Minsheng Financial Leasing AIXTRON SE Announced a Strategic Alliance for Joint Marketing

Minsheng Financial Leasing Co., Ltd. (MSFL), China’s main non-banking financial institution, and AIXTRON SE (FSE: AIXA; NASDAQ: AIXG), a leading supplier of deposition equipment to the semiconductor industry, today announced a strategic alliance for joint marketing of leasing options in China. The new agreement defines the strategic cooperation between the two parties to promote the distribution of AIXTRON´s proven MOCVD equipment to customers across China with the aid of MSFL’s financial services. Mr. Feng Wang, (CPO, President of Finance Leases SBU MSFL) and Wolfgang Breme (CFO AIXTRON) signed the Memorandum of Understanding at a ceremony held today at MSFL’s headquarters in Beijing. "This exciting strategic cooperation will enable LED manufacturers to draw upon the most appropriate financing opportunities for the acquisition of key-enabling MOCVD equipment,” commented Ms. Rong Wang, CFO of MSFL. “Due to temporary restrictions in China in the availability of financing, this news is expected to be received very positively.” LED technology plays an important role in the global aspiration to conserve energy and thus has been defined as one of the key industries (energy conservation/environmental protection, new materials) in China´s 12th 5-year plan aiming to ensure long-term prosperity. "The leasing of MOCVD equipment in China is a relatively new concept, and we are confident that this initiative will be widely appreciated by LED manufacturers,” added Wolfgang Breme. “This cooperation, with one of Asia's largest and fastest growing leasing companies, is significant for us because it enhances our customers’ financial flexibility.” "AIXTRON’s role and commitment to China is to deliver the essential key-enabling technology, that the emerging LED lighting market needs, taking full advantage of AIXTRON’s technology and embedded expertise,” Paul Hyland, President and Chief Executive Officer at AIXTRON, commented. “Our joint goal with Minsheng is to facilitate the most appropriate financial instruments to support Chinese manufacturers as they strive to become global players in this exciting new market.” China’s LED market showed extensive annual growth of 45% in 20101 and is expected to grow in output value from CNY 120 billion in 2010 to CNY 500 billion during the course of the 12th 5-year plan, representing total growth of 317%2. These significant projections reflect the fact, that in 2011, China was the biggest single regional buyer of MOCVD equipment, accounting for 58% of all global shipments3 within that period. AIXTRON’s current MOCVD product portfolio, including the CRIUS II-XL (Close Coupled Showerhead) and the AIX G5 HT (Planetary Reactor) systems, is ideally suited for today’s customers’ market needs and anticipated future market requirements. Source: aixtron.com