Question-and-Answer Session
Operator
(Operator Instructions). And the first question comes from Mr. Gallo of CL King. Please go ahead Mr. Gallo.
Michael Gallo - CL King & Associates
Hi, good afternoon. The question I have is just on the contact parts business. Obviously, a pulse has been challenged for sometime but the contact parts business at AMI has held us better for really up until the fourth quarter though I guess, exit gotten a little bit tougher in the third quarter, could you talk more specifically about what you're doing at AMI to restore that segment profitability?
James Papada III
Well, as I mentioned, we're starting the two go on short work weeks in Germany and we had a serious of (inaudible) at the end of Q4. We've also reduced workforce somewhat in Europe and in China. And we're also -- have also made some significant workforce reductions in the North American operations and we continue to consolidate North American operations to reduce your raw cost in North America. Obviously, we have two things going on in the electrical business that are not just similar from what's going on in the electronics business. The first is a drop in global demand. The drop in demand and I guess the electrical business a little later on than in did electronics business and its a little more selective in that. There are some lines of business they're actually holding up quite well but there are other lines of business that are down 50%. And secondly, we have the significant decline in the price of silver, its down by 40%, 45% from where it was averaging in the first half of last year. So that’s the AMI DODUCO story.
Michael Gallo - CL King & Associates
Give us an update on where you stand on looking at alternatives for the MEMS business that you announced last quarter?
James Papada III
Sure. Yes, our intention was to sell that business in divested, that continues. Mike, we are relatively pleased considering the overall market that we’ve gotten interest in that and we are proceeding to that end.
Michael Gallo - CL King & Associates
We sense for how long you think it might be to get a resolution, is this another quarter or two out or would you expect to have something to report on that front by next quarter?
James Papada III
I believe we might be in a position to report something next quarter. We intent to have it all wrapped up well in advance of mid-year.
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