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

To: Ian@SI who wrote (25687)	10/23/1998 3:06:00 PM
From: Katherine Derbyshire	Respond to of 70976

Yes, although KLAC hasn't so far shown a great deal of interest in in-tool measurement. However, one of KLAC's greatest yield mgmt strengths is that they have lots and lots of information about how different tools and combinations of tools behave in different processes. As an independent metrology company, they can work fairly closely with any of the process tool companies to solve specific yield problems. (That's not my opinion, BTW, it's the KLAC corporate line.) Now suppose KLAC buys LRCX, and a customer has a yield problem that's traced to a beta version of an AMAT etch tool. The customer's NDA probably prohibits him from letting a competitor anywhere near the AMAT tool for any reason. So he turns to someone other than KLAC for yield management help. Or, suppose a customer wants to conduct a benchmark study comparing several different tools. If KLAC is also one of the tool vendors, is KLAC going to get the consulting contract to set up the study? I don't think so. Yes, I can certainly see partnerships and joint ventures and CRADAs between KLAC and tool companies, but I really don't see the advantages of an outright acquisition. Katherine