UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

 

Washington, D.C. 20549

__________________________

 

FORM 6-K 

__________________________

 

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO
RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the month of June 2015
Commission File Number: 001-35152

 

__________________________

 

WI-LAN INC.

 

(Translation of registrant’s name into English)

 

__________________________

 

303 Terry Fox Drive
Suite 300
Ottawa, Ontario K2K 3J1
Canada
(Address of principal executive office)

 

__________________________

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

 

Form 20-F   ¨             Form 40-F   þ

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): ¨

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): ¨


EXHIBIT LIST

 

Exhibit

 

Description

99.1 

 

Press Release dated June 2, 2015

 


 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

WI-LAN INC.

 

 

 

 

Date: June 2, 2015

By:

/s/ Prashant R. Watchmaker

 

 

Name: Prashant R. Watchmaker 

Title: Vice-President, Corporate Legal & Corporate Secretary

 

 



 

Exhibit 99.1

Press release

 

 

 

WiLAN Acquires Qimonda Patent Portfolio from Infineon

 

OTTAWA, Canada – June 2, 2015 – WiLAN (TSX:WIN) (NASD:WILN) announced that its wholly‑owned subsidiary, Polaris Innovations Limited (“Polaris”), has acquired, from Infineon Technologies AG (“Infineon”), the vast majority of Qimonda AG’s (“Qimonda”) patent portfolio.

 

The portfolio, of over 7,000 patents and applications, includes technologies related to DRAMs, FLASH memories, semiconductor processes, semiconductor manufacturing, lithography, packaging, semiconductor circuitry and memory interfaces. The portfolio has broad relevance to many semiconductor products.  The issued patents in the portfolio have an average remaining life of over 8 years.  The portfolio includes approximately 5,000 US patents and applications.

 

The patented inventions in the portfolio were developed by Qimonda, Infineon and Siemens. These companies have been pioneers in semiconductor design and manufacturing since 1953, when Siemens became the first company to successfully manufacture the ultra-pure silicon needed for semiconductor components.

 

Qimonda, which had been a part of Infineon, went public in 2006 to form, at the time, the second largest DRAM manufacturer in the world.  Qimonda’s products included DRAM, graphics RAM, mobile RAM and FLASH memory.  At one time, Qimonda employed approximately 13,500 personnel worldwide, including almost 2,000 in R&D.  Qimonda used advanced manufacturing and process technologies, with 4 fabrication plants or fabs and 6 major R&D facilities, and was at the forefront of advanced memory design.  In 2008, due to the financial crisis and the significant drop in semiconductor prices, Qimonda experienced financial difficulty and eventual bankruptcy, but its intellectual property continued to be valuable.  Infineon acquired the Qimonda assets in 2014.

 

“This is WiLAN’s most important patent acquisition to date” said Jim Skippen, President & CEO, WiLAN.  “Portfolios of this magnitude and quality rarely become available and it is always an important event in the patent world when one changes hands.  Other noteworthy transactions with similar numbers of patents developed by recognized technology leaders include the sale of the Nortel portfolio, the sale of the Motorola portfolio and the sale of the Kodak portfolio.”

 

Added Skippen, “It is WiLAN’s belief that a significant percentage of the microchips currently being manufactured in the world today most likely are covered by claims associated with the patents in this portfolio.  Consequently, our team is excited about the licensing potential of the portfolio, and will

www.wilan.com                              © copyright Wi-LAN 20151


PRESS RELEASE

 

 

begin immediate efforts to launch a major licensing campaign.”

 

The portfolio was acquired for consideration of approximately €30 million, which is approximately US$33 million at current currency exchange rates.

 

About WiLAN

WiLAN is one of the most successful patent licensing companies in the world and helps companies unlock the value of intellectual property by managing and licensing their patent portfolios.  The Company operates in a variety of markets including automotive, digital television, Internet, medical, semiconductor and wireless communication technologies.  WiLAN’s wholly-owned subsidiary, WiLAN Labs, develops and commercializes innovative solutions to the challenges facing next generation communication networks.  Founded in 1992, WiLAN is listed on the TSX and NASDAQ and is included in the S&P/TSX Dividend and Dividend Aristocrats Indexes.  For more information: www.wilan.com.

Forward-looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other United States and Canadian securities laws.  Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information are based on estimates and assumptions made by WiLAN in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and the expected effects of new business strategies, as well as other factors that WiLAN believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Many factors could cause WiLAN's actual performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Such factors include, without limitation, the risks described in WiLAN’s February 2, 2015 annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2014 (the “AIF”). Copies of the AIF may be obtained at www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov. WiLAN recommends that readers review and consider all of these risk factors and notes that readers should not place undue reliance on any of WiLAN's forward-looking statements. WiLAN has no intention and undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

All trademarks and brands mentioned in this release are the property of their respective owners.

- ## -

 

 

For media and investor inquiries, please contact:

 

Tyler Burns

Director, Investor Relations

O: 613.688.4330

C: 613.697.0367

E: tburns@wilan.com

 

www.wilan.com                              © copyright Wi-LAN 20152

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