Oliver Lüttgen
NEC Electronics (Europe) GmbH
+ 49-211-6503-1469
pr@eu.necel.com

Munich – 10th November, 2006

Highly specialized semiconductor distributor Avnet Memec, an Avnet Company, and NEC Electronics Europe, have announced today the revision of their long-term European franchise agreement. With effect of January 1st, 2007, the established strategic partnership will be extended to Spain, France, Poland, Czech Republic and Hungary. Italy will follow from February 01st, 2007. Avnet Memec is already strongly positioned as NEC Electronics’ distributor in Central Europe as well as in the UK/Eire.

Avnet Memec supports the entire NEC Electronics portfolio, which includes a host of market-leading MCUs, ASICs, Power MOSFETs, Opto-Couplers, and USB LSIs.

Commenting on the distribution agreement, Steve Haynes, President Avnet Memec, said: “The expansion of the NEC Electronics franchise agreement to Europe is very important for Avnet Memec. NEC Electronics has a multitude of unique products within their product portfolio which will open new markets and possibilities for us to sell these products. Furthermore it strengthens our relationship with NEC Electronics, one of our key lines within our linecard.

Jon Ellis, Vice President Technical Marketing Avnet Memec, added: “I am sure that this expansion will help NEC Electronics and Avnet Memec achieve even more growth. At the same time, we are able to ensure that Avnet Memec’s customer base can fully exploit the advantages of NEC Electronics’ world-class technology while utilising our first-class design-in support and logistic services.

Haroon Rashid, General Manager, Industrial Business Group, NEC Electronics (Europe) GmbH, commented: “The first year with Avnet Memec showed us that their business model is ideal for our products. The technical know-how as well as the overall support for our products convinced us to extend the franchise agreement. Avnet Memec has the right infrastructure, resources and capabilities to meet the technical and commercial needs of our vast number of customers in Europe. Avnet Memec represents an excellent distribution partner for NEC Electronics. We are looking forward to now leveraging Avnet Memec's distribution expertise for our customers on a broad European basis.

Avnet Memec is a specialized semiconductor distributor operating on a pan-European basis and employing a huge number of engineers to support customer design efforts. The ratio of sales specialists to application specialists is 1:1 – giving it more than twice as many as other Avnet semiconductor companies – and it has more than three times the number of engineers found in traditional distributors. Avnet Memec specializes in highly innovative suppliers and technologies that can help customers to differentiate their designs. Its area of specialization extends from Analog and Microcontrollers to RF, Datacom, and Networking.

Avnet Memec operates as an independent business unit of Avnet Electronics Marketing EMEA, and it utilizes the strengths of Avnet’s backbone organizations – such as Avnet Supply Chain Solutions and Avnet Logistics – to ensure the highest level of customer satisfaction.

Avnet Memec operates from 30 offices in 17 European countries. The company represents major semiconductor franchises on a pan-European basis. Its many major supplier partners include NEC, Silicon Laboratories, Lattice, Marvell, and Zarlink.

The company's Web site is at www.avnet-memec.eu.

NEC Electronics (Europe) GmbH, headquartered in Düsseldorf, Germany, is a leading developer and supplier of semiconductor products in Europe. Committed to meeting customers' cost, performance and time-to-market requirements, the company offers solutions ranging from standard products to system-on-a-chip (SoC) solutions, as well as customized products for next-generation designs.

Our customers also benefit from state-of-the-art manufacturing from the global production network of our parent company, NEC Electronics Corporation. Additionally, NEC Electronics (Europe) GmbH is the exclusive European sales and marketing channel of LCD modules from NEC LCD Technologies Ltd. For more information visit http://www.eu.necel.com.