Editing Atmel (section)

===Acquisition by Microchip Technology===
In October 2008, Atmel received an unsolicited offer from [[Microchip Technology]] and [[ON Semiconductor]], estimated at US$2.3 billion.<ref name="CNET">{{Cite news|url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-1001_3-10056589-92.html|title=Microchip, ON propose $2.3 billion deal for Atmel|author=Margaret Kane|date=October 2, 2008|work=CNet news|access-date=September 27, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.atmel.com/corporate/documents/SLL_Customer_Letter.pdf|title=Letter to Customers and Business Partners|author=Steven Laub|date=October 2, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081010124558/http://www.atmel.com/corporate/documents/SLL_Customer_Letter.pdf|archive-date=October 10, 2008|access-date=September 27, 2013}}</ref> The offer was eventually rejected and the companies gave up on their [[hostile takeover]] attempt.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.marketwatch.com/story/atmel-rejects-microchip-on-semiconductor-bid|title=Atmel rejects Microchip, ON Semiconductor bid|author=Benjamin Pimentel|date=October 29, 2008|work=Market Watch|access-date=September 27, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.eetindia.co.in/ART_8800570103_1800001_NT_824e6181.HTM|title=Microchip aims to 'elbow out' MCU rivals|date=April 17, 2009|work=EE Times India|access-date=April 28, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090424114919/http://www.eetindia.co.in/ART_8800570103_1800001_NT_824e6181.HTM|archive-date=April 24, 2009}}</ref>

However, in 2016, [[Microchip Technology|Microchip]] agreed to buy Atmel for $3.6 billion.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> [[JPMorgan Chase]] and [[Qatalyst Partners]] served as financial advisers to Microchip and Atmel, respectively. The company had previously heard offers from [[Cypress Semiconductor]] and [[Dialog Semiconductor]] in 2015,<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-atmel-m-a-dialog-idUSKCN0RK0J420150920 Dialog Semiconductor to buy U.S. peer Atmel for $4.6 billion; Reuters; September 20, 2015.]</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title = Microchip Signs Deal to Buy Atmel|url = https://www.wsj.com/articles/microchip-signs-deal-to-buy-atmel-1453242821|newspaper = Wall Street Journal|access-date = 2016-01-21|issn = 0099-9660|first = Josh|last = Beckerman}}</ref> and the deal with Microchip was expected to be finalized at the end of Q2 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Microchip Reports Preliminary Q3 Results, Acquires Atmel|url = http://www.zacks.com/stock/news/204383/microchip-reports-preliminary-q3-results-acquires-atmel|website = Zacks Investment Research|access-date = 2016-01-21|first = Zacks Investment|last = Research}}</ref>

Atmel finally merged with [[Microchip Technology]] in July 2016 after prolonged negotiations for US$3.56 billion.<ref>[https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/products/micros/microchip-to-boost-8bit-avr-range-following-acquisition-2016-07/ Microchip to boost 8bit AVR range following acquisition]</ref><ref>[http://hackaday.com/2016/10/18/whats-the-deal-with-atmel-and-microchip/ WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH ATMEL AND MICROCHIP?]</ref>