Barco and IBM Global Financing Announce CLM Projection Lease Offering for Rental and Staging Companies

KORTRIJK, BELGIUM - May 2008: Belgian-based Barco (Euronext Brussels: BAR), a global technology company that designs and develops visualization products, including the special video and graphic effects behind big concerts like U2, George Michael and Kylie Minogue, has partnered with IBM Global Financing (IGF), the lending and leasing business segment of IBM (NYSE: IBM) to develop a new lease offering to help rental and staging companies more easily acquire Barco projector technology.

The new CLM Lease Offering, backed by IBM Global Financing gives companies the opportunity to access Barco’s CLM line of projectors, designed and built specifically for the demanding rental and staging market.

“For years, large concert promoters and event planners have relied on the Barco name to bring high-tech visualization and lighting technology to the stage,” said Paul Foulkes, vice president, Vendor Financing, IGF. “Thanks to this leasing program, smaller rental companies will also get the chance to acquire Barco’s state-of-the-art projection technology. We are delighted to incorporate a financing program with Barco to support those companies as they grow their business.”

The offering provides an easy and affordable monthly payments structure for the state of the art projector line, including the CLM HD8, a compact 8,500 lumen Digital Light Processing (DLP) projector with full high definition (1,920 x 1,080) resolution and the CLM R10+, a 10,000 lumen DLP projector that delivers a brilliant, sharp and consistent image.

“Barco has specifically designed this program with IBM Global Financing to get sophisticated DLP and high definition projector technology into the hands of rental and staging companies in the small to mid-market arena,” said Stephan Paridaen, President of Barco’s Media & Entertainment division. “While we are proud to see our brand featured at many of the larger headliner concerts around the world, there is a lot of demand too for our technology at smaller corporate events and conferences.”

The Barco-IBM Global Financing program will be rolled out, for credit qualified customers initially, in Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States. Customers interested in the CLM Lease Offering can choose from special lease packages developed for the CLM HD8 and R10+ mid-venue projectors which can include lens of their choice, a rigging kit and Barco image processing advance equipment.

Barco CLM R10+ Projector
The Barco CLM R10+ is a compact, 10,000 lumen DLP projector, designed and built specifically for the rental staging market. With its sealed engine and DLP technology, the CLM R10+ delivers a brilliant, sharp and consistent image -- even after years of use -- without time consuming and expensive maintenance. The CLM R10+ features a strong, all-metal chassis ensuring the highest levels of reliability and comes with its own rigging kit, allowing for quick and easy set up. Its compact size, light weight and low noise levels make the CLM R10+ the ideal solution for both small and midsize venues.

Barco CLM HD8 Projector
Barco’s CLM HD8 is a compact 8,500 lumen DLP projector with full HD (1,920 x 1,080) resolution. The combination of DLP technology, sealed optics and high density filter ensures that the CLM HD8 will deliver superb images year after year without expensive time consuming maintenance. A strong and durable all-metal chassis is used for maximum reliability and protection. The optional rigging kit enables fast and easy mounting on all common types of trusses, as well as easy stacking and adjustment for multi-projector applications. The low noise level, compact size and low weight makes the CLM HD8 an attractive choice for small and midsize venues.