Cypress Semiconductor

{{Infobox company

| name = Cypress Semiconductor Corporation

| logo = Cypress Semiconductor logo.svg

| type = Subsidiary

| traded_as = {{ubl|{{NASDAQ was|CY}}|{{NYSE was|CY}}}}

| industry = Semiconductors

| foundation = {{start date and age|1982}}

| location = San Jose, California, U.S.

| defunct = {{end date|2020}}

| fate = Acquired by Infineon Technologies

| revenue = {{increase}} {{US$|2.48 billion|link=yes}} (2018)

| operating_income = {{increase}} {{US$|164.43 million}} (2018)

| net_income = {{increase}} {{US$|354.83 million}} (2018)

| assets = {{increase}} {{US$|3.69 billion}} (2018)

| equity = {{increase}} {{US$|2.12 billion}} (2018)

| num_employees = 5,846 (2018)

| divisions = {{Unbulleted list

| Programmable Systems

| Memory Products

| Data Communications

| Emerging Technologies

}}

| homepage = {{URL|cypress.com}}

| footnotes = {{cite web|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/791915/000079191518000007/cy-12312017x10xk.htm|title=US SEC: Form 10-K Cypress Semiconductor Corporation|publisher=U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission|access-date=March 3, 2018}}

}}

File:PLCC84 UV Cypress.jpg from Cypress Semiconductor in a PLCC-package]]

File:Saleae Logic8 IMG 2876 (cropped) CY7C68013A.jpg]]

Cypress Semiconductor Corporation was an American semiconductor design and manufacturing company. It offered NOR flash memories,{{cite web|access-date=2024-05-24 |date=2021-09-23 |title=Cypress Semiconductor Semper™ NOR Flash Memory Storage Solution |publisher=allaboutcircuits.com |url=https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/new-industry-products/cypress-semiconductor-semper-nor-flash-memory-storage-solution-new-product-brief/}} F-RAM and SRAM Traveo microcontrollers,{{cite web|access-date=2024-05-24 |date=2017-10-09 |title=Matching non-volatile memory selection to automotive-system requirements |publisher=embedded.com |url=https://www.embedded.com/matching-non-volatile-memory-selection-to-automotive-system-requirements/}} PSoCs,{{cite web|access-date=2024-05-24 |date=2013-03-20 |title=Cypress announces PSoC 4 architecture for ARM Cortex-M0 devices |publisher=embedded.com |url=https://www.embedded.com/cypress-announces-psoc-4-architecture-for-arm-cortex-m0-devices/}} PMICs,{{cite web|access-date=2024-05-24 |date=2018-05-08 |title=Hardware Evaluation for the Cypress S6AE102A/S6AE103A Eval Kit for Energy Harvesting Applications |publisher=allaboutcircuits.com |url=https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/technical-articles/energy-harvesting-cypress-s6ae102a-s6ae103a-evaluation-kit/}} capacitive touch-sensing controllers,{{cite web|access-date=2024-05-29 |date=2018-01-17 |title=Cypress: automotive touchscreen controller with cryptographic engine |publisher=embedded.com |url=https://www.embedded.com/cypress-automotive-touchscreen-controller-with-cryptographic-engine/}} Wireless BLE Bluetooth Low-Energy{{cite web|access-date=2024-05-29 |date=2016-03-14 |title=Bluetooth Low Energy Module with 400-Meter Range |publisher=eepower.com |url=https://eepower.com/new-industry-products/bluetooth-low-energy-module-with-400-meter-range/}} and USB connectivity solutions.

Its headquarters were in San Jose, California, with operations in the United States, Ireland, India and the Philippines.

In April 2016, Cypress Semiconductors announced the acquisition of Broadcom’s Wireless Internet of Things Business. The deal was closed in July 2016.{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/aarontilley/2016/07/05/cypress-closes-550-million-acquisition-of-broadcoms-internet-of-things-business/|title=Cypress Closes $550 Million Acquisition Of Broadcom's 'Internet Of Things' Business|date=July 5, 2016|work=Forbes|access-date=2019-06-03}}

In June 2019, Infineon Technologies announced it would acquire Cypress for $9.4 billion.{{Cite web|url=https://siliconangle.com/2019/06/02/report-infineon-close-buying-cypress-semiconductor-almost-10b/|title=Infineon acquires Cypress Semiconductor for $9.4B|date=2019-06-02|website=SiliconANGLE|language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-24}}{{cite web | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2019/06/03/infineon-snaps-up-san-jose-s-cypress-semiconductor.html | title=Infineon snaps up San Jose's Cypress Semiconductor in $10B deal | first=Luke | last=Stangel | date=June 3, 2019 | work=Silicon Valley Business Journal | access-date=August 27, 2021}} The deal closed in April 2020, making Infineon one of the world's top 10 semiconductor manufacturers.{{Cite web|title=Infineon Technologies AG completes acquisition of Cypress Semiconductor Corporation|url=http://investors.cypress.com/news-releases/news-release-details/infineon-technologies-ag-completes-acquisition-cypress|website=Cypress Semiconductor Corporation|language=en|access-date=2020-05-15|archive-date=2020-05-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200510020321/http://investors.cypress.com/news-releases/news-release-details/infineon-technologies-ag-completes-acquisition-cypress|url-status=dead}}

Some of its main competitors included Microchip Technology, NXP Semiconductors, Renesas Electronics and Micron Technology.

History

= Founding and early years=

It was founded by T. J. Rodgers and others (Fritz Beyerlein, Fred Jenne, Steven H. Kaplan, R. Michael Starnes and Lowell Turriff) {{cite web | url=http://archive.computerhistory.org/resources/access/text/2013/04/102723387-05-01-acc.pdf | title=Cypress Semiconductor Corporation: 1991, 1990, 1989, and 1987 | work=Company Backgrounders by Dataquest | pages=1–28 | access-date=August 27, 2021}} from Advanced Micro Devices. It was formed in 1982 with backing by Sevin Rosen and went public in 1986. The company initially focused on the design and development of high speed CMOS SRAMs, EEPROMs, PAL devices, and TTL devices. Two years after going public the company switched from the NASDAQ to the New York Stock Exchange. In October 2009, the company announced it would switch its listing to the NASDAQ on November 12, 2009.{{cite web|url=http://www.cypress.com/?rID=39233|title=Cypress Semiconductor Corp. to Switch Stock Exchange Listing to NASDAQ on November 12|access-date=2009-10-30|date=2009-10-30}}

The AgigA Tech, Inc. subsidiary sells non-volatile random-access memory (RAM). It was acquired during the Simtek purchase in August 2008, and marks the second time that Cypress acquired a start-up venture from founder, Ron Sartore, who also co-founded Anchor Chips.{{Cite web |url=https://people.forbes.com/profile/ronald-sartore/72121 |title=Ron Sartore |access-date=2017-08-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805215325/http://people.forbes.com/profile/ronald-sartore/72121 |archive-date=2011-08-05 |url-status=dead }} The division was sold to the Unigen Corporation in May 2021.

In November 2011, Cypress also backed a packaging firm called Deca Technologies, Inc.Dylan McGrath, EE Times. "[http://eetimes.com/electronics-news/4230448/Cypress-backed-packaging-firm-launches Cypress-backed packaging firm launches]." November 9, 2011. Retrieved November 9, 2011.

= 2015 =

In December 2014, Cypress Semiconductor merged with Spansion in an all-stock deal worth $1.59 billion. The merger represented the combination of two companies that were No. 1 in their respective memory markets and have successfully diversified into embedded processing.{{Cite web|url=http://investors.cypress.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=901449|title=Cypress and Spansion Complete $5 Billion All-Stock Merger|access-date=2016-06-07|archive-date=2016-05-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160513072810/http://investors.cypress.com/releasedetail.cfm?releaseid=901449|url-status=dead}}

In March 2015, Cypress and Spansion completed of the transactions of the merger in an all-stock, tax-free transaction valued at approximately $5 billion. Cypress shareholders approved the issuance of 2.457 shares of Cypress stock to Spansion shareholders for each Spansion share they own. The merger is expected to achieve more than $135 million in cost synergies on an annualized basis within three years and to be accretive to non-GAAP earnings within the first full year after the transaction closes.PRNewsWire. "[http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cypress-and-spansion-to-merge-in-4-billion-all-stock-transaction-300002853.html Cypress and Spansion to Merge in $4 Billion All-Stock Transaction]." Dec 1, 2014. Retrieved Jul 6, 2017. At the time of its merger with Spansion in 2015, Cypress Semiconductor had more than 7,000 US and foreign patents.{{Cite web|url=http://investors.cypress.com/secfiling.cfm?filingID=1564590-16-13820&CIK=791915|title=Cypress Semiconductor 2015 Form 10-K Annual Report|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160511065027/http://investors.cypress.com/secfiling.cfm?filingID=1564590-16-13820&CIK=791915|archive-date=2016-05-11|url-status=dead}} Cypress Semiconductor is a component of the Ocean Tomo 300 Patent Index.[http://www.oceantomo.com/productsandservices/investments/indexes/ot300 300® Patent Index]. Ocean Tomo. Retrieved on 2013-11-20.

Cypress attempted to acquire Integrated Silicon Solution Inc. in 2015 but was thwarted by a competing bid by Chinese buyer consortium Uphill Investment Co., which included GigaDevice, a major competitor in the NOR flash market. This buyer consortium offered a higher bid than Cypress and successfully acquired ISSI for $731 million.{{cite news|title=ISSI Shareholders Approve Acquisition by Uphill Investment|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-06-29/issi-shareholders-approve-acquisition-by-uphill-investment|agency=Bloomberg|date=June 30, 2015}}

Also in 2015, Cypress tried to acquire Atmel, but was outbid by Dialog Semiconductor (in the end, Microchip Technology made the deal).{{cite news|title=Cypress Semiconductor drops bid for chipmaker Atmel|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-atmel-m-a-cypress-semicond-idUSKCN0RS23Q20150928|work=Reuters|date=September 28, 2015}}

=2016=

In April 2016, Cypress announced the acquisition of Broadcom’s Wireless Internet of Things (IoT) business and related assets in an all-cash transaction valued at $550 million. Under the terms of the deal, Cypress will acquire Broadcom's Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Zigbee IoT product lines and intellectual property, along with its WICED brand and developer ecosystem.{{Cite web|url=http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1329569|title=Cypress to Pay $550 Million for Broadcom's IoT Business {{!}} EE Times|website=EETimes|access-date=2016-06-07}}

In April 2016, it was announced that Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc. will invest $60 million in Deca and will license Deca’s M-Series fan-out wafer-level packaging (FOWLP) technologies and processes. As part of the agreement, ASE Group and Deca will jointly develop the M-Series fan-out manufacturing process and will expand production of chip-scale packages using this technology.{{Cite web|url=http://investors.cypress.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=967862|title=Cypress Subsidiary Deca Technologies to Receive $60 Million Investment from ASE|access-date=2016-06-07|archive-date=2016-05-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160504043515/http://investors.cypress.com/releasedetail.cfm?releaseid=967862|url-status=dead}}

Cypress named Hassane El-Khoury its president and chief executive officer, and announced he will join the board of directors on Aug. 11, 2016.{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/cypress-semiconductor-picks-new-ceo-from-auto-tech-1470946313|title=Cypress Semiconductor Picks New CEO From Auto Tech|last=Clark|first=Don|date=2016-08-11|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|issn=0099-9660|access-date=2016-08-23}}

= 2017 board dispute =

In April 2017 Delaware Chancery Court decided Cypress Semiconductor Corp. had to give former CEO Rodgers insight into internal documents related to possible violations of Cypress's Code of Business Conduct and Ethics by executive chairman Ray Bingham.{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cypress-semiconductor-meeting-idUSKBN18S6KG|title=Cypress Semiconductor forced to delay annual meeting by Delaware court|date=June 1, 2017|work=Reuters|access-date=2017-06-20}}

Bingham, who is a founding member of venture capital firm Canyon Bridge Capital Partners Inc,{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-lattice-m-a-canyonbridge-idUSKBN13N1D5|title=Exclusive: Chinese government money backs buyout firm's deal for U.S. chip maker|date=November 29, 2016|work=Reuters|access-date=2017-06-20}} a China state-backed private equity fund, was criticized for the conflict of interest leading Cypress and Canyon Bridge as both companies possibly focus on the same acquisition targets.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bna.com/cypress-semiconductor-turn-n57982086798/|title=Cypress Semiconductor Must Turn Over Docs to Former CEO|website=www.bna.com|access-date=2017-06-20}}

Rodgers ran a proxy contest against the board, aiming for veteran tech industry board directors Daniel McCranie and Camillo Martino to replace Ray Bingham and Cypress director Éric Benhamou.

On June 12, 2017 it was made public that Ray Bingham stepped down from the board.{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/cypress-semicond-moves-chairman-idUSL3N1J91PG|title=Cypress Executive Chairman Ray Bingham steps down from board|date=June 12, 2017|work=Reuters|access-date=2017-06-20}} Prior to Bingham’s resignation, shareholder-advisory firms ISS, Glass Lewis and Egan-Jones had recommended McCranie and Martino, Rodgers's nominees, citing "additional - and sharper - questions not only regarding the board's handling of this situation but also regarding the potential for conflicts of interest inherent in Bingham's dual roles."{{Cite web|last=Austin|first=Elliott|title=STMicroelectronics N.V. (STM) and Cypress Semiconductor Corporation (CY) Swings Under News Buzzer|url=http://www.investingbizz.com/2017/06/stmicroelectronics-n-v-stm-and-cypress-semiconductor-corporation-cy-swings-under-news-buzzer/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170607211110/http://www.investingbizz.com/2017/06/stmicroelectronics-n-v-stm-and-cypress-semiconductor-corporation-cy-swings-under-news-buzzer/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2017-06-07|access-date=2017-06-20|website=|language=en-US}}

On June 20, 2017, both of Rodgers's nominees won victories by substantial margins.{{Cite news|url=http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1331920|title=Cypress Stockholders Elect T.J. Rodgers' Nominees to Board|date=June 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170629002302/http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1331920|archive-date=2017-06-29|url-status=dead|work=EETimes|access-date=2017-06-20}}

= 2019-2020 merger =

In 2019, under CEO Hassane El-Khouri, the company agreed to the offer of Infineon Technologies valued about $9 billions (that represents the all-cash buyout price of $23.85 per share).{{Cite web|url=https://www.fool.com/investing/2019/10/30/cypress-semiconductor-takes-one-last-bow-on-the-ea.aspx|title=Cypress Semiconductor Takes One Last Bow on the Earnings Stage|last=Bylund|first=Anders|date=2019-10-30|website=The Motley Fool|language=en|access-date=2020-04-17}} This purchase price premium of 55% was the 4th highest premium paid for a public semiconductor company with greater than $1 Billion in value since 2014.https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/791915/000110465919033288/a19-10962_2ex99d5.htm 8-K Filing with SEC Page=3 The price also represented 18.2 times next twelve month average analyst EBITDA estimates, which was the 4th highest EBITDA multiple paid for a public semiconductor company with a value greater than $1 Billion since 2014.https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/791915/000110465919033288/a19-10962_2ex99d5.htm 8-K Filing with SEC Page=4 The acquisition was announced complete on April 17, 2020, ending the independent history of Cypress Semiconductors.{{Cite web | url=https://www.digitimes.com/news/a20200417VL200.html | title=Infineon completes acquisition of Cypress | first=Rodney | last=Chan | date=April 17, 2020 | website=DIGITIMES | language=en | access-date=April 17, 2020}}