AMD sells handheld graphics & multimedia assets to Qualcomm
AMD have sold their handheld graphics and multimedia assets to Qualcomm, in a deal worth approximately $65m. The move will see Qualcomm offer jobs to various design and development teams from AMD's handheld business, including those working on 2D and 3D graphics, audio/video, display, and architecture, and will reduce the amount the digital wireless company spends on licencing graphics core technologies.
"This acquisition of assets from AMD's handheld business brings us strong multimedia technologies, including graphics cores that we have been licensing for several years. Bringing this technology in-house creates even greater synergy as we seamlessly integrate the best-in-class multimedia performance AMD offers into our system-on-chip (SoC) products" Steve Mollenkopf, executive vice president of Qualcomm and president of Qualcomm CDMA Technologies
The deal was first suggested yesterday, as part of a package of cost-saving measures AMD has been forced to implement in light of dropping chip demand and their own falling share price. According to Robert J. Rivet, chief operations and administrative officer, and chief financial officer of AMD, it will leave the company room to "focus on our core business and leverage our unique position as a leader in both x86 computing and high-end graphics."
Qualcomm will likely use this new acquisition to strengthen their wireless position in the face of increasing competition from LTE and WiMAX, in which it has less intellectual property and foothold. The company currently leads the market in 3G CDMA technology.
Press Release:
Qualcomm Acquires Handheld Graphics and Multimedia Assets from AMD— Technology and Resource Assets to Strengthen Qualcomm's Leadership Position in Mobile Multimedia —
SAN DIEGO and SUNNYVALE, Calif. — January 20, 2009 –Qualcomm Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM) and AMD (NYSE: AMD) today announced that Qualcomm has acquired certain graphics and multimedia technology assets, intellectual property and resources that were formerly the basis of AMD's handheld business. The acquisition enhances Qualcomm's multimedia capabilities, allowing Qualcomm to strengthen its leadership position in delivering more advanced products that redefine next-generation mobile user experiences.
"This acquisition of assets from AMD's handheld business brings us strong multimedia technologies, including graphics cores that we have been licensing for several years," said Steve Mollenkopf, executive vice president of Qualcomm and president of Qualcomm CDMA Technologies. "Bringing this technology in-house creates even greater synergy as we seamlessly integrate the best-in-class multimedia performance AMD offers into our system-on-chip (SoC) products."
"With the sale of these handheld technology assets and resources to Qualcomm, we are better able to focus on our core business and leverage our unique position as a leader in both x86 computing and high-end graphics," said Robert J. Rivet, chief operations and administrative officer, chief financial officer of AMD. "We believe the talented AMD Handheld employees will be a great asset to Qualcomm."
Under the terms of the agreement, Qualcomm has extended offers of employment to various design and development teams from AMD's handheld business. The teams are developing technologies to enhance mobile devices in areas including 2D and 3D graphics, audio/video, display, and architecture.
The two companies signed and closed a binding agreement on January 19, 2009, having already received required regulatory approvals. Cash consideration from Qualcomm to AMD, as part of the transaction, is $65 million, subject to adjustments for employee-related expenses and a holdback for certain customary indemnification obligations. Both AMD and Qualcomm are committed to a seamless transfer of business assets, as well as a smooth transition for employees.
Qualcomm expects the acquisition to be approximately $0.02 dilutive to pro forma earnings per share in fiscal 2009 and accretive to earnings by the second half of calendar year 2010.
About AMD
Advanced Micro Devices (NYSE: AMD) is an innovative technology company dedicated to collaborating with customers and partners to ignite the next generation of computing and graphics solutions at work, home and play. For more information, visit http://www.amd.com.
About Qualcomm
Qualcomm Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM) is a leader in developing and delivering innovative digital wireless communications products and services based on CDMA and other advanced technologies. Headquartered in San Diego, Calif., Qualcomm is included in the S&P 100 Index, the S&P 500 Index and is a 2008 FORTUNE 500 company. For more information, please visit http://www.qualcomm.com.