Customers to benefit from Symantec’s integration of market-leading technology

TORONTO, November 17, 1998 -- Symantec Corporation (Nasdaq: SYMC) today announced it has completed its tender offer for the common stock of Quarterdeck Corporation and has accepted for payment all shares validly tendered in the offer. Over 55 million shares, representing over 60% of the fully diluted common shares of Quarterdeck, were tendered (based on a preliminary count) when the offer expired at midnight EST on Monday, November 16.

Symantec intends to acquire Quarterdeck’s remaining shares through a cash merger at the tender offer price of (US)$0.52 per share in accordance with the definitive merger agreement signed on October 15, 1998. A special meeting of Quarterdeck shareholders is expected to be held at the end of December, with the merger to follow shortly thereafter. Including the assumption of Quarterdeck’s outstanding debt, the total purchase price in the acquisition is currently anticipated by Symantec to be approximately (US)$65 million.

Symantec will use Quarterdeck’s products and market-leading technologies to strengthen its position as the world leader in utility and communication software for networked personal computers. Symantec will continue to market most of the Quarterdeck brands, including CleanSweep, the winner of this year’s PC Magazine’s Editor’s Choice award in the fast-growing uninstaller category.

"This acquisition supports Symantec’s vision of enabling our customers’ productivity by keeping the information on their computers safe and reliable," said Gordon Eubanks, president and CEO of Symantec. "As is the case with our existing partnership agreements with IBM and Intel, this move is also intended to reinforce our global technology and market leadership position and will allow us to deliver best-of-breed solutions to corporate and retail customers around the world."

Commenting on the acquisition, Vicky Cotten, Senior Vice President of Purchasing for Ingram Micro said: "Symantec’s acquisition of Quarterdeck will streamline our ability to distribute two of the best-known software brands in the world."

About Symantec in Canada:
With 250 employees, Symantec’s Canadian operations are headquartered in Toronto with offices in Montréal, Ottawa and Vancouver. For information on Symantec products or current promotions, contact the Canadian office at (416) 441-3676 or access the World Wide Web

About Symantec
Symantec Corporation helps make users productive and keep their computers safe and reliable anywhere and anytime. Symantec offers a broad range of solutions and is acclaimed as a leader in both customer satisfaction and product brand recognition. The company is focused on addressing customer needs in three main application areas: the Norton product line of anti-virus and PC-assistance products; the pcANYWHERE, WinFax and ACT! product lines that cater to remote user productivity; and the Café product lines in Internet development tools.

Founded in 1982, the company's global operations span North America, Europe, Japan and several fast growing markets throughout Asia Pacific and Latin America. Traded on Nasdaq under the symbol SYMC, Symantec Corporation is based in Cupertino, California and employs more than 2,000 people. Information on the company and its products can be obtained by calling (800) 441-7234 toll free, (541) 334-6054 or accessed on the World Wide Web.

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Brands and products referenced herein are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. All prices noted are in US dollars.