Leica Microsystems Announces a Change in Dealer Operations in Florida

Leica Microsystems, a technology leader in microscope and image analysis
solutions, announces a strategic transition in its market representation for
industrial, forensic, and educational microscopy and imaging sales and service
in Florida.

Effective November 3, 2012, Leica Microsystems' industrial and microscopy
customers should contact Vashaw Scientific for all sales and service related
issues in Florida. As of the effective date, Micro Optics of Florida will no longer
be representing Leica Microsystems as a regional dealer.

Leica Microsystems dealer Vashaw Scientific delivers a strong presence and
responsiveness to this important region of the U.S., offering high-level,
professional expertise, and quality products and services to Leica's valued
customers.

Vashaw Scientific, Inc. has been in business since 1978 providing traditional
and custom optical and imaging solutions to the Industrial and Scientific
communities. Their staff includes knowledgeable scientists, engineers and
business people, with over 100+ collective years of experience. The diverse
staff is a reflection of Leica's customer base, serving Educational, Forensics,
Scientific Institutions, Manufacturing, and Microtechnology specialties.

"We look forward to working more closely with our customers in Florida to
provide customized, advanced imaging systems for their industrial
instrumentation requirements," says Tom Chowaniec, Vice President, Sales,
North American Industry Division.

Vashaw has been the regional dealer for Leica Microsystems since their
beginning, and are proud of their broad portfolio of additional prestigious
manufacturers. This uniquely qualifies Vashaw to solve customer requirements
with the appropriate solutions. Their service center is staffed with experienced,
factory-trained engineers who provide dedicated customer support including
routine maintenance through complete rebuilds. They have expertise in
designing customized solutions for researchers and manufacturers. Vashaw
Scientific strives to exceed customer's expectations and is synonymous with
quality and innovation.

About Leica Microsystems:

Leica Microsystems is a world leader in microscopes and scientific instruments.
Founded as a family business in the nineteenth century, the company's history
was marked by unparalleled innovation on its way to becoming a global
enterprise.

Its historically close cooperation with the scientific community is the key to
Leica Microsystems' tradition of innovation, which draws on users' ideas and
creates solutions tailored to their requirements. At the global level, Leica
Microsystems is organized in three divisions, all of which are among the leaders
in their respective fields: the Life Science Division, Industry Division and Medical
Division.

The company is represented in over 100 countries with 6 manufacturing
facilities in 5 countries, sales and service organizations in 20 countries, and an
international network of dealers. The company is headquartered in Wetzlar,
Germany.