For design for manufacturing tool provider HPL Technologies, the old adage that “good things come to those who wait,” proved true today as it reported it is being acquired by EDA giant Synopsys Inc. for $13 million in cash.
Although the company was founded 15 years ago, the industry market began to take notice of the small player in the late 1990’s with its discussion of yield optimization – even though it would be a few more years before the DFM moniker would be used widely.
Trouble hit at HPL in July 2002 when the company’s audit committee discovered accounting fraud and fired its then-chairman and CEO David Lepejian.
Since then, HPL has held on through turbulent waters with president and CEO Cary Vandenberg at the helm, who joined the company in 2003.
Synopsys invested about $3.6 million in the company last year. The Mountain View, Calif.-based Synopsys believes the acquisition solidifies its position in the DFM tool space and makes it the first vendor with a comprehensive design-to-silicon flow that links directly into the semiconductor manufacturing process.
HPL’s yield management and test chip technologies will be integrated into Synopsys’ DFM software tool portfolio with the aim of allowing increased productivity and improved profitability in the design and manufacture of advanced semiconductor devices.
Synopsys also said it is broadening its DFM R&D expertise by integrating HPL’s team of engineers, for a total of approximately 200 employees joining Synopsys.
“With the addition of this critical piece of the DFM solution, Synopsys will help customers close the productivity gap and increase profits by optimizing yield and shortening design-to-manufacture time,” said Anantha Sethuraman, VP of DFM for Synopsys’ silicon engineering group, in a statement.
“Today, the typical design-to-manufacturing cycle takes 18 to 20 months. By linking directly into the fab, Synopsys can help significantly reduce the time between concept and manufacturing, and accelerate the introduction of new designs,” he explained.
By integrating HPL into its DFM solution, Synopsys is aiming to deepen its connection to the fab and obtain direct access to the yield data needed to reduce systematic defectivity.
HPL’s Vandenberg said in regard to the acquisition, “The transaction will enable the company to leverage the financial strength and resources of Synopsys to better utilize the company’s products and technology, and will provide the company’s stockholders with liquidity for their investment.”
Synopsys :
www.synopsys.com
