Cognex Corp. has announced its intent to acquire RealSense Inc., a robotics and computer vision startup, in a deal valued at approximately $600 million. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of the year, pending regulatory approval.
The acquisition includes a cash payment of about $500 million, alongside a $56.5 million three-year retention program and $50 million in restricted stock units for RealSense employees. Most of the 180 staff members are expected to receive at least $330 000 each.
RealSense, which spun out of Intel 14 months ago, specializes in depth cameras for robot navigation and 3D scanning technology. The company expects to generate $80 million to $90 million in revenue this year, marking a 50% increase over the previous year.
Following the acquisition, RealSense will serve as the primary development center for Cognex. The deal excludes the Facial Authentication business, which will be spun off into a separate entity with approximately 25 employees.
Intel, which retains a 20% stake in RealSense, will benefit from the sale. Cognex plans to integrate RealSense’s 3D perception capabilities with its own machine vision technology to develop a comprehensive visual intelligence platform.
