SGI declares bankruptcy amid ongoing reorganization

11.05.2006
High-performance computing vendor Silicon Graphics Inc. Monday filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as it continues recent efforts to revamp itself and regain profitability. In an announcement today, the Mountain View, Calif.-based company also said it has reached an agreement with major lenders to reduce its debt by approximately US$250 million as part of the restructuring.

SGI also released preliminary third-quarter financial results, reporting revenue of $108 million for the three months that ended March 31. That compares to revenue of $144 million in the previous quarter and $159 million in the same quarter a year earlier. On a Generally Accepted Accounting Basis, SGI's net loss for the quarter was $43 million, or $0.16 per share, compared to a net loss of $45 million, or $0.17 per share, in the same quarter in 2005, according to the preliminary figures.

SGI said its non-U.S. subsidiaries, including those in Europe, Canada, Mexico, South America and in the Asia-Pacific region, are not included in the bankruptcy filing and will not be subject to the requirements of Chapter 11. SGI said it plans to emerge from bankruptcy within six months.

"We want to assure our customers, our employees and our communities that SGI is operating, business as usual," SGI Chairman and CEO Dennis McKenna said in a statement. "Our customers can continue to rely on SGI for its mission-critical products, services and support."

McKenna became CEO, president and chairman of the board of SGI in late January, when he succeeded Robert Bishop, who remains on the board of directors. McKenna was formerly the CEO of privately-held SCP Global Technologies Inc. in Boise, Idaho.

Since beginning its reorganization earlier this year, SGI said it has completed a program that will save $50 million in the short term and another $100 million annually over the long term. The company also said that it has improved the efficiency of its manufacturing operations and has expanded its product road map.