>>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.