Joint Venture between Mitsubishi Materials Corporation’s Powder Metal Group and Sinterstahl

After years of successful cooperation, the Mitsubishi Materials Corporation and PLANSEE Holding AG agreed to merge their activities in the field of powder metallurgical (PM) components to become the preferred PM parts supplier in the world with respect to quality, technology and price. On August 9, 2005, the two companies signed a joint venture agreement effective as of December 1, 2005.

The name of the new holding company will be Plansee Mitsubishi Materials Global Sinter Holding S.A. and the new group will be more commonly known as PMG.

“Our two companies fit together ideally, and our customers will benefit from our global presence. With our customers we will invest and grow in future key automobile markets. In addition, PMG will be the cutting edge of powder metallurgical innovation, which will translate into superior products for our customers!” says Masafumi Koga, PMG’s first president.

To take full advantage of these opportunities, PMG will operate as a fully integrated global company. Michael Krehl, the new executive vice president, is emphasizing the importance of the integration process in realizing this goal:

“The new PMG management is committed to fully integrate both companies. We have established a sales organization that will effectively facilitate serving customers across regions and product groups. We have also implemented internal best-practice-sharing and optimization processes as well as cultural exchange. Integration activities are already well underway and we will begin serving our customers as PMG immediately after December 1, 2005.”

Merger details

Company name:	Plansee Mitsubishi Materials Global Sinter Holding S.A. (PMG)
11 plants combined in 9 legal entities:
Europe:	PMG Füssen GmbH, Germany PMG Asturias Powder Metal S.A., Spain PMG Polmetasa S.A.U., Spain
Asia:	Mitsubishi Materials PMG Corporation, Japan  - Niigata plant  - Fujioka plant  - PMT plant PMG Klang Sdn Bhd, Malaysia PMG Shanghai China Co. Ltd., China
America:	PMG Ohio Corporation, US PMG Pennsylvania Corporation, US PMG Indiana Corporation, US
Headquarters:	Mamer, Luxemburg
Capital:	€5 million
Shareholder structure:	50% Plansee Holding AG, 50% Mitsubishi Materials Corporation
Turnover:	€350 million / ¥48 billion
Number of employees:	2,100
Members of the Board of Directors are:
Nonexecutive directors:	Dr. Michael Schwarzkopf (chairman) Mr. Tsuneo Katsuki (vice chairman) Mr. Fumio Shimada Mr. Karlheinz Wex
Executive directors:	Mr. Masafumi Koga (president) Dr. Michael Krehl (executive vice president) Mr. Yoshiyasu Iino Mr. Holger Steinweg

For further information please contact:
Mr. Masafumi Koga: +81-3-3445 8631, masakoga@pmgsinter.com
Dr. Michael Krehl: +49-8362-506 110, mkrehl@pmgsinter.com