Rambus to Acquire Northwest Logic

Highlights:
• Complementary product portfolio of PHYs and controllers accelerates Rambus growth
• Expands solutions for data center, AI, ML, communications and automotive applications
• Combined offerings, including HBM2, GDDR6, DDR4 and PCIe, create one-stop-shop for SoC designers

Rambus Inc., a silicon IP and chip provider making data faster and safer, signed a definitive agreement to acquire Northwest Logic, Inc., in memory, PCIe and MIPI digital controllers.

Northwest Logic’s high-performance, high-quality and silicon-proven digital IP controller cores are optimized for use in both ASICs and FPGAs. Interface IP solutions consisting of a physical interface (PHY) and companion digital controller make it possible to optimize the transfer of data between chips and electronic devices. Every SoC design that uses a Memory or a PCIe or a MIPI PHY also needs to use a controller associated with it. The combination of complementary digital and physical IP portfolios from both companies will create a one-stop-shop for customers.

PCIe solution

“With this acquisition, we expand our leading product portfolio for high-performance markets such as data center, networking, AI, ML and automotive,” said Hemant Dhulla, VP and GM of IP cores, Rambus. “Northwest Logic’s innovative, best-in-class digital controllers complement Rambus’ proven strength in high-speed physical IP cores. Together, we will offer one of the most comprehensive high-performance interface IP solutions in the industry, leveraging our core strength in semiconductors, strong go-to-market advantage and global reach.”

Brian Daellenbach, president and CEO, Northwest Logic, said: “Northwest Logic’s category-leading digital controllers fit perfectly with Rambus’ leadership portfolio of high-speed PHY solutions. This deal creates a one-stop-shop for SoC designers working on state-of-the-art applications across a broad range of high-performance markets. We look forward to continue serving our existing customers and working with our PHY partners.“

Critical to enabling the high performance of data center, networking, AI, ML and automotive applications, this acquisition will bring together the physical and digital IP core families to offer comprehensive memory and SerDes IP solutions for chip designers.

The transaction is expected to close in the current calendar quarter of 2019.

Although this transaction will not materially impact 2019 results due to the expected timing of close and acquisition accounting, Rambus expects this acquisition to be accretive in 2020.