May 30, 2011

  • Panasonic Corporation
  • Hangzhou DADI Environmental Protection Engineering Co., Ltd.
  • DOWA Holdings Co., Ltd.
  • Sumitomo Corporation

Press Release

Panasonic, Hangzhou DADI, DOWA and Sumitomo Corporation to Establish Home Appliances Recycling Company in Hangzhou, China

Incorporating advanced recycling technologies of a Japanese consumer
electronics company

Panasonic Corporation*1(headquarters: Kadoma City, Osaka; President: Fumio Ohtsubo; hereafter "Panasonic"), Hangzhou DADI Environmental Protection Engineering Co., Ltd., (headquarters: Hangzhou City, Zhejiang, PRC; Chairman: Zhang Yuanqi; hereafter "Hangzhou DADI"), DOWA Holdings Co., Ltd.*2(headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Masao Yamada; hereafter "DOWA"), and Sumitomo Corporation(headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President: Susumu Kato; hereafter "Sumitomo Corporation") today announced they have reached an agreement to form a jointly-held company in China , Panasonic DADI DOWA Summit Recycling Hangzhou Co., Ltd. (proposed name; hereafter "Panasonic Hangzhou DADI") that will recycle home appliances and electronics.

In China, an ordinance on the collection, processing, and management of waste electrical and electronic products was enforced by the government on January 1, 2011 with an aim to promote proper and safe disposal of waste home appliances. The ordinance applies to five types of electrical and electronic products including TVs, refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners and personal computers.

The amount of waste home appliances has been on rise in China, as the country's recent economic growth spurred the use and upgrading of electronic products among consumers. In Zhejiang with a population of about 50 million, approximately 2.9 million units of waste home appliances were collected in a 12-month period from 2009 to 2010, and the amount is expected to increase further.

The new recycling company will collect and disassemble used home appliances and electronics and sell recovered materials in compliance with the Chinese ordinance and aims to be a model company for China with advanced recycling technologies. Panasonic will be the first Japanese consumer electronics manufacturer to enter the Chinese recycling market.

The new company will purchase the five types of waste home appliances from collection companies, disassemble them by using its advanced recycling technologies and facilities, and sell recycled materials to refining companies, plastics recyclers and manufacturers.
With the establishment of Panasonic Hangzhou DADI, the four companies look to contribute to environmental conservation and efficient use of recycled materials in the country.

The roles and responsibilities of each company are as follows:

Panasonic Group will provide its advanced recycling technologies and equipment developed through its recycling business in Japan, such as laser separation technology and dry scrubbing equipment for the CRT glass used in TVs; compressor separators for refrigerators and air conditioners; and technologies for recovering copper coils and safely collecting refrigerator insulation materials containing fluorocarbons. In addition, the company will be responsible for gathering information on equipment procurement, production management and improvement of working environment including implementation of so-called “Five S" concept for workplace organization: Sort, Set in order, Shine or Clean, Standardize and Sustain or Discipline.

Duties of Hangzhou DADI, who has been engaged in collection, processing and general utilization of solid industrial waste, will cover information gathering on the related laws and regulations and the recycling market including collection and recycling-related companies, as well as negotiations with the government authorities to obtain approvals and permits. The company will also build systems and routes enabling to collect enough volume of waste home appliances to ensure business viability.

DOWA Group, who has been supplying materials and services in a broad range of businesses including environmental management and recycling, will operate the new recycling plant in an efficient manner, drawing upon its experience and knowledge built up through its operations in Japan and China. The company will also gather information on equipment procurement.

Sumitomo Corporation will collect information on the global recycling industry as well as market trends and prices that will help sell recycled materials. The company will support the efficient management of the new recycling company with its know-how and expertise in business operation gained through its long-time experience in China as a general trading company.

Panasonic Hangzhou DADI will be established once approvals are granted by the relevant government authorities. The new company is expected to start operations in earnest in spring 2012.

*1: Panasonic Corporation will invest in the joint venture through its wholly-owned subsidiary in China, Panasonic Corporation of China.
*2: DOWA Holdings Co., Ltd. will invest in the joint venture through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Dowa Eco-System Co., Ltd.

Outline of the New Company

Name Panasonic DADI DOWA Summit Recycling Hangzhou Co., Ltd.
Location Tonglu County, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, PRC
Foundation June 2011 (Planned)
Beginning of operations January 2012 (Planned)
Capital 85 million yuan (Approximately 11.05 million yen)
Ownership Ratios Hangzhou DADI Environmental Protection Engineering Co., Ltd.: 35%
Panasonic Corporation of China*: 35%(*a wholly-owned subsidiary of Panasonic)
Dowa Eco-System Co., Ltd.*: 18% (*a wholly-owned subsidiary of DOWA Holdings)
Sumitomo Corporation: 12%
Business Operations Collection and disassembly of five types of waste home appliances (TVs, refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners and personal computers) and sales of recovered materials
Employees Approximately 140 (At the time of commencement of operations in 2012)
Annual processing capacity Approximately 1 million units of home appliances and electronics in 2015 (expected)


Aerial rendering (left) and map showing the planned site (right) of Panasonic DADI DOWA
Summit Recycling Hangzhou

Outline of the Four Investing Companies

Name Panasonic Corporation
Location 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture, Japan
Founded December 15, 1935 (Original foundation: 1918)
Capital 258.7 billion yen
Representative
Director
President Fumio Ohtsubo
Business operations Consumer electronics company
URL http://panasonic.co.jp
Panasonic Corporation of China is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation
Name Hangzhou DADI Environmental Protection Engineering Co., Ltd.
Location No. 100 Fori Road, Tang Village, Xingqiao Street, Yuhang District, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province PRC
Founded November 13, 1998
Capital 50 million yuan (Approximately 650 million yen)
Representative
Director
Chairman Zhang Yuanqi
Business operations Collection, processing, and general utilization of solid industrial waste
Name DOWA Holdings Co., Ltd.
Location 4-14-1 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Founded March 11, 1937
Capital 36.4 billion yen
Representative
Director
President Masao Yamada
Business operations Environmental management and recycling, smelting and refining of nonferrous metals, electronic materials, metal processing and heat treatment
URL http://www.dowa.co.jp
Dowa Eco Systems Co., Ltd. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of DOWA Holdings
Name Sumitomo Corporation
Location 1-8-11 Harumi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Founded December 24, 1919
Capital 219.3 billion yen
Representative
Director
President & CEO Susumu Kato
Business operations General trading company
URL http://www.sumitomocorp.co.jp

Media Contacts:

Global Public Relations Office
Panasonic Corporation
Tel: +81-3-6403-3040
Fax: +81-3-3436-6766
Panasonic News Bureau
Tel: +81-3-3542-6205
Fax: +81-3-3542-9018
Strategic Planning and Public Relations Office
DOWA Holdings Co., Ltd.
Tel: +81-3-6847-1106
Fax: +81-3-6847-1272
Corporate Communication Department
Sumitomo Corporation
Tel: + 81-3-5166-3100
Fax: +81-3-5166-6203
*The content in the following news releases is accurate at the time of publication but may be subject to change without notice. Please note therefore that these documents may not always contain the most up-to-date information.

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