YASKAWA Electric Corporation (President: Junji Tsuda) has reached an agreement with VIPA GmbH, a German programmable logic controller (PLC) manufacturer, to acquire the shares in VIPA through YASKAWA Europe GmbH. A contract of the acquisition has been signed on November 19 (German time).

　VIPA develops, manufactures and sells PLC, I/O and other products. The company has a prominent customer base in the packaging, food and beverage sectors and suppliers of conveyor systems.

　This acquisition will allow YASKAWA Europe to reinforce its ability to provide total system solutions for factory automation systems by combining its outstanding motion control products with the PLC and I/O products of VIPA. By enhancing this capability, YASKAWA Europe will be able to meet a broad range of customer needs.

　By fully utilizing the outstanding technological expertise and extensive sales channels of VIPA, YASKAWA Europe plans to accelerate the business growth in Europe, the largest and the most important market for motion controls business.

　The closing of the transaction is subject to customary merger control clearance by the relevant competition authorities.

(1) About YASKAWA Europe
　Company name:　   　YASKAWA Europe GmbH
　Location:　　　　　  　Frankfurt, Germany
　Management:　　 　　Koichi Takamiya (Chairman & CEO)
　　　　　　　　　　　　Manfred Stern (President & COO)　

　Employees:　　　　 　943
　Sales:　　　　　　　　333 million euros (Fiscal year 2011)

(2) About VIPA
　Company name:　  　Vipa GmbH
　Location:　　　　　 　Herzogenaurach, Germany
　Management:　　　   Wolfgang Seel (CEO)
　Employees:　　　　　171
　Sales:　　　　　　　　42 million euros (Fiscal year 2011)

Contact:
Corporate Communication Group
YASKAWA Electric Corporation
E-mail: web_mstr@yaskawa.co.jp