News

posted on 23 April 2008 09:05

Micron has poached Nanya from the arms of Qimonda. The two are setting up a joint venture, funded to the tune of $1.1 billion, to make DRAM chips.

The current Nanya-Qimonda technology patnership to make DRAM chips won't be renewed. Micron-Nanya will invest the $1.1 billion in their MeiYa Technology Corporation joint venture in Taiwan towards the end of next year. The two are equal partners and they will refit an existing Nanya foundry in Taiwan. They will equip it to make 300mm wafers and intend to develop a sub-50nm process for chip manufacturing.

The Nanya-Quimonda partnership will end when both companies can make 50nm DRAM chips.

Qimonda is the chip part of Infineon which exited the DRAM business after heavy fines were imposed on it. It now looks as if Qimonda has a somewhat limited future. Perhaps it's worth knocking on Elpida's door. Inotera Memories is the Nanya-Qimonda JV and that looks as if it could simply go out of business.

Infineon still owns Qimonda but has classified its investment as 'Held for sale', signalling its intention to sell Qimonda. Because of this Qimonda will write off goodwill amounting to 61 million euros (as of March 31, 2008). It had sales of 3.61 billion euros in its fy 2007, and employs 13,500 people in five manufacturing plants and its offices.

^{[Chris Mellor.]}