Renesas Electronics transferring high power amp business to Murata

Renesas Electronics will transfer its HPA business and the Nagano Device Division of Renesas Eastern Japan Semiconductor, including its contract production business to Murata, with a definitive agreement scheduled to be completed by 1 January 2012. The deal has been made in a bid to address the growing demand for smartphones, the major user of power amplifiers and the trend toward one stop module and platform solutions that integrate basic communication functions in a device. In particular, demand is growing for modules that incorporate HPAs with radio frequency components, such as filters and switches. Murata Manufacturing has been examining measures to strengthen its power amplifier technology in order to promote the integration of front end modules including power amplifiers and to expand its business. Renesas Electronics has been supplying power amplifier modules to the mobile handset makers without rf filters and switches and has been studying ways to respond to the demand for a one stop module that incorporates an FEM. Murata Manufacturing and Renesas Electronics have been discussing the possibility of collaborating on a complementary supply of parts for communication devices. However, to respond to the changing business circumstances rapidly, the companies agreed and today signed the basic agreement. Murata Manufacturing says it intends to further expand its business through integrated technologies of its FEMs and PAs.