X-Fab to acquire Altis assets

Article By : Vivek Nanda

The acquisition will help X-Fab, a foundry with significant operations in Malaysia, to nearly double its 8-inch capacity.

X-Fab Silicon Foundries, a company with significant foundry operations in Malaysia, has announced that it will acquire the assets of Altis Semiconductor, a specialty stand-alone foundry that is facing insolvency proceedings.

The companies serve complementary markets and applications. The acquisition roughly doubles X-Fab's 8-inch capacity and significantly increases its European footprint — Altis' foundry is located in the Greater Paris area.

X-Fab claimed that based on the characteristics of the technologies and end markets, the acquisition ensures long-term existence and development of the site in Corbeil-Essonnes and, as part of a larger group, will enhance its competitiveness.

The company said it is part of its strategy to strongly invest in R&D activities for the development of proprietary technologies and that will apply to the new site. "I am convinced that this acquisition will be of benefit for all parties involved with Altis Semiconductor being a perfect fit for X-Fab on our way to becoming the foundry of choice for the analog world," said Rudi De Winter, CEO of the X-Fab Group. The assets will be transferred into the newly founded X-Fab France SAS.

Earlier this year, X-Fab upgraded the manufacturing process at its wafer fab in Lubbock, Texas, to start supplying 6-inch SiC wafers. In Asia, X-Fab had last year announced plans to invest $114 million in its wafer fab in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. The focus there is on 0.18µm and 0.35µm manufacturing.