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To: Return to Sender who wrote (5545)	9/22/2002 12:35:31 PM
From: Return to Sender	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 95474

Micron, then and now: Company’s fortunes linked to industry, markets idahostatesman.com In 1998, Micron: • Had one semiconductor plant in Boise and had started building a facility in Lehi, Utah. The company also owned Micron Electronics, which produced MicronPC personal computers at a site in Nampa. • Had about 9,000 employees, all in the Treasure Valley. • Had $1.39 billion in net sales for memory products. • Declared an annual loss of $233.7 million. • Reported assets of $4.68 billion. • Had cash and liquid investments totaling $649 million. In 2002, Micron: • Has seven manufacturing facilities, including the headquarters in Boise, and facilities in Utah, Virginia, Italy, Scotland and Japan, and a joint-venture site in Singapore. The company next month is set to open a Photomask facility in Boise. Crucial Technology, a division of Micron that sells memory modules and other peripheral equipment, operates in Meridian. The company has additional design facilities in California, Minnesota and Norway. • Has more than 18,000 employees, including 11,500 in the Treasure Valley. • Had net sales of $3.9 billion in 2001; for the nine months through May, the company reported revenues of $1.84 billion. Total 2002 sales will be reported Tuesday. • Declared an annual loss of $521 million for 2001; similar losses for 2002 expected to be announced next week. • Reported assets of $8.1 billion in May 2002, the last time the company reported financial information. • Has cash and liquid investments totaling $1.25 billion, as of May 2002. What do slumping industry and falling share prices mean: • For Micron? The company has to focus on its process technology to force its production costs downward. The Boise firm has a reputation in the industry for being the low-cost leader. Taking a broader view, the falling share price shows a lack of confidence in the market demand for Micron´s product. Lower consumer confidence translates into lower consumer spending, thus decreasing demand and affecting the company´s sales and industry prices. • For investors? Investors buying 100 shares of Micron on Sept. 19, 1998, would have spent $3,200. If they held those shares, they would have participated in a 2-for-1 stock split in May 2000, for a total of 200 shares. In August 2000 those 200 shares would have been worth $17,600. On Friday, when the stock fell to its four-year low, those 200 shares were worth $2,774. Who owns Micron shares? Ownership is 76 percent institutional investors; 11 percent by company insiders and large individual investors; 13 percent individual investors. What do analysts say? Industry and financial analysts believe Micron is feeling the pinch after six straight quarters of losses. With back-to-school computer sales not rising to expectations, analysts believe the company next week will again report a year of disappointing losses. While one analyst said firms can withstand only so many losses, Micron still has his confidence. “I wouldn´t write Micron off,” said Matt Godfrey of Semico Research Corp. in Phoenix. — Julie Howard Edition Date: 09-22-2002