Cisco Invests in Eastern Europe

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Cisco(R) (NASDAQ: CSCO)today announced a venture capital initiative targeting the technologyindustry in Central and Eastern Europe(1). Cisco will pursueinvestment opportunities in technology-related start-ups in theregion, both directly as well as indirectly through a regionalventure fund.

In collaboration with 3TS Capital Partners, Cisco is making theanchor investment in the Technology in Central and Eastern EuropeS.C.A. SICAR fund (to be informally called '3TS-Cisco Growth FundIII'), which will initially close at 30 million euros. 3TS CapitalPartners, one of the leading private equity and venture capital firmsin Central and Eastern Europe, will seek and manage the fund'sinvestments. The target companies for the fund primarily includehigh-growth small and medium-sized companies in the technology,media, and telecommunications sectors.

"Cisco helps drive entrepreneurship in Central and Eastern Europethrough initiatives such as the Cisco Entrepreneur Institute, as wellas through project financing, leasing programs and, most recently,the venture fund partnership being announced today. New businessesare a key driver of growth in emerging economies and of jobs in localcommunities," said Kaan Terzioglu, Cisco's vice president for Centraland Eastern Europe. "Countries in the region innovate across a broadrange of technologies, including broadband, wireless, security, andcommunications technologies. They also lead in the adoption of VoIPapplications, multimedia and gaming, mobile content, andentertainment delivery. The opportunities in the region aretherefore immense."

To date, Cisco has deployed more than $2 billion in venture capitalinvestments and has been an active equity investor in major marketssuch as China, India, Israel and Europe, in addition to the UnitedStates. Through a combination of direct and indirect fundingvehicles, Cisco is a strategic investor in start-ups and venturefunds around the world and focuses on finding and investing incompanies that have innovative technologies and business models.Cisco has appointed Yoav Samet, head of Israel and Emerging EuropeCorporate Business Development, to lead this important investmentinitiative.

"Investing in geographically focused venture funds like the 3TS-CiscoGrowth Fund is another strategic tool in our global investmentportfolio that fuels ICT market growth through investment in theinnovation economy," said Hilton Romanski, senior director of GlobalCorporate Business Development for Cisco. "This strategy will helpcatalyze and accelerate tech innovation in Central and Eastern Europeand take technology investment in the region to the next level."Cisco Systems Inc.