Eight-inch foundry Vanguard International Semiconductor (VIS) is expected to announce details regarding a new acquisition later in the first quarter of 2021, according to market sources.
Toshiba and Malaysia-based Silterra are reportedly among the companies approached by VIS, which is looking to acquire an 8-inch wafer fab, the sources indicated. A Korea 8-inch wafer fab is also among VIS' acquisition targets, the sources said.
VIS chairman Leuh Fang was quoted as saying in previous reports that it is in talks with a target seller of 8-inch wafer facility. VIS previously acquired Globalfoundries' 8-inch fab in Singapore in late 2019, and boosted its overall production capacity by 15% in 2020.
Fellow foundry United Microelectronics (UMC) is also looking at aging and idle 8-inch wafer fabs for acquisitions, company co-president SC Chien was quoted as saying in previous reports. Toshiba's 8-inch fab operations in Japan are reportedly among UMC's acquisition targets.
Besides, Foxconn Electronics (Hon Hai Precision Industry) confirmed previously it has placed a bid to take over a stake in Silterra, an 8-inch foundry house with monthly production capacity of 46,000 wafers.
