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Verbatim Maintains No. 1 Ranking in Global Recordable CD and DVD Media Sales for 2nd Year

Credits Media Quality and Performance for Double-digit Increases in Market Share

CHARLOTTE, NC (March 16, 2006) – Verbatim® Corporation announced today that for the second year in a row it has been named the leading supplier of recordable CD and DVD media worldwide by the Santa Clara Consulting Group (SCCG). The Group’s 2005 CD and DVD reports show that Verbatim and its parent company, Mitsubishi Kagaku Media (MKM), not only maintained the Number One position worldwide but also increased global market share of recordable CDs and DVDs. Their worldwide dominance in the DVD media markets was evident in the report’s Unit Shipments section, which lists Verbatim/MKM shipments of recordable DVD media in 2005 as 531.249 million—23.3 percent more than its nearest competitor.

Of the five DVD formats tracked in the report, DVD-R was the most significant DVD format in 2005 with 59 percent of DVD recordable disc sales. Verbatim/MKM leads the global DVD-R market with a 17.01 percent market share for all of 2005.

In the DVD+R segment, which accounted for 34.2 percent of worldwide DVD recordable sales in 2005, Verbatim/MKM leads with 17.77 percent of the market.

Verbatim/MKM also leads the global CDR market with 15.1 percent of CD-R sales and 19.8 percent of CD-RW.

Driving Verbatim/MKM’s growing market share is the company’s ability to combine high reliability, stability and longevity with high performance and broad compatibility. With 16X DVD writers accounting for the majority of the CD/DVD burners being sold today, consistent media quality has become even more important for professionals, businesses and consumers because higher-speed burners and recorders are less tolerant of media imperfections.

Verbatim/MKM DVDR discs are produced with patented Metal AZO recording layer technology which provides increased sensitivity to laser light—the key requirement for high-speed recording. It also controls the heat interference between consecutive recorded marks. This substantially reduces the jitter and enables superior recording characteristics across the entire range of available recording speeds, from 1x through 16x. In addition to the superior recording layer, the discs are manufactured using Verbatim’s advanced precision molding technology which ensures a consistently flat disc surface and minimizes errors during high-speed recording.

To maintain its leadership position, Verbatim has consistently been first to market with new technologies such as higher-speed media, double-layer discs and product differentiators such as Mini DVDR/RW media, DigitalMovie DVDs with a movie reel look and VideoGard™ hard coat technology. Verbatim/MKM continues to develop advanced and innovative storage solutions, including next generation Blu-ray and High Definition DVD (HD DVD) media technology which will be available later this year.

About Verbatim/MKM
Verbatim/MKM is an international organization that develops and markets innovative, high-quality products for storing, moving and using digital content. Known for its leadership in the removable storage media and related accessories markets, the company provides reliable, unique technologies and products that are highly sought after and broadly distributed worldwide. Verbatim brand media is marketed in North America, Europe, Latin America and other areas of the world. In Japan, media is sold under the Mitsubishi brand.

For more information, contact Verbatim Singapore at kellycheong@verbatim.com.sg. In Japan, Mitsubishi Kagaku Media Co., Ltd., ANA Tamachi Bldg., 31-19, Shiba 5-Chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-0014, (+81) 3-5454-3925. Or visit the web site at www.verbatim.com.sg