Synopsys, a major player in industrial software, is divesting its Optical Solutions Group (OSG) to Keysight Technologies. This move is a necessary condition for regulatory bodies to approve Synopsys’ proposed $35 billion merger with Ansys, a rival engineering simulation company.
The agreement with Keysight, for an undisclosed sum, encompasses Synopsys’ renowned optical software suite. Key products included in the sale are CODE V, used for imaging systems design, LightTools, for illumination design, and LucidShape, which specializes in automotive lighting applications. Also part of the deal are RSoft Photonic Device Tools and ImSym, a recently launched virtual prototyping platform for imaging systems.
This divestiture addresses potential regulatory concerns arising from the merger, as Ansys already possesses a strong presence in optical design software with its Zemax offering, a widely recognized tool in the field used in projects like the James Webb Space Telescope.
Synopsys built its optical division through strategic acquisitions over a decade ago, including RSoft Design Group in 2012 and Optical Research Associates (ORA) in 2010, the origin of CODE V and LightTools software.
According to Synopsys, the sale of OSG is contingent on regulatory clearances and the successful completion of the Ansys merger, which is currently anticipated in the first half of 2025. The company stated that the OSG sale was crucial to secure regulatory approval for the Ansys acquisition.
Ravi Subramanian, General Manager of Synopsys’ Systems Design Group, expressed pride in the OSG team and highlighted Keysight as an ideal future owner, emphasizing ongoing competition and innovation in optical design solutions for customers.
Keysight, a California-based company specializing in design, emulation, and testing solutions, sees the acquisition as a strategic expansion of its software portfolio. Niels Faché, VP and General Manager of Keysight’s design engineering software unit, noted the increasing complexity of electronics design and the opportunity to extend their simulation capabilities beyond electronics into optics and photonics. He anticipates integrating the OSG team to tackle complex, multi-physics design challenges.
Keysight believes this acquisition will complement their existing strengths in radio-frequency, microwave electronic design automation, and physics-based computer-aided engineering.
In related news, Ansys revealed a collaboration with Microsoft and chip manufacturer TSMC, resulting in significant acceleration of silicon photonic component simulation and analysis. Utilizing Microsoft Azure and NVIDIA accelerated computing, they achieved over a tenfold speed improvement in Ansys Lumerical FDTD photonics simulation. John Lee, VP and General Manager at Ansys, underscored the importance of this advancement for high-speed optical data transfer in chip design.
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