SAN JOSE – Gartner Inc. lowered its 2007 semiconductor forecast to 2.9%, down from 3.9%.
 
The research firm also tempered its estimates for 2008, saying growth will hit 6.2%, versus earlier predictions of 8.2%. However, Gartner raised its 2009 forecast to 8.5% growth, up from 6.1%. 
 

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ATLANTA – UP Media Group, parent company of Circuits Assembly and Printed Circuit Design & Fab, announced today that support for Virtual PCB, the industry's first virtual trade show and conference for the PCB design, fabrication and assembly markets, continues to grow, as leading industry suppliers sign on to exhibit at the Feb. 12-13 event.

 

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SAN JOSE –Flextronics sees weaknesses in the industrial, automotive and telecommunications sectors, but consumer electronics remains strong, chief executive Michael McNamara says.

“We are not seeing any slowdown in mobile phones or consumer electronics ... things you think might be affected by a recession,” McNamara said in published remarks.

According to McNamara, the weaknesses are "minor"; he expects the company's business segments to post double-digit growth next year, according to published reports.

 

MINNEAPOLIS – HEI Inc. has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission to voluntarily deregister its common stock.

The EMS company is eligible to deregister because it has fewer than 300 shareholders.

HEI expects deregistration to take effect after 90 days, if the SEC approves the company's application. As a result, HEI's obligation to file certain reports and forms with the SEC, including Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, will be immediately suspended.

The company believes the administrative and other economies and savings associated with de-registration are in the best interest of its shareholders. In addition, HEI says it would not be able to maintain NASDAQ listing for multiple reasons.

“HEI believes that deregistering is in the best interest of increasing long-term stockholder value. This action should result in accounting, legal and administrative expense reductions and allow HEI management to focus its attention, efforts and resources on HEI's operations and revenue growth," CEO Mark Thomas said.

HEI’s securities will no longer be eligible for quotation on NASDAQ; however, the company's securities may be eligible for quotation on the Pink Sheets by broker-dealers.

HEI designs, develops and manufactures microelectronics, subsystems, systems, connectivity and software solutions for OEMs engaged for the medical equipment and medical device, hearing, communications, and industrial markets.