Minebea and Nidec Settle their Japanese and U. S. Patent Lawsuits

Minebea Co., Ltd. ("Minebea") is pleased to announce that the Company has withdrawn its two actions against Nidec Corporation ("Nidec") under a settlement agreement with Nidec: the case ((Wa) 6979, 2004) filed with the Tokyo District Court and the case (C-04-03758) filed in the U. S.. The following outlines the settlement: 1.Minebea and Nidec will negotiate for a cross license agreement on patents, etc. for FDBs (fluid dynamic bearings) for HDD spindle motors and HDD spindle motors respectively owned by both and their Group companies by the end of this year. 2.In accordance with the settlement agreement, Minebea will withdraw the aforementioned two lawsuits against Nidec, and Nidec will agree to these withdrawals. 3.Minebea and Nidec confirm the nonexistence of other intellectual property rights disputes between both (including their affiliates) at the conclusion of the agreement.