Elmos Semiconductor and Littelfuse have reached a definitive agreement for the sale of the Elmos wafer fab at the Dortmund site to Littelfuse. The sale will include the transfer of technology team consisting of approximately 225 employees, while all other activities, including testing operations, will remain with Elmos. The net purchase price for the wafer fab is approximately EUR 93 million.
This agreement follows Elmos' previous attempt to sell the fabrication activities of the Dortmund fab to Swedish MEMS foundry Silex Microsystems AB in December 2021. However, the sale was blocked by Germany's federal cabinet due to Silex being acquired by Chinese company Nav Technology Co Ltd.
By acquiring the Dortmund wafer fab, Littelfuse aims to enhance its capabilities in power semiconductors for power conversion applications such as renewables, energy storage, and e-Mobility charging infrastructure. The transaction is expected to close on December 31, 2024, pending certain closing conditions and regulatory approvals.
To ensure a smooth transition, Elmos and Littelfuse have also agreed to a multi-year capacity-sharing arrangement, where Elmos will purchase defined volumes of wafers produced at the fab. This collaboration will allow Elmos to continue its focus on delivering innovative mixed-signal semiconductors.
Dr. Arne Schneider, CEO of Elmos Semiconductor, sees this agreement as a milestone for semiconductor production in Dortmund and believes it will strengthen Germany's position as high-tech location. He also emphasizes Elmos' commitment to utilizing advanced technologies to drive groundbreaking innovations in the automotive industry.
Littelfuse, a global company with operations in more than 20 countries and approximately 18,000 associates worldwide, already has a strong presence in Germany with various manufacturing, sales, and R&D sites.
The wafer fab team at Elmos is pleased with the agreement and looks forward to Littelfuse's further development of the fab for power semiconductors. They now eagerly await the review procedure by the relevant authorities to ensure a smooth transition.
