FEI Company retains a minority stake in this new BV (limited company)

Eindhoven — The NTS Group has announced its majority participation in Phenom-World BV, a new limited company founded on November,3 to realise the marketing, sales and service of Phenom. FEI Company, which has so far been responsible for the marketing and sales of the Phenom, has retained a minority stake and is co-shareholder of this BV. Participation in Phenom-World fits in with the strategy of NTS since the NTS Group was already responsible for the entire production of the Phenom. What is new is the involvement of NTS in the marketing of the Phenom and the newest developments which will take place on the basis of the current product. Marc Hendrikse, CEO of the NTS Group: “Our relationship with FEI Company is hereby being extended and allows us to proactively cooperate in new developments on the basis of the Phenom concept.”

NTS Group develops, manufactures and optimises opto-mechatronic systems, modules and components for a customer base of international machine builders (OEMs). The NTS Group is increasingly being invited to participate with major OEMs in the initiation, definition and concept phase due to its knowledge, know-how and capacity to collaborate on a conceptual level. As a result, customers sometimes involve the NTS Group in marketing, sales and service activities. When asked to be involved, the NTS Group checks whether this activity benefits the system suppliers in the group. If this is so, and the business case of the marketing, sales and service organisation is profitable, the NTS Group will occasionally link up with its customers in this respect. In case involvement does follow on from this consideration, this is organised via participation in separate BV’s that come into the market under their own name.

Phenom-World BV, the organisation that will be responsible for the marketing, sales and service of the Phenom, was established on November,3 2009 and will implement product innovation using the knowledge that derives from direct customer contacts. The NTS Group will take the lead in this Phenom-World BV with John Berghmans, former CEO of the NTS Group, heading the BV for the time being and building the team that will comprise people from both NTS, FEI and outside.

In addition to the joint construction of the Phenom-World BV, the NTS Group and FEI plan to extend NTS’ strategic supplier relationship with FEI.

The NTS Group

NTS Group develops, manufactures and optimises opto-mechatronic systems, modules and components for a customer base of international machine builders (OEMs). As system supplier the NTS Group supports these OEMs to successfully supply high-quality machines to their market in a shorter throughput time at competitive prices. The NTS Group structure allows the company to respond to the constantly changing market conditions in which its customers (OEMs) operate and their subsequent wishes and requirements. NTS Group is highly focused on finding realistic and effective ways of manufacturing and optimising products. Process improvement, chain optimisation, transfer to other countries, cooperation with production companies and specialist engineering firms enable the NTS Group to take on the role of director and producer.

NTS-Group currently comprises a chain of specialist companies in the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, China and Israel, each with its specific knowledge and technology. Together with a network of strategic partners and suppliers, the NTS Group is able to offer its customers a comprehensive solution for each stage in the lifecycle of a product. The activities of the NTS Group, with around 700 employees, turn over around 100 million euros each year.