No consolidation talks, says Winbond

TAIPEI: Clearing the air of rumours that there exited a possibility of consolidation between companies in the DRAM makers horizon, Winbond Electronics has clarified that it has not yet been approached about participating in either Taiwan Memory Company (TMC) or the Micron-Nanya camp.

Wnbond chairman Arthur Chiao told DigiTimes that the company is in fact looking at phasing out standard DRAM production. The talks comes close on the heels of a recent recovery in DRAM prices.

Pointing out that struggling chipmakers are now more capable of raising funds,

Chiao said that there is no doubt that such a situation has contributed to some improvement in circumstances, which are very different from the severe conditions a year ago.

Meanwhile, the recovery in prices not withstanding, Winbond still holds its ultimate goal to exit the standard DRAM sector. The company is said to be lining up plans to switch focus to the niche memory segment. Market analysts believe that the company might go in for a transformation in the product mix. It ay be recalled that Taiwan Memory Company had in August submitted an application to Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs seeking government funding. The Micron-Nanya alliance is also seeking to tap funds from Taiwan's government. Chiao’s statements assumes significance in such a scenario.