News Release

JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation (President: Murayama Seiichi; "the Company") is taking a portion of the new third-party allocation of shares by Novel Crystal Technology, Inc. (President & CEO: Kuramata Akito; "NCT"), thereby increasing its capital stake in NCT.

　

The Company is striving to generate new business focused on social trends including decarbonization　as part of its plans to expand business in cutting-edge materials fields set out in the JX Nippon Mining & Metals Group Long Term Vision 2040. NCT is a start-up engaged in development aimed at commercializing gallium oxide wafers, which are expected to be adopted in future generations of power devices. The Company first took a capital stake in NCT in June 2020, and has since collaborated in efforts such as development of raw materials.(1) NCT has made a new third-party allocation of shares aimed at procuring funds to augment its manufacturing capabilities with a view to product development of high voltage diodes scheduled for this year. The Company has taken part of this allocation and increased its stake to further advance collaboration with NCT.

　

As a material for use in future generations of power devices, gallium oxide will enable innovation in the design of power sources for electric vehicles and other applications and of electric power transmission systems, and is expected to contribute to effective energy use. The Company and NCT will continue to advance their collaboration on various themes and, by combining their technologies and knowledge, contribute to swift commercialization of this material.

　

The JX Nippon Mining & Metals Group is strengthening its business in crystalline related fields that will help to create a decarbonized and data-driven society.(2) It will continue to contribute to realizing a sustainable society by developing and supplying advanced materials in such fields.

　

(1). For further details, see the press release dated June 30, 2020, titled "Collaboration with Novel Crystal Technology in the Power Semiconductor Device Materials Field--Aiming for commercial implementation of gallium oxide crystals--"

(2). For further details, see the press release dated August 31, 2021, titled "Announcement of Organizational Changes"

　

■ NCT Overview (as of February 21, 2022)

Company　name	Novel Crystal Technology, Inc.
Location	2-3-2, Hirosedai, Sayama-shi, Saitama 350-1328
Representative	Kuramata Akito
Business activities	• Manufacture and sales of substrates with gallium oxide epitaxial film • Manufacture and sales of single crystals and their applied products • Manufacture and sales of semiconductors and their applied products
Establishment	June 2015 • Venture firm carved out from Tamura Corporation • Venture firm with technology transfer from National Institute of Information and Communications Technology