SEMICONDUCTOR maker Analog Devices Inc today said it would buy rival Maxim Integrated Products Inc for about US$21 bil (RM89.7 bil) in the largest US deal this year, aimed at boosting its market share in automotive and 5G chipmaking.
The deal, which is also ADI’s biggest, will create a chipmaking force with a combined enterprise value of about US$68 bil that will compete with larger rivals including Texas Instruments.
ADI chief executive Vincent Roche said the combined engineering teams would help the resulting company design more specialised, higher-margin chips for customers such as automakers.
“If you’re doing commodities, you’re at the mercy of the heavy hammer of the procurement folks.
“But our game is about getting there first, getting out on the edge and making a real impact at the application level for our customers.”
ADI approached Maxim in mid-April after both companies’ stocks had slowly recovered from the bottom since the Covid-19 pandemic hit the United States, according to a person familiar with the matter.
ADI, which once viewed the premium to buy the rival too high, believe using an all-stock deal could take advantage of the ratio amid a volatile market.
Over the last three months, the deal was negotiated through virtual meetings.
The companies said the deal added Maxim’s strength in automotive and data centre markets to ADI’s broad industrial, communications and digital healthcare segments.
Based in Norwood, Massachusetts, Analog Devices provides sensors, data converters, amplifiers and other signal processing products to a range of industries from transportation and healthcare to instrumentation and portable consumer devices.
San Jose, California-based Maxim designs and manufactures analogue chips that are used in cars, manufacturing, energy, communications, healthcare and connected devices.
Reuters had reported on Sunday that ADI was in advanced talks to acquire Maxim.
The offer values Maxim at US$78.43 per share, a premium of about 22% to its Friday close and Maxim closed up 8.1% at US$69.29. Analog shares closed down 5.8% at US$117.25.
Under the terms, Maxim stockholders will receive 0.630 of Analog stock for each share they own, the companies said in a statement.
The deal is expected to add to adjusted earnings of the combined entity in about 18 months following the close, with US$275 mil in cost savings by the end of year two, they said.
While the deal requires approvals from regulators in the United States, China and Europe, the companies believe they do not need many divestitures given the limited overlap of their businesses, according to people familiar with the deal.
Two Maxim directors, including CEO Tunç Doluca, will join ADI’ board.
Morgan Stanley served as financial adviser to ADI, as well as BofA Securities. J.P. Morgan served as financial adviser to Maxim. – July 14, 2020, Reuters
