1 November 2011

SPTS appoints industry veteran Nothhaft as non-executive chairman

Plasma etch, deposition and thermal processing equipment maker SPTS Technologies Ltd of Newport, Wales, UK has appointed Henry R. ‘Hank’ Nothhaft as non-executive chairman, providing leadership to the board of directors and assisting senior management with business and corporate development strategies, as well as providing end-market insights.

SPTS says that Nothhaft is recognized as an entrepreneur and industry trailblazer in high-tech markets, having grown several successful companies as CEO and chairman, including Danger Inc (later acquired by Microsoft) and Concentric Network Corp. From 2004 to 2011, he was a board member and, from 2008, chairman, president & CEO of Tessera Technologies Inc, a developer of semiconductor packaging technology.

Nothhaft has also served on a number of boards of directors, including DSC Communications, VMX Systems, Concentric Network Corp, Ocular Networks, Vertical Networks and David Systems, and has recently been appointed to the board of Openwave Systems Inc. He also served on the telecommunications advisory board of Compaq Computer Corp.

“I’ve observed their amazing growth over the past 2 years, and am looking forward to working with a motivated and talented management team,” comments Nothhaft about SPTS.

SPTS was formed by parent firm Sumitomo Precisions Products Co Ltd (SPP) in October 2009 to merge predecessor firm Surface Technology Systems plc (STS) together with assets acquired from Aviza Technology Inc, including Newport-based single-wafer process equipment subsidiary Aviza Technology Ltd (ATL) and Aviza’s Scotts Valley-based Thermal Products business. Also, last December saw completion of the transfer of ownership from SPP to SPTS of Primaxx Inc of Allentown, PA, USA, which provides residue-free micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) dry etch release equipment.

SPTS Technologies provides etch, PVD, CVD and thermal process manufacturing equipment for applications including MEMS, power management, advanced packaging, high-speed RF components on GaAs, and high-brightness LEDs. With about 560 staff in manufacturing, sales and service operations across 19 countries, SPTS serves device makers from its main manufacturing facilities in Newport, Wales, UK and San Jose, CA, USA. In 2010 it generated sales of $217m and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) of $58m. This June, SPTS was acquired from SPP by its management, backed by European private equity firm Bridgepoint.

“Our company is on an exciting growth path following the June 2011 management acquisition, and Hank’s record of growing technology companies demonstrates a unique ability to see beyond current market needs,” says SPTS’ president & CEO Dr William Johnson. “We believe Hank’s extensive business acumen in taking different businesses to market and making them successful further strengthens an already impressive SPTS executive team,” comments Bridgepoint partner and SPTS board member Kevin Reynolds.

An advocate for government policies that nurture innovation, small businesses and start-ups, Nothhaft has authored articles and opinion editorials, including the book ‘Great Again: Revitalizing America’s Entrepreneurial Leadership’, a call to revive America’s entrepreneurial spirit. Nothhaft has an M.B.A. from the George Washington University in Information Systems Technology and a B.S. with distinction from the US Naval Academy. He is a former officer in the US Marine Corps and a Vietnam veteran.

See related items:

SPTS completes management buyout from SPP

SPTS management buy-out from SPP gets backing from Bridgepoint

Tags: SPTS SiC-on-Si substrates BluGlass RPCVD GaN InGaN PVD ALD Etch

Visit: www.spts.com