SAN FRANCISCO, April 29 /PRNewswire/ -- In a presentation today in San
Francisco at the 27th Annual Hambrecht & Quist Technology Conference, the
management of SDL, Inc. (Nasdaq: SDLI), a world leader in providing solutions
for optical communications and related markets, discussed the company's growth
prospects and current business strategies.
SDL's products power the transmission of data, voice and Internet
information over fiber optic networks to meet the needs of telecommunications,
dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM), cable television and satellite
communications applications. They enable customers to meet the bandwidth
needs of increasing Internet, data, video and voice traffic by expanding their
fiber optic communications networks much more quickly and efficiently than
would be possible using conventional electronic and optical technologies.
SDL's optical products also serve a variety of non-communications
applications, including materials processing and printing.
Commenting on the company's primary growth driver, the long-haul
terrestrial DWDM market, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Donald R.
Scifres said, "Fiber optic communications has been on the rise for most of the
last decade, especially since the introduction of erbium doped fiber
amplifiers. These amplifiers, which are powered by our 980 nm lasers and pump
modules, are allowing rapid expansion in the information carrying capacity of
fiber optics through the use of DWDM. In the near-term, the long-haul
terrestrial DWDM market continues to be the primary growth driver for the
company, and we are also benefiting from growth in the undersea and cable
television markets."
SDL's Chief Financial Officer, Michael L. Foster said, "Our major goals in
1999 include further leveraging our technology leadership in the DWDM market
by continuing to produce profitable products with the high quality and high
reliability requirements of our customers. Secondly, we are adding capacity
to and upgrading our manufacturing capabilities, including a new building in
Victoria, British Columbia. Finally, we are strengthening our long-term
customer relationships with leading companies around the world. Additionally,
looking to future growth opportunities, we announced on March 31, 1999, plans
to acquire IOC International plc (IOC), a U.K.-based manufacturer of lithium
niobate components for long-haul fiber optic transmission systems. This
combination of SDL and IOC will offer many strategic benefits, including
broadening our existing product portfolio into the large transmitter side of
the DWDM market, adding new manufacturing capabilities and strengthening our
access to key customers in Europe. We expect to complete this acquisition in
the 1999 second quarter."
Statements in this press release which are not historical, including
statements regarding SDL's or management's intentions, hopes, beliefs,
expectations, representations, projections, plans or predictions of the
future, including without limitation, the expected growth of the DWDM market
and the strategic benefits and timing of the IOC acquisition are
forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. It is important to note that the Company's
actual results could differ materially from those in any such forward-looking
statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially
include risks related to the growth of the DWDM market, uncertainties in or
failure to meet customer and market requirements, failure to achieve or
participate in market growth, inability to penetrate the European markets,
delay or failure to complete the IOC transaction in the second quarter of
1999, delay or failure to successfully incorporate the acquired business, an
inability to retain the present IOC management team, and the risk factors
listed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports including, but not
limited to, the annual report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended January 1,
1999.
SOURCE SDL, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.sdli.com
CONTACT:
Donald R. Scifres, Chairman and CEO, or
Michael L. Foster, VP Finance and CFO, of SDL, Inc.,
408-943-9411; or general info., Lisa Chainey, or investor info.,
Kristi Larson, of The Financial Relations Board, 415-986-1591
NOTE TO EDITORS: Additional information about SDL, Inc. is
available on the Internet at http://www.sdli.com or by contacting SDL or
FRB at the numbers listed above
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