Kircheim/Teck, February 10, 2011 - Dialog Semiconductor plc (FWB.DLG), a leading provider of highly integrated power management semiconductor solutions for portable devices including Smartphones and Tablet PCs, is pleased to announce that it has completed a transaction to acquire SiTel Semiconductor B.V. (“SiTel”), a leader in short-range wireless, digital cordless and VoIP technology.
Headquartered in the Netherlands, with approximately 140 employees, SiTel is a leading provider of semiconductors for short range wireless connectivity and VoIP applications. SiTel’s industryleading products are found in a broad range of personal portable applications including digital cordless phones, professional wireless headsets, gaming and portable medical devices. SiTel’s VoIP technology is increasingly used by leading manufacturers of enterprise and residential VoIP connectivity products. Additionally, the combination of SiTel’s VoIP-based internet connectivity and short–range wireless capabilities provides an ideal platform to enable a new generation of wireless smart home networked devices with direct IP addressability – a fast-emerging market segment.
Wireless connectivity in personal portable devices is becoming increasingly prevalent within our society. As this trend continues, the market for proprietary and standards-based low power wireless ICs represents one of the highest growth opportunities in the semiconductor market today, with total units predicted by IMS Research to reach more than 4 billion by 2015, representing a CAGR of 32.2% between 2010 and 2015.
Under the terms of the transaction, Dialog paid an enterprise value of $86.5 million. The transaction is expected to be accretive to both cash and IFRS EPS from Q3 2011. The acquisition has been funded using Dialog’s existing cash reserves.
In financial year 2010 SiTel generated unaudited revenues of approximately $116.9 million (2009: $109.6 million) with a 42.4% gross margin. SiTel’s customers include Gigaset, Panasonic, Microsoft, Plantronics and LG Ericsson: each world-leading brand names in their respective market 2 segments for portable personal consumer devices and VoIP connectivity. SiTel was previously a portfolio company of UK-based private equity firm HgCapital.
“We see the acquisition as highly complementary to our existing business and it will allow Dialog to address adjacent emerging connectivity markets in a compelling way,” said Dr. Jalal Bagherli, CEO of Dialog Semiconductor. “The acquisition adds an established team of nearly 100 engineers, including expertise in low power RF. Dialog now benefits from a differentiated technology portfolio and an extremely competitive platform for our customers, leveraging both our superior power management technology with low power short-range wireless technology,” continued Bagherli.
“Our ultra low power wireless technology, including both innovative proprietary and standardsbased solutions has allowed SiTel to become a leader in wireless connectivity,” stated Dr. Asmund Tielens, CEO of SiTel. “We are proud of the many milestones and technology „firsts‟ SiTel has achieved in the CMOS wireless single chip field. By leveraging Dialog‟s market leadership, I am confident we can drive adoption of wireless connectivity into this burgeoning consumer portable market,” added Tielens.
Jefferies International Limited acted as financial adviser to Dialog.
About Dialog Semiconductor
Dialog Semiconductor creates energy-efficient, highly integrated, mixed-signal circuits optimised for personal mobile, lighting & display and automotive applications. The company provides flexible and dynamic support, world-class innovation and the assurance of dealing with an established business partner.
With its unique focus and expertise in system power management, Dialog brings decades of experience to the rapid development of integrated circuits for power management, audio, display processing and motor control. Dialog’s processor companion chips are essential for enhancing both the performance of hand-held products and the consumers’ multimedia experience. With world-class manufacturing partners, Dialog operates a fabless business model.
Dialog Semiconductor plc is headquartered near Stuttgart with a global sales, R&D and marketing organisation. In 2010, it had $296.6 million in revenue and was again one of the fastest growing European public semiconductor companies. It currently has approximately 400 employees. The company is listed on the Frankfurt (FWB: DLG) stock exchange and is a member of the German TecDax index.
"Forward-Looking" Statements are omitted