Virage Logic pays $5.2M for Impinj non-volatile memory IP business

With the deal, Impinj becomes a pure-play RFID provider and Virage extends its embedded memory position into the non-volatile memory market for standard CMOS processes.

By Suzanne Deffree, Managing Editor, News -- Electronic News, 6/30/2008

Marking significant change at each company, Virage Logic Corp has acquired Impinj Inc’s logic NVM (non-volatile memory) IP (intellectual property) business for an aggregate purchase price of $5.2 million.

In doing so, Virage, a provider of advanced memory IP, adds some 50 patents from Impinj to its portfolio, extending its embedded memory position into the NVM market for standard CMOS processes.

In addition to the acquisition of assets, Fremont, Calif-based Virage has hired approximately 30 former Impinj employees who were responsible for the company’s logic NVM IP business. Approximately 90 percent of these employees are involved in R&D, with the balance employed in marketing and sales positions, Virage said.

“The acquisition of Impinjs logic NVM IP business represents another element toward attainment of our core vision of establishing Virage Logic as a broad line supplier of highly differentiated physical and application specific IP to the semiconductor industry. As we have in the recent past, we will continue to drive our revenue and earnings growth using both organic and in-organic initiatives. We believe that this broadening of our IP offering will benefit our customer base, particularly our global IDM, foundry, and fabless customers,” said Dan McCranie, CEO and chairman of Virage, in a statement today.

“Our newly expanded logic NVM IP product portfolio, together with our recently introduced 40-nanometer SiWare memory compilers and logic libraries, and the double data rate (DDR) memory interface IP product portfolio from our acquisition of Ingot Systems last year, underscores our ability to serve as a broad line, single source provider of highly differentiated IP,” he continued.

The acquisition leaves Seattle-based Impinj as a pure-play RFID provider. William Colleran, president and CEO of UHF Gen 2 RFID-focused Impinj, said that moving forward, the Seattle-based company will rely on Virage for the logic NVM IP technology required for its RFID product offering.

"Impinjs strong logic NVM IP product portfolio provides the perfect complement to our existing NVM product offering,” said Brani Buric, VP of product marketing and strategic foundry relationships for Virage, in the statement.

Buric noted that Impinj's IP products include the AEON family of embeddable cores, which provide rewriteable NVM technology in logic CMOS manufacturing.

“Virage Logic has enjoyed strong acceptance in the defense and security markets with its NOVeA embedded NVM product line, while Impinj has seen a strong complementary demand in high-volume consumer markets with their multi-time programmable, few-time programmable, and high-voltage NVM products. The combined product line establishes the industry’s broadest logic NVM IP product portfolio ranging from 250- to 65-nanometer solutions, servicing markets ranging from high-volume consumer and industrial to automotive and security conscious applications including military. We are committed to supporting both product lines and delivering on stated product roadmaps so that customers can continue to proceed with confidence with Virage Logic as their trusted IP partner,” Buric said.