Hitachi And Matsushita Sign Memorandum Of Understanding On Enhancing Cooperation In Flat-Panel TV And Display Panel For TV Businesses

[The following is a release from Hitachi and Matsushita Electric Industrial]

September 19, 2008

Hitachi, Ltd. and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. today signed the memorandum of understanding to enhance cooperation with the goal of further promoting and strengthening the flat-panel TV and display panel for TV businesses. Since February 2005, Hitachi and Matsushita have been working together in various areas such as development, manufacturing, and marketing of plasma displays under a comprehensive collaboration. With today's announcement, the two companies have signed the memorandum of understanding to strengthen cooperation in flat-panel TV business and display panel (PDP and LCD) business. The goal is to further increase their competitiveness in the global flat-panel TV market. Hitachi and Matsushita expect to sign the definitive agreement by the end of October 2008. Regarding the PDP business, Hitachi will procure glass panel components, which have until now been manufactured at Hitachi Plasma Display Limited, from Matsushita. In addition, in order to further develop this flat-panel TV business, the two companies will accelerate cooperation on the development of high-end PDPs that are thinner, more energy-efficient, and featuring distinctive characteristics. Plans call for Matsushita to begin supplying glass panel components to Hitachi for models to be launched by Hitachi in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2010. The two companies will continue to work together on marketing strategies for plasma TVs. Regarding LCD TVs, Hitachi and Matsushita are joint investors in IPS Alpha Technology, Ltd., an LCD panel manufacturing company, and the two companies intend to strengthen their relationship onward. Furthermore, Hitachi and Matsushita will continue to discuss the collaboration for flat-panel TV assembly at overseas production bases. In addition, both companies will also pursue lighter, thinner, more energy efficient flat-panel TVs with higher picture quality for flat-panel TVs. With digitization of broadcasting advancing worldwide, the flat-panel TV market is expected to grow significantly in the future. This trend is also expected to drive demand for larger screens and higher resolution, where PDPs excel. Under these conditions, PDPs, which were developed with Japan's cutting-edge technologies, are expected to grow and evolve further, given their relatively short history on the market as TV display. Through the further pursuit and improvement of self-illuminating devices' characteristics, it is possible to dramatically increase picture quality and performance along with luminous efficiency. PDPs are thus a quintessential key device for the digital consumer product field, achieving both picture quality performance and environmental performance including energy saving. Above all, their outstanding features, which include wide viewing angle, fast moving picture response time and color rendering, have won high marks as displays that fulfill professional requirements in various business situations such as medical, education and the public sector. Both companies have mutually benefited from joint product development and production stemming from a broad alliance focused on consumer products. Today's agreement will strengthen and advance this cooperative relationship and should lead to even more appealing plasma TVs for customers, helping to create a richer society.

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