Feb. 26, 2002 – Maidenhead, UK – Effective from Apr. 1, Hitachi Home Electronics (Europe) Ltd. will cease to trade as a legal entity and its two business groups will be integrated into Hitachi Europe, Ltd.

Hitachi Home Electronics’ (Europe) two business groups — Digital Media Group (plasma TVs and monitors, LCD projectors, and monitors, DVD cameras, etc.) and Consumer Products Group (room air conditioning, floor care, white goods etc.) — will operate alongside Hitachi Europe’s existing business groups.

The Digital Media Group is re-focusing its business on digital technology, with the core product focus being on plasma TVs and monitors, LCD projectors, and DVD cameras. This range of products offers capabilities for applications in both the home and business environments. This product realignment will also be coupled with a greater emphasis on providing customers with the latest technology and products, and systems solutions.

The Consumer Products Group will enable the business to expand sales of Hitachi household appliances across Europe. Particular focus will be on the room air conditioning business, where Hitachi will gain synergy from integrating its existing business groups, which provide packaged air conditioning products.

This new structure forms part of a new global initiative by Hitachi where businesses outside Japan will in future be coordinated by its four regional business entities: Europe, America, Asia, and China.

The increasingly integrated global structure will result in closer partnerships between Hitachi in Europe and Japan, ensuring that Hitachi continues to meet the current and future needs of its European customers.