Advent to acquire U-blox: U.S. private equity titan Advent International confirmed Wednesday it has launched a public tender offer worth 1.03 billion Swiss francs ($1.27 billion) for Swiss chipmaker U-blox Holding AG, signaling a bold move into the fast-evolving technology sector.
The deal, orchestrated through Advent’s indirect subsidiary ZI Zenith Sarl, offers 135 francs per share for all 7.78 million shares in the semiconductor firm. Financing will come directly from Advent’s funds, the company said.
Legal and Financial Heavyweights on Both Sides
Advent is relying on Swiss firm Bär & Karrer as legal counsel, while UBS AG serves as financial adviser. U-blox, meanwhile, is being guided by Freshfields LLP, with partners Frank Roehling and Nabeel Yousef leading the team, alongside Walder Wyss led by Hans-Jakob Diem and Iliana Djagova. Morgan Stanley International PLC is handling U-blox’s financial advisory.
Positioning Technology at the Core
Advent Managing Partner Ronald Ayles said the buyout targets a “recognized leader” in global positioning systems and short-range communication technology. U-blox’s reputation for resilient, high-performance products, Advent argues, places it at the forefront of future growth sectors like autonomous driving and smart connectivity.
The Swiss company recently reported a six-month pre-tax operating loss of 7 million francs, a sharp improvement from the 28 million francs lost a year earlier. Executives credit restructuring moves—including the sale of its cellular modules division—to a renewed focus on its core GPS and short-range communications business.
