STMicroelectronics
www.st.com
STMicroelectronics
www.st.com
STMicroelectronics is a global independent semiconductor company and is a leader in
developing and delivering semiconductor solutions across the spectrum of
microelectronics applications. An unrivaled combination of silicon and system expertise,
manufacturing strength, Intellectual Property (IP) portfolio and strategic partners positions
the Company at the forefront of System-on-Chip (SoC) technology and its products play a key role in enabling
today's convergence trends.
ST is one of the world's largest semiconductor companies. In 2004, ST's net
revenues were US$8,760 million and net earnings were US$601 million.
According to the most recent data from independent sources, ST is the world's
leading supplier of application-specific analog ICs overall with number one rankings
in various segments within this field, including wireless ASICs, computer peripheral
ASICs and automotive ASSPs. ST is also the leader in MPEG-2 decoder ICs,
and ASICs/ASSPs overall, including a number one position in digital consumer ASSPs.
Additionally, ST is ranked at number two for discrete products, and in
the memory market, ST is ranked third in NOR Flash ICs.
In application segments overall: ST is number one for ICs in set-top boxes;
at number two in smart cards, at number three in automotive; and at number four in wireless.
The Company's products are manufactured and designed using a broad range of
fabrication processes and proprietary design methods. To complement this depth and
diversity of process and design technology, the Company also possesses a broad intellectual
property portfolio that it has used to enter into cross-licensing agreements with many other
leading semiconductor manufacturers.
ST has developed a worldwide network of strategic alliances, including
product development with key customers, technology development with customers and
other semiconductor manufacturers, and equipment and CAD development alliances with
major suppliers. By augmenting its rich portfolio of proprietary technologies and core
competencies with complementary expertise from a variety of carefully
chosen trategic partners, ST has developed an unsurpassed capability to
offer leading-edge solutions to customers in all segments of the electronics industry.
The Company currently offers over 3,000 main types of products to
more than 1,500 customers, including Alcatel, Bosch, DaimlerChrysler,
Ford, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Motorola, Nokia, Nortel Networks, Philips, Seagate Technology,
Siemens, Sony, Thomson and Western Digital. Approximately two-thirds of
ST's revenue is derived from differentiated products, a combination of dedicated,
semi-custom and programmable products designed to suit a specific customer or a specific
application and therefore having a high system content.
ST Diversified Customer base
This result reflects ST's exceptionally early recognition of the importance
of system-on-chip technology, which is key for addressing the fast growing market
for convergence products, and the success of the strategies it developed to ensure
its leading position in this key emerging field.
The ST group was formed in June 1987 as a result of the merger between
SGS Microelettronica of Italy and Thomson Semiconducteurs of France.
In May 1998, the company changed its name from SGS-THOMSON Microelectronics to STMicroelectronics.
Since its formation, the Company has significantly broadened and upgraded
its range of products and technologies and has strengthened
its manufacturing and distribution capabilities in Europe, North America, and the Asia
Pacific region. This capacity expansion is an ongoing process with the
upgrading of existing facilities and the creation of new 8-inch,
sub-micron fabs around the world. ST currently has six 8-inch fabs in operation in: Rousset
(France); Agrate Brianza, R2 (Italy); Crolles (France); Phoenix (Arizona); Catania (Italy);
and Singapore. Furthermore, a new 12-inch manufacturing facility is currently under construction in
Catania; and the company is now ramping up production from a 12-inch
pilot line called Crolles2, in partnership with Philips and Freescale Semiconductor.
The Crolles2 operation is also host to the joint development program between the three
companies to develop leading-edge CMOS process technology down to the 32nm node,
in conjunction with TSMC for process alignment.
ST Global manufacturing infrastructure
The group totals close to 50,000 employees, 16 advanced research and development units,
39 design and application centers, 16 main manufacturing sites and 78 sales offices in 36 countries.
ST Global Information
Corporate Headquarters, as well as the headquarters for Europe and for
Emerging Markets, are in Geneva. The Company's U.S. Headquarters are
in Carrollton (Dallas, Texas); those for Asia/Pacific are based in Singapore;
and Japanese operations are headquartered in Tokyo.
To guarantee continued technological development and consistently offer customers
true leading-edge products, ST each year invests a significant proportion of
its sales in R&D and capital expenditures. ST has maintained an average R&D
spend of close to 17% of revenue over the last three years, and an average
of more than 15% of revenue from the date of the company's creation. In 2004,
ST spent US$1,532 million in R&D, or 17.5% of its net revenues. Additionally, ST filed
711 patent applications in 2004, maintaining its track record as one
of the industry's most prolific inventors. The new inventions protected with these filings
covered a wide range of technologies, products and applications, in line with
the broad range supplier mission of the Company. ST is also active in numerous
collaborative research projects worldwide as well as playing a key role in Europe's
advanced technology research programs such as MEDEA+, and its predecessors, MEDEA and JESSI.
ST's technical, marketing and manufacturing strengths are matched and further enhanced by
an unswerving commitment to Total Quality and Environmental Management (TQEM) that has earned
prestigious awards around the world. Since 1991, the Company's
sites have received more than 70 awards, of which more than 40 were for environmental issues.
In addition to ST's previous honors for quality over the last few years -
which include the Malaysian Prime Minister Quality Award, the Malta Quality Award and
the European Quality Award - STMicroelectronics Asia Pacific was the winner of the 1999 Singapore
Quality Award for Business Excellence; and the Company's US subsidiary
STMicroelectronics Inc, was awarded the 1999 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award,
the highest level of national recognition for quality that a US company can
receive. And in 2000, ST's Moroccan operations received the Morocco National Quality Award.
ST's commitment to environmental responsibility has resulted in substantial reductions
in the consumption of energy, water, paper and hazardous chemicals,
increased recycling of waste products and a significant cut in CO2 emissions.
In 1999, ST received the United States Environmental Protection Agency's Climate Protection Award for
its outstanding accomplishments in protecting the Earth's climate. In 2000,
ST was ranked first in environmental management among 14 semiconductor companies by Innovest Strategic
Value Advisors and received the only AAA ranking in eco-efficiency.
Also in 2002, ST received the Seal of Sustainability from the Sustainable Business Institute
and ST's back-end Malta plant received the Management Award for Sustainable Development as
part of the European Awards for the Environment 2002, organized by the European Commission
Directorate-General Environment. And most recently, ST was awarded the
'Best Industrial Renewable Energy Partnership' as part of the European Commission's
'Campaign for Take-Off for Renewable Energy Awards 2003'.
Since December 8, 1994, when ST completed its initial public offering,
the Company has been quoted on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: STM)
and on Euronext Paris, and since June 1998 also listed in Milan on Borsa
Italiana. The Company has around 900 million outstanding shares, approximately
65% of which are publicly traded on the various stock exchanges. The balance of
the shares is held by
STMicroelectronics Holding II B.V., a company whose shareholders are
Finmeccanica and Cassa Depositi e Prestiti of Italy and a French
consortium comprising Areva and France Telecom.
Last updated: 2005-06-29 12:40 - 0000