Avnet EMG signs distributor agreement with NEC Electronics Inc

Business Wire, May 24, 1995

CULVER CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 24, 1995--Avnet's Electronic Marketing Group (EMG) has signed a distributor agreement with NEC Electronics Inc. to distribute its line of Thin Film Transistor (TFT) Active Matrix Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) products in North America.

Effective immediately, these products will be distributed through Avnet EMG's Hamilton Hallmark, Time Electronics and Allied Electronics companies.

"NEC is an established leader in manufacturing display technology," said Roy Vallee, vice chairman, president and chief operating officer of Avnet Inc. "We recognize the growing demand for high-quality, off-the-shelf LCD products in the marketplace, and feel our agreement with NEC will complement Avnet EMG's franchise portfolio."

TFT Active Matrix LCDs are used in computer applications such as laptop and notebook PCs; instrumentation and control applications such as security systems, flight simulators and GPS navigation equipment; office automation products; and consumer and entertainment electronics.

TFT Active Matrix LCDs offer higher contrast, quicker response time, more display colors and wider viewing angles than other LCD technologies currently available on the market. In 1995, the North American market for TFT Active Matrix LCDs is estimated to exceed $1.6 billion.

"NEC is committed to rapidly expanding its TFT Active Matrix LCD business in the United States," said Al Rickling, associate vice president, electron components, NEC Electronics Inc. "Now, with NEC's TFT products available through Avnet's Electronic Marketing Group, TFT customers will benefit from their world-class service and support."

NEC Electronics, with headquarters in Mountain View, Calif., manufactures and markets an extensive line of electronic products, including ASICs, microprocessors and microcontrollers, digital signal processors (DSPs), memories and components, including active-matrix LCDs. The company operates a 676,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Roseville, Calif.

NEC Electronics is an affiliate of NEC Corp. (NIPNY), a $35 billion international manufacturer of computer, communications and semiconductor products.

Avnet EMG is the largest operating group of Avnet Inc., a Fortune 500 company listed on the New York Stock Exchange with sales exceeding $3.5 billion. Avnet's EMG consists of Hamilton Hallmark, Avnet Computer Group, Time Electronics, Allied Electronics, Penstock Inc. and Avnet Europe.

The group markets, inventories and adds value to the products of the most prestigious electronic components and equipment manufacturers.

CONTACT: Avnet Inc., Culver City

Mark Wood, 310/558-2708

or

NEC Electronics Inc., Mountain View

Nikki Tanis, 415/965-6620