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U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer Toured Akoustis Technologies’ Semiconductor Fab in Upstate New York

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Akoustis Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: AKTS) announced the successful tour of its semiconductor fab by Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, highlighting the impact of the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022. This bipartisan legislation allocates over $52 billion to boost U.S. semiconductor manufacturing and science innovation. Akoustis anticipates significant opportunities for growth, particularly in the Rochester area, where the company aims to produce billions of RF filter chips annually for 5G networks and other wireless applications. Akoustis has invested over $65 million in its NY facility, aiming for a production capacity of approximately 500 million units.

Positive
  • Senate Majority Leader Schumer's support for Akoustis aligns with the CHIPS Act funding opportunities.
  • Over $52 billion allocated in the CHIPS Act for semiconductor manufacturing could significantly enhance Akoustis's growth potential.
  • Akoustis has invested over $65 million in its New York facility, enhancing production capacity.
  • Plans to ramp annual production capacity to approximately 500 million units.
Negative
  • None.
  • Sen. Schumer Expects Significant Semiconductor Manufacturing Expansion in Upstate New York with the Recently Passed CHIPS and Science Act of 2022

Canandaigua, N.Y., Sept. 06, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Akoustis Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: AKTS) (“Akoustis” or the “Company”), an integrated device manufacturer (IDM) of patented bulk acoustic wave (BAW) high-band RF filters for mobile and other wireless applications, announced that U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer recently toured Akoustis’ semiconductor fab in Upstate New York with Akoustis founder and CEO, Jeff Shealy, Co-Chairman of the Board, Jerry Neal, and Director, Suzanne Rudy.

The recently passed bipartisan Chips and Science Act of 2022 (“CHIPS Act”) legislation was introduced by New York Senator Schumer to boost U.S. competitiveness with foreign competitors, including China, by allocating billions of dollars toward domestic semiconductor manufacturing and science research. Senator Schumer expects the CHIPS Act “will help build more resilient domestic supply chains to help lower costs for families, address inflation, and strengthen national security by manufacturing more microchips in America.”

Akoustis senior management has worked closely with the local, regional, and state government of New York, along with Senator Schumer’s office to support the passage of the Act, which will present a significant opportunity for the revitalization of Upstate New York’s semiconductor presence, and in particular, the greater Rochester area, where Akoustis’ manufacturing facility is located.

The CHIPS Act includes more than $52 billion for U.S. companies producing computer chips, as well as billions more in tax credits to encourage investment in semiconductor chip manufacturing. It also provides billions of dollars to fund scientific research and to spur the innovation and development of other U.S. technologies.

Jeff Shealy, founder and CEO of Akoustis, stated, “We were honored to have Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer return to our New York semiconductor fab for an expanded tour as he championed the introduction and passage of the CHIPS Act. We believe Akoustis fits perfectly as part of Senator Schumer’s ‘blueprint to make New York a Global Innovation & Semiconductor Hub.’”

Mr. Shealy added, “As Akoustis solely manufactures its semiconductor products in the United States, we should be an ideal candidate for funding from the CHIPS Act.  Such funding could position Akoustis to manufacture and deliver billions of XBAW® RF filter chips annually and position us to service both tier 1 and tier 2 mobile companies for 5G smartphones, as well as other end markets including 5G networks, high-frequency Wi-Fi devices, and other wireless markets.”

Akoustis began manufacturing its silicon chips in Canandaigua, NY five years ago, through a partnership with local, regional, state, and federal representatives from the State of New York. All of its RF filter wafers are made in Upstate New York - in the United States of America. Since acquiring this facility five years ago, Akoustis has invested over $65 million dollars in upgrades and new equipment and has more than tripled its number of high-paying jobs in the Finger Lakes region.

Akoustis is currently ramping commercial production and is investing to achieve annual production capacity of approximately 500 million units. Akoustis is actively delivering volume production of its Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E tandem filter solutions, shipping multiple 5G small cell XBAW® filter solutions and delivering initial designs of its new 5G mobile filter solutions to multiple customers. To date, Akoustis has received more than 20 customer design wins for its patented XBAW® filter solutions.

About Akoustis Technologies, Inc.

Akoustis® (http://www.akoustis.com/) is a high-tech BAW RF filter solutions company that is pioneering next-generation materials science and MEMS wafer manufacturing to address the market requirements for improved RF filters - targeting higher bandwidth, higher operating frequencies and higher output power compared to incumbent polycrystalline BAW technology deployed today. The Company utilizes its proprietary and patented XBAW® manufacturing process to produce bulk acoustic wave RF filters for mobile and other wireless markets, which facilitate signal acquisition and accelerate band performance between the antenna and digital back end. Superior performance is driven by the significant advances of poly-crystal, high-purity and single-crystal piezoelectric materials and the resonator-filter process technology which enables optimal trade-offs between critical power, frequency and bandwidth performance specifications. 

Akoustis plans to service the fast growing multi-billion-dollar RF filter market using its integrated device manufacturer (IDM) business model. The Company owns and operates a 120,000 sq. ft. ISO-9001:2015 registered commercial wafer-manufacturing facility located in Canandaigua, NY, which includes a class 100 / class 1000 cleanroom facility - tooled for 150-mm diameter wafers - for the design, development, fabrication and packaging of RF filters, MEMS and other semiconductor devices. Akoustis Technologies, Inc. is headquartered in the Piedmont technology corridor near Charlotte, North Carolina.

Forward-Looking Statements

This document includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each as amended, that are intended to be covered by the “safe harbor” created by those sections. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about our estimates, expectations, beliefs, intentions, plans or strategies for the future (including our possible future results of operations, business strategies, competitive position, potential growth opportunities, potential market opportunities and the effects of competition), the anticipated benefits of the acquisition of RFMi and supply agreement with Tai-Saw, including estimated synergies and other financial impacts, and the assumptions underlying such statements. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts and typically are identified by use of terms such as "may," “might,” “would,” "will," "should," "could," “project,” "expect," "plan," “strategy,” "anticipate," “attempt,” “develop,” “help,” "believe," “think,” "estimate," "predict," “intend,” “forecast,” “seek,” "potential," “possible,” "continue," “future,” and similar words (including the negative of any of the foregoing), although some forward-looking statements are expressed differently. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future results, performance, events or circumstances. Instead, these forward-looking statements are based on management’s current beliefs, expectations and assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated include, without limitation, risks relating to our ability to obtain adequate financing and sustain our status as a going concern; our limited operating history; our inability to generate revenues or achieve profitability;  the results of our research and development activities; our inability to achieve acceptance of our products in the market; the possibility that the anticipated benefits from business acquisitions (including the acquisition of RFMi) cannot be realized in full or at all or may take longer to realize than expected; the possibility that costs or difficulties related to the integration of acquired businesses’ (including RFMi’s) operations will be greater than expected and the possibility of disruptions to our business during integration efforts and strain on management time and resources; the impact of a pandemic or epidemic or a natural disaster, including the COVID-19 pandemic, on our operations, financial condition and the worldwide economy, including its impact on our ability to access the capital markets; general economic conditions, including upturns and downturns in the industry; shortages in supplies needed to manufacture our products, or needed by our customers to manufacture devices incorporating our products; our limited number of patents; failure to obtain, maintain, and enforce our intellectual property rights; claims of infringement, misappropriation or misuse of third party intellectual property that, regardless of merit, could result in significant expense and loss of our intellectual property rights; our inability to attract and retain qualified personnel; our reliance on third parties to complete certain processes in connection with the manufacture of our products; product quality and defects; existing or increased competition; our ability to successfully manufacture, market and sell products based on our technologies; our ability to meet the required specifications of customers and achieve qualification of our products for commercial manufacturing in a timely manner; our ability to successfully scale our New York wafer fabrication facility and related operations while maintaining quality control and assurance and avoiding delays in output; the rate and degree of market acceptance of any of our products; our ability to achieve design wins from current and future customers; contracting with customers and other parties with greater bargaining power and agreeing to terms and conditions that may adversely affect our business; risks related to doing business in foreign countries, including China; any security breaches, cyber-attacks or other disruptions compromising our proprietary information and exposing us to liability; our failure to innovate or adapt to new or emerging technologies; our failure to comply with regulatory requirements; results of any arbitration or litigation that may arise; stock volatility and illiquidity; dilution caused by any future issuance of common stock or securities that are convertible into or exercisable for common stock; our failure to implement our business plans or strategies; and our ability to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting. These and other risks and uncertainties are described in more detail in the Risk Factors and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations sections of the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and in subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Considering these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking statements regarding future events and circumstances discussed in this document may not occur, and actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. The forward-looking statements included in this document speak only as of the date hereof and, except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update publicly or privately any forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, for any reason after the date of this document to conform these statements to new information, actual results or to changes in our expectations.

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FAQ

What are the key takeaways from Akoustis's latest press release regarding the CHIPS Act?

The press release emphasizes the potential for growth in semiconductor manufacturing for Akoustis following the CHIPS Act, including expected funding opportunities and increased production capacity.

How does the CHIPS Act impact Akoustis Technologies?

The CHIPS Act aims to bolster domestic semiconductor manufacturing, which could provide Akoustis with significant financial support to expand its production capabilities and market reach.

What is Akoustis Technologies's production capacity goal?

Akoustis plans to ramp its annual production capacity to approximately 500 million units of its RF filter chips.

Who toured the Akoustis manufacturing facility and why was it significant?

Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer toured the facility to promote the CHIPS Act, which is expected to create opportunities for semiconductor firms like Akoustis.

What investment has Akoustis Technologies made in its New York facility?

Akoustis has invested over $65 million in upgrades and new equipment in its New York semiconductor facility over the past five years.

AKOUSTIS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

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