US-listed technology provider Qualcomm’s €100m ($120m) European corporate venturing fund has led the fourth round of funding for miniature camera parts maker Anteryon.
Qualcomm Ventures Europe, which is one of a series of the parent company’s corporate venturing vehicles across the US, South Korea, Japan and China, led the latest round, with participation from another new investor, Euronext-listed Quest for Growth investment fund, and repeat investors French bank BNP Paribas’ private equity division and Biggell Finance.
Netherlands-based Anteryon declined to reveal the size of the latest round, having previously raised $10m in September from Dutch private equity firm Mentha Capital and BNP Paribas Private Equity and €5m ($6m) in the previous January’s series B round. Private investors acquired Anteryon, the former optics division of Dutch conglomerate Philips, in 2006.
Anteryon said the latest funding would be used for its WaferOptics optical module production technology and to build a production facility in Asia given sales of one billion camera phones each year.
Gert Jan Bloks, chief executive of Anteryon, said: "This new investment will enable us to boost our worldwide manufacturing facilities, including extension of the facilities in Eindhoven and the set up of a new state of the art production facility in the Far East. In order to meet the high-volume market demand, we will also investigate additional ways of scaling our business, such as partnering with other players in the supply chain and/or licensing our technology."
Frederic Rombaut, managing director of Qualcomm Ventures Europe, said: "Anteryon has a unique position in this promising market for WaferOptics, both in terms of product design and manufacturing capabilities. Anteryon has what it takes to lead and accelerate this market to dramatically improve miniaturization and cost reduction of camera modules, enabling a new generation of camera phones and handheld devices."