As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 24, 2009


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 20-F
o 
REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR 12(g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
OR
x 
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008
OR
o 
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

OR
o 
SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission file number: 001-16125
日月光半導體製造股份有限公司
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc.
(Translation of Registrant’s Name into English)

REPUBLIC OF CHINA
(Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)

26 Chin Third Road
Nantze Export Processing Zone
Nantze, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Republic of China
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

Joseph Tung
Room 1901, No. 333, Section 1 Keelung Rd.
Taipei, Taiwan, 110
Republic of China
Tel:  886-2-8780-5489
Fax:  882-2-2757-6121
Email:  ir@aseglobal.com
(Name, Telephone, Email and/or Facsimile number and Address of Company Contact Person)

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of Each Class
Common Shares, par value NT$10.00 each
Name of Each Exchange on which Registered
The New York Stock Exchange*
 
*Traded in the form of American Depositary Receipts evidencing American Depositary Shares, each representing five Common Shares
(Title of Class)
 
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
 
None
 
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act:
 
 

 
 
None
 
(Title of Class)
 
Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report:
 
5,690,427,734 Common Shares, par value NT$10 each**
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
 
Yes            þ               No          ¨
 
If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
 
Yes           ¨                No    þ
 
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
 
Yes            þ               No           ¨
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer.  See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.  (Check one):
 
Large accelerated filer    þ                                                           Accelerated filer   ¨                                                                                     Non-accelerated filer    ¨
 
Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:
 
U.S. GAAP   ¨ International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board   ¨  Other  þ
 
If “Other” has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow:
 
Item 17 ¨ Item 18 þ
 
If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
 
Yes           ¨     No   þ
 

 
** As a result of the exercise of employee stock options and the cancellation of treasury stock subsequent to December 31, 2008, as of May 31, 2009, we had 5,547,064,694 shares outstanding.
 



 
 
 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 


 

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USE OF CERTAIN TERMS
 
All references herein to (i) the “Company”, “ASE Group”, “ASE Inc.”, “we”, “us”, or “our” are to Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc. and, unless the context requires otherwise, its subsidiaries, (ii) “ASE Test” are to ASE Test Limited, a company incorporated under the laws of Singapore, and its subsidiaries, (iii) “ASE Test Taiwan” are to ASE Test, Inc., a company incorporated under the laws of the ROC, (iv) “ASE Test Malaysia” are to ASE Electronics (M) Sdn. Bhd., a company incorporated under the laws of Malaysia, (v) “ISE Labs” are to ISE Labs, Inc., a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of California, (vi) “ASE Korea” are to ASE (Korea) Inc., a company incorporated under the laws of the Republic of Korea, (vii) “ASE Japan” are to ASE Japan Co. Ltd., a company incorporated under the laws of Japan, (viii) “ASE Shanghai” are to ASE (Shanghai) Inc., a company incorporated under the laws of the PRC, (ix) “ASE Electronics” are to ASE Electronics Inc., a company incorporated under the laws of the ROC, (x) “PowerASE” are to PowerASE Technology, Inc., a company incorporated under the laws of the ROC, (xi) “ASESH AT” are to ASE Assembly & Test (Shanghai) Limited, formerly known as Global Advanced Packaging Technology Limited, a company incorporated under the laws of the PRC, or GAPT, (xii) “ASEN” are to Suzhou ASEN Semiconductors Co., Ltd., a company incorporated under the laws of the PRC, (xiii) “ASEWH” are to ASE (Weihai), Inc., a company incorporated under the laws of the PRC, (xiv) “Universal Scientific” are to Universal Scientific Industrial Co., Ltd., a company incorporated under the laws of the ROC, (xv) “Hung Ching” are to Hung Ching Development & Construction Co. Ltd., a company incorporated under the laws of the ROC, (xvi) “ASE Material” are to ASE Material Inc., a company previously incorporated under the laws of the ROC that merged into ASE Inc. on August 1, 2004, (xvii) “ASE Chung Li” are to ASE (Chung Li) Inc., a company previously incorporated under the laws of the ROC that merged into ASE Inc. on August 1, 2004, (xviii) the “Securities Act” are to the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and (xix) the “Exchange Act” are to the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
 
All references to the “Republic of China”, the “ROC” and “Taiwan” are to the Republic of China, including Taiwan and certain other possessions.  All references to “Korea” or “South Korea” are to the Republic of Korea.  All references to the “PRC” are to the People’s Republic of China and exclude Taiwan, Macau and Hong Kong.
 
We publish our financial statements in New Taiwan dollars, the lawful currency of the ROC.  In this annual report, references to “United States dollars”, “U.S. dollars” and “US$” are to the currency of the United States; references to “New Taiwan dollars”, “NT dollars” and “NT$” are to the currency of the ROC; references to “RMB” are to the currency of the PRC; references to “JP¥” are to the currency of Japan; references to “EUR” are to the currency of the European Union; and references to “KRW” are to the currency of the Republic of Korea.  Unless otherwise noted, all translations from NT dollars to U.S. 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 as of December 31, 2008, which was NT$32.76=US$1.00.  All amounts translated into U.S. dollars in this annual report are provided solely for your convenience and no representation is made that the NT dollar or U.S. 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 June 1, 2009, the noon buying rate was NT$32.36=US$1.00.
 
 
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
 
This annual report on Form 20-F contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act, including statements regarding our future results of operations and business prospects.  Although these forward-looking statements, which may include statements regarding our future results of operations, financial condition or business prospects, are based on our own information and information from other sources we believe to be reliable, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this annual report.  We were not involved in the preparation of these projections.  The words “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “intend”, “plan” and similar expressions, as they relate to us, are intended to identify these forward-looking statements in this annual report.  Our actual results of operations, financial condition or business prospects may differ materially from those expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements for a variety of reasons, including risks associated with cyclicality and market conditions in the semiconductor industry; demand for the outsourced semiconductor
 
 
 
 
packaging and testing services we offer and for such outsourced services generally; the highly competitive semiconductor industry; our ability to introduce new packaging and testing technologies in order to remain competitive; international business activities; our business strategy; our future expansion plans and capital expenditures; the strained relationship between the ROC and the PRC; general economic and political conditions; the recent global economic crisis; possible disruptions in commercial activities caused by natural or human-induced disasters; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; and other factors.  For a discussion of these risks and other factors, see “Item 3.  Key Information—Risk Factors.”
 
 
 
 
PART I
 
Item 1.  Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers
 
Not applicable.
 
Item 2.  Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable
 
Not applicable.
 
Item 3.  Key Information
 
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
 
The selected consolidated statement of operations data and cash flow data for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008, and the selected consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2007 and 2008, set forth below are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements included in this annual report and should be read in conjunction with, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, these consolidated financial statements, including the notes thereto. The selected consolidated statement of operations data and cash flow data for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2005 and the selected consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2004, 2005 and 2006, set forth below, are derived from our audit consolidated financial statements not included herein.Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared and presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the ROC, or ROC GAAP, which differ in some material respects from accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or U.S. GAAP. See note 32 to our consolidated financial statements for a description of the significant differences between ROC GAAP and U.S. GAAP for the periods covered by these consolidated financial statements.
 
   
As of and for the Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2004
   
2005
   
2006
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$
 
   
(in millions, except earnings per share and per ADS data)
 
ROC GAAP:
                                   
Statement of Operations Data:
                                   
Net revenues
    75,237.7       84,035.8       100,423.6       101,163.1       94,430.9       2,882.5  
Cost of revenues
    (59,641.1 )     (69,518.0 )     (71,643.3 )     (72,074.7 )     (71,901.7 )     (2,194.8 )
Gross profit
    15,596.6       14,517.8       28,780.3       29,088.4       22,529.2       687.7  
Total operating expenses
    (8,639.8 )     (8,698.6 )     (8,333.9 )     (9,791.2 )     (10,729.7 )     (327.5 )
Income from operations
    6,956.8       5,819.2       20,446.4       19,297.2       11,799.5       360.2  
Non-operating income (expense)
    (3,993.9 )     (11,493.0 )     1,805.0       (1,945.3 )     (2,323.7 )     (71.0 )
Income (loss) before income tax
    2,962.9       (5,673.8 )     22,251.4       17,351.9       9,475.8       289.2  
Income tax benefit (expense)
    1,397.0       118.6       (2,084.8 )     (3,357.4 )     (2,268.3 )     (69.2 )
Income (loss) from continuing operations
    4,359.9       (5,555.2 )     20,166.6       13,994.5       7,207.5       220.0  
Discontinued operations(1)
    568.2       353.7                          
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
    (26.8 ) (2)           (342.5 ) (3)                  
Minority interest in net loss (income) of subsidiaries
    (691.6 )     510.3       (2,407.9 )     (1,829.2 )     (1,047.4 )     (32.0 )
Net income (loss) attributable to shareholders of parent company
    4,209.7       (4,691.2 )     17,416.2       12,165.3       6,160.1       188.0  
Income from operations per common share
    1.36       1.11       3.86       3.58       2.19       0.07  
Income (loss) from continuing operations per common share
    0.71       (0.96 )     3.36       2.26       1.14       0.03  
Earnings (loss) per common share(4):
                                               
Basic
    0.82       (0.89 )     3.29       2.26       1.14       0.03  
Diluted
    0.80       (0.89 )     3.14       2.18       1.12       0.03  
Dividends per common share(5)
    0.57       1.10             2.96       2.00       0.06  
Earnings (loss) per equivalent ADS(4):
                                               
Basic
    4.11       (4.47 )     16.46       11.28       5.71       0.17  
Diluted
    4.01       (4.47 )     15.69       10.90       5.59       0.17  
 
 
 
 
 
   
As of and for the Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2004
   
2005
   
2006
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$
 
   
(in millions, except earnings per share and per ADS data)
 
Number of common shares(6):
                                               
Basic
    5,121.9       5,248.9       5,291.6       5,390.9       5,392.9       5,392.9  
Diluted
    5,459.4       5,248.9       5,603.5       5,633.1       5,457.4       5,457.4  
Number of equivalent ADSs:
                                               
Basic
    1,024.4       1,049.8       1,058.3       1,078.2       1,078.6       1,078.6  
Diluted
    1,091.9       1,049.8       1,120.7       1,126.6       1,091.5       1,091.5  
Balance Sheet Data:
                                               
Current assets                                           
    35,894.9       47,544.0       48,762.8       56,902.0       46,366.9       1,415.3  
Long-term investments
    4,907.4       4,898.1       5,734.5       4,850.2       4,327.0       132.1  
Property, plant and equipment, net
    82,339.9       68,040.8       73,543.8       81,788.3       84,758.0       2,587.2  
Intangible assets
    3,959.8       3,589.1       3,449.0       4,732.3       12,592.0       384.4  
Other assets
    6,848.9       7,053.5       5,550.8       4,104.6       4,146.1       126.6  
Total assets
    133,950.9       131,125.5       137,040.9       152,377.4       152,190.0       4,645.6  
Short-term borrowings(7)
    6,852.8       10,523.1       8,499.1       15,773.9       11,473.2       350.2  
Long-term debts(8)
    46,529.6       42,862.1       29,398.3       23,936.0       51,622.2       1,575.8  
Other liabilities(9)
    20,851.9       22,890.0       22,016.7       22,927.6       17,133.8       523.0  
Total liabilities
    74,234.3       76,275.2       59,914.1       62,637.5       80,229.2       2,449.0  
Capital stock
    41,000.0       45,573.7       45,925.1       54,475.6       56,904.3       1,737.0  
Minority interest in consolidated  subsidiaries
    8,404.8       7,902.0       11,106.9       14,566.5       2,288.7       69.9  
Total shareholders’ equity
    59,716.6       54,850.3       77,126.8       89,739.9       71,960.8       2,196.6  
Cash Flow Data:
                                               
Net cash outflow from acquisition of property, plant and equipment
    (28,521.4 )     (15,611.5 )     (17,764.2 )     (17,190.4 )     (18,583.3 )     (567.3 )
Depreciation and amortization
    14,786.3       15,032.8       14,488.2       16,626.2       17,244.9       526.4  
Net cash inflow from operating activities
    19,206.7       18,751.1       37,310.8       28,310.6       30,728.8       938.0  
Net cash outflow from investing activities
    (31,048.9 )     (11,632.0 )     (22,104.5 )     (18,108.4 )     (36,359.2 )     (1,109.9 )
Net cash inflow (outflow) from financing activities
    9,164.2       (91.8 )     (12,581.9 )     (8,492.7 )     13,862.4       423.2  
Segment Data:
                                               
Net revenues:
                                               
Packaging
    58,261.8       66,022.9       76,820.5       78,516.3       73,391.6       2,240.3  
Testing
    16,473.9       17,122.0       21,429.6       20,007.8       19,021.4       580.6  
Others
    502.0       890.9       2,173.5       2,639.0       2,017.9       61.6  
Gross profit (loss):
                                               
Packaging
    11,146.0       10,128.7       19,280.8       20,589.7       14,700.1       448.7  
Testing
    4,332.7       4,433.1       8,728.2       7,602.9       6,467.4       197.4  
Others
    117.9       (44.0 )     771.3       895.8       1,361.7       41.6  

 
   
As of and for the Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2004
   
2005
   
2006
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$
 
   
(in millions, except earnings per share and per ADS data)
 
U.S. GAAP:
                                   
Statement of Operations Data:
                                   
Net revenues
    75,237.7       84,035.8       100,423.6       101,163.1       94,430.9       2,882.5  
Cost of revenues
    (60,030.0 )     (70,544.4 )     (73,366.9 )     (75,134.7 )     (73,109.9 )     (2,231.7 )
Gross profit
    15,207.7       13,491.4       27,056.7       26,028.4       21,321.0       650.8  
Total operating expenses
    (7,227.6 )     (21,882.8 )     (10,113.8 )     (11,108.7 )     (10,820.7 )     (330.3 )
Income (loss) from operations
    7,980.1       (8,391.4 )     16,942.9       14,919.7       10,500.3       320.5  
Non-operating income (expense)
    (5,127.2 )     1,958.5       1,448.4       71.4       (1,351.2 )     (41.2 )
Income tax benefit (expense)
    1,506.1       190.3       (1,980.7 )     (3,262.5 )     (2,503.5 )     (76.4 )
Discontinued operations(1)
    568.2       353.7                          
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
    (26.8 )(2)           (296.5 )(10)                  
Minority interest in net loss (income) of subsidiaries
    (603.3 )     358.4       (1,991.4 )     (1,797.5 )     (1,153.5 )     (35.2 )
Net income (loss)
    4,297.1       (5,530.5 )     14,122.7       9,931.1       5,492.1       167.7  
 
 
 
 

   
As of and for the Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2004
   
2005
   
2006
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$
 
   
(in millions, except earnings per share and per ADS data)
 
Earnings (loss) per common share(4):
                                               
Basic
    0.86       (1.08 )     2.71       1.87       1.02       0.03  
Diluted
    0.84       (1.08 )     2.60       1.81       1.01       0.03  
Earnings (loss) per equivalent ADS(4):
                                               
Basic
    4.29       (5.38 )     13.57       9.34       5.11       0.16  
Diluted
    4.18       (5.38 )     12.98       9.03       5.04       0.16  
Number of common shares(11):
                                               
Basic
    5,009.9       5,141.1       5,202.7       5,317.7       5,368.7       5,368.7  
Diluted
    5,340.1       5,141.1       5,505.5       5,566.1       5,405.3       5,405.3  
Number of equivalent ADSs(11):
                                               
Basic
    1,002.0       1,028.2       1,040.5       1,063.5       1,073.7       1,073.7  
Diluted
    1,068.1       1,028.2       1,101.1       1,113.2       1,081.1       1,081.1  
Balance Sheet Data:
                                               
Current assets
    35,899.1       47,560.3       48,762.8       56,902.0       46,366.9       1,415.3  
Long-term investments
    3,377.6       3,469.2       4,266.9       3,045.4       2,842.7       86.8  
Property, plant and equipment, net
    81,849.1       67,547.9       70,894.1       80,036.6       82,694.5       2,524.3  
Intangible assets
    3,954.4       4,112.6       3,972.4       5,255.8       12,940.6       395.0  
Other assets
    7,008.5       7,284.7       5,834.9       3,766.7       3,963.5       121.0  
Total assets
    132,088.7       129,974.7       133,731.1       149,006.5       148,808.2       4,542.4  
Short-term borrowings(7)
    6,852.8       10,523.1       8,499.1       15,773.9       11,473.2       350.2  
Long-term debts(8)
    46,529.6       42,862.1       29,398.3       23,936.0       51,622.2       1,575.8  
Other liabilities(9)
    21,465.2       23,397.2       24,228.3       24,746.0       18,307.1       558.8  
Total liabilities
    74,847.6       76,782.4       62,125.7       64,455.9       81,402.5       2,484.8  
Minority interest
    8,584.0       8,233.0       11,021.3       14,449.2       2,102.7       64.2  
Capital stock
    41,000.0       45,573.7       45,925.1       54,475.6       56,904.3       1,737.0  
Total shareholders’ equity
    48,657.1       44,959.3       60,584.1       70,101.4       65,303.0       1,993.4  
 

(1)
In October 2005, we disposed of our camera module assembly operations in Malaysia. Amount for 2005 includes income from discontinued operations of NT$121.0 million and gain on disposal of discontinued operations of NT$232.7 million, net of income tax expense.  Such operations were formerly classified as part of our packaging operations. Information in this annual report from our consolidated statements of operations for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2005 has been adjusted to reflect the reclassification of our camera module assembly operations as discontinued operations. Information from our consolidated statements of cash flows was appropriately not adjusted.
 
(2)
Represents the cumulative effect of our change from using the weighted-average method to using the moving-average method to price our raw materials and supplies.
 
(3)
Represents the cumulative effect of our adoption of ROC Statement of Financial Accounting Standards, or SFAS, No. 34 “Financial Instrument: Recognition and Measurement” and ROC SFAS, No. 36 “Financial Instruments: Disclosure and Presentation.”   See note 3 to our consolidated financial statements included in this annual report.
 
(4)
The denominators for diluted earnings per common share and diluted earnings per equivalent ADS are calculated to account for the potential exercise of options and conversion of our convertible bonds into our common shares and American depositary shares, or ADSs.
 
(5)
Dividends per common share issued as a cash dividend and a stock dividend.
 
(6)
Represents the weighted average number of shares after retroactive adjustments to give effect to stock dividends and employee stock bonuses. Beginning in 2002, common shares held by consolidated subsidiaries are classified as “treasury stock”, and are deducted from the number of common shares outstanding.
 
(7)
Includes current portions of bonds payable, long-term bank loans and capital lease obligations.
 
(8)
Excludes current portions of bonds payable, long-term bank loans and capital lease obligations.
 
(9)
Includes current liabilities other than short-term borrowings.
 
(10)
Represents the cumulative effect of our adoption of U.S. SFAS No. 123R, “Share-Based Payment.” See note 33 to our consolidated financial statements included in this annual report.
 
(11)
Represents the weighted average number of common shares after retroactive adjustments to give effect to stock dividends.
 
 
Exchange Rates
 
Fluctuations in the exchange rate between NT dollars and U.S. dollars will affect the U.S. dollar equivalent of the NT dollar price of the common shares on the Taiwan Stock Exchange and, as a result, will likely affect the market price of the ADSs. Fluctuations will also affect the U.S. dollar conversion by the depositary under our ADS deposit agreement referred to below of cash dividends paid in NT dollars on, and the NT dollar proceeds received by
 
 
 
the depositary from any sale of, common shares represented by ADSs, in each case, according to the terms of the deposit agreement dated September 29, 2000 and as amended and supplemented from time to time among us, Citibank N.A., as depositary, and the holders and beneficial owners from time to time of the ADSs, which we refer to as the deposit agreement.
 
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, information concerning the number of NT dollars for which one U.S. dollar could be exchanged based on the noon buying rate for cable transfers in NT dollars as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
 
   
NT Dollars per U.S. Dollar Noon Buying Rate
 
   
Average
   
High
   
Low
   
Period-End
 
2004
    33.37       34.16       33.10       33.24  
2005
    32.13       33.77       30.65       32.80  
2006
    32.51       33.31       31.28       32.59  
2007
    32.85       33.41       32.26       32.43  
2008
    31.52       33.58       29.99       32.76  
December
    33.16       33.58       32.45       32.76  
2009
                               
January
    33.37       33.70       32.82       33.70  
February
    34.24       35.00       33.61       35.00  
March
    34.30       35.21       33.75       33.87  
April
    33.60       33.88       32.99       33.06  
May
    32.87       33.14       32.55       32.57  


Source: Federal Reserve Statistical Release, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
 
On June 1, 2009, the noon buying rate was NT$32.36=US$1.00.
 
CAPITALIZATION AND INDEBTEDNESS
 
Not applicable.
 
REASON FOR THE OFFER AND USE OF PROCEEDS
 
Not applicable.
 
RISK FACTORS
 
Risks Relating to Our Business
 
The current global economic crisis has adversely affected the semiconductor industry and the demand for our products and services, and a protracted global economic crisis would have a material adverse effect on us.
 
Our customers include a range of companies in the semiconductor industry, whose success is linked to the health of the economy. As widely reported, the global financial markets have recently been experiencing extreme volatility and disruptions, which have severely diminished liquidity and credit availability. This market turmoil and tightening of credit have led to an increased level of commercial and consumer delinquencies, lack of consumer confidence, increased market volatility and widespread reduction of business activity generally. There can be no assurance that there will be no further deterioration in the global financial markets.
 
Our fourth quarter 2008 revenue decreased 36.8% over the prior year which reflected the contraction in demand for our services as a result of the global economic crisis. The protracted decline in the global economy and semiconductor industry may also cause our customers to do the following:
 
·  
cancel or reduce planned expenditures for our products and services;
 
·  
seek to lower their costs by renegotiating their contracts with us;
 
 
 
 
 
·  
consolidate the number of suppliers they use which may result in our loss of customers; and
 
·  
switch to lower-priced products or services provided by our competitors.
 
The current uncertainty in global economic conditions may also make it difficult for our customers to accurately forecast and plan future business activities. We cannot predict the timing, strength, or duration of the global economic slowdown and downturn in the semiconductor industry or subsequent recovery. There can be no assurance that the continuing or deteriorating trends in global economic conditions will not further adversely impact our results of operations, cash flow, financial position and/or prospects.
 
Since we are dependent on the highly cyclical semiconductor industry and conditions in the markets for the end-use applications of our products, our revenues and net income may fluctuate significantly.
 
Our semiconductor packaging and testing business is affected by market conditions in the highly cyclical semiconductor industry. All of our customers operate in this industry, and variations in order levels from our customers and service fee rates may result in volatility in our revenues and net income. From time to time, the semiconductor industry has experienced significant, and sometimes prolonged, downturns. As our business is, and will continue to be, dependent on the requirements of semiconductor companies for independent packaging and testing services, any future downturn in the semiconductor industry would reduce demand for our services.  For example, in the fourth quarter of 2008, the global economic crisis resulted in a significant deterioration in demand for our customers’ products, which in turn affected demand for our services and adversely affected our operating results.  Although demand has begun to recover in the second quarter of 2009, we expect there to be continued downward pressure on our average selling prices and continued volatility with respect to our sales volumes.  If we cannot reduce our costs or adjust our product mix to sufficiently offset any decline in average selling prices, our profitability will suffer and we may incur losses.
 
Market conditions in the semiconductor industry depend to a large degree on conditions in the markets for the end-use applications of semiconductor products, such as communications, computer and consumer electronics products. Any deterioration of conditions in the markets, including the recent severe deterioration of global economic conditions, for the end-use applications of the semiconductors we package and test would reduce demand for our services, and would likely have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. In 2006, approximately 37.2%, 24.7% and 37.3% of our net revenues were attributed to the packaging and testing of semiconductors used in communications, computer, and consumer electronics applications, respectively. In 2007, approximately 44.5%, 22.8% and 32.1% of our net revenues were attributed to the packaging and testing of semiconductors used in communications, computer, and consumer electronics applications, respectively. In 2008, approximately 44.7%, 22.8% and 32.1% of our net revenues were attributed to the packaging and testing of semiconductors used in communications, computer, and consumer electronics applications, respectively. Each of the markets for end-use applications is subject to intense competition and significant shifts in demand, which could put pricing pressure on the packaging and testing services provided by us and adversely affect our revenues and net income.
 
A reversal or slowdown in the outsourcing trend for semiconductor packaging and testing services could adversely affect our growth prospects and profitability.
 
In recent years, semiconductor manufacturers that have their own in-house packaging and testing capabilities, known as integrated device manufacturers, have increasingly outsourced stages of the semiconductor production process, including packaging and testing, to independent companies in order to reduce costs and shorten production cycles. In addition, the availability of advanced independent semiconductor manufacturing services has also enabled the growth of so-called “fabless” semiconductor companies that focus exclusively on design and marketing and outsource their manufacturing, packaging and testing requirements to independent companies. We cannot assure you that these integrated device manufacturers and fabless semiconductor companies will continue to outsource their packaging and testing requirements to third parties like us. Furthermore, during an economic downturn, these integrated device manufacturers typically rely more on their own in-house packaging and testing capabilities,  therefore decreasing their need to outsource. A reversal of, or a slowdown in, this outsourcing trend could result in reduced demand for our services and adversely affect our growth prospects and profitability.
 
 
 
 
If we are unable to compete favorably in the highly competitive semiconductor packaging and testing markets, our revenues and net income may decrease.
 
The semiconductor packaging and testing markets are very competitive. We face competition from a number of sources, including other independent semiconductor packaging and testing companies, especially those that offer turnkey packaging and testing services. We believe that the principal competitive factors in the packaging and testing markets are:
 
·  
technological expertise;
 
·  
price;
 
·  
the ability to provide total solutions to our customers;
 
·  
range of package types and testing platforms available;
 
·  
the ability to work closely with our customers at the product development stage;
 
·  
responsiveness and flexibility;
 
·  
production cycle time;
 
·  
capacity;
 
·  
diversity in facility locations; and
 
·  
production yield.
 

We face increasing competition from other packaging and testing companies, as most of our customers obtain packaging or testing services from more than one source. In addition, some of our competitors may have access to more advanced technologies and greater financial and other resources than we do. Any erosion in the prices for our packaging and testing services could cause our revenues and net income to decrease and have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
 
Our profitability depends on our ability to respond to rapid technological changes in the semiconductor industry.
 
The semiconductor industry is characterized by rapid increases in the diversity and complexity of semiconductors. As a result, we expect that we will need to constantly offer more sophisticated packaging and testing technologies and processes in order to respond to competitive industry conditions and customer requirements. If we fail to develop, or obtain access to, advances in packaging or testing technologies or processes, we may become less competitive and less profitable. In addition, advances in technology typically lead to declining average selling prices for semiconductors packaged or tested with older technologies or processes. As a result, if we cannot reduce the costs associated with our services, the profitability of a given service and our overall profitability may decrease over time.
 
Our operating results are subject to significant fluctuations, which could adversely affect the market value of your investment.
 
Our operating results have varied significantly from period to period and may continue to vary in the future. Downward fluctuations in our operating results may result in decreases in the market price of our common shares and the ADSs. Among the more important factors affecting our quarterly and annual operating results are the following:
 
·  
changes in general economic and business conditions, particularly given the recent global economic crisis and the cyclical nature of the semiconductor industry and the markets served by our customers;
 
·  
our ability to quickly adjust to unanticipated declines or shortfalls in demand and market prices for our packaging and testing services, due to our high percentage of fixed costs;
 
 
 
 
·  
changes in prices for our packaging and testing services;
 
·  
volume of orders relative to our packaging and testing capacity;
 
·  
changes in costs and availability of raw materials, equipment and labor;
 
·  
timing of capital expenditures in anticipation of future orders;
 
·  
our ability to acquire or design and produce advanced and cost-competitive interconnect materials;
 
·  
fluctuations in the exchange rate between the NT dollar and foreign currencies, especially the U.S. dollar; and
 
·  
earthquakes, drought, epidemics and other natural disasters, as well as industrial and other incidents such as fires and power outages.
 
Due to the factors listed above, our future operating results or growth rates may be below the expectations of research analysts and investors. If so, the market price of our common shares and the ADSs, and thus the market value of your investment, may fall.
 
If we are not successful in maintaining our in-house interconnect materials capabilities, our margins and profitability may be adversely affected.
 
We expect that we will need to maintain our interconnect materials designs and production processes in order to respond to competitive industry conditions and customer requirements. In particular, our competitive position will depend on our ability to design and produce interconnect materials that are comparable to or better than those produced by independent suppliers and others. Many of these independent suppliers have dedicated greater resources than we have for the research and development and design and production of interconnect materials. In addition, we may not be able to acquire the technology and personnel that would enable us to maintain our in-house expertise and our design and production capabilities.  For more information on our interconnect materials operations, see “Item 4. Information on the Company—Business Overview—Principal Products and Services—Packaging Services—Interconnect Materials.” If we are unable to maintain our in-house interconnect materials expertise to offer interconnect materials that meet the requirements of our customers, we may become less competitive and our margins and profitability may suffer as a result.
 
Due to our high percentage of fixed costs, we will be unable to maintain our gross margin at past levels if we are unable to achieve relatively high capacity utilization rates.
 
Our operations, in particular our testing operations, are characterized by relatively high fixed costs. We expect to continue to incur substantial depreciation and other expenses in connection with our acquisitions of packaging and testing equipment and facilities.  Our profitability depends not only on the pricing levels for our services, but also on utilization rates for our packaging and testing machinery and equipment, commonly referred to as “capacity utilization rates.” In particular, increases or decreases in our capacity utilization rates can significantly affect gross margins since the unit cost of packaging and testing services generally decreases as fixed costs are allocated over a larger number of units. In periods of low demand, we experience relatively low capacity utilization rates in our operations, which leads to reduced margins. For example, in the fourth quarter of 2008, we experienced lower than anticipated utilization rates in our operations due to a significant decline in worldwide demand for our packaging and testing services, which resulted in reduced margins during that period. We cannot assure you that we will be able to maintain or surpass our past gross margin levels if we cannot consistently achieve or maintain relatively high capacity utilization rates.
 
If we are unable to manage our expansion effectively, our growth prospects may be limited and our future profitability may be affected.
 
We have significantly expanded our packaging and testing operations in recent years, and expect to continue to expand our operations in the future. In particular, we intend to provide total solutions for the packaging and testing of semiconductors in order to attract new customers and broaden our product range to include products packaged
 
 
 
 
and tested for a variety of end-use applications. In the past, we have expanded through both internal growth and the acquisition of new operations. Rapid expansion puts strain on our managerial, technical, financial, operational and other resources. As a result of our expansion, we have implemented and will continue to implement additional operational and financial controls and hire and train additional personnel. Any failure to manage our growth effectively could lead to inefficiencies and redundancies and result in reduced growth prospects and profitability.
 
Because of the highly cyclical nature of our industry, our capital requirements are difficult to plan. If we cannot obtain additional capital when we need it, our growth prospects and future profitability may be adversely affected.
 
Our capital requirements are difficult to plan in our highly cyclical and rapidly changing industry. We will need capital to fund the expansion of our facilities as well as fund our research and development activities in order to remain competitive. We believe that our existing cash, marketable securities, expected cash flow from operations and existing credit lines under our loan facilities will be sufficient to meet our capital expenditures, working capital, cash obligations under our existing debt and lease arrangements, and other requirements for at least the next twelve months. However, future capacity expansions or market or other developments may cause us to require additional funds. 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.
 
Furthermore, if global economic conditions in 2009 continue to deteriorate, we may incur significant net losses in 2009.  This may in turn affect our ability to meet certain financial covenants contained in our loan agreements and thereby restrict our ability to access unutilized credit facilities or the global capital markets to meet our liquidity needs. If we are unable to obtain funding in a timely manner or on acceptable terms, our growth prospects and future profitability may decline.
 
Restrictive covenants and broad default provisions in our existing debt agreements may materially restrict our operations as well as adversely affect our liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.
 
We are a party to numerous loan and other agreements relating to the incurrence of debt, many of which include restrictive covenants and broad default provisions. In general, covenants in the agreements governing our existing debt, and debt we may incur in the future, may materially restrict our operations, including our ability to incur debt, pay dividends, make certain investments and payments, other than in connection with restructurings of consolidated entities, and encumber or dispose of assets. In the event of a prolonged downturn in the demand for our services as a result of a downturn in the worldwide semiconductor industry or otherwise, we cannot assure you that we will be able to remain in compliance with our financial covenants which, as a result, may lead to a default. Furthermore, a default under one agreement by us or one of our subsidiaries may also trigger cross-defaults under our other agreements. In the event of default, we may not be able to cure the default or obtain a waiver on a timely basis. An event of default under any agreement governing our existing or future debt, if not cured or waived, could have a material adverse effect on our liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.
 
We have on occasion failed to comply with certain financial covenants in some of our loan agreements. Such non-compliance may also have, through broadly worded cross-default provisions, resulted in default under some of the agreements governing our other existing debt.  For example, we failed to comply with certain debt ratios in some of our loan agreements as a result of additional borrowings to fund our privatization of ASE Test in May 2008 and the distribution of cash dividends in August 2008.  See “Item 4. Information on the CompanyHistory and Development of the CompanyASE Test Share Acquisition and Privatization” for more information on ASE Test.  By August 2008, we had either obtained waivers for, or refinanced on a long-term basis, all of the relevant loans, and are not in default under any of our existing debt. For these and other reasons, including our financial condition and our relationship with our lenders, no lender has to date sought and we do not believe that any of our lenders would seek to declare a default or enforce remedies in respect of our existing debt as a result of cross-default provisions or otherwise, although we cannot provide any assurance in this regard.
 
 
 
 
We depend on select personnel and could be affected by the loss of their services.
 
We depend on the continued service of our executive officers and skilled technical and other personnel. Our business could suffer if we lose the services of any of these personnel and cannot adequately replace them. Although some of these management personnel have entered into employment agreements with us, they may nevertheless leave before the expiration of these agreements. We are not insured against the loss of any of our personnel. In addition, we may be required to increase substantially the number of these employees in connection with our expansion plans, and there is intense competition for their services in the semiconductor industry. We may not be able to either retain our present personnel or attract additional qualified personnel as and when needed. In addition, we may need to increase employee compensation levels in order to attract and retain our existing officers and employees and the additional personnel that we expect to require. Furthermore, a portion of the workforce at our facilities in Taiwan are foreign workers employed by us under work permits which are subject to government regulations on renewal and other terms. Consequently, our business could also suffer if the Taiwan regulations relating to the employment of foreign workers were to become significantly more restrictive or if we are otherwise unable to attract or retain these workers at a reasonable cost.
 
If we are unable to obtain additional packaging and testing equipment or facilities in a timely manner and at a reasonable cost, our competitiveness and future profitability may be adversely affected.
 
The semiconductor packaging and testing businesses are capital intensive and require significant investment in expensive equipment manufactured by a limited number of suppliers. The market for semiconductor packaging and testing equipment is characterized, from time to time, by intense demand, limited supply and long delivery cycles. Our operations and expansion plans depend on our ability to obtain a significant amount of such equipment from a limited number of suppliers. From time to time we have also leased certain equipment. We have no binding supply agreements with any of our suppliers and acquire our packaging and testing equipment on a purchase order basis, which exposes us to changing market conditions and other substantial risks. For example, shortages of capital equipment could result in an increase in the price of equipment and longer delivery times. Semiconductor packaging and testing also require us to operate sizeable facilities. If we are unable to obtain equipment or facilities in a timely manner, we may be unable to fulfill our customers’ orders, which could adversely affect our growth prospects as well as financial condition and results of operations. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—Business Overview—Equipment.”
 
Fluctuations in exchange rates could result in foreign exchange losses.
 
Currently, the majority of our revenues from packaging and testing services are denominated in U.S. dollars, with a portion denominated in NT dollars and Japanese yen. Our cost of revenues and operating expenses associated with packaging and testing services, on the other hand, are incurred in several currencies, primarily NT dollars and U.S. dollars, as well as, to a lesser extent, Korean won, Japanese yen, Malaysian ringgit and Chinese yuan. In addition, a substantial portion of our capital expenditures, primarily for the purchase of packaging and testing equipment, has been, and is expected to continue to be, denominated in U.S. dollars, with much of the remainder in Japanese yen. Fluctuations in exchange rates, primarily among the U.S. dollar, the NT dollar, the Japanese yen and the Chinese yuan, will affect our costs and operating margins. In addition, these fluctuations could result in exchange losses and increased costs in NT dollar and other local currency terms. Despite hedging and mitigating techniques implemented by us, fluctuations in exchange rates have affected, and may continue to affect, our financial condition and results of operations.  We incurred net foreign exchange gains of NT$92.8 million, NT$403.5 million and NT$282.0 million (US$8.6 million) in 2006, 2007 and 2008, respectively.  See “Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk—Market Risk—Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk.”
 
The loss of a large customer or disruption of our strategic alliance or other commercial arrangements with semiconductor foundries and providers of other complementary semiconductor manufacturing services may result in a decline in our revenues and profitability.
 
Although we have over 200 customers, we have derived and expect to continue to derive a large portion of our revenues from a small group of customers during any particular period due in part to the concentration of market share in the semiconductor industry. Our five largest customers together accounted for approximately 26.0%, 24.8%
 
 
 
 
and 27.1% of our net revenues in 2006, 2007 and 2008, respectively. No customer accounted for more than 10% of our net revenues in 2006, 2007 and 2008. The demand for our services from a customer is directly dependent upon that customer’s level of business activity, which could vary significantly from year to year. Our key customers typically operate in the cyclical semiconductor business and, in the past, have varied, and may vary in the future, order levels significantly from period to period. Some of these companies are relatively small, have limited operating histories and financial resources, and are highly exposed to the cyclicality of the industry. We cannot assure you that these customers or any other customers will continue to place orders with us in the future at the same levels as in past periods. The loss of one or more of our significant customers, or reduced orders by any one of them, and our inability to replace these customers or make up for such orders could adversely affect our revenues and profitability. In addition, we have in the past reduced, and may in the future be requested to reduce, our prices to limit the level of order cancellations. Any price reduction would likely reduce our margins and profitability.
 
Since 1997, we have maintained a strategic alliance with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited, or TSMC, one of the world’s largest dedicated semiconductor foundries.  TSMC designates us as their non-exclusive preferred provider of packaging and testing services for semiconductors manufactured by TSMC.  In addition, on February 23, 2009, we and Advanced Microelectronic Products, Inc., or AMPI, a provider of foundry services, signed a memorandum of understanding to enter into a strategic alliance focused on providing semiconductor manufacturing turnkey services.   These strategic alliances, as well as our other commercial arrangements with providers of other complementary semiconductor manufacturing services, enable us to offer total semiconductor manufacturing solutions to our customers.  These strategic alliances and any of our other commercial arrangements may be terminated at any time. Any such termination, and our failure to enter into substantially similar strategic alliances or commercial arrangements, may adversely affect our competitiveness and our revenues and profitability.
 
Our revenues and profitability may decline if we are unable to obtain adequate supplies of raw materials in a timely manner and at a reasonable price.
 
Our packaging operations require that we obtain adequate supplies of raw materials on a timely basis. Shortages in the supply of raw materials experienced by the semiconductor industry have in the past resulted in occasional price increases and delivery delays. Raw materials such as advanced substrates are prone to supply shortages since such materials are produced by a limited number of suppliers such as Phoenix Precision Technology Corporation, Kinsus Interconnect Technology Corporation, SMI Electronic Devices Inc. and Nanya Printed Circuit Board Corporation. Our operations conducted through our wholly-owned subsidiary ASE Electronics and ASE Shanghai have improved our ability to obtain advanced substrates on a timely basis and at a reasonable cost. However, we do not expect that our internal interconnect materials operations will be able to meet all of our interconnect materials requirements. Consequently, we will remain dependent on market supply and demand for our raw materials. Recent fluctuations in gold prices have also affected the price at which we have been able to purchase gold wire, one of the principal raw materials we use in our packaging processes. We cannot guarantee that we will not experience shortages in the near future or that we will be able to obtain adequate supplies of raw materials in a timely manner or at a reasonable price. Our revenues and net income 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.
 
Any environmental claims or failure to comply with any present or future environmental regulations, as well as any fire or other industrial accident, may require us to spend additional funds and may materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
 
We are subject to various laws and regulations relating to the use, storage, discharge and disposal of chemical by-products of, and water used in, our packaging and interconnect materials production processes. Although we have not suffered material environmental claims in the past, the failure to comply with any present or future regulations could result in the assessment of damages or imposition of fines against us, suspension of production or a cessation of our operations. New regulations could require us to acquire costly equipment or to incur other significant expenses that we may not be able to pass on to our customers. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—Business Overview—Raw Materials and Suppliers—Packaging.” Additionally, any failure on our part to control the use, or adequately restrict the discharge, of hazardous substances could subject us to future liabilities that may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
 
 
 
 
Our controlling shareholders may take actions that are not in, or may conflict with, our public shareholders’ best interest.
 
Members of the Chang family own, directly or indirectly, a controlling interest in our outstanding common shares.  See “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions—Major Shareholders.” Accordingly, these shareholders will continue to have the ability to exercise a controlling influence over our business, including matters relating to:
 
·  
our management and policies;
 
·  
the timing and distribution of dividends; and
 
·  
the election of our directors and supervisors.
 
Members of the Chang family may take actions that you may not agree with or that are not in our or our public shareholders’ best interests.
 
We may be subject to intellectual property rights disputes, which could materially adversely affect our business.
 
Our ability to compete successfully and achieve future growth depends, in part, on our ability to develop and protect our proprietary technologies and to secure on commercially acceptable terms certain technologies that we do not own. We cannot assure you that we will be able to independently develop, obtain patents for, protect or secure from any third party, the technologies required for our packaging and testing services.
 
Our ability to compete successfully also depends, in part, on our ability to operate without infringing the proprietary rights of others. The semiconductor industry is characterized by frequent litigation regarding patent and other intellectual property rights. In January 2006, Tessera Inc. filed a suit against us and others alleging patent infringement. See “Item 8. Financial Information—Legal Proceedings.” Any litigation, whether as plaintiff or defendant and regardless of the outcome, is costly and diverts company resources.
 
Any of the foregoing could harm our competitive position and render us unable to provide some of our services operations.
 
We are an ROC company and, because the rights of shareholders under ROC law differ from those under U.S. law and the laws of certain other countries, you may have difficulty protecting your shareholder rights.
 
Our corporate affairs are governed by our Articles of Incorporation and by the laws governing corporations incorporated in the ROC. The rights of shareholders and the responsibilities of management and the members of the board of directors under ROC law are different from those applicable to a corporation incorporated in the United States and certain other countries. As a result, public shareholders of ROC companies may have more difficulty in protecting their interests in connection with actions taken by management or members of the board of directors than they would as public shareholders of a corporation in the United States or certain other countries.
 
We face risks associated with uncertainties in PRC laws and regulations.
 
We operate, among other things, packaging and testing facilities in the PRC through our subsidiaries and joint ventures incorporated in the PRC. Under PRC laws and regulations, foreign investment projects, such as our subsidiaries and joint ventures, must obtain certain approvals from the relevant governmental authorities in the provinces or special economic zones in which they are located and, in some circumstances, from the relevant authorities in the PRC’s central government. Foreign investment projects must also comply with certain regulatory requirements. However, PRC laws and regulations are often subject to varying interpretations and means of enforcement, and additional approvals from the relevant governmental authorities may be required for the operations of our PRC subsidiaries and joint ventures.  If required, we cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain these approvals in a timely manner, if at all.  Because the PRC government holds significant discretion in determining matters relating to foreign investment, we cannot assure you that the relevant governmental authorities will not take action that is materially adverse to our PRC operations.
 
 
 
 
Any impairment charges may have a material adverse effect on our net income.
 
Under ROC GAAP and U.S. GAAP, we are required to evaluate our assets, such as equipment, goodwill and investments, for possible impairment at least annually or whenever there is an indication of impairment. If certain criteria are met, we are required to record an impairment charge.
 
With respect to assets, in 2005 we recognized a loss of NT$13,479.1 million on damage to our property, plant and equipment caused by a fire at our facilities in Chung Li, Taiwan. In 2006, we reversed NT$2,190.6 million of the impairment loss recognized in 2005 under ROC GAAP due to an increase in the estimated service potential of the relevant assets. In 2007, we recognized an impairment charge of NT$994.7 million, primarily as a result of idle capacity in our flip-chip substrate production line caused by a lack of demand for certain applications.  In 2008, we recognized impairment charges of NT$293.3 million (US$9.0 million) related to our other-than-temporary loss in our financial assets and impaired idle equipment.  As of December 31, 2008, goodwill under ROC GAAP and U.S. GAAP amounted to NT$9,456.1 million (US$288.6 million) and NT$9,804.7 million (US$299.3 million), respectively.  See “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Operating Results and Trend Information—Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates—Realizability of Long-Lived Assets” and “—Goodwill.”
 
In addition, we may be required to record substantial impairment charges with respect to our subsidiary, PowerASE, a joint venture between us and Powerchip Semiconductor Corp., or Powerchip.  Powerchip operates in the dynamic random access memory, or DRAM, industry and has suffered extensive losses recently.  A substantial portion of PowerASE’s revenues are derived from Powerchip. In addition, we have also invested NT$450 million in Powerchip’s unsecured corporate bonds.  Powerchip’s financial position and operations could render us unable to recover PowerASE’s accounts receivable and cause us to record an impairment charge with respect to PowerASE’s property, plant and equipment and corporate bonds, which could have a material adverse effect on our net income.
 
We are unable to estimate the extent and timing of any impairment charges for future years under ROC GAAP or U.S. GAAP, and we cannot give any assurance that impairment charges will not be required in periods subsequent to December 31, 2008. Any impairment charge could have a material adverse effect on our net income.  The determination of an impairment charge at any given time is based significantly on our expected results of operations over a number of years in the future. As a result, an impairment charge is more likely to occur during a period in which our operating results and outlook are otherwise already depressed.
 
Risks Relating to Taiwan, ROC
 
Strained relations between the ROC and the PRC could negatively affect our business and the market value of your investment.
 
Our principal executive offices and our principal packaging and testing facilities are located in Taiwan and approximately 74.4%, 68.6% and 64.9% of our net revenues in 2006, 2007 and 2008, respectively, were derived from our operations in Taiwan. The ROC has a unique international political status. The government of the PRC asserts sovereignty over all of China, including Taiwan, and does not recognize the legitimacy of the ROC government. Although significant economic and cultural relations have been established in recent years between the ROC and the PRC, relations have often been strained and the PRC government has indicated that it may use military force to gain control over Taiwan in some circumstances, such as the declaration of independence by the ROC.  Political uncertainty could adversely affect the prices of our common shares and ADSs.  Relations between the ROC and the PRC and other factors affecting the political or economic conditions in Taiwan could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations, as well as the market price and the liquidity of our common shares and ADSs.
 
Currently, we manufacture interconnect materials in the PRC through our wholly-owned subsidiary ASE Shanghai.  We also provide wire bond packaging and testing services in the PRC through our subsidiaries, ASESH AT, ASEN and ASEWH. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—Organizational Structure—Our Consolidated Subsidiaries.” The ROC government currently restricts certain types of investments by ROC companies, including ourselves, in the PRC, including certain types of investments in facilities for the packaging and testing of semiconductors. In April 2006, these restrictions were amended to permit investments in facilities for certain less advanced wire bond packaging and testing services.  We do not know when or if such laws and policies governing
 
 
 
 
investment in the PRC will be amended, and we cannot assure you that such ROC investment laws and policies will permit us to make further investments in the PRC in the future that we consider beneficial to us. Our growth prospects and profitability may be adversely affected if we are restricted from making certain additional investments in the PRC and are not able to fully capitalize on the growth of the semiconductor industry in the PRC.
 
As a substantial portion of our business and operations is located in Taiwan, we are vulnerable to earthquakes, typhoons, drought and other natural disasters, as well as power outages and other industrial incidents, which could severely disrupt the normal operation of our business and adversely affect our results of operations.
 
Taiwan is susceptible to earthquakes and has experienced severe earthquakes which caused significant property damage and loss of life, particularly in the central and eastern parts of Taiwan. Earthquakes have damaged production facilities and adversely affected the operations of many companies involved in the semiconductor and other industries. We have never experienced structural damage to our facilities or damage to our machinery and equipment as a result of these earthquakes. In the past, however, we have experienced interruptions to our production schedule primarily as a result of power outages caused by earthquakes.
 
Taiwan is also susceptible to typhoons, which may cause damage and business interruptions to companies with facilities located in Taiwan. In the third quarter of 2004, a typhoon caused a partial interruption for approximately two weeks in our water supply at ASE Chung Li’s substrate operations.
 
Taiwan has experienced severe droughts in the past. Although we have not been directly affected by droughts, we are dependent upon water for our packaging and substrates operations and a drought could interrupt such operations. In addition, a drought could interrupt the manufacturing process of the foundries located in Taiwan, in turn disrupting some of our customers’ production, which could result in a decline in the demand for our services. In addition, the supply of electrical power in Taiwan, which is primarily provided by Taiwan Power Company, the state-owned electric utility, is susceptible to disruption that could be prolonged and frequent, caused by overload as a result of high demand or other reasons.
 
Our production facilities as well as many of our suppliers and customers and providers of complementary semiconductor manufacturing services, including foundries, are located in Taiwan. If our customers are affected by an earthquake, a typhoon, a drought or any other natural disasters, or power outage or other industrial incidents, it could result in a decline in the demand for our packaging and testing services. If our suppliers or providers of complementary semiconductor manufacturing services are affected, our production schedule could be interrupted or delayed. As a result, a major earthquake, typhoon, drought, or other natural disaster in Taiwan, or a power outage or other industrial incident could severely disrupt the normal operation of our business and have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
 
Any outbreak of swine flu, avian flu or a recurrence of SARS or other contagious disease may have an adverse effect on the economies and financial markets of certain Asian countries and may adversely affect our results of operations.
 
In April 2009, outbreaks of swine flu caused by the H1N1 virus were first reported in Mexico and, subsequently, in several other locations including the U.S., the PRC and the ROC.  Many of these cases were fatal and more cases have since been reported.  In addition, the World Health Organization reported in January 2005 that “during 2004, large parts of Asia experienced unprecedented outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza, caused by the H5N1 virus”, which moved the world closer than at any time since 1968 to an influenza pandemic “with high morbidity, excess mortality, and social and economic disruption.” There have continued to be cases of outbreaks of avian flu in certain regions of Asia, Europe and Africa with human casualties reported in countries such as Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, the PRC, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam. Additionally, in the first half of 2003, the PRC, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Vietnam and certain other countries encountered an outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, which is a highly contagious form of atypical pneumonia. The SARS outbreak had an adverse effect on our results of operations for the first half of 2003, primarily due to the lower than expected demand for our packaging and testing services that resulted from the adverse effect of such SARS outbreak on the level of economic activity in the affected regions. There is no guarantee that an outbreak of swine flu, avian flu, SARS or other contagious disease will not occur again in the future and that any future outbreak of swine flu, avian flu, SARS or other contagious disease or the measures taken by the governments of the ROC,
 
 
 
 
Hong Kong, the PRC or other countries against such potential outbreaks, will not seriously interrupt our production operations or those of our suppliers and customers, which may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. The perception that an outbreak of swine flu, avian flu, SARS or other contagious disease may occur again may have an adverse effect on the economic conditions of certain countries in Asia.
 
Risks Relating to Ownership of the ADSs
 
The market for the common shares and the ADSs may not be liquid.
 
Active, liquid trading markets generally result in lower price volatility and more efficient execution of buy and sell orders for investors, compared to less active and less liquid markets. Liquidity of a securities market is often a function of the volume of the underlying shares that are publicly held by unrelated parties.
 
There has been no trading market for the common shares outside the ROC and the only trading market for the common shares will be the Taiwan Stock Exchange. The outstanding ADSs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange. There is no assurance that the market for the common shares or the ADSs will be active or liquid.
 
Although ADS holders are entitled to withdraw the common shares underlying the ADSs from the depositary at any time, ROC law requires that the common shares be held in an account in the ROC or sold for the benefit of the holder on the Taiwan Stock Exchange.  In connection with any withdrawal of common shares from our ADS facility, the ADSs evidencing these common shares will be cancelled. Unless additional ADSs are issued, the effect of withdrawals will be to reduce the number of outstanding ADSs. If a significant number of withdrawals are effected, the liquidity of our ADSs will be substantially reduced. We cannot assure you that the ADS depositary will be able to arrange for a sale of deposited shares in a timely manner or at a specified price, particularly during periods of illiquidity or volatility.
 
If a non-ROC holder of ADSs withdraws common shares, such holder of ADSs will be required to appoint a tax guarantor, local agent and custodian bank in the ROC and register with the Taiwan Stock Exchange in order to buy and sell securities on the Taiwan Stock Exchange.
 
When a non-ROC holder of ADSs elects to withdraw common shares represented by ADSs, such holder of the ADSs will be required to appoint an agent for filing tax returns and making tax payments in the ROC. Such agent will be required to meet the qualifications set by the ROC Ministry of Finance and, upon appointment, becomes the guarantor of the withdrawing holder’s tax payment obligations. Evidence of the appointment of a tax guarantor, the approval of such appointment by the ROC tax authorities and tax clearance certificates or evidentiary documents issued by such tax guarantor may be required as conditions to such holder repatriating the profits derived from the sale of common shares.  We cannot assure you that a withdrawing holder will be able to appoint and obtain approval for a tax guarantor in a timely manner.
 
In addition, under current ROC law, such withdrawing holder is required to register with the Taiwan Stock Exchange and appoint a local agent in the ROC to, among other things, open a bank account and open a securities trading account with a local securities brokerage firm, pay taxes, remit funds and exercise such holder’s rights as a shareholder. Furthermore, such withdrawing holder must appoint a local bank to act as custodian for confirmation and settlement of trades, safekeeping of securities and cash proceeds and reporting and declaration of information. Without satisfying these requirements, non-ROC withdrawing holders of ADSs would not be able to hold or otherwise subsequently sell the common shares on the Taiwan Stock Exchange or otherwise.
 
The market value of your investment may fluctuate due to the volatility of the ROC securities market.
 
The trading price of our ADSs may be affected by the trading price of our common shares on the Taiwan Stock Exchange. The ROC securities market is smaller and more volatile than the securities markets in the United States and in many European countries. 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.  The Taiwan Stock Exchange Index peaked at 12,495.3 in February 1990, and subsequently fell to a low of 2,560.5 in October 1990. On March 13, 2000, the Taiwan Stock Exchange Index experienced a 617-point drop, which represented the single largest decrease in the Taiwan Stock Exchange Index in
 
 
 
 
its history. During the period from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2008, the Taiwan Stock Exchange Index peaked at 9,295.2 on May 19, 2008, and reached a low of 4,089.9 on November 20, 2008. Over the same period, the trading price of our common shares ranged from NT$9.6 per share to NT$34.7 per share. On June 5, 2009, the Taiwan Stock Exchange Index closed at 6,767.10, and the closing value of our common shares was NT$20.05 per share.
 
The Taiwan Stock Exchange is particularly volatile during times of political instability, including when relations between Taiwan and the PRC are strained. Several investment funds affiliated with the ROC government have also from time to time purchased securities from the Taiwan Stock Exchange to support the trading level of the Taiwan Stock Exchange. Moreover, the Taiwan Stock Exchange has experienced problems such as market manipulation, insider trading and settlement defaults. The recurrence of these or similar problems could have an adverse effect on the market price and liquidity of the securities of ROC companies, including our common shares and ADSs, in both the domestic and international markets.
 
Holders of common shares and ADSs may incur dilution as a result of the practice among ROC technology companies of issuing stock bonuses and stock options to employees.
 
Similar to other ROC technology companies, we issue bonuses from time to time in the form of common shares.  Prior to 2009, bonuses issued in the form of our common shares were valued at par.  Beginning in 2009, bonuses in the form of our common shares are valued at the closing price of the common shares on the day prior to our shareholders’ meeting. In addition, under the revised ROC Company Law we may, upon approval from our board of directors and the ROC Securities and Futures Bureau of the Financial Supervisory Commission, Executive Yuan (formerly known as the Securities and Futures Commission), establish employee stock option plans.  We currently maintain three employee stock option plans pursuant to which our full-time employees and the full-time employees of our domestic and foreign subsidiaries are eligible to receive stock option grants.  As of December 31, 2008, 271,837,630 options were outstanding. See “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—Compensation—ASE Inc. Employee Bonus and Stock Option Plans.” The issuance of our common shares pursuant to stock bonuses or stock options may have a dilutive effect on the holders of outstanding common shares and ADSs.
 
Restrictions on the ability to deposit our common shares into our ADS facility may adversely affect the liquidity and price of our ADSs.
 
The ability to deposit common shares into our ADS facility is restricted by ROC law.  A significant number of withdrawals of common shares underlying our ADSs would reduce the liquidity of the ADSs by reducing the number of ADSs outstanding. As a result, the prevailing market price of our ADSs may differ from the prevailing market price of our common shares on the Taiwan Stock Exchange. Under current ROC law, no person or entity, including you and us, may deposit our common shares in our ADS facility without specific approval of the ROC Financial Supervisory Commission, Executive Yuan, unless:
 
(1) 
we pay stock dividends on our common shares;
 
(2) 
we make a free distribution of common shares;
 
(3) 
holders of ADSs exercise preemptive rights in the event of capital increases; or
 
(4)
to the extent permitted under the deposit agreement and the relevant custody agreement, investors purchase our common shares, directly or through the depositary, on the Taiwan Stock Exchange, and deliver our common shares to the custodian for deposit into our ADS facility, or our existing shareholders deliver our common shares to the custodian for deposit into our ADS facility.
 
With respect to item (4) above, the depositary may issue ADSs against the deposit of those common shares only if the total number of ADSs outstanding following the deposit will not exceed the number of ADSs previously approved by the ROC Financial Supervisory Commission, Executive Yuan plus any ADSs issued pursuant to the events described in subparagraphs (1), (2) and (3) above.
 
 
 
 
In addition, in the case of a deposit of our common shares requested under item (4) above, the depositary will refuse to accept deposit of our common shares if such deposit is not permitted under any legal, regulatory or other restrictions notified by us to the depositary from time to time, which restrictions may include blackout periods during which deposits may not be made, minimum and maximum amounts and frequency of deposits.
 
The depositary will not offer holders of ADSs preemptive rights unless the distribution of both the rights and the underlying common shares to our ADS holders are either registered under the Securities Act or exempt from registration under the Securities Act.
 
Holders of ADSs will not have the same voting rights as our shareholders, which may affect the value of their ADSs.
 
The voting rights of a holder of ADSs as to the common shares represented by its ADSs are governed by the deposit agreement. Holders of ADSs will not be able to exercise voting rights on an individual basis. If holders representing at least 51% of the ADSs outstanding at the relevant record date instruct the depositary to vote in the same manner regarding a resolution, including the election of directors and supervisors, the depositary will cause all common shares represented by the ADSs to be voted in that manner. If the depositary does not receive timely instructions representing at least 51% of the ADSs outstanding at the relevant record date to vote in the same manner for any resolution, including the election of directors and supervisors, holders of ADSs will be deemed to have instructed the depositary or its nominee to authorize all the common shares represented by the ADSs to be voted at the discretion of our chairman or his designee, which may not be in the interest of holders of ADSs. Moreover, while shareholders who own 1% or more of our outstanding shares are entitled to submit one proposal to be considered at our annual general meetings of shareholders, only holders representing at least 51% of our ADSs outstanding at the relevant record date are entitled to submit one proposal to be considered at our annual general meetings of shareholders.  Hence, only one proposal may be submitted on behalf of all ADS holders.
 
The right of holders of ADSs to participate in our rights offerings is limited, which could cause dilution to your holdings.
 
We may from time to time distribute rights to our shareholders, including rights to acquire our securities. Under the deposit agreement, the depositary will not offer holders of ADSs those rights unless both the distribution of the rights and the underlying securities to all our ADS holders are either registered under the Securities Act or exempt from registration under the Securities Act. Although we may be eligible to take advantage of certain exemptions under the Securities Act available to certain foreign issuers for rights offerings, we can give no assurances that we will be able to establish an exemption from registration under the Securities Act, and we are under no obligation to file a registration statement for any of these rights. Accordingly, holders of ADSs may be unable to participate in our rights offerings and may experience dilution of their holdings.
 
If the depositary 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 holders of ADSs will receive no value for these rights.
 
Changes in exchange controls which restrict your ability to convert proceeds received from your ownership of ADSs may have an adverse effect on the value of your investment.
 
Under current ROC law, the depositary, without obtaining approvals from the Central Bank of the Republic of China (Taiwan) or any other governmental authority or agency of the ROC, may convert NT dollars into other currencies, including U.S. dollars, for:
 
·  
the proceeds of the sale of common shares represented by ADSs or received as stock dividends from the common shares and deposited into the depositary receipt facility; and
 
·  
any cash dividends or distributions received from the common shares.
 
In addition, the depositary may also convert into NT dollars incoming payments for purchases of common shares for deposit in the ADS facility against the creation of additional ADSs. The depositary may be required to obtain foreign exchange approval from the Central Bank of the Republic of China (Taiwan) on a payment-by-
 
 
 
 
payment basis for conversion from NT dollars into foreign currencies of the proceeds from the sale of subscription rights for new common shares. Although it is expected that the Central Bank of the Republic of China (Taiwan) will grant this approval as a routine matter, we cannot assure you that in the future any approval will be obtained in a timely manner, or at all.
 
Under current ROC law, a holder of the ADSs, without obtaining further approval from the Central Bank of the Republic of China (Taiwan), may convert from NT dollars into other currencies, including U.S. dollars, the following:
 
·  
the proceeds of the sale of any underlying common shares withdrawn from the depositary receipt facility or received as a stock dividend that has been deposited into the depositary receipt facility; and
 
·  
any cash dividends or distribution received from the common shares.
 
However, such holder may be required to obtain foreign exchange approval from the Central Bank of the Republic of China (Taiwan) on a payment-by-payment basis for conversion from NT dollars into foreign currencies of the proceeds from the sale of subscription rights for new common shares. Although the Central Bank of the Republic of China (Taiwan) is generally expected to grant this approval as a routine matter, we cannot assure you that you will actually obtain this approval in a timely manner, or at all.
 
Under the ROC Foreign Exchange Control Law, the Executive Yuan of the ROC government may, without prior notice but subject to subsequent legislative approval, impose foreign exchange controls in the event of, among other things, a material change in international economic conditions. We cannot assure you that foreign exchange controls or other restrictions will not be introduced in the future.
 
The value of your investment may be reduced by possible future sales of common shares or ADSs by us or our shareholders.
 
While we are not aware of any plans by any major shareholders to dispose of significant numbers of common shares, we cannot assure you that one or more existing shareholders or owners of securities convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for our common shares or ADSs will not dispose of significant numbers of common shares or ADSs. In addition, several of our subsidiaries and affiliates hold common shares, depositary shares representing common shares and options to purchase common shares or ADSs. We or they may decide to sell those securities in the future. See “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions—Major Shareholders” for a description of our significant shareholders and affiliates that hold our common shares.
 
We cannot predict the effect, if any, that future sales of common shares or ADSs, or the availability of common shares or ADSs for future sale, will have on the market price of the common shares or the ADSs prevailing from time to time. Sales of substantial numbers of common shares or ADSs in the public market, or the perception that such sales may occur, could depress the prevailing market prices of the common shares or the ADSs.
 
Item 4.  Information on the Company
 
HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMPANY
 
Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc. was incorporated on March 23, 1984 as a company limited by shares under the ROC Company Law, with facilities in the Nantze Export Processing Zone located in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. We were listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange in 1989.  Our principal executive offices are located at 26 Chin Third Road, Nantze Export Processing Zone, Nantze, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC and our telephone number at the above address is (886) 7361-7131. Our common shares have been listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange under the symbol “2311” since July 1989 and ADSs representing our common shares have been listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “ASX” since September 2000.
 
 
 
 
Acquisition of ASESH AT
 
On January 11, 2007, we completed the acquisition of 100.0% of GAPT, now known as ASESH AT, for a purchase price of US$60.0 million. Based in Shanghai, China, ASESH AT provides wire bond packaging and testing services for a wide range of semiconductors.
 
Joint Venture with NXP Semiconductors
 
On September 25, 2007, we entered into a joint venture with NXP B.V., or NXP Semiconductors, formerly known as Philips Semiconductors, by completing the acquisition of 60.0% of ASEN, formerly known as NXP Semiconductors Suzhou Ltd., from NXP Semiconductors for a purchase price of US$21.6 million. NXP Semiconductors holds the remaining 40.0% of ASEN. ASEN is based in Suzhou, China and is engaged in semiconductor packaging and testing.
 
Acquisition of ASE (Weihai), Inc.
 
On May 14, 2008, we completed the acquisition of 100.0% of Weihai Aimhigh Electronic Co. Ltd., now known as ASE (Weihai), Inc., from Aimhigh Global Corp. and TCC Steel for a purchase price of US$7.0 million. ASE (Weihai), Inc. is based in Shandong, China and is engaged in semiconductor packaging and testing.
 
ASE Test Share Acquisition and Privatization
 
Our subsidiary, ASE Test, was previously the holding company for the majority of our testing services.  On September 4, 2007, we and ASE Test entered into a scheme implementation agreement under which we agreed to acquire, by way of a scheme of arrangement under Section 210 of the Companies Act, Chapter 50 of Singapore, or the Scheme, all the outstanding ordinary shares of ASE Test that we did not already directly or indirectly own.  We sought to effect the Scheme in order to simplify our organizational structure, reduce costs and administrative burdens associated with filing and compliance requirements relating to ASE Tests Nasdaq Global Market and Taiwan Stock Exchange listings and public company reporting obligations, enhance our brand recognition through the promotion of a single common brand, and increase our flexibility in making investments and allocating resources among our subsidiaries.
 
We reached an agreement with ASE Test on the terms of the Scheme following an evaluation by a special committee of ASE Tests board of directors, comprised of two of ASE Tests independent directors, that was established to, among other things, review, evaluate, negotiate and consider all matters arising in connection with the Scheme. The Scheme was unanimously approved on our behalf by our board of directors and unanimously approved by ASE Tests independent directors at the recommendation of ASE Tests special committee. On May 6, 2008, the Scheme was approved by a majority of ASE Tests shareholders (other than us or our affiliates) present and voting, either in person or by proxy, at the shareholders meeting, who represented not less than 75% in value of the shares held by shareholders (other than us or our affiliates) present and voting, either in person or by proxy, at the shareholders meeting.  The Scheme became effective on May 30, 2008 and ASE Test became our wholly-owned subsidiary.
 
Pursuant to the terms of the scheme implementation agreement, each ASE Test shareholder (other than us and our subsidiaries) received US$14.78 in cash for each ASE Test ordinary share held by the shareholder and listed on the Nasdaq Global Market, and NT$5.6314, the New Taiwan dollar equivalent of US$0.185 in cash based on the exchange rate as of May 29, 2008, for each ASE Test depositary share (representing 0.0125 ASE Test ordinary shares) held by the shareholder and listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange.  This acquisition price was a 25.6% premium above ASE Tests closing price on the Nasdaq Global Market as of August 31, 2007, and was determined after arms length negotiations between us and the special committee of ASE Tests board of directors.
 
Also pursuant to the terms of the scheme implementation agreement, each ASE Test option exercisable for ASE Test ordinary shares (whether or not vested) that had a per share exercise price lower than US$14.78 was deemed to have been exercised by ASE Test on behalf of the option holder on a cashless basis.  We then acquired these newly issued ASE Test ordinary shares for US$14.78 per share in cash.  As a result, each of these option holders received a cash payment per share equal to the excess of US$14.78 over the per share exercise price of their options, less any
 
 
interest, fees and charges.  Each ASE Test option that had a per share exercise price equal to or higher than US$14.78 was cancelled without any payment to the option holder.
 
Through this transaction, we acquired a total of 58,438,944 shares of ASE Test, 7,843,663 of which were acquired from the mandatory option exercise.  The total transaction value of the Scheme was US$863.9 million.  In order to finance our acquisition of ASE Tests shares, we entered into two syndicated loan agreements for term loan facilities of NT$24,750.0 million, which we and the lenders subsequently agreed to reduce to NT$17,500.0 million, and US$200.0 million, respectively.  For a further description of these agreements, see “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and ProspectsLiquidity and Capital Resources.”
 
ASE Tests ordinary shares were delisted from the Nasdaq Global Market on June 12, 2008.  ASE Tests ordinary shares were deregistered under the Exchange Act effective September 10, 2008.  ASE Tests depositary shares were delisted from the Taiwan Stock Exchange on July 14, 2008.
 
Currently, ASE Tests subsidiaries comprise ASE Test Malaysia, ISE Labs and ASE Singapore Pte. Ltd., all of which ASE Test wholly owns.
 
For more information on the Scheme, see the Schedule 13E-3, as amended, filed by ASE Test with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, on May 30, 2008.
 
For more information on our history and development, see “-Organizational Structure.”
 
BUSINESS OVERVIEW
 
We are the world’s largest independent provider of semiconductor packaging and testing services based on 2008 revenues. Our services include semiconductor packaging, design and production of interconnect materials, front-end engineering testing, wafer probing and final testing services. We believe that, as a result of the following, we are better positioned than our competitors to meet the requirements of semiconductor companies worldwide for outsourced packaging and testing services across a wide range of end-use applications:
 
·  
our ability to provide a broad range of cost-effective semiconductor packaging and testing services on a large-scale turnkey basis in key centers of semiconductor manufacturing;
 
·  
our expertise in developing and providing cost-effective packaging, interconnect materials and testing technologies and solutions;
 
·  
our scale of operations and financial position, which enable us to make significant investments in capacity expansion and research and development as well as to make selective acquisitions;
 
·  
our geographic presence in key centers of outsourced semiconductor and electronics manufacturing; and
 
·  
our long-term relationships with providers of complementary semiconductor manufacturing services, including our strategic alliance with TSMC, one of the world’s largest dedicated semiconductor foundries.
 
We believe that the trend for semiconductor companies to outsource their packaging and testing requirements is accelerating as semiconductor companies increasingly rely on independent providers of foundry and advanced packaging and testing services. In response to the increased pace of new product development and shortened product life and production cycles, semiconductor companies are increasingly seeking independent packaging and testing companies that can provide turnkey services in order to reduce time-to-market. We believe that our expertise and scale in advanced technology and our ability to integrate our broad range of solutions into turnkey services allow us to benefit from the accelerated outsourcing trend and better serve our existing and potential customers.
 
We believe that we have benefited, and will continue to benefit, from our geographic location in Taiwan. Taiwan is currently the largest center for outsourced semiconductor manufacturing in the world and has a high concentration of electronics manufacturing service providers, which are the end users of our customers’ products. Our close proximity to foundries and other providers of complementary semiconductor manufacturing services is attractive to our customers who wish to take advantage of the efficiencies of a total semiconductor manufacturing
 
 
solution by outsourcing several stages of their manufacturing requirements. Our close proximity to end users of our customers’ products is attractive to our customers who wish to take advantage of the logistical efficiencies of direct shipment services that we offer. We believe that, as a result, we are well positioned to meet the advanced semiconductor engineering and manufacturing requirements of our customers.
 
Our global base of over 200 customers includes leading semiconductor companies across a wide range of end-use applications, such as:
 
· Altera Corporation
· NEC Electronics Corporation
· ATI Technologies, Inc.
· NVIDIA Corporation
· Broadcom Corporation
· NXP Semiconductors
· Cambridge Silicon Radio Limited
· Powerchip Semiconductor Corp.
· Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
· Qualcomm Incorporated
· Infineon Technologies
· RF Micro Devices, Inc.
· Kawasaki Microelectronics, Inc
· Silicon Integrated Systems
· Marvell Technology Group Ltd.
· STMicroelectronics N.V.
· Media Tek Inc.
· Zoran Corporation
· Microsoft Corporation
 

 
Industry Background
 
General
 
Semiconductors are the basic building blocks used to create an increasing variety of electronic products and systems. Continuous improvements in semiconductor process and design technologies have led to smaller, more complex and more reliable semiconductors at a lower cost per function. These improvements have resulted in significant performance and price benefits to manufacturers of electronic products. As a result, semiconductor demand has grown substantially in our primary end-user markets for communications, computers and consumer electronics, and has experienced increased growth in other markets such as automotive products and industrial automation and control systems.
 
The semiconductor industry is characterized by strong long-term growth, with periodic and sometimes severe cyclical downturns. The Semiconductor Industry Association estimates that worldwide sales of semiconductors increased from approximately US$51 billion in 1990 to approximately US$255.3 billion in 2008. As a result of the global economic crisis, demand for semiconductors plummeted in the fourth quarter of 2008 and continued to deteriorate in the first quarter of 2009.  Although the rate of growth may begin to slow, we believe that overall growth and cyclical fluctuations will continue over the long-term in the semiconductor industry.
 
Outsourcing Trends in Semiconductor Manufacturing
 
Historically, semiconductor companies designed, manufactured, packaged and tested semiconductors primarily in their own facilities. Over the past several years, there has been a trend in the industry to outsource stages in the manufacturing process. Virtually every significant stage of the manufacturing process can be outsourced. Wafer foundry services and semiconductor packaging and testing services are currently the largest segments of the independent semiconductor manufacturing services market. Most of the world’s major integrated device manufacturers use some independent manufacturing services to maintain a strategic mix of internal and external manufacturing capacity.
 
The availability of technologically advanced independent manufacturing services has also enabled the growth of “fabless” semiconductor companies that focus on semiconductor design and marketing and outsource their wafer fabrication, packaging and testing requirements to independent companies. We believe that the growth in the number and scale of fabless semiconductor companies that rely solely on independent companies to meet their manufacturing requirements will continue to be a driver of growth in the market for independent foundry, packaging and testing services. Similarly, the availability of technologically advanced independent manufacturing services has encouraged integrated device manufacturers, which had traditionally relied on in-house semiconductor
 
 
manufacturing capacity, to increasingly outsource their manufacturing requirements to independent semiconductor manufacturing companies.
 
We believe the outsourcing of semiconductor manufacturing services will increase in the future from current levels for many reasons, including the following:
 
Technological Expertise and Significant Capital Expenditure. Semiconductor manufacturing processes have become highly complex, requiring substantial investment in specialized equipment and facilities and sophisticated engineering and manufacturing expertise. Technical expertise becomes increasingly important as the industry transitions from one generation of technology to another, as evidenced by the current migration of the fabrication process from 8-inches to 12-inches in sub-micron technology and the size of technology nodes fabricated from 65 nm to 45 nm, as well as the integration of different functions into a single-chip service. In addition, product life cycles have been shortening, magnifying the need to continuously upgrade or replace manufacturing equipment to accommodate new products. As a result, new investments in in-house packaging, testing and fabrication facilities are becoming less desirable to integrated device manufacturers because of the high investment costs as well as the inability to achieve sufficient economies of scale and utilization rates necessary to be competitive with the independent service providers. Independent packaging, testing and foundry companies, on the other hand, are able to realize the benefits of specialization and achieve economies of scale by providing services to a large base of customers across a wide range of products. This enables them to reduce costs and shorten production cycles through high capacity utilization and process expertise. In the process, they are also able to focus on discrete stages of semiconductor manufacturing and deliver services of superior quality.
 
In recent years, semiconductor companies have significantly reduced their investment in in-house packaging and testing technologies and capacity. As a result, some semiconductor companies may have limited in-house expertise and capacity to accommodate large orders following a recovery in demand, particularly in the area of advanced technology. On the other hand, some semiconductor companies with in-house packaging and testing operations focusing on low-end leadframe-based packages are under increasing pressure to rationalize these operations by relocating to locations with lower costs or better infrastructure, such as the PRC, in order to lower manufacturing costs and shorten production cycle time. We expect semiconductor companies to increasingly outsource their packaging and testing requirements to take advantage of the advanced technology and scale of operations of independent packaging and testing companies.
 
Focus on Core Competencies. As the semiconductor industry becomes more competitive, semiconductor companies are expected to further outsource their semiconductor manufacturing requirements in order to focus their resources on core competencies, such as semiconductor design and marketing.
 
Time-to-Market Pressure. The increasingly short product life cycle has accelerated time-to-market pressure for semiconductor companies, leading them to rely increasingly on outsourced suppliers as a key source for effective manufacturing solutions.
 
Capitalize on the High Growth Rates in Emerging Markets. Emerging markets, and China in particular, have become both major manufacturing centers for the technology industry and growing markets for technology-based products. Thus, in order to gain direct access to the Chinese market, many semiconductor companies are seeking to establish manufacturing facilities in China by partnering with local subcontractors.  As a result, certain stages of the semiconductor manufacturing process that were previously handled in-house will be increasingly outsourced in order to improve efficiency.
 
The Semiconductor Industry in Taiwan
 
The semiconductor industry in Taiwan has been a leader in, and a major beneficiary of, the trend in outsourcing. The growth of the semiconductor industry in Taiwan has been the result of several factors. First, semiconductor manufacturing companies in Taiwan typically focus on one or two stages of the semiconductor manufacturing process. As a result, these companies tend to be more efficient and are better able to achieve economies of scale and maintain higher capacity utilization rates. Second, semiconductor manufacturing companies in Taiwan that provide the major stages of the manufacturing process are located close to each other and typically enjoy close working relationships. This close network is attractive to customers who wish to outsource multiple stages of the
 
 
semiconductor manufacturing process. For instance, a customer could reduce production cycle time and unit cost and streamline logistics by outsourcing its foundry, packaging, testing and drop shipment services to electronics manufacturing companies in Taiwan. Third, Taiwan also has an educated labor pool and a large number of engineers suitable for sophisticated manufacturing industries such as semiconductors.
 
Notwithstanding the recent effects of the global economic crisis, the semiconductor industry in Taiwan has over the past decade made significant capital expenditures to expand capacity and technological capabilities.  The ROC government has also provided tax incentives, long-term loans at favorable rates and research and development support, both directly and indirectly through support of research institutes and universities. As a result of investments made in recent years, Taiwan has achieved substantial market share in the outsourced semiconductor manufacturing industry. Furthermore, the growth of Taiwan’s electronics manufacturing industry, particularly in personal computer, mobile handset and digital camera design and manufacturing, has created substantial local demand for semiconductors.
 
The Semiconductor Industry in Other Asian Regions
 
Many of the factors that contributed to the growth of the semiconductor industry in Taiwan have also contributed to the recent development of the semiconductor industry in Southeast Asia. Access to expanding semiconductor foundry services in Singapore, convenient proximity to major downstream electronics manufacturing operations in Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, government-sponsored infrastructure support, tax incentives and pools of skilled engineers and labor at relatively low cost have all encouraged the development of back-end semiconductor service operations in Southeast Asia. The downstream electronics manufacturers in Southeast Asia have typically focused on products used in the communications, industrial and consumer electronics and personal computer peripheral sectors. The proximity to both semiconductor foundries and end users has influenced local and international semiconductor companies increasingly to obtain packaging, testing and drop shipment services from companies in Southeast Asia.
 
In addition, the world’s leading electronics manufacturing service providers, many of them from Taiwan, are increasingly establishing manufacturing facilities in the PRC and Vietnam in order to take advantage of lower labor costs, government incentives for investment and the potential size of the domestic market for end users of electronics products. Many of the factors that contributed to the growth of the semiconductor industry in Taiwan are beginning to emerge in the PRC and may play an increasingly important role in the growth of its semiconductor industry over the long term.
 
Overview of Semiconductor Manufacturing Process
 
The manufacturing of semiconductors is a complex process that requires increasingly sophisticated engineering and manufacturing expertise. The manufacturing process may be divided into the following stages from circuit design to shipment:
 
 
 
 


 
We are involved in all stages of the semiconductor manufacturing process except circuit design and wafer fabrication.
 
 
Process
 
 
Description
Circuit Design
 
The design of a semiconductor is developed by laying out circuit components and interconnections.
     
Front-End Engineering Test
 
Throughout and following the design process, prototype semiconductors undergo front-end engineering testing, which involves software development, electrical design validation and reliability and failure analysis.
     
Wafer Fabrication
 
Process begins with the generation of a photomask through the definition of the circuit design pattern on a photographic negative, known as a mask, by an electron beam or laser beam writer. These circuit patterns are transferred to the wafers using various advanced processes.
     
Wafer Probe
 
Each individual die is electrically tested, or probed, for defects. Dies that fail this test are marked to be discarded.
     
Packaging
 
Packaging, also called assembly, is the processing of bare semiconductors into finished semiconductors and serves to protect the die and facilitate electrical connections and heat dissipation. The patterned silicon wafers received from our customers are diced by means of diamond saws into separate dies, also called chips. Each die is attached to a leadframe or a laminate (plastic or tape) substrate by epoxy resin. A leadframe is a
 
 
 
Process
 
 
Description
 
 
miniature sheet of metal, generally made of copper and silver alloys, on which the pattern of input/output leads has been cut. On a laminate substrate, typically used in ball grid array, or BGA, packages, the leads take the shape of small bumps or balls. Leads on the leadframe or the substrate are connected by extremely fine gold wires or bumps to the input/output terminals on the chips, through the use of automated machines known as “bonders.” Each chip is then encapsulated, generally in a plastic casing molded from a molding compound, with only the leads protruding from the finished casing, either from the edges of the package as in the case of the leadframe-based packages, or in the form of small bumps on a surface of the package as in the case of BGA or other substrate-based packages.
     
Final Test
 
Final testing is conducted to ensure that the packaged semiconductor meets performance specifications. Final testing involves using sophisticated testing equipment known as testers and customized software to electrically test a number of attributes of packaged semiconductors, including functionality, speed, predicted endurance and power consumption. The final testing of semiconductors is categorized by the functions of the semiconductors tested into logic/mixed-signal/RF final testing and memory final testing. Memory final testing typically requires simpler test software but longer testing time per device tested.

Strategy
 
Our objective is to provide semiconductor packaging and testing services and interconnect materials design and production capabilities which set industry standards and to lead and facilitate the industry trend towards outsourcing semiconductor manufacturing requirements. The principal elements of our strategy are to:
 
Grow Our Advanced Packaging Services and Expand into the Legacy Packaging Market
 
We believe that an important factor in our ability to attract leading semiconductor companies as our customers has been our ability to fulfill demand for a broad range of packaging solutions on a large scale. We intend to continue to develop process and product technologies to meet the requirements of clients using our advanced packaging services. Our expertise in packaging technology has enabled us to develop advanced solutions such as fine-pitch wire bonding, stacked die packaging and bump chip carrier packaging.  We are continuously investing in research and development in response to and in anticipation of migrations in technology and intend to continue to acquire access to new technologies through strategic alliances and licensing arrangements.
 
We also intend to expand our legacy leadframe-based packaging product offerings and services. We believe that our clients will continue to outsource their legacy packaging requirements. To capitalize on this trend, we plan to accelerate our single outline legacy packaging production in Shanghai and expand into the discrete packaging business by leveraging the existing assets of ASE (Weihai), Inc. in Shandong, China.
 
The increasing miniaturization of semiconductors and the growing complexity of interconnect technology have also resulted in the blurring of the traditional distinctions among assembly at different levels of integration: chip, module, board and system. We currently provide module assembly services primarily at our facilities in Korea. Our
 
 
approximately 18.2% ownership interest in Universal Scientific has provided us with access to process and product technologies at the levels of module, board and system assembly and test, which helps us to better anticipate industry trends and take advantage of potential growth opportunities.
 
Strategically Expand and Streamline Production Capacity
 
To capitalize on the growing demand for advanced and legacy packaging and testing services, we intend to strategically expand our production capacity, both through internal growth and through selective acquisitions and joint ventures, with a focus on providing cost competitive and innovative packaging and testing services.
 
For our advanced packaging and testing business, we intend to invest in trends that are essential to the development of the industry. We plan to expand our capacity with respect to, among other things, 12-inch wafer process, bumping, FC-CSP and system-in-a-package products to meet demand for smaller form factors, higher performance and higher packaging density. We believe rising commodity prices will expedite the migration from leadframe and BGA-based packaging to flip-chip packaging and wafer level packaging, as the cost differential narrows. We intend to increase our capacity for flip-chip packaging and wafer level packaging in order to cope with rising demand for these packaging technologies.
 
In addition, we intend to promote our copper wire solutions to our customers in addition to gold wire.  Gold wire is a significant raw material for us.  Gold prices, however, are subject to intense fluctuations, which have in the past impacted our profitability. We believe that replacing gold wire in some of our packages with the copper wire technology that we are developing will enable us to provide more value to our customers, which will enhance our competitiveness. We plan to focus initially on integrating copper wire into traditional leadframe-based packages and thereafter into higher end substrate-based packages.
 
For our legacy packaging and testing business, we expect to focus on providing cost competitive services through our China operations by leveraging Chinas lower cost of labor and land and a rapidly growing end market. Our clients may also benefit from easier inventory management and savings in transportation costs and taxes by outsourcing their packaging and testing requirements to China. Through better management of capacity utilization and efficiency improvements, we plan to offer cost competitive legacy packaging and testing services on a large scale with the intention of driving more integrated device manufacturer outsourcing in the long-run.
 
We evaluate acquisition and joint venture opportunities on the basis of access to new markets and technology, the enhancement of our production capacity, economies of scale and management resources, and closer proximity to existing and potential customers. In July 2006, we entered into a joint venture with Powerchip, a DRAM manufacturer in Taiwan that focuses on the packaging and testing of memory semiconductors, in order to help develop our capabilities with respect to memory semiconductors and to benefit from future growth in the market for memory products. The joint venture began operations in December 2006. In January 2007, we completed the acquisition of GAPT, a company that provides wire bond packaging and testing services for a wide range of semiconductors. In February 2007, we and NXP Semiconductors formed a joint venture in Suzhou, China focused on semiconductor testing and packaging. We currently own a 60.0% interest in the joint venture. In May 2008, we completed the acquisition of ASE (Weihai), Inc., a company that also engages in semiconductor packaging and testing services.
 
Continue to Leverage Our Presence in Key Centers of Semiconductor and Electronics Manufacturing
 
We intend to continue leveraging our presence in key centers of semiconductor and electronics manufacturing to further grow our business. We have significant packaging and testing operations in Taiwan, currently the largest center for outsourced semiconductor manufacturing in the world. This presence enables our engineers to work closely with our customers as well as foundries and other providers of complementary semiconductor manufacturing services early in the semiconductor design process, enhances our responsiveness to the requirements of our customers and shortens production cycles. In addition, as a turnkey service provider, we are able to offer in Taiwan packaging and testing services, including interconnect materials solutions, all within relatively close geographic proximity to our customers, complementary service providers and the end users of our customers products. In addition to our current operations, we intend to expand our packaging and testing operations in Chung Li, Taiwan to
 
 
better serve our customers located in northern Taiwan and customers who request that we maintain the capability of packaging and testing their products at more than one location in Taiwan.
 
In addition to our locations in Taiwan, we have operations in the following locations:
 
  
PRC a fast-growing market for semiconductor manufacturing for domestic consumption and our primary site for serving legacy packaging clients;
 
  
Korea an increasingly important center for the manufacturing of memory and communications devices;
 
  
Malaysia and Singapore an emerging center for outsourced semiconductor manufacturing in Southeast Asia;
 
  
Silicon Valley in California the preeminent center for semiconductor design, with a concentration of fabless customers; and
 
  
Japan an emerging market for semiconductor packaging and testing services as Japanese integrated device manufacturers increasingly outsource their semiconductor manufacturing requirements.
 
Strengthen and Develop Strategic Relationships with Providers of Complementary Semiconductor Manufacturing Services
 
We intend to strengthen existing, and develop new, strategic relationships with providers of other complementary semiconductor manufacturing services, such as foundries, as well as equipment vendors, raw material suppliers and technology research institutes, in order to offer our customers total semiconductor manufacturing solutions covering all stages of the manufacturing of their products from design to shipment.
 
Since 1997, we have maintained a strategic alliance with TSMC, currently one of the world’s largest dedicated semiconductor foundries, which designates us as their non-exclusive preferred provider of packaging and testing services for semiconductors manufactured by TSMC.  Through our strategic alliance with and close geographic proximity to TSMC, we are able to offer our customers a total semiconductor manufacturing solution that includes access to foundry services in addition to our packaging, testing and direct shipment services.  In addition, on February 23, 2009, we and AMPI, a provider of foundry services, signed a memorandum of understanding to enter into a strategic alliance focused on providing semiconductor manufacturing turnkey services.
 
Principal Products and Services
 
We offer a broad range of advanced and legacy semiconductor packaging and testing services. Our package types employ either leadframes or substrates as interconnect materials. The semiconductors we package are used in a wide range of end-use applications, including communications, computers, consumer electronics, industrial, automotive and other applications. Our testing services include front-end engineering testing, which is performed during and following the initial circuit design stage of the semiconductor manufacturing process, wafer probe, final testing and other related semiconductor testing services. We focus on packaging and testing logic semiconductors. We offer our customers turnkey services which consist of packaging, testing and direct shipment of semiconductors to end users designated by our customers. In 2006, 2007 and 2008, our packaging revenues accounted for 76.5%, 77.6% and 77.7% of our net revenues, respectively, and our testing revenues accounted for 21.3%, 19.8% and 20.1% of our net revenues, respectively.
 
Packaging Services
 
We offer a broad range of package types to meet the requirements of our customers, with a focus on advanced packaging solutions. Within our portfolio of package types, we focus on the packaging of semiconductors for which there is expected to be strong demand. These include advanced leadframe-based package types such as quad flat
 
 
 package, thin quad flat package, bump chip carrier and quad flat no-lead package, and package types based on substrates, such as flip-chip BGA and other BGA types as well as other advanced packages such as wafer-bumping products. We are among the leaders in such advanced packaging processes and technologies and are well positioned to lead the technology migration in the semiconductor packaging industry.
 
The semiconductor packaging industry has evolved to meet the advanced packaging requirements of high-performance semiconductors. The development of high-performance electronics products has spurred the innovation of semiconductor packages that have higher interconnect density and better electrical performance. As a part of this technology migration, semiconductor packages have evolved from leadframe-based packages to substrate-based packages. The key differences of these package types are:
 
·
the size of the package;
 
·
the density of electrical connections the package can support; and
 
·
the thermal and electrical characteristics of the package.
 
Leadframe-Based Packages.  Leadframe-based packages are packaged by connecting the die, using wire bonders, to the leadframe with gold wire. As packaging technology improves, the number of leads per package increases. Packages have evolved from the lower pin-count plastic dual in-line packages to higher pin-count quad flat packages. In addition, improvements in leadframe-based packages have reduced the footprint of the package on the circuit board and improved the electrical performance of the package. The following table sets forth our principal leadframe-based packages.
 
Package Types
 
 
Number
of Leads
 
 
Description
 
 
End-Use Applications
Quad Flat Package (QFP)/ Thin Quad Flat Package (TQFP)
 
44-256
 
Designed for advanced processors and controllers, application-specific integrated circuits and digital signal processors.
 
Multimedia applications, cellular phones, personal computers, automotive and industrial products, hard disk drives, communication boards such as ethernet, integrated services digital networks and notebook computers.
             
Quad Flat No-Lead Package (QFN)/Microchip Carrier (MCC)
 
12-84
 
QFN, also known as MCC, uses half-encapsulation technology to expose the rear side of the die pad and the tiny fingers, which are used to connect the chip and bonding wire with printed circuit boards.
 
Cellular phones, wireless local access networks, personal digital assistant devices and digital cameras.
             
Advanced Quad Flat No-Lead Package (aQFN)
 
104-248
 
aQFN allows for leadless, multi-row and fine-pitch leadframe packaging and is characterized by enhanced thermal and electrical performance.  aQFN is a cost-effective packaging solution due to its cost-effective materials and simpler packaging process.
 
Telecommunications products, wireless local access networks, personal digital assistants, digital cameras, low to medium lead count packaging information appliances.
 
 
 
Package Types
 
 
Number
of Leads
 
 
Description
 
 
End-Use Applications
Bump Chip Carrier (BCC)
 
16-156
 
BCC packages use plating metal pads to connect with printed circuit boards, creating enhanced thermal and electrical performance.
 
Cellular phones, wireless local access networks, personal digital assistant devices and digital cameras.
             
Small Outline Plastic Package (SOP)/Thin Small Outline Plastic Package (TSOP)
 
8-56
 
Designed for memory devices including static random access memory, or SRAM, dynamic random access memory, or DRAM, fast static RAM, also called FSRAM, and flash memory devices.
 
Consumer audio/video and entertainment products, cordless telephones, pagers, fax machines, printers, copiers, personal computer peripherals, automotive parts, telecommunications products, recordable optical disks and hard disk drives.
             
Small Outline Plastic J-Bend Package (SOJ)
 
20-44
 
Designed for memory and low pin-count applications.
 
DRAM memory devices, microcontrollers, digital analog conversions and audio/video applications.
             
Plastic Leaded Chip Carrier (PLCC)
 
28-84
 
Designed for applications that do not require low-profile packages with high density of interconnects.
 
Personal computers, scanners, electronic games and monitors.
             
Plastic Dual In-line Package (PDIP)
 
8-64
 
Designed for consumer electronic products.
 
Telephones, televisions, audio/video applications and computer peripherals.

 
Substrate-Based Packages. Substrate-based packages generally employ the BGA design, which utilizes a substrate rather than a leadframe. Whereas traditional leadframe technology places the electrical connection around the perimeter of the package, the BGA package type places the electrical connection at the bottom of the package surface in the form of small bumps or balls. These small bumps or balls are typically distributed evenly across the bottom surface of the package, allowing greater distance between individual leads and higher pin-counts.
 
The BGA package type was developed in response to the requirements of advanced semiconductors. The benefits of the BGA package type include:
 
·  
smaller package size;
 
·  
higher pin-count;
 
·  
greater reliability;
 
·  
superior electrical signal transmission; and
 
·  
better heat dissipation.
 
 
The industry demand for BGA packages has grown significantly in recent years. BGA packages are generally used in applications where size, density and performance are important considerations, such as cellular handsets and high pin-count graphic chipsets. Our expertise in BGA packages also includes capabilities in stacked-die BGA, which assembles multiple dies into a single package. As an extension to stacked-die BGA, we also assemble system-in-a-package products, which involve the integration of more than one chip into the same package. We believe that we are among the leaders in these packaging technologies.
 
We believe that there will continue to be growing demand for packaging solutions with increased input/output density, smaller size and better heat dissipation characteristics. In anticipation of this demand, we have focused on developing our capabilities in some advanced packaging solutions, such as flip-chip BGA. Flip-chip BGA technology replaces wire bonding with wafer bumping for interconnections within the package. Wafer bumping involves the placing of tiny solder balls, instead of wires, on top of dies for connection to substrates. As compared with more traditional packages, which allow input/output connection only on the boundaries of the dies, flip-chip packages significantly enhance the input/output flow by allowing input/output connection over the entire surface of the dies.
 
The following table sets forth our principal substrate-based packages.
 
 
Package Types
 
 
Number of Leads
 
 
Description
 
 
End-Use Applications
Plastic BGA
 
5-1520
 
Designed for semiconductors which require the enhanced performance provided by plastic BGA, including personal computer chipsets, graphic controllers and microprocessors, application-specific integrated circuits, digital signal processors and memory devices.
 
Telecommunications products, global positioning systems, notebook computers, disk drives and video cameras.
             
Cavity Down BGA
 
256-1140
 
Designed for memory devices such as flash memory devices, SRAM, DRAM and FSRAM, microprocessors/controllers and high-value, application-specific integrated circuits requiring a low profile, light and small package.
 
Telecommunications products, wireless and consumer systems, personal digital assistants, disk drives, notebook computers and memory boards.
             
Stacked-Die BGA
 
44-591
 
Combination of multiple dies in a single package enables package to have multiple functions within a small surface area.
 
Telecommunications products, local area networks, graphics processor applications, digital cameras and pagers.
             
Flip-Chip BGA
 
16-2401
 
Using advanced interconnect technology, the flip-chip BGA package allows higher density of input/output connection over the entire surface of the dies.  Designed for high-performance semiconductors that require high density of interconnects in a small package.
 
High-performance networking, graphics and processor applications.
             
Hybrid (Flip-Chip and Wire Bumping)
 
49-608
 
A package technology which stacks a die on top of a probed good die to integrate ASIC and
 
Digital cameras, smartphones, Bluetooth applications and
 
 
 
Package Types
 
 
Number of Leads
 
 
Description
 
 
End-Use Applications
   
memory (flash, SRAM and DDR) into one package and interconnecting them with wire bonding and molding.  This technology suffers from known good die issues (i.e., one bad die will ruin the entire module). Rework is also not an option in hybrid packages.
 
personal digital assistants.
             
Land Grid Array (LGA)
 
10-72
 
Leadless package which is essentially a BGA package without the solder balls.  Based on laminate substrate, land grid array packages allow flexible routing and are capable of multichip module functions.
 
High frequency integrated circuits such as wireless communications products, computers servers and personal computer peripherals.
             
Flip-Chip Chip Scale Package (FC-CSP)
 
16-200
 
A lightweight package with a small, thin profile that provides better protection for chips and better solder joint reliability than other comparable package types.
 
RFICs and memory ICs such as digital cameras, DVDs, devices that utilize WiMAX technology, cellular phones, GPS devices and personal computer peripherals.
             
Package-on-Package (POP)
 
136-288
 
This technology places one package on top of another to integrate different functionalities while maintaining a compact size. It offers procurement flexibility, low cost of ownership, better total system cost and faster time to market. Designers typically use the topmost package for memory applications and the bottomost package for ASICs. By using this technology, the memory known good die issue can be mitigated and the development cycle time and cost can be reduced.
 
Cellular phones, personal digital assistants and system boards.
 
Wafer-Level Packages.  Wafer-level packages typically have an area no greater than 1.2 times of the silicon die.  Unlike substrate-based packages, where the die is usually mounted on an interposer which then contains electrical connections in the form of small bumps or balls, wafer-level packages do not include an interposer.  The electrical connections are etched or printed directly onto the wafer itself, resulting in a package very close to the size of the silicon die.
 
We provide numerous technologies to meet various customer demands.  The following table sets forth our principal wafer-level packaging products:
 
 
 
Package Types
 
 
Number of Leads
 
 
Description
 
 
End-Use Applications
Wafer Level Chip Scale Package (aCSP)
 
6-88
 
A wafer level chip scale package that can be directly attached to the circuit board.  Provides shortest electrical path from the die pad to the circuit board, thereby enhancing electrical performance.
 
Cellular phones, personal digital assistants, watches, MP3 players, digital cameras and camcorders.
             
Advanced Wafer Level Package (aWLP)
 
189-364
 
This technology allows the “fanout” of the package I/Os using an area larger than the die size without the need for a separate substrate. It offers cost effective alternatives to flip-chip and wire bumping packaging. 2D and 3D multi-die packages can enable leadless, multi-row and fine-pitch leadframe packages with enhanced thermal and electrical performance.
 
Telecommunications products, basebands and multiband transceivers.

 
Module Assembly.  We also offer module assembly services, which combine one or more packaged semiconductors with other components in an integrated module to enable increased functionality, typically using automated surface mount technology, or SMT, machines and other machinery and equipment for system-level assembly. End-use applications for modules include cellular phones, PDAs, wireless LAN applications, Bluetooth applications, camera modules, automotive applications and toys.  We currently provide module assembly services primarily at our facilities in Korea for radio frequency and power amplifier modules used in wireless communications and automotive applications.
 
Interconnect Materials.  Interconnect materials connect the input/output on the semiconductor dies to the printed circuit board. Interconnect materials include substrate, which is a multi-layer miniature printed circuit board, and is an important element of the electrical characteristics and overall performance of semiconductors.  We produce substrates for use in our packaging operations.
 
The demand for higher performance semiconductors in smaller packages will continue to spur the development of advanced substrates that can support the advancement in circuit design and fabrication. As a result, we believe that the market for substrates will grow and the cost of substrates as a percentage of the total packaging process will increase. In the past, substrates we designed for our customers were produced by independent substrate manufacturers. Since 1997, we have been designing and producing a portion of our interconnect materials in-house. In 2008, our interconnect materials operations supplied approximately 51.7% of our consolidated substrate requirements by value.
 
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the percentage of our packaging revenues accounted for by each principal type of packaging products or services.
 
 
   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2006
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
(percentage of packaging revenues)
 
                   
Advanced substrate and leadframe-based packages(1)
    82.8 %     86.7 %     88.0 %
Traditional leadframe-based packages(2)
    5.2       4.3       4.7  
Module assembly
    7.1       6.2       4.1  
Other
    4.9       2.8       3.2  
Total
    100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %
 
(1)
Includes leadframe-based packages such as QFP/TQFP, QFN/MCC  and BCC and substrate-based packages such as various BGA package types (including flip-chip and others) and LGA.
 
(2)
Includes leadframe-based packages such as SOP/TSOP, SOJ, PLCC and PDIP.
 
Testing Services
 
We provide a complete range of semiconductor testing services, including front-end engineering testing, wafer probing, final testing of logic/mixed-signal/RF and memory semiconductors and other test-related services.
 
The testing of semiconductors requires technical expertise and knowledge of the specific applications and functions of the semiconductors tested as well as the testing equipment utilized. We believe that our testing services employ technology and expertise which are among the most advanced in the semiconductor industry. In addition to maintaining different types of testing equipment, which enables us to test a variety of semiconductor functions, we work closely with our customers to design effective testing and conversion programs on multiple equipment platforms for particular semiconductors.
 
In recent years, complex, high-performance logic/mixed-signal/RF semiconductors have accounted for an increasing portion of our testing revenues. As the testing of complex, high-performance semiconductors requires a large number of functions to be tested using more advanced testing equipment, these products generate higher revenues per unit of testing time, as measured in central processing unit seconds.
 
Front-End Engineering Testing.  We provide front-end engineering testing services, including customized software development, electrical design validation, and reliability and failure analysis.
 
·
Customized Software Development.  Test engineers develop customized software to test the semiconductor using advanced testing equipment. Customized software, developed on specific testing platforms, is required to test the conformity of each particular semiconductor type to its unique functionality and specification.
 
·
Electrical Design Validation.  A prototype of the designed semiconductor is subjected to electrical tests using advanced test equipment and customized software. These tests assess whether the prototype semiconductor complies with a variety of different operating specifications, including functionality, frequency, voltage, current, timing and temperature range.
 
·
Reliability Analysis.  Reliability analysis is designed to assess the long-term reliability of the semiconductor and its suitability of use for intended applications. Reliability testing can include “burn-in” services, which electrically stress a device, usually at high temperature and voltage, for a period of time long enough to cause the failure of marginal devices.
 
·
Failure Analysis.  In the event that the prototype semiconductor does not function to specifications during either the electrical design validation or reliability testing processes, it is typically subjected to failure analysis to determine the cause of the failure to perform as anticipated. As part of this analysis, the prototype semiconductor may be subjected to a variety of analyses, including electron beam probing and electrical testing.
 
 
Wafer Probing.  Wafer probing is the step immediately before the packaging of semiconductors and involves visual inspection and electrical testing of the processed wafer for defects to ensure that it meets our customers’ specifications. Wafer probing services require expertise and testing equipment similar to that used in final testing, and most of our testers can also be used for wafer probing.
 
Logic/Mixed-Signal/RF Final Testing.  We conduct final tests of a wide variety of logic/mixed-signal/RF semiconductors, with the number of leads ranging from the single digits to over one thousand and operating frequencies of over 5 Gbps for digital semiconductors and 6 GHz for radio frequency semiconductors, which are at the high end of the range for the industry. The products we test include semiconductors used for networking and wireless communications, graphics and disk controllers for home entertainment and personal computer applications, as well as a variety of application-specific integrated circuits for various specialized applications.
 
Memory Final Testing.  We provide final testing services for a variety of memory products, such as SRAM, DRAM, single-bit erasable programmable read-only memory semiconductors and flash memory semiconductors.
 
Other Test-Related Services.  We provide a broad range of additional test-related services, including:
 
·
Burn-in Testing.  Burn-in testing is the process of electrically stressing a device, usually at high temperature and voltage, for a period of time to simulate the continuous use of the device to determine whether this use would cause the failure of marginal devices;
 
·
Module Sip Testing. We provide module sip testing through bench instrument testing and stand-alone testing to our customers with a complete solution with respect to wireless instruments, global positioning system devices, personal navigation devices and digital video broadcasting devices;
 
·
Dry Pack.  Process which involves heating semiconductors in order to remove moisture before packaging and shipping to customers;
 
·
Tape and Reel.  Process which involves transferring semiconductors from a tray or tube into a tape-like carrier for shipment to customers; and
 
·
Electric Interface Board and Mechanical Test Tool Design. Process of designing individualized testing apparatuses for unique semiconductor devices and packages.
 
Drop Shipment Services.  We offer drop shipment services for shipment of semiconductors directly to end users designated by our customers. Drop shipment services are provided mostly in conjunction with logic/mixed-signal/RF testing. We provide drop shipment services to a significant percentage of our testing customers. A substantial portion of our customers at each of our facilities have qualified these facilities for drop shipment services. Since drop shipment eliminates the additional step of inspection by the customer before shipment to the end user, quality of service is a key consideration. We believe that our ability to successfully execute our full range of services, including drop shipment services, is an important factor in maintaining existing customers as well as attracting new customers.
 
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the percentage of our testing revenues accounted for by each type of testing service.
 
   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2006
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
(percentage of testing revenues)
 
Testing Services:
                 
Front-end engineering testing
    4.7 %     3.6 %     3.2 %
Wafer probing
    18.7       20.1       18.1  
Final testing
    76.6       76.3       78.7  
Total
    100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %
 
Seasonality
 
See “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Operating Results and Trend Information—Quarterly Net Revenues, Gross Profit and Gross Margin.”
 
Sales and Marketing
 
Sales and Marketing Offices
 
We maintain sales and marketing offices in Taiwan, the United States, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Singapore, the Philippines, the PRC, Korea, Malaysia and Japan. Our sales and marketing offices in Taiwan are located in Hsinchu and Kaohsiung. We conduct marketing research through our customer service personnel and through our relationships with our customers and suppliers to keep abreast of market trends and developments. We also provide advice in the area of production process technology to our major customers planning the introduction of new products. In placing orders with us, our customers specify which of our facilities these orders will go to. Our customers conduct separate qualification and correlation processes for each of our facilities that they use. See “—Qualification and Correlation by Customers.”
 
Customers
 
Our global base of over 200 customers includes leading semiconductor companies across a wide range of end-use applications, such as:
 
· Altera Corporation
· NEC Electronics Corporation
· ATI Technologies, Inc.
· NVIDIA Corporation
· Broadcom Corporation
· NXP Semiconductors
· Cambridge Silicon Radio Limited
· Powerchip Semiconductor Corp.
· Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
· Qualcomm Incorporated
· Infineon Technologies
· RF Micro Devices, Inc.
· Kawasaki Microelectronics, Inc
· Silicon Integrated Systems
· Marvell Technology Group Ltd.
· STMicroelectronics N.V.
· Media Tek Inc.
· Zoran Corporation
· Microsoft Corporation
 

 
Our five largest customers together accounted for approximately 26.0% , 24.8% and 27.1% of our net revenues in 2006, 2007 and 2008, respectively. No customer accounted for more than 10% of our net revenues in 2006, 2007 and 2008.
 
We package and test for our customers a wide range of products with end-use applications in the communications, computers, consumer electronics, industrial and automotive sectors. The following table sets forth a breakdown of the percentage of our net revenues, for the periods indicated, by the principal end-use applications of the products which we packaged and tested.
 
   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2006
   
2007
   
2008
 
                   
Communications
    37.2 %     44.5 %     44.7 %
Computers
    24.7       22.8       22.8  
Consumer electronics/industrial/automotive
    37.3       32.1       32.1  
Other
    0.8       0.6       0.4  
Total
    100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %

Many of our customers are leaders in their respective end-use markets. For example, we provide Freescale Semiconductor, Inc., an industry leader in automotive and wireless communications semiconductor products, with a substantial portion of its outsourced packaging and testing requirements. The following table sets forth some of our
 
 
largest customers, in alphabetical order, categorized by the principal end-use applications of the products which we package and test for them.
 
 
Communications
 
 
Computers
 
 
Consumer Electronics/Industrial/Automotive
Broadcom Corporation
Cambridge Silicon Radio Limited
Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
Infineon Technologies
Media Tek Inc.
NXP Semiconductors
Qualcomm Incorporated
RF Micro Devices, Inc.
 
ATI Technologies, Inc.
NVIDIA Corporation
Powerchip Semiconductor Corp.
STMicroelectronics N.V.
 
 
 
 
Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
Microsoft Corporation
NEC Electronics Corporation
STMicroelectronics N.V.
Zoran Corporation
 

We categorize our packaging and testing revenues geographically based on the country in which the customer is headquartered. The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the percentage breakdown by geographic regions of our packaging and testing revenues.
 
   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2006
   
2007
   
2008
 
                   
America
    53.1 %     49.8 %     53.0 %
Taiwan
    18.7       21.2       19.8  
Asia
    15.7       16.6       13.7  
Europe
    12.5       12.4       13.5  
Other
    *       *       *  
Total
    100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %
 

*
Indicates percentage is less than 0.1% of net revenues.

 
The majority of our testing revenues is accounted for by the testing of semiconductors that were also packaged at our packaging facilities.  The balance represented testing revenues from customers who delivered packaged semiconductors directly to our facilities for testing services alone. The majority of our packaging revenues is accounted for by the packaging of semiconductors which were subsequently tested at our facilities. We expect that more customers of our packaging facilities will begin to contract for our packaging and testing services on a turnkey basis.
 
Qualification and Correlation by Customers
 
Customers generally require that our facilities undergo a stringent qualification process during which the customer evaluates our operations and production processes, including engineering, delivery control and testing capabilities. The qualification process typically takes up to eight weeks, but can take longer depending on the requirements of the customer. In the case of our testing operations, after we have been qualified by a customer and before the customer delivers semiconductors to us for testing in volume, a process known as correlation is undertaken. During the correlation process, the customer provides us with sample semiconductors to be tested and either provides us with the test program or requests that we develop a conversion program. In some cases, the customer also provides us with a data log of results of any testing of the semiconductors which the customer may have conducted previously. The correlation process typically takes up to two weeks, but can take longer depending on the requirements of the customer. We believe our ability to provide turnkey services reduces the amount of time spent by our customers in the qualification and correlation process. As a result, customers utilizing our turnkey services are able to achieve shorter production cycles.
 
 
Pricing
 
We price our packaging services primarily on a cost-plus basis with reference to prevailing market prices. We price our testing services primarily on the basis of the amount of time, measured in central processing unit seconds, taken by the automated testing equipment to execute the test programs specific to the products being tested, as well as the cost of the equipment, with reference to prevailing market prices. Prices for our packaging and testing services are confirmed at the time firm orders are received from customers, which is typically four to eight weeks before delivery.
 
Raw Materials and Suppliers
 
Packaging
 
The principal raw materials used in our packaging processes are interconnect materials such as leadframes and substrates, gold wire and molding compound. Interconnect materials, such as leadframes, substrates, gold wire and molding compound represented approximately 11.2%, 32.9%, 38.5% and 6.3%, respectively, of our total cost of packaging materials in 2008.
 
The silicon die, which is the functional unit of the semiconductor to be packaged, is supplied in the form of silicon wafers. Each silicon wafer contains a number of identical dies. We receive the wafers from the customers or the foundries on a consignment basis. Consequently, we generally do not incur inventory costs relating to the silicon wafers used in our packaging process.
 
We do not maintain large inventories of leadframes, substrates, gold wire or molding compound, but generally maintain sufficient stock of each principal raw material for approximately one month’s production based on blanket orders and rolling forecasts of near-term requirements received from customers. In addition, several of our principal suppliers dedicate portions of their inventories, typically in amounts equal to the average monthly amounts supplied to us, as reserves to meet our production requirements. However, shortages in the supply of materials experienced by the semiconductor industry have in the past resulted in occasional price adjustments and delivery delays. For example, in the first half of 2000, the industry experienced a shortage in the supply of advanced substrates used in BGA packages, which, at the time, were only available from a limited number of suppliers located primarily in Japan. Recent fluctuations in gold prices have also affected the price at which we have been able to purchase gold wire. We cannot guarantee that we will not experience shortages in the near future or that we will be able to obtain adequate supplies of raw materials in a timely manner and at a reasonable price. In the event of a shortage, we generally inform our customers and work together to accommodate changes in delivery schedules.
 
We produce substrates for use in our packaging operations. In 2008, our interconnect materials operations supplied approximately 51.7% of our consolidated substrate requirements by value. See “—Principal Products and Services—Packaging Services—Interconnect Materials.”
 
As a result of the “Directive 2002/95/EC on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment”, or RoHS, which became effective on July 1, 2006, we have adjusted our purchases of raw materials and our production processes in order to use raw materials that comply with this legislation for part of our production.  This legislation restricts the use in the European Union, or EU, of certain substances the EU deems harmful to consumers, which includes certain grades of molding compounds, solder and other raw materials that are used in our products.  Manufacturers of electrical and electronic equipment must comply with this legislation in order to sell their products in an EU member state.
 
Testing
 
Apart from packaged semiconductors, no other raw materials are needed for the functional and burn-in testing of semiconductors. For the majority of our testing equipment, we often base our purchases on prior discussions with our customers about their forecast requirements. The balance consists of testing equipment on consignment from customers and which are dedicated exclusively to the testing of these customers’ specific products.
 
 
Equipment
 
Packaging
 
The most important equipment used in the semiconductor packaging process is the wire bonder. Wire bonders connect the input/output terminals on the silicon die using extremely fine gold wire to leads on leadframes or substrates. Typically, a wire bonder may be used, with minor modifications, for the packaging of different products. We purchase our wire bonders principally from Kulicke & Soffa Industries Inc. and Oerlikon Assembly Equipment Ltd. As of April 30, 2009, we operated an aggregate of 8,425 wire bonders, of which 7,705 were fine-pitch wire bonders. As of the same date, 58 of the wire bonders operated by us were consigned by customers. For the packaging of certain types of substrate-based packages, such as flip-chip BGA, die bonders are used in place of wire bonders.  We purchase our die bonders principally from Hitachi High Technologies Corporation, Oerlikon Assembly Equipment Ltd and ASM Assembly Automation Ltd. The number of bonders at a given facility is commonly used as a measure of the packaging capacity of the facility.  In addition to bonders, we maintain a variety of other types of packaging equipment, such as wafer grind, wafer mount, wafer saw, automated molding machines, laser markers, solder plate, pad printers, dejunkers, trimmers, formers, substrate saws and scanners. We purchase our molding machines principally from Towa Corporation, Fico B.V. and ASM Assembly Automation Ltd.
 
Testing
 
Testing equipment is the most capital intensive component of the testing process. We generally seek to purchase testers from different suppliers with similar functionality and the ability to test a variety of different semiconductors. We purchase testers from major international manufacturers, including Verigy Ltd., Teradyne, Inc., Credence Systems Corporation, LTX Corporation, Seiko Epson and Tokyo Electron Limited. Upon acquisition of new testers, we install, configure, calibrate, perform burn-in diagnostic tests on and establish parameters for the testers based on the anticipated requirements of existing and potential customers and considerations relating to market trends. As of April 30, 2009, we operated an aggregate of 1,571 testers, of which 315 were consigned by customers and 32 were leased under operating leases. In addition to testers, we maintain a variety of other types of testing equipment, such as automated handlers and probers (special handlers for wafer probing), scanners, reformers and computer workstations for use in software development. Each tester may be attached to a handler or prober. Handlers attach to testers and transport individual packaged semiconductor to the tester interface. Probers similarly attach to the tester and align each individual die on a wafer with the interface to the tester.
 
Test programs, which are the software that drive the testing of specific semiconductors, are written for a specific testing platform. We often perform test program conversions that enable us to test semiconductors on multiple test platforms. This portability between testers enables us to allocate semiconductors tested across our available test capabilities and thereby improve capacity utilization rates. In cases where a customer requires the testing of a semiconductor product that is not yet fully developed, the customer may provide personal computer workstations to us to test specific functions. In cases where a customer has specified testing equipment that was not widely applicable to other products which we test, we have required the customer to furnish the equipment on a consignment basis.
 
Intellectual Property
 
As of April 30, 2009, we held 1,400 Taiwan patents, 445 U.S. patents and 68 PRC patents related to various semiconductor packaging technologies. In addition, we registered “ASE” as a trademark and as a servicemark in Taiwan.
 
We have also entered into various non-exclusive technology license agreements with other companies involved in the semiconductor manufacturing process, including Freescale Semiconductor Inc., Tessera Inc., Fujitsu Limited, Flip Chip International, L.L.C., Mitsui High-Tec, Inc. and Infineon Technologies AG. We paid royalties under our license agreements in the amount of NT$282.3 million, NT$246.8 million and NT$199.2 million (US$6.1 million) in 2006, 2007 and 2008, respectively. The technology we license from these companies includes solder bumping, redistribution, ultra CSP assembly, advanced QFN assembly, wafer level packaging and other technologies used in the production of package types, such as BCC, flip-chip BGA, film BGA and QFN. The license agreement with Tessera Inc. will not expire until the expiration of the Tessera Inc. patents licensed by the agreement. For
 
 
information regarding our intellectual property dispute with Tessera, see “Item 8. Financial Information—Legal Proceedings.” Our license agreements with Freescale Semiconductor Inc. will expire on December 31, 2010. Our license agreements with Flip Chip International, L.L.C. will not expire until the expiration of the Flip Chip International, L.L.C. patents licensed by the agreement. Our license agreement with Infineon Technologies AG will expire on November 5, 2017, and our license agreement with Mitsui High-Tec, Inc. will expire on June 24, 2012. Our license agreement with Fujitsu Limited renews automatically each year unless the parties to the agreement agree otherwise.
 
Our success depends in part on our ability to obtain, maintain and protect our patents, licenses and other intellectual property rights, including rights under our license agreement with Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
 
Quality Control
 
We believe that our advanced process technology and reputation for high quality and reliable services have been important factors in attracting and retaining leading international semiconductor companies as customers for our packaging and testing services. We maintain a quality control staff at each of our facilities. Our quality control staff typically includes engineers, technicians and other employees who monitor packaging and testing processes in order to ensure high quality. Our quality assurance systems impose strict process controls, statistical in-line monitors, supplier control, data review and management, quality controls and corrective action systems. Our quality control employees operate quality control stations along production lines, monitor clean room environments and follow up on quality through outgoing product inspection and interaction with customer service staff. We have established quality control systems which are designed to ensure high quality service to customers, high product and testing reliability and high production yields at our facilities. We also have established an environmental management system in order to ensure that we can comply with the environmental standards of our customers and the countries within which they operate. See “—Raw Materials and Suppliers—Packaging.” In addition, our packaging and testing facilities have been qualified by all of our major customers after satisfying stringent quality standards prescribed by these customers.
 
Our packaging and testing operations are undertaken in clean rooms where air purity, temperature and humidity are controlled. To ensure stability and integrity of our operations, we maintain clean rooms at our facilities that meet U.S. Federal Standard 209E class 1,000, 10,000 and 100,000 standards.
 
Our packaging, testing and interconnect materials facilities in Taiwan, Malaysia, Japan, the PRC, Singapore and Korea have been certified as meeting ISO/TS16949:2002 standards. Such standards were originally created by the International Automotive Task Force in conjunction with the International Standards Organization, or ISO. These standards provide for continuous improvement with an emphasis on the prevention of defects and reduction of variation and waste in the supply chain. The ISO/TS16949:2002 certification is required by some semiconductor manufacturers as a threshold indicator of company’s quality control standards.
 
Our packaging, testing and interconnect materials facilities in Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, the PRC, California and Singapore have been certified as meeting the ISO 9001 quality standards set by the ISO.  Our packing, testing and interconnect materials facilities in Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, the PRC, California and Singapore have also been certified as meeting the ISO 14001 quality standards.  In addition, our packaging facilities in Kaohsiung, Taiwan have been certified as meeting the ISO 17025:2005 quality standards set by the ISO.  ISO certifications are required by many countries in connection with sales of industrial products.
 
Our packaging, testing and interconnect materials facilities in Taiwan, Korea, Singapore and the PRC have also been certified to be in compliance with OHSAS 18001, a set of standards designed upon collaboration with occupational health and safety experts and now offered by many certification organizations as an indication of compliance with certain standards for occupational health and safety.
 
ISE Labs’s testing facilities in Fremont, California have been approved by the U.S. military’s Defense Supply Center, Columbus, Sourcing and Qualifications Unit as a laboratory possessing the requisite level of performance, quality and reliability required of suppliers for the U.S. Department of Defense.
 
 
Our packaging, testing and interconnect materials facilities in Taiwan, Malaysia, the PRC and Korea have been certified as a “Sony Green Partner”, which indicates our compliance with the “Sony Green Package” standard requirements.
 
Our packaging, testing and interconnect material facilities in Taiwan, the PRC, Japan and Malaysia have been certified to be in compliance with IECQ HSPM QC080000, a certification designed to manage, reduce and eliminate hazardous substances.
 
In addition, we have received various vendor awards from our customers for the quality of our products and services.
 
Competition
 
We compete in the highly competitive independent semiconductor packaging and testing markets. We face competition from a number of sources, including other independent semiconductor packaging and testing companies. More importantly, we compete for the business of integrated device manufacturers with in-house packaging and testing capabilities and fabless semiconductor design companies with their own in-house testing capabilities. Some of these integrated device manufacturers have commenced, or may commence, in-house packaging and testing operations in Asia.  Substantially all of the independent packaging and testing companies that compete with us have established operations in Taiwan.
 
Integrated device manufacturers that use our services continuously evaluate our performance against their own in-house packaging and testing capabilities. These integrated device manufacturers may have access to more advanced technologies and greater financial and other resources than we do. We believe, however, that we can offer greater efficiency at lower cost while maintaining equivalent or higher quality for several reasons. First, as we benefit from specialization and economies of scale by providing services to a large base of customers across a wide range of products, we are better able to reduce costs and shorten production cycles through high capacity utilization and process expertise. Second, as a result of our customer base and product offerings, our equipment generally has a longer useful life. Third, as a result of the continuing reduction of investments in in-house packaging and testing capacity and technology at integrated device manufacturers, we are better positioned to meet their advanced packaging and testing requirements on a large scale.
 
Environmental Matters
 
Our packaging and interconnect materials operations generate environmental wastes, including gaseous chemical, liquid and solid industrial wastes. We have installed various types of anti-pollution equipment for the treatment of liquid and gaseous chemical waste generated at all of our semiconductor packaging facilities. We believe that we have adopted adequate anti-pollution measures for the effective maintenance of environmental protection standards that are consistent with the industry practice in the countries in which our facilities are located. In addition, we believe we are in compliance in all material respects with present environmental laws and regulations applicable to our operations and facilities.
 
Insurance
 
We have insurance policies covering property damage and damage to our production facilities, buildings and machinery. In addition, we have insurance policies covering our public and product liabilities. Significant damage to any of our production facilities would have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
 
We are not insured against the loss of key personnel.
 
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
 
The following chart illustrates our corporate structure and our effective equity interest in each of our principal operating subsidiaries and affiliates as of May 31, 2009.  The following chart does not include wholly-owned intermediate holding companies.
 
 
 
 
 
Our Consolidated Subsidiaries
 
ASE Test Taiwan
 
ASE Test Taiwan, which was acquired in 1990, is our 99.99%-owned subsidiary. It is incorporated in Taiwan and is engaged in the testing of integrated circuits;
 
ASE Test Malaysia
 
ASE Test Malaysia, which was established in 1991, is our wholly-owned subsidiary. It is incorporated in Malaysia and is engaged in the packaging and testing of integrated circuits.  
 
ISE Labs
 
ISE Labs is our wholly-owned subsidiary. It is a semiconductor company specializing in front-end engineering testing that is incorporated in the United States and has its principal facilities located in Fremont and Santa Clara, California. Through ASE Test, we acquired 70.0% of the outstanding shares of ISE Labs in 1999, and increased our holding to 100.0% through purchases made in 2000 and 2002.
 
ASE Singapore Pte. Ltd.
 
ASE Singapore Pte. Ltd. is incorporated in Singapore and provides testing services.  It was previously our wholly-owned subsidiary through ISE Labs’s 100% interest.  Through a restructuring in November 2008, we acquired 100% of ASE Singapore Pte. Ltd. through one of our wholly-owned intermediate holding companies.

ASE Electronics
 
ASE Material was established in 1997 as an ROC company for the design and production of interconnect materials, such as substrates, used in the packaging of semiconductors. We initially held a majority stake in ASE Material, but acquired the remaining equity by means of a merger of ASE Material with and into us in August 2004. In August 2006, we spun off the operations originally conducted through ASE Material into our wholly-owned subsidiary ASE Electronics.  ASE Electronics currently supplies our packaging operations with a substantial portion of our substrate requirements.  The facilities of ASE Electronics are primarily located in the Nantze Export Processing Zone near our packaging and testing facilities in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
 
ASE Chung Li and ASE Korea
 
In July 1999, we purchased Motorola’s Semiconductor Products Sector operations in Chung Li, Taiwan and Paju, South Korea for the packaging and testing of semiconductors with principally communications, consumer and automotive applications, thereby forming ASE Chung Li and ASE Korea. In August 2004, we acquired all of the outstanding shares of ASE Chung Li that we did not already own by means of a merger of ASE Chung Li into us.
 
 
ASE Japan
 
ASE Japan, which we acquired from NEC Electronics Corporation in May 2004, is our wholly-owned subsidiary. It is incorporated in Japan and is engaged in the packaging and testing of semiconductors.
 
ASE Shanghai
 
ASE Shanghai was established in 2001 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of ASE Inc. and began operations in June 2004. ASE Shanghai primarily manufactures and supplies interconnect materials for our packaging operations.
 
PowerASE Technology, Inc.
 
In July 2006, we established PowerASE, a joint venture with Powerchip, focusing on the packaging and testing of memory semiconductors. PowerASE began operations in December 2006. Pursuant to the joint venture agreement, we invested US$30.0 million for 60.0% of the equity interest in PowerASE and Powerchip invested US$20.0 million for the remaining 40.0%.  We currently own 56.0% of PowerASE and Powerchip owns 37.4%.  The remaining 6.6% is owned by our employees and certain other individuals. 
 
ASE Assembly & Test (Shanghai) Limited
 
We acquired 100.0% of GAPT, now known as ASESH AT, in January 2007. ASESH AT is a PRC company based in Shanghai, China that provides wire bond packaging and testing services for a wide range of semiconductors.
 
ASEN
 
In September 2007, we acquired 60.0% of ASEN from NXP Semiconductors.  ASEN is based in Suzhou, China and is engaged in semiconductor packaging and testing.
 
ASE (Weihai), Inc.
 
In May 2008, we acquired 100.0% of the shares of ASE (Weihai), Inc. from Aimhigh Global Corp. and TCC Steel.  ASE (Weihai), Inc. is based in Shandong, China and is engaged in semiconductor packaging and testing.
 
Our Unconsolidated Affiliates
 
As of May 31, 2009, we held approximately 18.2% of the outstanding shares of Universal Scientific and 26.2% of the outstanding shares of Hung Ching.
 
Universal Scientific
 
Universal Scientific, which is an ROC company, manufactures electronics products in varying degrees of system integration principally on a contract basis for original equipment manufacturers, including:
 
·  
electronic components such as thick film mixed-signal devices, thick film resistors, high frequency devices and automotive and power electronic devices;
 
·  
board and sub-system assemblies such as customized surface mount technology board assemblies, mother boards for personal computers, wireless local area network cards and fax control boards; and
 
·  
system assemblies such as portable computers, desktop personal computers, network computers and servers.
 
Universal Scientific’s principal manufacturing facilities are located in Nantou, Taiwan. The shares of Universal Scientific are listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange under the symbol “2350.”
 
We purchased 22.6% of the outstanding shares of Universal Scientific in 1999, principally through open market purchases on the Taiwan Stock Exchange. We subsequently increased our holding to 23.3% following open market
 
 
purchases of additional shares in 2000. As of May 31, 2009, we held approximately 18.2% of Universal Scientific’s outstanding equity shares. We exercise significant influence over Universal Scientific and therefore account for this investment by the equity method.
 
In 2006, Universal Scientific recorded net revenues of NT$53,211.5 million, operating income of NT$1,830.4 million and net income of NT$1,377.0 million. In 2007, Universal Scientific recorded net revenues of NT$65,124.1 million, operating income of NT$2,288.8 million and net income of NT$1,868.4 million. In 2008, Universal Scientific recorded net revenues of NT$64,809.4 million (US$1,978.3 million), operating income of NT$1,437.1 million (US$43.9 million) and net income of NT$342.6 million (US$10.5 million). As of May 31, 2009, Universal Scientific had a market capitalization of NT$12,955.4 million (US$395.5 million).
 
Hung Ching
 
Hung Ching is an ROC company engaged in the development and management of commercial, residential and industrial real estate properties in Taiwan. The shares of Hung Ching are listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange under the symbol “2527.” Hung Ching was founded in 1986 by Chang Yao Hung-ying. Chang Yao Hung-ying is the mother of both Jason C.S. Chang, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Richard H.P. Chang, our Vice Chairman and President. As of May 31, 2009, we held 26.2% of Hung Ching’s outstanding equity shares.
 
In 2006, Hung Ching recorded net revenues of NT$1,663.5 million, operating income of NT$245.6 million and net income of NT$204.6 million. In 2007, Hung Ching recorded net revenues of NT$799.1 million, operating income of NT$46.9 million and net income of NT$62.5 million. In 2008, Hung Ching recorded net revenues of NT$859.7 million (US$26.2 million), operating loss of NT$14.1 million (US$0.4 million) and net income of NT$63.9 million (US$1.9 million). As of May 31, 2009, Hung Ching had a market capitalization of NT$2,957.9 million (US$90.3 million).
 
PROPERTY, PLANTS AND EQUIPMENT
 
We operate a number of packaging and testing facilities in Asia and the United States.  Our facilities provide varying types or levels of services with respect to different end-product focus, customers, technologies and geographic locations. With our diverse facilities we are able to tailor our packaging and testing solutions closely to our customers’ needs. The following table sets forth the location, commencement of operation, primary use, approximate floor space and ownership of our facilities as of April 30, 2009.
 
 
Facility
 
 
Location
 
 
Commencement of Operation
 
 
Primary Use
 
Approximate Floor Space (in sq. ft.)
 
 
Owned or Leased
ASE Inc.
 
Kaohsiung, Taiwan
 
March 1984
 
Our primary packaging facility, which offers complete semiconductor manufacturing solutions in conjunction with ASE Test Taiwan and foundries located in Taiwan. Focuses primarily on advanced packaging services, including flip-chip, wafer bumping and fine-pitch wire bonding.
 
2,924,000
 
 
Land: leased Buildings: owned and leased
                     
   
Chung Li, Taiwan
 
Acquired in July 1999
 
An integrated packaging and testing facility that specializes in semiconductors for communications and consumer applications.
 
1,618,000
 
Land and buildings: owned
 
 
 
Facility
 
 
Location
 
 
Commencement of Operation
 
 
Primary Use
 
Approximate Floor Space (in sq. ft.)
 
 
Owned or Leased
ASE Test Taiwan
 
Kaohsiung, Taiwan
 
December 1987
 
Our primary testing facilities, which offer complete semiconductor manufacturing solutions in conjunction with ASE Inc.’s facility in Kaohsiung and foundries located in Taiwan. Focuses primarily on advanced logic/mixed-signal/RF testing for integrated device manufacturers, fabless design companies and system companies.
 
986,000
 
Land: leased
Buildings: owned and leased
                     
   
Chung Li, Taiwan
 
October 2001
 
Our primary wafer probing testing facilities.
 
18,000
 
Land and building: leased
                     
ASE Test Malaysia
 
Penang, Malaysia
 
February 1991
 
An integrated packaging and testing facility that focuses primarily on the requirements of integrated device manufacturers.
 
828,000
 
Land: leased
Buildings: owned
                     
ASE Korea
 
Paju, Korea
 
Acquired in July 1999
 
An integrated packaging and testing facility that specializes in semiconductors for radio frequency, sensor and automotive applications.
 
621,000
 
Land and buildings: owned
                     
ISE Labs
 
Silicon Valley,
California,
Austin, Texas
 
 
Acquired in May 1999
 
Front-end engineering and final testing facilities located in northern California in close proximity to some of the world’s largest fabless design companies. Testing facilities located in close proximity to integrated device manufacturers and fabless companies in Texas.
 
153,000
 
Land and buildings: owned and leased
 
                     
ASE Singapore
 
Singapore
 
Acquired in May 1999
 
An integrated testing, sorting and related backend supporting facility that specializes in semiconductors for communication, computers and consumer applications.
 
111,000
 
Land and buildings: leased
                     
ASE Shanghai
 
Shanghai, China
 
June 2004
 
Design and production of semiconductor packaging materials.
 
1,431,000
 
Land: leased
Buildings: owned
                     
ASE Japan
 
Takahata, Japan
 
Acquired in May 2004
 
An integrated packaging and testing facility that specializes in semiconductors for cellular phone, household appliance and automotive applications.
 
298,000
 
Land and buildings: leased
 
                     
ASE Electronics
 
Kaohsiung, Taiwan
 
August 2006
 
Facilities for the design and production of interconnect materials such as substrates used in the packaging of semiconductors.
 
311,000
 
Buildings: leased
                     
   
Chung Li, Taiwan
 
August 2006
 
Facilities for the design and production of interconnect materials such as substrates used in packaging of semiconductors.
 
337,000
 
Buildings: leased
                     
PowerASE
 
Chung Li, Taiwan
 
December 2006
 
An integrated packaging and testing facility that specializes in memory semiconductors for personal computer applications.
 
221,000
 
Buildings: leased
                     
ASESH AT
 
Shanghai, China
  Acquired in   An integrated packaging and testing  
796,000
  Land: leased
 
 
 
Facility
 
 
Location
 
 
Commencement of Operation
 
 
Primary Use
 
Approximate Floor Space (in sq. ft.)
 
 
Owned or Leased
 
 
 
 
January 2007
 
facility that specializes in semiconductors for communications and consumer applications.
 
 
 
Buildings: owned
                     
ASEN
 
Suzhou, China
 
Acquired in September 2007
 
An integrated packaging and testing facility that specializes in communication applications.
 
142,000
 
Land: leased
Buildings: owned
                     
ASE (Weihai), Inc.
 
Shandong, China
 
Acquired in May 2008
 
An integrated packaging and testing facility that specializes in semiconductors for
communications, computers and consumer applications.
 
168,000
 
Land: leased Buildings: owned
 
Our leased property in Kaohsiung consists primarily of approximately twenty leases of land in the Kaohsiung Nantze Export Processing Zone between ASE Inc. and ASE Test Taiwan, as the lessees, and the Export Processing Zones Administration, or the EPZA, under the Ministry of Economic Affairs. The leases have ten year terms that expire between the middle of April 2010 and the end of September 2017. No sublease or lending of the land is allowed. The EPZA has the right to adjust the rental price in the event the government revalues the land.  The leases are typically renewable with three months notice prior to the termination date.
 
For information on the aggregate capacity of our facilities in terms of the number of bonders and testers we operate, see “—Business Overview—Equipment.”
 
Item 4A.  Unresolved Staff Comments
 
None.
 
Item 5.  Operating and Financial Review and Prospects
 
OPERATING RESULTS AND TREND INFORMATION
 
The following discussion of our business, financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements, which are included elsewhere in this annual report. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of any number of factors, such as those set forth under “Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this annual report. See “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”
 
Overview
 
We offer a broad range of semiconductor packaging and testing services. In addition to offering each service separately, we also offer turnkey services, which consist of the integrated packaging, testing and direct shipment of semiconductors to end users designated by our customers. Our net revenues decreased from NT$100,423.6 million in 2006 and NT$101,163.1 million in 2007 to NT$94,430.9 million (US$2,882.5 million) in 2008.
 
Discussed below are several factors that have had a significant influence on our financial results in recent years.
 
Global Economic Crisis
 
Through the first three quarters of 2008, demand for our services mirrored historical fluctuations.  Beginning in late 2008, however, the global economy suffered an unprecedented crisis that had a significant adverse impact on the semiconductor industry.  As a result, our clients substantially reduced their demand for our services and we experienced a significant deterioration in sales volume, which led to a corresponding decline in our revenues beginning in the fourth quarter of 2008 and into the first quarter of 2009.  While we cannot accurately predict when worldwide demand will recover significantly, we believe that over the long-term, demand for our services will return to levels that we experienced prior to the economic crisis in 2008.
 
 
Pricing and Revenue Mix
 
We price our services on a cost-plus basis, taking into account the actual costs involved in providing these services, with reference to prevailing market prices. The majority of our prices and revenues are denominated in U.S. dollars. Any significant fluctuation in the exchange rates, especially between NT dollars and U.S. dollars will affect our costs and, in turn, our pricing.
 
In the case of semiconductor packaging, the cost of the silicon die, typically the most costly component of the packaged semiconductor, is usually not reflected in our costs (or revenues) since it is generally supplied by our customers on a consignment basis.
 
The semiconductor industry is characterized by a general trend towards declining prices for products and services of a given technology over time. In addition, during periods of intense competition and adverse conditions in the semiconductor industry, the pace of this decline may be more rapid than in other years. The average selling prices of our packaging and testing services have experienced sharp declines during such periods as a result of intense price competition from other independent packaging and testing companies that attempt to maintain high capacity utilization levels in the face of reduced demand.
 
The average selling prices of our testing services are more severely affected by a downturn in the semiconductor industry than the average selling prices of our packaging services. During an industry downturn, a decline in the average selling prices of our testing services is often exacerbated by a decrease in demand from our integrated device manufacturer customers, who typically maintain larger in-house testing capacity than in-house packaging capacity. These price declines are also exacerbated by intense price competition from other independent testing service providers, who typically offer large price discounts during periods of depressed demand in order to maintain higher capacity utilization rates to defray the high fixed costs associated with testing operations.  In 2006, 2007 and 2008, packaging revenues, including revenues from module assembly, accounted for 76.5%, 77.6% and 77.7% while testing revenues accounted for 21.3%, 19.8% and 20.1%, respectively, of our net revenues.
 
We believe that, over the long term, the market for outsourced semiconductor testing services has more potential for growth than the market for outsourced semiconductor packaging services for two reasons. First, the portion of the semiconductor testing market that is currently accounted for by independent testing service providers is smaller than that for packaging. Second, the large capital expenditures needed for increasingly sophisticated testing equipment, as compared to less expensive packaging equipment, is also a driver for further outsourcing of testing services by integrated device manufacturers.
 
Declines in average selling prices have been partially offset over the last several years by changes in our revenue mix.  In particular, revenues derived from packaging more advanced package types, such as flip-chip BGA, higher density packages with finer lead-to-lead spacing, or pitch, and testing of more complex, high-performance semiconductors have increased as a percentage of total revenues. We intend to continue to focus on packaging more advanced package types, such as BGA and flip-chip BGA, developing and offering new technologies in packaging and testing services and expanding our capacity to achieve economies of scale, as well as improving production efficiencies for older technologies, in order to mitigate the effects of declining average selling prices on our profitability.
 
Our profitability for a specific package type does not depend linearly on its average selling price.  Some of our more traditional package types, which typically have low average selling prices, may well command steadier and sometimes higher margins than more advanced package types with higher average selling prices.
 
High Fixed Costs
 
Our operations, in particular our testing operations, are characterized by relatively high fixed costs. We expect to continue to incur substantial depreciation and other expenses as a result of our acquisitions of packaging and testing equipment and facilities. Our profitability depends in part not only on absolute pricing levels for our services, but also on utilization rates for our packaging and testing equipment, commonly referred to as “capacity utilization rates.” In particular, increases or decreases in our capacity utilization rates could have a significant effect on gross margins since the unit cost of packaging and testing services generally decreases as fixed costs are allocated over a
 
 
larger number of units. The capacity utilization rates of the machinery and equipment installed at our production facilities typically depend on factors such as the volume and variety of products packaged or tested using such machinery and equipment, the efficiency of our operations in terms of the loading and adjustment of machinery and equipment for the packaging or testing of different products, the complexity of the different products to be packaged or tested, the amount of time set aside for the maintenance and repair of the machinery and equipment, and the experience and schedule of work shifts of operators.
 
The current generation of advanced testers typically cost between US$1.0 million and US$3.0 million each, while wire bonders used in packaging typically cost between US$60,000 and US$70,000 each. In 2006, 2007 and 2008, our depreciation and amortization as a percentage of net revenues was 13.3%, 15.1% and 16.7%, respectively.  The increase in depreciation and amortization as a percentage of net revenues in 2008 compared to 2007 was primarily a result of the depreciation of new equipment, particularly with respect to equipment acquired for newly-acquired or newly-formed subsidiaries. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—Business Overview—Equipment.” We begin depreciating our equipment when it is placed into service. There may sometimes be a time lag between when our equipment is placed into service and when it achieves high levels of utilization. In periods of depressed industry conditions, such as the fourth quarter of 2008, we may experience lower than expected demand from customers, resulting in an increase in depreciation relative to net revenues. In particular, the capacity utilization rates for our testing equipment are more severely affected during an industry downturn as a result of the decrease in outsourcing demand from integrated device manufacturers, which typically maintain larger in-house testing capacity than in-house packaging capacity.
 
In addition to purchasing testers, we also lease a portion of our testers, which we believe allows us to better manage our capacity utilization rates and cash flow.  Since testers operated under operating leases can be replaced with more advanced testers upon the expiration of the lease, we believe that these operating leases have enabled us to improve our capacity utilization rates by allowing us to better align our capacity with changes in equipment technology.  For more information about our testers, including the number of testers under lease, see “Item 4. Information on the Company—Business Overview—Equipment—Testing.”
 
Raw Material Costs
 
Substantially all of our raw material costs are accounted for by packaging and the production of interconnect materials, as testing requires minimal raw materials. In 2006, 2007 and 2008, raw material cost as a percentage of our net revenues was 29.2%, 27.6% and 28.9%, respectively.
 
Gold wire is one of the principal raw materials we use in our packaging processes.  Recent volatility in the price of gold has affected our cost of revenues.  In 2008, the spot rate for gold fluctuated from approximately US$700 per ounce to approximately US$1,000 per ounce.  It may be difficult for us to adjust our average selling prices to account for fluctuations in the price of gold.  We expect that gold wire will continue to be an important raw material for us and we therefore expect to continue to be subject to significant fluctuations in the price of gold.
 
ASE Test Share Acquisition and Privatization
 
On May 30, 2008, we acquired, by way of a scheme of arrangement under Singapore law, all the outstanding ordinary shares of ASE Test that we did not already directly or indirectly own, making ASE Test our wholly-owned subsidiary. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—History and Development of the Company—ASE Test Share Acquisition and Privatization.” Prior to this transaction, we held 50.3% of ASE Test and 50.3% of ASE Test’s net income or loss was reflected in our consolidated net income and the remaining 49.7% was reflected as minority interest. As a result of the transaction, beginning on June 1, 2008, 100.0% of ASE Test’s net income or loss has been reflected in our consolidated net income.  Any losses at ASE Test therefore have a greater adverse affect on our net income than prior to the effectiveness of the scheme of arrangement.
 
Recent ROC GAAP Accounting Pronouncements
 
The ROC ARDF issued Interpretation 96-052, “Accounting for Bonuses to Employees, Directors and Supervisors”, or Interpretation 96-052, in March 2007, which requires companies to record bonuses paid to employees, directors and supervisors as an expense rather than an appropriation of earnings.  Pursuant to
 
 
Interpretation 96-052, we accrued between 9% and 12% of our earnings as bonuses to our employees, directors and supervisors beginning on January 1, 2008.
 
The ROC ARDF revised ROC SFAS No. 10, “Accounting for Inventories”, or ROC SFAS No. 10, in November 2007, which requires inventories to be stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value item by item.  Inventories are recorded by the specific identification method, first-in, first-out method or weighted average method.  The last-in, first-out method is no longer permitted.  The revised ROC SFAS No. 10 should be applied to financial statements for the fiscal years beginning on or after January 1, 2009.  We believe that ROC SFAS No. 10 has no material impact on us.
 
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
 
Preparation of our consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments in applying our critical accounting policies which have a significant impact on the results we report in our consolidated financial statements. We continually evaluate these estimates, including those related to revenue recognition, sales discounts and allowances for doubtful accounts, inventories, allowances for deferred income tax assets, losses on impairment of assets, goodwill and investments, bonuses to employees, directors and supervisors and purchase price allocations on our investments. We base our estimates on historical experience and other assumptions which we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions and conditions. We have identified below the accounting policies that are the most critical to our consolidated financial statements.
 
Revenue Recognition. Revenues from semiconductor packaging and testing services are recognized upon completion of the services or shipment. We do not take ownership of:
 
·  
bare semiconductor wafers received from customers that we package into finished semiconductors; and
 
·  
packaged semiconductors received from customers that we test for performance specifications.
 
The title and risk of loss remains with the customer for those bare semiconductors and/or packaged semiconductors. Accordingly, the cost of customer-supplied semiconductor materials is not included in our consolidated financial statements. Other criteria that we use to determine when to recognize revenue are:
 
·  
existence of persuasive evidence of an arrangement;
 
·  
the selling price is fixed or determinable; and
 
·  
collectibility is reasonably assured.
 
These policies are consistent with provisions in the Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 104 issued by the SEC. We do not provide warranties to our customers except in cases of defects in the packaging services provided and deficiencies in testing services provided. An appropriate sales discount is recognized in the period during which the sale is recognized, and is estimated based on historical experience.
 
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts. We periodically record a provision for doubtful accounts based on our evaluation of the collectibility of our accounts receivable. The total amount of this provision is determined by us as follows. We first identify the receivables of customers that are considered to be a higher credit risk based on their current overdue accounts with us, difficulties collecting from these customers in the past or their overall financial condition. For each of these customers, we estimate the extent to which the customer will be able to meet its financial obligations to us, and we record an allowance that reduces our accounts receivable for that customer to the amount that we reasonably believe will be collected. For all other customers, we maintain an allowance for doubtful accounts equal to a percentage of their aggregate accounts receivable. As of December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008, the allowance we set aside for doubtful accounts was NT$244.4 million, NT$109.7 million and NT$99.2 million (US$3.0 million), respectively. Additional allowances may be required in the future if the financial condition of our customers or general economic conditions further deteriorate, and this additional allowance would reduce our net income.
 
 
Inventories.  Inventories are recorded at cost when acquired and stated at the lower of moving or weighted average cost or market value. Unbilled processing charges incurred are included in finished goods and work in progress and are stated at actual cost. Market value for finished goods and work in process is estimated to be the net realizable value. Market value for raw materials, supplies and spare parts is the cost of replacement. Materials received from customers for processing, mainly of semiconductor wafers, are excluded from inventories, as title and risk of loss remains with the customers. An allowance for loss on decline in market value and obsolescence is provided based on the difference between the cost of inventory and the estimated market value based upon assumptions about future demand and market conditions. An additional inventory provision may be required if actual market conditions are less favorable than those projected.
 
Valuation Allowances for Deferred Income Tax Assets. Tax benefits arising from deductible temporary differences, unused tax credits and net operating loss carryforwards are recognized as deferred income tax assets. We record a valuation allowance to the extent that we believe it is more likely than not that deferred income tax assets will not be realized. We have considered future taxable income and ongoing prudent and feasible tax planning strategies in assessing the need and amount for the valuation allowance. In the event we were to determine that we would be able to realize our deferred income tax assets in the future in excess of our net recorded amount, an adjustment to our deferred income tax assets would increase income in the period such determination was made. Alternatively, should we determine that we would not be able to realize all or part of our deferred income tax assets in the future, an adjustment to our deferred income tax assets would decrease income in the period such determination was made.
 
Realizability of Long-Lived Assets. 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.
 
In accordance with ROC SFAS No. 35, long-lived assets held and used by us are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. If the recoverable amount increases in a future period, the amount previously recognized as impairment will be reversed and recognized as a gain.  However, the adjusted amount may not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined, net of depreciation, had no impairment loss had been recognized.
 
In accordance with U.S. SFAS No. 144, long-lived assets held and used by us are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. For purposes of evaluating the recoverability of long-lived assets, the recoverability test is performed by comparing undiscounted net cash flows of the assets against the net book value of the assets. If the recoverability test indicates that an impairment has occurred, the impairment loss is the amount of the asset’s net book value in excess of the related fair value.
 
In 2005, we recognized a loss of NT$13,479.1 million on damage to our property, plant and equipment caused by a fire at our facilities in Chung Li, Taiwan. In 2006, we reversed NT$2,190.6 million of the impairment loss recognized in 2005 under ROC GAAP due to an increase in the estimated service potential of the relevant assets. See note 30 to our consolidated financial statements included in this annual report. Reversal of the amount is prohibited under U.S. GAAP.  See note 32 to our consolidated financial statements included in this annual report for a reconciliation of the differences in the cost basis of the damaged machinery and associated depreciation expense. In 2007, we recognized impairment of NT$816.2 million, based on an independent appraiser’s assessment of fair value, on idle assets due to an impairment in our flip-chip substrate production line that was primarily the result of idle capacity, which was caused by lack of demand for certain applications. In 2008, we recognized impairment of NT$34.6 million (US$1.1 million) on idle assets. See note 15 to our consolidated financial statements included in this annual report.
 
Business Combinations. When we acquire businesses, we allocate the purchase price to tangible assets and liabilities and identifiable intangible assets acquired. Any residual purchase price is recorded as goodwill. The allocation of the purchase price requires management to make significant estimates in determining the fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, especially with respect to intangible assets. These estimates are based on historical experience, information obtained from the management of the acquired companies and independent external service providers’ reports. These estimates can include, but are not limited to, the cash flows that an asset is
 
 
expected to generate in the future, the appropriate weighted-average cost of capital, and the synergistic benefits expected to be derived from the acquired business. These estimates are inherently uncertain and unpredictable. In addition, unanticipated events and circumstances may occur which may affect the accuracy or validity of such estimates.
 
In May 2008, we acquired from minority shareholders 58,438,944 shares of ASE Test.  See “Item 4. Information on the CompanyHistory and Development of the CompanyASE Test Share Acquisition and Privatization” for more information on the ASE Test share acquisition and privatization.  Pursuant to ROC SFAS No. 25 “Business Combinations”, No. 37 “Intangible Assets”, U.S. SFAS No. 141 “Business Combinations” and U.S. SFAS No. 142 “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets”, acquired tangible assets were valued at estimates of their current fair value.  The valuation of acquired intangible assets was determined based on management’s estimates and consultation with an independent appraiser.  Intangible assets of NT$1,675.1 million (US$51.1 million) consisted of patents, acquired special technology and customer relationships.  These intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated life of five to 11 years to reflect the pattern in which the economic benefits of the intangible asset are consumed or otherwise used up.  In addition, we also recognized goodwill of NT$6,271.2 million (US$191.4 million). We paid a premium for this acquisition in order to fully consolidate ASE Test’s earnings with ours, simplify our organizational structure, reduce costs and administrative burdens associated with filing and compliance requirements relating to ASE Test’s Nasdaq Global Market and Taiwan Stock Exchange listings and public company reporting obligations, enhance our brand recognition through the promotion of a single common brand and increase our flexibility in making investments and allocating resources among our subsidiaries.
 
Goodwill. Goodwill is evaluated for impairment at least annually and we test for impairment between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would indicate that the carrying amount may be impaired.  Goodwill is evaluated for impairment by comparing the recorded amount of the cash-generating unit to which the goodwill has been allocated to its recoverable amount.  Recoverable amount is defined as the higher of a cash-generating unit’s fair value less costs to sell or its “value in use”, which is defined as the present value of the expected future cash flows generated by the assets.  In conducting the future cash flow valuation, we make assumptions about future operating cash flows, the discount rate used to determine present value of future cash flows, and capital expenditures.  Future operating cash flows assumptions include sales growth assumptions, which are based on our historical trends and industry trends, and gross margin and operating expense growth assumptions, which are based on the historical relationship of those measures compared to sales and certain cost cutting initiatives.  An impairment charge is incurred to the extent the recorded amount exceeds the recoverable amount. As of December 31, 2008, we had goodwill of NT$9,456.1 million (US$288.6 million) and NT$9,804.7 million (US$299.3 million) under ROC GAAP and U.S. GAAP, respectively.  Based on our analysis, we believe that our estimated fair value exceeded the carrying value of the goodwill and no impairment existed as of December 31, 2008.  Our conclusion could, however, change in the future if actual results differ from our estimates and judgments under different assumptions and conditions.
 
Valuation of Long-term Investments. We hold significant long-term investments in public and non-public entities. We evaluate these long-term investments annually for impairment based on market prices, if available, the financial condition of the investee company, economic conditions in the industry, and our intent and ability to hold the investment for a long period of time. These assessments usually require a significant amount of judgment, as a significant decline in the market price may not be the best indicator of impairment. Under U.S. GAAP, we evaluate long-term investments using the above mentioned criteria and, to the extent any decline in the value of a long-term investment is determined to be other than temporary, an impairment charge is recorded in the current period. The methods to measure the amount of impairment under ROC GAAP and U.S. GAAP may be based on different estimates of fair value depending on the circumstances. Under U.S. GAAP, market price is to be used, if available, to determine the fair value. Under ROC GAAP, however, if the market price is deemed to be a result of an inactive market, other measures of fair value may be used. Several of the long-term investments held by us are accounted for under the equity method or cost method. Any significant decline in the operations of an equity method or cost method investee could affect the value of the long-term investment and an impairment charge may occur. In 2007, we recognized an impairment of NT$178.5 million on our investment in Taiwan Fixed Network Co., Ltd. We disposed of this investment in April 2007. In 2008, we recognized an impairment of NT$ 21.4 million (US$ 0.7 million) on our investment in ID Solutions, Inc.
 
 
Results of Operations
 
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, financial data from our consolidated statements of income, expressed as a percentage of net revenues.
 
   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2006
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
(percentage of net revenues)
ROC GAAP:
             
Net revenues
    100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %
Packaging
    76.5       77.6       77.7  
Testing
    21.3       19.8       20.1  
Others
    2.2       2.6       2.2  
Cost of revenues
    (71.3 )     (71.2 )     (76.1 )
Gross profit
    28.7       28.8       23.9  
Operating expenses
    (8.3 )     (9.7 )     (11.4 )
Income from operations
    20.4       19.1       12.5  
Non-operating income (expense)
    1.8       (1.9 )     (2.5 )
Income before income tax
    22.2       17.2       10.0  
Income tax expense
    (2.1 )     (3.3 )     (2.4 )
Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
    20.1       13.9       7.6  
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
    (0.4 )(1)            
Minority interest in net income of subsidiaries
    (2.4 )     (1.8 )     (1.1 )
Net income of parent company’s shareholders
    17.3 %     12.1 %     6.5 %
 

 (1)
Represents the cumulative effect of our adoption of ROC SFAS No. 34 and ROC SFAS No. 36. See note 3 to our consolidated financial statements included in this annual report.
 
 
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the gross margins for our packaging and testing services and our total gross margin. Gross margin is calculated by dividing gross profits by net revenues.
 
   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2006
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
(percentage of net revenues)
 
ROC GAAP:
                 
Gross margin
                 
Packaging
    25.1 %     26.2 %     20.0 %
Testing
    40.7 %     38.0 %     34.0 %
Overall
    28.7 %     28.8 %     23.9 %
 
 
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, a breakdown of our total cost of revenues and operating expenses, expressed as a percentage of net revenues.
 
   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2006
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
(percentage of net revenues)
 
ROC GAAP:
                 
Cost of revenues
                 
Raw materials
    29.2 %     27.6 %     28.9 %
Labor
    14.2       14.5       15.4  
Depreciation and amortization
    13.3       15.1       16.7  
Others
    14.6       14.0       15.1  
Total cost of revenues
    71.3 %     71.2 %     76.1 %
 
 
   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2006
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
(percentage of net revenues)
 
Operating expenses
                       
Selling                                                                  
    1.2 %     1.0 %     1.2 %
General and administrative
    4.5       5.5       6.1  
Research and development                                                                  
    2.6       3.2       4.1  
Total operating expenses                                                          
    8.3 %     9.7 %     11.4 %

 
Year Ended December 31, 2008 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2007
 
Net Revenues. Net revenues decreased 6.7% to NT$94,430.9 million (US$2,882.5 million) in 2008 from NT$101,163.1 million in 2007, primarily due to a sharp decline in demand in the fourth quarter of 2008 as a result of the global economic crisis.  Packaging revenues decreased 6.5% to NT$73,391.6 million (US$2,240.3 million) in 2008 from NT$78,516.3 million in 2007.  Testing revenues decreased 4.9% to NT$19,021.4 million (US$580.6 million) in 2008 from NT$20,007.8 million in 2007.  The decrease in packaging revenues was primarily due to a decrease in average selling prices for our packaging services and the appreciation of the NT dollar against the U.S. dollar.  The decrease in testing revenues was primarily due to a decrease in average selling prices for our testing services and the appreciation of the NT dollar against the U.S. dollar, offset by an increase in testing volume.  The decrease in average selling prices for our packaging and testing services was due to normal trends relating to the semiconductor industry.  The increase in testing volume resulted primarily from the strong demand in the first three quarters of 2008 and newly-acquired subsidiaries that focus on providing testing services, offset by a significant decline in demand in the fourth quarter of 2008.
 
Gross Profit. Gross profit decreased 22.5% to NT$22,529.2 million (US$687.7 million) in 2008 from NT$29,088.4 million in 2007. Our gross profit as a percentage of net revenues, or gross margin, decreased to 23.9% in 2008 from 28.8% in 2007. Our gross margin for packaging decreased to 20.0% in 2008 from 26.2% in 2007.  This decrease was primarily due to an increase in raw material costs, labor costs and depreciation expenses as a percentage of net packaging revenues. Our gross margin for testing decreased to 34.0% in 2008 from 38.0% in 2007. This decrease was primarily due to an increase in depreciation, utility expenses and labor costs as a percentage of net testing revenues.  Raw material costs in 2008 were NT$27,275.6 million (US$832.6 million) compared to NT$27,913.1 million in 2007.  As a percentage of net revenues, raw material costs increased to 28.9% in 2008 from 27.6% in 2007, primarily due to a change in our product mix toward packaging requiring more raw materials.  Depreciation, amortization and rental expenses in 2008 was NT$16,370.6 million (US$499.7 million), compared to NT$16,358.7 million in 2007.  As a percentage of net revenues, depreciation, amortization and rental expenses increased to 17.3% in 2008 from 16.1% in 2007. Labor cost in 2008 was NT$14,549.9 million (US$444.1 million) compared to NT$14,684.1 million in 2007. As a percentage of net revenues, labor cost increased to 15.4% in 2008 from 14.5% in 2007, primarily because of a change in an ROC accounting standard that requires us to record bonuses paid to employees, directors and supervisors as an expense rather than an appropriation of earnings.  This increase in labor cost was partially offset by a decrease in our employee headcount.
 
Operating Income. Operating income decreased 38.9% to NT$11,799.5 million (US$360.2 million) in 2008 compared to NT$19,297.2 million in 2007. Operating expenses increased 9.6% to NT$10,729.7 million (US$327.5 million) in 2008 compared to NT$9,791.2 million in 2007.  The increase in operating expenses was primarily due to an increase in research and development expense and, to a lesser extent, an increase in general and administrative expense and selling expense.  General and administrative expense increased 3.3% to NT$5,694.2 million (US$173.8 million) in 2008 from NT$5,512.9 million in 2007.  This increase was primarily the result of an increase in salaries and bonuses, which reflected the impact from a change in an ROC accounting standard that requires us to record bonuses paid to employees, directors and supervisors as an expense rather than an appropriation of earnings. General and administrative expense represented 6.1% of our net revenues in 2008 compared to 5.5 % in 2007.  Research and development expense increased 18.0% to NT$3,876.8 million (US$118.3 million) in 2008 from NT$3,284.1 million in 2007.  This increase was primarily due to increases in salaries and bonuses and depreciation expense. The increase in salaries and bonuses was due to the expanded scope of our research and development efforts and a change in an ROC accounting standard that requires us to record bonuses paid to employees, directors and
 
 
supervisors as an expense rather than an appropriation of earnings.  The increase in depreciation expense was due to the purchase of new equipment and as a result of the expanded scope of our research and development efforts. Research and development expense accounted for 4.1% of our net revenues in 2008 compared to 3.2% in 2007.  Selling expense increased 16.5% to NT$1,158.6 million (US$35.4 million) in 2008 from NT$994.2 million in 2007. This increase was primarily due to the rearrangement of the sales department’s functions. Selling expense as a percentage of net revenues increased to 1.2% in 2008 from 1.0% in 2007. Our operating income as a percentage of net revenues, or operating margin, decreased to 12.5% in 2008 from 19.1% in 2007, primarily as a result of an increase in operating expenses and a decrease in our net revenues.
 
Non-Operating Income (Expense). We incurred a net non-operating expense of NT$2,323.7 million (US$71.0 million) in 2008 compared to a net non-operating expense of NT$1,945.3 million in 2007.  This overall increase was primarily the result of an increase in loss on the valuation of financial assets and liabilities offset by a foreign exchange gain, a decrease on the income earned from equity method investments and an increase in interest expense, partially offset by a decrease in impairment loss.  In 2008, we recorded net loss on the valuation of financial assets and liabilities and foreign exchange of NT$163.3 million (US$5.0 million) in 2008 compared to a net gain of NT$580.9 million in 2007 primarily due to a decline in the market value of marketable finance instruments. We recognized income from equity method investments of NT$77.5 million (US$ 2.4 million) in 2008 compared to NT$345.7 million in 2007. The decrease was due to the weakened operating performance of such equity method investments. We recognized net interest expense of NT$ 1,486.5 million (US$45.4 million) in 2008 compared to NT$1,225.9 million, primarily due to additional loans we obtained in connection with the privatization of ASE Test. We recognized impairment losses of NT$293.3 million (US$9.0 million) compared to NT$994.7 million in 2007.  The impairment of our flip-chip substrate production line in 2007 was primarily the result of idle capacity caused by lack of demand for certain applications.
 
Net Income. Net income decreased 49.4% to NT$6,160.1 million (US$188.0 million) in 2008 from NT$12,165.3 million in 2007. Our net income per ADS decreased to NT$5.6 (US$0.2) in 2008 compared to a net income per ADS of NT$10.9 in 2007 (retroactively adjusted to account for stock dividends issued in 2008). Our income tax expense decreased 32.4% to NT$2,268.3 million (US$69.2 million) in 2008 from NT$3,357.4 million in 2007, primarily due to a decrease in our pre-tax income.
 
Year Ended December 31, 2007 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2006
 
Net Revenues. Net revenues increased 0.7% to NT$101,163.1 million in 2007 from NT$100,423.6 million in 2006.  Packaging revenues increased 2.2% to NT$78,516.3 million in 2007 from NT$76,820.5 million in 2006.  Testing revenues decreased 6.6% to NT$20,007.8 million in 2007 from NT$21,429.6 million in 2006.  The increase in packaging revenues was primarily due to an increase in packaging volume.  The decrease in testing revenues was primarily due to a decrease in testing volume.  The increase in packaging volume resulted primarily from increased capacity as a result of new operations in the PRC acquired in 2007 and the commencement of our operations for the packaging of memory semiconductors in December 2006.  The increase in packaging volume in 2007 is also attributable to the trend of increasing outsourcing of the packaging of semiconductor devices.  The decrease in testing volume resulted primarily from the reduction of our customer base in order to allow us to focus on higher-margin customers.
 
Gross Profit. Gross profit increased 1.1% to NT$29,088.4 million in 2007 from NT$28,780.3 million in 2006.  Our gross profit as a percentage of net revenues, or gross margin, remained largely unchanged in 2007 at 28.8%, versus 28.7% in 2006.  Our gross margin for packaging increased to 26.2% in 2007 from 25.1% in 2006.  This increase was primarily due to a decrease in raw material costs as a percentage of net packaging revenues.  Our gross margin for testing decreased to 38.0% in 2007 from 40.7% in 2006. This decrease was primarily due to an increase in depreciation, partially offset by a decrease in rental expense, each as a percentage of net testing revenues.  Raw material costs in 2007 were NT$27,913.1 million, compared to NT$29,296.2 million in 2006.  As a percentage of net revenues, raw material costs decreased to 27.6% in 2007 from 29.2% in 2006, primarily because of a change in our product mix toward packages requiring less expensive raw materials.  Depreciation, amortization and rental expenses in 2007 was NT$16,358.7 million, compared to NT$15,096.1 million in 2006.  As a percentage of net revenues, depreciation, amortization and rental expenses increased to 16.1% in 2007 from 15.0% in 2006.
 
 
Operating Income. Operating income decreased 5.6% to NT$19,297.2 million in 2007 compared to NT$20,446.4 million in 2006. Operating expenses increased 17.5% to NT$9,791.2 million in 2007 compared to NT$8,333.9 million in 2006.  The increase in operating expenses was primarily due to increases in general and administrative expense and research and development expense, partially offset by a decrease in selling expense.  General and administrative expense increased 23.2% to NT$5,512.9 million in 2007 from NT$4,474.1 million in 2006.  This increase was primarily the result of an increase in salaries and bonuses expense, primarily as a result of bonuses paid by ASE Test Taiwan under ROC earnings distribution requirements, and, to a lesser extent, an increase in professional fees and other expenses in connection with the privatization of ASE Test. General and administrative expense represented 5.5% of our net revenues in 2007 compared to 4.5% in 2006.  Research and development expense increased 24.8% to NT$3,284.1 million in 2007 from NT$2,632.0 million in 2006.  This increase was primarily due to increases in salaries and bonuses expense, depreciation and amortization and the cost of factory supplies, each in connection with our new operations in the PRC acquired in 2007. The research and development expenses of our PRC operations were made with a view towards qualifying for certain PRC tax incentives. Research and development expense accounted for 3.2% of our net revenues in 2007 compared to 2.6% in 2006.  Selling expense decreased 19.0% to NT$994.2 million in 2007 from NT$1,227.8 million in 2006. This decrease was primarily due to a decrease in commission and sales fees as a result of our moving certain sales functions that were previously handled by a third-party sales agent in-house in 2007.  Selling expense as a percentage of net revenues decreased to 1.0% in 2007 from 1.2% in 2006.  Our operating income as a percentage of net revenues, or operating margin, decreased to 19.1% in 2007 from 20.4% in 2006, primarily as a result of an increase in operating expenses.
 
Non-Operating Income (Expense). We incurred a net non-operating expense of NT$1,945.3 million in 2007 compared to a net non-operating income of NT$1,805.0 million in 2006.  This overall decrease was primarily a result of gain on insurance settlement and impairment recovery in 2006 and, to a lesser extent, impairment losses in 2007, partially offset by a decrease in 2007 in loss on inventory valuation and obsolescence and increases in 2007 in net gains on the valuation of financial assets and liabilities and net foreign exchange gains.  In 2006, we recognized NT$4,574.5 million for gain on insurance settlement and impairment recovery in connection with the fire at our facilities in Chung Li, Taiwan in May 2005.  For more information on the Chung Li fire, see note 30 to our consolidated financial statements included in this annual report.  In 2007, we recognized impairment losses of NT$994.7 million, primarily in connection with our flip-chip substrate production line, whereas in 2006 we did not recognize any impairment loss.  The impairment of our flip-chip substrate production line in 2007 was primarily the result of idle capacity caused by lack of demand for certain applications. We recorded a loss on inventory valuation and obsolescence of NT$634.4 million in 2007 compared to a loss on inventory valuation and obsolescence of NT$1,143.9 million in 2006, which resulted primarily from changes in our customer base in connection with our strategy of focusing on higher-margin customers.  We recorded net gains on the valuation of financial assets and liabilities and foreign exchange of NT$580.9 million in 2007 compared to net loss of NT$167.8 million in 2006. The net gains in 2007 were primarily due to the appreciation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar and the fact that U.S. dollar liabilities exceed U.S. dollar assets for our operations in the PRC.
 
Net Income. Net income decreased 30.1% to NT$12,165.3 million in 2007 from NT$17,416.2 million in 2006. Our net income per ADS decreased to NT$10.9 in 2007 compared to a net income per ADS of NT$15.7 in 2006 (retroactively adjusted to account for stock dividends issued in 2007 and 2008). Our income tax expense increased 61.0% to NT$3,357.4 million in 2007 from NT$2,084.8 million in 2006, primarily due to the use of tax credits, a tax on undistributed earnings of our domestic subsidiaries and a withholding tax on dividends imposed on some of our foreign subsidiaries.
 
Quarterly Net Revenues, Gross Profit and Gross Margin
 
The following table sets forth our unaudited consolidated net revenues, gross profit and gross margin for the quarterly periods indicated. The unaudited quarterly results reflect all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, that, in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair presentation of the amounts, on a basis consistent with the audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report. You should read the following table in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this annual report. Our net revenues, gross profit and gross margin for any quarter are not necessarily indicative of the results for any future period. Our quarterly net revenues, gross profit and gross margin may fluctuate significantly.
 
 
   
Quarter Ended
 
   
Jun. 30,
2007
   
Sept. 30,
2007
   
Dec. 31,
2007
   
Mar. 31,
2008
   
Jun. 30,
2008
   
Sept. 30,
2008
   
Dec. 31,
2008
   
Mar. 31,
2009
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
 
   
(in millions)
 
Consolidated Net Revenues
                                               
Packaging
    18,029.5       21,643.6       22,560.7       19,227.1       20,033.3       20,126.6       14,004.6       10,208.0  
Testing
    4,724.5       5,282.4       5,676.9       4,894.5       5,101.6       5,194.9       3,830.4       2,767.9  
Others
    607.9       806.9       738.0       573.1       474.8       493.6       476.4       421.1  
Total
    23,361.9       27,732.9       28,975.6       24,694.7       25,609.7       25,815.1       18,311.4       13,397.0  
Consolidated Gross Profit (Loss)
                                                               
Packaging
    4,518.6       5,918.7       6,562.0       4,051.0       4,224.5       4,284.4       2,140.2       542.9  
Testing
    1,632.5       2,177.0       2,547.1       1,810.7       1,937.5       1,888.7       830.5       133.9  
Others
    252.3       334.2       149.7       325.9       350.2       456.5       229.1       (18.6 )
Total
    6,403.4       8,429.9       9,258.8       6,187.6       6,512.2       6,629.6       3,199.8       658.2  
Consolidated Gross Margin
                                                               
Packaging
    25.1 %     27.3 %     29.1 %     21.1 %     21.1 %     21.3 %     15.3 %     5.3 %
Testing
    34.6 %     41.2 %     44.9 %     37.0 %     38.0 %     36.4 %     21.7 %     4.8 %
Overall
    27.4 %     30.4 %     32.0 %     25.1 %     25.4 %     25.7 %     17.5 %     4.9 %

Our results of operations are affected by seasonality.  Our first quarter net revenues have historically decreased over the preceding fourth quarter, primarily due to the combined effects of holidays in the United States, Taiwan and elsewhere in Asia. Moreover, the increase or decrease in net revenues of a particular quarter as compared with the immediately preceding quarter varies significantly. See “Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Business—Our operating results are subject to significant fluctuations, which could adversely affect the market value of your investment.”
 
Exchange Rate Fluctuations
 
For quantitative and qualitative disclosure of our exposure to foreign currency exchange rate risk, see “Item 11.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk—Market Risk—Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk.”
 
Taxation
 
The regular corporate income tax rate in the ROC applicable to us is 25%. Effective January 1, 2010, this rate will change to 20%. Under the ROC Statute of Upgrading Industries, which gives certain preferential tax treatment to companies that qualify as operating in a “newly-emerging important and strategic industry” or “manufacturing industry”, we may apply for tax holidays covering the portion of our income attributable to eligible machinery and equipment upon receipt of a cash infusion from our shareholders, including through rights offerings, if the proceeds of which are used to purchase eligible machinery and equipment. We may also apply for this tax holiday after the capitalization of retained earnings through the issuance of stock dividends.  See note 24 to our consolidated financial statements included in this annual report. As of May 31, 2009, we had six five-year tax exemptions on income derived from a portion of our operations in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Two such exemptions will expire on September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2013, respectively. We are in the process of applying for the use of the remaining four exemptions in connection with our operations in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, following the completion of related capacity expansions. As of May 31, 2009, we had also received two five-year tax exemptions for two cash injections from our shareholders in connection with our operations in Chung Li, Taiwan. Both exemptions will expire at the end of 2011.
 
ASE Test Taiwan has one five-year tax exemption that will expire at the end of 2010 on income derived from a portion of its testing operations. ASE Test Taiwan is also in the process of applying for two additional five-year exemptions following the completion of related capacity expansions.
 
PowerASE has one five-year tax exemption that will expire on September 30, 2012 on income derived from a portion of its testing and packaging operations. It also plans to apply for an additional five-year tax exemption following the completion of related capacity expansions.
 
 
Under the ROC Statute for Upgrading Industries, we are also entitled to tax credits for the purchase of qualifying manufacturing equipment.  The tax credits were set at 7% for 2006, 2007 and 2008 and are expected to remain at 7% in 2009. We are also entitled to tax credits set at 30% of the amount spent on qualifying research and development expenses and employee training expenses. These tax credits generally expire five years following their respective grants and are available to reduce 50% of our income taxes payable in the first four years and 100% of such taxes payable in the fifth year, subject to the application of the Alternative Minimum Tax Act, or AMT Act, discussed below.
 
In addition, since we have facilities located in special export zones such as the Nantze Export Processing Zone in Taiwan, we enjoy exemptions from various import duties, commodity taxes and sales taxes on imported machinery, equipment, raw materials and components which are directly used for manufacturing finished goods. Finished goods produced by companies located in these zones and exported or sold to others within the zones are exempt from otherwise applicable commodity or business taxes in Taiwan.
 
Under the ROC Income Tax Act, all earnings generated in a year which are not distributed to shareholders as dividends in the following year will be assessed a 10% undistributed earnings tax. As a result, if we do not distribute all of our annual earnings as either cash or stock dividends in the following year, these undistributed earnings will be subject to the 10% undistributed earnings tax.
 
The ROC government enacted the AMT Act, which became effective on January 1, 2006. The alternative minimum tax, or AMT, imposed under the AMT Act is a supplemental tax of 10% of taxable income as defined under the AMT Act, which includes most income that is exempt from income tax under various legislation such as tax holidays. If the amount of income tax determined by the AMT Act falls below the amount of the AMT, any difference should be payable. The AMT rate for business entities is 10%. However, the AMT Act grandfathered certain tax exemptions granted prior to the enactment of the AMT Act.
 
In 2006, our effective income tax rate increased to 9% primarily due to an increase in taxable income and the AMT Act, which became effective in that year. In 2007, our effective income tax rate increased to 19% primarily due to the use of tax credits, undistributed earnings tax on our domestic subsidiaries and withholding tax on dividends imposed on some of our foreign subsidiaries.  In 2008, our effective income tax rate increased to 24% due to an increase in the valuation allowance against the deferred tax assets and a decrease in tax-exempt income.  We believe that our future estimated taxable income will be sufficient to realize the current and long-term portion of our net deferred tax assets recorded as of December 31, 2008.
 
Inflation
 
We do not believe that inflation in Taiwan or elsewhere has had a material impact on our results of operations.
 
U.S. GAAP Reconciliation
 
Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with ROC GAAP, which differ in certain material respects from U.S. GAAP. The following table sets forth a comparison of our net income and shareholders’ equity in accordance with ROC GAAP and U.S. GAAP as of and for the periods indicated.
 
   
As of and For the Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2006
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$
 
   
(in millions)
 
Net income:
                 
ROC GAAP
    17,416.2       12,165.3       6,160.1       188.0  
U.S. GAAP
    14,122.7       9,931.1       5,492.1       167.7  
Total shareholders’ equity:
                               
ROC GAAP
    77,126.8       89,739.9       71,960.8       2,196.6  
U.S. GAAP
    60,584.1       70,101.4       65,303.0       1,993.4  
 
 
Note 32 to our consolidated financial statements included in this annual report provides a description of the significant differences between ROC GAAP and U.S. GAAP as they relate to us and a reconciliation of net income and shareholders’ equity. Significant differences between ROC GAAP and U.S. GAAP, include impairment loss reversal, undistributed earnings tax and compensation expense pertaining to bonuses to employees, directors and supervisors.
 
Recent U.S. GAAP Accounting Pronouncements
 
On January 1, 2008, we adopted U.S. SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements”, or U.S. SFAS No. 157, which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurements.  U.S. SFAS No. 157 does not require any new fair value measurements, but provides guidance on how to measure fair value by providing a fair value hierarchy used to classify the source of the information.  The adoption of U.S. SFAS No. 157 did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position and results of operations.

In February 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position 157-2, “Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157”, or FSP 157-2, which delays the effective date of U.S. SFAS No. 157 to January 1, 2009 for all non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities, except for items that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis (at least annually).  We believe that the adoption of the delayed items of U.S. SFAS No. 157 will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In October 2008, the FASB issued FSP 157-3, “Determining the Fair Value of a Financial Asset When the Market for That Asset Is Not Active”, or FSP 157-3, which clarifies the application of U.S. SFAS No. 157 in a market that is not active and provides an example to illustrate key considerations in determining the fair value of a financial asset when the market for that financial asset is not active.  We believe the adoption of FSP 157-3 will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position and results of operations.

In April 2009, the FASB issued FSP 157-4, “Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability Have Significantly Decreased and Identifying Transactions That Are Not Orderly”, or FSP 157- 4, which clarifies the application of U.S. SFAS No. 157 when there is no active market or where the price inputs being used represent distressed sales.  Additional guidance is provided regarding estimating the fair value of an asset or liability (financial and nonfinancial) when the volume and level of activity for the asset or liability have significantly decreased and identifying transactions that are not orderly.  FSP 157-4 will be effective for interim and annual periods ending after June 15, 2009.  We believe the adoption in fiscal 2009 will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position and results of operations.

In February 2007, the FASB issued U.S. SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities- Including an Amendment of FASB Statement No.115”, or U.S. SFAS No. 159.  This statement permits companies to choose to measure eligible items at fair value at specified election dates and report unrealized gains and losses in earnings at each subsequent reporting date on items for which the fair value option has been elected.  The objective of this statement is to improve financial reporting by providing companies with the opportunity to mitigate volatility in reported earnings caused by measuring related assets and liabilities differently without having to apply complex hedge accounting provisions.  We may decide whether to elect the fair value option for each eligible item on its election date, subject to certain requirements described in the statement.  This statement was effective beginning January 1, 2008.  We did not elect the fair value option for any eligible financial asset or liability.

In December 2007, the FASB issued U.S. SFAS No. 141R, “Business Combination” (“U.S. SFAS No. 141R”) and U.S. SFAS No. 160, “Non-controlling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements- An Amendment of ARB No. 51”, or U.S. SFAS No. 160.  U.S. SFAS No. 141R requires most of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the business combination to be measured at fair value as of the acquisition date.  In addition, the net assets of non-controlling interests’ share of the acquired subsidiaries should be recognized at fair value.  U.S. SFAS No. 160 requires us to include non-controlling interests as a separate component of shareholders’ equity, instead of liability or temporary equity.  U.S. SFAS No. 141R was effective for business combinations consummated on or after January 1, 2009 and U.S. SFAS No. 160 was effective beginning January 1, 2009.  The adoption of U.S. SFAS No.
 
 
141R will change our accounting treatment for business combinations on a prospective basis.  We believe the adoption of U.S. SFAS No. 160 has no material impact on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities - an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 133”, or U.S. SFAS No. 161, which requires additional disclosures about the objectives of derivative instruments and hedging activities, the method of accounting for such instruments under U.S. SFAS No. 133 and its related interpretations, and a tabular disclosure of the effects of such instruments and related hedged items on our financial position, financial performance, and cash flows.  U.S. SFAS No. 161 became effective on January 1, 2009.  We believe the adoption of U.S. SFAS No. 161 will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

 
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
 
We have historically been able to satisfy our working capital needs from our cash flow from operations. We have historically funded our capacity expansion from internally generated cash and, to the extent necessary, the issuance of equity securities and long-term borrowings. If adequate funds are not available on satisfactory terms, we may be forced to curtail our expansion plans. Moreover, our ability to meet our working capital needs from cash flow from operations will be affected by the demand for our packaging and testing services, which in turn may be affected by several factors. Many of these factors are outside of our control, such as economic downturns and declines in the prices of our services caused by a downturn in the semiconductor industry. See “Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Business—Our operating results are subject to significant fluctuations, which could adversely affect the market value of your investment.” The average selling prices of our packaging and testing services are likely to be subject to further downward pressure in the future. To the extent we do not generate sufficient cash flow from our operations to meet our cash requirements, we will have to rely on external financing.
 
Net cash provided by operating activities amounted to NT$30,728.8 million (US$938.0 million) in 2008, primarily as a result of adjusting for non-cash depreciation and amortization of NT$17,244.9 million (US$526.4 million). Net cash provided by operating activities amounted to NT$28,310.6 million in 2007, primarily as a result of adjusting for non-cash depreciation and amortization of NT$16,626.2 million. Net cash provided by operating activities amounted to NT$37,310.8 million in 2006, partially as a result of adjusting for non-cash depreciation and amortization, and, to a lesser extent, for gain on insurance settlement and impairment recovery of NT$9,913.8 million. The increase in net cash provided by operating activities in 2008 compared to 2007 was primarily due to a net decrease in accounts receivable of NT$12,915.1 million (US$394.2 million) and a decrease in financial assets for trading of NT$1,108.6 million (US$33.8 million), partially offset by a decrease in net income to NT$6,160.1 million (US$188.0 million) in 2008 from NT$12,165.3 million in 2007 and a net decrease in accounts payable of NT$5,006.5 million (US$152.8 million). The decrease in net cash provided by operating activities in 2007 compared to 2006 was primarily due to a decrease in net income to NT$12,165.3 million in 2007 from NT$17,416.2 million in 2006 and a net increase in accounts receivable of NT$9,634.0 million, partially offset by non-cash gain on insurance settlement and impairment recovery of NT$4,574.5 million in 2006 and a net increase in accounts payable of NT$4,341.3 million.
 
Net cash used in investing activities amounted to NT$36,359.2 million (US$1,109.9 million) in 2008, primarily due to the acquisition of our subsidiaries for NT$ 26,490.5 million (US$ 808.6 million), the acquisition of property, plant and equipment, such as machinery and equipment for our packaging, testing and interconnect materials operations, of NT$ 18,583.3 million (US$567.3 million), offset by net proceeds from sales of available-for-sale financial assets of NT$9,021.6 million (US$275.4 million). Net cash used in investing activities amounted to NT$18,108.4 million in 2007, primarily due to the acquisition of property, plant and equipment, such as machinery and equipment for our packaging, testing and interconnect materials operations, of NT$17,190.4 million. Net cash used in investing activities amounted to NT$22,104.5 million in 2006, primarily due to the acquisition of property, plant and equipment, such as machinery and equipment for our packaging, testing and interconnect materials operations, of NT$17,764.2 million and, to a lesser extent, the net increase acquisition of available-for-sale financial assets of NT$9,134.1 million, partially offset by proceeds from insurance claims of NT$5,768.0 million.
 
 
Net cash provided by financing activities in 2008 amounted to NT$13,862.4 million (US$423.2 million). This amount reflected primarily net proceeds from long-term debts and capital lease obligations of NT$30,162.4 million (US$920.7 million), which was offset by the issuance of cash dividends of NT$ 8,826.6 million (US$269.4 million) and repayment of bonds payable of NT$5,550.0 million (US$169.4 million). Net cash used in financing activities in 2007 amounted to NT$8,492.7 million. This amount reflected primarily the issuance of cash dividends of NT$6,669.1 million and a decrease in long-term debts of NT$4,639.5 million, which was partially offset by an increase in short-term borrowings of NT$3,784.1 million.  Net cash used in financing activities in 2006 amounted to NT$12,581.9 million. This amount reflected primarily a decrease in long-term debts of NT$13,745.7 million.
 
As of December 31, 2008, our primary source of liquidity was NT$26,138.9 million (US$797.9 million) of cash and NT$1,267.3 million (US$38.7 million) of financial assets—current. Our financial assets—current primarily consisted of quoted stocks and bond investments. As of December 31, 2008, we had total unused short-term credit lines of NT$51,041.4 million (US$1,558.0 million), and total unused long-term credit lines of NT$18,245.9 million (US$557.0 million). As of December 31, 2008, we had working capital of NT$21,096.2 million (US$644.0 million).
 
As of December 31, 2008, we had total borrowings of NT$62,703.7 million (US$1,914.0 million), NT$8,779.3 million (US$268.0 million) of which were short-term borrowings and NT$53,924.4 million (US$1,646.0 million) of which were long-term borrowings. The interest rate for borrowings under our short-term borrowings ranged from 1.50% to 8.59% per year as of December 31, 2008. Our short-term loans are primarily revolving facilities with a term of one year, each of which may be extended on an annual basis with lender consent. Our long-term borrowings consist primarily of bank loans, bonds payable and capital lease obligations. As of December 31, 2008, we had outstanding long-term borrowings, less current portion, of NT$51,230.5 million (US$1,563.8 million). As of December 31, 2008, the current portion of our long-term borrowings was NT$2,693.9 million (US$82.2 million). Our long-term borrowings carried variable interest rates which ranged between 1.35% and 7.56% per year as of December 31, 2008.
 
We have pledged a portion of our assets, with a carrying value of NT$4,355.4 million (US$132.9 million) as of December 31, 2008, to secure our obligations under our short-term and long-term facilities.
 
In March 2008, we entered into a syndicated loan agreement with a banking syndicate led by Citibank, N.A., Taipei Branch for a NT$24,750.0 million term loan facility, which we and the lenders subsequently agreed to reduce to NT$17,500.0 million to afford us more flexibility to request additional loans in the future. As of June 3, 2008, we had drawn down NT$17,500.0 million, the full amount of the facility, to finance a portion of the consideration for our acquisition, by way of a scheme of arrangement under Singapore law, of all the outstanding ordinary shares of ASE Test that we did not already directly or indirectly own.  In May 2008, we entered into an additional syndicated loan agreement with a banking syndicate led by Citibank, N.A., Taipei Branch for a US$200.0 million term loan facility, also for the purposes of financing our acquisition of ASE Test’s outstanding ordinary shares. As of June 4, 2008, we had drawn down the entire balance of this facility.
 
In March 2005, ASE Shanghai entered into a US$119.0 million five-year syndicated credit facility for which the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, Shanghai Branch acted as arranger and agent. We agreed to act as guarantor for ASE Shanghai. We used US$119 million to refinance exiting credit facilities to fund our capital expenditure requirements. The facility bears interest at LIBOR plus 0.75% per annum.
 
In January 2004, we issued eleven series of secured non-convertible bonds in the aggregate principal amount of NT$2.75 billion. These bonds bear semi-annual interest at floating LIBOR-based rates. We repaid half of the aggregate principal amount of the bonds in January 2008 and the remaining half in January 2009.  Our payment obligations under the bonds were secured by guarantees provided by syndicate banks pursuant to a guarantee agreement entered into in December 2003, for which Chinatrust Commercial Bank, Ltd. and The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, Taipei Branch acted as arrangers. As of December 31, 2008, we had obtained new long term credit lines payable on a long-term basis to refinance the bonds.
 
Our long-term loans and facilities contain various financial and other covenants that could trigger a requirement for early payment. Among other things, these covenants require the maintenance of certain financial ratios, such as liquidity ratio, indebtedness ratio, interest coverage ratio and other technical requirements. In general, covenants in the agreements governing our existing debt, and debt we may incur in the future, may materially restrict our
 
 
 
 
operations, including our ability to incur debt, pay dividends, make certain investments and payments, other than in connection with restructurings of consolidated entities, and encumber or dispose of assets. A default under one debt instrument may also trigger cross-defaults under our other debt instruments. An event of default under any debt instrument, if not cured or waived, could have a material adverse effect on our liquidity, as well as our financial condition and operations.
 
We have on occasion failed to comply with certain financial covenants in some of our loan agreements. Such non-compliance may also have, through broadly worded cross-default provisions, resulted in default under some of the agreements governing our other existing debt. For example, we failed to comply with certain debt ratios in some of our loan agreements as a result of additional borrowings to fund our privatization of ASE Test in May 2008 and the distribution of cash dividends in August 2008. By August 2008, we had either obtained waivers for, or refinanced on a long-term basis, all of the relevant loans, and as such are not in default under any of our existing debt.  We cannot assure you that we will be able to remain in compliance with our financial covenants under our loan agreements.  In the event of default, we may not be able to cure the default or obtain a waiver, and our operations could be significantly disrupted and harmed.  See “Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Business—Restrictive covenants and broad default provisions in our existing debt agreements may materially restrict our operations as well as adversely affect our liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.”
 
Our contingent obligations consist of guarantees provided by us to our subsidiaries. As of December 31, 2008, we endorsed and guaranteed the promissory notes of our subsidiaries in the amount of NT$8,468.0 million (US$257.7 million). Other than such guarantees, we have no other contingent obligations.
 
We have made, and expect to continue to make, substantial capital expenditures in connection with the expansion of our production capacity. The table below sets forth our principal capital expenditures incurred for the periods indicated.
 
   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2006
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$
 
   
(in millions)
 
Machinery and equipment
    13,491.2       14,592.8       12,312.5       375.8  
Building and improvements
    4,239.7       3,579.4       4,311.2       131.6  

We have budgeted capital expenditures of approximately US$150 million for 2009, primarily to purchase machinery and equipment in connection with the expansion of our packaging and testing operations. We may adjust the amount of our capital expenditures upward or downward based on market conditions, the progress of our expansion plans and cash flow from operations. Due to the rapid changes in technology in the semiconductor industry, we frequently need to invest in new machinery and equipment, which may require us to raise additional capital. We cannot assure you that we will be able to raise additional capital should it become necessary on terms acceptable to us or at all. See “Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Business—Because of the highly cyclical nature of our industry, our capital requirements are difficult to plan. If we cannot obtain additional capital when we need it, our growth prospects and future profitability may be adversely affected.”
 
We believe that our existing cash, marketable securities, expected cash flow from operations and existing credit lines under our loan facilities will be sufficient to meet our capital expenditures, working capital, cash obligations under our existing debt and lease arrangements, and other requirements for at least the next twelve months.  We currently hold cash primarily in U.S. dollars, New Taiwan dollars, Malaysian ringgit, Chinese yuan, Japanese yen and Korean won. As of December 31, 2008, we had contractual obligations of NT$45,935.1 million (US$1,402.2 million) due in the next three years. We currently expect to meet our payment obligations through the expected cash flow from operations, long-term borrowings and the issuance of additional equity or equity-linked securities. We will continue to evaluate our capital structure and may decide from time to time to increase or decrease our financial leverage through equity offerings or borrowings. The issuance of additional equity or equity-linked securities may result in additional dilution to our shareholders.
 
From time to time, we evaluate possible investments, acquisitions or divestments and may, if a suitable opportunity arises, make an investment, acquisition or divestment.
 
Our treasury team, under the supervision of our chief financial officer, is responsible for setting our funding and treasury policies and objectives. Our exposure to financial market risks relate primarily to changes in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates. To mitigate these risks, we utilize derivative financial instruments, the application of which is primarily to manage these exposures, and not for speculative purposes.
 
We have, from time to time, entered into interest rate swap transactions to hedge our interest rate exposure. As of December 31, 2008, we had NT$13,375.0 million (US$408.3 million) outstanding in interest rate swap contracts. See “Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk—Market Risk—Interest Rate Risk.” We have entered into swap contracts and forward exchange contracts to hedge our existing assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies and identifiable foreign currency purchase commitments. As of December 31, 2008, we had US$ 154.5 million outstanding in swap contracts and US$130.0 million outstanding in forward contracts. In October 2003, we entered into cross-currency swap contracts to hedge against exchange rate fluctuations in connection with our US$200.0 million zero coupon convertible bonds due 2008, of which US$15.0 million were repurchased in the market in April 2005. The final outstanding amount under these contracts expired in October 2007, and we have subsequently entered into a number of smaller, monthly cross-currency swap contracts. As of December 31, 2008, we had no outstanding cross-currency swap contracts. See “Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk” and note 5 and note 26 to our consolidated financial statements included in this annual report.
 
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
 
For 2006, 2007 and 2008, our research and development expenditures totaled approximately NT$2,632.0 million, NT$3,284.1 million and NT$3,876.8 million (US$118.3 million), respectively. These expenditures represented approximately 2.6%, 3.2% and 4.1% of net revenues in 2006, 2007 and 2008, respectively. We have historically expensed all research and development costs as incurred and none is currently capitalized. As of April 30, 2009, we employed 2,212 employees in research and development.
 
Packaging
 
We centralize our research and development efforts in packaging technology in our Kaohsiung, Taiwan facilities. After initial phases of development, we conduct pilot runs in one of our facilities before new technologies or processes are implemented commercially at other sites. Facilities with special product expertise, such as ASE Korea, also conduct research and development of these specialized products and technologies at their sites. One of the areas of emphasis for our research and development efforts is improving the efficiency and technology of our packaging processes and these efforts are expected to continue. We are also putting significant research and development efforts into the development and adoption of innovative technology. We work closely with manufacturers of our packaging equipment and materials in designing and developing the equipment and materials used in our production process. We also collaborate with our significant customers to co-develop new product and process technologies.
 
In addition to investing in the development of advanced package assembly technology and improving production efficiency, a significant portion of our research and development efforts is focused on the development of advanced substrate production technology for BGA packaging. Substrate is the principal raw material for BGA packages. Development and production of advanced substrates involve complex technology and, as a result, high quality substrates are currently available only from a limited number of suppliers, located primarily in Japan. We believe that our successful development of substrate production capability has, among other things, enabled us to capture an increasingly important value-added component of the packaging process, helped ensure a stable and cost-effective supply of substrates for our BGA packaging operations and shortened time to market.
 
Testing
 
Our research and development efforts in the area of testing have focused primarily on improving the efficiency and technology of our testing processes. These efforts include developing software for parallel testing of logic
semiconductors, rapid automatic generation and cross-platform conversion of test programs to test logic/mixed-signal/RF semiconductors, automatic code generation for converting and writing testing programs, testing new products using existing machines and providing customers remote access to monitor test results. We are also continuing the development of interface designs to provide for high-frequency testing by minimizing electrical noise. We work closely with our customers in designing and modifying testing software and with equipment vendors to increase the efficiency and reliability of testing equipment. Our research and development operations also include a mechanical engineering group, which currently designs handler kits for semiconductor testing and wafer probing, as well as software to optimize capacity utilization.
 
OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
 
There are no off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that are material to investors.
 
TABULAR DISCLOSURE OF CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS
 
The following table sets forth the maturity of our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2008.

   
Payments Due by Period
 
   
Total
   
Under 1 Year
   
1 to 3 Years
   
3 to 5 Years
   
After 5 Years
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
 
   
(in millions)
 
Contractual Obligations:
                             
Long-term debt(1)
    53,885.4       8,512.4       35,586.8       9,786.2        
Capital lease obligations(2)
    39.0       23.1       15.6       0.3        
Operating leases(3)
    673.7       287.0       253.5       73.5       59.7  
Purchase obligations(4)
    1,256.7       1,256.7                    
Total(5)(6)(7)(8)
    55,854.8       10,079.2       35,855.9       9,860.0       59.7  
 

(1)
Excludes interest payments.
 
(2)
Represents our commitments under property leases less imputed interest. These obligations are recorded on our consolidated balance sheets.
 
(3)
Represents our commitments under leases for land, machinery and equipment such as testers, and office buildings and equipment. See note 29 to our consolidated financial statements included in this annual report.
 
(4)
Represents unpaid commitments for construction. These commitments are not recorded on our consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2008. See note 29 to our consolidated financial statements included in this annual report. Total commitments for construction of buildings were approximately NT$1,532.0 million (US$46.8 million), of which NT$275.3 million (US$8.4 million) had been paid as of December 31, 2008.
 
(5)
Excludes non-binding commitments to purchase machinery and equipment of approximately NT$2,243.0 million (US$68.5 million), of which NT$27.6 million (US$0.8 million) had been paid as of December 31, 2008. See note 29 to our consolidated financial statements included in this annual report.
 
(6)
Excludes payments that vary based upon our net sales or sales volume, such as commissions, service fees and royalty payments for technology license agreements. Royalty expenses in 2008 were approximately NT$199.2 million (US$6.1 million). See note 29 to our consolidated financial statements included in this annual report.
 
(7)
Excludes our minimum pension funding requirements since such amounts have not been determined. Under defined benefit pension plans, we made pension contributions of approximately NT$485.2 million in 2007 , NT$ 153.4 million (US$ 4.7 million) in 2008, and we estimate that we will contribute approximately NT$147.8 million (US$4.5 million) in 2009. See “—Operating Results and Trend Information—Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” and note 20 to our consolidated financial statements included in this annual report.
 
(8)
We recognized additional long term taxes payable of NT$19.8 million (US$ 0.6 million) and accrued interest and penalties of NT$17.4 million (US$ 0.5 million)related to uncertain tax positions in the year ended December 31, 2008. At that time, we were unable to make a reasonably reliable estimate of the timing of payments in individual years beyond 12 months due to uncertainties in the timing of the outcome of the tax audits.
 
Item 6.  Directors, Senior Management and Employees
 
DIRECTORS AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND BOARD PRACTICES
 
Directors
 
Our board of directors is elected by our shareholders in a general meeting at which a quorum, consisting of a majority of all issued and outstanding common shares, is present. The chairman is elected by the board from among the directors. Our seven-member board of directors is responsible for the management of our business.
 
The term of office for our directors is three years from the date of election. The current board of directors began serving on June 22, 2006.  The terms of the current directors expire on June 21, 2009.  We plan to reelect nine new directors, including two independent directors, at our upcoming shareholders’ meeting on June 25, 2009. The final directors’ list will be confirmed by way of a resolution passed at this shareholders’ meeting.  Directors may serve any number of consecutive terms and may be removed from office at any time by a resolution adopted at a meeting of shareholders. Normally, all board members are elected at the same time, except where the posts of one-third or more of the directors are vacant, at which time a special meeting of shareholders shall be convened to elect directors to fill the vacancies. We and our subsidiaries do not have service contracts with our directors that provide for benefits upon termination of employment.
 
Our board of directors established an audit committee on July 22, 2005 to satisfy the requirements of Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act. The audit committee is appointed by the board of directors and currently consists of Alan Cheng, who is independent under Rule 10A-3 and financially literate with accounting or related financial management expertise.  The audit committee has responsibility for, among other things, overseeing the qualifications, independence and performance of our independent auditors and the integrity of our financial statements.
 
The following table sets forth information regarding all of our directors as of May 31, 2009.
 
 
Name
 
 
Position
 
Director
Since
 
Age
 
Other Significant
Positions Held Outside of the ASE Group
Jason C.S. Chang(1)
 
Director, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
 
1984
 
64
 
Director of Universal Scientific
Richard H.P. Chang(1)
 
Director, Vice Chairman and President
 
1984
 
62
 
Chairman of Universal Scientific
Tien Wu(2)
 
Director and Chief Operating Officer
 
2003
 
51
 
None
Joseph Tung(2)
 
Director, Chief Financial Officer and Vice President
 
1997
 
50
 
Supervisor of Universal Scientific; Independent director of Ta Chong Bank Ltd.
Raymond Lo(2)
 
Director and General Manager, Kaohsiung packaging facility
 
2006
 
55
 
None
Jeffrey Chen(2)
 
Director and Vice President
 
2003
 
45
 
Director of Universal Scientific
Alan Cheng
 
Director
 
2005
 
63
 
Director of Hung Ching


(1)
Jason C.S. Chang and Richard H.P. Chang are brothers.
 
(2)
Representative of ASE Enterprises, a company organized under the laws of Hong Kong, which held 17.12% of our outstanding common shares as of May 31, 2009. All of the outstanding shares of ASE Enterprises are held by a company organized under the laws of the British Virgin Islands in trust for the benefit of the family of our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Jason C.S. Chang, who is the sole shareholder and director of that company.
 
Supervisors
 
We currently have five supervisors, each serving a three-year term.  The current supervisors began serving on June 22, 2006, and their terms will expire on June 21, 2009. We plan to reelect five new supervisors at our upcoming shareholders’ meeting on June 25, 2009.  The final supervisors’ list will be confirmed by way of a
 
 
resolution passed at this shareholders’ meeting.  The supervisors’ duties and powers include investigation of our business condition, inspection of our corporate records, verification and review of financial statements presented by our board of directors at shareholders’ meetings, convening of shareholders’ meetings, representing us in negotiations with our directors and notification, when appropriate, to the board of directors to cease acting in contravention of any applicable law or regulation, our Articles of Incorporation or the resolutions of our shareholders’ meeting. Each supervisor is elected by our shareholders and cannot concurrently serve as a director, managerial officer or other staff member. The ROC Company Law requires at least one supervisor be appointed at all times, or two supervisors for a company with publicly issued equity shares, and that a supervisor’s term of office be no more than three years.
 
The following table sets forth information regarding all of our supervisors as of May 31, 2009.
 
 
Name
 
 
Position
 
Supervisor
Since
 
Age
 
Other Significant
Positions Held Outside of the ASE Group
Feng Mei-Jean(1)
 
Supervisor
 
1984
 
54
 
None
Samuel Liu(2)
 
Supervisor
 
2005
 
61
 
Chief Executive Officer and director of Universal Scientific
Tien-Szu Chen(2)
 
Supervisor
 
2006
 
47
 
None
John Ho(2)
 
Supervisor
 
1998
 
54
 
Director of Universal Scientific
Yen-Yi Tseng(2)
 
Supervisor
 
2000
 
67
 
Chairman of Hung Ching


(1)
Feng Mei-Jean is the wife of Richard H.P. Chang.
 
(2)
Representative of ASE Test Taiwan.

In accordance with ROC law, each of our directors and supervisors is elected either in his or her capacity as an individual or as an individual representative of a corporation or government. Persons designated to represent corporate or government shareholders as directors are typically nominated by such shareholders at the annual general meeting and may be replaced as representatives by such shareholders at will. Of the current directors and supervisors, four represent ASE Enterprises and four represent ASE Test Taiwan.  The remaining directors and supervisors serve in their capacity as individuals.
 
Executive Officers
 
The following table sets forth information regarding all of our executive officers as of May 31, 2009.
 
 
Name
 
 
Position
 
Years
with the
Company
 
 
Age
Jason C.S. Chang
 
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
 
25
 
64
Richard H.P. Chang
 
Vice Chairman and President
 
25
 
62
Tien Wu
 
Chief Operating Officer; Chief Executive Officer, ISE Labs
 
9
 
51
Joseph Tung
 
Chief Financial Officer and Vice President
 
14
 
50
Raymond Lo
 
President, ASE Test Taiwan; General Manager, Kaohsiung packaging facility
 
23
 
55
Tien-Szu Chen
 
President, PowerASE
 
21
 
47
Chih-Chiang Lee
 
President, ASESH AT
 
22
 
47
Chun-Che Lee
 
President, ASE Shanghai
 
25
 
49
Une Bae
 
President, ASE Korea
 
11
 
52
Nobukatsu Manabe
 
President, ASE Japan
 
5
 
65
Kwai Mun Lee
 
President, ASE South-East Asia operations
 
11
 
46

Biographies of Directors, Supervisors and Executive Officers
 
Jason C.S. Chang has served as Chairman of ASE Inc. since its founding in March 1984 and as its Chief Executive Officer since May 2003. He holds a degree in electrical engineering from National Taiwan University and
 
 
a master’s degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology. He is the brother of Richard H.P. Chang, our Vice Chairman and President.
 
Richard H.P. Chang has served as Vice Chairman of ASE Inc. since November 1999 after having served as President of ASE Inc. since its founding in March 1984, and served as Chief Executive Officer of ASE Inc. from July 2000 to April 2003. In February 2003, he was again appointed President of ASE Inc. upon the retirement of Mr. Leonard Y. Liu. He holds a degree in industrial engineering from Chung Yuan Christian University of Taiwan. He is the brother of Jason C.S. Chang, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
 
Tien Wu has served as a director of ASE Inc. since June 2003 and Chief Operating Officer since April 2006, prior to which he served as the President of Worldwide Marketing and Strategy of the ASE Group. Prior to joining ASE Inc. in March 2000, Mr. Wu held various managerial positions with IBM. He holds a B.S.C.E. degree from the National Taiwan University, a M.S. degree in mechanical engineering and a Ph.D. in applied mechanics from the University of Pennsylvania.
 
Joseph Tung has served as a director of ASE Inc. since April 1997 and Chief Financial Officer since December 1994. Before joining ASE Inc., Mr. Tung was a Vice President at Citibank, N.A. He received a degree in economics from the National Chengchi University of Taiwan and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Southern California.
 
Raymond Lo has served as a director of ASE Inc. and General Manager of our packaging facility in Kaohsiung, Taiwan since April 2006.  Mr. Lo also served as a supervisor of ASE Inc. between July 2000 and April 2006.  Before joining ASE Inc., Mr. Lo was the Director of Quality Assurance at Zeny Electronics Co. He holds a degree in electronic physics from the National Chiao-Tung University of Taiwan.
 
Jeffrey Chen has served as a director of ASE Inc. since June 2003. He is also a Vice President of ASE Inc. Prior to joining the ASE Group, he worked in the corporate banking department of Citibank, N.A. in Taipei and as a Vice President of corporate finance at Bankers Trust in Taipei. He holds a degree in finance and economics from Simon Fraser University in Canada and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of British Columbia in Canada.
 
Alan Cheng has served as a director of ASE Inc. since June 2005 and is the Chairman of H.R. Silvine Electronics, Inc. as well as a director of Hung Ching Development & Construction Co., Ltd., an affiliate of ours. Mr. Cheng holds a degree in industrial engineering from Chung Yuan Christian University in Taiwan and a master’s degree in industrial engineering from Rhode Island University.
 
Feng Mei-Jean has served as a supervisor of ASE Inc. since March 1984. She holds a degree in economics from National Taiwan University. She is the wife of Richard H.P. Chang, our Vice Chairman and President.
 
Samuel Liu has served as a supervisor of ASE Inc. since May 2005. He is currently the Chief Executive Officer and a director for Universal Scientific Industrial, Inc., an affiliated company of ASE Inc. Mr. Liu has worked in the electronics industry for over 30 years in various technical and management roles. He holds a B.S.E.E. from National Taiwan University and a Ph.D. in material science from Stanford University.
 
Tien-Szu Chen has served as a supervisor of ASE Inc. since June 2006. Mr. Chen holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Chung Yuan Christian University in Taiwan.
 
John Ho has served as a supervisor of ASE Inc. since April 1998. He is also a director of Universal Scientific. He served as Chief Financial Officer of ASE Inc. from 1988 until 1995. He holds a degree in business administration from National Taiwan University and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Iowa.
 
Yen-Yi Tseng has served as a supervisor of ASE Inc. since July 2000 and Chairman of Hung Ching since July 2002. Mr. Tseng served as President of Ret-Ser Engineering Agency from 1991 to 1998. He holds a degree in civil engineering from National Taiwan University and a master’s degree in system engineering from Asian Institute of Technology in Thailand. He was also a participant in the Program for Management Development at Harvard Business School.
 
 
Chih-Chiang Lee has served as a President of ASESH AT since 2007 prior to which he has occupied various managing positions at ASE Inc. since 1988.  Mr. Lee holds a degree in engineering management from National Tsing Hua University in Taiwan.
 
Chun-Che Lee has served as a President of ASE Shanghai since July 2005. Mr. Lee has also served as a President of R&D of ASE Inc., prior to which he was a vice president, director and manager of research and development at ASE Inc. since 1984.  Mr. Lee holds a degree in Aeronautic from the Tamkung University of Taiwan.
 
Ung Bae has served as President of ASE Korea since July 2008, after serving as Senior Vice President of ASE Korea since July 1999.  Mr. Bae was Vice President of Motorola Korea, Limited before joining ASE Korea when we acquired Motorola Korea, Limited.  He holds a degree in electronic engineering from the In-Ha university of Korea.
 
Nobukatsu Manabe has served as President of ASE Japan since May 2004. Prior to this appointment, he served as Executive Officer of Yamaguchi NEC and Yamagata NEC Co., Ltd. after occupying various managing positions within the NEC Group including positions in the United Kingdom and Singapore.  He holds a bachelors of Science in Physics from Kyushu University of Japan.
 
Kwai Mun Lee has served as President of our Southeast Asia operations, with responsibility for the operations of our Penang, Malaysia and Singapore manufacturing facilities, since March 2006. Before joining the ASE Group, Mr. Lee held senior management positions at Chartered Semiconductor and STATSChipPAC. He started his career as an engineer at Intel. He holds a degree in engineering from the Swinburne Institute of Technology in Australia.
 
The business address of our directors, supervisors and executive officers is our registered office.
 
COMPENSATION
 
In 2008, we paid to our directors, supervisors and executive officers approximately NT$335.3 million (US$10.2 million) in cash remuneration and 2,400,528 shares in stock bonuses. We did not pay any remuneration in kind to our directors, supervisors or executive officers in 2008. In 2008, we accrued pension costs of NT$74.2 million (US$2.3 million) for retirement benefits for our management. The remuneration of our independent directors is set at NT$ 2.0 million per person per year. As of May 31, 2009, we had not appointed any independent directors. In addition, according to our Articles of Incorporation, not more than two percent of our annual net earnings (after recovering any losses incurred in prior years and deducting the legal reserve and special reserve provisions, if any) may be distributed as bonuses to our directors. 7% to 10% of our annual net earnings (after recovering any losses incurred in prior years and deducting the legal reserve and special reserve provisions, if any) may be distributed as a bonus to employees, including executive officers.
 
We have not provided any loans to or guarantees for the benefit of any of our directors, supervisors or executive officers.  For information regarding our pension and other retirement plans and those of our subsidiaries, see note 20 to our consolidated financial statements included in this annual report.
 
ASE Inc. Employee Bonus and Stock Option Plans
 
We award bonuses to employees of ASE Inc. and its subsidiaries who are located in Taiwan based on overall income and individual performance targets.  Prior to 2009, these employees were eligible to receive bonuses in the form of our common shares valued at par.  Beginning in 2009, employees are eligible to receive bonuses in the form of our common shares valued at the closing price of the common shares on the day prior to our shareholders’ meeting.  Actual amounts of bonuses to individual employees are determined based upon the employee meeting specified individual performance objectives. We did not grant any bonuses or stock options in 2006.  In 2007, we granted an aggregate of 53,502,850 common shares as stock bonuses with an aggregate value of NT$535.0 million. At our annual shareholders’ meeting held on June 28, 2007, our shareholders, in addition to approving such stock bonus, also approved NT$535.0 million as cash bonuses to employees. In 2008, we granted an aggregate of 38,320,500 common shares as stock bonuses with an aggregate value of NT$ 383.2 million. At our annual shareholders’ meeting held on June 19, 2008, our shareholders, in addition to approving such stock bonuses, also
 
 
approved NT$ 383.2 million as cash bonuses to employees. In 2009, our directors proposed a distribution of NT$554.4 million as cash bonuses to employees.  The proposal is still awaiting shareholders’ approval.
 
We currently maintain three option plans, adopted in 2002, 2004 and 2007.  Pursuant to these plans, our full-time employees as well as the full-time employees of our domestic and foreign subsidiaries are eligible to receive stock option grants. Each option entitles the holder to purchase one ASE Inc. common share at a price equal to the closing market price on the date of the option issuance, such exercise price being subject to retroactive adjustment in the event of certain capital transactions in subsequent periods. Each option is exercisable upon vesting for five years. Forty percent of the options originally granted vest upon the second anniversary of the grant date, and an additional 10% of the options originally granted vest every six months thereafter. Each option expires at the end of the 10th year following its grant date. The options are generally not transferable. As of December 31, 2008, a total of 159,968,000 options had been granted under the 2002 plan, 145,989,000 of which had an original exercise price of NT$20.80 per share (currently adjusted to NT$10.30 per share) and 13,979,000 of which had an original exercise price of NT$24.60 per share (currently adjusted to NT$14.30 per share). As of December 31, 2008, a total of 139,917,000 options had been granted under the 2004 plan, 124,917,000 of which had an original exercise price of NT$26.60 per share (currently adjusted to NT$18.90 per share) and 15,000,000 of which had an original exercise price of NT$20.55 per share (currently adjusted to NT$15.40 per share).  As of December 31, 2008, a total of 185,806,000 options had been granted under the 2007 plan.  The original exercise price under the 2007 plan was NT$30.65 per share (currently adjusted to NT$29.60 per share).
 
ASE Test Share Option Plans
 
On May 30, 2008, we acquired, by way of a scheme of arrangement under Singapore law, all the outstanding ordinary shares of ASE Test that we did not already directly or indirectly own, making ASE Test our wholly-owned subsidiary. Upon the effectiveness of this transaction on May 30, 2008, each ASE Test option exercisable for ASE Test ordinary shares (whether or not vested) that had a per share exercise price lower than US$14.78 was deemed to have been exercised by ASE Test on behalf of the option holder on a cashless basis.  We then acquired these newly issued ASE Test ordinary shares for US$14.78 per share in cash.  As a result, each of these option holders received a cash payment per share equal to the excess of US$14.78 over the per share exercise price of their options, less any interest, fees and charges.  Each ASE Test option that had a per share exercise price equal to or higher than US$14.78 was cancelled without any payment to the option holder.  See “Item 4. Information on the Company—History and Development of the Company—ASE Test Share Acquisition and Privatization.”
 
ASE Mauritius Inc. Share Option Plans
 
As of December 31, 2008, ASE Mauritius Inc. maintained one option plan adopted in 2007. Under this plan, certain employees of ASE Mauritius Inc. and the ASE Group are granted options to purchase ordinary shares of ASE Mauritius Inc. at an exercise price of US$1.70, which exercise price was determined by taking into account a fairness opinion rendered by an independent appraiser and was reviewed by our accountants. Each option is exercisable upon vesting for five years and expires after 10 years. As of December 31, 2008, a total of 30,000,000 options had been granted under this plan with an exercise price of US$1.70.
 
EMPLOYEES
 
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, certain information concerning our employees for the dates indicated.
 
   
As of December 31,
 
   
2006
   
2007
   
2008
 
Total
    26,986       29,942       26,977  
Function
                       
Direct labor
    16,321       17,172       15,114  
Indirect labor (manufacturing)
    6,614       7,321       6,704  
Indirect labor (administration)
    2,227       2,992       2,922  
Research and development
    1,824       2,457       2,237  
Location
                       
 
   
As of December 31,
 
   
2006
   
2007
   
2008
 
Taiwan
    19,145       18,614       16,291  
Malaysia
    2,259       2,558       2,324  
PRC
    1,972       5,187       4,846  
Korea
    1,851       1,859       1,826  
Japan
    1,020       1,009       974  
Singapore
    392       371       380  
United States
    347       344       336  
 
 
The reduction in our employee count in 2008 arose primarily as a response to the global economic crisis in late 2008, which severely affected the entire semiconductor industry.  In November 2008, we implemented a series of cost reduction measures, including layoffs, reductions in salary and/or overtime compensation for certain employees and unpaid leave and early retirement programs.  In April 2009, demand for our services began to recover and we suspended most of these cost reduction measures.
 
Eligible employees may participate in our employee share bonus plan and stock option plans and ASE Mauritius Inc’s share option plans. See “—Compensation—ASE Inc. Employee Bonus and Stock Option Plans” and “—Compensation—ASE Mauritius Inc. Share Option Plans.” See also note 22 to our consolidated financial statements included in this annual report.
 
With the exception of ASE Korea’s employees, our employees are not covered by any collective bargaining arrangements. We believe that our relationship with our employees is good.
 
SHARE OWNERSHIP
 
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to our common shares and options exercisable for our common shares held by our directors, supervisors and executive officers as of April 30, 2009.
 
Director, Supervisor or Executive Officer
 
Number of ASE Inc. Common Shares Held
   
Percentage of Total ASE Inc. Common Shares Issued and Outstanding
 
Number of
Options Held(1)
 
Exercise Price of Options (NT$)
 
Expiration Date
of Options
Jason C.S. Chang
 
57,544,012
 (2)  
1.04%
 
11,180,000
 
10.3029.60
 
12/24/2012–12/19/2017
Richard H.P. Chang
 
73,453,840
   
1.32%
 
6,770,000
 
10.3029.60
 
12/24/2012–12/19/2017
Tien Wu
 
1,622,856
   
0.03%
 
  *
 
10.3029.60
 
12/24/2012–12/19/2017
Joseph Tung
 
2,612,582
   
0.05%
 
*
 
10.3029.60
 
12/24/2012–12/19/2017
Raymond Lo
 
1,332,458
   
0.02%
 
*
 
10.3029.60
 
12/24/2012–12/19/2017
Jeffrey Chen
 
927,964
   
0.02%
 
*
 
14.3029.60
 
08/22/201312/19/2017
Alan Cheng
 
452,494
   
0.01%
 
*
 
29.60
 
12/19/2017
Feng Mei-Jean
 
86,928,008
   
1.57%
 
200,000
 
29.60
 
12/19/2017
Samuel Liu
 
68,277
   
0.00%
 
*
 
18.90
 
06/30/2014
Tien-Szu Chen
 
355,391
 
 
0.01%
 
*
 
10.3029.60
 
12/24/2012–12/19/2017
John Ho
 
1,366,106
 
 
0.02%
 
*
 
10.3029.60
 
12/24/2012–12/19/2017
Yen-Yi Tseng
 
195,526
   
0.00%
 
*
 
18.9029.60
 
06/30/201412/19/2017
Chih-Chiang Lee
 
589,395
   
0.01%
 
*
 
10.3029.60
 
12/24/2012–12/19/2017
Chun-Che Lee
 
2,112,470
   
0.04%
 
*
 
10.3029.60
 
12/24/2012–12/19/2017
Ung Bae
 
0
   
0.00%
 
*
 
10.3029.60
 
12/24/2012–12/19/2017
Nobukatsu Manabe
 
30,867
   
0.00%
 
*
 
18.9029.60
 
06/30/201412/19/2017
Kwai Mun Lee
 
0
   
0.00%
 
*
 
14.3029.60
 
08/22/201312/19/2017
 

(1)
Each option covers one of our common shares.
 
(2)
In addition to holding 1.04% of our common shares directly, Jason C.S. Chang is the sole shareholder and director of a company that holds all the outstanding shares of ASE Enterprises, which holds 17.12% of our common shares. See “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions—Major Shareholders.”
 
 
*
The sum of the number of common shares held and the number of common shares issuable upon exercise of all options held is less than 1% of our total outstanding common shares.
 
 
Item 7.  Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions
 
MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS
 
The following table sets forth information known to us with respect to the beneficial ownership of our common shares, as of April 30, 2009, by each shareholder known by us to beneficially own more than 5% of our outstanding common shares and all directors, supervisors and executive officers as a group.
 
    
Common Shares Beneficially Owned
 
Name of Shareholder or Group
 
Number
   
Percentage
 
ASE Enterprises(1)
    949,483,271       17.1%  
Directors, supervisors and executive officers as a group(2)
    1,179,075,517       21.3%  
 

(1)
ASE Enterprises is a company organized under the laws of Hong Kong. All of the outstanding shares of ASE Enterprises are held by a company organized under the laws of the British Virgin Islands in trust for the benefit of the family of our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Jason C.S. Chang, who is the sole shareholder and director of that company.
 
(2)
Includes shareholding of ASE Enterprises.
 

The following table sets forth information relating to our common shares held directly by our consolidated subsidiaries and unconsolidated affiliates as of May 31, 2009.
 
   
Common Shares Beneficially Owned
 
Name of Shareholder
 
Number
   
Percentage
 
ASE Test Taiwan(1)
    986,223       0.02%  
Hung Ching(2)
    61,230,021       1.1%  
J&R Holding Limited(3)
    109,770,444       2.0%  


(1)
ASE Test Taiwan was our 99.99%-owned subsidiary as of May 31, 2009.
 
(2)
As of May 31, 2009, we held 26.2% of the outstanding shares of Hung Ching. See “Item  4. Information on the Company—Organizational Structure—Our Unconsolidated Affiliates.”
 
(3)
J&R Holding Limited is our wholly-owned subsidiary.  J&R Holding Limited’s ownership of our common shares is the result of the merger of ASE Chung Li with and into us in August 2004 and subsequent dividends upon shares received in connection with this merger.
 
In connection with the merger of ASE Chung Li and ASE Material with and into ASE Inc. in August 2004, we and ASE Test established a trust to hold and dispose of 149,175,000 and 5,000,000 of our common shares that were issued to ASE Test and ASE Test Taiwan, respectively, upon completion of the merger. As a result, the trustee appointed under the trust agreement has become one of our shareholders until such common shares are sold as permitted under the rules and regulations of the Taiwan Stock Exchange and the terms and conditions of the trust agreement. As of May 31, 2009, as a result of stock dividends, the total amount of our common shares held by the trust was 211,775,294. See “—Related Party Transactions.”
 
As of May 31, 2009, none of our major shareholders had voting rights different from those of our other shareholders.
 
Other than FMR Corp. becoming the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding common shares in 2005, and ceasing to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding common shares in 2006, there were no significant changes in our major shareholders or significant changes in the percentage ownership of any of our major shareholders in 2006, 2007 and 2008.
 
As of May 31, 2009, a total of 5,547,064,694 common shares were outstanding. 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 May 15, 2009, 214,295,660 common shares were registered in the name of a nominee of Citibank, N.A., the depositary under our ADS deposit agreement. Citibank, N.A., has advised us that, as
 
 of May 15, 2009, 42,858,825 ADSs, representing 214,294,125 common shares, were held of record by Cede & Co., and 296 ADSs, representing 1,480 common shares, were held by seven other U.S. persons. The remaining 55 common shares held by Citibank, N.A. are a result of fractional shares distributed during stock distributions on the common shares underlying the ADSs. We have no further information as to common shares held, or beneficially owned, by U.S. persons.
 
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
 
In recent years, we have awarded our common shares to the employees of our subsidiaries as part of their compensation, based in part on our consolidated net income and the subsidiaries’ contribution to the consolidated income. We expect this practice to continue in the future.
 
In order to comply with Singapore law and ROC Company Law, trusts organized under ROC law have been established to hold and dispose of our common shares issued to ASE Test and ASE Test Taiwan in connection with the merger of ASE Chung Li and ASE Material into our company in August 2004. Under Section 76(1)(b)(ii) of the Companies Act, Chapter 50, of Singapore, ASE Test, a Singapore company, may not purport to acquire, directly or indirectly, shares or units of shares in our company, ASE Test’s parent company. Pursuant to the applicable trust agreements, the trustee under each trust is (1) the registered owner of the common shares, (2) authorized to exercise all of the rights as a shareholder of the common shares, (3) authorized to sell the common shares, subject to market conditions, when such common shares become available for resale under ROC law and in accordance with volume limitations under ROC law, at its sole discretion; provided such common shares are sold (i) in compliance with ROC laws and regulations, (ii) in an orderly manner in order to minimize the impact on the trading price of the common shares, and (iii) in a manner consistent with its fiduciary duties owed to ASE Test and (4) able to transfer and deliver to ASE Test or ASE Test Taiwan the proceeds from the sale of our common shares and any cash dividends distributed, as the case may be. Neither ASE Test nor ASE Test Taiwan have any rights with respect to the common shares held in trust pursuant to the applicable trust agreements other than the right to receive the proceeds from the sale of such common shares and cash dividends declared while the shares remain in trust. As of May 31, 2009, these trusts held 204,907,278 of our common shares issued to ASE Test and 6,868,016 of our common shares issued to ASE Test Taiwan.
 
On May 30, 2008, we acquired, by way of a scheme of arrangement under Singapore law, all the outstanding ordinary shares of ASE Test that we did not already directly or indirectly own, making ASE Test our wholly-owned subsidiary. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—History and Development of the Company—ASE Test Share Acquisition and Privatization.”
 
We have historically guaranteed the promissory notes of many of our subsidiaries. As of December 31, 2008, we had endorsed and guaranteed an aggregate amount of NT$8,468.0 million (US$257.7 million) of the outstanding promissory notes of our subsidiaries.
 
On May 23, 2006, we purchased from Hung Ching two new buildings in Chung Li, Taiwan that we built with Hung Ching for NT$1,311.4 million. These buildings have a floor space of approximately 1,313,000 square feet and house part of our testing and packaging operations. On December 19, 2007, we purchased from Hung Ching an additional building in Chung Li, Taiwan for NT$141.2 million. This building houses power generation and other ancillary support equipment.
 
We entered into a contract with Hung Ching in connection with the construction of a factory and office building in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.  The contract was terminated in 2008 as a result of which we paid Hung Ching NT$36 million (US$1.1 million) for certain costs incurred during the construction.
 
INTERESTS OF EXPERTS AND COUNSEL
 
Not applicable.
 
 
Item 8.  Financial Information
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
Consolidated financial statements are set forth under “Item 18.  Financial Statements.”
 
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 
On January 31, 2006, Tessera, Inc. filed an amended complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California adding Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc. and ASE (U.S.) Inc., collectively referred to as ASE, and other companies to a suit alleging that ASE’s and the thirteen other defendants’ manufacturing, use, importation, offer for sale, and sale of various packaged semiconductor products infringed patents owned by Tessera relating to certain types of semiconductor chip packaging, and/or breached technology license agreements regarding certain types of semiconductor chip packages between Tessera and certain defendants, including ASE.  Tessera sought, among other things, monetary damages and injunctive relief in the lawsuit.  On March 27, 2006, ASE filed its answer and counterclaims with the court.
 
On May 15, 2007, at Tessera’s request, the United States International Trade Commission, or the ITC, instituted an investigation, or ITC Investigation No. 605, of certain of ASE’s co-defendants and other companies, including certain of ASE’s customers, but not ASE and the other contract chip packagers that were included as defendants in the California case.  On May 20, 2009, the ITC issued its final determination in ITC Investigation No. 605, finding infringement of both asserted patents by the ITC Investigation No. 605 respondents’ accused semiconductor packages.  The ITC also issued (1) a limited exclusion order prohibiting the unlicensed entry of semiconductor packages found to infringe, and products incorporating such chips, manufactured abroad by or on behalf of, or imported by or on behalf of, Spansion, Qualcomm, ATI, Motorola, ST-NV, and Freescale; and (2) cease and desist orders directed to Motorola, Qualcomm, Freescale, and Spansion.  The foregoing remedies granted by the ITC could affect certain of ASE’s customers.  The ITC did not grant a general exclusion order as requested by Tessera.  The time for appealing the ITC’s final determination is expected to begin on July 20, 2009.  The district court in the California case has vacated the trial schedule and stayed all proceedings until a final resolution is reached in ITC Investigation No. 605.
 
After initiating ITC investigation No. 605, Tessera indicated that it desired to include ASE and the other contract chip packagers from the California case in a new ITC investigation.  Tessera obtained approval from the California court to bring a new ITC investigation against the other contract chip packagers after Tessera agreed to limit such investigation to packages outside the scope of the licenses of the contract chip packagers.  On April 21, 2008, Tessera filed its ITC complaint against the contract chip packagers, and on May 21, 2008, the ITC instituted a new investigation against them, or ITC Investigation No. 649, which involves three patents also asserted in the original California case, as well as one newly-asserted patent.  On August 4, 2008, ASE, Inc., ASE (U.S.) Inc. and ASE Test Limited filed an action in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California against Tessera, Inc. seeking a declaratory judgment of non-infringement and invalidity of the patent newly asserted by Tessera in the ITC.  The complaint was served on November 7, 2008.  Tessera served its answer and counterclaims on December 1, 2008.  On December 19, 2008, the court stayed the case in response to a joint motion of the parties.  On  March 12, 2009, Tessera moved to terminate ITC Investigation No. 649.  In a press release announcing its motion to terminate, Tessera pointed to uncertainties created by legal rulings concerning the remedies available against non-importers, delays in the progress of ITC Investigation No. 649, and its desire to focus its enforcement efforts.  The motion to terminate has not yet been acted on by the Judge or the ITC, but in the event it is granted, ITC Investigation No. 649 will be terminated without the issuance of an exclusion order or any other remedy in ITC Investigation No. 649 that would prevent the importation or sale in the United States of semiconductor packages assembled by ASE, or products containing such packages (other than as discussed above).
 
The United States Patent and Trademark Office has also instituted reexamination proceedings on all the patents Tessera has asserted in the California case and the ITC investigations.  Thus far, the United States Patent and Trade Office has found that all of the claims asserted by Tessera in ITC Investigation No. 649 are not patentable, but the reexamination proceedings have not yet concluded.
 
It is not possible to predict the outcome of the California litigation, the ITC investigations, the reexamination proceedings, the total costs of resolving these disputes, or when the stay of the California litigation will be lifted.
 
DIVIDENDS AND DIVIDEND POLICY
 
We have historically paid dividends on our common shares with respect to the results of the preceding year following approval by our shareholders at the annual general meeting of shareholders.  We have historically paid the large majority of our dividends in the form of stock. We have paid annual stock dividends on our common shares since 1989, except in 2002 and 2006 when we did not pay any dividend due to the losses we incurred in the 2001 and 2005 fiscal years, respectively. We also paid cash dividends of NT$1.48 per share in 2007 and NT$1.71 per share in 2008. Our directors have proposed to pay cash dividends of NT$0.50 per share based on the 5,473,136,894 shares registered as of March 26, 2009. This proposal is awaiting shareholders’ approval and the actual cash dividends per share will be adjusted by any fluctuations in the number of our shares due to, for example, the exercise of share options or the cancellation of treasury stock.
 
The following table sets forth the stock dividends paid during each of the years indicated and related information.
 
 
   
Stock Dividends Per
Common Share(1)
   
Total Common Shares
Issued as Stock Dividends
   
Outstanding Common Shares on Record Date(2)
   
Percentage of
Outstanding Common Shares
Represented by Stock Dividends
 
   
NT$
                   
1997
   
3.80
     
277,020,000
     
  729,000,000
     
38.0%
 
1998
   
7.20
     
732,240,000
     
1,017,000,000
     
72.0%
 
1999
   
1.07
     
190,460,000
     
1,780,000,000
     
10.7%
 
2000
   
3.15
     
623,811,852
     
1,980,355,086
     
31.5%
 
2001
   
1.70
     
467,840,000
     
2,752,000,000
     
17.0%
 
2002
   
 —
     
     
3,254,800,000
     
 —
 
2003
   
1.00
     
325,480,000
     
3,254,800,000
     
10.0%
 
2004
   
0.57
     
221,977,360
     
3,862,595,437
     
  5.7%
 
2005
   
1.00
     
411,221,140
     
4,113,744,200
     
10.0%
 
2006
   
 —
     
     
4,592,508,620
     
  —
 
2007
   
1.48
     
694,101,071
     
4,645,295,431
     
14.9%
 
2008
   
0.29
     
158,766,146
     
5,484,848,118
     
  2.9%
 
 

(1)
Holders of common shares receive as a stock dividend the number of common shares equal to the NT dollar value per common share of the dividend declared multiplied by the number of common shares owned and divided by the par value of NT$10 per share. Fractional shares are not issued but are paid in cash.
 
(2)
Aggregate number of common shares outstanding on the record date applicable to the dividend payment. Includes common shares issued in the previous year under our employee bonus plan.
 
In order to meet the needs of our present and future capital expenditures, we anticipate paying both stock and cash dividends in the future. The form, frequency and amount of future cash or stock dividends on our common shares will depend upon our net income, cash flow, financial condition and other factors. While we have a general policy of distributing cash dividends ranging from 0% to 50% of a total dividend distribution, our Articles of Incorporation allow us to distribute cash dividends in excess of 50% of a dividend distribution subject to shareholder approval and other factors such as economic conditions, developments in our operations and our cash position. Our directors have proposed an amendment to our policy that requires that cash dividends comprise no less than 30% of our total dividend distributions. This proposal is awaiting shareholders’ approval. See “Item 10. Additional information––Articles of Incorporation––Dividends and Distributions.”
 
In general, we are not permitted to distribute dividends or make other distributions to shareholders for any year where we did not record net income or retained earnings (excluding reserves). The ROC Company Law also requires that 10% of annual net income (less prior years’ losses and taxes payable, if any) be set aside as a legal reserve until the accumulated legal reserve equals our paid-in capital. In addition, our Articles of Incorporation require that before a dividend is paid pro rata out of our annual net income:
 
·  
up to 2% of our annual net income (less prior years’ losses, taxes payable and legal and special reserves, if any) should be paid to our directors and supervisors as compensation; and
·  
between 7% and 10% of the annual net income (less prior years’ losses, taxes payable and legal and special reserves, if any) should be paid to our employees as bonuses; the 7% portion is to be distributed to all employees in accordance with our employee bonus distribution rules, while any portion exceeding 7% is to be distributed in accordance with rules established by our board of directors to individual employees who have been recognized as having made special contributions to our company.  Such employees include those of our affiliated companies who meet the criteria set by our board of directors.
 
·  
holders of ADSs will be entitled to receive dividends, subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, to the same extent as the holders of the common shares. Cash dividends will be paid to the depositary in NT dollars and, except as otherwise provided in the deposit agreement, will be converted by the depositary into U.S. dollars and paid to holders of ADSs according to the terms of the deposit agreement. Stock dividends will be distributed to the depositary and, except as otherwise provided in the deposit agreement, will be distributed by the depositary, in the form of additional ADSs, to holders of ADSs according to the terms of the deposit agreement.
 
Holders of outstanding common shares on a dividend record date will be entitled to the full dividend declared without regard to any prior or subsequent transfer of common shares. Accordingly, holders of outstanding ADSs on the relevant dividend record date will, subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, be similarly entitled to the full amount of any dividend declared.
 
For information relating to ROC withholding taxes payable on dividends, see “Item 10. Additional Information—Taxation—ROC Taxation—Dividends.”
 
SIGNIFICANT CHANGES
 
Other than as disclosed elsewhere in this annual report, we have not experienced any significant changes since the date of the annual financial statements.
 
Item 9.  The Offer and Listing
 
OFFER AND LISTING DETAILS
 
Our common shares were first issued in March 1984 and have been listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange since July 1989. The Taiwan Stock Exchange is an auction market where the securities traded are priced according to supply and demand through announced bid and ask prices. As of May 31, 2009, there were an aggregate of  5,547,064,694 of our common shares outstanding. The following table 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 of the daily closing values of the Taiwan Stock Exchange Index. The closing price for our common shares on the Taiwan Stock Exchange on June 5, 2009 was NT$20.05 per share.
 
   
Closing Price per Share
   
Adjusted Closing
Price per Share(1)
   
Average Daily
Trading Volume
   
Taiwan Stock
Exchange Index
 
   
High
   
Low
   
High
   
Low
   
(in thousands of shares)
   
High
   
Low
 
2004
    35.73       19.19       28.07       15.07       26,992       7,034.1       5,316.9  
2005 
    31.00       17.59       26.91       13.82       29,280       6,575.5       5,633.0  
2006
    38.30       26.50       33.25       23.00       53,789       7,823.7       6,257.8  
2007
    48.80       29.55       42.36       26.83       28,931       9,809.9       7,344.6  
First Quarter
    41.20       35.90       35.76       31.16       25,379       7,935.5       7,344.6  
Second Quarter
    45.15       37.60       39.19       32.64       32,398       8,939.2       7,875.4  
Third Quarter
    48.80       30.55       42.36       27.74       29,749       9,744.1       8,090.3  
Fourth Quarter
    39.10       29.55       35.51       26.83       28,011       9,809.9       7,804.4  
2008
    34.25       9.85       31.10       9.85       24,392       9,295.2       4,089.9  
 
 
   
Closing Price per Share
   
Adjusted Closing
Price per Share(1)
   
Average Daily
Trading Volume
   
Taiwan Stock
Exchange Index
 
   
High
   
Low
   
High
   
Low
   
(in thousands of shares)
   
High
   
Low
 
First Quarter
    32.50       25.00       29.51       22.70       23,517       8,865.4       7,408.4  
Second Quarter
    34.25       27.10       31.10       24.61       21,689       9,295.2       7,523.5  
Third Quarter
    28.30       16.05       25.70       16.05       23,773       7,408.0       5,642.0  
Fourth Quarter
    16.95       9.85       16.95       9.85       28,388       5,764.0       4,089.9  
December
    12.35       9.85       12.35       9.85       32,673       4,694.8       4,225.1  
2009
                                                       
First Quarter
    18.50       10.75       18.50       10.75       35,485       5,390.7       4,242.6  
January
    13.10       10.75       13.10       10.75       22,011       4,789.8       4,242.6  
February
    12.50       11.15       12.50       11.15       27,651       4,592.5       4,260.0  
March
    18.50       11.95       18.50       11.95       50,570       5,390.7       4,425.8  
Second Quarter
                                                       
April
    17.80       16.20       17.80       16.20       56,818       5,997.2       5,314.5  
May
    20.90       18.60       20.90       18.60       48,322       6,890.4       6,330.4  
 

(1)
As adjusted retroactively by the Taiwan Stock Exchange to give effect to stock dividends paid in the periods indicated. See “Item 8. Financial Information—Dividends and Dividend Policy.”
 
The performance of the Taiwan Stock Exchange has in recent years been characterized by extreme price volatility. There are currently limits on the range of daily price movements on the Taiwan Stock Exchange. In the case of equity securities traded on the Taiwan Stock Exchange, such as our common shares, fluctuations in the price of a particular security may not exceed a 7% change either above or below the previous day’s closing price of such security.
 
Our ADSs have been listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “ASX” since September 26, 2000. The outstanding ADSs are identified by the CUSIP number 00756M404. As of May 15, 2009, a total of 42,859,121 ADSs were outstanding. The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low closing prices and the average daily volume of trading activity on the New York Stock Exchange for our ADSs and the highest and lowest of the daily closing values of the New York Stock Exchange Index. The closing price for our ADSs on the New York Stock Exchange on June 5, 2009 was US$3.01 per ADS.
 
   
Closing Price per ADS
   
Adjusted Closing
Price per ADS(1)
   
Average
Daily
Trading
Volume
   
New York Stock
Exchange Index
 
   
High
   
Low
   
High
   
Low
   
(in thousands
of ADSs)
   
High
   
Low
 
   
US$
   
US$
   
US$
   
US$
                   
2004
    5.95       3.18       3.87       2.09       300       7,253.56       6,217.06  
2005
    4.49       2.85       3.41       2.12       331       7,852.18       6,935.31  
2006
    6.12       4.00       4.65       3.04       404       9,179.40       7,719.78  
2007
    7.45       4.59       5.66       4.15       658       10,311.61       8,837.97  
 First Quarter
    6.10       5.57       4.63       4.23       304       9,453.93       8,837.97  
 Second Quarter
    6.95       5.76       5.28       4.37       856       10,064.05       9,305.55  
 Third Quarter
    7.45       4.73       5.66       4.15       805       10,220.67       9,087.10  
 Fourth Quarter
    6.02       4.59       5.46       4.17       654       10,311.61       9,389.50  
2008
    5.57       1.42       5.05       1.42       622       9,656.00       4,651.21  
 First Quarter
    4.98       3.98       4.52       3.61       812       9,656.00       8,489.38  
 Second Quarter
    5.57       4.45       5.05       4.04       423       9,603.01       8,623.51  
 Third Quarter
    4.51       2.54       4.09       2.54       645       8,641.28       7,204.01  
 Fourth Quarter
    2.58       1.42       2.58       1.42       615       7,519.95       4,651.21  
December
    1.84       1.42       1.84       1.42       816       5,804.97       5,092.66  
2009
                                                       
 First Quarter
    2.89       1.49       2.89       1.49       673       5,968.84       4,226.31  
 
 
 
   
Closing Price per ADS
   
Adjusted Closing
Price per ADS(1)
   
Average
Daily
Trading
Volume
   
New York Stock
Exchange Index
 
   
High
   
Low
   
High
   
Low
   
(in thousands
of ADSs)
   
High
   
Low
 
   
US$
   
US$
   
US$
   
US$
                   
January
    1.90       1.49       1.90       1.49       433       5,968.84       5,058.06  
February
    1.82       1.60       1.82       1.60       505       5,479.88       4,617.03  
March
    2.89       1.59       2.89       1.59       1,035       5,230.53       4,226.31  
 Second Quarter
                                                       
April
    3.03       2.36       3.03       2.36       1,034       5,516.14       5,085.76  
May
    3.38       2.83       3.38       2.83       2,266       6,004.07       5,568.76  
 

(1)
As adjusted retroactively to give effect to stock dividends paid in the periods indicated.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
 
Not applicable.
 
MARKETS
 
The principal trading market for our common shares is the Taiwan Stock Exchange and the principal trading market for ADSs representing our common shares is the New York Stock Exchange.
 
SELLING SHAREHOLDERS
 
Not applicable.
 
DILUTION
 
Not applicable.
 
EXPENSES OF THE ISSUE
 
Not applicable.
 
Item 10.  Additional Information
 
SHARE CAPITAL
 
Not applicable.
 
ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
 
General
 
We are a company limited by shares organized under the laws of the ROC.  Our organizational document is our Articles of Incorporation.  We have no by-laws.
 
Our Articles of Incorporation provide, in Article 2, that we may engage in the following types of business:
 
  
the manufacture, assembly, processing, testing and export of various types of integrated circuitry;
 
  
the research, development, design and manufacture, assembly, processing, testing and export of various computers, electronics, communications, information products and their peripheral products;
 
  
general import and export trading (excluding businesses that require trading permits);
 
  
the manufacture of electronic parts and components;
 
·  
the manufacture of mechanical and electronic devices and materials (including integrated circuit leadframes, BGA substrates and flip-chip substrates);
 
·  
wholesale and retail sales of electronic materials;
 
·  
technical support and consulting service for integrated circuit leadframes, BGA substrates and flip-chip substrates;
 
·  
leasing; and
 
·  
except any business requiring a special permit, any business not prohibited or restricted by law or regulation.
 
We were incorporated on March 23, 1984 as a company limited by shares under the ROC Company Law. Our authorized capital was NT$80,000,000,000, divided into 8,000,000,000 common shares, 5,547,064,694 of which were issued in registered form and outstanding as of May 31, 2009. We do not have any equity in the form of preference shares or otherwise outstanding as of the date of this annual report.
 
With the approval of our board of directors and the ROC Financial Supervisory Commission, Executive Yuan, we may grant stock options to our employees, provided that NT$8,000,000,000 of our authorized capital is reserved for employee stock options and that the shares to be issued under any option plan shall not exceed 10% of our outstanding common shares and the total number of shares to be issued under all option plans shall not exceed 15% of our outstanding common shares.  The exercise price of an option shall not be less than the closing price of our common shares on the Taiwan Stock Exchange on the grant date of the option. As of December 31, 2008, we had granted 485,691,000 options pursuant to employee stock option plans established on August 28, 2002, May 27, 2004 and November 22, 2007 to our full-time employees as well as to full-time employees of our domestic and foreign subsidiaries. See “Item 6.  Directors, Senior Management and Employees—Compensation—ASE Inc. Employee Bonus and Stock Option Plans.” We have 800,000,000 common shares reserved for issuance under our employee stock option plans.
 
Directors
 
Our Articles of Incorporation provide that we are to have from seven to nine directors with tenures of three years who are elected at a shareholders’ meeting. With effect from our 2009 annual general meeting of shareholders, two of our directors will be required to be independent directors. There is no minimum amount of shares necessary to stand for election to a directorship. Many of our directors are representatives appointed by corporate shareholders which appoint individual representatives. Re-elections are allowed.  The directors have certain powers and duties, including devising operations strategy, proposing to distribute dividends or make up losses, proposing to increase or decrease capital, reviewing material internal rules and contracts, hiring and discharging the general manager, establishing and dissolving branch offices, reviewing budgets and audited financial statements and other duties and powers granted by or in accordance with the ROC Company Law, our Articles of Incorporation or shareholders resolutions.
 
The board of directors is constituted by the directors, who elect a chairman from among the directors to preside over the meeting of the board.  Meetings of the board may be held in the ROC or by teleconference.  A director may appoint another director to attend a meeting and vote by proxy, but a director may accept only one proxy.
 
Dividends and Distributions
 
In general, we are not permitted to distribute dividends or make other distributions to shareholders in any year in which we did not record net income or retained earnings (excluding reserves). The ROC Company Law also requires that 10% of annual net income (less prior years’ losses and taxes payable, if any) be set aside as a legal reserve until the accumulated legal reserve equals our paid-in capital. In addition, our Articles of Incorporation require that before a dividend is paid out of our annual net income:
 
·  
up to 2% of our annual net income (less prior years’ losses, taxes payable and legal and special reserves, if any) should be paid to our directors and supervisors as compensation; and
 
·  
between 7% and 10% of the annual net income (less prior years’ losses, taxes payable and legal and special reserves, if any) should be paid to our employees as bonuses. The 7% portion is to be distributed to all employees in accordance with our employee bonus distribution rules, while any portion exceeding 7% is to be distributed in accordance with rules established by our board of directors to individual employees who have been recognized as having made special contributions to our company. Such employees include those of our affiliated companies who meet the criteria set by our board of directors.
 
At the annual general shareholders’ meeting, our board of directors submits to the shareholders for their approval any proposal for the distribution of dividends or the making of any other distribution to shareholders from our net income for the preceding fiscal year. All common shares outstanding and fully paid as of the relevant record date are entitled to share equally in any dividend or other distribution so approved. Dividends may be distributed in cash, in the form of common shares or a combination of the two, as determined by the shareholders at the meeting. While we have a general policy of distributing cash dividends ranging from 0% to 50% of a total dividend distribution, our Articles of Incorporation allow us to distribute cash dividends in excess of 50% of a dividend distribution subject to shareholder approval and other factors such as economic conditions, developments in our operations and our cash position. Our directors have proposed an amendment to our policy that requires that cash dividends comprise no less than 30% of our total dividend distributions. This proposal is awaiting shareholders’ approval. See “Item 8. Financial Information—Dividends and Dividend Policy.”
 
We are also permitted to make distributions to our shareholders of additional common shares by capitalizing reserves. However, the capitalized portion payable out of our legal reserve is limited to 50% of the total accumulated legal reserve and the capitalization can only be effected when the accumulated legal reserve exceeds 50% of our paid-in capital.
 
For information on the dividends we paid in recent years, see “Item 8. Financial Information—Dividends and Dividend Policy.” For information as to ROC taxes on dividends and distributions, see “—Taxation—ROC Taxation—Dividends.”
 
Changes in Share Capital
 
Under ROC Company Law, any change in the authorized share capital of a company limited by shares requires an amendment to its Articles of Incorporation. In the case of a public company such as ourselves, the approval of the ROC Financial Supervisory Commission, Executive Yuan and the ROC Ministry of Economic Affairs is also required. Authorized but unissued common shares may be issued, subject to applicable ROC law, upon terms as our board of directors may determine.
 
Preemptive Rights
 
Under the ROC Company Law, when an ROC company issues new shares for cash, existing shareholders who are listed on the shareholders’ register as of the record date have preemptive rights to subscribe for the new issue in proportion to their existing shareholdings, while a company’s employees, whether or not they are shareholders of the company, have rights to subscribe for 10% to 15% of the new issue. Any new shares that remain unsubscribed at the expiration of the subscription period may be offered by us to the public or privately placed.
 
In addition, in accordance with the ROC Securities and Exchange Law, a public company that intends to offer new shares for cash must offer to the public at least 10% of the shares to be sold, except under certain circumstances or when exempted by the ROC Financial Supervisory Commission, Executive Yuan. This percentage can be increased by a resolution passed at a shareholders’ meeting, which would diminish the number of new shares subject to the preemptive rights of existing shareholders.
 
These preemptive rights provisions do not apply to offerings of new shares through a private placement approved at a shareholders’ meeting.
 
Meetings of Shareholders
 
We are required to hold an ordinary meeting of our shareholders within six months following the end of each fiscal year. These meetings are generally held in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Any shareholder who holds 1% or more of our
 
 
issued and outstanding shares may submit one written proposal for discussion at our annual shareholders’ meeting. Extraordinary shareholders’ meetings may be convened by resolution of the board of directors or by the board of directors upon the written request of any shareholder or shareholders who have held 3% or more of the outstanding common shares for more than one year. Shareholders’ meetings may also be convened by a supervisor. Notice in writing of general meetings of shareholders, stating the place, time and purpose, must be dispatched to each shareholder at least 30 days, in the case of ordinary meetings, and 15 days, in the case of extraordinary meetings, before the date set for each meeting. A majority of the holders of all issued and outstanding common shares present at a shareholders’ meeting constitutes a quorum for meetings of shareholders.
 
Voting Rights
 
Under the ROC Company Law, shareholders have one vote for each common share held, except that there are no voting rights for those shares held by us or directly or indirectly held by controlled companies or affiliates. Under the ROC Company Law, our directors and supervisors are elected at a shareholders’ meeting through cumulative voting, unless the articles of incorporation of a company provide otherwise.
 
In general, a resolution can be adopted by the holders of at least a majority of the common shares represented at a shareholders’ meeting at which the holders of a majority of all issued and outstanding common shares are present. Under ROC Company Law, the approval by at least a majority of the common shares represented at a shareholders’ meeting in which a quorum of at least two-thirds of all issued and outstanding common shares are represented is required for major corporate actions, including:
 
·  
amendment to the Articles of Incorporation, including increase of authorized share capital and any changes of the rights of different classes of shares;
 
·  
transfer of the company’s entire business or assets or substantial part of its business or assets;
 
·  
execution, amendment or termination of any contract through which the company leases its entire business to others, or the company appoints others to operate its business or the company operates its business with others on a continuous basis;
 
·  
acquisition of the entire business or assets of any other company, which would have a significant impact on the company’s operations;
 
·  
distribution of any stock dividend;
 
·  
dissolution, merger or spin-off of the company; and
 
·  
removal of the directors or supervisors.
 
A shareholder may be represented at an ordinary or extraordinary meeting by proxy if a valid proxy form is delivered to us five days before the commencement of the ordinary or extraordinary shareholders’ meeting.
 
Holders of ADSs do not have the right to exercise voting rights with respect to the underlying common shares, except as described in the deposit agreement.
 
Other Rights of Shareholders
 
Under the ROC Company Law, dissenting shareholders are entitled to appraisal rights in certain major corporate actions such as a proposed amalgamation by the company. If agreement with the company cannot be reached, a dissenting shareholder may seek a court order for the company to redeem all of their shares. Shareholders may exercise their appraisal rights by serving written notice on the company prior to or at the related shareholders’ meeting and/or by raising and registering an objection at the shareholders’ meeting. In addition to appraisal rights, shareholders have the right to sue for the annulment of any resolution adopted at a shareholders’ meeting where the procedures were legally defective within 30 days after the date of the shareholders’ meeting. One or more shareholders who have held more than 3% of the issued and outstanding shares of a company for more than one year
 
 
may require a supervisor to bring a derivative action on behalf of the company against a director as a result of the director's unlawful actions or failure to act.
 
Rights of Holders of Deposited Securities
 
Except as described below, holders of ADSs generally have no right under the deposit agreement to instruct the depositary to exercise the voting rights for the common shares represented by the ADSs. Instead, by accepting ADSs or any beneficial interest in ADSs, holders of ADSs are deemed to have authorized and directed the depositary to appoint our chairman or his designee to represent them at our shareholders’ meetings and to vote the common shares deposited with the custodian according to the terms of the deposit agreement.
 
The depositary will mail to holders of ADSs any notice of shareholders’ meeting received from us together with information explaining how to instruct the depositary to exercise the voting rights of the securities represented by ADSs.
 
If we fail to timely provide the depositary with an English language translation of our notice of meeting or other materials related to any meeting of owners of common shares, the depositary will endeavor to cause all the deposited securities represented by ADSs to be present at the applicable meeting, insofar as practicable and permitted under applicable law, but will not cause those securities to be voted.
 
If the depositary timely receives voting instructions from owners of at least 51.0% of the outstanding ADSs to vote in the same direction regarding one or more resolutions to be proposed at the meeting, including election of directors and supervisors, the depositary will notify our chairman or his designee to attend the meeting and vote all the securities represented by the holders’ ADSs in accordance with the direction received from owners of at least 51.0% of the outstanding ADSs.
 
If we have timely provided the depositary with the materials described in the deposit agreement and the depositary has not timely received instructions from holders of at least 51.0% of the outstanding ADSs to vote in the same direction regarding any resolution to be considered at the meeting, then, holders of ADSs will be deemed to have authorized and directed the depositary bank to give a discretionary proxy to our chairman or his designee to attend and vote at the meeting the common shares represented by the ADSs in any manner, our chairman or his designee may wish, which may not be in the interests of holders.
 
The ability of the depositary to carry out voting instructions may be limited by practical and legal limitations and the terms of the securities on deposit. We cannot assure ADS holders that they will receive voting materials in time to enable them to return voting instructions to the depositary in a timely manner.
 
While shareholders who own 1% or more of our outstanding shares are entitled to submit one proposal to be considered at our annual general meetings, only holders representing at least 51% of our ADSs outstanding at the relevant record date are entitled to submit one proposal to be considered at our annual general meetings. Hence, only one proposal may be submitted on behalf of all ADS holders.
 
Register of Shareholders and Record Dates
 
Our share registrar, President Securities Corp., maintains our register of shareholders at its offices in Taipei, Taiwan, enters transfers of common shares in our register upon presentation of, among other documents, certificates representing the common shares transferred and acts as paying agent for any dividends or distributions with respect to our common shares. Under the ROC Company Law and our Articles of Incorporation, we may, by giving advance public notice, set a record date and close the register of shareholders for a specified period in order for us to determine the shareholders or pledgees that are entitled to rights pertaining to the common shares. The specified period required is as follows:
 
·  
ordinary shareholders’ meeting—60 days;
 
·  
extraordinary shareholders’ meeting—30 days; and
 
·  
relevant record date—five days.
 
 
Annual Financial Statements
 
At least ten days before the annual ordinary shareholders’ meeting, our annual financial statements must be available at our principal executive office in Kaohsiung, Taiwan for inspection by the shareholders.
 
Transfer of Common Shares
 
The transfer of common shares in registered form is effected by endorsement and delivery of the related share certificates but, in order to assert shareholders’ rights against us, the transferee must have his name and address registered on our register of shareholders. Shareholders are required to file their respective specimen seals, also known as chops, with us. Chops are official stamps widely used in Taiwan by individuals and other entities to authenticate the execution of official and commercial documents.
 
Acquisition of Common Shares by ASE Inc.
 
Under the ROC Securities and Exchange Law, we may purchase our own common shares for treasury stock in limited circumstances, including:
 
·  
to transfer shares to our employees;
 
·  
to deliver shares upon the conversion or exercise of bonds with warrants, preferred shares with warrants, convertible notes, convertible preferred shares or warrants issued by us; and
 
·  
to maintain our credit and our shareholders’ equity, provided that the shares so purchased shall be canceled.
 
We may purchase our common shares on the Taiwan Stock Exchange or by means of a public tender offer. These transactions require the approval of a majority of our board of directors at a meeting in which at least two-thirds of the directors are in attendance. The total amount of common shares purchased for treasury stock may not exceed 10% of the total outstanding shares. In addition, the total cost of the purchased shares shall not exceed the aggregate amount of our retained earnings, any premium from share issuances and the realized portion of our capital reserve.
 
We may not pledge or hypothecate any of our shares purchased by us.  In addition, we may not exercise any shareholders’ right attaching to such shares.  In the event that we purchase our shares on the Taiwan Securities Exchange, our affiliates, directors, supervisors, managers, and their respective spouses and minor children and/or nominees are prohibited from selling any of our shares during the period in which we are purchasing our shares.
 
Pursuant to the amended ROC Company Law, effective from November 14, 2001, our subsidiaries are not permitted to acquire our common shares. This restriction does not affect any acquisition of our common shares made by our subsidiaries prior to November 14, 2001.
 
Liquidation Rights
 
In the event of our liquidation, the assets remaining after payment of all debts, liquidation expenses and taxes will be distributed pro rata to the shareholders in accordance with the relevant provisions of the ROC Company Law and our Articles of Incorporation.
 
Transfer Restrictions
 
Substantial Shareholders
 
The ROC Securities and Exchange Law currently requires:
 
·  
each director, supervisor, executive officer or substantial shareholder (that is, a shareholder who, together with his or her spouse, minor children or nominees, holds more than 10% of the shares of a public company) to report any change in that person’s shareholding to the issuer of the shares and the ROC Financial Supervisory Commission, Executive Yuan; and
 
 
·  
each director, supervisor, executive officer or substantial shareholder, after acquiring the status of director, supervisor, executive officer or substantial shareholder for a period of six months, to report his or her intent to transfer any shares on the Taiwan Stock Exchange to the ROC Financial Supervisory Commission, Executive Yuan at least three days before the intended transfer, unless the number of shares to be transferred is less than 10,000 shares.
 
In addition, the number of shares that can be sold or transferred on the Taiwan Stock Exchange by any person subject to the restrictions described above on any given day may not exceed:
 
·  
0.2% of the outstanding shares of the company in the case of a company with no more than 30 million outstanding shares; or
 
·  
0.2% of 30 million shares plus 0.1% of the outstanding shares exceeding 30 million shares in the case of a company with more than 30 million outstanding shares; or
 
·  
in any case, 5% of the average trading volume (number of shares) on the Taiwan Stock Exchange for the ten consecutive trading days preceding the reporting day on which the director, supervisor, manager or substantial shareholder reports the intended share transfer to the ROC Financial Supervisory Commission, Executive Yuan.
 
These restrictions do not apply to sales or transfers of our ADSs.
 
Common Shares Issued to Substantial Shareholders in Connection with a Merger
 
The rules and regulations of the Taiwan Stock Exchange impose certain transfer restrictions on common shares of a Taiwan Stock Exchange listed company issued to a substantial shareholder (as defined under the ROC Securities and Exchange Law and described under “—Substantial Shareholders”) of an unlisted company to be merged with and into the acquiror. A substantial shareholder of an unlisted company to be merged with and into a Taiwan Stock Exchange listed company is restricted from selling or transferring common shares received in connection with such merger for a period of six months after such shares are listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange. After the initial six-month lock-up period, such holder is permitted to sell or transfer 50% of its holdings of the common shares received in the merger. After one year from the date of the listing of the common shares, the holder is permitted to sell or transfer all the remaining common shares received in the merger.
 
MATERIAL CONTRACTS
 
Joint Venture Agreement by and among Powerchip Semiconductor Corp. and Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc.
 
On July 14, 2006, we entered into a joint venture agreement with Powerchip Semiconductor Corp. to establish PowerASE to focus on packaging and testing of memory semiconductors. Pursuant to the joint venture agreement, we invested US$30.0 million for a 60.0% of the equity interest in PowerASE and Powerchip invested US$20.0 million for the remaining 40.0%.
 
Sale and Purchase Agreement by and among Seacoast Profits Limited and J&R Holding Limited
 
On January 11, 2007, we, through our subsidiary J&R Holding Limited, entered into a sale and purchase agreement with Seacoast Profits Limited in connection with the acquisition of all the shares of Top Master Enterprises Limited, the sole shareholder of ASESH AT, for a purchase price of US$60.0 million.
 
Equity Interests Transfer Agreement by and among NXP B.V., NXP Semiconductors Suzhou Ltd. and J&R Holding Limited
 
On August 6, 2007, we, through our subsidiary J&R Holding Limited, entered into an equity interests transfer agreement with NXP Semiconductors and NXP Semiconductors Suzhou Ltd. in connection with our establishment of a joint venture with NXP Semiconductors. Pursuant to the equity interests transfer agreement, we acquired
 
 
60.0% of the shares of NXP Semiconductors Suzhou Ltd., now known as ASEN, from NXP Semiconductors for a purchase price of US$21.6 million.  NXP Semiconductors retained the remaining 40.0% of the shares.
 
Scheme Implementation Agreement between Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc. and ASE Test
 
On September 4, 2007, we and ASE Test entered into a scheme implementation agreement under which we agreed to acquire, by way of a scheme of arrangement under Singapore law, or the Scheme, all the outstanding ordinary shares of ASE Test that we did not already directly or indirectly own for US$14.78 in cash for each ASE Test ordinary share and the New Taiwan dollar equivalent of US$0.185 in cash (based on the prevailing exchange rate) for each ASE Test depositary share. The Scheme became effective on May 30, 2008 and ASE Test became our wholly-owned subsidiary. For additional information on this transaction, see “Item 4. Information on the Company—History and Development of the Company—ASE Test Share Acquisition and Privatization.”
 
Syndicated Loan Agreements between Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc. and banking syndicates led by Citibank, N.A., Taipei Branch
 
On March 3, 2008, we entered into a syndicated loan agreement with a banking syndicate led by Citibank, N.A., Taipei Branch for a NT$24,750.0 million term loan facility, which we and the lenders subsequently agreed to reduce to NT$17,500.0 million, for the purposes of financing our acquisition of all the outstanding ordinary shares of ASE Test pursuant to the Scheme. On May 29, 2008, we entered into an additional syndicated loan agreement with a banking syndicate led by Citibank, N.A., Taipei Branch for a US$200.0 million term loan facility, also in connection with the Scheme. For more information on the Scheme, see “Item 4. Information on the Company—History and Development of the Company—ASE Test Share Acquisition and Privatization.”
 
Equity Purchase Agreement between Aimhigh Global Corp., TCC Steel and J&R Holding Limited in respect of Weihai Aimhigh Electronic Co. Ltd.
 
On March 17, 2008, we, through our subsidiary J&R Holding Limited, entered into an equity purchase agreement with Aimhigh Global Corp. and TCC Steel in connection with the acquisition of 100.0% of ASE (Weihai), Inc., formerly known as Weihai Aimhigh Electronic Co. Ltd., for a purchase price of US$7.0 million.
 
EXCHANGE CONTROLS
 
ROC Exchange Controls
 
The ROC Foreign Exchange Control Law and regulations provide that all foreign exchange transactions must be executed by banks designated by the ROC Financial Supervisory Commission, Executive Yuan and by the Central Bank of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to engage in such transactions. 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.
 
Apart from trade, ROC companies and resident individuals may, without foreign exchange approval, remit outside and 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. 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 the Republic of China (Taiwan).
 
In addition, foreign persons may, subject to specified requirements, but without foreign exchange approval of the Central Bank of the Republic of China (Taiwan), 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 U.S. dollars, from the proceeds of sale of any underlying shares withdrawn from a depositary receipt facility.
 
TAXATION
 
ROC Taxation
 
The following discussion describes the material ROC tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of the common shares or ADSs to a non-resident individual or non-resident entity that holds the common shares or ADSs (referred to here as a “non-ROC holder”). As used in the preceding sentence, a “non-resident individual” is a non-ROC national who owns the common shares or ADSs and is not physically present in the ROC for 183 days or more during any calendar year and a “non-resident entity” is a corporation or a non-corporate body that owns the common shares or ADSs, is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the ROC and has no fixed place of business or business agent in the ROC.
 
Dividends
 
Dividends (whether in cash or common shares) declared by us out of retained earnings and distributed to a non-ROC holder in respect of common shares or ADSs 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 distributed common shares (in the case of stock dividends). A 10% undistributed earnings tax is imposed on a ROC company for its after-tax earnings generated after January 1, 1998 which are not distributed in the following year. The undistributed earnings tax so paid will further reduce the retained earnings available for future distribution. When we declare a dividend out of those retained earnings, an amount in respect of the undistributed earnings tax, up to a maximum amount of 10% of the dividend to be distributed, will be credited against the 20% withholding tax imposed on the non-ROC holders.
 
Distributions of stock dividends out of capital reserves will not be subject to withholding tax.
 
Capital Gains
 
Under current ROC law, capital gain realized upon the sale or other disposition of securities is exempt from ROC income tax. This exemption currently applies to capital gains derived from the sale of common shares.
 
Sales of ADSs by non-ROC holders are not regarded as sales of ROC securities and thus any gains derived from transfers of ADSs are not currently subject to ROC income tax.
 
Sale
 
Securities transaction tax will be imposed on the seller at the rate of 0.3% of the transaction price upon a sale of common shares.  Transfers of ADSs are not subject to ROC securities transaction tax.
 
Subscription Rights
 
Distributions of statutory subscription rights for the common shares in compliance with the ROC Company Act are currently not subject to ROC tax. Proceeds derived from sales of statutory subscription rights evidenced by securities are currently exempted from income tax but are subject to securities transaction tax, currently at the rate of 0.3% of the gross amount received. Income derived from sales of statutory subscription rights which are not evidenced by securities are treated as income generated from property transactions and are subject to income tax at a fixed rate of 20% of the income if the seller is a non-ROC holder. Subject to compliance with ROC law, we, in our sole discretion, may determine whether statutory subscription rights are evidenced by securities.
 
Estate and Gift Tax
 
ROC estate tax is payable on any property within the ROC of a deceased non-resident individual, and ROC gift tax is payable on any property within the ROC donated by a non-resident individual. Estate tax and gift tax are currently imposed at the rate of 10%. Under the ROC Estate and Gift Act, shares and bonds issued by ROC companies are deemed located in the ROC without regard to the location of the owner.  It is unclear whether a holder of ADSs will be considered to own common shares for this purpose.
 
 
Tax Treaty
 
At present, the ROC has income tax treaties with Indonesia, Singapore, New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Gambia, Swaziland, Malaysia, Macedonia, the Netherlands, Senegal, Sweden, Belgium, Denmark and Vietnam. These tax treaties may limit the rate of ROC withholding tax on dividends paid with respect to common shares in ROC companies. A non-ROC holder of ADSs will be considered as the beneficial owner of common shares for the purposes of such treaties. Accordingly, a holder of ADSs who wishes to apply a reduced withholding tax rate that is provided under a tax treaty should consult its own tax advisers concerning such application. The United States does not have an income tax treaty with the ROC.
 
United States Federal Income Taxation
 
The following discussion describes the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of common shares or ADSs to those U.S. holders described below who hold such common shares or ADSs as capital assets for U.S. federal income tax purposes. For these purposes, you are a U.S. holder if you are a beneficial owner of common shares or ADSs and are, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
 
·  
a citizen or resident of the United States;
 
·  
a corporation, or other entity taxable as a corporation, created or organized under the laws of the United States or of any political subdivision of the United States; or
 
·  
an estate or trust the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source.
 
This discussion assumes that we are not a passive foreign investment company, as discussed below.
 
This discussion does not address all of the tax consequences that may be relevant in light of your particular circumstances. In particular, it does not address all of the tax consequences that may be relevant to holders subject to special rules, including:
 
·  
persons subject to the alternative minimum tax;
 
·  
insurance companies;
 
·  
tax-exempt entities;
 
·  
dealers or traders in securities who use a mark-to-market method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes;
 
·  
certain financial institutions;
 
·  
partnerships or other entities classified as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes;
 
·  
persons carrying on a trade or business in the ROC;
 
·  
persons who hold or will hold common shares or ADSs as part of a straddle, hedge, conversion transaction, integrated transaction or similar transaction;
 
·  
persons whose functional currency for U.S. federal income tax purposes is not the U.S. dollar;
 
·  
persons who own or are deemed to own 10% or more of our voting stock; or
 
·  
persons who acquired our common shares or ADSs pursuant to the exercise of any employee stock option or otherwise as compensation.
 
If an entity that is classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds common shares or ADSs, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner will generally depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Partnerships holding commons shares or ADSs and partners in such partnerships should
 
 consult their tax advisers as to the particular U.S. federal income tax consequences of holding and disposing of the common shares or ADSs.
 
This discussion is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, final, temporary and proposed Treasury regulations, administrative announcements and judicial decisions, all as of the date hereof. These laws and regulations are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. This discussion is also based in part on representations by the depositary and assumes that each obligation under the deposit agreement and any related agreement will be performed in accordance with its terms.
 
In general, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, a U.S. holder who owns ADSs should be treated as the owner of the common shares represented by the ADSs. Accordingly, no gain or loss should be recognized if a U.S. holder exchanges ADSs for the common shares represented by those ADSs.
 
The U.S. Treasury has expressed concerns that parties to whom American depositary shares are released before delivery of shares to the depositary (“pre-release”), or intermediaries in the chain of ownership between holders and the issuer of the security underlying the American depositary shares, may be taking actions that are inconsistent with the claiming of foreign tax credits by the holders of American depositary shares. Such actions would also be inconsistent with the claiming of the reduced rate of tax applicable to dividends received by certain noncorporate U.S. holders. Accordingly, the analysis of the creditability of ROC taxes and the availability of the reduced tax rate for dividends received by certain noncorporate U.S. holders, both described below, could be affected by actions that may be taken by such parties or intermediaries.
 
Please consult your tax adviser with regard to the application of the U.S. federal income tax laws to common shares or ADSs as well as any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or non-U.S. taxing jurisdiction.
 
Dividends
 
Distributions paid on common shares or ADSs (other than certain pro rata distributions of common shares to all shareholders, including holders of ADSs), including the amount of any ROC taxes withheld thereon, reduced by any credit against the withholding tax on account of the 10% retained earnings tax imposed on us, generally will constitute foreign source dividend income to the extent paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits as determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax principles. Because we do not maintain calculations of our earnings and profits under U.S. federal income tax principles, we expect that distributions will generally be reported to U.S. holders as dividends. The amount you will be required to include in income for any dividend paid in NT dollars will be equal to the U.S. dollar value of the NT dollars paid, calculated by reference to the exchange rate in effect on the date the payment is received by the depositary (in the case of ADSs) or by you (in the case of common shares), regardless of whether the payment is in fact converted into U.S. dollars on the date of receipt. If you do not convert the amount of any dividend income received into U.S. dollars on the date of receipt and you realize gain or loss on a sale or other disposition of NT dollars, it generally will be U.S. source ordinary income or loss. The amount of any distribution of property other than cash will be the fair market value of such property on the date of distribution. You will not be entitled to a dividends-received deduction for dividends you receive.
 
Subject to applicable limitations and the discussion above regarding concerns expressed by the U.S. Treasury, under current law, certain dividends paid by qualified foreign corporations to certain noncorporate U.S. holders in taxable years beginning before January 1, 2011 are taxable at a maximum rate of 15%. A foreign corporation is treated as a qualified foreign corporation with respect to dividends paid on stock that is readily tradable on a securities market in the United States, such as the New York Stock Exchange, where our ADSs are traded. You should consult your own tax advisers to determine whether the favorable rates may apply to dividends you receive and whether you are subject to any special rules that limit your ability to be taxed at this favorable rate.
 
 
 
Subject to applicable limitations and restrictions and the discussion above regarding concerns expressed by the U.S. Treasury, the ROC taxes withheld from dividend distributions, reduced by any credit against the withholding tax which is paid by the Company on account of the 10% retained earnings tax, will be eligible for credit against your U.S. federal income tax liability. The limitation on foreign taxes eligible for credit is calculated separately with respect to specific classes of income. The rules governing foreign tax credits are complex and, therefore, you should consult your own tax adviser regarding the availability of foreign tax credits in your particular circumstances.  Instead of claiming a credit, you may, at your election, deduct such otherwise creditable ROC taxes in computing your taxable income, subject to generally applicable limitations under U.S. law.
 
Certain pro rata distributions of common shares by a company to all of its shareholders, including holders of ADSs, will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax. Accordingly, these distributions will not give rise to U.S. federal income against which the ROC tax imposed on these distributions may be credited. You should consult your tax adviser as to whether any ROC tax imposed on these pro rata distributions of common shares may be creditable against your foreign source income from other sources.
 
Capital Gains
 
You will generally recognize U.S. source capital gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes on the sale or exchange of common shares or ADSs, which will be long-term capital gain or loss if the common shares or ADSs were held for more than one year.  The amount of gain or loss will be equal to the difference between your tax basis in the common shares or ADSs disposed of and the amount realized on disposition, in each case as determined in U.S. dollars. You should consult your own tax adviser about the treatment of capital gains, which may be taxed at lower rates than ordinary income for non-corporate taxpayers, and capital losses, the deductibility of which may be limited.
 
Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules
 
We believe that we were not a passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, for U.S. federal income tax purposes for 2008.  However, since PFIC status depends upon the composition of a company’s income and assets and the market value of its assets (including, among others, less than 25 percent owned equity investments) from time to time, there can be no assurance that we will not be considered a PFIC for any taxable year.  If we were treated as a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. holder held a common share or an ADS, certain adverse consequences could apply the U.S. holder.
 
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
 
Payment of dividends and sales proceeds that are made within the United States or through certain U.S.-related financial intermediaries generally are subject to information reporting, and may be subject to backup withholding unless (i) you are a corporation or other exempt recipient or (ii) in the case of backup withholding, you provide a correct taxpayer identification number and certify that you are not subject to backup withholding.
 
The amount of any backup withholding from a payment to you will be allowed as a credit against your United States federal income tax liability and may entitle you to a refund, provided that the required information is furnished to the Internal Revenue Service.
 
DIVIDENDS AND PAYING AGENTS
 
Not applicable.
 
STATEMENT BY EXPERTS
 
Not applicable.
 
DOCUMENTS ON DISPLAY
 
We file annual reports on Form 20-F and periodic reports on Form 6-K with the SEC. You can read and copy these reports and other information at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., 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. The reports and other information we file electronically with the SEC are also available to the public from the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
 
 
SUBSIDIARY INFORMATION
 
Not applicable.
 
Item 11.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
 
Market Risk
 
Our exposure to financial market risks relates primarily to changes in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates. To mitigate these risks we utilize derivative financial instruments, the application of which is primarily to manage these exposures and not for speculative purposes.
 
Interest Rate Risk.  Our exposure to interest rate risks relates primarily to our long-term floating rate debt, which is normally incurred to support our corporate activities and capital expenditures.
 
We entered into two interest rate swap contracts to mitigate the interest rate risk on our long-term loans. One was signed in December 2003 in the amount of NT$2,750.0 million, of which NT$1,375.0 million expired in January 2008 and the remaining amount in January 2009.  
 
The other contract was signed in August 2008 in the amount of NT$12,000.0 million (US$366.3 million), all of which expires in March 2013.  Interest receipt and payment were based on a floating rate of 1.88% and fixed rates of 2.45%~2.48%, as of December 31, 2008.
 
The fair value of these two contracts as of December 31, 2008 was NT$0.2 million and negative NT$391.7 million (US$12.0 million) and we recognized them as financial instruments at fair value through profit or loss and hedging derivative liabilities-noncurrent with an adjustment to shareholders’ equity.
 
The table below sets forth information relating to our significant obligations that are sensitive to interest rate fluctuations as of December 31, 2008.
 
   
  Expected Maturity Date
 
   
2009
   
2010
   
2011
   
2012
   
2013
   
Thereafter
   
Total
   
Fair Value
 
   
(in millions, except percentages)
 
Short-term debt:
                                               
Variable rate (NT$)
   
130.0
     
                              130.0       130.0  
Average interest rate
   
1.98%
                                    1.98%          
Variable rate (US$)
   
144.5
                                    144.5       144.5  
Average interest rate
   
4.11%
                                    4.11%          
Fixed rate (US$)
   
26.4
                                    26.4       26.4  
Average interest rate
   
3.84%
                                    3.84%          
Variable rate (RMB)
   
630.6
                                    630.6       630.6  
Average interest rate
   
5.58%
                                    5.58%          
Long-term debt:
   
 
                                                         
Variable rate (NT$)
   
5,768.9
      15,885.3       8,565.9       5,075.0       2,537.5             37,832.6       37,832.6  
Average interest rate
   
1.95%
      3.00%       3.79%       3.93%       3.93%             3.21%          
Fixed rate (NT$)
   
122.9
      111.8       2.1       0.3                   237.1       237.1  
Average interest rate
   
3.21%
      3.00%       5.71%       7.82%                   3.14%          
Variable rate (US$)
   
75.4
      67.9       245.9       44.1       22.1             455.4       455.4  
Average interest rate
   
2.80%
      4.41%       6.21%       4.60%       4.86%             5.15%          
Fixed rate (US$)
   
5.0
      *       *                         5.0       5.0  
Average interest rate
   
3.62%
      15.30%       15.30%                         3.74%          
Variable rate (RMB)
   
      150.0                               150.0       150.0  
Average interest rate
   
      6.77%                               6.77%          
 

* Indicates amount is less than US$0.1 million.
 
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk.  Our foreign currency exposure gives rise to market risk associated with exchange rate movements against the NT dollar, our functional currency. Currently, the majority of our revenues from packaging and testing services are denominated in U.S. dollars, with a portion denominated in NT dollars and Japanese yen. Our costs of revenues and operating expenses associated with packaging and testing services are incurred in several currencies, primarily in NT dollars and U.S. dollars, as well as, to a lesser extent, Korean won, Japanese yen, Malaysian ringgit and Chinese yuan. In addition, a substantial portion of our capital expenditures, primarily for the purchase of packaging and testing equipment, has been, and is expected to continue to be, denominated primarily in U.S. dollars with the remainder in Japanese yen. Fluctuations in exchange rates, primarily among the U.S. dollar, the NT dollar, the Chinese yuan and the Japanese yen, will affect our costs and operating margins and could result in exchange losses and increased costs in NT dollar and other local currency terms. Despite hedging and mitigating techniques implemented by us, fluctuations in exchange rates have affected, and may continue to affect, our financial condition and results of operations.  We recorded net foreign exchange gains of NT$92.8 million, NT$403.5 million and NT$282.0 million (US$8.6 million) in 2006, 2007 and 2008, respectively. In 2006, 2007 and 2008, the average exchange rate of the NT dollar to the U.S. dollar was 32.51, 32.85 and 31.52, respectively, calculated using noon buying rates in The City of New York for cable transfers in NT dollars as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
 
Foreign currency denominated liabilities as of December 31, 2008 primarily include U.S. dollar debt and Chinese yuan debt. As of December 31, 2008, approximately 42.4% and 42.2% of our cash and accounts receivable were denominated in U.S. dollars and NT dollars, with a substantial portion of the remainder denominated primarily in Japanese yen. As of December 31, 2008, approximately 54.1% of our accounts payable and payable for properties were denominated in U.S. dollars, with a substantial portion of the remainder denominated primarily in NT dollars and Chinese yuan. To protect against reductions in value and the volatility of future cash flows caused by changes in foreign currency exchange rates, we utilize currency forward contracts from time to time to reduce the impact of foreign currency fluctuations on our results of operations. Our policy is to account for these contracts on a mark-to-market rate basis.
 
The table below sets forth our outstanding forward exchange contracts and swap contracts in aggregate terms by type of contract as of December 31, 2008.
 
Forward Exchange Contracts and Swap Contracts
   
Sell US$ against NT$
 
Notional Amount
US$4 million
Weighted Average Strike Price
US$/NT$33.061
Fair Value
Negative US$0.005 million
   
Sell US$ against JP¥
 
Notional Amount
US$1.1 million
Weighted Average Strike Price
US$/JP¥89.77
Fair Value
Negative US$0.005 million
   
Buy US$ against NT$
 
Notional Amount
US$277.9 million
Weighted Average Strike Price
US$/NT$33.123
Fair Value
Negative US$2.52 million
   
Sell US$ against MYR
 
Notional Amount
US$1.5 million
Weighted Average Strike Price
US$/MYR3.519
Fair Value
US$0.03 million

Other Market Risk. Our exposure to other market risk relates primarily to our investments in publicly-traded stock and open-end mutual funds. The value of these investments may fluctuate based on various factors including prevailing market conditions. Moreover, the fair value of investments in unlisted securities may be significantly
 
89

 
different from their carrying value. Of our investments in publicly-traded stocks, government and corporate bonds and open-end mutual funds held as of December 31, 2008, NT$536.4 million (US$16.4 million) were classified as financial assets held for trading and NT$279.8 million (US$8.5 million) were classified as available-for-sale financial assets.
 
Item 12.  Description of Securities Other Than Equity Securities
 
Not applicable.
 
 
PART II
 
Item 13.  Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies
 
Not applicable.
 
Item 14.  Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds
 
Not applicable.
 
Item 15.  Controls and Procedures
 
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
 
As of December 31, 2008, we, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, performed an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15(d)-15(e) under the Exchange Act. Our management necessarily applied its judgment in assessing the costs and benefits of such controls and procedures, which by their nature can provide only reasonable assurance regarding management’s control objectives. Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective for recording, processing, summarizing and reporting, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, information required to be disclosed in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act, and for accumulating and communicating such information to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
 
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
 
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
 
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements.  Projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
 
Our management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008.  In making this assessment, our management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control-Integrated Framework.
 
Based on this assessment, management concluded that, as of December 31, 2008, our internal control over financial reporting is effective based on those criteria.
 
Attestation Report of the Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of
Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc.
 
We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2008, based on the criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.  The Company's management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.
 
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.  Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances.  We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the company's principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by the company's board of directors, management, and other personnel to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.  A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
 
Because of the inherent limitations of internal control over financial reporting, including the possibility of collusion or improper management override of controls, material misstatements due to error or fraud may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.  Also, projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting to future periods are subject to the risk that the controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
 
In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, based on the criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. 
 
We have also audited, in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the Republic of China and the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated financial statements of the Company as of and for the year ended December 31, 2008, and our report dated April 16, 2009 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and included explanatory paragraphs regarding (i) the Company’s adoption of Interpretation 96-052, “Accounting for Bonuses to Employees, Directors and Supervisors,” issued by the Accounting Research and Development Foundation of the Republic of China; (ii) the reconciliation to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America; and (iii) the translation of New Taiwan dollar amounts into U.S. dollar amounts for convenience purposes.
 
/s/Deloitte & Touche
Deloitte & Touche
Taipei, Taiwan
The Republic of China
April 16, 2009
 
 
91

 
 
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
 
There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
 
Item 16.  [Reserved]
 
Item 16A.  Audit Committee Financial Expert
 
Our board of directors determined that Alan Cheng is an audit committee financial expert as defined under the applicable rules of the SEC issued pursuant to Section 407 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and is independent for the purposes of Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act.
 
Item 16B.  Code of Ethics
 
We have adopted a code of ethics that satisfies the requirements of Item 16B of Form 20-F and applies to all employees, officers, supervisors and directors of our company and our subsidiaries, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. We have posted our code of ethics on our website at http://www.aseglobal.com.
 
Item 16C.  Principal Accountant Fees and Services
 
Policy on Pre-Approval of Audit and Non-Audit Services of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
Our audit committee, which was established on July 22, 2005, pre-approves all audit and non-audit services provided by our independent registered public accounting firm, including audit services, audit-related services, tax services and other services, on a case-by-case basis.  Accordingly, we have not established any pre-approval policies and procedures. Prior to the establishment of our audit committee, such services were pre-approved by our board of directors.
 
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm’s Fees
 
The following table sets forth the aggregate fees by categories specified below in connection with certain professional services rendered by Deloitte & Touche. We did not pay any other fees to our independent registered public accounting firm during the periods indicated below.
 
   
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$
 
   
(in thousands)
 
Audit fees(1)
    116,097.2       113,110.1       3,452.7  
Audit-related fees(2)
    5,240.1              
Tax fees(3)
    11,540.7       9,877.5       301.5  
All other fees(4)
    2,535.4       14,023.3       428.1  
Total
    135,413.4       137,010.9       4,182.3  

(1)
Audit fees are defined as the standard audit and review work that needs to be performed each year in order to issue an opinion on our consolidated financial statements and to issue reports on the local statutory financial statements. It also includes services that can only be provided by our auditor such as statutory audits required by the Tax Bureau of the ROC and the Customs Bureau of the ROC, auditing of non-recurring transactions and application of new accounting policies, pre-issuance reviews of quarterly financial results, consents and comfort letters and any other audit services required for SEC or other regulatory filings.
(2)
Audit-related fees include assurance and related services provided by auditors that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements and not reported above under “Audit fees.” They comprise amounts for services such as acquisition due diligence and consultation concerning financial accounting and reporting matters.
(3)
Tax fees consist of professional services rendered by Deloitte & Touche for tax compliance and tax advice.  The services for the fees disclosed under this category include tax return preparation and technical tax advice.
(4)
Other fees primarily consist of fees for agreed-upon procedures as required by the ROC government for capital investments in the PRC and the review of an application of one of our subsidiaries to PRC regulatory authorities in connection with a proposed initial public offering, and procedures required by the SEC for a “going private” transaction for ASE Test.
 
 
Item 16D.  Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees.
 
Not applicable.
 
Item 16E.  Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers.
 
On November 17, 2008 and January 23, 2009, we announced share repurchase programs to repurchase up to 171 million and 285 million of our common shares at prices between NT$8.00 to NT$18.00 and NT$8.00 to NT$17.00 per share during the period from November 18, 2008 to January 17, 2009 and from February 2, 2009 to April 1, 2009, respectively. The share repurchase programs concluded on January 18, 2009 and April 2, 2009, when a total of 144.0 million and 73.9 million, respectively, of our common shares had been repurchased pursuant to the programs.  As of May 31, 2009, 144,037,000 of the common shares we repurchased had been cancelled.  The table below sets forth certain information about the repurchase of our common shares under the share repurchase program.
 
 
Period
 
(a) Total Number of Common Shares Purchased
   
(b) Average Price Paid Per Common Share
   
(c) Total Number of Common Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Programs
   
(d) Maximum Number (or Approximate Dollar Value) of Common Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Programs
 
November 2008 (November 18, 2008 – November 30, 2008)
    28,729,000       10.74       28,729,000       142,271,000  
December 2008 (December 1, 2008 – December 31, 2008)
    79,971,000       9.90       79,971,000       62,300,000  
January 2009 (January 1, 2009 – January 17, 2009)
    35,337,000       11.86       35,337,000       26,963,000  
Total
    144,037,000       10.55       144,037,000       -  
February 2009 (February 2, 2009 – February 28, 2009)
    66,096,000       12.12       66,096,000       218,904,000  
March 2009 (March 1, 2009 – March 3, 2009)
    7,841,000       12.02       7,841,000       211,063,000  
Total
    73,937,000       12.11       73,937,000       -  
 
 
Item 16F.  [Reserved]
 
Item 16G.  Corporate Governance
 
As a company listed on the New York Stock Exchange, or the NYSE, we are subject to certain corporate governance rules of the NYSE.  The application of the NYSE’s corporate governance rules is limited for foreign private issuers, recognizing that they have to comply with domestic requirements.  As a foreign private issuer, we must comply with the following NYSE corporate governance rules: 1) satisfy the audit committee requirements of the SEC; 2) chief executive officer must promptly notify the NYSE in writing upon becoming aware of any material non-compliance with applicable NYSE corporate governance rules; 3) submit annual and interim affirmations to the NYSE regarding compliance with applicable NYSE corporate governance requirements; and 4) provide a brief  description of any significant differences between our corporate governance practices and those required of U.S. companies under the NYSE listing standards.  The table below sets forth the significant differences between our corporate governance practices and those required of U.S. companies under the NYSE listing standards.
 
New York Stock Exchange Corporate Governance Rules Applicable to U.S. Companies
Description of Significant Differences between Our Governance Practices and the NYSE Corporate Governance Rules Applicable to U.S. Companies
Director independence
Listed companies must have a majority of independent directors, as defined under the NYSE listing standards.
One member of our board of directors is independent as defined in Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act. We do not assess the independence of our directors under the independence requirements of the NYSE listing standards.
 
 
  Pursuant to relevant laws and regulations of the ROC, we have two independent directors on our board of directors that were elected through the candidate nomination system at our annual general shareholders meeting on June 25, 2009.
To empower non-management directors to serve as a more effective check on management, the non-management directors of each company must meet at regularly scheduled executive sessions without management.
All of our directors attend the meetings of the board of directors.  Our non-management directors do not meet at regularly scheduled executive sessions without management.  The ROC Company Law does not require companies incorporated in the ROC to have their non-management directors meet at regularly scheduled executive sessions without management.
Nominating/Corporate governance committee
Listed companies must have a nominating/corporate governance committee composed entirely of independent directors and governed by a written charter that provides for certain responsibilities of the committee set out in the NYSE listing standards.
We do not have a nominating/corporate governance committee.  The ROC Company Law does not require companies incorporated in the ROC to have a nominating/corporate governance committee.
 
Currently, our board of directors performs the duties of a corporate governance committee and regularly reviews our corporate governance principles and practices.
 
The ROC Company Law requires that directors be elected by shareholders.  Under ROC law and regulations, companies that have independent directors are required to adopt a candidate nomination system for the election of independent directors.  Our two independent directors were elected through the candidate nomination system provided in our articles of incorporation.  All of our non-independent directors were elected directly by our shareholders at our shareholders meetings without a nomination process.
Compensation committee
 
Listed companies must have a compensation committee composed entirely of independent directors and governed by a written charter that provides for certain responsibilities of the committee set out in the NYSE listing standards.
We do not have a compensation committee.  Under the ROC Company Law, companies incorporated in the ROC are not required to have a compensation committee.  However, the ROC Company Law requires that the measures by which director compensation is determined either be set forth in the company’s articles of incorporation or be approved at a shareholders meeting.
 
Our articles of incorporation currently provide that total director and supervisor remuneration shall be no more than 2% (inclusive) of our net income after payment of all income taxes, deduction of any past losses, allocation of 10% of our net income for legal reserves and allocation for special reserves.
 
The ROC Company Law requires the compensation of managers, including executive officers, of a company
 
 
 
limited by shares to be approved by a resolution of the board of directors or pursuant to a higher standard specified in its articles of incorporation.  Our articles of incorporation do not provide measures by which the compensation of executive officers is determined and such compensation is determined by our board of directors according to our internal compensation policies.
Audit committee
Listed companies must have an audit committee that satisfies the requirements of Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act.
We have an audit committee that satisfies the requirements of Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act.
 
Pursuant to the ROC Securities and Exchange Law, beginning January 1, 2007, public companies shall either establish an audit committee satisfying specified requirements or install supervisors.  Under certain circumstances, public companies may be required by the Financial Supervisory Commission (the "FSC") to establish an audit committee.  In addition to our Rule 10A-3 audit committee, we currently have supervisors pursuant to the ROC Securities and Exchange Law.
The audit committee must have a minimum of three members.
We currently have one member on our audit committee.  Our audit committee member satisfies the independence requirements of Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act.  We do not assess the independence of our audit committee member under the independence requirements of the NYSE listing standards.
In addition to any requirement of Rule 10A-3(b)(1), all audit committee members must satisfy the independence requirements for independent directors set out in the NYSE listing standards.
The audit committee must have a written charter that provides for the duties and responsibilities set out in Rule 10A-3 and addresses certain other matters required by the NYSE listing standards.
Our audit committee charter provides for the audit committee to assist our board of directors in its
oversight of (i) the integrity of our financial statements, (ii) the qualifications, independence and performance of our independent auditor and (iii) our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and provides for the duties and responsibilities set out in Rule 10A-3.  Our audit committee charter does not address all the matters required by the NYSE listing standards beyond the requirements of Rule 10A-3.
 
Because the appointment and retention of our independent auditor are the responsibility of our entire board of directors under ROC law and regulations, our audit committee charter provides that the audit committee shall make recommendations to the board of directors with respect to these matters.
Each listed company must have an internal audit function.
We have an internal audit function.  Under the ROC Regulations for the Establishment of Internal Control Systems by Public Companies, a public company is required to set out its internal control systems in writing, including internal audit implementation rules, which must be approved by the board of directors.
 
Our entire board of directors and the Chief Executive Officer are responsible for the establishment of the
 
 
internal audit functions, compliance with the internal audit implementation rules and oversight of our internal control systems, including the appointment and retention of our independent auditor.
Equity compensation plans
 
Shareholders must be given the opportunity to vote on all equity-compensation plans and material revisions thereto, except for employment inducement awards, certain grants, plans and amendments in the context of mergers and acquisitions, and certain specific types of plans.
We comply with the corresponding requirements of the ROC Company Law, the ROC Securities and Exchange Law, and the ROC Criteria Governing the Offering and Issuance of Securities by Securities Issuers, which require shareholders’ approval for the distribution of employee bonuses, while the board of directors has authority to approve employee stock option plans by a majority vote of the board of directors at a meeting where at least two-thirds of all directors are present and to grant options to employees pursuant to such plans, subject to the approval of the Securities and Futures Bureau of the FSC, Executive Yuan, and to approve treasury stock programs and the transfer of shares to employees under such programs by a majority vote of the board of directors in a meeting where at least two-thirds of all directors are present.
Corporate governance guidelines
 
Listed companies must adopt and disclose corporate governance guidelines.
We currently comply with the domestic non-binding Corporate Governance Best-Practice Principles for Taiwan Stock Exchange and GreTai Stock Market Listed Companies promulgated by the Taiwan Stock Exchange and the GreTai Stock Market, and we provide an explanation of differences between our practice and the principles, if any, in our ROC annual report.
Code of ethics for directors, officers and employees
 
Listed companies must adopt and disclose a code of business conduct and ethics for directors, officers and employees, and promptly disclose any waivers of the code for directors or executive officers.
We have adopted a code of ethics that satisfies the requirements of Item 16B of Form 20-F and applies to all employees, officers, supervisors and directors of our company and our subsidiaries and will disclose any waivers of the code as required by Item 16B of Form 20-F.  We have posted our code of ethics on our website.
Description of significant differences
 
Listed foreign private issuers must disclose any significant ways in which their corporate governance practices differ from those followed by domestic companies under NYSE listing standards.
This table contains the significant differences between our corporate governance practices and those required of U.S. companies under the NYSE listing standards.
CEO certification
 
Each listed company CEO must certify to the NYSE each year that he or she is not aware of any violation by the company of NYSE corporate governance listing standards, qualifying the certification to the extent necessary.
As a foreign private issuer, we are not required to comply with this rule; however, our Chief Executive Officer provides certifications under Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
 
 
Each listed company CEO must promptly notify the NYSE in writing after any executive officer of the listed company becomes aware of any material non-compliance with any applicable provisions of Section 303A.
We intend to comply with this requirement.
Each listed company must submit an executed Written Affirmation annually to the NYSE.  In addition, each listed company must submit an interim Written Affirmation each time a change occurs to the board or any of the committees subject to Section 303A.  The annual and interim Written Affirmations must be in the form specified by the NYSE.
We have complied with this requirement to date and intend to continue to comply going forward.
Website
 
Listed companies must have and maintain a publicly accessible website
We have and maintain a publicly accessible website.
 
 
PART III
 
Item 17.  Financial Statements
 
The Company has elected to provide financial statements for fiscal year 2008 and the related information pursuant to Item 18.
 
Item 18.  Financial Statements
 
Reference is made to pages F-1 to F-72 of this annual report.
 
The consolidated financial statements of the Company and the report thereon by its independent registered public accounting firm listed below are attached hereto as follows:
 
(a)
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm of the Company dated April 16, 2009 (page F-1 to F-2).
 
(b)
Consolidated Balance Sheets of the Company and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2007 and 2008 (page F-3).
 
(c)
Consolidated Statements of Income of the Company and subsidiaries for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008 (page F-4 to F-5).
 
(d)
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity of the Company and subsidiaries for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008 (page F-6).
 
(e)
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows of the Company and subsidiaries for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008 (pages F-7 to F-9).
 
(f)
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company and subsidiaries (pages F-10 to F-72).
 
Item 19.  Exhibits
 
1.
Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant (English translation of Chinese) (incorporating all amendments as of June 19, 2008).    
 
 
2.
(a)
Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement dated as of September 29, 2000 among ASE Inc., Citibank N.A., as depositary, and Holders and Beneficial Holders of American Depositary Shares evidenced by American Depositary Receipts issued thereunder, including the form of American Depositary Receipt (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a) to our registration statement on Form F-6 (File No. 333-108834) filed on September 16, 2003).
 
(b)
Letter Agreement dated as of February 1, 2001 by and between ASE Inc. and Citibank N.A., as depositary for the sole purpose of accommodating the surrender of ASE Inc’s Rule 144A Global Depositary Shares, the issuance of American Depositary Shares and the delivery of American Depositary Receipts in the context of the termination of ASE Inc.’s Rule 144A Depositary Receipts Facility (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (b)(i) to our registration statement on Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Form F-6 (File No. 333-108834) filed on April 3, 2006).
 
(c)
Letter Agreement dated as of September 25, 2003 by and between ASE Inc. and Citibank N.A., as depositary for the sole purpose of accommodating the issuance of American Depositary Shares upon ASE Inc.’s deposit of its shares with the depositary following the conversion of certain bonds issued by ASE Inc. in accordance with, and subject to, the terms and conditions of the indenture governing such bonds (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (b)(ii) to our registration statement on Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Form F-6 (File No. 333-108834) filed on April 3, 2006).
 
(d)
Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement dated as of April 6, 2006 among ASE Inc., Citibank N.A., as depositary, and Holders and Beneficial Holders of American Depositary Shares evidenced by American Depositary Receipts issued thereunder, including the form of American Depositary Receipt (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(ii) to our registration statement on Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Form F-6 (File No. 333-108834) filed on October 25, 2006).
 
(e)
Form of Amendment No. 2 to Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement among ASE Inc., Citibank N.A., as depositary, and Holders and Beneficial Holders of American Depositary Shares evidenced by American Depositary Receipts issued thereunder, including the form of American Depositary Receipt (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(iii) to our registration statement on Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Form F-6 (File No. 333-108834) filed on October 25, 2006).
 
4.
(a)
Asset Purchase Agreement dated as of July 3, 1999 among ASE (Chung Li) Inc., ASE Inc., Motorola Electronics Taiwan, Ltd. and Motorola, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to ASE Test’s registration statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-10892) filed on September 27, 1999 (the “ASE Test 1999 Form-3”)).
     
 
(b)
Agreement dated as of June 5, 2002 among ASE (Chung Li) Inc., ASE Inc., Motorola Electronics Taiwan, Ltd. and Motorola, Inc. amending certain earn-out arrangements provided for in Section 2.09(b)(ii)(D) of the Asset Purchase Agreement dated as of July 3, 1999 among the same parties (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(b) to our annual report on Form 20-F (File No. 001-16125) for the year ended December 31, 2002 filed on June 30, 2003).
 
 
(c)
Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of July 3, 1999 among ASE Investment (Labuan) Inc., ASE Inc., Motorola Asia Ltd. and Motorola, Inc. relating to the purchase and sale of 100.0% of the common stock of Motorola Korea Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the ASE Test 1999 Form F-3).
 
 
(d)†
BGA Immunity Agreement dated as of January 25, 1994 between ASE Inc. and Motorola, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Form F-1).
 
 
(e)†
Amendment dated March 18, 2003 renewing the BGA Immunity Agreement dated as of January 25, 1994 between ASE Inc. and Motorola, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(g) to our annual report on Form 20-F (File No. 001-16125) for the year ended December 31, 2003 filed on June 30, 2004).
 
 
 
(f)
Consent dated June 10, 2004 to the Assignment of the BGA Immunity Agreement between ASE Inc. and Motorola, Inc. dated January 25, 1994 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(h) to our annual report on Form 20-F (File No. 001-16125) for the year ended December 31, 2003 filed on June 30, 2004).
 
 
(g)
Asset Purchase Agreement by and among Flextronics Manufacturing (M) Sdn Bhd, as Buyer, ASE Electronics (M) Sdn. Bhd. as Company, dated as of October 3, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(g) to our annual report on Form 20-F (File No. 001-16125) for the year ended December 31, 2005 filed on June 19, 2006).
 
 
(h)
Joint Venture Agreement dated as of July 14, 2006 among Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc. and Powerchip Semiconductor Corp. relating to the establishment of, and our investment of 60.0% in, PowerASE (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(r) to our annual report on Form 20-F (File No. 001-16125) for the year ended December 31, 2006 filed on June 25, 2007, as amended).
 
 
(i)
Sale and Purchase Agreement dated January 11, 2007 among J&R Holding Limited and Seacoast Profits Limited relating to our acquisition of 100% of GAPT (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(s) to our annual report on Form 20-F (File No. 001-16125) for the year ended December 31, 2006 filed on June 25, 2007, as amended).
 
 
(j)
Equity Interests Transfer Agreement dated August 6, 2007 by and among NXP B.V., NXP Semiconductors Suzhou Ltd. and J&R Holding Limited relating to our acquisition of 60% of ASEN, our joint venture with NXP Semiconductors.
 
 
(k)
Scheme Implementation Agreement dated September 4, 2007 between Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc. and ASE Test Limited relating to our acquisition of all the outstanding ordinary shares of, and the privatization of, ASE Test (incorporated by reference to Appendix A to Exhibit (a)(1) to Schedule 13E-3 (File No. 005-55723) filed by ASE Test on January 4, 2008).
 
 
(l)
Syndicated Loan Agreement in the amount of NT$24,750 million dated March 3, 2008 among Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc., Citibank, N.A., Taipei Branch and the banks and banking institutions listed on Schedule I thereto relating to our acquisition of all the outstanding ordinary shares of, and the privatization of, ASE Test.
 
 
(m)
Equity Purchase Agreement dated March 17, 2008 between Aimhigh Global Corp., TCC Steel and J&R Holding Limited in respect of Weihai Aimhigh Electronic Co. Ltd. relating to our acquisition of 100% of ASE (Weihai), Inc.
 
 
(n)
Syndicated Loan Agreement in the amount of US$200 million dated May 29, 2008 among Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc., Citibank, N.A., Taipei Branch and the banks and banking institutions listed on Schedule I thereto relating to our acquisition of all the outstanding ordinary shares of, and the privatization of, ASE Test.
 
8.
 
List of Subsidiaries.
     
12.
(a)
Certification of Jason C.S. Chang, Chief Executive Officer of Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc. required by Rule 13a-14(a) of the Exchange Act.
     
 
(b)
Certification of Joseph Tung, Chief Financial Officer of Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc. required by Rule 13a-14(a) of the Exchange Act.
     
13.
 
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc. required by Rule 13a-14(b) of the Exchange Act and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code.
____________________
Does not contain portions for which confidential treatment has been granted.
 
 
The Company agrees to furnish to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request a copy of any instrument which defines the rights of holders of long-term debt of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries.
 
 
 
SIGNATURES
 
The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this annual report on its behalf.
 
ADVANCED SEMICONDUCTOR ENGINEERING, INC.
 
   
   
By:
/s/ Joseph Tung
 
 
Joseph Tung
 
 
Chief Financial Officer
 

Date: June 24, 2009



INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


 
 
Page
Consolidated Financial Statements of Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc. and Subsidiaries
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Advanced Semiconductor Engineering,
Inc. and Subsidiaries
 
Consolidated Financial Statements for the
Years Ended December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008 and
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
 
 
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM


The Board of Directors and Shareholders
Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc.

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc. (a corporation incorporated under the laws of the Republic of China) and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) as of December 31, 2007 and 2008, and the related consolidated statements of income, changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2008, all expressed in New Taiwan dollars.  These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the Rules Governing the Audit of Financial Statements by Certified Public Accountants, auditing standards generally accepted in the Republic of China (“ROC”) and the Standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  Those rules and standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.  We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2007 and 2008, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2008, in conformity with the Guidelines Governing the Preparation of Financial Reports by Securities Issuers and accounting principles generally accepted in the Republic of China.

As discussed in Note 30 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company incurred fire damage to its production line and facilities in Chung Li, Taiwan on May 1, 2005.  The Company recognized an estimated loss of NT$13,479,079 thousand for the damage to its inventories, building, machinery and equipment, net of NT$4,641,000 thousand of insurance receivable in 2005.  The Company reached a final settlement with the insurers in June 2006 with regards to the fire damage referred to above.  The final settlement amount of NT$8,068,000 thousand, less the NT$4,641,000 thousand recorded in 2005 and the related repair and restoring expenses of NT$1,043,132 thousand, was recorded as a gain in 2006.  The Company also reversed NT$2,190,583 thousand of previously recorded impairment charges on these fire-damaged building, machinery and equipment due to an increase in the estimated service potential of the assets.  The net amount of NT$4,574,451 thousand was recognized as a gain on insurance settlement and impairment recovery.
 
 
As discussed in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements, starting from January 1, 2008, the Company changed its method of accounting for bonuses paid to employees, directors and supervisors upon adoption of Interpretation 96-052, “Accounting for Bonuses to Employees, Directors and Supervisors” issued by the ROC Accounting Research and Development Foundation (“ARDF”) in March 2007.  Besides, the Company adopted the ROC Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 34, “Financial Instruments:  Recognition and Measurement”, No. 36, “Financial Instruments:  Disclosure and Presentation” and other revised SFASs on January 1, 2006.

Accounting principles generally accepted in the ROC differ in certain significant respects from accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.  Information relating to the nature and effect of such differences is presented in Note 32 to the consolidated financial statements.

Our audits also comprehended the translation of New Taiwan dollar amounts into U.S. dollar amounts and, in our opinion, such translation has been made in conformity with the basis stated in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements.  Such U.S. dollar amounts are presented solely for the convenience of the readers.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, based on the criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated April 16, 2009 expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.


 

/s/ Deloitte & Touche
Taipei, Taiwan
The Republic of China
April 16, 2009
 
 
ADVANCED SEMICONDUCTOR ENGINEERING, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Amounts in Thousands, Except Par Value) 

 
   
December 31
     
December 31
 
   
2007
   
2008
     
2007
   
2008
 
ASSETS
 
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$ (Note 2)
 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$ (Note 2)
 
                                       
CURRENT ASSETS
                 
CURRENT LIABILITIES
                 
Cash and cash equivalents (Notes 2 and 4)
  $ 17,157,935     $ 26,138,930     $ 797,892  
Short-term borrowings (Note 16)
  $ 8,922,330     $ 8,779,267     $ 267,987  
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss - current (Notes 2, 5 and 26)
    1,601,994       537,480       16,407  
Short-term bills payable (Notes 2 and 17)
    149,831       -       -  
Available-for-sale financial assets - current (Notes 2, 6 and 26)
    9,406,327       279,812       8,541  
Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss - current (Notes 2, 5 and 26)
    44,331       82,876       2,530  
Held-to-maturity financial assets - current (Notes 2 and 26)
    50,000       -       -  
Accounts payable
    9,242,092       5,167,347       157,733  
Bond investments with no active market - current (Notes 2, 7 and 26)
    -       450,000       13,736  
Income tax payable (Notes 2 and 24)
    1,237,325       1,265,274       38,622  
Accounts receivable, net (Notes 2 and 8)
    18,747,503       11,388,105       347,622  
Accrued expenses (Note 20)
    4,045,167       4,194,044       128,023  
Other receivables
    936,466       619,033       18,896  
Payable for properties
    4,137,437       2,246,924       68,587  
Guarantee deposits - current (Note 26)
    332,717       16,074       491  
Current portion of bonds payable (Notes 2, 18 and 26)
    1,375,000       -       -  
Inventories (Notes 2, 9 and 28)
    5,595,745       4,991,711       152,372  
Current portion of long-term bank loans (Notes 19, 26 and 28)
    5,258,946       2,670,845       81,528  
Deferred income tax assets - current (Notes 2 and 24)
    2,075,256       1,085,448       33,133  
Deferred income tax liabilities (Notes 2 and 24)
    121,499       -       -  
Other current assets
    998,078       860,258       26,259  
Current portion of capital lease obligations (Notes 2 and 26)
    67,838       23,133       706  
                         
Other
    1,149,158       840,984       25,671  
Total current assets
    56,902,021       46,366,851       1,415,349                            
                         
Total current liabilities
    35,750,954       25,270,694       771,387  
LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS
                                                 
Financial assets carried at cost - noncurrent (Notes 2, 10 and 26)
    525,025       575,495       17,567  
LONG-TERM DEBTS
                       
Equity method investments (Notes 2 and 11)
    4,325,119       3,751,543       114,516  
Long-term bonds payable (Notes 2, 18 and 26)
    5,889,735       1,375,000       41,972  
                         
Long-term bank loans (Notes 19, 26 and 28)
    18,021,762       49,839,565       1,521,354  
Total long-term investments
    4,850,144       4,327,038       132,083  
Hedging derivative liabilities - noncurrent (Notes 2 and 26)
    -       391,695       11,956  
                         
Capital lease obligations (Notes 2 and 26)
    24,512       15,927       486  
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT (Notes 2, 12, 27 and 28)
                                                 
Cost
                       
Total long-term debts
    23,936,009       51,622,187       1,575,768  
Land
    2,287,739       2,395,951       73,136                            
Buildings and improvements
    36,355,071       39,763,199       1,213,773  
OTHER LIABILITIES
                       
Machinery and equipment
    113,204,238       129,424,251       3,950,679  
Accrued pension cost (Notes 2 and 20)
    2,168,954       2,663,776       81,312  
Transportation equipment
    192,330       212,956       6,500  
Deferred income tax liabilities (Notes 2 and 24)
    150,009       151,729       4,632  
Furniture and fixtures
    3,250,435       3,765,175       114,932  
Other
    631,636       520,859       15,899  
Leased assets and leasehold improvements
    571,940       390,209       11,911                            
Total cost
    155,861,753       175,951,741       5,370,931  
Total other liabilities
    2,950,599       3,336,364       101,843  
Less:  Accumulated depreciation
    (84,480,618 )     (98,560,461 )     (3,008,561 )                          
Less:  Accumulated impairment
    -       (12,991 )     (397 )
    Total liabilities
    62,637,562       80,229,245       2,448,998  
      71,381,135       77,378,289       2,361,973                            
Construction in progress
    3,442,925       4,989,149       152,294  
EQUITY ATTRIBUTABLE TO SHAREHOLDERS OF THE PARENT
                       
Machinery in transit and prepayments
    6,964,269       2,390,546       72,971  
Capital stock - NT$10 par value
                       
                         
Authorized - 8,000,000 thousand shares
                       
Net property, plant and equipment
    81,788,329       84,757,984       2,587,238  
Issued - 5,447,559 thousand shares in 2007 and 5,690,428 thousand shares in
                       
                         
 2008 (Note 21)
    54,475,589       56,904,278       1,737,005  
INTANGIBLE ASSETS
                       
Capital received in advance (Note 21)
    491,883       3,387       103  
Patents (Notes 2 and 14)
    5,950       130,373       3,980  
Capital surplus (Notes 18 and 21)
                       
Goodwill (Notes 2 and 13)
    3,188,117       9,456,091       288,647  
Capital in excess of par value
    1,842,027       1,329,634       40,587  
Deferred pension cost (Notes 2 and 20)
    52,058       73,793       2,253  
Treasury stock transactions
    288,713       823,813       25,147  
Acquired special technology (Notes 2 and 14)
    -       626,362       19,120  
Long-term investment
    3,535,840       3,536,854       107,963  
Land use rights (Notes 2, 14 and 28)
    1,486,209       1,438,351       43,906  
Other
    728,254       682,986       20,848  
Other intangible assets (Notes 2 and 14)
    -       867,079       26,468  
Total capital surplus
    6,394,834       6,373,287       194,545  
                         
Retained earnings (Note 21)
    13,898,213       9,221,404       281,484  
Total intangible assets
    4,732,334       12,592,049       384,374  
Other equity adjustments (Notes 2, 20 and 21)
                       
                         
Unrealized gain or loss on financial instruments
    402,518       (439,438 )     (13,414 )
OTHER ASSETS
                       
Cumulative translation adjustments
    2,179,808       4,873,957       148,778  
Idle assets (Notes 2, 15 and 28)
    801,969       361,388       11,031  
Unrecognized pension cost
    (6,516 )     (230,401 )     (7,033 )
Guarantee deposits - noncurrent (Note 26)
    157,589       45,150       1,378  
Treasury stock - 210,715 thousand shares in 2007 and 431,232 thousand shares in
                       
Deferred charges (Note 2)
    1,353,603       1,156,213       35,293  
 2008
    (2,662,968 )     (7,034,480 )     (214,728 )
Deferred income tax assets - noncurrent (Notes 2 and 24)
    1,461,402       1,629,709       49,747  
Total other equity adjustments
    (87,158 )     (2,830,362 )     (86,397 )
Restricted assets (Notes 26 and 28)
    279,068       191,416       5,843                            
Other
    50,991       762,189       23,266  
Total equity attributable to shareholders of the parent
    75,173,361       69,671,994       2,126,740  
                                                   
Total other assets
    4,104,622       4,146,065       126,558  
MINORITY INTEREST IN CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
    14,566,527       2,288,748       69,864  
                                                   
                         
    Total shareholders' equity
    89,739,888       71,960,742       2,196,604  
                                                   
TOTAL
  $ 152,377,450     $ 152,189,987     $ 4,645,602  
TOTAL
  $ 152,377,450     $ 152,189,987     $ 4,645,602  
 
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

(With Deloitte & Touche audit report dated April 16, 2009)
 
 
ADVANCED SEMICONDUCTOR ENGINEERING, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Amounts in Thousands, Except Per Share Data)

 
   
Year Ended December 31
 
   
2006
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$ (Note 2)
 
                         
NET REVENUES (Note 2)
                       
Packaging
  $ 76,820,475     $ 78,516,274     $ 73,391,622     $ 2,240,281  
Testing
    21,429,584       20,007,839       19,021,360       580,628  
Other
    2,173,588       2,638,956       2,017,930       61,597  
                                 
Total net revenues
    100,423,647       101,163,069       94,430,912       2,882,506  
                                 
COST OF REVENUES (Note 23)
                               
Packaging
    57,539,702       57,926,623       58,691,485       1,791,559  
Testing
    12,701,354       12,404,933       12,554,008       383,212  
Other
    1,402,211       1,743,150       656,221       20,031  
                                 
Total cost of revenues
    71,643,267       72,074,706       71,901,714       2,194,802  
                                 
GROSS PROFIT
    28,780,380       29,088,363       22,529,198       687,704  
                                 
OPERATING EXPENSES (Notes 23, 27 and 29)
                               
Research and development
    2,632,036       3,284,088       3,876,822       118,340  
Selling
    1,227,842       994,229       1,158,637       35,367  
General and administrative
    4,474,071       5,512,880       5,694,224       173,816  
                                 
Total operating expenses
    8,333,949       9,791,197       10,729,683       327,523  
                                 
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS
    20,446,431       19,297,166       11,799,515       360,181  
                                 
NON-OPERATING INCOME AND GAINS
                               
Interest income (Note 26)
    406,364       348,660       326,772       9,975  
Gain on valuation of financial assets, net (Notes 2, 5 and 26)
    29,278       205,997       286,914       8,758  
Equity in earnings of equity method investees (Notes 2 and 11)
    315,654       345,705       77,450       2,364  
Foreign exchange gain, net
    92,819       403,532       282,031       8,609  
Gain on insurance settlement and impairment recovery (Note 30)
    4,574,451       -       -       -  
Other
    961,041       1,176,137       985,336       30,077  
                                 
Total non-operating income and gains
    6,379,607       2,480,031       1,958,503       59,783  
                                 
NON-OPERATING EXPENSES AND LOSSES
                               
Interest expense (Notes 2, 12 and 26)
    1,620,294       1,574,524       1,813,296       55,351  
Loss on valuation of financial liabilities (Notes 2, 5 and 26)
    289,847       28,583       732,204       22,351  
Loss on inventory valuation and obsolescence (Note 2)
    1,143,925       634,457       554,106       16,914  
Impairment loss (Notes 2, 6, 10, 12 and 15)
    -       994,682       293,319       8,954  
Other (Notes 8, 20 and 27)
    1,520,548       1,193,083       889,328       27,146  
                                 
Total non-operating expenses and losses
    4,574,614       4,425,329       4,282,253       130,716  
                                 
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX
    22,251,424       17,351,868       9,475,765       289,248  
                                 
INCOME TAX EXPENSE  (Notes 2 and 24)
    2,084,787       3,357,384       2,268,282       69,239  
                                 
INCOME BEFORE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF CHANGES IN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES
    20,166,637       13,994,484       7,207,483       220,009  
                                 
CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF CHANGES IN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLE, NET OF INCOME TAX BENEFIT OF NT$114,168 THOUSAND IN 2006 (Note 3)
    (342,503 )     -       -       -  
                                 
NET INCOME
  $ 19,824,134     $ 13,994,484     $ 7,207,483     $ 220,009  
                                 
ATTRIBUTABLE TO
                               
Shareholders of the parent
  $ 17,416,151     $ 12,165,249     $ 6,160,052     $ 188,036  
Minority interest
    2,407,983       1,829,235       1,047,431       31,973  
                                 
    $ 19,824,134     $ 13,994,484     $ 7,207,483     $ 220,009  
(Continued)
 
 
 
ADVANCED SEMICONDUCTOR ENGINEERING, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Amounts in Thousands, Except Per Share Data)

 
   
Year Ended December 31
 
   
2006
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$ (Note 2)
 
                         
EARNINGS PER SHARE (Note 25)
                       
Basic earnings per share
                       
Before income tax
                       
Income before cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles
    3.61       2.55       1.36       0.04  
Cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles
    (0.09 )     -       -       -  
Income attributable to shareholders of the parent
    3.52       2.55       1.36       0.04  
After income tax
                               
Income before cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles
    3.36       2.26       1.14       0.03  
Cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles
    (0.07 )     -       -       -  
Income attributable to shareholders of the parent
    3.29       2.26       1.14       0.03  
Diluted earnings per share
                               
Before income tax
                               
Income before cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles
    3.44       2.46       1.33       0.04  
Cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles
    (0.08 )     -       -       -  
Income attributable to shareholders of the parent
    3.36       2.46       1.33       0.04  
After income tax
                               
Income before cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles
    3.20       2.18       1.12       0.03  
Cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles
    (0.06 )     -       -       -  
Income attributable to shareholders of the parent
    3.14       2.18       1.12       0.03  
                                 
EARNINGS PER ADS (Note 25)
                               
Basic earnings per ADS
                               
Before income tax
                               
Income before cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles
    18.02       12.73       6.81       0.21  
Cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles
    (0.43 )     -       -       -  
Income attributable to shareholders of the parent
    17.59       12.73       6.81       0.21  
After income tax
                               
Income before cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles
    16.78       11.28       5.71       0.17  
Cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles
    (0.32 )     -       -       -  
Income attributable to shareholders of the parent
    16.46       11.28       5.71       0.17  
                                 
Diluted earnings per ADS
                               
Before income tax
                               
Income before cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles
    17.20       12.32       6.67       0.20  
Cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles
    (0.41 )     -       -       -  
Income attributable to shareholders of the parent
    16.79       12.32       6.67       0.20  
After income tax
                               
Income before cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles
    16.00       10.90       5.59       0.17  
Cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles
    (0.31 )     -       -       -  
Income attributable to shareholders of the parent
    15.69       10.90       5.59       0.17  


The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
 
(With Deloitte & Touche audit report dated April 16, 2009)
(Concluded)
 
 
 
 
ADVANCED SEMICONDUCTOR ENGINEERING, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
(Amount in Thousands) 

 
                     
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficits)
   
Other Equity Adjustments
             
   
Capital
Stock
   
Capital Received in Advance
   
Capital Surplus
   
Legal Reserve
   
Unappropriated Earnings (Accumulated Deficits)
   
Total
   
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Financial Instruments
   
Cumulative Translation Adjustments
   
Unrecognized Pension Cost
   
Treasury Stock
   
Minority Interest
   
Total Shareholders’ Equity
 
                                                                         
New Taiwan Dollars
                                                                       
                                                                         
BALANCE, JANUARY 1, 2006
  $ 45,573,723     $ 156,228     $ 5,916,292     $ 1,746,913     $ (4,492,468 )   $ (2,745,555 )   $ (69,914 )   $ 1,072,511     $ (17,421 )   $ (2,808,436 )   $ 7,901,988     $ 54,979,416  
Effect of adopting ROC SFAS No. 34
    -       -       -       -       -       -       (129,179 )     -       -       -       -       (129,179 )
Offset against deficits
    -       -       (2,314,447 )     (1,746,913 )     4,061,360       2,314,447       -       -       -       -       -       -  
Unrealized gain on available-for-sale financial assets
    -       -       -       -       -       -       16,827       -       -       -       -       16,827  
Valuation gain on derivative financial instruments
    -       -       -       -       -       -       129,179       -       -       -       -       129,179  
Adjustment of equity in subsidiaries
    -       -       (65,104 )     -       -       -       469,487       -       (1,620 )     -       -       402,763  
Stock options exercised by employees
                                                                                               
Common stock
    351,363       (156,228 )     269,027       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       464,162  
Capital received in advance
    -       384,428       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       384,428  
Net income in 2006
    -       -       -       -       17,416,151       17,416,151       -       -       -       -       2,407,983       19,824,134  
Changes in minority interest
    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       788,744       788,744  
Changes in minority interest from acquisition of subsidiaries
    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       8,145       8,145  
Cumulative translation adjustments
    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       258,140       -       -       -       258,140  
BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 2006
    45,925,086       384,428       3,805,768       -       16,985,043       16,985,043       416,400       1,330,651       (19,041 )     (2,808,436 )     11,106,860       77,126,759  
Appropriations of 2006 earnings
                                                                                               
Legal reserve
    -       -       -       1,698,504       (1,698,504 )     -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
Compensation to directors and supervisors
    -       -       -       -       (300,000 )     (300,000 )     -       -       -       -       -       (300,000 )
Bonus to employees - cash
    -       -       -       -       (535,028 )     (535,028 )     -       -       -       -       -       (535,028 )
Bonus to employees - stock
    535,029       -       -       -       (535,029 )     (535,029 )     -       -       -       -       -       -  
Cash dividends - 15%
    -       -       -       -       (6,941,011 )     (6,941,011 )     -       -       -       -       -       (6,941,011 )
Stock dividends - 15%
    6,941,011       -       -       -       (6,941,011 )     (6,941,011 )     -       -       -       -       -       -  
Adjustment of equity in subsidiaries
    -       -       15,867       -       -       -       (15,069 )     -       12,525       145,468       (142,209 )     16,582  
Cash dividends paid to subsidiaries
    -       -       271,945       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       271,945  
Unrealized gain on available-for-sale financial assets
    -       -       -       -       -       -       1,187       -       -       -       -       1,187  
Stock options exercised by employees
                                                                                               
Common stock
    697,276       (384,428 )     649,392       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       962,240  
Capital received in advance
    -       61,952       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       61,952  
Conversion of convertible bonds
                                                                                               
Common stock
    377,187       -       923,608       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       1,300,795  
Capital received in advance
    -       429,931       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       429,931  
Capital surplus from accrued interest on convertible bonds
    -       -       728,254       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       728,254  
Net income in 2007
    -       -       -       -       12,165,249       12,165,249       -       -       -       -       1,829,235       13,994,484  
Changes in minority interest
    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       1,283,507       1,283,507  
Changes in minority interest from acquisition of subsidiaries
    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       489,134       489,134  
Cumulative translation adjustments
    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       849,157       -       -       -       849,157  
BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 2007
    54,475,589       491,883       6,394,834       1,698,504       12,199,709       13,898,213       402,518       2,179,808       (6,516 )     (2,662,968 )     14,566,527       89,739,888  
Appropriations of 2007 earnings
                                                                                               
Legal reserve
    -       -       -       1,216,525       (1,216,525 )     -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
Compensation to directors and supervisors
    -       -       -       -       (216,000 )     (216,000 )     -       -       -       -       -       (216,000 )
Bonus to employees - cash
    -       -       -       -       (383,205 )     (383,205 )     -       -       -       -       -       (383,205 )
Bonus to employees - stock
    383,205       -       -       -       (383,205 )     (383,205 )     -       -       -       -       -       -  
Cash dividends - 17.1%
    -       -       -       -       (9,361,728 )     (9,361,728 )     -       -       -       -       -       (9,361,728 )
Stock dividends - 0.9%
    492,723       -       -       -       (492,723 )     (492,723 )     -       -       -       -       -       -  
Issuance of common stock from capital surplus
    1,094,939       -       (1,094,939 )     -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
Adjustment of equity in subsidiaries
    -       -       1,014       -       -       -       (432,247 )     -       (8,190 )     (3,271,523 )     (250,883 )     (3,961,829 )
Cash dividends of the parent paid to subsidiaries
    -       -       535,100       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       535,100  
Unrealized gain on available-for-sale financial assets
    -       -       -       -       -       -       (18,014 )     -       -       -       -       (18,014 )
Change in unrealized loss on cash flow hedging financial instruments
    -       -       -       -       -       -       (391,695 )     -       -       -       -       (391,695 )
Stock options exercised by employees
                                                                                               
Common stock
    198,067       (61,952 )     101,268       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       237,383  
Capital received in advance
    -       3,387       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       3,387  
Conversion of convertible bonds
    259,755       (429,931 )     436,010       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       265,834  
Net income in 2008
    -       -       -       -       6,160,052       6,160,052       -       -       -       -       1,047,431       7,207,483  
Changes in minority interest
    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       1,435,527       1,435,527  
Changes in minority interest from acquisition of subsidiaries
    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       (14,509,854 )     (14,509,854 )
Cumulative translation adjustments
    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       2,694,149       -       -       -       2,694,149  
Change in net loss not recognized as pension cost
    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       (215,695 )     -       -       (215,695 )
Acquisition of treasury stock - 108,700 thousand shares
    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       (1,099,989 )     -       (1,099,989 )
BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 2008
  $ 56,904,278     $ 3,387     $ 6,373,287     $ 2,915,029     $ 6,306,375     $ 9,221,404     $ (439,438 )   $ 4,873,957     $ (230,401 )   $ (7,034,480 )   $ 2,288,748     $ 71,960,742  
 
U.S. Dollars (Note 2)
                                                                                               
                                                                                                 
BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 2008
  $ 1,737,005     $ 103     $ 194,545     $ 88,981     $ 192,503     $ 281,484     $ (13,414 )   $ 148,778     $ (7,033 )   $ (214,728 )   $ 69,864     $ 2,196,604  
 
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

(With Deloitte & Touche audit report dated April 16, 2009)
 
 
 
 
ADVANCED SEMICONDUCTOR ENGINEERING, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Amounts in Thousands)

 
   
Year Ended December 31
 
   
2006
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$ (Note 2)
 
                         
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
                       
Net income
  $ 19,824,134     $ 13,994,484     $ 7,207,483     $ 220,009  
Cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles
    342,503       -       -       -  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
                               
Depreciation
    13,488,180       15,558,722       16,333,515       498,581  
Amortization
    1,000,031       1,067,430       911,337       27,819  
Impairment loss
    -       994,682       293,319       8,954  
Equity in earnings of equity method investees, net of cash dividends of NT$92,807 thousand, NT$154,517 thousand and NT$292,094 thousand received in 2006, 2007 and 2008, respectively
    (222,847 )     (191,188 )     214,644       6,552  
Accrued interest on convertible bonds
    247,155       177,111       -       -  
Provision for inventory valuation and obsolescence
    1,143,925       634,457       554,106       16,914  
Gain on insurance settlement and impairment recovery
    (4,574,451 )     -       -       -  
Deferred income taxes
    481,919       2,029,567       701,722       21,420  
Other
    221,736       (115,818 )     31,359       957  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
                               
Financial assets for trading
    2,773,501       (44,091 )     1,064,514       32,494  
Accounts receivable
    4,192,941       (5,441,054 )     7,474,046       228,145  
Other receivable
    573,125       (95,286 )     223,690       6,828  
Inventories
    1,363,885       (317,620 )     146,620       4,475  
Other current assets
    (228,740 )     88,894       125,702       3,837  
Financial liabilities for trading
    (436,667 )     (308,252 )     38,545       1,177  
Accounts payable
    (3,679,883 )     661,423       (4,345,030 )     (132,632 )
Income tax payable
    1,294,249       (94,783 )     27,949       853  
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
    (522,403 )     (268,766 )     (412,809 )     (12,601 )
Other liabilities
    28,526       (19,298 )     138,087       4,215  
                                 
Net cash provided by operating activities
    37,310,819       28,310,614       30,728,799       937,997  
                                 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
                               
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment
    (17,764,237 )     (17,190,432 )     (18,583,343 )     (567,257 )
Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment
    413,540       347,470       187,521       5,724  
Acquisition of available-for-sale financial assets
    (16,652,840 )     (11,768,642 )     (7,692,649 )     (234,818 )
Proceeds from disposal of available-for-sale financial assets
    7,518,738       11,825,157       16,714,277       510,204  
Acquisition of financial assets carried at cost
    (320,881 )     (17,970 )     (74,477 )     (2,273 )
Proceeds from disposal of financial assets carried at cost
    -       910,307       6,295       192  
Proceeds from disposal of held-to-maturity financial assets
    -       -       50,000       1,526  
Acquisition of subsidiaries
    -       (846,889 )     (26,490,526 )     (808,624 )
Acquisition of equity method investments
    (309 )     -       -       -  
Acquisition of bond investments with no active market
    -       -       (450,000 )     (13,736 )
Decrease in guaranteed deposits
    -       147,399       429,082       13,098  
Proceeds from insurance claims
    5,768,000       -       -       -  
Decrease (increase) in restricted assets
    (69,326 )     57,395       87,652       2,676  
Increase in other assets
    (815,006 )     (894,892 )     (442,555 )     (13,509 )
Acquisition of patents
    -       (6,595 )     (96,109 )     (2,934 )
Acquisition of land use rights
    (182,187 )     (670,669 )     (4,335 )     (132 )
                                 
Net cash used in investing activities
    (22,104,508 )     (18,108,361 )     (36,359,167 )     (1,109,863 )
                                 
(Continued)
 
 
 
 
ADVANCED SEMICONDUCTOR ENGINEERING, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Amounts in Thousands)

 
   
Year Ended December 31
 
   
2006
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$ (Note 2)
 
                         
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
                       
Proceeds from (repayments of):
                       
Short-term borrowings
  $ (2,216,799 )   $ 3,784,091     $ (1,702,051 )   $ (51,956 )
Short-term bills payable
    -       149,831       (149,831 )     (4,574 )
Bonds payable
    -       -       (5,549,983 )     (169,413 )
Proceeds from long-term debts
    16,148,800       3,072,061       42,020,525       1,282,678  
Repayments of long-term debts and capital lease obligations
    (29,894,517 )     (7,711,576 )     (11,858,119 )     (361,969 )
Increase (decrease) in guarantee deposits received
    261,754       (212,271 )     (48,634 )     (1,485 )
Increase (decrease) in collection of accounts receivable sold
    1,491,110       (2,378,464 )     -       -  
Proceeds from exercise of stock options by employees
    848,590       1,024,192       240,770       7,350  
Compensation to directors and supervisors and bonus to employees
    (9,536 )     (835,028 )     (599,205 )     (18,291 )
Cash dividends, net of cash dividends received by subsidiaries
    -       (6,669,066 )     (8,826,628 )     (269,433 )
Repurchase of treasury stock
    -       -       (1,099,989 )     (33,577 )
Increase in minority interest
    788,744       1,283,507       1,435,527       43,820  
                                 
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
    (12,581,854 )     (8,492,723 )     13,862,382       423,150  
                                 
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES
    (162,734 )     (281,670 )     748,981       22,862  
                                 
EFFECT OF FIRST INCLUSION FOR CONSOLIDATION OF A SUBSIDIARY
    4,564       -       -       -  
                                 
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
    2,466,287       1,427,860       8,980,995       274,146  
                                 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF YEAR
    13,263,788       15,730,075       17,157,935       523,746  
                                 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF YEAR
  $ 15,730,075     $ 17,157,935     $ 26,138,930     $ 797,892  
                                 
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
                               
Interest paid (excluding capitalized interest)
  $ 1,689,075     $ 1,605,936     $ 1,719,200     $ 52,479  
Income tax paid
  $ 308,619     $ 1,604,529     $ 1,538,611     $ 46,966  
                                 
Cash paid for acquisition of property, plant and equipment
                               
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment
  $ 17,730,935     $ 18,172,155     $ 16,623,705     $ 507,439  
Decrease (increase) in payable
    444,718       (973,359 )     1,963,582       59,938  
Increase in capital lease obligations
    (411,416 )     (8,364 )     (3,944 )     (120 )
    $ 17,764,237     $ 17,190,432     $ 18,583,343     $ 567,257  
Cash received from disposal of property, plant and equipment
                               
Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment
  $ 637,541     $ 259,924     $ 100,162     $ 3,057  
Decrease (increase) in other receivables
    (224,001 )     87,546       87,359       2,667  
    $ 413,540     $ 347,470     $ 187,521     $ 5,724  
(Continued)
 
 
 
 
ADVANCED SEMICONDUCTOR ENGINEERING, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Amounts in Thousands)


   
Year Ended December 31
 
   
2006
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$ (Note 2)
 
                         
Cash paid for acquisition of new subsidiaries
                       
Fair value of assets acquired from Top Master Enterprises Limited ("TME") and Suzhou ASEN Semiconductors Co., Ltd. ("ASEN")
  $ -     $ 10,244,745     $ -     $ -  
Less:  Fair value of liabilities from TME and ASEN
    -       (7,094,243 )     -       -  
      -       3,150,502       -       -  
Attributable to minority interest of ASEN
    -       (489,134 )     -       -  
Net fair value
    -       2,661,368       -       -  
Less:  Cash received at acquisition
    -       (1,814,479 )     -       -  
Net cash outflow
  $ -     $ 846,889     $ -     $ -  
                                 
Fair value of assets acquired from ASE WeiHai Inc. (“ASE WeiHai”)
  $ -     $ -     $ 919,505     $ 28,068  
Less:  Fair value of liabilities from ASE WeiHai
    -       -       (706,649 )     (21,570 )
Net fair value
    -       -       212,856       6,498  
Less:  Cash received at acquisition
    -       -       (31,641 )     (966 )
Net cash outflow
  $ -     $ -     $ 181,215     $ 5,532  
                                 
Net cash outflow from acquisition of ASE Test Limited ("ASE Test") (Note 2)
  $ -     $ -     $ 26,309,311     $ 803,093  
                                 
FINANCING ACTIVITIES NOT AFFECTING CASH FLOWS
                               
Bonds converted to capital stock
  $ -     $ 1,730,726     $ 265,834     $ 8,114  
Current portion of long-term bank loans
    1,292,040       5,258,946       2,670,845       81,528  
Current portion of bonds payable
    3,798,233       1,375,000       -       -  
Current portion of capital lease obligations
    540,736       67,838       23,133       706  



The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
 
(With Deloitte & Touche audit report dated April 16, 2009)
 (Concluded)
 
 
 
ADVANCED SEMICONDUCTOR ENGINEERING, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006, 2007 AND 2008
(Amounts in Thousands, Except Per Share Data and Unless Otherwise Stated)



   1.
ORGANIZATION

 
Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc. (“ASE Inc.” or including its subsidiaries, collectively the “Company”), a corporation incorporated under the laws of Republic of China (the “ROC”), is an independent provider of semiconductor packaging and testing services and offers a comprehensive range of IC packaging and testing service.  The common shares of ASE Inc. are traded on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (“TSE”) under the symbol “2311”.  Since September 2000, the common shares of ASE Inc. have been traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “ASX” in the form of American depositary shares (“ADS”).  The Company and its affiliates are together referred to as the “ASE Group”.

 
As of December 31, 2007 and 2008, the Company had approximately 30,000 and 27,000 employees, respectively.


   2.
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with the Guidelines Governing the Preparation of Financial Reports by Securities Issuers and accounting principles generally accepted in the Republic of China (“ROC GAAP”).  Under these guidelines and principles, the Company should reasonably estimate the amounts of allowances for doubtful accounts, sales discounts and inventory valuations, depreciation of property, plant, and equipment, losses on impairment of assets, pension expenses, gains or losses on valuation of financial instruments, valuation allowances for deferred income tax assets and bonuses to employees, directors and supervisors.  Actual results may differ from these estimates.  Significant accounting policies are summarized as follows:

 
Basis of Presentation

 
The Company prepares its consolidated financial statements pursuant to ROC GAAP with a reconciliation to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) (Note 32).  The accompanying consolidated balance sheets are presented as of December 31, 2007 and 2008, and the accompanying consolidated statements of income, changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows are presented for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2008.

 
Basis of Consolidation

 
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of all directly and indirectly majority owned subsidiaries of ASE Inc.  All significant intercompany balances and transactions are eliminated upon consolidation.
 
 
 

 
 
The consolidated entities of ASE Group were as follows:

       
Percentage of Ownership
   
       
December 31
   
  Name of Investor
 
    Name of Investee
 
  2007
 
  2008
 
    Remark
                 
ASE Inc.
 
A.S.E. Holding Limited (ASE Holding)
 
100.0
 
100.0
 
Holding company
   
J&R Holding Limited (J&R Holding)
 
100.0
 
100.0
 
Holding company
   
Innosource Limited (Innosource)
 
100.0
 
100.0
 
Holding company
   
Omniquest Industrial Limited (Omniquest)
 
65.6
 
77.6
 
Holding company
   
ASE Test
 
-
 
53.4
 
Holding company
   
ASE Marketing & Service Japan Co., Ltd.
 
100.0
 
100.0
 
Engaged in marketing and provides sales services
   
ASE Technologies, Inc.
 
99.5
 
99.5
 
In the process of liquidation
   
ASE Network, Inc.
 
90.0
 
-
 
Dissolved in December 2008
   
PowerASE Technology Inc. (PowerASE)
 
2.9
 
56.0
 
Engaged in the packaging and testing of memory integrated circuit
ASE Holding
 
ASEP Realty Corporation
 
100.0
 
100.0
 
In the process of liquidation
   
ASE Holding Electronics (Philippines), Incorporated
 
100.0
 
100.0
 
In the process of liquidation
   
ASE Investment (Labuan) Inc.
 
70.0
 
70.0
 
Holding company
   
ASE Test
 
11.1
 
10.2
 
Holding company
                 
ASE Investment
  (Labuan) Inc.
 
ASE (Korea) Inc. (ASE Korea)
 
100.0
 
100.0
 
Engaged in the packaging and testing of integrated circuit
J&R Holding
 
J&R Industrial Inc.
 
100.0
 
100.0
 
Engaged in the leasing of substrate, packaging and testing equipment
   
ASE Japan Co., Ltd. (ASE Japan)
 
100.0
 
100.0
 
Engaged in the packaging and testing of integrated circuit
   
ASE (U.S.) Inc. (ASE US)
 
100.0
 
100.0
 
After-sales service and sales support

(Continued)
 
 
 
 
       
Percentage of Ownership
   
       
December 31
   
  Name of Investor
 
    Name of Investee
 
  2007
 
  2008
 
    Remark
                 
   
Global Advanced Packaging Technology Ltd., Cayman Islands (GAPT Cayman)
 
-
 
100.0
 
Holding company
   
ASE WeiHai
 
-
 
100.0
 
Acquired in 2008. Engaged in the packaging and testing of semiconductors
   
ASEN
 
60.0
 
60.0
 
Engaged in the packaging and testing of semiconductors
   
Omniquest
 
14.4
 
9.4
 
Holding company
   
ASE Test
 
39.3
 
36.4
 
Holding company
   
Grand Innovation Co., Ltd.
 
100.0
 
-
 
Dissolved in May 2008
   
PowerASE Technology Holding Limited
 
58.9
 
-
 
Dissolved in May 2008
   
TME
 
100.0
 
-
 
Dissolved in March 2008
Innosource
 
ASE Module (Shanghai) Inc. (Module Shanghai)
 
100.0
 
100.0
 
Will engage in the  production of electronic component and printed circuit board
   
Omniquest
 
20.0
 
13.0
 
Holding company
Module Shanghai
 
ASE (Shanghai) Inc. (ASE Shanghai)
 
-
 
0.6
 
Engaged in the production of substrates
Omniquest
 
ASE Corporation
 
100.0
 
100.0
 
Holding company
ASE Corporation
 
ASE Mauritius Inc.
 
100.0
 
100.0
 
Holding company
   
ASE Labuan Inc.
 
100.0
 
100.0
 
Holding company
ASE Mauritius Inc.
 
ASE Hi-Tech (Shanghai) Inc.
 
100.0
 
100.0
 
Will engage in the production of electronic component and printed circuit board
   
ASE (Kun Shan) Inc.
 
100.0
 
100.0
 
Will engage in the production of electronic component and printed circuit board
   
ASE Shanghai
 
100.0
 
98.8
 
Engaged in the production of substrates
   
ASE Module (Kunshan) Inc.
 
-
 
100.0
 
Will engage in the production of electronic component
 

(Continued)
 
 
 
 
       
Percentage of Ownership
   
       
December 31
   
  Name of Investor
 
    Name of Investee
 
  2007
 
  2008
 
    Remark
                 
ASE Shanghai
 
Shanghai Ding Hui Real Estate Development Co., Ltd.
 
90.0
 
90.0
 
Engaged in the development and sale of real estate properties
   
Advanced Semiconductor Engineering (HK) Limited
 
-
 
100.0
 
Newly established in April 2008. Engaged in trading
ASE Labuan Inc.
 
ASE Electronics Inc. (ASE Electronics)
 
100.0
 
100.0
 
Engaged in the production of substrates
ASE Test
 
ASE Test, Inc.
 
100.0
 
100.0
 
Engaged in the testing of semiconductors
   
ASE Test Holdings, Ltd.
 
100.0
 
100.0
 
Holding company
   
ASE Holdings (Singapore) Pte Ltd
 
100.0
 
100.0
 
Holding company
   
ASE Test Finance Limited
 
100.0
 
100.0
 
Engaged in financing activity
   
ASE Investment (Labuan) Inc.
 
30.0
 
30.0
 
Holding company
   
ASE Singapore Pte. Ltd.
 
-
 
100.0
 
Engaged in the testing of semiconductors, and restructured from ISE Labs, Inc. (“ISE”) in November 2008
ASE Test Holdings, Ltd.
 
ISE
 
100.0
 
100.0
 
Engaged in the testing of semiconductors
ISE
 
ASE Singapore Pte. Ltd.
 
100.0
 
-
 
Restructured to ASE Test in November 2008
ASE Holdings
  (Singapore) Pte Ltd
 
ASE Electronics (M) Sdn. Bhd. (ASE Malaysia)
 
100.0
 
100.0
 
Engaged in the packaging and testing of semiconductors
TME
 
GAPT Cayman
 
100.0
 
-
 
Holding company
GAPT Cayman
 
ASE Assembly & Test (HK) Limited
 
100.0
 
100.0
 
Engaged in trading
   
ASE Assembly & Test (Shanghai) Limited (ASESH AT)
 
100.0
 
100.0
 
Engaged in the packaging and testing of semiconductors
ASESH AT
 
Shanghai Wei Yu Hong Xin Semiconductors Inc.
 
100.0
 
100.0
 
In the development stage
   
ASE Shanghai
 
-
 
0.6
 
Engaged in the production of substrates
PowerASE Technology Holding Limited
 
PowerASE
 
90.7
 
-
 
Restructured to J&R Holding in May 2008

(Concluded)
 
 
 
 
 
 
On May 30, 2008, ASE Inc. acquired from minority shareholders the ordinary shares of ASE Test listed on NASDAQ (the “ASE Test NASDAQ Shares”) for US$14.78 per share, and listed on the TSE (the Taiwan Depositary Receipts, “TDR”) for NT$5.6314 per TDR, respectively.  The purpose of the acquisition of the minority shareholders’ shares of ASE Test was to fully consolidate ASE Test’s earnings with the Company’s, simplify the organizational structure, reduce costs and administrative burdens associated with filing and compliance requirements, enhance brand recognition, and increase flexibility in making investments and allocating resources among subsidiaries. The total purchase price was NT$26,309,311 thousand (US$803,093 thousand).  After the acquisition, ASE Test became an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of ASE Inc., and ASE Test NASDAQ Shares and TDR were delisted from NASDAQ and the TSE, respectively.  (See Note 19 for discussion of financing for the acquisition)

 
Current and Noncurrent Assets and Liabilities

 
Current assets include cash and cash equivalents, and those assets held primarily for trading purposes or to be realized, sold or consumed within twelve months from the balance sheet date.  Current liabilities are obligations incurred for trading purposes or to be settled within twelve months from the balance sheet date.  Assets and liabilities that are not classified as current are noncurrent assets and liabilities, respectively.

 
Cash Equivalents

 
Government bonds with repurchase agreements are highly liquid financial instruments with maturities of less than three months when acquired and with carrying amounts that approximate their fair values.

 
Financial Assets/Liabilities at Fair Value through Profit or Loss

 
Financial instruments classified as financial assets or financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss (“FVTPL”) include financial assets or financial liabilities held for trading.  The Company recognizes a financial asset or financial liability on its balance sheet when the Company becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the financial instrument.  A financial asset is derecognized when the Company has lost control of its contractual rights over the financial asset.  A financial liability is derecognized when the obligation specified in the relevant contract is discharged, cancelled or expired.

 
Financial instruments at FVTPL are initially measured at fair value.  Transaction costs directly attributable to the acquisition of financial assets at FVTPL are recognized immediately in profit or loss.  At each balance sheet date subsequent to initial recognition, financial assets or financial liabilities at FVTPL are remeasured at fair value, with changes in fair value recognized directly in profit or loss in the year in which they arise.  Cash dividends received subsequently (including those received in the year of investment) are recognized as income for the year.  On derecognition of a financial asset or a financial liability, the difference between its carrying amount and the sum of the consideration received and receivable or consideration paid and payable is recognized in profit or loss.  A regular way purchase or sale of financial assets is recognized and derecognized on a settlement date basis.

 
A derivative that does not qualify for hedge accounting is classified as a financial asset or a financial liability held for trading.  If the fair value of the derivative is positive, the derivative is recognized as a financial asset; otherwise, the derivative is recognized as a financial liability.

 
Fair value is determined as follows:  Open-end mutual funds - the net asset value; quoted stocks - the closing-price at the balance sheet date; derivatives with no quoted price in an active market - using valuation techniques.

 
Available-for-sale Financial Assets

 
Available-for-sale financial assets are initially recognized at fair value plus transaction costs that are directly attributable to the acquisition.  Changes in fair value of financial assets are reported in a separate component of shareholders’ equity.  The corresponding accumulated gains or losses are recognized in earnings when the financial asset is derecognized from the balance sheet.  A regular way purchase or sale of financial assets is recognized and derecognized on a settlement date basis.
 
 
 
 

 
 
The recognition and derecognition bases of available-for-sale financial assets are similar to those of financial assets at FVTPL.

 
Cash dividends are recognized on the ex-dividend date.  Stock dividends are not recognized as investment income but are recorded as an increase in the number of shares.  The total number of shares subsequent to the increase is used for recalculation of cost per share.

 
Fair values of open-end mutual funds and quoted stocks are determined using the net asset value and closing-price at the balance sheet date, respectively.  Bonds are determined using the closing-price at the balance sheet date or at prices quoted by Taiwan GreTai Securities Market.

 
If certain objective evidence indicates that an available-for-sale financial asset is impaired, a loss is recognized currently; if, in a subsequent period, the amount of the impairment loss decreases, for equity securities, the previously recognized impairment loss is reversed to the extent of the decrease and recorded as an adjustment to shareholders’ equity; for debt securities, the amount of the decrease is recognized in earnings, provided that the decrease is clearly attributable to an event which occurred after the impairment loss was recognized.

 
Revenue Recognition, Allowance for Doubtful Accounts and Allowance for Sales Discounts

 
Revenues from semiconductor packaging and testing services are recognized upon completion of the services or shipment.  The Company does not take ownership of:  (i) bare semiconductor wafers received from customers that the Company packages into finished semiconductors and (ii) packaged semiconductors received from customers that the Company tests as to whether they meet certain performance specifications.  The title and risk of loss remain with the customer for those bare semiconductors and/or packaged semiconductors.  Accordingly, the costs of customer-supplied semiconductor materials are not included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.  Other criteria the Company uses to determine when to recognize revenue are:  (i) existence of persuasive evidence of an arrangement, (ii) the selling price is fixed or determinable and (iii) collectibility is reasonably assured.

 
Revenues are determined using the fair value taking into account related sales discounts agreed to by the Company and customers.  Since the receivables from sales are collectible within one year and such transactions are frequent, the fair value of receivables is equivalent to the nominal amount of cash received or receivable.

 
An allowance for doubtful accounts is provided based on an evaluation of the collectibility of receivables.  The Company determines the amount of the allowance for doubtful accounts by examining the aging analysis of the outstanding accounts receivable and current trends in the credit quality of its customers.  An allowance for sales discounts is recognized based on historical experience in the same period sales are recognized.

 
Accounts Receivable Securitization

 
Accounts receivable securitization is the transfer of a designated pool of accounts receivable to a bank which in turn issues beneficial securities or asset-backed securities based on the accounts receivable.  Under the ROC Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“ROC SFAS”) No. 33, “Accounting for Transfers of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities”, such transfer of financial assets in which the transferor surrenders control over those assets is accounted for as a sale to the extent that consideration other than beneficial interests in the transferred assets is received in exchange.  The difference between the book value of accounts receivable and total proceeds received is recorded as a gain or loss on the disposal of financial assets.
 
 
 

 
 
Inventories

 
Inventories including raw materials (materials received from customers for processing, mainly semiconductor wafers, are excluded from inventories as title and risk of loss remain with the customers), supplies and spare parts, work in process, finished goods, supplies in transit and construction in progress are stated at the lower of cost or market value.  Market value represents net realizable value for finished goods, work in process and construction in progress, and replacement costs for raw materials, supplies and spare parts.

 
Raw materials, supplies and spare parts are recorded at moving average cost; work in process and finished goods are recorded at standard cost and adjusted to the approximate weighted average cost at the balance sheet date.  Estimated losses on obsolescence and slow-moving items are recognized and included in the allowance for losses.

 
Construction in progress for the Company’s real estate developer is accounted for using the completed-contract method.

 
Held-to-maturity Financial Assets

 
Held-to-maturity financial assets are carried at amortized cost using the effective interest method.  Those financial assets are initially measured at fair value plus transaction costs that are directly attributable to the acquisition.  Gains or losses are recognized when the financial assets are derecognized, impaired or amortized.

 
If certain objective evidence indicates that a held-to-maturity financial asset is impaired, a loss is recognized currently.  If, in a subsequent period, the amount of the impairment loss decreases and the decrease is clearly attributable to an event which occurred after the impairment loss was recognized, the previously recognized impairment loss is reversed to the extent of the decrease.  The reversal may not result in a carrying amount that exceeds the amortized cost that would have been determined as if no impairment loss had been recognized.

 
Financial Assets Carried at Cost

 
Investments, such as non-publicly traded stocks that do not have a quoted market price in an active market and whose fair value cannot be reliably measured, are carried at their original cost.  If certain objective evidence indicates that such a financial asset is impaired, a loss is recognized.  A subsequent reversal of such impairment loss is not allowed.

 
Cash dividends are recognized as investment income on the ex-dividend date.  Stock dividends which are not recognized as investment income are recorded as an increase in the number of shares held and the cost per share is recalculated based on the new total number of shares.

 
Bond Investments with No Active Market

 
Bond investments with fixed or determinable payments and with no quoted prices in an active market are carried at amortized cost using the effective interest method.  The accounting treatment for such bond investments is similar to that for held-to-maturity financial assets, except for the absence of restriction on the timing of their disposal.

 
Equity Method Investments

 
Investments in companies of which the Company owns at least 20% of the outstanding voting shares or where the Company exercises significant influence over the investee companies’ operating and financial policy decisions are accounted for using the equity method.  Pursuant to the revised ROC SFAS No. 5, “Long-term Investments under Equity Securities”, the acquisition cost is allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their fair values at the date of acquisition, and the excess of the acquisition cost over the fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired is recognized as goodwill.  Goodwill is not amortized.
 
 
 
 
 
 
When the Company subscribes for additional investees’ shares at a percentage different from its existing ownership percentage, the resulting carrying amount of the investment in the investees differs from the amount of the Company’s share in the investee’s net equity.  The Company records such a difference as an adjustment to equity method investments with the corresponding amount charged or credited to capital surplus.

 
Gains or losses on sales between the Company and equity method investees are deferred in proportion to the Company’s ownership percentage in the investees until such gains or losses are realized through transactions with third parties.  Gains or losses on sales between equity method investees are deferred in proportion to the product of the Company’s ownership percentages in the investees until they are realized through transactions with third parties.

 
Property, Plant and Equipment

 
Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment.  Borrowing costs direly attributable to the acquisition or construction of property, plant and equipment are capitalized as part of the cost of those assets.  Major additions and improvements to property, plant and equipment are capitalized, while maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred.

 
Assets held under capital leases are initially recognized as assets of the Company at the lower of their fair value at the inception of the lease or the present value of the minimum lease payments; the corresponding liability is included in the balance sheet as obligations under capital leases.  The interest included in lease payments is expensed when paid.

 
Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over estimated service life, which ranges as follows:  buildings and improvements, 3 to 55 years; machinery and equipment, 2 to 10 years; furniture and fixtures, 2 to 13 years; transportation equipment, 2 to 10 years; and leased assets and leasehold improvements, 3 to 5 years.  In the event that an asset which has been depreciated to its residual value is still in service, its residual value is further depreciated over its re-estimated service life.

 
When property, plant and equipment are retired or disposed of, their cost, accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment are removed from the accounts and any gain or loss is credited or charged to non-operating income or losses.

 
Intangible Assets

 
Patents acquired are initially recorded at cost and are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives.  Land use rights are amortized over the estimated life of 50 to 60 years.

 
Patent, acquired special technology and customer relationship (shown in other intangible assets) acquired from the acquisition of subsidiaries are amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated life of 5 to 11 years.

 
Goodwill represents the excess of the consideration paid for an acquisition over the fair value of identifiable net assets acquired.  Prior to January 1, 2006, goodwill was amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated life of 10 years.  Effective January 1, 2006, pursuant to the revised ROC SFAS No. 25, “Business Combinations-Accounting Treatment under Purchase Method” (“ROC SFAS No. 25”), goodwill is no longer amortized and instead is tested for impairment annually.
 
 
 

 
 
Idle Assets

 
Idle assets are stated at the lower of their fair value or carrying amount.  The carrying amount in excess of the fair value is recognized as an impairment loss.  The remaining book value is depreciated using the straight-line method.

 
Asset Impairment

 
The Company evaluates whether or not there are indications that assets (primarily property, plant and equipment, intangible assets, and equity method investments) may be impaired as of the balance sheet date.  If there are indications, the Company estimates the recoverable amount for the asset.  If an asset’s recoverable amount is lower than its carrying amount, the carrying amount of the asset is reduced to its recoverable amount by recording an impairment loss.  When the recoverable amount subsequently increases, the impairment loss previously recognized is reversed and recorded as a gain.  However, the carrying amount of an asset (other than goodwill) after the reversal of the impairment loss should not exceed the carrying amount of the asset that would have been determined, net of depreciation, as if no impairment loss had been recognized.

 
For the purpose of goodwill impairment testing, goodwill is allocated to each of the relevant cash-generating units (“CGU(s)”) that are expected to benefit from the synergies of the acquisition.  A CGU to which goodwill has been allocated is tested for impairment annually or whenever there is an indication that the CGU may be impaired.  If the recoverable amount of the CGU becomes less than its carrying amount, the impairment is allocated to first reduce the carrying amount of the goodwill allocated to the CGU and then to the other assets of the CGU pro rata on the basis of the carrying amount of each asset in the CGU.  A reversal of an impairment loss on goodwill is disallowed.

 
For equity method investments, the carrying amount (including goodwill) of each investment is compared with its own recoverable amount for the purpose of impairment testing.

 
Deferred Charges

 
Deferred charges consist of certain intangibles and other assets, including license fees, telecommunications and computer network systems.  Amortization of deferred charges is computed on a straight-line basis over 2 to 5 years.

 
Stock-based Compensation

 
Employee stock options granted on or after January 1, 2008 are accounted for under ROC SFAS No. 39, “Accounting for Share-based Payment.”  Under the statement, the value of the stock options granted, which is equal to the best available estimate of the number of stock options expected to vest multiplied by the grant-date fair value, is expensed on a straight-line basis over the vesting period, with a corresponding adjustment to capital surplus - employee stock options.  The estimate is revised if subsequent information indicates that the number of stock options expected to vest differs from previous estimates.

 
Employee stock options granted before January 1, 2007 were accounted for under the interpretations issued by the ROC Accounting Research and Development Foundation (“ARDF”).  The Company adopted the intrinsic value method, under which compensation cost was recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period.

 
Pension Cost

 
Pension cost under defined benefit plans are determined by actuarial valuations.  Contributions made under defined contribution plans are recognized as pension cost during the period in which employees render services.
 

 
 

 
 
Short-term Bills Payable

 
Commercial paper, when issued at a discount, is recorded at the cash proceeds received and accreted to its face value.  The difference between face value and cash proceeds is recognized as unamortized discounts.  Unamortized discount is amortized as interest expense in the period between the issue date and maturity date.

 
Convertible Bonds

 
Prior to the adoption of ROC SFAS No. 34 and No. 36 on January 1, 2006, convertible bonds were recorded as a financial liability.  The stated redemption price in excess of the face value of the bond is recognized as interest expense over the period from the issuance date to the date the put option becomes exercisable, using the effective interest rate method.  If the market price of the common shares into which the bonds are convertible is higher than the redemption price at the time the put option expires, the related accrued interest is transferred to capital surplus.  Conversion of convertible bonds into common shares is accounted for by the book value method.  Under this method, unamortized bond issuance costs and accrued interest, together with face value of converted bonds, are written off, and the common shares issued are recorded at their par value, with any excess recorded as capital surplus.  No change in accounting treatment was required for convertible bonds after ROC SFAS No. 34 and No. 36 were effective.

 
Treasury Stock

 
Treasury stock is stated at cost and shown as a deduction in shareholders’ equity.

 
ASE Inc.’s shares held by its subsidiaries are accounted for as treasury stock and, accordingly, the cost of such shares is reclassified from equity method investments to treasury stock.

 
Research and Development Costs

 
Research and development costs are charged to expenses as incurred.

 
Income Taxes

 
The Company applies intra-period and inter-period allocations for its income tax whereby (1) a portion of current income tax expense is allocated to the cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles; and (2) deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the tax effects of temporary differences, loss carryforwards and unused tax credits.  Valuation allowances are provided to the extent, if any, that it is more likely than not that deferred income tax assets will not be realized.  A deferred tax asset or liability is classified as current or noncurrent in accordance with the classification of its related asset or liability.  However, if a deferred tax asset or liability does not relate to an asset or liability in the financial statements, then it is classified as either current or noncurrent based on the expected length of time before it is realized or settled.

 
The temporary differences between the book value and taxable base of equity method investments in foreign subsidiaries are not recognized as deferred income tax assets or liabilities since the Company could control the timing of reversal of the temporary differences and would not reverse them in the foreseeable future.

 
Any tax credits arising from purchases of machinery, equipment and technology, research and development expenditures, and personnel training expenditures are recognized using the flow-through method.

 
Adjustments of prior years’ income tax are added to or deducted from the current year’s tax provision.

 
Income tax on undistributed earnings is recorded by ASE Inc. and subsidiaries under jurisdiction of ROC at the rate of 10% and is recorded as an expense in the year shareholders resolve the distribution of earnings.
 
 
 

 
Foreign Currency Transactions and Translation of Foreign-currency Financial Statements

 
The functional and reporting currency of ASE Inc. is the New Taiwan dollar, while the functional currencies of its major subsidiaries are their local currencies, namely, the U.S. dollar, Japanese yen, Korea Won, Renminbi and Malaysia Ringgit, respectively.

 
Non-derivative foreign currency transactions are recorded in local currencies at the rates of exchange in effect when the transactions occur.  Exchange differences arising from settlement of foreign-currency assets and liabilities are recognized in profit or loss.

 
At the balance sheet date, foreign-currency monetary assets and liabilities are revalued using prevailing exchange rates and the exchange differences are recognized in profit or loss.

 
At the balance sheet date, foreign-currency nonmonetary assets (such as equity instruments) and liabilities that are measured at fair value are revalued using prevailing exchange rates, with the exchange differences treated as follows:

 
a.
Recognized in shareholders equity if the changes in fair value are recognized in shareholders equity;

 
b.
Recognized in profit or loss if the changes in fair value is recognized in profit or loss.

 
Foreign-currency nonmonetary assets and liabilities that are carried at cost continue to be stated at exchange rates at trade dates.

 
If an investee’s functional currency is a foreign currency, translation adjustments will result from the translation of the investee’s financial statements into the reporting currency of the Company.  Such adjustments are accumulated and reported as a separate component of shareholders’ equity.

 
The financial statements of foreign subsidiaries are translated into New Taiwan dollars at the following exchange rates:  Assets and liabilities - spot rates at the end of year; shareholders’ equity - historical rates; income and expenses - average rates during the year.  The resulting translation adjustments are recorded as a separate component of shareholders’ equity.

 
Hedging Derivative Financial Instruments

 
Derivatives that qualify as effective hedging instruments are measured at fair value, with subsequent changes in fair value recognized in profit or loss, or in shareholders equity, depending on the nature of the hedging relationship.

 
Hedge Accounting

 
Hedge accounting recognizes the offsetting effects on profit or loss of changes in the fair values of the hedging instrument and the hedged item as follows:

 
a.
Fair value hedge

 
The gain or loss from remeasuring the hedging instrument at fair value and the gain or loss on the hedged item attributable to the hedged risk are recognized in profit or loss.

 
b.
Cash flow hedge

 
The portion of the gain or loss on the hedging instrument that is determined to be an effective hedge is recognized in shareholders equity.  The amount recognized in shareholders equity is recognized in profit or loss in the same year or years during which the hedged forecast transaction or an asset or liability arising from the hedged forecast transaction affects profit or loss.  However, if all or a portion of a loss recognized in shareholders’ equity is not expected to be recovered in the future, the amount that is not expected to be recovered is reclassified into profit or loss.
 
 
 
 
 
Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 
The ROC ARDF revised ROC SFAS No. 10, “Accounting for Inventories” (“ROC SFAS No. 10”) in November 2007, which requires inventories to be stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value item by item.  Inventories are recorded by the specific identification method, first-in, first-out method or weighted average method.  The last-in, first-out method is no longer permitted.  The revised ROC SFAS No. 10 should be applied to financial statements for the fiscal years beginning on or after January 1, 2009.

 
U.S. Dollar Amounts

 
The Company prepares its consolidated financial statements in New Taiwan dollars.  A translation of the 2008 consolidated financial statements into U.S. dollars is included solely for the convenience of the reader, and has been based on the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank of New York noon buying rate of NT$32.76 to US$1.00 in effect on December 31, 2008.  The translation should not be construed as a representation that the New Taiwan dollar amounts have been, could have been, or could in the future be, converted into U.S. dollars at this or any other rate of exchange.

 
Reclassifications

 
Certain accounts in the consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2007 and for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2007 have been reclassified to conform to the presentation of the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2008.


   3.
ACCOUNTING CHANGE

 
Adoption of New and Revised Standards

 
Starting January 1, 2008, the Company adopted Interpretation 96-052, Accounting for Bonuses to Employees, Directors and Supervisors issued in March 2007 by the ROC ARDF, which requires companies to record bonuses paid to employees, directors and supervisors as an expense rather than as an appropriation of earnings.  The adoption of this Interpretation resulted in a decrease in net income attributable to shareholders of the parent and earnings per share of NT$675,111 thousand (US$20,608 thousand) and NT$0.13 (US$0.003), respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2008.

 
Starting January 1, 2007, the Company adopted the released ROC SFAS No. 37, “Intangible Assets”, ROC SFAS No. 38, “Non-current Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations” and ROC SFAS No. 39, “Share-based Payment”.  The adoption of ROC SFAS No. 37, ROC SFAS No. 38 and ROC SFAS No. 39 had no impact on the results of operations and financial position of the Company.

 
Starting January 1, 2006, the Company adopted the released ROC SFAS No. 34, “Financial Instruments:  Recognition and Measurement” and No. 36, “Financial Instruments:  Disclosure and Presentation” and revisions of previously released ROC SFAS No. 5 and No. 25.

 
a.
Effect of adopting the released SFASs and revisions of previously released SFASs

1)     
The Company categorized its financial assets and liabilities upon the initial adoption of the newly released ROC SFAS No.34 and No.36.  The adjustments made to the carrying amounts of the financial instruments categorized as financial assets or liabilities at FVTPL were included in the cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles; and the adjustments made to the carrying amounts of those categorized as available-for-sale financial assets were recognized as adjustments to shareholders’ equity.
 
 
 

 
 
Deferred exchange losses for cash flow hedges were reclassified as adjustments to shareholders’ equity.

 
The effect of adopting the released SFASs is summarized as follows:
 
 
   
Recognized as Cumulative Effect of Changes in
Accounting
Principles
(Net of income tax)
   
Recognized as a Separate Component of Shareholders’
Equity
(Net of income tax)
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
 
             
 Financial assets at FVTPL
    503       -  
 Financial liabilities at FVTPL
    (343,006 )     -  
 Derivative financial liabilities for hedging
    -       (129,179 )
                 
      (342,503 )     (129,179 )

 
In addition to the effect shown above, the adoption of ROC SFAS No. 34 and No. 36 also resulted in an increase in net income before cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles of NT$242,961 thousand, a decrease in net income of NT$99,542 thousand (net of income tax effect of NT$33,181 thousand), and a decrease in basic earnings per share (after income tax) of NT$0.02 for the year ended December 31, 2006.

2)
The Company adopted the revised ROC SFAS No. 5 and No. 25, which prescribe that investment premiums, representing goodwill, not be amortized and instead be assessed for impairment at least on an annual basis.  This change resulted in an increase in net income before cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles of NT$619,397 thousand and an increase in basic earnings per share (after income tax) of NT$0.11 for the year ended December 31, 2006.


   4.
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

   
December 31
 
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$
 
                   
Cash on hand
    6,817       6,694       204  
Checking and saving accounts
    12,232,305       13,960,753       426,153  
Time deposits
    4,918,813       10,501,483       320,558  
Cash equivalents –government bonds with repurchase agreements
    -       1,670,000       50,977  
                         
      17,157,935       26,138,930       797,892  
 
 

 

   5.
FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AT FAIR VALUE THROUGH PROFIT OR LOSS

   
December 31
 
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$
 
Financial assets for trading - current
                 
Domestic quoted stocks
    -       536,427       16,375  
Forward exchange contracts
    2,641       1,053       32  
Open-end mutual funds
    1,599,353       -       -  
                         
      1,601,994       537,480       16,407  
Financial liabilities for trading - current
                       
Swap contracts
    -       61,257       1,870  
Forward exchange contracts
    16,493       21,410       654  
Interest rate swap contract
    20,319       209       6  
Cross-currency swap contracts
    7,519       -       -  
                         
      44,331       82,876       2,530  

 
The Company entered into derivative contracts for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008 to manage exposures to foreign exchange and interest rate risk.  The derivative contracts entered into by the Company did not meet the criteria for hedge accounting except Note 26h, therefore, the Company did not apply hedge accounting treatment for its derivative contracts.

 
Information on such derivative transactions is as follows:

a.
Swap contracts

 
As of December 31, 2008, the amount of the outstanding contracts of ASE Inc. was NT$5,133,164 thousand/ US$154,500 thousand.  The maturity date of the contracts is from January 12, 2009 to April 10, 2009.

b.
Forward exchange contracts

 
The outstanding forward exchange contracts of the Company as of December 31, 2007 and 2008 were as follows:

       
Contract Amount
Currency 
 
Maturity Date
 
(In Thousands)
December 31, 2007
       
         
USD/JPY
 
2008.01.10-2008.03.24
 
USD16,000/JPY1,783,727
USD/NTD
 
2008.01.07-2008.03.28
 
USD190,000/NTD6,130,684
USD/KRW
 
2008.01.28
 
USD5,000/KRW4,697,500
USD/MYR
 
2008.01.08-2008.02.12
 
USD8,000/MYR26,594
NTD/USD
 
2008.01.22-2008.02.12
 
NTD483,050/USD15,000
         
December 31, 2008
       
         
USD/JPY
 
2009.01.05-2009.01.09
 
USD1,105/JPY99,192
USD/NTD
 
2009.01.12-2009.01.20
 
USD4,000/NTD132,242
USD/MYR
 
2009.01.15-2009.01.22
 
USD1,500/MYR5,278
NTD/USD
 
2009.01.09-2009.02.23
 
NTD4,072,502/USD123,426
 
 
 

 
c.
Interest rate swap contract

 
As of December 31, 2007 and 2008, the notional amount of the outstanding contract of ASE Inc. was NT$2,750,000 thousand and NT$1,375,000 thousand (US$41,972 thousand), respectively.  Interest receipt and payment were based on floating rates semi-annually.  The last maturity date of the contract is January 9, 2009.

d.
Cross-currency swap contracts

 
ASE Inc. entered into cross-currency swap contracts with banks to manage its exposure to interest rate and exchange rate fluctuations associated with its long-term bonds payable.  As of December 31, 2007, the notional amount of the outstanding contract was US$139,159 thousand/ NT$4,525,729 thousand.  Interest receipt and payment were based on fixed rates of 4.45% and 1.70%, respectively.  The maturity date of the contract was January 24, 2008.

 
For the years ended December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008, the gain on valuation of financial assets held for trading was NT$29,278 thousand, NT$205,997 thousand and NT$286,914 thousand (US$8,758 thousand), respectively; the loss on valuation of financial liabilities held for trading was NT$289,847 thousand, NT$28,583 thousand and NT$732,204 thousand (US$22,351 thousand), respectively.


   6.
AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE FINANCIAL ASSETS - CURRENT

   
December 31
 
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$
 
                   
Domestic quoted stocks
    -       165,623       5,056  
Government and corporate bonds
    88,874       100,000       3,052  
Overseas quoted stocks
    21,305       21,578       659  
Open-end mutual funds
    9,219,786       -       -  
Adjustment of valuations
    76,362       (7,389 )     (226 )
                         
      9,406,327       279,812       8,541  

 
The other than temporary or realized loss on impairment of available-for-sale financial assets was nil for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2007.  For the year ended December 31, 2008, the other than temporary or realized loss on impairment of available-for-sale financial assets was NT$149,954 thousand (US$4,578 thousand).


   7.
BOND INVESTMENTS WITH NO ACTIVE MARKET - CURRENT

 
In July 2008, ASE Inc. purchased 3-year unsecured corporate bonds with a coupon rate 4.202% issued by Powerchip Semiconductor Corp. (“PSC”) at face value of NT$450,000 thousand (US$13,736 thousand).  ASE Inc. is eligible to request PSC to redeem the bonds on July 15, 2009 according to the bond issuance terms.

 
 
 

 
   8.
ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE

   
December 31
 
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$
 
                   
Accounts receivable
    18,985,816       11,585,292       353,641  
Allowance for doubtful accounts (Note 2)
    (109,727 )     (99,160 )     (3,027 )
Allowance for sales allowances (Note 2)
    (128,586 )     (98,027 )     (2,992 )
                         
      18,747,503       11,388,105       347,622  

 
In November 2005, ASE Inc. and ASE Test, Inc. entered into a three-year revolving accounts receivable securitization agreement with a bank.  The agreement was early terminated in December 2007.  Under the agreement, ASE Inc. and ASE Test, Inc. transferred a pool of accounts receivable to the bank, which issued securities backed by these accounts receivable.  Proceeds received from the bank were the net book value of the pool of accounts receivable, less a deferred purchase price receivable at 20% of the accounts receivable sold, guarantee deposit, program fee and other related expenses.  The Company surrendered control of these accounts receivable at the time of transfer to the bank, and therefore the transaction was accounted for as a sale of accounts receivable, for which the book value of the accounts receivable was derecognized and the difference between the book value and the proceeds received was recorded as a non-operating loss.  Losses from sale of receivables were NT$235,509 thousand, NT$151,746 in 2006 and 2007, respectively.

 
After the transfer of the accounts receivable, the Company continued to service, administer, and collect these accounts receivable on behalf of the bank.  Collections not yet passed over to the bank amounted to NT$2,378,464 thousand as of December 31, 2006 and were included in temporary receipts.  Total accounts receivable sold was NT$4,608,182 thousand as of December 31, 2006.


   9.
INVENTORIES

   
December 31
 
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$
 
                   
Finished goods
    699,197       705,121       21,524  
Work in process
    763,236       371,880       11,352  
Raw materials
    3,327,118       2,902,156       88,588  
Supplies and spare parts
    717,782       702,908       21,456  
Supplies in transit
    203,955       59,589       1,819  
Construction in progress
    552,965       1,144,113       34,924  
      6,264,253       5,885,767       179,663  
Allowance for valuation and obsolescence (Note 2)
    (668,508 )     (894,056 )     (27,291 )
                         
      5,595,745       4,991,711       152,372  
 
 
 
 

 
 
The movement of the allowance for valuation and obsolescence is as follows:

   
NT$
 
       
Balance at January 1, 2006
    490,991  
Additions charged to earnings
    1,143,925  
Write-offs
    (1,060,921 )
Balance at December 31, 2006
    573,995  
From newly acquired subsidiaries
    124,229  
Additions charged to earnings
    634,457  
Write-offs
    (664,173 )
Balance at December 31, 2007
    668,508  
From newly acquired subsidiaries
    4,691  
Additions charged to earnings
    554,106  
Write-offs
    (333,249 )
         
Balance at December 31, 2008
    894,056  

   
US$
 
       
Balance at January 1, 2008
    20,406  
From newly acquired subsidiaries
    143  
Additions charged to earnings
    16,914  
Write-offs
    (10,172 )
         
Balance at December 31, 2008
    27,291  


10.
FINANCIAL ASSETS CARRIED AT COST - NONCURRENT

   
December 31
 
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$
 
Non-publicly traded common and preferred stocks
                 
H&HH Venture Investment Corporation
    73,921       73,921       2,256  
Global Strategic Investment Inc.
    64,886       65,720       2,006  
Universal Scientific Industrial (Shanghai) Co., Ltd
    -       28,127       859  
UC Fund II
    32,443       26,288       802  
ID Solutions, Inc.
    25,899       10,236       313  
Other
    1,138       1,153       35  
Limited Partnership
                       
Ripley Cable Holdings I, L.P.
    247,915       287,467       8,775  
Crimson Velocity Fund, L.P.
    78,823       82,583       2,521  
                         
      525,025       575,495       17,567  

 
There is no quoted price from an active market for these investments and fair value is not readily available.  In addition, the Company owns less than 20% of these investments and cannot exercise significant influence.  Therefore, these investments are carried at cost.

 
For the years ended December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008, the loss on impairment of financial assets carried at cost was nil, NT$178,500 thousand and NT$21,395 thousand (US$653 thousand), respectively.
 
 
 

 

11.
EQUITY METHOD INVESTMENTS

   
December 31
 
   
2007
   
2008
 
         
% of
               
% of
 
         
Owner-
               
Owner-
 
   
NT$
   
ship
   
NT$
   
US$
   
ship
 
                               
Publicly traded
                             
Universal Scientific Industrial Co., Ltd. (“USI”)
    3,317,168       18.7       3,067,864       93,647       18.3  
Hung Ching Development & Construction Co. (“HCDC”)
    955,939       26.2       635,296       19,392       26.2  
Non-publicly traded
                                       
Hung Ching Kwan Co. (“HCKC”)
    349,937       27.3       346,308       10,571       27.3  
Inprocomm, Inc.
    2,224       32.1       2,224       68       32.1  
      4,625,268               4,051,692       123,678          
Deferred gain on transfer of land
    (300,149 )             (300,149 )     (9,162 )        
                                         
      4,325,119               3,751,543       114,516          

 
Market values of the publicly traded equity method investees as of December 31, 2007 and 2008 were as follows:

   
December 31
 
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$
 
                   
USI
    3,547,918       1,524,259       46,528  
HCDC
    871,598       288,245       8,799  
                         
      4,419,516       1,812,504       55,327  

 
As of December 31, 2007 and 2008, the differences between the cost of investments and equity in investees’ net assets were attributable to goodwill of NT$371,436 thousand (US$11,338 thousand) and deferred gain on transfer of land of NT$300,149 thousand (US$9,162 thousand).

 
As of December 31, 2007 and 2008, the Company had made an accumulated investment in USI of NT$3,838,677 thousand (US$117,176 thousand) and owned 18.7% and 18.3% of the outstanding shares, respectively.  The Company continues to exercise significant influence over USI, therefore the investment was accounted for by the equity method.  USI is engaged in the manufacturing, processing and sale of computer peripherals, integrated circuits, electrical parts, personal computers and related accessories.

 
As of December 31, 2007 and 2008, the Company had made an accumulated investment in HCDC of NT$2,845,913 thousand (US$86,872 thousand) and owned 26.2% of the outstanding shares.  HCDC is engaged in the development and management of commercial, residential and industrial real estate properties in Taiwan.

 
The Company acquired a 27.3% equity interest in HCKC in 1992 by transferring a parcel of land valued at NT$390,470 thousand to HCKC.  The resulting gain of NT$300,149 thousand, which represents the excess of such value over the cost of the land plus land value increment tax, has been deferred until the disposal of this investment.

 
As of December 31, 2008, Inprocomm, Inc. was in the process of liquidation.

 
The Company recorded equity in earnings of equity method investees of NT$315,654 thousand, NT$345,705 thousand and NT$77,450 thousand (US$2,364 thousand) in 2006, 2007 and 2008, respectively.

 
 

 
12.
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

 
Accumulated depreciation consisted of:

   
December 31
 
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$
 
                   
Buildings and improvements
    9,246,951       11,568,335       353,124  
Machinery and equipment
    72,613,519       84,004,673       2,564,245  
Transportation equipment
    95,801       115,124       3,514  
Furniture and fixtures
    2,210,469       2,610,209       79,677  
Leased assets and leasehold improvements
    313,878       262,120       8,001  
                         
      84,480,618       98,560,461       3,008,561  

 
For the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2007, the loss on impairment of property, plant and equipment was nil.  For the year ended December 31, 2008, the loss on impairment of property, plant and equipment was NT$87,375 thousand (US$2,667 thousand).

Information about capitalized interest expense is as follows:

   
Year Ended December 31
 
   
2006
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$
 
                         
Total interest expense including capitalized interest
    1,861,482       1,744,718       1,947,431       59,445  
Less:  Capitalized interest (included in property, plant and equipment)
    (241,188 )     (170,194 )     (134,135 )     (4,094 )
                                 
Interest expense
    1,620,294       1,574,524       1,813,296        55,351  
                                 
Capitalization rate
    1.69%-6.07 %     1.56%-6.33 %     2.16%-6.48 %        


13.
GOODWILL

   
Year Ended December 31
 
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$
 
                   
Balance, beginning of year
    2,831,274       3,188,117       97,317  
Additions
    365,366       6,271,247       191,430  
Translation adjustment
    (8,523 )     (3,273 )     (100 )
                         
Balance, end of year
    3,188,117       9,456,091       288,647  

 
The increase of goodwill in 2007 and 2008 was due to acquisition of TME’s shares and the minority shareholders’ shares of ASE Test, respectively.
 
 
 
 
 
14.
INTANGIBLE ASSETS

 
The movements of intangible assets other than goodwill and deferred pension cost were as follows:

         
Acquired
         
Other-
 
         
Special
   
Land Use
   
Customer
 
   
Patents
   
Technology
   
Rights
   
Relationship
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
 
                         
Balance at January 1, 2007
    4,081       -       600,322       -  
Additions
                               
From newly acquired subsidiaries
    -       -       153,087       -  
Acquisition
    6,595       -       670,669       -  
Amortization
    (4,726 )     -       (7,828 )     -  
Reclassified from other assets
    -       -       19,074       -  
Translation adjustment
    -       -       50,885       -  
                                 
Balance at December 31, 2007
    5,950       -       1,486,209       -  
Additions
                               
From newly acquired subsidiaries
    50,416       709,088       1,651       915,635  
Acquisition
    96,109       -       4,335       -  
Amortization
    (22,134 )     (82,726 )     (23,600 )     (48,556 )
Reclassified to other assets-other
    -       -       (121,736 )     -  
Translation adjustment
    32       -       91,492       -  
 
                               
Balance at December 31, 2008
    130,373       626,362       1,438,351       867,079  

         
Acquired
   
 
   
Other-
 
         
Special
   
Land Use
   
Customer
 
   
Patents
   
Technology
   
Rights
   
Relationship
 
   
US$
   
US$
   
US$
   
US$
 
                         
Balance at January 1, 2008
    182       -       45,367       -  
Additions
                               
From newly acquired subsidiaries
    1,539       21,645       50       27,950  
Acquisition
    2,934       -       132       -  
Amortization
    (676 )     (2,525 )     (720 )     (1,482 )
Reclassified to other assets-other
    -       -       (3,716 )     -  
Translation adjustment
    1       -       2,793       -  
                                 
Balance at December 31, 2008
    3,980       19,120       43,906       26,468  

 
The intangible assets arising from newly acquired subsidiaries in 2007 and 2008 were mainly related to the acquisition of TME’s shares, ASEN’s shares and ASE Test’s shares, respectively. The acquired special technology represented the existing know-how of customizing testing programs for individual customer’s needs. A portion of the purchase price was allocated to customer relationships as the Company can exploit revenue associated with the existing customer and/or relationships. The valuation of acquired intangible assets was determined based on management’s estimates and consultation with an independent appraiser.


15.
IDLE ASSETS
 
   
December 31
 
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$
 
Idle assets
                 
Cost
                 
Land
    34,216       34,216       1,044  
Buildings and improvements
    24,019       24,019       733  
Machinery and equipment
    1,406,213       1,240,511       37,867  
Furniture and fixtures
    24,877       24,877       759  
Deferred charges
    7,532       647       20  
      1,496,857       1,324,270       40,423  
Accumulated depreciation
    (273,548 )     (696,224 )     (21,252 )
Accumulated impairment
    (421,340 )     (266,658 )     (8,140 )
                         
      801,969       361,388       11,031  
 
 
 
 

 
 
The idle assets and accumulated impairment were mainly due to the fact that in December 2007 ASE Electronics identified an impairment in its Flip-Chip production line caused by various commercial factors. According to an independent appraiser’s report, the Company recognized an impairment loss of nil in 2006, NT$816,182 thousand in 2007, of which NT$394,842 thousand was recognized for deferred charges, and NT$34,595 thousand (US$1,056 thousand) in 2008.


16.
SHORT-TERM BORROWINGS

   
December 31
 
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$
 
                   
Revolving - interest at 2.37%-6.80% and 1.50%-8.59%
  at December 31, 2007 and 2008, respectively
    8,678,473       8,779,267       267,987  
Letters of credit - interest at 5.64%-5.85%
    243,857       -       -  
                         
      8,922,330       8,779,267       267,987  


17.
SHORT-TERM BILLS PAYABLE

 
As of December 31, 2007, ASE Electronics issued commercial papers with interest rate 2.42% and face value of NT$150,000 thousand, and the unamortized discounts was NT$169 thousand.


18.
LONG-TERM BONDS PAYABLE
   
December 31
 
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$
 
                   
Foreign convertible bonds
    4,514,735       -       -  
Domestic secured bonds
    2,750,000       1,375,000       41,972  
      7,264,735       1,375,000       41,972  
Current portion
    (1,375,000 )     -       -  
                         
      5,889,735       1,375,000       41,972  

 
Information on long-term bonds payable is as follows:

 
a.
Foreign convertible bonds

 
In September 2003, the Company issued US$200,000 thousand of unsecured zero coupon convertible bonds, consisting of 200,000 units with face value of US$1,000 each.  The bonds were due in September 2008.

 
From 31 days after the date of issuance through 10 days before the due date, bondholders have the right to convert the bonds into common shares or ADS of ASE Inc.

 
According to the stipulation of redemption, bondholders shall have the right to require the Company to purchase for cash the bonds at 116.02% of their face value on September 25, 2007.  The stipulation of redemption expired on September 25, 2007, on which date the closing price of the common shares into which the bonds are convertible was higher than the redemption price, and therefore all the accrued interest based on implied interest rate of 3.75% was transferred to capital surplus.
 
 
 

 
 
The Company at December 31, 2007 had obtained new long term credit lines to refinance the bonds payable on a long-term basis.  Therefore, the bonds payable were not classified as short-term debts as of December 31, 2007.

 
b.
Domestic secured bonds

 
In January 2004, the Company issued NT$2.75 billion of domestic secured bonds, which consisted of 275 units with face value of NT$10 million each and are repayable in January 2009.  The interest, payable semiannually, was calculated at 0% in 2007 and 0%-0.88% in 2008, respectively.  A syndicate of banks has guaranteed the bonds and has the right to request the Company to redeem the bonds early in the event the Company violates certain provisions of the guarantee agreement.  As of December 31, 2008, the Company was in compliance with all of the provisions.

 
The Company at December 31, 2008 had obtained new long term credit lines to refinance the bonds payable on a long-term basis.  Therefore, the bonds payable were not classified as short-term debts as of December 31, 2008.


19.
LONG-TERM BANK LOANS

 
Long-term bank loans consisted of the following:

   
December 31
 
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$
 
                   
Loans for specified purposes
    4,999,230       24,811,650       757,376  
Revolving bank loans
    14,736,559       26,455,101       807,543  
Mortgage loans
    3,544,919       1,243,659       37,963  
      23,280,708       52,510,410       1,602,882  
Current portion
    (5,258,946 )     (2,670,845 )     (81,528 )
                         
      18,021,762       49,839,565       1,521,354  


 
a.
Loans for specified purposes

   
December 31
 
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$
 
                   
Syndicated bank loan (Led by Citi bank)
                 
Repayable through March 2013 in semi-annual
installments, interest rate was 2.99%
    -       17,500,000       534,188  
US$200,000 thousand, repayment at maturity in
May 2011; interest rate was 5.11%
    -       6,572,000       200,611  
      -       24,072,000       734,799  
Others - interest rate was 5.47%-6.00% at
December 31, 2007 and 1.35%-5.00% at
December 31, 2008
    4,999,230       739,650       22,577  
                         
      4,999,230       24,811,650       757,376  

 
The above syndicated bank loans which were led by Citi bank were restricted for use in the acquisition of ASE Test’s outstanding ordinary shares.  Pursuant to the loan agreements, ASE Inc. should hold no less than 51%, directly or indirectly, of ASE Test’s equity and maintain control of ASE Test at all time.
 
 
 

 
 
Other loans for specified purposes were designated to repay other loans or purchase equipment.

 
b.
Revolving bank loans

   
December 31
 
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$
 
                   
Syndicated bank loans - due from December 2008 to
March 2013 - interest rate was
1.90%-5.81% at December 31, 2007 and
1.53%-2.93% at December 31, 2008
                 
ASE Inc.
    6,900,000       6,520,000       199,023  
ASESH AT
    -       3,622,815       110,587  
ASE Shanghai
    3,860,717       2,346,204       71,618  
ASE Japan
    1,042,919       -       -  
Other bank loans - due from March 2009 to
June 2011 - interest rate was 2.73%-6.00%
at December 31, 2007 and 1.82%-6.25% at
December 31, 2008
                       
ASE Inc.
    200,000       12,220,000       373,016  
J&R Holding
    837,638       920,080       28,085  
PowerASE
    800,000       300,000       9,158  
ASE Shanghai
    753,070       212,736       6,494  
Other subsidiaries
    342,215       313,266       9,562  
                         
      14,736,559       26,455,101       807,543  


 
c.
Mortgage loans

 
The Company has mortgaged the inventory-construction in progress, buildings, machinery and equipment as collateral for the loans, which are repayable in quarterly installments or in a lump sum payment at maturity.  The interest rates ranged from 2.91% to 7.56% and 1.85% to 7.56% at December 31, 2007 and 2008, respectively.

 
Pursuant to the above loan agreements, the Company should maintain certain financial ratios and interest payment capability.  Such financial ratios are calculated based on annual audited consolidated financial statements or semi-annual reviewed consolidated financial statements.  As of December 31, 2008, the Company was in compliance with all of the loan covenants.

 
As of December 31, 2007 and 2008, loans of NT$23,530 thousand and NT$4,466,620 thousand (US$136,344 thousand), respectively, will mature within one year.  The Company had obtained new long term credit lines to refinance the loans on a long - term basis.  Therefore, the loans were not classified as short - term debts.

 
As of December 31, 2008, the maturities of long-term bonds payable (Note 18) and long-term bank loans were as follows:
 
 
 

 

   
Amount
 
   
NT$
   
US$
 
             
Within one year
    8,512,465       259,844  
During the second year
    18,939,024       578,114  
During the third year
    16,647,732       508,173  
During the fourth year
    6,524,126       199,149  
During the fifth year and thereafter
    3,262,063       99,574  
      53,885,410       1,644,854  

 
Long-term bonds payable (Note 18) and long-term bank loans by currencies were detailed as follows:

   
December 31
 
   
2007
   
2008
 
             
New Taiwan dollars
  NT$ 11,303,510     NT$ 38,032,640  
U.S. dollars
  US$ 531,605     US$ 460,486  
China renminbi
  RMB 214,376     RMB 150,000  
Japanese yen
  3,600,000     -  


20.
PENSION PLANS

 
Defined Contribution Pension Plans

 
a.
Based on the pension plan under the Labor Pension Act (The “LPA”), the Company makes monthly contributions to employees’ individual pension accounts at 6% of monthly salaries and wages.

 
b.
ISE has a defined contribution savings plan (“401k plan”) for eligible employees.  This plan permits employees to make contributions up to the maximum limits allowable under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code Section 401(k).  ASE Malaysia and ASE Singapore Pte. Ltd. also have a defined contribution pension plan each.

 
c.
According to local regulations, the subsidiaries in China made contributions to local governments based on each employee’s average wage at specific rates.

 
Under defined contribution plans, the Company recognized pension cost of NT$403,572 thousand, NT$483,717 thousand and NT$508,651 thousand (US$15,527 thousand) for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008, respectively.

 
Defined Benefit Pension Plans

 
a.
The Company has a defined benefit pension plan under the ROC Labor Standards Law (LS Law).  The pension benefits are calculated based on the length of service and average base salary in the six months prior to retirement.  The Company contributes a certain percentage of monthly salaries of its ROC employees to a retirement fund, which is deposited with the Bank of Taiwan (the “BOT”) (the Central Trust of China merged with the BOT in July 2007, with the BOT as the survivor entity) in the name of, and is administrated by, the employees pension monitoring committee.

 
b.
ASE Japan has a pension plan under which eligible employees with more than ten years of service are entitled to receive pension benefits based on their length of service and salary at the time of termination.  In addition, ASE Korea has a pension plan under which eligible employees and directors with more than one year of service are entitled to receive a lump-sum payment upon termination of their service with ASE Korea, based on their length of service and salary at the time of termination.
 
 
 

 
 
c.
ASE Inc., ASE Test, Inc. and ASE Electronics maintain pension plans for executive managers.  Pension costs for these managers were NT$18,141 thousand, NT$42,916 thousand and NT$74,154 thousand (US$2,264 thousand) for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008, respectively.  As of December 31, 2007 and 2008, accrued pension costs were NT$83,617 thousand and NT$155,105 thousand (US$4,735 thousand), respectively.  Pension payments were NT$2,666 thousand (US$81 thousand) each for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2008.

 
Under the LS Law, the government is responsible for the administration of the fund and determination of the investment strategies and policies.

 
As of December 31, 2007 and 2008, the asset allocation was primarily in cash, equity securities and debt securities.  Furthermore, under the LS Law, the rate of return on assets shall not be less than the average interest rate on a two-year time deposit published by the local banks.  The government is responsible for any shortfall in the event that the rate of return is less than the required rate of return.

 
Information about defined benefit pension plans is summarized as follows:

 
a.
Pension cost for these entities consist of:

   
Year Ended December 31
 
   
2006
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$
 
                         
Service cost
    366,314       379,750       333,538       10,182  
Interest
    91,386       86,490       107,726       3,288  
Projected return on plan assets
    (35,408 )     (37,312 )     (46,788 )     (1,428 )
Amortization
    11,751       17,958       20,674       631  
Curtailment gain (recorded as a deduction of other losses)
    -       -       (8,746 )     (267 )
                                 
      434,043       446,886       406,404       12,406  

 
b.
Other pension information based on actuarial calculations of the plans is as follows:

   
December 31
 
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$
 
Benefit obligation
                 
Vested benefit obligation
    2,216,322       2,516,940       76,830  
Non-vested benefit obligation
    1,675,759       1,907,886       58,238  
Accumulated benefit obligation
    3,892,081       4,424,826       135,068  
Additional benefit based on future salaries
    959,104       1,348,973       41,177  
Projected benefit obligation
    4,851,185       5,773,799       176,245  
Fair value of plan assets
    (2,132,706 )     (2,055,781 )     (62,753 )
Funded status
    2,718,479       3,718,018       113,492  
Unrecognized net transition obligation
    (80,492 )     (72,818 )     (2,222 )
Unrecognized prior service cost
    (12,343 )     (11,617 )     (355 )
Unrecognized net actuarial loss
    (590,509 )     (1,427,640 )     (43,579 )
Additional pension liability
    59,513       310,048       9,464  
Recorded under accrued expenses
    (9,311 )     (7,320 )     (223 )
                         
Accrued pension cost
    2,085,337       2,508,671       76,577  
                         
c.     Vested benefit
    1,026,162       1,014,941       30,981  

 
 
 

 
   
December 31
 
   
2007
   
2008
 
d.     Actuarial assumptions used:
           
             
Discount rate
    2.50%-4.90 %     2.00%-4.90 %
Increase in future salary level
    2.50%-5.00 %     2.75%-5.00 %
Expected rate of return on plan assets
    2.50%-3.00 %     2.25%-2.50 %

   
Year Ended December 31
 
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$
 
                   
e.     Contributions to the funds
    485,244       153,370       4,682  
                         
f.      Payments from the funds
    48,285       93,653       2,859  

 
g.
The Company expects to make contributions of NT$147,758 thousand (US$4,510 thousand) to its defined benefit pension plans in 2009.

h.
Expected benefit payments:

   
Amount
 
Year of Payments
 
NT$
   
US$
 
             
2009
  $ 144,515     $ 4,411  
2010
    140,338       4,284  
2011
    168,472       5,143  
2012
    163,337       4,986  
2013
    209,334       6,390  
2014 and thereafter
    909,630       27,766  

 
Plan assets and obligations reflected herein were measured as of December 31, 2007 and 2008.


21.
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 
Common Stock

 
The Company reserved common stocks of NT$8,000,000 thousand for employee stock option plans.  For the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2008, employees exercised options and paid NT$1,024,192 thousand and NT$240,770 thousand (US$7,350 thousand), of which NT$61,952 thousand and NT$3,387 thousand (US$103 thousand) was recognized as “capital received in advance” for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2008, respectively.

 
For the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2008, long-term bonds payable converted to common stocks amounted to NT$1,730,726 thousand, of which NT$429,931 thousand was recognized as “capital received in advance”, and NT$265,834 thousand (US$8,115 thousand), respectively.  The shareholders’ meetings held in June 2007 and June 2008 resolved to distribute stock dividends out of capital surplus and retained earnings in the amount of NT$ 7,476,040 thousand (747,604 thousand shares) and NT$1,970,867 thousand (197,087 thousand shares).  The ex-dividend date was Auguest 26, 2007 and Auguest 19, 2008, respectively.
 
 
 

 
 
American Depositary Shares

 
In September 2000, ASE Inc. issued 20,000 thousand ADS, representing 100,000 thousand common shares.  As of December 31, 2008, 42,330 thousand ADS were outstanding and represented approximately 211,648 thousand common shares of ASE Inc., or 3.72% of the total outstanding common shares (including treasury stock).

Capital Surplus

 
Under ROC Company Law, capital surplus from paid-in capital in excess of par value, treasury stock transactions and reversed interest of convertible bonds may be used to offset a deficit.  In addition, such capital surplus may be transferred to capital, subject to a specified percentage of paid-in capital.

 
Capital surplus from equity method investments may not be used for any purpose.

 
Appropriation of Retained Earnings

 
The Articles of Incorporation of ASE Inc. provide that the annual net income shall be distributed in the following order:

 
a.
Replenishment of losses;

 
b.
10.0% as legal surplus reserve;

 
c.
Special surplus reserve in accordance with laws or regulations set forth be the by the authorities concerned;

d.
An amount equal to the excess of the income from long-term investments accounted for by the equity method over cash dividends as special reserve;

e.
Not more than 2.0% of the remainder from a. to d. as compensation to directors and supervisors;

f.
Between 7.0% to 10.0% of the remainder from a. to d. as a bonus to employees, of which 7.0% shall be distributed in accordance with the employee bonus plan and the excess shall be distributed to specified employees as decided by the board of directors; and

g.
The remainder from a. to f. as dividends to shareholders.

 
Employees referred to in f. above include employees of subsidiary companies that meet certain conditions, which are to be prescribed by the board of directors.

 
The Company is currently in the business growth stage.  To meet the capital needs for business development now and in the future and satisfy the requirements of shareholders for cash inflow, the Company shall use residual dividend policy to distribute dividends, of which the cash dividend distribution rate is 0%50% of the total dividend amount, with the remainder to be distributed as stock dividends.  However, depending on factors such as the economic situation, business development, and cash position holdings, the Company shall adjust the cash dividend and stock dividend distribution rate when necessary with a surplus distribution plan made by the board of directors and passed by resolution of the shareholders meeting.

 
The bonus to employees of NT$554,405 thousand (US$16,923 thousand) and the compensation to directors and supervisors of NT$110,881 thousand (US$3,385 thousand), which representing 10% and 2% of net income (net of the bonus to employees and compensation to directors and supervisors), respectively, was recognized for the year ended December 31, 2008.  The amounts were estimated based on past experiences.  If the actual amounts subsequently resolved by the shareholders differ from the proposed amounts, the differences are recorded in the year of the shareholders’ resolution as a change in accounting estimate.  If bonus shares are resolved to be distributed to employees, the number of shares is determined by dividing the amount of bonus by the closing market price (after considering the effect of cash and stock dividends) of the shares of the day preceding the shareholders’ meeting.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Based on a directive issued by the Securities and Futures Bureau, an amount equal to the net debit balance of certain shareholders equity accounts (including unrealized loss on financial instruments, net loss not recognized as pension cost, cumulative transaction adjustments and the excess of book value over market value of treasury shares held by subsidiaries) shall be transferred from unappropriated earnings to a special reserve.  Any specific reserve appropriated may be reversed to the extent of the decrease in the net debit balance.

 
Under the ROC Company Law, the appropriation for legal reserve shall be made until the reserve reaches the paid-in capital of ASE Inc.  The reserve may be used to offset a deficit, or be distributed as dividends and bonuses for the portion in excess of 50% of paid-in capital if ASE Inc. has no unappropriated earnings and the reserve balance has exceeded 50% of paid-in capital.  Also, when the reserve has reached 50% of paid-in capital, up to 50% thereof may be transferred to capital stock if ASE Inc. doesnt have a deficit.

 
Except for non-ROC resident shareholders, all shareholders receiving the dividends are allowed a tax credit equal to their proportionate share of the income tax paid by the Company in the ROC.

 
The appropriation of 2006 and 2007 earnings resolved at the Companys annual shareholders meeting and the appropriation of 2008 earnings proposed by the Companys board meeting and to be resolved by the Companys annual shareholders meeting is as follows:

   
2006
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$
 
                         
Legal reserve
    1,698,504       1,216,525       616,005       18,804  
Compensation to directors and supervisors
    300,000       216,000       -       -  
Bonus to employees - cash
    535,028       383,205       -       -  
Bonus to employees - stock
    535,029       383,205       -       -  
Stock dividends - NT$1.50, NT$0.09 and nil in 2006, 2007 and 2008, respectively
    6,941,011       492,723       -       -  
Cash dividends - NT$1.50, NT$1.71 and NT$0.50 in 2006, 2007 and 2008, respectively
    6,941,011       9,361,728       2,736,568       83,533  
      16,950,583       12,053,386       3,352,573       102,337  

 
Except for the 2008 earnings appropriation as above, the board meeting also proposed to distribute bonuses to employees and compensation to directors and supervisors of NT$554,404 thousand and NT$88,800 thousand, respectively.

 
The shareholders also resolved the transfer of NT$1,094,939 thousand (US$33,423 thousand) of capital surplus to paid-in capital in the shareholders meeting in June 2008.

 
Information about the appropriations of earnings, bonus to employees and compensation to directors and supervisors are available on the Market Observation Post System website of the TSE.

 
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Financial Instruments

 
Movements of the unrealized gain on financial instruments for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2008 were as follows:

 
 

 
   
Available-for-sale Financial Assets
   
Equity Method Investments
   
Cash Flow Hedges
   
Total
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$
 
                               
Balance at January 1, 2007
    16,827       399,573       -       416,400       12,711  
Recognized directly in shareholders’ equity
    94,795       (15,069 )     -       79,726       2,433  
Removed from shareholders’ equity and recognized in earnings
    (93,608 )     -       -       (93,608 )     (2,857 )
Balance at December 31, 2007
    18,014       384,504       -       402,518       12,287  
Recognized directly in shareholders’ Equity
    38,345       (432,247 )     (391,695 )     (785,597 )     (23,980 )
Removed from shareholders’ equity and recognized in earnings
    (56,359 )     -       -       (56,359 )     (1,721 )
 
                                       
Balance at December 31, 2008
    -       (47,743 )     (391,695 )     (439,438 )     (13,414 )

 
Treasury Stock

 
ASE Inc. held a meeting of the board of directors on November 17, 2008 and approved a share buyback plan to repurchase ASE Inc.s common shares up to 171,000 thousand shares listed on the TSE during the period from November 18, 2008 to January 17, 2009 for the buyback price in the range from NT$8 to NT$18.  As of December 31, 2008, ASE Inc. had repurchased 108,700 thousand common shares with total purchase costs of NT$1,099,989 thousand (US$33,577 thousand).  All the treasury stocks repurchased under this share buyback plan were cancelled for capital reduction on March 16, 2009.  In addition, ASE Inc. held another meeting of the board of directors on January 23, 2009 and approved the second share buyback plan to repurchase the ASE Inc.s common shares up to 285,000 thousand shares listed on the TSE during the period from February 2, 2009 to April 1, 2009 for the buyback price in the range from NT$8 to NT$17.

 
As of December 31, 2007 and 2008, information regarding treasury shares held by subsidiaries was as follows:

   
Shares
                   
   
Held By
   
Calculated by the Company’s Ownership
 
 
Subsidiaries
 
Thousand
   
Book
   
Market
 
   
(In Thousands)
   
Shares
   
Value
   
Value
 
      Subsidiary
             
NT$
   
NT$
 
                         
December 31, 2007
                       
                         
ASE Test
    199,146       100,191       1,255,148       3,256,189  
J&R Holding
    106,684       106,684       1,335,870       3,467,235  
ASE Test, Inc.
    7,634       3,840       71,950       124,812  
                                 
      313,464       210,715       2,662,968       6,848,236  
                                 
(Continued)

 
 

 
   
Shares
                   
   
Held By
   
Calculated by the Company’s Ownership
 
   
Subsidiaries
   
Thousand
   
Book
   
Market
 
 
(In Thousands)
 
Shares
   
Value
   
Value
 
December 31, 2008
                       
                         
ASE Test
    204,907       204,907       4,483,761       2,417,906  
J&R Holding
    109,771       109,771       1,254,053       1,295,291  
ASE Test, Inc.
    7,854       7,854       196,677       92,680  
                                 
      322,532       322,532       5,934,491       3,805,877  
(Concluded)
 
   
Book
   
Market
 
   
Value
   
Value
 
      Subsidiary
 
US$
   
US$
 
             
December 31, 2008
           
             
ASE Test
    136,867       73,807  
J&R Holding
    38,280       39,539  
ASE Test, Inc.
    6,004       2,829  
                 
      181,151       116,175  
 
 
Cash dividends received in 2007 and 2008 by the subsidiaries from ASE Inc. were NT$271,945 thousand and NT$535,100 thousand (US$16,334 thousand), respectively, which were recorded as capital surplus.  Stock dividends received in 2007 and 2008 by the subsidiaries from ASE Inc. were 40,396 thousand shares and 9,068 thousand shares, respectively.

 
ASE Inc. issued common shares in connection with its merger with ASE Chung Li and ASE Material in August 2004.  The shares held by its subsidiaries were reclassified from long-term investments to treasury stock.  ASE Inc.’s subsidiary, ASE Test, is a Singapore incorporated company and may not acquire, directly or indirectly, shares in ASE Inc. under Singapore laws.  In order to comply with relevant regulations, a trust has been established to hold the shares acquired by ASE Test in connection with the merger.  Pursuant to the trust agreement, ASE Test’s rights with respect to the shares held in trust are limited to the right to receive the proceeds from the sale of such shares and any cash dividends declared while the shares remain in trust.

 
Although these shares are treated as treasury stock in the consolidated financial statements, the shareholders are entitled to exercise their rights on these shares, except for participation in capital increases through cash contribution and exercise of voting rights.
 
 
 

 
22.
EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION PLANS

 
ASE Inc. Option Plans

 
In order to attract, retain and reward employees, ASE Inc. adopted three employee stock option plans, the 2002 Plan, 2004 Plan and 2007 Plan, which were approved in August 2002, May 2004 and November 2007, respectively.  The maximum number of units authorized to be granted under the 2002 Plan, 2004 Plan and 2007 Plan is 160,000 thousand units, 140,000 thousand units and 200,000 thousand units, respectively, with each unit representing the right to purchase one share of common stock when exercisable.  Under the terms of the plans, stock option rights are granted at an exercise price equal to the closing price of the common shares listed on the TSE on the date of grant.  The option rights of these plans are valid for ten years and exercisable at certain percentages subsequent to the second anniversary of the grant date.


 
Information regarding stock options for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008 was as follows:

   
Year Ended December 31
 
   
2006
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
Number of Options (in Thousands)
   
Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share (NT$)
   
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value (NT$)
   
Number of Options (in Thousands)
   
Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share (NT$)
   
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value (NT$)
   
Number of Options (in Thousands)
   
Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share (NT$)
   
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value (NT$)
 
                                                       
Beginning outstanding
balance
    227,341       19.8             171,256       16.6             295,748       24.5        
Options granted
    -       -       -       185,806       30.7       11.8       -       -       -  
Options forfeited
    (11,086 )     20.7               (6,927 )     17.3               (7,891 )     26.7          
Options exercised
    (44,999 )     18.9               (54,387 )     15.8               (16,019 )     13.8          
                                                                         
Ending outstanding
balance
    171,256       20.0               295,748       25.6               271,838       25.0          
                                                                         
Ending exercisable
balance
    78,092       19.4               71,096       16.0               78,141       15.8          

 
The exercise prices have been adjusted to reflect the dilution attributable to the distribution of stock dividends in accordance with the terms of the plans.

 
The weighted average stock price at the date of exercise for stock options exercised for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008 was NT$31.13, NT$37.66 and NT$22.49 (US$0.69), respectively.

 
Information regarding outstanding and exercisable stock options as of December 31, 2008 was as follows:

     
Outstanding
   
Exercisable
 
Exercise
Price (NT$)
   
Number of
Options (in
Thousands)
   
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price (NT$)
   
Remaining
Contractual
Life (Years)
   
Number of
Options (in
Thousands)
   
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price (NT$)
   
Remaining|
Contractual
Life (Years)
 
                                       
 
10.3
      23,083       10.3       4.0       23,015       10.3       4.0  
 
14.3
      5,807       14.3       4.6       5,763       14.3       4.6  
 
18.9
      54,384       18.9       5.5       44,300       18.9       5.5  
 
15.4
      8,741       15.4       6.4       5,063       15.4       6.4  
 
29.6
      179,823       29.6       9.0       -       -       9.0  
                                                     
          271,838       25.0               78,141       15.8          

 
As of December 31, 2008, the number of options that were expected to vest was 160,180 thousand units.
 
 
 
 
 
As of December 31, 2008, the aggregate intrinsic value of outstanding and exercisable stock options was NT$34,624 thousand (US$1,057 thousand) and NT$34,522 thousand (US$1,054 thousand), respectively.

 
Total intrinsic value of options exercised for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008 was NT$585,948 thousand, NT$1,198,329 thousand and NT$183,166 thousand (US$5,591 thousand), respectively.

 
ASE Test Option Plans

 
As of December 31, 2008, all of ASE Test stock options that had a per share exercise price lower than the per share acquisition price of US$14.78 had been exercised.  The ASE Test ordinary shares issued upon exercise of the options were acquired by ASE Inc. for US$14.78 per ASE Test NASDAQ Share in cash.  Each ASE Test option that had a per share exercise price equal to or higher than the per share acquisition price was cancelled without any payment.

 
Information regarding outstanding and exercisable stock options granted or modified after January 1, 2004 for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008 was as follows:

   
Year Ended December 31
 
   
2006
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
Number of
Options (in
Thousands)
   
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price Per Share
(US$)
   
Weighted
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
(US$)
   
Number of
Options (in
Thousands)
   
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
Per Share
(US$)
   
Weighted
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
(US$)
   
Number of
Options (in Thousands)
   
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price Per
Share
(US$)
   
Weighted
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
(US$)
 
                                                       
Beginning outstanding
balance
    293       6.21             414       7.28             368       7.31        
Options granted
    130       9.60       5.32       -       -       -       -       -       -  
Options forfeited
    -       -               (12 )     6.10               -       -          
Options exercised
    (9 )     6.10               (34 )     7.38               (368 )     7.31          
Ending outstanding
balance
    414       7.28               368       7.31               -       -          
Ending exercisable
balance
    135       7.90               185       6.79               -       -          

 
ASE Mauritius Inc. Option Plan

 
ASE Mauritius Inc. adopted an employee stock option plan which was approved in November 2007 and granted 30,000 thousand units in December 2007.  Under the terms of the plan, each unit represents the right to purchase one share of common stock of ASE Mauritius Inc. when exercisable.  The options are valid for ten years and exercisable at certain percentages subsequent to the second anniversary of the grant date.

 
For the year ended December 31, 2008, 380 thousand units of stock options were cancelled.  As of December 31, 2008, the outstanding and exercisable stock options were 29,620 thousand units and nil, respectively; the average exercise price per share is US$1.7; the remaining contractual life is nine years.

 
No compensation cost was recognized under the intrinsic value method for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008.

 
For purposes of pro forma disclosure, the estimated fair values of the options are amortized to expense over the option vesting periods.  Had the Company recorded compensation cost based on the estimated grant date fair value which was determined using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, the Company’s net income would have been reduced to the pro forma amounts below:
 
 
 

 
   
   
Year Ended December 31
Assumptions:
 
2006
2007
2008
ASE Inc.
       
Expected dividend yield
 
3.00%
3.00%
3.00%
Expected volatility
 
46.0%-59.0%
46.0%-59.0%
46.0%-59.0%
Risk free interest rate
 
1.80%-2.51%
1.80%-2.51%
1.80%-2.51%
Expected life
 
5.0-6.5 years
5.0-6.5 years
5.0-6.5 years
         
ASE Test
       
Expected dividend yield
 
-
-
-
Expected volatility
 
59.95%-62.03%
59.95%-62.03%
-
Risk free interest rate
 
4.88%
4.88%
-
Expected life
 
3-5 years
3-5 years
-
         
ASE Mauritius Inc.
       
Expected dividend yield
 
-
-
-
Expected volatility
 
-
47.21%
47.21%
Risk free interest rate
 
-
4.17%
4.17%
Expected life
 
-
6.5 years
6.5 years

   
Year Ended December 31
 
   
2006
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$
 
                         
Net income attributable to shareholders of the
  parent for calculation of basic EPS:
                       
As reported
    17,416,151       12,165,249       6,160,052       188,036  
Pro forma
    16,301,168       12,013,309       5,436,867       165,961  
                                 
Net Income attributable to shareholders of the
  parent for calculation of diluted EPS:
                               
As reported
    17,582,151       12,280,224       6,099,460       186,186  
Pro forma
    16,467,168       12,128,284       5,376,275       164,111  
                                 
Earnings per share
                               
Basic EPS - as reported
    3.29       2.26       1.14       0.03  
Basic EPS - pro forma
    3.08       2.23       1.01       0.03  
Diluted EPS - as reported
    3.14       2.18       1.12       0.03  
Diluted EPS - pro forma
    2.94       2.15       0.99       0.03  


23.
PERSONNEL EXPENDITURE AND DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION

   
Year Ended December 31, 2006
   
Year Ended December 31, 2007
 
   
Cost of
   
Operating
         
Cost of
   
Operating
       
   
Revenues
   
Expenses
   
Total
   
Revenues
   
Expenses
   
Total
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
 
Personnel
                                   
Salary
    11,247,354       3,401,115       14,648,469       11,553,243       3,938,597       15,491,840  
Pension cost
    748,437       191,233       939,670       745,641       227,878       973,519  
Labor and health insurance
    862,163       242,791       1,104,954       851,918       291,508       1,143,426  
Others
    1,175,983       395,931       1,571,914       985,870       368,971       1,354,841  
                                                 
      14,033,937       4,231,070       18,265,007       14,136,672       4,826,954       18,963,626  
                                                 
Depreciation
    12,736,924       751,256       13,488,180       14,668,139       890,583       15,558,722  
Amortization
    576,102       423,929       1,000,031       630,435       436,995       1,067,430  
 
(Continued)
 
 
 
 

   
Year Ended December 31, 2008
 
   
Cost of
   
Operating
       
   
Revenues
   
Expenses
   
Total
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$
 
Personnel
                       
Salary
    11,578,736       4,862,392       16,441,128       501,866  
Pension cost
    688,237       309,718       997,955       30,464  
Labor and health insurance
    861,532       306,506       1,168,038       35,654  
Others
    1,194,641       353,482       1,548,123       47,256  
                                 
      14,323,146       5,832,098       20,155,244       615,240  
                                 
Depreciation
    15,360,782       972,733       16,333,515       498,581  
Amortization
    440,024       471,313       911,337       27,819  
 
(Concluded)        

24.
INCOME TAX

 
a.
A reconciliation of income tax expense based on income before income tax at statutory rates and income tax expense was as follows:

   
Year Ended December 31
 
   
2006
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$
 
                         
Tax expense based on pre-tax income at statutory rates
    5,957,310       4,491,629       2,979,783       90,958  
Cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles
    (114,168 )     -       -       -  
Add (less) tax effects of:
                               
Permanent differences
                               
Tax-exempt income
    (778,834 )     (1,016,270 )     (598,361 )     (18,265 )
Other
    (89,430 )     (113,709 )     23,908       730  
Temporary differences
                               
Unrealized foreign exchange loss (gain)
    (90,000 )     18,212       235,882       7,200  
Loss (gain) on valuation of financial instruments
    83,325       (77,130 )     160,271       4,892  
Others
    (542,776 )     (454,209 )     (155,366 )     (4,742 )
      4,425,427       2,848,523       2,646,117       80,773  
Loss carryforwards
    (1,246,641 )     77,863       151,359       4,620  
Income tax on undistributed earnings
    -       298,782       176,860       5,398  
Credits for investments and research and development
    (1,697,397 )     (1,754,907 )     (1,423,852 )     (43,463 )
Tax separately levied on interest from short-term bills
    -       275       -       -  
Adjustment of prior year’s income tax
    121,479       (142,719 )     16,076       491  
Current income tax expense
    1,602,868       1,327,817       1,566,560       47,819  
Deferred income tax
    367,751       2,029,567       701,722       21,420  
Cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles
    114,168       -       -       -  
                                 
Income tax expense
    2,084,787       3,357,384       2,268,282       69,239  
 
 
 

 
 
b.
The above-mentioned taxes on pre-tax income based on applicable statutory rates for both domestic and foreign entities are shown below:

   
Year Ended December 31
 
   
2006
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$
 
                         
Domestic entities in ROC (25% statutory rate)
    5,570,158       3,797,475       2,283,923       69,717  
Foreign entities
                               
ASE Korea (27.5%-30.8% statutory rate)
    97,499       297,857       160,140       4,888  
ASE Japan (40%-42.99% statutory rate)
    182,372       140,751       157,087       4,795  
ISE (34%-35% federal tax rate and 6% state tax rate)
    (11,141 )     (15,480 )     268,064       8,183  
ASE Malaysia (26%-28% statutory rate)
    118,422       271,026       110,569       3,375  
                                 
      5,957,310       4,491,629       2,979,783       90,958  

 
c.
Deferred income tax assets (liabilities) were as follows:

   
December 31
 
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$
 
                   
Current deferred income tax assets
                 
Unused tax credits
    1,992,245       772,658       23,585  
Unrealized foreign exchange loss (gain)
    (44,508 )     137,035       4,183  
Other
    333,286       384,268       11,730  
      2,281,023       1,293,961       39,498  
Valuation allowance
    (205,767 )     (208,513 )     (6,365 )
                         
Net current deferred income tax assets
    2,075,256       1,085,448       33,133  
                         
Net current deferred income tax liabilities
    (121,499 )     -       -  
                         
Non-current deferred income tax assets
                       
Unused tax credits
    1,904,773       1,669,503       50,962  
Accrued pension costs
    185,528       596,522       18,209  
Loss carryforwards (expiring in 2018)
    170,541       412,091       12,579  
Depreciation
    (352,129 )     (344,156 )     (10,505 )
Others
    238,396       141,024       4,304  
      2,147,109       2,474,984       75,549  
Valuation allowance
    (685,707 )     (845,275 )     (25,802 )
                         
Net non-current deferred income tax assets
    1,461,402       1,629,709       49,747  
                         
Net non-current deferred income tax liabilities-mainly depreciation differences
    (150,009 )     (151,729 )     (4,632 )


 
 
 

 
 
In assessing the realizability of deferred income tax assets, the Company considers its future taxable earnings and expected timing of the reversal of temporary differences.  In addition, in the event future taxable earnings do not materialize as forecasted, the Company will consider executing certain tax planning strategies available to realize the deferred income tax assets.  The valuation allowance is provided to reduce the gross deferred income tax assets to an amount which the Company believes will more likely than not be realized.  Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are classified in the consolidated balance sheets based on the classification of the related assets or liabilities or the expected timing of the reversal of temporary differences.

 
Pursuant to the amended Article 39 of the ROC Income Tax Law which was promulgated on January 6, 2009, the period for operating loss carryforwards was extended from five years to ten years.  The Company recalculated deferred tax assets according to the amended Article and recorded the resulting differences as a deferred income tax benefit.

 
The tax holidays for the Company are as follows:

 
1)
A portion of ASE Inc.’s income from packaging of semiconductors is exempt from income tax for five years ending December 2007 and September 2009, respectively.  A portion of ASE Chung Li branch’s income from manufacturing, processing and testing of semiconductors is exempt from income tax for five years ending December 2007 and 2011, respectively.

 
2)
A portion of ASE Test, Inc.’s income from testing of semiconductors is exempt from income tax for five years ending December 31, 2010.

 
3)
A portion of PowerASE’s income is exempt from income tax for five years ending September 2012.

 
4)
Under the previous tax laws in China, those subsidiaries located in China were eligible to enjoy the five-year tax holiday (two-year tax exemption and subsequent three-year 50% reduction of applicable tax rate) starting from first profit-making year.  However, under the amended tax laws effective from January 1, 2008, the manufacturing foreign investment enterprises which have not started their tax holidays under the prior tax laws will have their tax holidays take effect starting from the effective date of the amended tax laws, and those subsidiaries would be eligible for a 5-year transition period to move up to 25% tax rate.  The tax rate applied to above subsidiaries in China for 2008 is 18%.

 
Under new income tax laws, the distribution of China-sourced income generated after January 1, 2008 is subject to a 10% withholding tax, and enterprises originating from those countries that have tax treaties with China may apply for lower withholding tax rates.

 
5)
ASE Singapore Pte. Ltd. has been granted pioneer status under the provisions of the Economic Expansion Incentives (Relief from Income Tax) Act for its operation in Singapore for a qualifying period of 10 years commencing September 1, 1998.  During the qualifying period, all income arising from pioneer status activities is exempt from income tax.  The tax exempt period was approved to be extended for five years.

 
The per share effect of these tax holidays was NT$0.15, NT$0.19 and NT$0.11 (US$0.003) per share for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008, respectively.
 
 
 

 
 
d.
As of December 31, 2008, unused tax credits, which may be utilized to offset future income tax, are set forth below:

   
Amount
 
Year of Expiry
 
NT$
   
US$
 
             
2009
    578,136       17,648  
2010
    521,172       15,909  
2011
    682,110       20,821  
2012
    578,552       17,660  
2013 and thereafter
    82,191       2,509  
                 
      2,442,161       74,547  

 
Income tax returns of ASE Inc. have been examined by the ROC tax authorities through 2003.  ASE Inc. disagreed with the result of an examination relating to its 2002 income tax return and applied for an appeal.  In March 2009, the Supreme Administrative Court judged against ASE Inc.  ASE Inc. also disagreed with the result of the examination relating to its 2003 income tax return and lost the suit in administrative appeal in February 2009.  ASE Inc. has appealed the case to the High Administrative Court.  As a result, ASE Inc. recognized the related income tax expense in 2006 and 2007, respectively.  Income tax returns of other subsidiaries have been examined by the tax authorities through 2003 to 2006.

 
Information regarding Imputation Tax System

 
As of December 31, 2008, the balance of the Imputation Credit Account (“ICA”) amounted to NT$57,415 thousand (US$1,753 thousand). The creditable ratio for the distribution of 2007 and 2008 earnings is 5.62% (actual) and 8.65% (estimated), respectively.

 
Under the Integrated Income Tax System which became effective on January 1, 1998, ROC resident shareholders are allowed a tax credit for their proportionate share of the income tax paid by the Company on earnings generated since January 1, 1998.  Non-resident shareholders are allowed only a tax credit from the 10% income tax on undistributed earnings, which can be used to deduct the withholding income tax on dividends.  An ICA is maintained by the Company for such income tax and the tax credit allocated to each shareholder.  The maximum credit available for allocation to each shareholder cannot exceed the balance shown in the ICA on the date of distribution of dividends.  The expected creditable ratio for the 2008 earnings may be adjusted, depending on the ICA balance on the date of dividend distribution.


25.
EARNINGS PER SHARE

   
Year Ended December 31
 
   
2006
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
Before Income Tax
   
After Income Tax
   
Before Income Tax
   
After Income Tax
   
Before
 Income Tax
   
After
Income Tax
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$
   
NT$
   
US$
 
Basic EPS
                                               
Income before cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles
    3.61       3.36       2.55       2.26       1.36       0.04       1.14       0.03  
Cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles
    (0.09 )     (0.07 )     -       -       -       -       -       -  
                                                                 
(Continued)
 
 
 

 
   
Year Ended December 31
 
   
2006
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
Before Income Tax
   
After Income Tax
   
Before Income Tax
   
After Income Tax
   
Before
 Income Tax
   
After
Income Tax
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$
   
NT$
   
US$
 
Income attributable to shareholders of the parent
    3.52       3.29       2.55       2.26       1.36       0.04       1.14       0.03  
                                                                 
Diluted EPS
                                                               
Income before cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles
    3.44       3.20       2.46       2.18       1.33       0.04       1.12       0.03  
Cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles
    (0.08 )     (0.06 )     -       -       -       -       -       -  
                                                                 
Income attributable to shareholders of the parent
    3.36       3.14       2.46       2.18       1.33       0.04       1.12       0.03  
 
(Concluded)

EPS is computed as follows:

         
Number of
   
EPS
 
   
Amounts (Numerator)
   
Shares
   
Before
   
After
 
   
Before
   
After
   
(Denominator)
   
Income
   
Income
 
   
Income Tax
   
Income Tax
 
(In Thousands)
 
Tax
   
Tax
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
         
NT$
   
NT$
 
Year ended December 31, 2006
                             
Basic EPS
                             
Income from continuing operations
    19,067,237       17,758,654       5,291,575       3.61       3.36  
Cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles
    (456,671 )     (342,503 )     -       (0.09 )     (0.07 )
Income attributable to shareholders of the parent
    18,610,566       17,416,151       5,291,575       3.52       3.29  
Effect of dilutive potential common stock
                                       
Convertible bonds
    213,079       168,993       236,734                  
Employee stock options issued by ASE Inc.
    -       -       75,219                  
Employee stock options issued by subsidiaries
    (2,993 )     (2,993 )     -                  
Diluted EPS
                                       
Income attributable to shareholders of the parent plus effect of potential dilutive common stock
    18,820,652       17,582,151       5,603,528       3.36       3.14  
                                         
Year ended December 31, 2007
                                       
Basic EPS
                                       
Income attributable to shareholders of the parent
    13,729,800       12,165,249       5,390,907       2.55       2.26  
Effect of dilutive potential common stock
                                       
Convertible bonds
    177,111       139,635       179,120                  
Employee stock options issued by ASE Inc.
    -       -       63,118                  
Employee stock options issued by subsidiaries
    (24,660 )     (24,660 )     -                  
Diluted EPS
                                       
Income attributable to shareholders of the parent plus effect of potential dilutive common stock
    13,882,251       12,280,224       5,633,145       2.46       2.18  
                                         
Year ended December 31, 2008
                                       
Basic EPS
                                       
Income attributable to shareholders of the parent
    7,341,503       6,160,052       5,392,872       1.36       1.14  
Effect of dilutive potential common shares
                                       
Bonus to employees
    -       -       25,472                  
Convertible bonds
    -       -       6,164                  
Employee stock options issued by ASE Inc.
    -       -       32,848                  
Bonus to employees and employee stock options issued by subsidiaries
    (60,592 )     (60,592 )     -                  
Diluted EPS
                                       
Income attributable to shareholders of the parent plus effect of potential dilutive common stock
    7,280,911       6,099,460       5,457,356       1.33       1.12  
(Continued)
 
 
 

 
         
Number of
   
EPS
 
   
Amounts (Numerator)
   
Shares
   
Before
   
After
 
   
Before
   
After
   
(Denominator)
   
Income
   
Income
 
   
Income Tax
   
Income Tax
 
(In Thousands)
 
Tax
   
Tax
 
   
US$
   
US$
         
US$
   
US$
 
Year ended December 31, 2008
                             
Basic EPS
                             
Income attributable to shareholders of the parent
    224,100       188,036       5,392,872       0.04       0.03  
Effect of dilutive potential common shares
                                       
Bonus to employees
    -       -       25,472                  
Convertible bonds
    -       -       6,164                  
Employee stock options issued by ASE Inc.
    -       -       32,848                  
Bonus to employees and employee stock options issued by subsidiaries
    (1,850 )     (1,850 )     -                  
Diluted EPS
                                       
Income attributable to shareholders of the parent plus effect of potential dilutive common stock
    222,250       186,186       5,457,356       0.04       0.03  
 
(Concluded)

 
For purposes of the ADS calculation, the denominator represents the above-mentioned weighted average outstanding shares divided by five (one ADS represents five common shares).  The numerator was the same.

 
The ROC ARDF issued Interpretation 96-052 that requires companies to recognize bonuses paid to employees, directors and supervisors as compensation expenses beginning January 1, 2008.  These bonuses were previously recorded as appropriations from earnings.  If the Company may settle the bonus to employees by cash or shares, the Company should presume that the entire amount of the bonus will be settled in shares and the resulting potential shares should be included in the weighted average number of shares outstanding used in the calculation of diluted EPS, if the shares have a dilutive effect.  The number of shares is estimated by dividing the entire amount of the bonus by the closing price (after consideration of the dilutive effect of dividends) of the shares at the balance sheet date.  Such dilutive effect of the potential shares needs to be included in the calculation of diluted EPS until the shareholders resolves the number of shares to be distributed to employees at their meeting in the following year.

 
The weighted average number of shares outstanding for EPS calculation has been retroactively adjusted for the issuance of stock dividends, issuance of common stock from capital surplus and employee stock bonuses.  This adjustment caused the basic after income tax EPS for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2007 to decrease from NT$3.95 to NT$3.29 and NT$2.34 to NT$2.26, respectively.  This adjustment caused diluted after income tax EPS for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2007 to decrease from NT$3.77 to NT$3.14 and from NT$2.26 to NT$2.18, respectively.


26.
DISCLOSURES FOR FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

 
a.
Fair values of financial instruments were as follows:

   
December 31
 
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
Carrying
                   
   
Amount
   
Fair Value
   
Carrying Amount
   
Fair Value
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$
   
NT$
   
US$
 
Non-derivative financial instruments
                                   
                                     
Assets
                                   
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss
    1,599,353       1,599,353       536,427       16,375       536,427       16,375  
Available-for-sale financial assets
    9,406,327       9,406,327       279,812       8,541       279,812       8,541  
Held-to-maturity financial assets
    50,000               -       -                  
Bond investments with no active market
    -               450,000       13,736                  
Financial assets carried at cost
    525,025               575,495       17,567                  
Guarantee deposits
    490,306       490,306       61,224       1,869       61,224       1,869  
Restricted assets
    279,068       279,068       191,416       5,843       191,416       5,843  
(Continued)
 
 
 

 
   
December 31
 
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
Carrying
                   
   
Amount
   
Fair Value
   
Carrying Amount
   
Fair Value
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$
   
NT$
   
US$
 
Liabilities
                                   
Long-term bonds payable (including current portion)
    7,264,735       8,494,109       1,375,000       41,972       1,344,379       41,037  
Long-term bank loans (including current portion)
    23,280,708       23,280,708       52,510,410       1,602,882       51,510,410       1,602,882  
Capital lease obligations (including current portion)
    92,350       92,350       39,060       1,192       39,060       1,192  
                                                 
Derivative financial instruments
                                               
                                                 
Assets
                                               
Forward exchange contracts
    2,641       2,641       1,053       32       1,053       32  
                                                 
Liabilities
                                               
Swap contracts
    -       -       61,257       1,870       61,257       1,870  
Forward exchange contracts
    16,493       16,493       21,410       654       21,410       654  
Interest rate swap contract
    20,319       20,319       391,904       11,962       391,904       11,962  
Cross currency swap contracts
    7,519       7,519       -       -       -       -  
 
(Concluded)

 
b.
Methods and assumptions used in the estimation of fair values of financial instruments were as follows:

 
1)
The aforementioned financial instruments do not include cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, other receivables, short-term borrowings, short-term bills payable, accounts payable, accrued expenses and payable for properties.  These financial instruments’ carrying amounts approximate their fair values.

 
2)
Fair values of financial assets at FVTPL and available-for-sale financial assets were determined using their quoted market prices in an active market.  Fair values of derivatives were determined using valuation techniques incorporating estimates and assumptions consistent with those generally used by other market participants to price financial instruments.

 
3)
Financial assets carried at cost, held-to-maturity financial assets and bond investments with no active market are investments in unquoted securities, which have no quoted prices in an active market and entail an unreasonably high cost to obtain verifiable fair values.  Therefore, no fair value is presented.

 
4)
The interest rates of long-term debts except bonds payable were mainly floating; therefore, their fair values approximate carrying amounts.  Fair value of bonds payable was based on their quoted market price.

 
5)
The carrying amounts of guarantee deposits and restricted assets reflect their fair values.

 
c.
Valuation gains (losses) from changes in fair value of financial instruments determined using valuation techniques were NT$(260,569) thousand, NT$147,498 thousand and NT$251,616 thousand (US$7,681 thousand) for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008, respectively.

 
d.
As of December 31, 2007 and 2008, financial assets exposed to fair value interest rate risk amounted to NT$185,821 thousand and NT$53,544 thousand (US$1,634 thousand), respectively, financial liabilities exposed to fair value interest rate risk amounted to NT$4,739,247 thousand and NT$215,927 thousand (US$6,591 thousand), respectively, financial assets exposed to cash flow interest rate risk amounted to NT$14,045,750 thousand and NT$16,263,728 thousand (US$496,451 thousand), respectively, and financial liabilities exposed to cash flow interest rate risk amounted to NT$34,207,038 thousand and NT$61,302,873 thousand (US$1,871,272 thousand), respectively.
 
 
 

 
 
e.
For the years ended December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008, interest income of NT$406,364 thousand, NT$364,933 thousand and NT$351,286 thousand (US$10,723 thousand), and interest expense (including capitalized interest) of NT$1,841,401 thousand, NT$1,696,609 thousand and NT$1,931,018 thousand (US$58,944 thousand) were associated with financial assets or liabilities other than those at FVTPL.

 
f.
Strategy for financial risk

 
The derivative instruments employed by the Company are to mitigate risks arising from ordinary business operation.  All derivative transactions entered into by the Company are designated as either hedging or trading, which are governed by separate internal guidelines and controls.  Derivative transactions entered into for hedging purposes must hedge risk against fluctuations in foreign exchange and interest rates arising from operating activities.  The currency and the amount of derivative instruments held by the Company must match its assets and liabilities.

 
g.
Information about financial risk

 
1)
Market risk

 
All derivative financial instruments are mainly held to hedge the exchange rate fluctuations of foreign-currency-denominated assets and liabilities and interest rate fluctuations on its floating rate long-term loans.  Exchange gains or losses on these derivative contracts are likely to be offset by gains or losses on the hedged assets and liabilities.  Interest rate risks are also controlled because the expected cost of capital is fixed.  Thus, market risk for derivative contracts is believed to be immaterial.

 
The Company holds open-end mutual funds, bond investments and quoted stocks, which are subject to price risk.  The fair value of these funds will decrease by NT$8,000 thousand (US$244 thousand) if their market price decreases by 1%.

 
2)
Credit risk

 
Credit risk represents the potential loss that would be incurred by the Company if counter parties or third parties breached contracts.  Credit risk represents the positive fair values of contracts as of the balance sheet date.  The Company’s maximum credit risk on financial instruments approximated their carrying amounts as of December 31, 2007 and 2008.

 
3)
Liquidity risk

 
The Company’s operating funds are deemed sufficient to meet cash flow demand; therefore, the Company’s liquidity risk is not considered to be significant.

 
The Company’s investments in open-end mutual funds and quoted stocks are traded in active markets and can be disposed of quickly at close to their fair values.  The Company’s financial assets carried at cost have no active markets; therefore, liquidity risk for such assets is expected to be high.

 
4)
Cash flow interest rate risk

 
The Company’s short-term and long-term loans are mainly floating interest rate debts.  When the market interest rate increases by 1%, the Company’s annual cash out flows will increase by NT$613,028 thousand (US$18,713 thousand).
 
 
 
 

 
 
h.
Cash flow hedge

 
ASE Inc. entered into an interest rate swap contract in August 2008 to hedge fluctuations in interest rates on its long-term loans. As of December 31, 2008, the notional amount of the outstanding contract was NT$12,000,000 thousand (US$366,300 thousand).  Interest receipt and payment were based on floating rates (1.88% as of December 31, 2008) and fixed rate of 2.45%~2.48%, respectively.  The contract will mature in March 2013.  The fair value of the interest rate swap contract as of December 31, 2008 was a loss NT$391,695 thousand (US$11,956 thousand) and was recorded as hedging derivative liabilities-noncurrent with an adjustment to shareholders’ equity.

 
In addition, ASE Test, Inc. entered into cross currency swap contracts in 2007 and 2008 to hedge exposures from fluctuations in both foreign exchange and interest rates on its receivable from an affiliate, ASE Test Finance Limited.  The contracts were settled in December 2007 and May 2008, respectively.  Net gains from cross currency swap contracts for hedging purposes were NT$5,475 thousand (recorded as a deduction in interest income of NT$16,273 thousand and foreign exchange gains of NT$21,748 thousand) and NT$ 58,282 thousand (recorded as a deduction in interest income of NT$24,514 thousand and foreign exchange gains of NT$82,796 thousand) for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2008, respectively.


27.
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

The Company purchased real estate properties from HCDC for NT$141,238 thousand in 2007 and the prices were based on their fair market values as assessed by appraisers.  As of December 31, 2008, all of the amounts had been paid.

The Company contracted with HCDC for factory and office building construction, but the contract was terminated in 2008.  As a result of the termination, NT$36,000 thousand (US$1,099 thousand) was paid by the Company to HCDC and was recorded as non-operating losses.

Information regarding compensation to directors, supervisors and management personnel:

   
Year ended December 31
 
   
2006
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$
 
                         
                         
Salary, incentives and special compensation
    740,176       545,656       455,078       13,891  
Bonus
    96,028       102,635       71,453       2,181  
 
                               
      836,204       648,291       526,531       16,072  

The compensation of directors, supervisors and management personnel for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2007 included the bonuses appropriated from earnings for 2006 and 2007 which had been approved by shareholders in their annual meeting held in 2007 and 2008.



28.
ASSETS PLEDGED OR MORTGAGED

 
The following assets have been pledged or mortgaged as collateral for bank loans, import duties for raw materials and as guaranty deposits for employment of foreign labor, etc:
 
 
 

 
   
December 31
 
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$
 
                   
Property, plant and equipment
                 
Land
    505,151       511,644       15,618  
Buildings and improvements
    2,835,856       2,073,292       63,287  
Machinery and equipment
    4,807,205       434,907       13,276  
Inventory - construction in progress
    -       1,144,113       34,924  
Restricted assets
    279,068       191,416       5,843  
Idle assets
    196,552       -       -  
Land use rights
    152,982       -       -  
                         
      8,776,814       4,355,372       132,948  


29.
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 
a.
ASE Inc. and ASE Test, Inc. lease the land on which their buildings are situated under various operating lease agreements with the ROC government expiring on various dates through September 2017.  The agreements grant these entities the option to renew the leases and reserve the right for the lessor to adjust the lease payments upon an increase in the assessed value of the land and to terminate the leases under certain conditions.  In addition, the Company leases buildings, machinery and equipment under non-cancelable operating leases.

 
The future minimum lease payments under the above-mentioned operating leases as of December 31, 2008 were as follows:

   
Amount
 
  
 
NT$
   
US$
 
2009
    287,035       8,762  
2010
    209,778       6,403  
2011
    43,722       1,335  
2012
    34,348       1,048  
2013 and thereafter
    98,862       3,018  
                 
Total minimum lease payments
    673,745       20,566  

 
b.
As of December 31, 2008, unused letters of credit of the Company were approximately NT$323,000 thousand (US$9,860 thousand).

c.
As of December 31, 2008, commitments to purchase machinery and equipment of the Company were approximately NT$2,243,000 thousand (US$68,468 thousand), of which NT$27,623 thousand (US$843 thousand) had been prepaid.

d.
As of December 31, 2008, outstanding commitments related to construction of buildings of the Company were approximately NT$1,532,000 thousand (US$46,764 thousand), of which NT$275,253 thousand (US$8,402 thousand) had been prepaid.

e.
The Company entered into technology license agreements with foreign companies which will expire on various dates through 2013.  Pursuant to the agreements, the Company shall pay royalties based on specified percentages of sales volume and licensing fees to the counter parties. Royalties and licensing fees paid for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008 were approximately NT$282,381 thousand, NT$246,849 thousand and NT$199,195 thousand (US$6,080 thousand), respectively.
 
 
 

 
f.
Tessera Inc. (Tessera) filed an amended complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California in February 2006 adding the Company to a suit alleging that the Company infringed patents owned by Tessera (the California Litigation).  At Tesseras request, the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) instituted an investigation of certain of the Companys co-defendants and other companies.

 
The district court in the California Litigation has vacated the trial schedule and stayed all proceedings pending a final resolution of the first ITC investigation.  The United States Patent and Trademark Office have also instituted reexamination proceedings on all the patents Tessera has asserted in the California Litigation and the ITC Investigation.  As of March 12, 2009, Tessera moved to terminate the investigation.

 
As of April 16, 2009 the impact of the California Litigation or the ITC Investigation cannot be estimated.

g.
The Company and Spansion Inc. announced in October 2008 the signing of a memorandum of understanding with respect to entering into a joint venture to jointly own Spansion Inc.’s FMO facility in Suzhou, China. As of April 16, 2009, the project is suspended, and the definitive agreement has not been signed.


30.
LOSS ON FIRE DAMAGE

 
ASE Inc. and its subsidiary, ASE Test, Inc., incurred fire damage to their production lines in Chung Li, Taiwan on May 1, 2005, and recognized an estimated loss of NT$13,479,079 thousand for damages to their inventories, building, machinery and equipment.  With the assistance of external counsel, the Company submitted insurance claims of NT$4,641,000 thousand to its insurers for compensation for damages which the Company believes to be clearly identifiable and reasonably estimated, and recorded the amount as an offset to fire loss in 2005.

 
The Company reached a final settlement with the insurers in June 2006 with regards to the fire damage incurred to the production lines and facilities in Chung Li.  The final settlement amount of NT$8,068,000 thousand, offset by the NT$4,641,000 thousand recorded in 2005 and the related repair and restoring expenses of NT$1,043,132 thousand, was recorded in 2006.  The Company also reversed NT$2,190,583 thousand of impairment loss recognized in 2005 after careful analysis of the increase in the estimated service potential of the production line facilities by an external specialist.  The net amount of NT$4,574,451 thousand was recognized as a gain on insurance settlement and loss recovery in 2006.  All of the insurance recoveries were received in August 2006.


31.      SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

 
a.
Geographical sales and long-lived assets information

1)     Net revenues:
 
   
Year Ended December 31
 
   
2006
   
2007
   
2008
 
         
% of
         
% of
               
% of
 
         
Total
         
Total
               
Total
 
   
NT$
   
Revenues
   
NT$
   
Revenues
   
NT$
   
US$
   
Revenues
 
                                           
America
    53,280,483       53       50,389,904       50       50,082,695       1,528,776       53  
Taiwan
    18,810,441       19       21,413,369       21       18,681,217       570,245       20  
Asia
    15,752,825       16       16,760,893       17       12,950,935       395,328       14  
Europe
    12,579,366       12       12,597,299       12       12,714,009       388,095       13  
Other
    532       -       1,604       -       2,056       62       -  
                                                         
      100,423,647       100       101,163,069       100       94,430,912       2,882,506       100  
 
 
 

 
2)     Long-lived assets:

   
December 31
 
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
NT$
   
%
   
NT$
   
US$
   
%
 
                               
Taiwan
    47,364,686       58       44,802,206       1,367,588       53  
Asia
    34,074,540       42       39,090,983       1,193,253       46  
America
    349,103       -       864,795       26,397       1  
                                         
      81,788,329       100       84,757,984       2,587,238       100  

 
b.
Major customers

 
For the years ended December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008, the Company did not have a single customer to which the net revenues exceeded 10% of total net revenues.

 
c.
Reported segment information

 
The Company has three reportable segments:  Packaging, testing and investing and other.  The Company packages bare semiconductors into finished semiconductors with enhanced electrical and thermal characteristics; provides testing services, including front-end engineering testing, wafer probing and final testing services; and engages in investing activities.  The accounting policies for segments are the same as those described in Note 2.  Segment information for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008 was as follows:

               
Investing
       
   
Packaging
   
Testing
   
and Other
   
Total
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
 
2006
                       
                         
Revenue from external customers
    76,820,475       21,429,584       2,173,588       100,423,647  
Inter-segment revenues
    74,879       51,214       5,821,221       5,947,314  
Interest income
    193,412       66,237       146,715       406,364  
Interest expense
    (861,737 )     (145,669 )     (612,888 )     (1,620,294 )
Net interest expense
    (668,325 )     (79,432 )     (466,173 )     (1,213,930 )
Depreciation and amortization
    (8,245,204 )     (4,889,792 )     (1,353,215 )     (14,488,211 )
Gain on insurance settlement and impairment recovery
    1,758,957       1,637,709       1,177,785       4,574,451  
Segment profit (loss)
    14,679,021       7,829,473       (257,070 )     22,251,424  
Segment assets
    78,958,866       33,095,566       24,986,444       137,040,876  
Expenditures for segment assets
    7,025,247       4,859,188       5,846,500       17,730,935  
Goodwill
    772,148       1,619,698       439,428       2,831,274  
                                 
2007
                               
                                 
Revenue from external customers
    78,516,274       20,007,839       2,638,956       101,163,069  
Inter-segment revenues
    222,086       45,576       8,769,842       9,037,504  
Interest income
    229,917       85,363       33,380       348,660  
Interest expense
    (773,671 )     (87,635 )     (713,218 )     (1,574,524 )
Net interest expense
    (543,754 )     (2,272 )     (679,838 )     (1,225,864 )
Depreciation and amortization
    (9,379,964 )     (5,410,619 )     (1,835,569 )     (16,626,152 )
Segment profit (loss)
    14,879,301       5,359,835       (941,970 )     19,297,166  
Segment assets
    91,802,902       36,968,716       23,605,832       152,377,450  
Expenditures for segment assets
    10,502,494       6,330,268       1,339,393       18,172,155  
Goodwill
    1,040,509       1,708,255       439,353       3,188,117  
                                 
(Continued)
 
 
 

 
               
Investing
       
   
Packaging
   
Testing
   
and Other
   
Total
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
 
2008
                       
                         
Revenue from external customers
    73,391,622       19,021,360       2,017,930       94,430,912  
Inter-segment revenues
    1,227,553       71,513       10,047,595       11,346,661  
Interest income
    174,358       80,379       72,035       326,772  
Interest expense
    (1,201,699 )     (62,048 )     (549,549 )     (1,813,296 )
Net interest income (expense)
    (1,027,341 )     18,331       (477,514 )     (1,486,524 )
Depreciation and amortization
    (9,706,923 )     (5,799,216 )     (1,738,713 )     (17,244,852 )
Segment profit (loss)
    8,152,859       4,159,597       (512,941 )     11,799,515  
Segment assets
    79,836,198       49,326,401       23,027,388       152,189,987  
Expenditures for segment assets
    9,266,015       6,323,387       1,034,303       16,623,705  
Goodwill
    1,392,743       7,639,685       423,663       9,456,091  

               
Investing
       
   
Packaging
   
Testing
   
and Other
   
Total
 
   
US$
   
US$
   
US$
   
US$
 
2008
                       
                         
Revenue from external customers
    2,240,282       580,627       61,597       2,882,506  
Inter-segment revenues
    37,470       2,183       306,703       346,356  
Interest income
    5,322       2,454       2,199       9,975  
Interest expense
    (36,682 )     (1,894 )     (16,775 )     (55,351 )
Net interest income (expense)
    (31,360 )     560       (14,576 )     (45,376 )
Depreciation and amortization
    (296,304 )     (177,021 )     (53,075 )     (526,400 )
Segment profit (loss)
    248,866       126,972       (15,657 )     360,181  
Segment assets
    2,437,002       1,505,690       702,910       4,645,602  
Expenditures for segment assets
    282,845       193,022       31,572       507,439  
Goodwill
    42,513       233,202       12,932       288,647  
(Concluded)


32.
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES FOLLOWED BY THE COMPANY AND ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES GENERALLY ACCEPTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
 
 
The Companys consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with ROC GAAP, which differs in the following respects from U.S. GAAP:

a.
Pension benefits

 
The Company adopted U.S. Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“U.S. SFAS”) No. 87, “Employers’ Accounting for Pensions” (“U.S. SFAS No. 87”) on January 1, 1987, which requires the Company to determine the accumulated pension obligation and the pension expense on an actuarial basis.

 
U.S. SFAS No. 87 was amended by U.S. SFAS No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans” (“U.S. SFAS No. 158”) on September 29, 2006, which requires employers to recognize the overfunded or underfunded status of a defined benefit pension plan as an asset or liability in its statement of financial position and to recognize changes in that funded status in the year in which the changes occur through comprehensive income.  Specifically, U.S. SFAS No. 158 defines the funded status of a benefit plan as the difference between the fair value of the plan assets and the projected benefit obligation.  In addition, it requires companies to recognize actuarial gains or losses, prior service costs or credits, and the transition asset or obligation remaining that were unrecognized as of the initial adoption date of U.S. SFAS No. 158.  The Company adopted U.S. SFAS No. 158 on December 31, 2006.
 
 
 

 
 
ROC SFAS No. 18, “Accounting for Pensions” (“ROC SFAS No. 18”) is similar in many respects to U.S. SFAS No. 87 and was adopted by the Company in 1996.  However, ROC SFAS No. 18 does not require a company to recognize the overfunded or underfunded status of a defined benefit pension plan as an asset or liability in the statement of financial position.  The difference in the dates of adoption gives rise to a U.S. GAAP difference in the actuarial computation for transition obligation and the related amortization.

b.
Marketable securities

 
Under ROC GAAP, prior to January 1, 2006, marketable securities were carried at the lower of aggregate cost or market, and debt securities were carried at cost, with only unrealized losses recognized.  Effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted ROC SFAS No. 34, “Financial Instruments:  Recognition and Measurement” and No. 36, “Financial Instruments:  Disclosure and Presentation”.  Financial instruments including debt securities and equity securities are categorized as FVTPL, available-for-sale or held-to-maturity securities.  Financial assets at FVTPL has two sub-categories: financial assets designated on initial recognition as assets to be measured at fair value with fair value changes recognized in profit or loss, and financial assets that are classified as held for trading.  These classifications are similar to those required by U.S. SFAS No. 115, “Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities” (“U.S. SFAS No. 115”).

 
Under U.S. SFAS No. 115, debt and equity securities that have readily determinable fair values are classified as either trading, available-for-sale or held-to-maturity securities.  Debt securities that the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity are classified as held-to-maturity securities and reported at amortized cost.  Debt and equity securities that are bought and traded for short-term profit are classified as trading securities and reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses included in earnings.  Debt and equity securities not classified as either held-to-maturity or trading are classified as available-for-sale securities and reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses excluded from earnings and reported as a separate component of shareholders’ equity.

 
Upon adoption of ROC SFAS No. 34 and No. 36 on January 1, 2006, the Company recorded a cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles of NT$342,503 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2006 for marketable securities and derivative financial instruments, of which NT$16,331 thousand relates to the adjustment of the carrying basis of trading securities to fair market value.  Such adjustment, representing the unrealized gain on trading securities already recognized under U.S. GAAP in 2005, was reversed in 2006 as a one-time reconciling adjustment between U.S. GAAP and ROC GAAP.

 
Upon adoption of ROC SFAS No. 34 and No. 36, the Company also adjusted the carrying value of the marketable securities categorized as AFS, which were carried at the lower of aggregate cost or market with unrealized losses included in earnings, to fair market value on January 1, 2006.  Therefore, prior to January 1, 2006, unrealized gains and losses included in shareholders’ equity associated with AFS marketable securities under ROC GAAP were different from those under U.S. GAAP.

c.      Bonuses to employees, directors and supervisors

 
According to ROC regulations and the Articles of Incorporation of ASE Inc., a portion of distributable earnings is required to be set aside as bonuses to employees, directors and supervisors.  Bonuses to directors and supervisors are always paid in cash.  However, bonuses to employees may be granted in cash or stock or both.  Prior to January 1, 2008, all of these appropriations, including stock bonuses which were valued at par value of NT$10, were charged against retained earnings under ROC GAAP after approval by the shareholders in the following year.

 
Under U.S. GAAP, such bonuses are charged to earnings in the year earned.  Shares issued as part of these bonuses are recorded at fair market value.  Since the amount and form of such bonuses are not usually determinable until the shareholders meeting in the subsequent year, the total amount of the aforementioned bonuses is initially accrued based on managements estimate regarding the amount to
 
 
 

 
be paid based on the Articles of Incorporation.  Any difference between the initially accrued amount and the fair market value of any shares issued as bonuses is recognized in the year of approval by the shareholders.
 
 
Effective January 1, 2008, the Company adopted Interpretation 96-052, “Accounting for Bonuses to Employees, Directors and Supervisors” issued in March 2007 by the ROC ARDF, which requires companies to record bonuses paid to employees, directors and supervisors as an expense rather than as an appropriation of earnings.  The amount of compensation expense related to stock bonuses is determined based on the market value of ASE Inc.s common stock at the date immediately preceding the shareholders meeting.

 
Accordingly, the Company is no longer required to record the first reconciling adjustment for the year ended December 31, 2008 as mentioned above. However, the Company recorded the second reconciling adjustment to reflect the additional compensation expense recognized in 2008 for 2007 bonuses paid in stock, which was measured at the fair market value on the date of stock distribution.  Starting from January 1, 2009, the only U.S. GAAP reconciling adjustment for the bonuses paid in stock will be the difference of the market value of the stock bonuses between the date of stock distribution and the date immediately preceding the shareholders’ meeting.

 
d.
Depreciation of buildings

 
Under ROC GAAP, buildings may be depreciated over their estimated life or up to 40 years based on ROC practices and tax regulations.  For U.S. GAAP purposes, buildings are depreciated over their estimated economic useful life of 25 years.

 
e.
Depreciation on the excess of book value on transfer of buildings between subsidiaries

 
ASE Test, Inc. purchased buildings and facilities from ASE Technologies Inc. in 1997.  The purchase price was based on market value, which meant the portion of the purchase price in excess of book value of NT$17,667 thousand was capitalized by ASE Test, Inc. as allowed under ROC GAAP.  Under U.S. GAAP, transfers of assets between entities under common control are recorded at historical cost.  Therefore, depreciation on the capitalized excess amount recorded under ROC GAAP is reversed under U.S. GAAP until the buildings and facilities are fully depreciated or disposed of.

 
f.
Gain on sales of subsidiarys stock

 
The carrying value of stock investments in ASE Test by J&R Holding under ROC GAAP is different from that under U.S. GAAP, therefore differences in the amount of related gains upon the sale of such stock investments have been recorded in the equity reconciliation.

 
g.
Effects of U.S. GAAP adjustments on equity method investments

 
The carrying amounts of equity method investments and the investment income (loss) recognized by the equity method in HCDC, HCKC and USI are reflected in the consolidated financial statements under ROC GAAP.  The financial statements of these equity method investees prepared under ROC GAAP are different from the financial statements of such equity method investees prepared under U.S. GAAP mainly due to the differences in accounting for bonuses to employees, directors and supervisors, stock options and the depreciation of buildings.  Therefore, the investment income (loss) has been adjusted to reflect the differences between ROC GAAP and U.S. GAAP in the investees financial statements.

 
h.
Impairment of long-lived assets

 
Under U.S. GAAP, an impairment loss is recognized when the carrying amount of an asset or a group of assets is not recoverable from the expected future cash flows and the impairment loss is measured as the difference between the fair value and the carrying amount of the asset or group of assets.  The impairment loss is recorded in earnings and cannot be reversed subsequently.  Long-lived assets
 
 
 

(excluding goodwill and other indefinite lived assets) held and used by the Company are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable.
 
 
Under ROC GAAP, for purposes of evaluating the recoverability of long-lived assets, assets purchased for use in the business but subsequently determined to have no use were written down to fair value and recorded as idle assets.  Under ROC GAAP, effective January 1, 2005, the Company is required to recognize an impairment loss when an indication is identified that the carrying amount of an asset or a group of assets is not recoverable from the expected discounted future cash flows.  However, if the recoverable amount increases in a future period, the amount previously recognized as impairment would be reversed and recognized as a gain.  The adjusted amount may not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined, net of depreciation, if no impairment loss had been recognized.

 
As discussed in Note 30, in 2006, the Company reversed NT$2,190,583 thousand of impairment loss recognized in 2005 under ROC GAAP after a careful analysis of the increase in the estimated service potential of the production line and facilities by an external specialist. Such reversal is prohibited under U.S. GAAP.  As such, differences in the cost basis of these damaged machinery and equipment, associated depreciation expense and gain on recoveries related to restoration of such damaged machinery and equipment between ROC GAAP and U.S. GAAP are reflected in the reconciliation.

 
i.
Stock dividends

 
Under ROC GAAP, stock dividends are recorded at par value with a charge to retained earnings.  Under U.S. GAAP, if the ratio of distribution is less than 25 percent of the same class of shares outstanding, the fair value of the shares issued should be charged to retained earnings.  The difference for stock dividends paid in 2007 and 2008 is treated as an additional reduction to retained earnings and an increase to capital surplus of NT$14,264 million and NT$687 million (US$20,981 thousand), respectively.

 
j.
Stock-based compensation

 
Under U.S. GAAP, stock-based compensation expense for the year ended December 31, 2006 includes compensation expense for all unvested stock-based compensation awards granted prior to January 1, 2006 that are expected to vest, based on the grant-date fair value estimated in accordance with the transition method and the original provision of U.S. SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” (“U.S. SFAS No. 123”).   Upon an employees termination, unvested awards are forfeited, which affects the quantity of options to be included in the calculation of stock-based compensation expense.  Forfeitures do not include vested options that expire unexercised.  Stock-based compensation expense for all stock-based compensation awards granted after January 1, 2006 is based on the grant-date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of U.S. SFAS No. 123R, “Share-Based Payment” (“U.S. SFAS No. 123R”).  The Company recognizes compensation expense using the graded vesting method over the requisite service period of the award, which is generally the option vesting term of five years.  See Note 33d for a further discussion on stock-based compensation.

 
Certain characteristics of the stock options granted under the ASE 2002 Option Plan made the fair values of these options not reasonably estimable using appropriate valuation methodologies as prescribed under U.S. SFAS No. 123; therefore, these options have been accounted for using the intrinsic value method.  Upon the adoption of U.S. SFAS No. 123R, the Company continued to account for these stock options based on their intrinsic value, remeasured at each reporting date through the date of exercise or other settlement.
 
 
 

 
 
Under ROC GAAP, employee stock option plans that were granted or modified in the period from January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2007 are accounted for by the interpretations 2003-070~072 and 2004-073 issued by the ROC ARDF.  The Company adopted the intrinsic value method and any compensation expense determined using this method is recognized over the vesting period.

 
Effective January 1, 2008, the Company adopted ROC SFAS No. 39, “Accounting for Share-based Payment”, which is similar in many respects to U.S. SFAS No. 123R and requires companies to record share-based payment transactions in the financial statements at fair value for the employee stock options that were granted or modified after December 31, 2007.  The Company has not granted or modified employee stock options since January 1, 2008.  No stock-based compensation expense was recognized under ROC GAAP for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008.

 
k.
Derivative financial instruments

 
The Company accounts for derivatives that do not qualify for hedge accounting be recorded as “financial assets or liabilities at fair value through profit or loss” at fair value in accordance with ROC SFAS No. 34.

 
Under U.S. GAAP, accounting for derivative instruments is prescribed in U.S. SFAS No. 133, as amended by U.S. SFAS No. 138, which requires that all companies recognize derivative instruments as assets and liabilities in the balance sheet at fair value.  If certain conditions are met, including certain rigorous documentation requirements, entities may elect to designate a derivative instrument as a hedging instrument.

 
As such, the GAAP difference presented in the reconciliation below for derivative instruments represents the effect of the initial adoption of ROC SFAS No. 34 on January1, 2006.

 
l.
Goodwill

 
Before January 1, 2006, under ROC GAAP, the Company amortized goodwill arising from acquisitions over 10 years.  Effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted ROC SFAS No. 25 (revised in 2005), “Business Combinations - Accounting Treatment under Purchase Method” which is similar to U.S. SFAS No. 142 Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” (“U.S. SFAS No. 142”). The Company reviews goodwill for impairment in accordance with the provision of the standards under ROC and U.S. GAAP and found no impairment as of December 31, 2007 and 2008.

 
Under U.S. GAAP, the Company adopted U.S. SFAS No. 142, on January 1, 2002, which requires the Company to review goodwill for possible impairment existed at the date of adoption and perform subsequent impairment tests on at least an annual basis.  As a result, for U.S. GAAP purposes, the Company ceased to amortize goodwill effective January 1, 2002.  Definite-lived intangible assets continue to be amortized over their estimated useful lives.

 
The determination of whether or not goodwill is impaired under U.S. SFAS No. 142 is made by first estimating the fair value of the reporting unit and comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount, including goodwill.  If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the Company calculates an implied fair value of the goodwill based on an allocation of the fair value of the reporting unit to the underlying assets and liabilities.  If the carrying amount of the reporting unit’s goodwill exceeds the implied fair value of that goodwill, an impairment loss shall be recognized in an amount equal to that excess.

m.
Undistributed earnings tax

 
In the ROC, a 10% tax is imposed on unappropriated earnings.  For ROC GAAP purposes, the Company records the 10% tax on unappropriated earnings in the year of shareholders approval.  In 2002, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants International Practices Task Force (the Task Force) concluded that in accordance with Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) 95-10,
 
 
 

Accounting for tax credits related to dividends in accordance with SFAS 109”, the 10% tax on unappropriated earnings should be accrued under U.S. GAAP during the period the earnings arise and adjusted to the extent that distributions are approved by the shareholders in the following year.
 
 
n.
Impairment loss on equity method investments

 
ROC GAAP and U.S. GAAP require an assessment of impairment of long-term investments whenever events or circumstances indicate a decline in value that may be other than temporary.  The criteria for determining whether or not an impairment charge is required are similar under ROC GAAP and U.S. GAAP; however, the methods to measure the amount of impairment may be based on different estimates of fair values depending on the circumstances.  When impairment is determined to have occurred, U.S. GAAP generally requires the market price to be used, if available, to determine the fair value of the long-term investment and measure the amount of impairment at the reporting date.  Under ROC GAAP, if the investments have an inactive market, another measure of fair value may be used.  No impairment charge was incurred under U.S. GAAP in 2006, 2007 and 2008.  The accumulated GAAP difference of NT$2,078,620 thousand was caused by the impairment charges recorded in 2002 and 2004.

o.
Uncertainty in income taxes

 
Under ROC GAAP, uncertainty in income taxes or adjustments of prior years’ income taxes is recorded as current year’s income tax expense.  Under U.S. GAAP, effective January 1, 2007, the Company accounts for uncertainties in income taxes in accordance with FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109” (“FIN 48”).  FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes by prescribing the recognition threshold a tax position is required to meet before being recognized in the consolidated financial statements.  It also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition.  The adoption of FIN 48 resulted in a cumulative effect of NT$24,154 thousand, which was recorded as an adjustment to retained earnings at the beginning of 2007.

p.
Earnings per share

 
Under ROC GAAP, basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares outstanding in each period, which is retroactively adjusted to the beginning of the year for stock dividends and stock bonuses issued subsequently.  Under U.S. GAAP, basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares outstanding in each period, which is retroactively adjusted for stock dividends issued subsequently.  For stock bonuses to employees, shares are included in the calculation of weighted-average number of shares outstanding from the date of issuance.  For diluted earnings per share, unvested stock options are included in the calculation using the treasury stock method if the inclusion of such would be dilutive.

 
U.S. SFAS No. 128, “Earnings per Share” provides guidance on applying the treasury stock method for equity instruments granted in share-based payment transactions in determining diluted earnings per share, which states that the assumed proceeds shall be the sum of (a) the exercise price, (b) the amount of compensation cost attributed to future services and not yet recognized, and (c) the amount of excess tax benefits that would be credited to additional paid-in capital assuming exercise of the options.  Prior to January 1, 2006, the Company used the intrinsic value method to account for its stock-based compensation under APB No. 25, and had no unrecognized compensation cost to be included in the assumed proceeds.  However, upon adoption of U.S. SFAS No. 123R, the Company has unrecognized compensation cost, and therefore, the number of shares included in the diluted earnings per share calculation under U.S. GAAP is different from that under ROC GAAP.

The following schedule reconciles net income and shareholders equity under ROC GAAP as reported in the consolidated financial statements to the net income and shareholders equity amounts as determined under U.S. GAAP, giving effect to adjustments for the differences listed above.
 
 
 

 
   
Year Ended December 31
 
   
2006
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$
 
Net income
                       
                         
Net income based on ROC GAAP
    17,416,151       12,165,249       6,160,052       188,036  
Adjustments:
                               
a.     Pension benefits
    104,011       4,382       1,920       59  
b.     Marketable securities
    (16,331 )     -       -       -  
c.     Bonuses to employees, directors and supervisors
    (1,656,438 )     (2,054,493 )     (328,013 )     (10,013 )
d.     Depreciation of buildings
    (103,493 )     (116,574 )     (117,394 )     (3,583 )
e.     Depreciation on the excess of book value of buildings transferred between subsidiaries
    432       432       432       13  
g.     Effect of U.S. GAAP adjustments on equity method investees
    (38,719 )     (26,414 )     5,453       166  
h.     Impairment of long-lived assets
                               
Recoverable amount
    (2,190,583 )     -       -       -  
 Depreciation and gain on recoveries related to restoration of damaged machinery and equipment
    85,631       313,277       195,790       5,976  
j.      Stock-based compensation
    (635,041 )     (489,490 )     (84,835 )     (2,590 )
j.      Cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles upon adoption of U.S. SFAS No. 123R
    45,976       -       -       -  
k.     Derivative financial instruments
    590,481       -       -       -  
m.    Undistributed earnings tax
    (300,438 )     122,448       (215,601 )     (6,581 )
o.     Uncertainty in income taxes adjustment upon adoption of FIN 48
    -       24,154       -       -  
Income tax effect of U.S. GAAP adjustments
    404,491       (43,603 )     (19,599 )     (598 )
Effect of U.S. GAAP adjustments on minority interest
    416,566       31,738       (106,104 )     (3,239 )
Net decrease in net income
    (3,293,455 )     (2,234,143 )     (667,951 )     (20,390 )
                                 
Net income based on U.S. GAAP
    14,122,696       9,931,106       5,492,101       167,646  
                                 
Earnings per share (Note 33g )
                               
Basic
    2.71       1.87       1.02       0.03  
Diluted
    2.60       1.81       1.01       0.03  
Earnings per ADS (Note 33g )
                               
Basic
    13.57       9.34       5.11       0.16  
Diluted
    12.98       9.03       5.04       0.16  
Number of weighted average outstanding shares
  (in thousands) (Note 33g )
                               
Basic
    5,202,736       5,317,695       5,368,718          
Diluted
    5,505,529       5,566,118       5,405,280          
Number of ADS (in thousands) (Note 33g )
                               
Basic
    1,040,547       1,063,539       1,073,744          
Diluted
    1,101,106       1,113,224       1,081,057          

   
December 31
 
   
2006
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$
 
Shareholders’ equity
                       
                         
Shareholders’ equity based on ROC GAAP
    66,019,899       75,173,361       69,671,994       2,126,740  
Adjustments:
                               
a.     Pension benefits and additional liability
                               
Pension benefits
    58,218       62,600       64,520       1,969  
Unrecognized pension cost on adoption of
  U.S. SFAS No. 158
    (613,362 )     (613,362 )     (613,362 )     (18,723 )
Defined benefit pension plan adjustment
    -       (26,153 )     (627,783 )     (19,163 )
c.     Bonuses to employees, directors and supervisors
    (1,656,438 )     (1,241,391 )     3,394       104  
d.     Depreciation of buildings
    (582,287 )     (698,861 )     (816,255 )     (24,916 )
e.     Depreciation on the excess of book value of
  buildings transferred between subsidiaries
    (13,599 )     (13,167 )     (12,735 )     (389 )

(Continued)
 
 
 
 
   
December 31
 
   
2006
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$
 
f.     Gain on sale of subsidiary’s stock
    (8,619 )     (8,619 )     (8,619 )     (263 )
g.    Effects of U.S. GAAP adjustments on
  equity method investees
    611,004       273,901       594,283       18,141  
h.    Impairment loss reversal, net
    (2,104,952 )     (1,791,675 )     (1,595,885 )     (48,715 )
j.     Stock option compensation
    (908,661 )     (908,661 )     (908,661 )     (27,737 )
l.     Goodwill
                               
Amortization
    3,041,351       3,041,351       3,041,351       92,837  
Impairment loss
    (1,600,618 )     (1,600,618 )     (1,600,618 )     (48,859 )
m.    Undistributed earnings tax
    (300,438 )     (177,990 )     (393,591 )     (12,014 )
n.     Impairment loss on equity method investments
    (2,078,620 )     (2,078,620 )     (2,078,620 )     (63,450 )
Income tax effect of U.S. GAAP adjustments
    635,625       592,022       572,423       17,473  
Effect of U.S. GAAP adjustments on minority interest
    85,550       117,288       11,184       342  
Net decrease in shareholders’ equity
    (5,435,846 )     (5,071,955 )     (4,368,974 )     (133,363 )
                                 
Shareholders’ equity based on U.S. GAAP
    60,584,053       70,101,406       65,303,020       1,993,377  
 
(Concluded)
 
 
   
Year Ended December 31
 
   
2006
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$
 
Changes in shareholders’ equity based on U.S. GAAP
                       
                         
Balance, beginning of year
    44,959,335       60,584,053       70,101,406       2,139,848  
Net income for the year
    14,122,696       9,931,106       5,492,101       167,646  
Adjustment for bonuses to employees, directors and
  supervisors
    -       1,634,513       973,593       29,719  
Adjustment for stock option compensation
    635,041       489,490       84,835       2,590  
Cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles for
  adopting U.S. SFAS No. 123R
    (45,976 )     -       -       -  
Translation adjustment
    258,140       849,157       2,694,149       82,239  
Adjustment from changes in ownership percentages of
  investees
    (65,104 )     15,867       1,014       31  
Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale financial assets
    486,314       (13,882 )     (450,261 )     (13,744 )
Unrealized loss on cash flow hedging financial instruments
    -       -       (391,695 )     (11,957 )
Issuance of common stock from stock options exercised by
  employees
    464,162       962,240       237,383       7,247  
Capital received in advance for stock options
    384,428       491,883       3,387       103  
Cash dividends
    -       (6,941,011 )     (9,361,728 )     (285,767 )
Conversion of convertible bonds
    -       1,300,795       265,834       8,114  
Cash dividends paid to subsidiaries
    -       271,945       535,100       16,334  
Capital surplus from accrued interest on convertible bonds
    -       728,254       -       -  
Adjustment upon adoption of FIN 48
    -       (24,154 )     -       -  
Adjustment related to treasury stock arising from changes in ownership percentage of subsidiaries
    -       145,468       (3,271,523 )     (99,863 )
Effects of U.S. GAAP adjustments on equity method
  investees
    -       (310,690 )     314,929       9,613  
Unrecognized pension cost
    (1,621 )     12,525       (223,885 )     (6,834 )
Unrecognized pension cost on adoption of
  U.S. SFAS No. 158
    (613,362 )     -       -       -  
Defined benefit pension plan adjustment
    -       (26,153 )     (601,630 )     (18,365 )
Acquisition of treasury stock
    -       -       (1,099,989 )     (33,577 )
                                 
Balance, end of year
    60,584,053       70,101,406       65,303,020       1,993,377  

 
 
 
 

 
The following U.S. GAAP condensed consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2007 and 2008, and consolidated statements of income for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008 have been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements and reflect the adjustments presented above.

   
December 31
 
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$
 
                   
Current assets
    56,902,021       46,366,851       1,415,349  
Long-term investments
    3,045,425       2,842,701       86,774  
Property, plant and equipment, net
    80,036,599       82,694,497       2,524,252  
Intangible assets
    5,255,787       12,940,638       395,014  
Other assets
    3,766,680       3,963,509       120,986  
Total assets
    149,006,512       148,808,196       4,542,375  
                         
Current liabilities
    36,992,344       25,267,300       771,285  
Long-term debts
    23,936,009       51,622,187       1,575,768  
Other liabilities
    3,527,514       4,512,989       137,760  
Total liabilities
    64,455,867       81,402,476       2,484,813  
Minority interest in consolidated subsidiaries
    14,449,239       2,102,700       64,185  
Equity attributable to shareholders of the parent
    70,101,406       65,303,020       1,993,377  
                         
Total liabilities and shareholders equity
    149,006,512       148,808,196       4,542,375  

   
Year Ended December 31
 
   
2006
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$
 
Net revenues
    100,423,647       101,163,069       94,430,912       2,882,506  
Cost of revenues
    73,366,954       75,134,707       73,109,934       2,231,683  
Gross profit
    27,056,693       26,028,362       21,320,978       650,823  
Operating expenses
    10,113,817       11,108,707       10,820,666       330,301  
Income from operations
    16,942,876       14,919,655       10,500,312       320,522  
Net non-operating income (expense)
    1,448,498       71,382       (1,351,194 )     (41,245 )
Income from continuing operations before income tax
    18,391,374       14,991,037       9,149,118       279,277  
Income tax expense
    1,980,734       3,262,434       2,503,482       76,419  
Income before cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles
    16,410,640       11,728,603       6,645,636       202,858  
Cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles
    (296,527 )     -       -       -  
Minority interest in net income of subsidiaries
    (1,991,417 )     (1,797,497 )     (1,153,535 )     (35,212 )
                                 
Net income
    14,122,696       9,931,106       5,492,101       167,646  


 
The Company applies ROC SFAS No. 17, “Statement of Cash Flows”.  Its objectives and principles are similar to those set out in the U.S. SFAS No. 95, “Statement of Cash Flows” (“U.S. SFAS No. 95”).  Summarized cash flow data by operating, investing and financing activities in accordance with U.S. SFAS No. 95 are as follows:
 
 
 

 
   
Year Ended December 31
 
   
2006
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$
 
Net cash inflow (outflow) from:
                       
Operating activities
    37,280,483       27,471,750       30,129,594       919,706  
Investing activities
    (22,099,944 )     (18,108,361 )     (36,359,167 )     (1,109,863 )
Financing activities
    (12,551,518 )     (7,653,859 )     14,461,587       441,441  
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
    2,629,021       1,709,530       8,232,014       251,284  
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year
    13,263,788       15,730,075       17,157,935       523,746  
Effect of exchange rate changes
    (162,734 )     (281,670 )     748,981       22,862  
 
                               
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year
    15,730,075       17,157,935       26,138,930       797,892  

 
The significant reclassifications for U.S. GAAP cash flow statements pertain to bonuses to employees, directors and supervisors shown in the operating activities under U.S. GAAP as opposed to financing activities under ROC GAAP.

 
As discussed in Note 3, the bonuses to employees, directors and supervisors were recorded as an expense starting January 1, 2008.  Therefore, the reclassification of the bonus expense will no longer be required for the cash flow statement from 2009.


33.
ADDITIONAL DISCLOSURES REQUIRED BY U.S. GAAP

 
a.
Recently issued accounting standards

 
On January 1, 2008, the Company adopted U.S. SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“U.S. SFAS No. 157”), which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurements.  U.S. SFAS No. 157 does not require any new fair value measurements, but provides guidance on how to measure fair value by providing a fair value hierarchy used to classify the source of the information.  The adoption of U.S. SFAS No. 157 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations.

 
In February 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) 157-2, “Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157” (“FSP 157-2”), which delays the effective date of U.S. SFAS No. 157 to January 1, 2009, for all non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities, except for items that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis (at least annually).  The Company believes that the adoption of the delayed items of U.S. SFAS No. 157 will not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

 
In October 2008, the FASB issued FSP 157-3, “Determining the Fair Value of a Financial Asset When the Market for That Asset Is Not Active” (“FSP 157-3”), which clarifies the application of U.S. SFAS No. 157 in a market that is not active and provides an example to illustrate key considerations in determining the fair value of a financial asset when the market for that financial asset is not active.  The Company believes the adoption of FSP 157-3 will not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations.

 
In April 2009 the FASB issued FSP 157-4, “Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability Have Significantly Decreased and Identifying Transactions That Are Not Orderly” (“FSP 157- 4”), which clarifies the application of U.S. SFAS No. 157 when there is no active market or where the price inputs being used represent distressed sales.  Additional guidance is provided regarding estimating the fair value of an asset or liability (financial and nonfinancial) when the volume and level of activity for the asset or liability have significantly decreased and identifying transactions that are not orderly.  FSP 157-4 will be effective for interim and annual periods ending after June 15, 2009.  The Company believes the adoption in fiscal 2009 will not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations.
 
 
 
 
 
 
In February 2007, the FASB issued U.S. SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities- Including an amendment of FASB Statement No.115” (“U.S. SFAS No. 159”).  This statement permits companies to choose to measure eligible items at fair value at specified election dates and report unrealized gains and losses in earnings at each subsequent reporting date on items for which the fair value option has been elected.  The objective of this statement is to improve financial reporting by providing companies with the opportunity to mitigate volatility in reported earnings caused by measuring related assets and liabilities differently without having to apply complex hedge accounting provisions.  Companies may decide whether to elect the fair value option for each eligible item on its election date, subject to certain requirements described in the statement.  This statement is effective beginning January 1, 2008.  The Company did not elect the fair value option for any eligible financial asset of liability.

 
In December 2007, the FASB issued U.S. SFAS No. 141R, “Business Combination” (“U.S. SFAS No. 141R”) and U.S. SFAS No. 160, “Non-controlling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements- an amendment of ARB No. 51” (“U.S. SFAS No. 160”).  U.S. SFAS No. 141R requires most of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the business combination to be measured at fair value as of the acquisition date.  In addition, the net assets of non-controlling interests’ share of the acquired subsidiaries should be recognized at fair value.  U.S. SFAS No. 160 requires the Company to include non-controlling interests as a separate component of shareholders’ equity, instead of liability or temporary equity.  U.S. SFAS No. 141R is effective for business combinations consummated on or after January 1, 2009 and U.S. SFAS No. 160 is effective beginning January 1, 2009.  The adoption of U.S. SFAS No. 141R will change the accounting treatment of the Company for business combinations on a prospective basis.  The Company believes the adoption of U.S. SFAS No. 160 has no material impact on its consolidated financial position or results of operations.

 
In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities - an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133” (“U.S. SFAS No. 161”), which requires additional disclosures about the objectives of derivative instruments and hedging activities, the method of accounting for such instruments under U.S. SFAS No. 133 and its related interpretations, and a tabular disclosure of the effects of such instruments and related hedged items on our financial position, financial performance, and cash flows.  U.S. SFAS No. 161 is effective beginning January 1, 2009.  The Company believes the adoption of U.S. SFAS No. 161 will not have a material impact on its consolidated financial position or results of operations.

 
b.
Pension

 
Set forth below is pension information about the defined benefit plans disclosed in accordance with U.S. SFAS No. 132R:

   
Year Ended December 31
 
   
2006
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$
 
                         
Components of net periodic benefit cost
                       
Service cost
    267,351       382,371       333,538       10,182  
Interest cost
    89,761       86,490       107,726       3,288  
Expected return on plan assets
    (34,777 )     (37,312 )     (46,788 )     (1,428 )
Amortization
    7,697       10,955       14,185       433  
Curtailment gain on pension
    -       -       (4,177 )     (128 )
                                 
Net periodic benefit cost
    330,032       442,504       404,484       12,347  
(Continued)
 
 
 
 
   
Year Ended December 31
 
   
2006
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$
 
                         
Changes in benefit obligation
                       
Benefit obligation at beginning of year
    4,006,601       4,474,962       4,851,185       148,083  
Service cost
    376,027       382,371       333,538       10,182  
Interest cost
    88,341       86,490       107,726       3,288  
Initial adoption of U.S. SFAS No. 158
    31,691       -       -       -  
Curtailment gain on settlement
    (29,327 )     (13,562 )     (4,177 )     (128 )
Actuarial gain
    250,851       112,780       650,236       19,848  
Benefits paid
    (285,063 )     (245,692 )     (274,252 )     (8,372 )
Exchange loss
    35,841       53,836       109,543       3,344  
                                 
Benefit obligation at end of year
    4,474,962       4,851,185       5,773,799       176,245  
                                 
Change in plan assets
                               
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year
    1,421,105       1,657,132       2,132,706       65,101  
Actual return (loss) on plan assets
    51,438       41,577       (144,737 )     (4,418 )
Employer contribution
    224,678       485,244       153,370       4,682  
Benefits paid
    (41,740 )     (48,285 )     (93,653 )     (2,859 )
Translation adjustment
    1,651       (2,962 )     8,095       247  
      1,657,132       2,132,706       2,055,781       62,753  
                                 
Funded status
    2,817,830       2,718,479       3,718,018       113,492  
(Concluded)

Actuarial assumptions:
 
 
December 31
 
2006
2007
2008
       
Discount rate
2.25% to 4.70%
2.25% to 4.90%
2.00% to 4.90%
Increase in future salary level
2.50% to 5.00%
2.50% to 5.00%
2.50% to 5.00%
Expected rate of return on plan assets
2.50% to 2.75%
2.50% to 3.00%
2.25% to 2.50%

 
The Company has no other post-retirement or post-employment benefit plans.

 
c.
Marketable securities

 
At December 31, 2007 and 2008, marketable securities by category were as follows:

   
December 31
 
   
2007
   
2008
 
               
Unrealized
               
Unrealized
 
   
Carrying
         
Holding
               
Holding Losses
 
   
Amount
   
Fair Value
   
Gains
   
Carrying Amount
   
Fair Value
   
(Within One Year)
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$
   
NT$
   
US$
   
NT$
   
US$
 
Trading
                                                     
Open-end mutual funds
    1,599,353       1,599,353       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
Quoted stocks
    -       -       -       536,427       16,375       536,427       16,375       -       -  
Available-for-sale
                                                                       
Open-end mutual funds
    9,292,448       9,292,448       72,661       -       -       -       -       -       -  
Government and corporate bonds
    88,874       88,874       -       100,000       3,052       100,000       3,052       -       -  
Quoted stocks
    25,005       25,005       3,701       179,812       5,489       179,812       5,489       (7,389 )     (226 )
                                                                         
      11,005,680       11,005,680       76,362       816,239       24,916       816,239       24,916       (7,389 )     (226 )
 
 
 

 
 
As of December 31, 2008, the maturity date of the government and corporate bonds is December 24, 2015.

 
The Company uses the average cost method for trading securities and available-for-sale securities when determining their cost basis.  Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008 were NT$7,518,738 thousand, NT$11,825,157 thousand and NT$ 16,714,277 thousand (US$510,204 thousand), respectively.  Net realized gains on these sales for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008 were NT$56,748 thousand, NT$111,586 thousand and NT$132,021 thousand (US$4,030 thousand), respectively.  The other than temporary or realized loss on impairment of available-for-sale financial assets was nil for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2007.  For the year ended December 31, 2008, the other than temporary or realized loss on impairment of available-for-sale financial assets was NT$149,954 thousand (US$4,578 thousand).

d.      Employee stock option plans

 
Effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted the fair value recognition provisions of U.S. SFAS No. 123R, using the modified prospective transition method and therefore has not restated results for prior periods.  Under this transition method, stock-based compensation expense for the year ended December 31, 2006 included stock-based compensation expense for all share-based payment awards granted prior to but not yet vested as of January 1, 2006, based on the grant-date fair value estimated in accordance with the original provision of U.S. SFAS No. 123.  In addition, the stock-based compensation expense also includes the intrinsic value of certain outstanding share-based awards for which it was not possible to reasonably estimate their grant-date fair value under the requirement of U.S. SFAS No. 123.  Stock-based compensation expense for all share-based payment awards granted after January 1, 2006 is based on the grant-date fair value estimated in accordance with the provision of U.S. SFAS No. 123R.  The Company recognizes these compensation costs using the graded vesting method over the requisite service period of the award, which is generally a five-year vesting period.  The adoption of U.S. SFAS No. 123R resulted in a cumulative gain from a change in accounting principle of $45,976 thousand, which reflects the net cumulative impact of estimating future forfeitures in the determination of period expense, rather than recording forfeitures when they occur as previously permitted.  Prior to the adoption of U.S. SFAS No. 123R, the Company accounted for awards granted by ASE Inc. under the intrinsic value method prescribed by APB 25 and related interpretations, and provided the required pro forma disclosures prescribed by U.S. SFAS No. 123, as amended.  In March 2005, the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107 (“SAB 107”) regarding the SEC’s interpretation of U.S. SFAS No. 123R and the value of share-based payments for public companies.  The Company has applied the provisions of SAB 107 in its adoption of U.S. SFAS No. 123R.

 
In December 2007, the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 110 (“SAB 110”), which amends the SEC’s views discussed in SAB 107 regarding the use of the simplified method in developing estimates of the expected life of stock options in accordance with U.S. SFAS No. 123R.  The amendment allowed the continued use, subject to specific criteria, of the simplified method in estimating the expected life of stock options granted after December 31, 2008.  No employee stock options have been issued since 2008.

 
As a result of adopting U.S. SFAS No. 123R, income before income taxes and net income for the year ended December 31, 2006 were lower by NT$16,614 thousand and NT$12,640 thousand, respectively, than if the Company had continued to account for stock-based compensation under APB 25.

 
Information regarding the Company’s stock option plans is as follows:

 
ASE Inc. and ASE Mauritius Inc. Option Plan

 
Information regarding these employee stock option plans is provided in Note 22.
 
 
 

 
 
ASE Test Option Plan

 
As discussed in Note 22, all ASE Test employee stock options were exercised or forfeited as of December 31, 2008.

 
Information regarding the Option Plans of ASE Test’s option plan is presented below (in U.S. dollars):
 
         
Weighted
           
         
Average
   
Weighted
   
Aggregate
         
Exercise
   
Average
   
Intrinsic
   
Number of
   
Price
   
Grant Date
   
Value (In
   
Shares
   
Per Share
   
Fair Value
   
Thousands)
                       
Outstanding options at January 1, 2006
    10,491,064       10.37            
Options granted
    130,000       9.60     $ 5.32      
Options exercised
    (79,201 )     8.56              
Options forfeited
    (216,825 )     11.60              
Options expired
    -       -              
Outstanding options at December 31, 2006
    10,325,038       10.34              
Options granted
    -       -     $ -      
Options exercised
    (1,200,503 )     8.98              
Options forfeited
    (401,363 )     14.00              
Options expired
    -       -              
Outstanding options at December 31, 2007
    8,723,172       10.36              
Options granted
    -        -     $ -      
Options exercised
    (8,085,352 )     9. 69              
Options forfeited
    (637,820 )     18.92              
Options expired
    -        -              
Outstanding options at December 31, 2008
    -       -          
$
 -
                             
Exercisable options at December 31, 2008
    -       -          
$
 -

 
Total intrinsic value of options exercised for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008 was US$76 thousand, US$4,952 thousand and US$40,074 thousand, respectively.

 
ASE Test has used the fair value based method (based on the Black-Scholes model) to evaluate the options granted with the following assumptions:

 
Year Ended December 31
 
2006
2007
2008
       
Risk-free interest rate
3.88%-4.88%
3.88%-4.88%
-
Expected life
3-5 years
3-5 years
-
Expected volatility
59.06%-62.03%
59.06%-62.03%
-
Expected dividend yield
-
-
-
 
 
 

 
 
e.
In accordance with U.S. SFAS No. 130, “Reporting Comprehensive Income”, the statements of comprehensive income for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008 are presented below:

   
Year Ended December 31
 
   
2006
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$
 
                         
Net income based on U.S. GAAP
    14,122,696       9,931,106       5,492,101       167,646  
Translation adjustments on subsidiaries, net of income tax expense of NT$64,535 thousand, NT$212,289 thousand and NT$664,064 thousand (US$20,271 thousand) in 2006, 2007 and 2008, respectively
    193,605       636,868       1,992,193       60,812  
Unrealized gain (loss) on financial instruments
    486,314       (13,882 )     (841,956 )     (25,701 )
Unrecognized pension cost
    (1,621 )     (13,628 )     (825,515 )     (25,199 )
                                 
Comprehensive income
    14,800,994       10,540,464       5,816,823       177,558  

 
f.
Goodwill

 
On January 1, 2002, the Company adopted U.S. SFAS No. 142, which requires that goodwill no longer be amortized, and instead, be tested for impairment on at least an annual basis.  In conjunction with the implementation of U.S. SFAS No. 142, the Company completed a goodwill impairment review as of January 1, 2002 using a fair-value based approach in accordance with the provision of the standard and found no impairment.

 
As of December 31, 2007 and 2008, the Company had goodwill of NT$3,711,570 thousand and NT$9,804,680 thousand (US$299,288 thousand), respectively, primarily from the reporting units of the testing operation.

 
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2008, by reporting units, were as follows:

   
Packaging
   
Testing
   
Investing
 and Other
   
Total
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$
 
                               
Balance as of January 1, 2007
    843,172       1,999,647       511,908       3,354,727       102,403  
Goodwill acquired
    327,285       36,365       -       363,650       11,100  
Translation adjustment
    (426 )     (6,307 )     (74 )     (6,807 )     (208 )
Balance as of December 31, 2007
    1,170,031       2,029,705       511,834       3,711,570       113,295  
Goodwill acquired
    315,657       5,780,726       -       6,096,383       186,092  
Translation adjustment
    5,370       (8,845 )     202       (3,273 )     (99 )
                                         
Balance as of December 31, 2008
    1,491,058       7,801,586       512,036       9,804,680       299,288  
 
 
 

 
 
g.
Earnings per share

 
U.S. SFAS No. 128 requires the presentation of basic and diluted earnings per share.  Basic earnings per share was computed based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the year.  Diluted earnings per share included the effect of dilutive potential common shares (such as stock options issued calculated using the treasury stock method).

The following table presents the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share:

   
Year Ended December 31
 
   
2006
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$
 
Basic EPS
                       
Net income
    14,122,696       9,931,106       5,492,101       167,646  
Effect of ASE Test and ASE Mauritius Inc.’s stock option plans
    (1,663 )     (20,185 )     (42,696 )     (1,303 )
Interest on convertible bonds, net of tax
    168,993       139,635       -       -  
                                 
Diluted EPS
                               
Net income
    14,290,026       10,050,556       5,449,405       166,343  
                                 
Weighted average outstanding shares (in thousands)
                               
Basic
    5,202,736       5,317,695       5,368,718          
Effect of dilutive securities
    302,793       248,423       36,562          
                                 
Diluted
    5,505,529       5,566,118       5,405,280          

 
For the years ended December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008, no options or convertible bonds were excluded from the calculation of diluted EPS.

 
The denominator used for purposes of calculating earnings per ADS was the above-mentioned weighted average outstanding shares divided by five (one ADS represents five common shares).  The numerator was the same as mentioned in the above EPS calculation.

 
h.
In accordance with FIN 48 disclosure requirements, the following table summarizes the activity related to the gross unrecognized tax benefits for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2008:

   
Year Ended December 31
 
   
2007
   
2008
 
   
NT$
   
NT$
   
US$
 
                   
Balance, beginning of year
    16,105       18,405       562  
Increase related to prior year tax positions
    -       -       -  
Increase decrease related to current year tax positions
    2,300       1,415       43  
Balance, end of year
    18,405       19,820       605  

 
Upon adoption of FIN 48, the Company recorded interest expense and penalties as interest expense and other non-operating expense, respectively.  For the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2008, the total amount of interest expense and penalties related to tax uncertainty was approximately NT$4,887 thousand and NT$4,614 thousand (US$141 thousand), respectively.  The total amount of interest and penalties recognized as of December 31, 2007 and 2008 was NT$12,810 thousand and NT$17,424 thousand (US$532 thousand), respectively.
 
 
 

 
 
i.
Fair Value Disclosure

 
On January 1, 2008, the Company adopted U.S. SFAS No. 157, which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurements.

 
U.S. SFAS No. 157 defines fair value as the price that would be received upon sale of an asset or paid upon transfer of a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date and in the principal or most advantageous market for that asset or liability.  The fair value should be calculated based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, not on assumptions specific to the Company.

 
In addition to defining fair value, U.S. SFAS No. 157 expands the disclosure requirements around fair value and establishes a fair value hierarchy for valuation inputs.  The hierarchy prioritizes the inputs into three levels based on the extent to which inputs used in measuring fair value are observable in the market.  Each fair value measurement is reported in one of the three levels which is determined by the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.  These levels are:

 
Level 1 – Use unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

 
Level 2 – Use observable inputs other than Level 1 prices such as quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, and model-based valuation in which all significant inputs are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.

 
Level 3 – Use inputs that are generally unobservable and reflect the use of significant management judgments and estimates.

 
The following section describes the valuation methodologies we use to measure financial assets and liabilities at fair value.

 
For investments other than forward exchange contracts, interest rate swap contracts and swap contracts, the Company uses quoted prices in active markets for identical assets to determine fair value where applicable.  This pricing methodology applies to our Level 1 investments such as government bonds and quoted stocks.  If quoted prices in active markets for identical assets are not available, then the Company uses quoted prices that are observable and can be corroborated with other observable market data for identical assets in less active markets.  These investments are included in Level 2 and consist primarily of derivative contracts.  For the year ended December 31, 2008, none of the Company’s financial assets’ fair value was determined by using significant unobservable inputs and classified as Level 3.

 
For forward exchange contracts, interest rate swap contracts and swap contracts, fair values are estimated using industry standard valuation models.  These models use market-based observable inputs including interest rate curves, foreign exchange rates, and forward and spot prices for currencies to project fair value.  The forward and cross currency swap contract financial assets and liabilities are included in Level 2.

 
The following table presents our assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2008:

 
 
 

 
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total
 
   
NT$
   
US$
   
NT$
   
US$
   
NT$
   
US$
   
NT$
   
US$
 
Assets
                                               
Derivative financial assets
                                               
Forward exchange contracts
    -       -       1,053       32       -       -       1,053       32  
Marketable securities - trading
                                                               
Quoted stocks
    536,427       16,375       -       -       -       -       536,427       16,375  
Marketable securities - available-for-sale
                                                               
Government and corporate bonds
    100,000       3,052       -       -       -       -       100,000       3,052  
Quoted stocks
    179,812       5,489       -       -       -       -       179,812       5,489  
      816,239       24,916       1,053       32       -       -       817,292       24,948  
                                                                 
Liabilities
                                                               
Derivative financial liabilities
                                                               
Swap contracts
    -       -       61,257       1,870       -       -       61,257       1,870  
Forward exchange contracts
    -       -       21,410       654       -       -       21,410       654  
Interest rate swap contract
    -       -       391,904       11,962       -       -       391,904       11,962  
      -       -       474,571       14,486       -       -       474,571       14,486  

 
The table below sets out the balances for those assets required to be measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis and the associated losses recognized during the year ended December 31, 2008:

   
December 31, 2008
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total Losses
 
   
NT$
   
US$
   
NT$
   
US$
   
NT$
   
US$
   
NT$
   
US$
   
NT$
   
US$
 
                                                             
Assets
                                                           
Financial assets carried at cost
    575,495       17,567       -       -       -       -       575,495       17,567       21,395       653  
Bond investments with no active market
    450,000       13,736       -       -       -       -       450,000       13,736       -       -  
                                                                                 
Total
    1,025,495       31,303       -       -       -       -       1,025,495       31,303       21,395       653  

 
The Company reviews the carrying values of financial assets carried at cost when impairment indicators are present.  Due to the absence of quoted market price, the fair values are determined significantly based on management judgment with the best information available.  The Company calculates these fair values using the market approach which includes recent financing activities, valuation of comparable companies, technology development stage, market condition and other economic factors as their fair value inputs.  When the market approach is not available, the Company uses the income approach which includes the discounted cash flow and other economic factors as inputs.

 
In accordance with the provisions of FSP 157-2, certain non-financial assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis are not subject to these fair value measurement requirements until January 1, 2009.  These non-financial assets include non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities measured at fair value in the second step of a goodwill impairment test, as well as intangible assets and other non-financial long-lived assets measured at fair value for impairment assessment.



F-72