March 4, 2002 – South Portland, ME – Fairchild Semiconductor International has begun construction on a new 800,000 square foot manufacturing and automated warehouse facility in Suzhou, China.

China is the cornerstone of Fairchild’s expansion plans for Asia, and the company expects to more than double sales in China by 2004. Fairchild plans to expand alliances with design houses to develop systems reference designs; increase market penetration in high-growth market sectors; realign product line resources to focus on China; and launch leading edge products for target segments.

“Power components are a key business opportunity in China and demand has been strongest for our power analog and power discrete products, especially the low voltage power MOSFETs in advanced surface mount packages,” said Kirk Pond, president, CEO, and chairman of Fairchild Semiconductor.

Fairchild has identified 10 key markets segments that will drive growth in China. Key applications are home appliances, monitors, audio/video, charger/adaptor, power supplies, telecom infrastructure, PDAs, color TVs, mobiles phones, and PCs.

The Suzhou plant will be an assembly and test facility that will manufacture a broad range of logic, discrete, and analog products. The factory will produce products for both the local China market and for export to the rest of Asia, Europe, and the Americas.

This is the first factory completely constructed by Fairchild since becoming an independent entity almost five years ago. Fairchild intends to continue expanding in China.