National Instruments acquires Phase Matrix, Inc.

National
Instruments this week announced its acquisition of Phase Matrix, Inc.
(PMI). The acquisition brings key RF talent, technologies and
manufacturing capabilities to NI and will significantly increase the
capability of NI products in high-frequency RF and microwave
applications, extending the frequency range of NI products to 26.5 GHz
and beyond. Phase Matrix will continue to operate under the name “Phase
Matrix, Inc.” as a wholly owned NI subsidiary and will continue to
design and manufacture RF and microwave test and measurement
instruments, subsystems and components. Phase Matrix founders, Pete
Pragastis and Charanbir Mahal, will remain with the company as the
general manager and chief technology officer, respectively.

“NI
has been the leading supplier of PXI modular instrumentation for over a
decade, and our significant investments in the development of our PXI
RF platform have helped our customers build faster and more efficient RF
test systems,” said Dr. James Truchard, president, CEO and cofounder of
National Instruments. “Phase Matrix will help NI significantly
accelerate the deployment of high-performance RF and wireless
technologies for both R&D and production test applications.”

NI
and Phase Matrix have worked together for a number of years and, for
some time, NI has been interested in adding Phase Matrix capabilities to
the NI portfolio. Phase Matrix will also continue to sell directly to
customers and OEMs, who should continue to contact Phase Matrix, or its
distributors, for sales, support and service needs for all current
product offerings.

The purchase price was approximately $38 million, and the other transaction terms are not being disclosed.

National Instruments to Acquire AWR Corporation

National
Instruments this week announced that it has signed a definitive merger
agreement under which NI will acquire AWR Corporation (AWR). AWR is a
leading supplier of electronic design automation (EDA) software for
designing RF and high-frequency components and systems for the
semiconductor, aerospace and defense, communications and test equipment
industries. Upon the closing of the transaction, AWR will continue to
operate as a wholly owned NI subsidiary 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. RF system designers
need to validate their simulations with actual measurements, while RF
test engineers need to increase test reuse and decrease test time
through more design integration. By increasing the effectiveness of the
integration between AWR design tools and NI software and hardware, NI
and AWR together can significantly 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,” said Dr.
James Truchard, president, CEO and cofounder of National Instruments.
“We believe this combination will accelerate the deployment of RF and
wireless technologies and offers a significant benefit to the customers
of both companies.”

The
acquisition will strengthen both companies’ 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 give
customers a platform to decrease the time to market of their RF designs.
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.  

The
aggregate purchase price to be paid at closing is approximately $58
million, which includes $7 million in cash on the AWR balance sheet. In
addition, the merger agreement contains an earn-out provision, which 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.

SOURCE: National Instruments