Bourns Acquires Fultec Semiconductor Transient Blocking Unit Technology


Bourns Expands Industry's Most Comprehensive Circuit Protection Line with Fultec's Transient Blocking Unit Components and Modules

RIVERSIDE, Calif., October 14, 2008 - Bourns, Inc. today announced the company has acquired substantially all of the assets of the Transient Blocking Unit (TBU) business of Fultec Semiconductor, Inc. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Headquartered in Mountain View, California, Fultec designs and manufactures surge protection components and modules primarily for the communications market. Designed to protect sensitive electronic circuits, Fultec's TBU technology is specifically designed for use in the over-voltage and over-current protection of telecommunication and data communications systems.

Keeping the company's commitment to providing the industry's most complete line of circuit protection solutions, the acquisition of Fultec's TBU assets is one of several significant circuit protection purchases Bourns has made recently that include: Emerson Network Power business, Joslyn Electronics' Communication Protection Products business, Power Innovations' Thyristor Surge Protector business and Texas Instruments' Solid State Telecom Protection business. Fultec has primarily sold its TBU products to equipment manufacturers for use in high speed voice and data-over-broadband applications.

"Purchasing the TBU assets from Fultec provides Bourns with a unique offering that complements our extensive existing product portfolio and further strengthens Bourns' position as a leading supplier of circuit protection components and solutions," said Dr. Erik Meijer, Vice-president of Circuit Protection at Bourns "Bourns has more than 30 years of experience developing products internally and acquiring important technologies. We are committed to supplying the best and most reliable electronic solutions to satisfy the diverse needs of our customers. New component technology introductions in the circuit protection arena are rare and we are very excited to add the transient blocking unit technology to our broad range of circuit protection products."

TBU technology from Fultec is based on innovative electronic current limiter technology which is also known as resettable electronic fuses. TBU technology reacts extremely quickly to incoming surges and effectively blocks energy from reaching sensitive and expensive electronic equipment. TBU devices provide very effective, wide bandwidth circuit protection against lightning, power induction, power cross and short circuit events.

"This acquisition is the ideal solution for Fultec as well as our customers who will now benefit from not only a broader range of superior circuit protection products, but will also have access to Bourns' extensive global sales and technical support network," said James Witham, President and CEO of Fultec Semiconductor. "Our team is excited about joining Bourns and expanding opportunities for the transient blocking unit business."

About Bourns

Bourns, Inc. is a leading manufacturer and supplier of automotive sensors, circuit protection solutions, magnetic products, microelectronic modules, precision potentiometers, panel controls and encoders and resistive products. Headquartered in Riverside, California, Bourns serves a broad range of markets, including telecommunications, computer, industrial, instrumentation, automotive, consumer, non-critical life support medical, audio and various other market segments. Bourns products are manufactured according to ISO-9000 standards under Six Sigma quality programs. Additional company and product information is available at the company's website at www.bourns.com.

Kelli Crimins
Keller Communication
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