Intel Corporation has entered into a definitive agreement to sell the telecom-related portion of its Optical Platform Division for $85 million and is reviewing options in regard to the enterprise-focused portion of its Optical Platform Division. The new buyer is EMCORE, who plans to expand its fiber optics product portfolio by offering more complete product solutions. 

ON Semiconductor has said it plans to acquire AMI Semiconductor in an all-stock transaction with an equity value of approximately $915 million. Combined, the companies have revenues of over $2 billion, making the company a significant player in the analog and power semiconductor market. Both boards of directors have approved the deal. 

In a move to boost its market presence in the $1.5 billion semiconductor market for digital applications, STMicroelectronics has said it will commence a cash tender offer to purchase all of the outstanding shares of Genesis Microchip implying a total equity value of approximately $336 million. Genesis Microchip is a fabless semiconductor company. 

According to DRAMeXchange, DRAM memory bit growth will fall from the 92 percent rate in 2007 to 57 percent bit growth in 2008 as major memory manufacturers cut capital expenditures, reduce 200mm wafer production and slow 300mm fab capacity ramps to tackle ASPs’ being below manufacturing costs. 

Semiconductor market research firm Future Horizons expects the industry to do better in 2008 compared to this year based on slightly improved ASPs and double-digit unit growth. For 2008, Future Horizons expects 10 percent unit growth and a modest 2 percent increase in ASPs. 

ILS Technology has said that it has signed up two leading semiconductor manufacturers in Japan to its secureWISE controlled access e-manufacturing technology and services. 

Sales of semiconductors in October rose to $23.1 billion, an increase of 5 percent over the $22 billion reported in October 2006 and 2 percent higher than the $22.6 billion reported in September, 2007, according to the latest figures released from the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA).

The newly-dubbed Global Semiconductor Alliance, formerly the FSA (Fabless Semiconductor Association), has announced the Board of Directors that will steer the new group into 2008.  In a separate press release, the association named the members of the Leadership Council for Europe – now known as the EMEA Leadership Council. Conexant's Dwight Decker (pictured) remains in the role of Chairman. 

Preliminary market share data from iSuppli Corp. highlights that Samsung’s rivals in the NAND flash memory market are gaining market share at the market leader’s expense in the third quarter of 2007. Samsung only achieved bit growth of 4 percent in the quarter. Samsung’s NAND market share declined to 40.2 percent, down from 45.4 percent in the previous quarter.