Lantronix Closes Strategic Acquisition of DZS’s NetComm Enterprise IoT Portfolio

Rhea-AI Summary

Lantronix (NASDAQ: LTRX) has completed the acquisition of NetComm Wireless Pty 's enterprise IoT business assets from DZS Inc. for $6.5 million in cash. The strategic acquisition enhances Lantronix's Enterprise and Smart City market presence, expanding its 5G capabilities and IoT connectivity solutions in critical infrastructure, asset monitoring, and telecommunications.

The acquired portfolio includes Gateway, Routers, and Modems solutions that provide Ethernet-to-Cellular and Wi-Fi connectivity for demanding environments. The acquisition opens opportunities in new geographic markets, particularly Australia and New Zealand, while adding blue-chip Enterprise customers. Lantronix projects the acquired NetComm enterprise portfolio to generate $6-7 million in revenue during calendar year 2024.

Positive

• Strategic acquisition valued at $6.5M enhances IoT portfolio
• Expected revenue contribution of $6-7M in 2024
• Expansion into new geographic markets (Australia and New Zealand)
• Addition of blue-chip Enterprise customers for cross-selling opportunities
• Enhancement of 5G capabilities and mission-critical solutions

Negative

• Cash outlay of $6.5M impacts balance sheet
• Assumption of certain liabilities from acquisition

Insights

Financial Analyst

The strategic acquisition of DZS's NetComm enterprise IoT portfolio for $6.5 million represents a compelling value proposition for Lantronix. With projected revenue of $6-7 million for 2024, the deal is priced at roughly 1x sales - an attractive multiple in the IoT sector where similar assets often trade at 2-3x revenue. The transaction's structure as an all-cash deal preserves Lantronix's equity and demonstrates strong cash position management.

The acquisition provides immediate geographical expansion into the Australia/New Zealand markets while adding blue-chip enterprise customers. This market entry strategy is particularly cost-effective compared to organic growth, which would require significant time and resource investment. The integration of NetComm's 5G technology portfolio also positions Lantronix to capture a larger share of the rapidly growing industrial IoT market, estimated to reach $1.3 trillion by 2032.

In simple terms: Lantronix bought a valuable business for a good price that will quickly bring in almost as much money as they paid for it, while giving them new customers and advanced technology they can sell to existing clients.

Tech Industry Expert

The acquisition of NetComm's enterprise IoT portfolio represents a strategic technological leap for Lantronix. The integration of advanced 5G capabilities into their existing IoT solutions creates a more comprehensive product stack that addresses critical market demands for ultra-low latency and high-reliability connectivity in industrial applications.

The acquired Gateway, Router and Modem solutions complement Lantronix's edge computing portfolio, creating an end-to-end solution that will be particularly attractive for critical infrastructure and asset monitoring applications. This technological synergy enables Lantronix to offer more complete solutions, reducing integration complexity for customers and potentially increasing profit margins.

For the average person: Think of this like adding premium features to a basic smartphone - Lantronix can now offer their customers a complete package of connected devices and services, making their products more valuable and easier to use.

• Accelerates Lantronix’s Enterprise IoT Leadership
• Expands Its IoT Wireless Connect Portfolio With Cutting-Edge 5G Technology
• Strengthens Its Competitive Offering, Adds New Blue-Chip Customers

IRVINE, Calif., Dec. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lantronix Inc. (NASDAQ: LTRX), a global leader in IoT compute and connectivity IoT solutions, today announced that it has finalized its acquisition of NetComm Wireless Pty Ltd (“NetComm”), a subsidiary of DZS Inc., for all of its enterprise Internet of Things (IoT) business assets for $6.5 million in cash, together with assumptions of certain liabilities.

This strategic acquisition complements Lantronix’s focus on the Enterprise and Smart City vertical markets and has the potential to expand its next-generation 5G capabilities. By integrating this new IoT portfolio, Lantronix enhances its connectivity solutions in mission-critical areas, such as critical infrastructure, asset monitoring and telecommunications.

“We are pleased to complete the strategic acquisition of DZS’s IoT portfolio, which enables Lantronix to accelerate its position of leadership with expanded enterprise and industrial IoT solutions,” stated Saleel Awsare, president and CEO of Lantronix. “With this acquisition, Lantronix customers now have access to extended IoT offerings in Gateway, Routers and Modems, which enhance our edge compute solutions. This acquisition also adds new blue-chip Enterprise customers for additional cross-selling opportunities and opens our products to target-rich, unserved geographic markets, such as Australia and New Zealand.”

At the core of this acquisition are solutions that enable ultra-fast Ethernet-to-Cellular and Wi-Fi^® connectivity for machines in the most demanding environments. Designed for industries that require rugged, reliable connectivity, these products deliver low-latency performance and remote management capabilities. This IoT suite is already trusted by some of the world’s most prominent companies. Lantronix expects DZS’s NetComm enterprise portfolio to generate between $6 million and $7 million in revenue during calendar year 2024.

About Lantronix

Lantronix Inc. is a global leader of compute and connectivity IoT solutions that target high-growth industries including Smart Cities, Automotive and Enterprise. Lantronix’s products and services empower companies to succeed in the growing IoT markets by delivering customizable solutions that address each layer of the IoT Stack. Lantronix’s leading-edge solutions include Intelligent Substations infrastructure, Infotainment systems and Video Surveillance, supplemented with advanced Out-of-Band Management (OOB) for Cloud and Edge Computing. 

For more information, visit the Lantronix website.

This news release contains forward-looking statements, including statements about our expectations concerning the benefits of our acquisition of DZS’s NetComm enterprise IoT portfolio such as strengthening our competitive offering, bringing new blue-chip names to our customer base and unlocking growth opportunities for our IoT customers, as well as the accretive nature of the proposed acquisition. These forward-looking statements are intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We have based our forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about trends affecting our business and industry and other future events. Although we do not make forward-looking statements unless we believe we have a reasonable basis for doing so, we cannot guarantee their accuracy. Forward-looking statements are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause our results or experiences, or future business, financial condition, results of operations or performance, to differ materially from our historical results or those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statement contained in this news release. Other factors which could have a material adverse effect on our operations and future prospects or which could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations include, but are not limited to: the ability to complete the proposed acquisition on anticipated terms and timetable; our ability to integrate the acquired assets successfully after the closing and achieve anticipated benefits from them; the possibility that various closing conditions for the acquisition may not be satisfied or waived; risks relating to any unforeseen liabilities assumed with the acquired assets; the effects of negative or worsening regional and worldwide economic conditions or market instability on our business, including effects on purchasing decisions by our customers; our ability to mitigate any disruption in our and our suppliers’ and vendors’ supply chains due to the COVID-19 pandemic or other outbreaks, wars and recent conflicts in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, hostilities in the Red Sea, or other causes; our ability to successfully convert our backlog and current demand; our ability to successfully implement our acquisitions strategy or integrate acquired companies; uncertainty as to the future profitability of acquired businesses, and delays in the realization of, or the failure to realize, any accretion from acquisition transactions; acquiring, managing and integrating new operations, businesses or assets, and the associated diversion of management attention or other related costs or difficulties; our ability to continue to generate revenue from products sold into mature markets; our ability to develop, market, and sell new products; our ability to succeed with our new software offerings; fluctuations in our revenue due to the project-based timing of orders from certain customers; unpredictable timing of our revenues due to the lengthy sales cycle for our products and services and potential delays in customer completion of projects; our ability to accurately forecast future demand for our products; delays in qualifying revisions of existing products; constraints or delays in the supply of, or quality control issues with, certain materials or components; difficulties associated with the delivery, quality or cost of our products from our contract manufacturers or suppliers; risks related to the outsourcing of manufacturing and international operations; difficulties associated with our distributors or resellers; intense competition in our industry and resultant downward price pressure; rises in inventory levels and inventory obsolescence; undetected software or hardware errors or defects in our products; cybersecurity risks; our ability to obtain appropriate industry certifications or approvals from governmental regulatory bodies; changes in applicable U.S. and foreign government laws, regulations, and tariffs; our ability to protect patents and other proprietary rights and avoid infringement of others’ proprietary technology rights; issues relating to the stability of our financial and banking institutions and relationships; the level of our indebtedness, our ability to service our indebtedness and the restrictions in our debt agreements; the impact of rising interest rates; our ability to attract and retain qualified management; and any additional factors included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on Sept. 9, 2024, including in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of Part I of that report; and in our other public filings with the SEC. In addition, actual results may differ as a result of additional risks and uncertainties of which we are currently unaware or which we do not currently view as material to our business. For these reasons, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements we make speak only as of the date on which they are made. We expressly disclaim any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statements after the date hereof to conform such statements to actual results or to changes in our opinions or expectations, except as required by applicable law or the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC. If we do update or correct any forward-looking statements, investors should not conclude that we will make additional updates or corrections. ©2024 Lantronix, Inc. All rights reserved. Lantronix is a registered trademark. Other trademarks and trade names are those of their respective owners.

Lantronix Media Contact:
Gail Kathryn Miller
Corporate Marketing &
Communications Manager
media@lantronix.com
949-212-0960

Lantronix Analyst and Investor Contact:
investors@lantronix.com

FAQ

How much did Lantronix (LTRX) pay for the NetComm IoT portfolio acquisition?

Lantronix paid $6.5 million in cash for NetComm's enterprise IoT business assets from DZS Inc.

What is the expected revenue contribution from the NetComm acquisition for LTRX in 2024?

Lantronix expects the acquired NetComm enterprise portfolio to generate between $6 million and $7 million in revenue during calendar year 2024.

Which new geographic markets will LTRX enter through the NetComm acquisition?

The acquisition opens opportunities in Australia and New Zealand markets for Lantronix.

What technologies are included in LTRX's NetComm acquisition?

The acquisition includes Gateway, Routers, and Modems solutions that enable ultra-fast Ethernet-to-Cellular and Wi-Fi connectivity, along with 5G technology capabilities.

How does the NetComm acquisition align with LTRX's market strategy?

The acquisition complements Lantronix's focus on Enterprise and Smart City vertical markets, enhancing its connectivity solutions in critical infrastructure, asset monitoring, and telecommunications.