Rambus Buys AnalogX and PLDA, Enhances Data Center Solutions Portfolio

Rambus (NASDAQ: RMBS), a global vendor delivering semiconductors and silicon IP solutions that make data quicker and safer, has agreed to buy AnalogX – a provider of low-power multi-standard connectivity SerDes IP solutions. At the same time, Rambus has signed an agreement to acquire PLDA, an industry leader in Compute Express Link (CXL) and PCI Express (PCIe) digital solutions.

This acquisition expands the addressable applications and available process nodes by adding SerDes technology to the Rambus line of PCIe 5.0 and 32G Multi-protocol PHYs. SerDes technology is especially designed for ultra-low power and very low latency.

The Rambus roadmap for PCIe 6.0 and CXL 3.0 solutions will be accelerated thanks to AnalogX’s experience in DSP-based design and PAM4 signaling, which will offer essential building blocks for the CXL Memory Interconnect Initiative – to advance high-bandwidth connectivity.

PAM4-based PCIe 6.0 and CXLTM 3.0 solutions for data center, artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML), 5G, and High Performance Computing (HPC) would reduce time to market and improve the Rambus roadmap.

The same accounts for the solutions added through the acquisition of PLDA. The PLDA CXL 2.0, PCIe 5.0, and PCIe 6.0 controller and switch IP expand Rambus’ portfolio and would reduce the time it takes to market for full CXL interface subsystems. The PLDA acquisition would further strengthen Rambus’ PCIe 6.0 and CXL 3.0 roadmaps, while also providing essential building pieces for the CXL Memory Interconnect Initiative.

Disaggregated Data Center Model

“As data centers move to a disaggregated model, high-speed connectivity will be instrumental to unleashing the performance of data-intensive computing platforms,” said Luc Seraphin, President and CEO of Rambus. “The industry-leading PHYs and DSP design expertise from AnalogX will feed our roadmap for data center interconnect chips and expand our reach to new applications across data center, AI/ML and 5G.”

The AnalogX deal is scheduled to be completed in the third quarter of 2021. Rambus anticipates this acquisition to be accretive in 2022, despite the fact that it will have no meaningful impact on 2021 earnings due to the projected timing of closing and acquisition accounting.

“AnalogX’s product, technology and team are an ideal fit with Rambus,” said Robert Wang, president and CEO of AnalogX. “We’re thrilled to join a company with such a rich history on innovation and look forward to continuing our technical leadership and providing premier integrated solutions for next-generation products.”

CXL and PCIe

Photo Luc Seraphin, President and CEO of Rambus
“We are in the midst of a generational shift in data center, and PCI Express and CXL are the backbone of future architectures. Next to that, the industry-leading PHYs and DSP design expertise from AnalogX will feed our roadmap for data center interconnect chips and expand our reach to new applications across data center, AI/ML and 5G,” said Luc Seraphin, President and CEO of Rambus. 

The data center industry is on the verge of a paradigm shift toward disaggregated data center designs, which promise to enhance performance, efficiency, and total cost of ownership substantially, stated Rambus. CXL and PCIe would be key enablers for these next-generation systems, providing the high-speed interconnects between processors, accelerators, memory, and network devices required to handle demanding workloads in AI/ML and HPC applications. Rambus will strengthen its position in mission-critical interconnect chips and IP solutions for the future data center with the acquisition of PLDA’s digital IP and engineering capabilities.

“We are in the midst of a generational shift in data center, and PCI Express and CXL are the backbone of future architectures,” added Rambus CEO Luc Seraphin. “Leveraging our combined offerings and expertise, we will be able to expand market opportunity and accelerate our roadmap of new memory interconnect products, ushering in a new era of global data center connectivity.”

The PLDA transaction is expected to close in the third calendar quarter of 2021. Although this transaction will not materially impact 2021 results due to the expected timing of close and acquisition accounting, Rambus expects this acquisition to be accretive in 2022.

“PLDA’s industry-leading digital IP ideally complements the Rambus product offering and this acquisition will augment our combined market opportunity,” said Arnaud Schleich, co-founder and CEO of PLDA. “The team and I are extremely excited to join Rambus, and look forward to being instrumental in scaling the business.”