ProMOS to be acquired by GlobalFoundries?

Anonymous industry sources told DigiTimes that Globalfoundries has agreed to take over cash-strapped ProMOS Technologies for NT$20-30 million ($US0.7-1 billion) to enhance its manufacturing capacity. ProMOS has a 300mm fab in Taichung, central Taiwan, capable of producing 60,000 300mm wafers per month. Globalfoundries currently has two 300mm fabs (one in Dresden and one in Singapore) with a combined capacity of 130,000, with more capacity expected to come online by the end of the year at a new 300mm plant in New York.

Globalfoundries reportedly has agreed to take over financially-troubled ProMOS Technologies for NT$20-30 billion (US$0.7-1 billion), according to industry sources. By adding ProMOS' 12-inch wafer fab in Taichung, central Taiwan to its global manufacturing facilities, Globalfoundries will be striving for orders from IC design houses in China and Taiwan, the sources indicated.

After being acquired, ProMOS will still be able to continue business with its customers over the next 1-2 years, the sources said. Known as a maker of PC DRAM, ProMOS has reiterated plans to turn its business focus to niche-market memory and foundry services for non-memory products such as panel driver ICs.