MEMC Electronic Materials has laid off 200 employees in Missouri and Texas. The company will pay $2.5 million in severance-related charges in the second quarter as a result of the layoffs.

In a regulatory filing, the company commented on the purpose of the layoffs, saying

“The action was taken to better align the company’s workforce to current manufacturing needs as demand for semiconductors and semiconductor wafers has been significantly impacted by the current global economic environment."