Manufacturing Capacity Expansion to Support Growth Expectations in
RFMD's Cellular and Multi-Market Product Groups
GREENSBORO, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 28, 2007--RF Micro
Devices, (NASDAQ: RFMD), a global leader in the design and manufacture
of high-performance radio systems and solutions for applications that
drive mobile communications, today announced plans to expand its
compound semiconductor manufacturing capacity to support growth
expectations in the Company's Cellular and Multi-Market product
groups.
RFMD(R) anticipates increased demand for its industry-leading
compound semiconductor process technologies as a result of favorable
market trends in the Company's primary markets. In the cellular
handset market, the increasing adoption of highly integrated,
multi-chip transmit modules and the migration to 3G multimode devices
are expected to drive increased demand for RFMD's GaAs pHEMT and
RFMD's GaAs HBT (both AlGaAs HBT and InGaP HBT). These favorable
market trends require greater quantities of compound semiconductor
content and are expected to underpin a five-year compound annual
growth rate of greater than 20% from 2007-2012 in the market for
cellular front ends. RFMD was recently recognized as the leading
manufacturer of cellular front ends.
Additionally, in markets served by RFMD's Multi-Market products
group, it is anticipated the migration to 802.11n (GaAs HBT and GaAs
pHEMT) and the increasing adoption of WiMAX (GaAs HBT and GaN) will be
among the primary drivers of increased compound semiconductor content
and accelerated market growth. RFMD's GaN process technology is
quickly being recognized as a superior process technology for
applications that require high power, linearity and bandwidth, as
compared to existing technologies, such as silicon LDMOS. RFMD is the
world's largest manufacturer of GaAs HBT and GaAs pHEMT, and the
Company is quickly ramping commercial production of its GaN process
technology.
Asif Anwar, Director of Strategy Analytics GaAs and Compound
Semiconductor Technologies (GaAs) service, said, "RFMD has
consistently been the world's largest supplier of GaAs devices for
several years as a result of its leadership in the cellular handset PA
space. The Company continues to move in line with the requirements of
the cellular handset market, and this will continue to drive the
volume at RFMD. RFMD has also developed a coherent multiple market
strategy to target higher value segments with the rollout of its GaN
and GaAs pHEMT technologies as well as the expansion of its IP and
product portfolios through the proposed Sirenza acquisition. This dual
'high volume-high value' strategy will help the Company remain at the
forefront of the compound semiconductor industry."
Bob Bruggeworth, president and CEO of RFMD, said, "The markets
served by RFMD are growing, and RFMD is growing its compound
semiconductor content within these markets. The addition of our third
fab will enable us to capture a greater percentage of this growth
while also reducing manufacturing costs and driving continued
improvement in operating profitability. Once complete, our third fab,
in conjunction with our second fab, will focus on high volume cellular
and WLAN front end products that utilize GaAs HBT and GaAs pHEMT. The
new fab will also provide capacity for the production of wafer-level
packaged SAW filters and the development of new, next-generation
process technologies that provide highly integrated front end
functionality. Our first fab will focus on high value multi-market
products that utilize specialty GaN, GaAs pHEMT and GaAs HBT
technologies."
RFMD is currently increasing its manufacturing levels of both GaAs
HBT and GaAs pHEMT in order to satisfy immediate forecasted demand.
About RFMD: RF Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ: RFMD) is a global
leader in the design and manufacture of high-performance radio systems
and solutions for applications that drive mobile communications.
RFMD's power amplifiers, transmit modules, cellular transceivers and
system-on-chip (SoC) solutions enable worldwide mobility, provide
enhanced connectivity and support advanced functionality in current-
and next-generation mobile handsets, cellular base stations, wireless
local area networks (WLANs) and global positioning systems (GPS).
Recognized for its diverse portfolio of state-of-the-art semiconductor
technologies and vast RF systems expertise, RFMD is a preferred
supplier enabling the world's leading mobile device manufacturers to
deliver advanced wireless capabilities that satisfy current and future
market demands.
Headquartered in Greensboro, N.C., RFMD is an ISO 9001- and ISO
14001-certified manufacturer with worldwide engineering, design, sales
and service facilities. RFMD is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select
Market under the symbol RFMD. For more information, please visit
RFMD's web site at www.rfmd.com.
This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within
the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements
include, but are not limited to, statements about our plans,
objectives, representations and contentions and are not historical
facts and typically are identified by use of terms such as "may,"
"will," "should," "could," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "believe,"
"estimate," "predict," "potential," "continue" and similar words,
although some forward-looking statements are expressed differently.
You should be aware that the forward-looking statements included
herein represent management's current judgment and expectations, but
our actual results, events and performance could differ materially
from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. We do
not intend to update any of these forward-looking statements or
publicly announce the results of any revisions to these
forward-looking statements, other than as is required under the
federal securities laws. RF Micro Devices' business is subject to
numerous risks and uncertainties, including variability in quarterly
operating results, the rate of growth and development of wireless
markets, risks associated with the operation of our wafer fabrication
facilities, molecular beam epitaxy facility, assembly facility and
test and tape and reel facilities, our ability to attract and retain
skilled personnel and develop leaders, variability in production
yields, our ability to reduce costs and improve gross margins by
implementing innovative technologies, our ability to bring new
products to market, our ability to adjust production capacity in a
timely fashion in response to changes in demand for our products,
dependence on a limited number of customers, and dependence on third
parties. These and other risks and uncertainties, which are described
in more detail in RF Micro Devices' most recent Annual Report on Form
10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, could cause
actual results and developments to be materially different from those
expressed or implied by any of these forward-looking statements.
RF MICRO DEVICES(R) and RFMD(R) are trademarks of RFMD, LLC. All
other trade names, trademarks and registered trademarks are the
property of their respective owners.
CONTACT: RF Micro Devices, Inc.
Dean Priddy, CFO, 336-678-7975
Doug DeLieto, VP, Investor Relations, 336-678-7968
Jerry Neal, Executive Vice President, 336-678-7001
SOURCE: RF Micro Devices, Inc.