HYNIX gerettet? - 500 Beiträge pro Seite

[Handbuch]

Ist damit HYNIX über den Berg???

Wednesday October 31 11:10 AM ET
S. Korean Banks to Bail Out Hynix
By SANG-HUN CHOE, Associated Press Writer

SEOUL, South Korea (news - web sites) (AP) - Creditor banks agreed to a new bailout for the world`s third-largest computer memory chipmaker on Wednesday, promising to make $500 million in fresh loans and swap $3.1 billion in debt for equity to reduce the company`s interest payments.

For weeks, creditors of Hynix Semiconductor Inc. have been debating whether to provide a new bailout for the company, which has been foundering under heavy debt and low global chip prices.

They decided Wednesday to rescue Hynix again, and put together a new bailout package.

Six of Hynix`s 16 creditor banks will issue the new loans when the company calls for fresh cash, said Kim Kyong-rim, president of Korea Exchange Bank, a major creditor.

Eight other creditors promised to write off an unspecified amount of Hynix`s debt. Two banks refused to participate in the bailout, saying new loans would be a waste. The banks` names were not revealed.

``We hope and expect that this will be our last bailout for Hynix,`` Kim said during a briefing for reporters, repeating a statement creditor banks had used for earlier bailouts for the company.

Hynix, formerly Hyundai Electronic Industries, has been bailed out several times in the past year, swelling total debts to $8.5 billion.

In the past two months alone, Hynix`s stock price has dropped 31 percent.

The company`s troubles have been a burden on President Kim Dae-jung (news - web sites)`s government, which has been trying to reform its inefficient financial system by cleaning up bad loans - a result of big businesses` reckless expansion in the 1980s and early `90s.

Hynix accounts for 3.5 percent of South Korea`s exports, which totaled $172.3 billion in 2000.

The new bailout ``not only represents a strong commercial vote of confidence from the creditors, but also signifies a turning point in the normalization of management,`` Hynix said in a statement Wednesday.

Hynix`s future will largely depend on fluctuations in chip prices, experts say.

The company reported a net loss of 1.62 trillion won ($1.24 billion) in the third quarter, its biggest quarterly loss. It earned 66 billion won in the same period last year.

The United States and Japan have protested past bailouts for Hynix, arguing the aid violates World Trade Organization (news - web sites) rules. The South Korean government says it wasn`t directly involved.

Hynix has tried to unload assets to raise cash. Its 14,000 workers will all take a one-month unpaid leave within the next five months to save labor cost.

[robertos]

Date : 10/31/2001 Time : 21:10
Subject : Creditors Agree to Bailout Package for Hynix Semiconductor

Seoul, Oct. 31 (Yonhap) -- Creditors of Hynix Semiconductor Inc. agreed
Wednesday to a bailout package for the troubled chipmaker to get out of the
liquidity crunch.

Under the agreement, six banks -- Korea Development, Hanvit, Chohung, Korea
Exchange, Citibank and NACF -- will provide fresh loans totaling 650 billion
won (US$502.4 million) to the company.

Eight banks not participating in the provision of fresh loans, including
Kookmin and Housing and Commercial, will write off the company`s debt at the
liquidation value for unsecured debt and the liquidation value plus 3
percentage points for secured debt, while swapping the company`s debt
totaling 3 to 3.1 trillion won ($2.4 billion) for equity.

Investment-trust and leasing companies and other creditors will roll over
their loans totaling 2.15 trillion won ($1.65 billion) for one and a half
years to three years at an annual interest rate of 6.5 percent.

With the package, foreign creditors are expected to call off their plan to
declare early next month that Hynix has defaulted on its foreign debt.

[Handbuch]

Heute wieder ein schönes Limit-Up etwa nach der Hälfte der Handelszeit. Die nächsten Tage scheinen sehr erfreulich zu werden. Mal sehen was der Kurs heute in Deutschland macht.

[robertos]

Date : 11/01/2001 Time : 17:52
Subject : Creditors Came to Aid Hynix Own on Volition: Trade Minister

Seoul, Nov. 1 (Yonhap) -- Minister for Trade Hwang Doo-yun said Thursday
that creditor banks came up with a rescue package for the ailing Hynix
Semiconductor Inc. "based on their own judgement from a commercial
perspective".

Speaking before the Foreign Correspondents Club, Hwang also hoped that
Japanese semiconductor manufacturers could reconcile anti-dumping allegations
against Korean semiconductor producers in a cooperative manner rather than
taking Korean competitors to court.

On the steel disputes with the United States, the trade minister said, "I
recommend that the United States pursue solutions to the issue through the
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and other multilateral
organizations rather than resorting to the bilateral mode of issuing

safeguards."

"I think the problem of the U.S. steel industry was caused not by imports
but by delayed industry restructuring," he said.

Hwang expected that South Korea and Japan could sign an agreement on the
launch of a bilateral investment treaty by the end of the year, noting the
two sides have narrowed differences on how to settle disputes and other major
issues.

Hwang also predicted that government-level talks will soon begin over the
launch of a free trade agreement between Seoul and Tokyo, saying the ongoing
talks within the civilian business forum have made progress on that issue.

The trade minister said that he recently met with European Trade
Commissioner Pascal Lami in Singapore to propose that Seoul was ready to
begin another round of negotiations over the pricing for ship construction
and other disputes concerning that industry.

Seoul, however, has yet to receive a response from the European Union, he
said.

[Handbuch]

Hynix sees bailout helping foreign lender talks
SEOUL, Nov 1 (Reuters) - South Korea`s Hynix Semiconductor Inc said on Thursday foreign lenders were not likely to declare default on loans owed by its U.S. unit after a $7 billion rescue package from creditors allayed liquidity woes.
ADVERTISEMENT

Foreign lenders which extended funds to Hynix`s U.S. unit are to meet on November 8 in New York to discuss whether to declare default on $400 million in loans.

``We don`t expect foreign lenders to declare default on the loan as our liquidity problems were addressed thanks to creditors` lifeline measures on Wednesday,`` Cho Kyu-chung, Hynix`s Chief Financial Officer told reporters.

``Creditors do not want us to go bankrupt,`` Cho said. ``Rather, they want to retrieve as many of their loans as possible.``

The loans are part of $1.1 billion borrowed by U.S. unit Hynix Semiconductor Manufacturing America (HSMA), which produces unfinished chip products.

Hynix`s U.S. unit secured the funds under terms which require parent Hynix to purchase all its output the former Hyundai Electronics.

But Hynix has failed to settle trade bills on time since early last year, meaning creditors can call for early redemption.

``Now we have the capability to honour the settlements and pay principals if they request,`` said Cho.

Hynix`s Korean lenders on Wednesday agreed to offer a massive bailout including a debt rollover and write-offs, a debt-for-equity swap and fresh funds.

Its aimed at saving the world`s third largest memory chipmaker as it struggles with more than $6.72 billion in debt and losses from plunging chip prices.

The rescue, the second since June, pushed Hynix shares up by their daily limit on Thursday, up almost 15 percent to 1,280 won ($0.995) versus the benchmark KOSPI`s 1.17 percent advance.

($1 equals 1286.0 won)

[Handbuch]

Hier mal was in deutsch:

Donnerstag 1. November 2001, 10:18 Uhr
Marktberichte Asien (Korea): Hynix wiederbelebt, Exporte brechen 19% ein

In Korea gewann der Kospi Index final 1,2 Prozent auf 544,9 Stellen, der Hochtechnologieindex Kosdaq 1,7 Prozent auf 63,64 Stellen.
Allein Speicherchipgigant Samsung Electronics (881823) zeigte sich für mehr als die Hälfte des Indexgewinn verantwortlich. Auch die anderen Exporteure erfuhren im Sog der besser als erwartet ausgefallenen US-Zahlen zum Bruttoinlandsprodukt einen Auftrieb.

Das war auch nötig, ist doch der Handelsüberschuss im Oktober auf 742 Mio. US$ (2000: 1,1 Mrd. US$) gefallen, nachdem im Sog des 11. September weniger Speicherchips, Computer und andere Güter verkauft wurden.
Die Exporte gingen im Jahresvergleich 19% zurück, die Computerchipexporte fielen allein in den ersten 20 Tagen des Oktober im Vergleich zum letzten Jahr 60,2%, die Stahlexporte 13,6% und die Autoexporte 12%.

Hocherfreut über die Genehmigung des Notverkaufs zeigte heute Speicherchiphersteller Hynix Semiconductor (677419), dass die Wiederbelebungsversuche ein voller Erfolg waren und explodierte 15% auf 1280 Won. Damit hat die Aktie in zwei Tagen 32% zugelegt.
Hynix wird 650 Mrd. Won neue Kredite erhalten, zudem haben sich die Gläubiger dazu entschlossen rund 3 Bio. Won Schulden gegen Aktien zu tauschen.

Die Computerwerte waren heute guter Dinge, dass dieser Industriezweig der erste sein wird, der eine mögliche Erholung nachvollziehen wird und so avancierte der größte Speicherchiphersteller der Welt, Samsung Electronics (881823), 2,6% auf 13150 Won und Trigem Computer stieg ebenfalls schöne 1,4% auf 4835 Won.


Erfreuliches gab es heute auch für die 1997 bankrott gegangene Hanbo Iron & Steel, die limit up 15% auf 2170 Won explodierte, nachdem sich unter Umständen bereits diesen Monat ein Käufer gefunden hat. Seit drei Jahren versucht die Regierung bereits verzweifelt das Unternehmen an den Mann zu bringen, inzwischen haben sich scheinbar drei ausländische Firmen gefunden.

Nahc Ende des Aktienrückkaufprogramm gab heute der Hyundai Motor (885166)-Zweig Kia Motors 1,7% auf 8390 Won ab.

[Crocodile_Dundee]

Der Tausch Schulden gegen Aktien verwässert natürlich das Kapital. Aber hier geht es wohl nur um`s nackte Überleben.

Heute waren wir auch schon Limit-Up, aber mit leichtem Minus geschlossen.

[Handbuch]

In diesem Preis ist bereits jede Menge Verwässerung eingepreist und auch der eventuelle Bankrot. Das die Banken nun in immer größeren Maße Teilhaber sind steigert aber auch deren Interesse am Überleben. Ich sehe es durchaus positiv.

[Handbuch]

Hynix Strategically Redeploys Global Sales and Marketing Functions To U.S. Headquarters in San Jose
SAN JOSE, Calif., Nov. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Hynix Semiconductor America Inc. today announced the redeployment of its worldwide sales and marketing functions from the company`s Seoul, Korea, headquarters to its U.S. facility in San Jose, Calif. Putting into place a critical component of Hynix`s restructuring plan, the new infrastructure will become the nerve center of the company`s global sales and strategic marketing activities. The organization -- lead by senior vice president and general manager of worldwide memory marketing, D. S. Kim -- is charged with expanding the company`s market share within the U.S. and centralizing communication across its worldwide sales, support and manufacturing facilities and customer base. Reporting to Kim is vice president of worldwide memory marketing, Farhad Tabrizi.

With a new technical support group and a task force of additional sales teams strategically located near its key customers, the move positions Hynix to offer swifter service and quicker decision turnaround. The streamlined communication structure will also bolster customer response time -- a critical factor in today`s global business world. In addition, a planning team, tasked with coordinating marketing activities across Hynix`s several international locations, will lay the foundation for the company`s future as a global, market-leading semiconductor company.

``Centralizing our sales and marketing functions in Silicon Valley makes excellent business sense for Hynix,`` said Farhad Tabrizi. ``At the heart of this major corporate decision was the fact that North America is Hynix`s largest market and the home base for many of our key customers. It`s extremely important, therefore, that we have a series of rapid-response teams here to meet the ever-changing needs of these companies. Our new infrastructure will not only allow us to service our existing customer base, but it will also enable us to more easily and rapidly exploit diverse new market segments and applications for which our cutting-edge technology is ideally suited.``

About Hynix Semiconductor Inc.

Hynix Semiconductor Inc., (formerly Hyundai Electronics Industries Co. Ltd.), based in Ichon, Korea, is an industry leader in the development, sales, marketing and distribution of high-quality semiconductors-including DRAM, SRAM, Flash memory and application specific standard products-as well as semiconductor manufacturing foundry services. While Hynix Semiconductor is one of the world`s leading DRAM suppliers, the company is rapidly diversifying its product portfolio to meet the needs of emerging markets. The company offers deep sub-micron foundry services to strategically broaden its overall presence in the industry and achieve the goal of leading the global semiconductor market. Hynix has research, production, sales and marketing facilities strategically located worldwide.

NOTE: Hynix Semiconductor America Inc. is a U.S. subsidiary of Hynix Semiconductor Inc. and is headquartered at 3101 North First Street, San Jose, Calif., 95134. For more information on Hynix Semiconductor visit www.hynix.com or www.us.hynix.com

SOURCE: Hynix Semiconductor America Inc.

[Handbuch]

Heute wieder ein kleines + (2,02%) im Rahmen des Gesamtmarktes. Dachte eigentlich, daß es nach dem gesicherten Hilfspacket weiter nach oben geht. Schau mer mal.

cu

[robertos]

Date : 11/05/2001 Time : 11:19
Subject : Hynix Turns to Outsourcing to Slim Down Organization

Seoul, Nov. 5 (Yonhap) -- Hynix Semiconductor Inc. (KSE: 00660) made a
sweeping shakeout of its organization as part of ongoing self-rescue
measures, the company said Monday.

The existing 281 teams have been trimmed 35 percent to 188, and staff in
charge of management support and general affairs have almost been halved.

In the decision-making hierarchy, mid-level posts have been eliminated in a
bid to promote horizontal decision making.

Outsourcing will be promoted for general support affairs. Ultimately,
outsourcing will cover all but core areas such as research and development,
production and business management, the company said.

Meanwhile, Hynix has been promoting a plan to split off its support
operations covering secretaries, guides, staff training, quality control, and
semiconductor climate control such as maintenance and control of clean
space.

[robertos]

Date : 11/07/2001 Time : 20:33
Subject : 3 Chinese Consortiums Interested in Buying Hynix Assets

Seoul, Nov. 7 (Yonhap) -- Three Chinese consortiums, including the ones in
Beijing and Shanghai, have an intention to buy up some assets of Hynix
Semiconductor Inc., according to the chipmaker`s creditors.

They said Wednesday the groups which have expressed their interest in the
assets are those in Beijing, Shanghai and one other city, adding that
negotiations are underway with each of them.

The Beijing group consists of the city government, a steel company, a
university and others, while the Shanghai consortium includes businesses in
the city.

Up for negotiations is either the relocation of the company`s production
line to China or the transfer to China of the management of the line to
remain in the country.

Hynix has presented the creditors with a self-help program calling for the
sale of assets worth 2.6 trillion won (US$2 billion), including laboratories
and a module line.

[Handbuch]

Schön, daß es mehrere Interessenten gibt. So muß HYNIX nicht zu jeden Preis verkaufen. Denke mal, daß es momentan nicht schlecht läuft, wie es läuft.

Toshiba to idle 12,000 chip staff for 2-4 days
(UPDATE: Adds details, background, share price)

TOKYO, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Toshiba Corp , hit hard by the global info-tech slowdown, said on Wednesday it would idle 12,000 workers in its semiconductor division for two to four days in November and December in a bid to cut costs.
ADVERTISEMENT



The lay-offs at three of Toshiba`s four chip plants -- in Himeji and Yokkaichi, western Japan and Oita, southwestern Japan -- will not affect output or earnings targets, Toshiba said.

The Yokkaichi plant, which makes dynamic random access memory (DRAM) chips, will undergo the longest lay-off of four days. DRAM chips have been especially hard hit by in the slowdown.

``We are making efforts to slash costs in our workforce and to cut high volumes of electricity during those days,`` a spokesman said.

Toshiba`s fourth plant, on Japan`s southern main island of Kyushu, will not be affected because it is still running at 80 percent capacity, the spokesman said.

Sales and planning staff for chip-related divisions at the company`s Tokyo headquarters and other offices will also be affected.

Each worker will take a 10 percent pay cut while off the job.

The move is the latest in a string of temporary lay-off plans announced by Japanese chipmakers, including NEC Corp and Fujitsu Ltd , and follows similar moves in South Korea.

South Korea`s Hynix Semiconductor Inc said last month it would require 14,000 workers to take one month`s unpaid leave while chip packaging and foundry firm Amkor Technology Korea decided in August to extend holidays for its 8,600 staff.

The world`s major chipmakers have also announced a series of permanent job cuts.

The idling is Toshiba`s first since it temporarily laid off workers during the 1974 oil shock.

Last month, Toshiba said it expected an operating loss of 110 billion yen ($908.2 million) and a net loss of 200 billion yen for the current business year to March 2002.

It revised down its forecasts of a break-even result for operating profit and a net loss of 115 billion yen.

Toshiba said it expected an operating loss of 150 billion yen on its semiconductor operations alone.

Toshiba shares were down 2.2 percent at 488 yen at 0130 GMT. The Nikkei average was down 1.8 percent at 10,442.46.

($1 equals 121.11 yen)

[Handbuch]

Und die Konkurrenz tobt:

Infineon, Micron urge action against Hynix
By James Mackenzie

FRANKFURT, Nov 8 (Reuters) - The chief executives of two of the world`s largest makers of computer memory chips have backed action by the World Trade Organisation against Korean government aid for their stricken rival Hynix Semiconductor Inc .
ADVERTISEMENT



Steven Appleton, chief executive of Micron Technology (NYSE:MU - news) and Ulrich Schumacher, CEO of Germany`s Infineon Technologies AG said in a letter to the Financial Times that three state-backed bailouts of Hynix had ``dramatically aggravated`` the already dire problems faced by chipmakers worldwide.

Micron and Infineon, respectively number two and number four in the global memory chip market, have been lobbying both the European Union and the U.S. government for several months but the letter is the most public expression of support the two have made for action through the WTO.

``As market conditions have worsened in the last year, both of our companies have taken measures to conserve cash, control costs, reduce capital expenditures and drive product efficiency,`` they said.

``Instead of suffering the consequences of market constraints, however, the Korean government is artificially propping up Hynix`s inefficient operations. As a result, the most efficient companies are now suffering great harm as supply/demand balances continue uncorrected,`` they said.

U.S. and EU trade officials last week urged Korea to take ``immediate, transparent and affirmative steps to assure that the Korean government will not provide any additional subsidies to Hynix.``

The call, following a meeting of the WTO`s subsidies committee in Geneva, came on the same day a group of Korean banks agreed a fresh rescue package of some $7 billion for Hynix, which lost $1.25 billion in the third quarter.

Although WTO action has so far been confined to statements from member governments, the companies see the organisation`s rules as their best hope of forcing the Korean government to drop its support for Hynix.


HYNIX WORRY

Memory chip makers have haemorrhaged cash defending market share in the steepest downturn in the industry`s history but with none of the major manufacturers willing to cut production, observers see only one immediate hope.

``Someone has to go out of business. It`s as simple as that,`` said Malcolm Penn, head of independent industry consultants Future Horizons.

Hynix, the world`s number three memory chip maker, has been a growing worry to the rest of the industry as the government and state-owned banks have intervened three times this year to keep the cash-strapped company afloat.

Hynix has said the current crisis in the memory chip market is the result of a slowdown in the world computer industry rather than excess capacity in Korea and rejects criticism that it is responsible for the industry`s plight.

It says that unlike rivals such as Samsung Electronics , it has been reducing capacity rather than adding to the glut of chips flooding the market and says that other manufacturers have cut prices more aggressively than it has.

Spot prices for standard 128 megabit 16x8 dynamic random access memory (DRAM) chips were quoted at $0.95-1.15 on Thursday, less than a third of overall production prices and around the variable cost of production which companies need to cover to keep manufacturing.


CONSOLIDATION

The disastrous state of the market, in which standard 128 megabit prices tumbled from more than $17 in July 2000, has increased pressure on manufacturers to cut costs by consolidating operations.

Infineon is currently holding talks over linking its DRAM operations with Japan`s Toshiba Inc but it dismissed reports that a merger between the two could be extended to include Taiwanese contract manufacturers like Mosel Vitelic .

Infineon already cooperates with Mosel through their ProMos Technologies joint venture and a spokeswoman said it saw no sense in expanding the alliance into a full scale merger.

[Handbuch]

Während dessen geht HYNIX mal wieder durch die Decke: +15%!!!

Friday November 9, 1:33 am Eastern Time
Hynix`s foreign banks not to push for early payment
(UPDATE: Refiles to insert dropped word in para 6)

By Lee Shin-hyung and Jason Neely

SEOUL, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Overseas creditors will not press South Korea`s Hynix Semiconductor Inc for early repayment of $400 million in bonds issued by its U.S. unit, creditor officials said on Friday.
ADVERTISEMENT



Lenders decided at a meeting in New York on Thursday not to declare Hynix in default, citing a bailout of the parent firm by Korean lenders last month, an official at Korea Exchange Bank told Reuters.

``A decision was reached not to take any action,`` an official at a foreign creditor bank in Seoul confirmed.

Foreign lenders including Chase Manhattan (NYSE:JPM - news), Citibank (NYSE:C - news) and HSBC (quote from Yahoo! UK & Ireland: HSBA.L) have more than $1 billion in exposure to Hynix Semiconductor Manufacturing America (HSMA), which sells unfinished chip products to the parent firm.

That includes $400 million in five- and seven-year bonds HSMA issued in May 2000.

Creditors have the right to demand early redemption as Hynix and Hyundai Group [HYGR.UL] companies had guaranteed the purchase of all of HSMA`s output but have not honoured trade bills since last year.

Shares in the chipmaker surged more than 14 percent in morning trade on Friday.

They were up 11 percent at 1,335 won by 0408 GMT versus a scant 0.17 percent advance on the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) .

Hefty volume of 396 million accounted for about 60 percent of total turnover.

Overnight, Hynix global depositary receipts (GDRs) worth five shares each advanced 3.22 percent to $4.80 in London.

Hynix has been bailed out twice this year, including a $7 billion package agreed to last month that included a planned debt-to-equity swap, debt rollovers and write-offs.

BAILOUT UNDER FIRE

Six of its 16 local creditors have agreed to provide fresh loans as a part of the rescue, which has drawn criticism from global rivals Micron Technology (NYSE:MU - news) and Germany`s Infineon Technologies AG .

Banks owned or partly owned by the government, led by Korea Exchange Bank, have spearheaded efforts to support Hynix, drawing accusations of indirect state support blamed for distorting global chip pricing.

The CEOs of Micron and Infineon said in a joint letter to the Financial Times newspaper this week that support for Hynix had ``dramatically aggravated`` chip sector woes.

``As market conditions have worsened in the last year, both of our companies have taken measures to conserve cash, control costs, reduce capital expenditures and drive product efficiency,`` said Micron`s Steven Appleton and Infineon`s Ulrich Schumacher.

``Instead of suffering the consequences of market constraints, however, the Korean government is artificially propping up Hynix`s inefficient operations.``

Micron and Infineon rank number two and number four in the global memory chip market.

Hynix, which ranks third, has more than $6 billion in debt and like global peers faces scant prospects for a quick return to operating profits as chip prices crawl at record lows.

Spot prices for standard 128 megabit 16x8 dynamic random access memory (DRAM) chips worth more than $17 in July 2000 were quoted at $0.95-1.15 on Thursday, less than a third of overall production prices.

(Additional reporting by James Mackenzie in Frankfurt)

[Handbuch]

Und weiter geht es durch die Decke. Heute wieder Limit Up!!!!

Monday November 12, 1:48 am Eastern Time
Korea Hynix amends by-laws for creditor bailout
(UPDATE: Updates with shareholders` approval and more details)

By Judy Lee

SEOUL, Nov 12 (Reuters) - South Korea`s Hynix Semiconductor Inc said its shareholders agreed on Monday to amend some company by-laws to clear the way for a $7 billion bailout, the second this year, by creditors.
ADVERTISEMENT



The revisions mean the cash-strapped company, whose shares closed on the Korean Stock Exchange on Monday at just 1,585 won each, can sell new shares below the face value of 5,000 won ($3.90), Kim Seung-soo, a Hynix spokesman, told Reuters.

The changes, endorsed by an extraordinary meeting of shareholders, also allow Hynix to double the limit on convertible bond sales to six trillion won ($4.71 billion) and raise the maximum issue of outstanding shares to nine billion from 1.5 billion now, Kim said.

Last month creditors put together a rescue package including one trillion won in fresh loans, a four trillion won debt-to-equity swap and four trillion won in a debt rollover as well as a write-off of some debts to keep the world`s third largest chipmaker afloat.

Hynix has more than $6 billion in debt and like global peers its operating profits have been decimated by a fall in chip prices to record lows.

The progress in the latest restructuring package pushed Hynix shares limit-up by 15 percent to 1,585 won, compared with a more modest 1.34-percent gain in the wider Korea Composite Stock Price Index.

Several lenders, including Kookmin Bank , Shinhan Finance Holding Co and KorAm Bank , did not want to extend new loans in the latest rescue effort, but instead agreed to partially write off outstanding debts based on Hynix`s liquidation value.

Arthur Andersen will unveil the result of its review of Hynix later this week to decide how much the seven banks should write off, while others proceed with the new rescue programme.

A local newspaper said on Monday creditors will have to write off about 1.6 trillion won of Hynix debt, assuming collateralised debt is worth between 35 percent and 40 percent of its book value and that without collateral it is worth about 20 percent of the book value.

RESTRUCTURING EFFORTS

Hynix told shareholders on Monday it would sell as much as one trillion won of new shares for more than 708 won per share in the first quarter of next year to improve its finances, spokesman Kim said.

The cash-strapped company is also in talks to sell its mobile handset unit, Hyundai Curitel, to a Korean consortium of KTB Network Co and Pantech Co , Pantech said.

``The consortium and two foreign companies are competing to purchase Hyundai Curitel,`` a Pantech official told Reuters. ``Hynix will likely announce the result on Tuesday.``

Toshiba Corp was one of the foreign companies, he said.

Hynix spokesman Kim denied a Dong-a Ilbo newspaper report which quoted Hynix vice president Jeon In-baik as saying in an interview that the company plans to sell nine chip fabrication lines and keep the remaining four, including one in the U.S. plant, and expects two trillion won from the sales.

``We didn`t specify how many are up for sale, but said all but core facilities can be sold,`` Kim said.

[Handbuch]

Was ist denn mit dem Zertifikat heute los. Steht immer noch beim Stand vom Freitag. In Berlin sogar heute morgen auf 1,21 getaxt. In Korea +15% und in D +-0?

cu

[robertos]

Date : 11/12/2001 Time : 16:13
Subject : Hynix Shareholders Revise Regulations for Debt-Equity Swap

Seoul, Nov. 12 (Yonhap) -- Hynix Semiconductor (KSE:00660) said Monday its
shareholders agreed to revise the company`s regulations to facilitate a 4.3
trillion won (US$3.3 billion) debt for equity switch and 1 trillion won
rights offering.

Under the revision, the number of shares will be increased from 1.5 billion
to 9 billion with the issuance ceiling for convertible bonds increased to 6
trillion won from 3 trillion won.

The board of directors will decide the share price when the debt for equity
swap is made based on share prices up until May next year but no lower than
708 won per share.

All the creditors will take part in the 3 trillion won debt for equity
switch, and the chip maker will fall under joint management.

A shot of fresh capital from the issue of new shares will be made around
January next year

[Handbuch]

Montag 12. November 2001, 09:43 Uhr
Marktberichte Asien (Korea): Hynix und Trigem mit 15 % im Plus

Ein 4,5-Monatshoch sehen wir in Korea, wo sich der Kospi am dritten Tag in Folge steigern kann und 1,3 % auf 584,48 Punkte zulegt. Der Großteil des Indexgewinns fällt auf die Aktien des Chipherstellers Hynix Semiconductor (677419). Dort beträgt das Plus 15 %, was dem täglichen Limit entspricht. Nachdem das Unternehmen gemeldet hatte, es sei möglich, dass in naher Zukunft einige Fabriken verkauft werden, hatte der Aktienkurs kräftig zugelegt.

Hynix Semiconductor (677419) mach mit einem Plus von 15 % auf 1585 Won einen Kurszuwachs von 33 % innerhalb von drei Tagen voll. Es war berichtet worden, dass der Chiphersteller den Großteil seiner Produktionsanlagen verkaufen wird. Analysten sehen in dieser Meldungen den einzigen Grund für die kräftigen Kurssteigerungen. Demnach sollen neun der 13 Fabriken verkauft werden, womit bis zu 1,6 Mrd. US$ erlöst werden könnten.

Ebenfalls um 15 % auf 5960 Won kann sich Trigem Computer verbessern. Trigem, einer der absatzstärksten PC-Hersteller, wird stark nachgefragt, nachdem der US-Partner EMachines ein Angebot zu einem Buyout von EM Holdings in Erwägung ziehen wird. Trigem besitzt rund 20 % der Anteile an EMachines. Auch Korea Data Systems, die den zweitgrößten Aktionär bei EMachines stellen, werden um das tägliche Limit von 15 % nach oben katapultiert.


Daewoo Motor Sales, die Vertriebssparte des insolventen Automobilherstellers Daewoo Motor steigert sich um 6,8 % auf 2760 Won. Das Unternehmen hatte gemeldet, dass der Vorsteuergewinn im dritten Quartal um 66 % auf 18,1 Mrd. Won gestiegen war.

Abwärts geht es dagegen bei Hyundai Motor (885166), dem größten Automobilhersteller in Korea. Das Minus beträgt heute 0,4 % auf 22500 Won.

BeiKorea Electric Power (893161), dem Strommonopolisten in Korea, beträgt der Zuwachs 2,2 % auf 20950 Won. Der Gewinn im dritten Quartal war um 45 % auf 750 Mrd. Won gefallen, nachdem der Strombedarf im ganzen Land mit der niedrigsten Rate seit der Asienkrise von 1998 gewachsen war.

[GoldenCentury]

Sind ja wieder tolle Kurse in der KN 677419 gestellt.Bei 1640 Won wäre der Euro-Kurs ca. bei 7,20.Stattdessen Geldkurse um 6,50. Das Zertifikat wird dagegen bei 1,45 Euro gehandelt, das sind umgerechnet 7,25 Euro! Verrückt!

[Crocodile_Dundee]

@Golden Century: Heute morgen hat jemand in Frankfurt die Dinger für 6,30 rausgehauen.. Das ist das Übel, bei den Geld/Brief Spannen und den Umsätzen ist der Handel in Deutschland etwas lästig.

Für Hynix wird die Luft nach oben jetzt ziemlich dünn. Bei der Kapitalverwässerung (1.5 Milliarden. auf 9 Milliarden) ist die Luft leider etwas raus.

[Handbuch]

@Crocodiele_Dundee

Eigentlich bin ich auch Deiner Meinung bzgl. des Verwässerungseffektes. Offenbar sieht das der Markt aber anders. Heute wieder ein fettes Plus von 11,59%.

[Crocodile_Dundee]

@Handbuch: Derzeit wird in den USA offenbar davon ausgegangen, daß der Halbleitermarkt im 3. Quartal den Boden gesehen hat. Solange die US-Halbleiteraktien steigen, wird auch Hynix nachziehen. Aber viel ist bei einer Intel z.B. auch nicht mehr drin.

[Handbuch]

Tuesday November 13, 2:19 am Eastern Time
Creditors consider merger partners for Hynix-KDB
SEOUL, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Creditors of South Korea`s Hynix Semiconductor Inc are looking for merger partners as one way to support the debt-laden chip maker, state-run Korea Development Bank (KDB) said on Tuesday.
ADVERTISEMENT



Hynix President Park Chong-sup was quoted by the Chosun Ilbo newspaper saying that LG Electronics Inc would be a possible merger partner for the indebted firm.

Hynix was formerly a unit of the Hyundai Group, which took over LG Group`s semiconductor business in 1999 in a government-led restructuring. Hynix owes LG Electronics 390 billion won.

The Korea Economic Daily said Hynix was tapping U.S. Micron Technology (NYSE:MU - news) and Germany`s Infineon Technologies AG for a merger.

But KDB said no specific suitor was being considered.

``There is no specific company which is now engaged in merger talks with Hynix,`` Yoon Jae-min, a KDB spokesman, told Reuters. ``(But) creditors are seeking an alliance with local and foreign companies as one of the measures, including asset sales, to prop up Hynix.``

LG Electronics shares rose 1.9 percent to 16,000 won and Hynix rose 3.5 percent, after rising six percent earlier, to close at 1,640 won. The broader Kospi index closed up 0.74 percent.

LG declined to comment on the Chosun report.

Last month, creditors put together a rescue package including one trillion won in fresh loans, a four trillion won debt-to-equity swap and four trillion won in a debt rollover as well as a write-off of some debts to keep the world`s third largest chipmaker afloat.

Hynix has more than $6 billion in debt and like global peers its operating profits have been decimated by a fall in chip prices to record lows.

Arthur Andersen is reviewing Hynix`s finances and is expected to unveil the result this week as several lenders, including Kookmin Bank and Shinhan Finance Holding Co , did not want to extend new loans in the latest bailout.

They agreed instead to partially write off outstanding debts based on the company`s liquidation value.

The Hankook Ilbo newspaper said on Tuesday creditors will have to write off about 1.4 trillion won of Hynix debt, assuming collateralised debt is worth between 35 percent and 40 percent of its book value and that without collateral it is worth about 25 percent of the book value.

[Handbuch]

Mittwoch 14. November 2001, 13:53 Uhr
Marktberichte Asien (Korea): Koreas Staatsuprating beflügelt Standardwerte


Der koreanische Aktienmarkt kann weiter in Folge des Bonitätsupratings für den koreanischen Staat durch die renommierte Ratingagentur S&P sich positiv entwickeln und heute im Leitindex Kospi-Index 17,85 Punkte oder 3 % auf 606,68 Punkten zulegen. Heute wurden im Zuge des gestern erfolgten Bonitätsupratings auch Ratings für einzelne Firmen angehoben. Im Aufwind befanden sich heute deshalb erneut die Standardwerte mit zum Teil deutlichen Kurszuwächsen. Einen der grössten ANZEIGE

Gewinner stellte heute der Chipgigant Samsung Electronics (881823) mit einem Plus von 15000 Won oder 7,5 % auf einen Schlussstand von 215000 Won. Dies bedeutet den höchsten Stand für Samsung Electronics (881823) seit dem 8 Juni. Über deutliche Erholung nach der Nachricht, dass kein erneuter Terroranschlag im Zuge des Flugzeugabsturzes in New York erfolgt ist berichten können die Airlines. Korean Air. Co. gewinnt 330 Won oder 6,5 % auf einen Stand von 5430 Won. Am over the counter Market konnte heute Asiana Airlines Co. sich um 12 % dem tageshöchtmöglichen Gewinn auf 1590 Won verbessern.

Weiter im Aufwind der Lösung seiner maroden Kreditlage im Zuge des kürzlich erfolgten Sanierungsplanes seiner Gläubiger zusätzlich leicht beflügelt von der Branchenerholung der Halbleiterindustrie kann sich Hynix Semiconductor (677419) um 190 oder 12 % auf 1830 Won verbessern.
Nicht belastend wirkte sich auf den Aktienmarkt in Korea heute die Nachricht, dass die Arbeitslosenquote erstmals ihren Abwärtstrend gebrochen hat und mit aktuell 3,5 % im Oktober wieder leicht angestiegen ist.

[Handbuch]

Nach dem gestrigen Minus heute zum Schluß doch noch ins Plus gedreht und fast alle Verluste von gestern weggemacht.

[Handbuch]

Friday November 16, 2:33 am Eastern Time
Hynix debt now worth 25.5 pct of face value-lender
(UPDATE: Recasts, adds chip plant sales, bank comments)

By Kim Miyoung

SEOUL, Nov 16 (Reuters) - A report estimated that unsecured loans held by creditors working on a $7 billion bailout of South Korea`s debt-ridden Hynix Semiconductors Inc are now worth 25.5 percent of face value, a lender said on Friday.
ADVERTISEMENT



That could lead some debtors to write off more than 70 percent of their Hynix debt as part of the latest rescue package secured in October aimed at keeping the world`s third largest memory chipmaker afloat.

``Arthur Andersen informed us Hynix`s debt liquidation value was decided at 25.49 percent,`` Lee Sung-sik, a spokesman at Korea Exchange Bank , Hynix`s main creditor, told Reuters.

The figure will be used at a creditors` meeting on Saturday to decide how much debt each bank is willing to write off.

Under the bailout, Hynix is expected to reduce debt by 4.4 trillion won as some 1.5 trillion won of debt will be written off and 2.9 trillion won debt will be converted into equity, Lee said.

Seven banks, including Kookmin Bank , Shinhan Finance Holding Co and KorAm Bank have opposed extending fresh loans to Hynix. Instead, they have opted to write off a certain portion of their debt, converting the rest into bonds convertible into stocks.

The second bailout for Hynix this year was originally designed to include four trillion won in debt-for-equity swap, one trillion won in fresh funds, debt rollovers and write offs.

Hynix shares, which have jumped 61 percent this month on the creditors` bailout, closed the week above its four-month high amid the day`s most active trade.

It rose 70 won, or four percent, to 1,800 won, outdoing the benchmark index`s 0.73 percent rise.

STILL MORE

A record downturn in chip prices and nearly $3 billion in net losses for the first nine months of this year have forced Hynix to consider giving up some of its chip production lines and seek a strategic alliance with foreign partners.

Creditors are seeking an alliance with local and foreign companies as one measure to support Hynix, but said no specific firms were engaged in merger talks yet.

Local media speculated interested parties might include U.S. Micron Technology Inc (NYSE:MU - news) and Germany`s Infineon Technologies AG , who have complained about the government`s involvement in Hynix`s bailout.

``In a bid to keep China from emerging as a big player in the wobbly chip market, leading chipmakers are considering taking the opportunity from China and buying Hynix lines themselves,`` the Seoul Economic Daily quoted a government official as saying on Friday.

Analysts were sceptical as Micron and Infineon have their own problems to address amid the industry`s worst-ever downturn.

``It would take a lot of time and money for, let`s say, Micron to buy Hynix fabrications and convert them into its own lines,`` said a foreign brokerage analyst who declined to be identified.

``They will also not be tempted by its offer, which is most likely to include less-advanced facilities,`` he said.

Analysts said Hynix is desperate for cash but would have its own worries about a deal with Chinese partners.

``Chinese firms have shown great interest in our facilities but we are aware of their ploys to delay the deal to earn time and to buy at depressed prices,`` Jeon In-baik, Hynix`s vice president said early November.

[Marco5]

kann mir bitte jemand einen Link nennen zur Beobachtung
des Kurses in Korea.
Danke

[robertos]

Date : 11/16/2001 Time : 15:42
Subject : Hynix, Aralion Consortium to Sign NDA for Sale of Chip Fabs

Seoul, Nov. 16 (Yonhap) -- Hynix Semiconductor and Aralion, a KOSDAQ-listed
firm and leader of an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)
consortium, will soon sign a non disclosure agreement to discuss the sale of
Hynix` chipmaking facilities.

Aralion said the consortium will inspect the chipmaker`s Kumi plant from
next week to size up the conditions of its non-memory chip making equipment
and materials.

An Aralion executive said every detail of the negotiations will be
confidential, but there is no change in the company`s plan to set up an
independent firm to take over the Kumi plants` two fabs.

Seven to eight ASIC companies are reportedly ready to join the consortium.

Considering current economic conditions, the Aralion consortium, however,
is likely to run into funding problems since it plans to secure foreign loans
as well as domestic bank loans, along with a bond issue to finance its deal
with Hynix.

A Hynix source said Hynix is open to any sales pitch either foreign or
domestic and the signing of the NDA is a signal that earnest talks to sell
the company will begin from now.

[Handbuch]

@Marco5

Ich nehm immer diesen:

http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=00660.KS&d=c&k=c4&t=1d&l=on&z=m…

cu handbuch

[Handbuch]

Heute wieder ein schönes Plus. Denke mal, ich halte das Teil noch ein wenig.

[Handbuch]

Montag 19. November 2001, 09:16 Uhr
Marktberichte Asien (Korea): Korea auf sechs-Monats-Hoch

Die Hoffnung auf eine Erholung in den USA, das baldige Endes des Afghanistankonfliktes und der weiter schwelende Preiskampf im Ölsektor verhalf dem Kospi Index in Korea heute zu einem stabilen Plus von 2,6 Prozent auf 626,43 Stellen, dem höchsten Stand seit sechs Monaten.
Der Hochtechnologieindex Kosdaq gewann 1 Prozent auf 69,15 Punkte.
Unabhängig davon plant Korea die Luxussteuer zu senken, dies ist der letzte Schritt der Regierung, die Wirtschaft zu stimulieren. Bis jetzt wurde bereits eine Stimulanzpaket von 6,7 Bio. Yen für dieses Jahr geschnürt.

Begehrt waren dann vor allem Unternehmen, die große Mengen an Öl benötigen, Fluggesellschaften eingeschlossen.
Der Rohölpreis hatte letzte Woche einen Einbruch von 19% hinnehmen. Der Preis für Dubai-Rohöl, das in Korea hauptsächlich benutzt wird, lag am Freitag nur noch bei 16,13 US$ je Barrel, vor dem 11. September bei 26,30 US$. Immer noch tobt in diesem Bereich ein Preiskampf, die OPEC ist weiterhin nicht bereit die Fördermenge zu reduzieren, wenn dies nicht auch Russland und andere ölproduzierende Länder zun.

Korea Electric Power (893161), die ihre riesigen Generatoren betanken muss, schoss infolgedessen 4,7% auf 23650 Won nach oben, die Korean Air explodierte 13,2% auf 6790 Won und die Asiana Airlines, am Kosdaq notiert, schoss limit up 12% auf 1870 Won nach oben.
Die Asiana geht für das Jahr 2002 wegen des Weltcups zudem von einem Gewinn aus.

Die erwarteten positiven Wirtschaftsindikatoren, die auf einen auch im November wieder steigenden Konsumentenvertrauenindex in den USA hoffen lassen, trieben die Exporteure nach oben.
Dass Standard & Poors letzten Donnerstag sein Rating für Korea überraschenderweise angehoben hat- über China und Malaysia-trug zudem zur guten Stimmung bei.
Speicherchipgigant Samsung Electronics (881823) avancierte 4,6% auf 218500 Won, Konkurrent Hynix Semiconductor 7,2% auf 1930 Won und Automobilhersteller Hyundai Motor (885166), dessen US-Absatzzahlen nun an japanische Konkurrenten wie Mazda heranreichen, gewann 5,1% auf 25800 Won.

Zu guter Letzt stieg die Anam Semiconductor 3,9% auf 4355 Won, nachdem man bekannt gab eine strategische Allianz mit einem noch nicht genannten malaysischen Unternehmen zu planen.

[Rhum56]

Und still und leise wächst der Kookmin-Bank-Kurs

[robertos]

Date : 11/19/2001 Time : 19:22
Subject : Shin Kook-hwan Named Head of Hynix Restructuring Committee

Seoul, Nov. 19 (Yonhap) -- Former Commerce, Industry and Energy Minister
Shin Kook-hwan was appointed chairman of Hynix restructuring committee at a
meeting of creditors Monday.

Shin will head the special committee after his appointment is officially
endorsed on paper Tuesday.

The committee will be comprised of seven members representing creditor
banks and Hynix and supported by advisors on legal and accounting matters.
It will be in charge of establishing and deciding restructuring policies for
the troubled chipmaker.

[Handbuch]

Heute Gewinnmitnahmen. Hoffen, daß es nicht wieder weiter herunter geht.

Dienstag 20. November 2001, 11:18 Uhr
Marktberichte Asien (Korea): Gewinnmitnahmen in Korea

Nach der tollen Out-Performance des Kospi in den vergangenen Wochen werden die Stimmen von Analysten lauter, dass die aktuellen Bewertungen der koreanischen Aktien nicht mehr der tatsächlichen wirtschaftlichen Entwicklung entsprechen würden. Mit den warnenden Stimmen im Hintergrund verlor der Kospi bis Handelsschluss, nachdem er im Tagesverlauf neue Jahreshöchststände verzeichnet hatte, 10,10 Punkte auf 616,33 Zähler (-1,6%).

Den fallenden Index hatten vor allem die High-Tech-Werte zu verantworten, bei denen es nach den tollen Kursanstiegen der vergangenen Tage zu Gewinnmitnahmen kam. So gab das Marktschwergewicht Samsung Electronics (881823) -2,3% auf 213500 Won ab. SK Telecom (902578) verloren 6000 Won auf 271000 Won (-2,2%), Korea Telecom (922613) -2,6% auf 53200 Won und Korea Electric Power (893161) verzeichnete ein Minus von 1,9% auf 23200 Won. Überdurchschnittlich gaben auch Pohang Iron & Steel (893094) nach, die zu Handelsschluss 3,7% nach unten gingen (Schlusskurs 104000 Won).

Koreas führender Autohersteller Hyundai Motor (885166) legte leicht um 0,2% auf 26000 Won zu, nachdem die Regierung bekannt gab, dass es die Besteuerung von Luxusgütern, darunter auch Autos, reduzieren werde.

Der Aufwärtstrend der Korean Air Fluggesellschaft wurde heute gebrochen, da die Anleger der Meinung waren, dass der enorme Anstieg der Aktie auf Grund der gefallenen Ölpreise, mittlerweile nicht mehr gerechtfertigt sei. Korean Air verlor 7,7% auf 6270 Won.



Daewoo Engineering & Construction , das nach dem Zusammenbruch der Daewoo Gruppe Schulden in Höhe von 4,4 Bill. Won übernommen hatte, stieg heute um 8,2% an auf 2920 Won. Ursache für den Anstieg war die Anküdigung der Gläubiger, Verbindlichkeiten von mehr als 700 Mrd. Won gegen Aktien tauschen zu wollen, damit der Verschuldungsgrad des Unternehmens geringer wird und damit die Handlungsfähigkeit des Managements wieder verbessert wird.

[Handbuch]

Wednesday November 21, 3:13 am Eastern Time
INTERVIEW-Moody`s sees no quick Korea ratings change
(UPDATE: Adds quotes and details)

By Kim Kyoung-wha

Rival ratings agency Standard & Poor`s announced an upgrade on Korea last week in a surprise move that will help Korea to raise capital abroad cheaper.

But concerns about South Korea`s corporate sector would keep Moody`s from following suit, said Thomas Byrne, vice president and senior analyst at Moody`s Finance Group.

``The potential problem is that the chaebol have resisted reform,`` he said, citing risks to government-led reforms after President Kim Dae-jung stepped down as head of the ruling party amid strife ahead of next year`s elections.

``Liberalisation was really driven by the Kim Dae-jung administration,`` said Byrne, adding that he was concerned about

``the impetus for further economic reform...(and for) strengthening the reforms that have already been put in place.``

The government has spearheaded reforms of corporates since late 1997, when highly leveraged companies exacerbated the impact of the Asian financial crisis.

``The reform of corporate governance, the liberalisation of Korea, probably hasn`t taken firm hold so that it`s possible maybe corporations will remain heavily indebted and therefore vulnerable to interest rate shocks, exchange rate shocks, to confidence shocks,`` he added.

Moody`s, which is expected to issue an annual report on Korea in February, has kept the country`s long-term foreign currency rating at Baa2 with a stable outlook since late 1999.

``We are still in the process of continuously assessing. We look and see how the events affect Korea,`` Byrne said in a telephone interview with Reuters.

``If fundamentals have changed and strengths really outweigh negatives, then we will do something.``

Rival agency S&P raised the country`s long-term foreign currency rating by one notch to BBB+ from BBB last week.

RESTRUCTURING INCOMPLETE

Byrne said Korea needed further reform to grow its economy and avoid recession afflicting Singapore, Taiwan and other peers.

Korea`s economy is bracing for growth of less than a quarter of last year`s blazing 8.8 percent as electronics-heavy exports reel from slack global demand.

Korean companies are grappling with some 21.2 trillion won ($16.65 billion) in debt maturing in the final three months.

``There will be new pressures on the balance of payments that will arise from the corporate sector that is highly leveraged,`` he said. ``Korea does have large (foreign exchange) reserves but it also has the vulnerabilities that it never really eliminated.``

Byrne cited ailing Hynix Semiconductor Inc as a test case for restructuring going into 2002.

"Hynix is emblematic of Korea`s dilemma. Restructuring involves pain. And you need very strong political leadership to share the pain.

``There`s a big question on whether Hynix is a viable entity. But closing down Hynix is a big political cost.``

State-owned creditors led a $7 billion rescue plan in October, Hynix`s second this year, but uncertainties remain about the world`s third largest chipmaker.

``There will be new challenges for policy makers (on) how Korean companies remain competitive and how is vulnerability reduced to shifts in creditor and investor confidence.``

``Foreign investors and creditors are a fickle bunch, perceptions can change and capital inflows can dry up.``

[Handbuch]

Wednesday November 21, 10:49 am Eastern Time
Forbes.com
Maxtor Drives Hard
By Arik Hesseldahl


Five years ago Mike Cannon walked in the door as the new chief executive of disk drive concern Maxtor and found a company on the ropes.

"What had once been a successful company had really fallen on hard times," he says.
ADVERTISEMENT

Having spread its business too thinly across too many subsectors, Maxtor had found itself excelling in none of them. It languished well behind its many competitors, among them Seagate Technology , IBM and Western Digital .

It had missed key product introductions and watched its stock price fall by more than 80% between 1986 and 1994. Between 1994 and 1996, South Korean conglomerate Hyundai stepped in to acquire the company in two deals valued at a total of $365 million, taking it private.

What a difference five years makes. In October 2000, Maxtor bought out the hard disk assets of Quantum in an all-stock deal worth $2.3 billion. Now it leads the industry in desktop PC hard drive sales and is a major supplier to PC makers like Dell Computer and Compaq Computer , among others. Annual revenue is up about tenfold over the last four fiscal years, to $2.7 billion last year from $273 million in 1997.

By shifting its primary focus toward the market for desktop PC hard drives, Maxtor had become a major supplier to three major PC makers by 1998, just in time for a massive surge in PC sales. That same year, debt-ravaged Hyundai took Maxtor public again in an attempt to raise cash, and now Hyundai`s successor, Hynix Semiconductor , is a minority shareholder.

Since then the stock has certainly seen its share of volatility, but in recent weeks, its price is up more than 60% from its 52-week low of $3.30 per share. In its most recent quarter, the company reported a $165.7 million loss on sales of more than $1 billion. The loss included more than $78 million in expenses related to the Quantum deal and another smaller acquisition.

In a recent study, market research firm IDC forecast that the hard disk industry would ship 209 million units by the end of this year, and that Maxtor would account for about 35% of those, ahead of its nearest competitor, Seagate.

But now that it`s topped the market for desktop PC hard drives, Maxtor now has to consider how to address the ever-wider market for devices beyond the PC. That could conceivably raise some of the same problems that caused the company such pain in the late 1980s.

Hard drives aren`t just for PCs and server computers anymore. It`s not hard to find them in handheld digital music players like Apple Computer `s iPod, or in TV set-top boxes like those from TiVo or SonicBlue unit RelayTV.

If in-home entertainment, especially digital and music entertainment, takes hold in the home, as many think it will, CEO Cannon says Maxtor will be a key player.

"When you think of people downloading video into their homes, you`ll need tremendous amounts of storage on both ends of the line, in the home and at the cable head," he says. "We intend to be competitive in both places."

To stay competitive, Maxtor will have to stick to a rigorous regimen of research and development to keep up with competitors. The drive industry is subject to doubling of storage capacity roughly once a year, says Jim Porter, an industry analyst and president of market research firm Disk/Trend.

"At the start of the year, the industry was moving toward 40 gigabytes per drive platter [from 20 GB], and by the end of the year, they`ll all be at 40 GB per platter." Porter says. "It will double again next year."

But the most important specification is always price, and for Maxtor, that means controlling costs. One thing that might help, Porter says, is producing some of the parts for its hard drives internally--specifically the disk platters and the small heads that read the data from them--rather than relying on outside suppliers.

"IBM makes all of its own heads and disks, and Seagate makes about 80% of its own disks and about 60 to 70% of its own heads," Porter says.

Maxtor has recently started making some of its own disks, but is still buying all of its heads on the merchant market, he says.

"When I asked them about when they might start making more of their own parts, they basically told me they`d do it when it`s convenient for them," Porter says.

[Handbuch]

Wednesday November 21, 12:56 am Eastern Time
Korea Hynix in $60 mln mobile LCD deal
(UPDATE: Recasts, adds statement from Beijing Orient Electronics)

SEOUL, Nov 21 (Reuters) - South Korea`s troubled Hynix Semiconductor Inc said on Wednesday it expected to sign a $60 million deal by the weekend to sell its mobile phone screen unit to a Korea-China consortium.
ADVERTISEMENT



Hynix, the world`s third largest computer memory chipmaker, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the consortium in September to sell the unit producing STN-LCDs for mobile phones for 75 billion won ($58.91 million).

The company has been selling assets as part of its pledges to creditors in exchange for two hefty bailouts this year.

``We expect a deal by the weekend at the earliest, although details have yet to be worked out,`` a Hynix spokesman told Reuters.

The consortium includes Beijing Orient Electronics (BOE) with 45 percent, Korea`s Semiconductor Engineering Co Ltd with 35 percent, Hynix with 15 percent and employees of the mobile phone screen unit with five percent. Korean media reports had said BOE would have 35 percent.

Hynix shares, the day`s top traded, were up 35 won at 1,750 at 0542 GMT.

BOE, one of China`s leading computer screen makers, confirmed the plan. The company said in a statement it, Semiconductor Engineering and Hynix would set up a joint venture in Korea to acquire Hynix`s mobile phone screen manufacturing and marketing unit.

``We can not only improve our display product mix through this cooperation, but also lower entry costs to the world markets and boost global awareness by utilising our partners` established global reputation and sales network,`` the statement said.

The acquisition, including technology, equipment, sales networks and patents for STN-LCDs and other display devices, would be worth about $60 million, though the final price has yet to be decided, the statement said.

The acquisition agreement was expected to be signed by the end of 2001, it said, adding that the plants would eventually be shifted to China.

``BOE will move the STN-LCD plant to Beijing from Korea one or two years after the acquisition to cut costs and explore Chinese markets,`` it said.

WARDING OFF TROUBLE

Hynix, which is selling businesses to tide over one of the semiconductor industry`s worst slump, said earlier in November it had agreed to sell a mobile handset unit to Pantech Co and KTB Network Co for $126 million.

The sale of the units would help ease cash shortages of Hynix, which is struggling with more than $6 billion in debt.

Creditors last month put together a $7 billion rescue package, including one trillion won in fresh loans as well as a debt-to-equity swap, a debt rollover and a write-off of some debts, to keep the chipmaker afloat.

A continuing slump in the chip industry saw Hynix post a 3.7 trillion won loss for the first nine months of this year, sending it back to creditors for financial support over and above the multi-billion dollar bailout it obtained in June.

Hynix has considered giving up some of its production lines and seeking a strategic alliance with foreign partners in exchange for 640 billion won in fresh loans from lenders and the debt-to-equity swap.

[Handbuch]

Denke mal, nach dieser Nachricht geht es morgen weiter aufwärts. Vielleicht wieder mal ein Limit Up?


Wednesday November 21 5:40 AM ET
Hynix to Get $518 Million Loans in Rescue Deal
SEOUL (Reuters) - Struggling chipmaker Hynix Semiconductor Inc will get $518.4 million in fresh loans as part of a slimmed down lifeline which creditors agreed to on Wednesday.

Lenders fell short of agreeing to the one trillion won in fresh loans in a rescue they outlined last month, an official at main lender Korea Exchange Bank told Reuters.

``Creditors agreed to provide about 660 billion won in fresh loans,`` he said.

He confirmed lenders planned to pare a debt-to-equity swap to about 2.9 trillion won from four trillion won.

He said debt write-offs, mainly by banks that balked at providing fresh loans, would come to about 1.4 trillion won.

Creditors last month outlined a $7 billion rescue for the world`s third largest memory chipmaker, sparking trade friction with the United States and Europe and a struggle among lenders over details.

Nationalized lenders or those in which Seoul holds significant stakes such as Korea Exchange Bank led the deal.

Hynix lost a net 3.7 trillion won in the first three quarters of this year, a victim of a record downturn in chip prices which has also shaken its peers worldwide.

The company`s shares rose 2.9 percent to 1,765 won on Wednesday as agreement from a key creditor allowed the country`s most high-profile corporate rescue to move forward.

The National Agricultural Cooperative Federation`s approval came a day after other lenders gave consent.

[Handbuch]

Leider hat es wohl nicht für ein Limit Up gereicht, aber wenigstens für ein ordentliches Plus. Lt. Yahoo geschlossen bei 1935 Won (+9,63%).

Was sind eigentlich eure Kursziele / Ausstiegsmarken?

cu

[robertos]

20000 KRW , bis ende 2002

[Handbuch]

@robertos

Ist das Dein Ernst? Hynix wird bis dahin 2/3 seiner Produktionsanlagen verkauft und die Anzahl seiner Aktien ver-x-facht haben. Hälst Du wirklich das alte Hoch für ein realistisches Ziel????

[Handbuch]

Thursday November 22, 4:20 am Eastern Time
Korea`s Hynix shares surge on rescue hopes
(UPDATE: Adds shares at 19-week high)

By Nam In-soo

SEOUL, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Shares in troubled Hynix Semiconductor Inc surged 9.6 percent on Thursday on hopes for its latest rescue package, but analysts said there were risks for creditors planning to boost exposure to the world`s third largest memory chipmaker.
ADVERTISEMENT



Hynix is expected to detail its own fundraising efforts soon, after creditors agreed this week to the details of a $7 billion bailout.

``Our employees are in good spirit and working harder,`` said a Hynix spokesman. ``We are encouraged by the recent gains in Hynix shares after the creditors` help.``

Hynix shares surged to 1,935 won, their highest close in 19 weeks. Volume was more than 450 million shares, almost 60 percent of market turnover.

They have jumped more than 70 percent this month versus a 16.1 percent advance by the benchmark KOSPI index .

Analysts said creditors would provide enough backing to see the company well into 2002.

``I don`t expect Hynix to face any significant fund problems over the next one year,`` said Hahn Soong-ho, an analyst at

Hsbc.


``Markets are also reacting favourably as chip prices are slowly rebounding.``

Its creditors have rescued Hynix twice this year, banking that support would allow it to weather a record downturn in global chip prices that has eased in recent weeks.

Spot prices for standard 128-megabit DRAM chips are hovering at $1.60, up from $1.10 early this month, according to DRAMexchange, a chip price-tracking website.

``Even if the spot prices fall again, they will not go down to the record low levels seen months ago,`` said Jay Kim at ING Barings.

CREDITORS SPLIT

The latest rescue of Hynix includes a 2.9 trillion won ($2.28 billion) debt-for-equity swap, 1.4 trillion in debt write-offs and 660 billion won in fresh loans.

But it has also marked an important split among creditors, as several commercial banks baulked at fresh loans.

``The latest deal cleared the uncertainty surrounding some healthy banks, who earmarked enough loss provisions, but many others were just exposed to further risk,`` said a banking analyst at Daiwa Securities, who declined to be identified.

Analysts said those offering new money, led by Korea Exchange Bank , risked bigger potential write-offs given Hynix`s uncertain prospects.

Consultancy Arthur Andersen recently valued Hynix`s debt at 25.5 percent of face value if the firm was to be liquidated.

``If the liquidation value is applied, most lenders would have to set aside additional loss provisions,`` said the Daiwa analyst.

Local media have reported creditors are seeking an alliance or merger, possibly with U.S. rival Micron Technology Inc (NYSE:MU - news) or Germany`s Infineon Technologies AG , to improve Hynix`s chances of long-term survival.

[Handbuch]

Donnerstag 22. November 2001, 09:25 Uhr
Marktberichte Asien (Korea): Korea im Plus, BSP wächst stärker als erwartet

Ein stabiles Plus von 1,5 Prozent auf 624,56 Stellen verbuchte der Kospi Index in Korea. Besonders begehrt waren, nach Spekulationen um eine Übernahme der Korea First Bank durch die Hana Bank, die Finanztitel.
Der Hochtechnologieindex Kosdaq stieg 0,9 Prozent auf 69,66 Stellen.

Erfreulich wogen heute auch die endgültigen Zahlen zum BSP, die über den Erwartungen lagen. Sich trotzig gegen den geopolitischen Trend nach unten stemmend stieg das Bruttosozialprodukt ANZEIGE

im dritten Quartal um 1,2 Prozent im Vergleich zum zweiten Quartal. Analysten hatten mit 0,8% gerechnet.
Das 5,2 Mrd. US$ schwere Regierungspaket zum Straßenbau und für Jobprogramme hatte die Wirtschaft dieses Jahr trotz einbrechender Exporte wachsen lassen.

Glänzend präsentierte sich auch Speicherchiphersteller Hynix Semiconductor, der 9,6% auf 1935 Won nach oben schoss. Spekulationen, dass sich ausländische Unternehmen wie Micron Technology (869020) zum Kauf der Hynix entschließen könnten stützte den Wert.
Immerhin die Aktie steigt und sinkt derzeit wegen jedes noch so unbestätigten Gerüchtes.
Chipgigant Samsung Electronics (881823) gewann 2,37% auf 216000 Won.

Die Bankwerte stiegen heute, nachdem die Anleger auf eine neue Mergerwelle hoffen, nachdem die Hana Bank angeblich die chinesische Sparte der Korea First Bank übernehmen will. Vorstand der Hana Bank Kim Seung Yu dementiert jedoch alle Gerüchte.
Dennoch avancierte die Hana Bank 2,7% auf 13200 Won, die Shinhan Financial Group sogar 5,4% auf 14650 Won, die Chohung Bank gewann 3,3% auf 2975 Won und die Korea Exchange Bank 3,5% auf 2935 Won.

Koreas zweitgrößte Ferngespächtelefongesellschaft Dacom explodierte 12% auf 25300 Won, nachdem man davon ausgeht, dass das Unternehmen nächstes Jahr wieder in die Gewinnzone kommt, da die Restrukturierungsmaßnahmen endlich Früchte zu tragen scheinen.

[Handbuch]

Thursday November 22 11:38 PM ET
Hynix Asked to Clarify Micron Merger Talk

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea (news - web sites)`s troubled Hynix Semiconductor Inc was asked on Friday to clarify a rumor that it was in talks with U.S. rival Micron Technology (NYSE:MU - news) about a possible merger which has sparked a rally on its shares.

The Korea Stock Exchange asked the world`s third-largest memory chip producer to post a public notice by Friday afternoon.

Talk of the possible merger and creditors` second Hynix rescue of the year have led to heavy buying of the share.

It was up $7.85 at $1.60 at 9:31 p.m. Thursday EST, adding to a 19-week closing high on Thursday. Volume of 200 million shares was more than 50 percent of total turnover.

Hynix GDRs rose 18 percent in London (0066yq.L) and more than nine percent in Luxembourg (HYSC.LU) overnight.

[Handbuch]

Friday November 23, 12:30 am Eastern Time
Court postpones patent lawsuit by Hynix against Rambus
LOS ALTOS, Calif., Nov 22 (Reuters) - Computer memory maker Rambus Inc. (NasdaqNM:RMBS - news) said on Thursday a court has postponed a patent lawsuit filed by South Korean chipmaker Hynix Semiconductor against it, pending a federal circuit court review of a similiar case by Rambus against Germany`s Infineon Technologies (NYSE:IFX - news) .

The Hynix lawsuit sought declaratory relief that its synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM) and synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM) chips did not infringe Rambus patents.

Rambus, which has fought many patent lawsuits with other chip makers about memory designs, said the U.S. District Court for Northern California has postponed the lawsuit indefinitely, pending Rambus` appeal of a similar patent lawsuit against Infineon tried in Virginia last Spring.

In the Infineon case, a judge in August upheld parts of a fraud ruling against the U.S. chip developer. But the judge also overturned another part of the earlier verdict, which found Rambus guilty of fraud in developing patents on SDRAM chips.

[Handbuch]

Und hier die Erklärung für das heutige Minus nach gutem Start.



Friday November 23 2:08 AM ET
Hynix Denies in Micron Merger Talks, Shares Fall
By Jason Neely

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea (news - web sites)`s Hynix Semiconductor Inc denied speculation on Friday about a merger with U.S. rival Micron Technology that had helped power this month`s 70 percent jump in Hynix shares.

A merger would have created the world`s largest memory maker, topping Samsung Electronics

``Speculation about a possible merger with Micron Technology is groundless,`` Hynix said in a public notice demanded by the Korea Stock Exchange.

The shares were up as much as 6.2 percent on Friday before the merger denial melted gains.

Hynix`s newly appointed restructuring boss, former Commerce Minister Shin Kook-hwan, also denied any plans for a sale, merger or alliance in an interview with a Korean daily on Friday.

``It`s as expected, the market was overly sensitive to that speculation,`` said ING Barings chips analyst Jay Kim.

Talk of a merger was premature as Hynix first needs to sell assets including fabs to weather a record downturn in global chip prices, analysts said.

The former Hyundai Electronics could become a takeover target, but would need to unload nine of its 13 fabs to raise an estimated two trillion won ($1.57 billion), said a recent LG Investment & Securities report.

Hynix stock has been on a roll since creditors last month agreed to a $7 billion rescue, their second this year.

The deal dispelled worries of Hynix making it into 2002 and has sparked hefty volumes and gains in the stock.

It has also triggered criticism from Micron and Germany`s Infineon over state help for Hynix via nationalized lenders that led the rescue.

Coming off a 19-week closing high on Thursday, Hynix closed down 25 won at 1,910. Volume of 372 million shares was almost half of total turnover.

Seoul`s benchmark index finished up 3.30 percent at 645.18.

Hynix GDRs rose 18 percent in London and more than nine percent in Luxembourg overnight.

Micron and Hynix are the world`s second and third largest memory makers. Infineon ranks fourth.

[Handbuch]

Wäre eine Erklärung für den plötzlichen chippreisansteig nach HYNIX`s Rettung durch die Banken:

Monday November 26, 11:06 pm Eastern Time
Samsung refutes Infineon pricing charge
(UPDATE: Adds details paragraphs 4-10)

SEOUL, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Samsung Electronics refuted on Tuesday comments by Germany`s Infineon Technologies AG that suggested the world`s top memory chip maker had helped drive down chip prices to pressure smaller players.
ADVERTISEMENT



Infineon Chief Executive Ulrich Schumacher told the Financial Times newspaper on Monday that a Korean rival had been driving down chip prices.

``Those comments are total nonsense,`` Samsung spokesman James Chung told Reuters.

``Just one company could not decide the price,`` he said, adding the downturn in chip prices had also hurt Samsung.

Schumacher told the FT a Korean firm had held down chip prices but stopped after a recent bailout of local rival Hynix Semiconductor indicated the tactic would not drive Hynix from the market.

``The guy who artificially pushed prices down realised it did not make sense now... If they (Hynix) are going to be around for another four to five months, they realised they would not have enough money to do that,`` he was quoted as saying.

Hynix officials declined to comment.

The world`s top four memory chip makers, including U.S. firm Micron Technology Inc (NYSE:MU - news), are battling a record downturn in global chip prices that has forced Hynix creditors to offer about $11 billion in support this year.

Schumacher said a recent rise in chip prices, which has helped sector shares, was due to an end to efforts to hold prices down rather than renewed demand, and forecast no recovery for the next two quarters.

Samsung shares were up 0.43 percent at 231,000 won as of 0344 GMT while Hynix advanced 0.51 percent, both outperforming a benchmark index off 0.65 percent.

($1 equals 1252.0 won)

[Handbuch]

Saturday November 24, 11:18 pm Eastern Time
Korea`s Hynix sells handset unit for $37mln-report
SEOUL, Nov 25 (Reuters) - South Korea`s Pantech Co and KTB Network Co bought a mobile handset unit from struggling Hynix Semiconductor Inc for 47.6 billion won ($37.48 million), a local news agency report said on Sunday.

Hynix , the world`s third-largest computer memory chipmaker, has been trying to sell off assets as part of pledges made to creditors in exchange for two bailouts this year.

The consortium signed a contract with Hynix on Saturday to take control of the unlisted Hyundai Curitel and take over its debts, the Yonhap News said.

Officials at the three companies were not immediately available for confirmation.

Hyundai Curitel makes 400,000 handsets a month and reaped one trillion won in sales last year.

Pantech, which supplies mobile handsets to Motorola Inc (NYSE:MOT - news), posted a 1.9 billion won net profit in the third quarter of this year on sales of 84.3 billion won.

For Hynix, the deal is expected to help relieve a cash shortage of the heavily-indebted chipmaker, struggling with more than $6 billion in debt.

Hynix shares closed down 1.3 percent at 1,910 won on Friday and Pantech shares rose 0.4 percent to 7,880 won, underperforming the broader market which jumped 3.3 percent to 645.18.

($1 equals 1270.0 WON)

[Handbuch]

Monday November 26, 4:26 am Eastern Time
Korea banks in Hynix unit sale to Taiwan
SEOUL, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Hynix Semiconductor`s planned $400 million asset sale to a Taiwanese consortium will include $200 million backing from South Korean banks, the leader of the consortium said on Monday.

The funding is expected to rekindle protests from U.S. rival Micron Technology (NYSE:MU - news) and Germany`s Infineon over what they see as state aid for Hynix through nationalised banks.

State-run Chohung Bank leads a consortium of banks expected to provide $200 million to a joint venture led by Taiwan`s Cando Corp, Cando spokesman James Huang told Reuters.

Chohung and Hynix officials declined to comment on the venture`s planned purchase of Hynix TFT-LCD, or thin-film transistor liquid crystal display operations spun off in July.

[Handbuch]

Hat jemand eine Erklärung, warum HYNIX in der letzten Handelsstunde so gewaltig nach oben gegangen ist? Den ganzen Tag etwa auf Vortagesnieveau gelegen und dann plötzlich +9,51%. Geschlossen bei 2130 Won. Scheint noch irgendeine Nachtricht durchgesickert zu sein, aber welche?

Wäre übrigens wirklich ein tolles Stück, wenn Samsung wie in #48 vermutet die Chippreise künstlich gedrückt hätte.

Einen schönen Tag Euch allen.

cu handbuch

[Handbuch]

In D heute sogar knapp 15% gestiegen. Weiß denn wirklich keiner, woher die plötzliche Kauflust kommt? Im Internet ist nichts zu finden.

[Handbuch]

Dienstag 27. November 2001, 09:47 Uhr
Marktberichte Asien (Korea): Korea beendet Gewinnserie, Wirtschaftswachstum inspiriert

Heute beendete der koreanische Aktienmarkt erst einmal seine Gewinnserie und so gab der Kospi Index 0,7 Prozent auf 670,10 Stellen ab.
Der Hochtechnologieindex Kosdaq verlor 0,7 Prozent auf 670,10 Stellen.
Unter Druck gerieten heute vor allem die Brokertitel- zu schnell sind die Preise bei den Brokerwerten nach oben geschossen, die Hoffnung auf ein Ansteigen der Transaktionen sei hinreichend reflektiert, jetzt waren die Anleger erst einmal an Gewinnmitnahmen interessiert.

Gute Nachrichten indes kamen vom Finanzministerium, das davon ausgeht, dass die koreanische Wirtschaft im ersten Halbjahr des nächsten Jahres 3% wächst. Im zweiten Jahr erhofft man sich ein Wachstum von 5%. Das sind gute Nachrichten für ein Land, dessen starke Performance viele Anleger inspirieren konnte.
Das BSP war in den ersten neun Monaten dieses Jahr 2,7% angestiegen.

Die Finanzwerte zeigten sich heute für ein Drittel des Indexverlustes verantwortlich. Gewinnmitnahmen stoppten heute erst einmal die Kursaufschläge.
Der größte Broker der Nation, die Samsung Securities, gab 3,1% auf 46400 Won ab, die LG Investment & Securities, der größte Onlinebroker, 2,9% auf 13450 Won und die Daishin Securities brach 4,2% auf 17100 Won.

Auch die Fluggesellschaften hoben heute ab, nachdem die Investoren davon ausgingen, dass die größte Fluggesellschaft der Nation vom derzeit gegenüber dem US$ starken Won profitiert. Korean Air hat 2,5 Mrd. Won ausländische Schuld.
Der Won ist Asiens bester Perfomer in den letzten drei Monaten; gestern stieg die Währung 0,8% auf 1262,10 gegenüber dem Dollar.
Korean Air schoss infolgedessen 4,9% auf 7250 Won nach oben, Asiana Airlines, am Kosdaq notiert, avancierte 3,7% auf 1950 Won.

Zu guter Letzt konnte noch Speicherchiphersteller Hynix Semiconductor satte 9,5% auf 2130 Won nach oben schießen. Morgen will das Restrukturierungskomitee bekannt geben, wann und wie man wieder zur Tagesordnung übergehen will.

[Handbuch]

Heute wieder alle Gewinne von gestern wieder abgegeben. Damit ist aber HYNIX nicht die einzigste Firma in Korea. Da gings insgesamt ziemlich heftig abwärts. Hier noch etwas Balsam:

Wednesday November 28, 12:25 am Eastern Time
South Korea`s Kim sees 2002 growth at 4-5 percent
(UPDATE: Adds analysis, detail)

By Jason Neely

SEOUL, Nov 28 (Reuters) - South Korea`s economy is likely to bounce back and grow between four and five percent next year, President Kim Dae-jung said on Wednesday.
ADVERTISEMENT



Kim told Reuters in an interview he favoured more flexible policies to safeguard growth in one of Asia`s best performing economies. He also vowed to leave the fate of unsound ``chaebol`` conglomerates to market forces.

``We should encourage more domestic consumption,`` Kim said. ``The government will focus on trying to implement a more flexible fiscal and monetary policy.``

Speaking at the presidential Blue House ahead of a European tour, Kim said economic indicators, including inflation and the Korean won -2 exchange rate, proved Korea`s economy was doing ``fairly well`` despite the global economic downturn.

Jung Han-yung, chief economist at the Korea Institute of Finance (KIF), told Reuters a U.S. recovery would probably wait until the third quarter of 2002, spelling sluggish Korean exports and corporate investment in the meantime.

``Fiscal expansion should be continued until the first half of next year given there has been no effect from low interest rates at present,`` Jung said.

Kim`s forecast for 2002 growth was in line with the Finance Ministry`s target of more than four percent. This year the country expects GDP growth of about 2.5 percent, marking its second slowest performance in two decades.

``The important thing is to continue our economic reform efforts,`` Kim said.

Some analysts as well as rival firms have criticised state-run banks` support for companies such as bankrupt Daewoo Motor and struggling Hynix Semiconductor .

But Kim said South Korea remained committed to allowing unsound large companies to fail.

``When management fails, the market principles will take over,`` he said. ``And these companies, although large in size, we will let them fail, we will let them change hands or management.``
REFORM CHALLENGES

Kim stepped down as party leader earlier this month after losses in three by-elections signalled public discontent with the ruling party.

He has little more than a year left in office under the country`s one-term system and the flagging economy has posed challenges to Seoul`s corporate and financial reforms drive.

``Letting unsound companies fail is desirable, but given the recent lenient reform drive on chaebol (conglomerates), it seems it will be difficult to push ahead with it in reality,`` KIF`s Jung said.

Top exports such as semiconductors and steel face global downturns and uncertainty clouds key reform plans such as the privatisation of large state-run enterprises and banks.

One risk from having to support the economy next year could be failing to meet a 2003 target for balancing the budget, said Kwon Hyeuk-boo, economist at Daeshin Economic Research Institute.

``If the government pushes ahead with a fiscal deficit policy to help financial reforms, it would be hard to achieve a budget balance in 2003 as promised,`` Kwon said.

The central Bank of Korea said last week the economy grew at a surprisingly strong pace in the third quarter, up 1.8 percent year on year on expanded private spending and brisk construction investment.

It is one of the few Asian economies that has avoided recession in the global downturn and is on track to outperform most peers in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

But analysts expect slowing growth to threaten jobs going into next year, jeopardising consumer confidence that has proven vital to weathering worsened exports.

Last year South Korea posted 8.8 percent GDP growth, a figure not far above its stellar annual average from the early 1960s to 1996.

(Additional reporting by Martin Nesirky, Lee Suwan, Choi Kwang-hoon, Nam In-soo, Kim Myong-hwan)

[Handbuch]

Wednesday November 28, 9:23 am Eastern Time
Infineon-led tech slide batters German DAX
By Gill Griffith-Jones

FRANKFURT, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Germany`s Infineon led a broad retreat on the DAX on Wednesday as techs sagged across Europe and on renewed fears that an ailing rival would be kept afloat, spinning out overcapacity problems in the chip sector.
ADVERTISEMENT

Market participants said weaker-than-expected U.S. consumer confidence figures on Tuesday had unsettled sentiment, prompting investors to question the speed with which stocks had rebounded from September 21 lows.

``As long as there`s no light on the horizon for improvement in the first or second quarter of next year, there`s no real reason to buy stocks,`` said one German trader. ``And the confidence figures were horrible.``

Indications that Wall Street would suffer early losses soured the mood still further.

By 1356 GMT, the DAX (^GDAXI - news) was down 2.16 percent or 109 points at 4,952.18, having hit its lowest level since November 13 earlier in the session.

Despite the fall, the blue-chip index is still some six percent above the level it stood at before the September 11 attacks on the United States.

Juergen Gries, trader at Merck Finck in Munich, said the next resistance level in the DAX was at 4,600, adding that a consolidation in the benchmark index, which many market participants feel has powered up too far too fast, was healthy.


INFINEON TAKES WOODEN SPOON

Techs took the brunt of the tumble, with the DAX 100 tech and software index (^GDAXHIXE - news) falling 5.1 percent, by far the weakest sector performer on the broader market.

Heavily weighted electronics group Siemens and software maker SAP fell 3.8 percent and 5.1 percent respectively, together adding 31 points downside to the DAX.

The Nemax 50 index of leading growth stocks, which by Tuesday`s close had doubled in value since hitting an all-time low on September 11, slipped 4.5 percent to 1,237.55 points.

Infineon stole the show, though, losing 8.8 percent to 21.84 euros which ate into some of the 18 percent it had notched up in the last week.

Traders said general tech weakness had hit the stock, with investors also worried that its South Korean rival Hynix would remain in business, putting more pressure on prices for DRAM (dynamic random access memory) chips which remain near record lows.

``Anytime Hynix says anything that people perceive as good for Hynix, that is perceived as bad for Infineon,`` said Goldman Sachs analyst Gunnar T. Miller.

Hynix said earlier on Wednesday a tie-up with a foreign firm was necessary but that it had not yet planned such a move, though most analysts remain sceptical that any foreign firm would ally itself with the debt-ridden group.


TELEKOM DRAGS

Deutsche Telekom dropped 3.18 percent to 18.24 euros, strongly underperforming its peers on the pan-European Dow Jones Stoxx Telecoms index (^SXKP - news) after the company detailed its third-quarter figures.

The group`s operating performance positively surprised many analysts with a 20 percent rise in core quarterly earnings, but fund managers pointed to continued worries about a stock overhang and the effect of a rejig by a global index compiler as fuelling selling.

The first stage in a two-part shift to free-float by Morgan Stanley Capital International at the end of the week is expected to hit Deutsche Telekom stock as investors tweak their portfolios to reflect the free-float methodology.

Deutsche Telekom is still about 43-percent owned by the German government.

The expiry of a lock-up period at the beginning of December related to Telekom`s cash and shares acquisition of U.S. cellphone operator VoiceStream, was also souring sentiment towards the stock, market participants said.

``After the rebalancing of MSCI, we have the overhang,`` said Victor Moftakhar, fund manager at Deka Group. ``I would be cautious, I think the stock in the near term might underperform the sector.``

Chemicals group BASF fell 1.27 percent to 42.66 euros, weighed down by a report that the group is set to post a fourth-quarter loss as a result of extra provisions for a 296 million euro fine imposed by the European Commission for its part in a vitamin price fixing cartel.

Traders said the stock was also hit by a report that European Union Competition Commissioner Mario Monti is keen to abolish or limit exemptions for certain German industries from the country`s tax on energy use, the so-called eco-tax.

``This would mean a significant hit at the after-tax level for chemical companies,`` one German-based chemicals analyst said.

(Additional reporting by Marius Bosch in Frankfurt)

[Handbuch]

Wednesday November 28, 3:02 am Eastern Time
Hynix says foreign tie-up possible
SEOUL, Nov 28 (Reuters) - South Korea`s Hynix Semiconductor said on Wednesday a tie-up with a foreign firm was necessary but the world`s third largest memory chip maker had not yet planned such a move.

``A strategic tie-up for Hynix is absolutely necessary but nothing has been planned so far,`` former Commerce Minister Shin Kook-hwan, Hynix`s new head of restructuring, told a news conference.

Earlier in the day he convened the first meeting of a company reforms committee aiming to sell fabs and other assets as Hynix braces for a chip price downturn expected to last well into 2002.

``A strategic tie-up is possible if there is a technological synergy with a company smaller in scale than Micron or Infineon,`` Shin said.

Along with top-ranked Samsung Electronics , U.S. firm Micron Technology Inc (NYSE:MU - news) and Germany`s Infineon Technologies AG are Hynix`s main rivals in a memory sector rocked by an unprecedented downturn.

``It`s still too early to comment on the sale of core facilities,`` Shin said.

Hynix shares fell 190 won to close at 1,940 won in Wednesday`s heaviest turnover.

The benchmark index fell a steep 5.68 percent as U.S. comments suggesting possible conflict with Iraq exacerbated a sell-off after bullish gains in the last two months.



Email this story - Most-emailed articles - Most-viewed articles

[Handbuch]

Wednesday November 28, 9:56 am Eastern Time
Hynix says court dismisses most Rambus patent claims
SAN JOSE, Calif., Nov 28 (Reuters) - Korean chipmaker Hynix Semiconductor Inc. on Wednesday said a federal court dismissed all but two of the more than 400 patent infringement claims brought by Rambus Inc. (NasdaqNM:RMBS - news).

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California found that Hynix`s high speed memory devices do not infringe Rambus` patents, Hynix said.

The ruling was based on definitions issued by a court in a similar lawsuit between Santa Clara, California-based Rambus and Germany`s Infineon Technologies AG (NYSE:IFX - news) , Hynix said. Hynix`s allegations that Rambus committed fraud and violated the antitrust laws by its illegal behavior in the industry standards-setting organization, JEDEC, remain for trial.

Rambus is battling a wave of patent-infringement lawsuits lawsuits with several of the world`s largest memory chipmakers.

A Rambus representative could not be reached for immediate comment.

In May, a federal jury in Richmond, Va. found that Rambus committed fraud by failing to disclose patent application to JEDEC, in a case filed by Germany`s Infineon Technologies AG. The jury ordered Rambus to pay $3.5 million.

[Handbuch]

Heute wieder ein schönes Plus und eine gute Nachricht:

Hynix Semi. entwickelt SRAM für Handys

Seoul Südkoreas Halbleiterhersteller Hynix Semiconductor hat 16 MB und 32 MB SRAM Speicher für Mobilfunkgeräte entwickelt. Das Unternehmen hat bereits Kunden für die neuartigen Chips für Mobilfunkgeräte. Man geht auch davon aus, dass im Jahr 2002 diese Chips in die Massenproduktion gehen. Für einen 16 MB Speicher wird Hynix einen Preis von 5 US Dollar ansetzen. (jh)

© Insidestoxx, 29.11.01 - 09:50
http://www.insidestoxx.de

[Marco5]

wer kann mir das Originalkürzel für Hynix
zum Abru´f über yahoo nennen?
Vielen Dank.

[Handbuch]

@Marco5

Dir kann geholfen werden. Das Kürzel lautet: "00660.KS".

cu

[Handbuch]

Und wieder ein guter Tag:

Last Trade 1:00AM · 2145 Change +95 (+4.63%) Prev Cls 2050 Volume 412,122,976

[Handbuch]

Thursday November 29, 8:26 pm Eastern Time
Korea Hynix denies report of Micron merger talks
(UPDATE: Adds creditor comment, share price)

SEOUL, Nov 30 (Reuters) - South Korea`s Hynix Semiconductor Inc denied a media report on Friday that it was in discussions with U.S. rival Micron Technology (NYSE:MU - news) on a strategic alliance and merger.
ADVERTISEMENT



The Dong-a Ilbo newspaper reported Micron Chief Executive Steven Appleton had been in Seoul and discussed with Hynix several ways of forging a partnership, including asset sales, a merger and the sale of a Hynix stake held by creditors.

``As far as I know, the Dong-a Ilbo report is not true,`` Park Chan-jong, vice president of Hynix`s corporate communications team, told Reuters.

Shares of Hynix rose as much as seven percent to 2,195 won after the merger report. Hynix was up 4.6 percent at 2,145 won with the market`s largest turnover of 135.6 million shares at 0115 GMT.

The broader benchmark KOSPI index was up 2.7 percent at 645.86.

Despite Hynix`s repeated denials, local media keep floating the idea of a merger between the world`s second largest and third biggest memory chipmakers.

Such a merger would create the world`s largest memory maker, topping Korea`s Samsung Electronics .

Hynix`s newly appointed restructuring boss, former Commerce Minister Shin Kook-hwan, said on Wednesday a tie-up with a foreign firm was necessary but that Hynix had not yet planned such a move.

The newspaper also quoted a creditor bank official as saying creditors, who had about 70 percent of Hynix, might unload part of the stake to Micron.

Korea Exchange Bank , Hynix`s main creditor, said it could not confirm the report.

``We have no idea about the report. I knew of his visit through the newspaper,`` said an official on the bank`s Hynix restructuring team.

A slump in computer chip prices has hit Hynix finances hard, prompting two financial rescues of the ailing firm by creditors in 2001 alone.

[Handbuch]

Freitag 30. November 2001, 10:56 Uhr
Marktberichte Asien (Korea): Bessere Kreditwürdigkeit Koreas ?

Vor allem Samsung Electronics (881823) verhalf dem Kospi zu einem Anstieg von 2,4% auf 643,89 Punkte. Doch reichte der Anstieg nicht ganz aus, den Index im Wochenvergleich ins Plus zu ziehen, so dass ein kleines Minus von 0,2% stehen blieb.

Gerüchten zu Folge dürfte Korea´s Kreditwürdigkeit bei Moody´s, einer bedeutenden Ratingagentur, besser eingestuft werden. Dies dürfte sich vor allem für die Blue Chips positiv auswirken, ANZEIGE

da sie sich billiger mit Fremdkapital eindecken könnten. Unter diesen Voraussetzungen würden sich die koreanische Aktien überdurchschnittlich entwickeln.

Die für die Computerindustrie geltende Benchmark Philadelphia Semicondukter Index stieg um 4,3%. So zogen auch die entsprechenden koreanischen Werte an, allen voran das Schwergewicht Samsung Electronics (881823) mit einem Plus von 3,8% auf 218000 Won. Einer der größten PC-Hersteller Trigem Computer gewannen 3,7% auf 7000 Won.
Allem Anschein nach befindet sich Hynix Semiconductor (677419) (2145 Won, +4,6%) auf der Suche nach einem Partner, um seine Stellung im Chipmarkt weiter zu verbessern. Gespräche sollen bereits mit Micron Technology am Laufen sein.

Das stark verschuldete Unternehmen Daewoo Heavy Industries hat sich mit seinen Gläubigerbanken geeinigt, seine Schulden zu restrukturieren. Die längerfristigen Kredite bringen der Gesellschaft neuen Handlungsfreiraum und ließen den Kurs leicht um 0,2% auf 2180 Won ansteigen.

Mit den steigenden Kursen kehrt wieder die Hoffnung bei den Brokern zurück, höhere Umsätze zu erzielen und damit auch wieder mehr Gewinne zu erwirtschaften. Diese Spekulation trieb den Kurs des führenden Brokers Samsung Securities um 3,6% auf 44950 Won in die Höhe.

[Handbuch]

Die Gerüchte mehren sich:

Micron Tech vor Übernahme?

Im DRAM-Segment steht eine massive Konsolidierung an

Die Aktie von Hynix Semiconductor hat ein fünf-Monats-Hoch erreicht, nachdem eine südkoreanische Zeitung berichtet hat, Steve Appleton befände sich in Gesprächen mit dem Unternehmen und seinen Kreditgebern. Appleton ist kein geringerer als der Chef von Micron Tech, der Nummer zwei auf dem weltweiten DRAM-Markt. Angeblich verhandelt man über eine Übernahme.

Diesbezügliche Gerüchte kursieren schon länger im Markt . Es liegt nahe, dass in dem arg gebeutelten Chip-Segment Fusionen und Pleiten auf der Tagesordnung stehen . Seit langem werden hier Preise erzielt, die bestenfalls die variablen Kosten decken. Allgemein werden Micron gute Chancen eingeräumt, aus dem Konsolidierungsprozess gestärkt hervorzugehen.

Offizielle beider Firmen lehnten eine Stellungnahme ab. Micron-Sprecher Mahoney bestätigt immerhin: „In Anbetracht der Marktbedingungen hat uns fast jeder aus der Branche angesprochen, um eine strategische Allianz zu bilden.“ Die einzige Ausnahme sei Samsung gewesen.

Die Kreditgeber von Hynix besitzen 70 Prozent des Unternehmens. Ein nicht genannter Bankenvertreter soll dem Zeitungsbericht zufolge gesagt haben, Appleton habe auf ihm unterbreitete Vorschläge positiv reagiert.

Eine Verbindung zwischen Micron und Hynix, der Nummer drei im DRAM-Geschäft, könnte dem US-Anbieter Zugang zu Märkten verschaffen, in denen er bisher nur schwach vertreten ist. Andererseits ist die Produktion von Flash-Speichern von Hynix interessant für Micron. Die Frage ist nur, wie viel die Amerikaner das Abenteuer kosten würde.

Fusion im DRAM-Segment sind die zwangsläufige Folge der desolaten Marktsituation. Die Hersteller leiden unter schwacher Nachfrage seitens der Anbieter von PCs, Servern und Kommunikationsgerät. Die Überkapazitäten sind dramatisch. Vereinzelte Versuche, das Angebot zu verknappen, waren fruchtlos und veranlassten bestenfalls Wettbewerber, kurzfristig in die Bresche zu springen.

Wenn nun aber in der DRAM-Branche nicht nur jeder mit jedem redet, sondern auch tatsächlich gehandelt würde, könnte das ein Zeichen dafür sein, dass bald das Schlimmste überstanden ist. Solange kein Licht am Ende des Tunnels zu sehen ist, machen Groß-Fusionen meist keinen Sinn. Jeder ist dann zu sehr mit sich selbst beschäftigt. In dem Moment, wo absehbar das Gröbste überstanden ist, aber nehmen strategische Überlegungen Gestalt an.

Die MU-Aktie verliert 1,3 Prozent auf 27,50 Dollar. Der 52-Wochen-Bereich liegt zwischen 16,39 und 49,61 Dollar. Der Philadelphia-Semiconductor-Index sinkt um 2,8 Prozent auf 519 Punkte.

Autor: Klaus Singer, 16:58 30.11.01

[Handbuch]

Die Gerüchte mehren sich:

Micron Tech vor Übernahme?

Im DRAM-Segment steht eine massive Konsolidierung an

Die Aktie von Hynix Semiconductor hat ein fünf-Monats-Hoch erreicht, nachdem eine südkoreanische Zeitung berichtet hat, Steve Appleton befände sich in Gesprächen mit dem Unternehmen und seinen Kreditgebern. Appleton ist kein geringerer als der Chef von Micron Tech, der Nummer zwei auf dem weltweiten DRAM-Markt. Angeblich verhandelt man über eine Übernahme.

Diesbezügliche Gerüchte kursieren schon länger im Markt . Es liegt nahe, dass in dem arg gebeutelten Chip-Segment Fusionen und Pleiten auf der Tagesordnung stehen . Seit langem werden hier Preise erzielt, die bestenfalls die variablen Kosten decken. Allgemein werden Micron gute Chancen eingeräumt, aus dem Konsolidierungsprozess gestärkt hervorzugehen.

Offizielle beider Firmen lehnten eine Stellungnahme ab. Micron-Sprecher Mahoney bestätigt immerhin: „In Anbetracht der Marktbedingungen hat uns fast jeder aus der Branche angesprochen, um eine strategische Allianz zu bilden.“ Die einzige Ausnahme sei Samsung gewesen.

Die Kreditgeber von Hynix besitzen 70 Prozent des Unternehmens. Ein nicht genannter Bankenvertreter soll dem Zeitungsbericht zufolge gesagt haben, Appleton habe auf ihm unterbreitete Vorschläge positiv reagiert.

Eine Verbindung zwischen Micron und Hynix, der Nummer drei im DRAM-Geschäft, könnte dem US-Anbieter Zugang zu Märkten verschaffen, in denen er bisher nur schwach vertreten ist. Andererseits ist die Produktion von Flash-Speichern von Hynix interessant für Micron. Die Frage ist nur, wie viel die Amerikaner das Abenteuer kosten würde.

Fusion im DRAM-Segment sind die zwangsläufige Folge der desolaten Marktsituation. Die Hersteller leiden unter schwacher Nachfrage seitens der Anbieter von PCs, Servern und Kommunikationsgerät. Die Überkapazitäten sind dramatisch. Vereinzelte Versuche, das Angebot zu verknappen, waren fruchtlos und veranlassten bestenfalls Wettbewerber, kurzfristig in die Bresche zu springen.

Wenn nun aber in der DRAM-Branche nicht nur jeder mit jedem redet, sondern auch tatsächlich gehandelt würde, könnte das ein Zeichen dafür sein, dass bald das Schlimmste überstanden ist. Solange kein Licht am Ende des Tunnels zu sehen ist, machen Groß-Fusionen meist keinen Sinn. Jeder ist dann zu sehr mit sich selbst beschäftigt. In dem Moment, wo absehbar das Gröbste überstanden ist, aber nehmen strategische Überlegungen Gestalt an.

Die MU-Aktie verliert 1,3 Prozent auf 27,50 Dollar. Der 52-Wochen-Bereich liegt zwischen 16,39 und 49,61 Dollar. Der Philadelphia-Semiconductor-Index sinkt um 2,8 Prozent auf 519 Punkte.

Autor: Klaus Singer, 16:58 30.11.01

[Handbuch]

Sunday December 2, 8:59 pm Eastern Time
Korea Hynix asking LG to roll over 400 bln won debt
SEOUL, Dec 3 (Reuters) - South Korea`s troubled Hynix Semiconductor Inc said on Monday it was in talks with LG Electronics Inc to delay payment of 400 billion won ($317 million).

Hynix owes the money to LG in connection with its takeover of LG Semiconductor for 2.56 trillion won in 1999.

``We are in talks with LG Electronics to roll over maturing receivables of 400 billion won,`` spokesman Hynix spokesman Bang Min-ho told Reuters.

The comments came out after the world`s third largest memory chipmaker said before the market opened it was talking with U.S. rival Micron Technology Inc (NYSE:MU - news) about a strategic alliance or other strategic option.

[Handbuch]

Sunday December 2, 10:21 pm Eastern Time
Hynix, Daewoo to start fixing woes soon-minister
(UPDATE: Adds more comments from minister, share prices)

SEOUL, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Troubled South Korean firms Hynix Semiconductor Inc and Daewoo Motor Co are likely to show signs of fixing their problems this year as talks with foreign investors progress, Finance and Economy Minister Jin Nyum said on Monday.
ADVERTISEMENT

He made the comments to reporters after Hynix , the world`s third largest memory chipmaker, said it was talking to U.S. rival Micron Technology Inc (NYSE:MU - news) about a strategic alliance and other options.

Debt-laden Daewoo Motor has been in sale talks with General Motors Corp (NYSE:GM - news) for more than a year.

``I expect to see signs of resolving problems at ailing companies such as Hynix and Daewoo Motor within this year,`` Jin said at a news briefing.

Korea is trying to speed corporate reforms in a bid to win international confidence and prevent corporate failures from spreading to financial institutions.

The International Monetary Fund last month urged Korea to continue such reforms even after the government spent nearly $120 billion to bail out and restructure companies hit hard by Asia`s 1997-1998 economic crisis.

Korea hopes to wrap up a sale of Hyundai Group`s three financial units for $870 million to American International Group (NYSE:AIG - news) this year.

``There are lots of difficulties in the Hyundai-AIG talks, but the government will make an effort to sign a final contract within this year,`` Jin said.

The government in August promised to invest 900 billion won ($712.5 million) in two Hyundai units to sweeten the sale to AIG, which is crucial to Korea`s reform drive.

Jin said he expected more bank mergers after Kookmin Bank and H&CB merged in November.

Hynix shares rose 3.3 percent to 2,215 won and Hyundai Securities Co fell 0.9 percent to 11,100. The broader Kospi index was off 1.48 percent at 0254 GMT.

[Handbuch]

Die vielen guten news zeigen Wirkung! Heute wieder ein Limit-Up.

[Handbuch]

Endlich ist die Katze aus dem Sack. Denke mal, wir werden noch einige Limits-Up in den nächsten Tagen sehen.


Monday December 3 7:50 AM ET
Micron, Hynix Plan Alliance Talks, May Merge
By Kim Miyoung

SEOUL (Reuters) - Memory chip rivals Micron Technology Inc and Hynix Semiconductor Inc said on Monday they plan talks on an alliance, and possibly a merger, to change the landscape of an industry hit by a record fall in prices.

A merger of the world`s second- and third-ranked memory chipmakers would put them ahead of Samsung Electronics Co Ltd and force Samsung to reconsider its strategy of not reducing production, which would help boost prices, analysts said.

``It is too early to say whether the talks will result in a merger,`` Hynix Chief Executive Park Chong-sup told reporters at a news briefing.

``But our cooperation will change the landscape of the chip industry, forcing minor chipmakers in Taiwan and Japan to give up the memory chip business in the end,`` Park said after the two firms announced they were evaluating a broad array of strategic options.

The news sent Hynix shares soaring by the daily limit of 15 percent to 2,465 won, meaning they have almost doubled in the past month following a $7 billion rescue by creditors in late October and market speculation it was talking to Micron. Hynix said on November 23 rumors of a possible merger with Micron were ``groundless.``

Analysts welcomed the potential alliance.

``It is good news for the chip industry, as the tie-up will mean less price competition,`` said Jay Kim, an analyst at ING Barings.

The proposed talks follow survival bids by other chipmakers, with Germany`s Infineon Technologies AG talking to Japan`s Toshiba Corp about merging their loss-making memory chip units.

STAKE SALE SEEN LIKELY

Hynix said it will decide within a month whether to continue talks with Micron after looking at possible alliance strategies in more detail.

Analysts said an alliance could be achieved in several ways.

``The tie-up is likely to involve a stake sale, technological alliance or co-marketing,`` said Michael Min, an analyst at Korea Investment, Trust and Management.

``A marketing alliance will bolster Hynix`s position in the United States and help Micron expand to the crucial Chinese market, where Hynix has the upper hand,`` Min said.

Analysts said a deal would also offer them more bargaining power over computer makers and rivals such as Samsung.

Park said major chip producers including Samsung should consider reducing production, a step producers have been loath to take for fear of giving up market share.

``We will not choose cutting chip output as long as there is demand,`` Samsung`s spokesman James Chung told Reuters. ``But we will flexibly adjust our product portfolios to meet demands.``

Should Hynix agree to merge with Micron, the chip sector would be dominated by three big players -- Hynix-Micron, Samsung and Infineon-Toshiba.

Micron and Hynix, unlike the larger and more diversified Samsung, have suffered huge quarterly losses due to a record downturn in memory chip prices.

The downturn was nearly fatal for the heavily-indebted Hynix, which had to be rescued by creditors. Last month, auditor Arthur Andersen estimated Hynix`s liquidation value at about $2.8 billion.

Despite the share`s recent recovery, its stock is still down 40 percent since it started declining in September 2000.

Although Micron, like its global peers, has suffered deep losses on falling chip prices, it has a strong balance sheet to weather the downturn. It ended its fiscal year in August with some $1.6 billion in cash and short-term investments.

``It is a good opportunity for us to seek alliances with Micron, which is highly focused on dynamic random access memory chips, with its sound financial structure and dominant shares in major markets including Japan and Europe,`` said Park.

[Handbuch]

Im Ask ist das nächste Limit Up schon eingepreist!!!

WKN Börse Kurs Zusatz Trend TradeVolumen TagesVolumen Zeit Datum Bid Ask Hoch Tief Vortag Diff. Änd.

506809 FRA 2,18 + 160 1.660 09:45:06 03.12.2001 2,16 2,30 2,18 2,16 1,93 0,25 +13,0%

[Handbuch]

Montag 3. Dezember 2001, 12:56 Uhr
Marktberichte Asien (Korea): Hynix-Micron Mergergerücht beflügelt Korea

Mit zusätzlichem Rückenwind neben den weiter guten allgemeinen Wachstumsraten ausgestattet startete heute der Aktienmarkt in Korea. Der Kospi-Index notiert zum Ende der Sitzung mit einem Gewinn von 6,77 Punkten oder einem prozentualen Gewinn von 1,1 % bei 650,66 Zählern im Plus. Das mögliche Hynix Semiconductor (677419) - Micron Technology (869020) Merger war das heute allumfassende Thema am koreanischen Aktienmarkt. Von der möglichen ANZEIGE

Mergerphantasie konnte neben Hynix Semiconductor (677419), die in Folge des aufgekommenden Mergergerüchts heute um den tageshöchstmöglichen Gewinn von 15 % auf 2465 Won ansteigen konnten, heute auch in dessen Sog die anderen Halbleiterhersteller Koreas haussieren. So gewinnt der Chipgigant Samsung Electronics (881823) heute satte 6500 oder 3 % auf 224.500 Won.

Gesucht waren im Zusammenhang mit dem möglichen Halbleitermerger auch die Bankwerte, die in Folge eines Mergers Gewinner durch nicht ausfallende Kredite von Hynix Semiconductor (677419) sind. Korea Exchange Bank, Hynix Semiconductor (677419)`s grösster Kreditgeber kann sich um ebenfalls sagenhafte 15 % auf 3930 Won verbessern. Gesucht auch einer die anderen Hauptgläubiger des angeschlagenen Halbleiterriesen eine Chohung Bank mit einem Plus von 410 oder 12,3 % auf 3740 Won. Chohung Bank hat Kredite von Hynix Semiconductor (677419) im Gegenwert von ca. 735 Milliarden Won in seinen Büchern.
Im Gegensatz zum gesuchten Halbleiter- und Banksektor musste heute der Telekommunikationssektor unter Gewinnmitnahmen leiden. SK Telecom (902578), Koreas grösste Telefongesellschaft musste einen Rückgang von 2,27 % auf 258.000 Won verkraften. Korea Telecom (922613) gab um 2,26 % auf 51900 Won nach.

[robertos]

Subject : Decision on Hynix, Micron Alliance to Be Reached Soon

By Lee Joon-seung

Seoul, Dec. 3 (Yonhap) -- Park Chong-sup, president of Hynix Semiconductor
Inc., said Monday that the possible alliance between the Korean chipmaker and
U.S. based Micron Technology Inc. will be decided within a month.

Stressing that the two companies were evaluating a broad range of options
that included a merger, Park told reporters at company headquarters in
southern Seoul that an alliance would contribute to the overall well-being of
the global semiconductor market and be good for Hynix as well.

"A natural understanding has developed between the two sides and since
Hynix and Micron are very serious about the alliance, we expect tangible
results to emerge from the meetings," he said. He conceded, however, that
although the company had denied such moves were taking place last week,
closed doors talks have been going on for some time.

Aware that the world`s top memory chipmakers have had their fair share of
squabbles in the past, especially with Micron crying foul play when banks
bailed out Hynix on two occasions this year, Park pointed out that there was
no such thing as a permanent enemy or friend in the business world, and that
the two companies were well aware an alliance would give each more options
and the ability to make higher quality products.

He said that as Hynix`s president he was obliged to offer shareholders
various alternatives, including mergers, and that the company`s creditors had
also given their approval to carry out talks on the matter.

The top manager added that the decision to hold talks with Micron received
the go-ahead from the special committee for corporate restructuring. He then
explained that though various players had not been able to reap the benefits
of alliances in the past, this could change as smaller Japanese and Taiwanese
makers were leaving the business altogether.

He highlighted Micron`s financial structure and its numerous dynamic random
access memory (DRAM) facilities located around the world as factors that made
it an ideal partner for Hynix, since the Korean company could combine these
traits with its proven ability to manufacture a wide range of chips at
competitive prices.

Park added that though the Korean chipmaker was burdened with debt and its
financial status was not altogether solid, the company had a large pool of
first rate technicians.

Related to the current glut in the semiconductor market, the Hynix chief
said that all chipmakers, including industry leader Samsung Electronics,
should consider reducing production to survive the unprecedented downturn in
the industry that has forced everyone to sell chips at a loss.

Meanwhile, he said that talks about selling off production capacity to
China is still on the agenda, but that this would be contingent upon progress
in alliance talks with Micron.

"Talks that were conducted with China would take three to six months, which
should give us plenty of time to look at options," he said.

The Hynix executive, however, said that talking about mergers at this time
was premature and could lead to incorrect speculation.

"Suffice it to say for now that joint examinations are being conducted at
the present time," he said.

If the talks bear fruit, industry sources said that the new entity would
usurp Samsung as the world`s largest memory chipmaker.

Hynix develops, manufactures and markets high-quality semiconductors, flash
memory and system IC devices, while Micron specializes in dynamic random
access memory (DRAM) chips, very fast synchronous dynamic random access
memory (SRAM), semiconductor components and memory modules.

[Handbuch]

Und es wird immer besser:



Tuesday December 4, 12:32 am Eastern Time
Micron team to visit Korea for tie-up talks-Hynix
(UPDATE: Adds details, share prices, paras 5-7)

SEOUL, Dec 4 (Reuters) - A delegation from U.S. Micron Technology Inc was expected in South Korea on Wednesday to discuss a strategic tie-up with Hynix Semiconductor Inc, sending shares of the Korean company limit-up by 15 percent in their fourth gaining session.

Micron (NYSE:MU - news) and Hynix , the world`s second- and third-ranked memory chipmakers, said on Monday they are engaged in talks for an alliance, and possibly a merger, to change the landscape of an industry hit by a record fall in prices.

``A team of negotiators from Micron will visit Seoul tomorrow to move ahead with the alliance talks,`` said Hynix spokesman.

But the company did not comment on details of the expected visits and it was unclear who from Micron would make the trip.

Hynix shares were at five-month highs of 2,830 won ($2.23) on the day`s most active volume, versus a 0.15 percent rise in the benchmark index at 0514 GMT.

Despite a rise of more than 150 percent in Hynix`s share price since the end of October on rumours of a merger with Micron and creditors` $7 billion bailout, analysts remained cautious issuing a long-term ``buy`` recommendation due to potential dilution factors in the wake of a debt-for-equity swap by lenders expected next year.

Creditors are expected to convert about 2.9 trillion won ($2.29 billion) in debt for equity starting next year as a part of the hefty bailout package for the former Hyundai Electronics.

[Handbuch]

Dienstag 4. Dezember 2001, 10:15 Uhr
Marktberichte Asien (Korea): Hynix +7,9%; Übernahmeverhandlungen mit Micron

Trotz eines 7,9%igen Anstiegs bei Hynix Semiconductor (677419) musste der koreanische Leitindex Kospi bei hohen Umsätzen ein leichtes Minus von 0,1% (auf 649,90 Punkte) hinnehmen. Vier Mal so viel Aktien schlossen im Minus als im Plus.

Der stark subventionierte Chiphersteller Hynix markierte bei 2660 Won ein Fünf-Monats-Hoch. Das Gerücht wurde gestern von der Geschäftsführung bestätigt, dass sich der angeschlagene Halbleitergigant ANZEIGE

mit Micron Technology (869020) in Übernahmeverhandlungen befindet. Mit der Akquisition von Hynix würde Micron zum größten Chiphersteller der Welt werden.
Mit dem Zusammenschluß könnte es dann endlich zu einer Senkung der Überproduktion an Halbleitern kommen. Dies würde sich sowohl positiv auf die Gewinnsituation der Halbleiterproduzenten, als auch auf deren Aktienkurse auswirken.
Die hohe Verschuldung von Hynix würde dann auf das liquide Unternehmen Micron übergehen, so dass die Gläubiger wieder hohe Chancen auf Rückzahlung der Verbindlichkeiten hätten. Dies führte vor allem bei den koreanischen Banken zu weiteren Kursanstiegen. Korea Exchange Bank und Chohung Bank legten beide um 1,3% auf 3980 bzw. 3790 Won zu.



Hyundai Merchant Marine würde ebenfalls von einem Zusammenschluss der beiden Chiphersteller profitieren, da es einen 4%igen Anteil an Hynix hält. Der Kurs von Hyundai MM legte um 4,5% auf 2460 Won zu.

Koreas größter Autohersteller Hyundai Motor (885166) (-2,1% auf 26100 Won) dagegen musste weitere Kursabschläge hinnehmen, da der Arbeiterstreik weiter fortgesetzt wird. Die Gewerkschaft fordert vom Unternehmen, dass die Zwangsbeurlaubung vieler Arbeitnehmer wieder zurückgenommen wird.

Die Ad Hoc Mitteilung von Doosan Heavy Industries and Construction, 12,2 Mio. eigene Aktien von Korea Electric Power (893161) zurückgekauft zu haben, bescherte der Aktie ein Plus von 0,8% auf 9150 Won. Damit soll der Kurs der Aktie in die Höhe getrieben werden.

[Handbuch]

Übrigens haben wir gestern die 200-Tage-Linie nach oben durchbrochen.

[robertos]

Date : 12/04/2001 Time : 16:07
Subject : Hynix, Micron to Hold Earnest Discussions on Alliance Forging

Seoul, Dec. 4 (Yonhap) -- Hynix Semiconductor Inc. and Micron Semiconductor
Inc. will hold their first formal meeting to discuss the possibility of
forming a corporate alliance this week, creditor banks for the Korean company
said Tuesday.

The creditor institutions for Hynix said both companies want to get talks
rolling as soon as possible and will focus on exchanging preconditions for a
future tie-up that could include an outright merger.

"Representatives for Hynix will include creditors and company officials who
comprise its special committee for corporate restructuring, as well as
outside experts," said an official from one of the creditor banks. He added
the makeup for the Micron side should be similar.

In addition, the banker said investment banks that advise the world`s
second and third largest chipmakers are expected to hold related
discussions.

He said banks and outside experts will try to devise the most feasible
compromise possible and that all parties are trying to finalize the deal by
the end of the year. The official stressed that both sides are examining a
broad range of options that could contribute to their well-being and that of
the global semiconductor industry that has seen profits plummet in recent
years due to falling demand and excess production.

Related to this, an employee for Hynix confirmed that representatives form
Micron will arrive in Korea Wednesday and plan to stay about two weeks for
talks with company officials and the corporate restructuring committee. The
delegation is expected to visit Hynix` manufacturing facilities.

The two sides are also planning to exchange information related to their
operations and financial conditions and sign a confidentiality agreement.

Meanwhile, Steve Appleton, Micron chairman, and Bill Stover, the company`s
chief financial officer, visited Korea Nov. 22-25 to meet with Financial
Supervisory Commission Chairman Lee Keun-young, ranking government officials
and top managers from financial institutions like the Korea Exchange Bank to
talk about the corporate alliance.

If current talks bear fruit and a merger takes place, the new entity will
usurp Samsung Electronics`s place as the largest memory chip maker in the
world.

[Handbuch]

Und es geht weiter aufwärts!!!

[Handbuch]

Klingt gut und wäre eine Erklärung, warum Samsung heute in Korea ein Limit Up hinlegte.

SEOUL/MÜNCHEN (dpa-AFX) - Steigende Chip-Preise lassen weltweit die Halbleiter-Hersteller auf ein Ende der Branchenkrise hoffen. Die Konkurrenten Hynix und Samsung erhöhten nach eigenen Angaben am Mittwoch die Preise für Speicherchips. Der Preisverfall bei DRAM-Chips ist Hauptursache für die Verluste beim angeschlagenen Halbleiter-Hersteller Infineon und anderen Unternehmen der Branche.

Samsung erhöhte die Preise für DRAM-Chips im Dezember um durchschnittlich 10 Prozent. Dies sei mit den großen Computerherstellern ausgemacht worden, hieß es. Hynix hob die Preise um 10 bis 20 Prozent an. Die beiden südkoreanischen Konzerne sind nach Einschätzung von Infineon stark für den Preisverfall in der Branche verantwortlich.

UNKLAR, OB INFINEON SICH PREISERHÖHUNG ANSCHLIESST

Offen ist, ob der deutsche Chip-Konzern Infineon nachziehen wird. "Wie sich die Preise entwickeln werden, ist schwer vorhersehbar", sagte ein Sprecher der dpa-AFX. Ob und wann das Unternehmen die Preise für seine DRAM-Chips erhöhen werde, wollte der Sprecher nicht beantworten.

Die Gespräche mit dem japanischen Technologie-Konzern Toshiba sollen bis zum Jahreswechsel zu einem Ende geführt werden, sagte der Sprecher. Die beiden Unternehmen verhandeln über den Zusammenschluss ihres Speicherchip-Geschäftes. Wegen der Krise auf dem DRAM-Markt verzeichnen Infineon und Toshiba tief rote Zahlen in diesem Bereich.

ZUSAMMENSCHLUSS VON HYNIX UND MICRON KÖNNTE MARKT ENTLASTEN

In den vergangenen Tagen wurde über einen Zusammenschluss von Hynix mit dem US-Konzern Micron Technology spekuliert. Micron Technology untersucht derzeit die finanzielle Verfassung von Hynix. Micron habe Finanzchef Bill Stover mit einem Team nach Südkorea geschickt, um die Lage des angeschlagenen Unternehmens zu sondieren, sagte ein Hynix-Sprecher am Mittwoch.

Die Preise für einen 128-MB-Speicherchip waren bis Ende September binnen Jahresfrist von 15 auf unter 1 Dollar gesunken. Die Herstellungskosten liegen bei etwa sechs Dollar./DP/mur/fn/bi



Autor: dpa - AFX (© dpa),10:40 05.12.2001

[Handbuch]

Hier noch der Marktbericht:


Mittwoch 5. Dezember 2001, 10:39 Uhr
Marktberichte Asien (Korea): Korea Highlight in Asien - Samsung und Hynix erhöhen Chippreise

Beinahe euphorisch konnte man heute die Stimmung in Korea bezeichnen, während sich der Technologiesektor vor guten Nachrichten kaum retten konnte. Infolgedessen legte der Kospi Index die stärkste Rally seit 11 Monaten hin und schoss 5,9 Prozent auf 688,31 Stellen nach oben. Das ist der höchste Stand seit dem 1. September letzten Jahres. Der Hochtechnologieindex Kosdaq gewann 1,8 Prozent auf 72,04 Punkte.

Heute wurden fast nur die- reichlich vorhandenen- guten ANZEIGE

Nachrichten aufgenommen. Allein die Vorgaben aus Amerika reichten für eine positive Grundstimmung aus. UBS Warburg bescheinigte dem Halbleiterbereich eine Erholung und die Auftragslage bei Cisco Systems (878841) lag innerhalb der Erwartungen.

In Korea indes setzt man viel Hoffnung auf die mögliche Allianz zwischen Speicherchiphersteller Hynix Semiconductor und Micron Technology (869020), von der man sich unter anderem eine Drosselung der Überkapazitäten erwartet.
Dass dann aber Samsung und Hynix- nach Rücksprache mit ihren Kunden- die eingebrochenen Preise für DRAM Chips wieder anheben sollen, ließ den Markt in Erwatung einer Stabilisierung dieses angeschlagenen Sektors- dann endgültig nach oben schießen.
Beinahe die Hälfte des Anstieges ging auf das Konto der Computerwerte. Speicherchipgigant Samsung Electronics (881823) will seine Lieferpreise im Dezember um durchschnittlich 10% anheben, angeblich seien Kunden wie International Business Machines und Dell Computer (875403) auch mit Erhöhungen bis zu 20% einverstanden. Hynix plant eine Anhebung um 20%.
Nun scheinen bessere Wirtschaftsdaten in Korea und den USA endlich einen Effekt auszulösen.
Samsung Electronics (881823), dessen Aktien in den letzten 10 Wochen 89% nach oben ausgebrochen waren, explodierte 15% auf 264500 Won, Hynix avancierte 4,5% auf 2780 Won.


Die gute Stimmung übertrug sich auch auf die anderen Computerwerte. Der als Leistungsindikator dienende Philadelphia Semiconductor Index verbuchte seinen größten Gewinn seit einem Monat. Trigem Computer stieg stolze 5,9% auf 7550 Won und Computerkomponentenhersteller Samsung Electro-Mechanics 10,7% auf 41800 Won.

Im Automobilbereich konnte sich auch Hyundai Motor (885166) wieder erholen und gewann 1,15% auf 26400 Won. Immer noch belasten Streiks den größten Autohersteller der Nation.

Ansonsten schloss sich auch Stahlgigant Pohang Iron & Steel (893094) dem Trend an und stieg satte 88% auf 117500 Won und Stromkonzern Korea Electric Power (893161) avancierte 4,67% auf 23550 Won.

[Handbuch]

Da hat doch eben einer 15.000 Anteile des Zertifikates unter Wert verkauft. Nichts gegen Gewinnmitnahmen, aber bei der derzeitigen Nachrichtenlage dürfte dies wohl etwas verfrüht sein, oder seid Ihr anderer Meinung?

[robertos]

Date : 12/05/2001 Time : 16:15
Subject : Samsung, Hynix Raises DRAM Prices for Major Suppliers

Seoul, Dec. 5 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Electronics Co. and Hynix Semiconductor
Inc. said Wednesday they have raised prices of their dynamic random access
memory (DRAM) and synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM) chips for
major suppliers.

According to company insiders and industry sources, the world`s first and
third largest memory chip makers were able to conclude a contract that calls
for a 10-20 percent rise in per unit costs for the 128 megabit (Mb) SDRAMs.

They said that the increased prices will be reflected in this month`s
shipments.

The reason for the hike, which follows a 16-month freeze, comes as chip
prices on the futures market have posted steady gains over the last few
months. The price of a 128Mb DRAM chip stood at under US$1 in early November,
though it is currently closer to $2.

Samsung said it had raised prices of chips and modules by 10-20 percent for
small and medium-sized business partners as of last month.

The rise in global chip prices is expected to alleviate the worst ever
contraction phase faced by the market, which has forced many smaller
manufacturers to exit the semiconductor business altogether.

Ongoing talks concerning an alliance between Hynix and Micron Technology
Inc., the world`s second largest DRAM, SRAM and semiconductor components
maker, was triggered in part by the falling profit margins and mounting debts
faced by the sector.

Though specific figures have not been released, semiconductor experts said
that the asking price for chips in the futures sector stand $1-$2 more than
current market prices, indicating the possibility of further hikes.

[Handbuch]

Heute nach einem positivem Start dann doch leicht im Minus geschlossen. Nach diesem Anstieg wohl mehr als verständlich.

Thursday December 6, 12:38 am Eastern Time
Korea Hynix says prefers cash injection from Micron
(UPDATE: Adds more comments from Hynix, analysts, background on creditors, share prices)

By Nam In-soo and Lee Shin-hyung

SEOUL, Dec 6 (Reuters) - South Korea`s Hynix Semiconductor Inc said on Thursday it wanted Micron Technology Inc (NYSE:MU - news) to inject cash into the company under a proposed alliance aimed at easing a global glut of computer memory chips.
ADVERTISEMENT



Hynix, the world`s second largest memory chipmaker, said it would rather sell new shares to third-ranked Micron of the United States than accept an equity swap.

A Hynix official declined to confirm a report in the Korea Economic Daily saying Hynix had in principle agreed to exchange a 15-20 percent stake held by its creditors for a certain amount of stock in Micron. A final deal was expected in the first half of next year, the report said.

The two companies began alliance talks on Wednesday, helping to boost chip shares around the world on hopes they will restructure an industry reeling from overcapacity.

``In talks with Micron, we naturally want a cash injection from them,`` a senior Hynix official told Reuters. ``We need fresh money.``

The troubled Korean chipmaker owes 8.64 trillion won ($6.83 billion) to banks and other financial institutions.

``All possibilities are open and talks are in early stages,`` said the official, who asked not to be identified.

Micron and Hynix announced on Monday plans to discuss a strategic alliance or other options, including a merger, which would forge the world`s top producer, replacing Samsung Electronics .

PRICES START TO RECOVER

Any deal that cuts capacity should lift depressed chip prices, which have already begun to recover following news of the talks. Hynix and Samsung said on Wednesday they had increased contract chip prices by as much as 20 percent for big clients in December.

A Hynix official said Micron representatives will visit Hynix`s main plant in Ichon later on Thursday to begin due diligence on the Korean company.

Analysts said a deal was unlikely to take shape any time soon as it needed agreement from several parties with conflicting views.

``Hynix`s creditors, who are heavily exposed to the company, also want to get out of it,`` said a chip analyst at a local brokerage. ``From Micron`s point of view, it has no reason to do good to its rivals at its cost.``

Hynix creditors, led by Korea Exchange Bank (KEB) , extended a $7 billion bailout in late October in return for control over the Korean chipmaker.

Micron`s CEO Steve Appleton told EBN, an online semiconductor news service, on Monday that Micron ``wants to eliminate a strong player, but in an advantageous arrangement. It does not make sense if all we`re doing is relieving a problem for one of our competitors.``

The Micron/Hynix talks follow similar efforts by other chipmakers, with Germany`s Infineon Technology AG talking to Japan`s Toshiba Corp about merging their loss-making memory chips units.

Hynix was down 2.2 percent at 2,720 won at 0425 GMT after rising as much as 6.1 percent earlier. Samsung rose as much as 10.7 percent to a year high of 293,000 won.

Taiwan`s Macronix International was up the seven percent trading limit at T$28.00, while Winbond Electronics was limit-up at T$17.00.

[asiate]

Hey

Hynix möchte Kapitalspritze von Micron

Hynix Semiconductor möchte, dass sich Micron Technology im Rahmen einer geplanten Allianz mit Kapital am Unternehmen beteiligt. So würde Hynix lieber neue Aktien ausgeben, als einen Aktientausch mit Micron akzeptieren.

Ein Hynix Verantwortlicher weigerte sich Berichte zu bestätigen, wonach Hynix schon prinzipiell zugestimmt habe einen 15-20% Anteil, den seine Gläubiger halten, mit Micron Aktien zu tauschen. Ein Abschluss solle demnach im ersten Halbjahr 2002 stattfinden.

In den Gesprächen mit Micron habe man bisher immer auf eine Kapitalspritze bestanden, so ein älterer Hynix Manager. Man brauche eben frisches Geld.

Der koreanische Chiphersteller steht bei Banken und anderen Finanzinstitutionen mit $6,83 Mrd. in der Kreide.

aus - http://www.boersego.de

Bis dann

[Handbuch]

Habe soeben, die Hälfte meines Bestandes von HYNIX verkauft. Denke mal, daß die Aktie nach diesem Anstieg noch einmal zurücksetzt. Wir werden sehen, ob es ein Fehler war.



Thursday December 6, 5:34 am Eastern Time
Infineon drops as Hynix doubt sparks profit taking
FRANKFURT, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Infineon shares dropped sharply on Thursday, ending a week-long rally which saw the German chipmaker climb more than 35 percent, as doubts grew around a deal aimed at easing the chronic glut of memory chips.

By 1000 GMT, Infineon Technologies shares were 4.39 percent weaker at 27 euros, while the DAX index (^GDAXI - news) was 0.4 percent firmer and the Eurostoxx tech index was 0.58 percent firmer.

The share has rocketed up over the past week, boosted by news that two of its main rivals in the computer memory chip segment, Hynix Semiconductor and Micron Technology (NYSE:MU - news) were talking about an alliance which could take out some of the overcapacity weighing on the memory chip market.

But dealers said investors were taking profits after Hynix said it wanted a cash injection from Micron, a statement which highlighted the problems in any alliance with the stricken South Korean company, which owes billions of dollars to its creditors.

``The fact that Hynix wants cash (from Micron) is making some people question whether the deal which everyone has been betting on will go through,`` one dealer in Frankfurt said. ``Who would give cash to Hynix?``

``I see fair value at around 20, therefore in my opinion it is quite natural that they`ve gone too far and have to come down a little,`` he said.

One London-based dealer said the market had greeted the Hynix/Micron talks with too much optimism at first and was taking a more realistic view of the situation.

``I think some people are waking up to the fact that it`s not a done deal, chips are still selling for almost nothing and the market may have got a little bit ahead of itself.``

[robertos]

Date : 12/07/2001 Time : 11:55
Subject : Hynix to Spin Off Four Non-Production Operations

Seoul, Dec. 7 (Yonhap) -- Hynix Semiconductor Inc. said Friday it will spin
off its non-production operations into four separate entities in a bid to
build up its core chip-making unit.

The four -- Humanplus Co., Humantopia Co., Bestech Co. and Semiconductor
Reliability Center (SRC) -- will have initial capital of 100 million won
(US$78,864) each with combined staff numbering 347. Hynix will own 10 percent
of the firms and their employees the other 90 percent.

Humanplus will be responsible for training and secretarial operations and
Humantopia is to undertake general affairs, including cleaning and
transportation.

Bestech will provide maintenance services for semiconductor-making
equipment to Hynix, while SRC will engage in quality assurance (AQ)-related
operations for the chipmaker.

Hynix already separated or sold off its communications and liquid crystal
display (LCD) units as part of its restructuring efforts.

[robertos]

Date : 12/09/2001 Time : 10:03
Subject : Hynix, Micron Concludes Talks without Agreeing to Swap Size

Seoul, Dec. 9 (Yonhap) -- The first round of negotiations for equity swap
between Hynix Semiconductor Inc. and Micron Technology ended Saturday with
the sides failing to agree on Micron`s demand for transfer of controlling
shares in the ailing Korean firm, industry sources said Sunday.

"We`ve agreed in principle to transfer of equities but we need further
negotiations on the size of the equity swaps," a Hynix official said, adding
that Hynix wants to offer 15 percent of its shares and Micron insists on
getting more to take control of Hynix.

"National sentiments will not allow Hynix to transfer its controlling
shares to Micron," the official said.

"Creditor banks of Hynix, which possess about 50 percent of the total Hynix
shares after swapping their loans for equities, are willing to offer up to 15
percent to Micron," another source said, noting that Hynix creditors and
Micron need further negotiations on the size of the equity swap.

The Micorn delegation, who arrived in Seoul Wednesday for inspection of
Hynix factories, will return to the United States on Tuesday before coming
back to Seoul late December for another round of talks, the source said.

[Handbuch]

Tuesday December 11, 6:19 am Eastern Time
Korea Hynix lenders consider capital reduction
SEOUL, Dec 11 (Reuters) - Creditors of South Korea`s beleaguered chipmaker Hynix Semiconductor Inc are considering a capital reduction for major shareholders, a creditor bank official told Reuters on Tuesday.

This comes as the world`s third-ranked memory chipmaker, which owes 8.65 trillion won ($6.79 billion) to banks and other financial institutions, is in alliance talks with Micron Technology Inc (NYSE:MU - news).

``There is a growing consensus among creditors that it is only proper to seek the responsibility of major shareholders,`` the official told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

He added creditors were not considering the move for small shareholders.

As of the end of September, Hyundai Merchant Marine Co was Hynix`s largest shareholder with a 4.48 percent stake, followed by Hyundai Heavy Industries Co with a 3.40 percent stake, according to Hynix.

Other large shareholders included Hyundai Group Chairman Chung Mong-hun with a 0.83 percent stake and Hyundai Elevator Co , which holds a 0.57 percent.

But another creditor bank official was cautious.

``But we have to wait and see whether the capital reduction would take place, since it faces various problems,`` the official told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

The shareholders at the respective companies could oppose such a move, he added.

On Monday, Micron completed preliminary diligence on Hynix, but has not yet offered specific proposals for strategic alliances, the South Korean chipmaker said.

Shares in Hynix ended down 0.75 percent at 2,650 won on Tuesday versus an 0.20 percent rise in the benchmark index .

[Handbuch]

Related Quote
MU 30.25 +0.56
delayed 20 mins - disclaimer
Quote Data provided by Reuters



Monday December 17, 4:20 am Eastern Time
Korean group says to buy Hynix non-memory lines
(UPDATE: Adds details)

SEOUL, Dec 17 (Reuters) - A South Korean consortium led by chip design firm Aralion Inc said on Monday it expected to sign a deal to buy Hynix Semiconductor Inc`s non-memory chip lines next March.
ADVERTISEMENT



Hynix is in separate talks with U.S. Micron Technology Inc (NYSE:MU - news) for an alliance which could expand to a merger and expects specific proposals in coming weeks.

A merger would mark a major step in consolidating the sagging memory chip market as Micron and Hynix rank second and third in output behind Korea`s Samsung Electronics .

Germany`s Infineon Technologies AG , which ranks fourth, said last week it had reached a preliminary agreement with Japan`s Toshiba Corp to merge memory chip units.

SEEKING FOREIGN CAPITAL

``We will establish a new entity called ``Beyond Micro Inc`` for the takeover with 20 billion won ($15.67 million) in paid-in-capital,`` Aralion chief executive Jeong Ja-choon said in a statement.

The consortium will include about 10 chip design firms and was in talks with foreign investment firms and chipmakers to secure acquisition funds.

``We plan to secure $200-$300 million from each foreign investor,`` the statement said.

A Hynix official said it was planning a separate statement.

``We (chip design firms) have sought to own our own fabrication lines and acquiring them will pave the way for us to grow as a world-class foundry like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (NYSE:TSM - news) and United Microelectronics Corp (NYSE:UMC - news),`` the consortium statement said.

It said it planned due diligence on Hynix in January and that its negotiations would be separate from Hynix`s talks with Micron.

Hynix shares ended up 85 won at 2,445 won versus a 2.54 percent fall in the benchmark index .

[Handbuch]

Das sieht aber gar nicht gut aus. Ich hätte wohl lieber die ganze Position verscherbeln sollen anstatt nur die Hälfte.

Tuesday December 18, 2:32 am Eastern Time
Hynix says Micron talks on despite Toshiba deal
SEOUL, Dec 18 (Reuters) - South Korea`s Hynix Semiconductor said on Tuesday tie-up talks with Micron Technology (NYSE:MU - news) were still on despite plans by Japan`s Toshiba to sell facilities to the U.S. firm.

Hynix restructuring chief Shin Kook-hwan told Reuters alliance talks between Micron and Hynix, ranked second and third in memory chips, remained on track.

Toshiba officials told a news conference on Tuesday the firm would sell a U.S. plant to Micron in January.

Concern that Micron might shun Hynix in favour of the Japanese company sent Hynix shares plunging.

They finished down by their daily 15-percent limit at 2,080 in the session`s heaviest turnover.

[Handbuch]

Habe heute die Reißleine gezogen und die zweite Hälfte meines Bestandes in Frankfurt zu 1,79€ verkauft. Nach dem derzeitigem Stand sieht es nicht so toll für HYNIX aus. Das Cash aus dem 2. Hilfspacket 2001 wird in ca. einem halben Jahr verbrannt sein und Micron hat sich auch zurückgezogen.

Über einem 1€ werde ich unter den derzeitgen Umständen nicht wieder einsteigen. Ist noch jemand investiert?

cu

[Rhum56]

@Handbuch

Du angagierst Dich schön länger für Hynix. Bisher, geb ich
zu, war das Papier garnicht mein Ding.
Aber es zeichnen sich doch eventuell Fusionserfolge ab, siehe
heute afb/apx.
Wie lange läuft der O-Schein abn 506809 ?

kleiner Zog am Rande ist ja auch erlaubt

[robertos]

Samsung und Hynix erhöhen DRAM Preise


Seoul Die südkoreanischen Chiphersteller Samsung Electronics und Hynix Semiconductor werden im Februar nach Angaben der Yonhap Nachrichtenagentur die Preise für DRAM Chips nochmals um 10% bis 20% erhöhen. Dabei wird Samsung Electronics seinen 128 MB DRAM Chip auf 4 US Dollar anziehen.

Dies ist die fünfte Preiserhöhung seit Dezember, während auch der Spot Markt anziehen kann. Der Spot Markt ist der Markt, auf welchem die Chips gehandelt werden

[robertos]

Infineon bietet Beteiligung an Hynix


Seoul Der deutsche Chiphersteller Infineon AG bietet Hynix Semiconductor eine 20%ige Beteiligung an, das berichtet heute die Korea Economic Daily. Dem Bericht zu Folge sei heute ein Team der Infineon AG bei einer ersten Verhandlung in Seoul gewesen um über eine beidseitige Beteiligung zu sprechen.

Seit einigen Wochen verhandelt Hynix Semiconductor mit dem US amerikanischen Chipproduzenten Micron Technologies über eine strategische Allianz. Der US amerikaner bietet bisher 3,8 Mrd. US Dollar.

Der Kurs der Hynix Aktie notiert mit 0,7% leicht im Plus. (rh)


Analysten erwarten Gewinn bei Hynix


Seoul Nach Meinung verschiedener Analysten wird Hynix Semiconductor im Februar einen operativen Gewinn erzielen. Begründet wird diese Aussage mit den steigenden Preisen für 128 MB DRAM Speicherchips, welche seit Dezember fünf mal erhöht wurden. Der Preis für einen Speicher ist mittlerweile auf 4 US Dollar angestiegen, während sich die Produktionskosten nach Meinung der Korea Investment Trust & Securities Analysten auf 3 US Dollar pro Einheit bewegt. Hynix wurde von dem Analystenhaus auf Neutral eingestuft. (rh)

[robertos]

Date : 02/07/2002 Time : 16:53
Subject : Infineon Conducts Due Diligence on Hynix

Seoul, Feb. 7 (Yonhap) -- A visiting negotiating team from Germany`s
Infineon Technologies AG is continuing to do due diligence on Hynix
Semiconductor Inc.`s Ichon and Chongju plants.

Infineon is expected to submit a basic proposal regarding the deal
structure and acquisition prices following negotiations this weekend.

The two sides are known to have had extensive discussions on stock swaps,
cash investments and the establishment of a joint venture.

A Hynix restructuring committee source said Infineon is very interested and
a general picture will emerge after negotiations conclude in a couple of
days.

The Infineon team is scheduled to leave for Germany around this Saturday
and is reportedly considering signing a memorandum of understanding after
finishing its review of the types of alliance.

Meanwhile, the fifth round of negotiations between Hynix and Micron
technology in the United States are not expected to reach any clear
conclusion by this weekend.

A restructuring committee source said that Hynix president Park Chong-sup
wants to conclude negotiations with Micron before the Lunar New Year holiday,
but the situation remains too fluid.

Another source said a final decision on the deal could be made next week
when Hynix president Park returns from the United States.

[robertos]

Seoul (vwd) - Die Infineon Technologies AG, München, verstärkt ihre Bemühungen um eine Zusammenarbeit mit der südkoreanischen Hynix Semiconductor Inc und steht nach koreanischen Zeitungsberichten mittlerweile als starker Wettbewerber der ebenfalls im Rennen befindlichen Micron Technology Inc (Frankfurt: 869020.F, Nachrichten) , Boise, da. Die ehemalige Siemens (Frankfurt: ANZEIGE

723610.F, Nachrichten) -Tochter, so berichtet eine Zeitung, soll Hynix eine Allianz im Nicht-Speicher-Geschäft sowie einen Aktientausch für eine Partnerschaft im Geschäft mit den Speicherchips (DRAMs) bieten. Von deutscher Seite werde Hynix und deren Gläubigern noch vor Sonntag ein erstes Angebot vorgelegt. Unterdessen sollen sich Berichten aus Seoul zufolge Hynix und Micron bei den Verhandlungen über den Kaufpreis bis auf eine Differenz von 200 Mio USD auf einen Preis von rund vier Mrd USD angenähert haben. Der Abschluss eines Geschäfts sei dadurch näher gerückt. Ein Vertreter der staatlichen koreanischen Entwicklungsbank KDB, ein Hauptkreditgeber von Hynix, habe gesagt, beide Verhandlungspartner müssten sich noch in Schlüsselfragen einigen. Es soll unter anderem um den Zeitrahmen gehen, auf dessen Basis die Aktienkomponente des Verkaufspreises berechnet wird. Seit dem 29. Januar ist der Micron-Aktienkurs um elf Prozent gestiegen. Die Gläubiger setzten deshalb darauf, dass er nach Ankündigung einer Vereinbarung weiter steigen werde und versuchten nun, ein Aktientauschverhältnis auszuhandeln, das unter dem Marktpreis des Micron-Titels liege, berichtet die Nachrichtenagentur Yonhap unter Berufung auf Gläubigerkreise. Ein Mitglied des Hynix-Restrukturierungskomitees habe ferner die Erwartung geäußert, dass Infineon noch im Laufe des Wochenendes ein vorläufiges Gebot für Hynix abgeben könnte. Für eines der beiden Gebote werde sich Hynix voraussichtlich in der nächsten Woche entscheiden. Ein Infineon-Sprecher hatte die Gespräche mit Hynix in einem früheren Stadium bereits als "sehr konstruktiv" bezeichnet, ohne Angaben zu deren Inhalt zu machen. vwd/8.2.2002/mr/rio

[robertos]

Subject : Shares Skyrocket on Imminent Settlement of Hynix-Micron Deal

Seoul, Feb. 14 (Yonhap) -- Stock index of the main Korean stock market
surged 56.52 points or 7.64 percent to 796.18 points on Thursday, the first
session opened after the Lunar New Year holiday.

Market analysts said that the exceptional rise was fueled by news that the
conclusion of negotiations between Hynix Semiconductor and Micron is near at
hand. The strength of the Wall Street during the holidays also contributed to
the upward spiral.

Besides, the mentioning by US Secretary State, Colin Powell, that the
United States does not think of military campaign against North Korea and a
report of IMF`s upward revision for Korea`s economic growth forecast
stimulated investment sentiment.

Starting the day at 764.15, up 24.49 points from the previous session last
Friday, the bourse continued to rally throughout the session. The 56.52-point
gain is the second biggest daily rise only after 66.28-point jump recorded on
March 2, 2000. The 7.64-percent increase rate is the sixth highest in the
history of the Seoul bourse.

Advancers outnumbered decliners 671 to 198. Of the gainers, 44 rose to
their daily limit high. Prices of 29 issues remained intact.

Volume totaled 75,169,8000 shares for a turnover of 4.79 trillion won.

Foreigners recorded net buying of 275.1 billion won and institutional
investors who have taken a wait-and-see attitude along the day, followed suit
at the end of the session with net buying of 201.6 billion won, leading the
bull run. Meanwhile, retail investors net sold stocks worth 454.7 billion
won.

Amid gains were posted across the board, the jump of steel and metals
topped with a 13.01-percent expansion from the previous day. Precision and
medical machines, including the semiconductor, electric/electronics and
insurance industries noted high advances of 11.02 percent, 9.25 percent and
8.77 percent, respectively.

Share prices also picked up 8.07 percent for banks, 7.34 percent for
transportation/warehouses and 7.31 percent for chemicals.

By issue, shares of Samsung Electronics, the world`s number-one DRAM
manufacturer, traded at 355,000 won per share at the close of the day, up a
whopping 10.59 percent from the day ago. The rise is due mainly to the
expectation that the merger between its rivals Hynix and Micron will help
reduce supply in the semiconductor market and increase prices for its
products consequently.

High gains of above five percent were also enjoyed by other semiconductor
issues such as Mirae Ind. and K.C. Tech.

Other major blue-chips such as SK Telecom, Kookmin Bank, The Korea Telecom
and Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) remained strong, with price rises of
4.94 percent, 10.33 percent, 9.48 percent and 5.66 percent, respectively.
Pohang Iron & Steel Co. (POSCO) shares also hit the daily limit high.

Hynix Semiconductor, ironically, faced a turnaround to a 6.32 percent drop,
on concerns that the sell-off of its memory business to Micron will
undermine its corporate value.

Over-the-counter KOSDAQ index, meanwhile, also made a great stride to
75.19, due to the imminent end of the Hynix Semiconductor and Micron deal and
stabilization of overseas stock markets.

The closing price recorded a rise of 2.31 points or 3.16 percent from the
previous session.

Trading, however, was inactive affected by the lopsided investor interest
in the Korea Stock Exchange. With each investor group taking a wait-and-see
attitude, the trading volume fell by 10,000 shares to 236,980,000 shares and
the turnaround hovered below 1 trillion won.

Gainers outpaced decliners with 569 to 59. Prices for 44 issues unchanged.

[robertos]

Subject : Hynix to Decide on Alliance with Micron Next Week

Seoul, Feb. 14 (Yonhap) -- Hynix Semiconductor Inc. is expected to make its
final decision on whether or not to accept a strategic alliance arrangement
with Micron Technology Inc. next week, creditor banks for the debt-ridden
chipmaker said Thursday.

Creditor institutions like Chohung Bank and Korea Exchange Bank (KEB) said
that they were in the process of examining the terms of a memorandum of
understanding (MOU) agreed upon between Hynix and Micron. They said that a
general meeting of creditors will be convened early next week so that a
final decision can be reached on the possible sell-off of the Korean firm`s
dynamic random access memory (DRAM) chip operations to the U.S. company.

Hynix is also expected to call for a meeting of board members early next
week to receive authorization to give its stamp of approval for the talks
that have been going on since November.

If all goes well, observers say, an MOU should be signed before Feb. 23,
with a binding agreement in March or April.

Despite such optimistic forecasts, Hynix President Park Chong-sup warned
that a formal agreement was far from a certainty.

"Frankly speaking, the chances stand at 50-50," said Park, adding that the
entire deal hinges upon how interested parties handle the 6.5 trillion won
debt figure that Hynix`s remaining non-memory operations would retain after
Micron took over the memory chip manufacturing facilities.

Park, in particular, warned that if creditor banks tried to take all the
gains made through the sale but failed to write off

debts for what remained of Hynix after the deal was struck, or refused to
inject more funds, the entire arrangement could fall through. Creditors have
been haggling over the price, insisting initially on US$5 billion before
settling for $4 billion.

Such sentiments were echoed by Lee Keun-young, chairman of the Financial
Supervisory Commission. He said that although significant progress had been
made, there were pitfalls ahead that could undermine the deal.

[robertos]

Subject : Hynix Creditors Reject Some of Micron`s Terms and Conditions

Seoul, Feb. 18 Yonhap) -- Creditors of Hynix Semiconductor, Inc. agreed
Monday to reject some of the terms and conditions Micron Technology, Inc. put
down in its draft memorandum of understanding (MOU) and present a revised
MOU.

The agreement was reached at a meeting of the 11 creditors and Salmon Smith
Barney, the financial consultant.

A highly-placed official of the creditors group said, emerging from the
meeting, that Korea Exchange Bank would prepare a revised MOU, reflecting
view of the group, for presentation to the U.S. company.

Korea Exchange Bank will take some time to draft the revised MOU because
there are so many items to review, he added.

The creditors have also been discussing since last year a possibility that
Hynix will pursue a stand-alone business model, he said.

There is no need to stick to the sales price of US$4 billion because the
amount may go up to $8 billion or down to $2 billion, depending on the future
development of the stock market, he noted.

Another creditors group official said the talks with Micron should be
settled in such a manner as will reflect who should manage Hynix and the
synergic effect of the memory arm`s sale.

Earlier the day, Hynix announced that the board of directors has seriously
discussed the path to a stand-alone business model with full support of
creditors.

Hynix`s minority investors picketed in front of the creditors meeting
building to oppose a cheap sale of the memory arm.

[Handbuch]

Ich denke mal, HYNIX wird trotz D-RAM-Preiserhöhung noch einmal richtig billig. Unter 1 Euro überleg ich es mir noch mal.

[Handbuch]

Was meint Ihr - kommen die noch einmal wieder? Bin da sehr sekpetisch, auch wenn ich im Februar schrieb, daß ich es mir unter 1 € noch einmal überlege. Hat jemand eine Meinung dazu????????

[robertos]

Meiner Meinung ist Hynix auch alleine Überlebensfähig.

http://www.insidestoxx.de/html/index.html


05.03.02
Hynix könnte sich allein halten


Seoul Der südkoreanische Chiphersteller Hnyix Semiconductor könnte sich nach Meinung eines Gläubigers in Zukunft auch alleine halten. Dies wäre bei scheitern der Fusion mit Micron Techonlogies durch eine weitere Kapitalspritze von 467 Mrd. Won in diesem Jahr und 900 Mrd. Won im Jahre 2004 möglich. Die beteiligten Gläubiger erwarten für das Gesamtjahr eine Umsatzsteigerung von 67%. Dies ist auf die steigenden Chippreise zurück zu führen, welche im Gesamtjahr auf 4,6 US Dollar pro 128 MB SDRAM Speicher kalkuliert wurde. Der Kurs der Aktie legte am heutigen Handelstag um über 10% zu.


06.03.02
Hynix erzielt 110 Mrd. Won operativen Gewinn


Seoul Der südkoreanische Chiphersteller Hynix Semiconductor hat im Januar und Februar einen operativen Gewinn von 110 Mrd. Won erwirtschaftet. Der Umsatz wurde auf 550 Mrd. Won ausgewiesen. Die Zinsaufwendung ist auf nur noch 400 Mrd. Won zurück gegangen.

Dieses Ergebnis zeigt, dass Hynix Semiconductor auch ohne Fusion überleben könnte. Allerdings müsse nach Angaben eines Vorstandsmitglieds der Chippreis für 128 MB SDRAM Speicher über 3,2 US Dollar sein. Momentan wird dieser Chip für 5 US Dollar verkauft. Der Kurs der Aktie ist um 7,1% gestiegen. (rh) Hynix erzielt im ersten Quartal 3 Mrd. Won Gewinn

15.04.02
Seoul Der südkoreanische Chiphersteller Hynix Semiconductor hat im ersten Quartal des laufenden Geschäftsjahres einen Nettogewinn von 3 Mrd. Won bei einem Umsatz von 863 Mrd. Won erwirtschaftet. Im Vorjahr wurde noch ein Verlust beim Nettoergebnis von 1,37 Mrd. Won ausgewiesen. Die deutliche Ergebnisverbesserung führt das Unternehmen auf die steigende DRAM Chippreise zurück. Seit Dezember vergangenen Jahres stieg der Preis von 0,9 US Dollar auf zeitweise über 5 US Dollar an. (rh)

[Handbuch]

@robertos

Man sollte aber auch den Verwässerungseffekt durch die Umwandlung von Schulden in Aktien nicht unterschlagen. Die alten Hochs kann man also getrost vergessen.

Was wäre für Dich ein interessanten Einstiegskurs? Bist Du zur Zeit investiert? Kennst Du irgendwelche aktuellen Analysen?

[Handbuch]

Heute Limit up. Hätte ich mal......

[Handbuch]

Wednesday May 8, 1:29 am Eastern Time
Reuters Company News
Hynix board to meet Thurs on split-up,shares up


SEOUL, May 8 (Reuters) - Hynix Semiconductor Inc`s (KSE:00660.KS - news) board will meet on Thursday to discuss creditors` plans for splitting up the world`s third-largest memory chip maker, a senior company official said on Wednesday.

Lenders owed more than $5 billion demanded last week Hynix`s board accept a plan to split up and sell operations or face creditors stepping in to lead the move themselves.

Creditors own about three trillion won ($2.36 billion) in convertible bonds they could convert into shares worth about 75 percent of the company, allowing them to take charge.

They have asked Hynix to split up its businesses, which include memory and non-memory semiconductors and other operations such as TFT-LCD (thin film transistor liquid crystal display) used in computer flat screens, the Hynix official told Reuters by telephone.

Hynix shares were higher on Wednesday as day traders waded back in to push it up 13.7 percent to 705 won at 0455 GMT versus a main index (KSE:^KS11 - news) up 2.62 percent.

The shares hit a lifetime closing low on Tuesday at 620 won ($0.49) on uncertainties about the company`s future.

CLASH OVER SALE

Hynix and its creditors have clashed since the board last week rejected a plan to sell the bulk of Hynix for $3.4 billion.

U.S.-based Micron Technology Inc (NYSE:MU - news) had offered shares and cash for memory operations in a deal that would have made Micron the largest memory maker ahead of South Korea`s Samsung Electronics (KSE:05930.KS - news).

Creditors angered by the rejection said Hynix had a "very slim" chance of survival without help and vowed to move ahead with demands for selling what could be sold to recover funds.

Hynix countered with a plan to sell only non-memory operations, which analysts said were worth far less than memory facilities that generated 70 percent of its 2001 revenues.

Hynix lost $3.9 billion last year and needs to sell assets as creditors have refused to supply fresh funds.

Creditors are led by state-run banks and government officials have said fresh funds could draw criticism from Seoul`s trading partners as unfair state support for a private company. ($1=1269.5 won)

[SubTrader]

Die Gläubigerbanken werden es schon richten

Ziel: 5 €
Aktueller wert: 2€

kurzfristig 150% Chance mit hohem Risiko,
aber mit welcher anderen Aktie sollte man sonst was verdienen in dieser Zeit.