Joint Solution Delivers High-Speed Programmable FPGA-Based SmartNICs

SANTA CLARA, Calif., April 27, 2021 — (PRNewswire) —  Achronix Semiconductor Corporation, a leader in high-performance FPGAs and embedded FPGA (eFPGA) IP, and Napatech, the leading provider of FPGA-based SmartNICs, today announced a partnership to deliver a new class of high-speed, programmable, FPGA-based SmartNICs to data center network operators.

The solution combines the Achronix Speedster^®7t FPGA with Napatech's SmartNIC software, to deliver the optimal mix of price, performance, power and feature set for SmartNIC designs. The partnership provides Napatech access to Achronix's high-performance Speedster7t FPGA technology, while also providing Achronix access to Napatech's SmartNIC software and hardware designs.

Napatech's FPGA-based SmartNICs address the performance gap of standard server platforms by offering customizable data processing acceleration that can offload CPUs in a scalable manner while offering high system performance and lower power compared to CPU-only based solutions. Combining Achronix Speedster7t FPGAs, Speedcore^™ eFPGA IP and Napatech SmartNIC solutions improves the performance of a wide range of applications and services for cloud data center operators, 5G mobile telecom service providers, enterprise data centers, government, and research organizations. 

Achronix's latest Speedster7t FPGA is the ideal fit for SmartNIC applications. With the first device shipping now, the Speedster AC7t1500 provides 692k look-up-tables (LUTs), 195 Mb of memory, 400G Ethernet interfaces, support for PCIe Gen5 and eight GDDR6 memory interfaces.  It is also the first FPGA available with a 2D network on chip (NoC) which helps to support high-speed data transfers from external data interfaces to the FPGA's internal logic. This 2D NoC helps to streamline data transfers within the Speedster7t FPGA, delivering a total bandwidth of greater than 20 Tbps. 

Steve Mensor, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, at Achronix Semiconductor said, "Achronix is excited to partner with Napatech to provide high-performance SmartNIC solutions to our global customer base. Napatech's industry-leading SmartNIC solutions combined with our Speedster7t FPGA is the ideal platform for the most demanding data acceleration applications."

Jarrod Siket, Chief Marketing Officer, Napatech said, "We are impressed with the full suite of capabilities of Achronix's Speedster7t FPGA products. Achronix has a reputation of pushing the envelope in FPGA design and that shines through in the capabilities of the Speedster7t FPGAs that are important in networking. Combining their FPGAs with our SmartNIC hardware and software, brings a compelling solution to our shared customers in the networking and communications markets."

In January 2021, Achronix entered into a definitive merger agreement with ACE Convergence Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: ACEV) in a transaction that would result in Achronix being listed on Nasdaq. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2021.

About Achronix Semiconductor Corporation
Achronix Semiconductor Corporation is a fabless semiconductor corporation based in Santa Clara, California, offering high-end FPGA-based data acceleration solutions, designed to address high-performance, compute-intensive and real-time processing applications. Achronix FPGA and eFPGA IP offerings are further enhanced by ready-to-use accelerator cards targeting AI, machine learning, networking and data center applications. All Achronix products are fully supported by a complete and optimized range of Achronix software tools called ACE, which enables customers to quickly develop their own custom applications. Achronix has a global footprint, with sales and design teams across the U.S., Europe and Asia.

Achronix and Speedster are registered trademarks, and Speedcore and Speedchip are trademarks of Achronix Semiconductor Corporation. All other brands, product names and marks are the property of their respective owners.

About Napatech
Napatech helps companies to reimagine their business by bringing hyperscale computing benefits to IT organizations of every size. We enhance open and standard virtualized servers to boost innovation and release valuable computing resources that improve services and increase revenue. Our programmable SmartNICs are based on a broad set of FPGA software for leading IT compute, network and security applications that are supported on a wide array of FPGA hardware designs. Additional information is available at: www.napatech.com.

Achronix Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words "expected", "would", "will" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of present or historical fact included in this press release, including Achronix's strategy, products, operations, prospects and pipeline expectations, and plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release, including but not limited to: changes in domestic and foreign business, market, financial, political, and legal conditions and changes in the combined capital structure; the ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations and identify and realize additional opportunities; risks related to the rollout of Achronix's business and the timing of expected business milestones; the effects of competition on Achronix's business; the effects of the cyclical nature of the semiconductor industry on Achronix's business; risks related to Achronix's customer concentration; the risks to Achronix's business if internal processes and information technology systems are not properly maintained; risks associated with Achronix's operational dependence on independent contractors and third parties; risks associated with Achronix's reliance on certain suppliers for, among other things, silicon wafers, and shortages or interruptions in supply of wafers and other supplies; risks and uncertainties related to Achronix's international operations, including possible restrictions on cross-border investments which could harm Achronix's financial position; and risks associated with Achronix's ability to develop new products and adapt to new markets. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the "Risk Factors" section of ACE Convergence's registration statement on Form S-4, filed with the SEC on February 10, 2021, as may be amended from time to time, and other documents filed or that may be filed by ACE Convergence from time to time with the SEC and available on EDGAR at www.sec.gov. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that Achronix does not presently know, or that Achronix currently believes are immaterial, that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements as predictions of future events, and Achronix assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable law.

Napatech Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements which are only predictions and may differ materially from actual future events or results due to a variety of factors, including but not limited to, business conditions, trends in the industry and markets, global economic and geopolitical conditions, macro-economic factors, and other risks and uncertainties set forth in Achronix's and Napatech's reports. The matter discussed in this release is based on current expectations and maybe subject to change. Achronix and Napatech will not necessarily update this information.

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