ARM Holdings plc said it has agreed to acquire system-on-chip company Artisan Components Inc. for about $913 million based on Artisan’s stock value of $33.89 as of Aug. 20.
The transaction will be completed in the fourth quarter of 2004, subject to ARM and Artisan stockholders and regulatory approvals and other closing conditions.
“Artisan represents an excellent strategic fit with our vision to become the architecture for the digital world.” said Robin Saxby, chairman of ARM. “With its focus on leading manufacturers in the semiconductor industry and a broad range of OEM design teams, Artisan has a proven sales channel, which will be highly complementary with the ARM sales channels.”
ARM products dominate the wireless handset market through relationships with 130 silicon manufacturers and all leading Electronic Design Automation companies. It also offers microprocessors, data engine and peripheral Internet Protocol, as well as software and development tools.
Artisan designs and makes SoC integrated circuits, and its portfolio includes standard cell libraries, embedded memories, input, output cells, analog functions and high-speed interface IP.
Artisan’s channels comprise more than 2,000 companies, according to ARM, and this will allow the combined company to take advantage of opportunities across multiple industries and to optimize power and performance.
ARM Chief Executive Officer Warren East will continue as the CEO of the combined company, while Lucio Lanza, chairman of Artisan, and Mark R. Templeton, president and CEO of Artisan will be non-executive director and executive director respectively.
