Tower Semiconductor builds analog chips for several high-growth markets, including mobile computing and the automotive industry, according to Intel.
Intel is bolstering its fledgling foundry business by acquiring Tower Semiconductor, a manufacturer of speciality » analog chips » used for power management systems and CMOS image sensors, among other things. Intel will pay $5.4 billion to buy the Israeli company, which produces semiconductors on mature manufacturing nodes from 45 nanometer up to over 250 nanometers. The goal: Help Intel fill out its foundry business portfolio. Eleven months ago, Intel announced it was going to start making processors for third-party tech companies and Western governments, putting it in direct competition with semiconductor manufacturers such as TSMC and Samsung.
