Cadence to Acquire Arm's Artisan IP Business to Boost IP Portfolio

Core Insights - Cadence Design Systems, Inc. has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Arm Holdings' Artisan foundation IP business, which includes standard cell libraries, memory compilers, and general-purpose I/Os, enhancing Cadence's IP portfolio [1][5] - The acquisition is expected to close in Q3 2025, pending regulatory approvals, and is not anticipated to significantly impact Cadence's revenues or earnings in the current fiscal year [2][3] Group 1: Acquisition Details - The acquisition will strengthen Cadence's position in the system-on-chip (SoC) design ecosystem, aiding customers in reducing time-to-market while optimizing power, performance, and cost [3][5] - The deal is structured as an asset purchase agreement along with a technology license agreement, which will be finalized at closing [3] - Cadence will acquire a skilled engineering team from Arm, known for its expertise in the IP industry, which is expected to accelerate the development of existing and new IP products [4][5] Group 2: Strategic Importance - Management emphasized that the addition of Artisan IP marks Cadence's entry into the foundation IP market, allowing the company to explore new growth areas and enhance its IP strategy [5] - The acquisition is part of a broader strategy of strategic acquisitions that have been pivotal in developing Cadence's business, including recent acquisitions of Secure-IC, BETA CAE Systems, and Invecas [6][7][8] Group 3: Market Position - Cadence currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), with shares declining by 9.3% over the past year, compared to a 4.2% decline in the Zacks Computer – Software industry [9]