Dongbu Electronics Qualifies Toshiba 0.25-Micron Mixed-Signal CMOS Process in Record Time; Momentum Established to Make 0.18-Micron Process Available in October.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 5, 2001

Dongbu Electronics disclosed today that at the end of August, within just three and half months of incorporating Toshiba's advanced 0.25-micron mixed-signal CMOS process into its Class-1 wafer fab, it has succeeded in qualifying the process for production readiness. Dongbu's rapid qualification feat demonstrates the strong momentum that Korea's first and largest pure-play foundry has established as it drives to make its 0.18-micron process available for production in October.

Believed to set a record in the foundry industry, Dongbu's swift qualification encompassed comprehensive core analog process development in parallel with process integration resulting in successful device characterization.

"Our achievement is a great tribute to the excellent teamwork among our experienced technologists and with Toshiba, our technology partner, investor and customer," said Dr. Wesley Min, chief operating officer for Dongbu. "While our smooth and rapid qualification was impressive, equally significant were the exceptionally high yields we achieved on the initial wafer runs." According to Dr. Min, the wafers containing a mix of logic, analog and memory functions passed the industry-standard 1000-hour burn-in, and yet posted yields over 80 percent.

Commenting on Dongbu's qualification feat, Mr. Akio Takahashi, group manager for Toshiba's Logic Technology Transfer Group, said, "We are very pleased with Dongbu's rapid assimilation of our silicon-proven CMOS processes, and look forward to continued successes as Dongbu becomes a key foundry source for Toshiba as well as other semiconductor manufacturers worldwide."

In addition to investing $50 million in Dongbu, Toshiba has also licensed the Korean foundry to use its advanced 0.25, 0.18 and 0.13 micron CMOS wafer process technologies. Moreover, Dongbu has the rights to use Toshiba's cell library of analog, logic and I/O functions. With the qualification achievement announced today, Dongbu confirms that its Fab-1 facility is on track to ramp monthly production up to 45,000 wafers late next year. Fab-1 is the first wafer fab constructed on Dongbu's 250-acre campus, which can accommodate the construction of six additional wafer fabs to meet increasing future demand.

Dongbu Electronics

Dongbu Electronics is a privately held wafer foundry specializing in advanced CMOS processing for logic, mixed-signal, embedded flash and system-on-chip designs. With worldwide business development offices based in the Silicon Valley city of Mountain View, California, Dongbu operates a state-of-the-art pure-play foundry in Eumsung, Korea, near Seoul. Dongbu is a key global supplier within Korea's vibrant semiconductor manufacturing, test and assembly infrastructure. Major investors include Toshiba Corporation, the world's second largest semiconductor manufacturer, and the Dongbu Group, a multi-billion dollar industrial and financial conglomerate. For more information, visit www.dsemi.com.