MIGDAL HA'EMEK, Israel, November 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --

- Contract Accretive to Company's Strategy for Growth in Asian Markets

TowerJazz, the global specialty foundry leader, today announced the signing of a definitive agreement with an Asian entity, in furtherance of the company's corporate strategy to penetrate the Asian markets and to leverage its manufacturing know-how and assets to expand its business in this region. Under the agreement, TowerJazz will arrange for the required manufacturing know-how and certain equipment required for successful capacity ramp-up.

The deal will realize TowerJazz revenue of approximately US $130 million, largely during the first contract year of 2010. This agreement allows TowerJazz to realize profits from its valuable manufacturing expertise and asset base, and to enlarge its sphere of activity in Asia alongside the recently announced customer agreements with GrandTek, C&S Technology, TAEJIN Technology, Dongwoon Anatech, Cesign, SWID and 3PEAKIC Microelectronics. In addition to the substantial cash-in generated by this engagement, TowerJazz expects that this project will lead to additional business opportunities through new customers and ventures.

"It is a notable achievement and acknowledgement of our capabilities that TowerJazz was chosen to provide the know-how, training, and turnkey manufacturing solutions to a project of this scope and significance," said Russell Ellwanger, Chief Executive Officer of TowerJazz. "This project is accretive to our strategy to grow market share within Asia, as evidenced by the opening of a sales and technical support office in Korea this year with multiple design wins and customer announcements in that region, particularly within Power Management. Additionally, our ownership percentage, Board representation and manufacturing agreement with HHNEC in Shanghai, China is further affirmation of our commitment to growth in Asia. We expect that this project will strengthen our traction in this geographic area and trust that our Asian customer base will multiply as a result."

About TowerJazz

Tower Semiconductor Ltd. (NASDAQ: TSEM, TASE: TSEM), the global specialty foundry leader and its fully owned U.S. subsidiary Jazz Semiconductor, operate collectively under the brand name TowerJazz, manufacturing integrated circuits with geometries ranging from 1.0 to 0.13-micron. TowerJazz provides  industry leading design enablement tools to allow complex designs to be achieved quickly and more accurately and offers a broad range of customizable process technologies including SiGe, BiCMOS, Mixed-Signal and RFCMOS, CMOS Image Sensor, Power Management (BCD), and Non-Volatile Memory (NVM) as well as MEMS capabilities. To provide world-class customer service, TowerJazz maintains two manufacturing facilities in Israel and one in the U.S. with additional capacity available in China through manufacturing partnerships. For more information, please visit http://www.towerjazz.com.

Safe Harbor Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks and uncertainties.  Actual results may vary from those projected or implied by such forward-looking statements.  A complete discussion of risks and uncertainties that may affect the accuracy of forward-looking statements included in this press release or which may otherwise affect the business of Tower and Jazz is included under the heading "Risk Factors" in Tower's most recent filings on Forms 20-F, F-3, F-4 and 6-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and the Israel Securities Authority, and Jazz's most recent filings on Forms 10-K and 10-Q, as filed with the SEC. Tower and Jazz do not intend to update, and expressly disclaim any obligation to update, the information contained in this release.

    Contacts:

    Company Contact:
    Melinda Jarrell
    +1-949-435-8181
    melinda.jarrell@towerjazz.com

    Media Contact:
    Lauri Julian
    +1-949-715-3049
    lauri.julian@towerjazz.com

    Investor Relations Contact:
    Noit Levi
    +972-4-604-7066
    noit.levi@towerjazz.com

SOURCE Tower Semiconductor Ltd

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