New Company Expected To Launch in Third Quarter
Teaming up to fight the economy’s tough times — and sharpening AMD’s focus on its PC and server processor business — AMD and Fujitsu Limited have agreed to establish a new flash memory semiconductor company called FASL (Fujitsu AMD Semiconductor Limited) LLC.
The joint venture, to be based in Sunnyvale, Calif., with an office in Tokyo, is expected to have gross assets in excess of $2.5 billion and a global workforce of some 7,000 people. Pending regulatory and shareholder approval, it should begin operations in the third quarter of this year.
AMD, which will own a 60-percent interest in FASL LLC, will contribute its flash memory group, Submicron Development Center R&D; facility in Sunnyvale, and Fab 25 in Austin, Texas, along with flash memory assembly and test operations in Thailand, Malaysia, and China.
Fujitsu will own the other 40 percent, contributing its flash memory business division and assembly and test facilities in Malaysia. The partners will continue to share their 50-50 joint manufacturing venture, launched a decade ago in Aizu-Wakamatsu, Japan.
FASL LLC will sell flash memory products through both AMD and Fujitsu and their sales forces, under a brand name to be determined.