26 May 2011

NI to buy RF design tool supplier AWR

National Instruments Corp (NI) of Austin, TX, USA (which provides automated test equipment and virtual instrumentation software) has signed a definitive merger agreement to acquire AWR Corp of El Segundo, CA, USA, a supplier of electronic design automation (EDA) software for designing RF and high-frequency components and systems for the semiconductor, aerospace & defense, communications, and test equipment industries. Upon closing of the transaction, AWR will continue to operate as a subsidiary of NI under the leadership of the existing management team.

The fast design cycles and increasing complexity of RF and wireless systems demand better integration between design and test, says National Instruments. RF system designers need to validate their simulations with actual measurements, while RF test engineers need to increase test re-use and decrease test time through more design integration. By increasing the effectiveness of integration between AWR design tools and NI software and hardware, NI and AWR reckon that, together, they can improve customer productivity through increased connectivity between design, validation and production test functions.

“AWR has an exceptional team with strong RF talent and technologies that expand the NI platform into RF design, which is complementary to our capability to make measurements across the RF design flow,” says NI’s president, CEO & co-founder Dr James Truchard. “This combination will accelerate the deployment of RF and wireless technologies and offers a significant benefit to the customers of both companies,” he believes.

NI and AWR reckon that they both deliver unique strengths that, together, will enable customers to more productively design and test their RF systems. The acquisition should strengthen both firms’ core software brands, NI LabVIEW, AWR Microwave Office and Visual System Simulator, as well as the NI RF testing hardware platform. The full suite of AWR design tools, in combination with a complete RF testing platform from NI, will provide a platform to decrease the time to market of RF designs, the firms say. NI will also augment its current academic and university RF and communications initiatives to include AWR software tools, so educators and students can benefit from the improved teaching and learning experience for the rapid design and prototyping of RF systems.

“There is clear synergy between the customers and product offerings of both companies,” says AWR’s CEO Dane Collins. “NI has a leading platform in prototyping and testing of RF systems which is complementary to AWR’s RF circuit and system software design tools, to the benefit of mutual customers,” he adds. “Together, we are better able to support and service our growing global installed base.”

The aggregate purchase price to be paid at closing is about $58m (including $7m in cash on the AWR balance sheet). In addition, an earn-out provision is payable over three years. The transaction is expected to close within 30–45 days and is subject to customary closing conditions (including Hart-Scott-Rodino regulatory clearance).

Tags: AWR EDA

Visit: www.ni.com

Visit: www.awrcorp.com