Pivotal Systems Corporation, a developer of best-in-class gas flow monitoring and control technology for the semiconductor manufacturing industry, today announced that it has raised $5.6 million in new equity funding. Network1 Financial Securities, a New Jersey-based broker dealer, was able to secure SJM Partners, headed by Stephen Garchik, as the lead investor along with other accredited investors. Existing investors, including Firsthand Technology Value Fund (NASDAQ: SVVC), Pivotal Systems’ largest shareholder, also participated in the new round. Pivotal Systems’ flagship Gas Flow Controller (GFC) product, which was launched in 2012, replaces traditional mass flow controllers (MFCs) and provides real-time, in situ process monitoring and control technology to semiconductor manufacturers. With semiconductor manufacturing process technology scaling below 14 nanometers, Pivotal Systems has seen tremendous growth in 2014 and sees a significant increase in the demand in 2015 and beyond. “2014 was a very solid year for growth and we expect substantial increase in semiconductor market share in 2015. We will also prepare to penetrate new markets like LED, flat panel and the solar,” said John Hoffman, Pivotal Systems’ Chief Executive Officer. “Pivotal Systems has very innovative technologies for gas flow control systems which could revolutionize this sector of the market,” added David Lerner, Vice President- Investments at Network 1 Financial Securities (Managing Member, Renrel Partners, LLC). “We are very pleased to partner with them in this unique high growth opportunity in the high technology sector.” Stephen Garchik, Managing Partner of SJM Partners, said, “We are excited to join the syndicate and assist in bringing this highly innovative and disruptive technology to new markets while accelerating market share gains in the highly competitive semiconductor space. Pivotal Systems has emerged as a global technology leader as evidenced by their outstanding technology as well as their superior distribution and support network.”
