Vitesse Semiconductor
Vitesse Semiconductor was a U.S. fabless semiconductor company specializing in Ethernet, connectivity, and optical-transport integrated circuits.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Vitesse Semiconductor was a fabless American semiconductor company headquartered in Camarillo, California. The company developed integrated circuits and related components for high-performance Ethernet, carrier networking, enterprise networking, optical transport, and connectivity applications. Rather than operating its own large-scale fabrication facilities, Vitesse focused on chip design and relied on external manufacturing and supply-chain partners, a business model that allowed it to target specialized networking markets without owning semiconductor fabs. The company was founded in 1984 by Dr. Alfred S. Joseph as Vitesse Electronics Corporation. Its founders had backgrounds at Rockwell International, and the early business received substantial backing from the Norton corporation. Joseph later obtained venture financing from Sequoia Capital and New Enterprise Associates. The company changed its name to Vitesse Semiconductor in 1987. During its early development, Vitesse was among the companies exploring gallium arsenide, or GaAs, integrated circuits for high-speed computing and communications applications. Vitesse briefly pursued a scientific-computing minisupercomputer project based on its GaAs technology. The first system was produced as a demonstration model, but the business was closed in 1987 after management concluded that obtaining sufficient funding and bringing the product to market would take too long. Vitesse subsequently concentrated on semiconductor components rather than complete computing systems. Vitesse became a public company through an initial public offering in 1991. During the late 1990s and early 2000s, it expanded its technology portfolio through acquisitions, including XaQti in 1999 and Sitera and Orologic in 2000. These transactions supported the company’s movement beyond individual high-speed chips into broader networking, switching, timing, connectivity, and transport-processing solutions. Its product portfolio included Carrier Ethernet switch engines for customer-premises equipment, access networks, wireless base stations, mobile-access systems, fiber and microwave backhaul, and metropolitan networks. It also supplied Ethernet switching devices for desktop, workgroup, and local-area-network infrastructure. Other product families included Ethernet media-access controllers, copper and fiber Ethernet transceivers, packet-timing and synchronization devices, mixed-signal physical-media products, physical-layer devices, crosspoint switches, signal-integrity components, and transport-processing products for SONET/SDH, Ethernet over SONET/SDH, and optical transport network applications. The products were sold directly to original-equipment manufacturers and original-design manufacturers, as well as through component distributors and manufacturing-service providers. The company later faced substantial legal and governance problems relating to historical stock-option practices. In 2007, Vitesse agreed to pay $10.2 million to resolve a securities-fraud class-action lawsuit concerning alleged options backdating and allegedly incomplete or misleading disclosures. In 2010, two former executives, Lou Tomasetta and Eugene Hovanec, were charged in connection with securities-fraud allegations related to the backdating matter. Vitesse also reached a $3.0 million settlement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in December 2010, concluding the agency’s investigation into the company’s historical stock-option practices and accounting. In the years immediately preceding its sale, Vitesse raised capital through multiple stock offerings, including offerings in December 2012, June 2013, and June 2014. The financing activity provided working capital and general corporate funds but also diluted existing shareholders. In June 2014, the company announced a planned $23.2 million stock offering, while its largest shareholder, Raging Capital Management, purchased additional shares and increased its reported position to approximately 25 percent of outstanding shares. On March 18, 2015, Microsemi Corporation and Vitesse announced that Microsemi would acquire Vitesse. The transaction closed on April 28, 2015, ending Vitesse’s independent existence as a public semiconductor company. Microchip Technology later acquired Microsemi on May 29, 2018, bringing Vitesse’s technology and product heritage into the Microchip group.
History
Vitesse Semiconductor began in 1984 as Vitesse Electronics Corporation, founded by Dr. Alfred S. Joseph with other engineers who had worked at Rockwell International. Early financing included $30 million from the Norton corporation, followed by venture investment from Sequoia Capital and New Enterprise Associates. The company adopted the Vitesse Semiconductor name in 1987 and initially worked on high-speed semiconductor technology, including gallium arsenide integrated circuits. A short-lived effort to develop a GaAs-based minisupercomputer for scientific users was discontinued in 1987. The first machine served as a demonstration system, but management determined that the project would require more financing and development time than the company could support. Vitesse then focused on semiconductor components and became a public company through a 1991 initial public offering. The company grew through internal development and acquisitions. It purchased XaQti in 1999 and Sitera and Orologic in 2000. These acquisitions broadened its capabilities in Ethernet switching, networking interfaces, connectivity, timing, and transport processing. Vitesse ultimately served equipment makers in carrier, enterprise, access, metropolitan, wireless, and optical networking markets. Its portfolio covered Ethernet switch engines, LAN and enterprise switches, media-access controllers, copper and fiber transceivers, physical-layer devices, crosspoint switches, signal-integrity products, packet-timing and synchronization components, and transport processors for SONET/SDH and optical networking systems. The company sold through direct relationships with OEMs and original-design manufacturers, supplemented by distributors and manufacturing-service providers. Vitesse’s later history was affected by legal proceedings over stock-option practices. A 2007 class-action settlement cost the company $10.2 million. In 2010, two former executives were charged in connection with related securities-fraud allegations, and Vitesse agreed to a $3.0 million SEC settlement concerning historical options practices and accounting. The company also raised capital through stock offerings in 2012, 2013, and 2014, with the 2014 offering intended to support working capital and general corporate needs. Microsemi agreed to acquire Vitesse in 2015. The transaction was announced on March 18 and completed on April 28, ending Vitesse’s independent corporate history. Microchip Technology acquired Microsemi in 2018, so Vitesse’s technology and product lines subsequently became part of the Microchip organization.
- 2018
Microsemi acquired by Microchip Technology
[1]Microchip Technology acquired Microsemi, the company that had previously acquired Vitesse.
- 2015
Acquired by Microsemi
[1]Microsemi completed its acquisition of Vitesse on April 28, 2015.
- 2010
SEC settlement
[1]The company agreed to pay $3.0 million to resolve the SEC’s investigation into historical stock-option practices and accounting.
- 2007
Securities-fraud class-action settlement
[1]Vitesse agreed to a $10.2 million settlement concerning alleged options backdating and related disclosure issues.
- 2000
Acquisitions of Sitera and Orologic
[1]The company acquired Sitera and Orologic, broadening its networking and communications technology portfolio.
- 1999
Acquisition of XaQti
[1]Vitesse acquired XaQti as part of its expansion of semiconductor and networking capabilities.
- 1991
Initial public offering
[1]Vitesse became a publicly traded company through an initial public offering.
- 1987
Company renamed Vitesse Semiconductor
[1]The business adopted the Vitesse Semiconductor name and discontinued its minisupercomputer initiative.
- 1984
Company founded as Vitesse Electronics Corporation
[1]Dr. Alfred S. Joseph founded the company with colleagues from Rockwell International.
Products and positioning
A specialist fabless semiconductor supplier focused on high-performance networking, Ethernet infrastructure, timing, connectivity, and optical-transport integrated circuits for carrier and enterprise equipment manufacturers.
Networking semiconductors
Carrier Ethernet switch engines
Switching integrated circuits designed for carrier and access-network equipment, including customer-premises devices, mobile-access infrastructure, wireless base stations, fiber and microwave backhaul, and metropolitan networking systems.
Networking semiconductors
Enterprise and LAN Ethernet switches
Ethernet switching products intended for desktop, workgroup, enterprise, and local-area-network infrastructure. These devices enabled equipment manufacturers to build modular switching platforms for business networks.
Ethernet connectivity
Ethernet media-access controllers
Media-access controller devices that handled Ethernet addressing and channel-control functions. They were used in enterprise modular switches and in carrier systems carrying Ethernet over SONET/SDH or optical transport networks.
Networking transceivers
Ethernet transceivers
Single-port, quad-port, and octal transceiver devices supporting 10/100/1000BASE-T over category-5 copper and fiber cabling. The products addressed personal-computer, consumer-electronics, and LAN equipment applications, with additional versions supporting packet timing and synchronization.
Connectivity semiconductors
Connectivity and signal-integrity devices
A group of mixed-signal physical-media devices, physical-layer components, crosspoint switches, and signal-integrity products used to connect systems across optical fiber, copper cable, or backplanes.
Optical transport semiconductors
Transport processing products
Framers, mappers, and switches supporting transport applications at data rates up to 10 Gbit/s, including SONET/SDH, Ethernet-over-SONET/SDH, and optical transport network systems.
Controversies
2010
Charges against former executives
Former executives Lou Tomasetta and Eugene Hovanec were charged with securities fraud in connection with allegations concerning historical options backdating.
2010
SEC investigation and settlement
Vitesse agreed to pay $3.0 million to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to conclude the agency’s investigation into historical stock-option practices and accounting.
2007
Options-backdating securities-fraud class action
Vitesse paid $10.2 million to settle a shareholder class action alleging that the company had failed to disclose or had misrepresented adverse facts connected with stock-options backdating.
Brand decisions
2015
Sale to MicrosemiM&ABackground
Vitesse operated in specialized Ethernet and communications-semiconductor markets before agreeing to be acquired.
Action taken
Microsemi announced the acquisition on March 18, 2015, and completed it on April 28, 2015.
Aftermath
Vitesse ceased to operate as an independent company; Microsemi was later acquired by Microchip Technology in 2018.
1987
End of minisupercomputer initiativeStrategyBackground
Vitesse had developed a GaAs-based minisupercomputer prototype for the scientific market, but management judged that additional funding and development time would be excessive.
Action taken
The company closed the minisupercomputer division and concentrated on semiconductor products.
Aftermath
Vitesse continued as a semiconductor supplier rather than pursuing complete scientific-computing systems.
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