[Techtaffy Newsdesk]

Micron Technology  is acquiring Elpida Memory for roughly $750 million in cash. The agreement has been entered into in connection with Elpida’s corporate reorganization proceedings conducted under the jurisdiction of the Tokyo District Court.

Under the agreement,  some $2.5 billion total consideration, less certain reorganization proceeding expenses, will be used to satisfy the reorganization claims of Elpida’s secured and unsecured creditors. Micron will acquire 100 per cent of the equity of Elpida for $750 million to be paid in cash at closing. In addition, approximately $1.75 billion in future annual installment payments through 2019 will be paid from cash flow generated from Micron’s payment for foundry services provided by Elpida, as a Micron subsidiary. As a result of these payments, all pre-petition debt obligations of Elpida will be fully discharged under the corporate reorganization proceedings. The agreement also calls for Micron to provide certain financing support for Elpida capital expenditures, subject to specified conditions, and to maintain Elpida’s operations and employees.

In a related transaction, Micron also announced today a separate agreement with Powerchip Technology Corporation, a Taiwanese corporation, and certain of its affiliates to acquire the Powerchip group’s 24 percent share of Rexchip Electronics for approximately  approximately $334 million.

Elpida’s assets include a 300 millimeter (mm) DRAM fabrication facility located in Hiroshima, Japan; an approximate 65 percent ownership interest in Rexchip, whose assets include a 300mm DRAM fabrication facility located in Taiwan; and an assembly and test facility located in Akita, Japan. Together with the Rexchip shares acquired from Powerchip, Micron will control approximately 89 percent of Rexchip’s outstanding shares. The fab assets of Elpida and Rexchip together can produce more than 200,000 300mm wafers per month, which would represent an approximate 50 percent increase in Micron’s current manufacturing capacity.

The transactions are subject to certain conditions, including approval by Elpida creditors, the Tokyo District Court, and other customary antitrust approvals. Elpida’s reorganization plan is currently anticipated to be submitted to the Tokyo District Court for approval in August 2012. The transactions are expected to close in the first half of calendar 2013. Micron’s purchase of the Powerchip group’s Rexchip shares will occur upon close of the Elpida transaction.

Elpida filed a petition for commencement of Corporate Reorganization Proceedings with the Tokyo District Court under the Corporate Reorganization Act of Japan on Feb. 27, 2012.