MPD, Amplidyne End Merger Talks

By Robert Keenan, Managing Editor

Power amplifier manufacturers MPD and Amplidyne have mutually decided not to proceed with a proposed merger agreement.

Under the original merger agreement, which was announced in December (see http://news.wirelessdesignonline.com/industry-news/19981203-5819.html), MPD was to acquire Amplidyne for approximately $7.2 million. At the time, MPD stated several reasons for wanting to purchase Amplidyne. The most important, however, revolved around a new amplifier design.

Paul Donofrio, vice president and chief financial officer (CFO) of MPD, was unable to comment on the terminated merger agreement. But he did say that another agreement has been struck between the two companies. Under terms of the new agreement, the companies will jointly demonstrate an amplifier product in front of a customer next week.

Amplidyne designs and manufactures linear power amplifiers and subsystems for the wireless market. These single- and multi-channel power amplifiers are targeted at cellular, PCS, wireless local loop (WLL) base station applications.

Microwave Power Devices also designs and manufactures single- and multi-channel power amplifier for the wireless base station market. In addition, the company develops solid-state amplifiers for satellite communications (satcom) and medical applications.