Broadcom to pay $146 million for Global Locate

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Taking a cue from its Bluetooth competitor CSR plc, Broadcom Corp. has acquired a specialist in global positioning system chips in order to integrate GPS functions with silicon radio system-on-a-chip designs. Broadcom has paid a net $146 million in cash for Global Locate Inc. (San Jose, Calif.).

In January, CSR acquired Cambridge Positioning Systems Ltd. and NordNav Technologies AB so as to embed location-based services in handset designs.

Founded in 1999, Global Locate has focused on GPS implementation at the single-chip level. It uses Assisted GPS and other global references to achieve location-based services even when satellite signals cannot be acquired. Global Locate has designed three generations of GPS chips.

In addition to the initial payment, $80 million will be held in reserve payable to shareholders of Global Locate on the execution of performance goals.