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NVIDIA to acquire key core-logic maker ULi Electronics

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NVIDIA to Acquire ULi Electronics, a Leading Developer of Core Logic Technology

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TAIPEI, TAIWAN and SANTA CLARA, CA—DECEMBER 14, 2005— NVIDIA Corporation (Nasdaq: NVDA), the worldwide leader in programmable graphics processor technologies, today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire ULi Electronics Inc. (ULi), one of the PC industry’s most highly-regarded core-logic developers. Headquartered in Taipei, ULi also has offices in Hsinchu; Shanghai; Shenzhen; and San Jose, California.

ULi is recognized for its innovative core logic technology as well as other multimedia and embedded products. The acquisition represents NVIDIA’s ongoing investment in its platform solution strategy, which leverages the acclaimed NVIDIA nForce media and communications processors (MCPs) and NVIDIA GeForce and NVIDIA Quadro graphics processing units (GPUs). Additionally, the acquisition is expected to strengthen the company’s sales, marketing, and customer engineering presence in Taiwan and China.

Under the terms of the agreement, NVIDIA will pay 19 New Taiwan Dollars in cash for each outstanding ULi share and stock option, for a total of approximately $52 million (USD). The acquisition, which is expected to be completed in the first quarter of the Company’s fiscal year 2007*, remains subject to the satisfaction of regulatory requirements and other customary closing conditions.
*Bob Crabtree of HEXUS.net adds - according to DigiTimes, the first quarter of Nvidia’s 2007 fiscal year ends May 1, 2006

Alex Kuo, president and chief executive officer, ULi, will join NVIDIA as a senior executive responsible for MCP sales, marketing, and support functions in Asia. NVIDIA intends to supply ULi customers with current products for the foreseeable future.

Jen-Hsun Huang, president and chief executive officer, NVIDIA, stated: "Alex and his team have built a company admired for creating innovative products in the core logic arena. The acquisition provides an opportunity for NVIDIA to leverage a very talented engineering team in order to expand our MCP initiatives while building closer relationships with customers in Asia."

"At ULi, we have always believed that the opportunities in the MCP space are tremendous," added Mr. Kuo. "The strength of the NVIDIA world-class engineering and marketing organizations will enable the ULi team to take product design and development to the next level."

NVIDIA is the largest AMD core logic supplier in the world (Source: Mercury Research, Third Quarter 2005 PC CPU Report). NVIDIA nForce MCP revenue has increased 100 percent year-over-year and has achieved record revenue for five consecutive quarters.

About ULi
ULi Electronics Inc. is a leading fabless IC design company that develops world-class solutions for consumer electronics and professional computing products. ULi's expertise in the PC information industry and solid design capability position ULi as a major component supplier dedicated to bringing system manufacturers more highly integrated, performance enhancing, and cost effective IC solutions. For more information, visit http://www.uli.com.tw.

About NVIDIA
NVIDIA Corporation is the worldwide leader in programmable graphics processor technologies. The Company creates innovative, industry-changing products for computing, consumer electronics, and mobile devices. NVIDIA is headquartered in Santa Clara, California and has offices throughout Asia, Europe, and the Americas. For more information, visit http://www.nvidia.com.

Certain statements in this press release including, but not limited to, statements regarding the anticipated benefits of the acquisition of ULi Electronics, the anticipated closing and timing of the closing of the acquisition, NVIDIA continued supply to current ULi customers, and the employment of Mr. Kuo by NVIDIA are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Reform Act of 1995 that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause results to be materially different than expectations.

Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risk that we will not realize the anticipated benefits of this acquisition, the risk that we may not be able to complete the acquisition, risks associated with acquisitions including the ability to successfully integrate technologies, employees and operations, diversion of management’s attention, retaining key employees, ULi customers ending their relationship with ULi after the completion of the acquisition, risks associated with international operations, trends in the semiconductor and MCP industries, failure in NVIDIA MCP initiatives, the impact of competitive products and technological advances, reliance on third party manufacturers, market acceptance of new products and technologies and other risks detailed from time to time in the NVIDIA reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission including its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 30, 2005.

These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and speak only as of the date hereof. NVIDIA disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

###

Copyright 2005 NVIDIA Corporation. All rights reserved. All company and/or product names may be trade names, trademarks and/or registered trademarks of the respective owners with which they are associated. Features, pricing, availability, and specifications are subject to change without notice.




HEXUS Forums :: 13 Comments

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At least 2 poor chipset manufacturers are now just 1, less stuff to avoid.
Very good move by NVidia. ULI were just building up a reputation for innovative products that even threatened NVidia's own chipsets.

ATI are probably kicking themselves, and ULI shareholders might be wishing they'd held out for some competition between the two.
The article has been updated with views from interested parties in the industry… Check what ATI have to say!
“ATI have a really strong platform and product road map for the future. ATI’s success does not rely on third party technology or expertise”
Of course.. it's not like motherboard manufacturers have had to resort to using third party chips on ATI boards or anything….

http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=2617

Oops.. is that a ULI chip on the south bridge?

But wait! ULI are now NVidia.. so crossfire boards do best with NVidia chips! :p

(yes, this is slightly tongue in cheek - there is a new ATI chip that will hopefully reduce the need for the ULI chip)
It would be quite entertaining if ATI occasionally still used ULi chipsets.

But I seem to recall examples of Intel chips being used on AMD motherboards (or vice versa) in the (distant) past…