Japan“s Hoya Corp said its net profit for the 3Q to December 2005 increased nearly 25% on strong sales of its semiconductor photomasks, mask blanks and eye wear.
Photomasks are pattern masters used …
Japan“s Hoya Corp said its net profit for the 3Q to December 2005 increased nearly 25% on strong sales of its semiconductor photomasks, mask blanks and eye wear. Photomasks are pattern masters used to transfer electronic circuit patterns onto silicon wafers for semiconductor chips. A photomask is called a mask blank before a circuit pattern is etched onto it. Hoya, the world“s largest producer of mask blanks, reported bottom-line profit of JPY 20.12 billion for the 3Q 2005, up from JPY 16.12 billion a year earlier. Top-line operating earnings increased nearly 26% to JPY 27.26 billion, while revenue showed more moderate growth of 12% to JPY 87.29 billion in the same term. In its core electro-optical equipment division, which covers mask blanks and photomasks, the company posted operating profit of JPY 19.4 billion during the 3Q 2005, up 23% from a year earlier. In the 3Q 2005, Hoya also reported a 19% rise in operating profit in the vision care division, as well as a 82% rebound in top-line profit for the photonics division. For the 4Q to March 2006, Hoya sees net profit of JPY 17.89 billion and operating profit of JPY 23.45 billion on revenue of JPY 84.98 billion, while for the year to March 2006, it projects net profit of JPY 77 billion, operating profit of JPY 100.5 billion and revenue of JPY 309 billion.