Editing ADC Telecommunications (section)

==History==

ADC Telecommunications was founded in 1935 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, by Ralph Allison and Walter Lehnert.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 February 2003 |title=A 21st-Century Workplace: ADC Telecommunications Global Headquarters by Hammel, Green & Abrahamson (HGA) |url=http://www.archnewsnow.com/features/Feature106.htm |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=archnewsnow.com}}</ref><ref>Letter from Walter Lehnert to Fred Chapman (Sept. 18, 1950).</ref>

During their first year in business, ADC built hearing aids and audiometers—a machine used for evaluating hearing acuity. Initially the audiometers were built for Maico, but in 1945 ADC began building audiometers under its own name. Additionally, by 1942, the company had designed a sophisticated audio system for the [[University of Minnesota]], and the resulting [[jack (connector)|jack]]s, [[plug (connector)|plug]]s, [[patch cords]] and jackfields became the cornerstones for ADC's later entry into telecommunications.

In 1949, ADC sold its audiometer product line and Ralph Allison left the company to form a new business in California. With Walter Lehnert remaining as president of the company, ADC diversified and focused its efforts in the area of transformers and filters for power lines, military electronics, telephone jacks and plugs.<ref>W.E. Lehnert to Address Section December 12th, SCOPE Radio Engineers (Dec. 1950).</ref>

In 1961, ADC merged with Magnetic Controls Company, a manufacturer of power supplies and [[magnetic amplifiers]] with strong ties to the U.S. space program. The resulting company, ADC Magnetic Controls, had a decade of mixed success. Although transformer sales boomed during the 1960s, other new product initiatives failed to materialize. Perhaps the most significant product innovation during this period was the bantam jack, a miniaturized component that eventually became the standard for telephone circuit access and patching. Building on its growing sales of jacks and plugs in the early 1970s, ADC introduced prewired, connectorized jackfields, wired assemblies and test equipment for telephone operating companies. By 1974 the company was on solid ground, and by 1976, ADC had become the largest independent supplier of test boards in the United States.

[[Image:ADC Telecommunications Headquarters.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Former ADC headquarters complex in Eden Prairie, MN, USA. Now occupied by Optum Health]]
ADC grew in 1983, when [[American Telephone & Telegraph|AT&T]] was ordered to deregulate by the federal government. By establishing the seven [[Regional Bell Operating Company]] (RBOC) carriers as independent entities, the U.S. market for telecommunications expanded by 90 percent. ADC became a supplier for the RBOCs.

ADC embarked on some acquisitions in the early 1990s, attempting to move "up the stack" in the datacom field by acquiring companies that manufactured datacom equipment.  However, their ability to find synergies between these companies proved limited and eventually ADC was forced to move away from a hardware-only strategy, broadening out into software.  This effort resulted in limited success as well, and happening about the same time as the dot-com bubble burst, caused ADC stock to plummet.

ADC Telecommunications was acquired by [[Tyco Electronics]] in July 2010 for a reported $12.75 per share in cash, or an [[enterprise value]] of approximately $1.25 billion.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kelly |first=Gennine |date=13 July 2010 |title=Tyco’s $1.25 Billion Acquisition of ADC Telecom |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2010/07/13/tycos-125-billion-acquisition-of-adc-telecom.html |access-date=20 November 2024 |website=CNBC}}</ref>

The acquisition of ADC by [[TE Connectivity]] was completed on December 9, 2010 <ref name="acquisition">{{cite web |url=http://investors.tycoelectronics.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=209396&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1506277 | title=Press Release:Tyco Electronics Completes Acquisition of ADC|accessdate=2010-12-09}}</ref><ref name="ADC-Telecommunications-Dec-2010-8-K">{{cite web|url=http://edgar.secdatabase.com/232/129993310004380/filing-main.htm |title=ADC Telecommunications, Form 8-K, Current Report, Filing Date December 9, 2010 |publisher=secdatabase.com |accessdate = December 30, 2012}}</ref>

On January 28, 2015, it was publicly announced that the boards of directors of both TE Connectivity and [[CommScope]] agreed for CommScope to purchase the Broadband Network Solutions business unit of TE Connectivity in an all-cash deal for US$3.0 billion.  The former ADC is a part of this business unit.<ref name="CommScope to Buy TE Connectivity Unit for $3 Billion">{{cite web |url=https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2015/01/28/commscope-to-buy-te-connectivity-unit-for-3-billion/?_r=0 | title=CommScope to Buy TE Connectivity Unit for $3 Billion| date=28 January 2015|accessdate=2015-03-04}}</ref><ref name="TE Connectivity Announces Definitive Agreement to Sell Its Broadband Network Solutions Business to CommScope for $3.0 Billion">{{cite web |url=http://investors.te.com/news-releases/press-release-details/2015/TE-Connectivity-Announces-Definitive-Agreement-to-Sell-Its-Broadband-Network-Solutions-Business-to-CommScope-for-30-Billion/default.aspx | title=TE Connectivity Announces Definitive Agreement to Sell Its Broadband Network Solutions Business to CommScope for $3.0 Billion|accessdate=2015-03-04}}</ref>  The purchase of the Broadband Network Solutions business was closed on August 31, 2015.<ref name="CommScope Completes Transformational Acquisition of TE Connectivity’s Telecom, Enterprise and Wireless Businesses">{{cite web|url=http://www.commscope.com/NewsCenter/PressReleases/CommScope-Completes-Transformational-Acquisition-of-TE-Connectivitys-Telecom-Enterprise-and-Wireless-Businesses/ |title=CommScope Completes Transformational Acquisition of TE Connectivity's Telecom, Enterprise and Wireless Businesses |publisher=commscope.com |accessdate =Dec 24, 2015}}</ref>