July 28, 2009

NTN and Nidec Agree to Unwind FDB Production Joint Ventures

NTN Corporation (NTN) today announced that NTN and Nidec Corporation (Nidec) have signed a basic agreement to unwind their joint ventures for manufacturing sintered-alloy fluid dynamic bearing units (FDB units) used in electric motors for hard disc drives (HDD).
NTN and Nidec had formed two joint ventures to assemble FDB units in China and Thailand, respectively, through the establishment of NTN-Nidec (Zhejiang) Corporation (NNSC) in 2002 and NTN-NIDEC (THAILAND) CO., LTD. (NNTC) in 2005. Currently, both joint venture companies are 60% owned by NTN and 40% by Nidec.
The basic agreement reached today allow NTN to sell all of NTN's interest in both joint venture companies and thereby make them wholly-owned subsidiaries of Nidec.

1. Reasons for Unwinding Joint Ventures

NTN and Nidec reviewed the ongoing joint venture operations from a profit enhancement perspective and concluded that NTN should concentrate in manufacture and sale of FDB, and FDB unit assembly lines should be operated in a closer alignment with Nidec's motor assembly operations going forward. On this basis, Nidec is acquiring full control of NNSC and NNTC, to take over the entire FDB unit assembly lines of the joint ventures.

2. Schedule

Upon approval by the local authority on or after August 1, 2009, NTN will transfer all of its shares in NNSC and NNTC to Nidec. Simultaneously, NTN and Nidec will enter into a licensing agreement under which NTN offers Nidec its expertise in the assembly of FDB units. In the meantime, NTN will continue to supply key parts for FDB units to Nidec.

NTN will develop FDB business for HDD motors globally to expand the business, striving product development and sale for new applications.

3. Outline of Joint Venture Companies

Outline of NNSC
	Company name	: NTN-Nidec (Zhejiang) Corporation
	Line of business	: Manufacture and sale of FDB units for HDD motors
	Establishment	: August 2002
	Location	: Pinghu Economic Development Zone, Zhejiang, China
	Paid-in-capital	: 21 million U.S. dollars
	Number of Employees	: 1,200
	Ownership	: 60% by NTN, 40% by Nidec (before unwinding the joint venture)

Outline of NNTC
	Company name	: NTN-NIDEC (THAILAND) CO., LTD.
	Line of business	: Manufacture and sale of FDB units for HDD motors
	Establishment	: November 2005
	Location	: The Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate, Rayong, Thailand
	Paid-in Capital	: 600 million Thai Barts
	Number of Employees	: 1,500
	Ownership	: 60% by NTN, 40% by Nidec (before unwinding the joint venture)

[Inquiries about this release]

NTN Corporation

PR and IR Group,Corporate Planning Department

TEL:	(06) 6449-3579
FAX:	(06) 6443-3226