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Somerset,
New Jersey. March 22, 2005. NanoOpto Corporation,
who is applying novel design methods and proprietary
nano-fabrication technology to produce a broad range
of unique optical components that enable higher quality,
low-cost optical components and systems, announced
that it has closed on $12 million in Series C round
venture financing. First Analysis, a leading private
growth-equity investor, is leading the round. Existing
equity partners joining in the round are Morgenthaler
Ventures; the Draper Fisher Jurvetson (DFJ) network
(including DFJ Gotham Ventures and New England Ventures);
Harris & Harris Group; and U.S. Trusts Excelsior
Venture Partners III, L.L.C
.
The total financing raised by NanoOpto to date is
$42.3 million.
- The
combination of high growth markets, novel technology
and products, and a proven team makes NanoOpto an
exciting investment opportunity for First Analysis,
said Tracy Marshbanks, Vice President and General
Partner specializing in advanced materials investments
at First Analysis. We look forward to assisting
in the next phase of NanoOptos growth with its
focus on high volume commercialization and continuing
product innovation.
- Over
the past four years, NanoOpto has evolved from a
nascent technology platform to shipping real products
to customers in real markets, said Greg Blonder,
General Partner at Morgenthaler Ventures.
Morgenthaler and the other existing investors recognize
the successful progress and accomplishments made
by the NanoOpto team, and are pleased to support
the continued growth of the company.
- NanoOpto
is now in volume production, shipping its unique
optical devices to a broad range of markets, including
optical disk drives, digital imaging, projection
displays, and communications, says Barry Weinbaum,
President and CEO of NanoOpto Corporation. At this
important juncture in our companys development,
we are pleased to add First Analysis to our group
of investors.
So
far in 2005, NanoOpto has announced a range of new
product offerings:
IR cut-off filters for digital imaging applications,
waveplates for optical data storage applications,
and optical isolators for communications transceivers.
These products are realizations of NanoOptos general
product capabilities that span polarizers, phase retarders,
filters, dynamic optics, and their integration with
other optical devices, and into optical systems, utilizing
UV, visible, and IR wavelengths.
About
NanoOpto
NanoOpto Corporation is applying proprietary nano-fabrication
technology to the rapid design and high-volume manufacture
of nano-optic devices for optical components and systems.
The companys nano-meter scale optical function design
capability combined with wafer-based manufacturing
methods delivers optical components that allow more
rapid prototyping, higher performance, and lower overall
system cost. Both independently and with industry
partners, NanoOpto uses its technology to produce
superior versions of standard optical components and
new classes of integrated optical subassemblies for
both custom and general applications. The company
has received financial backing from leading venture
capitalists and is based in Somerset, New Jersey.
For additional information about NanoOpto, visit www.nanoopto.com.
About
First Analysis
First Analysis is a leading private growth-equity
investor. It has one of the longest records (20 years)
in private capital investing. It has invested over
$572 million, has created over $1.38 billion in fund
liquidations, and has over $190 million in active
portfolio investments and over $100 million to invest
in new portfolio companies. First Analysis focuses
on its three sectors of expertise: chemistry-enabled
businesses, outsourced services, and information technology,
investing for expansion and growth in small and mid-size
companies with established business models, high internal
growth rates, and large-market leadership potential.
Its goal is to help these companies establish highly
profitable leadership positions in their markets.
About
Morgenthaler Ventures
Morgenthaler Ventures, a leading venture capital and
buyout firm, was founded in 1968. The firm focuses
on early-stage technology investments as well as middle-market
management buyouts. It has funded over 180 companies
in its 33-year history, including two of the last
decades highest-performing IPOs: Microchip Technology
(1993) and Premisys Communications (1995). Current
representative portfolio investments in communications
include optical and wireless components companies
such as Agility Communications, Lightwave Microsystems,
and Peregrine Semiconductor, as well as systems companies
such as Catena Networks and TimesTen. With its new
$850-million fund raised earlier this year, the firm
has a total of just under $2.0 billion under management.
About
Draper Fisher Jurvetson Gotham Ventures Draper Fisher
Jurvetson Gotham Ventures is an early-stage information
technology venture capital firm with approximately
$100 million of capital under management, focused
on investment opportunities in New York and the surrounding
regions. The fund is managed by Ross H.
Goldstein, Daniel J. Schultz and Charles Meakem, and
is an affiliate fund of Draper Fisher Jurvetson, a
leading venture capital firm in Silicon Valley.
About
Draper Fisher Jurvetson New England Based in Cambridge,
MA, DFJ New England is an early-stage venture capital
firm, providing expert counsel and financing to emerging
companies that display the promise of significant
growth and value creation. DFJ New England is the
New England affiliate of Draper Fisher Jurvetson,
a top-tier Silicon Valley venture fund known for visionary
early-stage investment. DFJ New England invests in
information technology companies, with emphasis on
enterprise software and the building block technologies
for computing and communications. It brings to bear
both the long experience of its principals and the
extensive resources of the DFJ network to help portfolio
companies make key decisions and secure customers,
partners, executives, and later round financing.
About
Harris & Harris Group, Inc.
Harris & Harris Group, Inc., is a publicly-traded
(NASDAQ: TINY) venture capital company that now makes
initial investments exclusively in tiny technology,
including nanotechnology, microsystems and microelectromechanical
systems (MEMS). The Companys last 22 initial private
equity investments have been in tiny-technology enabled
companies.
About
U.S. Trusts Excelsior Venture Partners III LLC Excelsior
Venture Partners III, L.L.C, is the newest private
equity fund managed by the Private Equity Division
of U.S. Trust. The fund was raised in May 2001 with
an investment focus on information technology, communications,
life sciences, and information services. The Private
Equity Division manages two other funds: UST Private
Equity Investors Fund, Inc., and Excelsior Private
Equity Fund II, Inc. The Division manages $400 million
across all three funds.
Amy
Foschetti
Interprose PR
(704) 849-0433
amy_foschetti@interprosepr.com
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