Verbatim is Number 1 supplier of recordable CD and DVD media in Europe, according to Santa Clara Consulting Group.

The Group's 2005 CD and DVD reports show that Verbatim maintained its poll position in Europe for recordable CDs and DVDs for a second year running.

The European growth reflects Verbatim's strong position in the CD-R market. From a total of 2.2 billion CD-Rs sold in 2005 every fourth disc was produced by Verbatim. The company's market share for 2005 was 26.4% compared to 2004 this represents a growth of 5.8% in an extremely competitive market.

In 2004 Verbatim was brand leader with a 20.8% share in the European DVD-R market, which sold a total of 471 million units. In 2005 the total number of DVD-R sold in Europe rose to 1.1 billion and Verbatim maintained its brand leader position, and increased its sales 5% over 2004 figures to achieve a market share
of 25.9%.

Verbatim has also increased its market share in the DVD-RW media market sector by more than 3% to 20%. The company is now the number two brand in the European market. The overall rewritable DVD market grew from 55.4 million units in 2004 to 104.3 million in 2005.

The figures for the UK also reflect this development with Verbatim selling 27.6% of all recordable CDs in 2005 - an increase of 0.5% over 2004. However, in the DVD sector the figures are more dramatic with an overall market increase of 325% to 1.4 billion units sold and Verbatim's share of this was 31.7%. While less than the previous year in percentage terms (32.9% in 2004) it is a substantial volume increase for the company.

Story filed 05.4.06