Achronix and ACE Convergence Acquisition Corp Mutually Agree to Terminate Merger Agreement

[AmandaK]

Press Releases Date
07/12/2021

Santa Clara, Calif. – July 12, 2021 – Achronix Semiconductor Corporation, a leader in high-performance field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and embedded FPGA (eFPGA) IP, and ACE Convergence Acquisition Corp. (ACE) (Nasdaq: ACEV), a special-purpose acquisition company focused on the Industrial and Information Technology sectors, today announced that both companies have mutually agreed to terminate their merger agreement (“Agreement”), effective immediately.
The proposed merger, announced in January 2021, was conditioned on the satisfaction of defined closing conditions, including obtaining necessary regulatory approvals within the timeframe contemplated by the Agreement. The parties believe that they will not be able to complete the transaction by the July 15, 2021 deadline or some reasonable time thereafter.

“Despite our best efforts to finalize this transaction, we ultimately concluded that going our separate ways was the best path forward for Achronix, ACE and all of our stakeholders. Achronix is in a strong financial and operational position, uniquely situated to provide flexible FPGA-based compute solutions for data-acceleration applications across a nearly $10 billion market opportunity by 2025,” said Robert Blake, President and CEO of Achronix. “As the only independent company to offer high-end FPGA and embedded FPGA IP solutions, Achronix is well positioned to execute on high-growth opportunities. Throughout 2021, Achronix has continued to build strong momentum, and it remains committed to pursuing additional options to become a public company.”

“While we are disappointed by this outcome, we are excited to be in the fast growing industrial and enterprise infrastructure IT sectors, and will be laser-focused on identifying an emerging leader that is well positioned to capture significant value as the market rapidly evolves,” said Behrooz Abdi, CEO and Chairman of ACE. “Looking ahead, we have full confidence that we will leverage our deep sector knowledge and industry connections to identify the next compelling and differentiated business combination opportunity and complete the transaction within the tenure of our acquisition platform.”

Neither party will be required to pay the other a termination fee as a result of the mutual decision to terminate the agreement.

About Achronix Semiconductor Corporation​

Achronix Semiconductor Corporation is a fabless semiconductor corporation based in Santa Clara, California, offering high-end FPGA-based data acceleration solutions, designed to address high-performance, compute-intensive and real-time processing applications. Achronix FPGA and eFPGA IP offerings are further enhanced by ready-to-use accelerator cards targeting AI, machine learning, networking and data center applications. All Achronix products are fully supported by a complete and optimized range of Achronix software tools called ACE, which enables customers to quickly develop their own custom applications. Achronix has a global footprint, with sales and design teams across the U.S., Europe and Asia.

About ACE Convergence Acquisition Corp.​

ACE Convergence Acquisition Corp. is a $230 million special purpose acquisition company whose business mandate is to identify and acquire an emerging leader in the IT infrastructure software/systems and system-on-a-chip markets that is well-positioned to capitalize on the changing landscape of data acceleration being driven by developments in AI, Cloud, and 5G technologies. ACE is comprised of a team of sector specialists with a solid track record of scaling complex technology organizations and making transformative value-creation decisions. For more information, please visit http://acev.io/home/default.aspx.

Forward-Looking Statements​

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including with respect to the proposed transaction between Achronix and ACE. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “intend,” “future,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “will be,” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of present or historical fact included in this press release, regarding ACE’s proposed acquisition of Achronix, ACE’s ability to consummate the proposed transaction, the benefits of the proposed transaction and the combined company’s future financial performance, as well as the combined company’s strategy, future operations, estimated financial position, estimated revenue growth, prospects and pipeline expectations, estimated market growth, estimated backlog, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release, including but not limited to: the risk that the proposed transaction may not be completed in a timely manner or at all, which may adversely affect the price of ACE’s securities; the risk that the proposed transaction may not be completed by ACE’s business combination deadline and the potential failure to obtain an extension of the business combination deadline if sought by ACE; the failure to satisfy the conditions to the consummation of the proposed transaction, including the adoption of the Merger Agreement by the shareholders of ACE or the stockholders of Achronix and the receipt of certain governmental and regulatory approvals; the lack of a third party valuation in determining whether or not to pursue the proposed transaction; the inability to complete the concurrent PIPE financing; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the Merger Agreement; the effect of the announcement or pendency of the transaction on Achronix’s business relationships, operating results, and business generally; risks that the proposed transaction disrupts current plans and operations of Achronix; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Achronix or against ACE related to the Merger Agreement or the proposed transaction; the ability to maintain the listing of ACE’s securities on a national securities exchange; changes in domestic and foreign business, market, financial, political, and legal conditions and changes in the combined capital structure; the ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations after the completion of the proposed transaction, and identify and realize additional opportunities; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction; risks relating to the uncertainty of the projected financial information with respect to Achronix; risks related to the rollout of Achronix’s business and the timing of expected business milestones; the effects of competition on Achronix’s business; the effects of the cyclical nature of the semiconductor industry on Achronix’s business; risks related to Achronix’s customer concentration; the risks to Achronix’s business if internal processes and information technology systems are not properly maintained; risks associated with Achronix’s operational dependence on independent contractors and third parties; risks associated with Achronix’s reliance on certain suppliers for, among other things, silicon wafers; risks and uncertainties related to Achronix’s international operations, including possible restrictions on cross-border investments which could harm Achronix’s financial position; and risks associated with Achronix’s ability to develop new products and adapt to new markets. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the “Risk Factors” section of the final prospectus to ACE’s registration statement on Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333-239716), the registration statement on Form S-4 discussed above and other documents filed or that may be filed by ACE from time to time with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that neither ACE nor Achronix presently know, or that ACE or Achronix currently believe are immaterial, that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. ACE and Achronix anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause ACE’s and Achronix’s assessments to change. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements as predictions of future events, and Achronix and ACE assume no obligation and do not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable law. Neither Achronix nor ACE gives any assurance that either Achronix or ACE, or the combined company, will achieve its expectations.

Follow Achronix​

Website:www.achronix.com
The Achronix Blog:/blogs/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Achronixcorp
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/57668/
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/achronix/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/AchronixCorp

Contacts​

For Achronix Semiconductor Corporation
(408)-625-3120
Media inquiries: Media@Achronix.com
Investor inquiries: IR@Achronix.com
ACE Convergence Acquisition Corp.
(302) 633-2102
info@acev.io