United Integrated Services Co Ltd (UIS, 漢唐), which helps clients build manufacturing facilities and install clean rooms, yesterday said that it plans to set up a subsidiary in the US next year, following in the steps of its top client, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電).
By managing costs well, UIS expects its US subsidiary to turn a profit in the first year of operation, company president Benny Chen (陳柏辰) told an investors’ conference in Taipei.
UIS is still in talks with TSMC about proceeding with its US fab construction project, Chen said.
Photo: Hung Yu-fang, Taipei Times
TSMC last week said that it plans to set up a wholly owned US subsidiary in Arizona with paid-in capital of US$3.5 billion after unveiling a plan to build a US$12 billion fab in the state.
UIS helps the world’s biggest contract chipmaker build manufacturing facilities, including the chipmaker’s most advanced factories, Fab 14 and Fab 18 in Tainan. Fab 14 produces 5-nanometer chips, the most advanced chips currently available, while Fab 18 is to enter volume production of 3-nanometer chips in the second half of 2022.
UIS gave an upbeat business outlook for next year, saying that revenue is expected to “remain steady” compared with this year, supported by resilient demand from overseas and robust domestic demand.
The company earlier this year forecast that revenue would hit a record high this year.
“This year, the company’s operation is boosted by explosive demand from Taiwan’s semiconductor market. Next year will be another good year; the semiconductor industry continues to be a major driver,” Chen said.
UIS has signed contracts totaling NT$43 billion (US$1.49 billion) with clients this year, Chen said, adding that NT$20 billion of that amount is to be realized by the end of this year
Only 10 percent of the NT$20 billion is coming from overseas markets, he added.
The US-China trade dispute has stalled factory construction plans in China this year, Chen said.
Some of the company’s Chinese clients might restart fab construction next year, but most of them would likely be less advanced fabs, he said.
UIS saw its net profit soar 55 percent year-on-year to NT$3.15 billion in the first three quarters of this year, from NT$2.03 billion in the same period last year. That translated into earnings per share of NT$16.52, up from NT$10.67.
Revenue skyrocketed 72 percent to NT$28.81 billion in the January-to-September period from NT$16.74 billion a year earlier.
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