GigOptix, Inc. to Acquire Tahoe RF Semiconductor, Inc.

SAN JOSE, Calif.--Jun. 19, 2014-- GigOptix, Inc. (NYSE MKT: GIG), a leading supplier of advanced high speed semiconductor components for use in long-haul, metro, Cloud connectivity, data centers, consumer electronics links and interactive applications, through optical and wireless communications networks, today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire for cash only, by way of assuming specified liabilities, substantially all of the assets of Tahoe RF Semiconductor, Inc., a provider of innovative, leading-edge RF/analog RFICs, IPs, and fully integrated systems and subsystems on a chip. This acquisition is expected to close on Monday, June 30th, 2014, which is the first day of GigOptix’s third quarter of fiscal 2014, and at that time, all of Tahoe RF’s team of engineers will become employees of GigOptix.

"I am happy about the acquisition of Tahoe RF which brings to GigOptix a solid team of very experienced RF engineers and a rich portfolio of proven silicon IP into our RF and Wireless product line,” said Dr. Avi Katz, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GigOptix, Inc. "The acquisition of Tahoe RF is one more step in our continuous quest to strengthen our industry leading RF engineering team, and enable GigOptix to address increasing aggregate data bandwidth demand through our optimized Monolithic Microwave IC (MMIC) products targeted at point-to-point wireless backhaul applications. The acquisition also puts us in an excellent position to expand into adjacent RF and wireless market opportunities, including consumer and high volume enterprise applications, such GPS devices.”

Expanding Wireless Product Line Offerings

Tahoe RF brings an extensive silicon-proven customizable IP library to GigOptix, including radio frequency front-ends, low-power transmitters, direct conversion receivers, low noise amplifiers, and fractional-N frequency synthesizers, additionally to automatic gain control and RF receiver patents.

“To support the strong RF and wireless chipset demand that we have seen so far this year, we have acquired Tahoe RF to further expand our Wireless Product Line engineering team,” said Dr. Raluca Dinu, Vice President and General Manager of the High-Speed Communications division at GigOptix, Inc. “GigOptix is trailblazing a path to providing a rich RF and wireless roadmap for the industry, striving for leading performance, increased integration, while delivering lower costs. Crafted together with Tahoe RF team, our updated RF and wireless products roadmap is available to our partners now. We are looking forward to providing our customers with the newest chipsets in the point to point wireless backhaul and adjacent markets as early as this year.”

E-Band radios shipments by GigOptix are expected to grow to 6,000 per month with total shipments in 2014 in excess of 50,000 radios, driven by the deployment of LTE cellular infrastructure in support of the ever growing demand for mobile data for smartphones. The deployment of small cells, addressed by V-Band devices, 60GHz band, is expected to be one order of magnitude greater than regular cells in urban areas and the demand for V-band radios is expected to accelerate in the next two years with volumes at much higher than E-Band.

According to EJL Wireless Research’s 10th Edition (April 2014) of the Global Digital PTP Radio Market Analysis and Forecast, 2014-2018 forecasts the global point-to-point 1 Gbps high capacity radio volumes to grow in the 60GHz and 70/80GHz bands. At 60GHz Ethernet 1 Gbps high capacity radio shipments are forecasted to grow from over 1,000 in 2014 to over 89,000 in 2018. At 70/80GHz Ethernet 1 Gbps high capacity radio shipments are forecasted to grow from over 42,000 in 2014 to over 136,000 in 2018. For sales inquiries please contact Sales@gigoptix.com.

Strong RF and Wireless Expertise

“I am pleased to welcome Irshad Rasheed and his team to the GigOptix family. Irshad joins GigOptix as Director of Marketing for RF and Wireless Product Line within the High Speed Communications business unit. The knowledge and IP that accompany Irshad and the Tahoe RF team will be applied to extend GigOptix’ wireless product portfolio from E-band to adjacent operating radio frequencies such as V-Band and others. As such, GigOptix is also uniquely positioned to become a dominant supplier in the V-band chipsets based on our specialized core skills, leading RF performance, and disruptive roadmap,” said Dr. Dinu. “With the RF and wireless expertise we are acquiring from Tahoe RF, the RF and Wireless product line is in an excellent position to expand into new emerging markets.”

About GigOptix, Inc.

GigOptix is a leading fabless supplier of high speed semiconductor components that enable end-to-end information streaming over optical and wireless networks. The products address long haul and metro telecom applications as well as emerging high-growth opportunities for Cloud and data centers connectivity, and interactive applications for consumer electronics. GigOptix offers a unique broad portfolio of drivers and TIAs for 40Gbps, 100Gbps and 400Gbps fiber-optic telecommunications and data-communications networks, and high performance MMIC solutions that enable next generation wireless microwave systems up to 90GHz.

GigOptix also offers a wide range of digital and mixed-signal ASIC solutions in a wide range of technology geometries from 28nm to 0.6um, and enables a complete product life cycle support form swift introduction of new product through its ASIC SunriseTM program to extension of legacy products through its GigOptix Sunset Rescue program.

About Tahoe RF Semiconductor, Inc.

Tahoe RF Semiconductor is a full service turnkey provider of innovative, leading-edge supplier of RF/analog RFICs, IPs and fully integrated systems and subsystems on a chip. Tahoe RF specializes in developing RFICs and fully integrated systems and subsystems on a chip. Tahoe RF delivers fully-tested, custom production silicon. Tahoe RF has a rich library of silicon proven IP cores and solutions, which can be leveraged to create optimized integrated subsystems and systems.