Friday, October 23, 2009

Amkor Links With Japanese Firms On Joint Venture

Chandler, Arizona-based Amkor, a developer of wafer-level packaging and testing services for the semiconductor industry, is in a joint venture with two Japanese firms in Japan. According to Nakaya Microdevices Corporation, Amkor, and Toshiba, the three companies are in a definitive agreement to form a joint venture providing semiconductor assembly and testing services in Japan. The new venture--J-Devices Corporation-- will be 30% owned by Amkor, with 60% owned by NMD and 10% by Toshiba. Amkor said it will invest approximately $17M in the new joint venture, and purchase around $45M in assembly and test devices from Toshiba for the new venture. Amkor will have an option to acquire the majority interest in J-Devices in 2012.