Trading Update and comment on US Entity List

IQE plc

Cardiff, UK. 24^th May 2019: IQE plc (AIM: IQE; "IQE", the “Company” or the "Group"), the leading global supplier of advanced wafer products and materials solutions to the semiconductor industry, provides the following trading update in response to action taken by the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) of the United States Department of Commerce to add Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. and 68 of its affiliates (“Huawei”) to the “Entity List” maintained by the Department. The BIS action prohibits the sale to Huawei, by certain of IQE’s customers, of products covered by the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) absent obtaining an appropriate export license.

IQE wishes to clarify its potential exposure to this rapidly evolving situation, as it supplies epitaxial wafers to multiple chip companies in global supply chains, some of whom supply Huawei.

The situation involving the ban is dynamic and it is not clear at this time how long it will remain in force or what the full implications will be. However, IQE believes it is in a strong position to adjust to the possible consequences and scenarios resulting from this in a positive manner. Across all product lines, IQE has supply relationships with multiple non-US customers, so is well placed to adapt to mid to long-term share shifts at both the component (chip) and the OEM level. The majority of IQE’s technologies and supply chains are not affected by the ban and IQE complies fully with the EAR.

In the short-term, IQE believes it may experience some delay to orders and the potential for adjustment of supplier managed inventory levels, predominantly in its Wireless Business Unit. The Photonics and Infrared Business Units are essentially unaffected.

The company has been engaging across its customer base in recent days specifically on this subject and estimates that its current maximum risk exposure to this matter is less than 5% of total FY 2019 revenue guidance.

Although there remains uncertainty and unpredictability related to this specific matter, given the market opportunity IQE faces in H2, the company leaves full year guidance unchanged.

Dr Drew Nelson, Chief Executive of IQE, said:

‘The recent ban on sales of products from US companies to Huawei and its affiliates is a factor completely outside of IQE’s control. However, our long-term strategy of supplying as many of the supply chains into all major OEMs as possible, protects IQEs overall supply to a very significant degree. As a result, we believe the ban will have a limited impact on our mid to long term revenue trajectory. Indeed, the breadth of IQE’s current product range, the new materials technologies being introduced to market over the coming months and years, and IQE’s global manufacturing footprint are powerful mitigating factors in dealing effectively with the ongoing changing geopolitical landscape in our industry."

The information contained within this announcement is deemed to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No. 596/2014. Upon the publication of this announcement, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.

CONTACTS:

IQE plc                       [phone]
Tim Pullen
Drew Nelson
Chris Meadows
           
Canaccord Genuity (Nomad and Joint Broker)                + 44 (0) 20 7523 8000
Simon Bridges
Richard Andrews

Peel Hunt (Joint Broker)                  [phone]
Edward Knight
Nick Prowting
                                                                        

ABOUT IQE

http://iqep.com


IQE is the leading global supplier of advanced semiconductor wafers that enable a diverse range of applications, supported by an innovative outsourced foundry services portfolio that allows the Group to provide a 'one stop shop' for the wafer needs of the world's leading semiconductor manufacturers.


IQE uses advanced crystal growth technology (epitaxy) to manufacture and supply bespoke semiconductor wafers 'epi-wafers' to the major chip manufacturing companies, who then use these wafers to make the chips which form the key components of virtually all high technology systems. IQE is unique in being able to supply wafers using all of the leading crystal growth technology platforms.


IQE's products are found in many leading-edge consumer, communication, computing and industrial applications, including a complete range of wafer products for the wireless industry, such as smartphones and wireless infrastructure, Wi-Fi, base stations, and satellite communications; optical communications, optical storage, printing, thermal imagers, leading-edge medical technologies, automotive and aerospace technologies, a variety of advanced silicon based systems and high efficiency concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) solar cells.


IQE is headquartered in Cardiff UK and operates multiple manufacturing and R&D facilities worldwide.