Applied Micro Circuits

In 1979, a group of engineers, including Al Shugart, who was previously a key figure at IBM and Memorex, decided to venture out on their own, founding Applied Micro Circuits Corporation (AMCC). Their initial focus was on designing and manufacturing bipolar and CMOS logic arrays, essential components for the burgeoning electronics industry. The company established itself as a reliable supplier of high-performance integrated circuits. A significant chapter in AMCC's story began in 1997 with its Initial Public Offering (IPO). This event provided the capital needed to expand its product lines and invest in research and development, particularly in the optical networking space. The company shifted its focus towards developing sophisticated embedded processors and storage solutions, aiming to power the next generation of internet infrastructure and data centers. The final turn in their journey as an independent entity came in 2017. MACOM Technology Solutions, another semiconductor company, acquired AMCC in a deal valued at approximately $770 million. This acquisition marked the end of AMCC's nearly four-decade run as a standalone company but integrated its valuable networking and processing technology into a larger portfolio, continuing its legacy within the industry.