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Technology Stocks : Dupont Photomasks (DPMI) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: D. K. G. who wrote (621)	5/18/1998 9:34:00 AM
From: D. K. G.	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 955

Trends that are increasing the demand for photomasks and the photomask industry's importance in the semiconductor manufacturing process: CUSTOMIZATION OF SEMICONDUCTOR DESIGNS. Growing demand for semiconductors, including application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), application specific standard products (ASSPs), embedded microcontrollers and a growing variety of memory products, has generated increasing demand for photomasks as each new type of semiconductor device requires additional new and often more advanced photomasks. INCREASING DEVICE COMPLEXITY. As the complexity of semiconductor devices has increased in response to continued efforts to improve the performance and functionality of these devices through greater transistor densities and smaller feature sizes, the number of successive layers of patterns required to manufacture an integrated circuit has increased, resulting in an increase in the number of photomasks used to manufacture that circuit. For example, the number of photomasks typically required for the manufacture of microprocessors in 1991 was 14 as compared to 25 photomasks now required for the most advanced generation of microprocessors. DECREASING SIZE OF SEMICONDUCTOR DESIGNS. The semiconductor industry's growth is driven by its ability to produce smaller and more powerful semiconductor chips at lower costs. As semiconductor line widths become as small as the wavelength of the illumination sources in optical lithography, the semiconductor manufacturing process becomes increasingly dependent upon high precision photomasks to deliver process results to more demanding specifications and tolerances. Future generations of wafer lithography equipment are expected to increase the need for high precision photomasks, thereby further increasing demand for advanced photomasks with tighter specifications. Development of increasingly small design features is likely to generate increased demand for advanced photomasks that can accurately and reliably replicate intricate design features. PROLIFERATION OF SEMICONDUCTOR APPLICATIONS. Semiconductor devices of all types are continuing to proliferate into new products, including cellular telephones, pagers, automobiles, medical products, household appliances and other consumer electronic products. In addition, the demand for semiconductor devices from traditional markets such as personal computers is growing significantly as semiconductor content in electronic systems increases and as personal computers expand further into homes and other new market segments. The Company believes that the proliferation of semiconductor applications will lead to an increase in semiconductor design activity and resulting demand for photomasks. The Company believes that all of these changes in the semiconductor industry are increasing the demand for, and the already important role of, photomasks, and driving the need for the continuing development of advanced photomasks. --------------------------------- A nice synopsis from SEC filling S-3 5/12/98 pg 22.

To: D. K. G. who wrote (621)	5/18/1998 9:41:00 AM
From: D. K. G.	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 955

FACILITIES FLOOR SPACE LOCATION IN SQUARE FEET TYPE OF INTEREST USE - -------------------------------- ----------------------- ---------------- ----------------- NORTH AMERICA Round Rock, Texas 54,000 Owned Photomasks Kokomo, Indiana 42,000 Owned Photomasks Santa Clara, California 38,000 Leased Photomasks Gresham, Oregon (under construction) Owned Photomasks Poughkeepsie, New York 23,000 Owned Photoblanks Danbury, Connecticut 55,000 Owned Pellicles Round Rock, Texas 17,000 Owned Research Round Rock, Texas 27,000 Owned Administration EUROPE Rousset, France 24,000 Leased Photomasks Hamburg, Germany 22,000 Leased Photomasks Hamilton, Scotland 15,000 Owned Photomasks ASIA Ichon, Korea 102,000 Owned Photomasks Shanghai, China 16,000 Jointly Owned Photomasks ------------------------------------------------------ The Singapore plant is not on the books yet nor the venture with UMC in Taiwan.