Gennum acquires IP provider ASIC Architect

BURLINGTON, USA: Gennum Corp. has acquired ASIC Architect, Inc., a leading developer of high-speed controller intellectual property (IP) based in Santa Clara.

This acquisition accelerates Gennum’s new analog and mixed-signal product introductions and complements its existing Snowbush IP offering, which currently consists of advanced physical layer (PHY) IP cores for high-speed data communications.

With offices in Silicon Valley and India, ASIC Architect augments Gennum’s global design expertise and expands its IP engineering team. The combination of ASIC Architect controller and bridge IP cores and the Gennum Snowbush IP PHY cores provides a complete high-speed interconnect solution for today’s system-on-a-chip (SoC) applications.

Additionally, with added controller IP and embedded system expertise, Gennum can more quickly deliver new, highly-integrated products to capitalize on high-growth consumer connectivity markets, while further securing market leadership in its traditional video and data communication segments.

“Gennum remains committed to broadening its IP offerings and maintaining its technology leadership position,” said Ewald Liess, General Manager of  Snowbush IP. “By adding ASIC Architect’s expertise and IP cores to our portfolio, we can deliver a more comprehensive suite of solutions. This enables our customers to accelerate their development efforts and achieve quicker time-to-market with new products.”

Expanding IP portfolio

ASIC Architect is focused on accelerating chip-level integration and enabling customers to achieve first-pass silicon success with IP products and solution cores built around PCI Express (PCIe), Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA), double data rate (DDR) memory controllers and Advanced Microcontroller Bus Architecture (AMBA) AHB/AXI interconnect.

The offering complements Snowbush IP’s physical layer (PHY) IP cores for high-speed data communications and video applications, including standards-based, high-performance, nonstandard analog cores, such as high-speed, and power management circuits.

“ASIC Architect has long been committed to providing the industry’s most advanced IP solutions and, with this acquisition, we believe we can accelerate new IP core development to broaden the offerings for our joint customers,” said Kishore Mishra, president and CEO of ASIC Architect. “We look forward to joining Gennum’s world-class design team.”

ASIC Architect will immediately become part of the Snowbush IP team, which is headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, and will maintain its Santa Clara, California and Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India offices. These offices will enable Gennum to attract additional design talent and expand the company’s presence in other global regions.

Terms of agreement

The purchase price paid by Gennum was $1.5 million (USD), not including possible future earn out payments based on business revenues. ASIC Architect employees are also eligible to receive retention payments under the terms of their employment agreements with Gennum.