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Gold/Mining/Energy : JDS Fitel -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: pat mudge who wrote (684)	2/2/1999 4:16:00 PM
From: Technopeasant	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 815

Ah well, see one, post one... ''JDS FITEL Obtains Majority Equity Interest in IOT Integrierte Optik'' NEPEAN, ON, Feb. 2 /CNW/ - (TSE:JDS) - JDS FITEL Inc. today announced that it has exercised an option to increase its ownership in IOT Integrierte Optik GmbH & Co. KG (''IOT'') from 49 to 51 percent. Obtaining a majority equity interest in IOT further strengthens the strategic direction and coordination of JDS FITEL's waveguide program. Schott Glas (''Schott'') will hold the remaining 49 percent of IOT. Established in 1987, IOT is a market leader in the design and manufacture of monolithic integrated optical couplers and splitters for telecommunication networks based on the company's proprietary planar glass waveguide and ion-exchange technology. IOT's state of the art technology allows the company to provide optical components featuring low insertion loss and low back reflection with negligible polarization dependence. Currently, IOT's main product line of 1XN and 2XN (with N up to 32) components is qualified to industry standards and manufactured in volume at its ISO 9001 certified production facility in Waghaeusel-Kirrlach, Germany. The increase in ownership will provide JDS FITEL with greater flexibility in coordinating the development of its waveguide technologies. In particular, JDS will leverage the strengths of IOT, a leader in planar glass waveguides, with the technology and expertise recently obtained through the acquisition of the assets of Akzo Nobel Photonics, a world leader in polymer waveguides. By combining efforts through greater coordination and integration, JDS FITEL will enhance and accelerate the development of advanced products incorporating waveguide technology. Dr. Winfried H.G. Horsthuis, VP Strategy and Business Development of JDS FITEL commented: ''The increase in ownership in IOT reflects our strategic approach to waveguide based products. With IOT's planar glass waveguide technology and the polymer technology recently acquired by JDS FITEL, we have achieved an excellent position in the field of waveguide components. That position will be further enhanced by capitalizing on the synergies in technologies and markets for products developed from both types of waveguides.'' Brian Edney, Chairman of the Opto Electronics Group of Schott and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of IOT commented: ''We have been very pleased with the interactions with JDS FITEL since their participation in IOT. This increase in shareholding will allow for the enhancement of joint development activities, and create additional products for our customers. We also see great potential for IOT to benefit from JDS's recently acquired capabilities in waveguide design, manufacturing and packaging.'' On August 14, 1997, JDS FITEL acquired a 49 percent equity interest in IOT for approximately 9 million DM ($7 million Cdn) to combine the technology base of both companies to provide customers with a broader range of solutions. Since this initial investment, both companies have successfully collaborated in marketing existing products as well as developing new products integrating IOT's planar glass waveguides with JDS FITEL's fiberoptic technologies. IOT currently has approximately 70 employees. Schott is a leading manufacturer and supplier in the field of special glass and glass ceramics. Schott's head office is located in Mainz, Germany. Schott offers a broad selection of products, materials, systems and components, ideas and services in the field of special glass and glass ceramics. Schott employs approximately 17,800 people worldwide and had sales of approximately CDN $2.75 Billion for the year ended September 30, 1998. Schott is part of the Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung (Foundation) of Germany.