Press Releases

SMIC and Chartered announce alliance on 0.18-micron technology and capacity

21 Dec 2001

 
Shanghai,China  [2001-12-21]

Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC), China's first advanced open-IC foundry, and Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing (NASDAQ: CHRT and SGX-ST: Chartered), one of the world's top three silicon foundries, today announced they have entered into an alliance. Upon execution of the detailed agreements, SMIC will receive 0.18-micron baseline logic process technology transfer and be granted patent license rights from Chartered, as Chartered will receive an equity stake and access to capacity in SMIC. Financial terms were not disclosed.

"SMIC is very pleased to be partnering with Chartered, one of the top-tier foundries in the world," said Richard Chang, president and CEO of SMIC. "SMIC is committed to its technology development, and also jointly develops advanced technologies with our partners. Working with a proven technology leader like Chartered will enable us to move quickly along the learning curve. SMIC is well-positioned to complement leading-edge foundries like Chartered with additional, value-added capacity, and customers of both companies truly stand to benefit."

"This non-exclusive alliance is part of Chartered's long-term China strategy and marks another step into the world's fastest developing semiconductor market, where we have already been doing business for several years," said Barry Waite, president and CEO of Chartered. "Through this alliance with a leading start-up foundry in China, we can offer our customers - both within and outside China - access to indigenous capacity in the world's fastest-growing market, as a complement to leading-edge capacity at Chartered's fabs in Singapore."

SMIC recently entered into pilot production producing 8-inch wafers at 0.25-micron (and below) technology, and it is expected to reach full capacity producing 85,000 8-inch wafers per month by the end of 2004. SMIC devices in the initial production phase are expected to include SRAM, ASIC RAM, LOGIC, and other kinds of chips with applications in digital TV, VCD/DVD

players, mobile phone, smart IC cards, and other applications.

About SMIC
Established in April 2000, SMIC is a Cayman Islands Company with headquarters in Shanghai, China. SMIC offers leading technology, fast turnaround production and customizable outsourced semiconductor manufacturing services for major integrated device manufacturers, fabless design houses and system OEMs. SMIC's key services include IC design, mask shop, manufacturing, packaging, and testing, providing our customers with a one-stop full service solution. Pilot production has already begun in Fab 1 and volume output is expected by the beginning of 2002. Fab 2 is planned to begin equipment installation by August 2002 and commence pilot production by the end of 2002. For more information, please visit SMIC's website at www.smics.com.

About Chartered Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing is one of the world's top three silicon foundries. The Company's business model is distinguished by its strategy to build trusted long-term relationships, where manufacturing is part of a larger customer-service focus that includes joint development and implementation of new process technologies supporting novel applications within the broad communications market. Chartered operates five semiconductor fabrication facilities at its Singapore headquarters, with a substantially completed sixth fab that is in the process of being equipped as a 300mm facility.

A Company with both global presence and perspective, Chartered is traded on both the Nasdaq Stock Market in the United States (Nasdaq: CHRT) and on the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited in Singapore (SGX-ST: CHARTERED). The Company reported 2000 revenues of over US$1.1 billion. More than 4,300 Chartered employees are based at 12 locations around the world. Information about Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing can be found at www.charteredsemi.com.

Media Contacts: SMIC:
Joseph Xie (Shanghai)+86.21.50802000joseph_xie@smics.com Chartered Singapore:
Carolyn Lee (Singapore)+65.360.1701carolynlee@charteredsemi.com For

Chartered:
Laurie Stanley, Wired Island, Ltd+1.510.656.0999laurie@wiredisland.tc