TSMC to buy ProMOS 12-inch equipment
Josephine Lien, Taipei; Meiling Chen, DIGITIMES [Friday 16 January 2009]
ProMOS Technologies has decided to sell its 12-inch foundry equipment in the Central Taiwan Science Park for NT$580 million (US$17.39 million), and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) will be the buyer, according to the companies.
The equipment to be sold cannot be transitioned to the 54nm process node, said ProMOS.
Although ProMOS has announced a 15% capacity cut, some memory makers estimate the company is actually going to reduce capacity by 50-70% based on its financial issues. ProMOS' current monthly capacity at its 12-inch foundry is 20,000-30,000 units while the maximum it can reach is 80,000 units.
The equipment that ProMOS is going to sell is for front-end processing, meaning some DRAM capacity will lost and not replaced. ProMOS may sell more equipment if the company's financial issues cannot be resolved, according to sources at makers. However, the company declined to comment.
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Taiwan government lobbying banks for ProMOS aid plan
Josephine Lien, Taipei; Jessie Shen, DIGITIMES [Friday 16 January 2009]
As the deadline for ProMOS Technologies redeeming its euro convertible bond (ECB) is nearing (February 14, 2009), Taiwan's government has been actively in talks with banks trying to work out a plan for extending financial aid to the troubled DRAM maker.
The government has been trying to convince banks to swap some NT$11 billion (US$330 million) of ProMOS ECB they hold for shares of the company, according to sources. An alternative to a debt-equity swap is extending ProMOS repayment deadline to August 14, 2009, the sources indicated.
ProMOS' creditors are expected to reveal some concrete solutions for bailing out the DRAM maker's immediate financial crisis soon, the sources said. |
