SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the Month of: February, 2000
SPECTRUM SIGNAL PROCESSING INC.
(Registrant's Name)
One Spectrum Court, 2700 Production Way, Suite 200
Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada V5A 4X1
(Address of Principal Corporate Offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F:
Form 20-F [X] Form 40-F [ ]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:
Yes [ ] No [X]
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the
registrant in connection with Rule 12g30-2(b): 82-__________.
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SPECTRUM
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F O R . I M M E D I A T E . R E L E A S E
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RELEASE DATE: February 16, 2000
CONTACT: Karen Elliott, Spectrum - Investor Communications,
604-421-5422
Email: [email protected]
Tanis MacSween, Spectrum - Corporate Communications, 604-421-5422
Email: [email protected]
SPECTRUM SIGNAL PROCESSING AND NORTHROP GRUMMAN
SIGN LICENSING AGREEMENT FOR ELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY
BURNABY, B.C., CANADA - FEBRUARY 16, 2000 - Spectrum Signal Processing Inc.
(NASDAQ: SSPI / TSE:SSY) a leader in multiprocessing digital signal processing
(DSP) systems, and Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE: NOC) Electronic Sensors
and Systems Sector (ES ), a world leader in the design and manufacture of
defense electronics and systems, today announced a licensing agreement to
design, produce and market a digital signal processing system that Northrop
Grumman will incorporate into a number of its ground based surveillance radar
systems.
"We are very pleased to be working with Spectrum on this project. Their
multiprocessing experience helped us design a leading-edge system and overcome
the design complexity quickly, which will enable us to get to market faster.
Using Spectrum's software tools will allow us to upgrade easily to future
generations of technology," said Mike Karp, manager, Strategic Initiatives,
Processing Systems, at Northrop Grumman ES .
"This agreement is a significant milestone for our sensor systems group and
results from our efforts to establish strategic partnerships in order to further
penetrate the radar market. This cooperative development relationship with
Northrop Grumman at the system design level combined with their expertise in
radar applications enables us to gain first hand insight into the processing
requirements, challenges and future development plans in a wide range of radar
programs and apply that knowledge to our advantage," said Pascal Spothelfer,
President & CEO.
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Spectrum and Northrop Grumman will collaborate on the hardware design, which
will be based on a new SHARC processor from Analog Devices (NYSE: ADI), the
ADSP-21160. This licensing agreement will leverage Spectrum's multiprocessing
experience, unrivaled software development tools, and its existing strategic
relationship with Analog Devices to solve the most demanding radar applications.
Northrop Grumman ES supplies military tactical radar systems to over 35
countries around the world. This new DSP system will offer their customers
maximum flexibility - they can buy a completely new radar system or, if
suitable, they can opt to retrofit their older generation system with the new
DSP system. Once the development project is complete, Spectrum will market the
DSP system to radar customers both within and outside of Northrop Grumman.
Spectrum has also signed a preferred supplier corporate purchase agreement with
Northrop Grumman for the jointly developed hardware system. The agreement will
streamline the procurement process for both companies and will apply to orders
related to today's licensing agreement and any other future program wins.
Spectrum Signal Processing is a world leader in multiprocessing digital signal
processing (DSP) computer systems, designing sophisticated hardware and software
solutions for commercial and defense customers in three key markets - signal
intelligence, sensor systems and telecommunications. Spectrum can be found on
the web at http://www.spectrumsignal.com and is located at One Spectrum Court,
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#200 - 2700 Production Way, Burnaby, B.C., Canada. Ph (604) 421-5422; fax (604)
421-1764.
Northrop Grumman Corporation's Electronic Sensors and Systems Sector (ES ) is
headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland. ES is a world leader in the design,
development and manufacture of defense electronics and systems, precision
weapons, airspace management systems, space systems, marine systems, and
automation and information systems.
Any statements made by the company that are not historical facts are
forward-looking statements that are pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking
statements involve risks and uncertainties, including the timely development and
acceptance of new products, the impact of competitive products and pricing,
changing market conditions and the other risks detailed in the company's
prospectus and from time to time in other filings. Actual results may differ
materially from those projected. These forward-looking statements represent the
company's judgment as of the date of this release. The company may or may not
update these forward-looking statements in the future.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
SPECTRUM SIGNAL PROCESSING INC.
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(Registrant)
/s/Martin C. McConnell
VP Finance & Chief Financial Officer
February 16, 2000 and Secretary
Date: -------------------- By: ----------------------------------
(Signature)
