Classen To Withdraw Patent Co-Op with Välinge

Kaisersesch, Germany, February 2, 2007--Prior to the Domotex in 2007 the Classen Group had reached an agreement with another company offering a vertical locking system, Välinge AB (Sweden), which covered a joint marketing and licensing for various types of flooring products.

From this Välinge should operate as licenser for both systems together on the market.

The Classen group had previously, at Domotex in 2006, publicly presented the Classen Megaloc - an extremely successful vertical locking system for hard flooring. At Domotex in 2007 it was shown that from now on the complete collection of laminate flooring from the Classen Group has been changed to incorporate this simple and quick installation technique.

Upon completion of the Domotex and the valuation of the response from trade visitors regarding the competitive fold down systems, Classen Megaloc and the Välinge 5G, it was ascertained that the overwhelming popularity of Classen Megaloc and the irreconcilable conceptual differences in the marketing approach made it necessary to terminate the previously reached agreement.

The Classen Group is convinced that it can offer, with Classen Megaloc, the simplest, quickest and most cost effective vertical installation system for different types of flooring. Due to the high technological competence in which the relevant (production) technology is patent protected Classen can independently allocate licences, supply know-how and better control the quality of the corresponding (production) systems.

The Classen Group will, as a result of this, forcefully pursue the open cases of patent infringement against third parties.