Gottfried, this could be very interesting. Once AMAT singles out a small company, it maybe time to invest into that small company.
Just waiting.
FYI
Friday October 26, 7:31 am Eastern Time
Press Release
SOURCE: Applied Materials
Applied Materials Announces Formation of Venture Capital Fund
Ventures I to Provide Early-Stage Investments for Optical Communications Component Startups
SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 26, 2001-- Applied Materials, Inc. (Nasdaq:AMAT - news)
announced today that it has created a venture capital fund, Applied Materials Ventures I, L.P. (Ventures I),
to team with emerging companies that are developing the next wave of processing technologies and silicon
optical devices. Ventures I plans to invest in companies with promising thin-film processing and device
innovations that potentially may create alternative manufacturing competencies for both the semiconductor
and emerging optical communications components industries.
``Our goal is to provide funding for companies that are on the leading edge of scientific and technical
breakthroughs that can positively impact the semiconductor industry, and provide opportunities for
Applied Materials to leverage its manufacturing expertise within the optical communications industry,
'' says Joseph R. Bronson, executive vice president, Office of the President, and chief financial officer
of Applied Materials. ``By teaming with these companies to fund strategic projects, we hope to prospect
new technologies and bring them to maturity more rapidly.''
Ventures I, a limited partnership, will be funded by Applied Materials and the general partner. Ventures
I will work with other venture capital firms to provide funding and active project feedback, both of which
are essential to developing market winners and building industry-leading companies.
``Startups are often highly motivated and focused,'' said Julien Nguyen, managing general partner of
Ventures I. ``It's that type of single-mindedness that can be used to effectively push new technology
developments forward. Ventures I can bring tremendous value to startups through its deep knowledge
of semiconductor processes that are essential in the development of breakthrough electronic or optical
integrated circuits.''
Optical components use photons (or light waves), rather than electrons, to carry signals. Since photons
travel at the speed of light, optical-based technologies have the potential to enable greatly enhanced
computer speed, Internet/telecommunications access and data storage capacity.
According to Strategies Unlimited, a market research firm, the total optical component market, including
the fiber optics and electronics segments, totaled $12.6 billion in 2000 and is expected to grow to an
estimated $22 billion market in 2005.
For more information regarding Ventures I, please go to the Web Site: www.appliedvc.com.
Applied Materials (Nasdaq:AMAT - news), the largest supplier of products and services to the global
semiconductor industry, is one of the world's leading information infrastructure providers. Applied Materials
enables Information for Everyone(TM) by helping semiconductor manufacturers produce more powerful,
portable and affordable chips. Applied Materials' Web site is appliedmaterials.com.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact:
Applied Materials
Carolyn Schwartz, 408/748-5227
(Financial Community)
Jeff Lettes, 408/563-5161
(Editorial/Media) |
