Q3 2008 Other Infrastructure Transactions

Lacroix Electronique acquires Tharsys

Lacroix Electronique SAS, the EMS division of the Lacroix Group, announced it has acquired Tharsys, a subsidiary of Sogeclair specializing in the design and manufacturing of computer software, electronic equipment display systems and power electronics. Lacroix Electronique explained that this transaction aims to strengthen its positioning on the EMS and CDM (Contract Design & Manufacturing) segments in Europe.

Announcement Date: September 22, 2008
Deal Value: Undisclosed

Freescale to acquire Intoto

Freescale Semiconductor has signed a definitive agreement to purchase Intoto, Inc., a provider of software platform products for networking and communications equipment manufacturers. Freescale intends to apply Intoto’s technology and talent to create high-performance applications and software components optimized to improve system performance, streamline development and enhance software support for its QorIQ multicore communications platforms.

Announcement Date: September 16, 2008
Deal Value: Undisclosed

XtremeEDA merges with ESLX

XtremeEDA Corporation, an Ottawa, Canada-based professional services company specializing in the verification and design of ASICs and FPGAs, has merged with ESLX, Inc., provider of  design and educational services at the electronic system-level (ESL). Now a wholly-owned subsidiary of XtremeEDA, ESLX has been renamed and will operate as a U.S.-based company, XtremeEDA USA. The combined companies will offer custom solutions across the full spectrum of the electronics design chain for architectural modeling, intellectual property (IP) integration and verification of highly complex chips and systems. With a strong track record of working with both tool providers and developers, XtremeEDA is now uniquely positioned as a supplier of comprehensive design solutions to electronics companies worldwide — from concept at the system-level all the way through to silicon.

Announcement Date: September 9, 2008
Deal Value: Undisclosed

PDF Solutions to Acquire the Fault Detection & Classification Business of Triant Holdings Inc.

PDF Solutions, Inc., provider of yield improvement technologies and services for the integrated circuit manufacturing process life cycle, is acquiring Triant Holdings, Inc. (Canada) Fault Detection & Classification business. Triant develops and deploys equipment health monitoring and advanced fault detection solutions. Their primary focus is currently the global semiconductor industry where they provide innovative software solutions that enable their customers to improve yield and throughput in their highly sophisticated semiconductor manufacturing plants. Triant has earned the trust and respect of leading semiconductor, flat panel display, and wafer manufacturers, particularly in Asia. PDF will inherit these customer relationships and technical capabilities, and work to build upon this foundation of quality, trust and service.

Announcement Date: August 28, 2008
Deal Value: $1.75 Million

ABRY Partner to acquire Q9 Networks

ABRY Partners, the media and communications-focused private equity investment firm, has agreed to acquire Q9 Networks Inc., a Canadian provider of outsourced data center infrastructure. ABRY is a strong believer in the Canadian data centre infrastructure market and is excited to be participating in it through this acquisition of Q9. Q9, with its talented management team, has achieved a leading market position and a diversified blue chip customer base. ABRY looks forward to helping Q9 accelerate their growth and extend their leadership position.

Announcement Date: August 25, 2008
Deal Value: C$361 million

Cypress Semiconductor to acquire Simtek

Cypress Semiconductor, a maker of programmable chips, said that it will acquire Simtek, a large supplier of random access memory (RAM) chips. Cypress already owns a 4% stake in the company, and has been marketing and licensing its technology since early 2006. Cypress said that Simtek's chips provide the high-speed memory access of standard static RAM chips, but retain data when power is turned off. Cypress is looking to integrate this technology into many of its products.

Announcement Date: August 4, 2008
Deal Value: $46 Million (Cash)

Gennum acquires ASIC Architect

Gennum Corporation, a designer of semiconductor solutions and intellectual property (IP) cores, has acquired ASIC Architect, Inc., a leading developer of high-speed controller intellectual property (IP). The acquisition will speed Gennum's analog and mixed-signal product introductions and complements its existing IP product.

Announcement Date: July 28, 2008
Deal Value: $1.5 million (Cash plus possible earnout)

IntervalZero acquires Ardence Embedded Software Business from Citrix

IntervalZero Inc., a new embedded software company, has acquired Ardence’s embedded software business from Citrix Systems, Inc. IntervalZero’s experienced team comprises the core of the Ardence Embedded software group, and includes management, engineering, development, sales, marketing, finance and support professionals with deep knowledge of Ardence’s Embedded customer base, Ardence’s market-leading Embedded products, and the Embedded technology marketplace. The company, which is based in Waltham, MA, is headed by CEO Jeffrey D. Hibbard, an Ardence/Citrix executive with more than 20 years of software engineering, sales, marketing and management experience. The IntervalZero team continues a 28-year tradition of developing and delivering software solutions for customers and for the embedded computing markets.

Announcement Date: July 28, 2008
Deal Value: Undisclosed

Cisco to acquire Pure Networks

Cisco is acquiring privately-held Pure Networks, a Seattle-based leader in home networking-management software and tools. Pure Networks' home networking-management solution allows users to easily set up and manage a home network and connect a range of devices, applications and services within a home. Pure had raised around $30.5 million in VC funding since 2003, from Ignition Partners, Mayfield Fund, Intel Capital and Bessemer Venture Partners. The Pure Networks acquisition follows Cisco's "build, buy, and partner" innovation strategy focused on capturing market transitions to expand existing product categories and enter new markets. Cisco believes the industry is amid a transition from Home Networking 1.0, in which home networks are largely designed to share a broadband connection that links PCs and peripherals, to Home Networking 2.0, in which the multimedia-enabled home will be comprised of a multitude of disparate network devices, applications and services that are connected to one another. The acquisition of Pure Networks provides Cisco with a fully integrated home networking-management solution that will also serve as the foundation for the development of new applications, tools and capabilities for consumers to use in an increasingly "connected life" at home, at work and on the go.

Announcement Date: July 24, 2008
Deal Value: $120 Million (Cash)

Phoenix Technologies acquires General Software

Phoenix Technologies, provider of core systems software, is acquiring General Software, Inc., a provider of embedded firmware that is at the heart of millions of devices being used around the world. General Software's customers and solution sets extend into mobility, telecommunications, data communications, servers, specialized PCs, consumer electronics and a wide range of embedded and industrial markets. The transaction will expand the presence of Phoenix in a wide variety of vertical industry applications and devices, from IP network routers to medical devices while also providing valuable technologies to further the company's PC 3.0 strategy for simplifying and improving the mobile computing experience.

Announcement Date: July 24, 2008
Deal Value: Undisclosed

Ceradyne to acquire SemEquip

Ceradyne will acquire SemEquip, Inc., a developer of products for the manufacture of cluster ion implantation sub-systems, and advanced ion source materials.

Announcement Date: July 9, 2008
Deal Value: $25 million (Cash plus up to $100 million over the next 15 years)