Ericsson completes acquisition of Cradlepoint

Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) has completed its acquisition of Cradlepoint, the US-based market leader in Wireless WAN Edge 4G and 5G solutions for the enterprise market. 

The investment is key to Ericsson's ongoing strategy of capturing market share in the rapidly expanding 5G enterprise space.

Closing of the acquisition follows the announcement on September 18, 2020 of Ericsson's intention to acquire Cradlepoint. At closing, a consideration of around USD 1 b. was paid using Ericsson's cash-in-hand. Cradlepoint's sales for 2019 were SEK 1.2 b. with a gross margin of 61%. Ericsson's operating margins are expected to be negatively impacted by approximately 1% in 2021 and 2022 - where half is related to amortization of intangible assets arising from the acquisition. Cradlepoint is expected to contribute to operating cash-flow starting in 2022.

Through Cradlepoint's solutions, companies can connect sites, vehicles, mobile workforces, and IoT devices in a simple and secure way using cellular technology. By leveraging the combined offering, Ericsson will be able to create valuable new revenue streams for its customers by supporting 5G-enabled services for enterprise, and boost returns on investments in the network. Ericsson's global presence and long-standing relationships with the world's leading service providers will also help accelerate Cradlepoint's international expansion.