Exar

EXPANDING EXAR'S REACH IN KEY MARKETS PIONEER-STANDARD TO DISTRIBUTE EXAR PRODUCTS

Fremont, CA - May 26,1998, EXAR Corporation (Nasdaq: EXAR) announced today that Pioneer-Standard Electronics, Inc. (Nasdaq:PIOS), a leading distributor of electronic components and computer products, has signed a contract to distribute EXAR products in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

"The addition of Pioneer-Standard to EXAR's distribution network extends our reach into the communications, video and imaging, and silicon sensing markets," said Michael Class, vice president of EXAR's sales operations. "This is consistent with our move to value- added distributors who create demand, and complement our existing market strategy. "In key networking and transmission communications markets, Pioneer-Standard has long- standing relationships with some of the leading original equipment manufacturers," said Class. "We look forward to working with Pioneer-Standard to deliver a competitive combination of products and services to this market."

"EXAR is a key addition to Pioneer's best-in-class suppliers," said Tom Pitera, president, Industrial Electronics Division, Pioneer-Standard. "With EXAR's reputation for designing innovative mixed-signal products for communications and video and imaging markets, combined with Pioneer's industry-leading technical capabilities, we have a powerful combination of resources that we will use to provide the CustomerCentric (TM) solutions our business partners have come to expect."

Exar Corporation designs, develops and markets innovative, system-oriented analog and mixed-signal integrated circuits for video & imaging, communications and silicon sensing markets. The Company, based in Fremont, CA, had fiscal 1998 revenues of $102 million and employs approximately 350 people worldwide. For more information, contact the company at 48720 Kato Road, Fremont, CA 94538. Phone: (510) 668-7000. Fax: (510) 668-7017. World Wide Web site at www.exar.com.

Pioneer-Standard is an international distributor of a broad range of industrial and end-user electronic components and computer products to the OEM, VAR and end use markets, with reported revenues of $1.7 billion for the fiscal year that ended March 31, 1998. On April 1, 1998, Pioneer-Standard completed the acquisition of Dickens Data Systems, which had 1997 revenues of $347 million, making Pioneer-Standard a $2 billion company. Pioneer-Standard has operations throughout North America, and provides access to all major Asian markets through its equity investment in World Peace Industrial Co., Ltd. (WPI), headquartered in Taiwan, and to the European markets through its equity investment in Eurodis Electron PLC, headquartered in England. WPI's 1997 revenues were approximately $350 million, while Eurodis' 1997 revenues were approximately $500 million. Additional information about Pioneer and its global operations can be found on the World Wide Web at www.pios.com.

Hazel Rivera
Assistant Account Executive Dix & Eaton (216) 241-4628