July 30, 2020 | Deals
GCA advises Advantest on its partnership with PDF Solutions
GCA is pleased to announce that our client, Advantest Corporation (“Advantest”) (TSE: 6857), a leading manufacturer of automated test equipment (“ATE”) for the semiconductor industry, has entered into a partnership with PDF Solutions, Inc. (“PDF”) (NASDAQ: PDFS), a leading provider of software-based data analytics solutions to the semiconductor industry.
The partnership includes a development agreement whereby PDF will assist Advantest in the development of a software platform based on PDF’s Exensio software (“Advantest Cloud”) for both internal use by Advantest as well as use by Advantest’s customers; a commercial agreement providing for the joint development and sale of technology solutions based on Advantest testing platforms and PDF’s Exensio analytics software technology; a 5-year subscription agreement for PDF’s Exensio software platform; and the purchase of 3.3 million PDF common shares for $65.2 million, representing 9.1% of PDF’s pro forma shares outstanding.
By combing PDF’s software analytics platform with Advantest’s advanced testing equipment, Advantest will be able to offer its customers a compelling technological solution to improve their manufacturing and economic efficiency, from design through system level test, to increase yield and reduce testing costs. Importantly, the partnership with PDF will enable Advantest to accelerate the delivery of mission-critical artificial intelligence-based test analytics to its customers years ahead of schedule.