>COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, January 6, 1998 Ramtron International Corporation
>(Nasdaq: RMTR) announced today an agreement with Asahi Chemical Industry
>CO., Ltd. to develop and manufacture Ramtron’s ferroelectric random access
>memory (FRAMÒ ). FRAM memory is a new generation memory technology developed
>and patented by Ramtron that merges the benefits of many memory technologies
>into a single device. In addition, FRAM memory saves its data even when
>power is lost or removed.
>Under the terms of the agreement, the companies will initially define and
>develop a prototype embedded FRAM integrated circuit (IC). Upon successful
>completion of the initial phase, Ramtron and Asahi plan to establish a FRAM
>memory manufacturing capability at Asahi or its subsidiary. At that time,
>Asahi has an option to obtain a FRAM memory license from Ramtron for product
>densities up to 64 kilobit. The agreement also provides for certain future
>royalty and manufacturing capacity considerations to Ramtron.
>"We are pleased to begin work with Asahi to advance FRAM technology in
>embedded IC applications," said Greg Jones, Ramtron’s president and COO.
>"Asahi leads the industry in several technologies for communications and
>multimedia solutions. This cooperation provides our companies with avenues
>to bring new feature-rich solutions to these applications."
>FRAM memory products are ideal for application in a wide variety of
>products, including consumer electronics, industrial control systems,
>medical electronics, and portable computing systems among others. In
>addition, FRAM memory has unique benefits in rapidly emerging RF/ID and
>smart card applications. Due to the broad feature set offered by FRAM
>memory, the available market for FRAM memory products is expected to grow to
>more than $10 billion by the year 2000.
>In addition to Asahi, Ramtron has FRAM licensing and manufacturing
>agreements with top semiconductor producers including Hitachi, Rohm, and
>Toshiba and Fujitsu. The agreements provide for royalty considerations, and
>manufacturing capacity that can be utilized by Ramtron to develop its own
>product business. The company also has licensing and/or development
>agreements with Samsung and SGS-Thomson.
>Asahi Chemical, established in 1931, is a global company with major
>operations in chemicals, plastics, construction materials, housing,
>semiconductors and electronic materials, pharmaceuticals and medical
>equipment, and food and beverages. Asahi Chemical’s LSI semiconductor
>business is primarily comprised of custom devices for mobile
>telecommunications and application specific standard products. The
>semiconductor business entered full operation in 1993 with the completion of
>an LSI manufacturing plant in Nobeoka, Miyazaki Prefecture. Asahi’s strategy
>is to continue to develop operations in pharmaceuticals and
>electronics-related products as major areas for future growth. Asahi employs
>more than 27,000 people worldwide and had 1997 revenue in excess of $9
>billion.
>Ramtron is the leading developer of ferroelectric random access memory
>(FRAMâ ) products -- new high-performance nonvolatile memories that merge
>the benefits of many mainstream memory technologies into a single device.
>The company also develops and markets ultra-high performance EDRAM memory
>products through its wholly owned subsidiary, Enhanced Memory Systems, Inc.