ARM buys IC design tools developer

ARM Holdings plc has announced its acquisition ofProlific Inc. Prolific is a privately-owned company that develops leading-edge IC design optimization softwaretools that reduce development time and improve the performance of cell-based designs.

The acquisition of Prolific supports ARM's strategy of providing innovative physical IP products. The increasing complexity of 20nm and below process technologies is driving the need for automated layout optimization solutions. Prolific will be able to boosts ARM's offerings and continue the company's lead in the implementation of highly intergrated, low-power system-on-chip solutions, the company said in a statement.

"We have been successfully collaborating with Prolific for a number of years," said Simon Segars, EVP and GM, physical IP division, ARM. "The technology and expertise that will come with this acquisition will expand our capabilities to accelerate ecosystem adoption of advanced process nodes at 20nm and below," he added.

"Prolific has a long history of improving the efficiency of complex physical design process flows," said Paul de Dood, president and founder of Prolific. "The ARM partnership will benefit from faster time to market for advanced node solutions through the addition of Prolific's leading-edge optimization tools, which enable optimum power, performance and area with accelerated development timelines."

The Prolific team will become part of the ARM Physical IP team.

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