LizardTech acquires Altamira's Genuine Fractals!
By
Mike Tomkins
(Friday, April 13, 2001 - 13:07 EDT)
Fractal imaging software gets a new owner...
Seattle-based LizardTech, a company whose MrSID fractal-based image compression/scaling software we've mentioned numerous times on this page in the past, has announced that it has acquired what was probably its biggest competitor product, Altamira's Genuine Fractals. Financial terms of the acquisition, which sees LizardTech gaining the Genuine Fractals product line, intellectual property and patent rights, partnership agreements and trademarks, have not been disclosed.
The Genuine Fractals product line will apparently continue to be sold under LizardTech's brand name, once the transaction is finalised by June 30, 2001, and the acquisition has been approved. LizardTech apparently sees Genuine Fractals as complementary to its existing product line, noting in a FAQ that "Genuine Fractals provides exception image scaling, while MrSID provides the best image reduction and single-source format available".
LizardTech will, once the deal is finalised, provide support to current Altamira Genuine Fractals customers as well as its own future customers. Existing LizardTech and Altamira customers are being sent an email along the lines of the one we received below, notifying them of the acquisition. "As a valued customer of Genuine Fractals, we'd like to share with you some very exciting news from Altamira Group!
Today, LizardTech, a Seattle-based leader in imaging technology, has acquired Altamira's Genuine Fractals line of products. LizardTech's MrSID and DjVu products are currently installed on more than 25 million desktops and integrated into over 200 applications.
Genuine Fractals scaling technology will be a great complement to LizardTech's industry-leading line of product applications. You'll continue to receive the same great value, products and service you've come to expect from Altamira. Together, LizardTech and Genuine Fractals will continue to provide you with multi-platform support that provides image reduction, proven image scaling and printing capabilities.
For more information on LizardTech, visit the LizardTech website at www.lizardtech.com.
We're excited about being a part of the LizardTech family and continuing to bring you the most advanced imaging technology and solutions. We're also excited about what this brings to the future of the Genuine Fractals product line.
Stay tuned for more exciting news!
The Gang at Altamira" One point worth noting is that LizardTech is only acquiring the intellectual property, patents, trademarks and partnership agreements related to Genuine Fractals. The company is not taking over Altamira, who will presumably continue to operate themselves. Altamira, meanwhile, has not yet stated its plans post-Genuine Fractals; one would presume they are preparing new products of their own since Genuine Fractals is currently their only product offering.
Source:
LizardTech website
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Original Source Press Release:
| LIZARDTECH TO ACQUIRE ALTAMIRA'S GENUINE FRACTALS TECHNOLOGY LizardTech Fortifies Leadership Position and Strengthens Presence in Digital Camera and Scanner Manufacturers' Imaging Market
Seybold 2001 (Booth #4117), BOSTON, April 11, 2001 - LizardTech, Seattle-based leader of imaging technologies, today announced that it will acquire Altamira's Genuine Fractals technology, solidifying LizardTech's presence in the digital camera and scanner manufacturers' market. The acquisition enhances LizardTech's product lines, while providing its DjVu and MrSID software solutions to Genuine Fractals' partners, alliances, customers and reseller channels. LizardTech will gain access to Genuine Fractals' well-established sales channel with leading photography device manufacturers, such as Olympus, Nikon and Minolta. The transaction will be finalized in the quarter ending June 30, 2001, subject to customary regulatory approvals.
LizardTech will be acquiring the Genuine Fractals product line, intellectual property and patent rights, partnership agreements and trademarks from Altamira. Altamira Group, Inc., headquartered in Burbank, Calif., develops and markets leading-edge image scaling and resolution-on-demand technology, resulting in significant process efficiencies and cost savings. Altamira's Genuine Fractals technology is a favorite tool of celebrity photographers, digital artists and electronic publishers; and many top digital imaging equipment manufacturers include Genuine Fractals software within their products.
"Digital camera penetration doubled in 2000 to reach 25 percent of U.S. Internet households, and consumer purchase plans indicate that it will double again in 2001," said Lia Schubert, research analyst for InfoTrends Research Group. "Genuine Fractals' resolution-on-demand and large format printing capabilities are strong additions to LizardTech's imaging-focused solutions. Genuine Fractals technology complements LizardTech's product applications and experience in delivering higher-quality files faster and more efficiently," added Schubert.
"Digital cameras are quickly becoming a must-have for consumers," said John Grizz Deal, president and CEO of LizardTech. "The problem is that the size of the photographic image is directly proportional to the quality of the image. Not anymore. With the addition of Genuine Fractals, LizardTech will make it even easier to send large, high-quality images over the Internet that can be printed up to ten times the original size."
"This is a truly exciting opportunity, and I look forward to working with LizardTech's outstanding management team," said Bob Goldstein, president of Altamira. "We're confident that LizardTech is in the best market position to provide solutions to meet the demands of the digital imaging marketplace."
LizardTech has committed a decade of R&D, as well as leading technologies from national labs, to developing a superior line of imaging products. The acquisition further enhances LizardTech's ability to change the fundamental economics of networking, storage and bandwidth. Genuine Fractals' scaling technology complements LizardTech's industry-leading line of products. This combination fortifies LizardTech's leadership position in the digital imaging market.
About LizardTech
LizardTech Inc. is one of the world's leaders in imaging technologies. A privately held company, LizardTech is committed to providing tools to deliver high-quality content instantly over the Internet. The company provides innovative solutions that optimize bandwidth and provide immediate access to high-resolution, multipurpose digital images and multimedia content. LizardTech licensed Generation I of its MrSID technology from Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and acquired its DjVu technology from AT&T Labs for the commercialization of both product lines. LizardTech is integrating its next-generation image software into a wide variety of platforms and applications. LizardTech's software is currently installed on more than 25 million desktops and integrated into over 200 applications. LizardTech has offices in Seattle and Amsterdam. Additional information about LizardTech can be found at www.lizardtech.com.
LizardTech, DjVu and the LizardTech logo are trademarks, DjVu is a registered trademark in the United States, and all are the property of LizardTech Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners. |
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