Opto Speed raises $17.5 million from new investors
Since it was founded in 1995, Opto Speed has achieved significant sales in the United States, Europe and Asia, with a diverse customer base that includes industry leaders Lucent, Infineon, Nortel, IBM and Intel. In addition, it supplies many next-generation optical subsystems vendors, as well as test and measurement companies such as Agilent, Perkin Elmer and Acterna.
Seeking to further increase its market presence, Opto Speed will use the funds to open a US office and increase its sales and marketing activity. In parallel, the company will expand manufacturing capacity at its plants in Germany and Switzerland. In addition, funds will aid further research and development of 10 Gbit/s and 40 Gbit/s optical components, monolithically integrated optoelectronic devices and next-generation components.
"The funding we received from Carlyle, a leading investor in the telecommunications sector, is a powerful endorsement of our position in the marketplace," said Roberto Dall Ara, chairman and CEO of Opto Speed. "Carlyle s capital and in depth knowledge of our industry are critical in helping us expand the capacity of the business and return to profitability."
Hossam Galal, director at The Carlyle Group said, "Opto Speed stands out because of its strong technology platform, talented engineering team and leading product offerings. Opto Speed s broad customer base is a testament to its proven ability to deliver high-quality products on a consistent basis."
Opto Speed offers a comprehensive suite of products including 2.5, 10 and 40 Gbit/s photodetectors, Fabry Perot and DFB lasers at both 1300nm and 1550nm wavelengths as well as 1300nm and 1550nm Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers. Opto Speed also designs and manufactures high power, high bandwidth Superluminescent LEDs for applications in communications as well as the medical, lighting and also test and measurement sectors. Finally, Opto Speed has developed a HBT Receiver, which combines a 40 Gbit/s photodiode with an electronic amplifier monolithically integrated on a single InP chip. Several potential customers are currently testing the integrated HBT receiver.
Opto Speed was founded in 1995 as a spin-off company of the Institute of Quantum Electronics of the ETH Zurich. The company is based in Switzerland and has a German subsidiary.
Roberto Dall Ara
Opto Speed
Tel: +41 91 935 5252
Daniela Zuin
The Carlyle Group
Tel: +44 207 894 1569
Email: dzuin@thecarlylegroup.com
E-mail: rdallara@optospeed.com
Web site: http://www.optospeed.com
