Wednesday, October 26, 2011

PMC-Sierra to acquire RAD3

Calgary, Alberta, October 25, 2011 – RAD3 Communications Inc. (RAD3), a Calgary-based communications intellectual property (IP) company, today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to be acquired by PMC-Sierra, the semiconductor innovator transforming storage, optical and mobile networks. The team will continue to operate out of its Calgary office.

“We’re excited for our Calgary-based team to be joining an international company of PMC’s caliber,” Roger Bertschmann, president of RAD3. “PMC’s integration and silicon expertise, combined with our leading-edge capability in the design and delivery of communications and storage IP, will enable us to drive industry-changing technologies that transform the network.”

“RAD3’s technologies and highly experienced team are a good fit with PMC,” said Brian Gerson, PMC fellow and vice president of Research and Development. “RAD3’s Forward Error Correction (FEC) and Digital Signal Processing (DSP) technologies will enhance PMC’s ability to offer innovative, high-performance solutions for storage, optical and mobile networks.”

The acquisition is expected to close in November 2011, subject to customary closing conditions.

About RAD3 Communications

RAD3 is a leading supplier of communications intellectual property (IP) for new and emerging wired and wireless communication standards. RAD3’s extensive library of IP solutions enables communication companies to rapidly design and build their products using a suite of industry proven IP. For more information, please visit RAD3’s web site: www.rad3comm.com.

About PMC

PMC (Nasdaq:PMCS) is the semiconductor innovator transforming networks that connect, move and store digital content. Building on a track record of technology leadership, we are driving innovation across storage, optical and mobile networks. Our highly integrated solutions increase performance and enable next-generation services to accelerate the network transformation. For more information, visitwww.pmc-sierra.com.

LSI to acquire SandForce

MILPITAS, Calif., October 26, 2011 – LSI Corporation (NYSE: LSI) today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire SandForce, Inc., the leading provider of flash storage processors for enterprise and client flash solutions and solid state drives (SSDs). Under the agreement, LSI will pay approximately $322 million in cash, net of cash assumed, and assume approximately $48 million of unvested stock options and restricted shares held by SandForce employees.

SandForce’s award-winning products include flash storage processors at the heart of PCIe flash adapters and SSDs. Flash storage processors provide the intelligence required to deliver the performance and low-latency benefits of flash storage in enterprise and client applications. With market-proven, differentiated DuraClass™ technology, SandForce flash storage processors improve the reliability, endurance and power efficiency of flash-based storage solutions.

The acquisition greatly enhances LSI's competitive position in the fast-growing server and storage PCIe flash adapter market, where the WarpDrive™ family of products from LSI already uses SandForce flash storage processors. The complementary combination of LSI’s custom capability and SandForce’s standard product offering propels LSI into an industry-leading position in the rapidly growing, high-volume flash storage processor market space for ultrabook, notebook and enterprise SSD and flash solutions.

“Flash-based solutions are critical for accelerating application performance in servers, storage and client devices,” said Abhi Talwalkar, LSI president and chief executive officer. “Adding SandForce’s technology to LSI’s broad storage portfolio is consistent with our mission to accelerate storage and networking. The acquisition represents a significant, rapidly growing market opportunity for LSI over the next several years.”

Michael Raam, SandForce president and CEO, said, “The combination of SandForce and LSI allows us to deliver differentiated solutions in the PCIe flash adapter segment by tightly integrating flash memory and management. In addition, leveraging our flash storage processors with LSI’s comprehensive IP portfolio and leading-edge silicon design platforms will lead to innovative solutions.”

The transaction is expected to close early in the first quarter of 2012 subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. Upon closing, the SandForce team will become part of LSI’s newly formed Flash Components Division, with Raam as general manager.

LSI expects the acquisition to be neutral to non-GAAP* earnings per share in 2012. The company will provide further details during its conference call at 2 p.m. PDT today and discuss third quarter results and the fourth quarter 2011 business outlook.

Monday, October 24, 2011

MIPS and Starboard Reach Agreement


SUNNYVALE, Calif., October 24, 2011 – MIPS Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: MIPS) (“MIPS” or “the Company”), a leading provider of industry-standard processor architectures and cores for digital home, networking and mobile applications, today announced it has reached an agreement with Starboard Value LP and its affiliates (“Starboard”), which beneficially owns approximately 9.9% of the outstanding shares of MIPS’ common stock. 

Under the agreement, MIPS has agreed to nominate to the MIPS Board two new directors recommended by Starboard, who are not employees of MIPS or Starboard. The nominations will be submitted for stockholder approval at the Company’s 2011 Annual Meeting. One of the new nominees will serve as a Class II director, with a one-year term expiring at MIPS’ 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, and the other new nominee will serve as a Class III director, with a two-year term expiring at MIPS’ 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. With the addition of the two new director nominees, the MIPS Board will be expanded to nine directors, comprised of eight independent directors and Sandeep Vij, MIPS’ President and Chief Executive Officer, effective upon conclusion of the 2011 Annual Meeting.

In connection with the agreement, Starboard has withdrawn its nomination of director candidates to the MIPS Board and has agreed to vote all of its shares in favor of each of the Board’s nominees at the 2011 Annual Meeting, and for each other proposal to come before the 2011 Annual Meeting in accordance with the Board’s recommendation.

“We are pleased to have worked constructively with Starboard to reach this agreement,” said Sandeep Vij, President and Chief Executive Officer of MIPS Technologies. “Our Board and management team are committed to creating value for all MIPS stockholders. We are focused on building upon MIPS’ strong position in the digital home and networking markets, continuing our expansion into mobile, and capitalizing on our robust worldwide patent portfolio. We look forward to benefiting from the collective experience of our two new directors to build an even stronger future for MIPS and our stockholders.”

“We are pleased to have had productive conversations with management and the Board, and believe the two new members of the MIPS Board will each make substantial contributions to the MIPS Board,” said Jeffrey C. Smith, Chief Executive Officer of Starboard. “MIPS has strong customer relationships, a valuable portfolio of patent properties, and a team of talented and dedicated employees. The Company’s technology powers some of the world’s most popular products in its target markets. We look forward to continuing to work constructively with the Company and the Board to help enhance value for all stockholders.”

The Company’s 2011 Annual Meeting has been scheduled for December 7, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) at MIPS’ headquarters at 955 East Arques Avenue, Sunnyvale, California  94085. MIPS stockholders of record as of October 11, 2011 will be entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. Further details regarding the 2011 Annual Meeting, including the agreement between MIPS and Starboard, and the two Starboard nominees to be nominated to the Board, will be included in the Company’s definitive proxy materials, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

The complete agreement between MIPS and Starboard will be included as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K which will be filed with the SEC.

About MIPS Technologies, Inc.
MIPS Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: MIPS) is a leading provider of industry-standard processor architectures and cores for digital home, networking and mobile applications. The MIPS architecture powers some of the world's most popular products, including broadband devices from Linksys, DTVs and digital consumer devices from Sony, DVD recordable devices from Pioneer, digital set-top boxes from Motorola, network routers from Cisco, 32-bit microcontrollers from Microchip Technology and laser printers from Hewlett-Packard. Founded in 1998, MIPS Technologies is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, with offices worldwide. For more information, contact (408) 530-5000 or visit www.mips.com.

About Starboard Value
Starboard Value is a New York-based investment adviser with a focused and differentiated fundamental approach to investing in publicly traded US small cap companies. The investment team has a successful track record of generating significant alpha for investors using their expertise in shareholder activism.