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MagnaChip and AnalogicTech Implement New ModularBCD(TM) Process Technology

Posted on: Monday, 7 November 2005, 06:00 CST

SEOUL, Korea and SUNNYVALE, Calif., Nov. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- MagnaChip Semiconductor, Ltd. (MagnaChip), a leading worldwide semiconductor foundry, and Advanced Analogic Technologies Incorporated (AnalogicTech) , a developer of power management semiconductors for mobile consumer electronic devices, today announced the installation of AnalogicTech's proprietary 0.35-micron multi-voltage mixed-signal ModularBCD process technology in MagnaChip's advanced 200-mm submicron fabrication facilities in South Korea.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050829/SFTU089LOGO )

AnalogicTech will produce its next-generation power management integrated circuits using ModularBCD wafers manufactured in MagnaChip's high-volume wafer-fab facilities. Volume production is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2006. The ModularBCD devices -- boasting higher efficiency, smaller size, new features, and higher levels of integration than present solutions -- are designed to manage power and extend battery life in mobile consumer electronic products such as cell phones, portable media players, tablet and laptop computers, and digital cameras.

Rather than adapting aging linear-IC legacy fabs or generic digital CMOS foundry processes, ModularBCD represents the first of a new generation of analog, power, and mixed-signal IC technologies especially created for high-tech wafer fabrication and well suited for manufacture in ex-DRAM fabs. By monolithically integrating fully-isolated CMOS at 3V, 5V, and 12V with high-speed complementary bipolar transistors and robust 30V DMOS power devices without the need for expensive processes (such as epitaxy or high-temperature diffusion), single-chip mixed-signal and system ICs become technically and economically feasible. As a result, ModularBCD ICs benefit from higher integration, improved noise immunity, and enhanced circuit reuse.

MagnaChip to Fabricate ModularBCD Wafers

In addition to manufacturing for AnalogicTech, MagnaChip is licensed to produce ModularBCD wafers for products that do not compete directly with AnalogicTech's power management offerings. Applications that may benefit from ModularBCD technology include motor drivers, data converters, line drivers, display drivers, automotive ICs, mechatronics, analog IC standard products, and various mixed-signal applications. The innovative process technology helps MagnaChip to productively utilize existing facilities previously used to manufacture complex high-density DRAMs.

"This agreement with AnalogicTech is inline with our strategy to specialize our foundry services in the high-voltage, power, and mixed-signal IC markets, while expanding our existing business portfolio in analog semiconductors," said Channy Lee, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Semiconductor Manufacturing Services at MagnaChip. "Our cost-efficient business model and advanced manufacturing services in specialized technology will help our valued customers expand and differentiate their product portfolio in today's competitive IC market."

"Our long-standing partnership with MagnaChip enables us to capitalize on the benefits of our ModularBCD platform in high-volume production with a world leader in semiconductor manufacturing," said Richard K. Williams, President, CEO, and CTO for AnalogicTech. "We are excited to see its commercialization and we are committed to supporting MagnaChip's deployment of the technology into the broader semiconductor market."

About MagnaChip Semiconductor

MagnaChip Semiconductor is a leading designer, developer and manufacturer of mixed-signal and digital multimedia semiconductors addressing the convergence of consumer electronics and communications devices. MagnaChip provides wafer foundry services utilizing CMOS high voltage, embedded memory, analog and power process technologies for the manufacture of IC's for customer-owned designs. We also focus on CMOS image sensors and flat panel display drivers, which are complex, high performance, mixed-signal semiconductors that capture images and enable and enhance the features and capabilities of both small and large flat panel displays. MagnaChip has world- class manufacturing capabilities and an extensive portfolio of approximately 12,500 registered and pending patents. As a result, MagnaChip is a valued partner in providing leading technology solutions to its customers worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.magnachip.com/.

About AnalogicTech

Advanced Analogic Technologies Incorporated (AnalogicTech) is a supplier of power management semiconductors for mobile consumer electronic devices, such as wireless handsets, notebook and tablet computers, smartphones, digital cameras, and digital audio players. The company focuses its design and marketing efforts on the application-specific power management needs of consumer, communications, and computing applications in these rapidly evolving devices. AnalogicTech is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, with offices in Beijing, Hong Kong, Japan, Shanghai, Shenzhen, South Korea, Sweden, and Taiwan, as well as a worldwide network of sales representatives and distributors. For more information, please visit the AnalogicTech website: http://www.analogictech.com/. (AnalogicTech - G)

"Safe Harbor" Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

Statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements, as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements, including financial projections and forecasts, involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations. Factors that could cause results to differ materially from those set forth in these forward-looking statements include customers' cancellation or modification of their orders; our failure to accurately forecast demand for our products; the loss of, or a significant reduction in orders from, any of our significant customers; fluctuations in our operating results; our inability to develop and sell new products; defects in or failures of our products; the expense and uncertainty involved in our customer design-win efforts; the financial viability of the distributors of our products; consumer demand for cellular phones and other mobile consumer electronic devices; worldwide economic and political conditions, particularly in Asia; fluctuations in our costs to manufacture our products; our reliance on third parties to manufacture, test, assemble and ship our products; our ability to retain and attract key personnel; our ability to compete with our competitors; and our ability to protect our intellectual property rights and not infringe the intellectual property rights of others. Other factors that may cause our actual results to differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements contained in this press release and that may affect our prospects in general are described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including AnalogicTech's Registration Statement on Form S-1 related to our initial public offering. The companies undertake no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or changed assumptions or circumstances.

NOTE: MagnaChip and the MagnaChip logo are trademarks of MagnaChip Semiconductor Ltd. AnalogicTech and the AnalogicTech logo are trademarks of Advanced Analogic Technologies Incorporated. All other brand and product names appearing in this document are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective holders.

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Advanced Analogic Technologies Incorporated

CONTACT: Korea, Youngjae Chang, PR Manager of MagnaChip Semiconductor,Ltd., +82-2-3459-3182, or youngjae.chang@magnachip.com; or U.S., DavidPasquale, EVP of The Ruth Group, +1-646-536-7006, ordpasquale@theruthgroup.com, for MagnaChip Semiconductor, Ltd.; or Erik Ogrenof Advanced Analogic Technologies Incorporated, +1-408-737-4600, orerikogren@analogictech.com; or Matthew Quint of Quint Public Relations,+1-650-599-9450, or mquint@quintpr.com, for Advanced Analogic TechnologiesIncorporated

Web site: http://www.analogictech.com/

Source: PRNewswire-FirstCall

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