Avnet Group Companies in Japan Re-Launch as Avnet K.K.

The Avnet Group in Japan was established in 2005 through the acquisition of Memec and has been taking steps to expand its scope of business since 2008 by leveraging the scale and capabilities of Avnet, Inc’s (NYSE: AVT) global infrastructure as well as through further local acquisitions of Nippon Denso Industries, Unidux, Inc. and Internix, Inc.

Up until December 31, 2014, the Avnet Group companies in Japan provided a wide range of domestic value-added services through its two former business units, Avnet Internix K.K. and Unidux, Inc. In its continuing effort to strengthen its market leadership position, streamline the enterprise, improve productivity and become easier to do business with, the Avnet Group companies in Japan have announced the completion of a legal merger consolidating its two domestic customer-facing business units, Avnet Internix K.K. and Unidux, Inc., into a single legal entity called Avnet K.K. The date of the legal consolidation is January 1, 2015.

Tom McCartney, Avnet Japan’s president and representative director, stated, “With the aim of creating a more agile business structure that can optimally leverage our domestic business resources, and provide more value-added solutions, global collaboration, and better customer service levels, we have decided to combine our two legal entities. This decision was made after having taken a close look at our business structure in the Japan region and hearing from many of our suppliers and customers that a single organization would be easier for them to do business with. We also observed an opportunity to strengthen our expertise and focus in key technologies by structuring them into product segments. With this in mind, we have created three technology segments: Semiconductors; IP&E and Embedded Products, through which we can drive specialization and expertise for our supplier partners at the technology level as well as increase demand creation support for our customers.”

“In order to better serve our customers and become easier to do business with, we have also structured our business to include a single sales team that will allow us to deliver a better customer experience. Through this single sales team as well as our single customer service organization, we will now be able to service our customers in the most efficient manner possible, and provide more products and services than ever before. In addition, the most compelling benefit is that we can deliver more focus and expertise in the technology segments by also providing the teamwork and collaboration necessary to deliver higher-value, more robust solutions to our customers through the one-team relationship approach,” continued McCartney.

McCartney also added, “I believe that this restructure is going to be a milestone in the evolution of our company in Japan as we have created new procedures and consistent processes as well as end-to-end business solution improvements for both our suppliers and customers who gave us candid and honest feedback. We announced this restructure to our suppliers and customers at the beginning of July 2014 and have been working with them ever since to create new ways of collaborating and providing value that will help accelerate their success. Moving forward, we expect results that will not only allow us to outgrow the market but will also allow us to deliver new higher-level value services and solutions into our customer base. Finally, I believe we have launched a strategy and built an organization that will help accelerate the success of our suppliers and customers while also allowing us to leverage the strengths and capabilities of our entire Japan team. I’m extremely excited and optimistic about the future possibilities that this opportunity will bring our employees and all of our partners throughout Japan.”

About Avnet K.K.

Avnet K.K. is the business unit in Japan which is part of Avnet’s global Electronics Marketing operating group based in Phoenix, Arizona. Avnet K.K. serves Japanese electronic original equipment manufacturers (EOEMs) and electronic manufacturing services (EMS) providers in Japan as well as Japanese customers overseas using Japan’s regional logistics network spanning five countries and nine locations in China and SE Asia, distributing electronic components, embedded systems, software and solutions from leading manufacturers and providing associated design-chain and supply-chain services.

About Avnet, Inc.

Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT), a Fortune 500 company, is one of the largest distributors of electronic components, computer products and embedded technology serving customers globally. Avnet accelerates its partners' success by connecting the world's leading technology suppliers with a broad base of customers by providing cost-effective, value-added services and solutions. For the fiscal year ended June 28, 2014, Avnet generated sales of $27.5 billion. For more information, visit www.avnet.com.