JAZZ SEMICONDUCTOR ENTERS HUA HONG NEC JOINT VENTURE
Independent Analog and RF Foundry Expands Global Presence
with Second Major China Venture in Nine Months
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Oct. 20, 2003 -- Jazz Semiconductor, today announced a
joint venture with China’s Hua Hong Group, establishing an ownership position in the
on-going Hua Hong NEC (HHNEC) joint venture. This marks a key milestone in Jazz’s
efforts to increase its leadership position in the analog and radio frequency (RF)
wafer foundry market. Jazz Semiconductor holds an equity stake and board seat in
HHNEC, which was established in 1997. HHNEC is located in Shanghai’s Pudong
area and was Mainland China’s first 200mm wafer fab.
Founded 18 months ago, Jazz Semiconductor is a leader in supporting the
semiconductor industry’s drive toward a fabless model for digital,
analog and RF applications. The joint venture with HHNEC significantly
increases current Jazz capacity for digital, analog and RF CMOS processes as
well as Silicon Germanium Bi-CMOS.
In January 2003, the company announced its manufacturing partnership with
Shanghai-based Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (ASMC) resulting
in the first SiGe BiCMOS foundry in China. The ASMC manufacturing venture
and HHNEC joint venture provide Jazz with significantly increased capacity,
cost-effective copy exact sourcing, differentiated process technologies and
expert engineering services.
"Our expanded capacity now positions Jazz to handle the aggressive growth forecasts
made by participants in the wireless and analog market segments," said Shu Li,
president and CEO of Jazz Semiconductor. "The analog and RF designs on which
we focus are at the heart of some of the leading technologies being deployed today
including consumer electronics, wireless communications, and personal
computer applications."
A pure play IC foundry servicing over 50 customers, HHNEC has a strong presence in
communications, consumer and computer applications including smart/SIM cards, display
drivers, and digital still cameras. HHNEC has a production capacity of 32,000 wafers per month
and plans to expand capacity to 42,000 wafers per month in 2004. In addition, the foundry has
sufficient space at its current site to add an additional clean room facility and double its
42,000 wafers per month planned capacity.
"HHNEC is a leader in China’s wafer manufacturing market. Through this
partnership with Jazz Semiconductor, HHNEC can further extend its exposure in the wireless
communication sector and maintain its position as a leader in China’s
foundry industry," said Fang Peiqi, President of Shanghai Hua Hong Group.
"We aim to offer everything customers expect in terms of consistency of delivery,
quality, competitive pricing and differentiating technology. The combination of
HHNEC’s operational expertise and engineering talent, together with our three
generations of advanced RF and SiGe BiCMOS technology enhances our position as a
provider of specialty wafer foundry services," summarized Li.
Jazz continues to grow engineering and operations staff in its Newport Beach, California
facility. Driven by Jazz’s expansion into China, the company has hired
over 100 additional engineering and manufacturing personnel at the Orange County
location since its formation last year.
About Jazz Semiconductor
Jazz Semiconductor is an independent semiconductor wafer foundry that specializes in
mixed-signal and radio frequency (RF) technologies for use in wireless communications,
optical networking, power management and other ultra-high performance applications.
The company, based in Newport Beach, California, was founded in March of 2002 as a
privately held company with the Carlyle Group as the majority shareholder.
Jazz expands on the offerings of a traditional pure play foundry by focusing on
mixed signal and RF technology processes, design platforms, and experienced
engineering support. To learn more, visit
www.jazzsemi.com.
Jazz Contact
Jeff McHenry
Executive Director, Marketing.
(949) 435-8245
jeff.mchenry@jazzsemi.com
Jazz Media Contact
Kerry Fedro
(949) 453-8080
kerry@lages.com
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