CyOptics to acquire Apogee Photonics

MARCH 20, 2007 -- CyOptics Inc. (search for CyOptics) has announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire Apogee Photonics (search for Apogee Photonics), a supplier of laser sources for the 10- and 40-Gbit/sec markets. Terms of the transaction are not disclosed.

The company asserts the acquisition extends its high-speed source laser capabilities and positions CyOptics with the most comprehensive portfolio of InP-based transmit and receive optical chips and components for telecommunications and data communications applications. Apogee Photonics manufacturers high-speed lasers and offers a broad portfolio of short- and long-reach products.

"10-Gbit/sec ports are really hitting their stride right now, accelerated by Ethernet at this speed," said Karen Liu, research director, components at Ovum-RHK. "10-Gbit/sec ports overall will grow from 578,000 shipped in 2006 to over 3 million forecasted for 2011."

Apogee Photonics' 10- and 40-Gbit/sec 1550-nm LIM supports optical link distances up to 110 km and incorporates integrated InP lasers, modulators, and optical amplifiers in a standard seven-pin EML-compatible package while providing higher output power and better dispersion performance than standard, monolithic EMLs, according to the company. The Apogee Photonics uncooled 1310-nm 10-Gbit/sec EML supports both 10-Gbit/sec Ethernet and SONET links up to 10 km and delivers the highest mask margin and bit-error-rate performance available today, the company adds. In addition, Apogee Photonics is developing a family of uncooled CWDM EML lasers operating up to 25 Gbits/sec that will support the deployment of 100-Gigabit Ethernet optical links, the next-generation of Ethernet data rates.

"The addition of the Apogee Photonics product family further expands our already broad product portfolio, making CyOptics the leading pure-play supplier of InP chips and components," said Ed Coringrato, CEO of CyOptics. "The optoelectronics industry is continuing its consolidation and CyOptics is growing its revenue by offering our customers one-stop-shopping for best-in-class component solutions. Our primary integration focus is to serve Apogee Photonics' customers with a continuity of supply, outstanding value and technical support, and continuous dialogue on our technology developments and product roadmaps."

Mike Decelle, CEO of Apogee Photonics, said, "The combination of Apogee Photonics and CyOptics offers highly complementary products and customers. Apogee Photonics has established a leadership position in high-speed source lasers so CyOptics is well positioned to address all of the high-growth markets for optical components, including 10-Gbit/sec and 40-Gbit/sec lasers and detectors for pluggable transceivers, tunable laser transmitters for agile optical networks, lasers and detectors in broadband access networks, and photonic integrated circuits (PICs), enabling the next-generation of optical network technology."

Apogee Photonics was created from the July 2005 merger of ASIP and T-Networks. In May 2005, CyOptics acquired TriQuint Semiconductor's Optoelectronics Division.

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