Tessera Technologies Announces Refocused DigitalOptics Business Strategy and Restructuring

DOC Will Concentrate on its Differentiated Technology and Leverage Partner Relationships

Company Operating Expenses in DOC and Corporate Overhead Are Expected to be Reduced by $78 Million or Approximately 45%, Excluding Charges

SAN JOSE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Tessera Technologies, Inc. (NAS: TSRA) (the “Company”) today announced that it is refocusing its DigitalOptics Corporation (“DOC“) business strategy to achieve the full potential of its differentiated imaging technology while reducing costs. The Company expects to reduce operating expenses in DigitalOptics Corporation (“DOC“) and Corporate Overhead by approximately $78 million, or 45%, on an annualized basis exiting 2013, as compared to 2012.

The Company has determined that it is no longer necessary for DOC to be a vertically integrated camera module supplier. DOC will instead focus its strategy on the differentiated MEMS-related technologies, where it has proprietary assembly technology and expertise, and will partner with third-party manufacturers to produce other components of the full camera module. DOC will continue to productize the mems|cam technology throughout the rest of the year, and expects to ship small production volumes of its technology in 2013.

The refocused DOC strategy and restructuring resulted from a business strategy review directed by a committee of independent directors (the “Committee”), led by Richard S. Hill, former chairman and CEO of Novellus Systems. The Committee worked with management to evaluate the Company’s overall business opportunity, strategy and operating model. The Committee and the Board of Directors will continue to monitor the DOC business closely to ensure that its strategy and business model are appropriate for the market opportunity.

“Our Board is taking action to deliver value for our stockholders in both the near and long term,” said Hill. “DOC‘s recently launched mems|cam technology is a disruptive technology that will be an inflection point in – and the future of – imaging solutions in the smartphone, tablet and other mobile imaging segments. Given the emerging acceptance of the mems|cam technology in the marketplace, we can now shift our strategy to focus on the areas of manufacturing where we have a defensible, differentiated advantage and better leverage our manufacturing partners. Our goal is to accelerate the success of DOC while reducing costs, which we expect to improve the overall financial performance of the Company.”

“These actions will result in a less capital-intensive approach for our DOC business, which will enable us to continue to innovate and develop the product and manufacturing capabilities that …read more
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