Semiconductor Mergers Heat Up in 2012
From January to November of 2011, 98 semiconductor merger deals were announced, an 8.4 percent decrease over the same period in 2010, according to the Global Semiconductor Association (GSA).
The M&A world is heating up in 2012.
On Tuesday (March 20), Samplify Systems Inc. announced it is monetizing its existing IP portfolio for ultrasound through the sale of the business to Cephasonics. The Cephasonics deal is a management buy-out of Samplify’s ultrasound business and assets. Samplify is a provider of intellectual property solutions which solve data acquisition and data processing bottlenecks.
On Wednesday (March 21), Broadcom Corp. signed a definitive agreement to acquire BroadLight, Inc. BroadLight is a privately held provider of highly integrated networking and fiber access PON (Passive Optical Network) processors.
The same day, Semtech Corp., a supplier of analog and mixed-signal semiconductors and Gennum Corp. , a supplier of high speed analog and mixed-signal semiconductors for the optical communications and video broadcast markets, jointly announced the completion of Semtech’s acquisition of Gennum.
Then, on Thursday (March 22), Sigma Designs Inc. , a provider of connected media platforms, announced that it has signed an asset purchase agreement to serve as the “stalking horse” bidder to acquire certain assets of Trident Microsystems Inc.’s DTV chip business.
On March 30, Analog Devices Inc. acquired Multigig, Inc., a small, privately-held San Jose, Calif., company specializing in high-performance clocking technology. The acquisition will enhance ADI’s clocking capabilities in stand-alone and embedded applications.
On April 2, Power Integrations Inc., a supplier of high-voltage integrated circuits for energy-efficient power conversion, has signed an agreement to acquire CT-Concept Technologie AG for approximately 105 million Swiss francs in cash, or about US$115 million, net of cash assumed. Founded in 1986 and based in Biel, Switzerland, Concept is a developer of highly integrated, energy-efficient drivers for high-voltage IGBT modules.
