- Transforms Dialog into a global leader in both Power Management and Embedded Processing with $2.7 billion of combined revenues (1);

LONDON and SAN JOSE, Calif., Sept. 20, 2015 — (PRNewswire) — Dialog Semiconductor (XTRA: DLG) and Atmel Corporation (NASDAQ: ATML) announced today that Dialog has agreed to acquire Atmel in a cash and stock transaction for total consideration of approximately $4.6 billion. The acquisition creates a global leader in both Power Management ⁽²⁾ and Embedded Processing solutions. The transaction results in a fast growing and innovative powerhouse, supporting Mobile Power, IoT and Automotive customers. The combined company will address an attractive, fast growing market opportunity of approximately $20 billion by 2019. 

Dialog will complement its leadership position in Power Management ICs with a leading portfolio of proprietary and ARM® based Microcontrollers in addition to high performance ICs for Connectivity, Touch and Security. Dialog will also leverage Atmel's established sales channels to significantly diversify its customer base. Through realized synergies, we expect the combination will deliver an improved operating model and enable new revenue growth opportunities.

"The rationale for the transaction we are proposing today is clear – and the potential this combination holds is exciting.  By bringing together our technologies, world-class talent and broad distribution channels we will create a new, powerful force in the semiconductor space.  Our new, enlarged company will be a diversified, high-growth market leader in Mobile Power, IoT and Automotive. We firmly believe that by combining Power Management, Microcontrollers, Connectivity and Security technologies, we will create a strong platform for innovation and growth in the large and attractive market segments we serve.  This is an important and proud milestone in the evolution of our Dialog story," said Jalal Bagherli, Dialog Chief Executive Officer.

"This transaction combines two successful companies and will create significant value for Atmel and Dialog shareholders, customers and employees. Adding Dialog's world-class capabilities in Power Management with Atmel's keen focus on Microcontrollers, Connectivity and Security will enable Dialog to more effectively target high-growth applications within the Mobile, IoT and Automotive markets," said Steven Laub, Atmel President and Chief Executive Officer.

In 2017, the first full year following closing, the transaction is expected to be accretive to Dialog's underlying earnings. Dialog anticipates achieving projected annual cost savings of $150 million within two years. Under the terms of the agreement, Atmel shareholders will receive $4.65 in cash and 0.112 of a Dialog American Depository Share ("ADS")⁽³⁾ for each Atmel common share held at close of the transaction resulting in the economic equivalent of $10.42 per Atmel share based on Dialog's closing stock price as of 18 September 2015. The purchase price implies a total equity value for Atmel of approximately $4.6 billion and a total enterprise value of approximately $4.4 billion after deduction of Atmel's net cash.

The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of calendar 2016. Dialog intends to fund the transaction with a combination of existing cash, $2.1 billion of new debt and the issuance to Atmel shareholders of approximately 49 million ADSs expected to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange or the NASDAQ Stock Market. Post transaction, it is projected that Atmel shareholders will own approximately 38 percent of the combined company. The transaction would result in a capital structure with leverage of approximately 3x Net Debt/Estimated LTM EBITDA at closing. Dialog expects to continue to have a strong cash flow generation profile and have the ability to substantially pay down the transaction debt approximately three years after closing.

The transaction has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies and is subject to regulatory approvals in various jurisdictions and customary closing conditions, as well as the approval of Dialog and Atmel shareholders. Jalal Bagherli will continue to be the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Board Director of Dialog. Two members of Atmel's existing Board will join Dialog's Board following closing.  

The transaction is not subject to a financing condition. Dialog has received a financing commitment from Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc. in connection with the acquisition. The financing commitment includes a $2.1 billion senior secured credit facility.

Morgan Stanley acted as Dialog's exclusive M&A transaction advisor. Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP and Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP (RPC) served as Dialog's legal advisors. Qatalyst Partners acted as exclusive M&A transaction advisor to Atmel. Jones Day served as Atmel's legal advisor.

(1)  Last Twelve Months (LTM).
(2)  Power Management segment defined as power management solutions for mobile platforms including smartphones, tablets, portable PCs and wearable-type devices. 
(3)  One Dialog ADS equal to one Dialog share of common stock.

Conference call information

Dialog and Atmel will host two joint conference calls on September 21, 2015 at;

10:00 (CET) / 9:00 (UK), and a second call at 14:00 (CET) / 13:00 (UK) / 08:00 (EDT) / 05:00 (PDT)

European analyst and investor call

Time: 10:00 (CET) / 09:00 (UK)

Participants will need to state they are joining the Dialog Semiconductor call.

Conference Number: +44 (0) 20 3003 2666        

US analyst and investor call

14:00 (CET) / 13:00 (UK) / 08:00 (EDT) / 05:00 (PDT)

Participants will need to state they are joining the Dialog Semiconductor call.

Conference Number: +1 646 843 4608 / +44 (0) 20 3003 2666

About Dialog

Dialog provides highly integrated standard and custom mixed-signal integrated circuits (ICs), optimised for smartphone, tablet, IoT, LED Solid State Lighting (SSL) and Smart Home applications. Dialog brings strong expertise to the rapid development of ICs while providing flexible and dynamic support, innovation and the assurance of dealing with an established business partner. With world-class manufacturing partners, Dialog operates a fabless business model and is a socially responsible employer pursuing many programs to benefit the employees, community, other stakeholders and the environment. Dialog's power saving technologies including DC-DC configurable system power management deliver high efficiency and enhance the consumer's user experience by extending battery lifetime and enabling faster charging of their portable devices. Its technology portfolio also includes audio, Bluetooth® Smart, Rapid Charge™ AC/DC power conversion and multi-touch.

Dialog is headquartered in London with a global sales, R&D and marketing organisation. In 2014, it had $1.16 billion in revenue and was one of the fastest growing European public semiconductor companies.

About Atmel

Atmel is a worldwide leader in the design and manufacture of microcontrollers, capacitive touch solutions, advanced logic, mixed-signal, non-volatile memory and radio frequency (RF) components. Leveraging one of the industry's broadest intellectual property (IP) technology portfolios, Atmel is able to provide the electronics industry with intelligent and connected solutions focused on the industrial, automotive, consumer, communications, and computing markets.

This communication is not a prospectus as required by the Prospectus Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 November 2003 (No 2003/71/EC). It does not constitute or form part of an offer to sell or any invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities or the solicitation of an offer to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, sell or otherwise dispose of any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction pursuant to the proposed merger or otherwise. Any acceptance or response to the proposed merger should be made only on the basis of the information referred to, in respect of Dialog shareholders, a shareholder circular seeking the approval of Dialog shareholders for the proposed merger, and the issuance of ordinary shares in the form of ADSs to Atmel's stockholders (the "Circular") or, in respect of Atmel's stockholders, a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Additional information and where to find it

This communication may be deemed to be solicitation material in respect of the proposed merger involving Dialog and Atmel. In connection with the proposed merger, Dialog will file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") a Registration Statement on Form F-4 (the "Registration Statement") containing a prospectus with respect to Dialog's ordinary shares to be issued in the proposed merger and a proxy statement of Atmel in connection with the proposed merger (the "Proxy Statement/Prospectus"). Each of Dialog and Atmel intends to file other documents with the SEC regarding the proposed merger. The definitive Proxy Statement/Prospectus will be mailed to stockholders of Atmel and will contain important information about the proposed merger and related matters. Shareholders of Dialog and stockholders of Atmel are advised to read carefully the formal documentation in relation to the proposed merger once it has been dispatched. The proposals for the proposed merger will, in respect of Dialog shareholders, be made solely through the Circular, and, in respect of Atmel's stockholders, be made solely through the Proxy Statement/Prospectus. Both the Circular and the final Proxy Statement/Prospectus will contain the full terms and conditions of the way in which the proposed merger will be implemented, including details of how to vote with respect to the implementation of the proposed merger. Any acceptance or other response to the proposals should be made only on the basis of the information in respect of the Dialog shareholders, in the Circular, or, in respect of Atmel's stockholders, in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus.