EOS Founder Dr. Langer to Acquire Majority Shareholding and Reach
Agreement with 3D Systems
Planegg/Munich, 6th August 1997: Dr. Hans J. Langer - founder and
president of EOS GmbH Electro Optical Systems - is exercising his
preemptive purchase right and together with other investors acquiring
the 75.1 percent shareholding in EOS held until now by Carl Zeiss Jena
GmbH. Subject to formalities being concluded by 20th August, he will
become majority shareholder of the leading European manufacturer of
Rapid Prototyping systems. In a separate agreement EOS Holding AG, the
newly formed parent company of EOS GmbH, has signed a letter of intent
with 3D Systems, Inc. of Valencia, California regarding an asset deal
and licence agreement. Under the terms of the proposed deal, EOS will
sell the assets of its STEREOS laser-stereolithography business to 3D
Systems and receive a worldwide licence to patents held by 3D Systems
applicable to the field of laser-sintering. All pending court and patent
proceedings between the parties would simultaneously be settled.
Negotiations are continuing to finalize details.
"I am delighted to be able to secure and strengthen the future of EOS
and to have reached an agreement with 3D Systems which is beneficial for
both companies" said Dr. Langer. "The combination of the new investment,
rationalization of our product lines and the settlement of legal
disputes will allow us to greatly strengthen the further development and
worldwide marketing of our Rapid Prototyping technologies".
EOS GmbH, founded in 1989, has established itself as leading European
manufacturer of Rapid Prototyping systems through consistent
technological development and expansion. The high-tech company, based in
Planegg near Munich, currently has a turnover of around 35 million
German Marks and a highly qualified staff of about 100 employees. EOS
has pioneered a number of important innovations in Rapid Prototyping and
Tooling including Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) and the Direct
Croning Process (DCP). EOS Rapid Prototyping technologies are used by
companies in a wide range of industries to optimize their product
development processes.
3D Systems is regarded as a pioneer of Rapid Prototyping and is the
largest supplier of Laser-Stereolithography systems worldwide.
With the divestment of the shareholding Carl Zeiss is following their
stated strategy of concentration on core business in the areas of optics
and precision mechanics.
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