TAIPEI, Taiwan — In response to the American touchscreen chipmaker Synaptics said it would buy Renesas SP Drivers (RSP), a display chips supplier for the iPhone for $475 million, potentially winning back Apple as a customer. However, Powerchip Group holds a 20 percent stake in RSP, which made them to hold a press conference to announce the Comapny's prospect.
“In the past one and half years, Powerchip is in a steady situation, we are transforming from a DRAM firm into a OEM service provider.” said Chen Rui-long, Chairperson of Powerchip Group, “By the year of 2016, we will be a debt free company.”
RSP is the sole chips supplier of Apple's iPhone display, after the acquisition not only would Synaptics become part of Apple's supply chain again, but also help Powerchip Group cooperate with Synaptics.
Synaptics, whose chips are used in Samsung's devices such as Galaxy S5 smartphones and Galaxy Note 3 phablets, was once a supplier to Apple. The growing popularity of using fingerprints to unlock mobile phones and other devices is also expected to drive growth at Synaptics in the future.
Huang Chong-jen, CEO of Powerchip Group stated “When talking about the foundry, we can provide the cheapest wafers among competitors. We are striving to the era of open foundry, which means Powerchip is responsible for R&D, foundry technology, equipment, and operation management, covering DDI, IMC, CIS, DRAM, and Flash.”
Huang Chong-jen also remarked that the Company will step into Biotechnology, “after a market delisting announcement in late 2012, we are doing our best to pay off the debts, we would soon become a debt free company after 2016, maybe would be a listed company again then.”
