ALPHA INDUSTRIES INC
S-3, 1998-01-14
SEMICONDUCTORS & RELATED DEVICES
Previous: CHENIERE ENERGY INC, 10-Q, 1998-01-14
Next: AMERICAN CONSUMERS INC, 10-Q, 1998-01-14



<PAGE>   1

     AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON JANUARY 14, 1998
                                                           Registration No. 333-
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                           --------------------------

                                    FORM S-3
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      Under
                           The Securities Act of 1933
                           --------------------------

                             ALPHA INDUSTRIES, INC.
             (Exact Name Of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)


          DELAWARE                                            04-2302115
(State or Other Jurisdiction of                            (I.R.S. Employer
Incorporation or Organization)                          Identification Number)


           20 SYLVAN ROAD, WOBURN, MASSACHUSETTS 01801 (617) 935-5150
          (Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including
             Area Code, of Registrant's Principal Executive Offices)

                           --------------------------

                            STEVEN R. LONDON, ESQUIRE
                         BROWN, RUDNICK, FREED & GESMER
                ONE FINANCIAL CENTER, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02111
                                 (617) 856-8200
            (Name, Address, Including Zip Code, And Telephone Number,
                   Including Area Code, Of Agent For Service)

                           --------------------------

     APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: As soon as
practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

     If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following 
box. [ ]

     If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest
reinvestment plans, check the following box. [X]

     If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and
list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective
registration statement for the same offering. [ ] _____________________________

     If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. [ ] _____________________________________________

     If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
check the following box. [ ]

<TABLE>

                                             CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
===============================================================================================================================
<CAPTION>

                                                                  Proposed                Proposed
                                             Amount                Maximum                Maximum               Amount of
       Title of Each Class of                to Be             Offering Price            Aggregate            Registration
    Securities to Be Registered            Registered           Per Share(1)         Offering Price(1)             Fee
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                      <C>                       <C>                    <C>                    <C>    
Common Stock, $ .25 par  value           50,000 Shares             $16.50                 $825,000               $250.00
===============================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of determining the registration fee
pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933. Based upon the average
of the reported high and low prices of the Common Stock as reported on the
American Stock Exchange on January 7, 1998


     THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL
FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(a) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(a),
MAY DETERMINE.
================================================================================


<PAGE>   2





                  SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JANUARY 14, 1998

 
     INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT. A
     REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE
     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD NOR
     MAY OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
     BECOMES EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR
     THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE
     SECURITIES IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE
     UNLAWFUL PRIOR TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS
     OF ANY SUCH STATE.


PROSPECTUS
                                  50,000 SHARES

                             ALPHA INDUSTRIES, INC.

                                  COMMON STOCK

                              --------------------

     All of the 50,000 shares of Common Stock, $.25 par value (the "Common
Stock") of Alpha Industries, Inc. (the "Company") covered by this Prospectus are
issued and outstanding shares which may be offered and sold, from time to time,
by a certain stockholder of the Company (the "Selling Stockholder"). See
"Selling Stockholder."

     The Common Stock of the Company is traded on the American Stock Exchange
under the symbol "AHA". On January 7, 1998, the last reported sale price on the
American Stock Exchange for the Common Stock was $16.375 per share.

     The Selling Stockholder has advised the Company that it may sell, from time
to time, all or part of the shares covered by this Prospectus through any of
several methods, including ordinary brokerage transactions or block transactions
on the American Stock Exchange at market prices, or in privately negotiated
transactions at prices agreed upon by the parties. See "Plan of Distribution."

     The Company will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the shares
covered by this Prospectus. The Selling Stockholder has agreed to reimburse the
Company for all expenses incurred in effecting the registration of such shares,
including all registration and filing fees, and legal and accounting fees for
counsel to the Company. The Selling Stockholder will bear all brokerage or
underwriting expenses or commissions, if any, applicable to the shares.

                                 -------------

     SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE 3 FOR A DISCUSSION OF CERTAIN FACTORS
RELEVANT TO AN INVESTMENT IN THE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK. 

                                 -------------

             THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED
                    BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                     OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR
             HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE
                SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR
                 ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION
                     TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.


                The date of this Prospectus is January __, 1998.




<PAGE>   3


                              AVAILABLE INFORMATION

     The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and in accordance
therewith files reports, proxy statements and other information with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). Such reports, proxy
statements and other information filed by the Company can be inspected and
copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission at 450
Fifth Street, NW, Room 1024, Judiciary Plaza, Washington, D.C. 20549, and at the
Commission's Regional Offices at Citicorp Center, 500 West Madison Street, Suite
1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661 and 7 World Trade Center, Suite 1300, New York,
New York 10048, at prescribed rates. In addition, such reports, proxy statements
and information are available through the Commission's Electronic Data Gathering
and Retrieval System at the Commission's Web Site at http://www.sec.gov. The
Company's Common Stock is traded on the American Stock Exchange, and reports,
proxy statements and certain other information concerning the Company can also
be inspected at the offices of the American Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New
York, New York 10005.

     The Company has filed with the Commission a Registration Statement on Form
S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933 with respect to the Common Stock being
offered hereby. This Prospectus, which constitutes a part of the Registration
Statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in such
Registration Statement and the exhibits thereto to which reference is hereby
made. The statements in this Prospectus as to the contents of such Registration
Statement are qualified in their entirety by such reference. The Registration
Statement, together with its exhibits, may be inspected without charge at the
Public Reference Section of the Commission in Washington, D.C. at the address
noted above, and copies of all or any part thereof may be obtained from the
Commission upon payment of the prescribed fees.

                 INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

     The following documents filed with the Commission pursuant to the Exchange
Act are incorporated herein by reference: (1) the Company's Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 30, 1997; (2) the Company's Quarterly
Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended June 29, 1997 and September
28, 1997; (3) the Company's Proxy Statement used in connection with the
Company's Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on September 8, 1997; and (4) the
description of the Company's Common Stock contained in the Company's
Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 33-63857).

     All reports and other documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant
to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this
Prospectus and prior to the termination of the offering of the Common Stock
hereunder shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be a
part hereof from the date of the filing of such reports and documents. The
Company will furnish without charge to each person, including any beneficial
owner, to whom this Prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request of
such person, a copy of any or all of the documents referred to above, excluding
exhibits thereto. Requests for such documents should be submitted in writing to
the Corporate Secretary at the corporate headquarters of the Company at 20
Sylvan Road, Woburn, Massachusetts 01801, or by telephone at (617) 935-5150.

     Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded
for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein,
or in any other subsequently filed document that also is (or is deemed to be)
incorporated by reference herein, modifies or supersedes such statement. Any
statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified
or superseded, to constitute a part of the Registration Statement or this
Prospectus.




                                      -2-
<PAGE>   4


                                   THE COMPANY


     The Company designs and manufactures a broad range of radio frequency,
microwave frequency and millimeter wave frequency integrated circuits, ceramic
products, discrete semiconductors, and microwave and millimeter wave components
and subsystems for wireless communications applications. These applications
include cellular telephones, world-wide personal communications services and
personal communications networks, pagers, specialized mobile radio, wireless
data services and global positioning systems. The Company utilizes proprietary
gallium arsenide, ceramic and silicon process technologies to address the needs
of wireless communications original equipment manufacturers for smaller, less
expensive and more power efficient products.

     The Company is a Delaware corporation which was organized in 1962. The
Company's principal offices are located at 20 Sylvan Road, Woburn, Massachusetts
01801 and its telephone number is (617) 935-5150.

                                  RISK FACTORS

     In addition to the other information contained in this Prospectus, the
following factors should be considered carefully in evaluating the Company and
its business before purchasing any of the shares of Common Stock offered hereby.

HISTORY OF OPERATING LOSSES; REPOSITIONING OF COMPANY'S BUSINESS

     The Company has incurred net losses in three of its last five fiscal years.
During the fiscal year ended March 30, 1997, the Company sustained a net loss of
approximately $15.6 million. The Company's losses in the last fiscal year were
largely the result of an industry-wide over-supply of cellular telephones and
related equipment, especially in the North American cellular telephone market,
as well as operational difficulties at Trans-Tech, Inc., the Company's ceramic
component subsidiary. There can be no assurance that the Company's effort to
reposition itself as a supplier of advanced products to wireless communications
markets will be successful. If revenues from commercial wireless customers do
not continue to grow, or grow less rapidly than expected, the Company's
operating results could be materially and adversely affected.

VARIABILITY OF OPERATING RESULTS

     The Company's quarterly and annual results have varied in the past and may
vary significantly in the future due to a number of factors, including:
cancellation or delay of customer orders; market acceptance of the Company's or
its customers' products; variations in manufacturing yields; timing of
announcement and introduction of new products by the Company and its
competitors; changes in revenue and product mix; competition; changes in
manufacturing capacity and variations in the utilization of this capacity;
variations in average selling prices; variations in operating expenses; the long
sales cycles associated with the Company's customer specific products; the
timing and level of product and process development costs; cyclicality of the
semiconductor and ceramic industries; the timing and level of 



                                      -3-
<PAGE>   5


nonrecurring engineering revenues and expenses relating to customer specific
products; and changes in inventory levels. Any unfavorable changes in these or
other factors could have a material adverse effect on the Company's operating
results. The Company's expense levels are based, in part, on its expectations as
to future revenue, and certain of these expenses, particularly those relating to
the Company's capital equipment and manufacturing overhead, are relatively fixed
in nature. As a result of the relatively fixed nature of certain of the
Company's expenses, operating results would be disproportionately and adversely
affected by a reduction in revenue. The Company expects that its operating
results will continue to fluctuate in the future as a result of these and other
factors.

CUSTOMER CONCENTRATION

     Historically, a significant portion of the Company's sales in each fiscal
period has been concentrated among a limited number of customers. This trend is
accelerating, and in recent periods sales to the Company's major customers as a
percentage of total sales have increased. In fiscal 1997, the Company's direct
sales to Motorola, Inc. ("Motorola"), Nokia OY AB ("Nokia"), L.M. Ericsson
Telefonaktiebolaget ("Ericsson") and Lucent Technologies Inc. ("Lucent") and
their suppliers in the aggregate accounted for approximately 26% of the
Company's sales with one such customer accounting for approximately 11% of
sales. For the six months ended September 28, 1997, the Company's direct sales
to Motorola accounted for approximately 21% of the Company's sales during such
period. The Company does not generally enter into long-term contracts with its
customers, and when it does, the contract is generally terminable for the
convenience of the customer. In the event of an early termination or
discontinuance of a contract by one of the Company's major customers, it is
unlikely that the Company will be able to identify an alternative purchaser for
that product. The Company's business, financial condition and operating results
have been materially and adversely affected in the past by the failure of
anticipated orders to materialize and by deferrals or cancellations of orders.
If the Company were to lose one of these major customers, or if orders by a
major customer otherwise were to decrease, the Company's business, financial
condition and operating results would be materially and adversely affected.

DEPENDENCE ON CUSTOMER SPECIFIC PRODUCTS

     Most of the Company's products are designed to be incorporated into
specific end-user products. In light of short product life cycles in the
wireless communications industry, the Company's future success depends upon its
ability to select customer specific development projects which will result in
sufficient production volume to enable the Company to recover its development
costs and realize a profit on the project. There can be no assurance that the
Company will be able to select such customer specific projects, or that the
Company's products will be designed into such projects. In addition, OEMs
require that their suppliers design and manufacture components very quickly.
There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to design, manufacture
in large volumes and deliver to its customers high quality, reliable products
within the required time period. In the past, the Company experienced delays in
the production of MMICs, ceramic products and discrete semiconductors under
major contracts with major OEM customers. There can be no assurance that similar
problems will not recur in the 




                                      -4-

<PAGE>   6


future. Any such problems could have a material and adverse effect on the
Company's operating results.

PRODUCT AND PROCESS DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE

     The wireless communications industry is characterized by frequent new
product introductions, evolving industry standards, rapid changes in product and
process technologies and new materials and designs. The Company believes that
its future success will depend upon its ability to continue to improve its
product and process technologies and develop new technologies.

     The success of the Company's new products is dependent upon many factors,
including factors that are outside the Company's control. These factors include:
the Company's ability to anticipate market requirements in its product
development efforts; market acceptance and continued commercial success of OEM
products for which the Company's products have been designed; the ability to
adapt to technological changes and to support established and emerging industry
standards; successful and timely completion of product development and
commercialization; achievement of acceptable wafer fabrication and ceramic
process yields and manufacturing yields generally; and the ability to offer new
products at competitive prices. No assurance can be given that the Company's
product and process development efforts will be successful or that the Company's
new products or those of its customers will achieve or sustain market
acceptance. In addition, the wireless communications industry is characterized
by end-user demands for increased functionality at ever lower prices. To remain
competitive, the Company must obtain yield and productivity improvements and
costs reductions and must introduce new products which incorporate advanced
features and which therefore can be sold at higher average selling prices. To
the extent that such cost reductions and new product introductions do not occur
in a timely manner or the Company's or its customers' products do not achieve
market acceptance, the Company's operating results could be materially and
adversely affected.

     The Company produces its GaAs integrated circuits using a MESFET process.
The Company believes that this process is currently the industry standard, but
other process technologies, such as GaAs pHEMT and GaAs HBT, which may offer
higher efficiencies at comparable costs, may become commercially feasible in the
near future. The Company is currently investing in processes that it believes
will allow it to deliver components with efficiencies and capabilities that will
address the demands of the market. However, there can be no assurance that the
Company's preparations for such a technological change will be successful or
that it will be able to deliver products that meet such market demands and the
alternatives offered by other component suppliers. The failure of the Company to
do so could materially and adversely affect the Company's operating results.

MANUFACTURING RISKS:  PRODUCT QUALITY, PERFORMANCE AND RELIABILITY

     The manufacturing processes for the Company's products, in particular its
GaAs monolithic integrated circuits ("MMICs"), are highly complex and precise,
requiring advanced and costly equipment, and are being modified continually in
an effort to improve yields and 



                                      -5-
<PAGE>   7


product performance. The Company expects that its customers will continue to
establish demanding specifications for quality, performance and reliability that
must be met by the Company's products. The Company has limited experience in
high volume manufacturing of certain GaAs MMICs and ceramic products for certain
high volume commercial applications. The Company has encountered and may in the
future encounter development and manufacturing delays, has from time to time
failed and may in the future fail to meets its customers' contractual
specifications, and one or more of its products have contained and may in the
future contain undetected defects or failures when first introduced or after
commencement of commercial shipments. If such delays, defects or failures occur,
the Company could experience lost revenue, resulting from delays in or
cancellations or rescheduling of orders or shipments, product returns or
discounts, or could experience increased costs, including product or process
redesign, warranty expense or costs associated with customer support, any of
which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's operating results.
There can be no assurance that the Company will not in the future experience
significant product quality, performance or reliability problems.

ADOPTION OF GAAS COMPONENTS BY OEMS

     Silicon semiconductor technologies are the dominant process technologies
for certain integrated circuits and these technologies continue to improve in
performance. Many of the Company's OEM customers utilize silicon devices and
currently are using or evaluating the use of GaAs. To date, certain OEMs have
been reluctant to utilize GaAs technologies because of perceived risks relating
to GaAs technology, including a lack of experience in designing systems with
GaAs products, unfamiliar and more expensive manufacturing processes and
uncertainties about the relative cost effectiveness of GaAs products compared to
silicon devices. There can be no assurance that GaAs technology will achieve
widespread market acceptance.

     The production of GaAs integrated circuits is more costly than the
production of silicon devices. This cost differential relates primarily to
higher costs of the raw wafer material, lower production yields associated with
the relatively immature GaAs technology and higher unit costs associated with
lower production volumes. The Company believes its costs of producing GaAs
integrated circuits will continue to exceed the costs associated with the
production of silicon devices. As a result, the Company must offer devices which
provide superior performance to that of silicon for specific applications in
order to be competitive with silicon devices. There can be no assurance that the
Company can continue to identify markets which require performance superior to
that offered by silicon solutions, or that the Company will continue to offer
products which provide sufficiently superior performance to offset the cost
differential.

MANAGEMENT OF GROWTH

     The growth in the Company's business, and its continuing transition from
military to commercial sales, has placed, and is expected to continue to place,
a significant strain on the Company's personnel, management and other resources.
The Company has recently hired, and will be required to hire in the future,
additional key employees. In order to manage any future growth effectively, the
Company will, among other things, be required to continue to improve its
manufacturing facilities; attract, train, motivate and manage employees
successfully; and continue to improve its operational and financial systems.
There can be no assurance that the 




                                      -6-

<PAGE>   8


Company will be successful in these respects. The Company anticipates that any
future growth of its business will require increased utilization of the
Company's manufacturing capacity in Woburn, Massachusetts, including increasing
the number of shifts, during which its manufacturing facilities are operational.
Further, any such future growth could require improvement or expansion of the
Company's existing manufacturing facilities. Expansion or upgrade of the
Company's manufacturing facilities will entail substantial capital expenditures.
Lead times for certain capital equipment are long, and modification of the
Company's facilities and installation of such equipment is a complex process
which could disrupt the Company's facilities and installation of such equipment
is a complex process which could disrupt the Company's ongoing manufacturing
operations. Delays in increasing its manufacturing capacity could limit the
ability of the Company to respond to the rapid design and production cycles
required by its customers. Moreover, there can be no assurance that the Company
will be able to secure sources of capital adequate to fund the necessary
expenditures. The Company could experience product quality, performance or
reliability problems and development and manufacturing delays in connection with
any such increase in utilization of such expansion or upgrade of the Company's
manufacturing capacity. The occurrence of any such problems or the inability of
the Company otherwise to manage any future growth effectively could materially
and adversely affect the Company's operating results.


ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS

     The Company is subject to a variety of federal, state and local laws, rules
and regulations related to the use, handling discharge or disposal of toxic,
volatile or other hazardous chemicals used in its manufacturing process and to
the presence of hazardous chemicals on properties owned or operated by the
Company. The failure to comply with present or future environmental regulations
could result in substantial fines being imposed on the Company, suspension of
production or a cessation of operations. The Company has been engaged in
environmental assessment and remediation activities at its Adamstown, Maryland
facility since 1989, due to contamination of groundwater at such facility. In
1989, the Company entered into a consent decree with the State of Maryland
Department of Environmental Protection pursuant to which it had until 1995
operated a groundwater remediation system. Based on continued satisfactory
groundwater test results, the Company suspended groundwater monitoring in 1997
and has applied for permission to remove the monitoring wells. In addition, the
Company has been notified by federal and state environmental agencies of its
potential liability with respect to one Superfund site, to which small
quantities of the Company's hazardous waste were shipped. There can be no
assurance that any liability concerning the Superfund site will not have a
material adverse effect on the Company. However, the Company believes that its
volumetric contribution of waste to the Superfund site is de minimis and that
the extent of its liability with respect to this site is not likely to be
material. The Company settled another similar Superfund site claim during the
fiscal year ended March 30, 1997 for a nominal amount. The Company could be
required to acquire significant equipment, or incur substantial other expenses
in order to comply with environmental regulations. Any failure by the Company to
comply with applicable law in the use, handling or disposal of hazardous
substances or in management of real property could subject the Company to
substantial future liabilities.




                                      -7-

<PAGE>   9


DEPENDENCE ON KEY PERSONNEL

     The Company's future success depends in large part on the continued service
of its key technical, marketing and management personnel, and on its ability to
identify, attract and retain qualified technical personnel, particularly highly
skilled design, process and test engineers involved in the manufacture of
existing products and the development of new products and processes The
competition for such personnel is intense, and the loss of key employees could
have a material adverse effect on the Company.

CYCLICALITY OF THE COMPANY'S MARKETS

     While the semiconductor and ceramic markets have in the past experienced
overall growth, they have historically been characterized by wide fluctuations
in product supply and demand. From time to time, these industries have also
experienced significant downturns, often in connection with, or in anticipation
of, maturing product cycles and declines in general economic conditions. These
downturns have been characterized by diminished product demand, production
overcapacity and subsequent accelerated price erosion, and in some cases have
lasted for extended periods of time. The Company's business may in the future be
materially and adversely affected by industry-wide fluctuations. The Company's
continued success will depend in large part on the continued growth of the
wireless communications industry. Certain of the Company's major OEM customers
have experienced fluctuations in demand for certain of their cellular products.
No assurance can be given that the Company will not be adversely affected in the
future by cyclical conditions in the wireless communications industry.

LIMITED SOURCES OF MATERIALS AND SERVICES

     The Company currently procures certain components and services for its
products from single or limited sources. For example, the Company currently
procures GaAs substrates, a critical raw material, from only two sources. In
addition, excluding the GaAs wafers it produces internally, the Company
outsources the fabrication of GaAs wafers to a single external foundry. Further,
the Company currently procures silicon substrates for semiconductors and certain
chemical powders for ceramic manufacturing from single sources. The Company
purchases these materials and services on a purchase order basis, does not carry
significant inventories and does not have any long-term supply contracts with
its source vendors. The inability of the Company to obtain these materials in
required quantities would result in significant delays or reductions in product
shipments, which would materially and adversely affect the Company's operating
results. The Company from time to time experiences delays in receiving products
from certain of its vendors and no assurance can be given that similar problems
will not recur. If the Company were to change certain of its vendors, the
Company would be required to requalify the components supplied by such vendors.
Requalification could prevent or delay product shipments, which would materially
and adversely affect the Company's operating results. Additionally, prices could
increase significantly in connection with changes of vendors. The Company's
reliance on single and limited sources involves several additional risks,
including reduced control over the price, timely delivery, reliability and
quality of the components. Any inability of the Company to obtain timely
deliveries of materials of acceptable quality, or a significant increase in the
prices of materials, could materially and adversely affect the Company's
operating results.





                                      -8-

<PAGE>   10


DEPENDENCE ON ASSEMBLY SUBCONTRACTORS

     The Company uses assembly subcontractors located outside the United States
to package and wirebond certain large volume orders of integrated circuits. The
Company attempts to maintain more than one qualified service supplier for each
assembly process, but has been unable at times to achieve this goal because of
minimum volume requirements, service quality issues or other factors. The
Company has, from time to time, experienced problems procuring assembly
services, and no assurance can be given that similar problems will not recur.
The Company's inability to obtain sufficient high quality and timely assembly
service, or the loss of any of its current assembly vendors, would result in
delays or reductions in product shipment, and/or reduced product yields, any of
which would materially and adversely affect the Company's operating results.

COMPETITION

     Wireless communications markets are intensely competitive and are
characterized by rapid technological change, rapid product obsolescence and
price erosion. Currently, the Company competes primarily with manufacturers of
high performance GaAs, MMICs, discrete silicon semiconductors, ceramic filters
and other ceramic products and microwave and millimeter wave components and
subsystems. The Company expects increased competition both from existing
competitors and others which may enter these markets, as well as potential
future competition from companies which may offer new or emerging technologies,
such as surface acoustic wave filters, silicon germanium and other silicon
technologies. In addition, many of the Company's customers, particularly its
largest customers, have or could acquire the capability to develop or
manufacture products competitive with those that have been or may be developed
or manufactured by the Company. The Company's future operating results may
depend in part upon the extent to which these customers elect to purchase from
outside sources rather than develop and manufacture their own systems. A number
of the Company's competitors have significantly greater financial, technical,
manufacturing and marketing resources than the Company. The ability of the
Company to compete successfully depends in part upon the ability of the Company
to develop price competitive, high quality solutions for OEMs and the extent to
which customers select the Company's products over competitors' products for
their systems. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to
compete successfully in the future.

GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS

     Although the Company has reduced its dependence upon sales to the United
States and foreign governments, a significant portion of the Company's revenues
continue to be derived from such sales. The Company estimates that approximately
29%, 24%, and 21% of the Company's new orders were derived from United States
and foreign military and defense related sources in fiscal 1995, 1996, and 1997,
respectively. Significant reductions or delays in procurements of the Company's
products by the United States or any foreign government would have a material
adverse effect on the Company's operating results. Generally, the United States
Government and its contractors and subcontractors may terminate their contracts
with the Company for cause or for convenience, upon certain terms and
conditions. The Company has in 




                                      -9-

<PAGE>   11


the past experienced termination of government contracts. There can be no
assurance that termination of contracts will not occur in the future.
Termination of government contracts or subcontracts having a significant dollar
value would have a material adverse effect on the Company's operating results.

GOVERNMENTAL REGULATION OF COMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY

     The wireless communications industry is heavily regulated. The sale of
equipment by OEMs who purchase the Company's products may be materially and
adversely affected by governmental regulatory policies, the imposition of common
carrier tariffs or taxation of telecommunications services. The delays inherent
in the governmental approval process may in the future cause the cancellation,
postponement or rescheduling of the installation of wireless communications
systems. These delays may have a material adverse effect on the Company's
operating results.

DIFFICULTY IN PROTECTING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

     The Company's ability to compete is affected by its ability to protect its
proprietary information. The Company relies primarily on trade secret laws,
confidentiality procedures and licensing arrangements to protect its
intellectual property rights. In addition, where appropriate, the Company seeks
patent protection. The Company currently has patents granted and pending in the
United States, and intends to seek further patents on its technology. There can
be no assurance that patents will issue from any of the Company's pending or any
future applications or that any claims allowed from such applications will be of
sufficient scope or strength, or be issued in all countries where the Company's
products can be sold, to provide meaningful protection or any commercial
advantage to the Company. Also, competitors of the Company may be able to design
around the Company's patents. The laws of certain foreign countries in which the
Company's products are or may be developed, manufactured or sold may not protect
the Company's products or intellectual property rights to the same extent as do
the laws of the United States and thus make the possibility of piracy of the
Company's technology and products more likely. Although the Company intends to
defend its intellectual property, there can be no assurance that the steps taken
by the Company to protect its proprietary information will be adequate to
prevent misappropriation of its technology or that the Company's competitors
will not independently develop technologies that are substantially equivalent or
superior to the Company's technology.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CLAIMS

     The semiconductor industry is characterized by vigorous protection and
pursuit of intellectual property rights, which has resulted in significant and
often protracted and expensive litigation. Although there is currently no
pending intellectual property litigation against the Company, the Company from
time to time is notified of claims that the Company may be infringing patents or
other intellectual property rights owned by third parties. If it is necessary or
desirable, the Company may seek licenses under patents or other intellectual
property rights asserted by others, or may attempt to develop non-infringing
technology. However, there can be no assurance that licenses will be offered or
that the terms of any offered licenses will be 



                                      -10-

<PAGE>   12


acceptable to the Company, or that the Company will be successful in developing
non-infringing technology. The failure to obtain a license from a third party
for technology used by the Company could cause the Company to incur substantial
liabilities and to suspend the manufacture of products. Furthermore, the Company
may initiate claims or litigation against third parties for infringement of the
Company's proprietary rights, or to establish the validity of the Company's
proprietary rights. Litigation by or against the Company could result in
significant expense to the Company and divert the efforts of the Company's
technical and management personnel, whether or not such litigation results in a
favorable determination for the Company. In the event of an adverse result in
any such litigation, the Company could be required to pay substantial damages,
cease the manufacture, use and sale of infringing products, expend significant
resources to develop non-infringing technology, discontinue the use of certain
processes or obtain licenses to the infringing technology. There can be no
assurance that the Company would be successful in such development or that such
licenses would be available on reasonable terms, and any such development or
license could require expenditures by the Company of substantial time and other
resources. In the event that any third party makes a successful claim against
the Company or its customers, and a license is not made available to the Company
on commercially reasonable terms, the Company's business, financial condition
and operating results would be adversely affected.

RISKS OF INTERNATIONAL SALES

     Sales outside of the United States were approximately $23.3 million, $30.8
million and $32.1 million in fiscal 1995, 1996 and 1997, respectively.
International sales involve a number of inherent risks, including imposition of
government controls, currency exchange fluctuations, potential insolvency of
international distributors and representatives, reduced protection for
intellectual property rights in some countries, the impact of recessionary
environments in economies outside the United States, political instability and
generally longer receivables collection periods, as well as tariffs and other
trade barriers. In addition, due to the technological advantage provided by GaAs
in many military applications, a substantial portion of the Company's sales
outside of North America must be licensed by the Bureau of Export Administration
of the United States Department of Commerce or the Office of Defense Trade
Controls of the United States Department of State. Although to date the Company
has experienced no difficulty in obtaining these licenses, failure to obtain
such licenses in the future could have a material adverse effect on the
Company's operating results. Furthermore, because most of the Company's foreign
sales are denominated in United States dollars, the Company's products become
less price competitive in countries whose currencies decline in value against
the dollar. There can be no assurance that these factors will not have an
adverse effect on the Company's future international sales and, consequently, on
the Company's business, operating results and financial condition.

IMPEDIMENTS TO CHANGES IN CONTROL

     The Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and
Restated Bylaws include certain provisions that may have the effect of
discouraging or preventing a change in control of the Company. These provisions
could limit the price that stockholders of the Company might receive in the
future for shares of the Common Stock.



                                      -11-

<PAGE>   13


POTENTIAL VOLATILITY OF STOCK PRICE

     The market price of the shares of Common Stock has recently been and is
likely to continue to be highly volatile and materially affected by factors such
as fluctuations in the Company's operating results, announcements of
technological innovations or new products by the Company or its competitors,
governmental regulatory action, developments with respect to patents or
proprietary rights, general market conditions and other factors. In addition,
the stock market has from time to time experienced significant price and volume
fluctuations that are unrelated to the operating performance of particular
companies. In the event that in some future quarter the Company's net sales or
operating results were to be below the expectations of public market securities
analysts and investors, the price of the Company's Common Stock could be
materially and adversely affected.

                                 USE OF PROCEEDS

     The proceeds from the sale of the shares of Common Stock offered hereby
will be the property of the Selling Stockholder and will be used by it in its
discretion. No part of the proceeds will be received by the Company.

                               SELLING STOCKHOLDER

     Silicon Valley Bancshares (the "Selling Stockholder") is selling the shares
of Common Stock offered hereby. The 50,000 shares of Common Stock are issuable
upon exercise by the Selling Stockholder of a certain Stock Purchase Warrant
dated April 1, 1994 (the "Warrant"). Under the terms of the Warrant, in the
event that the Company registers any of its securities under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), the Selling Stockholder has the right to
require the Company to register the shares issuable pursuant to the Warrant,
subject to certain limitations, as set forth in the Warrant. Although the
Company is not otherwise currently registering any of its securities under the
Act, the Company has agreed to register the shares issued under the Warrant
pursuant to an informal agreement with the Selling Stockholder. Silicon Valley
Bank, an affiliate of the Selling Stockholder, received the Warrant in
connection with a loan from Silicon Valley Bank to the Company. Silicon Valley
Bank recently transferred the Warrant to the Selling Stockholder. The Company
currently has a $7.5 million working capital line of credit from Silicon Valley
Bank and another bank which expires in September 1999. As of January 14, 1998, a
total of 50,000 shares of Common Stock were beneficially owned by the Selling
Stockholder, all of which may be offered by the Selling Stockholder under this
Prospectus. This information is based upon information received from or on
behalf of the Selling Stockholder.

                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     The price and manner of sale of the shares of Common Stock to be offered
hereunder are in the sole discretion of the Selling Stockholder. The shares of
Common Stock offered hereby may be offered through any of several methods, such
as ordinary brokerage transactions or block transactions on the American Stock
Exchange at market prices, or in privately negotiated 




                                      -12-
<PAGE>   14


transactions at prices agreed upon by the parties. Neither the Company nor, to
the knowledge of the Company, the Selling Stockholder, has any agreement,
arrangement or understanding with any broker or dealer entered into prior to the
effective date of the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a part
with respect to the sale of the Common Stock offered hereby.

                                  LEGAL MATTERS

     The validity of the securities offered hereby has been passed upon for the
Company by Messrs. Brown, Rudnick, Freed & Gesmer, One Financial Center, Boston,
Massachusetts 02111. Certain members of such firm beneficially own a nominal
number of shares of Common Stock.

                                     EXPERTS

     The consolidated financial statements and schedule of the Company appearing
in its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 30, 1997, have been
audited by KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, independent auditors, as set forth in their
report included therein and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated
financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such
report given upon authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.



                                      -13-
<PAGE>   15



<TABLE>
<S>                                                                  <C>
==================================================================   ===============================================================
                                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                 
      No dealer, salesman or any other person has been authorized                           50,000 SHARES         
 to give any information or to make any representations other than                                                               
 those contained in this Prospectus in connection with the                                                        
 offering described herein, and, if given or made, such                                                                          
 information or representations must not be relied upon as having                                                                
 been authorized by the Company or the Selling Stockholder. This                                                                 
 Prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation                                                               
 of an offer to buy any securities other than those specifically                                                          
 offered hereby or of any securities offered hereby in any                                                                       
 jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make an                                                                    
 offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction. Neither the delivery                        ALPHA INDUSTRIES, INC. 
 of this Prospectus nor any sale made hereunder shall, under any                                                                 
 circumstances create an implication that the information herein                                                    
 is correct as of any time subsequent to its date.                                                                
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                         
                                                                                              COMMON STOCK                       
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                           
                                                                                           
                   ---------------------                                                   --------------------             
                     TABLE OF CONTENTS                                                           PROSPECTUS     
                   ---------------------                                                   -------------------- 
                                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                 
                                                       Page                                                                      
                                                       ----                                                     
                                                                                                                
 Available Information............................      2                                                        
 The Company......................................      3                                                        
 Risk Factors.....................................      3                                                        
 Use of Proceeds..................................     12                                                        
 Selling Stockholder..............................     12                                                        
 Plan of Distribution.............................     12                                                        
 Legal Matters....................................     13                                                        
 Experts..........................................     13                                   January ___, 1998    
                                                                                           



==================================================================   ===============================================================
</TABLE>






                                      -14-


<PAGE>   16

                                     PART II

                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

ITEM 14.  OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION

     Set forth below is an estimate of the fees and expenses payable in
connection with the distribution of the Common Stock. The Selling Stockholder
has agreed to reimburse the Company for these fees and expenses.

<TABLE>

<S>                                                                   <C>    
SEC Registration Fee...............................................   $   250
Accounting Fees and Expenses.......................................     2,500*
Legal Fees and Expenses............................................     7,500*
Miscellaneous......................................................     2,500*
                                                                      -------
    TOTAL..........................................................   $12,750*
</TABLE>

- --------------------

* Estimated

ITEM 15.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

     Article Tenth of the Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation
eliminates the personal liability of directors to the Company or its
stockholders for monetary damages for breaches of their fiduciary duty (subject
to certain exceptions, such as breaches of the duty of loyalty to the Company or
its stockholders), and provides that the Company may indemnify its officers and
directors to the full extent permitted by law. The Company's Amended and
Restated By-Laws include provisions for mandatory indemnification of its
officers and directors provided certain conditions are met. Section 145 of the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware authorizes a corporation to
indemnify directors, officers, employees or agents of the corporation in
non-derivative suits if such party acted in good faith and in a manner he
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interest of the
corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no
reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful, as determined in
accordance with the Delaware General Corporation Law. Section 145 further
provides that indemnification shall be provided if the party in question is
successful on the merits or otherwise.

     The effect of these provisions would be to permit such indemnification by
the Company for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, to the extent permitted under the Act.

     The Company has directors' and officers' liability insurance.




                                      II-1
<PAGE>   17


ITEM 16.  EXHIBITS

  Exhibit             
  Number          Description
  -------         ------------

  (3)(a)       Restated Certificate of Incorporation (Filed as Exhibit 3(a) to
                    Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No.
                    33-63857)).*
  (3)(b)       Amended and Restated By-laws dated April 30, 1992 (Filed as
                    Exhibit 3(b) to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
                    fiscal year ended March 29, 1992).*
  (4)(a)       Specimen Certificate of Common Stock (Filed as Exhibit 4(a) to
                    Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No.
                    33-63857).*
  (4)(b)       Stock Purchase Warrant for 50,000 shares of the Registrant's
                    Common Stock issued to Silicon Valley Bank as of April 1,
                    1994 (Filed as Exhibit 4(i) to the Quarterly Report on Form
                    10-Q for the quarter ended July 3, 1994).*
  (5)          Opinion of Brown, Rudnick, Freed & Gesmer.
 (23)(a)       Consent of Brown, Rudnick, Freed & Gesmer (included in 
                    Exhibit (5)).
 (23)(b)       Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP.
 (24)          Power of Attorney (included on Signature Page of this
                    Registration Statement).

- ----------

*    In accordance with Rule 411 promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act of
     1933, as amended, reference is made to the documents previously filed with
     the Securities and Exchange Commission which are incorporated by reference
     herein.


ITEM 17.  UNDERTAKINGS

     The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

     (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to this registration statement to include any material
information with respect to the plan of distribution and not previously
disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such
information in the registration statement;

     (2) That for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities
Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

     The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating 




                                      II-2

<PAGE>   18


to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that
time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
Registrant, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the
Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy
as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a
claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by
the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action,
suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person
in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless
in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and
will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.






                                     II-3

<PAGE>   19



                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all the
requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Woburn, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on the 8th day
of January, 1998.

                                            ALPHA INDUSTRIES, INC.

                                            By:  /s/ Thomas C. Leonard
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Thomas C. Leonard
                                                 Chief Executive Officer, 
                                                 President and Director


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that each person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints Thomas C. Leonard and James C. Nemiah and each of
them, with the power to act without the other, his true and lawful
attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution
for him or in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities to sign any
and all amendments or post-effective amendments to this Registration Statement,
and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in
connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto
said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to
do and perform each and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in
and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or
could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their or his substitutes, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

             Signature                                      Title                              Date
             ---------                                      -----                              ----

<S>                                               <C>                                     <C>
      /s/ George S. Kariotis                      Chairman                                January 8, 1998
- ------------------------------------
          George S. Kariotis

      /s/ Thomas C. Leonard                       President, Chief Executive              January 8, 1998
- ------------------------------------              Officer and Director
          Thomas C. Leonard                       (Principal Executive Officer) 
                                                  

      /s/ Paul E. Vincent                         Vice President, Chief Financial         January 8, 1998
- ------------------------------------              Officer and Treasurer             
          Paul E. Vincent                         (Principal Financial and Principal
                                                  Accounting Officer)               
                                                  
</TABLE>




<PAGE>   20


<TABLE>

<S>                                               <C>                                     <C>
      /s/ Arthur Pappas                           Director                                January 8, 1998
- ------------------------------------
          Arthur Pappas

      /s/ Martin J. Reid                          Director                                January 8, 1998
- ------------------------------------
          Martin J. Reid

      /s/ Raymond Shamie                          Director                                January 8, 1998
- ------------------------------------
          Raymond Shamie

      /s/ Sidney Topol                            Director                                January 8, 1998
- ------------------------------------
          Sidney Topol

      /s/ Charles A. Zraket                       Director                                January 8, 1998
- ------------------------------------
          Charles A. Zraket

</TABLE>




<PAGE>   21

<TABLE>

                                     EXHIBIT INDEX

<CAPTION>
  Exhibit                                                                                 Sequential
  Number             Description                                                           Page No.
  ------             -----------                                                           --------

 <S>         <C>
  (3)(a)     Restated Certificate of Incorporation (Filed as Exhibit 3(a) to                    *
             Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 33-63857)).

  (3)(b)     Amended and Restated By-laws dated April 30, 1992 (Filed as Exhibit 3(b)           *
             to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 29,
             1992).

  (4)(a)      Specimen Certificate of Common Stock (Filed as Exhibit 4(a) to                    *
             Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 33-63857).

  (4)(b)     Stock Purchase Warrant for 50,000 shares of the Registrant's Common Stock          *
             issued to Silicon Valley Bank as of April 1, 1994 (Filed as Exhibit 4(i)
             to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 3, 1994).

    (5)      Opinion of Brown, Rudnick, Freed & Gesmer.

  (23)(a)    Consent of Brown, Rudnick, Freed & Gesmer                                          **

  (23)(b)    Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP.

   (24)      Power of Attorney                                                                 ***
</TABLE>


- ----------

*       In accordance with Rule 411 promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act
        of 1933, as amended, reference is made to the documents previously filed
        with the Securities and Exchange Commission which are incorporated by
        reference herein.

**      Included in Exhibit (5)

***     Included on Signature Page of this Registration Statement


<PAGE>   1
                                                                       EXHIBIT 5

                                                     January 14, 1998

Alpha Industries, Inc.
20 Sylvan Road
Woburn, MA  01801

Attn:  Paul E. Vincent, Chief Financial Officer

       RE: Registration Statement on Form S-3
           ----------------------------------

Ladies and Gentlemen:

       We have acted as counsel to Alpha Industries, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the preparation and filing with
the Securities and Exchange Commission of a Registration Statement on Form S-3
(the "Registration Statement") pursuant to which the Company is registering
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), a total of 50,000
shares of common stock, $.25 par value (the "Shares") which are issuable upon
exercise of a Stock Purchase Warrant dated April 1, 1994 (the "Stock Purchase
Warrant"). This opinion is being rendered in connection with the filing of the
Registration Statement.

       In connection with this opinion, we have examined the documents listed on
SCHEDULE A attached hereto (collectively, the "Documents").

       We have, without independent investigation, relied upon the
representations and warranties of the various parties as to matters of objective
fact contained in the Documents.

       We have not made any independent review or investigation of orders,
judgments, rules or other regulations or decrees by which the Company or any of
its property may be bound, nor have we made any independent investigation as to
the existence of actions, suits, investigations or proceedings, if any, pending
or threatened against the Company.

       With your concurrence, the opinions expressed herein are based solely
upon (i) our review of the Documents, (ii) discussions with those of our
attorneys who have devoted substantive legal representation to the Company in
connection with the Registration Statement and (iii) such review of published
sources of law as we have deemed necessary.

       This firm, in rendering legal opinions, customarily makes certain
assumptions which are described in SCHEDULE B attached hereto. In the course of
our representation of the Company in connection with the preparation of the
Registration Statement, nothing has come to our attention which causes us to
believe reliance upon any of those assumptions is inappropriate, and, with your
concurrence, the opinions hereafter expressed are based upon those assumptions.
For purposes of those assumptions, the Enumerated Party referred to in SCHEDULE
B is the Company.

<PAGE>   2

       Our opinions contained herein are limited to the laws of The Commonwealth
of Massachusetts, the Federal laws of the United States of America and, with
respect to the due authorization of the Shares, the General Corporation Law of
the State of Delaware.

       We express no legal opinion upon any matter other than those explicitly
addressed in numbered paragraph 1 below, and our express opinion therein
contained shall not be interpreted to be implied opinions upon any other matter.

       Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:

       1.     The Shares have been duly authorized and when issued and paid for
              in accordance with the terms of the Stock Purchase Warrant will be
              validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

       We understand that this opinion is to be used in connection with the
Registration Statement. We consent to the filing of this opinion as an Exhibit
to said Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm wherever it
appears in the Registration Statement, including the prospectus constituting a
part thereof and any amendments thereto. This opinion may be used in connection
with the offering of the Shares only while the Registration Statement, as it may
be amended from time to time, remains effective under the Act.

                                   Very truly yours,

                                   BROWN, RUDNICK, FREED & GESMER

                                     By: BROWN, RUDNICK, FREED & GESMER, P.C., a
                                         Partner


                                     By: /s/ Steven R. London
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Steven R. London, A Member
                                         Duly Authorized

<PAGE>   3

                                   SCHEDULE A

                                LIST OF DOCUMENTS


      In connection with the Opinion Letter to which this SCHEDULE A is
attached, we have reviewed the following Documents. However, except as otherwise
expressly indicated, we have not reviewed any other documents, instruments or
agreements listed upon or referred to in any of the following Documents:

      (i)   the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, certified
            by the Secretary of the Company;

      (ii)  the Amended and Restated By-laws of the Company, certified by the
            Secretary of the Company as presently being in effect;

      (iii) resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company
            authorizing, among other things, that the Company issue a Stock
            Purchase Warrant to Silicon Valley Bank;

      (iv)  the Stock Purchase Warrant for 50,000 shares of the Company's common
            stock issued to Silicon Valley Bank as of April 1, 1994;

      (v)   a letter from the Company's Transfer Agent dated as of a recent date
            as to the issued and outstanding shares of the Company; and

      (vi)  the Registration Statement.


<PAGE>   4
                                   SCHEDULE B

                         BROWN, RUDNICK, FREED & GESMER
                              STANDARD ASSUMPTIONS


      In rendering legal opinions in third party transactions, Brown, Rudnick,
Freed & Gesmer makes certain customary assumptions described below:


      1.    Each natural person executing any of the Documents has sufficient
            legal capacity to enter into such Documents and perform the
            transactions contemplated thereby.

      2.    Each person other than the Enumerated Party holds requisite title
            and rights to any property purported to be owned by it.

      3.    Each person other than the Enumerated Party has all requisite power
            and authority and has taken all necessary corporate or other action
            to enter into those Documents to which it is a party or by which it
            is bound, to the extent necessary to make the Documents enforceable
            against it.

      4.    Each person other than the Enumerated Party has complied with all
            legal requirements pertaining to its status as such status relates
            to its rights to enforce the Documents against the Enumerated Party.

      5.    Each Document is accurate, complete and authentic, each original is
            authentic, each copy conforms to an authentic original and all
            signatures are genuine.

      6.    All official public records are accurate, complete and properly
            indexed and filed.

      7.    There has not been any mutual mistake of fact or misunderstanding,
            fraud, duress, or undue influence by or among any of the parties to
            the Documents.

      8.    The conduct of the parties to the Documents has complied in the past
            and will comply in the future with any requirement of good faith,
            fair dealing and conscionability.


<PAGE>   5


      9.    There are no agreements or understandings among the parties to or
            bound by the Documents, and there is no usage of trade or course of
            prior dealing among such parties, that would define, modify, waive,
            or qualify the terms of any of the Documents.


<PAGE>   1

                                                                 EXHIBIT (23)(b)
                                                                 ---------------

                              ACCOUNTANTS' CONSENT


The Board of Directors of Alpha Industries, Inc.:

We consent to the incorporation herein by reference of our report dated May 9,
1997 included in Alpha Industries, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended March 30, 1997 and to the reference to our Firm under the
heading "Experts" in the prospectus.


                                               KPMG Peat Marwick LLP


Boston, Massachusetts
January 13, 1998





© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission