Microsemi buys another analog firm

"Focusing on higher power 5 to 40 watt applications, Nexsem's impressive technology nicely supplements our industry-leading low power product offering, while increasing our total dollar content per application in several high-growth markets,'' said James J. Peterson, president and chief executive of Microsemi (Irvine, Calif.), in a statement.

Microsemi is on an acquisition spree. In 2007, Microsemi acquired Microwave Device Technology Corp. (MDT) of Westford, Mass. for $7.8 million in cash. The acquisition enabled Microsemi to enter into the sensor market. It will also expand its portfolio of microwave semiconductors by adding GaAs microwave diodes to its arsenal of products.

Ealier last year, Microsemi, a manufacturer of analog and mixed-signal integrated circuits, acquired substantially all of the assets of TSI Microelectronics Corp. (TSI). TSI was founded in 1974 to provide the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and its OEM contractors with a source for custom hybrids and other special products used in mature, long-life defense and aerospace programs.

Last July, analog chip maker Microsemi said it bought the assets of Semicoa Inc. for $25 million in cash. Founded in 1968, Semicoa is a provider of semiconductors and smart munitions optoelectronics for the military, commercial aerospace and satellite markets.

In October, Microsemi acquired Babcock Inc. for $20 million in cash. Babcock makes power supplies and power conditioning units for satellite, airborne, shipboard, and ground based electronics systems. In addition, Babcock designs aerospace, military, and commercial relays, remote power controllers, contactors, timers, and sensors.

But Microsemi made bigger headlines in recent times. In December, the U.S. Justice Department filed an antitrust lawsuit against Microsemi over the company's acquisition of Semicoa.

Continuing on its buying spree, analog-chip maker Microsemi in April acquired Endwave Inc.'s defense electronics and security (D&S) business.