SiliconBeat

IXYS, the Milpitas maker of semiconductors used to control electricity in power conversion systems and other power-related applications, reported a 27 percent drop in sales for its fiscal 2009 fourth quarter ended in March.

The company reported a net loss of $10.9 million for the quarter, which included a write-down of $11.9 million for excess inventory that was taken “in response to the deterioration of the business environment”. Last year, the company reported a profit of $3.1 million net profit for its fiscal 2008 fourth quarter.

The company said it would cease providing forward-looking guidance, saying that “with the changing economic conditions, we have found that our ability to project revenues has declined.”