- 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.