AMS to Acquire Cmosis for $235M

AMS AG plans to acquire CMOS image sensor developer Cmosis BVBA of Antwerp, Belgium, from the investment firm TA Associates Management LP of Boston, Mass., in an all-cash, €220 million (about $235.1 million) transaction.

The deal is expected to close within the next six weeks, subject to regulatory approvals. AMS expects to fund the transaction from existing cash and available credit lines with no additional transaction-based financing.

"We will leverage AMS' technical and operational expertise, and profit from the global access to potential new customers to realize our full growth potential," said Luc de Mey, CEO of Cmosis.

The acquisition will strengthen AMS' position as a provider of sensors for industry, the Internet of Things and medical diagnostics, said CEO Kirk Laney.

"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 [intellectual property] and design capabilities with our manufacturing competence and optical sensor strengths," he said.

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. It expects to generate full-year 2015 revenues of approximately €60 million (about $64.1 million) and continue growth in 2016.

The company supplies standard and custom area- and line-scan CMOS image sensors featuring low noise, global- and rolling-shutter operation, high dynamic range, and high frame rates through high-speed on-chip analog-to-digital conversion and digital interfaces. Markets include machine vision, medical, broadcast, traffic, scientific and photographic imaging.

For more information, visit www.ams.com.