BOSTON, MA—The Strategy Analytics GaAs and Compound Semiconductor Technologies (GaAs) Service, releasing its regular analysis of compound semiconductor industry news covering microelectronics, optoelectronics, and materials/equipment markets, highlights a high number of joint ventures and mergers and acquisitions in Q3 2006.
In the RF space, Freescale joined the private-equity ranks of Avago and NXP as it agreed to be acquired by a private-equity consortium in a transaction worth $17.6 billion, while Jazz Semiconductor merged with a wholly owned subsidiary of Acquicor Technology, Inc.
In the optoelectronics arena, Epistar’s move to acquire two more of Taiwan’s InGaN LED makers could propel the company into the global top five of InGaN LED suppliers. However, this consolidation has not deterred silicon DRAM manufacturer ProMOS and equipment manufacturer, Hermes-Epitek, from announcing a joint venture to form EpiLED.” Consolidation in the LED market, especially in Taiwan, is a prerequisite to improving product quality and consistency so that the solid-state lighting community can start serving the general lighting markets,” notes Asif Anwar, GaAs service director. “While it may seem surprising to many observers that Promos and Hermes-Epitek have chosen to enter this consolidating market, the joint venture can be successful if it is able to harness silicon-style manufacturing philosophies to LED manufacture.”
The Compound Semiconductor Industry Review Q3 2006 reports covering microelectronics, optoelectronics, and materials/equipment markets are online at www.strategyanalytics.com.