Prime View International and E Ink Corporation Revise Merger Agreement

TAIPEI, Taiwan & CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Prime View International (“PVI”) (8069.TW), the world’s largest supplier of ePaper display modules, today announced it has amended its merger agreement with E Ink Corporation, the leader in electronic paper display materials and intellectual property.

“This is a creative win-win agreement for both PVI and E Ink”

In addition to the $215 million cash consideration unveiled on June 1, 2009, the revised agreement includes consideration for E Ink shareholders based on the combined company’s stock performance over a three-year period. The consideration will be granted in the form of 120 million convertible preferred shares that can be converted into common shares as the stock climbs from NT$50 to NT$80. At the end of the three year period, any unconverted preferred shares will be cancelled.

The parties agreed on the additional consideration based on the explosive growth of the ePaper market in 2009 and rapidly improving financial performance at E Ink. E Ink revenue reached $96 million (unaudited) during the first nine months of 2009, a growth rate of 250% over the prior year and surpassing what was expected when the original deal was agreed. Additionally, economies of scale have enabled E Ink to operate profitably and the merger will now cause an immediate increase to the earnings of the combined entity.

“This is a creative win-win agreement for both PVI and E Ink,” said Scott Liu, Chairman and CEO of PVI. “PVI receives a more valuable company than we expected. E Ink investors will share in the future growth of the combined company, with no additional cash cost to PVI beyond the original agreement.”

“The strategic and operational advantages of combining E Ink and PVI into a single public company are compelling and our investors want to be shareholders of PVI,” said Russ Wilcox, President and CEO of E Ink Corp. “PVI is currently E Ink’s largest customer representing more than 50% of revenue. The combined company is well positioned to lead the global expansion of electronic paper technologies as more textbooks, newspapers, and other content migrate to this medium. E Ink’s end customers will benefit with improved supply, competitive prices, faster product development and local support across the globe.”

E Ink’s pioneering electrophoretic ink technology is used in electronic book readers, such as the Amazon Kindle and the SONY Reader, as well as in cell phones, signage, smartcards, memory devices, and battery indicators. The market for electronic book devices is among the fastest-growing segments of the consumer electronic industry. Research firm iSuppli forecasts that the fledgling market will grow from 1.1 million units in 2008 to over 18 million units in 2012.

Immediately following an execution of the revised mutual benefit merger agreement, PVI received irrevocable written consent from major E Ink shareholders representing sufficient holdings to attain shareholder approval. Regulatory approval has already been received in the United States. The revised agreement is now subject to PVI shareholder and customary regulatory approval. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2009. PVI and E Ink have accelerated the planning process to integrate the two companies in order to expedite the synergies of the merger.

PVI was advised on the acquisition by investment bank Credit Suisse and law firm Baker & McKenzie. E Ink Corporation was advised by investment bank Thomas Weisel Partners LLC and law firm Bingham McCutchen.

About Prime View International (PVI)

Founded in 1992 by Taiwan’s leading paper making and printing group YFY (1907.TW), Prime View International (8069.TW) is the pioneer TFT business in Taiwan. Its corporate philosophy aims to deliver revolutionary products, user experiences, and environmental benefits through advanced technology development. This vision has led to its continuous investments in the field of ePaper display as well as its 2008 acquisition of Hydis Technologies, manufacturer of the world’s best wide viewing angle LCDs. Listed in Taiwan’s OTC market, PVI is now the world’s largest ePaper module maker supplying displays to the eBook market including the popular Sony Reader and Amazon Kindle. PVI also manufactures small and medium size LCD modules.

About E Ink Corporation

E Ink Corporation is the world’s leading supplier of electronic paper display (EPD) technologies. E Ink’s technology is ideal for many consumer and industrial applications spanning handheld devices, eBooks, eNewspapers, PC accessories, public information displays and promotional signage. E Ink is a private corporation that includes among its investors and strategic partners Air Products and Chemicals, Chi Lin Technology, Epson, Hearst Corp, Intel Capital, LG Display, Motorola, Philips, Prime View International, Toppan Printing Co and Wacom. E Ink’s end customers include Amazon, Casio, Citizen, Hanwang, Hitachi, iRex, Lexar, Plastic Logic, Samsung and SONY.

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