DSP Group, Parthus consider merging IP licensing businesses

DSP Group, Parthus consider merging IP licensing businesses
By Semiconductor Business News
March 15, 2002 (1:08 p.m. EST)
URL: http://www.eetimes.com/story/OEG20020315S0064

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- DSP Group Inc. here and Ireland's Parthus Technologies plc today confirmed that the two companies were holding preliminary discussions to explore merging their intellectual property (IP) licensing businesses.

The talks are in a preliminary stage and do not center on DSP Group acquiring Dublin-based Parthus Technologies, said the two companies. Previously, Santa Clara-based DSP Group had announced it was considering a spin-off of its IP licensing business.

Nine-year-old Parthus is focused on supplying total platform solutions for wireless, mobile Internet, and automotive applications. DSP Group licenses digital signal processor technology for ICs in cellular phones, broadband communications, voice over Internet protocol (VoIP), multimedia, disk-drive controllers, and other embedded-control applications. DSP's revenues total $114.7 million in 2001, while Parthus had $40.2 million in sales last year.

The two companies sai d they do not contemplate the payment of any premium in connection with a proposed transaction.