NXP to buy Freescale Semiconductor, merge operations in $40 billion deal

Chip maker NXP Semiconductors NV (NXPI.O) has agreed to buy smaller peer Freescale Semiconductor Ltd (FSL.N) and merge operations in a deal valuing the combined company at over $40 billion. The transaction is the clearest sign yet that semiconductor companies are regaining the confidence required to pursue big mergers and acquisitions at a time when their major clients, such as mobile phone manufacturers, seek to consolidate suppliers. Freescale also has its chips in consumer products such as Amazon's (AMZN.O) Kindle e-reader. Last month, Avago Technologies (AVGO.O) said it would buy wireless networking company Emulex Corp (ELX.O) for more than $600 million, while MaxLinear (MXL.N) said it would buy Entropic Communications Inc for $287 million.

via Business News http://ift.tt/1zxlu5x