Renesas to buy IDT in US$6.7b deal
TOKYO: Japan’s Renesas Electronics Corp said it had agreed to buy Integrated Device Technology Inc (IDT) for US$6.7 billion (RM27.82 billion), its second major acquisition as it deepens its push into semiconductors for self-driving cars.
The deal for the United States chip design firm underscores fierce competition between global chipmakers as they seek to boost their product line-ups and market share in the highly lucrative field of automotive chips.
Renesas is second only to NXP Semiconductors NV in autorelated chips and commands 30 per cent of the global market for microcontrollers used in cars. But it is weak in so-called analogue chips that process signals from things such as sound, light or temperature into digital data.
In particular, Renesas has been keen to get its hands on IDT’s know-how in analogue semiconductors for wireless networks and sensors — expertise crucial to develop autonomous driving and connected car technology.
It will pay US$49 per share in cash for IDT’s outstanding shares, a 16 per cent premium to their closing price on Monday.
“We were weak in chips for wireless networks needed for the Internet of things and connected cars. We’ve been wanting to get such assets,” said Renesas chief executive officer Bunsei Kure.
Renesas said the combination with IDT would allow the Japanese firm to provide more comprehensive chip systems for its clients. IDT is also strong in chips for data centres, opening up a new stream of revenue for Renesas.
While IDT has averaged nearly 20 per cent revenue growth in the past four reported quarters, some analysts worry that benefits from the deal could be hard to come by.
“Renesas is weak in telecommunications chips, so the combination isn’t bad,” said Akira Minamikawa, principal analyst at IHS Markit. “But IDT doesn’t have many automotive clients. Bringing their chips up to the level needed for automotive standards will not be easy.”
IDT generates just 11 per cent of its revenue from automotive and industrial businesses.
The deal comes on the heels of last year’s purchase of US chipmaker Intersil Corp for US$3.2 billion which also expanded its portfolio of analogue chips.
The companies need to gain approval from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States as well as from antitrust authorities in markets such as China.