Micron Intends to Acquire Remaining Interest in IM Flash Technologies JV With Intel for $1.5 Billion

Micron Technology, Inc. intends to exercise its right to call Intel Corp.‘s interest in the parties’ joint venture, IM Flash Technologies, LLC (IM Flash).

“Micron’s acquisition of IM Flash demonstrates our strong belief that 3D XPoint technology and other emerging memories will provide a unique differentiator for the company and be an essential solution for new data-hungry applications,” said Micron president and CEO Sanjay Mehrotra. “This investment provides Micron with an established development and manufacturing facility and a highly skilled workforce with a strong track record of innovation and execution.”

Micron can exercise the call option starting January 1, 2019. The timeline to close the transaction is between six and twelve months after the date Micron exercises the call.

The IM Flash joint venture is already consolidated in Micron’s reported financial statements. Micron anticipates no meaningful impact to overall financial results or changes to its fiscal 2019 capital expenditures and long-term capital expenditure target. 

At the time of close, Micron expects to pay approximately $1.5 billion in cash for the transaction, dissolving Intel’s non-controlling interest in IM Flash as well as IM Flash member debt, which was approximately $1 billion as of August 30, 2018.

In July 2018, Micron and Intel agreed to conclude their joint development of 3D XPoint technology after the completion of the second-generation node, which is expected to occur in the second half of fiscal 2019.

The two companies will independently drive their own future technology roadmaps. Micron is currently collaborating with ecosystem partners to introduce 3D XPoint products in late calendar 2019, with revenue ramp starting in calendar 2020.

Joint manufacture of 3D XPoint memory will continue at the IM Flash facility in Lehi, UT until the transaction is closed.

Based on prior agreements, Micron will sell 3D XPoint memory wafers to Intel for up to a year after close.

At the close of the transaction, IM Flash will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Micron, and all IM Flash employees will become part of the Micron team focused on supporting technology development and manufacturing efforts in Lehi.