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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.     )

  Filed by the Registrant   x
  Filed by a Party other than the Registrant   o
 
  Check the appropriate box:

  o   Preliminary Proxy Statement
  o   Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
  x   Definitive Proxy Statement
  o   Definitive Additional Materials
  o   Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

Vialta, Inc.


(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)


(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

      Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

  x   No fee required.
  o   Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.

        1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

        2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

        3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

        4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

        5) Total fee paid:

        o   Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

        o   Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

        1) Amount Previously Paid:

        2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

        3) Filing Party:

        4) Date Filed:

SEC 1913 (02-02) Persons who are to respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number.


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(VIALTA LOGO)
 
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To Be Held June 15, 2004

TO THE STOCKHOLDERS OF VIALTA, INC.:

      NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Vialta, Inc. (the “Company”) will be held on Tuesday, June 15, 2004 at 2:00 p.m., local time, at the Fremont Marriott, 46100 Landing Parkway, Fremont, CA 94538 for the following purposes:

        1.     To elect six directors of the Company, each to serve until the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until his or her successor has been elected and qualified or until his or her earlier resignation or removal.
 
        2.     To ratify the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as independent accountants for the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2004.
 
        3.     To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any postponement or adjournment(s) thereof.

The foregoing items of business are more fully described in the Proxy Statement accompanying this Notice.

      Only stockholders of record at the close of business on April 23, 2004 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting and any adjournment(s) thereof.

      All stockholders are cordially invited to attend the meeting in person. However, to assure your representation at the meeting, you are urged to mark, sign, date and return the enclosed proxy card as promptly as possible in the postage-prepaid envelope enclosed for that purpose. Any stockholder attending the meeting may vote in person even if such stockholder returned a proxy card.

  BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
 
  FRED S.L. CHAN
  Chairman and Secretary

Fremont, California

May 6, 2004

IMPORTANT

      WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD AS PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PREPAID ENVELOPE. IF A QUORUM IS NOT REACHED, THE COMPANY MAY HAVE THE ADDED EXPENSE OF RE-ISSUING THESE PROXY MATERIALS. IF YOU ATTEND THE MEETING AND SO DESIRE, YOU MAY WITHDRAW YOUR PROXY AND VOTE IN PERSON. THANK YOU FOR ACTING PROMPTLY.


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NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS To Be Held June 15, 2004
INFORMATION CONCERNING SOLICITATION AND VOTING
VOTING RIGHTS AND SOLICITATION OF PROXIES
PROPOSAL NO. 1 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Summary Compensation Table
REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION


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(VIALTA LOGO)

VIALTA, INC.

PROXY STATEMENT FOR THE

ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To Be Held June 15, 2004


 
INFORMATION CONCERNING SOLICITATION AND VOTING

General

      The enclosed proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors of Vialta, Inc. (the “Company”), a Delaware corporation. The Proxy will be used at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on Tuesday, June 15, 2004 at 2:00 p.m., local time, or at any postponement or adjournment(s) thereof (the “Annual Meeting”). The Annual Meeting will be held at the Fremont Marriott, 46100 Landing Road, Fremont, CA 94538. The telephone number at that location is (510) 413-3700.

      The Company’s principal executive offices are located at 48461 Fremont Blvd., Fremont, CA 94538.

Solicitation

      These proxy solicitation materials, including an annual report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003, will be mailed on or about May 20, 2004 to all stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. The costs of soliciting these proxies will be borne by the Company. These costs will include the expenses of preparing and mailing proxy materials for the Annual Meeting and reimbursement paid to brokerage firms and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for their expenses incurred in forwarding solicitation material regarding the Annual Meeting to beneficial owners of the Company’s Common Stock. Officers, directors and regular employees of the Company may conduct further solicitation personally, telephonically or by facsimile, without receiving additional compensation for assisting with the solicitation.

      The Company will provide a copy of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003, including financial statements and financial statement schedules (but not exhibits), without charge to each stockholder upon written request. The request should be sent to William Scharninghausen, Chief Financial Officer, Vialta, Inc., 48461 Fremont Blvd., Fremont, CA 94538 (telephone number: (510) 870-3098). Exhibits to the Annual Report may be obtained on written request to Mr. Scharninghausen.

Revocability of Proxies

      A proxy may be revoked by the person giving it at any time before its use by submitting to the Secretary of the Company a written notice of revocation, by delivering a duly executed proxy bearing a later date or by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person. Please note, however, that if a stockholder’s shares are held of record by a broker, bank or other nominee and the stockholder wishes to vote at the Annual Meeting, the stockholder must bring to the Annual Meeting a proxy from the broker, bank or other nominee authorizing him or her to vote the shares.

 
VOTING RIGHTS AND SOLICITATION OF PROXIES

Voting

      Each share of Vialta common stock outstanding on the record date is entitled to one vote per share on all matters. In accordance with the provisions of California law, until the Company is a “listed corporation”


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stockholders have the right to cumulate votes in connection with the election of directors. Each stockholder complying with the conditions set forth below may cumulate votes and give one candidate a number of votes equal to the number of votes to which such stockholder’s shares are entitled multiplied by the number of directors to be elected. The stockholder may cast these votes all for a single candidate or distribute the votes among any or all of the candidates. Under California law, no stockholder will be entitled to cumulate votes for a candidate unless that candidate’s name has been placed in nomination prior to the voting and the stockholder, or any other stockholder, has given notice at the Annual Meeting prior to the voting of an intention to cumulate votes. In such event, the proxy holder may allocate among the Board of Directors’ nominees the votes represented by proxies in the proxy holder’s sole discretion. With respect to the election of directors, the six directors receiving the highest number of votes of the shares of Common Stock present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and voting on the election of directors will be elected.

      The Inspector of Elections will tabulate the votes cast in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting. The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at a duly held meeting at which a quorum is present and voting is required for approval of proposals presented to stockholders other than the election of directors. If a broker indicates on the enclosed proxy or its substitute that it does not have discretionary authority as to certain shares to vote on a particular matter (“broker non-votes”), those shares will not be considered as votes present with respect to that matter so will have no effect on the outcome of that vote. Abstentions will not be counted in the tabulation of the voting results with respect to the election of directors but will have the effect of a negative vote on the other proposals.

Quorum

      A majority of the outstanding shares on the record date, represented either in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for purposes of the Annual Meeting. The Inspector of Elections will determine whether or not a quorum is present. The Inspector of Elections will treat abstentions and broker non-votes as shares that are present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum.

Board Recommendations

      Any proxy which is returned using the form of proxy enclosed and which is not marked as to a particular item will be voted, as applicable, for the election of the Board’s nominees for directors, for the ratification of PricewaterhouseCooper, LLP, and as the proxy holders deem advisable on other matters that may come before the meeting.

Record Date and Share Ownership

      Only stockholders of record at the close of business on April 23, 2004 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. As of the record date, 82,865,712 shares of the Company’s Common Stock were issued and outstanding, and there were 417 stockholders of record.

Deadline for Receipt of Stockholder Proposals

      Under our bylaws, no business may be brought before an annual meeting unless it is specified in the notice of the meeting or is otherwise properly brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board or by an eligible stockholder who has delivered written notice to the Company’s Corporate Secretary not less than 120 days prior to the date that the Company’s proxy statement was released to stockholders in connection with the previous year’s annual meeting of stockholders. With respect to the Company’s 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, written proposals by stockholders of the Company must be received by the Company no later than December 31, 2004 to be considered for inclusion in the proxy statement and form of proxy relating to that meeting. If the date of the Company’s 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is changed by more than 30 calendar days from the date contemplated, notice by the stockholder must be received not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which the date of the annual meeting is publicly announced.

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PROPOSAL NO. 1

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

      The Company’s bylaws currently provide that the number of directors shall be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors. The size of the Board of Directors is currently set at six members. The Company’s bylaws divides the Board into three classes with staggered, three-year terms. Herbert Chang and George M. Cain serve as Class I directors, with terms set to expire in 2005. Matthew K. Fong and Didier Pietri serve as Class II directors with terms set to expire in 2006, and Fred S.L. Chan and Michael S. Dubester serve as Class III directors, with terms set to expire in 2004. However, pursuant to the requirements of California law, this provision will become effective only when the Company becomes a “listed corporation,” as defined under California law. As a result, six nominees will be elected at the Annual Meeting to be the six directors of the Company.

      The Board has nominated the six people named below to serve as directors to hold office until the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their respective successors have been elected and qualified or until such directors’ earlier resignation or removal. All of the nominees are currently directors of the Company. If any nominee, for any reason, is unable to, or will not, serve as a director, the proxies may be voted for and will serve in the same class as designated above such substitute nominee as the proxy holder may determine. The Company is not aware of any nominee who will be unable to, or will not serve as a director.

Director

      The names of the nominees, and certain information about them as of March 31, 2004, are set forth below:

                     
Director
Name of Nominee Age Position(s) with Vialta Since




Fred S.L. Chan
    57     Chairman of the Board     1999  
Didier Pietri
    41     President, Chief Executive Officer and Director     2001  
George M. Cain
    59     Director     2003  
Herbert Chang
    41     Director     1999  
Michael S. Dubester
    56     Director     2003  
Matthew K. Fong
    50     Director     1999  

      Fred S. L. Chan has served as the Company’s Chairman of the Board of Directors since the Company’s inception in 1999. He also served as the Company’s President from its inception through April 2001 and as Chief Executive Officer from its inception through August 2001. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Chan founded and held various executive positions at ESS Technology, Inc., a designer, developer and marketer of highly integrated digital system processor chips, since 1986, as well as being Chairman of the Board, in which capacity he still serves.

      Didier Pietri has been a member of Vialta’s board of directors since September 2001. Mr. Pietri joined the Company in April 2001 as its President and in August 2001 also became its Chief Executive Officer. Prior to joining Vialta, Mr. Pietri served as President and Chief Executive Officer of TVA/ Motion International, a global entertainment production and distribution company from August 1999 to March 2001. From June 1995 to July 1999, Mr. Pietri was Senior Vice President of the ABC Television Network Group, as well as President of ABC Pictures, a division of The Walt Disney Company.

      George M. Cain has been a member of Vialta’s board of directors since February 2003. Mr. Cain is the founder and President of C3 Media & Marketing Group, LLC, a media marketing consulting company. He has held that position since 1996. Mr. Cain is also the founder and CEO of Strategic Media & Marketing Group, LLC, a marketing and sales company which has assisted a German enterprise software company with the introduction of its products in North America. He has held that position since 2001.

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      Herbert Chang has been a member of Vialta’s board of directors since November 1999. Mr. Chang is the President of InveStar Capital, Inc., a venture capital firm. He has held that position since August 1996. In addition, Mr. Chang is the managing member of Forefront Associates, LLC, which is the general partner of Forefront Venture Partners, L.P., a position he has held since February 1998. Mr. Chang currently serves as a director of Marvell Technology Group Ltd. and Oplink Communications, Inc.

      Michael S. Dubester has been a member of Vialta’s board of directors since February 2003. Mr. Dubester is the Senior Vice President of Business Development of Vulcan Sports Media, Inc., a U.S. sports media company whose principal business is The Sporting News. He has held that position since 2000. Prior to that, Mr. Dubester served as the President of Times Mirror Interzines, the online network of Internet sites affiliated with Times Mirror Magazine titles, the previous owner of The Sporting News, from 1998 until 2000. He was the founder and President of The Sporting News Online, from 1996 until 1998.

      Matthew K. Fong has been a member of Vialta’s board of directors since April 1999. Mr. Fong was employed by the Company from September 2001 through January 31, 2003, as an Advisor to the Chairman of the Board. In addition, since February 1999, Mr. Fong has been an attorney with the law firm of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton, LLP and the Chief Executive Officer of Strategic Advisory Group, a financial and high technology consulting group that he founded. Prior to that, Mr. Fong served as California State Treasurer from January 1995 to January 1999.

Board of Directors’ Meetings and Committees

      The Board of Directors met four times during fiscal year 2003. The Board of Directors, during 2003, had an Audit Committee and a Compensation Committee but did not have a Nominating Committee or any other standing committees. Nominations to the Board of Directors are handled as discussed below. Each incumbent director attended at least 75% of the meetings of the Board and meetings of the Committees of the Board on which he served during the fiscal year 2003. The Company invites Board members to attend annual meetings of the stockholders. Didier Pietri attended the last annual meeting of stockholders.

      Audit Committee. The Audit Committee is currently comprised of three members: Matthew Fong (Chairman), Michael Dubester and Herbert Chang. Mr. Dubester was elected to the Audit Committee on May 1, 2003. Mr. Chang was elected to the Audit Committee on April 23, 2002. Currently, Mr. Chang and Mr. Dubester are both independent as defined by the listing standard of NASDAQ as now in effect. Prior to January 31, 2003, Mr. Fong was employed by the Company as the Advisor to the Chairman so is not independent under such standard. During 2003, the Board did not designate any member as a financial expert within the meaning of applicable regulatory standards, but believes that each member has the appropriate experience and ability to perform their duties as Audit Committee members.

      The Audit Committee pre-approves the performance of audit and non-audit services by the Company’s accountants and reviews the Company’s internal control systems, financial reporting procedures, the general scope of the Company’s annual audit, the fees charged by the independent accountants, and the fairness of any proposed transaction between any officer, director or other affiliate of the Company and the Company. With respect to the foregoing, the Audit Committee makes recommendations to the full Board and performs such further functions as may be required or delegated to the Committee by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee, a copy of which is attached to the Proxy Statement filed by the Company on April 30, 2002. During fiscal year 2003, the Audit Committee of the Board held four meetings independent of the entire Board of Directors.

      Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee is comprised of three members: Matthew Fong (Chairman), George Cain and Michael Dubester. The Compensation Committee reviews and approves compensation and benefits for the Company’s key executive officers, administers the Company’s stock purchase and equity incentive plans and makes recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding such matters. During fiscal year 2003, the Compensation Committee held two meetings independent of the entire Board of Directors.

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      Nominations. The Company does not have a nominating committee. In light of the relatively small size of the Board of Directors, the Company does not believe that a separate nominating committee is currently necessary. In the interim, all current directors will take part, as necessary, in selecting any required nominees. The Board currently considers candidates for Board membership suggested by its members. A stockholder who wishes to recommend a prospective nominee for the Board should notify the Company’s Corporate Secretary in writing with whatever supporting material the stockholder considers appropriate. The Board will also consider whether to nominate any person nominated by a stockholder pursuant to the provisions of the Company’s bylaws relating to stockholder nominations.

Compensation of Directors

      During 2003, non-employee directors of the Company received cash compensation for their services, along with reimbursement for their reasonable expenses in attending meetings of the Board of Directors or any meetings of a Committee of the Board of Directors. Commencing with the first quarter of 2003, each non-employee director received the following fees:

  •  $2,000 for each Board meeting attended in person;
 
  •  $1,000 for each Board meeting attended by telephone;
 
  •  $8,000 per year for service on the Audit Committee or $12,000 per year for service as the Chairman of the Audit Committee, in each case payable in four quarterly installments; and
 
  •  an annual stock grant of 20,000 shares under our 2000 Directors Stock Option Plan, as amended on April 30, 2003. Prior to its amendment, the 2000 Directors Stock Option Plan provided for an initial grant of 32,000 shares and subsequent grants of 8,000 shares each year for services as a director. All options are granted at an exercise price equal to the fair market value of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant and vest in four equal annual installments, starting on the first anniversary of the date of grant. For a more detailed description of the Directors Plan, including the amendment, see Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s 2003 Form 10-K for the 2003 fiscal year filed with the SEC.

      Up until January 2003, Mr. Fong served as an advisor to the Chairman of the Board and received $8,025 in 2003 as compensation for advisory services provided to the Company. Subsequent to January 2003, Mr. Fong, as a non-employee director, received $20,000 for Board and committee meetings attended in 2003. Mr. Cain received $8,000; Mr. Chang received $10,000, and Mr. Dubester received $13,000 for Board and committee meetings attended in 2003.

      Directors who are employees of the Company do not receive additional compensation for their services as directors. During fiscal 2003, Mr. Chan and Mr. Pietri were the only employees who served as directors.

Communications with the Board

      Stockholders who wish to communicate with a member or members of the Board of Directors, or the non-employee directors as a group, may do so by addressing their correspondence to the Board member or members, c/o Vialta’s Corporate Secretary at the principal executive office of the Company, with a request to forward the same to the intended recipient. In general, all stockholder communications delivered to Vialta’s Corporate Secretary for forwarding to the Board or specified Board members will be forwarded in accordance with the stockholder’s instructions.

Required Vote

      The six nominees receiving the highest number of affirmative votes of shares of the Company’s Common Stock present at the Annual Meeting in person or by proxy and voting on the election of directors shall be elected as directors.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION

OF EACH OF THE NOMINEES LISTED ABOVE.

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PROPOSAL NO. 2

RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

      The Company has selected PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”) as its independent accountants to perform the audit of the Company’s financial statements for fiscal year 2004 and recommends that the stockholders ratify such selection. In the event the stockholders do not ratify such appointment, the Board will reconsider its selection. PwC has been the Company’s independent accountants since August 2001 when the Company was spun off from its parent. Even if the appointment is ratified, the Audit Committee may recommend to the Board or the Board may appoint a different firm at any time if it determines that such appointment is in the best interests of the Company. Representatives of PwC are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting, will have the opportunity to make a statement at the Annual Meeting if they desire to do so and are expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions.

Fees Paid to the Independent Accountants

      The aggregate fees for professional services by PwC for fiscal 2003 and 2002 are listed in the following table.

                     
Fiscal 2003 Fiscal 2002 Description



Audit Fees
  $ 208,000     $ 227,000     Services rendered for the annual audit and quarterly reviews of the Company’s financial statements.
Audit Related Fees
    0       0      
Tax Fees
    40,900       60,000     Tax compliance and preparation
All Other Fees
    0       0      
     
     
     
    $ 248,900     $ 287,000      

      The Audit Committee of the Board pre-approved all non-audit services provided by PwC and concluded, based on information provided by PwC, that providing such services is compatible with maintaining PwC’s independence.

Required Vote

      The ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company’s independent accountants requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of the Company’s Common Stock present at the Annual Meeting in person or by proxy and entitled to vote.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF

PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP FOR FISCAL YEAR 2003.

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

      The following table sets forth certain information, as of March 31, 2004, known to the Company regarding the beneficial ownership of the Company’s Common Stock by (i) each person known by the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the Company’s Common Stock, (ii) each of the Company’s directors, (iii) each executive officer named in the Summary Compensation Table below (the “Named Executive Officers”) and (iv) all directors and executive officers as a group. Unless otherwise indicated in the footnotes hereto, each director and executive officer has (or could have upon exercise of an

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option vested or vesting within 60 days of March 31, 2004) sole vesting and investment power, subject to community property laws where applicable.
                   
Common Stock
Beneficially Owned

Name and Address of Beneficial Owners(1) Number Percent



State of Wisconsin Investment Board(2)
    7,892,600       10 %
  P.O. Box 7842,                
  Madison, WI 53707                
Trusts for the Benefit of the children of Fred S.L. Chan(3)
    11,083,757       13 %
Fred S.L. Chan(4)
    21,495,863       26 %
Didier Pietri(5)
    2,496,936       2 %
George M. Cain(6)
    5,000       *  
Herbert Chang(7)
    33,833       *  
Matthew K. Fong
    80,974       *  
Michael S. Dubester(8)
    5,000       *  
William Scharninghausen(9)
    62,500       *  
All executive officers and directors as a group (7 persons)
    24,180,106       29 %


  * Less than 1% of the outstanding shares of the Company’s Common Stock.

(1)  Unless otherwise indicated, the address for each beneficial owner is c/o Vialta, Inc., 48461 Fremont Boulevard, Fremont, CA 94538.
 
(2)  Based on a filing with the Securities Exchange Commission on February 16, 2004 indicating beneficial ownership as of December 31, 2003.
 
(3)  Includes shares held by trusts for the benefit of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Chan. Includes 8,800,000 shares held by Evershine XVI, L.P., an entity controlled by a trust for the benefit of Mr. Chan’s children.
 
(4)  Includes 539,780 shares which Mr. Chan has the right to acquire on or within 60 days of March 31, 2004 through the exercise of options.
 
(5)  Includes 2,437,500 shares which Mr. Pietri has the right to acquire on or within 60 days of March 31, 2004 through the exercise of options.
 
(6)  Includes 5,000 shares which Mr. Cain has the right to acquire on or within 60 days of March 31, 2004 through the exercise of options.
 
(7)  Includes 33,833 shares which Mr. Chang has the right to acquire on or within 60 days of March 31, 2004 through the exercise of options.
 
(8)  Includes 5,000 shares which Mr. Dubester has the right to acquire on or within 60 days of March 31, 2004 through the exercise of options.
 
(9)  Includes 62,500 shares which Mr. Scharninghausen has the right to acquire on or within 60 days of March 31, 2004 through the exercise of options.

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

      Certain information about William Scharninghausen, an executive officer of the Company is set forth below. Information about Messrs. Chan and Pietri is set forth above in “Proposal No. 1 Election of Directors.”

      William M. Scharninghausen, 47, has been Chief Financial Officer of the Company since October 2002. Prior to joining Vialta, he was the Chief Financial Officer of Diva Systems, Inc., a video on demand technology company, from January 1999 to September 2002. He also served as the Senior Vice President of Finance and Administration of Diva Systems, Inc. from June 1997 to September 2002. As part of Gemstar-TV Guide International, Inc.’s proposed purchase of Diva’s assets, Diva filed a Chapter 11

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bankruptcy petition and pre-negotiated plan of reorganization on May 29, 2002 in the Northern District of California.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

      The following table sets forth the compensation earned by the Named Executive Officers: (1) the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and (2) the Company’s four other most highly compensated executive officers for the fiscal year 2003.

 
Summary Compensation Table
                                                   
Long-Term
Compensation

Annual Compensation Awards

Securities
Fiscal Other Annual Underlying All Other
Name and Principal Position Year Salary Bonus Compensation(1) Options Compensation(2)







Fred S.L. Chan(3)
    2003     $ 252,762     $                 $ 175  
  Chairman of the Board of     2002       248,000                         950  
  Directors     2001       248,000                         966  
Didier Pietri(4)
    2003     $ 310,663     $ 150,000             2,000,000     $ 175  
  President and Chief     2002       300,000       175,000 (5)                 950  
  Executive Officer     2001       188,636                   2,000,000       252  
William M. Scharninghausen(6)
    2003     $ 183,729                   15,000     $ 175  
  Chief Financial Officer     2002       28,038                   250,000       86  
        2001                                


(1)  In accordance with SEC rules, perquisites and personal benefits have been omitted because such benefits, if any, did not exceed the reporting thresholds under SEC rules.
 
(2)  Includes dollar value of premiums paid by the Company under the Company’s long term disability policy on behalf of the Named Executive Officers.
 
(3)  Mr. Chan was President of the Company from its inception through April 2001 and was its Chief Executive Officer from its inception through August 28, 2001.
 
(4)  Mr. Pietri joined the Company as President on April 30, 2001 and became Chief Executive Officer on August 29, 2001.
 
(5)  Includes $75,000 earned in 2002 that was deferred, at Mr. Pietri’s election, to 2003.
 
(6)  Mr. Scharninghausen joined the Company as Chief Financial Officer on October 16, 2002

OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR

                                                 
Individual Grants Potential Realizable

Value at Assumed
Number of Percent of Annual Rates of Stock
Securities Total Options for Price Appreciation
Underlying Granted to Option Term
Options Employees in Exercise Expiration
Name Gramted Fiscal Year Price Date 5% 10%







Fred S. L. Chan
          0 %                        
Didier Pietri(1)
    2,000,000       83 %   $ 0.34       6/5/13     $ 1,230,800     $ 1,564,000  
William M. Scharninghausen(1)
    15,000       1 %     0.50       7/1/13       13,575       17,250  


(1)  Options vest at a rate of 25% on each of the one and two year anniversary of grant and 1/48 on each one month anniversary thereafter.

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AGGREGATE OPTIONS EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND

FISCAL YEAR-END VALUES

      The following table sets forth certain information concerning the exercise of options by each of the Named Executive Officers during fiscal year 2003, including the aggregate amount of gains on the date of exercise. In addition, the table includes the number of shares covered by both exercisable and unexercisable stock options as of December 31, 2003.

                                                 
Number of Securities Value of Unexercised
Underlying Unexercised In-The-Money Options
Shares Options at Fiscal Year End at Fiscal Year-End(1)
Acquired Value

Name on Exercise Realized Exercisable Unexercisable Exercisable Unexercisable







Fred S.L. Chan
    0     $ 0       515,155       1,182,225     $ 278,184     $ 363,402  
Didier Pietri
    0     $ 0       1,750,000       2,250,000       170,000       350,000  
William M. Scharninghausen
    0     $ 0       62,500       202,500       2,500       10,650  


(1)  Valuation of these options is based on the closing bid price of $0.54 per share, as quoted on the over the counter bulletin board on December 31, 2003.

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS

      Didier Pietri originally entered into an employment letter agreement on April 2001, with the Company pursuant to which he was entitled to receive an annual salary of $300,000. In addition to basic compensation, Mr. Pietri was entitled to participation in employee benefit plans, stock option grants and a guaranteed bonus of $100,000 after one year of service. Mr. Pietri was also awarded an additional $150,000 bonus, which was paid in 2003. In April 2002, the Compensation Committee approved continuing Mr. Pietri’s basic compensation at the previous rate, but his the guaranteed bonus for his second year of service was reduced to $75,000, and a discretionary bonus of $75,000 was added. Any discretionary bonus must be paid before the expiration of the agreement. In May, 2003, the Compensation Committee again approved continuing Mr. Pietri’s base salary and retaining his guaranteed and discretionary bonuses. In addition, the compensation committee approved a stock option grant to Mr. Pietri of 2,000,000 shares of common stock to vest 25% immediately, 25% on the first anniversary of the grant and 2 1/2% each month thereafter.

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PERFORMANCE GRAPH

      The graph below compares the cumulative total stockholder return on the Common Stock of the Company from the first day of trading of the Company’s Common Stock after the Company’s spin-off from ESS Technology, Inc. (August 21, 2001) to December 31, 2003 with the cumulative total return on the NASDAQ Stock Market Index and the Dow Jones Consumer Electronics Industry Index (assuming the investment of $100 in the Company’s Common Stock and in each of the indexes on the date of the Company’s initial public offering, and reinvestment of all dividends). The stock price performance on the following graph is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance.

Stock Price Performance

August 23 (Inception), 2001 — December 31, 2003

(PERFORMANCE GRAPH)

      The following description data are supplied in accordance with Rule 304(d) of Regulation S-T:

                           
Dow Jones Consumer
Vialta, Inc. NASDAQ Composite Electronics Index



Date Investment Value Investment Value Investment Value




 
8/23/01
  $ 100.00     $ 100.00     $ 100.00  
12/31/01
  $ 263.83     $ 81.94     $ 112.05  
12/31/02
  $ 64.89     $ 75.35     $ 138.89  
12/31/03
  $ 114.89     $ 106.18     $ 345.82  

      Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in any of the Company’s previous filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that might incorporate future filings, including this Proxy Statement, in whole or in part, the following and the Performance Graph in this proxy shall not be incorporated by reference into any such filing.

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REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

      The Company’s management has the primary responsibility for the integrity of the Company’s financial information. The Company’s independent accountants are responsible for conducting independent audits of the Company’s financial statements in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and expressing an opinion on the financial statements based on those audits. The Audit Committee nominates the independent accountants for approval by the Board and is responsible for overseeing the conduct of the above activities by management and such accountants.

      As part of its responsibility, the Audit Committee has met with the Company’s independent accountants to review and discuss the adequacy of the Company’s internal control system, financial reporting procedures and other matters required to be discussed by the Statement of Auditor Standards 61 such as the independent accountant’s judgments as to the quality of the financial statements, changes in the accounting policies and sensitive accounting estimates. The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements with management and the Company’s independent accountants. The Audit Committee preapproved the general scope of the Company’s annual audit and performance of non-audit services by the Company’s accountants and reviewed the fees charged by the independent accountants. The Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent accountants required by Independent Standards Board Standard No. 1 and has discussed with the independent accountants that firm’s independence.

      Based upon these reviews and discussions, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the audited financial statement be included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003.

  AUDIT COMMITTEE
 
  /s/ MATT FONG
 
  /s/ HERBERT CHANG
 
  /s/ MICHAEL DUBESTER
 
REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

General

      The Committee acts on behalf of the Board to examine and implement the general compensation policy of the Company for all executive officers and such other employees of the Company as the Board of Directors may deem appropriate. The Committee reviews the general compensation policy applicable to the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and other executive officers on an annual basis. The Committee administers the Company’s incentive and equity plans, including the 1999 Stock Incentive Plan, the 2000 Directors Stock Option Plan and the 2001 Nonstatutory Stock Option Plan.

      The Company’s policy in compensating its executive officers is intended to attract, motivate and retain these executives. Consistent with this policy, key executives are eligible to receive, in addition to their base salaries, stock option grants under the 1999 Stock Incentive Plan in amounts determined by the Board of Directors based on recommendations by the Compensation Committee. Stock options have value for these executives only if the price of the Company’s stock increases above the fair market value on the grant date and the executive remains in the Company’s employ for the period required for the shares to vest. Additional incentive compensation is also considered by the Committee based on individual performance and the achievement of short term goals.

      The base salary, incentive compensation and stock option grants of the executive officers are determined in part by the Committee reviewing data on prevailing compensation practices in technology companies with

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whom the Company competes for executive talent and by their evaluating such information in connection with the Company’s corporate goals. To this end, the Committee attempts to compare the compensation of the Company’s CEO and other executive officers with the compensation practices of comparable companies to determine base salary, target bonuses and target total cash compensation.

Compensation of Executive Officers

      During the fiscal year that ended on December 31, 2003, the Company’s executive compensation program was comprised of the following key components: base salary, annual bonus, and equity-based incentives.

      Base Salary. The Company sets the base salaries of its executives at levels believed to be consistent with comparably sized companies engaged in similar industries.

      Equity-Based Incentive Compensation. Stock options are an important component of the total compensation of executives. The Company believes that stock options align the interests of each executive with those of the stockholders. They also provide executives a significant, long-term interest in the Company’s success and help retain key executives in a competitive market for executive talent. The Company’s 1999 Equity Incentive Plan authorizes the Committee to grant stock options to executives. The number of shares owned by, or subject to options held by, each executive officer is periodically reviewed and additional awards are considered based upon past performance of the executive and the relative holdings of other executives in the Company. The option grants generally utilize four-year vesting periods to encourage executives to continue contributing to the Company, and they expire not later than ten years from the date of grant.

Compensation of the Chief Executive Officer

      The Company’s CEO’s compensation plans include the same elements and performance measures as the plans of the Company’s other executive officers. The Compensation Committee evaluates the performance of the Company’s CEO, sets his base compensation and determines bonuses and awards stock or option grants, if any. In May 2003 the Compensation Committee approved continuing Mr. Pietri’s basic compensation at the rate he has been paid since joining the Company in April of 2001. In addition, the Compensation Committee voted to provide a guaranteed bonus of $75,000, which was paid in November 2003. A discretionary bonus of $75,000 has not yet been paid as of the date of this proxy statement filing. The Compensation Committee also approved a stock option grant to Mr. Pietri of 2,000,000 shares of common stock to vest 25% immediately, 25% on the first anniversary of the grant and 2 1/2% each month thereafter. In determining the terms of his agreement, the Compensation Committee considered a number of factors and criteria including, Mr. Pietri’s depth of experience, his past accomplishments with other companies, his vision and leadership abilities, and the future needs of the Company. In making its compensation decisions with Mr. Pietri, the Compensation Committee also considered the need to provide continuity of leadership. The Compensation Committee exercised its discretion and judgment based on the above factors, and no specific formula was applied to determine the weight of any factor.

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Deductibility of Executive Compensation

      The Compensation Committee has considered the impact of Section 162(m) of the Code, which disallows a deduction for any publicly held corporation for individual compensation exceeding $1 million in any taxable year for the CEO and four other most highly compensated executive officers, unless such compensation meets the requirements for the “performance-based” exception to the general rule. Since the cash compensation paid by the Company to each of its executive officers is expected to be below $1 million, the Compensation Committee believes that this section will not affect the tax deductions available to the Company. It will be the Compensation Committee’s policy to qualify, to the extent reasonable, the executive officers’ compensation for deductibility under applicable tax law.

  COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
 
  /s/ MATT FONG
 
  /s/ GEORGE CAIN
 
  /s/ MICHAEL DUBESTER

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS

AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION

      Fred Chan, who is the Chairman of the Company, participated in deliberations of the Company’s Board of Directors concerning executive officer compensation.

      Vialta employs Fred S.L. Chan’s brother as its Senior Director of IT and one of his sons as its Director of Product Marketing and Design. The salary and benefits provided to these individuals for fiscal 2003 was $107,194 and $91,528, respectively. Another of Mr. Chan’s sons is employed as a Marketing Coordinator and received salary and benefits during the last fiscal year that did not exceed $60,000.

      No Compensation committee interlocks existed during 2003.

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS

      Vialta employs Fred S.L. Chan’s brother as its Senior Director of IT and one of his sons as its Director of Product Marketing and Design. The salary and benefits provided to these individuals for fiscal 2002 was $107,194 and $91,528, respectively, and they also received the Company’s standard employee benefits package. Another of Mr. Chan’s sons was employed as a Marketing Coordinator during a portion of fiscal 2003 and received salary and benefits during the last fiscal year that did not exceed $60,000.

      Mr. Chan is Chairman of the Board of ESS Technology, Inc., and owns approximately 14.1% of the outstanding common stock of ESS. Prior to its spin-off in August 2001, Vialta was a subsidiary of ESS. Vialta leases its corporate headquarters and purchases component parts from ESS. The companies are also parties to an Administrative and Management Services Agreement. During 2003, Vialta made payments to ESS of $1,182,000 under the lease, $194,000 for component parts, $10,000 for administrative and management services, $33,000 for services received in fiscal 2002, and received payments from ESS of $4,000 for other services. Effective as of July 2003, Vialta renegotiated its lease with ESS Technology to extend the duration of the lease at fair market rate. Vialta believes it paid fair market value for the lease based on a review of lease rental rates in its area and believes the prices it was charged for parts is equivalent to those charged by ESS to other manufactures.

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SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

      Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires the Company’s directors and officers, and persons who own more than 10% of the Company’s Common Stock to file initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership. Such persons are required by SEC regulation to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms that they file. Based solely on its review of the copies of such forms furnished to the Company and written representations from the executive officers and directors, the Company believes that all transactions required to be reported pursuant to Section 16(a) for the year ended December 31, 2003 were reported on a timely basis with the exception of Mr. Pietri, who filed a report in July 2003 for options granted in June 2003; Mr. Cain, who filed a form in March 2003 for options granted in February 2003; Mr. Chang, who filed a report in June 2003 for options granted in March 2003; Mr. Dubester, who filed a form in March 2003 for options granted in February 2003, and Mr. Fong, who filed a form in June 2003 for options granted in April 2003.

CODE OF ETHICS

      Vialta has not adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to its principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer. In view of Vialta’s small size and the limited number of personnel who are responsible for its operations, the Company has determined that a formal code of ethics is not currently necessary. Our Board of Directors will, however, revisit this issue in the future to determine if adoption of a code of ethics is appropriate. In the meantime, our management has adopted an insider trading policy and is committed to promoting honest and ethical conduct, full and fair disclosure in our report to the SEC, and compliance with applicable governmental laws and regulations.

HOUSEHOLDING INFORMATION

      Some banks, brokers and other nominees are participating in the practice of “householding” proxy statements and annual reports. This means that only one Proxy Statement and set of accompanying materials is being delivered to multiple security holders sharing an address. We will deliver, promptly upon written or oral request, a separate copy of the Proxy Statement and accompanying materials to a security holder at a shared address to which a single copy of the documents was delivered. A security holder who wishes to receive a separate copy of the Proxy Statement and accompanying materials now or in the future, or security holders sharing an address who are receiving multiple copies of proxy materials and wish to receive a single copy of such materials, should submit a written request to Investor Relations, Vialta, Inc., 48461 Fremont Boulevard, Fremont, CA 94538 or call 510-870-3088.

OTHER BUSINESS

      The Board does not presently intend to bring any other business before the Annual Meeting, and, so far as is known to the Board, no matters are to be brought before the Annual Meeting except as specified in the Notice of the Annual Meeting. As to any business that may properly come before the Annual Meeting, however, it is intended that proxies, in the form enclosed, will be voted in respect thereof in accordance with the judgment of the persons voting such proxies.

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      Whether or not you expect to attend the Meeting, please complete, date, sign and promptly return the accompanying Proxy in the enclosed postage paid envelope so that your shares may be represented at the meeting.

  BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
 
  WILLIAM M. SCHARNINGHAUSEN
  Chief Financial Officer

Dated: May 6, 2004

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THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF VIALTA, INC.

2004 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

     The undersigned stockholder of Vialta, Inc., a Delaware corporation, hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement, each dated April 30, 2004, and hereby appoints Didier Pietri and William M. Scharninghausen, and each of them, with full power to each of substitution, as proxies and attorneys-in-fact, on behalf and in the name of the undersigned, to represent the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Vialta, Inc. to be held on June 15, 2004 at 2:00 p.m. local time, at the Fremont Marriott, 46100 Landing Parkway, Fremont, CA 94538, and at any adjournment or postponement thereof, and to vote all shares of Common Stock which the undersigned would be entitled to vote if then and there personally present, on the matters set forth on the reverse side.

     The Proxy will be voted as directed or, if no contrary direction is indicated, will be voted as follows: (1) FOR the Election of Directors in the manner described in the Proxy Statement, (2) FOR the proposal to ratify the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company’s independent accountants for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2004.

CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED ON REVERSE SIDE

 


FOLD AND DETACH HERE

Please mark votes as in
this example x

THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED STOCKHOLDER(S).

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR ALL NOMINEES FOR DIRECTORS AND PROPOSAL 2.

1.     Election of the six directors nominated by the Board of Directors.

     
o For all nominees listed below
(except as indicated)
  o Withhold Authority

Fred S.L. Chan, Didier Pietri, George M. Cain, Herbert Chang, Michael S. Dubester, Matthew K. Fong

(To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee or nominees write such nominee’s or nominees’ name in the space provided below)

2.     To ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as independent accountants of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2004.

         
o For
  o Against   o Abstain

and, in their discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote on such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.

 


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SIGNATURE(S)

     
 
 
   
  DATE                                                                             
 
   
  Please sign exactly as name appears hereon. Where shares are held by joint tenants, both should sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee, or guardian, please give full title as such. If a corporation, please sign in full corporate name by President or other authorized officer. If a partnership, please sign in partnership by authorized person.

PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD
USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.


— Fold And Detach Here —

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