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The recently announced Intel/STMicroelectronics JV has created shockwaves throughout the flash memory community, and while there have been concerns regarding the career prospects of some Intel employees as a result of this, it has been reported that the near-2,000 Intel employees working in Intel Ireland, Leixlip, Co. Kildare, are to be unaffected by the venture.

The reason for this is that Intel's Irish flash manufacturing unit, Ireland Fab Operations (IFO), is not included in the joint venture as it produces 65 product lines, most of which do not have flash memory associations.  Separating the flash business from the IFO's activities would not have been feasible.

However, the IFO will continue to provide wafers to the marketplace via Intel by implementation of an agreement with Intel/STMicroelectronics' new company, a company that has been funded by Francisco Partners, a U.S.-based private equity firm.

Further information on the venture's impact on Intel Ireland is available on The Irish Times website (subscription required):
http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/finance/2007/0523/1179498646063.html

By Síle Mc Mahon