IQE

IQE plc acquired the third-party shareholdings in its CSDC joint venture in Singapore, taking its ownership to 100 percent. The acquisition was for a nominal fee of USD 1 to WIN Semiconductors and SGD 1 to other shareholders.

IQE plc has renegotiated a long-term supply contract with a premier tier-one customer for epiwafer products used in wireless applications. The contract is estimated to be worth approximately USD 60 million through September 2019.

AIXTRON received a multiple MOCVD system order from IQE for AIX 2800G4-TM reactors to be deployed for GaAs epi-wafer production on 6-inch substrates for VCSEL devices. The systems will be installed in a new production facility in South Wales, with commissioning expected by Q1 2018.

Ten local councils in Wales have signed an agreement to own CSC Foundry Ltd., a compound semiconductor foundry to be located in Newport. The facility will initially be leased to IQE for compound semiconductor manufacturing and applications development. The Cardiff regional authority contributed £37.9 million.

IQE announced plans to open a new compound semiconductor wafer foundry at the former LG site in Newport, as part of the Cardiff Capital Region City Deal. The Welsh Government invested £12 million in the cluster, which could attract £375 million in private investment and create up to 2,000 jobs.

The Cardiff Capital Region City Deal, Welsh and UK governments signed an agreement to contribute £37.9 million towards a compound semiconductor foundry in Newport, to be leased to IQE plc. The project aims to create up to 2,000 jobs and leverage £375 million in private investment.