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ZORAN CORPORATION ACQUIRES PIXELCAM, INC., A MEGAPIXEL CMOS SENSOR PIONEER
HIGH RESOLUTION CMOS SENSOR WILL COMBINE WITH POWERFUL COACH PROCESSOR
TO COMPLETE OFFERING FOR MAINSTREAM DIGITAL CAMERA MARKET
SANTA CLARA, CALIF. - JUNE 28, 2000 - Zoran Corporation (Nasdaq: ZRAN), a
leading provider of digital solutions-on-a-chip for applications in the growing
multimedia and Internet consumer markets, today announced it has signed an
agreement to acquire PixelCam, Inc., a privately-held manufacturer of quality
megapixel CMOS image sensors and integrated lens/sensor modules.
Under terms of the agreement, Zoran will acquire PixelCam for $21 million in
Zoran Stock, with up to an additional $21 million in Zoran stock to be paid
provided that certain performance targets are met as set out in the agreement.
The transaction is expected to close on or before June 30, will be structured as
a merger of PixelCam as a wholly owned subsidiary of Zoran, and will be
accounted for as a purchase.
According to industry analysts, the one-megapixel-and-above mainstream digital
camera market is projected to grow to over 8 million units this year, up from
over 5 million in 1999 and expanding to over 25 million by 2003. Today, the vast
majority of these cameras are using CCD sensors. Zoran believes that the
quality, the price, and the power of the patented PixelCam CMOS sensors will
accelerate the transition from CCD to CMOS imagers.
"This acquisition enables Zoran to leap forward in digital camera technology,"
said Dr. Levy Gerzberg, President and Chief Executive Officer of Zoran
Corporation. "With PixelCam, Zoran intends to offer a digital camera solution
for the mainstream market that combines the high-quality, low-power advantage,
and flexibility of a CMOS sensor with the sophisticated processing power of our
COACH (Camera On A CHip) product."
The acquisition brings together the considerable expertise of two companies
focused on offering camera manufacturers state-of-the-art technology in
cost-effective solutions by combining Zoran's image processing and integration
expertise with PixelCam's CMOS sensor technology.
"For PixelCam, this acquisition means our products can leverage the broad
international distribution infrastructure already built and operating for
Zoran," said Kevin Brehmer, PixelCam's Founder, President and Chief Executive
Officer. "Our PixelCam team can continue to focus on our superior scalable CMOS
sensor architecture for providing higher quality images for digital cameras
under normal lighting conditions."
In addition to high-quality consumer cameras, the COACH plus the PixelCam
product offerings address multiple imaging applications including live Internet
connectivity, surveillance, factory automation, security, and bar code scanning.
The product offerings include complete reference designs, and all the
ready-to-use software and firmware needed to bring new camera designs to market.
ABOUT PIXELCAM'S CMOS SENSOR
PixelCam took a new approach and developed a scaleable chip architecture that
focused on "Imaging Front Ends." The first PixelCam CMOS sensor products deliver
CCD image quality with 1.3 megapixel resolution at one-quarter the power
dissipation and twice the integration level of CCD sensors. These products also
offer digital camera manufacturers a longer camera battery life and a reduced
"time to next shot."
ABOUT THE COACH
As a pioneer in digital image processing technology, Zoran was able to develop
and deliver the first version of the COACH (Camera On A CHip) in the fall of
1998. The latest version is a mature product with a powerful DSP core,
additional optimized, dedicated hardware, and the software needed to bring a
product to market. The flexible COACH architecture supports a wide range of
camera designs and its high level of integration enables enhanced features,
cost-effective designs, and short time to market.
ABOUT PIXELCAM
PixelCam, Inc. is a Silicon Valley-based company that designs and markets CMOS
image sensors and integrated lens/sensor modules that provide a complete
"light-to-bytes" imaging solution for OEM camera makers. PixelCam's core
competency is in the analog design of CMOS image sensor chips, camera optics,
and digital video camera systems.
ABOUT ZORAN CORPORATION
Zoran Corporation, based in Santa Clara, California, is a leading provider of
digital solutions-on-a-chip for applications in the growing multimedia and
Internet consumer markets. With almost two decades of expertise developing and
delivering digital compression technologies, Zoran has pioneered
high-performance processing into various audio, video, and imaging technologies.
Zoran's proficiency in integration delivers major benefits for OEM customers,
including greater capabilities within each product generation, reduced system
costs, and shorter time to market. Zoran is a leading supplier in the rapidly
expanding DVD and digital camera markets and in related applications of digital
audio and video. With headquarters in the U.S. and operations in Canada, China,
Israel, Japan, and Taiwan, Zoran may be contacted on the World Wide Web at
www.zoran.com or at 408-919-4111.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains forward-looking statements that are based on current
expectations and assumptions which involve a number of uncertainties and risks
that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the
forward-looking statements, including risks associated with: the rapidly
evolving markets for the Company's products and uncertainties regarding the
development of those markets; potential problems or unanticipated costs relating
to the integration of PixelCam's operations; new product development and the
ongoing introduction of new and enhanced products by the Company and its
competitors; the Company's reliance on independent foundries and contractors;
intensive competition in the markets in which the Company competes; Zoran's
historic dependence on sales to a limited number of large customers; the
dependence on key personnel; and the reliance on international sales and
operations. For additional information regarding these and other risks,
reference is made to Zoran's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1999 and other reports and documents filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
