SPIL approves NT$15.5 billion for 2017 capex

The board of directors of IC packager Siliconware Precision Industries (SPIL) has approved plans to budget NT$15.5 billion (US$485.5 million) in capex for 2017, which will be utilized for capacity expansion and R&D expenses.

SPIL's board previously approved an upward revision in 2016 capex to NT$17.9 billion from NT$16.7 billion. The additonal capex would be used mainly to expand production capacity for high-end packaging technologies, according to the company.

Market watchers believe that SPIL's revision for 2016 capex is to satisfy customers' demand for fan-out wafer-level packaging and other high-end packaging technologies.

SPIL has disclosed its cumulative 2016 revenues through November increased 2.3% from a year earlier to NT$77.64 billion.

SPIL reported net profits fell 4.2% sequentially to NT$2.69 billion in the third quarter while revenues climbed to a record NT$21.96 billion.