FIRECOMMS
ANNOUNCES A FUNDING ROUND OF €9.6 MILLION
Cork, Ireland — April
28, 2006 — Firecomms Ltd., a leading compound
semiconductor company that develops high-speed light
sources in visible range wavelengths, today announced
that it has closed a €9.6 million investment deal
with new and existing shareholders.
Firecomms' unique
technology provides its key customers with a major competitive
advantage in high-volume consumer electronics, including
handheld devices, cell phones, personal computers and
laptops. This same technology also is the foundation
for critical solutions in the home networking and automotive
markets.
The company’s world-class photonics communications
products are revolutionizing the consumer electronics
market by using visible light to enable high-speed optical
data transmission and capture. With a market presence
in Europe, Japan and the U.S., Firecomms leads the development
of devices to drive Plastic Optical Fiber, a low-cost
optical alternative to copper cabling in a wide range
of applications.
Two new investors have joined the company:
ACT Venture Capital of Dublin, and Alps Electric North
America, an important strategic investor and key customer
for Firecomms. Atlantic Bridge Ventures, the company’s
anchor investor since its foundation, also invested in
this round and remains fully committed to Firecomms.
This
investment will enable Firecomms to increase production
of its proprietary semiconductor VCSEL devices, and of
the company’s newly released fiber optic devices,
which include high-speed fiber optic transceivers used
in consumer devices and networks, and an automotive-grade
fiber optic transceiver for in-car infotainment systems.
This funding also will support the expansion of Firecomms’ product
line, sales and marketing fulfillment, and support activities
throughout its markets.
"Firecomms’ revolutionary
semiconductor light sources open a wide spectrum of applications
in which Alps has significant interest," says Steve
Runnion, CEO of Alps Electric North America.
Says John
O’Sullivan, partner at ACT Venture Capital, "We
are excited to be involved with Firecomms at this time
as the company builds on its technology lead with major
customers in networking and sensing applications."
Brian
Long, CEO of Atlantic Bridge Ventures, adds, "We
are delighted with the progress Firecomms continues to
make with strategic customers particularly in high-volume
consumer and automotive markets. We believe the company’s
unique optical technology combined with its experienced
management team positions it for very significant growth
in the next few years."
"We’re delighted
to have such solid resources behind the company," states
Firecomms CEO Declan O’Mahoney. "This additional
funding and new investors will enable us to take advantage
of many high revenue opportunities in the giant consumer
electronics and automotive markets."
About
Firecomms Ltd.
Firecomms, a compound semiconductor company, develops
high-speed light sources in visible range wavelengths.
Firecomms’ lasers and LEDs provide the groundwork
that will revolutionize optical data communications for
small area networks, such as in-car networks and home networks.
Firecomms’ low power visible lasers unleash the potential
for advances in medical devices, barcode scanners, and
optical storage devices.
Additional
information about Firecomms is available at www.firecomms.com.
About ACT Venture Capital
ACT Venture Capital is Ireland's
leading venture capital firm. Founded as an independent
operation in 1994, ACT has completed over 70 investments,
principally in technologybased companies serving global
markets.
ACT takes a stage diversified approach to investing
in exceptional companies operating in Information & Communications
Technology, Internet & Media, Life Sciences and the
Development Capital sector.
ACT has over €350 million
under management sourced from leading American, European,
Irish, and UK institutions. The company provides capital
to high potential companies located within Ireland, the
UK and Europe in the range of €1 million to €15
million. Further information about ACT Venture Capital
is available at www.actventure.com.
About Alps Electric
Co. Ltd.
Alps Electric Co. Ltd. is a Japanese corporation
that has manufactured various electronic components since
its foundation in 1948. Based on innovative proprietary
technology and market outlook, the company provides cutting-edge
electronic components that contribute to the advancement
of a multimedia society in five key areas; namely, Magnetic
Devices, Communication Devices, Peripheral Products, Mechatronic
Devices, and Automotive Electronics. Alps’ global
activities strive to create partnerships with customers,
countries and regions throughout the world. The Alps group
includes mobile electronics manufacturer Alpine Electronics
and Alps Logistics, a specialized electronic component
distribution company.
More information about Alps Electric
is available at www.alps.com.
About Atlantic Bridge Ventures
Atlantic Bridge Ventures
is a new pan-European fund with offices in Dublin and London
focused on making early- and mid-stage technology investments
in semiconductors and software across Europe with a strong
focus on a US exit model. Atlantic Bridge is comprised
of a cohesive, dedicated team of experienced professionals
who are committed to the success of the investee companies.
The company’s
team members come from an industry background and have
first-hand experience of the challenges involved in growing
technology companies from the start-up stage into profitable
businesses. Many of these companies had successful exits
either on the public markets or through trade sale.
Additional
information about Atlantic Bridge, which is regulated by
the FSA, is available at www.abven.com.
Further
Information:
Rene' Williams
Firecomms Ltd.
Tel. 949.360.7770
rene@firecomms.com |