ENTERPRISE IOT
Semtech | August 04, 2022
Semtech Corporation a leading global supplier of high-performance analog and mixed-signal semiconductors and advanced algorithms, and Sierra Wireless, Inc. a world-renowned Internet of Things (IoT) solutions provider, today announced a definitive agreement under which Semtech will acquire all outstanding shares of Sierra Wireless for US$31 per share in an all-cash transaction representing a total enterprise value of approximately US$1.2 billion, subject to customary closing conditions. The acquisition will significantly expand Semtech’s addressable market and is expected to approximately double Semtech’s annual revenue and create a strong and diverse portfolio of connectivity solutions for the growing IoT market, making it easier for customers to find innovative end to end solutions for any segment. The deal is also expected to be immediately accretive to Semtech’s non-GAAP EPS before synergies and generate US$40 million of run-rate operational synergies within 12-18 months post-transaction close.
This acquisition brings together two important technologies for the future of IoT – LoRa and cellular – to enable the digitization of the industrial world with a comprehensive chip-to-Cloud platform. Semtech expects the combination of Sierra Wireless’ cellular capabilities across its modules, gateways and managed connectivity together with Semtech’s LoRa-enabled end nodes to create a uniquely differentiated IoT portfolio which will enable a plethora of new IoT use cases to be conceived. In addition, the combination of Sierra Wireless’ Cloud services offerings and Semtech’s LoRa Cloud™ services will bring together a future Cloud services portfolio offering that will include enhanced security, provisioning, device management, and geolocation capabilities for power optimized IoT applications. This new Cloud services capability is expected to add greater than US$100 million of high-margin IoT Cloud services recurring revenues immediately.
“We believe the next era of technology growth is the full digitization of our industrial world – the Internet of Everything. Our vision is to build a simple, horizontal platform with the goal of accelerating this transformation and to bring about a smarter and more sustainable planet,” said Semtech president and chief executive officer, Mohan Maheswaran. “This exciting strategic acquisition of Sierra Wireless is a critical part of bringing this vision to life through the combination of cellular, LoRa and Cloud services. Together, with the world-class Sierra Wireless engineering team, we will be positioned to advance the market with multi-radio solutions that bring new chip-to-Cloud services to support customers and grow our business.”
“Over the last year, Sierra Wireless has taken decisive steps to profitably grow the business, and I am proud that the progress we have made has culminated in this exciting transaction. Together with Semtech, we will be able to extend the reach of IoT solutions by scaling, optimizing and ultimately delivering an even stronger product portfolio and service model to customers, Sierra Wireless is a high growth business with some of the best, most advanced IoT technology in the industry, and we are pleased to deliver immediate and compelling value to our shareholders through this transaction. Joining Semtech will also allow us to bring cellular and LoRa technology together to create innovative solutions that exceed the expectations of our customers around the world while delivering exciting career opportunities to our talented employees as part of the combined company.”
Phil Brace, president and chief executive officer of Sierra Wireless
Sierra Wireless brings highly complementary skills and capabilities to Semtech, including Sierra Wireless’ leading modules, gateways, 5G, and Cloud services. Given Sierra Wireless’ demonstrated expertise in IoT and cellular engineering, software and services, and its extensive knowledge of IoT channels and vertical markets, Semtech expects the combined company will be well positioned to serve high growth segments such as:
Supply chain, logistics and asset management
Utilities, including water, gas and electric metering
Smart cities and building, including air quality monitoring and public safety
Smart agriculture and species protection
Transaction Details
Under the terms of the agreement, Sierra Wireless shareholders will receive US$31 per common share. This represents a premium of approximately 25% to the closing price of Sierra Wireless’ common stock on July 29, 2022, the last trading day prior to media speculation regarding a potential transaction, and a premium of approximately 30% to Sierra Wireless’ unaffected 30-day volume weighted average price. Semtech intends to fund the transaction with cash on hand and committed debt financing arranged by J.P. Morgan.
This transaction has been approved by the Semtech and Sierra Wireless Boards of Directors. This transaction is subject to approval by Sierra Wireless shareholders, certain regulatory bodies and the Supreme Court of British Columbia, and other customary closing conditions. This transaction is expected to close in Semtech’s fiscal year 2023. Until close, the parties remain separate independent companies.
Sierra Wireless Preliminary Financial Results
In a separate press release issued today, Sierra Wireless announced preliminary details relating to certain of its financial results for its second quarter of 2022. Sierra Wireless will issue a press release to share its full second quarter financial results after the market closes Aug. 11, 2022. The Sierra Wireless preliminary results press release is available on its website.
About Semtech
Semtech Corporation is a leading global supplier of high-performance analog and mixed-signal semiconductors and advanced algorithms for infrastructure, high-end consumer and industrial equipment. Products are designed to benefit the engineering community as well as the global community. The Company is dedicated to reducing the impact it, and its products, have on the environment. Internal green programs seek to reduce waste through material and manufacturing control, use of green technology and designing for resource reduction. Publicly traded since 1967, Semtech is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol SMTC. For more information, visit www.semtech.com.
About Sierra Wireless
Sierra Wireless is a world leading IoT solutions provider that combines devices, network services, and software to unlock value in the connected economy. Sierra Wireless works with its customers to develop the right industry-specific solution for their IoT deployments, whether this is an integrated solution to help connect edge devices to the cloud, a software/API service to manage processes with billions of connected assets, or a platform to extract real-time data to improve business decisions. With more than 25 years of cellular IoT experience, Sierra Wireless is a global partner customers trust to deliver them their next IoT solution.
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INDUSTRIAL IOT
Quectel | June 22, 2022
The new BG773A-GL ultra-compact LTE Cat M1, NB1 and NB2 module from Quectel Wireless Solutions support integrated SIM (iSIM) technology. For integrators and IoT service providers, the iSIM functionality of this new module offers enormous flexibility and simplicity since, in effect, it makes it possible for a device with a single stock-keeping unit (SKU) number to have the proper connection to serve its demands internationally. Finally, this eliminates the requirement for country-specific SIM cards and streamlines the logistics of conventional, plastic SIM deployments by doing away with the need for on-site or in-country modifications, providing an easier approach for integrators to implement cellular connection.
To closely correlate module performance with the new generation of embedded and integrated SIM features that are changing what is possible in IoT connection, Quectel has been at the forefront of making the promise of iSIM a reality.
The MIPS 5150 CPU, integrated RAM, and flash, as well as the BG773A-GL module's ultra-low power consumption, all work together to lower current consumption to low levels in a variety of modes, including as power-saving mode (PSM) and extended discontinuous reception (eDRX). Importantly, the BG773A-GL has Integrated Security Elements, a robust hardware-based security feature (ISE). Because iSIM depends on a strong, secure element to connect to the best connection at the moment of deployment, this is crucial. Beginning in mid-July 2022, the module will be sold commercially.
"We're delighted to have launched the Quectel BG773A-GL module which brings iSIM-enabled connectivity to the global marketplace. By enabling integrators to create a single global product with one SKU, logistics and supply chain issues are eliminated and IoT organizations can simply deploy their products anywhere safe in the knowledge that they will be able to access secure, high-quality connectivity with no need for localization and different variants to be manufactured for different markets. This is a giant leap forward for simplifying IoT and one of the key steps needed to build a smarter world," says Richard Hart, Director of Global Connectivity, Quectel Connectivity Solutions.
The module's 14.9 mm 12.9 mm 1.9 mm ultra-compact SMT form factor makes it simple for integrators and developers to create applications that take advantage of its low power consumption and small size. The BG773A-industry-standard GL's interfaces and a plethora of features increase the module's appropriateness for use in several IoT applications, including wearable technology, smart meters, wireless point-of-sale, and tracking.
"Quectel's adoption of Kigen iSIM as a pre-packaged solution in the BG773A-GL is a testimony to the maturity of iSIM technology and our ecosystem. Quectel is a market leader in high-volume manufacturing, and this collaboration will enable OEMs who want to move quickly from pure embedded play to offering full IoT solutions for global markets,"
Vincent Korstanje, CEO of Kigen
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SOFTWARE AND TOOLS
Senet | June 10, 2022
Senet, Inc., a leading provider of cloud-based software and services platforms for the Internet of Things (IoT), today announced a partnership with the Wabash Heartland Innovation Network (WHIN) to expand access to IoT networks and sensor-enabled solutions, positioning the largely rural agricultural region as an epicenter for next-generation manufacturing automation and digital agriculture enablement.
WHIN, a group of ten counties in north-central Indiana, is working with Senet to build the network, which will cover thousands of square miles and be used by local industry, agriculture, and research institutions to help the region develop. This regional network is also a part of the Senet Low Power Wide Area Virtual Network, extending one of the country's largest public carrier-grade networks.
The WHIN LoRaWAN network is designed to handle millions of messages each day from sensors in agricultural fields and manufacturing plants, guiding cost-cutting and efficiency-enhancing decisions. Manufacturing and agriculture IoT solution testbeds at Purdue University and Ivy Tech Community College, digital readiness education programs throughout the region, and the implementation of IoT solutions through a network of technology partners are among the IoT programs currently offered by WHIN and their partners.
"WHIN exists to foster economic growth and broad community prosperity throughout the Wabash Heartland region, and through a combination of strategic planning and strong partnerships we are accelerating the adoption of IoT technologies to support our objectives. Based on longstanding expertise in delivering carrier-grade LoRaWAN networks for highly-scalable applications, Senet has become a foundational partner in the implementation of the connectivity framework needed to expand the economic opportunity for our industry clusters and their operations," said Johnny Park, CEO of WHIN.
WHIN anticipates building a new paradigm for agriculture and manufacturing research based on real-time analysis of privatized and anonymized data received from connected devices across the whole value chain, with IoT solutions in place across the region.
"To make better data-driven decisions, rural businesses require as much data about their assets, infrastructure and operations as their urban neighbors. Senet's partnership with WHIN helps to level the playing field across north-central Indiana - from farms to factories and everywhere in-between,"
Bruce Chatterley, CEO of Senet
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