News Release

In the new business division structure, there will be six Divisions, creating a framework for more dynamic development of each business area.

1. (1) Establishment of the Mineral Resources Division
   The Resources Development Department in the existing Metals Group is to be merged with the Caserones Division, and a new Mineral Resources Division will be created.
   The aim is to unify operations relating to the Caserones Project with those of other resource projects to ensure more efficient and effective administration and to further strengthen business in this area.
   In the Mineral Resources Division, an Administration Department, Technology Department, and Exploration & Development Department are to be newly created.
2. (2) Abolishment of the Electronic Materials Group and independence of the Functional Materials Division and Thin Film Materials Division
   The Electronic Materials Group will be abolished, making the Functional Materials Division and Thin Film Materials Division into independent business divisions, for more dynamic business development.
   The operations of the Administration Department and Technology Department in the Electronic Materials Group will be taken over by new Administration Departments and Technology Departments in the Functional Materials Division and Thin Film Materials Division.
3. (3) Independence of Tantalum and Niobium Division
   Now that it is clear the tantalum and niobium business can function separately from the Technology Group as a single division, the Tantalum and Niobium Division will become an independent business division.
4. (4) Renaming of Metals Group and Recycling & Environmental Services Group
   Organizations that have until now been called Groups will become Divisions, for standardization purposes, resulting in the names Metals Division and Recycling & Environmental Services Division.
   A new Smelting Department is to be created in the Metals Division, with enhanced functions for planning, proposing, and supervision in the area of smelting and refining technologies.

1. (1) Establishment of a Public Relations Office in the Planning & Coordination Department
   A new Public Relations Office is being created in the Planning & Coordination Department to carry out strategic public relations activities consistent with the formulation and implementation of medium- to long-range management strategy. The public relations functions of the Public Relations & CSR Department will be moved to the newly created Public Relations Office.
2. (2) Reorganization of Administration Department into Administration & CSR Department
   The CSR promotion functions of the Public Relations & CSR Department will be moved to the Administration Department. The aim is to deepen the linkage between operations relating to CSR activities and operations of the Administration Department, which is in charge of Group-wide external relationship management and contacts, while further strengthening CSR activities.
   As a result of this change, the Administration Department will become the Administration & CSR Department and the Public Relations & CSR Department will be abolished.
3. (3) Establishment of a Risk Management Office in the Administration & CSR Department
   The risk management operations of the Risk Management Department will be moved to a newly formed Risk Management Office in the Administration & CSR Department. The aims are to further strengthen coordination with the Administration & CSR Department in charge of specific operations, and to strengthen support of and coordination with each of the organizations that deal with risks of various kinds. As a result, the Risk Management Department will be abolished.
4. (4) Establishment of an Advanced Technology & Strategy Department in the Technology Group and related changes
   An Advanced Technology & Strategy Department will be established in the Technology Group, dedicated to the planning and formulation of Group-wide technology strategy. The planning functions of the Planning & Administration Department in the Technology Group will be moved to this new department, consolidating the Planning Department functions of the Electronic Materials Group.
   As a result, the Planning & Administration Department of the Technology Group will be renamed to Administration Department, and the Electronic Materials Group’s Planning Department will be abolished.