MagnaChip CEO YJ Kim to step down

Magnachip (MX) Semiconductor Corporation announced that YJ Kim has agreed to step down as CEO and as a member of the Board of Directors, effective immediately. Camillo Martino, Chairman of the Board of Directors, has also been appointed Interim Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Magnachip’s Interim CEO and Chairman Camillo Martino said, “YJ Kim became CEO during a turbulent period in the Company’s history, and has led the firm for the past decade. However, Magnachip now faces several strategic, operational and financial challenges as it transitions to become a pure play power semiconductor company, and this requires new leadership. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I thank YJ for his service and wish him well in his future endeavors.” Martino commented, “I am fully committed as Interim CEO and will spend most of my time in South Korea to accelerate our transition to a pure-play power company, while also focusing intensely on achieving sustainable profitability and maximizing shareholder value. Among the first actions being taken in our plan is cutting capital expenditures by more than 50% over the next two-plus years as we prioritize capital allocation. As part of our capital allocation plans, it is important that we invest in our Gumi fab to support the growth of our new-generation power products that are critical to our financial recovery. New-generation products are expected to increase our market competitiveness and result in higher average selling prices and gross profit margins. Capital expenditures, which recently had been forecast to range between $65-70 million through 2027, now are forecast to be in the range of $30-35 million, but the total net cash outlay by Magnachip currently is expected to range between $12-13 million, with the remainder covered by our bank equipment loan facility.”