Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : Mattson Technology -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: John Stewart who wrote (2085)	10/28/1999 9:15:00 PM
From: Ian@SI	Respond to of 3661

John, In the second last conference call, if I remember correctly, Brad made either a direct comment or one which I interpreted as meaning that a Strip tool would go into INTC before the end of the year. I further presumed that this would be an evaluation product. In the same conference call, he advised losing the LU shootout with GSNX. In the most recent conference call, I did not detect any reference whatsoever that could be INTC. Knowing how secretive INTC is, I've taken this as a very solid indication that MTSN probably has a strip tool there for evaluation. Brad has been very open and straightforward whenever he's been allowed to do so. No comment implies that there's a constraint that he's under. Or am I just being too pollyanna-like? Agree that there's no CVD tool at TI. Just our suspicion that they were the first production user of the Low K Dielectric Strip tool. Having one great MTSN product is merely the first step to taking several others - like CVD, then RTP and maybe even Epi. Just a couple random thoughts, Ian.

To: John Stewart who wrote (2085)	10/29/1999 5:11:00 PM
From: Ian@SI	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 3661

John, Not only did Brad score UMC as a Strip customer this quarter, but it also appears that he's got WSMC and at least 20% of Hitachi in the bag as well. Ian. +++++++++++++++++++ UMC said to be in talks to buy foundry rival WSMC By Macabe Keliher Electronic Buyers' News (10/29/99, 04:36:24 PM EDT) HSINCHU, Taiwan -- Taiwan's UMC Group here is said to be in discussions to acquire one of its competitors, Worldwide Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. It is a move that -- coupled with a separate deal to assume as much as one-fifth of Hitachi Ltd.'s wafer production (see today's story) -- could make UMC the world's largest pure-play foundry. According to sources close to the discussions, Hsinchu-based UMC is pursuing a deal to acquire WSMC, a relatively new foundry concern that has been ramping up production at its first fab since late last year. WSMC, also located in Hsinchu, is partly owned by Taiwanese IC maker Winbond Electronics Corp. and obtained its submicron technology from Toshiba Corp., for which it makes chips on a contract basis. The talks have yet to be finalized, nor has a sale price been disclosed. But if a deal were to be completed, UMC's total wafer output would approach -- or even surpass -- that of its main competitor, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), according to analysts. John Hsuan, chief executive of UMC, declined to comment on the reports, but he did say that the company wants to increase its production capacity and is looking for acquisition candidates. "Some people think [acquiring WSMC] is a good idea, but we cannot say anything now," Hsuan told EBN in an interview. WSMC also refused to comment. "There are many rumors circulating and I cannot confirm them," said Chang Bing-hun, a vice president at the company. semibiznews.com Referenced story on 20% of Hitachi at: semibiznews.com