Startup formed by MBO of Swindon wafer fab

LONDON — The management of an analog wafer fab in Swindon, England, that once belonged to GEC-Plessey Semiconductors, has acquired the business from MHS Electronics UK Ltd., which is in administration.

MHS had acquired this business in February 2008 and the company was subsequently placed into administration in February 2009.

The managers worked with JSFM Consulting Ltd. (Lincoln, England) to put together a bid and will trade as Plus Semi, which is a trading division of JSFM Consulting. The company processes include bipolar and BiCMOS processes down to 0.8-micron, which offers as the basis of an analog and mixed-signal foundry service.

"We have received commitments from a number of customers from around the world and we will capitalize on that commitment to ensure a successful business for the future," said Michael LeGoff, managing director of Plus Semi.

"The business achieved a high level of productivity in the administration trading period, and the management bid provided the best longer term solution for a number of the key stakeholders including the employees at the site in Swindon," said Simon Girling of law firm BDO Stoy Hayward LLP, one of the administrators.

Semiconductor manufacture has been present at the Plus Semi site in Cheney Manor, Swindon since 1956. The chips manufactured at the site are used in telecommunications, automotive, military, aerospace, medical, industrial and commercial applications.

Related links and articles:

www.plussemi.com

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