Sigma Designs eyes Trident's DTV biz

Sigma Designs Inc. has revealed that it signed an asset purchase agreement that will serve as a "stalking horse" bidder of Trident Microsystems Inc.'s digital television (DTV) chip business. Trident filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January.

The agreement, which amounts to $21 million in cash, will include products, licensed intellectual property, software and leased facilities. The deal also stated Sigma would also assume certain of Trident's liabilities.

Sigma's bid for Trident's DTV business is subject to a bidding and auction process in accordance with U.S. bankruptcy laws. The potential auction and final sale hearing for the Trident DTV assets is expected to be held within the next several weeks, Sigma said.

Sigma said it expects to make employment offers to some employees of Trident's DTV business, most of whom are located in China. If Sigma is selected as the winning bidder at the auction, the company hopes the transaction would close in the second quarter.

Sigma's bid for Trident's DTV business comes after 2011 saw many Western semiconductor companies, including Broadcom Corp., Intel Corp. and CSR plc, exit the DTV business due to escalating competition from the likes of Taiwan-based MediaTek Inc. and MStar Semiconductor Inc. and a host of smaller firms based in China.

Sigma said the acquisition would expand its business through the addition of Trident's DTV media processor SoCs for next-generation Internet-enabled digital televisions. Much of Trident's DTV business came from its 2009 acquisition of Micronas Inc.

- Dylan McGrath
??EE Times