As revealed here, National Semiconductor is to pay for the privilege of terminating its foundry agreement with IBM Microelectronics. IBM will stop making Cyrix chips before the end of this year and will take a one time charge in its second quarter of fiscal 1999, the company formally announced today.

NatSemi-Cyrix will transfer some of its assets to IBM Microelectronics. This could include cross licensing patents for x.86 technology, leaving Big Blue in a position to still be able to make processors. As reported here, National will transfer all of the IBM Microelectronics production to its own fab in Portland. ®