Financial News
Record breaking 2011
THE SEMICONDUCTOR INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION (SIA) announced that worldwide semiconductor sales for 2011 reached a record $299.5 billion, a year- on-year increase of 0.4 percent from the $298.3 billion recorded in 2010. Worldwide semiconductor sales in December amounted to $23.8 billion, a decrease of 5.5 percent from the month prior. Fourth quarter sales of $71.5 billion represent a 7.7 percent decline from the immediate prior quarter, and a 5.3 percent decrease over the same period in 2010.
“Between the natural disasters in Japan and Thailand and the overall impact of a weak global economy, 2011 presented a number of challenges for the semiconductor industry. Despite these setbacks the industry showed resiliency and posted year-on-year growth with record-breaking revenues for 2011,” said Brian Toohey, president, Semiconductor Industry Association. In 2011 the industry saw strong demand in several areas; specifically the optoelectronic, sensor and actuator, and microprocessor markets showed solid year over year growth. Lamps and image sensors drove growth in the optoelectronic market to $23.1B, a 6.4% increase. Optoelectronic applications bring energy efficiency and low cost in a wide range of products including mobile devices and cameras.
Sensors and actuators, currently the smallest semiconductor market segment showed the highest year over year growth at 15.5% to $8.0B in 2011. Sensor technology which can be used to convert temperature, pressure or acceleration into electrical signals is growing as an application in consumer electronics, medical devices and automotive systems to improve safety and efficiency. An area of continued growth for sensors is in the application of MEMS, or microelectromechanical systems which are increasingly included in smartphones, tablets, digital cameras, and numerous other consumer electronic products. MOS Microprocessors, part of the
integrated circuit category, which are predominantly used in PCs and other
Soitec acquisition completion
SOITEC announced the successful completion of its acquisition of all of the outstanding shares composing the capital of Altatech Semiconductor S.A., a French company located in Montbonnot Saint Martin near Grenoble (« Altatech »), as announced at the end of 2011. The final purchase price was set to
15 million Euros. The acquisition was financed partly in cash and partly using Soitec stock, purchased by BNP Paribas Exane on the market under the share
buy-back program approved by the shareholders during the combined ordinary and extraordinary meetings held on June 24, 2011. Selling shareholders are bound by certain holding requirements for the portion of the purchase price to be paid in Soitec
stock.This acquisition will ensure Soitec a strategic access to specific equipments necessary to deliver its light-emitting diode (LED) strategy as well as to support Soitec’s new Plug&Sun™ stand-alone mini solar
tracker system manufacturing ramp up. Altatech Semiconductor was a privately held French company located in Montbonnot-Saint-Martin near Grenoble, France. Based on its advanced knowledge and experience in high-tech semiconductor production systems, Altatech, created in 2004 by a group of semiconductor professionals, currently develops highly efficient, cost- effective technologies and equipments for new applications in emerging markets.
devices that need processing capabilities also experienced year-over- year growth, with an increase of 7.5 percent in revenue to $65.2B making it the second largest semiconductor market segment for 2011, behind Logic. Strong demand in the enterprise computing segment drove microprocessor sales.
In 2012 the industry is expected to
experience recovery due to demand across a broad range of end market segments combined with the delayed sales impact from the supply chain disruptions in the second half of 2011. Several large semiconductor companies announced plans for new facilities and new R&D projects that will serve to fuel the industry’s long-term growth expectations.
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www.euroasiasemiconductor.com Issue I 2012
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