UPDATE 1-ASMI plans restructuring, to cut 200 Dutch jobs

(Writes through, adds details)

AMSTERDAM Jan 9 (Reuters) - Struggling Dutch chip equipment maker ASM International (ASMI.AS) plans to move part of its operations from the Netherlands to Asia, affecting about 200 jobs, it said on Friday.

The manufacturing and operational procurement activities of its "vertical furnaces" product line will be moved from Almere in the Netherlands to Singapore over the coming year, ASMI said.

The moves are expected to improve gross margins of ASMI's loss-making front-end division, which makes machines to deposit thin films of materials on silicon wafers, and will lower the break-even level for the vertical furnaces business by 30 percent, ASMI said.

The company expects to take reorganisation charges of between 25 million euros ($34.2 million) and 30 million, mainly in 2009. The remaining workforce of ASMI in Europe of about 350 people will concentrate on research and development, product management and regional sales and service, ASMI said. (Reporting by Niclas Mika; Editing by David Holmes) ($1=.7312 Euro)