Tessolve, Dynamic Test Solutions to form integrated semicon test services company

CHANDLER, USA: Tessolve Services Pvt Ltd and Dynamic Test Solutions Inc. (DTS), two leaders in providing semiconductor test solutions, have signed a definitive agreement to merge the two companies.

The resulting entity, to be called Tessolve-DTS, will create one of the industry's largest and most integrated test services suppliers, with more than 400 employees in more than 20 locations around the world. The privately-held company will be headquartered in Bangalore, India with US operations based in Chandler, Arizona.

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

The companies currently serve the world's leading semiconductor companies with a wide array of outsourced services and products to ensure chips work properly and reliably. The merger combines Tessolve's extensive resources and experience in test engineering and developing software based test solutions with DTS' global reach and track record of developing custom hardware test products and offering hardware testing services.

The combined infrastructure and resources will allow the company to provide a comprehensive and integrated approach to outsourced test solutions for semiconductor companies for the entire life cycle of their products - from first silicon functional test, to optimized production release, and into post-production services.

Jill Johnston, president and CEO of DTS, said: "Separately, both Tessolve and DTS have built successful companies in their respective areas of expertise in test solutions. This is a logical evolution that builds on our individual success, as well as the strong working relationship we have formed over the past few years.

"Combined, we can offer a much more robust and efficient way to serve global companies. Our deep experience across the entire test process, combined with our global infrastructure of service and support, will uniquely position us to capitalize on the continuing move by IDMs and fabless companies to leverage the cost and time to market benefits of outsourced test services."

The two companies have established a close working relationship for the past several years and have many mutual customers. Because of their unique areas of expertise in test solutions, there is very little overlap between the two product lines and organizations and few, if any, personnel cuts are expected.

Their infrastructure is anchored by a 50,000 square foot testing facility in Bangalore and includes a network of engineering facilities around that world that support and use a broad range of commercial testing equipment and software, ensuring compatibility with their diverse customer base.

Outsourced test services and solutions is a fast growing segment of the semiconductor value chain, outpacing the overall growth of the semiconductor market for the past several years.

The industry is characterized by a large number of small, localized design shops, often aligned with a single company. The Tessolve/DTS combination creates a true global entity that can support the largest and most diverse needs of IDMs and fabless companies.

Tessolve was founded in 2004 in Bangalore, India with a focus on developing software applications that analyze chip designs and drive the mission critical equipment use to test semiconductor products. Its investors include Jafco, Applied Materials, Qualcomm Corp. and ST Asset Management (Singapore).

The company leverages the extensive pool of chip design expertise in India to create a substantial team of test engineering experts, delivering a broad array of services for analog/mixed-signal, high-speed digital and RF design and manufacturing. Its expertise includes test program development, design for test, EDA methodologies, IC packaging and assembly, PCB design, failure analysis and reliability, and signal integrity and thermal analysis.

DTS was founded in 2003 with a focus on developing hardware test solutions for semiconductor companies. It has developed custom package test and wafer probe loadboards, probe cards PCBs, as well as custom tester solutions.

It counts many of the world's largest semiconductor companies, such as Texas Instruments, STMicroelectronics and Qualcomm, among its customers. DTS brings a global footprint with test services facilities in 16 locations around the world, including key locations in Europe, Asia and the US.

Raja Manickam, CEO of Tessolve, said: "This is a true combination of strengths that will result in a world class service supplier capable of handling the testing needs of any semiconductor company in the industry. Our skills and experience provide a valuable resource to a fast moving industry, and our global infrastructure makes us an ideal partner for large multi-national companies."