KULICKE & SOFFA INDUSTRIES INC
10-Q, 1999-05-14
SPECIAL INDUSTRY MACHINERY, NEC
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                                  UNITED STATES

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 10-Q


[X]  QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
     ACT OF 1934

                  For the quarterly period ended MARCH 31, 1999

                                       OR

[ ]  TRANSITION  REPORT  PURSUANT  TO SECTION  13 OR 15(d) OF THE  SECURITIES
     EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

       For the transition period from _______________ to _______________.

Commission File No.  0-121

                       KULICKE AND SOFFA INDUSTRIES, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


        PENNSYLVANIA                               23-1498399
(State or other jurisdiction                     (IRS Employer
    of incorporation)                           Identification No.)


2101 BLAIR MILL ROAD, WILLOW GROVE, PENNSYLVANIA            19090
    (Address of principal executive offices)              (Zip code)


                                 (215) 784-6000
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


Indicate by check mark whether  registrant (1) has filed all reports required to
be filed by section 13 or 15 (d) of the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 during
the  preceding 12 months (or for such  shorter  period that the  registrant  was
required  to file  such  reports),  and  (2) has  been  subject  to such  filing
requirements for the past 90 days. Yes _X_  No ___

As of April 30, 1999, there were 23,464,535  shares of the  Registrant's  Common
Stock, Without Par Value outstanding.

<PAGE>


                       KULICKE AND SOFFA INDUSTRIES, INC.

                           FORM 10 - Q MARCH 31, 1999

                                      INDEX

                                                                      Page No.
                                                                      --------
PART I.   FINANCIAL INFORMATION:


Item 1.   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

          Consolidated Balance Sheets -
           March 31, 1999 and September 30, 1998                         3

          Consolidated Statements of Operations -
           Three and Six Months Ended March 31, 1999
           and 1998                                                      4

          Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows -
           Six Months Ended March 31, 1999 and 1998                      5

          Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements                  6 - 10


Item 2.   MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
          CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS                         10 - 20

Item 3.   QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT
                  MARKET RISK                                           20



PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION:

Item 4.   SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS           21

Item 6.   EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8 - K.                         21 - 22


Signatures.                                                             22




<PAGE>



PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1 - Financial Statements

                       KULICKE AND SOFFA INDUSTRIES, INC.
                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                 (in thousands)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            March 31,
                                                              1999        September 30,
                                                           (unaudited)        1998
                                                           -----------    -------------
<S>                                                         <C>          <C>      
                                     ASSETS
 CURRENT ASSETS:
 Cash and cash equivalents                                  $  33,336    $  76,478
 Short-term investments                                        37,575       30,422
 Accounts and notes receivable, net                            63,488       66,137
 Inventories, net                                              50,595       47,573
 Deferred income taxes                                         16,022        2,608
 Prepaid expenses and other current assets                      5,193        5,303
 Refundable income taxes                                        2,770        5,270
                                                            ---------    ---------
   TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS                                       208,979      233,791
 Property, plant and equipment, net                            45,403       48,269
 Intangible assets, primarily goodwill, net                    41,185       38,765
 Investments in and loans to joint ventures                    24,641       19,920
 Other assets                                                   1,760        1,839
                                                            ---------    ---------
   TOTAL ASSETS                                             $ 321,968    $ 342,584
                                                            =========    =========
                      LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

 CURRENT LIABILITIES:
 Debt due within one year                                   $       5    $     192
 Accounts payable to suppliers and others                      25,958       24,223
 Accrued expenses                                              23,319       23,549
 Income taxes payable                                           2,795        3,646
                                                            ---------    ---------
  TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES                                    52,077       51,610

 Other liabilities                                              4,687        3,064
                                                            ---------    ---------
  TOTAL LIABILITIES                                            56,764       54,674
                                                            ---------    ---------
 Commitments and contingencies                                   --           --

 SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:
 Common stock, without par value                              159,423      157,986
 Retained earnings                                            110,325      133,964
 Accumulated other comprehensive loss                          (4,544)      (4,040)
                                                            ---------    ---------
  TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY                                  265,204      287,910
                                                            ---------    ---------
  TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY                $ 321,968    $ 342,584
                                                            =========    =========
</TABLE>

The  accompanying  notes are an integral  part of these  consolidated  financial
statements.


                                       3
<PAGE>


                       KULICKE AND SOFFA INDUSTRIES, INC.
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                      (in thousands, except per share data)
                                   (unaudited)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         Three months ended                   Six months ended
                                                               March 31                            March 31
                                                    ----------------------------          ----------------------------
                                                       1999               1998              1999                1998
                                                    ---------          ---------          ---------          ---------
<S>                                                   <C>               <C>                <C>                <C>     
Net sales                                             $73,561           $120,060           $134,736           $243,171

Cost of goods sold                                     52,536             74,073             97,535            151,839
                                                    ---------          ---------          ---------          ---------
Gross profit                                           21,025             45,987             37,201             91,332
                                                                                          ---------          ---------
Selling, general and
 administrative                                        19,829             20,315             37,076             42,762
Research and development, net                           8,827             12,685             17,641             24,953
Resizing and relocation costs                           5,521               --                5,918               --
Purchased in-process research
 and development                                        3,935               --                3,935               --
                                                    ---------          ---------          ---------          ---------
Income (loss) from operations                         (17,087)            12,987            (27,369)            23,617
Interest income                                           810              1,266              1,967              2,660
Interest expense                                          (60)               (47)               (97)               (94)
Equity in loss of joint ventures                       (4,772)            (2,312)            (8,273)            (4,541)
                                                    ---------          ---------          ---------          ---------
Income (loss) before income taxes                     (21,109)            11,894            (33,772)            21,642
Income tax provision (benefit)                         (6,333)             2,703            (10,133)             5,627
                                                    ---------          ---------          ---------          ---------
Net income (loss)                                    $(14,776)            $9,191           $(23,639)           $16,015
                                                    =========          =========          =========          =========
Net income (loss) per share:
  Basic                                                ($0.63)             $0.39             ($1.01)             $0.69
                                                    =========          =========          =========          =========
  Diluted                                              ($0.63)             $0.39             ($1.01)             $0.68
                                                    =========          =========          =========          =========
Weighted average shares outstanding:

Basic                                                  23,421             23,288             23,397             23,268
Diluted                                                23,421             23,676             23,397             23,692
</TABLE>


The  accompanying  notes are an integral  part of these  consolidated  financial
statements.


                                       4
<PAGE>

                       KULICKE AND SOFFA INDUSTRIES, INC.
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                 (in thousands)
                                   (unaudited)

                                                           Six months ended
                                                               March 31,
                                                       ------------------------
                                                         1999            1998
                                                       ---------      ---------
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
 Net income(loss)                                      $ (23,639)     $  16,015
 Adjustments to reconcile net income(loss) to
  net cash used in operating activities:
   Depreciation and amortization                           6,991          6,271
   Equity in loss of joint ventures                        8,273          4,541
   Deferred taxes on income                              (13,414)            (4)
   Purchased in-process R&D                                3,935           --
   Changes in other components of working
     capital, net                                          1,161        (35,199)
   Collection of refundable income taxes                   2,500           --
   Other, net                                              1,649           (120)
                                                       ---------      ---------
Net cash used in operating activities                    (12,544)        (8,496)
                                                       ---------      ---------
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
 Purchases of investments classified as
   available for sale                                    (29,375)       (48,083)
 Maturities of investments classified as
   available for sale                                     22,098          6,268
 Purchases of property, plant and equipment               (2,307)        (6,863)
 Purchase of XLAM technology                              (8,000)          --
 Investments in and loans to joint ventures              (12,994)        (7,000)
                                                       ---------      ---------
Net cash used in investing activities                    (30,578)       (55,678)
                                                       ---------      ---------
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
 Proceeds from issuance of common stock                      167            214
 Payments on capital leases                                 (187)          (606)
                                                       ---------      ---------
Net cash used in financing activities                        (20)          (392)
                                                       ---------      ---------
Changes in cash and cash equivalents                     (43,142)       (64,566)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning
  of period                                               76,478        107,605
                                                       ---------      ---------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period             $  33,336      $  43,039
                                                       =========      =========


The  accompanying  notes are an integral  part of these  consolidated  financial
statements.


                                       5
<PAGE>


                       KULICKE AND SOFFA INDUSTRIES, INC.
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                             (amounts in thousands)
                                   (unaudited)

NOTE 1 - BASIS OF PRESENTATION:

The consolidated  financial statement  information included herein is unaudited,
but in the opinion of management,  contains all adjustments,  consisting only of
normal  recurring  adjustments,   necessary  to  present  fairly  the  Company's
financial  position as of March 31, 1999 and September 30, 1998, and the results
of its  operations  for the three and six month periods ended March 31, 1999 and
its cash flows for the six month  periods  ended March 31, 1999 and 1998.  These
financial  statements  should be read in conjunction with the audited  financial
statements  included in the Company's  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
year ended September 30, 1998.

NOTE 2 - INVENTORIES:

Inventories consist of the following:

                                          March 31,       September 30,
                                            1999              1998
                                          --------          --------
Raw materials and supplies                $ 35,845          $ 28,062
Work in process                             10,164            11,381
Finished goods                              19,350            23,788
                                          --------          --------
                                            65,359            63,231
Inventory reserves                         (14,764)          (15,658)
                                          --------          --------
                                          $ 50,595          $ 47,573
                                          ========          ========

NOTE 3 - EARNINGS PER SHARE:

Net  income(loss)  per share for the three and six month periods ended March 31,
1999 and March 31, 1998 has been calculated per the requirements of Statement of
Financial  Accounting Standards ("SFAS") 128. Under SFAS 128, basic earnings per
share  includes only the weighted  average  number of common shares  outstanding
during the period and excludes the effect of stock options from the calculation.
Diluted earnings per share includes the weighted average number of common shares
and the dilutive effect of stock options outstanding during the period.

For the three and six month periods ended March 31, 1999,  the Company  reported
net losses.  For these  periods,  the effect of stock  options has been excluded
from the sharebase used to compute diluted loss per share as the effect would be
antidilutive.


                                       6
<PAGE>


NOTE 4 - OPERATING RESULTS BY BUSINESS SEGMENT:

Operating  results by business segment for the three and six month periods ended
March 31, 1999 and 1998 were as follows:

                                                Packaging   Corporate,
Three months ended                   Equipment  Materials   Other and
 March 31, 1999:                      Segment    Segment   Eliminations  Total
                                      -------    -------   ------------  -----
Net sales                           $ 44,769    $ 28,792               $ 73,561
Cost of goods sold                    32,044      20,492                 52,536
                                    --------    --------               --------
Gross profit                          12,725       8,300                 21,025
Operating costs                       20,702       5,929   $  2,025      28,656
Resizing and relocation
costs                                  5,521                              5,521
Purchased in-process
 research and development                                     3,935       3,935
                                    --------    --------   --------    --------
Income (loss)
 from operations                    $(13,498)   $  2,371   $ (5,960)   $(17,087)
                                    ========    ========   ========    ========

                                                Packaging   Corporate,
Six months ended                     Equipment  Materials   Other and
  March 31, 1999:                     Segment    Segment   Eliminations  Total
                                      -------    -------   ------------  -----
Net sales                           $ 78,392    $ 56,344               $134,736
Cost of goods sold                    56,229      41,306                 97,535
                                    --------    --------   --------    --------
Gross profit                          22,163      15,038                 37,201
Operating costs                       39,781      11,512   $  3,424      54,717
Resizing and relocation
 costs                                 5,918                              5,918
Purchased in-process
 research and development                                     3,935       3,935
                                    --------    --------   --------    --------
Income (loss) from
  operations                        $(23,536)   $  3,526   $ (7,359)   $(27,369)
                                    ========    ========   ========    ========
Segment assets
 at March 31, 1999                  $128,962    $ 78,659   $114,347    $321,968
                                    ========    ========   ========    ========

                                                Packaging  Corporate
Three months ended                   Equipment  Materials     and
  March 31, 1998:                     Segment    Segment   Eliminations  Total
                                      -------    -------   ------------  -----
Net Sales                           $ 92,920    $ 27,140               $120,060
Cost of Goods Sold                    53,789      20,284                 74,073
                                    --------    --------               --------
Gross Profit                          39,131       6,856                 45,987
Operating Costs                       25,220       5,624   $  2,156      33,000
                                    --------    --------   --------    --------
Income(loss) from
 operations                         $ 13,911    $  1,232   $ (2,156)   $ 12,987
                                    ========    ========   ========    ========



                                       7
<PAGE>


                                               Packaging   Corporate,
Six months ended                    Equipment  Materials   Other and
  March 31, 1998                     Segment    Segment   Eliminations  Total
                                     -------    -------   ------------  -----
Net Sales                           $186,858    $ 56,313               $243,171
Cost of Goods Sold                   109,336      42,503                151,839
                                    --------    --------   --------    --------
Gross Profit                          77,522      13,810                 91,332

Operating Costs                       51,368      11,922   $  4,425      67,715
                                    --------    --------   --------    --------
Income(loss) from
 operations                         $ 26,154    $  1,888   $ (4,425)   $ 23,617
                                    ========    ========   ========    ========

Note 5 - RESIZING AND RELOCATION COSTS

During the quarter ended March 31, 1999, the Company announced plans to relocate
the manufacturing  operation of its automatic ball bonders to Asia. As a result,
the Company recorded severance and payroll related costs of $4.4 million for the
elimination  of  approximately  230  positions,  primarily  in the Willow  Grove
facility,  and asset write-off and removal costs of approximately  $1.6 million.
During the quarter  ended  December  31,  1998,  the Company  recorded  resizing
charges of $397  representing  severance costs  associated with the reduction in
workforce that began in fiscal 1998.

The components of the change in resizing and relocation  liabilities for the six
months ended March 31, 1999 are as follows:

                                                 Asset
                                               write-off
                                  Severance   and removal     Other      Total
                                  ---------   -----------     -----      -----
Balance at
  September 30, 1998                $  3,088               $    628    $  3,716
Provision                              4,352    $  1,566                  5,918
Spending/other                        (2,838)                  (147)     (2,985)
                                    --------    --------   --------    --------
Balance at
  March 31, 1999                    $  4,602    $  1,566   $    481    $  6,649
                                    ========    ========   ========    ========

Note 6 - IN-PROCESS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

In January 1999, the Company purchased enabling technology and fixed assets used
in  the  design,  development,  manufacture,  marketing  and  sale  of  laminate
substitutes (the "XLAM  technology")  for $8 million.  The Company has allocated
the majority of the purchase price to intangible  assets,  including  in-process
research  and  development.  The  portion of the  purchase  price  allocated  to
in-process  research and  development was charged to expense in the three months
ended March 31, 1999. The other  purchased  intangibles  include core technology
and  assembled  workforce.  These  intangibles  are being  amortized  over their

                                       8
<PAGE>


estimated useful lives of 1 - 5 years.

The Company has allocated the purchase price to the following asset accounts:

In-process research and development               $ 3,935
Core technology                                     3,447
Property, plant and equipment                         513
Assembled workforce                                   105
                                                  -------
  Total                                           $ 8,000
                                                  =======

The Company  obtained  an  independent  valuation  of the  purchased  in-process
research and development.  The income  valuation  approach was used to determine
the fair value of the in-process research and development. The Company estimated
that the  purchased  technology  was 60%  complete and the  technology  would be
marketable in fiscal 2000 and would  generate  positive  cash flow  beginning in
fiscal 2001. The Company estimates that it will spend  approximately $15 million
for  operational  and capital  expenditures  in the  remainder of fiscal 1999 to
further   develop  the  XLAM   technology  and  estimates   additional   funding
requirements  will be necessary in future years.  These estimates are subject to
change,  given uncertainties of the development process, and no assurance can be
given that deviations from these estimates will not occur.

Note 7 - FLIP CHIP TECHNOLOGIES LLC

Summarized  financial  information of Flip Chip Technologies,  LLC ("FCT"),  the
Company's 51% owned joint venture with Delco Electronics  Corporation,  at March
31, 1999 and September 30, 1998 and for the three and six months ended March 31,
1999 and 1998, follows:

                                                March 31,     
                                                  1999        September 30, 
                                               (unaudited)        1998     
                                                --------      -------------
Current assets                                  $  7,667        $  2,505
Property, plant and equipment, net                21,505          22,318
Total assets                                      29,788          25,594
Current liabilities                                4,656           8,535
Notes payable, net of current portion             33,487          15,478
Member's equity(deficit)                          (8,355)            824


                                Three months ended          Six months ended
                                     March 31                   March 31
                              ---------------------    ------------------------
                                1999          1998          1999          1998
                              -------       -------       -------       -------
Net sales                     $ 2,892       $   956       $ 5,756       $ 1,391
Net loss (1)                   (4,569)       (4,535)       (8,070)       (8,906)

(1)  The three and six months  ended  March 31,  1999  include  $900 of one-time
     resizing and appraisal costs.


                                       9
<PAGE>


Note 8 - COMPREHENSIVE LOSS:

For the three and six months ended March 31, 1999 and 1998,  the  components  of
total comprehensive income (loss) are as follows:

                                    Three months ended       Six months ended
                                         March 31                March 31
                                   --------------------    ---------------------
                                       1999        1998        1999        1998
                                   --------    --------    --------    --------
Net income(loss)                   $(14,776)   $  9,191    $(23,639)   $ 16,015
                                   --------    --------    --------    --------
Foreign currency translation
 adjustment                            (464)       (107)        727      (1,115)
Minimum pension liability,
 net of taxes                            --          --      (1,137)         --
Unrealized gain(loss)
 on investments,net of taxes             14          --         (94)         --
                                   --------    --------    --------    --------
Other comprehensive loss               (450)       (107)       (504)     (1,115)
                                   --------    --------    --------    --------
Comprehensive income(loss)         $(15,226)   $  9,084    $(24,143)   $ 14,900
                                   ========    ========    ========    ========

Prior  year  amounts  have  been  restated  to  conform  with the  current  year
presentation.

Item 2. MANAGEMENT'S  DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
        OF OPERATIONS.

Certain statements  contained in this discussion are forward-looking  statements
within the meaning of Section 27A of the  Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E
of the Securities Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange  Act"), and are subject
to the Safe  Harbor  provisions  created by the  statute.  Such  forward-looking
statements  include,  but are not  limited  to,  statements  that  relate to the
Company's future revenue, product development,  demand,  competitiveness,  gross
margins,  operating  expenses and management's  plans and objectives for current
and future  operations  of the  Company.  Such  statements  are based on current
expectations  and  are  subject  to  risk  and  uncertainties,  including  those
discussed  below and under the heading "Risk Factors" within this section and in
the Company's  reports and registration  statements filed from time to time with
the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission.  This  discussion  should be read in
conjunction with the Condensed Financial  Statements and Notes presented thereto
on pages 6 to 10 of this Form  10-Q for a full  understanding  of the  Company's
financial position and results of operations for the three and six month periods
ended March 31, 1999.

INTRODUCTION

The Company's  operating results primarily depend upon the capital  expenditures
of semiconductor  manufacturers and subcontract  assemblers  worldwide which, in
turn, depend on the current and anticipated market demand for semiconductors and
products using semiconductors.  The 


                                       10
<PAGE>


semiconductor industry historically has been highly volatile and has experienced
periodic  downturns and slowdowns which have had a severe negative effect on the
semiconductor  industry's  demand  for  capital  equipment,  including  assembly
equipment  manufactured  and  marketed by the Company  and, to a lesser  extent,
packaging  materials  such as those sold by the  Company.  These  downturns  and
slowdowns  have also  adversely  affected the Company's  operating  results,  in
particular,  during fiscal 1998 and the first half of fiscal 1999. However,  the
Company has  experienced a rebound in orders during the three months ended March
31, 1999 and believes  this is the  beginning of an upturn in the  semiconductor
cycle. The Company does not consider its business to be seasonal in nature.

RESULTS  OF  OPERATIONS  - Three  and six month  periods  ended  March 31,  1999
compared to the three and six month periods ended March 31, 1998.

As indicated above, the semiconductor  industry experienced a downturn in fiscal
1998 and the first half of fiscal  1999.  However,  the  Company  experienced  a
rebound in orders during the three months ended March 31, 1999 with net bookings
of $98 million,  compared to $51 million for the three months ended December 31,
1998 and $93 million in the three months  ended March 31,  1998.  The backlog of
customer orders totaled $68 million at March 31, 1999 compared to $44 million at
December  31,  1998 and $104  million  at March 31,  1998.  Since the  timing of
deliveries may vary and orders  generally are subject to delay or  cancellation,
the  Company's  backlog  as of any date may not be  indicative  of sales for any
succeeding period.

Net sales for the three months ended March 31, 1999 totaled $74 million compared
to $120  million for the same  period in the prior  year.  Net sales for the six
months  ended March 31, 1999 were $135  million  compared to $243 million in the
same period of the prior year.  The lower sales level in the first two  quarters
of fiscal 1999  compared to the  comparable  period in the prior year was due to
the  industry-wide  slowdown  in demand for  semiconductor  assembly  equipment,
primarily  the  Company's  wire  bonders.  Net sales in the three months and six
months ended March 31, 1999 to all major  geographic  regions were down from the
comparable period in the prior year.

Equipment segment sales totaled $45 million for the three months ended March 31,
1999,  compared  to $93  million in the  comparable  quarter of the prior  year.
Equipment segment sales for the six months ended March 31, 1999 were $78 million
compared to $187  million in the  comparable  period of the prior year.  For the
three and six month  periods  ended March 31, 1999,  unit sales of machines were
lower than the  comparable  period last year by 41% and 55%,  respectively.  The
lower  sales  volume   reflected  the  industry  wide  downtown  in  orders  for
semiconductor assembly equipment.

Packaging  materials  sales totaled $29 million for the three months ended March
31, 1999  compared to $27 million in the  comparable  quarter of the prior year.
For the six months ended March 31, 1999 and March 31, 1998,  packaging materials
sales  totaled $56 million.  The  increased net sales for the three months ended
March 31, 1999 primarily  reflected a higher volume of gold wire shipments.  For
the six month period ended March 31, 1999 gold wire  shipments  were also higher
than 


                                       11
<PAGE>


the prior year but were offset by lower volume of aluminum wire shipments.

Gross  profit as a  percentage  of net sales was 28.6% in the three months ended
March 31, 1999  compared  to 38.3%  during the  comparable  quarter in the prior
year.  For the six  month  period  ended  March  31,  1999,  gross  profit  as a
percentage of net sales was 27.6% compared to 37.6% in the prior year. The lower
gross margin in both the three month and six month  periods ended March 31, 1999
was due to lower gross profit margin in the equipment  segment  partially offset
by higher gross profit  margin in the  packaging  materials  segment.  Equipment
segment gross profit  margin  decreased to 28.4% in the three months ended March
31,  1999 from 42.1% for the same  period in the prior  year.  For the six month
period ended March 31, 1999  equipment  segment  gross profit as a percentage of
net sales  decreased to 28.3% from 41.5% in the prior year. The decrease in both
the three and six month  periods ended March 31, 1999  resulted  primarily  from
lower  average  selling  prices for the  Company's  ball  bonders due to pricing
competition  and the absorption of  manufacturing  overhead costs by fewer units
sold. Gross profit margins on packaging materials products increased to 28.8% in
the three  months  ended March 31, 1999 from 25.3% in the same period last year.
For the six month  period  ended  March 31,  1999 the gross  profit  margin  for
packaging  materials  products  increased to 26.7% from 24.5% in the prior year.
The  increase in both the three and six month  periods  ended March 31, 1999 was
due  primarily to the  introduction  in fiscal 1999 of higher  margin fine pitch
products by the expendable tools operation.

Selling,  general and  administrative  ("SG&A")  expenses totaled $20 million in
both the three  months ended March 31, 1999 and the three months ended March 31,
1998.  For the six month  period  ended  March 31, 1999 SG&A  expenses  were $37
million compared to $43 million for the comparable  period in the prior year. In
the three month period ended March 31, 1999, lower payroll related expenses were
offset by a higher  reserve for  outstanding  receivables  resulting in the same
total SG&A  expense as the prior year.  For the six month period ended March 31,
1999 the lower SG&A  expenses in fiscal 1999 were due primarily to the Company's
reduction in work-force  that took place in the fourth quarter of fiscal 1998 in
response  to the  industry-wide  slowdown in orders for  semiconductor  assembly
equipment.

Net  research and  development  ("R&D")  costs  totaled $9 million for the three
months  ended March 31,  1999  compared  to $13  million  during the  comparable
quarter of the prior year.  R&D costs for the six month  period  ended March 31,
1999 were $18 million compared to $25 million in the prior year. The decrease in
R&D spending in the first two quarters of fiscal 1999 compared to the prior year
generally  reflected the Company's  resizing  efforts of reducing its work-force
and discontinuing certain products in response to the industry-wide  slowdown in
orders for semiconductor assembly equipment that began in fiscal 1998.

The Company recorded resizing and relocation costs of approximately $5.5 million
in the three months ended March 31, 1999,  reflecting  provisions  for severance
and asset  write-off  and removal costs  


                                       12
<PAGE>


resulting  from the planned  move of its  automatic  ball  bonder  manufacturing
operation to Asia. The Company expects to spend an additional $10 to $12 million
on tooling and equipment,  training and start-up costs within the next 12 months
to prepare the new facility for  production.  The new facility is expected to be
operational in fiscal 2000. In addition to the costs associated with the move of
the  automatic  ball bonder  production  operation,  during the six month period
ended March 31, 1999 the Company also  recorded  resizing  costs of $397,000 for
severance in connection  with the reduction in work-force that took place in the
three months ended December 31, 1998.

In January 1999, the Company purchased enabling technology and fixed assets used
in  the  design,  development,  manufacture,  marketing  and  sale  of  laminate
substitutes  (the "XLAM  technology")  for $8 million.  The  Company  recorded a
charge of  approximately  $4 million for  in-process  research  and  development
representing the appraised value of products still in the development stage that
have not reached technological feasibility.

For the three month  period  ended March 31,  1999,  the Company  recorded a $17
million loss from operations compared to income from operation of $13 million in
the comparable  quarter of the prior year. For the six-month  period ended March
31, 1999, the Company recorded a loss from operations of $27 million compared to
income  from  operations  of $24 million in the  comparable  period of the prior
year.  Excluding the non recurring  costs  associated  with the move of the ball
bonder  manufacturing  operation  and the charge  for  in-process  research  and
development,  the loss from  operations in the three and six month periods ended
March 31,  1999 was $8  million  and $18  million,  respectively.  The loss from
operations in both the three and six month periods ended March 31, 1999 resulted
primarily from the decline in equipment  segment unit sales and gross profit due
to the  industry-wide  slowdown in orders for semiconductor  assembly  equipment
partially offset by lower SG&A and R&D expense.

In the three and six months ended March 31, 1999, the Company  recognized  100%,
or approximately $5 million and $8 million,  respectively,  of the loss incurred
on its 51% equity interest in Flip Chip  Technologies,  LLC ("FCT")  compared to
recognizing  only 51% of the loss,  or $2 million and $5 million,  respectively,
during the same  periods in the prior  year.  Included in the loss for the three
months ended March 31, 1999 was a one-time  charge of  approximately  $1 million
for severance  costs  associated  with a resizing of the FCT  operations  and an
appraisal fee. The Company recorded 100% of the loss at FCT due to uncertainties
surrounding  FCT's  ability  to obtain  additional  financing  from  Delco  (the
Company's  joint  venture  partner)  and FCT's  ability to  generate  short-term
positive cash flow. See the  discussion of FCT under the "Risk Factors"  section
of this Item 2 for further information regarding FCT.

The  Company's  effective  tax rate for fiscal  1999 is  presently  expected  to
approximate 30%,  compared to 26% for fiscal 1998. The increase in the effective
tax  rate in  fiscal  1999  is due to a  larger  portion  of the  expected  loss
occurring in United Stated based  operations,  which have a higher effective tax
rate than the Company's foreign entities.


                                       13
<PAGE>


RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS:

In June 1998,  SFAS 133,  "Accounting  for  Derivative  Instruments  and Hedging
Activities" was issued. SFAS 133 establishes  accounting and reporting standards
for derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in
other  contracts  (collectively  referred  to as  derivatives)  and for  hedging
activities.  It requires  that an entity  recognize  all  derivatives  as either
assets or liabilities  in the statement of financial  position and measure those
instruments  at fair  value.  This  standard  is  effective  for  the  Company's
financial  statements for all quarters in the fiscal year commencing  October 1,
1999. Management has not completed its review of SFAS 133 and has not determined
the impact adoption will have on the Company's financial statements.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES:

As of March 31,  1999,  the  Company  had $71  million  in cash and  short  term
investments  compared to $107 million at September 30, 1998,  additionally,  the
Company  has a total of $60  million  available  under a bank  revolving  credit
facility,  which  expires in March 2003.  At March 31, 1999,  the Company was in
compliance  with the  covenants  of the credit  facility  and had no  borrowings
outstanding  under the facility.  The  revolving  credit  facility  provides for
borrowings denominated in either U.S. dollars or foreign currencies.  Borrowings
in U.S.  dollars bear interest  either at a Base Rate (defined as the greater of
the prime rate minus  1/4% or the  federal  funds rate plus 1/2%) or, at a LIBOR
Rate  (defined  as LIBOR plus .4% to .8%  depending  on the  Company's  leverage
ratio).  Foreign  currency  borrowings bear interest at a LIBOR Rate, as defined
above, applicable to the foreign currency.

Cash used in  operating  activities  totaled $13  million  during the six months
ended March 31, 1999 compared to $8 million during the comparable  period in the
prior year. The use of cash for operating  activities in the first six months of
fiscal 1999 was primarily the result of the loss recorded by the Company in that
period.

At March 31, 1999,  working capital was $157 million compared to $182 million at
September 30, 1998.  The lower working  capital was due primarily to a reduction
in cash and  investments  reflecting  the loss  recorded in the six month period
ended March 31, 1999 along with the funding of joint  ventures  and the purchase
of the XLAM technology.

During the six months ended March 31, 1999, the Company  invested  approximately
$2 million in property and  equipment  compared to $7 million in the  comparable
period of the prior  year.  The  Company  presently  expects  total  fiscal 1999
capital  spending to approximate  $23 million.  The principal  capital  projects
planned for the  remainder of fiscal 1999 include  approximately  $4 million for
the purchase of tooling and  equipment  necessary to commence  equipping the new
manufacturing   facility  in  Asia,  $9  million  for  equipment  and  leasehold
improvements  necessary  to outfit a  research  and  manufacturing  facility  to
develop the XLAM technology,  $4 million for  improvements to the  manufacturing
capacity for the packaging  and materials  business and $2 million for increases
in manufacturing capacity at Flip Chip Technologies.


                                       14
<PAGE>


Pursuant to the terms of the Flip Chip Technologies joint venture agreement, the
Company made capital  contributions of  approximately  $17 million through March
31,  1999.  In  addition,  the  Company  has  entered  into four  separate  loan
agreements  totaling $30 million with FCT. As of March 31, 1999, all $30 million
had been loaned to FCT under these loan agreements.  During the first six months
of fiscal  1999,  the  Company  gave  notice to FCT of its desire to convert the
loans, together with accrued interest, into equity units. See the "Risk Factors"
section of this Item 2 for a further discussion of FCT.

The Company  entered  into a joint  venture  agreement,  in September  1998,  to
develop, manufacture and market advanced polymer materials for semiconductor and
microelectronic  packaging  end users.  Through  March 31,  1999 the Company has
invested $2 million in this joint venture and has committed to invest a total of
$6 million.

As stated previously,  the Company purchased the XLAM technology for $8 million.
The  Company has no  commitments  to, but  expects to invest  approximately  $15
million  during  the  remainder  of  fiscal  1999 for  operational  and  capital
expenditures.

The Company believes that  anticipated  cash flows from operations,  its working
capital and amounts  available  under its revolving  credit  facilities  will be
sufficient to meet the Company's liquidity and capital requirements for at least
the next 12 months.  However, the Company may seek, as required,  equity or debt
financing to provide  capital for corporate  purposes  and/or to fund  strategic
business  opportunities,   including  possible  acquisitions,   joint  ventures,
alliances or other business arrangements which could require substantial capital
outlays.  The timing and amount of such potential capital requirements cannot be
determined at this time and will depend on a number of factors, including demand
for the Company's  products,  semiconductor and semiconductor  capital equipment
industry conditions and competitive factors and the nature and size of strategic
business opportunities which the Company may elect to pursue.

RISK FACTORS:

Semiconductor Industry Volatility

The Company's  operating results primarily depend upon the capital  expenditures
of semiconductor  manufacturers and subcontract  assemblers  worldwide which, in
turn, depend on the current and anticipated market demand for semiconductors and
products using semiconductors.  The semiconductor industry historically has been
highly volatile and has experienced  periodic downturns and slowdowns which have
had a severe negative effect on the semiconductor  industry's demand for capital
equipment, including assembly equipment manufactured and marketed by the Company
and, to a lesser extent,  packaging materials such as those sold by the Company.
These  downturns  and  slowdowns  have also  adversely  affected  the  Company's
operating results and the Company believes that such volatility will continue to
characterize the industry and to impact the Company's operations in the future.



                                       15
<PAGE>


Product Concentration

A  significant  portion of the  Company's  revenue  is  derived  from sales of a
relatively  small number of  machines,  most with  selling  prices  ranging from
$60,000 to over  $400,000.  A delay in the  shipment  of a limited  quantity  of
machines, either due to manufacturing delays or to rescheduling or cancellations
of customer  orders,  could have a material adverse effect on the results of the
operations for any particular fiscal year or quarter.

Rapid Technology Change

The semiconductor and  semiconductor  equipment  industries are subject to rapid
technological  change and frequent new product  introductions  and enhancements.
The Company  believes that its continued  success will depend upon the extent to
which it is able to continuously  develop and  manufacture or otherwise  acquire
new products and product  enhancements  and to introduce them into the market in
response to demands for higher performance assembly equipment.

New Product Introduction

The Company's inability to successfully  qualify new products,  or its inability
to manufacture  and ship these  products in volume and on a timely basis,  could
adversely affect the Company's competitive position.

To the extent the  Company  fails to  accurately  forecast  demand in volume and
configuration   for  both  its  current   and   next-generation   wire   bonders
(specifically  the  Company's  Model 8028 wire  bonders) and generally to manage
product transitions successfully,  it could experience reduced orders, delays in
product shipments and increased risk of inventory obsolescence.

Furthermore,  the acquisition of the XLAM technology and the investment in FCT (
see Investment in Flip Chip  Technologies,  LLC under this Risk Factors section)
and advance  polymer  materials joint ventures expose the Company to risk to the
extent  that  there  can be no  assurance  that the  Company  will  successfully
complete the development  and manufacture of these new products,  that these new
products  will be accepted in the  marketplace  or that the Company  will manage
these  new  products  successfully.  The  Company's  failure  to do  any  of the
foregoing could materially  adversely affect the Company's  business,  financial
condition and operating results.

Dependence on Key Customers

Sales to a relatively small number of customers have accounted for a significant
percentage of the Company's net sales.  Sales to these and other customers might
be affected by a number of factors  including the transition  from  conventional
assembly techniques to alternative methods of semiconductor  assembly for future
generation  products.  The  timing of such a  transition  and the  impact on the
Company,  if any,  can not be  determined  at this time.  In the event a current
customer would  transition to an alternative  method,  the Company's  failure to
acquire  replacement  customers for its equipment business could have a material
adverse affect on the Company's financial condition and operating


                                       16
<PAGE>


results.

Dependence on Key Suppliers

The Company relies on subcontractors to produce to the Company's  specifications
many of the materials, components or subassemblies used in its products. Certain
of the  Company's  products,  however,  require  components  or assemblies of an
exceptionally  high degree of reliability,  accuracy and performance.  Currently
there are a number of such  items for which  there are only a single or  limited
number of  suppliers  which  have been  accepted  by the  Company  as  qualified
suppliers.  The Company generally does not maintain long-term contracts with its
subcontractors  and  suppliers.  While the  Company  does not  believe  that its
business is  substantially  dependent on any contract or arrangement with any of
its  subcontractors or suppliers,  the Company's  reliance on subcontractors and
single source suppliers  involves a number of significant  risks,  including the
loss of  control  over the  manufacturing  process,  the  potential  absence  of
adequate capacity and the reduced control over delivery schedules, manufacturing
yields, quality and costs. Further,  certain of the Company's subcontractors and
suppliers  are  relatively  small  operations  and have  limited  financial  and
manufacturing  resources.  In the event that any  significant  subcontractor  or
single  source  supplier  were to become  unable or  unwilling  to  continue  to
manufacture  or sell  subassemblies,  components  or  parts  to the  Company  in
required volumes and of acceptable  quality levels and prices, the Company would
have to identify and qualify acceptable replacements.  The process of qualifying
subcontractors  and  suppliers  could be lengthy,  and no assurance can be given
that any additional sources would be available to the Company on a timely basis.

Sales to Foreign Customers

Most of the  Company's  foreign  sales are  denominated  in US dollars,  and the
Company  believes that  fluctuations  in the value of the US dollar  relative to
certain  foreign  currencies  may make the Company's  products more expensive in
relation to products offered by certain of the Company's foreign competitors. In
addition,  a majority of the Company's sales are to customers with operations in
the Asia/Pacific  region which has been adversely  affected by economic turmoil.
There can be no  assurance  that  selling  prices  of future  orders or that the
economic  problems  that  persist  in the  Asia/Pacific  region  will not have a
material adverse effect on the Company's business and operating results.

Dependence on Key Personnel

The future  success of the  Company is  dependent  upon its  ability to hire and
retain qualified management,  marketing and technical employees.  Competition in
the recruiting of personnel in the  semiconductor  and  semiconductor  equipment
industry  is  intense,   particularly   with  respect  to  certain   engineering
disciplines. The inability for the Company to continue to attract and retain the
necessary  technical  and  managerial  personnel  could have a material  adverse
effect on the Company's business and operating results.

Intellectual Property

                                       17
<PAGE>

From  time to time,  third  parties  assert  that  the  Company  is,  or may be,
infringing or  misappropriating  their  intellectual  property  rights.  In such
cases,  the Company  will defend  against  claims or  negotiate  licenses  where
considered  appropriate.  In addition,  certain of the Company's  customers have
received  notices of  infringement  from the  Lemelson  Medical,  Education  and
Research  Foundation Limited Partnership (the "Lemelson  Foundation"),  alleging
that  equipment  supplied  by the  Company,  and  processes  performed  by  such
equipment,  infringe on patents held by the Lemelson  Foundation.  This activity
increased  substantially  in  1998,  since  in June of that  year  the  Lemelson
Foundation  settled its suit  against the Ford Motor  Company,  and entered into
License  Agreements  with  Ford,  GM and  Chrysler.  Since  then a number of the
Company's customers, including Intel, have been sued by the Lemelson Foundation.
Certain  customers  have  requested  that the Company  defend and indemnify them
against the claims of the Lemelson Foundation or to contribute to any settlement
the  customer  reaches with the  Lemelson  Foundation.  The Company has received
opinions from its outside patent counsel with respect to certain of the Lemelson
Foundation patents.  The Company is not aware that any equipment marketed by the
Company,  or  process  performed  by such  equipment  infringe  on the  Lemelson
Foundation patents in question and does not believe that the Lemelson Foundation
matter or any other  pending  intellectual  property  claim will have a material
adverse  effect on its  business,  financial  condition  or  operating  results.
However,  the ultimate  outcome of any  infringement or  misappropriation  claim
affecting  the  Company is  uncertain  and there can be no  assurances  that the
resolution  of these  matters  will not have a  material  adverse  effect on the
Company's business, financial condition and operating results.

Volatility of Common Stock Price

The market price for the  Company's  common stock has been volatile and it could
continue  to be subject to  significant  fluctuations  in  response to market or
industry  conditions  generally,  or specific  variations in quarterly operating
results,  shortfalls in revenue or earnings  from levels  expected by securities
analysts  and other  factors,  such as  announcements  of  reductions  in force,
departure of key  employees,  introduction  of new products by the Company or by
the Company's  competitors,  disruptions with key customers or the occurrence of
political, economic or environmental events globally or in key sales regions. In
addition,  the stock market has in recent years  experienced  significant  price
fluctuations.  These  fluctuations  often have been  unrelated to the  operating
performance of specific companies whose stocks are traded.  Recent  fluctuations
affecting  the  Company's  common  stock  have  been  tied in part to the  Asian
financial crisis and the price of semiconductors.  Broad market fluctuations, as
well  as  economic  conditions  generally  in the  semiconductor  industry,  may
adversely affect the market price of the Company's common stock.

Investment in Flip Chip Technologies, LLC

In February 1996, the Company entered into a joint venture  agreement with Delco
Electronics  Corporation ("Delco") providing for the formation and management of
FCT. FCT was formed to provide wafer bumping services on a contract basis and to
license related 


                                       18
<PAGE>


technologies.  The Company  owns a 51% equity  interest in FCT but  participates
equally with Delco in the management of FCT through an Executive Committee.  The
Company accounts for its investment in FCT using the equity method, and prior to
fiscal 1999 recognized its  proportionate  share of the operating results of the
joint venture on the basis of its ownership interest.  Beginning in fiscal 1999,
the  Company  is  recognizing  100% of the  operating  results  for the  reasons
described below. Through March 31, 1999, the Company had contributed $17 million
of capital and had loaned $30 million to FCT  pursuant  to four  revolving  loan
agreements.

The loans to FCT bear interest at the prime rate plus 1 1/2% (9.25% at March 31,
1999) and are secured by FCT's accounts receivable,  inventory and machinery and
equipment.  The loans are due on various  dates  through  November 19, 2000 with
interest  payable  generally upon maturity.  The loans are  convertible,  at the
Company's  option,  into additional  equity units of FCT. Under these agreements
Delco also has certain  rights to purchase  additional  equity  units of FCT. On
November  4, 1998,  the  Company  notified  Delco of its  desire to convert  the
outstanding  loans into additional  equity units of FCT, subject to an appraisal
of FCT and the  value of an  equity  unit.  Until the  conversion  valuation  is
determined  the Company cannot be certain as to if or when the conversion of the
outstanding  loans  to  FCT  equity  units  will  take  place.  However,  due to
uncertainties  surrounding  FCT's ability to obtain  additional  financing  from
Delco and FCT's  ability to generate  short-term  positive  cash flow, in fiscal
1999 the Company began  recognizing 100% of the operating  results of FCT in its
financial  statements.  The Company is not recognizing  interest income from its
loans to FCT.

As a result of  delays  in the  customers'  evaluations  of FCT's  manufacturing
process  and  the  generally  soft  business  environment  in the  semiconductor
industry,  FCT has not generated  substantial  operating  revenues to date.  The
Company is  currently  working  with FCT  management  to balance  FCT's  planned
expense and spending levels with available  financial  resources but expects FCT
to report a loss from operations in fiscal 1999. The joint venture is subject to
numerous risks common to business  arrangements of this nature.  There can be no
assurance  that FCT will ever  become  profitable,  that the  Company  will make
additional  capital  contributions  and  loans to FCT,  or that the  anticipated
benefits of FCT will ever be  realized.  If FCT does not become  profitable  and
cash flow positive,  the Company's  business,  financial condition and operating
results could be materially adversely affected.

Year 2000

The Year 2000 compliance issue (in which systems do not properly  recognize date
sensitive  information  when the year  changes  to  2000)  creates  risk for the
Company:  if  internal  data  management,  accounting  and/or  manufacturing  or
operating software and systems do not adequately or accurately process or manage
day or date  information  beyond the year 1999, there could be an adverse impact
on the  Company's  operations.  To address  the issue,  the  Company  created an
internal  task force to assess its state of  readiness  for  possible  Year 2000
issues and take the necessary  actions to ensure Year 2000 


                                       19
<PAGE>


compliance.  The task force has and  continues  to  evaluate  internal  business
systems, software and other components which affect the performance of Company's
products, and the Company's vulnerability to possible Year 2000 exposures due to
suppliers' and other third parties' lack of  preparedness  for the year 2000. To
evaluate certain equipment sold by the Company and certain equipment,  tools and
software  used by the  Company,  the Company  employs Year 2000  Readiness  Test
scenarios   established  by  SEMATECH,  an  industry  group  comprised  of  U.S.
semiconductor  manufacturers.  Based on this  assessment,  the Company  does not
believe  operation of such  equipment  will be affected by the transition to the
year  2000.  The  Company  expects  that its  review,  corrective  measures  and
contingency planning (where necessary) will be complete by September 1999.

In connection with its review and corrective measures,  the Company has replaced
its business and accounting systems of its equipment  manufacturing sites in the
US and Israel with a new Enterprise  Resource  Planning System ("ERPS") which is
Year 2000 compliant.  The Company expects the total cost of hardware,  software,
consulting costs, training and internal expenses to implement the new ERPS to be
approximately  $9  million,  the  majority  of which had been spent by March 31,
1999.

In addition,  the Company has been in contact with its suppliers and other third
parties to  determine  the extent to which they may be  vulnerable  to Year 2000
issues.  As this  assessment  progresses,  matters  may  come  to the  Company's
attention which could give rise to the need for remedial measures which have not
yet been identified. As a contingency, the Company may replace the suppliers and
third party vendors who can not  demonstrate  to the Company that their products
or services will be Year 2000 compliant.  The Company cannot  currently  predict
the potential effect of third parties' Year 2000 issues on its business.

The Company believes that its Year 2000 compliance  project will be completed in
advance of the Year 2000 date transition and that Year 2000 issues will not have
a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition or overall trends
in the results of operations. However, there can be no assurance that unexpected
delays or  problems,  including  the failure to ensure Year 2000  compliance  by
systems or products  supplied to the Company by a third party,  will not have an
adverse effect on the Company, its financial performance, or the competitiveness
or customer acceptance of its products.

Item 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.

At March 31, 1999, the Company had a non-trading  investment  portfolio of fixed
income securities,  excluding those classified as cash and cash equivalents,  of
$38 million. These securities, like all fixed income instruments, are subject to
interest rate risk and will fall in value if market interest rates increase.  If
market  interest rates were to increase  immediately  and uniformly by 100 basis
points from levels as of March 31, 1999, the decline in the fair market value of
the  portfolio  would  not  have a  material  adverse  effect  on the  Company's
business, financial condition or operating results.


                                       20
<PAGE>


PART II. OTHER INFORMATION.


Item 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

The 1999 Annual Meeting of  Shareholders  of the Company was held on February 9,
1999.

At this meeting,  Messrs. James W. Bagley and C. Scott Kulicke were reelected to
the Board of  Directors  of the  Company  for terms  expiring at the 2003 Annual
Meeting.  In such election,  22,282,518 votes and 22,165,410 votes were cast for
Mr. Kulicke and Mr. Bagley, respectively. Under Pennsylvania law, vote cannot be
cast against a  candidate.  Proxies  filed by the holders of 188,467  shares and
71,359  shares at the 1999 Annual  Meeting  withheld  authority  to vote for Mr.
Bagley and Mr. Kulicke, respectively.

Also at the 1999 Annual  Meeting,  14,804,753  shares were voted in favor of the
proposal  to amend  the  Company's  Articles  of  Incorporation  providing  that
Subchapter E - Control Transactions of the Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law
shall not be  applicable to the Company,  and 240,785  shares voted against this
proposal.  Proxies filed by the holders of 124,815  shares  instructed the proxy
holders to abstain from voting on this proposal.

Also at the  meeting,  10,965,808  shares were voted in favor of the proposal to
approve the 1998 Employee  Stock Option Plan,  and  4,073,062  shares were voted
against such  proposal.  Proxies  filed by the holders of 131,385  shares at the
1999 Annual  Meeting  instructed  proxy  holders to abstain  from voting on such
proposal.

Lastly,   22,275,426  shares  were  voted  in  favor  of  the  reappointment  of
PricewaterhouseCoopers  LLP as  independent  accountants of the Company to serve
until the 2000  Annual  Meeting,  and  47,429  shares  were voted  against  such
proposal.  Proxies  filed by the  holders  of 31,022  shares at the 1999  Annual
Meeting  instructed  the proxy holders to abstain from voting on such  proposal.
"Broker non votes" received at the 1999 Annual Meeting totaled 7,475,340 shares.


Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K.

     (a)  Exhibits

          Exhibit  3(i)  -  Form  of  Amendment  of  Articles  of  Incorporation
          effective March 12, 1999.

          Exhibit 10(a) - The Company's 1998 Employee Incentive Stock Option and
          Non-Qualified  Stock Option Plan filed as Appendix A to the  Company's
          definitive  proxy  statement  relating to the  February 9, 1999 Annual
          Meeting of Shareholders, is incorporated herein by reference. *

          Exhibit 27 - Financial Data Schedule


                                       21
<PAGE>


     (b)  Reports on Form 8-K

     No Reports on Form 8-K were filed  during the  quarter to which this Report
     relates.

*    Compensatory contract



                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                                              KULICKE AND SOFFA INDUSTRIES, INC.

Date:  May 13, 1999                           By: /s/ Clifford G. Sprague
                                              ----------------------------------
                                                  Clifford G. Sprague
                                                  Senior Vice President,
                                                  Chief Financial Officer

                                                   (Principal Financial Officer)


                                       22



                                                                    EXHIBIT 3(i)



                                    EXHIBIT A
                                       TO
                              ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT
                                       OF
                       KULICKE AND SOFFA INDUSTRIES, INC.


     The Amended and  Restated  Articles of  Incorporation  of Kulicke and Soffa
Industries, Inc., are amended by adding a new Article 7 as follows:

     "7.   Subchapter   E--Control   Transactions   of  Chapter   25--Registered
Corporations of the Pennsylvania  Business  Corporation Law of 1988, as amended,
shall not be applicable to the corporation."


<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                     5
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              SEP-30-1999
<PERIOD-START>                                 OCT-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   MAR-31-1999
<CASH>                                         33,336
<SECURITIES>                                   37,575
<RECEIVABLES>                                  65,767
<ALLOWANCES>                                   2,279
<INVENTORY>                                    50,595
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               208,979
<PP&E>                                         105,580
<DEPRECIATION>                                 60,177
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 321,968
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          52,077
<BONDS>                                        0
                          0
                                    0
<COMMON>                                       159,423
<OTHER-SE>                                     105,781
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   321,968
<SALES>                                        134,736
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               134,736
<CGS>                                          97,535
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  97,535
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               64,570
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             97
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (33,772)
<INCOME-TAX>                                   (10,133)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (23,639)
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (23,639)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  (1.01)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  (1.01)
        


</TABLE>


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