Most Viewed Articles for the Week of August 18, 2008, 2008

There were multiple research announcements this week that our readers couldn't get enough of. IBM announced a working 22 nm SRAM cell; Dow Corning introduced a TIM for use in Intel's latest mobile processor; Hitachi Global researchers, along with the U. of Wisconsin, applied a self-assembly approach to reduce write times for NIL templates; and Cornell researchers developed metals that self-assemble into nanostructures. Rounding out the week's Top 5 stories was a world record set in solar cell efficiency. More

Orders for Semi Equipment at Lowest Level Since 2003
Ann Steffora Mutschler, Senior Editor — Electronic News, 8/20/2008

SEMI predicted that things will turn up next year. "Factory utilization levels, unit demand growth and planned fab projects suggest that new investment activity will resume in 2009," said Dan Tracy, senior director of industry research and statistics at SEMI. More

Video-Game Market Semi Opportunities to Hit $12B in 2013
Suzanne Deffree, Managing Editor, News — Electronic News, 8/21/2008

The served available market for semiconductors in the video-game market will grow from $7.5B in 2008 to more than $12B by 2013, according to Databeans. The research included ARM-based processors, flash memory, battery management and analog wireless transceivers. More

iSuppli to NAND Market: Don't Count on Second-Half Revenue Growth
Suzanne Deffree, Managing Editor, News — Electronic News, 8/19/2008

"The flash industry is abuzz with talk about solid-state drives (SSDs) and other emerging applications that could drive new NAND demand," said Nam Hyung Kim, chief analyst and director at iSuppli. "However, none of these applications is expected to change the momentum of the NAND business anytime soon." More

Displays Going Down, Solar Up at Applied
David Lammers, News Editor — Semiconductor International, 8/13/2008

Applied Materials Inc. executives gave a mixed picture for the coming months, with display equipment orders expected to decline by 75% in the current quarter. CEO Mike Splinter said the fiscal third quarter was "the bottom of the trough" for wafer fab equipment. More

K&S to Acquire Orthodyne, Divest Wire Business
Business Wire, 7/31/2008

Kulicke & Soffa Industries entered into definitive agreements to acquire Orthodyne Electronics and sell the K&S wire business unit to W.C. Heraeus GmbH. More

KLA-Tencor to Acquire Vistec Inspection Unit
Business Wire, 7/30/2008

KLA-Tencor announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire the Microelectronic Inspection Equipment (MIE) business unit of Vistec Semiconductor Systems. More

Entegris to Acquire Poco Graphite for $158M
PrimeNewswire, 7/14/2008

Entegris Inc. will acquire privately held Poco Graphite Inc. in an all-cash transaction valued at $158M. More

Dow to Acquire Rohm and Haas in $19B Cash Deal
Ann Steffora Mutschler, Senior Editor — Electronic News, 7/10/2008

Marking what the Dow Chemical Co. said is a pivotal point in its transformation, the Midland, Mich.-based diversified chemical company said it will acquire Philadelphia-based semiconductor materials supplier Rohm and Haas for $78 per share in cash of Rohm and Haas's outstanding common stock, in a deal worth $18.8B. More

Hedge Fund Challenges Asyst Technologies
Business Wire, 6/25/2008

Asyst Technologies Inc. said that it has received notice from Riley Investment Partners Master Fund LP, a hedge fund, that Riley intends to nominate six directors for election at the company's 2008 annual meeting in an attempt to gain control of Asyst's Board of Directors. More

Axcelis, Sumitomo, TPG Capital Enter Confidentiality Agreement
PrimeNewswire, 6/6/2008

Axcelis Technologies Inc. said that it, Sumitomo Heavy Industries Ltd. and TPG Capital have entered into a confidentiality agreement with respect to merger discussions between the parties. More

Views on News: M&A Activity Picks Up in Downturn's Dog Days
David Lammers, News Editor — Semiconductor International, 8/11/2008

Mergers and acquisitions activity has picked up in the semiconductor equipment and materials industry in the past few months. Two of the biggest remain up in the air — the Applied/Francisco Partners bid to acquire ASMI, and the Sumitomo Heavy Industries attempt to acquire Axcelis Technologies. Blog