Recent Developments
Loan Agreement
On March 26, 2024, Magnachip Semiconductor, Ltd., a Korean limited liability company (“MSK”) and indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, executed a Standard Credit Agreement (together with its General Terms and Conditions, the “Loan Agreement”) with Korea Development Bank (“KDB”). In connection with the Loan Agreement, on March 26, 2024, MSK entered into a Kun-Pledge (Mortgage) Agreement (the “Pledge Agreement”) with KDB pursuant to which MSK pledged its real property and buildings located in Gumi, Korea (“Fab 3 properties”) in favor of KDB.
The Loan Agreement provides for a working capital term loan (the “Term Loan”) of KRW 40,000,000,000 (approximately $29.8 million based on the KRW/USD exchange rate of 1,340.7:1 as of March 26, 2024 as quoted by KEB Hana Bank), which was funded in full to MSK on March 26, 2024.
The Term Loan bears interest at a variable rate equal to the 3-month CD rate quoted by KDB, plus 1.21%, which rate is adjusted quarterly. The initial interest rate on the Term Loan was 4.86% per annum. The Term Loan requires monthly interest-only payments and matures on March 26, 2027, at which time the full principal balance will be due and payable. All obligations of MSK under the Loan Agreement and the Term Loan are secured by the Fab 3 properties pursuant to the Pledge Agreement.
New Stock Repurchase Program
On July 19, 2023, our Board of Directors authorized a new $50 million stock buyback program. Purchases have been and will be made in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, depending upon market conditions and other factors.
From August 2023 to December 2023, we repurchased 1,730,173 shares of our common stock in the open market for an aggregate purchase price of $13.6 million and a weighted average price per share of $7.84 under the new stock repurchase program.
During the first half of 2024, we repurchased 1,097,435 shares of our common stock in the open market for an aggregate purchase price of $6.4 million and a weighted average price per share of $5.86 under the new stock repurchase program.
In July 2024, the Company repurchased 350,465 shares of its common stock in the open market for an aggregate purchase price of $1.7 million and a weighted average price per share of $4.91 under the new stock repurchase program.
Macroeconomic Industry Conditions
The semiconductor industry continues to face a number of macroeconomic challenges, including rising inflation, increased interest rates, supply chain disruptions, inventory corrections, shifting customer and end-user demand, fluctuations in currency rates, and geopolitical tensions, including without limitation ongoing conflicts involving Russia and Ukraine and Israel and Hamas including sustained military action and conflict in the Red Sea and recent escalations between Iran and Israel, any one of and all of which may cause volatility and unpredictability in the market for semiconductor products and end-user demand. The length and severity of these macroeconomic events and their overall impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition remain uncertain.
Developments in Export Control Regulations
On October 7, 2022, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) of the U.S. Department of Commerce published changes to U.S. export control regulations (U.S. Export Regulations), including new restrictions on Chinese entities’ ability to obtain advanced computing chips, develop and maintain supercomputers, and manufacture advanced semiconductors. Further, on October 12, 2022, a new rule went into effect requiring U.S. persons to obtain a license prior to engaging in certain activities that could “support” certain end-uses and end-users, including those related to weapons of mass destruction. Additionally, on October 21, 2022, BIS brought into effect a series of new Foreign Direct Product (FDP) rules and various new controls on advanced computing items, significantly expanding the scope of items that are subject to export control under the U.S. Export Regulations. More recently, on October 25, 2023, BIS published additional rules, which went into effect on November 17, 2023 to expand, clarify, and correct the rules published in October 2022. A further corrected and clarified version of these rules went into effect on April 4, 2024. Based on our understanding of the U.S. Export Regulations and related rules currently in effect, we do not anticipate that they will have a material impact on our current business, but we will continue reviewing and assessing these rules and regulations and their potential impact on our business. Additional changes to the U.S. Export Regulations are expected, but the scope or timing of such changes is unknown. We will continue to monitor such developments, including potential additional trade restrictions, and other regulatory or policy changes by the U.S. and foreign governments.
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