Esselte Enters Equity and Licensing Agreement With Swedish Technology Company PrintDreams

Esselte Enters Equity and Licensing Agreement With Swedish Technology Company PrintDreams

February 15, 2006

Strategic Partnership Sets the Stage for Groundbreaking New Product
Development Initiatives for Creative and Business Consumers

    STAMFORD, Conn. and STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Feb. 15
/Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Esselte, a leading global office
supplies company, has announced a strategic partnership
with the Swedish company PrintDreams.  PrintDreams
developed the RMPT(TM) Lite (Random Movement Print
Technology) used in the newest product introduction from
Xyron, part of Esselte's Creative Division.  The Xyron(R)
Design Runner(TM), a first-of-its-kind, cordless,
hand-held, portable digital printer, was introduced in
October 2005 and represents the first commercial
application for RMPT Lite since its inception in 2003.

    The Esselte-PrintDreams partnership includes a minority
equity position for Esselte in PrintDreams as well as a
license agreement for the RMPT Full technology, which will
be used in the development of innovative new products for
Xyron and Esselte's office supply brands, Pendaflex(R) and
Leitz(R).  Financial terms of the partnership were not
released.

    "This collaboration with PrintDreams is an
extension of Esselte's commitment to identifying and
securing innovative, ground-breaking technologies,"
commented Gary Brooks, president and CEO of Esselte. 
"With each new product introduction -- for our office,
home office, craft, hobby, art and education markets -- we
look to simplify complicated, cumbersome processes and make
the consumer more productive.  With go-forward partners like
PrintDreams we are sure to reach new heights in these
areas."

    The partnership will extend and expand upon the
successful introduction of the Xyron Design Runner.  This
revolutionary portable printer is the first and only print
device on the market that allows users to add printed
elements to virtually any project, without wires, computer
connections or an electric power source.  The
battery-operated Xyron Design Runner can print on nearly
any substrate as well -- paper, fabric, ribbon, clay, and
myriad other surfaces -- and uses a series of proprietary
Design Discs that offer image, WordArt, texture and
alphabet options.

    "Our vision at PrintDreams' is to establish a
global de facto standard for truly portable printer
devices," stated Alex Breton, chairman and CEO of
PrintDreams.  "RMPT technology is the foundation that
will allow us to do just that.  And with partners like
Esselte we are sure to expand on the success of the Xyron
Design Runner and provide real-time, portable printing
solutions to consumers in a variety of markets."

    Esselte expects to introduce new and innovative digital
printing products incorporating the RMPT Full technology
beginning in late 2006 and early 2007. 

    About PrintDreams

    PrintDreams is a Swedish high technology company that
develops, markets and sells license rights for innovative
technical solutions, primarily for the printer industry. 
The company has developed among others, RMPT(TM), which
allows the manufacturing of truly portable printer devices
suitable for mobile applications.  Another advantage of
RMPT (Random Movement Printing technology) is that it is
highly flexible; allowing printing on almost any type, size
or format of surface.  Additionally it is very cost
effective because the hundreds of mechanical parts common
in traditional printers are replaced by an intelligent
software-based control system.  PrintDreams has also
developed the world's foremost accurate optical navigation
sensor called OptoNav(TM).  This sensor has applications in
more advanced printer products that the company is currently
developing together with its partners.  To get to know more
about the company and its technologies please visit
http://www.printdreams.com .

    About Esselte

    Esselte, with executive offices in Stamford, Conn.,
USA, is a leading global office supplies manufacturer with
annual sales of approximately USD 1 billion, subsidiaries
in 33 countries and approximately 5,000 employees
worldwide.  The company develops innovative solutions that
simplify the modern home and workplace.  Esselte sells more
than 20,000 different office products in over 120 countries;
its principal brands include Esselte, Leitz, Oxford(R),
Pendaflex and Xyron. More information about Esselte can be
found by visiting http://www.esselte.com .

    For more information, please contact:

     Amy Romano
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]

SOURCE  Esselte; PrintDreams