Semtech Announces Settlement of Lawsuit against HiLight and Related Defendants
Semtech to be paid damages, costs and attorneys’ fees
Semtech Corporation (Nasdaq: SMTC), a leading supplier of high performance analog and mixed-signal
semiconductors and advanced algorithms, today announced the settlement of a lawsuit filed against HiLight Semiconductor Limited
(“HiLight”) and related individual Defendants in accordance with which Semtech is to be paid approximately $9 million to cover
damages for claims, costs and attorneys’ fees.
In 2016 Semtech’s subsidiaries, EMEA Limited (“Semtech”) and Gennum UK Ltd., commenced legal proceedings in the English High
Court against HiLight and various former Semtech employees subsequently employed by HiLight. The individual Defendants in the
proceedings at the time of settlement were:
John Gary Steele
Patrick Richard
Michael Vandenberg
Derek Hutchins
George Brocklehurst
Dominique Coué, and
Robin Commander.
Among various claims, Semtech alleged that Mr. Steele and the other individual Defendants had (i) breached various
non-competition and/or non-solicitation obligations and induced other individuals to do the same, and (ii) taken intellectual
property and other proprietary information from Semtech in breach of confidence and used that confidential information to design
competing transimpedence amplifier (TIA) products for HiLight.
Mohan Maheswaran, Semtech’s President and CEO, commented, “ We are pleased with the outcome of this lawsuit and are resolute in
our belief that our innovation, intellectual property and trade secrets need to be vigorously protected across all regions of the
world, and we will seek to defend the company against any unfair practices that we believe hurts our shareholder value.”
In settlement of the claims, Semtech is to be paid approximately $9 million, of which Semtech already has received approximately
$6.7 million.
The prior guidance provided by Semtech Corporation for its second quarter of fiscal year 2019 did not reflect any impact of this
settlement. Any queries regarding the legal proceeding should be directed to Semtech’s Executive Vice President and General
Counsel, Charles B. Ammann.
About Semtech
Semtech Corporation is a leading supplier of high performance analog and mixed-signal semiconductors and advanced algorithms for
high-end consumer, enterprise computing, communications, and industrial equipment. Products are designed to benefit the engineering
community as well as the global community. The Company is dedicated to reducing the impact it, and its products, have on the
environment. Internal green programs seek to reduce waste through material and manufacturing control, use of green technology and
designing for resource reduction. Publicly traded since 1967, Semtech is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol
SMTC. For more information, visit www.semtech.com.
Semtech and the Semtech logo are registered trademarks of Semtech Corporation or its affiliates.
SMTC-P
Semtech Corporation
Sandy Harrison, (805) 480-2004
rgrech@semtech.com
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