Kirkland, US-based Monolithic Power Systems, a fabless company, announced that it has acquired Axign, a Dutch fabless semiconductor startup.
The acquisition means that FORWARD.one, a shareholder of Axign since 2021, has sold its stake.
As part of the acquisition, MPS will keep the Dutch team. The office in Enschede will become their “Center of Excellence” for audio applications, leveraging Axign’s local presence with universities.
Axign: Creating a superior audio experience
Founded in 2014, Axign aims to create a superior audio experience for high-volume products at the lowest system cost. Axign specialises in analogue/mixed-signal technology and ICs designed for audio amplifier systems.
The company has supplied audio controller chips to leading brands like Harman Kardon, JBL, Bluesound, and Masimo.
Axign received backing from various notable investors, including Innovation Industries, KBC Focus Fund, Ten Cate Investeringsmaatschappij, Atlantic Bridge, FORWARD.one, and Innovatiefonds Overijssel.
Paul Sandberg, CEO of Axign, says, “We have been able to grow Axign into a global player in the audio industry. MPS and Axign have been working strategically together for a long time because the products fit well together. With the increasing integration of components, the acquisition is a logical next step.”
In addition, Sandberg expects that MPS’s sales organisation and reputation will help expand the customer base in the consumer and automotive industries. He considers this an important strategic step towards their further development in market leadership.
Arjan Gobel, partner at FORWARD.one says. “We are excited about this acquisition as it will allow Axign’s technology to be implemented on a global scale. MPS has the resources and expertise to bring Axign to the next level.”
Monolithic Power Systems: Providing the highest quality power solutions
Founded in 1997 by Michael Hsin, MPS’ mission is to reduce energy and material consumption to improve all aspects of quality of life and create a sustainable future.
Monolithic Power Systems (MPS) provides small, highly energy-efficient, easy-to-use power solutions for systems found in industrial applications, telecom infrastructures, cloud computing, automotive, and consumer applications.
The company has three core strengths: deep system-level knowledge, strong semiconductor design expertise, innovative proprietary technologies in semiconductor processes, system integration, and packaging.
These advantages enable MPS to provide reliable, compact, and cost-effective monolithic solutions that are also highly energy efficient and environmentally responsible, delivering a consistent return on investment to our stockholders.
“When I listened to music from an Axign amplifier, I instantly recognised the excellent sound quality — the rich texture, wide dynamics, and clear spatial resolution,” says Michael Hsing, the founder and CEO of MPS.
“I realised that combined with MPS’s technologies, we can bring that audiophile quality to the mass market. Axign’s passion for delivering best-in-class performance products matches our culture — the pursuit of excellence,” adds Hsing.
Read the orginal article: https://siliconcanals.com/news/startups/dutch-axign-acquired-by-mps/
