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Intense Ltd. Acquires High Power Devices Inc. to Create Powerful Global Innovator in Diode Lasers

Merger of two companies builds leadership position in high power laser diodes and laser arrays for print and imaging, medical, defense and industrial applications

Glasgow, United Kingdom (28 February 2007 ) -- Intense Ltd. (Glasgow, Scotland), the developer of next generation modular laser products for printing, defense, and industrial applications, today announced the acquisition of High Power Devices, Inc. (North Brunswick, NJ, USA), a successful and growing manufacturer of customized high power laser diodes for the defense, medical, and industrial markets.

The merger of the two businesses creates a powerful new global supplier of high power single emitters, bars, and stacks and individually addressable laser arrays for a wide range of customers and markets.

Intense is the world leader in the design and manufacture of high density, individually addressable laser array products built upon its unique and extensively patented Quantum Well Intermixing (QWI) technology and processes. The company recently launched Hermes™, a new family of laser products with exceptional levels of power and brightness.

High Power Devices (HPD) is a leading supplier of high power laser diode products. The company’s state-of-the-art, high volume manufacturing facility produces hundreds of thousands of devices annually for the defense, medical, and industrial markets. HPD’s patented Asymmetric Waveguide (AW) technology provides higher power, reduced beam divergence, and better electrical and thermal performance, delivering exceptional product reliability and value.

The New Company

The new company, called Intense, is focused on offering innovative, high quality products to a global customer base. It retains its head office in the UK and operates through two complementary centers of excellence. The UK business, based in Glasgow, Scotland, continues to focus on the development and production of monolithic laser array products for the global print and imaging markets. The US business in North Brunswick, NJ, called Intense - HPD, focuses on the development and production of high power laser products for the industrial, defense, and medical markets. The two businesses are supported by one global sales and marketing team operating out of the UK and US.

Scott Christie, CEO of Intense, stated, “I am delighted that we have been able to bring together two highly complementary businesses to take advantage of the significant opportunity in the rapidly evolving and consolidating diode laser sector. We have a unique technology platform, modern manufacturing facilities and a team renowned for its expertise in design and efficient production. These strengths leave us well placed to meet the needs of our global customer base, our employees and our shareholders alike.”

Tom Moritz, co-founder of High Power Devices Inc. and Head of US Operations for the combined group, said, “We are delighted to be joining forces with Intense. The combined business has an internationally acclaimed research and development team headed by Professor John Marsh, Ph.D., which is able to offer highly customized products to a wide range of customers. From laser array products for the graphic arts industry through high power single emitters for military range finders, we rise to the changing demands of a complex market. At the same time, we offer highly efficient production solutions through our ISO certified facilities on both sides of the Atlantic.”

Deal Financing

The deal was financed through a combination of equity and debt. Equity finance was provided by Intense’s existing investors, including 3i, Esprit Capital Partners, FNI, and Alice. Intense is delighted that Scottish Enterprise’s newly created Scottish Venture Fund (SVF) was also a lead investor in the deal alongside 3i.

Debt funding for the deal was provided by Noble and Co in the UK and Silicon Valley Bank in the US.

Innovative Laser Technologies

The strength in the new company’s technology portfolio is based on a number of innovative laser patents, processes and manufacturing expertise.

Intense’s unique Quantum Well Intermixing (QWI) process allows for the integration of passive areas within the active region of high power laser diodes. Passive non-absorbing mirrors are created at the facet regions of the laser cavities to avoid catastrophic optical mirror damage (COMD), a problem frequently encountered in typical laser devices. This, combined with the company’s proprietary design techniques, results in diodes of superior brightness, longer lifetimes, and increased power.

The company’s patented Asymmetric Waveguide (AW) technology is designed to increase the power and reliability of high power laser diodes. The power degradation of a high power laser is driven mainly by the optical power density in the quantum well active region. Using a patented asymmetric epitaxial structure, the optical energy is spread into a large waveguide, reducing the power density in the quantum well, producing a significantly more robust and efficient device.

“The combination of QWI and Asymmetric Waveguide technologies will enable the phased introduction of industry-leading laser diodes through 2007 and beyond,” stated Christie.

About Intense

Intense Ltd. is headquartered in Glasgow, Scotland, employs 140 people and has leading design, development, and production facilities in Glasgow, UK, and North Brunswick, NJ, USA.

Intense Ltd. is a leading provider of single and multimode monolithic laser array products and high power laser diodes. The company's patented innovations in Quantum Well Intermixing (QWI) and Asymmetric Waveguides (AW) generate exceptional laser power, brightness, and reliability. This, combined with state-of-the-art, high volume manufacturing facilities, delivers unsurpassed product quality and value to customers in the print and imaging, defense, industrial, display, and medical markets.

The Intense QWI technology and related processes were developed by world-renowned Professor John Marsh, Ph.D., Founder and CTO of Intense, and President-Elect of the IEEE Lasers and Electro Optics Society.

For further information on the group and its products visit http://www.intenseco.com.

© 2007, Intense, Ltd. All rights reserved worldwide.