今まで予告してきたように太陽電池は戦国時代に突入です。
世界最大の半導体製造装置メーカーＡＭＡＴが三番目の
Ａ＆Ｄをしかけました。（Ｒ＆Ｄの替わりにＭ＆Ａをするので
Ａ＆Ｄ）本気ですね。３５０億円の買収案件です。
しかもイタリアというのが良い狙い目です。マイクロンＳＴ
などとの人脈もあるのでしょうかね。
目が離せません。
http://www.news.com/8301-11128_3-9862165-54.html
January 31, 2008 11:34 AM PST
Applied Materials makes third solar acquisition
Applied Materials bought Baccini, a European company specializing in manufacturing tools, today for approximately $335 million to further expand its footprint in solar energy. Applied has been the world's largest manufacturer of factory equipment for the semiconductor industry for several years, but has been making a concerted effort to expand into the solar industry. The manufacturing process for both crystalline solar cells and thin-film solar cells, after all, are similar to the processes employed, respectively, to make chips and liquid crystal displays (LCDs). The company has even been building complete, turnkey factories for some solar clients. Some believe that this will expand the number of solar manufacturers because these transactions enable newcomers to take advantage of Applied's expertise. (Charlie Gay, who heads up Applied's solar group, is also one of the regular speaking stars on the clean-tech circuit.) In May 2006, Applied agreed to acquire Applied Films (which made equipment that deposits chemicals onto substrates) and HCT Shaping Systems for its solar group. Baccini's equipment is largely aimed at customers making silicon solar cells. The tools help with the metalization process, which involves inserting metal connections into materials, then testing.
Applied Materials gets boost from results Solar business growing strong even as overall earnings decline
By Rex Crum, MarketWatch Last update: 12:02 p.m. EST Feb. 13, 2008
-- Applied Materials Inc. shares climbed as much as 7% Wednesday morning as a strong performance by the chip-equipment maker's solar energy business outweighed investors' concerns about an overall drop in the company's first-quarter earnings. Applied Materials (AMAT:AMAT News, chart, profile, more Last: Delayed quote dataAdd to portfolio Analyst Create alertInsider Discuss Financials Sponsored by: , , ) rose $1.27 to $19.34 a share by midday. The stock is up about 18% since bottoming at $16.20 a month ago. After Tuesday's closing bell, the company said it earned $262.4 million, or 19 cents a share, compared to $403.5 million, or 29 cents a share, in the prior-year period. Revenue for the quarter ended Jan. 27 fell to $2.09 billion from $2.28 billion. However, Applied Materials said its adjusted income was 25 cents a share, which exceeded the estimates of analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial, who forecast a profit of 20 cents a share on revenue of $2.01 billion. Analysts had expected the company to report earnings of 22 cents per share on revenue of $2.06 billion, according to a survey by Thomson Financial. The company highlighted its gains in its efforts to expand into the market for tools to make panels that generate solar electricity. Net sales for its energy and environmental solutions group, which covers its solar power unit, more than tripled year-over-year to $122 million in the first quarter, the company said. Analyst Steve O'Rourke, of Deutsche Bank, said that Applied Materials solar business, along with its flat-panel display segment, is helping to offset weakness in the company's core silicon product business line. However, he maintained a hold rating on the shares, noting that the flagship semiconductor business is not expected to recover anytime soon. "While we would like to believe this is the bottom, we expect additional fundamental deterioration in the semiconductor equipment business into 1H08, and do not share the view of a snapback in the silicon business in 2H08," O'Rourke wrote in his report. "Uses of cash have, and will continue to help support the stock." Applied Materials said it expects second-quarter revenue to be flat or up 5% sequentially, which translates to about $219 million. The company said it expects to report earnings of 18 to 22 cents per share. In a conference call with analysts, Applied Materials CEO Michael Splinter said the company "faced a weak global market for semiconductor equipment, and at the same time, experienced significant upswing in demand for our display products." "Looking forward, demand for solar is robust and growing, and we are in discussions with many new customers," Splinter told analysts. "We are also happy to report that our existing solar customers are talking about repeat orders. Overall, our solar business is accelerating and at the same time, Applied Materials technology is accelerating the adoption of the solar around the world." Weston Twigg, of Pacific Crest Securities, agreed with Splinters' comments about Applied Materials outlook for its solar products, saying that the business is driving the company's revenue growth. However, Twigg said, "solar profitability will come slowly," and that he is concerned about the long-term pressure on Applied Materials profit margins as its ramps up with new solar panel customers. As a result, Twigg lowered his 2008 earnings estimate for Applied Materials to $1.05 a share from $1.14 a share. Twigg has a sector perform rating on Applied Materials stock. On the conference call, Splinter admitted to having concerns about the broader economy and its effects on Applied Materials' business, saying, "We see the uncertain U.S. economic environment and the potential for slowing global growth to be a near-term challenge."
http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/article/NEWS/20071121/142855/
米Applied Materials社，太陽電池セル製造装置メーカーの伊Baccini社を買収企業・市場動向 太陽電池 製造装置 2007/11/21 17:48
米Applied Materials, Inc.（AMAT）は2007年11月19日，結晶Si型太陽電池セルの製造装置を手掛ける伊Baccini S.p.A.を買収することで合意したと発表した（発表資料）。Applied Materials社は，Baccini社の発行済み株式をすべて取得し，2億2500万ユーロを現金で支払う。買収手続きは，2008年前半に完了する予定。 Baccini社の手掛ける装置は，厚さ120μm未満の非常に薄いSiウエハーを製造できる。この薄いウエハーを利用することによって，現在太陽電池セルの製造コストの60％以上を占めるSi材料の使用量を最小限に抑えることができ，結晶Si型太陽電池セルの生産性などが向上するという。今回の買収によって，Applied Materials社は結晶Si型太陽電池セルの生産において，先進的な自動化製造装置の提供を目指す。