First Take

POET Technologies, Inc. (POETF)

January 30, 2018
Price: $0.24; Market Cap (M): $62; 1/29/2018 close.
Rating: Buy; Price Target: $1.50

Kevin Dede, CFA - (415-779-5876) / kdede@hcwresearch.com

Waveguide Tech Proves to Be More Than Expected; Reit Buy
Photonics West showcases important discovery. While this week's SPIE Photonics West—the world's largest
photonics technology tradeshow—highlights POET's DenseLight's subsidiary products, per our December 14 note,
Optical Engine Development Continues With Highlights Expected at Photonics West, real news was offered in a
press release first thing yesterday morning. Yesterday's announcement called attention to a development POET
has realized with its dielectric waveguide technology refined in the company's BB Phontonics subsidiary. The new
development is referred to as POET's Optical Interposer Platform and is used to directly connect optical engine
components, semiconductors, and waveguides, in streamlining the manufacture and integration of all the optical
engine components into a packaged module. Specifically, as we understand the company's announcement, POET's
dielectric wave guide may be directly connected to CMOS-based logic chips. CMOS (complementary metal oxide
semiconductor) is the least expensive, most commonly used semiconductor manufacturing process, responsible
for most all widely manufactured processors used in computers, cell phones, and almost every other computing
application, whether large or small. The ability to bind wave guide directly to a CMOS processor and join it with a
micrometer scale optical engine should remove significant cost from the manufacturing process, and these costs
savings greatly increase POET's relevance to potentially large customers. A particularly attractive aspect of the
technology develpment includes the ability to license it, making the compatibility, integration, and flexibility more
appealing for a host of potential customers that prefer to develop proprietary technology in large data center
applications; the list of these companies may be short, but they are all household names. Also detailed in yesterday's
press was the company's intention to continue along previously described technology development avenues. These
too were discussed in our December 14 note, and we won't regurgitate that discussion here. However, mention of
this fact calls attention to another positive attribute of the discovery of the new binding capability simply because it
has application in both the GaAs VCSEL integration as well as the InP integration develpment path. Unfortunately,
there are many unanswered questions regarding the relevance of POET's Optical Interposer Platform surrounding
completion of testing, assessment of the market opportunity, licensing parameters, the manufacturing process
and related costs, and eventual market pricing; many factors are still under evaluation, as we understand the
circumstances. With the extent of the variables as great as they are, we're not comfortable making any type of
change to the estimates we already have offered for POET, which includes more than $2.5M in 2017 sales, and
$10.0M in 2018 sales. We clearly expect to revisit our interpretation of POET's valuation upon the revelation of more
market related information, while importantly noting that POET intends to have its receive chain device (ROSA,
or receiver optical sub assembly) available this summer. We also remind investors that the company was working
diligently through late last year with potential partners in creating co-development opportunities. We are hopeful
the company may begin to present greater details surrounding the new platform in the near-to-medium term, along
with some discussion of its partnership endeavors, perhaps in conjunction with the release of its 2017 year-end
results. So, while we think there's something to the new dielectric waveguide CMOS compatibility, we remain at a
loss to figure how to quantify changes to our already bullish outlook that's tied at the hip to the increase in POET
manufactured, highly-cost-reduced data communication products, but await to hear more regarding POET's effort
to communicate the intricacies.

Maintaining our Buy rating and $1.50 price target. Our target represents the equally weighted composite of
two methods: (1) a discounted cash flow model extending through 2025, with a 1% terminal growth assumption,
and a 9.8% WACC-based discount rate; and (2) a discounted comparable valuation analysis of similarly sized
semiconductor companies based on EV-to-sales ratios. Details regarding assumptions can be examined in our
August 7, 2017, report mentioned above. Risks associated with an investment include: development, competitive,
pricing, and potentially dilutive financing(s).

For definitions and the distribution of analyst ratings, analyst certifications, and other disclosures, please refer to pages 2 - 3 of this report.
POET Technologies, Inc. January 30, 2018
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H.C. WAINWRIGHT & CO, LLC RATING SYSTEM: H.C. Wainwright employs a three tier rating system for evaluating
both the potential return and risk associated with owning common equity shares of rated firms. The expected return
of any given equity is measured on a RELATIVE basis of other companies in the same sector. The price objective is
calculated to estimate the potential movements in price that a given equity could reach provided certain targets are
met over a defined time horizon. Price objectives are subject to external factors including industry events and market
volatility.

RETURN ASSESSMENT

Market Outperform (Buy): The common stock of the company is expected to outperform a passive index comprised
of all the common stock of companies within the same sector.
Market Perform (Neutral): The common stock of the company is expected to mimic the performance of a passive index
comprised of all the common stock of companies within the same sector.
Market Underperform (Sell): The common stock of the company is expected to underperform a passive index
comprised of all the common stock of companies within the same sector.

Rating and Price Target History for: POET Technologies, Inc. (POETF- US) as of 0 1 - 2 9 - 2 0 1 8
I:BUY:$1.50
08/ 07/ 17
2.00

1.50

1.00

0.50

0.00
2015 Q1 Q2 Q3 2016 Q1 Q2 Q3 2017 Q1 Q2 Q3 2018 Q1

Investment Banking Services include, but are not limited to, acting as a manager/co-manager in the underwriting
or placement of securities, acting as financial advisor, and/or providing corporate finance or capital markets-related
services to a company or one of its affiliates or subsidiaries within the past 12 months.
Distribution of Ratings Table as of January 29, 2018
IB Service/Past 12 Months
Ratings Count Percent Count Percent
Buy 240 91.60% 92 38.33%
Neutral 11 4.20% 2 18.18%
Sell 0 0.00% 0 0.00%
Under Review 11 4.20% 2 18.18%
Total 262 100% 96 36.64%

H.C. Wainwright & Co, LLC (the “Firm”) is a member of FINRA and SIPC and a registered U.S. Broker-Dealer.

I, Kevin Dede, CFA , certify that 1) all of the views expressed in this report accurately reflect my personal views about
any and all subject securities or issuers discussed; and 2) no part of my compensation was, is, or will be directly or
indirectly related to the specific recommendation or views expressed in this research report; and 3) neither myself nor
any members of my household is an officer, director or advisory board member of these companies.

None of the research analysts or the research analyst’s household has a financial interest in the securities of POET
Technologies, Inc. (including, without limitation, any option, right, warrant, future, long or short position).
As of December 31, 2017 neither the Firm nor its affiliates beneficially own 1% or more of any class of common equity
securities of POET Technologies, Inc..

H.C. WAINWRIGHT & CO. EQUITY RESEARCH 2

POET Technologies, Inc. January 30, 2018
Neither the research analyst nor the Firm has any material conflict of interest in of which the research analyst knows
or has reason to know at the time of publication of this research report.

The research analyst principally responsible for preparation of the report does not receive compensation that is based
upon any specific investment banking services or transaction but is compensated based on factors including total
revenue and profitability of the Firm, a substantial portion of which is derived from investment banking services.

The Firm or its affiliates did not receive compensation from POET Technologies, Inc. for investment banking services
within twelve months before, but will seek compensation from the companies mentioned in this report for investment
banking services within three months following publication of the research report.

The Firm does not make a market in POET Technologies, Inc. as of the date of this research report.

The information contained herein is based on sources which we believe to be reliable but is not guaranteed by us as
being accurate and does not purport to be a complete statement or summary of the available data on the company,
industry or security discussed in the report. All opinions and estimates included in this report constitute the analyst’s
judgment as of the date of this report and are subject to change without notice.

The securities of the company discussed in this report may be unsuitable for investors depending on their specific
investment objectives and financial position. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. This report is offered
for informational purposes only, and does not constitute an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities discussed
herein in any jurisdiction where such would be prohibited. No part of this report may be reproduced in any form without
the expressed permission of H.C. Wainwright & Co, LLC. Additional information available upon request.

H.C. WAINWRIGHT & CO. EQUITY RESEARCH 3