Lam Research and Novellus Systems to Combine in $3.3B All-Stock Transaction

Lam Research LRCX announced that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement to acquire Novellus Systems NVLS in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $3.3 billion. The combined enterprise, which will retain the name of Lam Research Corp., will be a semiconductor equipment company with a broad portfolio of market-leading products and multiple opportunities to drive value creation through significant revenue and cost synergies. Total cost synergies are expected to be approximately $100 million on an annualized basis by the fourth quarter of 2013. In addition, Lam announced a $1.6 billion common stock repurchase program. This new program, which replaces Lam's existing share repurchase program, is targeted to be executed over the 12 months following the close of the transaction. Lam expects the transaction to be accretive to its non-GAAP earnings within one year after transaction close.