AMD May Seek Fab Partner

Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) may be looking for a partner to build a $3.2 billion microchip plant at Luther Forest Technology Campus in Malta, N.Y. in Saratoga County, the Albany Business Review and Times-Union newspapers reported this week.

They said two Citigroup analysts, Craig Ellis and Glen Yeung, wrote a 23-page in-depth report in which they said of AMD, "We suspect a partnership arrangement may ultimately result for the as-yet-to-be-built New York facility. Our understanding is that there are no restrictions on ownership to maintain all grants and subsidies."

AMD still has from July 2007 to July 2009 to decide whether to build the plant in Luther Forest, as part of its deal with New York state, which is providing $1.2 billion toward the project.

Travis Bullard of AMD said in the Business Review article that he didn't rule out the analysts' report but that it is an "educated guess."

The Citigroup analysis also said AMD plans to sell one of its two microchip plants in Dresden, Germany. Bullard said no decisions have been made about that plant, according to the Business Review.

See also: Chip Consortium Plans $600M UAlbany Expansion; AMD Plans New Plants