FORM 6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the month of February 2002
STMicroelectronics N.V.
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(Translation of registrant's name into English)
Route de Pre-Bois, ICC Bloc A, 1215 Geneva 15, Switzerland
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(Address of principal executive offices)
[Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file
annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F]
Form 20-F X Form 40-F
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[Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the
information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to
the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934]
Yes No X
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[If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the
Registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82-______]
Enclosures:
A press release dated February 14, 2002, announcing that
STMicroeletronics has acquired the intellectual property and product range of
Tioga Technologies for Digital Subscriber Line chipsets.
PRESS RELEASE
COMMUNIQUE DE PRESSE
COMUNICATO STAMPA
PRESSE INFORMATION
PR No. C1148D
STMicroelectronics Acquires Digital Subscriber Line (xDSL)
Know-how and Chips from Tioga Technologies
Transaction Reinforces ST's Position In Semiconductor Market For
Broadband Services Over Standard Phone Lines
Geneva, February 14, 2002 - STMicroelectromcs (NYSE:STM) announced today that
the company has acquired the intellectual property and product range of Tioga
Technologies (OTC BB:TIGA) for Digital Subscriber Line (xDSL) chipsets for $10
million. The transaction calls for ST to take ownership of Tioga's
soon-to-be-introduced xDSL products. Pursuant to the agreement between the
companies, ST was granted an option to purchase all outstanding shares or assets
of Tioga on or before January 15, 2003 for an additional $12 million, which
could be adjusted for Tioga's financial indebtedness and other liabilities at
the close. Tioga was granted an option, contingent upon their meeting certain
performance milestones, to cause ST to purchase such shares or assets.
The xDSL products ST has acquired from Tioga include a highly integrated
Asymmetric DSL (ADSL) multi-channel processor for central office applications.
When used together with ST's existing line of advanced analog front-end and
power-efficient line drivers, this chipset provides the most competitive,
compact and power-efficient solution on the market.
Approximately 60% of North American households are connected to Internet, and
about 70% of European households will be connected by 2005. ST anticipates a
substantial percentage of these connections to be upgraded to DSL-based
broadband capability enabling the delivery of additional services at higher data
rates and enhanced value for the individual or corporate user.
A leading supplier of DSL chips, which allow high-speed data to be carried by
standard copper phone lines, ST already offers a broad range of ADSL products,
primarily for home use, which deliver fast Internet and high-quality video. ADSL
technology can deliver data at up to 8 Mbps (bits per second) downstream from
the service provider's Central Office to the subscriber and 640 Kbps upstream
from subscriber to Central Office.
As a result of the agreement between the two companies, ST will also introduce
new xDSL chipsets for the SHDSL (Symmetric High Bit Rate DSL) standard where the
data moves at the same rate in either direction between the Central Office and
subscriber. SHDSL supports symmetric data rates varying from 192 Kbps to 2.32
Mbps across greater distances than other DSL technologies. This variety of xDSL
is useful primarily for businesses as a replacement for conventional data lines,
for videoconferencing for digital telephony, for remote LAN access, and to
connect private branch exchanges.
"Through this agreement, ST enhances its broad product line in the area of xDSL
and expands its access to top-notch design engineers," commented Pietro Palella,
General Manager, Wireline Division. "By combining ST's existing ADSL product
line with the Tioga products we can deliver leading-edge chipsets that can
provide breakthrough improvements in integration, board space, and power savings
for network equipment manufacturers to our customers."
In addition to its existing ADSL products, ST has also been developing an
advanced chipset for the new high-speed VDSL (Very high bit-rate DSL) standard
that will deliver data at rates up to 52 Mbps downstream from Central Office to
subscriber and 13 Mbps upstream from subscriber to Central Office over short
telephone lines. VDSL targets both symmetric business uses such as digital
telephony and asymmetric domestic uses such as multimedia streaming services.
In-house development programs, alliances with major equipment makers, and
acquisitions have positioned ST to benefit from the renewed growth of broadband
services expected soon. xDSL is the fastest way to deploy broadband services,
taking advantage of existing infrastructures so a minimal investment by service
providers is sufficient to start generating revenues.
About STMicroelectronics
STMicroelectronics, the world's third largest independent semiconductor company,
is a global leader in developing and delivering semiconductor solutions across
the spectrum of microelectronics applications. An unrivalled combination of
silicon and system expertise, manufacturing strength, IP portfolio and strategic
partners positions the Company at the forefront of System-on-Chip (SoC)
technology and its products play a key role in enabling today's convergence
markets. The Company shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange, on
Euronext Paris and on the Milan Stock Exchange. In 2001, the Company's net
revenues were $6.36 billion and net earnings were $257.1 million. Further
information on ST can be found at www.st.com.
For further information, please contact:
STMicroelectronics
Maria Grazia Prestini Benoit de Leusse
Director, Corporate Media Relations Investor Relations Manager Europe
Tel: +41.22.929.6945 Tel. +33.4.50.40.24.30
Fax: +41.22.929.6950 Fax +33.4.50.40.25.80
mariagrazia.prestini@st.com benoit.de-leusse@st.com
Morgen-Walke Europe
Lorie Lichtlen Jean-Benoit Roquette / Nicole Curtin
Media Relations Investor Relations
Tel. +33.1.47.03.68.10 Tel. +33.1.47.03.68.10
Fax +33.1.47.03.93.38 jbroquette@mweurope.com/
llichtlen@mweurope.com ncurtin@weurope.com
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
STMicroelectronics N.V. has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Date: February 15, 2002 STMicroelectronics N.V.
By: /s/ Pasquale Pistorio
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Name: Pasquale Pistorio
Title: President and Chief
Executive Officer