EVOX RIFA GROUP OYJ STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE
February 11, 2003 at 10:30 a.m.

EVOX RIFA AND PANASONIC START COOPERATION

Evox Rifa Group Oyj and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (known as Panasonic) are pleased to announce that they are working together to jointly develop opportunities for film chip capcacitors worldwide. The two companies have signed an agreement that will enable Evox Rifa to market the stacked film chip capacitor technology that Matsushita has developed. Longer term, it is the intent of the parties that Evox Rifa will take a license for the stacked chip capacitor technology to begin manufacturing, once the volumes warrant the investment.

There are benefits from this agreement for both companies. Panasonic has long held a position as an industry leader in film chip capacitor technology and would like to increase their market access, as well as second sourcing possibilities to help expand their customer ”design-in” activities. Evox Rifa will be able to expand into the stacked film area of SMD capacitors, enabling them to extend their exisiting SMD product line to offer more solutions to customers.

The companies will also work together to develop technology and promote the growth of SMD film capacitors, which both groups believe will see increased demand from the need for more stable capacitors and higher voltages. The management groups of both companies believe strongly in the future of SMD film, and see this agreement as a commitment to meeting those emerging market demands.

Evox Rifa Group Oyj
Tuula Ylhäinen
President

Electronic Circuit Capacitor Division
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

For more information, please contact:

Evox Rifa Group Oyj,
Kimmo Saarinen,
Vice President,
R & D and Quality,
tel: +358 9 5406 5006