Goodix to Acquire NXP’s Voice and Audio Tech Business

Goodix has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire NXP Semiconductors’ Voice and Audio Solutions (VAS) business. The deal includes offices in Europe and Asia as well as intellectual property holdings related to VAS.

Having established itself as an important supplier of fingerprint scanning solutions for smartphones, including the in-display sensor technology that is currently proving highly popular, Goodix appears to be aiming to further solidify its prominence as a components supplier in this area, noting in a statement that “NXP’s VAS business offers premium voice and audio solutions for leading smartphone manufacturers worldwide.”

But the company is also looking to expand its presence in the nebulous Internet of Things market. Explaining the acquisition, Goodix CEO David Zhang called it “a strategic move in Goodix’s growth plan, adding, “The transaction will enhance our existing mobile and IoT product lines, significantly strengthen our R&D capabilities in audio applications such as hearables, allowing us to offer our customers a more comprehensive portfolio and accelerate Goodix’s strategic development via innovation.”

NXP, meanwhile, may now have the opportunity to refine its focus on other business areas. The company has been highly active in edge computing and biometric payment cards in recent months, and also has its hand in cutting edge technologies like machine learning and driver monitoring systems.

Financial terms of Goodix’s agreement to acquire NXP’s VAS business have not been disclosed.