- Oerlikon continues to pursue its strategy and streamlines its portfolio by divestment
- Staff know-how utilized for further development of booming solar business
Pfäffikon SZ, 1 February 2008 - The Oerlikon Group is selling its Blu-ray business with immediate effect to Singulus Technologies AG, Kahl am Main, Germany. The corresponding contracts were signed yesterday between the parties. Whilst Singulus as world market leader has gained a strategic advantage in the consolidated market for optical storage media through the acquisition, Oerlikon is streamlining its portfolio and divesting itself of a marginal business sector. The staff members affected will be transferred almost without exception into other Oerlikon segments or should be taken over by Singulus. Dr. Uwe Krüger, CEO of Oerlikon said, "We can make excellent use of our staff's know-how, in particular for the further ex-pansion of our booming solar business."
By selling the Blu-ray business, Oerlikon is continuing to pursue its portfolio strategy and parting company with what is a comparatively small, volatile segment for the group. This step not only eliminates any risk with this unit for Oerlikon but it also enables the management to concentrate on growth areas for the group such as the solar business.
Continuity is ensured for customers
With this strategic acquisition, Singulus assumes the entire Blu-ray business as well as the servicing of all Blu-ray Disc product lines already supplied by Oerlikon. „We benefit from the acquisition of the well-established Oerlikon Blu-ray business", said Stefan A. Baustert, CEO of Singulus Technologies AG. Besides the production plants, Singulus acquires all the important patents and licenses plus Oerlikon's customer base. With that all Blu-ray customers are ensured long-term continuity and a consistently high product quality.
The parties agreed to remain silent on the purchase price for the business segment. With the development of the Blu-ray production line Indigo 2006/2007, Oerlikon systems moved into a leading position technologically. The Oerlikon plants have a market share of 30 per cent of the systems sold worldwide. "Now that the market has decided in favor of Blu-ray, the timing of the transaction is optimal for all those involved", says Oerlikon CEO Krüger.
The majority of the staff will transfer to Oerlikon Solar and support the further develop-ment of this booming business with their specialized know-how. A small number of staff should be taken over by Singulus.
Blu-ray Disc is gaining ground
„Hollywood"is choosing Blu-ray more and more often. According to a study by the re-search company Understanding & Solutions, the production of Blu-ray Discs will triple in 2008 compared to 2007. Other institutes expect even higher rates of increase. The decision by the media group Warner Studios - the largest DVD seller worldwide - to offer films in future exclusively in the Blu-ray format has enormous repercussions for the sector. Countless other studios have followed suit in the meantime. The latest market figures substantiate this. According to Gamestar Online and the American market research institute National Purchasing Diary, the sales of Blu-ray players and games consoles in the USA dominated the market of the 3rd format generation with 92.53 per cent.
