Amkor to Open First Factory
in China
Will Provide Semiconductor Assembly and Test Service for Cell
Phone and PC Markets
CHANDLER, ARIZ., - Fresh on the heels of expanding
its microelectronic manufacturing services into the Japanese
semiconductor market, Amkor Technology, Inc., (Nasdaq ¨C
AMKR) has fulfilled another key strategic goal and will open
its first semiconductor assembly and test manufacturing facility
in China. Amkor¡¯s new facility will provide packaged
IC components for the Chinese cell phone, PC and laptop markets.
¡°Following the acquisition of the K1, 2 and 3 factories
last year, we have been focused on capitalizing on key strategic
opportunities,¡± said James Kim, Amkor¡¯s
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. ¡°Our landmark
transaction with Toshiba opened up the market for captive assembly
and test in Japan. Now, with this move into China, we recognize
the increasing role China plays in the global electronics industry.
We believe that having infrastructure in this rapidly growing
market will help Amkor maintain our position as the world leader
in contract microelectronics manufacturing.¡±
The China factory, which will deliver its first products in
the third quarter of 2001, is located in the Waigaogiao Free
Trade Zone, Pudong, Shanghai.
¡°Opening this facility allows Amkor to take its wide
portfolio of products and services to China, a country that
is becoming a major center for advanced microelectronics,¡±
said Amkor President John Boruch. ¡°It also signals
our commitment to diversify our operational base by expanding
into the growth areas of the industry. This is a major step
in our expansion strategy, which will see additional factories
in China within a short period.
¡°We are opening this facility on a fast track basis
to meet a customer¡¯s almost immediate requirement
for our products and services. And, we anticipate the need to
expand the facility to meet the market needs of other customers,
several of which have already inquired about assembly and test
availability,¡± Boruch said.
The 115,000-sq. ft. facility will initially produce components
for base band processors and controllers, but will be expanded
to include components for other telecom and computer products
produced by Amkor customers that either have, or plan, regional
operations in China. These IC packages include components for
SRAM and flash memory, power controllers, RF power amplifiers
and graphic chip sets, among others.
The Waigaogiao Free Trade Zone already houses several major
semiconductor manufacturing companies, including IBM, Intel,
Hewlett Packard, Philips, Texas Instruments, Cisco, Lucent and
others.
¡°Locating in the Waigaogiao Free Trade Zone near
a cluster of our top customers gives us a significant advantage
in rapidly expanding our China business,¡± said
Gary Breton, Amkor Senior Vice President for Operations in the
region. ¡°This high tech park provides excellent assistance
from local authorities for licensing, taxation and customs issues.¡±
Amkor will install equipment from its manufacturing facilities
in Korea and the Philippines into a newly built shell facility
to reach early production goals. The company initially will
use experienced engineers and technicians from its existing
facilities to ensure a rapid startup and to train locally hired
staff for continuing operations.
About Amkor Technology: Amkor Technology, Inc. is the world¡¯s
largest provider of contract microelectronics manufacturing
services. The company offers semiconductor companies and electronics
OEMs a complete set of microelectronic design and manufacturing
services, including deep sub-micron wafer fabrication; wafer
probe, wafer mapping, characterization and reliability testing;
IC packaging design and assembly; multi-chip module design and
assembly; and final testing. More information on Amkor is available
from the company¡¯s SEC filings and on Amkor¡¯s
web site: www.amkor.com.
Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains forward-looking
statements ¨C including (1) the China factory will deliver
its first products in the third quarter of 2001; (2) Amkor will
see additional factories in China within a short period; and
(3) we anticipate the need to expand the facility to meet the
market needs of other customers, several of which have already
inquired about assembly and test availability; - that involve
risk and uncertainty that could cause actual results to differ
from anticipated results. Information on risk factors that could
affect the outcome of events set forth in these statements and
that would affect the company¡¯s operating results
and financial condition is detailed in the company¡¯s
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including
the Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
1999.
Contact: Annie Ho
Always Communications
852-2855-7819
AnnieH@agrapha-group.com
Jeffrey Luth (VP Investor Relations)
Amkor Technology
1-(610) 431-9600 ext. 5613
jluth@amkor.com
Ken Jensen (Director Communications)
Amkor Technology
1-(480) 821-2408 ext. 5130
kjens@amkor.com