Stratasys and HP to Discontinue Manufacturing and Distribution Agreement
Stratasys to Focus on Independent Channel Development Initiatives
MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Stratasys, Inc. (NASDAQ: SSYS), a leading manufacturer of 3D printers
and production systems for prototyping and manufacturing applications,
today announced that Stratasys and HP have agreed to discontinue their
manufacturing and distribution agreement for 3D printers, effective at
the end of 2012. Stratasys does not expect the termination of its
agreement with HP to have a material impact on its financial results for
the current year and intends to work closely with HP to ensure a smooth
transition for customers.
"Stratasys has enjoyed a productive relationship with HP, and moving
forward, we will continue working towards our goal of achieving broader
3D printer usage worldwide," said Scott Crump, chief executive officer
and chairman of Stratasys. "As the market for 3D printing technology
grows, Stratasys is focused on further developing our independent
channel distribution initiatives to expand our distribution reach even
further. Our recently-announced merger with Objet will help grow
customer awareness of the many opportunities to deploy 3D printing and
rapid prototyping techniques and will allow us to implement an even
broader distribution channel with a more extensive geographic reach."
Under the terms of the definitive agreement signed in January 2010,
Stratasys developed and manufactured for HP an exclusive line of 3D
printers based on Stratasys' patented Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM®)
technology. Later that year, HP began a phased rollout of the 3D
printers in the mechanical design (MCAD) market in select European
countries.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
All statements herein that are not historical facts or that include such
words as "expects," "anticipates," "projects," "estimates," "vision,"
"could," "potential," "plan", "intends", "desires", "assume" or
"believes" or similar words constitute forward-looking statements
covered by the safe harbor protection of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Except for the historical information
herein, the matters discussed in this news release are forward-looking
statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These include
statements regarding the expected timing and ultimate closing of the
merger with Objet, as well as the financial and operating results of the
combined company after, and the anticipated benefits of, the merger; the
size of the 3D printing market; our objectives for the marketing and
sale of our Dimension® , uPrint® and Mojo®
3D Printers; our support removal systems; and our Fortus® 3D
Production Systems, particularly for use in direct digital manufacturing
(DDM); the demand for our proprietary consumables; the expansion of our
paid parts service; and our beliefs with respect to the growth in the
demand for our products. Actual results may differ from those expressed
or implied in our forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking
statements involve and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties,
which may cause our actual results to differ materially from those
discussed in a forward-looking statement. Risks and uncertainties that
may affect our business include our ability to penetrate the 3D printing
market; our ability to achieve the growth rates experienced in preceding
quarters; our ability to introduce, produce and market consumable
materials, and the market acceptance of these materials; the impact of
competitive products and pricing; our timely development of new products
and materials and market acceptance of those products and materials; the
success of our recent R&D initiative to expand the DDM capabilities of
our core FDM technology; the success of our RedEye On Demand™ and
other paid parts services; our ability to obtain the necessary
approvals, including the affirmative vote of the Stratasys stockholders,
and to satisfy the necessary closing conditions in order to successfully
close the proposed merger with Objet; our ability to successfully
integrate and market the combined company's products; the combined
company's ability to achieve the expected revenue targets, the combined
company's ability to attract and retain management; and the combined
company's ability to protect and defend intellectual property. These
statements represent beliefs and expectations only as of the date they
were made. We may elect to update forward-looking statements, but we
expressly disclaim any obligation to do so, even if our beliefs and
expectations change. In addition to the statements described above, such
forward-looking statements are subject to the risks and uncertainties
described more fully in our reports filed or to be filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, including our annual reports on Form
10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.
This release is available on the Stratasys web site at www.stratasys.com
Important Information for Investors and Shareholders
In connection with the proposed combination of Objet and Stratasys
pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger"), Objet has
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") a
registration statement on Form F-4, which includes a proxy statement of
Stratasys and a prospectus of Objet, as well as other relevant materials
in connection with the proposed transaction. Stratasys concurrently
filed the same proxy statement/prospectus with the SEC and will mail it
to Stratasys shareholders for purposes of soliciting proxies for voting
in favor of the Merger at a special meeting of Stratasys stockholders
called for the purpose of approving the Merger Agreement and the Merger.
INVESTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY
STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND OTHER RELEVANT MATERIALS, BECAUSE THESE
MATERIALS CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT STRATASYS, OBJET AND THE
PROPOSED TRANSACTION. The proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant
materials and any other related documents filed with the SEC may be
obtained free of charge on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov
or via the Stratasys website at www.stratasys.com.
Stockholders may also obtain a copy of the SEC filings free of charge
upon written request to Stratasys, Attention: Shane Glenn, Director of
Investor Relations, 7665 Commerce Way, Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55344.
Stratasys' executive officers and directors may be deemed to be
participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of
Stratasys in connection with the Merger. Information about Stratasys'
executive officers and directors and their ownership of Stratasys common
stock is set forth in Amendment No. 1 to Stratasys' Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, which was filed with the
SEC on April 27, 2012.
This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the
solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any
sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation
or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under
the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.
About Stratasys
Stratasys Inc., Minneapolis, is a maker of additive manufacturing
machines for prototyping and producing plastic parts. The company
markets under the brands Mojo, uPrint and Dimension 3D Printers and
Fortus Production 3D Printers. The company also operates RedEye On
Demand, a digital-manufacturing service for prototypes and production
parts. In 2011 Stratasys acquired 3D printer maker Solidscape Inc.
According to Wohlers Report 2012, Stratasys had a 41.5 percent market
share in 2011, and has been the unit market leader for the tenth
consecutive year. Stratasys patented and owns the Fused Deposition
Modeling (FDM®) process. The process creates functional prototypes and
manufactured goods directly from any 3D CAD program, using
high-performance industrial thermoplastics. The company holds 380
granted or pending additive manufacturing patents globally. Stratasys
products are used in the aerospace, defense, automotive, medical,
business and industrial equipment, education, architecture, and
consumer-product industries. Online at: www.Stratasys.com
Stratasys, Fortus, Dimension, and uPrint are registered trademarks, and
Mojo is a trademark, of Stratasys Inc.

Stratasys
Investors:
Shane Glenn, 952-294-3416
Director,
Investor Relations
shane.glenn@stratasys.com
or
Media:
Joe
Hiemenz, 952-906-2726
joe.hiemenz@stratasys.com
Source: Stratasys Inc.
News Provided by Acquire Media
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