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To: Zeev Hed who wrote (11128)	12/6/1997 11:49:00 PM
From: FJB	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 25960

Zeev, The number of process steps for an advanced 0.35&#181 process is more than 300. isdmag.com Also there is some debate about whether mix and match will work since i-line systems may not be able to keep up with DUV systems. techweb.cmp.com Ideally, semiconductor makers want to hold down their capital costs by using the expensive UV step-and-scan systems to process only the critical layers and use existing i-line steppers for the larger number of non-critical layers. But unless the i-line tools have a comparable field size as the scanner, there is a "mix and mismatch" for making non-critical layers. Lastly, your estimate for DUV tool shipments for the next three years is 30% lower than the lowest estimate I've seen from research firms or major brokerages . Bob

To: Zeev Hed who wrote (11128)	12/7/1997 12:11:00 AM
From: ForYourEyesOnly	Respond to of 25960

Zeev, I would like this to be confirmed by the experts on the thread (where did they go?), but according to a slightly old article, the number of lithography steps per generation (DRAM) is as follows: 64Mb 23 steps 256Mb 24 steps 1Gb 26 steps Since the previous article I quoted is talking about devices that combine memory with logic on a single chip, I would expect even higher figures. Keep in mind that the total investment for the said fab is roughly $3.0 billion, so there will only be a few companies who can build these mega-fabs. We will certainly not have 1200 of them in the near future. I suggest you write to the "experts" for more info. Good luck... THC

To: Zeev Hed who wrote (11128)	12/11/1997 8:26:00 AM
From: BillyG	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 25960

Korean Electronic Giants Put Brake on Investments December 11, 1997 (SEOUL) -- Korea's leading technology investors, hit by the fallout from the country's financial crisis, are facing a severe setback in their march into global markets. Even as Korea's allies and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) begin to carry out an emergency transfusion of nearly US$60 billion in the world's largest bail out effort, Korean conglomerates, including major electronics makers, are putting a brake on their global investments. (see keyword) The future of several multi-billion-dollar, high-tech projects has been thrown into doubt. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. said an expansion at its Austin, TX, memory facility, which was scheduled to start production in December as part of a US$1.3 billion project, may be delayed. AST Research Inc., Samsung's PC unit based in Irvine, CA, launched a reorganization plan including a 37 percent cut in its 3,000-strong work force in a move to consolidate operations in North America, Europe and Asia. Samsung also is shelving a 450 million pound expansion plan at its northern England plant where it produces consumer electronics, including televisions and computer monitors. And the company's plan to invest some US$1.6 billion in China's electronics industry has been put under review. LG Electronics Inc. has put on hold the bulk of its US$2.85 billion investment project based in Wales. The company said its plan to build a US$2.25 billion semiconductor plant will be delayed. Hyundai Electronics Industries Co., Ltd. said part of its US$4 billion semiconductor plant in Scotland will be ready for production by the end of 1998, with the rest of the project put under examination due to volatile economic conditions at home. Daewoo Electronics Co., Ltd. is delaying plans to invest in three new French plants worth a total of 1.8 billion French francs. Daewoo announced the television components projects in the depressed northeastern Lorraine area in March. These are the most clear signs yet that many Korean conglomerates are slashing their global investment plans in the wake of the country's economic turmoil. Corporate financing and investment plans must now change according to drastic changes in Korea's economic situation. The country's financial markets are facing a melt down due to a massive credit crunch amid large-scale corporate failures. The Korean won has lost some 25 percent of its value against the U.S. dollar in 1997. Most Korean conglomerates are planning to slim down and focus their business lines to brace for economic hardships. The Samsung and Hyundai groups said they will cut their 1998 investment by at least 30 percent each. LG and Daewoo also are considering similar reductions in their worldwide investments in 1998. The Dongbu group, one of the country's major business conglomerates, has postponed its 2 trillion won semiconductor project. Dongbu said in early November that it will build a semiconductor manufacturing facility matching those of leading chip makers such as Samsung and LG in cooperation with IBM Corp. But its financing plan, which calls for massive loans from domestic and foreign financial institutions, has run into trouble, as the Korean crisis devastated investor confidence in Korean industry. Keyword: Korean companies' global investment Korean companies have been raising their stake in world markets aggressively in recent years, but the trend is changing as the country faces increasing economic difficulties. According to the central Bank of Korea, foreign direct investment projects newly launched by Korean companies in the first nine months of 1997 were worth a combined US$2.67 billion, down from US$2.89 billion a year earlier. The figure was US$3.93 billion for the whole of 1996, the largest ever in the history of Korean investment abroad. (return to news) (James Lim, Asia BizTech Correspondent) 204.252.70.41