Boston, MA - August 14, 2006 -- Strategy Analytics' latest study, "Markets for SI GaAs Epitaxial Substrates 2005-2010," shows that Kopin, Hitachi Cable and IQE were the top three merchant suppliers of epitaxial material in 2005 as merchant demand for SI GaAs epitaxial substrates jumped 44 percent. This study predicts that healthy demand, coupled with tight supply, will translate to increased revenues for merchant suppliers. The total semi-insulating (SI) GaAs epitaxial substrate market will be worth $487 million in 2010.

While the market share picture at the top has largely remained unchanged over the past few years, the Asia-Pacific vendors established themselves as viable alternatives to North American and Japanese suppliers in 2005 and will continue to threaten the dominant suppliers.

"Year-on-year, the combined output at VPEC and MBE Technology increased 145 percent in 2005. The two companies accounted for 15 percent of SI GaAs epitaxial merchant supply," said Asif Anwar, Director of the Strategy Analytics GaAs and Compound Semiconductor Technologies service. "We expect to see continued growth across the whole industry and the Asia-Pacific suppliers will want to be at the forefront of this growth in 2006."

"We will see some significant shifts in market share in 2006. In particular, IQE's acquisition of the Emcore GaAs epi business will challenge market leaders, Kopin and Hitachi Cable," predicts Stephen Entwistle, Vice President of the Strategic Technologies Practice at Strategy Analytics. "Also, VPEC and MBE Technology are well positioned to take advantage of ramps at GaAs device foundries in their region which could see them gain market share in 2006."