News in brief from Sirenza, Aixtron, Essient etc
Sirenza Microdevices, a fabless supplier and designer of RF components for communications equipment manufacturers, today announced a definitive agreement to acquire the assets and assume specified liabilities of Vari-L Company of Denver, CO, for approximately $13.6 million in common stock and cash of $1.4 million in secured bridge loans.
Vari-L designs, manufactures and markets wireless communications components that generate or process RF and microwave frequency signals. Vari-L s patented products are used in commercial infrastructure equipment, consumer subscriber products and military/aerospace platforms. The company’s customer includes Agilent Technologies, Ericsson, Lockheed Martin, Lucent Technologies, Motorola, Nokia and Raytheon.
Vari-L’s products use technologies common to existing and planned Sirenza products. The transaction has been approved by the boards of directors of both companies and is expected to close in early 2003, subject to customary closing conditions and the approval of Vari-L stockholders.
Aixtron, Essient and Coherent appoint new staff
Aixtron has appointed Tim McEntee to the position of executive VP and COO of its Semiconductor Equipment business unit. As a new member of the company’s executive board, McEntee assumes responsibility for all activities related to CVD technology for advanced Silicon materials.
McEntee brings 28 years of experience in the semiconductor industry, and joins the Aixtron Group from Mattson Technology, Fremont, CA, where he was general manager of the CVD business unit.
Ken Jones, former VP and general manager of the Advanced Transmission Division at Vitesse, has been appointed president and CEO of Essient Photonics. Jones brings more than 15 years of leadership experience to the integrated III-V optoelectronic components supplier. While at Vitesse, Jones was responsible for marketing, design, and product release of network core and metro physical layer devices.
Semiconductor laser manufacturerCoherent has appointed Vittorio Fossati-Bellani to the position of chief marketing officer. Fossati-Bellani’s responsibilities will include qualifying new markets and trends, establishing partnerships, and outlining acquisition strategies. Fossati-Bellani has been with Coherent for 23 years and was a key player behind its investments in diode laser technology. Previous positions held within Coherent include president of its Telecom Actives Group and president of the Semiconductor Group.