TDK Corporation and InvenSense entered Wednesday into a definitive agreement wherein TDK agrees to acquire all of the outstanding InvenSense shares for cash at an acquisition price of US$13.00 per InvenSense share, for a total acquisition price of $1.3 billion. The transaction has been unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies.
As the fields of ICT, automotive and industrial experiences growing demand for sensors, TDK, together with InvenSense, expect to provide products and sensor expertise across sales channels and a global customer base that TDK and InvenSense have each cultivated over several years. TDK and InvenSense are resolved to exhibit the same level of commitment to providing customers with quality, expert solutions and customer service as a combined company.
Completion of the transaction is expected in second quarter of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2018, and is subject to approvals by InvenSense shareholders and the relevant regulatory authorities.
The acquisition will be completed through a merger of a newly created subsidiary of TDK with and into InvenSense, with InvenSense continuing following the merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of TDK.
Through the acquisition of InvenSense, TDK will be able to strengthen its product line-ups and technologies, which is expected to enable the combined company to become a player in broad based sensor solutions for IoT, automotive and ICT by accelerating the sensor product roadmap to offer innovative next generation products and platforms. In addition, sensor fusion, the combination of various sensor technologies and software creates products with enhanced value solutions for customers across multiple fields.
InvenSense is a vendor of motion sensor solutions, known mostly for its six-axis and nine-axis motion sensors, which are used in some of the world’s most advanced consumer products and applications. In recent years its portfolio has expanded with additional solutions for inertial, environmental, microphone, and ultrasonic sensors.
InvenSense’s “fabless” manufacturing model enables development of high-performance and cost effective products via its unique CMOS-MEMS production process. Enhanced by its value-added software solutions, InvenSense has expanded to become a global player in sensors for consumer devices including smartphones, drones, wearables, gaming, inertial navigation, and both optical and electronic image stabilization for cameras.
Looking ahead, growth avenues beyond mobile include large addressable opportunities in the fields of IoT, automotive, and industrial, driven by increasing consumer demand of indoor navigation, Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).
The acquisition will enable TDK to combine InvenSense’s advanced suite of sensor and software platforms with its range of magnetic, pressure, temperature, and microphone sensors. In addition, sensor fusion, combining various types of technologies and product line-up, creates products with high added value. Sensor fusion combines multiple sensors and software solutions that enables TDK to expand its business in the three key areas, while further strengthening its position as a global player in the sensor business, which is one of TDK’s strategic growth products.
TDK’s current medium-term (3-year) management plan ending in March 2018 focuses on the importance of three areas: a) automotive, b) manufacturing devices and energy, and c) Information and Communications Technology (ICT).
As part of its strategy for growth in these key areas, TDK has identified sensors and actuators, energy units and next-generation electronic components as three product areas for strategic growth aimed at unlocking new business opportunities in the fields of Internet of Things (IoT). Sensors are viewed as an important IoT-enabling technology and TDK envisions greatly expanding this portion of its business and providing a broad range of sensor solutions to its customers.
TDK currently sells magnetic sensors that employ thin-film magnetic technology, which TDK has accumulated through its endeavors with hard disk drive (HDD) solutions over many years. Further, TDK’s product line includes pressure, temperature, electric current, and various other sensor types, and TDK plans to expand its sensor business going forward.
