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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> Freedom Scientific [mailto:freedomscientificnews@freedomscientific.ccsend.com] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Freedom Scientific<br><b>Sent:</b> Monday, November 16, 2015 11:04 AM<br><b>To:</b> george4581@gmail.com<br><b>Subject:</b> Freedom Scientific and Optelec Join Forces in Assistive Technology Merger<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=3 cellpadding=0 width=595 style='width:297.5pt;background:white'><tr><td width="100%" style='width:100.0%;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'>Having trouble viewing this email? <a href="http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?ca=29112e54-33ab-45f0-92ed-9a8eb1cc1f6f&c=bc523330-2eff-11e5-a03d-d4ae527547e4&ch=bcabc4e0-2eff-11e5-a079-d4ae527547e4">Click here to view as a webpage. </a><o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr></table></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in'><img border=0 width=1 height=1 id="_x0000_i1025" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D1205F.3BA90690" alt="Image removed by sender. "></span><o:p></o:p></p><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=3 cellpadding=0 width=900 style='width:6.25in'><tr><td style='border:none;border-bottom:solid #0077CC 3.0pt;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=right style='text-align:right'><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f">
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</v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Image removed by sender. Freedom Scientific and Optelec Logos" style='position:absolute;left:0;text-align:left;margin-left:0;margin-top:0;width:50pt;height:50pt;z-index:251658240;mso-wrap-distance-left:0;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:0;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:left;mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical-relative:line' o:allowoverlap="f" stroked="t" strokeweight="56e-5mm">
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</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img src="cid:image002.jpg@01D1205F.3BA90690" align=left alt="Image removed by sender. Freedom Scientific and Optelec Logos" v:shapes="_x0000_s1026"><![endif]><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#0077CC'>Empowering Independence™<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr><tr style='height:5.0pt'><td style='background:#6699CC;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:5.0pt'></td></tr><tr><td style='border:none;border-bottom:solid #0077CC 3.0pt;padding:15.0pt 15.0pt 15.0pt 15.0pt'><h2><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<o:p></o:p></span></h2><h2><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Freedom Scientific and Optelec Join Forces in Assistive Technology Merger<o:p></o:p></span></h2><p><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>ST. PETERSBURG, FL and BARENDRECHT, THE NETHERLANDS - NOVEMBER 16, 2015 - Freedom Scientific and Optelec announced today that the two companies have merged to create the worlds largest assistive technology provider for the visually impaired. The two companies have a long history of providing innovative technology solutions that enable blind and low vision individuals to reach their full potential – to gain an education, obtain employment, succeed in professional careers, and live independently throughout their lives.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>"Combining our complementary businesses gives us the broadest portfolio in the industry and unmatched worldwide distribution and customer support," said John Blake, CEO of Freedom Scientific. "The combined company will be able to offer customers a broad portfolio of well known brands of video magnifiers, scanning and reading solutions, refreshable Braille displays, and the industrys most recognized screen reading software, JAWS<sup>®</sup> for Windows."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>"Our employees are energized by the capability that results from this merger and we are eager to start working together to deliver market leading solutions, training and support to the broadest audience of blind and low vision users," said Maarten Bosch, CEO of Optelec.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Both companies were recently acquired by Vector Capital, a San Francisco based firm that invests in market leading global technology companies. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>"We are excited to bring together two of the industrys leading companies to create a global, diversified end-to-end technology provider to the low-vision and blind community," said Andy Fishman, a Managing Director at Vector Capital. "The combination, integration and platform created will enable continued investment, support and growth for the combined company."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The combined holding company will retain the individual Freedom and Optelec brands and product portfolio as the two businesses work on the integration and realization of all the anticipated customer benefits.<o:p></o:p></span></p><h3><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>About Freedom Scientific<o:p></o:p></span></h3><p><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Freedom Scientific is a leading worldwide provider of assistive technology products for those with vision impairments. Freedom Scientific is headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida with offices in Switzerland. The Company's products have been translated into 24 languages and are available in more than 70 countries.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><strong><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Media Contact:</span></strong><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><br>Brad Davis<br>Email: <a href="mailto:info@FreedomScientific.com">info@FreedomScientific.com</a><br>Phone: (800) 444-4443 / (727) 803-8000<br><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001o9SCp5fTG2IsgDw7jm3X-49pAlIEaAXssAqLGbpEvXKEAkHZgXnLpBc1FGyLbse75qazRBg8btyZ40rIjAXEBQ7MdEmFZoGapAM-C3BbamOvfBKU1-ave387cFeApL53_Aq5Gw1499QUQwYZ6I6b1875iWTsRQZ4BRjXE_OjKIDDaflIr7vpcA==&c=jakQQl8M3yTlMcttTRwlKRTP7q4nNgKbZhvsEv-J03hg6KcTauijXg==&ch=46Egu6oDPP4tTzhcTtQRRPLlwxM1tmEcmUj2QokEuDpqJXtHok672w==" target="_blank">www.FreedomScientific.com</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><h3><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>About Optelec <o:p></o:p></span></h3><p><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Optelec is a leading global distributor, designer and manufacturer of life-changing assistive technologies for people who are visually impaired and blind. Optelec is headquartered in Barendrecht, the Netherlands with offices in the US, Belgium, Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom, offering multi-tier distribution in more than 70 countries worldwide.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><strong><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Media Contact:</span></strong><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><br>Maarten Bosch<br>Email: <a href="mailto:info@Optelec.com">info@Optelec.com</a><br>Phone: +31 88 678444<br><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001o9SCp5fTG2IsgDw7jm3X-49pAlIEaAXssAqLGbpEvXKEAkHZgXnLpFXJW_dI_HsLGv_cFeDvKgLBtVaPFHC-Tau9DlDwwPskiuR__Hfp7ZbFOWFNH8laINgA7ZTQGa7FI7y2y3ymaUuyq496FHhVqcbjHCekWvdJpojhhYyq7dw=&c=jakQQl8M3yTlMcttTRwlKRTP7q4nNgKbZhvsEv-J03hg6KcTauijXg==&ch=46Egu6oDPP4tTzhcTtQRRPLlwxM1tmEcmUj2QokEuDpqJXtHok672w==" target="_blank">www.Optelec.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><h3><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>About Vector Capital<o:p></o:p></span></h3><p><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Vector Capital is a leading global private equity firm with over $2.5 billion under management specializing in transformational investments in established technology businesses. Vector actively partners with founders and management teams to devise and execute new financial and business strategies that materially improve the competitive standing of these businesses and enhance their value for employees, customers and shareholders. Among Vector's notable investments are Aladdin Knowledge Systems, Allegro Development, Cambium Networks, Certara, ChyronHego, CollabNet, Corel, IPVALUE Management, LANDesk Software, Niku, Gerber Scientific, RAE Systems, Register.com, Saba Software, SafeNet, Technicolor, Teletrac, Tidel, Triton Digital, WatchGuard Technologies, and WinZip. For more information, please visit <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001o9SCp5fTG2IsgDw7jm3X-49pAlIEaAXssAqLGbpEvXKEAkHZgXnLpNzXgnEzXVjmdQd7gZ33vF50CxDnoLfCIFXojZMhxZcrKkzTqE1ZbUOI8WyIeFK8_pZtWU-JfKtcKkYYS9xtUAhhy0BYoT6-lq3Pst8CYZgD3Xfaz7pccn4yMSokEn1_cQ==&c=jakQQl8M3yTlMcttTRwlKRTP7q4nNgKbZhvsEv-J03hg6KcTauijXg==&ch=46Egu6oDPP4tTzhcTtQRRPLlwxM1tmEcmUj2QokEuDpqJXtHok672w==" target="_blank">www.vectorcapital.com</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><strong><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Media Contact:</span></strong><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><br>Jonathan Gasthalter/John Christiansen<br>Sard Verbinnen & Co<br>Phone: (212) 687-8080 / (415) 618-8750<o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr style='height:40.0pt'><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:40.0pt'><p align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#666666'>11800 31st Court North, St. Petersburg, FL 33716-1805 | 800-444-4443 | <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001o9SCp5fTG2IsgDw7jm3X-49pAlIEaAXssAqLGbpEvXKEAkHZgXnLpLhyHnIOBF5shBhspnVHE15GCGwlMn7jtaVFi2I9fKNzAOLTqjt0upFM4Qhlt_PlV8U16WAX4jSBep4Tvq4J5DgYd5dXOde3FZ5PCb_02nXqQEp8mYQ6OmI0ospSd71njQ==&c=jakQQl8M3yTlMcttTRwlKRTP7q4nNgKbZhvsEv-J03hg6KcTauijXg==&ch=46Egu6oDPP4tTzhcTtQRRPLlwxM1tmEcmUj2QokEuDpqJXtHok672w==" target="_blank"><span style='color:#666666;text-decoration:none'>www.freedomscientific.com</span></a> <br>©2015 Freedom Scientific, Inc. 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