AMD-Fujitsu Joint Venture to Take on Intel in Flash Memory

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 2, 2003 - 3:25am.

Sunnyvale, Calif. -- Chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) has announced a joint venture with Japanese memory chipmaker Fujitsu, which will supply flash memory for use in cell phones and other devices. The new company, to be named FASL and based in Sunnyvale, Calif., will begin production in the third quarter and is expected to provide heavy competition for market-leader Intel. FASL, which will also have a Japanese headquarters in Tokyo, will have about 7,000 employees and a net book value of more than $2.5 billion. AMD will own 60 percent of the company, with Fujitsu owning the other 40 percent. The two companies have had a 50-50 manufacturing joint venture since 1993. http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/030331/315443_1.html