News Release

Furukawa Electric has received technical information, etc. from MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC METECS (Headquarters: Sagamihara-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture; hereinafter, "METECS") on the low-tin phosphor bronze alloy MF202 (hereinafter, "MF202"), and plans to begin manufacturing and selling the product in July 2015.

MF202 is a copper alloy manufactured and sold by METECS, primarily for use in applications for electronic parts. It offers superior stress corrosion resistance, plating, and solderability, and is non-magnetic.

METECS is planned to undergo corporate liquidation during the current fiscal year, and will end its copper alloy metal business which includes MF202. Furukawa Electric realized the supreme importance of keeping the supply chain connected and minimizing customer confusion, and has looked into manufacturing and selling MF202.

Having received technical information from METECS including MF202 manufacturing processes, conditions, and techniques, Furukawa Electric will manufacture and sell MF202 under the same product name. Furukawa Electric has already manufactured MF202 prototypes. Samples that were shipped were confirmed to have the same product characteristics as the previous product.

Subject: MF202 (C5071) (CDA C50710)
Sales launch: July of this year (tentative)
Major applications: Electronic parts for in-vehicle use, etc.

Furukawa Electric (TSE; 5801, ISIN; JP3827200001) Group started business in 1884, when its copper-smelting facility and wire manufacturing factory was established. Since then Furukawa Electric has become pioneers in the latest technologies by addressing diverse technological issues. Furukawa Electric has released products in a number of areas, including telecommunications, electronics, automobiles, and construction, with the three types of materials it works with at their core, namely, optics, plastics, and metals. Many of these products have attained the top global market share, and all of its products have contributed to society in numerous business areas. Furukawa Electric reported consolidated revenues of JPY 931.8 billion (approximately USD 9.3B) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014.