Belgian GaN Spinout from Onsemi Declares Bankruptcy

BelGaN, the GaN spinout from onsemi in Belgium, has recently filed for bankruptcy, marking a significant turn of events for the company.

Established in Oudenaarde in 2022, BelGaN emerged as a GaN foundry following onsemi's inability to secure a buyer for the CMOS power fab. The company made its mark by introducing the innovative 650V enhanced eGaN technology in June 2023, positioning itself as a key player in the automotive power chip foundry sector. Additionally, plans were in place to manufacture depletion mode GaN devices, showcasing BelGaN's commitment to cutting-edge technology.

"To fund the significant investments required for the transition process, the company actively sought additional investments beyond the initial support from its shareholders," a statement from BelGaN revealed, shedding light on the financial challenges that ultimately led to the bankruptcy filing.

The Belgian wafer fab, which was previously automotive qualified and employed 440 staff members, now stands at a crossroads. The management has expressed openness to collaborating with potential investors to explore avenues for revitalizing the site and potentially salvaging operations.

BelGaN's inception on September 30, 2021, stemmed from a joint venture between Rockley Management (HK) Ltd. and Wuxi Group Ltd., both based in Hong Kong. Rockley Group, a venture capital and advisory firm with roots in Oxford, England, and Shanghai, China, played a pivotal role in the establishment of BelGaN. The acquisition of the fab and associated intellectual property amounted to $13.6 million, with Belgian chip companies Melexis and X-Fab initially identified as potential buyers of the facility.