Bookham to Acquire Avalon Photonics for VCSELs

Bookham agreed to acquire Avalon Photonics, a supplier of single-mode and multimode Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers (VCSEL) chips, arrays and subassemblies for sensing and datacom applications, for approximately 765,000 shares of Bookham common stock valued at approximately $5.5 million on signing, and a potential additional 348,000 share earn-out based upon Avalon achieving certain revenue and production performance criteria over a two-year period.



Avalon, which is based in Zurich, Switzerland, developed a single-spatial-mode VCSELs suitable for many sensing and measurement applications and the latest generation of 4GB transceivers.




"The acquisition of Avalon strengthens Bookham's product portfolio by adding a new chip technology -- VCSELs -- to our already broad chip-design. This technology will extend our product offerings in the datacom and sensing markets, areas we believe offer good growth opportunities," said Dr. Giorgio Anania, president and CEO of Bookham Inc.

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