Transphorm, an early stage semiconductor company focused on redefining power conversion, today announced a US $70 million investment round led by global investment firm KKR. KKR’s investment follows initial rounds of funding led by funds affiliated with Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers, Foundation Capital, Google Ventures, Soros Quantum Strategic Partners, INCJ, Fujitsu, Transphorm will use this funding to support its growth, product innovation and expansion.

AIXTRON SE announced that US company Transphorm Inc. is stepping up production of gallium nitride on silicon (GaN-on-Si) with its latest order of AIXTRON’s G5+ MOCVD system, capable of handling five 200 mm (5x8-inch) wafers. The order was made in the fourth quarter of 2012 with delivery due in the second quarter of 2013. Primit Parikh, President of Transphorm comments: “We are not just increasing our capacity with this order. This new system also expands our capability from 150 mm to 200 mm diameter wafers, providing economies of scale. We ...