Product category: Communications ICs (Wired)
News Release from: Frontier Silicon
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial Team on 23 October 2003

Fabless Frontier gathers support

Imagination Technologies, Apax Partners' Funds and Alta Berkeley have combined to support fabless semiconductor business Frontier Silicon

Imagination Technologies, Apax Partners' Funds and Alta Berkeley have combined to support Frontier Silicon, the fabless semiconductor business whose core products include SoC devices for digital TV, digital radio and other consumer multimedia products. Apax Partners' Funds and Alta Berkeley, two of the world's leading technology private equity investment groups, have provided the funds to significantly expand Frontier Silicon's resources, enabling further development of its digital radio and digital television products as the company enters its second phase of growth.

The multi-million-USD investment will reinforce Frontier Silicon's leading market position in digital radio (DAB) and accelerate entry into new markets.

Frontier Silicon's Board will be strengthened with the appointment of three senior Non-Executive Directors, Pete Magowan (Partner, Alta Berkeley and formerly VP of Sales and Marketing of ARM Holdings), Jonathan Brooks (formerly CFO of ARM Holdings) and Michael Risman (Director of Apax Partners and Non-Executive Director of Dialog Semiconductor).

In conjunction with this investment Frontier Silicon has also signed a further licensing and joint development agreement with Imagination Technologies.

Under that agreement Imagination Technologies, a leader in system-on-chip intellectual property (SoC IP), is providing a range of additional technologies to Frontier Silicon, which it will use in its digital radio and television products.

The two companies will also co-operate under a strategic partnership to develop next-generation digital radio and multimedia SoCs.

Frontier Silicon DAB chips and modules account for over 80% of DAB sales worldwide and its customers include leading brands such as Bush, Goodmans, Grundig, Ministry of Sound, Pure Digital and Teac.

Frontier Silicon has shipped over 300,000 DAB modules and Chorus chips to date.

The advanced capabilities of its Chorus DAB processor include DAB, digital audio, MP3 and MPEG-4 video decode.

Anthony Sethill, CEO and founder of, Frontier Silicon, said: "We are extremely pleased to have Apax Partners and Alta Berkeley as investors.

The investment will help us to build on the company's success to date.

Frontier Silicon has established itself as the number one provider of digital radio (DAB) processors, which have enabled that market to reach its current impressive growth in the UK.

This investment will reinforce what we are doing in the digital radio market and help us to achieve the same level of success in other digital broadcast markets, particularly digital television".

Michael Risman, Director, Apax Partners commented: "Frontier Silicon has achieved remarkable growth since the company was founded.

We are delighted to have helped bring this deal together and look forward to helping the new executive team achieve their objective of building a strong new company in the broadcast multimedia market".

Commented Pete Magowan, Alta Berkeley Venture Partners: "After extensive research it became apparent that Frontier Silicon presents a very exciting opportunity in the rapidly growing digital consumer market.

Its unique combination of clear technology leadership, blue chip customer base and a world-class team underpin Frontier's exciting growth prospects.

We look forward to helping the company to realise its full potential".

Hossein Yassaie, CEO, Imagination Technologies, said: "We are delighted that Frontier Silicon has rapidly matured from a start up to a fast growing mainstream semiconductor company.

This investment will give Frontier increased independence and the resources required to continue its growth.

Our extended strategic relationship in DAB, and joint development programme, will create leading and innovative SoCs for Frontier".

Sethill went on to comment, "I would like to thank my colleagues at Frontier Silicon, who have worked tirelessly over the past 2 years to drive the business during its startup phase".

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