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.

Politics : Formerly About Applied Materials -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: BWAC who wrote (49635)	7/23/2001 6:40:02 PM
From: t2	Respond to of 70976

Few deals in this industry given how bad things are. At least I have not seen any big ones. Given how companies are building cash, it looks inevitable especially if there are smaller companies that realize that there is no light at the end of the tunnel for their own biz....creating a reason to sell to a larger competitor. Maybe the recent months' of few deals probably means many of the smaller names were holding out hope for a rapid recovery which did not materialize. Maybe the deal environment has finally changed...we shall see.

To: BWAC who wrote (49635)	7/23/2001 6:41:27 PM
From: robert b furman	Respond to of 70976

Hi BWAC, The more I read about Nvls and Lrcx both doing convertibles(800 million and 200 million respectively),the more I think it is the result of Amat's aggressive modular tool concepts. The advantages of combining tools that border almost on process changes is brilliant. The cost savings of smaller machine foot prints and fewer automated stations for pods or smifs to stop at is brilliant.The savings and efficiencies could be so strong that a better machine might be overlooked for a better process. I think both Nvls and Lam need to counter this concept regarding their copper damascene colloborative effort.I believe the recent funding may well go into an accelerated efffort of R&D. JMHO Bob As for Amat getting into Backend testing - the two no brainers are Schlumberger testers(they do Intel microprocessors and Cohu testhandlers). A dynamic duo indeed.That would start the bidding war between Advantest and Ter. Bob