Silterra inks RM1.7bil deal with ChipOne

Under the multi-year agreement, Siltterra will supply wafers, which are used in the production of semiconductor devices to ChipOne, said DNeX in a statemen

PETALING JAYA: Dagang Nexchange Bhd’s (DNeX) subsidiary, Silterra Malaysia Sdn Bhd, has entered into a wafer supply and purchase agreement worth US$400mil (RM1.69bil) with ChipOne Technology (Beijing) Co Ltd.

Under the multi-year agreement, Siltterra will supply wafers, which are used in the production of semiconductor devices to ChipOne, said DNeX in a statement.

ChipOne is a leading driver integrated circuit (IC), touch controller and fingerprint sensor fabless integrated circuit design house in Beijing.

According to the statement, the companies will work closely on product development and mass production based on Silterra’s state-of-the-art bipolar-CMOS-DMOS (BCD) technology.

CMOS and DMOS refer to complementary metal oxide semiconductor and double diffused metal oxide semiconductor.

BCD technology is one of the key building blocks of Silterra’s smart power technology platform developed to deliver optimum energy-efficient products based on proven mature process technology, intellectual property and design kits.

DNex MD Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir

DNeX group managing director and Silterrra executive chairman Tan Sri Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir (pic above) said: “We are pleased for Silterra to enter into this agreement with one of the leading semiconductor chip design companies in China. “This also shows the commitment of the new shareholders of Silterra in transforming the company through driving sustainable business.”

Syed Zainal said the agreement would also see Silterra having a guaranteed wafer base load for the next several years and ensure a high factory utilisation rate for the company going forward.

“IC designers are striving to deliver energy- efficient products, and this is aligned to strategies towards energy conservation and sustainability.

“As such, they look to adopt the smart power design techniques as well as advanced power technologies to meet this objective,” he added.

Silterra will be leveraging on its proven process technology, foundry design kits and intellectual property to deliver optimum energy efficient products.

DNeX recently completed the acquisition of a 60% stake in Silterra from Khazanah Nasional Bhd.

DNeX is the majority shareholder of Silterra.

Together with its partner, Beijing Integrated Circuit Advanced Manufacturing and High-End Equipment Equity Investment Fund Center (Ltd Partnership) or CGP Fund, DNeX planned to transform Silterra into a competitive global semiconductor technology player that will be able to capitalise on the strong demand for chips globally.

DNeX is also making its mark as a reputable player in energy, semiconductor as well as subsea telecommunications services.