Wilnai was a founder of Intel Israel in the 1970s. MMC Networks competes with Galileo of Israel.
Amos Wilnai, the founder of MMC which merged with AMCC (Applied Micro Circuits Corp.) for $4.5 billion, owns shares worth $520 million. He thus becomes one of the wealthiest high-tech moguls in Israel. Wilnai (59) was one of the founders of Intel Israel in the 1970s and a leader of National Semiconductors in Israel.
MMC Networks is a global leader in the communications processors field, while AMCC is a global leader in the chips for optical communications networks field. The merger of the two US companies for $4.5 billion is a premium of 49% over market price. The merger symbolizes the enormous flourishing in the fiber optic communications field, and is the second largest merger in the history of the semiconductor industry.
Wilnai founded MMC in 1992, and the company issued on Nasdaq three years ago. It has experienced strengths and weaknesses since then, with its acme being the announcement of the merger.
MMC communications networks processors compete with Israeli company Galileo. Galileo president Avigdor Willenz congratulated Wilnai, adding, "Galileo is always considering mergers. We do not lack for offers."
Published by Israel's Business Arena on 28 August 2000