Micron agrees $2.5bn deal to buy Japanese rival Elpida

Once completed, the deal will see Micron become the world’s second-largest maker of dynamic random access memory (DRAM) chips.
 
These chips are key components of personal computers.
 
Elpida had filed for bankruptcy protection in February after being unable to repay debts of 448bn yen.
 
"We are creating the industry-leading pure-play memory company," said Mark Durcan chief executive of Micron Technology.
 
Mr Durcan added that the deal will help strengthen the combined companies’ market position "through increased research and development and manufacturing scale" and "improved access to core memory market segments".
 
Value for money?
 
 The deal will also see Micron get the ownership of Elpida’s 65% stake in Rexchip Electronics, a joint venture between Elpida and Powerchip Technology.
 
Rexchip, which also makes DRAM memory chips, has manufacturing facilities in Japan and Taiwan.
 
Micron said that output from Elpida and Rexchip factories could increase its current manufacturing capacity by almost 50%.
 
"We’ve always had deep requirements for additional capacity and this puts us in great shape to respond to that," said Mark Adams, president of Micron.
 
At the same time, analysts said that given the high cost involved in setting up chip manufacturing units, Micron had acquired the Japanese rival for a fraction of the price it would need to invest to build similar infrastructure.
 
"We estimate this manufacturing capability would cost roughly $6bn – $8bn if built new," said Kevin Cassidy an analyst at Stifel.