Wentai Technology of Chinese EnterprisesThe acquisition of British chip contract manufacturing giant Newport Wafer Fab (hereinafter referred to as "NWF") ushered in new progress.This time, the British government seems to have offered new terms for the £63 million (560 million yuan) deal.
On July 29th, local time, US media reported that Chinese companies' intention to acquire NWF through its Dutch company Anshi Semiconductor is expected to attract bids from some local institutions in the UK, and the British government may also agree to this approach.Because this means that the shareholding ratio of Chinese enterprises in NWF can be controlled within a reasonable range.The maximum shareholding may not exceed 25%.Instead of holding 100%.
Kwasi Kwarteng, the UK business secretary, is reported to have given the green light to the deal in early July. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered a security review of the case.. The latest news revealed by a British government spokesman shows that at present, the relevant British departments are "covetously" looking at the investment plan.
As of press time, Anshi Semiconductor, NWF, Wentai Technology did not respond to the "British request to reduce the shareholding ratio".
You know, a week ago (July 22), it was reported in the media that the British local "in charge" of scientific research funding investmentResearch and Innovation Agency (UKRI)Funding for NWF has been cut off.In other words, although the acquisitions of Chinese companies have not yet been settled, the British institution, which allocates more than 6 billion pounds (53.2 billion yuan) a year to research activities, seems to have used a "suspension of funding", indicating that NWF is about to join Wentai Technology, a Chinese company.
NWF also holds more than 12 UK cooperation orders, the vast majority of which come from British government agencies.Innovate UK。According to the report, NWF also enjoyed a subsidy of about 55 million pounds (about 494 million yuan) from the British government in these orders.
It is worth mentioning that among the above-mentioned cooperation projects of NWF, there is also a non-civilian order worth 5.4 million pounds (about 48.52 million yuan). According to the plan, NWF will work with Cardiff University (Cardiff University) to promote the development of a chip for a radar system, which will be supplied to key British companies such as aerospace chipmaker Arralis.It also indicates that it should be difficult for Britain to tell the chip giant everything.
There are also many British analysts believe that the 63 million pounds bid by Chinese companies for NWF is too cheap.Because any chip factory costs at least 1 billion pounds to build, the price is ridiculously low, even if NWF's technology, which mainly produces 8-inch wafers, is not very advanced.
Some people even compare Huawei 5G, saying bluntly that selling NWF to Chinese enterprises is riskier than using Huawei's 5G equipment.Australia also wants to take the opportunity to "get involved". It is reported that the former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott (Tony Abbott) has publicly stated that if it were in their country, the acquisition would never be agreed.
Foreign media analysis said that although NWF was eventually "sold" to Dutch company Anshi Semiconductor, Chinese company Wentai Technology held a 100% stake in it.Under the latest plan unveiled in April, it is estimated that the UK government is likely to offer Enshi no more than a 25 per cent stake in NWF.
Some industry insiders have pointed out that the UK may even require NWF and Anshi Semiconductor to simply sign a supply agreement for some chips, rather than reaching a deal.All in all, from the acquisition of ARM by Nvidia to the acquisition of Intel's NAND business by SK Hynix, any chip acquisition will be questioned under the global wave of "lack of core".
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