Exhibit 99 - PMC-Sierra, Inc. Press Release issued July 31, 2001.

News Release

FOR RELEASE ON JULY 31ST, 2001 AT APPROXIMATELY 7:45 A.M. PACIFIC TIME

PMC-Sierra Contacts:


                                                         
John W. Sullivan                David Climie                   Glen Kayll
Chief Financial Officer         Manager, Investor Relations    Treasurer
Tel: 1 408 988 7785             Tel: 1 408 988 8276            Tel: 1 604 415 6162
john_sullivan@pmc-sierra.com    david_climie@pmc-sierra.com    glen_kayll@pmc-sierra.com


               PMC-SIERRA ANNOUNCES $225 MILLION PRIVATE OFFERING
                        OF CONVERTIBLE SUBORDINATED NOTES

Santa Clara, CA - July 31, 2001 -- PMC-Sierra, Inc. (Nasdaq: PMCS) today
announced that it intends to offer, subject to market and other conditions, up
to $225 million of Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2006 (plus an additional
amount of up to $50 million) in a private placement. The notes will be
convertible into the company's common stock at the option of the holder at the
price determined.

PMC-Sierra intends to use the net proceeds of the anticipated offering for
working capital and other general corporate purposes.

This announcement is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to
buy any of these securities.

The notes and the common stock issuable upon conversion of the notes have not
been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
Act") or any state securities laws, and are being offered only to qualified
institutional buyers in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act. Unless
so registered, the notes and common stock issued upon conversion of the notes
may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an exemption
from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state
securities laws.

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