Posted on Friday, September 05 2008 @ 2:13 CEST by Thomas De Maesschalck
X-bit Labs
heard AMD is expected to unveil details of its "asset smart" strategy later this month. AMD hasn't unveiled much about their asset smart plan yet but analysts believe the core of the strategy is spinning off Fab 36 and Fab 38 into a separate company that may receive funding from a Middle East investment group.
The best kept and the most discussed secret of Advanced Micro Devices in the recent couple of years is AMD’s so-called “asset smart” strategy. The company has been telling analysts and investors that the strategy will be deployed in future, but did not reveal any details about the initiative. However, it is widely believed that the core of the strategy is spinning off the manufacturing fabs – Fab 36 and Fab 38 – into a separate company, which would reduce AMD’s capital expenditures on advanced equipment and development of fabrication processes.
John Lau, an analyst with Jefferies & Co., reportedly wrote in an investment note that his checks with “computer industry sources indicate that AMD could announce its reorganization plan in two weeks”, reports Austin American Statesman. According to Mr. Lau, the factories in Dresden, Germany “may be spun off into a separate company”, which will make chips for AMD as well as third-parties. According to the analyst, “a Middle East investment group may acquire a large position in the new foundry and fund its purchase with cash”, although, no actual details were given, it should be kept in mind that United Arab Emirates-based Mubadala Investment acquired 8.1% stake in AMD.
