Cablegate: Extrancheck: Pre License Check: Soitec

VZCZCXYZ0004
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHHK #1747 1790947
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 280947Z JUN 07
FM AMCONSUL HONG KONG
TO RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
INFO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2144
RHMFIUU/HQ BICE WASHINGTON DC
RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE 3565

UNCLAS HONG KONG 001747

SIPDIS

USDOC FOR 532/OEA/MHAMES/LLAUCIUS
USDOC FOR 3132 FOR FCS/OIO REGIONAL DIRECTOR
WILLIAM ZARIT
BICE FOR OFFICE OF STRATEGIC INVESTIGATIONS
SINGAPORE FOR FCS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: BMGT BEXP ETRD ETTC HK
SUBJECT: EXTRANCHECK: PRE LICENSE CHECK: SOITEC
SINGAPORE PTE LTD.

REF: A) USDOC 05664 B) D377621

1.Unauthorized disclosure of the information
provided below is prohibited by Section 12C of the
Export Administration Act.

2. As per reftel A request and at the direction of
the Office of Enforcement Analysis (OEA) of the
USDOC Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS),
Regional Export Control Officer Philip Ankel (ECO)
conducted a pre-license check (PLC) at Soitec
Singapore Pte Ltd., BL Pasir Ris Industrial Drive
1, Singapore (Soitec). The item in question is an
inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer
valued at USD 140,000. The item is classified
under Export Control Classification Number (ECCN)
3A233 and controlled for nuclear nonproliferation
(NP) reasons. The license applicant is
Perkinelmer Las., Inc. of Shelton, Connecticut.

3. According to the Singapore companies registry,
Soitec has been in existence since 2006. Its
paid-up share capital is the Singapore equivalent
of USD 1. Singapore national, Ms Anne Choo and
French nationals Maurice Maxima Mauberger Pascal
and Andre Jacques Herve are listed as directors.
The company registry lists the French company,
SOITEC Silicon On Insulator Technologies S.A., as
the sole shareholder.

4. On June 21, 2007, the ECO, accompanied by
Singapore Customs representative Kevin Boo, met
with Daniel Nogueira, Purchasing Director and
Elaine Toh, Purchasing Manager. Mr. Nogueira
provided a short overview of Soitec, which is a
French multinational producer of advanced
substrates for use in various computer
applications. One of its main customers is AMD,
which uses Soitec wafers in its computers. Soitec
is presently constructing a new Fab in Singapore
due to begin operation in September 2007. More
information about Soitec and the new Singapore Fab
can be found at www.soitec.com.

5. As to the specific item in question, Mr.
Nogueira stated that it would be used in
production of wafers to test against metal
contamination on wafers and in chemicals used
during the production process. The ECO explained
that the item is controlled for export and
reexport and provided additional background
information and documentation on the U.S. export
controls associated with the item.

6. At the time visited, Soitec appeared to be a
suitable recipient of the item in question since
Soitec operates a line of business that is
consistent with the item's potential use and
understands its responsibilities under the export
administration regulations for its potential use
of the controlled item. The ECO recommends that
this PLC be classified as Favorable.

Cunningham

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