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Pure Digital's logo. Click here to visit the Pure Digital website! Cisco to buy Pure Digital for $590M
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(Thursday, March 19, 2009 - 19:32 EDT)

Networking giant Cisco Systems Inc. has today announced its intention to buy Pure Digital Technologies Inc. in a stock exchange worth some $590 million.

Pure Digital is best known for its lineup of "Flip"-branded video cameras, all of which are based around CMOS image sensors, and feature fixed focus, fixed focal length lenses, 1.5" LCD displays, and built-in flash memory storage. The lineup ranges from $130 for the Flip Video with 1GB of memory and VGA (640 x 480) MPEG-4 videos from a 1/4" CMOS sensor with 5.6µm pixels, through to $230 for the Flip MinoHD with 4GB internal memory and 1280 x 720 H.264 videos from a 1/4.5" CMOS sensor with 2.2µm pixels.

Despite their entry-level specifications, the Flip camcorder line's combination of compact size, simplicity, good marketing and trendy touches like customizable body patterns has seen them selling in the millions. Over the years, Pure Digital has also produced some unusual single-use products including a "disposable" camcorder sold by CVS, and a "disposable" still camera sold by Ritz Camera Centers.

Cisco intends to make Pure Digital a part of its Consumer Business Group. Cisco's CBG was previously known by the Linksys brandname, after that company was acquired in 2003, and produces a range of home networking, storage and audio products.

Original Source Press Release:

Cisco Announces Intent to Acquire Pure Digital Technologies, Makers of Flip Video™

Networking Leader Adds Popular Flip Video Solutions to Consumer Portfolio

SAN JOSE, Calif. - March. 19, 2009 - Cisco today announced its intent to acquire privately held Pure Digital Technologies Inc. San Francisco-based Pure Digital, creator of the best-selling Flip Video™ brand, is a pioneer in developing consumer-friendly video solutions with mass-market appeal.

"The acquisition of Pure Digital is key to Cisco's strategy to expand our momentum in the media-enabled home and to capture the consumer market transition to visual networking," said Ned Hooper, senior vice president of Cisco's Corporate Development and Consumer Groups. "Pure Digital has revolutionized the way people capture and share video with Flip Video. This acquisition will take Cisco's consumer business to the next level as the company develops new video capabilities and drives the next generation of entertainment and communication experiences."

Pure Digital's Flip Video has sold more than 2 million units and quickly demonstrated market appeal in the United States by making video simple, accessible and fun. All Flip Video products come equipped with FlipShare, a best-in-class software that allows users to easily organize and edit videos and then share them instantly on YouTube, MySpace and other popular sharing Web sites.

"Flip Video puts the power to instantly capture, edit and share video into the hands of everyday consumers," said Jonathan Kaplan, chairman and CEO of Pure Digital. "By combining forces with Cisco, we join a company that shares our passion for video and whose global scale and tremendous technology expertise we expect will enable us to quickly expand and enrich the Flip Video experience."

Upon the close of the acquisition, the Pure Digital team will become part of Cisco's Consumer Business Group, which includes Linksys® by Cisco® home networking, audio and media-storage products. Kaplan will become general manager of the combined organization, reporting to Hooper.

The Pure Digital acquisition exemplifies Cisco's "build, buy and partner" innovation strategy to move quickly into new markets and capture key market transitions. Under the terms of the agreement, Cisco will pay approximately $590 million in stock in exchange for all shares of Pure Digital. In addition, Cisco will provide up to $15 million in retention-based equity incentives for continuing employees. The acquisition is subject to various standard closing conditions and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of Cisco's fiscal year 2009. The acquisition will be accounted for in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

About Cisco Systems
Cisco, (NASDAQ: CSCO), is the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate. Information about Cisco can be found at http://www.cisco.com. For ongoing news, please go to http://newsroom.cisco.com.

# # #

Cisco, the Cisco logo, Cisco Systems, and Linksys are registered trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc. in the U.S. and certain other countries. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company. This document is Cisco Public Information.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains projections and other forward-looking statements regarding expected performance of Cisco following completion of the acquisition, including statements related to Cisco's consumer business and the development of the Flip Video experience. Statements regarding future events are based on the parties' current expectations and are necessarily subject to associated risks related to, among other things, the successful completion of the acquisition, the retention of employees of Pure Digital and the ability of Cisco to successfully integrate Pure Digital and to achieve expected benefits. Actual results may differ materially from those in the projections or other forward-looking statements. For information regarding other related risks, please see the "Risk Factors" section of Cisco's filings with the SEC, including its most recent filings on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q.

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