News Release

JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation (President: Shigeru Oi; “JXNMM”), having conducted procedures through JX Metals Deutschland GmbH (“JXMD,” a Special Purpose Company jointly financed by JXNMM and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation) for acquiring all shares of H.C. Starck Tantalum and Niobium GmbH (headquarters: the Federal Republic of Germany; “HCS TaNb”), a company that manufactures, sells, and develops tantalum and niobium (high-purity metal powder), announces that the share acquisition was completed as of July 1.

With the completion of this transaction, JXNMM as of June 30 has disbanded the Technology Group Integration Promotion Office established as a dedicated organization for carrying out preparations for the merger, and has established a new Technology Group Tantalum & Niobium Division. The Tantalum & Niobium Division will cooperate with JXMD in overall monitoring of HCS TaNb management, and will work for the early realization of synergies with HCS TaNb.

Use of electronic components and devices is expected to increase drastically with the upcoming IoT society. JXNMM has been working actively to develop and strengthen its electronic materials business, included among the core technology-based businesses for focus in JXNMM’s Medium-Term Management Plan for the fiscal years 2017 to 2019. The acquisition of HCS TaNb shares is part of this process. JXNMM intends to bring together and put to organic, dynamic use the technologies, expertise, networks and various other management resources in JXNMMGroup, including HCS TaNb. In this way, JXNMM intends to strengthen its sales and product development capabilities, achieve more efficient operations, and realize other synergies for raising its contribution to the advancement of the IoT society through stable supply of materials.