To boost its high-demand near-field communication (NFC) connectivity portfolio, Renesas Electronics Corp. has signed a definitive agreement to acquire fabless semiconductor vendor Panthronics AG.
Under the all-cash deal, Renesas will gain ICs that will help it reach NFC applications such as fintech, internet of things (IoT), asset tracking, wireless charging and automotive.
The combination of NFC technology with Renesas’ series of microcontrollers and microprocessors will allow the company to create a ready-to-market NFC system, Renesas said.
The acquisition has been approved by the board of directors of Renesas and is expected to close this year pending regulatory approvals.
What is NFC?
NFC is a digital economic standard for mobile point-of-sale (mPoS) terminals and contactless payments. Applications such as IoT, asset tracking and wireless charging have become a staple in the consumer space leading to a rise in NFC technology.
Panthronics’ portfolio includes NFC chipsets and software that can be used for payment, IoT and NFC wireless charging. Renesas and Panthronics have been partners with NFC since 2018. Both companies have already launched four join designs for NFC systems including mPoS terminals, wireless charging and wall box smart metering platforms.
Additionally, the companies developed an NFC connectivity board that integrated Renesas’ Quick-Connect Studio ecosystem that allows users to add MCU development boards to systems.
