ON DEMAND Microelectronics announces Closing of Series A financing

Vienna, Austria. November 17, 2005. ON DEMAND Microelectronics (ODM), the world’s first company to deliver a fully software-programmable semiconductor IC solution for processing of high-definition digital video for the global US$ 70 billion (2008) digital television market (DTV), announces today the closing of its Series A financing round, resulting in US$ 12 million in financing raised by ODM to date. High Tech Private Equity GmbH (HTB), a widely acknowledged entrepreneurial private equity company based in Düsseldorf (Germany) co-lead the round with the existing investor gamma capital partners (GCP), in a syndicate with Bank Austria Gründerfonds, the venture arm of Bank Austria Creditanstalt (HVB Group) and Austria Wirtschaftsservice (AWS).

“The combination of high growth markets, trend-setting technology and a team with an outstanding track record makes ODM an exciting and highly promising investment opportunity for High Tech Private Equity GmbH”, says Erich Hacker, managing director of High Tech Private Equity GmbH. “We are looking forward to taking part in ODM’s next phase of growth with its focus on expanding into the booming Asian Pacific (APAC) market and continuing product innovation.”

“Since ODM establishment in 2002 we closely followed the company’s development and the progress ODM has made is exceptional. ODM’s innovative technology will help define the next generation of digital video solutions, and we are excited being part of it”, says Herbert Krippner, managing director of Gründerfonds.

ODM is a semicon leader in the development of digital TV solutions, offering fully software-programmable cores for high definition, multi-standard video -, image - and base band processing.

“As a direct spin-off of Analog Devices Inc. the company had a jump start in developing the leading technology for the upcoming global high-definition digital video revolution”, explains Klaus Matzka, founding partner of gamma capital partners. “The silicon proven multi-standard video processing solution (MPEG2, MPEG4, H.264, VC-1) will lead the global market in a renewed growth phase over the next five to ten years!”

“We are extremely satisfied to have attracted such strong funding partners. That allows us to further strengthen our early market position,” says Christian Tiringer, CEO of ODM, “ON DEMAND Microelectronics is currently expanding into the APAC region, after entering the US market in 2004. Our global expansion is accompanied by extremely strong response of prospects and customers worldwide!”

About ON DEMAND Microelectronics
ODM is a leading global vendor of IP and SoCs for the upcoming global digital video revolution. The basis for ODM’s product portfolio is the silicon proven VSP (Vector Signal Processor) – a scalable, configurable and fully software-programmable processor. The VSP is most suitable for handling applications of digital signal processing with extremely high performance demands making it ideal for the target market of digital video. The revolutionary VSP features a scalable architecture and adjusts to the processing power. This programmable software and scalable architecture can be licensed with the entire tool chain for target applications.

One of the primary IP cores offered by ODM is SVEN – the Scalable Video ENgine. SVEN is the first processor in the market capable of handling high definition multi-standard compliant video codec implementations such as H.264, VC-1, and MPEG2 etc. for resolutions up to 1080i/720p on a fully programmable core. SVEN enables seamlessly integrated single chip solutions with extreme performance characteristics at lowest possible costs and power requirements. Supporting SVEN, ODM offers PICTOR and SAMBA. PICTOR is an image processing platform for high end image processing that seamlessly integrates with the SVEN. With SAMBA ODM is the first on the market offering an IP for multi-standard base band processing such as DVB-T and ATSC.

ODM’ s product portfolio enables its global customers to enter the digital TV and video market faster than its competitors, with the added benefits of modular tailoring of their application, reduced time to market cycles, minimized risks, prolonged product life cycles and extremely high efficiency in reacting to the dynamics of volatile markets.

ODM was founded in 2002 as a direct spin-off from Analog Devices. ODM´s corporate headquarters and design center is based in Vienna, Austria, sales- and support offices are located in Austin/Texas, Munich and Taipei.

About gcp - gamma capital partners
gamma capital partners – the VenturePreneurs (gcp) is the leading player in the Austrian venture capital market. Established in June 2002, gcp currently advises two high-tech venture capital funds: iLab24 (2000 vintage) and gamma II (2003 vintage). Both funds are backed by leading Austrian institutional and private investors and target investment opportunities in tech-oriented growth firms in Austria - such as ODM - and in neighbouring countries.
www.gamma-capital.com

About Gründerfonds
Gründerfonds GmbH & Co KEG is the start-up and early expansion stage vehicle of BA-CA Private Equity, the VC/PE branch of Bank Austria Creditanstalt, Austria’s largest banking group. Gründerfonds is part of a finance group comprising early to late-stage equity finance and mezzanine finance with a total fund volume of € 195 million.
www.privateequity.at

About High Tech Private Equity GmbH
High Tech Private Equity GmbH is an entrepreneurial private equity company, located in Düsseldorf, Germany. The company invests a fund volume of 150 million EUR, provided by 19 well-known institutional investors. With a single investment-range of 3 to 10 million EUR, High Tech Private Equity GmbH is one of the few private equity companies offering financial solutions to the so called "Mittelstand" as well as to young companies with a substantial growth potential. In both cases, establishing new technologies is a primarily investment focus - therefore ODM fits excellently into the portfolio.
The investment team consists of well-experienced managers having varied know-how from former positions in areas as consulting, banking, and industry. High Tech Private Equity’s mission is to be a competent partner for its portfolio companies offering qualified hands-on support to the management, if required. The investment team underscore this mission with a private financial commitment to each single investment.
www.hightech-pe.com