November 16, 2004 – The Export-Import Bank of the US (Ex-Im Bank) has approved a $652 million loan guarantee to support the export of US equipment and services to build a new silicon wafer fabrication facility in Singapore specializing in ASICs.

Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing will use the equipment and services to build Phase 1 of Fab 7, which is expected to produce 15,000 300mm silicon wafers/month using 90nm technology.

US suppliers on the export sale include Applied Materials Inc., Asyst Technologies Inc., Axcelis Technologies Inc., FEI Company, FSI International Inc., KLA-Tencor Corp., LAM Research Corp., Mattson Technology Inc., Novellus Systems Inc., SCP Global Sales Inc., Thermawave Inc., and Varian Semiconductor Equipment Assn. In addition to equipment, the US companies will supply installation and qualification services.

“It is important for Ex-Im Bank to help US manufacturers of high-technology equipment to remain competitive in key markets,” said Ex-Im Bank chairman Philip Merrill. “This transaction will create and sustain high-quality jobs at Applied Materials and many US sub-suppliers.”

The guaranteed lender on the transaction is J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, New York, NY. Ex-Im Bank this year marks its 71st year of helping finance the sale of US exports, primarily to emerging markets throughout the world, by providing loan guarantees, export credit insurance, and direct loans.