Barco focuses further on its growth markets and investigates the possibility to divest the division BarcoVision
Kortrijk, Belgium, 22 January, 2007 – The strategy of Barco, leader in professional markets for visualisation, is to focus further on its growth markets. In this respect, Barco has decided to investigate the possibilities to divest the division BarcoVision. This division, with a sales figure of euro 57.8 million in 2005 and good profit margins, is active in the markets of textile and production process optimization.
ING Corporate Finance has recently been selected to initially investigate possible strategic options. On that basis, the further strategy will be determined. Today, no commitment can be taken on as to the moment at which a potential divestment could take place.
While the other Barco divisions have many mutual synergies both in the field of R&D and in their commercial channels, this is much less the case with BarcoVision.
Moreover, several external parties have shown interest in BarcoVision. This clearly indicates that the potential for further growth of this division will probably be higher outside Barco. In the past years, the growth of BarcoVision indeed lagged behind that of Barco as a whole.
Within the scope of that same strategy, the biggest part of the division Barco Manufacturing Services was sold very recently. At that moment, the intention to sell the remaining part of this division to an interested party in the course of 2007 was also confirmed.
About Barco
Barco, a global technology company, designs and develops visualization products for a variety of professional markets. Barco has its own facilities for Sales & Marketing, Customer Support, R&D and Manufacturing in Europe, North America and Asia Pacific.
Barco (Euronext Brussels: BAR) is headquartered in Belgium and is present in more than 90 countries with about 3800 employees worldwide. Barco posted sales of euro 712 million in 2005.
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For more information, please contact
JP
Tanghe
Senior Advisor to the CEO
Barco nv
Telephone
+32 56/26 23 22
jp.tanghe@barco.com
