Massive chip consolidation wave is changing semiconductor industry

By Pete Carey - San Jose Mercury News, May. 28, 2015 – 

A wave of mergers and acquisitions is reshaping Silicon Valley's semiconductor industry as companies join forces to shoulder the soaring technology costs required to stay competitive.

Half a dozen chipmakers in Silicon Valley, including a few storied names, have changed hands in less than two years in nearly $12 billion in mergers and acquisitions affecting thousands of employees and costing some their jobs. In one merger 1,600 people are being laid off.

"The net winners are investors. The net losers are the employees who lose their jobs," said Betsy Van Hees, an analyst with Wedbush Securities.

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