Micron Memory Japan

Elpida Memory, Inc. (エルピーダメモリ株式会社, Erupīda Memori Kabushiki-gaisha) (TYO: 6665) is a corporation that develops, designs, manufactures and sells dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) products. It is also a semiconductor foundry. With headquarters in Yaesu, Chūō, Tokyo, Japan, it was formed under the name NEC Hitachi Memory in 1999 by the merger of the Hitachi, Ltd. and NEC DRAM businesses. In the following year it took its present name, and in 2003 took on the Mitsubishi DRAM business. In 2004 it listed its shares in the first section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

In March, 2006 Elpida reported consolidated sales of 241,500,000,000 Japanese yen. It employeed 3196 people.

In 2002, armed with the Sherman Antitrust Act, the United States Department of Justice began a probe into the activities of dynamic random access memory (DRAM) manufacturers. US computer makers, including Dell and Gateway, claimed that inflated DRAM pricing was causing lost profits and hindering their effectiveness in the marketplace. To date, five manufacturers have pleaded guilty to their involvement in an international price-fixing conspiracy including Hynix, Infineon, Micron Technology, Samsung, and Elpida. Micron Technology was not fined for its involvement due to co-operation with investigators.