FTC to require Synopsys, Ansys to divest assets to resolve antitrust concerns

The Federal Trade Commission said it will require Synopsys (SNPS) and Ansys (ANSS) to divest certain assets to resolve antitrust concerns surrounding their $35B merger. The FTC’s proposed divestiture order will preserve competition across several software tool markets that are critical for the design of semiconductors and light simulation devices, which are used in a wide range of products. The proposed order will help protect consumers from higher input prices for cars, smartphones, cameras, televisions, and other critical products. “The FTC’s action today protects Americans from higher costs for the countless everyday products that use computer chips, LED screens, fiber optic cables, and many other high-tech components,” said Daniel Guarnera, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Competition. “The FTC’s divestiture order ensures that competition can thrive across software markets that are critical to designing the digital products that power Americans’ daily lives.” Under a proposed consent order, Synopsys will divest its optical software tools, which enable engineers to design and simulate optical devices that generate, reflect, or refract light, such as LED screens, mirrors, and lenses. Synopsys will also divest its photonic software tools, which assist in the design and simulation of devices that use photons as a signal to transmit information, which include fiber optic cables and solar panels. In addition, Ansys will divest a power consumption analysis tool, called PowerArtist, which is used to measure and optimize the power consumption of digital chips at an early stage of the design stage, known as Register Transfer Level design. Both Synopsys and Ansys will divest their assets to Keysight Technologies (KEYS).