Skyworks buys Beaverton-based Avnera for $405M

BEAVERTON, Ore. — It’s a hot summer for Oregon tech.

Beaverton-based Avnera sold Monday to Massachusetts communications chipmaker Skyworks Solutions for $405 million in cash, plus up to $20 million more if Avnera meets performance targets over the next year.

It’s the latest in a series of deals and investments in Silicon Forest companies reflecting the strong regional economy and Oregon’s maturing tech ecosystem.

Founded in 2004, privately held Avnera designs chips for wireless audio. Its clients include Apple, Samsung, Microsoft, Harman, Sony and many others. Skyworks said it will use Avnera’s technology for smart speakers, digital assistants, gaming controllers and driver controls inside vehicles.

Avnera did not say how many people work in its Beaverton office or whether Skyworks will retain the office and the companies did not respond to requests for comment.

Avnera doesn’t disclose financial results but John Vinh and Michael Lin, analysts with KeyBank Capital Markets in Portland, said they estimate the Beaverton company’s annual revenues are between $80 million and $100 million.

Avnera was among Oregon’s highest profile startups in its early days but grew increasingly private in recent years as its chips played bigger roles in other companies’ audio systems.