IQE responds to US Huawei ban
CEO Drew Nelson believes the ban will have a limited impact on mid to long term revenue
Drew Nelson, CEO of advanced wafer firm IQE plc, has made a statement about the recent action taken by the US Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) to add Huawei Technologies and 68 of its affiliates to what is known as the 'Entity List'.
IQE supplies epitaxial wafers to multiple chip companies in global supply chains, some of whom supply Huawei. The BIS action prohibits the sale to Huawei, by certain of IQE’s customers, of products covered by the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) absent obtaining an appropriate export license.
The situation involving the ban is dynamic and it is not clear at this time how long it will remain in force or what the full implications will be. However, Nelson believes the company is in a strong position to adjust to the possible consequences and scenarios resulting from this in a positive manner.
"The recent ban on sales of products from US companies to Huawei and its affiliates is a factor completely outside of IQE’s control. However, our long-term strategy of supplying as many of the supply chains into all major OEMs as possible, protects IQEs overall supply to a very significant degree, " he said
"As a result, we believe the ban will have a limited impact on our mid to long term revenue trajectory. Indeed, the breadth of IQE’s current product range, the new materials technologies being introduced to market over the coming months and years, and IQE’s global manufacturing footprint are powerful mitigating factors in dealing effectively with the ongoing changing geopolitical landscape in our industry."
In the short-term, IQE believes it may experience some delay to orders and the potential for adjustment of supplier managed inventory levels, predominantly in its Wireless Business Unit. The Photonics and Infrared Business Units are essentially unaffected.
The company estimates that its current maximum risk exposure to this matter is less than 5 percent of total FY 2019 revenue guidance. Although there remains uncertainty and unpredictability related to this specific matter, given the market opportunity IQE faces in H2, the company leaves full year guidance unchanged.
