Broadcom Corporation To Acquire Pivotal Technologies Corp., A Leading-Edge Developer Of DVI And Wireless Communications Solutions

Acquisition Will Accelerate Content-Protected DVI Connections From PCs And Set-Top Boxes To Flat Panel Displays And Digital TVs

30-May-00

Broadcom Corporation (NASDAQ: BRCM), the leading provider of integrated circuits enabling high-speed broadband communications to and throughout the home and business, announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Pivotal Technologies Corp., a Pasadena, California-based developer of leading-edge digital visual interface (DVI) solutions.Pivotal Technologies is a fabless semiconductor company developing and marketing high-performance communications links for both wired and wireless environments. Pivotal has developed both single and dual link DVI transmitters and receivers, as well as proprietary and scalable radio frequency (RF) CMOS solutions for the wireless communications marketplace. Pivotal's DVI technology is key to the deployment of high-speed, digital interfaces for the rapidly growing digital TV and flat panel display markets. DVI is a broadly-supported display connection standard that will be used between a digital host, such as a PC, set-top box or DVD-Video player, and a display device, such as an HDTV, flat panel display or digital CRT. Pivotal is a leader in the development of dual link DVI solutions, which are essential for higher resolutions like UXGA and QXGA (both high resolution standards for PCs).In addition, Pivotal is combining High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) technology with DVI, which allows secure transmission of uncompressed high definition TV (HDTV) content from the set-top box to the digital TV. This is a key issue in the entertainment industry for the security and protection of copyrighted video material. ""This is a powerful combination that brings Broadcom's broadband communications expertise together with Pivotal's high-performance expertise in DVI and wireless communications,"" said Dr. Henry T. Nicholas III, President and CEO of Broadcom. ""DVI with HDCP is an important addition to our digital set-top box product family. Also, Pivotal's leadership in RF technology, implemented in a low-cost standard logic CMOS manufacturing process, is a great fit with our existing efforts in digital CMOS tuners, Bluetooth and IEEE 802.11 wireless LAN standard. Pivotal's expertise in these areas will be important for hitting the cost targets that these applications will require.""""We're excited to combine forces with Broadcom to address the enormous opportunities for DVI and wireless communications in the personal area network market,"" said K.C. Murphy, President and CEO of Pivotal Technologies. ""We look forward to extending our DVI efforts from PCs to consumer appliances and to developing the full potential of DVI as a high-performance communications link. In addition, our combined RF efforts should yield performance and cost benefits that translate into value that will be attractive to OEM's and consumers.""With the advances in flat panel technology and recent increases in capacity, the flat panel display and digital TV markets are poised for unprecedented volume growth. The box makers (PC, set-top box, DVD), needing to be prepared to connect to all of the displays they are likely to encounter in their markets, are rapidly developing solutions with DVI transmitters. ""CRTs are also included in the DVI revolution,"" Murphy said. ""Some CRT vendors, citing manufacturing efficiencies dealing with fewer frequencies, have already announced digital CRTs that use the DVI interface and convert the signal from digital to analog inside the monitor.""In connection with the acquisition, Broadcom will issue in aggregate approximately 1.94 million shares of its Class B Common Stock in exchange for all outstanding shares of Pivotal Preferred and Common Stock and upon exercise of outstanding employee stock options and other rights of Pivotal. The merger transaction is expected to close shortly and will be accounted for as a pooling of interests. The boards of directors of both companies have approved the merger, which awaits approval by Pivotal shareholders and the satisfaction of regulatory requirements and other customary closing conditions. Broadcom expects to record a one-time charge in its second fiscal quarter (ending June 30) to cover related expenses.Shares of Broadcom's Class B Common Stock are identical to Broadcom Class A Common Stock except for certain voting rights, may be converted into Class A Common Stock at any time at the holder's option, and are automatically converted into Class A Common Stock upon sale and most other transfers. Broadcom's Class A Common Stock is traded on the NASDAQ National MarketÆ; the Class B Common Stock is not publicly traded.About Pivotal TechnologiesPivotal Technologies Corp., founded in 1997, is a fabless semiconductor company, developing and marketing high-performance communications links for both wired and wireless environments. Specializing in communications and digital video subsystems for system-on-a-chip applications, Pivotal integrates proprietary analog, RF and DSP blocks in deep submicron, standard logic CMOS technologies. Pivotal is a privately-held company headquartered in Pasadena, California with an office in Addison, Texas, outside Dallas. Pivotal may be reached at 626 744 3600 or at www.pivotaltech.com. About BroadcomBroadcom Corporation is the leading provider of highly integrated silicon solutions that enable broadband digital transmission of voice, video and data to and throughout the home and within the business enterprise. Using proprietary technologies and advanced design methodologies, the company designs, develops and supplies integrated circuits for a number of the most significant broadband communications markets, including the markets for cable set-top boxes, cable modems, high-speed office networks, home networking, voice over Internet protocol (VoIP), residential broadband gateways, direct broadcast satellite and terrestrial digital broadcast, and digital subscriber line (xDSL). Broadcom is headquartered in Irvine, California, and may be contacted at 949 450 8700 or at www.broadcom.com.

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http://www.pivotaltech.com
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