors
and foreign individual investors. Foreign institutional
investors refer to those investors incorporated and
registered in accordance with foreign laws outside of the ROC
(i.e., offshore foreign institutional investors) or their
branches set up and recognized within the ROC (i.e., onshore
foreign institutional investors). Offshore overseas Chinese and
foreign individual investors are subject to a maximum investment
ceiling that will be separately determined by the ROC Financial
Supervisory Commission after consultation with the Central Bank
of China. On the other hand, foreign institutional investors are
not subject to any ceiling for investment in the ROC securities
market.
Except for certain specified industries, such as
telecommunications, investments in ROC-listed companies by
foreign investors are not subject to individual or aggregate
foreign ownership limits. Custodians for foreign investors are
required to submit to the Central Bank of China and the Taiwan
Stock Exchange a monthly report of trading activities and status
of assets under custody and other matters. Capital remitted to
the ROC under these guidelines may be remitted out of the ROC at
any time after the date the capital is remitted to the ROC.
Capital gains and income on investments may be remitted out of
the ROC at any time.
Foreign investors (other than foreign investors who have
registered with the Taiwan Stock Exchange for making investments
in the ROC securities market) who wish to make direct
investments in the shares of ROC companies are required to
submit a foreign investment approval application to the
Investment Commission of the ROC Ministry of Economic Affairs or
other applicable government authority. The Investment Commission
or such other government authority reviews each foreign
investment approval application and approves or disapproves each
application after consultation with other governmental agencies
(such as the Central Bank of China and the ROC Financial
Supervisory Commission).
Under current ROC law, any non-ROC person possessing a foreign
investment approval may repatriate annual net profits, interest
and cash dividends attributable to the approved investment.
Stock dividends attributable to this investment, investment
capital and capital gains attributable to this investment may be
repatriated by the non-ROC person possessing a foreign
investment approval after approvals of the Investment Commission
or other government authorities have been obtained.
In addition to the general restriction against direct investment
by non-ROC persons in securities of ROC companies, non-ROC
persons (except in certain limited cases) are currently
prohibited from investing in certain industries in the ROC
pursuant to a negative list, as amended by the
Executive Yuan. The prohibition on foreign investment in the
prohibited industries specified in the negative list is absolute
in the absence of a specific exemption from the application of
the negative list. Pursuant to the negative list, certain other
industries are restricted so that non-ROC persons (except in
limited cases) may invest in these industries only up to a
specified level and with the specific approval of the relevant
competent authority that is responsible for enforcing the
relevant legislation that the negative list is intended to
implement.
Depositary Receipts. In April 1992, the ROC
Financial Supervisory Commission enacted regulations permitting
ROC companies with securities listed on the Taiwan Stock
Exchange, with the
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prior approval of the ROC Financial Supervisory Commission, to
sponsor the issuance and sale to foreign investors of depositary
receipts. Depositary receipts represent deposited shares of ROC
companies. In December 1994, the ROC Financial Supervisory
Commission allowed companies whose shares are traded on the ROC
GreTai Securities Market or listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange,
upon approval of the ROC Financial Supervisory Commission, to
sponsor the issuance and sale of depositary receipts.
A holder of depositary receipts (other than citizens of the PRC
and entities organized under the laws of the PRC) may request
the depositary to either cause the underlying shares to be sold
in the ROC and to distribute the sale proceeds to the holder or
to withdraw from the depositary receipt facility the shares
represented by the depositary receipts to the extent permitted
under the deposit agreement (for depositary receipts
representing previously existing shares, immediately after the
issuance of the depositary receipts; and for depositary receipts
representing new shares, in practice four to seven business days
after the issuance of the depositary receipts) and transfer the
shares to the holder.
We, or the foreign depositary bank, may not increase the number
of depositary receipts by depositing shares in a depositary
receipt facility or issuing additional depositary receipts
against these deposits without specific ROC Financial
Supervisory Commission approval, except in limited
circumstances. These circumstances include issuances of
additional depositary receipts in connection with:
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dividends on or free distributions of shares; |
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the exercise by holders of existing depositary receipts of their
pre-emptive rights in connection with capital increases for
cash; or |
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if permitted under the deposit agreement and custody agreement,
the deposit of common shares purchased by any person directly or
through a depositary bank on the Taiwan Stock Exchange or the
GreTai Securities Market (as applicable) or held by such person
for deposit in the depositary receipt facility. |
However, the total number of deposited shares outstanding after
an issuance under the circumstances described in the third
clause above may not exceed the number of deposited shares
previously approved by the ROC Financial Supervisory Commission
plus any depositary receipts created under the circumstances
described in the first two clauses above. Issuances of
additional depositary receipts under the circumstances described
in the third clause above will be permitted to the extent that
previously issued depositary receipts have been canceled and the
underlying shares have been withdrawn from the depositary
receipt facility
Under current ROC law, a non-ROC holder of ADSs who withdraws
and holds the underlying shares must register with the Taiwan
Stock Exchange and appoint an eligible local agent to:
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open a securities trading account with a local securities
brokerage firm; |
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remit funds; and |
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exercise rights on securities and perform other matters as may
be designated by the holder. |
Under existing ROC laws and regulations, without this account,
holders of ADSs that withdraw and hold the common shares
represented by the ADSs would not be able to hold or
subsequently transfer the common shares, whether on the Taiwan
Stock Exchange or otherwise. In addition, a withdrawing non-ROC
holder must appoint a local bank to act as custodian for
handling confirmation and settlement of trades, safekeeping of
securities and cash proceeds and reporting of information.
Holders of ADSs who are non-ROC persons withdrawing common
shares represented by ADSs are required under current ROC law
and regulations to appoint an agent in the ROC for filing tax
returns and making tax payments. This agent, a tax
guarantor, must meet certain qualifications set by the ROC
Ministry of Finance and, upon appointment, becomes a guarantor
of the withdrawing holders ROC tax payment obligations. In
addition, under current ROC law, repatriation of profits by a
non-ROC withdrawing holder is subject to the submission of
evidence of the appointment of a tax guarantor to, and approval
thereof by, the tax authority, or submission of tax clearance
certificates or submission of evidencing documents issued by
such agent (so long as the capital gains from
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securities transactions are exempt from ROC income tax). As
required by the Central Bank of China, if repatriation by a
holder is based on a tax clearance certificate, the aggregate
amount of the cash dividends or interest on bank deposits
converted into foreign currencies to be repatriated by the
holder shall not exceed the amount of:
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the net payment indicated on the withholding tax voucher issued
by the tax authority; |
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the net investment gains as indicated on the holders
certificate of tax payment; or |
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the aggregate transfer price as indicated on the income tax
return for transfer of tax-deferred dividend shares, whichever
is applicable. |
Under existing ROC laws and regulations relating to foreign
exchange control, a depositary may, without obtaining further
approvals from the Central Bank of China or any other
governmental authority or agency of the ROC, convert NT dollars
into other currencies, including US dollars, in respect of the
following: proceeds of the sale of shares represented by
depositary receipts, proceeds of the sale of shares received as
stock dividends and deposited into the depositary receipt
facility and any cash dividends or cash distributions received.
In addition, a depositary, also without any of these approvals,
may convert inward remittances of payments into NT dollars for
purchases of underlying shares for deposit into the depositary
receipt facility against the creation of additional depositary
receipts. A depositary may be required to obtain foreign
exchange approval from the Central Bank of China on a
payment-by-payment basis for conversion from NT dollars into
other currencies relating to the sale of subscription rights for
new shares. Proceeds from the sale of any underlying shares by
holders of depositary receipts withdrawn from the depositary
receipt facility may be converted into other currencies without
obtaining Central Bank of China approval. Proceeds from the sale
of the underlying shares withdrawn from the depositary receipt
facility may be used for reinvestment in the Taiwan Stock
Exchange or the GreTai Securities Market, subject to registering
with the Taiwan Stock Exchange.
Direct Share Offerings. The ROC government has
amended regulations to permit ROC companies listed on the Taiwan
Stock Exchange or GreTai Securities Market to issue shares
directly (not through depositary receipt facility) overseas.
Overseas Corporate Bonds. Since 1989, the ROC
Financial Supervisory Commission has approved a series of
overseas bonds issued by ROC companies listed on the Taiwan
Stock Exchange or the GreTai Securities Market in offerings
outside the ROC. Under current ROC law, these overseas corporate
bonds can be:
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converted by bondholders, other than citizens of the PRC and
entities organized under the laws of the PRC, into shares of ROC
companies; or |
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subject to ROC Financial Supervisory Commission approval,
converted into depositary receipts issued by the same ROC
company or by the issuing company of the exchange shares, in the
case of exchangeable bonds. |
The relevant regulations also permit public issuing companies to
issue corporate debt in offerings outside the ROC. Proceeds from
the sale of the shares converted from overseas convertible bonds
may be used for reinvestment in securities listed on the Taiwan
Stock Exchange or traded on the GreTai Securities Market,
subject to registering with the Taiwan Stock Exchange.
Exchange Controls in the ROC
The Foreign Exchange Control Statute and regulations provide
that all foreign exchange transactions must be executed by banks
designated to handle such business by the ROC Financial
Supervisory Commission and by the Central Bank of China. Current
regulations favor trade-related foreign exchange transactions.
Consequently, foreign currency earned from exports of
merchandise and services may now be retained and used freely by
exporters, and all foreign currency needed for the importation
of merchandise and services may be purchased freely from the
designated foreign exchange banks.
Trade aside, ROC companies and resident individuals may, without
foreign exchange approval, remit outside the ROC foreign
currency of up to US$50 million (or its equivalent) and
US$5 million
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(or its equivalent), respectively, in each calendar year. In
addition, ROC companies and resident individuals may, without
foreign exchange approval, remit into the ROC foreign currency
of up to US$50 million (or its equivalent) and
US$5 million (or its equivalent), respectively, in each
calendar year. Furthermore, any remittance of foreign currency
into the ROC by a ROC company or resident individual in a year
will be offset by the amount remitted out of ROC by such company
or individual (as applicable) within its annual quota and will
not use up its annual inward remittance quota to the extent of
such offset. The above limits apply to remittances involving a
conversion of NT dollars to a foreign currency and vice versa. A
requirement is also imposed on all enterprises to register
medium-and long-term foreign debt with the Central Bank of China.
In addition, foreign persons may, subject to certain
requirements, but without foreign exchange approval of the
Central Bank of China, remit outside and into the ROC foreign
currencies of up to US$100,000 (or its equivalent) for each
remittance. The above limit applies to remittances involving a
conversion of NT dollars to a foreign currency and vice versa.
The above limit does not, however, apply to the conversion of NT
dollars into other currencies, including US dollars, in respect
of the proceeds of sale of any underlying shares withdrawn from
a depositary receipt facility.
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TAXATION
ROC Taxation
The following is a general summary of the principal ROC tax
consequences of the ownership and disposition of ADSs
representing common shares to a non-resident individual or
entity. It applies only to a holder that is:
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an individual who is not an ROC citizen, who owns ADSs and who
is not physically present in the ROC for 183 days or more
during any calendar year; or |
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a corporation or a non-corporate body that is organized under
the laws of a jurisdiction other than the ROC for profit-making
purposes and has no fixed place of business or other permanent
establishment in the ROC. |
Holders of ADSs are urged to consult their own tax advisors as
to the particular ROC tax consequences of owning the ADSs which
may affect them.
Dividends. Dividends declared by us out of our
retained earnings and distributed to the holders are subject to
ROC withholding tax, currently at the rate of 20%, on the amount
of the distribution in the case of cash dividends or on the par
value of the common shares in the case of stock dividends.
However, a 10% ROC retained earnings tax paid by us on our
undistributed after-tax earnings, if any, would provide a credit
of up to 10% of the gross amount of any dividends declared out
of those earnings that would reduce the 20% ROC tax imposed on
those distributions.
Distribution of common shares declared by us out of our capital
reserves is not subject to ROC withholding tax.
Capital Gains. Under ROC law, capital gains on
transactions in the common shares are currently exempt from
income tax. In addition, transfers of ADSs are not regarded as a
sale of an ROC security and, as a result, any gains on such
transactions are not subject to ROC income tax.
Subscription Rights. Distributions of statutory
subscription rights for common shares in compliance with ROC law
are not subject to any ROC tax. Proceeds derived from sales of
statutory subscription rights evidenced by securities are
exempted from income tax but are subject to securities
transaction tax at the rate of 0.3% of the gross amount
received. Proceeds derived from sales of statutory subscription
rights that are not evidenced by securities are subject to
capital gains tax at the rate of:
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35% of the gains realized if you are a natural person; or |
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25% of the gains realized if you are an entity that is not a
natural person. |
Subject to compliance with ROC law, we, at our sole discretion,
can determine whether statutory subscription rights shall be
evidenced by issuance of securities.
Securities Transaction Tax. A securities
transaction tax, at the rate of 0.3% of the sales proceeds, will
be withheld upon a sale of common shares in the ROC. Transfers
of ADSs are not subject to ROC securities transaction tax.
Withdrawal of common shares from the deposit facility is not
subject to ROC securities transaction tax.
Estate and Gift Tax. ROC estate tax is
payable on any property within the ROC of a deceased who is an
individual, and ROC gift tax is payable on any property within
the ROC donated by an individual. Estate tax is currently
payable at rates ranging from 2% of the first NT$600,000 to 50%
of amounts over NT$100,000,000. Gift tax is payable at rates
ranging from 4% of the first NT$600,000 to 50% of amounts over
NT$45,000,000. Under ROC estate and gift tax laws, common shares
issued by ROC companies are deemed located in the ROC regardless
of the location of the holder. It is unclear whether a holder of
ADSs will be considered to hold common shares for this purpose.
Tax Treaty. The ROC does not have a double
taxation treaty with the United States. On the other hand, the
ROC has double taxation treaties with Indonesia, Singapore,
South Africa, Australia, Vietnam, New Zealand, Malaysia,
Macedonia, Swaziland, Gambia, The Netherlands, the United
Kingdom, Senegal and Sweden which may limit the rate of ROC
withholding tax on dividends paid with respect to common shares
in ROC companies. It is unclear whether the ADS holders will be
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considered to hold common shares for the purposes of these
treaties. Accordingly, if the holders may otherwise be entitled
to the benefits of the relevant income tax treaty, the holders
should consult their tax advisors concerning their eligibility
for the benefits with respect to the ADSs.
United States Federal Income Taxation
This section discusses the material United States federal income
tax consequences to U.S. holders (as defined below) of
owning and disposing of our common shares or ADSs. It applies to
you only if you acquire your common shares or ADSs in this
offering and hold your common shares or ADSs as capital assets
for tax purposes. This section does not apply to you if you are
a member of a special class of holders subject to special rules,
including:
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dealers in securities; |
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traders in securities that elect to use a mark-to-market method
of accounting for their securities holdings; |
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tax-exempt organizations; |
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life insurance companies; |
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persons liable for alternative minimum tax; |
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persons that actually or constructively own 10% or more of our
voting stock; |
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persons that hold common shares or ADSs as part of a straddle or
a hedging or conversion transaction; or |
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U.S. holders, as defined below, whose functional currency
is not the U.S. dollar. |
This section is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, its legislative history, existing and proposed
regulations, published rulings and court decisions, all as
currently in effect. These laws are subject to change, possibly
on a retroactive basis. In addition, this section is based in
part upon the representations of the depositary and the
assumption that each obligation in the Deposit Agreement and any
related agreement will be performed in accordance with its
terms. In general, for United States federal income tax
purposes, if you hold ADRs evidencing ADSs, you will be treated
as the owner of the shares represented by those ADSs. Exchanges
of shares for ADRs, and ADRs for shares, generally will not be
subject to United States federal income tax.
You are a U.S. holder if you are a beneficial owner of
common shares or ADSs and you are:
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a citizen or resident of the United States; |
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a domestic corporation; |
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an estate whose income is subject to United States federal
income tax regardless of its source; or |
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a trust if a United States court can exercise primary
supervision over the trusts administration and one or more
United States persons are authorized to control all substantial
decisions of the trust. |
A non-U.S. holder is a beneficial owner of common
shares or ADSs that is not a United States person for United
States federal income tax purposes.
We urge you to consult your own tax advisor regarding the
United States federal, state and local tax consequences of
owning and disposing of common shares or ADSs in your particular
circumstances.
Taxation
of Dividends
U.S. Holders. Subject to the passive foreign investment
company, or PFIC, rules discussed below, if you are a U.S.
holder, the gross amount of any dividend we pay in respect of
your common shares or ADSs out of our current or accumulated
earnings and profits (as determined for United States federal
income tax purposes) including the amount of any ROC tax
withheld reduced by any credit against such withholding tax on
account of the 10% retained earnings tax imposed on us, is
subject to United States federal income taxation. If you are a
noncorporate U.S. holder, dividends paid to you in taxable years
beginning before January 1, 2009 that constitute qualified
dividend income will be taxable to you at a maximum tax rate of
15% provided that you hold the common
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shares or ADSs for more than 60 days during the 121-day
period beginning 60 days before the ex-dividend date and
meet other holding period requirements. Dividends we pay with
respect to the common shares or ADSs will be qualified dividend
income provided that, in the year that you receive the dividend,
the common shares or ADSs are readily tradable on an established
securities market in the United States. The dividend is taxable
to you when you, in the case of common shares, or the
Depositary, in the case of ADSs, receives the dividend actually
or constructively. The dividend will not be eligible for the
dividends-received deduction generally allowed to United States
corporations in respect of dividends received from other United
States corporations. The amount of the dividend distribution
that you must include in your income as a U.S. holder will be
the U.S. dollar value of the NT Dollar payments made, determined
at the spot NT Dollar/ U.S. dollar rate on the date the dividend
distribution is includible in your income, regardless of whether
the payment is in fact converted into U.S. dollars. Generally,
any gain or loss resulting from currency exchange fluctuations
during the period from the date you include the dividend payment
in income to the date you convert the payment into U.S. dollars
will be treated as ordinary income or loss and will not be
eligible for the special tax rate applicable to qualified
dividend income. The gain or loss generally will be income or
loss from sources within the United States for foreign tax
credit limitation purposes. Distributions in excess of current
and accumulated earnings and profits, as determined for United
States federal income tax purposes, will be treated as a
non-taxable return of capital to the extent of your basis in the
common shares or ADSs and thereafter as capital gain.
Subject to generally applicable limitations and restrictions,
the ROC taxes withheld from dividend distributions and paid over
to the ROC (reduced by any credit against such withholding tax
on account of the 10% retained earnings tax) will be eligible
for credit against your U.S. federal income tax liabilities.
Special rules apply in determining the foreign tax credit
limitation with respect to dividends that are subject to the
maximum 15% tax rate. Dividends will be income from sources
outside the United States. Dividends paid in taxable years
beginning before January 1, 2007 generally will be
passive or financial services income,
and dividends paid in taxable years beginning after
December 31, 2006 will, depending on your circumstances, be
passive or general income which, in
either case, is treated separately from other types of income
for purposes of computing the foreign tax credit allowable to
you.
Pro rata distributions of common shares by us to holders
of common shares or ADSs will generally not be subject to U.S.
federal income tax. Accordingly, such distributions will
generally not give rise to U.S. federal income against which the
ROC tax imposed on such distributions may be credited. Any such
ROC tax will generally only be creditable against a U.S.
holders U.S. federal income tax liability with respect to
general limitation income and not against passive income or
financial services income (in the case of taxable years
beginning before January 1, 2007) or against passive income
(in the case of taxable years beginning after December 31,
2006).
In the event that the ex-dividend date on The New York Stock
Exchange or other securities exchange or market for a dividend
or distribution that gives rise to ROC withholding tax is after
the record date for such dividend or distribution (during which
period such ADSs may trade with due bills), a
purchaser of ADSs during the period from the record date to the
ex-dividend date likely would not be entitled to a foreign tax
credit for ROC taxes paid in respect of such ADSs even if
(i) the purchaser receives the equivalent of such dividend
or distribution on the relevant distribution date and
(ii) an amount equivalent to the applicable ROC withholding
tax is withheld therefrom or otherwise charged to the account of
such purchaser.
Non-U.S. Holders. If you are a non-U.S. holder, dividends
paid to you in respect of common shares or ADSs will not be
subject to United States federal income tax unless the dividends
are effectively connected with your conduct of a
trade or business within the United States, and the dividends
are attributable to a permanent establishment that you maintain
in the United States if that is required by an applicable income
tax treaty for which you are eligible as a condition for
subjecting you to United States taxation on a net income basis.
In such cases you generally will be taxed in the same manner as
a U.S. holder. If you are a corporate non-U.S. holder,
effectively connected dividends may, under certain
circumstances, be subject to an additional branch profits
tax at a
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30% rate. You may be subject to a branch profits tax at a
reduced rate if you are eligible for the benefits of an income
tax treaty that provides for a reduced rate.
Taxation
of Capital Gains
U.S. Holders. Subject to the PFIC rules discussed below,
if you are a U.S. holder and you sell or otherwise dispose of
your common shares or ADSs, you will recognize capital gain or
loss for United States federal income tax purposes equal to the
difference between the U.S. dollar value of the amount that you
realize and your tax basis, determined in U.S. dollars, in your
common shares or ADSs. Capital gain of a noncorporate U.S.
holder that is recognized before January 1, 2009 is
generally taxed at a maximum rate of 15% where the property is
held more than one year. The gain or loss will generally be
income or loss from sources within the United States for foreign
tax credit limitation purposes.
Non-U.S. Holders. If you are a non-U.S. holder, you will
not be subject to United States federal income tax on gain
recognized on the sale or other disposition of your common
shares or ADSs unless:
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the gain is effectively connected with your conduct
of a trade or business in the United States and the gain is
attributable to a permanent establishment that you maintain in
the United States if that is required by an applicable income
tax treaty as a condition for subjecting you to United States
taxation on a net income basis; or |
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you are an individual and are present in the United States for
183 or more days in the taxable year of the sale and certain
other conditions exist. |
If you are a corporate non-U.S. holder, effectively
connected gains that you recognize may also, under certain
circumstances, be subject to an additional branch profits
tax at a 30% rate. You may be subject to a branch profits
tax at a reduced rate if you are eligible for the benefits of an
income tax treaty that provides for a reduced rate.
Passive
Foreign Investment Company Rules
We believe that common shares and ADSs should not be treated as
stock of a PFIC for United States federal income tax purposes,
but this conclusion is a factual determination that is made
annually and thus may be subject to change.
In general, if you are a U.S. holder, we will be a PFIC with
respect to you if for any taxable year in which you held our
common shares or ADSs:
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at least 75% of our gross income for the taxable year is passive
income; or |
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at least 50% of the value, determined on the basis of a
quarterly average, of our assets is attributable to assets that
produce or are held for the production of passive income. |
Passive income generally includes dividends, interest,
royalties, rents (other than certain rents and royalties derived
in the active conduct of a trade or business), annuities and
gains from assets that produce passive income. If a foreign
corporation owns directly or indirectly at least 25% by value of
the stock of another corporation, the foreign corporation is
treated for purposes of the PFIC tests as owning its
proportionate share of the assets of the other corporation, and
as receiving directly its proportionate share of the other
corporations income.
If we are treated as a PFIC, and you are a U.S. holder that does
not make a mark-to-market election, as described below, you will
be subject to special rules with respect to:
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any gain you realize on the sale or other disposition of your
common shares or ADSs; and |
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any excess distribution that we make to you (generally, any
distributions to you during a single taxable year that are
greater than 125% of the average annual distributions received
by you in respect of the common shares or ADSs during the three
preceding taxable years or, if shorter, your holding period for
the common shares or ADSs). |
Under these rules:
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the gain or excess distribution will be allocated ratably over
your holding period for the common shares or ADSs, |
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the amount allocated to the taxable year in which you realized
the gain or excess distribution will be taxed as ordinary income, |
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the amount allocated to each prior year, with certain
exceptions, will be taxed at the highest tax rate in effect for
that year, and |
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the interest charge generally applicable to underpayments of tax
will be imposed in respect of the tax attributable to each such
year. |
Special rules apply for calculating the amount of the foreign
tax credit with respect to excess distributions by a PFIC.
If you own common shares or ADSs in a PFIC that are treated as
marketable stock, you may make a mark-to-market election. If you
make this election, you will not be subject to the PFIC rules
described above. Instead, in general, you will include as
ordinary income each year the excess, if any, of the fair market
value of your common shares or ADSs at the end of the taxable
year over your adjusted basis in your common shares or ADSs.
These amounts of ordinary income will not be eligible for the
favorable tax rates applicable to qualified dividend income or
long-term capital gains. You will also be allowed to take an
ordinary loss in respect of the excess, if any, of the adjusted
basis of your common shares or ADSs over their fair market value
at the end of the taxable year (but only to the extent of the
net amount of previously included income as a result of the
mark-to-market election). Your basis in the common shares or
ADSs will be adjusted to reflect any such income or loss
amounts. Your gain, if any, recognized upon the sale of your
common shares or ADSs will be taxed as ordinary income.
In addition, notwithstanding any election you make with regard
to the common shares or ADSs, dividends that you receive from us
will not constitute qualified dividend income to you if we are a
PFIC either in the taxable year of the distribution or the
preceding taxable year. Moreover, your common shares or ADSs
will be treated as stock in a PFIC if we were a PFIC at any time
during your holding period in your shares or ADSs, even if we
are not currently a PFIC. For purposes of this rule, if you make
a mark-to-market election with respect to your shares or ADSs,
you will be treated as having a new holding period in your
shares or ADSs beginning on the first day of the first taxable
year beginning after the last taxable year for which the
mark-to-market election applies. Dividends that you receive that
do not constitute qualified dividend income are not eligible for
taxation at the 15% maximum rate applicable to qualified
dividend income. Instead, you must include the gross amount of
any such dividend paid by us out of our accumulated earnings and
profits (as determined for United States federal income tax
purposes) in your gross income, and it will be subject to tax at
rates applicable to ordinary income as well as the special rules
provided with respect to excess distributions, if applicable, as
described above.
If you own common shares or ADSs during any year that we are a
PFIC with respect to you, you must file Internal Revenue Service
Form 8621.
Backup
Withholding and Information Reporting
If you are a noncorporate U.S. holder, information reporting
requirements, on Internal Revenue Service Form 1099,
generally will apply to:
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dividend payments or other taxable distributions made to you
within the United States, and |
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the payment of proceeds to you from the sale of common shares or
ADSs effected at a United States office of a broker. |
Additionally, backup withholding may apply to such payments if
you are a noncorporate U.S. holder that:
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fails to provide an accurate taxpayer identification number, |
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is notified by the Internal Revenue Service that you have failed
to report all interest and dividends required to be shown on
your federal income tax returns, or |
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in certain circumstances, fails to comply with applicable
certification requirements. |
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If you are a non-U.S. holder, you are generally exempt from
backup withholding and information reporting requirements with
respect to:
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dividend payments made to you outside the United States by us or
another non-United States payor and |
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other dividend payments and the payment of the proceeds from the
sale of common shares or ADSs effected at a United States office
of a broker, as long as the income associated with such payments
is otherwise exempt from United States federal income tax, and: |
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the payor or broker does not have actual knowledge or reason to
know that you are a United States person and you have furnished
the payor or broker: |
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an Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or an acceptable
substitute form upon which you certify, under penalties of
perjury, that you are a non-United States person, or |
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other documentation upon which it may rely to treat the payments
as made to a non-United States person in accordance with U.S.
Treasury regulations, or |
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you otherwise establish an exemption. |
Payment of the proceeds from the sale of common shares or ADSs
effected at a foreign office of a broker generally will not be
subject to information reporting or backup withholding. However,
a sale of common shares or ADSs that is effected at a foreign
office of a broker will be subject to information reporting and
backup withholding if:
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the proceeds are transferred to an account maintained by you in
the United States, |
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the payment of proceeds or the confirmation of the sale is
mailed to you at a United States address, or |
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the sale has some other specified connection with the United
States as provided in U.S. Treasury regulations, |
unless the broker does not have actual knowledge or reason to
know that you are a United States person and the documentation
requirements described above are met or you otherwise establish
an exemption.
In addition, a sale of common shares or ADSs effected at a
foreign office of a broker will be subject to information
reporting if the broker is:
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a United States person, |
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a controlled foreign corporation for United States tax purposes, |
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a foreign person 50% or more of whose gross income is
effectively connected with the conduct of a United States trade
or business for a specified three-year period, or |
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a foreign partnership, if at any time during its tax year: |
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one or more of its partners are U.S. persons, as
defined in U.S. Treasury regulations, who in the aggregate hold
more than 50% of the income or capital interest in the
partnership, or |
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such foreign partnership is engaged in the conduct of a United
States trade or business, |
unless the broker does not have actual knowledge or reason to
know that you are a United States person and the documentation
requirements described above are met or you otherwise establish
an exemption. Backup withholding will apply if the sale is
subject to information reporting and the broker has actual
knowledge that you are a United States person.
You generally may obtain a refund of any amounts withheld under
the backup withholding rules that exceed your income tax
liability by filing a refund claim with the United States
Internal Revenue Service.
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ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES
We are a company limited by shares and incorporated under the
ROC Company Law. Most of our directors and executive officers,
our supervisors and some of the experts named in this prospectus
are residents of the ROC and a substantial portion of our assets
and our directors, supervisors or executive officers are located
in the ROC. As a result, it may be difficult or may not be
possible for investors to effect service of process upon us or
our directors, supervisors or executive officers within the
United States, or to enforce against them judgments obtained in
the United States courts, including those predicated upon the
civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the
United States. We have been advised by our ROC counsel, Lee and
Li, that in their opinion any final judgment obtained against us
in any court other than the courts of the ROC in respect of any
legal suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to the ADSs
will be enforced by the courts of the ROC without further review
of the merits only if the court of the ROC in which enforcement
is sought is satisfied that:
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the court rendering the judgment had jurisdiction over the
subject matter according to the laws of the ROC; |
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the judgment and the court procedures resulting in the judgment
are not contrary to the public order or good morals of the ROC; |
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if the judgment was rendered by default by the court rendering
the judgment, (x) we were duly served within a reasonable
period of time within the jurisdiction of that court in
accordance with the laws and regulations of such jurisdiction,
or (y) process was served on us with judicial assistance of
the ROC; and |
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judgments of the courts of the ROC are recognized and
enforceable in the jurisdiction of the court rendering the
judgment on a reciprocal basis. |
A party seeking to enforce a foreign judgment in the ROC would
be required to obtain foreign exchange approval from the Central
Bank of China for the remittance out of the ROC of any amounts
recovered in respect of a judgment denominated in a currency
other than NT dollars.
VALIDITY OF SECURITIES
The validity of the ADSs is being passed upon for Philips by
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, for the Development Fund by
Heller Ehrman LLP, for us by Sullivan & Cromwell LLP,
and for the underwriters by Cleary Gottlieb Steen &
Hamilton LLP. The validity of the common shares is being
passed upon for Philips by Lee and Li, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC, for
the Development Fund by Baker & McKenzie, Taipei, Taiwan,
ROC, for us by Lee and Li, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC, and for the
underwriters by Tsar & Tsai, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements incorporated in this
prospectus by reference from the Companys Annual Report on
Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2004 have
been audited by Deloitte & Touche, an independent
registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report,
which is incorporated herein by reference, and have been so
incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon
their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
The offices of Deloitte & Touche are located at
6th Floor, 2 Prosperity Road I, Hsinchu Science
Park, Hsinchu, ROC.
47
UNDERWRITING
We, the selling shareholders and the underwriters for this
offering named below have entered into an underwriting agreement
with respect to the ADSs being offered both within and outside
the United States. Subject to certain conditions, each
underwriter has severally agreed to purchase the number of ADSs
indicated in the following table. Goldman Sachs International
and J.P. Morgan Securities Ltd., the joint bookrunners for this
offering, are the representatives of the underwriters. The
address of Goldman Sachs International is Peterborough Court,
133 Fleet Street, London, EC4A 2BB, England. The address of
J.P. Morgan Securities Ltd. is 125 London Wall, London
EC2Y 5AJ, United Kingdom.
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Underwriters |
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Number of ADSs |
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Goldman Sachs International
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75,827,500 |
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J.P. Morgan Securities
Ltd.
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37,913,750 |
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Merrill Lynch International
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15,165,500 |
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ABN AMRO Bank N.V. and NM
Rothschild & Sons Limited,
each trading as ABN AMRO Rothschild
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4,549,650 |
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Banc of America Securities LLC
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4,549,650 |
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CLSA Limited
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4,549,650 |
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Credit Suisse First Boston (Hong
Kong) Limited
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4,549,650 |
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Deutsche Bank Securities
Inc.
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4,549,650 |
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Total
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151,655,000 |
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The underwriters are committed to take and pay for all of the
ADSs being offered, if any are taken, other than the ADSs
covered by the option described below unless and until this
option is exercised.
If the underwriters sell more ADSs than the total number set
forth in the table above, the underwriters have an option to buy
up to an additional 22,745,000 ADSs from the selling
shareholders to cover these sales. They may exercise that option
within 30 days of the date of this prospectus. If any ADSs
are purchased pursuant to this option, the underwriters will
severally purchase ADSs in approximately the same proportion as
set forth in the table above.
The following table shows the per ADS and total underwriting
discounts and commissions to be paid to the underwriters by the
selling shareholders. Such amounts are shown assuming both no
exercise and full exercise of the underwriters option to
purchase up to 22,745,000 additional ADSs.
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Paid by the selling shareholders |
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Paid by the selling shareholders |
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(no exercise) |
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(full exercise) |
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Per ADS
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US$0.1462 |
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|
US$0.1462 |
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Total
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US$22,171,961 |
|
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|
US$25,497,280 |
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Total expenses for this offering are estimated to be
approximately US$6.1 million, including depositary bank
fees and expenses of approximately US$3.5 million, SEC
registration fees of US$176,550, NASD fees of US$75,500,
printing fees of approximately US$70,000, legal fees of
approximately US$800,000 and accounting fees of approximately
US$700,000. The underwriters have agreed to reimburse Taiwan
Semiconductor for or pay on Taiwan Semiconductors behalf
the fees and expenses it incurs in connection with this
offering, and they have also agreed to bear their own expenses
and certain of the expenses of the selling shareholders in
connection with the offering. The underwriters estimate that
such fees and expenses reimbursed to or paid on behalf of Taiwan
Semiconductor and the selling shareholders will be approximately
US$2.6 million in the aggregate.
ADSs sold by the underwriters to the public will initially be
offered at the initial price to public set forth on the cover of
this prospectus. Any ADSs sold by the underwriters to securities
dealers may be sold at a discount of up to US$0.0878 per ADS
from the initial price to public. Any such securities dealers
may resell any ADSs purchased from the underwriters to certain
other brokers or
48
dealers at a discount of up to US$0.100 per ADS from the initial
price to public. If all the ADSs are not sold at the initial
price to public, the underwriters may change the offering price
and the other selling terms.
We have been advised by the underwriters that some of the
underwriters are expected to make offers and sales both inside
and outside of the United States through their respective
selling agents. Any offers and sales in the United States will
be conducted by broker-dealers registered with the Securities
and Exchange Commission. Goldman Sachs International is expected
to make offers and sales in the United States through its
selling agent, Goldman, Sachs & Co. J.P. Morgan
Securities Ltd. is expected to make offers and sales in the
United States through its selling agent, J.P. Morgan
Securities Inc.
The underwriters have entered into an agreement in which they
agree to restrictions on where and to whom they and any dealer
purchasing from them may offer shares or ADSs as a part of the
distribution of the shares and ADSs. The underwriters also have
agreed that they may sell shares and ADSs among themselves.
The selling shareholders have agreed, during the period
beginning from the date of this prospectus to and including
December 31, 2006 with respect to Philips and The
Development Fund and 90 days after the date of this
prospectus with respect to Messrs. Morris Chang, F.C.
Tseng, Stephen T. Tso, J.B. Chen, M.C. Tzeng and Richard
Thurston, not to, and not to announce an intention to, offer,
sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of, or file a
registration statement or similar document relating to, any
common shares or depositary shares representing our common
shares, or any securities that are substantially similar to
common shares or ADSs representing our common shares, including
but not limited to any securities that are convertible into or
exchangeable for, or that represent the right to receive, any of
these securities or any substantially similar securities,
without the prior written consent of the representatives of the
underwriters.
We have also agreed, during the period beginning from the date
of this prospectus to and including the date 90 days after
the date of this prospectus, not to, and not to announce an
intention to, issue any common shares, including common shares
represented by ADSs (other than pursuant to employee stock
option plans that we may adopt or have already adopted or any
common shares to be issued as an annual dividend to shareholders
or annual bonus to employees which is approved by our
shareholders), without the prior written consent of the
representatives of the underwriters. Although we have no current
plans to make such issuance during this 90-day period, we are
not precluded from issuing any securities that are convertible
into or exchangeable for, or that represent the right to
receive, our common shares. See Common Shares Eligible for
Future Sale for a discussion of material transfer
restrictions.
The ADSs have not been offered or sold and will not be offered
or sold to the public in the United Kingdom within the meaning
of section 102B of the Financial Services and Markets Act
2000 (as amended), or FSMA, except to legal entities which are
authorized or regulated to operate in the financial markets or,
if not so authorized or regulated, whose corporate purpose is
solely to invest in securities or otherwise in circumstances
which do not require the publication by us of a prospectus
pursuant to the Prospectus Rules of the Financial Services
Authority, or FSA. An invitation or inducement to engage in
investment activity (within the meaning of section 21 of
FSMA) may only be communicated or caused to be communicated to
persons who have professional experience in matters relating to
investments falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial
Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005
or in circumstances in which section 21 of FSMA does not
apply to us. All applicable provisions of FSMA with respect to
anything done by the underwriters in relation to the ADSs in,
from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom have been and
will be complied with.
In relation to each member state of the European Economic Area
which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a
relevant member state), from and including the date
(the relevant implementation date) on which the
Prospectus Directive is implemented in that relevant member
state, no offer of the ADSs has been or will be made to the
public in that relevant member state prior to the publication of
a prospectus in relation to the ADSs which has been approved by
the
49
competent authority in that relevant member state or, where
appropriate, approved in another relevant member state and
notified to the competent authority in that relevant member
state, all in accordance with the Prospectus Directive, except
that offers of the ADSs may be made, with effect from and
including the relevant implementation date, to the public in
that relevant member state at any time:
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(a) |
to legal entities which are authorized or regulated to operate
in the financial markets or, if not so authorized or regulated,
whose corporate purpose is solely to invest in securities; |
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(b) |
to any legal entity which has two or more of (1) an average
of at least 250 employees during the last financial year;
(2) a total balance sheet of more than
43,000,000 and
(3) an annual net turnover of more than
50,000,000, as shown
in its last annual or consolidated accounts; or |
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(c) |
in any other circumstances which do not require the publication
by the Issuer of a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the
Prospectus Directive. |
For the purposes of this provision, the expression an
offer to the public in relation to any ADSs in any
relevant member state means the communication in any form and by
any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer
and the ADSs to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide
to purchase or subscribe the ADSs, as the same may be varied in
that member state by any measure implementing the Prospectus
Directive in that member state and the expression Prospectus
Directive means Directive 2003/71/EC and includes any
relevant implementing measure in each relevant member state.
The ADSs have not been and will not be registered under the
Securities and Exchange Law of Japan and may not be offered or
sold, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the account
or benefit of, any resident of Japan or to, or for the account
or benefit of, any person for reoffering or resale, directly or
indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the account or benefit of,
any resident of Japan, except (1) pursuant to an exemption
from the registration requirements of, or otherwise in
compliance with, the Securities and Exchange Law of Japan and
(2) in compliance with any other relevant laws and
regulations of Japan.
The ADSs may not be offered or sold by means of any document
other than to persons whose ordinary business is to buy or sell
shares or debentures, whether as principal or agent, or in
circumstances which do not constitute an offer to the public
within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32) of Hong
Kong, and no advertisement, invitation or document relating to
the ADSs may be issued, whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere, which
is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be
accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if
permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other
than with respect to ADSs which are or are intended to be
disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to
professional investors within the meaning of the
Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571) of Hong Kong and any
rules made thereunder.
This prospectus has not been registered as a prospectus with the
Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus
and any other document or material in connection with the offer
or sale, or invitation or subscription or purchase, of the ADSs
may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the ADSs be
offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for
subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to
persons in Singapore other than under circumstances in which
such offer, sale or invitation does not constitute an offer or
sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the ADSs to
the public in Singapore.
Any ADSs that are offered, as part of their initial distribution
or by way of re-offering, in The Netherlands shall, in order to
comply with the Netherlands Securities Market Supervision Act
1995 (Wet toezicht effectenverkeer 1995), only be
offered, and such an offer shall only be announced in writing
(whether electronically or otherwise), to individuals or legal
entities in The Netherlands who or which trade or invest in
securities in the conduct of a business or profession (which
includes banks, securities intermediaries (including dealers and
brokers), insurance companies, pension funds, collective
investment institutions, central governments, large
international and supranational organiza-
50
tions, other institutional investors and other parties,
including treasury departments of commercial enterprises, which
as an ancillary activity regularly invest in securities
(together, Professional Investors)), provided that
in the offer and in any documents or advertisements in which a
forthcoming offering of such ADSs is publicly announced (whether
electronically or otherwise) it is stated that such offer is and
will be exclusively made to such Professional Investors.
No action may be taken in any jurisdiction other than the United
States that would permit a public offering of the ADSs or the
possession, circulation or distribution of this prospectus in
any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required.
Accordingly, the ADSs may not be offered or sold, directly or
indirectly, and neither the prospectus nor any other offering
material or advertisements in connection with the ADSs may be
distributed or published, in or from any country or jurisdiction
except under circumstances that will result in compliance with
any applicable rules and regulations of any such country or
jurisdiction.
The ADSs may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in
the Republic of China.
In connection with this offering, the underwriters may, subject
to applicable laws and regulations, purchase and sell the ADSs
or shares in the open market. These transactions may include
short sales, stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover
positions created by short sales. Short sales involve the sale
by the underwriters of a greater number of shares or ADSs than
they are required to purchase in this offering. Stabilizing
transactions consist of certain bids or purchases made for the
purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price
of the shares and ADSs while the offering is in progress.
The underwriters also may, subject to applicable laws and
regulations, impose a penalty bid. This occurs when a particular
underwriter repays to the underwriters a portion of the
underwriting discount received by it because a representative of
the underwriters has repurchased shares or ADSs sold by or for
the account of that underwriter in stabilizing or covering short
transactions.
These activities by the underwriters may stabilize, maintain or
otherwise affect the market price of the shares or ADSs. As a
result, the price of the shares or ADSs may be higher than the
price that otherwise might exist in the open market. If these
activities are commenced, they may be discontinued by the
underwriters at any time. These transactions may be effected on
The New York Stock Exchange, in the over-the-counter market or
otherwise.
Certain of the underwriters or their affiliates may purchase
ADSs and may have been allocated ADSs offered as part of the
offering, at the initial price to public, for asset management
and/or proprietary purposes. Such purchases in aggregate will
account for less than 10% of the total amount of the offering.
We and the selling shareholders have agreed to indemnify the
underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities
under the Securities Act.
Purchasers of the ADSs offered in this offering may be required
to pay stamp taxes and other charges in accordance with the laws
and practices of the country of purchase in addition to the
offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus.
This prospectus may be used by the underwriters and other
dealers in connection with offers and sales of the ADSs,
including sales of ADSs initially sold by the underwriters in
this offering being made outside of the United States, to
persons located in the United States.
A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on the
websites maintained by the underwriters or one or more
securities dealers. The underwriters may agree to allocate a
number of ADSs for sale to its online brokerage account holders.
ADSs to be sold pursuant to an internet distribution will be
allocated on the same basis as other allocations. In addition,
ADSs may be sold by the underwriters to securities dealers who
resell ADSs to online brokerage account holders.
The underwriters have engaged in, and may in the future engage
in, investment banking activities and other commercial dealings
in the ordinary course of business with us. They have received
customary fees and commissions for these transactions.
51
No dealer, salesperson or
other person is authorized to give any information or to
represent anything not contained in this prospectus. You must
not rely on any unauthorized information or representations.
This prospectus is an offer to sell only the securities offered
hereby, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where
it is lawful to do so. The information contained in this
prospectus is current only as of its date.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Taiwan
Semiconductor Manufacturing
Company Limited
151,655,000
American Depositary Shares
Representing
758,275,000 Common Shares
Goldman Sachs International
JPMorgan
Merrill Lynch & Co.
ABN AMRO Rothschild
Banc of America Securities LLC
CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets
Credit Suisse First Boston
Deutsche Bank Securities