Intel to Acquire Infineon’s Wireless Solutions Business
August 30 2010 - 12:23AM
Business Wire
Infineon Technologies AG and Intel Corporation have entered into
a definitive agreement to transfer Infineon’s Wireless Solutions
(WLS) business to Intel in a cash transaction valued at
approximately $1.4 billion.
WLS, a leading provider of cellular platforms to top tier global
phone makers, will operate as a standalone business serving its
existing customers. WLS will also contribute to Intel’s strategy to
make connected computing ubiquitous from smartphones to laptops to
embedded computing.
“The global demand for wireless solutions continues to grow at
an extraordinary rate,” said Paul Otellini, Intel president and
CEO. “The acquisition of Infineon’s WLS business strengthens the
second pillar of our computing strategy -- Internet connectivity --
and enables us to offer a portfolio of products that covers the
full range of wireless options from Wi-Fi and 3G to WiMAX and LTE.
As more devices compute and connect to the Internet, we are
committed to positioning Intel to take advantage of the growth
potential in every computing segment, from laptops to handhelds and
beyond.”
“The sale of WLS is a strategic decision to enhance Infineon’s
value. We can now fully concentrate our resources towards strong
growth in our core segments Automotive (ATV), Industrial &
Multimarket (IMM) and Chip Card & Security (CCS). This creates
a great perspective for all Infineon customers, employees and
shareholders,” said Peter Bauer, CEO of Infineon Technologies AG.
“We all stand to benefit enormously from this deal. Thanks to the
outstanding effort of the employees and the management during the
last years, WLS is excellently positioned to grow further with the
new owner who is ideally suited for this business.”
The WLS transaction is a strategic decision for Intel and
Infineon. WLS complements Intel’s existing assets and enables
growth in mobile computing, smartphones and embedded computing.
Infineon will benefit from this by stronger addressing three
central challenges to modern society – energy efficiency, mobility
and security.
Intel’s goal is to expand its mobile and embedded product
offerings to support additional customers and market segments,
including smartphones, tablets, netbooks, notebooks and embedded
computing devices. Through this effort, Intel will pair WLS’
best-in-class cellular technology with its core strengths to enable
the delivery of low-power, Intel-based platforms that combine its
applications processor with an expanded portfolio of wireless
options -- bringing together Intel’s leadership in Wi-Fi and WiMAX
with WLS’ leadership in 2G and 3G, and a combined path to
accelerate 4G LTE.
Intel expects WLS to continue growing, and remaining a
standalone business to ensure continuity of existing customer
sales, projects and support. The business will continue to support
its customers with the best solutions possible, including ARM-based
products as well as Intel-based application processor platforms
with leading-edge 3G slim modem solutions.
WLS today holds leading positions in the field of wireless
mobility and cellular platforms for smart phones and
ultra-low-cost, entry phones. WLS provides baseband processors,
radio-frequency transceivers, power management integrated circuits
(ICs), additional connectivity features, single-chip solutions as
well as the corresponding system software. This helps to enable the
smooth transmission of voice and high-speed data from the backbone
of the telecommunication network to the end user’s device. With
annual revenue of Euro 917 million, WLS was approximately 30
percent of Infineon’s total annual revenue of Euro 3.03 billion in
the past financial year.
The board of directors of Intel and the supervisory board and
the management board of Infineon have approved the transaction. It
is expected to close in the first quarter of 2011, subject to
certain regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions
specified in the definitive agreement.
About Infineon
Infineon Technologies AG, Neubiberg, Germany, offers
semiconductor and system solutions addressing three central
challenges to modern society: energy efficiency, mobility, and
security. In the 2009 fiscal year (ending September), the company
reported sales of Euro 3.03 billion with approximately 25,650
employees worldwide. With a global presence, Infineon operates
through its subsidiaries in the U.S. from Milpitas, CA, in the
Asia-Pacific region from Singapore, and in Japan from Tokyo.
Infineon is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (ticker symbol:
IFX) and in the USA on the over-the-counter market OTCQX
International Premier (ticker symbol: IFNNY).
About Intel
Intel [NASDAQ: INTC], the world leader in silicon innovation,
develops technologies, products and initiatives to continually
advance how people work and live. Additional information about
Intel is available at www.intel.com/pressroom and
http://blogs.intel.com.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENT SAFE
HARBOR
This release includes forward-looking statements about the
future of Infineon's business and the industry in which we operate.
These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of
uncertainties, including the factors described in the "Risk
Factors" section of the annual report of Infineon on Form 20-F on
file with the SEC. As a result, Infineon's future business could
differ materially from what is contained in these forward-looking
statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these
forward-looking statements. Infineon does not undertake any
obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking
statements in light of developments which differ from those
anticipated.
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements
regarding Intel’s proposed acquisition of Infineon’s Wireless
Solutions (WLS) business, including but not limited to statements
regarding the projected growth in demand for wireless solutions and
Internet connectivity; the expected closing of the transaction in
early 2011; plans to operate WLS as a standalone business; Intel’s
strategy and the contribution of WLS to such strategy; the expected
growth potential of WLS and the anticipated effect of the
transaction on WLS; the projected benefits of the proposed
transaction; and the anticipation that the majority, if not all, of
the WLS employees will transfer to Intel. Actual events or results
may differ materially from those contained in these forward-looking
statements. Among the important factors that could cause future
events or results to vary from those addressed in the
forward-looking statements include without limitation, risks and
uncertainties arising from the possibility that the closing of the
transaction may be delayed or may not occur; changes in consumer
demand; Intel’s ability to successfully integrate WLS as a
standalone business; the realization of the projected benefits of
the proposed transaction; the retention of suppliers, customers and
key employees; general economic conditions in the regions and
industries in which Intel and WLS operate; the intensely
competitive industries in which Intel and WLS operate; and
litigation or regulatory matters involving antitrust and other
issues that could affect the closing of the transaction.
In addition, please refer to the documents that Intel files with
the SEC on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. The filings by Intel identify
and address other important factors that could cause events and
results to differ materially from those contained in the
forward-looking statements set forth in this press release. Intel
is under no duty to update any of the forward-looking statements
after the date of this press release to conform to actual
results.
EDITOR’S NOTE: A press conference will be hosted in
Germany by Infineon and Intel executives at 2 p.m. CEST / 5 a.m.
PDT. The webcast can be viewed at
www.intel.com/pressroom/infineon/webcast.htm. A conference call
hosted by Intel executives in the United States is also planned for
8 a.m. PDT / 5 p.m. CEST and the webcast can be viewed live at
http://intelstudios.edgesuite.net/100827_IR/index.htm.
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