Technoprobe S.p.A. (BIT: TPRO) has announced the signing of multiple agreements with Advantest Corporation (TYO: 6857), a global leader in Automated Test Equipment (ATE) design and production, to establish a strategic and commercial partnership. This collaboration focuses on the development and supply of Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) to drive innovation in the semiconductor testing industry.

The agreements outline that companies within the Technoprobe Group will prioritize Advantest Group as suppliers for probe card PCBs, test board PCBs, and other jointly defined PCB solutions. The partnership is set for an initial term of three years, with automatic annual renewals thereafter.

This partnership is underpinned by Technoprobe's leadership in high-end non-memory and artificial intelligence (AI) segments, complemented by Advantest Corporation's expertise in ATE platforms for these markets. Together, the two companies aim to strengthen their market position and achieve cost synergies by sharing technological roadmaps.

Share Transfer to Advantest Europe GmbH

In a related development, T-PLUS S.p.A., the controlling shareholder of Technoprobe, has signed a binding agreement to transfer 2.5% of Technoprobe's share capital to Advantest Europe GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of Advantest Corporation. This transaction will be executed through an off-market deal. Following the sale, T-PLUS will retain a 57.96% stake in Technoprobe's share capital and 70.47% of voting rights.

Optimizing Operations in the U.S.

As part of its strategy to optimize operations, Technoprobe confirmed the discontinuation of PCB production activities at the Santa Clara, California manufacturing facility of its U.S. subsidiary, Harbor Electronics, Inc.. However, the company will retain the expertise gained in specific assembly processes for probe card components at its Fremont, California plant.

CEO Statement

Stefano Felici, CEO of Technoprobe, highlighted the significance of the partnership, stating:

"The agreements with Advantest Corporation reaffirm the strategic importance of expanding our competencies in device interface boards. By aligning with a market leader like Advantest, we strengthen our ability to deliver high-end PCB solutions and support advanced AI chip testing. This collaboration also allows us to streamline operations, ensuring long-term sustainability and growth."

This partnership underscores the commitment of both Technoprobe and Advantest to leverage their technological expertise to meet the growing demands of semiconductor testing, particularly in the rapidly advancing AI and high-performance computing sectors.