Cisco acquires Pure Digital (Flip video cameras)

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Link to presser....

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

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 VideoTM 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.

 

[10_stone_5]

I just really like that companies like Cisco & IBM, and some others are out there spending their own money -- to get the markets moving, divorced from anything related to government intervention, incentives, etc. I like that Cisco is using their stock to buy this company, which shows some faith in their stock price. And I like the tie-in with Linksys, which could be a good developing brand name for Cisco.