Online information source for semiconductor professionals

Guest blog by Jim Handy, Objective Analysis

Late Tuesday Micron announced that the company had signed a definitive agreement to acquire Numonyx in an all-stock transaction.  Micron will issue 140 million shares of the company's common stock, worth approximately $1.27 billion, to Numonyx shareholders Intel, STMicroelectronics, and Francisco Partners. The NOR flash market has been a difficult one for nearly all participants.  Leaders Numonyx and Spansion have suffered losses for several years, with Spansion recently turning a profit through a strategy largely focused upon markets for low-density parts used by markets outside of cell handsets, the largest consumer of NOR flash.  Micron itself participated in NOR starting in the late 1990s, but abandoned this effort in 2006. Read more >>

Are you uncertain about the 2010 IC industry recovery? It may help to consider these actual data points and current expectations that offer support for an increasingly positive outlook for the IC industry this year. The 10 points listed should provide the reader with some encouragement with regard to the IC industry and its suppliers in 2010. Is it clear skies and smooth sailing for the rest of the year? Not, quite. Some potential “pot holes” on the road to 2010 success include: a possible spike in oil prices to greater than US$100 barrel; a major terrorist attack that weakens consumer confidence and the economy along with it; and/or, another major shock to the financial system like a major collapse of a country’s economy. Read more >>

Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) has made three new executive appointments: Chris Chi as chief business officer; Simon Yang as chief operating officer; and Gary Tseng as chief financial officer. Mr. Yang’s appointment as COO comes as a result of the recent resignation of Marco Mora from the same role. Read more >>

Martin van den Brink, Executive Vice President of Technology and Marketing for ASML, has become the eleventh recipient of SEMI’s annual Bob Graham Award, which is awarded for outstanding contributions in semiconductor equipment and materials marketing. Van den Brink has been with ASML for 25 years, with 15 years as a technologist and more recently as a marketing executive. Read more >>

AZ Electronic Materials has appointed Geoff Wild as chief executive officer. Wild will succeed Thomas von Krannichfeldt who retires from the position after five years. von Krannichfeldt remains a member of the board. Read more >>

Arizona State University's (ASU) developed training program for professionals has announced details for the 2009 ‘Facility Manager's Development Program' (FMDP), due to start in September this year. Read more >>

Further to its approximately 14% cut in staff numbers in October 2008 – only seven months ago, Axcelis Technologies, Inc. has again announced that it is letting staff go in a further attempt at cutting operating costs to stay competitive. Approximately 235 staff, or 20% of its global workforce will be axed from the company’s books, yielding an estimated $25 million in savings per annum. Read more >>

Xilinx, Inc. has announced plans to restructure the company, including getting rid of 6% of its workforce, or 200 employees, which would have a pre-tax charge of US$11-US$13 million for the June quarter, mostly dealing with severance pay expenses. Read more >>