November 6, 2007 – TSMC and Hon Hai Group are reportedly teaming up in the LED industry, via a business deal involving two partners.
Vanguard International Semiconductor Corp., ~25% owned by TSMC, will make LED drivers on a foundry basis for Fitpower Integrated Technology Inc., according to the Taiwan Economic News. Hon Hai would not confirm the deal, only saying they started foundry production of LED drivers in 3Q07.
The report also cites “industry watchers” speculating that Hon Hai wants to expand its LED biz into epitaxy-wafer manufacturing but doesn’t want to invest in the production equipment nor long process learning and ramp-up — which plays well into VISC’s experience in chipmaking on silicon wafers.