MStar Semiconductor

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MStar Semiconductor, Inc. (晨星半導體股份有限公司) (http://www.mstarsemi.com) is an Integrated Circuit design house and is dedicated to providing mixed-mode integrated circuit technologies. By combining semiconductor design expertise and advanced proprietary technologies, MStar delivers a broad line of products in multimedia, wireless communications ICs, general-purpose mixed-mode ICs, and Intellectual Property (IP) development services. MStar has employed over 1300 personnels with more than 10 branches worldwide. Company's revenue was around USD 175 million in 2005 and expected to reach USD 300 million in 2006. Major customers include Sony, Dell, Samsung, LG, etc.

MStar is often referred as "Little-M" in Chinese community, as a contrary part of the much bigger company "Big-M" (or MediaTek).

MStar was a spin-off, 2-1 stock split, from System General Technology in May 2002, where power IC product line stayed in System General Technology while the employees with display & RFID product lines transferred to the new spin-off.

After the spin-off, an 1-2 stock swap was taken to exchange the two companies back to their corresponding shareholders.


There is a lot of speculation that the company is in a preparation for IPO in late 2008 or 2009. The IPO locations are said to be either in US or in Hong Kong.

http://www.futura-sciences.com/newsrss-mstar-preps-ipo-at-nasdaq-by-year-end-2007_487969_0.php

http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=7890240

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Company Executives

Chairman and Co-founder

MStar is chaired by Mr. Wayne Liang (梁公偉) who received his MSChe at the Stanford University. Prior to join System General Technology in 2001 and founding MStar in 2002, Mr. Liang was an Executive Assistant to Chairman at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSMC, http://www.tsmc.com/english/default.htm). He was a Vice President, Sales and Marketing at Worldwide Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation（WSMC）before WSMC merged to TSMC in 2000。 Before career at WSMC, Mr. Liang was a Foundry Sales Director at Winbond Electronics Corp. (http://www.winbond.com.tw/hq/enu/)

President and Co-founder

Dr. Steve Yang (楊偉毅) who received his Ph.D. in Electric Engineering at the Southern Methodist University (http://www.smu.edu/). Prior to join System General Technology in 2001 and founding MStar in 2002, Dr. Yang was a Director of Mixed-Signal Deisgn Group at WSMC. Prior to his career at WSMC, he was a design manager at Texas Instruments.

Vice President and Co-founder

Mr. Sterling Smith received his MSEE at the Texas A&M University (http://www.tamu.edu/). Prior to join System General Technology in 2001 and founding MStar in 2002, he was a technical director at WSMC and a senior member of technical staff at Texas Instruments before joining WSMC. Mr. Sterling has authored or co-authored over 20 technical patents.

Vice President and Co-founder

Dr. Henry Yung (容天行) received his Ph.D. at the Texas Tech University (http://www.ttu.edu/). Prior to join System General Technology in 2001 and founding MStar in 2002, he was a technical director at WSMC and a senior member of technical staff at Texas Instruments before joining WSMC. Dr. Yung is presently a Vice President, Engineering at MStar leading company's engineering activities.

Vice President, Finance and Co-founder

Mr. James Kao (高金門) received his MBA from the National Taiwan University. He is a Vice President, Finance supervising company's accounting and financing practices. Prior to join System General Technology in 2001 and founding MStar in 2002, he also served at WSMC managing company's finacing activities. Mr. Kao also serves as a Senior Consultant at Maxima Capital Management, Inc. (http://maximavc.com/cteam-01.htm#d2)

Vice President, Marketing

Mr Trevor Neal, MBA, BA Computer Science BA Electronics. Mr Neal was responsible for building Mstar World-wide Digital TV team and moving into Multi-Media products.. He also brought MStar to Europe and opened sales offices and R&D offices in Uk, France and Scandinavia. Mr. Neal joined MStar in 2005.

Vice President, Sales

Mr Kevin Kang, running sales office in Turkey. Mr Kang came from Samsung to set up Mstar Turkey office. Mr. Kang joined MStar in 2003.

Sales Director

Mr Sean Lin joined MStar in 2003, responsible for all ASIA sales.

Product Family Sites

MStar is targeting display IC-related markets and applications that require mixed-mode technologies. MStar currently offers solutions for two major markets: Display ICs & Mixed-mode ASIC/IPs. It is speculated that MStar has entered wireless communications markets to expand its current product lines.