Like everything it touched, the COVID-19 pandemic left its mark on the general merger and acquisition (M&A) space in 2020. Still, there were bright spots in the semiconductor and chip development tool markets – thanks in large measure to a few mega-deals.

It’s important to remember all of the deals in 2020 from the mega to the mini as both indicate the future direction of the semiconductor and chip industries. What follows is a representative sampling of the significant M&A activities.

John Blyler is a Design News senior editor, covering the electronics and advanced manufacturing spaces. With a BS in Engineering Physics and an MS in Electrical Engineering, he has years of hardware-software-network systems experience as an editor and engineer within the advanced manufacturing, IoT and semiconductor industries. John has co-authored books related to system engineering and electronics for IEEE, Wiley, and Elsevier.