UltraSoC appoints Matthew Trowbridge as Non-Executive Chairman

CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom, November 18, 2011 -- UltraSoC Technologies, the pioneering company developing advanced debugging technology for embedded electronic systems, today announced the appointment of Matthew Trowbridge as Non-Executive Chairman. Matthew will play a key role in the development of the Company as it continues to grow and develop its innovative and much needed silicon IP platform, UltraDebug®, to a licensable product.

Matthew has held senior management and Board positions at major global semiconductor companies. He joined Hitachi in 1983, helping to create and then lead Hitachi's European Semiconductor organisation, also serving as Chairman of the Board of SuperH, Inc, the joint venture between Hitachi and STMicroelectronics. In 2003 he led the merger of Hitachi Semiconductor with Mitsubishi Semiconductor in Europe to form Renesas Technology Europe and led the Company as its CEO and then as Chairman until 2010. More recently Matthew was Chairman of wireless video streaming company ProVision Communications.

Matthew holds a degree in Engineering from St John’s College, Cambridge and a MSc in Control Engineering. Matthew commented ‘I am delighted to be joining an outstanding team at UltraSoC. The UltraDebug® platform will bring huge benefits to all stages of embedded system development.’ Karl Heeks, CEO of UltraSoC said: “Matthew brings an enormous wealth of experience in the semiconductor sector to UltraSoC and I look forward to working with him as we embark on an exciting growth stage for the Company.”

About UltraSoC (www.ultrasoc.com)

UltraSoC Technologies is a VC-funded independent provider of SoC infrastructure to enable rapid development of embedded systems based on advanced SoC devices. The Company, backed by Octopus, is pioneering advanced debugging technology for the embedded electronic systems increasingly used in many everyday products from cars to mobile phones. The Company is developing UltraDebug®, an advanced debugging technology for multiple processor systems used to debug the application software that delivers the functionality and performance in many modern embedded electronic systems.

About Octopus Investments Ltd (www.octopusinvestments.com)

Octopus Investments, founded in 2000, is a leading investment specialist. It offers innovative core and satellite investment solutions to UK investors, and a wide range of funding options for exceptional companies. Its core investments include a discretionary management service, multi-manager multi-asset OEICs, and single manager OEICs. These are complemented by a range of satellite solutions, including venture capital trusts, enterprise investment schemes and inheritance tax products. Each product has been designed to solve specific problems faced by financial advisers and their clients. Its funding solutions cover the entire capital structure, from equity through mezzanine to senior debt, and it seeks out outstanding management teams in unlisted companies with whom it can partner.

Octopus has built its business around three core pillars: customer led innovation, excellence in customer service and the quality of its people. It employs more than 200 people and currently manages more than £2.3 billion on behalf of investors. Octopus has won a number of awards for its products and customer service, has twice been voted one of the best 100 SMEs to work for by the Sunday Times, and is one of only two UK fund management companies to be AAA rated by financial advisers for customer service.