UMC's 28nm High-K/Metal Gate Process Implements SuVolta's DDC Technology to Target Mobile Applications

HSINCHU, TAIWAN, and LOS GATOS, Calif., July 23, 2013 –United Microelectronics Corporation (NYSE: UMC; TWSE: 2303) ("UMC") and SuVolta, Inc., today announced joint technology development of a 28nm process that integrates SuVolta's Deeply Depleted Channel^TM (DDC) transistor technology into UMC's 28nm High-K Metal Gate (HKMG) high-performance mobile (HPM) process. SuVolta and UMC are working together to take advantage of implementing DDC transistor technology to reduce leakage power and improve SRAM low-voltage performance.

"In the next weeks and months, we expect to see promising results from joint technology development with SuVolta to further validate the power and performance benefits of the DDC technology in UMC's 28nm HKMG process," said T.R. Yew, vice president of Advanced Technology Division at UMC. "By incorporating SuVolta's advanced technology into our HKMG process, we intend to deliver a 28nm mobile computing process platform to complement our existing Poly-SiON and HKMG technologies."

"UMC and SuVolta teams continue to make excellent progress integrating DDC technology into UMC's 28nm process. Working together, we are developing a process that makes for easy porting of UMC's customers' designs," said Bruce McWilliams, president and CEO of SuVolta. "In addition, SuVolta is advancing future generations of mobile devices by providing the industry with an alternative to more costly and technically challenging process technologies." 

About UMC
UMC (NYSE: UMC, TWSE: 2303) is a leading global semiconductor foundry that provides advanced technology and manufacturing for applications spanning every major sector of the IC industry. UMC's robust foundry solutions allow chip designers to leverage the company's leading-edge processes, which include 28nm poly-SiON and gate-last High-K/Metal Gate technology, mixed signal/RFCMOS, and a wide range of specialty technologies. Production is supported through 10 wafer manufacturing facilities that include two advanced 300mm fabs; Fab 12A in Taiwan and Singapore-based Fab 12i. Fab 12A consists of Phases 1-4 which are in production for customer products down to 28nm. Construction is underway for Phases 5&6, with future plans for Phases 7&8. The company employs over 15,000 people worldwide and has offices in Taiwan, mainland China, Europe, Japan, Korea, Singapore, and the United States. UMC can be found on the web at http://www.umc.com. 

About SuVolta, Inc.
SuVolta, Inc. develops and licenses scalable semiconductor technologies for low-power, high-performance IC chips. Based in Silicon Valley, the team includes world-class engineers and scientists with a long history of technology development and innovation to advance the semiconductor industry. The company is backed by leading venture capital firms Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers (KPCB), August Capital, NEA, Bright Capital, Northgate Capital and DAG Ventures. For more information, visit  www.suvolta.com.

To learn more about SuVolta’s technology, visit us at  www.suvolta.com/technology/technology-overview/. 
For information on licensing SuVolta’s technology, please go  www.suvolta.com/sales-inquiry/. 
Follow us on Twitter @  http://twitter.com/SuVoltaInc. 

Note From UMC Concerning Forward-Looking Statements 
Some of the statements in the foregoing announcement are forward looking within the meaning of the U.S. Federal Securities laws, including statements about future outsourcing, wafer capacity, technologies, business relationships and market conditions. Investors are cautioned that actual events and results could differ materially from these statements as a result of a variety of factors, including conditions in the overall semiconductor market and economy; acceptance and demand for products from UMC; and technological and development risks. Further information concerning these risks is included in UMC's filings with the U.S. SEC, including on Form F-1, F-3, F-6 and 20-F, each as amended.