Texas Pacific to Buy Motorola Chip Unit

Motorola Inc. said it will sell its Semiconductor Components Group for $1.6 billion to Texas Pacific Group of Fort Worth. The division builds parts that support the functions of microprocessors, including transistors that regulate voltage and help chips communicate with one another. “This allows us to focus on the strategy of building high-value-added embedded controllers--systems on a chip,” said Charles White, director of industry relations for Motorola’s Semiconductor Products Sector. Motorola will continue to sell sophisticated processors for PCs and other devices. The semiconductor group, based in Phoenix, employs 10,000 people worldwide and had $1.5 billion in sales in 1998.