LOS GATOS, Calif., June 13--Southampton Photonics, a start-up manufacturer and designer of fiber-optic components, has received an initial investment totaling $55 million. During the next 18 months the new company will create 200 high-tech jobs in the UK. By the end of 2002 the company hopes to employ another 250 people at design, production and sales facilities in California. The new company will be looking for engineers and manufacturing personnel, as well as sales and marketing staff to fill these new positions. Southampton Photonics was founded in part by former employees of the University of Southampton's Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC). Many of the company's products are based on technology that was licensed, developed and patented by the founders of Southampton Photonics while they were working at the ORC. Southampton Photonics will maintain a good working relationship with the ORC in order to maintain the Cenre's significant research and development capabilities, the company said.