Micron And Intel Expand NAND Flash Memory Joint Venture

Intel's not only making mobile news this week at Mobile World Congress; it's also making memory news. The company, along with Micron Technology, announced today that the companies have entered into agreements to expand their NAND Flash memory joint venture relationship. The agreements, which are designed to improve the flexibility and efficiency of the joint venture, include a NAND Flash supply agreement for Micron to supply NAND products to Intel and agreements for certain joint venture assets to be sold to Micron. Under terms of the agreement, Intel is selling its stake in two wafer factories in exchange for approximately $600 million—the approximate book value of Intel’s share. Additionally, Intel will be receiving approximately half of the consideration in cash and the remaining amount will be deposited with Micron, which may be refunded or applied to Intel’s future purchases under the NAND Flash supply agreement. The agreements also extend the companies’ successful NAND Flash joint development program and expand it to include emerging memory technologies.

“Micron’s joint venture NAND development efforts with Intel are a model of innovation, productivity and effectiveness,” said Micron Chief Executive Officer Mark Durcan. “With IM Flash and its associated programs, our companies have become leaders in the NAND Flash arena. These new agreements build on that success.”


“The Intel-Micron partnership has created industry-leading NAND Flash memory technology and developed a robust global manufacturing network. The new NAND Flash supply agreement with Micron gives Intel better flexibility to meet growing demand for SSDs and other products,” said Robert Crooke, Corporate Vice President and General Manager of the Non-Volatile Memory Solutions Group, Intel.

While the pep talks are great, here's the real meat of it. With the agreements in place, Micron will increase its share of the overall NAND Flash output and optimize its global manufacturing network by purchasing the assets of IM Flash Singapore (IMFS) and the IM Flash Technologies (IMFT) assets in Manassas, Va. Micron has also agreed to supply Intel with NAND Flash memory from its facilities. The IMFT joint venture NAND manufacturing facility in Lehi, Utah, will continue to operate with minimal changes to its existing operations. The facility is currently in production on the companies’ industry-leading 20nm NAND Flash memory technology. The transaction is expected to close during the first half of this year, subject to certain conditions.

Flash memory may be an afterthought to many consumers, but a hiccup in supply sends everyone in the consumer supply chain scrambling. Here's to another beautiful friendship.