EMCORE CORP PRESS RELEASE - EMD SALE
Published on August 24, 2006
EXHIBIT
99.1
Press
Release
EMCORE
Corporation Completes Sale of Electronic Materials Division to IQE,
plc
SOMERSET,
New Jersey, August 21, 2006 - EMCORE Corporation (NASDAQ: EMKR), a leading
provider of compound semiconductor-based components and subsystems for the
broadband, fiber optic, satellite, and solar power markets, today announced
that
it has completed the sale of the Company’s Electronic Materials & Device
division (EMD) to a wholly owned subsidiary of IQE, plc (IQE) as previously
announced on July 19, 2006. IQE, headquartered in Cardiff, Wales with United
States operations in Bethlehem, Pa, purchased certain of the assets including
inventory, fixed assets, and intellectual property of EMD for a total
transaction value of $16 million. The Company received $13 million at closing
and
$3
million in the form of a secured promissory note of IQE that will be repaid
in
four quarterly installments and bears interest at an annual rate of
7.5%.
The
Company anticipates a gain on the disposition in the range of $9 to $11
million.
IQE
was
formed in May 1999 by the merger of two epitaxial wafer companies supplying
electronic and optoelectronic materials produced using MOCVD (metal organic
chemical vapor deposition) and MBE (molecular beam epitaxy) equipment platforms.
EMD utilizes MOCVD technology developed by EMCORE to produce both GaAs and
GaN
based transistor wafers for use in power amplifiers and switches in GSM, CDMA
multiband wireless handsets, Wi-MAX, Wi-Fi, cellular handsets, and in wireless
LAN applications.
IQE
will
continue to operate EMD in the Somerset, NJ facility. All 56 employees of EMD
have been transferred to IQE.
About
EMCORE
EMCORE
Corporation offers a broad portfolio of compound semiconductor-based products
for the broadband, fiber optic, satellite and solar power markets. EMCORE’s
Fiber Optic segment offers optical components, subsystems and systems for high
speed data and telecommunications networks, cable television (CATV) and
fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP). EMCORE’s Photovoltaic segment provides products
for both satellite and terrestrial applications. For satellite applications,
EMCORE offers high efficiency Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) solar cells, Covered
Interconnect Cells (CICs) and panels. For terrestrial applications, EMCORE
is
adapting its high-efficiency GaAs solar cells for use in solar concentrator
systems. Through its joint venture participation in GELcore, LLC, EMCORE plays
a
significant role in developing and commercializing next-generation
High-Brightness LED technology for use in the general and specialty illumination
markets. For further information about EMCORE, visit http://www.emcore.com.
About
IQE
IQE
is a
leading provider of outsource epitaxial wafer services to the global
semiconductor industry. Its wafer products include a portfolio of compound
semiconductor wafers for use across the whole spectrum of opto electronic and
wireless applications, a range of advanced compound semiconductor substrates,
and a comprehensive epi service of advanced products for the silicon industry.
The IQE Group operates state of the art manufacturing facilities utilizing
all
of the key crystal growth technologies, with facilities located in Cardiff
and
Milton Keynes, UK and in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA. IQE’s products are found
in a diverse range of leading edge consumer, communication, computing and
industrial applications, including mobile handsets and wireless infrastructure,
optical communications, optical storage (CD, DVD), laser optical mouse, laser
printers & photocopiers, thermal imagers, leading edge medical products,
barcode, high efficiency LEDs and a variety of advanced silicon based systems.
For further information about the IQE Group, please visit http://www.iqep.com.
Disclaimer
The
information provided herein may include forward-looking statements within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 relating to future events that involve risks
and
uncertainties. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans,"
"believes," and "estimates," and variations of these words and similar
expressions, identify these forward-looking statements. Actual operating results
may differ materially from such forward-looking statements and are subject
to
certain risks, including risks arising from: difficulties arising from the
separation of the EMD operations from our ongoing operations; expected
reductions in overall revenues as a result of the EMD sale; expenses and charges
related to closing the remaining operations in New Jersey and reducing corporate
overhead; and other factors described in EMCORE's filings with the Securities
and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements contained in this news
release are made as of the date hereof and EMCORE does not assume any obligation
to update the reasons why actual results could differ materially from those
projected in the forward-looking statements.
Contacts:
EMCORE
Corporation
Tom
Werthan - Chief Financial Officer
(732)
271-9090
info@emcore.com
TTC
Group
Victor
Allgeier
(646)
290-6400
info@ttcominc.com
IQE
plc
Dr
Drew
Nelson, President & CEO
+44
(0)2920 839400
Stuart
Hall, Chief Financial Officer
+44
(0)2920 839400
investors@iqep.com