RF Micro Devices (RFMD) Press Release 12-17-2008


RFMD®Announces Actions to Reduce Manufacturing Costs
and Increase Cash Flow


GREENSBORO, N.C., Dec. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --RF Micro Devices, Inc. (Nasdaq: RFMD), a global leader in the design and manufacture of high-performance semiconductor components, today announced actions intended to streamline operations and reduce GaAs semiconductor manufacturing costs. RFMD(R) expects the actions will begin to take effect in the March 2009 quarter and will positively impact cash flow in RFMD's fiscal 2010, beginning March 29, 2009.

At RFMD's Greensboro, NC campus, all GaAs manufacturing will be transitioned to the Company's state-of-the-art 6-inch wafer fabrication facility. The Company's 4-inch manufacturing facility will be idled and kept in a clean environment. Prior to this decision, RFMD's 4-inch manufacturing facility accounted for less than 10% of the Company's total GaAs manufacturing capacity. As a result, the Company anticipates significantly lower direct material costs and higher utilization rates, resulting in lower total manufacturing costs.

In addition, in November RFMD(R) began significantly reducing its 6-inch wafer production and associated costs in its United Kingdom wafer fabrication facility. The Company will operate the facility on 8-hour shifts, 5 days a week, as compared to the 24/7 environment in which the facility currently operates.

Bob Bruggeworth, President and CEO of RFMD, said, "RFMD is taking prudent and decisive actions to match manufacturing capacity to anticipated demand during the current recessionary environment. By reducing RFMD's manufacturing cost structure, these actions are expected to positively impact cash flow by approximately $15 million in fiscal 2010. Because existing facilities will be reduced or idled, RFMD will retain the capacity and flexibility necessary to respond to increases in customer demand as the recession wanes and as the Company's markets return to growth."

RFMD estimates approximately 250 employees, or approximately 5% of its global workforce, will have been affected by these actions between December 2008 and March 2009.

About RFMD: RF Micro Devices, Inc. (Nasdaq GS: RFMD) is a global leader in the design and manufacture of high-performance semiconductor components. RFMD's products enable worldwide mobility, provide enhanced connectivity and support advanced functionality in the cellular handset, wireless infrastructure, wireless local area network (WLAN), CATV/broadband and aerospace and defense markets. RFMD is recognized for its diverse portfolio of semiconductor technologies and RF systems expertise and is a preferred supplier to the world's leading mobile device, customer premises and communications equipment providers.

Headquartered in Greensboro, N.C., RFMD is an ISO 9001- and ISO 14001-certified manufacturer with worldwide engineering, design, sales and service facilities. RFMD is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol RFMD. For more information, please visit RFMD's web site at www.rfmd.com.

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about our plans, objectives, representations and contentions and are not historical facts and typically are identified by use of terms such as "may," "will," "should," "could," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential," "continue" and similar words, although some forward-looking statements are expressed differently. You should be aware that the forward-looking statements included herein represent management's current judgment and expectations, but our actual results, events and performance could differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. We do not intend to update any of these forward-looking statements or publicly announce the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements, other than as is required under the federal securities laws. RF Micro Devices' business is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including variability in quarterly operating results, the impact of global macroeconomic and credit conditions on our business, the rate of growth and development of wireless markets, risks associated with our planned exit from our wireless systems business, including cellular transceivers and GPS solutions, the risk that restructuring charges may be greater than originally anticipated and that the cost savings and other benefits from the restructuring may not be achieved, risks associated with the operation of our wafer fabrication facilities, molecular beam epitaxy facility, assembly facility and test and tape and reel facilities, our ability to complete acquisitions and integrate acquired companies, including the risk that we may not realize expected synergies from our business combinations, our ability to attract and retain skilled personnel and develop leaders, variability in production yields, our ability to reduce costs and improve gross margins by implementing innovative technologies, our ability to bring new products to market, our ability to adjust production capacity in a timely fashion in response to changes in demand for our products, dependence on a limited number of customers, and dependence on third parties. These and other risks and uncertainties, which are described in more detail in RF Micro Devices' most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, could cause actual results and developments to be materially different from those expressed or implied by any of these forward-looking statements.

RF MICRO DEVICES(R) and RFMD(R) are trademarks of RFMD, LLC. All other trade names, trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE RF Micro Devices, Inc. 11/12/2008
CONTACT:
Dean Priddy, CFO, 1-336-678-7975, or Doug DeLieto, VP,
Investor Relations, 1-336-678-7968, or Jerry Neal EVP, Marketing and
Strategic Development, 1-336-678-7001, all of RFMD
Web Site: http://www.rfmd.com