Qualcomm is the market leader in the mobile SoC segment, and the company is now looking to expand into automotive and smart home applications by acquiring Dutch-based NXP Semiconductors for $47 billion.
NXP makes chips that go in NFC payment machines, but its core competency lies in automotive infotainment and networking systems, with the company powering 14 of the top 15 infotainment units.
With growth in the smartphone segment plateauing, the deal gives Qualcomm a gateway into the lucrative automotive and connected home segments. By consolidating its efforts with NXP, Qualcomm is setting itself up for future growth while reducing its reliance on the phone market.
From Qualcomm CEO Steve Mollenkopf:
With innovation and invention at our core, Qualcomm has played a critical role in driving the evolution of the mobile industry. The NXP acquisition accelerates our strategy to extend our leading mobile technology into robust new opportunities, where we will be well positioned to lead by delivering integrated semiconductor solutions at scale.
By joining Qualcomm’s leading SoC capabilities and technology roadmap with NXP’s leading industry sales channels and positions in automotive, security and IoT, we will be even better positioned to empower customers and consumers to realize all the benefits of the intelligently connected world.
The acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals around the world, with Qualcomm looking to close the deal by the end of 2017.
