News Article
1st Silicon and X-FAB semiconductor foundries merger
The State Government of Sarawak ("State of Sarawak") and XTRION N.V. announced the merger of 1st Silicon (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd ("1st Silicon") and X-FAB Semiconductor;Foundries AG ("X-FAB"). ;;
The combined entity will be named XFAB Silicon Foundries N.V. The signing ceremony of the merger took place in Kuching, Sarawak. The combined manufacturing capacity of the merged company will be approximately 700,000 200mm equivalent wafers per year. There is a strong strategic rationale for these two established foundries to merge as the manufacturing, technological and marketing synergies are significant. Moreover, there is minimal overlap in terms of personnel and geographic coverage. Post-merger, 1st Silicon and X-FAB will have key manufacturing facilities in Sarawak (Malaysia), Erfurt (Germany), Lubbock(Texas, U.S.A) and Plymouth (U.K.). Its marketing network and client basewill span across the Americas, Europe and Asia. "The State of Sarawak views this strategic merger and long-term partnership with X-FAB as a powerful union and will further the State's long-term goal to develop its world-class high-tech and knowledge-based sector" said YAB Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud, Chief Minister of Sarawak. "X-FAB's decision to expand their Asian operations from Sarawak is a testimony that Sarawak has successfully transformed and diversified its economic base beyond natural resource and agricultural base industries" added the Chief Minister.