ams acquires CMOSIS, a leading supplier of high-end area scan and miniature medical CMOS image sensors

Unterpremstaetten, Austria (20 November 2015) – ams (SIX: AMS), a leading worldwide provider of high-performance sensor and analog solutions, has entered into an agreement to acquire 100% of the shares in CMOSIS, a leader in advanced area and line scan CMOS image sensors for high-end imaging applications, in an all-cash transaction.   

CMOSIS, headquartered in Antwerp (Belgium), is a leading supplier of high performance standard and customized area and line scan CMOS image sensors for demanding imaging applications. CMOSIS’ portfolio of imaging solutions features low noise, global and rolling shutter, high dynamic range, and high frame rates through high-speed on-chip analog-to-digital conversion and digital interfaces. CMOSIS’ image sensors serve a broad range of high-end applications in diverse markets including machine vision, medical, broadcast, traffic, scientific and photographic imaging. In addition, CMOSIS offers the NanEye miniature camera module line for endoscopy-like medical applications, recently winning the German Innovation Award for Non-Clinical Intensive Care.   

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. CMOSIS expects to generate full year 2015 revenues of approx. EUR 60m with strong operating profitability above ams’ current group operating profitability. Based on available information, CMOSIS expects to continue year-on-year revenue growth in 2016.   

Under the terms of the agreement, ams will acquire 100% of the shares in CMOSIS from TA Associates, a leading global growth private equity firm, and management shareholders for an equity value of approx. EUR 220m. ams expects to fund the transaction from existing cash and available credit lines with no additional transaction-based financing. The transaction is expected to close within the next six weeks subject to certain regulatory approvals and the occurrence of certain conditions defined in the agreements with the sellers of the CMOSIS shares.   

“Acquiring CMOSIS is a highly complementary expansion of our sensor portfolio and another major step in executing our sensor solutions growth strategy. This transaction extends our market leadership in optical sensors and will strengthen our position as the leading pure-play sensor solutions provider for growth markets including Industry 4.0, IoT (Internet of Things) and medical diagnostics. 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 IP and design capabilities with our manufacturing competence and optical sensor strengths”, emphasizes Kirk Laney, CEO of ams.

“CMOSIS has built a leading position in some of the most challenging imaging applications based on our deep technology expertise in CMOS area and line scan image sensors. Our team is at the forefront of global shutter technology for high-end imaging having up to more than 15 years of experience in this field. We are excited to join ams creating a leader in advanced imaging solutions. We will leverage ams’ technical and operational expertise and profit from the global access to potential new customers to realize our full growth potential”, adds Luc de Mey, CEO of CMOSIS.