Philips to Sell CPLD to Xilinx

-- Semiconductor International, 8/1/1999

Philips Semiconductors (Eindhoven, Netherlands) signed a letter of intent with Xilinx (San Jose, Calif.) for Xilinx to buy the CoolRunner CPLD (Complex Programmable Logic Device) business line. Under the agreement, Xilinx will buy the CoolRunner technology as well as Philips Semiconductors' XPLA Professional suite of design tools. Philips employees associated with CoolRunner and XPLA Professional are expected to be retained by Xilinx. The companies did not disclose financial terms of the agreement.

As part of the agreement, Philips Semiconductors retains the right to incorporate the Fast Zero Power technology used in the CoolRunner CPLDs in embedded applications such as custom ASICs. The CoolRunner products will continue to be made at Philips' fabs in Europe and at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation in Taiwan. Philips Semiconductors and Xilinx also plan to work on joint developments for system-on-a-chip applications.