Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT) today announced that it has entered into an
agreement to acquire Nippon Denso Industry Co., Ltd. of Japan ("NDI”)
through its subsidiary, Avnet Japan Co., Ltd. ("Avnet EM Japan”). NDI is
a Tokyo-based, value-added distributor of electronic components with
established design and engineering expertise. Its first-class
engineering service reputation has been established through 50 years of
introducing suppliers’ leading technologies into customers’ end
products. NDI is focused on a limited number of franchised suppliers
with the prime objective of assisting customers with the design-in of
complex semiconductors and sub-system level solutions. The transaction,
which is expected to close by December 29, 2008, should be immediately
accretive to earnings and supports Avnet’s return on capital goals.
Harley Feldberg, global president of Avnet Electronics Marketing, an
operating group of Avnet, Inc., commented, "This acquisition expands our
presence and enhances our competitive position in one of the world’s
largest markets for electronic components. NDI brings Avnet exciting new
talent with significant design and engineering expertise which, when
combined with our existing team, accelerates our growth in this
strategic country by increasing the value we deliver to customers and
suppliers alike."
NDI was founded by its Chairman, Shozo Kawabata, in 1958. Yukio Kawabata
serves as President and will continue to serve as a member of the
executive management team of Avnet EM Japan. Besides a Shibaura,
Tokyo-based headquarters and warehouse, NDI also has five sales offices
within Japan, two international sales offices based in Singapore and
Hong Kong and an international subsidiary in Shanghai, China. It had
annual revenue of JPY16.1 billion ($170 million) for its fiscal year
ended March 31, 2008. With the addition of NDI, Avnet EM will more than
double its business in Japan.
Tom McCartney, President of Avnet EM Japan, stated, "I am very
enthusiastic about this acquisition, not just because it creates an
opportunity to broaden our customer base, but also because NDI shares
our core strategy of offering design-in distribution with exceptional
service. The acquisition will add new semiconductor suppliers to Avnet
EM Japan’s breadth of product offerings in MicroController Units (MCUs),
Digital Signal Processors (DSPs), Production Programmed Read Only Memory
(P2ROM), memory as well as a variety of Large-Scale Integrated chips
(LSIs) for display, communications, speech, audio, video and USB
applications. The combined organization's strength in engineering will
be complemented by Avnet's global supply chain management and logistics
capabilities.”
Forward-looking statements
This press release includes certain forward-looking statements within
the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These
statements relate to future business and/or financial success or the
business outlook and represent the Company's judgment as of the date of
this release. Risks and uncertainties that may materially affect the
actual results are described from time to time in Avnet's SEC filings,
including the Company's reports on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Current
Reports on 8-K.
About Avnet Electronics Marketing Japan
Avnet EM Japan (Avnet Japan Co., Ltd.) is a division of Avnet
Electronics Marketing. Avnet Japan serves electronic original equipment
manufacturers (EOEMs), electronic manufacturing services (EMS) providers
and original design manufacturers (ODM) in Japan, distributing
electronic components from leading manufacturers and providing
associated value-added design-chain and supply-chain services including
supply chain management, sales support, engineering design, inventory
replenishment and programming. Avnet Japan’s local language Web site is
located at http://www.avnet.co.jp.
About Avnet Inc
Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT), a fortune 500 Company, is one of the largest
distributors of electronic components, computer products and embedded
technology serving customers in more than 70 countries worldwide. Avnet
accelerates its partners’ success by connecting the world’s leading
technology suppliers with a broad base of more than 100,000 customers
and providing cost-effective, value-added services and solutions. For
the fiscal year ended June 28, 2008, Avnet generated revenue of $17.95
billion. For more information, visit www.avnet.com.
(AVT_IR)