Three candidates have come forward to purchase the BelGaN chip manufacturing site in Oudenaarde, Belgium.
Two of the bidders are from Asia and one is from Europe, according to the curators, who are optimistic about substantial employment prospects linked to these bids.
“They are talking about increasing the workforce to 250 employees and more within three years,” said curator Ali Heerman.
The bids meet the set conditions, including a minimum price and specific payment guarantees. The site’s value was estimated at around €20 million. However, Heerman did not confirm any exact figures. “The court still needs to authorise us to proceed with a private sale, but we are confident a decision will be made soon,” he said.
The sale is expected to be concluded in April, barring unforeseen circumstances.
BelGaN was Belgium’s last industrial chip manufacturer before its closure last year. The company went bankrupt after investments in gallium nitride-based chips failed to generate quick returns, resulting in 440 job losses.
More than 80% of the high-tech equipment has already been sold, but bidding for the large company site at Westerring 15 was open until Wednesday at 7 p.m.
The site covers an area of just under 4.5 hectares. It includes two “cleanrooms,” 700 m2 and 3.66 m2 in area respectively, where sensitive processes are protected from air contamination.
Cleanrooms are essential in chip production and medical applications. Some candidates plan to resume chip production at the site, while others might initiate different activities. The curators will decide on this later.
If the court authorises the sale, the new owner will be announced in April. Heerman expects the sale and transfer to be completed by then.
The curator declined to reveal the bidders’ identities or their specific plans.
