Synopsys to Acquire Synplicity

Synopsys Inc., a provider of software and IP for semiconductor design and manufacturing, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Synplicity Inc., a of innovative field programmable gate array (FPGA) and IC design and verification solutions. When completed, the acquisition will significantly expand Synopsys' technology portfolio, channel reach and total addressable market.

In addition to Synplicity's leading solutions for FPGAs, Synopsys will gain a differentiated rapid prototyping portfolio that complements its virtual prototyping business. Combining Synplicity's hardware-based rapid prototyping and Synopsys' software-based virtual prototyping solutions will enable electronics companies to meet tight market windows with proven designs, even as software content continues to grow exponentially.

"Synplicity's strong product portfolio, expertise, and customer reach will be ideal complements to Synopsys," said Aart deGeus, chairman and CEO of Synopsys. "The combination will expand our presence in the systems and mid-tier market segments, will support our strategy to provide rapid prototyping capabilities to a broad set of customers to enable much faster software development, and will enhance Synplicity's already strong offering in FPGA implementation."

"The acquisition by Synopsys will allow us to scale Synplicity's FPGA and rapid prototyping business to help more designers successfully solve the increasingly complex problems associated with creating today's chips and systems," said Gary Meyers, president and CEO of Synplicity.

Synplicity president and CEO Gary Meyers will join Synopsys as a general manager. Synplicity co-founder, CTO, and VP Ken McElvain will join Synopsys to help architect the company's systems solutions.