Mergers and Acquisitions in 2017

The year of 2017 saw a host of mergers and acquisitions taking place round the year in the RF & Microwave industry. The zeal to become global power-houses for some and the need to boost their technological supremacy for others resulted in a number of mergers and acquisitions. While Broadcom’s unsuccessful acquisition bid for Qualcomm remained the highlight of all, Keysight’s acquisition of Ixia and Qualcomm’s acquisition bid for NXP also proved to be industry talking points.

Here’s a look at all of the major mergers and acquisitions in the RF & Microwave Industry that took place in 2017:

Silicon Labs announced the acquisition of Zentri, an innovator in low-power, cloud-connected Wi-Fi technologies for the Internet of Things (IoT). Zentri helps customers worldwide securely connect and manage their products across a wide range of industrial, commercial and consumer applications. Click here to read more.

Telit acquired Silicon Valley-based GainSpan, a wireless connectivity solution provider that specializes in the design and development of ultra-low power Wi-Fi technology. The company manufactures and commercializes chips and modules for battery-powered devices and related intellectual property (IP) with embedded software, including network stacks and application reference designs. Click here to read more.

In one of the most famous acquisition act of last year, Keysight acquired Ixia in an all-cash transaction totaling approximately $1.6 billion. The combination brought together two highly complementary companies to create an innovative force in leading-edge technologies that spans electronic design, device and network validation, and application and security performance. Click here to read more.

Integrated Device Technology (IDT) and GigPeak announced that they signed a definitive acquisition agreement of GigPeak for a total cash consideration of $3.08 per share, or approximately $250 million in cash. The acquisition provided IDT with a highly regarded optical interconnect product and technology business adding GigPeak's optical interface products portfolio being used by leading companies in the Communications, Cloud Data Center, and Military/Aviation markets. Click here to read more.

The Gowanda Components Group (GCG) acquired Microwave Circuits from AMTI to further enhance and expand their RF and microwave filter design and manufacture capabilities. This was GCG’s fifth acquisition in the last five years. Click here to read more.

In another high profile activity last year, Analog Devices announced the completion of its acquisition of Linear Technology Corporation in March 2017after an official announcement in July 2016. The addition of Linear Technologies portfolio gave ADI one of the most comprehensive suites of high-performance analog offerings. Click here to read more.

Peregrine Semiconductor acquired Arctic Sand Technologies, an MIT spin-off and a designer and manufacturer of low-power semiconductors for use in DC-DC power conversion applications. This strategic acquisition accelerated Murata’s (Peregrine’s parent company) vision to revolutionize power electronics with the world’s smallest, most efficient power solutions. Click here to read more.

Akoustis Technologies entered into a binding, definitive agreement to acquire assets from the Research Foundation for the State University of New York (RF-SUNY) and Fuller Road Management Corporation (FRMC), an affiliate of RF-SUNY that included STC-MEMS, a semiconductor wafer manufacturing operation and micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) business with associated wafer production tools, as well as real estate associated with the facility located in Canandaigua, New York. Click here to read more.

One of the most famous acquisition came in the form of Teledyne and e2v jointly announcing the successful completion of a Scheme of Arrangement and acquisition for a net transaction value of approximately $789 million. This boosted the high performance image sensors and custom camera solutions market and application specific standard products of both the giants. Click here to read more.

Analog Devices announced the acquisition of OneTree Microdevices, a fabless semiconductor company for emerging broadband networks working on critical components for CATV and Fiber-to-the-Home Networks. With the acquisition, ADI now supported the complete signal chain for next-generation cable access networks. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Click here to read more.

Mercury Systems acquired Delta Microwave, the leading designer and manufacturer of high-value radio frequency (RF), microwave and millimeter wave subassemblies and components for military and space markets. Mercury added new capabilities which enabled them to expand their addressable market into satellite communications (SatCom), datalinks and space launch. Click here to read more.

Sierra Wireless completed acquisition of the embedded GNSS module business of GlobalTop Technology for approximately $3.2 million. GlobalTop’s GNSS embedded module portfolio became part of the Sierra Wireless OEM Solutions product line with the GNSS staff joining Sierra Wireless. Company’s GNSS products generated approximately $5 million in revenue during the last 12 months. Click here to read more.

Infinite Electronics, a supplier of engineering-grade wired and wireless connectivity products acquired Smiths Interconnect's Microwave Telecoms business (SMT). The Microwave Telecoms Business comprised of the well-recognized solutions-driven Kaelus, PolyPhaser, Transtector Systems and RadioWaves brands. Each of these companies provided a unique set of capabilities and product offerings deployed in critical communications networks worldwide, while also setting global standards through innovation and customer service. Click here to read more.

In a mid-summer deal, RFMW announced the acquisition of Microwave Marketing Ltd. (MML), a specialized RF & Microwave product supplier with operations based in Lincoln, United Kingdom. Through long term relationship with their principals, and continued success in all areas of the Microwave and RF industry they expanded and saw a consistent increase in sales. The acquisition resulted in the formation of RFMW UK. Click here to read more.

Epec Engineered Technologies (EPEC), a Boston based manufacturer of electronics products, acquired high reliability custom RF product manufacturer, Putnam RF Filters Inc. Epec, through the move, now offers full design and manufacturing of RF filters which are used in satellite systems, mobile communications, radar systems, medical imaging equipment, remote‐sensing systems, and electronic warfare systems. Click here to read more.

Microsemi completed the acquisition of Phonon Corporation and as a result started to offer one of the most comprehensive portfolios of high performance, high reliability integrated components and systems solutions for the aerospace, defense and space markets. Phonon Corporation previously had been a global leader in designing and manufacturing custom surface acoustic wave (SAW) components and modules for defense and space. Click here to read more.

Cubic Corporation announced the acquisition of Deltenna Limited (Deltenna), a wireless infrastructure company specializing in the design and delivery of radio and antenna communication solutions, thus enhancing its tactical communication and training capabilities by effectively delivering high-capacity data networks within challenging and rigorous environments. Click here to read more.

Sierra Wireless acquired Numerex in a stock-for-stock merger transaction valued at approximately US $107 million. The acquisition expanded Sierra Wireless’ position as a leading global IoT pure-play solution provider and significantly increased its subscription-based recurring services revenue. Click here to read more.

MACOM Technology Solutions bought the assets and operations related to Luna Innovations’ high-speed optical receivers (HSOR) business. The sale included the operations associated with Luna’s development, manufacturing and sales of products such as high-speed integrated coherent receivers and photodiodes. Click here to read more.

United Technologies, through its aerospace subsidiary, pulled off a game changing acquisition in the aerospace industry by acquiring Rockwell Collins for $140.00 per share, valued at approximately $30 Billion. Rockwell Collins, a leader in aviation and high-integrity solutions for commercial and military customers had been globally recognized for its leading-edge avionics, flight controls, aircraft interior and data connectivity solutions with estimated sales greater than $8 billion. Together, the companies are now working on enhancing customer value by making aircrafts more intelligent and more connected. Click here to read more.

Northrop Grumman successfully acquired Orbital ATK for approximately $7.8 billion in cash, after receiving a nod from its share holders. Orbital ATK had been a global leader in aerospace and defense technologies that designs, builds and delivers space, defense and aviation systems for customers around the world, both as a prime contractor and merchant supplier. Its main products included launch vehicles and related propulsion systems; missile products, subsystems and defense electronics; precision weapons, armament systems and ammunition; satellites and associated space components. Click here to read more.

DragonWave was acquired by Transform-X, a US-based privately held company possessing advanced waveform, software and hardware technologies to drive future evolutions in high-capacity microwave radio, satellite radio, broadcast and other RF communications. The new company, DragonWave-X, expanded its portfolio in new radio solutions that integrate disruptive waveform, antenna and hardware technologies, addressing critical 5G backhaul challenges. Click here to read more.

PowerSphyr Acquired Gill Electronics 

PowerSphyr successfully completed its acquisition of Gill Electronics that was led by wireless power industry veterans and a board member of the AirFuel Alliance. Gill Electronics is one of the only manufacturers of resonant magnetic systems to have deployed both AirFuel and FCC-approved products in the commercial infrastructure market. The combined organization is now the world’s leading wireless solutions provider offering advanced near field and far field solutions in a wide range of applications and industries and has built the first product to bridge the Qi and AirFuel Resonant standards. Click here to read more.

Microsemi and Knowles jointly announced a definitive agreement for Microsemi’s acquisition of the high performance timing business of Vectron International, a Knowles company, for $130 million. Vectron, a leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of frequency control, sensor and hybrid solutions, is known for using the very latest techniques in both bulk acoustic wave (BAW) and surface acoustic wave (SAW)-based designs from DC to microwave frequencies. Click here to read more.

ANSYS announced the acquisition of 3DSIM, a developer of premier additive manufacturing simulation technology, giving itself the industry's only complete additive manufacturing simulation workflow. The combined ANSYS-3DSIM simulation solution is expected to mitigate risks involved in printing metal through additive manufacturing technology, leading to stronger, yet lighter components in the future. Click here to read more.

Bluetest, the market leader in OTA Reverberation Test Systems, completed the acquisition of Swedish based test house, Gefle Testteknik (GTT), founded in 2010, and now a cutting edge test technology provider for some of the biggest players on the mobile infrastructure market. GTT brought extensive knowledge about base station testing to Bluetest who is now able to offer OTA solutions for both Mobile Devices and Base Stations. Click here to read more.

Würth Elektronik announced the acquisition of UK based IQD Frequency Products making UK based IQD Frequency Products Ltd and US based IQD Frequency Products Inc., the latest members of the Würth Elektronik eiSos Group. IQD has been among the leading manufacturers of frequency control devices in Europe with customers in over 80 countries with specialization in quartz crystals, oscillators, VCXOs, TCXOs, OCXOs, GPS-synchronized OCXOs and rubidium oscillators. Click here to read more.

In a year closing deal, Silicon Labs acquired Sigma Designs and its Z-Wave business and technology for approximately USD 282 million, subject to certain closing conditions. Sharing a common vision of a secure, interoperable connected home, both companies now intend to work together to drive the road map and adoption of Z-Wave technology.  Z-Wave is a leading IoT technology for smart home solutions that supplies some of the world's largest ecosystems of smart home IoT products with more than 2,100 certified, interoperable devices available from more than 600 manufacturers. Click here to read more.