POET Technologies Announces Changes in Executive Leadership and University of Connecticut License Agreement
February 11th, 2014
Toronto, ON and Storrs, CT, February 11, 2014 – POET Technologies Inc. (TSX-V: PTK and OTCQX: POETF) (“POET”) or (the “Company”) today announced, changes to the Executive team and Board:
- Peter Copetti has been named Executive Chairman and interim CEO. Mr. Copetti previously served as Executive Director and Chair of the Special Strategic Committee (SSC), which was dissolved, as previously reported, following its final report to POET’s Board of Directors.
- Leon M. Pierhal has stepped aside as CEO and will continue his role as President and member of the Board.
- Mark Benadiba has stepped down as Executive Chairman of the Board and will remain a member of the Board, as Vice Chairman
The changes to the Executive leadership team and Board are effective immediately.
Mr. Peter Copetti, incoming Executive Chairman and interim CEO commented: “I am delighted to assume leadership of the Company’s operational responsibility and strategic vision. I take the fiduciary duties associated with these appointments seriously, and intend to continue to provide superior returns and value to shareholders. On behalf of the Board, I would like thank Mark and Leon for their commitment and contributions, and will continue to work with both of them in progressing POET’s story to the next phase, which is expected to culminate in the monetization of POET’s proprietary platform and processes.”
Mr. Copetti added: “Currently, POET is at an advanced stage in its 16-year development history. We are determined to be first to market with a practical compound semiconductor solution in the industry’s race to sustain Moore’s Law beyond the constraints of traditional silicon.”
“POET intends to go to market with the world’s first completely integrated optical and electrical device operating on a single die, and to fulfill its promise of vastly superior processing speed and energy utilization in a patented production process that can ultimately be retrofitted to conventional fabs,” concluded Mr. Copetti.
Mr. Leon M. Pierhal, President commented, “Semiconductors, computer technology and telecommunications were all, at one time, emerging industries in my forty-plus years in the technology industry. As a co-founder of POET, I’m immensely proud of my participation throughout the organization’s development life cycle. In this time, I steered the Company through infancy, and shepherded POET safely through turbulent change. POET has since evolved from its origins as pure R&D, to a publicly-traded going concern trading on two markets in Canada and the U.S., to where it stands today – at an inflection point, where monetization of the POET platform is on the horizon, with fully-integrated optical-electronic chips leading the way for the semiconductor industry’s next generation chip technology.”
Mr. Pierhal continued, “Our position firm, I’ve decided to step aside as CEO and stay on as President and a member of the Board. This change in role allows me to spend time with family, and tend to overdue personal commitments that had been put aside, due to the arduous demands needed to bring POET to where it is today. Having worked closely with Mr. Peter Copetti over the past eighteen months, I am confident in Peter’s ability to serve as CEO, and look forward to continuing to work together. I firmly believe Peter will deliver significant value on behalf of all stakeholders, and play a pivotal role in bringing the Company’s technology to market.”
Mark Benadiba, Vice Chairman, noted: “I want to personally express my gratitude to our Board and shareholders for the support they have given me through my tenure as Chairman. Of special note is that, without Peter and his tremendous efforts, we would not have accomplished the objectives that we have to date. I am certain that his leadership will serve our shareholders well going forward. Thank you, all.”
POET Technologies Inc. – News Release of February 11, 2014
The Company also wishes to announce that it has entered into a term sheet with the University of Connecticut (“the University”) to restructure its license agreement of April 8, 2003 (the “License Agreement”). The parties confirmed that the licenses granted pursuant to the License Agreement are in full force and are irrevocable.
While the maintenance fee provisions of the License Agreement remain unchained, the parties agreed to restructure the payment provisions by reducing the royalty payment to three percent (3%) of amounts received from unaffiliated third parties in respect of the exploitation of the Intellectual Property defined in the License Agreement.
In consideration for the favorable restructuring of the royalty terms, the Company will provide the University 2,000,000 common shares, subject to approval by the TSX Venture Exchange; trading of these shares is restricted until May 31, 2016. The restructuring is subject to the final execution of the formal amendment to the License Agreement.
Mr. Copetti stated: “I am extremely pleased with the University of Connecticut’s vote of confidence in POET, exhibited by their taking an equity stake in the Company as an alternative to a higher potential royalty revenue stream. At the same time, their decision will greatly enhance the Company’s ability to monetize the POET technology and create shareholder value.”
The Company remains on track with its technology roadmap, and will shortly be providing updates to all stakeholders on progress and achieved milestones to date.
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