IQE, which makes semiconductor wafers for chips used in Apple Inc products, also manufactures for Asian customers in Taiwan and Singapore. It has banked on the region for big new orders amid the tariff dispute between the United States and China.

 

The partnership, CSDC Private Ltd, was formed in 2015 by its Singaporean unit MBE Technology with WIN Semiconductors and Nanyang Technological University to develop and sell compound semiconductor technologies.

 

Shares of IQE were up 5.5 per cent at 62.85 pence as of 0715 GMT.

 

US restrictions on China's Huawei had damaged the semiconductor industry's supply chain and IQE said it may possibly attempt a turn-around for CSDC as it takes full control, with benefits seen from being closer to Asian chip customers and original equipment manufacturers.

 

''In the current geopolitical context, Singapore represents a strategically significant site for IQE,'' chief executive officer Drew Nelson said. The three way partnership, which recorded deficits of S$8.9 million in 2018, will be purchased for a nominal fee of S$1 from WIN and S$1 from other stakeholders, the company said.

 

IQE said it plans its 2019 adjusted core profit and operating profit to take a £500,000 (S$843,000) hit post the acquisition. It documented a pretax loss of £3.7 mllion for the six months concluded June 30.

 

TRONSERVE