Exhibit 99.2
NEWS RELEASE
Investor Relations Contact: Public Relations Contact:
Rochelle Krause Abbie Kendall
PDF Solutions, Inc. Armstrong Kendall, Inc.
Tel: (408) 938-6437 Tel: (503) 672-4681
Email: rochelle.krause@pdf.com Email: abbie@akipr.com
PDF SOLUTIONS(R) EXPANDS OFFERING WITH ADDITION OF WAMA(TM) SOFTWARE PRODUCTS
Thursday, June 19, 2003
SAN JOSE, Calif. (PDF Solutions, Inc.)
Shot Map Optimization Technology Acquired From WaferYield, Inc.
PDF Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq: PDFS), the leading provider of process-design
integration technologies to enhance IC manufacturability, today announced a key
extension to its yield optimization solutions technology. Pursuant to an asset
purchase agreement with WaferYield, Inc., a privately held corporation based in
Santa Clara, California, PDF has acquired the WAMA(TM) technology and associated
business in an all-cash transaction. Future payments up to a pre-determined
maximum, which are also in cash, are dependent upon reaching certain performance
and revenue milestones related to the WAMA technology. Further terms of the
agreement were not disclosed.
As part of the transaction, key members of the WaferYield team have joined PDF
Solutions, including WaferYield co-founders Ron Sigura, formerly its chief
executive officer, and Eitan Cadouri, formerly its chief technologist.
The WAMA product offering, derived from the words WAfer MAp, is designed to
optimize semiconductor wafer shot maps to help customers achieve greater yield
and net die per wafer, higher stepper throughput, and reduced probe test costs.
By using WAMA products, semiconductor companies can achieve a more optimized
overall manufacturing flow.
"Cypress has been able to achieve greater manufacturing efficiencies in our
fabrication facilities by using the WAMA product," said Christopher Seams,
executive vice president of technology and worldwide manufacturing at Cypress
Semiconductor. "PDF Solutions' acquisition of the WAMA offering allows for WAMA
products to be further integrated into the rest of the yield optimization
equation."
EXPANDING THE PDF SOLUTIONS PRODUCT OFFERING
"PDF Solutions' strategy is to provide our customers with increasing capability
to achieve higher yields," stated John Kibarian, chief executive officer of PDF
Solutions. "The addition of the WAMA product offering provides methods that
complement the PDF product portfolio, and is in line with that strategy."
"Joining PDF Solutions is an exciting opportunity for the WAMA team," said Ron
Sigura, now vice president, WAMA sales and marketing at PDF Solutions. "The
proprietary WAMA shot map-driven optimization offering is complementary to PDF's
product line. It further strengthens PDF Solutions' as an industry leader in
process-design integration."
THE WAMA PRODUCT OFFERING
The sophisticated WAMA field and die placement software leverages diverse
inputs, including broad cost and gain parameters and manufacturing constraints,
all to optimize wafer fabrication operations. WAMA products provide wafer
fabrication managers with crucial business data that can help them to make
optimal trade-off decisions in the IC manufacturing process. The WAMA product
line features the following modules:
- -WAMA Die - Maximizes gross die per wafer
- -WAMA Max - Maximizes good die per wafer
- -WAMA Productivity - Maximizes stepper throughput
- -WAMA Test - Reduces tester time
- -WAMA ROI - Maximizes fab profitability
PDF Solutions intends to continue to sell the WAMA offering as a stand-alone
product in addition to offering it as an option in PDF's integrated yield ramp
engagements.
ABOUT PDF SOLUTIONS
PDF Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq: PDFS) is the leading provider of process-design
integration technologies to enhance IC manufacturability. PDF Solutions'
software, methodologies and services enable semiconductor companies to create
more manufacturable IC designs and more capable manufacturing processes. By
simulating nanometer-scale product and process interactions, PDF Solutions
offers clients reduced time-to-market, increased IC yield and performance, and
increased product reliability and profitability. Headquartered in San Jose,
Calif., PDF Solutions operates worldwide with additional offices in Europe and
Japan. For more information, visit www.pdf.com.
PDF Solutions(R) is a registered trademark and WAMA(TM) is a trademark of PDF
Solutions, Inc.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Some of the statements in this press release are forward looking, including,
without limitation, those regarding the ability of the company to integrate its
existing products with WAMA software in an efficient and effective manner,
potential future revenue opportunities to PDF Solutions, PDF's ability to
integrate and retain employees key to the continued development and sales of
WAMA software, the company's ability to retain current customers of WAMA and
grow the WAMA customer base as a result of the transaction. The words "expect",
"believe" and similar expressions also identify forward-looking statements.
Actual results could differ materially from those expressed in any
forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties that could cause results to
differ materially include risks associated with: failure to timely or
successfully integrate PDF Solutions' products with WAMA software; failure to
retain key WAMA employees; failure to retain WAMA customers and grow potential
future revenue opportunities; fluctuations in the price of PDF's stock;
unforeseen industry changes; changes in
the U.S. and worldwide economic and political environments; and changes in the
marketplace for our solutions, including the introduction of products or
services competitive with PDF's products and services. Readers should also refer
to the risk disclosures set forth in PDF's periodic public filings with the SEC,
including, without limitation, its reports on Form 10-K, most recently filed on
April 26, 2003, and on Form 10-Q, most recently filed on May 14, 2003. The
forward-looking statements contained in this release are made as of the date
hereof, and PDF does not assume any obligation to update such statements nor the
reasons why actual results could differ materially from those projected in such
statements.