TECHNOLOGY - June 26, 1996

Chip Makers Plan $1.2-Billion Washington Plant: Plans call for the project, known as WaferTech, to be built by three U.S. companies in a joint venture with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., or TSMC, and other partners. TSMC will have a 57% interest, Analog Devices Inc. and Altera Corp. each will control 18%, Integrated Silicon Solutions Inc. will have 4%, and private investors will have 3%. The companies will put up about $670 million in cash and finance the remaining $530 million with notes issued by the venture, Altera spokesman Thomas Nicoletti said. The plant will be in Camas, Wash., and construction will start this summer. It will make 8-inch silicon wafers, used in the production of integrated circuits. It will employ about 800 when it begins production in the second quarter of 1998, the companies said.