SHANGHAI, CHINA – October 8, 2002 – Cirrus Logic, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRUS), a leading supplier of semiconductor solutions for digital entertainment electronics, and Shanghai Video & Audio Electronics Co, Ltd. (SVA), a world leader in the manufacture of advanced consumer electronics, today announced the opening of a joint design center in Shanghai, China. The new facility will be the centerpiece of an agreement announced earlier this year in which SVA and Cirrus Logic agreed to utilize each other’s technology and manufacturing resources to jointly develop and promote digital entertainment technologies.
The design center, strategically located in the heart of the Yangtze River Delta, China's most densely populated region and an emerging semiconductor technology center, will focus on the development of digital consumer entertainment electronics with initial efforts centered on video products. Product emphasis will include personal video recorders (PVRs) and advanced systems for DVD receivers and DVD players. Activity on several joint efforts is already underway.
Today's press conference and ceremony at the design center in Shanghai highlighted a relationship that not only strengthens Cirrus’ relationship with one of China's most prominent consumer electronics companies, but also ultimately extends Cirrus' product penetration throughout the country as SVA represents one of the country's leading brands. Significant delegations from both corporations attended today's event, including Cirrus Logic's Terry Leeder, senior vice president of worldwide sales and marketing; Craig Ensley, senior vice president of engineering; and Winter Chan, vice president of sales in the Asia Pacific. Sun Yu Huan, general manager, and Shen Ming, vice general manager, represented SVA at the event.
“The working relationship between Cirrus and SVA began to blossom last spring when SVA selected our highly integrated 98100 DVD video processor to power its new DP 262 DVD player,” said Terry Leeder. “This television-ready player is not only being sold under the SVA brand here in China, but it is also being exported to be sold worldwide under other leading consumer entertainment brands. The opening of our design center here today is a clear demonstration of the solid progress that we continue to make in building upon the working relationship we initiated with SVA early this year.”
China is fast becoming the leader in producing DVD players, not only for domestic but also for global consumption, exporting some 10.5 million players in 2001, according to CCID Consulting.
Cirrus Strengthens PRC Presence
The opening of this design center today highlights Cirrus Logic’s strategy to work closely with leading Chinese enterprises—such as SVA—to serve the rapidly growing Chinese semiconductor market. This market is now growing faster than any other. According to Gartner-Dataquest, the PRC market registered US$11.044 billion in sales in 2001, making it the largest in the Asia-Pacific region, not including Japan, and it is expected to grow 14.4 percent in 2002 to US$12.5 billion.
Located at 140 Tian Lin Road, this facility becomes the third Cirrus design facility in the People’s Republic of China, with centers in Beijing and Shenzhen already in place. In addition, Cirrus has bolstered its presence in China with a five-year wafer foundry services agreement with CSMC—Central Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited—China’s pioneer open foundry, to provide better delivery of solutions to its China-based customers.
Cirrus Logic, Inc.
Cirrus Logic is a premier supplier of high-performance analog and DSP chip solutions for consumer entertainment electronics that allow people to see, hear, connect, and enjoy digital entertainment. Building on its global market share leadership in audio integrated circuits and its rich mixed-signal patent portfolio, the company targets mainstream audio, video and Internet entertainment applications in the consumer entertainment market. Cirrus Logic operates from headquarters in Austin, Texas with offices in California, Colorado, Europe, Japan and Asia.
Safe Harbor Provision
Except for historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this news release are forward-looking statements that are dependent on certain risks and uncertainties including such factors, among others, as the ability of Cirrus and SVA to work together to jointly develop and promote digital entertainment technologies, the risk factors listed in the company's Form 10-K for the year ended March 30, 2002, and in other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The foregoing information concerning Cirrus Logic’s business outlook represents our outlook as of the date of this news release, and Cirrus Logic undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new developments or otherwise, except as required by law.
Cirrus Logic is a registered trademark of Cirrus Logic, Inc. All other product names noted herein may be trademarks of their respective holders.
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Bill Schnell Manager Public Relations (512) 851-4084 |