SDK To Split Its Optical Semiconductor Business

TOKYO, Oct 27, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - Showa Denko (SDK; TSE:4004) decided at its Board of Directors' meeting today to split its business in optical semiconductors and rare earth alloys through an absorption-type company split effective January 1, 2021 (hereinafter "the Company Split"). Showa Denko Photonics Co., Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of SDK, will succeed to the business.

As the Company Split is to be implemented through a simplified absorption-type company split between SDK and its wholly-owned subsidiary, part of details is omitted in this disclosure.

1. Objective of the Company Split

In its medium-term business plan "The TOP 2021," SDK aims to establish itself as a "KOSEIHA Company," which means a group of KOSEIHA businesses that can maintain their profitability and stability at high levels over a long period. The optical semiconductor business is classified as one of the "Grow" businesses under the plan. SDK aims to expand the business in this growth market by providing products and technologies meeting customer needs, thereby developing it into one of its KOSEIHA businesses.

To achieve this goal, SDK will make the business an operating company, increasing the speed of decision-making and sharing of the latest market information. By focusing on the
growing business in infrared light-receiving/emitting devices, we will meet customers' requirements, taking advantage of our industry-leading product quality and customizing capability.

We will transfer the business to a newly-established subsidiary Showa Denko Photonics through an absorption-type company split.

2. Outline of the company split

(1) Schedules
Approval of the contract by SDK's Board of Directors' meeting: October 27, 2020
Conclusion of the contract: November 6, 2020
Approval of the contract by Showa Denko Photonics's shareholders' meeting: October 27, 2020
Effective date: January 1, 2021 (planned)
Note: The Company Split will be a simplified company split under Article 784, paragraph 2, of the Companies Act. Thus, there will be no procedure for approval by SDK's shareholders' meeting.

(2) Method of company split
This will be an absorption-type company split, with SDK serving as the splitting company and Showa Denko Photonics as the succeeding company.

(3) Allotment pertaining to company split
At the time of the Company Split, Showa Denko Photonics will deliver its 100 common shares to SDK.

(4) Handling of warrant and bond with warrant pertaining to company split
Not available

(5) Increase/decrease in capital stock due to company split
There will be no change in SDK's capital stock due to the Company Split.

(6) Rights and obligations to be transferred
As the succeeding company, Showa Denko Photonics will assume SDK's rights and obligations regarding the business in optical semiconductors and rare earth alloys on the effective date.

(7) Prospect of fulfillment of obligations
SDK considers that there will be no problem about the prospect of fulfillment of obligations by Showa Denko Photonics after the Company Split.

3. Outline of the parties to company split (as of October 27, 2020)

Splitting company
(1) Name: Showa Denko K.K.
(2) Location: 13-9, Shiba Daimon 1-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo
(3) Representative: Kohei Morikawa, President
(4) Scope of business: Production and sale of petrochemicals, gas products, specialty chemicals, electronics, inorganics, aluminum, etc.
(5) Capital stock: 140,564 million yen
(6) Date of incorporation: June 1, 1939
(7) Number of shares issued: 1,497,112,926
(8) Accounting term: December 31
(9) Major shareholders and rate of shareholding:
The Master Trust Bank of Japan Ltd. (Trust Account) 7.24%
KOREA SECURITIES DEPOSITORY-SAMSUNG 4.80%
Japan Trustee Services Bank, Ltd. (Trust Account) 3.51%
Fukoku Mutual Life Insurance Company 3.09%
Japan Trustee Services Bank, Ltd. (Trust Account 7) 2.21%
(10) Net assets: 519,433 million yen
(11) Total assets: 1,076,381 million yen
(12) Net assets per share: 3,423.25 yen
(13) Net sales: 906,454 million yen
(14) Operating income: 120,798 million yen
(15) Ordinary income: 119,293 million yen
(16) Net income attributable to owners of the parent: 73,088 million yen
(17) Net income per share: 501.03 yen

Succeeding company
(1) Name: Showa Denko Photonics Co., Ltd.
(2) Location: 1505 Shimokagemori, Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture
(3) Representative: Masahiko Usuda, President
(4) Scope of business: Production and sale of visible-light & infrared LEDs, light-receiving epitaxial wafers, and rare earth alloys
(5) Capital stock: 1 yen
(6) Date of incorporation: October 9, 2020
(7) Number of shares issued: 100
(8) Accounting term: December 31
(9) Major shareholders and rate of shareholding: -
(10) Net assets: 1 yen
(11) Total assets: 1 yen
(12) Net assets per share: 0.01 yen
(13) Net sales: -
(14) Operating income: -
(15) Ordinary income: -
(16) Net income attributable to owners of the parent: -
(17) Net income per share: -
As for item (9), descriptions about SDK represent the situation as of June 30, 2020.
As for items from (10) through (17), figures for SDK are based on the financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 2019.

4. Outline of the business division to be split

(1) Scope of business of the division to be split
Production and sale of SDK's visible-light and infrared LEDs, light-receiving epitaxial wafers, and rare earth alloys

(2) Performance of the division to be split (for the fiscal year ended December 2019)
Net sales: 4,799 million yen

(3) Items and amounts of assets/liabilities to be split
Assets
Current assets: 1,185 million yen
Fixed assets: 559 million yen
Total: 1,744 million yen

Liabilities
Current liabilities: 0 million yen
Long-term liabilities: 0 million yen
Total: 0 million yen

Note: The figures shown above are based on the balance sheet as of June 30, 2020. The actual amount of assets and liabilities to be split will be finalized in consideration of increases/decreases until the effective date.

5. Outline of listed company and succeeding company after absorption-type company split

Splitting company
(1) Name: Showa Denko K.K.
(2) Location: 13-9, Shiba Daimon 1-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo
(3) Representative: Kohei Morikawa, President
(4) Scope of business: Production and sale of petrochemicals, gas products, specialty chemicals, electronics, inorganics, aluminum, etc.
(5) Capital stock: 140,564 million yen
(6) Accounting term: December 31

Succeeding company
(1) Name: Showa Denko Photonics Co., Ltd.
(2) Location: 1505 Shimokagemori, Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture
(3) Representative: Masahiko Usuda, President
(4) Scope of business: Production and sale of visible-light & infrared LEDs, light-receiving epitaxial wafers, and rare earth alloys
(5) Capital stock: 100 million yen
(6) Accounting term: December 31

6. Future prospects

As the Company Split is to be implemented as a business transfer to a wholly-owned consolidated subsidiary of SDK, it will have only minor influence on SDK's business performance.

About Showa Denko K.K.

Showa Denko K.K. (SDK; TSE:4004, ADR:SHWDY) is a major manufacturer of chemical products serving from heavy industry to computers and electronics. The Petrochemicals Sector provides cracker products such as ethylene and propylene, the Chemicals Sector provides industrial, high-performance and high-purity gases and chemicals for semicon and other industries, the Inorganics Sector provides ceramic products, such as alumina, abrasives, refractory/graphite electrodes and fine carbon products. The Aluminum Sector provides aluminum materials and high-value-added fabricated aluminum, the Electronics Sector provides HD media, compound semiconductors such as ultra high bright LEDs, and rare earth magnetic alloys, and the Advanced Battery Materials Department (ABM) provides lithium-ion battery components. For more information, please visitwww.sdk.co.jp/english/.

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