Qualcomm Incorporated subsidiary Qualcomm Atheros, Inc., today announced it entered into a definitive merger agreement to acquire Ikanos Communications, Inc., a high performance broadband networking semiconductor and software provider enabling both central office and home gateway solutions. Qualcomm Atheros will commence a tender offer to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock of Ikanos for $2.75 per share in cash, and assume all outstanding indebtedness at the closing of the transaction.
According to the company’s press release, the acquisition is intended to expand Qualcomm Atheros’ footprint in the carrier fixed line segment with the addition of high performance broadband access and modem technologies critical to enhancing users’ connected experiences in the home.
Ikanos’ board of directors has unanimously approved the transaction and recommends the offer to Ikanos stockholders. The transaction is expected to close before the end of this year and is subject to customary closing conditions, including a minimum tender of a majority of outstanding shares of Ikanos and regulatory clearances in certain non-US jurisdictions.
“Qualcomm Atheros has always viewed the home gateway as the enabler for consumers to not only access the Internet for browsing and downloading content and video streaming, but also as the hub of the Internet in the home for a variety of reliable and high quality services,” said Rahul Patel, senior vice president and general manager, connectivity, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. “The combination of Qualcomm Atheros’ broad home gateway IP portfolio, including Wi-Fi, powerline, small cell, and Ethernet switch technologies, and Ikanos’ advanced wired modem technology, is designed to create a complete solution for a wide range of home gateway products to better serve the carrier segment.”
The acquisition of Ikanos provides Qualcomm Atheros access to a wide array of technologies, including A/VDSL2 and G.fast modem technology and chipsets for consumer premises equipment (CPE) and central office (CO) infrastructure. Ikanos also offers multi-mode gateway processor and accelerator technology for fiber, LTE, Ethernet and hybrid-copper applications. In addition, Ikanos inSIGHT software allows remote diagnosis, management and optimization of the broadband connection and quality-of-service, and voice over IP (VoIP) integrated access devices and bridges. Ikanos’ strong central office product portfolio, as well as its technology collaboration with Alcatel-Lucent in the area of fixed access communications, enables Qualcomm Atheros to offer a strong product portfolio in the ultra-broadband access space, including G.fast.
“Qualcomm Atheros and Ikanos have a long history of collaboration in the carrier space and share a common vision for the connected home. Bringing the two companies together enables Qualcomm Atheros to accelerate implementation of its strategy for the connected home, and to move the home gateway forward as a key enabler for new carrier applications and services,” said Omid Tahernia, president and chief executive officer, Ikanos.