Integrated circuit design automation company Avant! Corp has signed an agreement to acquire technology from VLSI Technology Inc for cash and stock worth $44m. Sunnyvale, California-based Avant!, which appears to spend most of its time fighting lawsuits with its competitor Cadence Design Systems Inc – is to take VLSI’s Compass Design Automation subsidiary, with Paul McLellan, president of Compass, becoming head of research and development at Avant!. Customers wanted to have a white knight to bring out the true value of their investment said Avant! chief executive Gerald C Hsu. VLSI has been more interested in concentrating on its semiconductor businesses of late (CI No 3,151). Hsu is particularly interested in Compass’ expertise in the area of silicon calibration and foundry relationships through the Passport library of silicon intellectual property for the emerging system-on-a-chip business. Avant! has formed a new subsidiary, called Galax! (apparently pronounced Ga-LOX-ee, just as Avant! is supposed to be pronounced ah-VON-tee). Compass is based in San Jose, California.
