Magma Acquires Silicon Metrics and Random Logic Corporation
SANTA CLARA, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Oct. 20, 2003—
Library Characterization and Modeling from Silicon Metrics,
Parasitic Extraction from Random Logic and Patents Licensed
from Circuit Semantics Bring Greater Accuracy to Silicon
Analysis, Modeling and Characterization --
Essential for 65-Nanometer Design
Magma Design Automation Inc. (Nasdaq:LAVA), a provider of chip
design solutions, today announced the acquisitions of Silicon Metrics
and Random Logic Corporation by merger, and an agreement to license
patents and add key technologists from Circuit Semantics Inc. These
three transactions position Magma to provide exceptionally accurate
design technology for chip designs at 90 nanometers and below,
allowing Magma to offer sign-off quality analysis tools.
"Designers have recognized Magma as the technology leader in
delivering the highest quality of results in the fastest way possible
for designs at 0.13 micron, 90 nanometers and soon 65 nanometers,"
said Rajeev Madhavan, chairman and CEO of Magma. "We have come to
realize that the need for more accurate modeling and characterization
for physical and electrical effects of the design has held designers
back in maximizing performance. By adding these complementary
technologies, coupled with the new modeling research for delay and
extraction from Magma, we believe we have taken a big step toward
solving this issue." Further background on these transactions can be
found in additional press announcements issued by Magma today.
Silicon Metrics develops characterization and modeling tools for
standard cells, memories and complex I/Os. Silicon Metrics'
SiliconSmart(TM) products provide robust timing, power, and signal
integrity models in a variety of industry standard formats. By adding
Silicon Metrics' characterization tools to Magma's product line, Magma
expects to enhance the accuracy of silicon correlation by helping to
move Magma's customers closer to the foundry, reducing silicon
re-spins. Silicon Metrics' technology will form the foundation of
Magma's Silicon Correlation Division.
Random Logic Corporation's QuickCap(R) extraction tool is widely
used and highly accurate extraction tool and has come to be recognized
as the industry-standard 3D field solver and extraction product.
QuickInd, an inductance extraction tool, was also launched by Random
Logic last year and is making significant strides to become the de
facto extraction system for inductance. QuickCap also provides an API,
QuickCap-API, which is licensed and distributed by many EDA suppliers.
Along with these two mergers, Magma also announced it has licensed
patents from Circuit Semantics for technology the company developed
for in-place cell characterization and chip-level timing analysis for
structured-custom methodologies. Magma also hired key technology
personnel from Circuit Semantics for Magma's development team.
"The addition of these technologies represents a unique
opportunity for Magma to combine accurate modeling, accurate analysis
and structured custom design methodologies with the IC design flow
best architected for nanometer designs," Madhavan said. "Being on the
leading edge of IC designs, Magma recognizes the need for these
infrastructure tools for silicon accuracy. These tools will provide
the accuracy to squeeze maximum performance from customers' transition
to 90- and 65-nanometer processes."
Conference Call
Magma will discuss these transactions during a live webcast and
conference call today at 2 p.m. PDT (5 p.m. EDT). To listen live via
webcast, visit the "Investor Info" section of Magma's website at
http://investor.magma-da.com/home.cfm. To listen live via telephone,
call either of the numbers below:
U.S. & Canada: (800) 679-1654, conference ID #3394635
Elsewhere: (706) 679-4641, conference ID #3394635
Following completion of the call, a webcast replay of the call
will be available at http://investor.magma-da.com/home.cfm through
October 27, 2003. Those without Internet access may listen to a
telephone replay of the call by telephone through October 27, 2003 by
calling:
U.S. & Canada: (800) 642-1687, conference ID #3394635
Elsewhere: (706) 645-9291, conference ID #3394635
About Magma Design Automation
Magma software is used to design fast, multimillion-gate
integrated circuits, providing "The Fastest Path from RTL to
Silicon"(TM), enabling chip designers to reduce the time required to
produce complex ICs. Magma's products for prototyping, synthesis, and
place & route provide a single executable for RTL-to-GDSII chip
design. The company's Blast Create(TM), Blast Fusion(R), Blast Fusion
APX(TM), Blast Noise(R), Blast Plan(TM) and Blast Rail(TM) products
utilize Magma's patented FixedTiming(R) methodology and single data
model architecture to reduce the timing-closure iterations often
required between the logic and physical processes in conventional IC
design flows. Magma also provides PALACE(TM) and ArchEvaluator(TM)
advanced physical synthesis and architecture development tools for
programmable logic devices (PLDs). The company's stock trades on
Nasdaq under the ticker symbol LAVA. Visit Magma Design Automation on
the Web at www.magma-da.com.
Magma, Blast Fusion, Blast Noise and FixedTiming are registered
trademarks, and ArchEvaluator, Blast Create, Blast Fusion APX, Blast
Plan, Blast Rail, PALACE and "The Fastest Path from RTL to Silicon"
are trademarks of Magma Design Automation. SiliconSmart is a trademark
of Silicon Metrics Corporation. QuickCap is a registered trademark of
Random Logic Corporation. All other product and company names are
trademarks and registered trademarks of their respective companies.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within
the meaning of the "safe harbor" provision of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. For example, statements in the
quotations from Magma's management, and statements about the expected
benefits of the transactions, are forward-looking statements. These
and other forward-looking statements are subject to risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially
from Magma's current expectations. Factors that could cause or
contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, risks
that: the integration of acquired businesses and personnel and
licensed technology into Magma's operations may take longer or be less
effective than we anticipate; Magma might be unable to transition
customers and business partners after the acquisition or to achieve
planned synergies; development of new products may not proceed as
planned or there may be difficulties integrating acquired and licensed
technology; the introduction of new products or services by
competitors could delay or reduce sales; the high degree of
competition in our industry could intensify further and increase
pricing pressure; sales of our products and services could be lower
than expected as a result of weakness in the semiconductor or
electronic systems industries, economic recession or terrorism; and we
may encounter unexpected difficulties in managing our expanding
operations. These and other risks are described from time to time in
Magma's Securities and Exchange Commission reports (including but not
limited to Magma's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended March 31, 2003, Magma's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the
quarter ended June 30, 2003, and subsequently filed reports), which
are available at www.sec.gov. Magma undertakes no obligation to update
these forward-looking or other statements on this release.
Contact:
Magma Design Automation Inc.
Monica Marmie, 408-565-7689
monical@magma-da.com
