Premier Farnell announced that it had acquired CadSoft Computer GmbH, the maker of EAGLE electronic design software, on 24 September 2009. The announced terms were €7 million paid at completion, plus possible additional payments of up to €5 million—not a confirmed €12 million payment. Farnell later sold CadSoft to Autodesk in 2016, and Autodesk ended EAGLE sales and support on 7 June 2026.
When did Farnell buy CadSoft?
Premier Farnell announced its acquisition of CadSoft Computer GmbH on 24 September 2009. CadSoft developed the EAGLE electronic design software brand. The announcement said CadSoft had more than 40,000 electronic design engineer customers in the United States and Europe; that was a company-reported figure at the time, not a current or independently verified user count.
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David Shen, then Premier Farnell’s Global Head of eCommerce and Technical Marketing, said the software “extends our portfolio and gives us more tools to help our customers in their design process.” That was the company’s rationale at the time of the deal.
How much did Premier Farnell pay?
The 2009 announcement put the cash consideration at €7 million, payable on completion, with possible additional payments of no more than €5 million based on criteria in the sale agreement. The €5 million was a contingent maximum; the announcement does not establish that Farnell paid it. The transaction’s total eventual cost therefore cannot be stated as €12 million on the available terms.
Why did Farnell acquire EAGLE’s developer?
The acquisition fit Farnell’s effort to support more of the electronics design cycle, linking engineers’ work with its product information and distribution capabilities. In its 2011 annual report, Farnell said it was developing EAGLE to incorporate a rapid-prototyping service through its distribution network. The strategy was to connect design with access to components and a path toward prototypes, rather than treat the software as an isolated product.
Who owns CadSoft and what happened to EAGLE?
Premier Farnell completed the sale of CadSoft Computer GmbH and assets used in connection with sales of CadSoft products in the United States to Autodesk on 27 June 2016. The transaction material cited for the sale does not state its price.
That sale was distinct from Avnet’s 2016 acquisition of Premier Farnell. It is also not the final chapter for EAGLE: Autodesk’s support documentation says, “Autodesk will no longer sell nor support EAGLE effective June 7, 2026.”
What should existing EAGLE users know?
Autodesk says perpetual-license versions of EAGLE continue to function on the machine where they are installed. Subscription versions are no longer available or supported. These statements do not mean every user has the same license rights, or that continued operation amounts to ongoing vendor support.
For ongoing work, Autodesk points users to Fusion Electronics and says EAGLE design and library files are compatible with it. That is Autodesk’s stated compatibility guidance; it should not be read as an independent migration test or a guarantee about every individual project and workflow.
Quick Recap
Ownership timeline
| Date | Event | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 24 September 2009 | Premier Farnell announced its acquisition of CadSoft | Farnell acquired the developer of EAGLE under terms including €7 million at completion and up to €5 million in contingent payments. |
| 27 June 2016 | Farnell completed the sale of CadSoft to Autodesk | Autodesk became the owner; the cited transaction material does not give the sale price. |
| 7 June 2026 | Autodesk ended EAGLE sales and support | Autodesk’s stated path for continued work is Fusion Electronics. |
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