("=INTERVIEW: Imagination Tech Sees Double Digit Rev Growth In'10," at 1729 GMT, misstated that the company would see double digit growth in the headline and the first paragraph. The correct version follows:)
By Elliott Ball
Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
LONDON -(Dow Jones)- U.K. semiconductor intellectual property company Imagination Technologies Group PLC (IMG.LN) expects the semiconductor sector to see double digit growth in 2010 as licensing deals and stronger consumer spending help to lift sales, Chief Executive Hossein Yassaie told Dow Jones Newswires Tuesday.
"The key growth driver for us has been the general migration to digital systems," Yassaie said. "We're very bullish at the moment, and the outlook for the industry looks positive generally."
The company, which lists Apple Inc. (AAPL) and Intel Corp. (INTC) as two of its largest shareholders, believes consumer interest in wireless technology, especially Digital Audio Broadcasting, or DAB, and portable Internet devices will continue to grow strongly through next year, putting it in a strong position.
Yassaie added that suppliers have stopped de-stocking their inventories and consumer spending has stabilized over the course of the year.
"I think we'll also see a significant rebound in emerging markets through 2010 too. This will be driven in part by more affordable mobile handset technology and a growing range of these products," he said.
Imagination, which posted net cash position of GBP14.6 million on April 30 said it hoped to strengthen its cash position through next year to over GBP20 million if it wanted to consider making further small 'bolt on' acquisitions.
Shares closed down 12.3 pence or 5.8% at 199.6 pence, underperforming a weaker FTSE 250 index - down 1.81%.
Company Web site: www.imgtec.com
-By Elliott Ball, Dow Jones Newswires; 44-20-7842-9314; elliott.ball@dowjones.com