Kulicke & Soffa(KLIC) - 2025 Q4 - Annual Report

Financial Performance - As of October 4, 2025, the company's total cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments were $510.7 million, a decrease of $66.4 million from the prior fiscal year end[49] - The backlog as of October 4, 2025, was $245.3 million, compared to $148.6 million as of September 28, 2024, indicating a significant increase in customer orders[64] - A 10.0% fluctuation in foreign currency exchange rates could impact the company's financial position by $6.0 million to $7.0 million[289] - The company has foreign exchange forward contracts with a notional amount of $50.0 million outstanding as of October 4, 2025[290] Product Development and Innovation - The company has launched the Asterion-PW, a fast and precise ultrasonic pin welding solution, enhancing its leadership in power device applications[53] - The ATPremier MEM PLUS™ was introduced as a cutting-edge wafer level packaging solution, targeting advanced memory applications in the semiconductor market[55] - The company is developing advanced packaging solutions for the emerging 2.5D IC and 3D IC markets, which are expected to enhance performance and power efficiency[56] - The ACELON™ precision dispensing solution was launched, providing sub-20µm wet accuracy for critical applications[58] - The company maintains a strong focus on research and product development, regularly introducing improved versions of existing products and next-generation solutions[68] - The company has established technology partnerships with key customers and institutions to enhance its product development efforts[57] - The company holds a number of U.S. patents and believes that much of its important technology resides in trade secrets and proprietary software[69] Workforce and Employee Engagement - As of October 4, 2025, the company had 2,551 full-time employees and 41 temporary workers worldwide[83] - The company aims to ensure fair, equitable, and competitive pay by participating in multiple globally recognized compensation surveys annually[91] - The company has implemented a formalized career progression framework to provide clarity and guidance for employee advancement[90] - The company conducts a global employee engagement survey every two to three years to gather feedback on various aspects of work and corporate culture[92] - The company monitors workforce composition and retention trends to identify areas for improvement in employee engagement[92] Health, Safety, and Work Culture - The company has established Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) practices at key manufacturing and R&D sites, overseen by an EHS Committee[86] - The company has introduced flexible work arrangements as part of its culture, which were critical during the COVID-19 pandemic[93] - The company has a learning and development framework tailored to specific target groups, based on a 70/20/10 learning model[89] Manufacturing and Operations - The manufacturing operations are managed through a single organization, allowing the company to capture economies of scale and reduce costs[65]