The Ciclon team, led by CEO Mark Granahan, is composed primarily of former Agere Systems management and technologists who have extensive experience in RF and LDMOS product development and production. Key members of the team were involved in the ground breaking development and qualification of Agere's first generation technology, ARF4, taking less than twenty four months to commercialize.
LDMOS (laterally diffused metal oxide semiconductor) technology, known for its ability to operate at high voltages and to support high power applications ranging in frequency from 400MHz to 3 GHz, has long been the technology of choice in the wireless infrastructure market. Dominating the space for power amplifiers, high power LDMOS is seen as a critical component in 3G technology roll-out and accounts for nearly $700 million in sales each year according to Allied Business Intelligence Inc.
"We're excited! We're optimistic and we're committed. The Agere transaction solidifies our strategy in the High Frequency Power space," said Granahan. "I see this as a significant commitment to Ciclon's continued investment in the RF product line and a unique opportunity to leverage the investment Agere has made in the technology. This gives us tremendous capability to focus on our customers and advance our technology development." Sohail Khan, executive vice president and chief strategy and development officer for Agere said, "We decided to exit the RF power business as part of our plans to focus our resources on core technologies critical to the long-term success of Agere's business. We're pleased that the Ciclon team will have the opportunity to use these assets as they set out to deliver high-quality products to the marketplace."
The company is backed by TL Ventures, a national venture capital firm with a strong base in the mid-Atlantic region. TL Ventures manages $1.4B and has been one of the nation's most active investors in the semiconductor market. "This is a unique opportunity to leverage years of research and development, a management team that operated and sold these technologies and a looming market discontinuity in the power semiconductor market," said Michael Burns, Managing Director of TL Ventures. He continued, "This transaction will well serve the current Agere customers for RF power products while also delivering a well funded product roadmap to those customers and others in the computing and consumer electronics markets. Ciclon has many exciting power advances in store for the marketplace."
Pennsylvania state and local governments have been valuable proponents of the Ciclon acquisition. Dennis Yablonsky, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, attributes much of Ciclon's success to the strength of Pennsylvania's collaborative technology-based economic development community. In addition, Ciclon has received business support from The Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania, a state-funded economic development organization that builds the Commonwealth's technology economy by assisting early-stage technology companies and established manufacturers.
About Ciclon Semiconductor
Ciclon Semiconductor is a venture funded company formed in 2004 with the intention of becoming the leader in the emerging high frequency power device market. The company's products will serve applications in the Computer, Communication and Consumer markets. Ciclon's RF Power products are used in a variety of sophisticated wireless communications systems including 2.5G and 3G base stations, and defense and public safety communications systems.
Contact:
Ciclon Semiconductor Device Corp. Alicia Pereira, 610-867-5401 Email Contact
Be the first to review this article
