Tokyo, London, October 16, 2006 --- NEC
Corporation (“NEC”) today announced that it had completed the sale
of Packard Bell B.V. (“PB”), a 100% wholly-owned subsidiary of NEC,
to companies controlled by Mr. John Hui, the former owner of
e-Machines. PB markets and sells personal computers and digital
home entertainment products and services in Europe, the Middle
East, Africa and South America.
Under the highly reputable Packard Bell brand, PB carries out
extensive business in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and South
America focused on the sale of consumer PCs. It has also been
extending its business domain to digital home electronics, such as
MP3 and DVD players, as well as GPS, continuing to grow as a
consumer electronics enterprise.
In 2005, NEC transferred Packard Bell’s (formerly known as NEC
Computers International B.V. (“NECCI”)) enterprise solutions and
products business to NEC Computers SAS in order to focus on the
distinct enterprise businesses previously conducted by NECCI. NEC
Computers SAS carries out PC and server business in the enterprise
market under the NEC brand, as an important arm of NEC’s IT
platform business in Europe.
In light of, among other things, the focus on these separate
businesses, NEC decided it would be in the best interests of both
PB and NEC to sell Packard Bell to Mr. Hui, who has extensive
experience in the consumer personal computer business and is well
positioned to facilitate the future growth of Packard Bell’s
business.
About NEC Corporation
NEC Corporation (NASDAQ: NIPNY) is one of the world's leading
providers of Internet, broadband network and enterprise business
solutions dedicated to meeting the specialized needs of its diverse
and global base of customers. NEC delivers tailored solutions in
the key fields of computer, networking and electron devices, by
integrating its technical strengths in IT and Networks, and by
providing advanced semiconductor solutions through NEC Electronics
Corporation. The NEC Group employs more than 150,000 people
worldwide and had net sales of approximately 4,825 billion yen
(approx. $41.2 billion) in the fiscal year ended March 2006. For
additional information, please visit the NEC home page at:
http://www.nec.com/ * Newsroom:
http://www.nec.co.jp/press/en/