Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. has completed the acquisition of Nexperia’s wafer fabrication facility and operations in Newport, South Wales. Accordingly, the deal value is at approximately US$177 million in cash, net of cash acquired.

The Newport wafer fab, located on 28 acres, is an automotive-certified, 200mm semiconductor wafer fab. Moreover, it can produce more than 30,000 wafers per month.

The fab is the UK’s largest semiconductor fab with a long history in supplying components to the automotive and industrial markets. Vishay plans to position the facility as a manufacturing excellence center focusing on Net Zero Transformation of decarbonization and electrification.

Accelerates SiC Production

As a new member of the Compound Semiconductor Cluster in South Wales, Vishay plans to collaborate with local universities and others in the UK. Primarily, this will enhance its research and development efforts on power compound semiconductors.

“The acquisition of Newport aligns with the strategic shift the Board envisioned with its decision to appoint new leadership. Under Joel’s leadership, Vishay is making this shift, investing in technologies and incremental capacity to drive faster growth and enhance returns to stockholders. The goal is to prepare Vishay to capitalize on the megatrends of e-mobility, sustainability, and connectivity,” said Marc Zandman, Executive Chairman of the Board.

Meanwhile, Joel Smejkal, President and CEO of Vishay, said “With a Vishay-owned fab to qualify and scale our SiC portfolio, we are accelerating our participation in the SiC MOSFETs and diodes marketplace.”

Moreover, Smejkal said they would welcome all the employees at the Newport wafer fab into the Vishay family. Thus, accelerating further the SiC and GaN production and technology development. In addition, Vishay will soon share specific plans for Newport at its upcoming Investor Day on April 2.

Vishay’s cash on hand will fund the transaction and will result in the renaming into Vishay Newport Limited.