Cypress merges with SPansion in 5 Bn$ deal - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2015, 05:59:17 pm
content: another one bites the dust...So far :-IBM sold off all their waferfabs ( well, they gave their fabs + 1.5 Billion $ to take them ... , not exactly a sale) to GLobal Foundries- NXP and Freescale mergeand nowCypres and Spansion in 5 Bn$ deali predict two more mergers in the coming weeks/months

author: Mechanical Menace
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2015, 06:07:17 pm
content: Oh don't tease with the predictionsBut Samsung buying somebody?

author: miguelvp
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2015, 06:11:37 pm
content: Where did the extra Billion come from?https://www.eevblog.com/forum/microcontrollers/cypress-and-spansion-to-merge-in-$4-billion-all-stock-transaction/On their announcement back in December it states $4 billionhttp://www.cypress.com/?rID=103842

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2015, 07:02:15 pm
content: mercury news has it at 5bnhttp://www.mercurynews.com/60-second-business-break/ci_27700616/exclusive-hundreds-being-laid-off-cypress-and-spansion

author: calexanian
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2015, 07:06:11 pm
content: Another step towards more expensive chips.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2015, 07:18:54 pm
content: Semiconductors firms are like a lava lamp. They split and absorb activities all the time.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2015, 07:44:56 pm
content: Quote from: calexanian on March 16, 2015, 07:06:11 pmSpansion's SPI flash is insanely cheap - hope this doesn't change

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 17, 2015, 04:17:39 am
content: Quote from: free_electron on March 16, 2015, 05:59:17 pmI'll just randomly pick one off the top of my headTI/MaximOr how aboutTI/Linear?

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 17, 2015, 04:43:55 am
content: Quote from: Stonent on March 17, 2015, 04:17:39 ammaxim-linear ...linear-analog ...

author: daqq
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 17, 2015, 07:21:45 am
content: Damn, can't say I like this trend... Seems we might end up with very few giant "western" friendly (english datasheet, tools and documentation, western-ish corporate culture, etc.) semiconductors.

author: Balaur
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 17, 2015, 08:15:09 am
content: Quote from: daqq on March 17, 2015, 07:21:45 amEven worse when some activities gets "optimized" during the merge and your pool of customers gets smaller every year. Even if the total business volume may stay the same (not guaranteed though), bigger customers for small businesses is rarely a good news.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2015, 06:35:34 am
content: Microchip-Atmel*Psiducks

author: Wilksey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2015, 11:53:18 am
content: Quote from: Psi on March 18, 2015, 06:35:34 amLet the controversy begin...

author: dannyf
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2015, 01:24:16 pm
content: QuoteMicrochip is done - or has been done for quite some time now.Atmel has a chance of making it.

author: calexanian
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2015, 05:56:20 pm
content: Quote from: Wilksey on March 18, 2015, 11:53:18 amPlugging ears and not listening anymore!!

author: photon
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 19, 2015, 07:51:18 pm
content: And the winner is: Microsemi - Vitessehttp://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1326074

author: mrflibble
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2015, 12:14:11 pm
content: Mmmh, this trend sure will mess up the availability of some nice parts.Besides the drawbacks can anyone think of advantages? Only a few large foundries on the planet with advanced processes that a smaller company would not be able to afford to maintain ==> better processes ==> awesome parts?For the digital side I'd consider it a case of"who cares?", but for niche analog not so sure...

author: Mechanical Menace
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2015, 12:26:45 pm
content: Quote from: mrflibble on March 20, 2015, 12:14:11 pmIs there any benefit to using those advanced processes for analogue applications?

author: mrflibble
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2015, 12:37:59 pm
content: Quote from: Mechanical Menace on March 20, 2015, 12:26:45 pmWouldn't know. But that question touches on what I'm getting at. If there is a big consolidation and you end up with a couple of large foundries, then you don't have the small specialty foundries anymore. If those few large foundries mostly spend their money on processes that are optimized for digital, then you don't have foundries that can do niche analog. Probably not as black and white as all that, but looks like the result just might be less variety of useful analog parts.But besides the drawback I was trying to think of any positive aspects, and specifically for endangered analog parts species.

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2015, 03:01:07 pm
content: Quote from: Mechanical Menace on March 20, 2015, 12:26:45 pmnope. no advantage. in fact the digital processes are so 'leaky' it is bloody hard to do analog.you may shrink a digital transistor down to 18 nanometer but once you need to drive 10 milliampere on an I/o you still need a big whopping transistor to do that

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2015, 03:13:40 pm
content: Not sure... logic fabs range from boring 3.3/5V HC CMOS range stuff (I think 200nm up to, yes, 2um fabs are still hacking away at silicon as far as I know) down to 50-200nm LVCMOS (3.3V max or thereabouts) and further (with the ~1V stuff being 20-100nm GHz stuff, and occasionally odd fancy things like Intel's FinGate stuff). These are all capable of analog circuits of modest to high speed, with the main downside that offset voltages (in diffamps and such) aren't generally all that well controlled, and references are hard to make (usually, a substrate-grounded BJT structure has to be half-assed into existence from N-wells and such, so a ratio of emitter areas and current densities can be used for a bandgap reference). On the upside, tall stacks of metal and SiO2 layers allow transmission lines and inductors of modest Q to be built (typically a Q peak of 10-20 in the 2-20GHz range), which makes power amplifiers and filters for low-GHz band circuitry feasible.It would seem to me, as time goes on, the biggest fabs will also have to invest in the most diverse -- as well as the largest, most productive machinery and techniques -- to maintain their market share. Maybe they don't, and it's more than possible to thrive making only CMOS. But some examples of diversity (that I recall reading about, but don't really know how common they are in practice) include copper metallization, HfO2 gate oxide, ferroelectric gate oxide (i.e., turning DRAM into FeRAM), various coatings, passivations (Si3N4, etc.), platings (Au, Ni, ??) and various optimizations (supposedly, DRAM is hard to make in a general CMOS process, so MCUs rarely have it onboard, using SRAM even though it's expensive). Not to mention all the things needed to do MEMS, IR to UV optics, thermal and more. It's starting to look less like computers and more like "Periodic Table Smorgasbord-on-a-chip". Which is pretty amazing...Apparently, fancy stuff like SiGe:C is even being used for boring parts like op-amps. When you rub together a few hundred 60GHz+ fT HBTs, you can get curiously low noise levels, while still achieving average or above-average GBW.Tim

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2015, 03:15:50 pm
content: Quote from: free_electron on March 20, 2015, 03:01:07 pmI've always wonder what they settle for on FPGAs. The pin drivers are apparently capable (i.e., they meet the specs for whatever they're configured as, whether LVDS or 20mA LVCMOS), but the datasheet goes to lengths to describe the limitations and vulnerabilities of them (transient peak voltages, DC loads).And that's on the 3.3V (or whatever) capable IO blocks, which are (one would hope?) a different process to the 1.2V core section, and so on.TIm

author: wolfield
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 02, 2015, 02:58:59 pm
content: Not so long ago Infineon acquired International Rectifier:http://www.infineon.com/cms/en/about-infineon/international-rectifier/Both companies have extensive portfolios full of innovations in power electronics, so I want to believe that this move may be beneficial for both. On the other hand Infineon's price policy never was the best.

author: Scrts
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2015, 03:05:30 pm
content: The next one is Intel merging with Altera. Alteras' shares have been frozen. The price has been fixed.

author: nuno
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2015, 03:28:58 pm
content: Quote from: Psi on March 18, 2015, 06:35:34 amWas attempted circa 2009, actually Microchip placed a bid for ATMEL, but ended up not happening.Here's one, but just google for "microchip to buy atmel"http://www.reuters.com/article/2009/02/10/us-atmel-takeover-microchip-idUSTRE5197X120090210

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2015, 05:48:08 pm
content: Big shakeup happening at Maxim as well...also Intel and Altera are cooking ...infineon is also cooking ... (they already borged IR but want to borg another. .. )and then there are prime candidates to be borged ... Atmel, Silabs ..

author: calexanian
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2015, 05:55:33 pm
content: Quote from: free_electron on April 02, 2015, 05:48:08 pmWe are the Borg. Lower your standards and surrender your IP. We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own. Your culture will adapt to service us. Resistance is futile

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2015, 02:19:44 am
content: Maxim? But who would want *that*?

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2015, 05:55:25 am
content: Maybe you would be able to get chips from them other than sample quantities with less leadtime..............

author: Bassman59
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2015, 04:46:10 pm
content: Quote from: free_electron on April 02, 2015, 05:48:08 pmI hope not. They're one company that seems to "get it." Let's see, inexpensive programming dongles and dev boards and parts that work as advertised for good prices? Count me in.

author: photon
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 08, 2015, 06:51:45 pm
content: Quote from: free_electron on April 02, 2015, 05:48:08 pmYou are correct free_electron:http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1326561&Microchip wants Micrel, which I think may be another smart move by Sanghi.

author: photon
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 29, 2015, 04:16:54 pm
content: This merger beats them all:http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1326717Who the hell is Avago?

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 29, 2015, 04:41:19 pm
content: Quote from: photon on May 29, 2015, 04:16:54 pmwho is avago ? avago is the spin off from hp/agilent that makes optoelectronics ( led's and displays and chips ). they already borged LSI logic last year , now they are after Broadcomm ...The silicon industry is undergoing a massive shakeout and merger wave. more to follow ...

author: Mechanical Menace
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 29, 2015, 04:45:38 pm
content: Aren't Avago also a big in solid state storage?

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 29, 2015, 04:55:39 pm
content: Quote from: Mechanical Menace on May 29, 2015, 04:45:38 pmafaik : the silicon storage unit from LSI (who had already borged Sandforce) was sold to Seagate when they (Avago and LSI) merged.

author: Mechanical Menace
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 29, 2015, 05:03:21 pm
content: Quote from: free_electron on May 29, 2015, 04:55:39 pmAh thanks. I just half recognised the name but had no real reason to know of them iykwim.

author: photon
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 29, 2015, 06:07:09 pm
content: Quote from: free_electron on May 29, 2015, 04:55:39 pmSandforce was LSI's entry to SSD drives. Prior to that LSI had a long history in the hard disk drive business, especially in FC (fiber channel) and its predecessor SCSI drives for server applications. Emulex was a long time provider for HBA's (Host Bus Adapters) using LSI silicon. Both Emulex and LSI were bought by Avago, but it's unclear to me what survives of LSI or Emulex after the merger.

author: photon
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 29, 2015, 11:27:12 pm
content: None of the guys I work with knew anything about Avago, so something was fishy. Sure enough, they have no engineering history. It started life when HP spun out their semiconductor unit as part of Agilent in 1999. After the dot-com bubble burst it was bought by KKR and Silver Lake in 2005 for 2.6 billion. That is when it went from an engineering to money driven company. KKR, recall, is the notorious leveraged buyout company of the 80's.

author: andersm
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 30, 2015, 12:44:03 pm
content: Avago make optical encoders used in a ton of printers etc. They also used to make the motion sensors used by pretty much all gaming mice, but they got out of that business a few years ago.

author: rs20
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 30, 2015, 12:56:19 pm
content: Quote from: free_electron on May 29, 2015, 04:55:39 pmSurely someone, somewhere, has drawn a diagram showing all this... a "family tree" of chipmakers.

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 30, 2015, 01:01:27 pm
content: The company I work at uses a ton of Broadcom processors (set-top box stuff), they knew nothing about the Broadcom buyout.But I guess anyone knowing about it could conduct insider trading, so they're usually pretty secret about it.

author: PioB
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 01, 2015, 03:25:50 pm
content: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-06-01/intel-buys-altera-for-16-7-billion-as-chip-deals-accelerateSeen here:http://www.reddit.com/r/electronics/comments/382ufj/intel_buys_altera_for_167b

author: miguelvp
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 01, 2015, 03:58:48 pm
content: The writing was on the wallhttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/intel-to-purchase-altera/I think the Broadcom buyout pushed Altera to finally do it.Can't wait for the first Xeon/FPGA chip.

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 01, 2015, 05:44:33 pm
content: This phenomenon in SC manufacturing is similar to the auto industry a century ago:http://l3d.cs.colorado.edu/systems/agentsheets/New-Vista/automobile/

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 01, 2015, 05:49:42 pm
content: and the wave isn't over yet ...

author: miguelvp
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 01, 2015, 06:20:15 pm
content: Quote from: free_electron on June 01, 2015, 05:49:42 pmQualcomm's turn I guess.Edit: but there is also Nvidia, hmm, if I was Intel I'll go for the later.

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2015, 09:32:31 pm
content: BOOM. another one...The status so far- Volterra borged by Maxim- LSI borged by Avago- Broadcomm borged by Avago- Spansion borged by Cypress- ISSI borged by Summitview- Silicon image borged by Lattice- Renesas SP (division of renesas) borged by Synaptics- Freescale borged by NXP- Altera borged by Intel- Micrel borged by Microchipon the hunt :TIMicrosofton the chopping blockIDTAMDPotential targets for takeoversXilinxAtmelSilicon Labs

author: photon
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2015, 09:49:25 pm
content: Quote from: free_electron on August 01, 2015, 09:32:31 pmGood list. I would like to add to:The Status so far:Emulex borged by Avago.PLX borged by AvagoPotential Targets for Takeover:Any fabless semiconductor company with revenue < $1B and good products/margins

author: Mechanical Menace
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2015, 10:03:04 pm
content: Quote from: photon on August 01, 2015, 09:49:25 pmI'd throw ARM Holdings into that too.

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2015, 10:05:09 pm
content: Nah ARM is not up for grabs. that would be a disaster for the ecosystem.emulex and plx are 'old' acquisitions ( older than mid last year )

author: Mechanical Menace
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2015, 10:21:08 pm
content: Quote from: free_electron on August 01, 2015, 10:05:09 pmI will of course bow to your insight on this. But at the least I doubt they'll still be based in Cambridge, or anywhere in Europe for that matter, 5 years down the line.

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2015, 10:46:25 pm
content: Quote from: Mechanical Menace on August 01, 2015, 10:21:08 pmThere you may be right.

author: photon
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2015, 10:52:28 pm
content: I would also add Intel to On the Hunt and Qualcomm (chip business) to Potential Takeover Targets.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 02, 2015, 12:47:14 am
content: Good business for silicon valley sign makers.

author: andyturk
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 20, 2015, 03:41:46 pm
content: Dialog to buy Atmel for $4.6B...http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/09/20/us-atmel-m-a-dialog-idUSKCN0RK0J420150920

author: daqq
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 20, 2015, 03:46:39 pm
content: Well fudge...

author: photon
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 07, 2015, 10:51:57 pm
content: Skyworks to buy PMC-Sierra for $2B. A small onehttp://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1327914

author: photon
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 19, 2015, 06:25:35 pm
content: ON to buy Fairchild:http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1328296&

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 19, 2015, 06:46:53 pm
content: one more to go....

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 19, 2015, 07:33:18 pm
content: I would've thought it was the other way around. Fairchild doesn't seem to be doing too badly, to me. I haven't bought hardly anything from On Semi in the last forever. Probably a good combination though; Fairchild seems to rock with discretes, which I've hardly seen any from On Semi (aside from the old standbys like 2N3904s and MJE*'s). For what I know of their discrete and IC portfolios, it should be a good combination, though it'll probably lead to the obsolescence of some redundant parts.Tim

author: photon
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2016, 08:45:44 pm
content: Here is a twist to the merger gambit. Toshiba to auction off all its chip business except for NAND flash.http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1328763Recall that Toshiba is now the number 8 semiconductor supplier in the world and just a couple of years ago in the top 5.

author: dannyf
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2016, 08:50:59 pm
content: QuoteThe semi conductor industry is going through a sea change right now. I was in China in December 2015 and met with quite a few Chinese fab-less IC shops. I think the Japanese understand exactly what's down the road for them and they are divesting in anticipation of that.The Chinese is climbing up the value-added chain, doing to the Japanese what the Japanese did to the US.