(Source: Business Wire)

Panasonic Corporation (NYSE:PC)(TOKYO:6752)(the "Tender Offeror" or the
"Company") announced that it resolved at its Board of Directors meeting
held on November 4, 2009 to acquire the shares of SANYO Electric Co.,
Ltd. (TOKYO:6764)(the "Target") through the tender offer (the "Tender
Offer") as follows:
1. Purpose of the Tender Offer
(1) Overview of the Tender Offer
The Company entered into the capital and business alliance agreement as
of December 19, 2008 (hereinafter referred to as the "Capital and
Business Alliance Agreement") with the Target, which is listed on the
first section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, Inc. (hereinafter referred to
as the "Tokyo Stock Exchange") and on the first section of the Osaka
Securities Exchange Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as the "Osaka
Securities Exchange"), for the purpose of making the Target its
subsidiary and, with the prospect of an eventual restructuring of the
organization, forming a close alliance between the companies. With
respect to the contents of the Capital and Business Alliance Agreement,
please see "(1) Agreements between the Tender Offeror and the Target or
its Directors and a Summary Thereof" of "4. Other Matters" below.
The Company planned to implement a tender offer in the Capital and
Business Alliance Agreement for all of the shares of the Target (all of
the common shares, Class A preferred shares and Class B preferred
shares) subject to, among other conditions, the completion of the
procedures and measures that are required under domestic and overseas
competition laws and regulations, for the purpose of making the Target
its subsidiary. Now, upon near completion of the procedures and measures
that are required under domestic and overseas competition laws and
regulations, and after confirmation of satisfaction of the conditions
for the Company's commencement of the Tender Offer, which are provided
in the Capital and Business Alliance Agreement, commencement of the
Tender Offer has been resolved at the meeting of the Board of Directors
of the Company held on November 4, 2009. The Company will implement the
Tender Offer for all of the shares of the Target (all of the common
shares, Class A preferred shares and Class B preferred shares), with
3,070,985,000 of issued shares of the Target being the minimum number of
shares scheduled to be purchased, as part of the capital and business
alliance between the Company and the Target based on the Capital and
Business Alliance Agreement. Upon a determination that the minimum
number of shares scheduled to be purchased has been tendered, the total
number of share certificates, etc. tendered shall be calculated, with
each Class A preferred share and each Class B preferred share tendered
in this Tender Offer being deemed as 10 common shares, since the right
is conferred on the Class A preferred shares and Class B preferred
shares, to request the Target to issue common shares of the Target, in
exchange for its acquisition of the relevant preferred shares, at the
ratio of 1 preferred share to 10 common shares (hereinafter referred to
as the "Conversion").
The number of issued shares less the number of treasury shares, in the
case of Conversion of all of the above Class A preferred shares and
Class B preferred shares, shall be such number (hereinafter referred to
as the "Aggregate Number of Issued Shares of the Target on a Fully
Diluted Basis") (6,141,969,078 shares) as is obtained by deducting the
number of the treasury shares held by the Target as of March 31, 2009
(16,084,021 shares), which is described in the Target's annual
securities report for the 85th term submitted on June 29, 2009, from the
sum of (i) the total number of issued common shares as of June 30, 2009
(1,872,338,099 shares), which is described in the Target's first
quarterly report for the 86th term submitted on August 5, 2009, and (ii)
the total number of such common shares (4,285,715,000 shares) as is
obtained in the case of Conversion of all issued Class A preferred
shares (182,542,200 shares) and issued Class B preferred shares
(246,029,300 shares) as of June 30, 2009, both numbers are described in
the first quarterly report for the 86th term submitted on August 5,
2009. The minimum number of shares scheduled to be purchased
(3,070,985,000 shares), is equal to the majority of the Aggregate Number
of Issued Shares of the Target on a Fully Diluted Basis.
Further, the Company plans to convert the Class A preferred shares and
Class B preferred shares of the Target into common shares after the
acquisition thereof through the Tender Offer. Since no voting rights are
granted to Class B preferred shares, the total number of Target's voting
rights will increase by the Conversion of Class B preferred shares into
the common shares.
With respect to the Tender Offer, at the meeting of the Board of
Directors of the Target held on November 4, 2009, the Target resolved to
announce its opinion to endorse the Tender Offer.
(2) Background and Reasons for the Implementation of the Tender Offer
and Management Policy after Completion of the Tender Offer
The Company, as a general electronics maker, through intense cooperation
with each of its domestic and foreign group companies, is globally
developing its manufacturing, sales and service activity in five (5)
segments: Digital AVC Networks (audio and visual equipment, such as
plasma and LCD TVs, BD/DVD recorders, camcorders, digital cameras, and
information and telecommunication equipment, such as PCs, optical disc
drives, multi-function printers, telephones and mobile phones); Home
Appliances (household appliances, etc., such as refrigerators, room air
conditioners, washing machines, clothes dryers and vacuum cleaners); PEW
and PanaHome (electronic materials and electric industry business, and
building products and homes business); Components and Devices
(semiconductors, general components, electric motors and batteries); and
Other (electronic-components-mounting machines, industrial robots and
other FA equipment, industrial instruments, etc.). Since its
establishment in 1918, the Company has been guided by its basic
management philosophy, which states that the mission of an enterprise is
to contribute to the progress and development of society and the
well-being of people worldwide through its business activities. On
October 1, 2008, the Company changed its name from Matsushita Electric
Industrial Co., Ltd. to Panasonic Corporation. The Company is now
proceeding to unify the Panasonic brand globally, and using all of its
profit, resulting from the efforts of the entire group, to lead to the
improvement of the value of the Panasonic brand.
On January 10, 2007, the Company published the GP3 Plan, the mid-term
plan that deems the period from fiscal 2008, the year ended March 31,
2008 to fiscal 2010, the year ending March 31, 2010 as the period for
serious phase change to obtain the right to try for global excellence.
All group companies, as one Panasonic, have been promoting their efforts
to realize the major themes: double-digit growth for overseas sales,
four strategic businesses, manufacturing innovation and the 'eco ideas'
strategy. Despite significant deviations from the initial supposed
management conditions, such as the occurrence of the economic crisis,
the Company has never revised the direction of the plan, including in
the fiscal 2010, the year ending March 31, 2010, which is the last year
of the plan, and is continuing to promote such efforts and aims for
great progress during the time of market recovery.
The Target is developing its activities, such as manufacturing, sales,
maintenance and services, in the Consumer Business Segment (imaging
apparatus, such as TVs and projectors, audio equipment, information and
communications equipment, such as digital cameras and navigation
systems, household appliances, etc., such as refrigerators, air
conditioners and washing machines), Commercial Business Segment
(commercial equipment, such as showcases and commercial air
conditioners, and commercial kitchen equipment, etc.), Component
Business Segment (semiconductors, electronic components, primary
batteries, rechargeable batteries and PV system, etc.) and Other
Business Segment (logistics, maintenance and information services), and,
under the management philosophy: "We are committed to becoming an
indispensable element in the lives of people all over the world", is
aiming to change into a "leading company for energy and environment"
which will contribute to the global environment and to the lives of
people. Especially, the Target has a large global market share and high
level of technology on a global scale, and is well-established as a
leading global company, with respect to the consumer lithium-ion battery
business. In addition, with respect to the lithium-ion battery business
for HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicles) and EV (Electric Vehicles), an area
in which rapid market growth is expected in the future, co-development
with domestic and foreign car makers is being implemented. As well as
addressing development and commercialization of a much more
sophisticated system, a new commercial production line was completed and
introduced. In the photovoltaic systems business, to meet active demand,
the Target is promoting an increase of production capacity for the HIT
(crystalline) solar cell, which is the leading product, by constructing
a new plant, and is promoting commercialization of the thin-film solar
cell to be used for large scale power generation and industry.
Since its founding in 1947, the Target has been diversifying its
business into the radio, washing machine and television businesses, and,
with the postwar development of the economy, accomplished remarkable
growth, to become a global company in the electronics industry under the
Sanyo brand. However, being affected by the intensified competition and
the price decline of the digital appliance industry, and losses at the
NIIGATA SANYO ELECTRONIC CO., LTD. (presently SANYO Semiconductor
Manufacturing Co., Ltd.), due to the Niigata Chuetsu Earthquake in
October 2004, the Target was in urgent need, in fiscal 2006, the year
ended March 31, 2006, of strengthening its financial standing by
building up stockholder's equity and reducing interest-bearing debt,
etc. Under such situation, the Target has been continuing to strengthen
its financial standing, and continuing capital investment and research
and development focusing on its core-business to implement its growth
strategy, by issuing, on March 14, 2006, Class A preferred shares and
Class B preferred shares by way of issuance of new shares to third
parties, the total amount of which was 300,000,000,000 yen and the
allottees of which were the Evolution Investments Co., Ltd., which is a
100 % subsidiary of Daiwa Securities SMBC Principal Investments Co.,
Ltd., Oceans Holdings Co., Ltd., which is an affiliate company of the
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation.
Further, the Target formulated the Master Plan on November 27, 2007,
which is the mid-term business strategy for the period from fiscal 2009,
the year ended March 31, 2009 to fiscal 2011, the year ending March 31,
2011, and formulated the Mid-term Management Plan, which is based on the
Master Plan, on May 22, 2008, to ensure its growth as a global company.
Furthermore, in a continuously harsh economic environment, and
considering the economic-stimulus packages, represented by the Green New
Deal, which various advanced countries have passed and which target the
environment and energy-related fields, the Target now preferentially
distributes its resources to such fields, especially rechargeable
batteries for vehicles and photovoltaic system business, as part of the
"Making Strategic Moves for Future Growth".
The Company and the Target recognize that macroeconomic uncertainty is
increasing and that the competitive business environment surrounding the
two companies is expected to intensify further due to the general
decline in demand resulting from the global economic recession stemming
from the financial crisis, the pressures on business resulting from a
strong yen and rising material costs, as well as the rise of China and
other emerging markets. Moreover, it is becoming increasingly difficult
to sustain growth alone. The Company and the Target also recognize that
not only should existing strategies be accelerated, but aggressive and
drastic action should also be taken in order to achieve potential
growth. Therefore, the Company and the Target, based upon a common
understanding of the business environment, with the objective of
overcoming a harsh global competitive environment, aiming to realize, to
the full extent, the potential earnings growth rate and, also, to
maximize the corporate values of both the Company and the Target, agreed
to enter into discussions regarding a capital and business alliance
based on the premise of making the Target a subsidiary of the Company,
and made an announcement on November 7, 2008, titled "Panasonic and
SANYO Agree to Start Discussions for Capital and Business Alliance."
Thereafter, the Company and the Target continued to engage in detailed
discussions and reviews and arrived at the conclusion that the best
solution for realizing aspirations for global excellence would be to
further strengthen the foundation for growth through a collaboration
between the companies, by combining the accumulated technologies and
manufacturing knowledge of both companies, and upon resolutions being
passed at meetings of the respective Board of Directors of each company
that were held on December 19, 2008, the Company and the Target entered
into the Capital and Business Alliance Agreement. Now, upon near
completion of the procedures and measures that are required under
domestic and overseas competition laws and regulations, commencement of
the Tender Offer has been resolved at the meeting of the Board of
Directors of the Company held on November 4, 2009.
The Company and the Target believe that, through this alliance, strong
collaboration between both companies will be established in a wide range
of business fields. The primary synergies currently expected are as
follows:
(i) Solar business
By utilizing the business platform of the Company, the Company and the
Target aim to respond to demand for solar batteries, an area in which
significant future growth is expected, through (i) further expanding
business in the area of highly efficient HIT (crystalline silicon) solar
photovoltaic cells and modules (batteries) and (ii) the acceleration of
development and commercialization of next-generation solar cells. In
addition, by utilizing domestic and overseas sales platforms of the
Company's group, a significant increase in sales can be expected.
(ii) Rechargeable battery business (mobile energy)
The Target has established its status as a leading company in the
rechargeable battery business, primarily lithium-ion rechargeable
batteries. In addition, the Company has utilized its original black box
technology and expanded its business globally. By forging this alliance,
the companies will further strengthen their competitiveness through (i)
the introduction of the Target's excellent production technology to the
Company and (ii) the provision of the Company's high-capacity
technology, etc. to the Target. Active investments will be made in
batteries for HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle) and EV (Electric Vehicle),
an area in which rapid market growth is expected in the future, and as
part of the Company's group, it is believed that the Target's
collaboration with automakers can be strengthened and sales
significantly expanded.
(iii) Strengthening financial and business position
By way of the Target becoming a member of the Company's group after the
execution of the Tender Offer, (i) reductions in company-wide
procurement costs in areas such as materials purchasing or (ii)
reductions in logistics-related costs are expected in the Target. In
addition, by introducing the Company's original cost reduction know-how,
such as "Itakona" or "Cost Busters," to the Target, further
strengthening of the financial and business position of the Target can
be achieved.
Also, in accordance with the Capital and Business Alliance Agreement,
the Company and the Target have established a "Collaboration Committee,"
and the said committee has been considering, to the extent permitted
under the applicable laws and regulations, various items in order to
achieve the expected outcomes of collaboration between the two
companies. After the execution of the Tender Offer, the Company and the
Target will implement strong measures to put the various items into
practice by way of turning the energy field into a new growth driver and
making the concepts of "creating energy," "storing energy," and "saving
energy" the main pillars. Under these concepts, the companies will aim
to realize integrated energy control for the entire house and for the
entire building. Thereby, Company's group aims to realize a
comprehensive energy solution.
(3) Matters concerning Material Agreements Between the Tender Offeror
and the Shareholders of the Target Regarding the Tender of the Target's
Shares in the Tender Offer
The Company entered into a tender agreement with Evolution Investments
Co., Ltd. (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Daiwa Securities SMBC Principal
investments Co., Ltd.) on March 31, 2009, under which Evolution
Investments Co., Ltd. will tender in the Tender Offer all of the Class A
preferred shares (89,804,900 shares) and a part of the Class B preferred
shares (64,134,300 shares) of the Target held by Evolution Investments
Co., Ltd.; provided, however, that the performance by the obligation of
Evolution Investments Co., Ltd. to tender the Target's shares in the
Tender Offer is subject to the following conditions precedent: (1) all
representations and warranties of the Company set forth in the said
tender agreement are true and correct in all material respects; (2) the
Company is not in any material respects in breach of any of its
obligations under the said tender agreement; (3) the Target's
endorsement of the Tender Offer, the Target's representation to that
effect (including the Target's abstention from publicizing its opinion
on the offering price of the Tender Offer, and the publication of its
opinion, with respect to common shares, that whether to tender the
Target's shares in the Tender Offer is left to the judgment of each
shareholder), and the Target's maintenance of the foregoing; (4) the
nonexistence of any judgment, decision, order, etc. of any court or
administrative agency, or any pending case, prohibiting or restricting
Evolution Investments Co., Ltd. from tendering the shares to be
tendered; and (5) the nonexistence of unpublicized, material facts (as
defined in Paragraph 2, Article 166 of the Financial Instruments and
Exchange Law (Law No. 25 of 1948, as amended), the "Law") with respect
to the Target. (Provided, however, that the tender of the shares to be
tendered in the Tender Offer, which falls under Article 166, Paragraph
6, Item 7 of the Law shall be excluded.) Unless the conditions precedent
set forth above are satisfied, Evolution Investments Co., Ltd. will not
be obligated to tender the shares of the Target in the Tender Offer.
(Provided, however, that Evolution Investments Co., Ltd. may waive the
performance of all or any part of the above conditions precedent and
still tender the shares of the Target in the Tender Offer.) There is a
possibility that, instead of tendering said Class B preferred shares,
Evolution Investments Co., Ltd. will convert said Class B preferred
shares to common shares and tender the common shares in the Tender
Offer. The aggregate number of common shares of the Target
(1,539,392,000 shares), assuming that the aforementioned Class A
preferred shares and Class B preferred shares are converted into common
shares, would be equivalent to approximately 25.06% (rounded to the
second decimal place) of the Aggregate Number of Issued Shares of the
Target on a Fully Diluted Basis. According to the Amendment Report No.
13 to the Substantial Shareholding Report filed by Evolution Investments
Co., Ltd.