EANS-Adhoc: ams AG ams acquires CMOSIS, a leading supplier of high-end area
scan and miniature medical CMOS image sensors
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Mergers - Acquisitions - Takeovers
20.11.2015
Acquisition expands ams' optical sensor portfolio and market leadership with
high-value solutions for machine vision, medical, photographic and scientific
imaging at expected 2015 revenues of approx. EUR 60m
Unterpremstaetten, Austria (20 November 2015) - ams (SIX: AMS), a leading
worldwide provider of high-performance sensor and analog solutions, has entered
into an agreement to acquire 100% of the shares in CMOSIS, a leader in advanced
area and line scan CMOS image sensors for high-end imaging applications, in an
all-cash transaction.
CMOSIS, headquartered in Antwerp (Belgium), is a leading supplier of high
performance standard and customized area and line scan CMOS image sensors for
demanding imaging applications. CMOSIS' portfolio of imaging solutions features
low noise, global and rolling shutter, high dynamic range, and high frame rates
through high-speed on-chip analog-to-digital conversion and digital interfaces.
CMOSIS' image sensors serve a broad range of high-end applications in diverse
markets including machine vision, medical, broadcast, traffic, scientific and
photographic imaging. In addition, CMOSIS offers the NanEye miniature camera
module line for endoscopy-like medical applications, recently winning the German
Innovation Award for Non-Clinical Intensive Care.
Founded in 2007, CMOSIS operates as a fabless semiconductor supplier from
locations in Belgium, Germany, Portugal, and the U.S. and has more than 110
employees. CMOSIS expects to generate full year 2015 revenues of approx. EUR 60m
with strong operating profitability above ams' current group operating
profitability. Based on available information, CMOSIS expects to continue
year-on-year revenue growth in 2016.
Under the terms of the agreement, ams will acquire 100% of the shares in CMOSIS
from TA Associates, a leading global growth private equity firm, and management
shareholders for an equity value of approx. EUR 220m. ams expects to fund the
transaction from existing cash and available credit lines with no additional
transaction-based financing. The transaction is expected to close within the
next six weeks subject to certain regulatory approvals and the occurrence of
certain conditions defined in the agreements with the sellers of the CMOSIS
shares.
"Acquiring CMOSIS is a highly complementary expansion of our sensor portfolio
and another major step in executing our sensor solutions growth strategy. This
transaction extends our market leadership in optical sensors and will strengthen
our position as the leading pure-play sensor solutions provider for growth
markets including Industry 4.0, IoT (Internet of Things) and medical
diagnostics. Integrating cameras with advanced optical sensors will drive new
sensor solutions across vertical markets and accelerate our growth plans as we
combine CMOSIS' leading edge IP and design capabilities with our manufacturing
competence and optical sensor strengths", emphasizes Kirk Laney, CEO of ams.
"CMOSIS has built a leading position in some of the most challenging imaging
applications based on our deep technology expertise in CMOS area and line scan
image sensors. Our team is at the forefront of global shutter technology for
high-end imaging having up to more than 15 years of experience in this field. We
are excited to join ams creating a leader in advanced imaging solutions. We will
leverage ams' technical and operational expertise and profit from the global
access to potential new customers to realize our full growth potential", adds
Luc de Mey, CEO of CMOSIS.
Conference call on Friday, 20 November 2015 at 9.30 am CET / 8.30 am GMT
ams invites you to a conference call with a management discussion of the
transaction. Access numbers for the conference call are: +41 58 310 5000
(Switzerland), +44 20 3059 5862 (UK), +43 1 25 302 1402 (Austria), +49 69 25 511
4445 (Germany), +33 1 70 91 87 06 (France), +1 631 570 5613 (USA). A recording
of the conference call will be available following the call until 25 November
2015 via the following access numbers: +41 91 612 4330 (Switzerland + Europe),
+44 20 7108 6233 (UK), +1 631 982 4566 (USA) with access code 15293# .
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About ams
ams is a global leader in the design and manufacture of advanced sensor
solutions and analog ICs. Our mission is to shape the world with sensor
solutions by providing a seamless interface between humans and technology.
ams' high-performance analog products drive applications requiring extreme
precision, dynamic range, sensitivity, and ultra-low power consumption. Products
include sensors, sensor interfaces, power management and wireless ICs for
consumer, communications, industrial, medical, and automotive markets.
With headquarters in Austria, ams employs over 1,800 people globally and serves
more than 8,000 customers worldwide. ams is listed on the SIX Swiss stock
exchange (ticker symbol: AMS). More information about ams can be found at
www.ams.com.
About CMOSIS
The CMOSIS group is a major player in the industrial, scientific and
professional markets for CMOS image sensors, covering applications such as
machine vision, high-end digital photography, digital cinema, aerospace,
scientific, medical and biometry. CMOSIS offers off-the-shelf, semi- and
full-custom CMOS image sensors. CMOSIS employs over 110 people at locations in
Antwerp (Belgium), Nuremberg (Germany) and Funchal (Portugal). CMOSIS' product
range includes high speed, global shutter and rolling shutter area CMOS image
sensors with resolutions ranging from VGA to over 70 million pixels. Through the
acquisition of Awaiba the product range now also includes a wide range of CMOS
line scan sensors with up to 24k pixels and line scan rates of up to 80k/s. The
NanEye imagers and camera modules target endoscopic and other space constrained
imaging applications.
Further inquiry note:
Moritz M. Gmeiner
Director Investor Relations
Tel: +43 3136 500-31211
Fax: +43 3136 500-931211
Email: investor@ams.com
end of announcement euro adhoc
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issuer: ams AG
Tobelbader Strasse 30
A-8141 Unterpremstaetten
phone: +43 3136 500-0
FAX: +43 3136 500-931211
mail: investor@ams.com
WWW: www.ams.com
sector: Technology
ISIN: AT0000A18XM4
indexes:
stockmarkets: official dealing: SIX Swiss Exchange
language: English