German acquisition improves European penetration

Altium has acquired the EDA business of Hoschar, the leading distributor of electronic design automation tools in Germany, for AU $3.2m in cash and shares.

Altium has acquired the EDA business of Hoschar, the leading distributor of electronic design automation tools in Germany, for AU $3.2m in cash and shares.

This move is expected to consolidate and increase Altium's market share in Europe - notably in Germany.

Germany is the largest EDA market in Europe and the second largest worldwide behind the USA.

Over the past 14 years, Hoschar has introduced and implemented one of the most sophisticated and successful distribution channels in the EDA industry and has dominant market reach to electronic design professionals in Germany and Austria.

It has also developed a highly automated and integrated direct marketing and telesales platform that has played a significant role in establishing the company as the leading EDA distributor in Germany.

With the acquisition of Hoschar, Altium will strengthen its position in Europe by using Hoschar's key strengths and expertise in customer relationship management, in the integration of direct marketing and sales of EDA tools, and in launching EDA products into German and other European markets.

The acquisition is set to increase Altium's German market penetration and improve the structure and organisation of its European operations.

"Access to the Hoschar customer base, and its sales and marketing expertise will provide Altium with a unique opportunity to significantly increase market share in the German-speaking markets over the next 12-18 months", says Kayvan Oboudiyat, Joint CEO, Altium.

Frank Hoschar, Managing Director of Hoschar commented, "Since its launch in 1988, the Hoschar EDA business has been highly successful in selling both state-of-the-art and cost-effective desktop design tools to engineers and designers.

With Altium's extensive line of innovative, leading-edge technology and affordable EDA products, we are set for dominant penetration of this increasingly important market segment in Europe".

The acquisition will benefit Hoschar customers by providing long-term stability in the product lineup, and will give them direct access to Altium's comprehensive range of desktop EDA software and support services.

Altium's industry-leading brands include Protel and P-CAD board-level design systems, Tasking embedded software development toolsets, Accolade FPGA design systems and the CAMtastic! PCB CAM system.

The management teams of Altium and Hoschar are currently focusing on the seamless integration of the businesses, and are rapidly moving forward with strategies to bring Altium's product and technology brands to an expanded customer base and strengthening Altium's leading position in the desktop EDA market.

Existing customers and prospects of Hoschar will continue to receive the same level of service and communications as they did prior to the acquisition and Hoschar can be contacted on the same lines of communication.

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