Cisco Systems to Acquire Amteva Technologies, Inc.; Cisco to Unify Voicemail, E-Mail and Fax Services Over Internet Platform.

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 28, 1999--

Cisco Systems, Inc. today announced a definitive agreement to acquire privately-held Amteva Technologies, Inc. of Glen Allen, Va.

Amteva is a leading developer of middleware, which provides a unified means for enabling voicemail, fax, and e-mail messages over an IP-based network (Internet Protocol). This acquisition underscores Cisco's commitment to a New World architecture where data, voice and video traffic flows over a single Internet-based network.

Under the terms of the agreement, shares of Cisco common stock and cash with an aggregate value of approximately $170 million will be exchanged for all outstanding shares and options of Amteva. In connection with the acquisition, Cisco expects a one-time charge against after-tax earnings of between $.02 and $.07 per share for purchased in-process research and development expenses in the fourth quarter of 1999. The acquisition is subject to various closing conditions.

Amteva's middleware enables a user to unify voicemail, email and fax traffic into a single mailbox accessible over an Internet-based network independent of location, time or device.

"Today's announcement demonstrates Cisco's ongoing commitment to bringing advanced voice solutions to a New World infrastructure for both enterprise and service provider customers," said Don Listwin, Cisco executive vice president.

For the enterprise customer, Cisco will combine solutions from acquisitions of Selsius, GeoTel, and Amteva to provide basic voice services and advanced voice functionality such as call center and unified communication over a single, standards-based network at minimum cost with maximum flexibility.

This acquisition supports the fourth and fifth phases of Cisco's five-phase enterprise data, voice and video integration strategy that extends open, unified communications to IP-based infrastructures.

For service providers, Amteva's middleware will enable deployment of new revenue generating communication services. Examples of the new services include: voicemail over the Internet, unified messaging, and personal agent services such as single number reach, automatic forwarding and pager alerts etc.

By incorporating Amteva's middleware solution as part of the Unified Communications initiative for both enterprise and service provider customers, Cisco will make it easier for third party developers and system integrators to add value to the open voice solution.

Amteva was founded in 1995. The 144 employees led by Amteva president and CEO Dean Dodrill will report to Don Listwin, executive vice president.

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