Carmelo Santoro Named to Microsemi Board of Directors; Technology Veteran Brings Broad Insight To Orange County Semiconductor Maker.

Business Editors & High-Tech Writers

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 27, 2001

Microsemi Corp. (Nasdaq:MSCC), today announced that a distinguished member of the technology industry, Dr. Carmelo J. ("Carm") Santoro, has been named to its board of directors.

Santoro, whose extensive executive leadership includes computer, semiconductor and software manufacturers AST Research, Silicon Systems, and Ashton-Tate, also has been a member of both public and private high tech boards of directors. These include Seagate Technology, Dallas Semiconductor, S3 and Mentor Graphics.

A graduate of Manhattan College in New York, Santoro was awarded a Ph.D. in solid state physics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, N.Y., in 1967.

"Carm's no-nonsense style is a perfect fit for the dynamics at Microsemi today," said James J. Peterson, president and chief executive officer. "His broad experience, straight talk and winning ways will be invaluable to us. We've worked together over many years so I can look forward with confidence to the positive contributions I know Carm will make here."

In addition to corporate interests, Santoro has been involved with fund raising for cancer research and treatment and with his wife, Nancy, has headed a successful fund-raising campaign at St. Joseph's Hospital in Orange. They have been founding contributors to the Park City and Orange County Performing Arts Centers and the SOS Foundation for the Egyptian Theater.

About Microsemi

Microsemi is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of analog, mixed-signal and discrete semiconductors. The company's semiconductors manage and regulate power, protect against transient voltage spikes and transmit, receive and amplify signals.

Microsemi products include individual components as well as complete circuit solutions that enhance customer designs by providing battery optimization, reducing size or protecting circuits. Markets the company serves include mobile connectivity, computer/peripherals, telecommunications, medical, industrial/commercial, space/satellite and military.

More information may be obtained by contacting the company directly or by visiting its Web site at http://www.microsemi.com.

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Any statements set forth in the news release that are not entirely historical and factual in nature are forward-looking statements. For instance, all statements of belief and expectations are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, such factors as the difficulties regarding the making of estimates and projections, hiring and retention of qualified technical personnel in a competitive labor market, acquiring and integrating new operations or assets, rapidly changing technology and product obsolescence, the ability to realize cost savings or productivity gains, the ability to improve capacity utilization, potential cost increases, the strength and competitive pricing environment of the marketplace, demand for and acceptance of the company's products, the results of planned development, marketing and promotional campaigns, changes in demand for products, difficulties of foreseeing future demand, effects of limited visibility of future sales, potential non-realization of expected orders or non-realization of backlog, business and economic conditions or adverse changes in current or expected industry conditions, customer order preferences, and fluctuations in market prices of the company's common stock, difficulties in implementing company strategies, environmental matters, litigation, difficulties protecting proprietary rights, and inventory obsolescence. In addition to these factors and any other factors mentioned elsewhere in this news release, the reader should refer as well to the factors, uncertainties and risks identified in the company's most recent Form 10-K filed on Dec. 21, 2000, and the final prospectus on Form S-3 filed on June 1, 2000, by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company does not undertake to supplement or correct any information in this release that is or becomes incorrect.