GEORGE TOWN, Grand Cayman, Jan. 5, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- O2Micro® International Limited (Nasdaq:OIIM), a global leader in the design, development and marketing of high-performance integrated circuits and solutions, today announced that it is refocusing the Company's Intelligent Power Management Business Unit to better align its resources to focus on its new tablet and smartphone Power Management products. The strategy is aimed to better utilize its proprietary battery management technologies for industrial applications, including its precision battery gas gauge products.
As a result of this measure, the Company is reducing its current worldwide employee base by approximately 80 employees. The majority of the employees affected by this announcement are based in the Company's European and U.S. locations. Additionally, the Company is expecting to lower its overall operating expenses by approximately $3.5 Million to $4.5 Million throughout the 2015 fiscal year.
"The workforce reduction of the Intelligent Power Management Group demonstrates our focus on smartphone and tablet markets, commitment to enhancing shareholder value, while simultaneously sharpening our strategic and financial focus," said Sterling Du, O2Micro's Chairman and CEO. "We believe this measure will allow O2Micro to better focus our developmental resources on faster growth drivers, better execute our business strategy, and more quickly return to profitability."
O2Micro will provide additional details related to the financial impact of this announcement when it reports fourth quarter and fiscal year ending December 31, 2014, financial results, which is tentatively scheduled for February 4, 2015.
About O2Micro
Founded in April 1995, O2Micro develops and markets innovative power management components for the Computer, Consumer, Industrial, Automotive and Communications markets. Products include LED General Lighting, Backlighting, Battery Management and Power Management.
O2Micro International maintains an extensive portfolio of intellectual property with 27,716 patent claims granted, and over 28,000 more pending. The company maintains offices worldwide. Additional company and product information can be found on the company website at www.o2micro.com.
O2Micro, the O2Micro logo, and combinations thereof are registered trademarks of O2Micro. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Statements made in this release that are not historical, including statements regarding O2Micro or its management's intentions, hopes, beliefs, expectations, representations, projections, plans or predictions of the future, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other Federal Securities Laws. Such statements involve risks, speculation and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in these statements or from management's current views and expectations. Risks and uncertainties in this release may include, without limitation, any one or combination of the following: the effect of competitive and economic factors; real property value fluctuations and market demand; legal changes in any relevant rules and regulations pertaining to O2Micro's business; changes in technology and industry standards, and O2Micro's reaction to those factors; consumer and business buying decisions with respect to our customers' products incorporating O2Micro's products; continued competitive pressures in the marketplace; the ability of O2Micro to deliver to the marketplace, and stimulate customer demand therein, for new products and technological innovations on a timely basis; the effect that product introductions and transitions, changes in product pricing or mix, and/or increases in component costs could have on O2Micro's gross margins; the inventory risk associated with O2Micro's need to order, or commit to order, product components and product capacity in advance of forecast customer orders; the continued availability of acceptable terms of certain components and services essential to O2Micro's business which are currently obtained by the company from sole or limited sources; the effect that O2Micro's dependency on manufacturing and logistics services provided by third parties may have on the quality, quantity, availability or cost of products manufactured or services rendered; risks associated with O2Micro's international operations; the potential impact of a finding that O2Micro has infringed on the intellectual property rights of others, or that any third party may have infringed on O2Micro's intellectual property that may negatively affect O2Micro's business; O2Micro's legal classifications with governmental and regulatory agencies; O2Micro's dependency on the performance of distributors, carriers, independent sales representatives, and other resellers of O2Micro's products; the effect that product and service quality problems could have on O2Micro's sales ability and operating profits; the ability of O2Micro to deliver its products in a timely fashion to its customers, and the possible negative ramifications if such is not possible; the continued service and availability of key executives and employees; war, terrorism, public health issues, natural disasters, and other circumstances that could disrupt supply, delivery, or demand of products; and unfavorable results of other legal proceedings.
Actual results may differ materially due to numerous risk factors. Such risk factors are more fully enumerated in O2Micro's 20-F Annual Filings, Annual Report(s), 6-K's, the Form F-1 filed in connection with the company's initial public offering in August 2000, information posted on our website at www.o2micro.com, and other documents filed with the SEC, NASDAQ or any other public agency from time to time. The statements herein are based on dated information on the dates mentioned herein, which is subject to change. O2Micro assumes no obligation to update or revise the information provided on today, or any other forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or any other information that may arise. This information only speaks to the respective dates mentioned in said information.