ASM International N.V. (ASMI) as a semiconductor capital equipment supplier designs, manufactures and sells production systems and services to the customers for the production of semiconductor devices or integrated circuits. ASMI is active in the wafer processing and assembly and packaging market segments. The wafer processing segment is referred to as front-end. Assembly and packaging segment is referred to as back-end. The front-end operations are conducted through wholly owned subsidiaries ASM Europe B.V. (ASM Europe), ASM America, Inc. (ASM America), ASM Japan K.K. (ASM Japan) and ASM Front-End Manufacturing Singapore Pte Limited (FEMS). The back-end operations are conducted through ASM Pacific Technology Limited (ASM Pacific Technology), with principal operations in Hong Kong, the People’s Republic of China, Singapore, and Malaysia. In September 2008, ASMI announced that it has completed the sale of its 72.86% stake in NanoPhotonics AG to Ricmar Beteiligungs GmbH.