Samsung buys Israeli image sensor firm to boost nonmemory ops

October 31, 2007 – Samsung Electronics Co. reportedly has acquired TransChip Israel Ltd., an Israel-based CMOS image sensor firm, the first time in a decade the Korean company has acquired a foreign company.

No financial terms were provided, though the Korea Economic Daily (cited by the Associated Press) pegged the pricetag a $70 million. Samsung has already turned TransChip into its 17th global R&D development center, with about 60 staff, notes the Chosun Ilbo.

The deal will boost Samsung’s position in image sensors, but in a greater sense its non-memory chip business. Rival Hynix Semiconductor also is preparing to reenter the nonmemory-chip sector by converting its M7 200mm DRAM line in Icheon, after carving out its previous nonmemory ops (renamed MagnaChip) in late 2004.

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