WASHINGTON – The Semiconductor Industry Association released the following statement from president and CEO John Neuffer in response to the new export control rule changes announced this week by the US Commerce Department:

HERTFORDSHIRE, UK – The global home audio category posted second quarter shipment growth of 20% and 10% value growth sequentially, according to Futuresource Consulting.

JASPER, IN – Kimball Electronics reported net sales in the fourth quarter were $286.2 million, down 10.2% year-over-year.

HSINCHU, TAIWAN – SEMI formed a standards committee that aims to develop global standards for flexible hybrid electronics spanning design, materials, manufacturing, packaging and systems and to drive industry growth.

VEJLE, DENMARK – GPV reported first half revenue fell 5% year-over-year, with net profit increasing 23% to a record DKK 108 million (US$17.2 million).

BANGKOK -- Fabrinet announced fourth quarter revenue of $405.1 million, flat with last year.

CHICAGO – M&A activity in the EMS sector stalled in the second quarter, with just three deals closing in the period, according to a new report. The three deals included two consolidations and one vertical/horizontal convergence.

SAN JOSE, CA -- Sanmina chief executive Hartmut Liebel is leaving the company, effective immediately, after just a year on the job, the EMS company said today. Executive chairman and cofounder Jure Sola will take over as chief executive, the firm added.

PATHUMTANI, THAILAND – SVI Public Co. reported second quarter net sales of THB 4.2 billion (US$132.5 million), up 2.5% year-over-year and 30% sequentially.

TAMPA, FL – Sypris Electronics reported revenues of $9.7 million in the second quarter, up 28.3% year-over-year and 11.5% sequentially.

SANTA CLARA, CA – Intel shared a new method for making transistors on semiconductors that could boost processor performance by up to 20%, its chief architect said.

IRVINE, CA – TopLine Corp.’s chief executive has filed for a US patent for a Pb-free solder column used in the manufacture of FPGA devices. The product has been developed in anticipation of RoHS requirements for Pb-free columns.