Meade Instruments Corporation: Founded in 1972 and public since 1997, Meade is a world leader in the design and manufacture of telescopes and accessories for amateur astronomers. The Company's innovative and technologically advanced products are recognized to be among the best in the world.

Telescopes: Of the more than 40 different models priced from $100 to $15,000, almost half have been introduced in the last six years, and all of them (with the exception of less expensive models, which are made to the Company's specifications in Taiwan) are manufactured at the Company's facility in Southern California. Configurations range from straightforward entry-level refracting and reflecting telescopes, to observatory-class catadioptric designs with computerized electro-mechanical search and tracking systems.

Accessories: A catalog of more than 250 items includes eyepieces, photographic adapters and photo-visual color filters, equatorial mounts, motor drive systems, computerized telescope systems, and CCD microchip cameras for astronomical imaging. Also available, is Windows-based software that enables the observer to identify and guide a telescope to any one of almost 20 million celestial objects.

Binoculars: A full range of binoculars made to the Company's specifications overseas, was introduced by Meade in 1996 and is marketed throughout the world.

Microscopes: Meade biological microscopes were introduced in 1996 and are sold throughout the world. From introductory models to advanced biological instruments, Meade microscopes are manufactured to discriminating Meade optical and mechanical standards to permit years of quality performance.

Growth Strategy: Because the market for commercial telescopes is driven largely by new products, growth will come, as it has in the past, from a two-pronged program of continual innovation and aggressive marketing. Ongoing enhancements to hardware and software will result in ever more powerful and user-friendly products, which in turn, we believe, will broaden the market for telescopes generally.