ON Semiconductor signs definitive agreement to acquire CMOS image sensor business unit from Cypress

PHOENIX & SAN JOSE, USA: ON Semiconductor, a premier supplier of high performance silicon solutions for energy efficient electronics, and Cypress Semiconductor Corp., announced that a definitive agreement has been signed for ON Semiconductor to acquire the CMOS Image Sensor Business Unit (ISBU) from Cypress in an all cash transaction for approximately $31.4 million. The transaction is expected to close by the end of the first quarter of 2011, subject to customary closing conditions.

Cypress’s broad portfolio of high-performance custom and standard CMOS image sensors are used in multi-megapixel digital photography and cinematography, machine vision, linear and two dimensional (2D) bar code imaging, medical x-ray imaging, biometrics and aerospace applications. The company’s products include the VITA, LUPA, STAR and IBIS families, which are well-known throughout the industry.

The ISBU will become an integrated part of ON Semiconductor’s Digital, Military/Aerospace and Image Sensor (DMI) division.

“The acquisition of the Image Sensor Business Unit from Cypress will solidify our position as a leading supplier of CMOS Image Sensor products,” said Bob Klosterboer, senior VP and GM of ON Semiconductor’s Digital and Mixed Signal Group (DMSG).

“In addition, the acquisition will strengthen the company’s talent base and add an experienced design and applications engineering team for the image sensor market segment. The 2D high-speed CMOS image sensors from the ISBU will significantly strengthen and complement ON Semiconductor’s image sensor products for the industrial, medical, computing and military/aerospace markets.”

“The sale of our image sensor business will enable Cypress to continue to focus on programmable products including our flagship PSoC programmable system-on-chip solution and our TrueTouch touch-sensing controllers,” said T.J. Rodgers, Cypress president and CEO. “Our image sensor team has done a remarkable job in recent years advancing its core technologies and broadening its target markets. We believe that ON Semiconductor represents the right home for the business, and that the sale, upon its completion, represents the best possible outcome for our existing customers.”

ON Semiconductor’s current products target one dimensional image sensing with particular focus on contact image sensing and ambient/proximity sensors. Once the acquisition is closed, the company will have a complete image sensing product offering between 1D and 2D sensors and across multiple end-markets.

Pursuant to the agreement, ON Semiconductor is expected to acquire approximately 100 patents and patent applications related exclusively to the business and receive appropriate intellectual property licenses from Cypress Semiconductor in order to continue to conduct and grow the business. As part of the transaction, approximately 80 Cypress Semiconductor ISBU employees will join the ON Semiconductor organization.