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Mumbai:
Wipro Ltd will acquire the Austrian firm NewLogic in an
all-cash deal. Under the terms of the agreement, the Wipro,
the world''s largest third party R&D services provider,
will pay approximately € 47 million ($56million)
to acquire a 100-per cent stake in the privately held
NewLogic. The consideration includes cash payment on closure
of the transaction as well as earn-outs on achieving targeted
financial conditions over a three-year period. NewLogic''s
estimated 2005 revenues is €14 million.
NewLogic
is a leading semiconductor design services company with
intellectual property cores for complex wireless applications
like Wireless LAN and Bluetooth. It has an industry leading
portfolio of semiconductor IPs and components in the wireless
applications space and demonstrated innovative capabilities
in the analog and Radio Frequency (RF) design. These capabilities
complement Wipro''s own portfolio of IP cores and patents
in wireless and wireline technologies, positioning the
combined entity as the global leader.
With
the acquisition, Wipro will gain 120 specialists, strengthening
its ability to provide proven semiconductor IP cores and
complete System-on-chip solutions with digital, analog
mixed signal and RF design services. The acquisition also
provides it access to 25 patent filings and over 20 customers
in the product engineering domain. These customers include
Agere, Infineon and Philips. Wipro, a leading solutions
provider in semiconductor design services, has over 1,200
design engineers, and the NewLogic acquisition will further
strengthens its position in the global design services
market. Europe currently contributes to 9 per cent of
Wipro''srevenues for R&D services in embedded products.
"In
the product engineering space, ownership of IPs is a key
asset for building services revenues. The NewLogic acquisition
is a significant step in the our plans to be the leader
in the Wireless IP and RF technology space. It will position
Wipro as a complete SoC solution provider to our customers.
The acquisition also helps us consolidate our position
as leaders in this space and more particularly provides
a solid base for addressing the large market in Continental
Europe", said Ramesh Emani, President, Product Engineering
Solutions, Wipro Technologies.
The
Company will combine its global semiconductor IP portfolio,
the analog/mixed signal services and the European SoC
design services with NewLogic and create a new business
unit under Product Engineering Solutions group.
Hans-Peter
Metzler, CEO of NewLogic will head the new business unit
and focus on addressing the growing customer needs for
innovative SoC solutions.
Commenting
on the acquisition, Sudip Nandy, the Company''s Chief Strategy
Officer said, "This acquisition is a significant
milestone in our strategy towards creating a strong footprint
in Europe and enhancing our local delivery capability.
We see immediate and considerable value from the NewLogic
team through their potential patent portfolio, client
base, and complementary skill-sets."
The
entire transaction is expected to be closed during the
next one
month. The closing of the transaction is subject to customary
closing conditions and regulatory approvals.
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