Siemens To Buy Mentor For $4.5B


By Ed Sperling & Jeff Dorsch Siemens announced today that it has reached a deal to buy Mentor Graphics for $4.5 billion in cash. The move, if approved by regulators, would greatly expand Siemens' capabilities in multi-physics design and embedded software for everything from semiconductors to automotive wiring harnesses. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2017. Sie... » read more

Samsung To Buy Harman For $8B


To fulfill a strategic priority in automotive and connected technologies for Samsung Electronics, the Korean chipmaking giant announced today it is acquiring leading Tier 1 automotive supplier Harman International Industries for $112.00 per share in cash, or total equity value of approximately $8.0 billion.  Samsung estimates the addressable market for automotive is expected to grow to mor... » read more

Qualcomm + NXP = IoT Powerhouse


Coverage of the merger agreement between Qualcomm and NXP Semiconductors often focused on how the combination would yield the world’s largest supplier of chips for automotive electronics. Somewhat overlooked was its significance for the Internet of Things market. NXP CEO Rick Clemmer said in a statement, "The combination of Qualcomm and NXP will bring together all technologies required to... » read more

Lam, KLA-Tencor Scrap Merger


After a series of delays due to regulatory issues, Lam Research and KLA-Tencor have agreed to terminate their proposed merger agreement. Last year, Lam entered into a definitive agreement to acquire KLA-Tencor for about $10.6 billion. Lam’s proposed and blockbuster move to acquire KLA-Tencor would supposedly create the world’s second largest fab tool maker, behind Applied Materials. O... » read more

EDA, IP Sales Up


EDA and IP sales increased 5.6% in Q2 to $2.013 billion, up from $1.907 billion in the same period in 2015, according to the most recent Electronic System Design Alliance numbers. Asia/Pacific revenue increased 10.9% to $608.1 million; Japan increased 15.7% to $211.4 million. The Americas increased 4.4% to $908.4 million. The only region that showed a decline was Europe, the Middle East ... » read more

Joint R&D Has Its Ups And Downs


As corporate spending on research and development dwindles, enterprises are reaching out to colleges and universities to supplement their R&D. And they often are finding eager partners in those endeavors, as professors and their graduate students look for help, financial and technical, in addressing long-term research projects. “Pure research is just a luxury no one can afford anymore,... » read more

Softbank To Buy ARM For $32.34B


By Ed Sperling & Ann Steffora Mutschler Japan's Softbank will acquire ARM for $32.34 billion, according to an agreement made public this morning. The deal has the backing of ARM's board of directors, which unanimously will recommend ARM shareholders approve it, according to a company statement. Under the terms of the deal, Softbank will at least double employee headcount in the United... » read more

ASML To Buy Hermes


Looking to expand into new markets, ASML Holding has entered into an agreement to acquire e-beam wafer inspection specialist Hermes Microvision (HMI) in a cash transaction valued at 2.75 billion euros (US$3.08 billion). With the proposed acquisition of Taiwan’s HMI, ASML will enter two new markets—-wafer inspection as well as mask inspection for extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography. In ... » read more

Synopsys Buys Gold Standard Simulations


[getentity id="22035" e_name="Synopsys"] has made another quiet acquisition, this time in the TCAD space. [getentity id="22272" comment="Gold Standard Simulations (GSS)"] offers a suite of solutions for design technology co-optimization (DTCO), PDK development and exploration and screening of future technology options. Their tool chain integrates predictive Monte Carlo and statistical TCAD s... » read more

Synopsys Buys Simpleware


Synopsys bought [getentity id="22916" comment="Simpleware"], which makes tools for turning 3D images into models that can be used in simulation. The deal extends [getentity id="22035" e_name="Synopsys"] into a spectrum of new markets, including medical, dental, oil and gas and even food sciences and archaeology. While the company still has a play in computer-aided engineering and design, Sim... » read more

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