Mergers & Acquisitions in the RF & Microwave Industry - 2015

PMC-Sierra Acquired by Microsemi for $2.5 Billion

Microsemi Corporation has entered a definitive agreement to acquire PMC-Sierra, Inc. for $2.5 Billion - $9.22 in cash and 0.0771 of a share of Microsemi common stock for each share of PMC common stock through an exchange offer. This represents a 77.4 percent percent premium to the closing price of PMC's stock as of Sept. 30, 2015.

PMC was originally offered $2 Billion from Skyworks solutions, which was followed by the offer from Microsemi for $2.5 Billion. After much debate and consideration, PMC decided to go with the offer from Microsemi. The termination of the initial agreement with Skyworks cost PMC $88.5 Million in termination fee.read more

Wolfspeed is the New Name for CREEs RF Division

Cree had announced their plan to spin off its Power & RF Division in May 2015. They have now announced that this new division will be called Wolfspeed. Founded upon the mission to liberate power and wireless systems from the limitations of silicon, Wolfspeed enters the marketplace as a well-established, entrepreneurial growth company with a focused team, a profitable business and more than 28 years of industry-leading wide bandgap semiconductor technology and experience. read more.

Ampleon is the Name of NXP's RF Business

Ampleon (the Spin-off of NXP's RF Business) today announced the formation of its global business operations following the successful acquisition of the RF Power business line by Jianguang Asset Management Co. Ltd from NXP Semiconductors. With immediate effect Ampleon takes responsibility for the entire RF Power business activity, including sales and support of the complete line-up of LDMOS and GaN RF power products. The company has 1,250 employees across 16 engineering, sales and manufacturing facilities worldwide. Ampleon is headquartered in Nijmegen (Netherlands). read more.

Microsemi to Acquire Vitesse Semiconductor for $389 Million

Microsemi on Wednesday 18th March, announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Vitesse for $389 Million. This can be broken down to $5.28 per share through a cash tender offer, representing a premium of 32 percent based on the average closing price on the 17th of March 2015.

Headquartered in Camarillo, California, Vitesse designs a diverse portfolio of high-performance semiconductors, application software, and integrated turnkey systems solutions for carrier, enterprise and Internet of Things (IoT) networks worldwide. Vitesse's products enable the fastest-growing network infrastructure markets including mobile access/IP edge, enterprise cloud access, and industrial-IoT networking.read more

Focus Microwaves Acquires UK based Device Modeling & Characterization Company

Focus Microwaves announced today that it has expanded its base of high-frequency measurement and modeling technologies through the acquisition of Cardiff, UK-based Mesuro (www.mesuro.com), a leader in the development of RF/microwave and high-speed-digital device modeling, characterization, and optimization solutions.

Mesuro brings a wide range of sophisticated measurement and modeling products and technologies to the expanded Focus Microwaves operations, including active source- and load-pull systems for device characterization, solutions to create device models for use with leading computer-aided-engineering (CAE) software programs, and a wide range of measurement and modeling services.read more

Amphenol Connex Merged in to Amphenol RF

Amphenol Connex has merged with Amphenol RF, headquartered in Danbury, CT. The combined product portfolio will be marketed and sold under the name Amphenol RF. The Moorpark, CA facility will continue to operate as the company’s main North American distribution center and Amphenol RF’s western regional sales office providing support to local customers. read more

Focus Microwave Acquires AURIGA’s Pulsed IV and Bias Tee Lines

Focus Microwaves (from Montreal, Canada) announced the acquisition of the Pulsed IV and Bias-Tee lines of AURIGA Microwave. As part of this acquisition Focus Microwave also hired key Auriga personnel who will be able to help support existing customers and help fulfil pending orders for the pulse system and bias tees. These employees will also be able to help with further product development. These new product lines fit seamlessly into their RF accessory and Nonlinear Modelling technology of MESURO, which Focus acquired last January.read more

AAC Technologies Acquires WiSpry

AAC Technologies has announced the completion of its acquisition of WiSpry, Inc. WiSpry is a leader in high-performance tunable radio frequency semiconductor products for the wireless industry and a pioneer of RF micro-electro-mechanical systems (“MEMS”) solutions, with products relating to antenna tuning and filters for mobile devices. Immediately after the completion of the transaction, WiSpry becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of AAC Technologies and will continue the development of their market-leading performance RF MEMS enabled products.read more

Cree Acquires APEI

Cree has announced the acquisition of APEI (Arkansas Power Electronics International, Inc.), a global leader in power modules and power electronics applications. Combining two highly complementary innovators, the acquisition enables Cree’s Power and RF business to extend its leadership position and help to accelerate the market for high-performance, best-in-class SiC power modules.

This acquisition strengthens Cree’s market-leading position for SiC power electronics, infusing the Power and RF business with additional intellectual property and applications expertise at the systems level from APEI.read more

NI Acquires Micropross for $108 Million to Strengthen its Wireless Test Platform

National Instruments has announced the acquisition of Micropross (based in France), a supplier of test systems for Near Field Communications (NFC), smart cards, and wireless charging test systems. Micropross will continue to operate as a wholly owned NI subsidiary under the leadership of the existing management team.

As more and more consumer and IoT devices incorporate capabilities such as mobile payment and wireless charging, Micropross’ technology and expertise in these areas will complement NI’s broad test platform to offer customers solutions that will help speed their time to market and lower their cost of test. This technology will be leveraged in multiple NI growth initiatives including semiconductor test and wireless production test.read more

NI Strengthens Global Leadership in 5G Wireless with BEEcube Acquisition

National Instreuments announced its acquisition of BEEcube, a technology innovator and leading supplier of high-performance FPGA prototyping and deployment products for advanced wireless research, wireless infrastructure and military/defense applications. BEEcube has been at the forefront of technology innovation in telecommunications applications. This acquisition will give Beecube the resources to continue to drive 5G research and provide our customers solutions which enable infrastructure deployment on a global scale.read more

Maury Microwave Acquires Anteverta-MW

Maury Microwave announced that they have completed the acquisition of Anteverta-mw. Anteverta-mw is pioneer of large signal device characterization methodologies and systems, and high efficiency/linearity PA design. Their patented IP allows non-50Ω characterization at speeds up to 100x faster than traditional systems, and is unique in its capability of wideband impedance control for realistic modulated signals. This strategic move is expected to further strengthen Maury Microwave in the nonlinear measurement and modeling device characterization market and accelerate innovation for the betterment of markets served by both parties.read more

Avago Technologies to Acquire Broadcom for $37 Billion

Avago Technologies announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which they will acquire Broadcom in a cash and stock transaction for $37 Billion. This places the value of the combined company at $77 billion. Upon completion of the acquisition, the combined company will have one of the most diversified communications platform in the semiconductor industry, with combined annual revenues of approximately $15 billion.read more

Silicon Labs Acquires Bluegiga to Become a Dominant Player in IoT

Silicon Labs has announced the acquisition of Bluegiga Technologies - A privately held company based in Espoo, Finland, developing short-range wireless connectivity solutions and software for the IoT. Bluegiga is one of the fastest growing independent providers of wireless connectivity solutions. Their wireless portfolio includes ultra-low-power Bluetooth® Smart, Bluetooth Classic, and Wi-Fi® modules, as well as software stacks, development tools and software development kits (SDKs) for a multitude of applications in the industrial automation, consumer electronics, audio, automotive, retail, residential, and health and fitness markets.read more

NXP to Sell RF Power Business for $1.8 Billion

NXP Semiconductors has announced an agreement that will facilitate the sale of its RF Power business to Jianguang Asset Management Co. Ltd (“JAC Capital”). Under the terms of the agreement JAC Capital will pay $1.8 billion for the business. The NXP RF Power business is one of the market leaders in high performance RF power amplifiers primarily focused on the cellular basestation market, but with potential future growth applications in the areas of industrial lighting, next generation cooking and automotive electronic ignition systems. read more

Keysight to Acquire Anite for $606 Million

Keysight Technologies announced a recommended cash acquisition of Anite, a U.K.-based leading supplier of test and measurement solutions to the international wireless market. At 126 pence per share, the acquisition values Anite (on a fully diluted basis) at approximately £388 million (US$606 million based upon an exchange rate of 1.56 USD:GBP). This cash acquisition has been unanimously recommended by the board of directors of Anite. The acquisition will be made by Keysight Netherlands B.V., a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Keysight Technologies.read more

API Technologies to Acquire Aeroflex Inmet and Aeroflex Weinschel

API Technologies has entered in to a definitive agreement with Cobham plc to acquire Aeroflex / Inmet, Inc. (“Inmet”) and Aeroflex / Weinschel, Inc. Both these companies are wholly owned subsidiaries of Cobham. Inmet and Weinschel have each been in business for more than 50 years, and each manufactures and sells RF and microwave products for defense, space, avionics, wireless, and test and measurement applications.

API will acquire 100% of the shares of the Acquired Companies for a total purchase price of $80.0 million. This transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including Hart Scott Rodino. read more