Crocus Technology Licenses ARM SecurCore Processor

ARM SecurCore SC000 processor to complement Crocus's innovative MLU™ technology

Cambridge, UK and Grenoble, France – February 6, 2014 -- ARM® and Crocus Technology today announce that Crocus has licensed the ARM SecurCore® SC000 ™ processor. Crocus's new range of secure microcontrollers will combine SecurCore technology with Crocus's innovative Magnetic Logic Unit™ (MLU) architecture. The combined strengths of these two advanced technologies will enable companies to more easily develop secure, energy-efficient and high-performance new smart card products at low cost.

Digital security has become a key issue for today's businesses and consumers. This agreement underlines ARM's commitment to delivering advanced security for the next generation of intelligent digital devices and systems. The ARM SecurCore SC000 processor is the leading 32-bit solution for secure components and products, including SIM cards, smart cards and in-package secure enclaves. The partnership of this processor with Crocus MLU technology delivers an important new product to the market.

"ARM is pleased to be working closely with Crocus to enable and protect our increasingly connected world," said Noel Hurley, deputy general manager, CPU Group, ARM. "This partnership will build on the strong trust in smart, energy-efficient ARM-based technologies and the networks connecting them. Businesses need to deliver next-generation security at all levels, from smart cards to servers."

"Crocus is delighted to be taking our disruptive MLU security forward with ARM," said Bertrand Cambou, executive chairman, Crocus. "Combining the widely adopted ARM SecurCore processor with Crocus's disruptive MLU technology further enhances industry recognition of Crocus's products and their compliance with industry standards.

Crocus products are highly secure, easy to use and affordable. Security has become a key issue in areas where ARM partners set the pace. This is in the mobile space, where transactions are expected to reach 3.2 trillion dollars in 2017 (Juniper Research, June 2013) and in the embedded market as the Internet of Things accelerates.

Crocus's MLU is a rugged magnetic technology built upon standard bulk CMOS devices. It brings advantages in high speed, security and robust performance at lower cost to embedded products and non-volatile memory blocks across smart cards, mobile phones and data servers. MLU devices are also used as basic cells in the design of magnetic sensors that offer advantages in high sensitivity, low-noise, low-cost, and high temperature for consumer and industrial applications. It is predicted that there will be 30 billion internet-connected devices by 2020 (Bill Morelli, analyst, Electronics & Media, IHS, 'ARM to bring the Internet of Things to Life at its Cambridge Campus', 25 July 2013).

About ARM

ARM designs the technology that is at the heart of advanced digital products, from wireless, networking and consumer entertainment solutions to imaging, automotive, security and storage devices. ARM's comprehensive product offering includes RISC microprocessors, graphics processors, video engines, enabling software, cell libraries, embedded memories, high-speed connectivity products, peripherals and development tools. Combined with comprehensive design services, training, support and maintenance, and the company's broad Partner community, they provide a total system solution that offers a fast, reliable path to market for leading electronics companies.

About Crocus Technology

Crocus Technology is a leading developer of magnetically enhanced semiconductor technologies for mobile security, embedded microcontrollers, harsh environment electronics and magnetic sensors.

Crocus has pioneered Magnetic Logic Unit™ (MLU), a disruptive CMOS-based rugged magnetic technology. MLU offers important advantages in high speed, security, and robust performance at lower cost for its broadening portfolio of embedded products and non-volatile memory blocks. It licenses its MLU architecture to TowerJazz and other foundries for integration in production processes. Crocus is gearing up to market standalone, tamper-resistant MLU-based microcontrollers it is developing with IBM. These fast read and write small footprint MLU products enhance the performance and security of chips for smart cards, mobile phones and data servers. The market entry of Crocus' magnetic sensors that bring high sensitivity, low-noise, low-cost, and high temperature performance (250°C) to consumer and industrial applications is also planned in the coming months.

Founded in 2004, Crocus is led by a senior management team with high-level industry experience forged in Motorola, AMD, Intel, Texas Instruments and Gemalto. It has US operations in Santa Clara, California, and offices in Grenoble and Gardanne, France. It jointly owns Crocus Nano Electronics, a Russian-based advanced magnetic semiconductor manufacturing facility, with investment firm Rusnano. For more information: http://www.crocus-technology.com