Conexant Announces Receipt of Acquisition Proposal

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.--February 7, 2011 -- Conexant Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CNXT), a leading supplier of innovative semiconductor solutions for imaging, audio, embedded modem, and video surveillance applications, today announced that on January 18, 2011 it received an unsolicited, written proposal from a private equity firm, Golden Gate Private Equity, Inc., to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Conexant common stock at a price in the range of $2.35 to $2.45 per share in cash, subject to certain terms and conditions, including completion of due diligence (the "New Proposal"). As previously announced, Conexant entered into a definitive merger agreement on January 9, 2011 with Standard Microsystems Corporation ("SMSC") and a wholly owned subsidiary of SMSC (the "SMSC Agreement"), pursuant to which Conexant stockholders would receive for each share of Conexant common stock $1.125 in cash and a fraction of a share of SMSC common stock equal to $1.125 divided by the volume weighted average price of SMSC common stock for the 20 trading days ending on the second trading day prior to closing, but in no event more than 0.04264 nor less than 0.03489 shares of SMSC common stock.

Conexant's board of directors, in consultation with its financial and legal advisors, determined that the New Proposal would reasonably be expected to result in or lead to a "Superior Proposal" as such term is defined in the SMSC Agreement. Accordingly, Conexant's board has authorized Conexant to furnish information to Golden Gate Private Equity, Inc. and enter into discussions with it regarding the New Proposal. There is no assurance that these discussions will lead to a Superior Proposal or that Conexant will reach agreement on the terms of an acquisition by Golden Gate Private Equity, Inc.

About Conexant

Conexant's portfolio of innovative semiconductor solutions includes products for imaging, audio, embedded modem, and video surveillance applications. Conexant is a fabless semiconductor company headquartered in Newport Beach, Calif. To learn more, please visit www.conexant.com.

Additional Information About the SMSC Transaction

In connection with the proposed merger transaction with SMSC (the "SMSC Transaction"), SMSC will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") a Registration Statement on Form S-4 that will include a proxy statement of Conexant and a prospectus of SMSC. The definitive proxy statement/prospectus will be mailed to stockholders of Conexant. Conexant and SMSC urge investors and security holders to read the proxy statement/prospectus regarding the SMSC Transaction when it becomes available because it will contain important information about the SMSC Transaction. You may obtain a free copy of the proxy statement/prospectus (when available) and other related documents filed by SMSC and Conexant with the SEC at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The proxy statement/prospectus (when it is available) and other documents filed by SMSC or Conexant with the SEC relating to the SMSC Transaction may also be obtained for free by accessing SMSC's website at www.smsc.com by clicking on the link for "Investor Relations", then clicking on the link for "SEC Filings" or by accessing Conexant's website at www.conexant.com and clicking on the "Investors" link and then clicking on the link for "Financial Information" and then clicking on the link for "SEC Filings".

Participants in the SMSC Transaction

SMSC, Conexant and their respective directors, executive officers and certain other members of management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Conexant's stockholders in connection with the SMSC Transaction. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be considered participants in the solicitation of Conexant's stockholders in connection with the SMSC Transaction, including the interests of such participants in the SMSC Transaction, will be set forth in the proxy statement/prospectus when it is filed with the SEC. You can find information about SMSC's executive officers and directors in SMSC's definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on June 14, 2010. You can find information about Conexant's executive officers and directors in Conexant's definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on December 10, 2010. You can obtain free copies of these documents from SMSC or Conexant, respectively, using the contact information above.