Matsushita Electric Becomes Panasonic Corporation | Press Release

Osaka, Japan – Effective today, October 1, 2008, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. has become Panasonic Corporation and its ticker symbol on the New York Stock Exchange has been changed to PC from MC. The name change also took effect for some of the group companies that used the names Matsushita or National. Along with the name change, Panasonic is working on the brand changeover from National to Panasonic in Japan, aiming to complete by the end of March 2010.

When it was first established in 1918 the company was known as Matsushita Electric Housewares Manufacturing Works, which was changed to Matsushita Electric Manufacturing Works in 1929. The company used the name Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. after its incorporation as a joint stock corporation in 1935. While the company used the National and Panasonic brand names over a long period, it decided in 2003 to position Panasonic as its global brand with the brand slogan “Panasonic ideas for life.”

With this company name change and brand unification, the company has renewed its commitment to bringing the achievements accumulated through the three different names of Matsushita, National, and Panasonic under the one single name of Panasonic to enhance its brand value.

Panasonic Corporation will maintain and put its management philosophy into practice throughout the world. The company will inherit and further develop its corporate culture cultivated by the Matsushita Group. Panasonic employees across the world will unite their efforts under the common management philosophy, pursuing together the common goal of making Panasonic Corporation a globally excellent company.

Panasonic Corporation is a worldwide leader in the development and manufacture of electronic products for a wide range of consumer, business, and industrial needs. Based in Osaka, Japan, the company recorded consolidated net sales of 9.07 trillion yen (US$90.7 billion) for the year ended March 31, 2008. The company’s shares are listed on the Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and New York (NYSE Symbol: PC) stock exchanges. For more information on the company and the Panasonic brand, visit the company’s website at http://panasonic.net/.

A list of the new names of some group companies and divisions follows.

<Reference>

Upon the company name change to Panasonic Corporation, some group companies and divisions have changed their names effective October 1, 2008. *Matsushita Battery Industrial Co., Ltd., which used to be a wholly-owned subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., has become an internal divisional company of Panasonic Corporation as a result of the merger by MEI effective on October 1, 2008.

• Group Companies

<Old>

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Semiconductor Company

Panasonic AVC Networks Company

Panasonic Automotive Systems Company

Panasonic System Solutions Company

Matsushita Home Appliances Company

Lighting Company

(Matsushita Battery Industrial Co., Ltd.)*

Motor Company

<New>

Panasonic Corporation

Semiconductor Company

AVC Networks Company

Automotive Systems Company

System Solutions Company

Home Appliances Company

Lighting Company

Energy Company

Motor Company

Panasonic Communications Co., Ltd.

Panasonic Mobile Communications Co., Ltd.

Matsushita Battery Industrial Co., Ltd.*

Panasonic Electronic Devices Co., Ltd.

Matsushita Ecology Systems Co., Ltd.

Panasonic Factory Solutions Co., Ltd.

Matsushita Welding Systems Co., Ltd.

Panasonic Shikoku Electronics Co., Ltd.

Panasonic Communications Co., Ltd.
(No change)

Panasonic Mobile Communications Co., Ltd.
(No change)

(Becomes an internal divisional company effective October 1, 2008)
 

Panasonic Electronic Devices Co., Ltd.
(No change)

Panasonic Ecology Systems Co., Ltd.
 

Panasonic Factory Solutions Co., Ltd.
(No change)

Panasonic Welding Systems Co., Ltd.
 

Panasonic Shikoku Electronics Co., Ltd.
(No change)

Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.

PanaHome Corporation

Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd.
 

PanaHome Corporation
(No change)

• Divisions

<Old>

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Corporate Marketing Division for
Panasonic Brand

Corporate Marketing Division for
National Brand Home Appliances

Corporate Marketing Division for
National Brand Wellness Products

Panasonic Design Company

<New>

Panasonic Corporation

Corporate Marketing Division for
Digital AVC Products

Corporate Marketing Division for
Home Appliances

Corporate Marketing Division for
Wellness Products

Design Company

Media Contacts:

Akira Kadota, International PR

Panasonic Corporation

Tel: 03-3578-1237 Fax: 03-3436-6766

Panasonic News Bureau

Tel: 03-3542-6205 Fax: 03-3542-9018

*The content in the following news releases is accurate at the time of publication but may be subject to change without notice. Please note therefore that these documents may not always contain the most up-to-date information.