News

Kyocera Completes Merger With Tycom Corporation

SAN DIEGO, CA (January 31, 2001) -- Kyocera Corporation (NYSE: KYO) today disclosed that its wholly-owned U.S. headquarters, Kyocera International, Inc. (KII), has successfully completed its previously announced acquisition of privately-held Tycom Corporation.

Tycom is a premium producer of carbide cutting tools for the printed circuit board (PCB) industry, with the largest share of the North American market and the second-largest market share globally. The addition of Tycom expands Kyocera’s cutting tools product segment into the strategically important information and communications sector.

Tycom, which is both a manufacturer and a provider of engineering services, becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary of KII. It will operate as a separate company under the direction of its existing management team, led by Tycom co-founder Scott Yardley in his continuing role as president and CEO.

About Tycom
Irvine, CA-based Tycom Corporation, founded in 1987, has successfully advanced the understanding and application of cutting tool technology through partnerships with leading PCB manufacturers worldwide. Tycom's focus on process engineering and designed experiments has resulted in the development of optimized cutting tool designs and the sustained improvement of its customers' process capabilities. The company has 17 manufacturing and resharpening operations throughout North America, Japan, China, Singapore and Malaysia.

About Kyocera
San Diego, CA-based Kyocera International, Inc., founded in 1969, is the holding company for wholly-owned Kyocera subsidiaries headquartered in North America.

Kyoto, Japan-based Kyocera Corporation, the group’s global parent, was founded in 1959 as a producer of advanced ceramics. By combining these engineered materials with metals and plastics, and integrating them with other technologies, Kyocera has become a leading supplier of industrial ceramics, semiconductor packages, electronic components, cutting tools, cameras, laser printers, copiers and telecommunications equipment. During the year ended March 31, 2000, Kyocera Corporation's consolidated net sales totaled 812 billion yen (US$7.9 billion) with net income of 50 billion yen (US$489 million). Kyocera has been recognized by IndustryWeek magazine as one of "The World's 100 Best-Managed Companies."

Media Contacts:

Jay Scovie
Manager of Corporate Communications
Kyocera International, Inc.
8611 Balboa Avenue
San Diego, CA 92123-1580
Tel: (858) 576-2674
Fax: (858) 492-1456

Katie Shaw
Marketing Manager, Tycom Corporation
17862 Fitch
Irvine, CA 92614
Tel: (949) 930-1727
Fax: (949) 930-0911