The static analysis solutions market is one of the most dynamic segments VDC’s embedded software team currently tracks. While still a relatively young and evolving technology, static analysis has rapidly become a standard -- perhaps even necessary -- element of the software development lifecycle. Software is emerging as the primary agent for differentiation and resource investment for more companies as they try to speed the delivery of innovative new solutions. The development of increasingly complex software needed for these devices and systems is accelerating growth of code quality and security issues that static analysis is designed to address. In parallel, there is a growing awareness of the potentially catastrophic impact of software failure. As a result, we expect static analysis tools to generate revenue growth exceeding many other tooling segments.
“Strong forecasted growth and the presence of several profitable, small, and privately owned companies among market leaders make the segment (static analysis) ripe for mergers and acquisitions.” - VDC Research, Stategic Insights 2013, The Global Market for Automated Testing and Verification Tools
Earlier this week Synopsys, a prominent supplier of electronic design automation and semiconductor IP solutions, announced it reached an agreement to purchase Coverity for approximately $375M (US).
The news is compelling for several reasons. Code analysis offerings of Coverity represent a logical expansion of the existing Synopsys portfolio into an adjacent technology area. The acquisition of Coverity would provide Synopsys with the leading vendor share position in the static analysis tool market, a segment expanding at a compound annual growth rate greater than 15%. Furthermore, the combined sales teams and existing customer bases should provide excellent opportunities for both Coverity and Synopsys to increase sales into new realms, primarily the semiconductor and ISV markets, respectively.
The Coverity acquisition by Synopsys should not be viewed in isolation. There was another acquisition of a leading code analysis supplier in January, when Rogue Wave Software purchased Klocwork. We see the opportunity for many of the same synergistic benefits to the Klocwork/Rogue Wave integration as in the Synopsys/Coverity combination. It will be interesting to see if these recent acquistions provide the necessary impetus for more potential suitors to buy one of the remaining independent static analysis tool suppliers.