Entropic Communications

Entropic Communications is a provider of semiconductor solutions for the connected home. Founded in 2001, the company is headquartered in San Diego, California, USA, and maintains offices worldwide. The fabless semiconductor company is recognized for inventing the MoCA® (Multimedia over Coax Alliance) home networking technology, creating Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) Outdoor Unit (ODU) single-wire technology, and developing the industry’s first ARM® processor and OpenGL graphics Set-top box (STB), System-on-a-Chip (SoC). Entropic completed its initial public offering on December 7, 2007, listing on the NASDAQ exchange under the ticker symbol ENTR.

Entropic was acquired by MaxLinear for a total consideration of $287 million on February 3, 2015.

Products

Entropic is the only pure-play platform semiconductor company in the connected home market and offers a diverse portfolio of integrated circuit (IC) technology and advanced platform software solutions:

• STB SoC Solutions: Entropic’s STB SoC portfolio is a comprehensive suite of digital STB components and system solutions for the worldwide satellite, terrestrial, cable and IP television, or IPTV, markets. Entropic’s STB products primarily consist of STB SoCs, but also include DOCSIS modems, interface devices and media processors.
• Home Networking Solutions: In 2004, Entropic introduced its MoCA home networking solution, which was the industry’s first chipset to transform coaxial cable into a robust home network, thus spurring the Company’s entrance into the connected home market. The Company was the first to announce MoCA 1.0, 1.1 and MoCA 2.0, and its MoCA chips are deployed at most major U.S. service providers including Comcast, Cox Communications, DIRECTV, Time Warner Cable, and Verizon as well as throughout Europe via UPC/Liberty Global.
• Broadband Access Solutions: Entropic delivers high-speed Ethernet-over-Coax (EoC) broadband access solutions, under its c.LINK™ brand. The EoC technology delivers “last few hundred meter” connectivity for high-speed broadband access to single-family homes and multiple dwelling units. The technology is predominantly deployed in China, and helps MSOs meet the government-mandated Next Generation Broadband (NGB) initiative.
• Direct Broadcast Satellite Outdoor Unit (DBS ODU) Solutions: Entropic pioneered DBS ODU technology, which simplifies the installation required to support simultaneous reception of multiple channels from multiple satellites over a single cable. The Company’s DBS ODU products include integrated circuits for its Band Translation Switch (BTS), Channel Stacking Switch (CSS™) and digital Channel Stacking Switch. Its DBS ODU technology is deployed at leading global DBS operators including DIRECTV,^[2] DISH Network, Canal Digital^[3] and Sky Italia^[4] to name a few.

Global Expansion

In 2005, the company began its global expansion with the opening of its Asia regional headquarters in Hong Kong.^[5] The company expanded its Asia-Pacific presence in Korea in 2010 and in Japan in 2011.^[6]

Controversy

In March of 2014, Entropic's former CEO Patrick Henry was charged with three misdemeanors, two of which were dropped, and one reduced to an infraction.^[7] The charges stemmed from an altercation at Sundance Film Festival involving reality TV star Ariane Bellamar.^[8] On June 19th, 2014 he was found guilty of the assault charge; his sentence consisted of a $400 fine, 40 hours of community service, and counseling for alcohol and anger management.^[9] Patrick Henry was not terminated from his position. In September of 2014 Entropic hired Barclays to explore the possibilities of selling the business, which concluded with a sale to MaxLinear on February 3, 2015.^[10] Patrick Henry resigned as CEO prior to the sale, in November of 2014.

Under Patrick Henry's leadership, Entropic Communications completed its first initial public offering and introduced several market leading technologies. On November 10th, 2014, a decision by the Board of Directors stated that it was the right time for a leadership transition, leading to Dr. Ted Tewksbury replacing Patrick Henry as interim President and Chief Executive Officer.^[11]

As of November 17th, 2015, the employee review site Glassdoor reports a 100% approval rating of the current CEO.^[12]

Major Acquisitions

• RF Magic, Inc. (2007) – Acquisition of DBS ODU technology and products^[13]
• Trident Microsystems, Inc. (2012) Acquisition of selected assets related to Trident’s STB SoC solutions, including a comprehensive suite of digital STB components and system solutions for the worldwide satellite, terrestrial, cable and IP television, or IPTV, markets^[14]
• PLX Technology, Inc. (2012) – Acquisition of selected assets relating to PLX’s direct broadcast satellite intellectual property and corresponding technologies providing an accelerated roadmap for the digital channel stacking switch, or dCSS, semiconductor product^[15]
• Mobius Semiconductor, Inc. (2013) Acquisition of assets related to low power, high performance analog mixed-signal semiconductor solutions, including high speed ADCs, DACs, ADPLLs, SERDES and other proprietary intellectual property^[16]

References