Amphion Semiconductor, a DSP core firm sold to Conexant, says report

(07/05/2004 12:42 PM EDT)

  LONDON -- Amphion Semiconductor Ltd., a licensor of digital signal processing semiconductor intellectual-property (IP), has been bought by Conexant Systems Inc. for around 16.2 million euro (about US$20 million), according to reports.

The deal is said to be based on a mix of cash and stock.

Amphion specialises in hardware cores around various MPEG and JPEG standards for for DVD players, digital TV systems and set-top boxes and employs around 35 people. The firm was founded in 1994 based on technology and expertise developed at Queens University, Belfast. The company has been led throughout its existence by James 'JG' Doherty.

According to reports Doherty is to remain at the firm, which will retain its name.

Conexant has just gone through a major merger with GlobespanVirata and made a net loss in the second quarter of fiscal 2004 of $143.4 million of sales revenue of $243.8 million (see April 26 story).