Singulus Technologies AG

M&A Activity • Feb 1, 2008

News Details

Corporate | 1 February 2008 07:40

Singulus Technologies AG acquires OERLIKON’s Blu-ray activities

SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES AG / Strategic Company Decision/Agreement

Release of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory
AG.
The issuer / publisher is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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Press Release
SINGULUS acquires OERLIKON's Blu-ray activities
• Strategic acquisition provides SINGULUS with an excellent market position
for Blu-ray production machines
• SINGULUS is optimally positioned for the growth market of Blu-ray

Kahl am Main, January 31, 2008 - SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES AG (SINGULUS) signed
a contract with Oerlikon Balzers AG (OERLIKON), on January 31 for the
acquisition of Blu-ray disc equipment operations. With this strategic
acquisition SINGULUS takes over the entire Blu-ray activities as well as
the servicing of the Blu-ray disc production lines already delivered by
OERLIKON so far. OERLIKON has in addition announced that it will
discontinue its CD and DVD production line operations. This will further
strengthen SINGULUS' market lead in this segment.

The Blu-ray format has definitively established itself as the new standard
in the market. High-definition television, HDTV (HD Ready and Full HD),
combined with the Blu-Ray video format, is the new technology of the media
sector.

'With the strategic acquisition of the Blu-ray disc equipment operations
from OERLIKON we are improving our good position for Blu ray still further.
The decision of the major US film studios in favor of the Blu ray format as
the future video standard will result in increasing demand for our machines
over the next couple of years. SINGULUS will substantially benefit from
this trend,' commented Stefan A. Baustert, CEO of the SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES
AG.

The parties have agreed to keep the purchase price for the transaction
confidential. Besides the production machines SINGULUS will acquire all
important optical disc patents and licenses as well as OERLION's customer
base.

Background to Blu-ray disc/BLULINE
It becomes more and more clear that 'Hollywood' is opting for Blu-ray.
According to a study performed by the research company Understanding &
Solutions the production of Blu-ray discs will almost triple in 2008
compared with 2007. Other institutes expect even higher growth rates.
Warner’s decision to change over to the Blu-ray camp announced during the
CES fair in Las Vegas has a massive impact on the sector. Many other
studios have switched in the meantime as well. Latest market figures
confirm this trend. According to Gamestar Online and the US market research
company National Purchasing Diary, sales of Blu-ray players and game
consoles in the US dominate the market for the 3rd format generation with a
market share of 92.53 %.

SINGULUS has upgraded its Blu-ray disc equipment in preparation for the
production of the 50 gigabyte dual layer Blu-ray disc. Stefan A Baustert,
Chief Executive Officer of SINGULUS, added: 'We firmly believe that the
global market penetration of the Blu-ray disc will kick off in 2008.
SINGULUS consequently expects significant growth for the Blu-ray activities
in the 2008 financial year.'

Short profile of SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES
SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES is market leader for optical disc production lines
and is the only supplier worldwide to cover the entire product range:
mastering, molding and replication lines.

In addition to the further development of the core activities of Optical
Disc, the diversification into new business areas is the most important
challenge.

With the acquisition of the STANGL Semiconductor Equipment AG SINGULUS
successfully entered the solar equipment market. The new business area
Solar will be strongly expanded in the next couple of years.

SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES AG, Hanauer Landstraße 103,
D-63796 Kahl/Main, ISIN: DE0007238909, WKN: 723890

For further information please contact:
Bernhard Krause, Corporate Communications, SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES AG, Tel.:
+ 49 (0) 170 920 29 24
01.02.2008 Financial News transmitted by DGAP

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Language: English
Issuer: SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES AG
Hanauer Landstrasse 103
63796 Kahl am Main
Deutschland
Phone: +49 (0)6188 440-105
Fax: +49 (0)6188 440-110
E-mail: maren.schuster@singulus.de
Internet: www.singulus.de
ISIN: DE0007238909
WKN: 723890
Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr
in Berlin, Stuttgart, München, Hamburg, Düsseldorf

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