SAN JOSE, Calif. -- ePlanet Ventures, the world's leading global venture capital firm headquartered in Silicon Valley, California, has announced investment in FOI, a leading Japanese semiconductor equipment maker specializing in etching equipment with original competitive
plasma technologies. The Company is based in Kanagawa, Japan.FOI focuses on etching equipment, which is technically the most difficult part of the semiconductor manufacturing process and is the single largest capital investment for the semiconductor makers. Etching is used repeatedly to develop layers of electrical circuitry that is horizontally stacked on top of each other.
FOI's proprietary technology enables them to deliver significant value to its customers over its competitors. FOI continues to grow in the face of global economic recession and contracting semiconductor market. ePlanet Managing Director, Jerry Cho mentioned, "We have been impressed at FOI's competitive positioning and continued growth in the face of the global economic downturn."
Commenting on the occasion, Asad Jamal, Chairman and CEO of ePlanet Ventures, said, "We are very excited to invest in FOI as we believe in the company's growth prospects. The investment further widened the breadth and diversity of ePlanet Venture's portfolio in the semiconductor sector, and we intend to leverage on our expertise to help FOI expand internationally."
ABOUT EPLANET VENTURES
ePlanet Ventures is a leading global venture capital firm headquartered in Silicon Valley, with international offices in London, New Delhi, Bangalore, Shanghai, and Beijing, as well as a presence in Hong Kong, Seoul and Tokyo. ePlanet Ventures has funded over 80 innovative high-growth companies world-wide, including landmark deals Baidu (NASDAQ: BIDU), Skype (sold to eBay for approx. US$3B in 2005), and Focus Media (NASDAQ: FMCN). ePlanet is one of the leaders in promoting the cross-border migration of technological innovation, business models and entrepreneurship. The Firm has made investments in sectors such as the Internet (consumer Internet, Internet services and applications), wireless communications and applications, VoIP and other broadband services, entertainment, semiconductor design, life sciences and other emerging services sectors. ePlanet also seeks to make investments in traditional, established industries where business-model improvements have the power to create category-dominant companies in the world's fastest growing markets. The firm has won the China Venture Capital Association Exit of the Year 2005 for Baidu, and the European Venture Capital Association Deal of the Year 2005 Award for Skype, and has been profiled in FORBES Feb. 2007 as a "Pioneer in Global Venture Capital". Asad Jamal, Chairman and CEO of ePlanet Ventures was recently profiled in FORBES MIDAS List 2008 as a top 10 venture capitalists in the world.
ABOUT FOI
FOI is a semiconductor etching equipment maker with strength of competitive plasma technologies based out of Kanagawa, Japan. The Company provides etching equipment for the 45nm and below design rules. FOI has invested heavily in R&D over the past 13 years and produced or applied for more than 50 patents that surround its technology. FOI's customers include some of the world's largest memory makers in East Asia, mainly in Taiwan. The Company is currently ranked no.4 in dielectric etching equipment market segment behind Tokyo Electron Limited (TYO:8035), Lam Research (LRCX) and Applied Materials (AMAT), and has the fastest growth rate amongst them.