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Toshiba, Sony, and SCEI outline new joint venture for manufacturing high-performance semiconductors
February 20, 2008
Toshiba Corporation
Sony Corporation
Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Toshiba, Sony, and SCEI outline new joint venture
for manufacturing high-performance semiconductors
Tokyo, Japan, February 20, 2008 — Toshiba Corporation (Toshiba), Sony
Corporation (Sony) and Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) today announced
that they have signed a definitive agreement to form a new joint venture among the
companies for the production of high-performance semiconductors, including
products for SCEI’s PlayStation computer entertainment systems. Toshiba, Sony and
SCEI started discussing the possibility of entering into a joint venture last year, and
today’s agreement follows an October 18, 2007 memorandum of understanding
between the parties.
Under the terms of the definitive agreement, the joint venture, to be named at a later
date, will start operation from April 1, 2008 in Nagasaki Technology Center of Sony
Semiconductor Kyushu Corporation (SCK). It will be 60% owned by Toshiba, and
Sony and SCEI will each take a 20% stake. Within the fiscal year ending March 31,
2008, Toshiba will acquire from Sony and SCK for approximately 90 billion yen, the
300mm wafer line installed in SCK’s Nagasaki Technology Center Fab2, with the
exception of some equipment, and plans to make it available to the joint venture at
the start of operation. Details of the operation including administrative and operation
organization will be finalized by the start-up date.
Semiconductors to be manufactured by the joint venture include the “Cell
Broadband EngineTM” (Cell/B.E.) processor, the “RSX” graphics engine and other
high-performance semiconductors for Sony Group, as well as Toshiba’s leading edge
SoCs (System on Chip) for applications in digital consumer products.
Manufacturing will start with 65nm process, and the joint venture will promote
migration to 45nm process mass production, in cooperation with Toshiba’s system
LSI manufacturing operation in Oita, while also working to achieve advances in
manufacturing technologies and efficiencies.
| Outline of Joint Venture |
| Company name: |
To be determined (at a later date) |
| Start of Operation: |
April 1, 2008 (scheduled) |
| Location: |
6-30 Tsukuba-machi, Isahaya-city, Nagasaki, Japan |
| Capitalization: |
100 million yen |
| Ownership: |
60% Toshiba, 20% Sony, 20% SCEI |
| Representation: |
To be determined (Chairman and CEO to be appointed by
Toshiba, President and COO to be appointed by Sony) |
| Business: |
Manufacture of high-performance semiconductors, including
Cell/B.E., RSX graphic engine, and Toshiba’s leading edge
SoCs for applications in digital consumer products. |
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