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EATONTOWN, N.J. and Tokyo -- August 1, 2001 -- OpNext, Inc., a global
supplier of active fiber optic components and modules, announced it
has closed a $321 million investment from Clarity Group, an equal
partnership between Clarity Partners, a Los Angeles-based private
equity investment firm, and Marubeni Group, a major Japan-based trading
house. OpNext was formed from the Fiber Optic Components Business
Unit of Hitachi Ltd.'s (NYSE: HIT YSE: 6501) Telecommunications &
Information Infrastructure Systems Group. OpNext will use this capital
to expand its manufacturing capacity, establish a worldwide sales
and marketing team, grow its research and development program and
develop new products to meet the future needs of its customers.
“Hitachi's heritage as a leader in semiconductors and optical
lasers, combined with a proven history of reliability and customer
satisfaction, provides a tremendous base upon which OpNext will build
its components and modules business,” said OpNext Chairman Masaaki
Hayashi, Senior Vice President and Director, Senior Group Executive
of Hitachi, Ltd.'s Information & Telecommunication Systems Group.
“Since OpNext's creation last year, the former Hitachi division
has already turned into a successful stand-alone entity with a world
class management team,” said Dr. David Lee, Co-Chairman of OpNext
and Managing General Partner of Clarity Partners. “Clarity is
pleased with the progress made to date and the direction of the business
plan for 2001 and beyond”
OpNext will be launching a line of 40 Gb/s transceiver modules in
2002 that will offer the highest speed optical transmission available,
and will continue to expand its range of active components and modules.
OpNext, Inc.
OpNext, Inc. (www.opnext.com),
is a global supplier of optical components and modules for the data
and telecommunications industries. Its business is focused on active
components and modules to power fiber optic communications networks,
including state-of-the-art laser diode modules as well as transmitters,
receivers, and transceivers. The company has headquarters in Eatontown,
N.J., and major development and manufacturing facilities in Japan
and the United States.
Hitachi Ltd.
Hitachi, Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is one of the world's
leading global electronics companies, with fiscal 2000 (ended March
31, 2001) consolidated sales of 8,417 billion yen ($67.9 billion*)
The company manufactures and markets a wide range of products, including
computers, semiconductors, consumer products and power and industrial
equipment. For more information on Hitachi, Ltd., please visit Hitachi's
Web site at http://global.hitachi.com
* At an exchange rate of 124 yen to the dollar.
Clarity Partners
Clarity Partners, a private equity investment firm based in Los Angeles,
California, invests exclusively in communications, media and related
technology companies. The firm's partners have extensive experience
in successfully creating, investing in, managing and financing companies
at all stages of development. Clarity Partners brings together investment
professionals who were involved in three of the most successful transactions
in the communications industry in the last decade, Global Crossing,
Ltd. WebTV Networks, Inc. and Univision Communications, Inc. In addition
to OpNext, Inc. Clarity has invested in MetroPCS, and is leading an
investment group that has agreed to acquire the PrimeCo Chicago PCS
property.
Marubeni Group
Established in 1858, Marubeni Corporation (www.marubeni.co.jp),
as a core company of Marubeni Group, is one of Japan's leading general
trading houses, with operations that encompass domestic import, export
and offshore trade. Activities range from the development of natural
resources to the retailed marketing of finished products. For the
past several years, Marubeni Group has been establishing and enhancing
its worldwide information and communication business. Marubeni Group
continues to create comprehensive IT services through investment.
* At an exchange rate of 106 yen to the dollar
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