Silicon & Software Systems acquired Acacia Semiconductor S.A., a developer of high-performance data converter IP based in Portugal

October 31, 2007

2 Min Read

DUBLIN and LISBON, Portugal -- Silicon & Software Systems (S3), theConnected Consumer Technology Company and leading provider of semiconductor mixed signal Intellectual Property (IP) for consumer products, today announced that the company has acquired Acacia Semiconductor S.A., a developer of high-performance data converter IP based in Portugal. This acquisition is designed to strengthen S3's position in the market and help deliver on its strategy to be the world-leading specialist provider of analog mixed signal IP.

Acacia Semiconductor, a privately-held company, was founded in 2003 as a spin-off from the Microelectronics Signal-Processing group at CRI-UNINOVA, an R&D sub-unit associated with the Faculty of Science and Technology of Lisbon(FCT), in Portugal. Acacia Semiconductor has since then developed a portfolio of best-in-class, high performance data converter IP, targeting consumer and communications applications, through a unique combination of experienced designers, innovative analog design techniques and proprietary analog design optimization and sizing tools.

With the acquisition of Acacia, S3 will add higher speed, higher resolution and lower power data converters to its extensive IP portfolio, optimized for integration into SoCs (System-on-Chips) targeting consumer, wireless connectivity and digital broadcast applications. End markets served by existing S3 clients include WiFi, WiMAX, mobile digital broadcasting, High-Definition (HD) video applications and power-line communications.

The integration of Acacia's technology and its full team of designers will extend S3's silicon-proven mixed signal IP portfolio and engineering expertise, further enhancing S3's proven low-power high-performance products, analog design and process re-targeting capabilities. S3 expects this acquisition to enable the company to continue on a high-growth path in its mixed signal IP business and to grow further into the market through Acacia's established customer base.

"S3's acquisition of Acacia Semiconductor represents a strong strategic technical fit as well as a perfect synergy with S3's growth strategy for its mixed signal IP business. S3 is acquiring a skilled engineering team in Acacia as well as a large portfolio of mixed signal IP technology", said John O'Brien, CEO, Silicon & Software Systems (S3). "Our traditional semiconductor customers are joining their fabless counterparts with fab-lite strategies, opening significant additional markets for S3 products beyond the already rapidly expanding fabless community. This is an exciting time for S3 and we believe that this acquisition solidifies S3's specialist market leadership position in mixed signal IP, helps us to better address emerging markets such as Next Gen WiFi and Mobile WiMAX and most importantly, assists us in better serving our growing global client base", concluded O'Brien.

Silicon Software & Systems Ltd. (S3)

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