美国功率芯片制造商Wolfspeed的碳化硅200毫米晶圆于2022年4月在美国纽约州Marcy的Mohawk Valley工厂展出。图片由Wolfspeed/Handout通过路透社提供。
U.S. power chip maker Wolfspeed’s silicon carbide 200mm wafer is seen on display at Wolfspeed’s Mohawk Valley Fab in Marcy, New York, U.S., April 2022.
2022年10月7日，芯片制造商Wolfspeed宣布已从美国国防部获得最高15亿美元的有条件贷款承诺，用于扩大国内碳化硅材料和功率设备的生产，其股价在盘后交易中上涨了27%。
Wolfspeed使用碳化硅制造芯片，这种芯片更具能效，广泛应用于需要大量功率转换的场景，如电动汽车、太阳能逆变器和工业电力系统。
该公司表示，这笔为期30年的有条件贷款来自国防部的战略资本办公室，体现了其优化资本结构和改善财务基础的举措。
Courtesy of Wolfspeed/Handout via Oct 7 - Chipmaker Wolfspeed said on Wednesday it has received a conditional loan commitment for up to $1.5 billion from the US Department of Defense to expand domestic production of silicon carbide materials and power devices, sending its shares surging 27% in extended trading.
Wolfspeed计划利用这笔资金升级其氮化镓技术，以用于下一代通信基础设施和电子战系统，并开发抗辐射能力。该贷款需经过尽职调查、最终协议、政府批准等条件。
根据提议的条款，Wolfspeed需向国防部发行认股权证，以便在必要时购买其最多7.5%的完全稀释后的股权。
Wolfspeed makes chips using silicon carbide, which are more energy-efficient and used in applications that require huge amounts of power conversion such as electric vehicles, solar inverters and industrial power systems The company said the conditional 30-year commitment, through the defense department's Office of Strategic Capital, reflects its efforts to optimize its capital structure and improve its financial foundation It plans to use the financing to upgrade its gallium nitride technology for next-generation communications infrastructure and electronic warfare systems and develop radiation-hardening capabilities The funding is subject to due diligence, definitive agreements, government approvals and other conditions Under the proposed terms, Wolfspeed would be required to issue to the department warrants to purchase up to 7.5% of Wolfspeed's fully diluted equity