ST. PETERSBURG, FL -- Jabil Circuit is finalizing a previously announced deal to acquire handset case maker Taiwan Green Point Enterprises Co. Ltd. for $871 million, the companies said Jan. 15.

SURREY, ENGLAND -- TT Electronics expects profits for the year ended Dec. 31 to be in-line with previous forecasts.
"The market for electronic components in 2006 has been significantly better than the previous year and we expect this to continue into 2007," the company said.

TT Electronics provides sensors, resistors and other components, and EMS services.

The company said its EMS operations are "performing strongly" since its restructuring.

BRUSSELS -- The latest round of exemption requests for the RoHS Directive closed Friday with an overwhelming response for allowing lead use in electronics solder.

More than 325 support responses were submitted, nearly all for item 15, a proposed exemption for lead submitted by RoHSUSA.com.

THIEF RIVER FALLS, MN – Digi-Key and Cree have signed a global distribution agreement for Cree’s silicon carbide-based power devices.
 
Cree manufactures silicon carbide semiconductors. Digi-Key stocks Cree’s Schottky diodes with voltage ratings reportedly ranging from 300V to 1200V and current ratings from 1A to 20A.
 

EL SEGUNDO, CA  -- Surplus semiconductor inventories rose again in the fourth quarter of 2006, meaning that excess stockpiles are likely to linger through 2007, iSuppli Corp. predicted today. The research firm was quick to dispel concerns that the stockpiles are worsening or will hamper market growth, however.

Preliminary estimates show excess chip inventories swelled to $4.3 billion in the fourth quarter, up 4.9% sequentially.