A semiconductor factory in Wales recently faced ownership questions, leaving its future unclear.
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Newport Wafer Fab – Britain’s biggest chipmaking plant – drew concerns when a Chinese firm acquired it last year. Now, however, an American company called Vishay Intertechnology wants to purchase the facility for roughly $177 million and funnel over $1 billion into global investments.
But three months post-offer, the UK government still hasn’t approved the deal. This limbo has Newport Fab employees worrying about jobs as redundancies already hit. The delays also froze facility upgrades and new orders.
Critics argue the government is dragging its feet on greenlighting the Vishay takeover. As an American ally, Vishay seemingly poses no national security troubles. The opposition argues prompt approval would stabilize Newport Fab’s turbulence.
The chip factory’s fate carries weight given nearby steelworks recently moved to cut thousands of jobs. Newport Fab may not be the region’s largest employer, but it remains one of Britain’s few domestic semiconductor manufacturers, producing chips used in Jaguar Land Rover vehicles and other products.
While the government touts investing up to $1 billion over 10 years to grow its semiconductor industry, the Newport Fab delays have seeded doubts. Workers hope the limbo ends so they can focus on maintaining their roles in this strategically important manufacturing base.
