Marvell to buy chip startup Celestial AI for $3.25 billion, bullish on growth next year; stock rises

Core Insights - Marvell Technology is acquiring semiconductor startup Celestial AI for $3.25 billion, which is expected to enhance its capabilities in photonics technology and contribute to future revenue growth [1][5][6] Company Overview - Marvell anticipates total revenue of approximately $10 billion for the next fiscal year, with a projected 25% increase in data center revenue [3] - The company expects a 20% growth in its custom chip business revenue next year [4] Industry Context - The generative AI boom is accelerating chipmakers' development processes, leading to increased demand for custom chips tailored for advanced data centers [2] - Marvell and competitors like Broadcom are focusing on designing chips for cloud-computing companies, which has become a significant business segment [2] Acquisition Details - The acquisition of Celestial AI will provide Marvell access to photonics technology, which utilizes light for connections between AI chips and memory chips, positioning it against competitors like Broadcom and Nvidia [5] - The deal includes $1 billion in cash and 27.2 million shares of Marvell common stock valued at $2.25 billion [6] Future Projections - Marvell expects to see meaningful revenue contributions from Celestial AI starting in the second half of fiscal 2028, with an annualized run rate of $500 million by Q4 of fiscal 2028, potentially doubling to $1 billion by Q4 of fiscal 2029 [7] - The acquisition is projected to close in Q1 of calendar year 2026 [7] Strategic Partnerships - In relation to the Celestial acquisition, Marvell has issued a warrant to Amazon, allowing Amazon to purchase Marvell shares based on its acquisition of photonic fabric products until the end of 2030 [8]