MET Technology to take over Ricoh's optical drive business

December 26, 2004

Recently
Ricoh decided to leave the optical storage disc drive business, meaning that the
company has stopped the sales of CD and DVD recorders. MET Technology, sales
agent of Ricoh's recorders, is now negotiating with Ricoh about taking over Ricoh's optical
drive business. This means that MET Technology will become owner of the R&D
resources, orders, compoment supply chain, customers and patents.

On
December 23, MET formally denied some local newspaper reports that MET
will purchase Ricoh's ODD business group. Purchasing the ODD business is
on the table as an option, but nothing has been determined so far, the
company stressed.