STMicroelectronics (nyse: STM, , ISE: STM) is an Italian-French electronics and semiconductor manufacturer headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.

While STMicroelectronics corporate headquarters and the headquarters for Europe and emerging markets, are based in Geneva, the holding company, STMicroelectronics N.V. is registered in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

The company's US headquarters are in Carrollton, Texas. Headquarters for the Asia-Pacific region are based in Singapore and Japanese operations are headquartered in Tokyo. The company headquarters for the Greater China region are in Shanghai.

History

STMicroelectronics was formed in June 1987 by the merger of semiconductor companies SGS Microelettronica of Italy and Thomson Semiconducteurs, the semiconductor arm of France's Thomson. At the time of the merger the company was known as SGS-THOMSON but took its current name in May 1998 following the withdrawal of Thomson SA as an owner.

SGS Microelettronica and Thomson Semiconducteurs were both long-established semiconductor companies. SGS Microelettronica originated in 1972 from a previous merger of two companies:

• ATES (Aquila Tubi e Semiconduttori), a vacuum tube and semiconductor maker headquartered in the Abruzzese city of l'Aquila, who in 1961 changed its name into Azienda Tecnica ed Elettronica del Sud and relocated its manufacturing plant in the outskirts of the Sicilian city of Catania
• Società Generale Semiconduttori (founded in 1957 by Adriano Olivetti).

Thomson Semiconducteurs was created in 1982 by the French government's widespread nationalisation of industries. It included:

• the semiconductor activities of the French electronics company Thomson.
• Mostek, a US company founded in 1969 by some ex-employees of Texas Instruments.
• Silec, founded in 1977.
• Eurotechnique founded in 1979 in Rousset, Bouches-du-Rhône as a joint-venture between Saint-Gobain of France and US-based National Semiconductor.
• EFCIS, founded in 1977.
• SESCOSEM, founded in 1969.

After its creation by merger in 1987, SGS-Thomson was ranked 14th among the top 20 semiconductor suppliers with sales of around US$850 million. The company has participated in the consolidation of the semiconductor industry since its formation, with acquisitions including:

• In 1989, British company Inmos known for its transputer microprocessors from parent Thorn EMI.
• In 1994, Canada-based Nortel's semiconductor activities.
• In 2002, Alcatel's Microelectronics division, which along with the incorporation of smaller ventures such as UK company, Synad Ltd, helped the company expand into the Wireless-LAN market.

On 8 December 1994, the company completed its initial public offering on the Paris and New York stock exchanges. Owner Thomson SA sold its stake in the company in 1998 when the company also listed on the Borsa Italiana in Milan.