06.02.2007

On January 31, 2007, National Semiconductor announced that it is acquiring Xignal Technologies AG, a German based developer of high speed data converters.  

Xignal is a pioneer in the development of continues time sigma delta analog to digital converters (ADC), a technology that enables high resolution ADC’s at megahertz speeds with greatly reduced power levels compared to traditional pipeline solutions.  

The acquisition of Xignal’s technology and design team strengthens Nationals’ growing position in the data conversion market. This investment in continues time sigma delta intellectual property augments National’s existing sigma delta IP. The terms of the transaction are not currently disclosed.  

m law group advised Xignal and its main shareholders in all corporate, labor& employment and IP issues of this transaction. It is the first closed M&A transaction which m law group advised on after its spin off from WilmerHale on January 1, 2007.  

Legal advisors Xignal Technologies AG and main shareholders (BayTech Venture Capital and Benchmark Capital):
m law group: Rainer Kreifels (lead, corporate), Dr. Johannes Maidl (corporate), Diana Massa (corporate), Manfred Schmid (labour & employment), Dr. Florian von Baum (IP).  

Co-legal advisors Benchmark Capital:
Pöllath + Partner: Dr. Georg Greitemann, LL.M.  

Legal advisors minority shareholders tbg Technologie-Beteiligungs-Gesellschaft mbH, Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau, Anstalt des öffentlichen Rechts, Technologie Beteiligungsfonds Bayern II GmbH & Co. KG:
Weitnauer Rechtsanwälte: Dr. Wolfgang Weitnauer, Dr. Nicola Esser.  

Legal advisors minority shareholders Star Management of Investments No. II (2000) L.P. and SVM STAR Ventures Managementsgesellschaft mbH Nr. 3:
GSK Gassner Stockmann & Kollegen, München: Dr. Oliver Klerx, LL.M.  

Financial advisors Xignal:
Pagemill Partners, Palo Alto: Charles Welsh, Mark Grossman  

Legal advisors National Semiconductor:
Latham & Watkins, Palo Alto, Munich, Hamburg: Ora Fisher (Palo Alto, corporate), Dr. Cornelius Mirow (Munich, corporate), Christina Palmes (Munich, corporate), Dr. Tobias Leder (Munich, litigation), Dr. Christopher Quandt (Hamburg, corporate).
Inhouse: Dr. Thomas Pawlikowski, LL.M.

Practice Areas: Corporate & Compliance, Business & Technology Transactions, Labour & Employment
Industry: Semiconductor Technology