Intevac, Inc. (NASDAQ:IVAC) Q3 2023 Earnings Call Transcript

Hendi Susanto: Yeah. And then Nigel, any estimate how long the qualification may be? Like will it bring us to like 2025?

Nigel Hunton: Now that, just to clarify that I think some people got slightly confused on the last call. The qualification by our partner on the TRIO is on the first system that is running here in Santa Clara. So that qualification is the sign off with that customer and a key part of that agreement is on the system here. So that’s a real key qualification of the technology. Clearly, once that goes into the field, with our partner we’re working with our customers running products onto the machine and really that’s very much confidential and between our partners and their customers how they run what they’re running on the machine. But from our perspective, the key qualification is the qualification in Santa Clara on that first tool.

Hendi Susanto: I see and then this is a question for Kevin. Kevin, I think Jim indicated that Intevac is willing to build inventory ahead of sales ops to your system. If it’s successful any further clarity on how much inventory build and the timing or the timing of when in the fact will decide to put working capital to build up TRIO systems?

Nigel Hunton: If I can answer that before Kevin comes in. So, yes as we said, on multiple calls we have made a significant investments in inventory to enable us to do fast deployment of tools in 2024. That give us the opportunity to not just build two to three systems by enables to build maybe three to five systems next year to use that inventory and to ensure we can actually respond quickly to future demand. So the first objective is to make sure we actually leverage that inventory we have and utilize that CapEx to be able to respond fast to any additional demand we see in 2024 or 2025. Kevin, you want to add anything to that?

Kevin Soulsby: Yeah, so we’re building the first tool that will be shipped once we finish qualification and receive orders. And then we have plans in 2024 to build additional tools for next year’s revenue and to satisfy demand beyond.

Hendi Susanto: Yes. And then Nigel, any additional color on the strategic alternatives, how long it may take and what kind of framework or options?

Nigel Hunton: Yeah. As I said in my prepared remarks, we will explain that at the appropriate time. But all I can say, at this stage is process is ongoing.

Hendi Susanto: Okay. Thank you.

Nigel Hunton: Thank you, Hendi.

Kevin Soulsby: Thank you.

Operator: [Operator Instructions] We will it pause for a moment to assemble the queue. Next question we have is a follow-up question from Peter Wright of Interact. Please go ahead.

Peter Wright: Great. Thank you. Just looking at the TRIO model, how flexible is this system when you start moving into new markets, specifically, the auto industry. Is the inventory that you’re building for maybe three to five systems something flexible it could go in into that industry? Or would that be would that be a different tool configuration and when you’re looking at that? And then my last question is if you look at kind of the business model just for TRIO how should we think of the service you know the spares the upgrades the systems and upgrades on for a while obviously is a new system but how will how should that mix look? So when we look at your hard drive business in comparison it’s maybe a 4015 split but you’ve got an installed base of 180 systems out there.