Numonyx

In the world of semiconductors, giants often rearrange the board to create new powerhouses. Such was the case in 2008 with the birth of Numonyx. This wasn't a startup born in a garage, but a strategic joint venture between two industry titans, Intel and STMicroelectronics, along with private equity firm Francisco Partners. The move combined Intel's NOR flash memory business with STMicroelectronics' NAND and NOR operations, instantly creating a major player in the non-volatile memory market. Leading this new entity were CEO Brian Harrison, formerly a vice president at Intel's Flash Memory Group, and COO Mario Licciardello, who came from STMicroelectronics' memory division. Headquartered in Switzerland, Numonyx was established to supply critical memory components for devices like cell phones, MP3 players, and digital cameras. The company produced a wide array of memory technologies, including NOR and NAND flash, as well as next-generation phase-change memory (PCM). This gave them a comprehensive portfolio right from the start. The company's journey as an independent entity was short-lived but impactful. After just two years of operation, in February 2010, Micron Technology announced its intention to acquire Numonyx. The all-stock transaction, valued at approximately $1.27 billion, was completed in May 2010. For Micron, the acquisition was a strategic move to broaden its product lines beyond DRAM, adding Numonyx's strong NOR flash and PCM technologies to its portfolio and strengthening its position against competitors.