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Cisco Systems to acquire Scientific-Atlanta for $ 6.9 billion
MUMBAI: Cisco Systems, Inc., and Scientific-Atlanta, Inc., today announced a definitive agreement for Cisco to acquire Scientific-Atlanta for $ 6.9 billion.
Under the terms of the agreement, Cisco will pay $43 per share in cash in exchange for each share of Scientific-Atlanta, and assume outstanding options, for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $6.9 billion, or approximately $ 5.3 billion net of Scientific-Atlanta’s existing cash balance.
Scientific-Atlanta is a global provider of set-top boxes (STBs), end-to-end video distribution networks and video system integration. The combined entity creates a major end-to-end triple play solution for carrier networks and the digital home.
The deal will set the ground for Cisco’s foray into the US cable sector. The company already has a strong foothold in the cable television market and is expected to use the Scientific-Atlanta expertise to sell digital television equipment that provides high-definition programming; shows and movies on demand; and an array of interactive services.
In addition, upon closure, the market opportunities represented by this acquisition will become part of Cisco’s Advanced Technology portfolio.
“Video is emerging as the key strategic application in the service provider triple play bundle of consumer entertainment, communication and online services. The combination of Cisco and Scientific-Atlanta brings unmatched experience and innovation in delivering large scale video systems and networks, and the addition of Scientific-Atlanta further extends Cisco’s commitment to and leadership in the service provider market. Moreover, Cisco’s international presence and IP leadership will also create strategic synergies that accelerate the combined growth opportunity,” said Cisco Systems president and CEO John Chambers.
The transaction will be accounted for in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and the acquisition of Scientific-Atlanta is expected to close in the third quarter of Cisco’s fiscal year 2006.
Cisco anticipates this transaction will be neutral to its FY2006 earnings, slightly accretive to its non-GAAP (pro forma) FY2007 earnings, and will be financed with a combination of cash and debt.
The acquisition has been approved by the board of directors of each company and is subject to various standard closing conditions, including approval under Hart Scott Rodino and similar laws outside the US and by the shareholders of Scientific-Atlanta.
Chambers added, “As consumers demand more sophisticated information and entertainment services in their home, tightly coupled applications, devices and networks will be essential. The collective strength of Linksys and Scientific-Atlanta will extend Cisco’s leadership position across the entire networked digital home.”
“We believe that this combination of Cisco and Scientific-Atlanta will benefit our shareholders, our customers and our employees. The combined strengths and resources of our two companies will position us to address more quickly the growing number of opportunities in the markets we serve and enable us to create new products and services that might not have existed otherwise,” said Scientific-Atlanta chairman, CEO and president Jim McDonald.
Scientific-Atlanta has platforms and technologies that enable scaling to millions of subscribers quickly and easily. This, along with the Cisco IP Next Generation Network architecture, will offer providers an open platform for service differentiation, allowing them to move beyond video/IPTV to develop and deliver a variety of integrated media services in the connected home.
Following the close of the transaction, Scientific-Atlanta will become a division of the Routing and Service Provider Technology Group under the leadership of Cisco senior vice president Mike Volpi. McDonald will report directly to Volpi.
Prior to the close, Cisco and Scientific-Atlanta will operate as separate businesses and will continue to work with their existing partners. Following the close of the transaction, Cisco is committed to retaining the relationships and go-to-market strategies that both companies have developed.
For FY2005, which ended 1 July, 2005, Scientific-Atlanta reported revenues of $1.91 billion.
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Induction cooktop demand spikes 30× amid LPG supply concerns
Supply worries linked to West Asia tensions push households and restaurants to turn to electric cooking alternatives
MUMBAI: As geopolitical tensions in West Asia ripple through global energy supply chains, the familiar blue flame in Indian kitchens is facing an unexpected challenger: electricity.
What began as concerns over the availability of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has quickly evolved into a technology-driven shift in cooking habits. Households across India are increasingly turning to induction cooktops and other electric appliances, initially as a backup but now, for many, a necessity.
A sudden surge in demand
Recent data from quick-commerce and grocery platform BigBasket highlights the scale of the shift. According to Seshu Kumar Tirumala, the company’s chief buying and merchandising officer, demand for induction cooktops has risen dramatically.
“Induction cooktops have seen a significant surge in demand, recording a fivefold jump on 10 March and a thirtyfold spike on 11 March,” Tirumala said.
The increase stands out sharply when compared with broader kitchen appliance trends. Most appliance categories are growing within 10 per cent of their typical demand levels, while induction cooktops have witnessed explosive growth as households rush to secure an alternative cooking option.
Major e-commerce platforms including Amazon and Flipkart have reported rising searches and orders for induction stoves. Quick-commerce apps such as Blinkit and Zepto have also witnessed stock shortages in major metropolitan areas including Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
What was once considered a convenient appliance for hostels, small kitchens or occasional use has suddenly become an essential addition in many homes.
A crisis thousands of miles away
The trigger for this shift lies far beyond India’s kitchens.
Escalating conflict in the Middle East has disrupted shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. Nearly 85 to 90 per cent of India’s LPG imports pass through this narrow waterway, making the country particularly vulnerable to supply disruptions.
The ripple effects have been swift.
India currently meets roughly 60 per cent of its LPG demand through imports, and tightening global supply has already begun to affect domestic availability and prices.
Earlier this month, the price of domestic LPG cylinders increased by Rs 60, while commercial cylinders rose by more than Rs 114.
To discourage panic buying and hoarding, the government has also extended the mandatory waiting period between domestic refill bookings from 21 days to 25 days.
Restaurants feel the pressure
The strain is not limited to households. Restaurants, hotels and roadside eateries are also grappling with supply constraints as commercial LPG availability tightens under restrictions imposed through the Essential Commodities Act.
In cities such as Bengaluru and Chennai, restaurant associations report that commercial LPG availability has dropped by as much as 75 per cent, forcing many establishments to rethink their kitchen operations.
Some restaurants have reduced menu offerings, while others are rapidly installing high-efficiency induction systems, creating hybrid kitchens where electricity now shares the workload with gas.
For smaller eateries and roadside dhabas, the shift is less about sustainability and more about survival.
A potential structural shift
The government has maintained that there is no nationwide LPG crisis and has directed refineries to increase production to stabilise supply.
Nevertheless, the developments of March 2026 may already be triggering a longer-term behavioural shift.
For decades, LPG has been the backbone of cooking in Indian households. However, recent disruptions have highlighted the risks of relying on a single fuel source.
Increasingly, households appear to be hedging against uncertainty by adopting electric cooking options to guard against price volatility and delivery delays.
If the current trend continues, the induction cooktop, once viewed as a niche appliance, could emerge as a quiet symbol of India’s evolving kitchen economy.
