News release

Seven Leading Consumer Technology Companies Promote DVD+RW at 2001 International CES

Companies Showcase World's First True Convergence Technology for DVD Recording

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 8, 2001

DVD+RW is the only rewritable DVD technology that offers seamless media exchange between consumer electronics and personal computing environments. Thomson plans to deliver its first DVD+RW product in the third quarter of 2001.

"Compatibility with millions of existing DVD players is one of Thomson's chief concerns as the industry begins to offer devices that record on digital discs," said Greg Bosler, vice president of video product management, Americas, Thomson Multimedia. "A product that is two-way compatible is easier to use and easier to sell."

"By the end of 2001, analysts predict there will be 170 million* DVD video players and DVD-ROM drives used worldwide," said John Spofford, vice president and general manager, HP Personal Storage Solutions. "The beauty of DVD+RW is that it allows consumers to take a disc burned in their DVD+RW drive and use it in a variety of PCs and consumer electronic equipment already in their homes. That's the essence of compatibility and a key benefit of the DVD+RW format."

In addition to announcing Thomson's commitment to DVD+RW, the companies showed practical applications for high-capacity data storage and home video copying, editing and playback. With an emphasis on two-way compatibility, the companies demonstrated how DVD+RW discs can be played in a variety of existing DVD video players and DVD-ROM drives.

The live demonstration highlighted the convergence of entertainment and data from the home office to other areas of the home, such as the living room. The companies shot live footage of the crowd using a standard video recorder and burned the video onto a DVD+RW disc. The newly burned disc was played back in a variety of standard personal computers and standard, off-the-shelf DVD players. To further demonstrate the convergence benefits of the DVD+RW format, the companies conducted another real-time recording using a DVD+RW drive in a PC. This disc was played back in several off-the-shelf PCs and DVD video players.

"Consumers are not going to widely adopt any new technology until they are certain their current investments are protected," said Mary Craig of Dataquest. "This is why compatibility is so crucial to the competing rewritable DVD format wars."

"Placing the burden of compatibility on the recorder rather than on the player is the only way to ensure DVD technology is compatible with players and drives on the market today," said Ken Humphreys, executive vice president, Philips Consumer Electronics. "This makes DVD+RW the first and only true convergence product for digital video, much like CD-rewritable technology was the catalyst for convergence into the world of digital audio. And who better to bring this to the market, than seven major leaders in the areas of CD-rewritable products, personal computing and home electronics."

The event was part of an ongoing series of DVD+RW initiatives. For more information concerning DVD+RW, interested parties may visit www.dvdrw.com.

About HP

Hewlett-Packard Company -- a leading global provider of computing and imaging solutions and services -- is focused on making technology and its benefits accessible to individuals and businesses through simple appliances, useful e-services and an Internet infrastructure that's always on.

HP has 88,500 employees worldwide and had total revenue from continuing operations of $48.8 billion in its 2000 fiscal year. Information about HP and its products can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.hp.com.

About Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation

Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC) is Japan's largest chemical company and one of the world's leading manufacturers of information storage products. In a line-up of data and image storage media, MCC holds a strong market share in markets such as DVD-R discs, CD-R and CD-RW discs, 90 mm and 130 mm MO discs, 130 mm WORM discs, hard disc media, as well as tape cartridges and floppy discs. Many of these products are marketed through Verbatim Corporation, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of MCC. Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation has approximately 10,000 employees, and on a consolidated basis recorded revenues of approximately $13 billion for the year ended March 31, 1999. Interested parties can contact the company by calling 81-3-3283-6631or by faxing to 81-3-3283-6966.

About Philips Electronics

Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands is one of the world's biggest electronics companies and Europe's largest, with sales of $33.5 billion (EUR 31.5 billion) in1999. It is a global leader in color television sets, lighting, electric shavers, color picture tubes for televisions and monitors, and one-chip TV products. Its 239,370 employees in more than 60 countries are active in the areas of lighting, consumer electronics, domestic appliances, components, semiconductors, medical systems, and IT services (Origin). Philips is quoted on the NYSE (symbol: PHG), London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam and other stock exchanges. News from Philips is located at www.news.philips.com.

About Ricoh Company, Ltd.

Ricoh Company, Ltd. is one of the world's leading manufacturers of office equipment. Ricoh is the first manufacturer of CD-RW media and CD-R/RW drives, and is also a manufacturer of CD-R media. Ricoh immediately incorporates the latest CD-RW standards to produce high-speed reliable products. With the combination of media and drive technology, Ricoh is offering high performance and reliable optical disc products. One example is the unique MP9120A drive, which can handle not just CD-ROM, CD-R or CD-RW media, but can even play back DVD-ROMs in one unit. Additionally, "JustLink" which is new buffer under run prevention technology is applied on the drive. The Ricoh group consists of 122 consolidated subsidiaries and affiliates in Japan and 205 overseas, which include production, sales as well as research and development facilities. As of March 2000, the Ricoh group employed approximately 67,300 people with recorded annual revenues of $14.05 billion. Additional information about Ricoh and its products can be found at http://www.ricoh.co.jp

About Sony Corporation

Sony Corporation is a leading manufacturer of audio, video, game, communications and information technology products for the consumer and professional markets. With its music, pictures, computer entertainment and on-line businesses, Sony is uniquely positioned to be a leading broadband entertainment company in the world. Sony recorded consolidated annual sales of more than $63 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2000. Sony's Home Page URL: http://www.world.sony.com/

About Thomson Multimedia

With sales of 6.7 billion Euros (U.S. $ 6.5 billion) in 1999 and 55,000 employees in more than 30 countries, Thomson Multimedia (Paris Sicovam: 18453) (NYSE: TMS), provides a wide range of technologies, systems, finished products and services to consumers and professionals of the entertainment and media industries. To advance and enable the digital media transition, Thomson Multimedia has five principal activities: Displays and Components, Digital Media Solutions, Consumer Products, New Media Services, and Patents and Licensing. The company distributes its products under the popular THOMSON and RCA brand names. For more information: www.thomson-multimedia.com.

About Yamaha Corporation

Yamaha Corporation is the world's largest musical instrument manufacturer. While Yamaha products have changed with the times and have seen extensive diversification, neither the products nor the foundation of Yamaha's business has strayed far from its original focus on sound. New Yamaha business ventures are expanding from its fundamental expertise in sound, music and multimedia, and innovative products such as Yamaha sound and image LSIs are used widely in computers and game units. Yamaha also anticipates a substantial increase in sales of CD-RW drives and other products central to the fast-developing field of information technology. The Yamaha Group now has 61 subsidiaries and representative offices in overseas markets in addition to numerous related companies in Japan. Yamaha recorded consolidated annual sales of approximately $5 billion in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2000. More information about Yamaha can be found on their website at http://www.yamaha.co.jp/