Richardson Electronics' Interconnect Group Signs Distribution Agreeme

    Business Editors

    LAFOX, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 5, 2005--Richardson Electronics (Nasdaq:RELL), a global provider of Engineered Solutions for the RF and Wireless Communications market, today announced it has signed a distribution agreement with Fractus, a pioneer developer and manufacturer of antennas for the telecommunications, electronics and military industries.
    Under the terms of the agreement, Richardson will operate as a global distributor for Fractus' complete line of embedded antennas for short-range wireless applications, filling a need in Richardson's components solutions line card. Richardson's product offering will now encompass a wide array of components for the emerging Broadband Wireless Access market to accommodate WiFi, WiMAX, Zigbee and Bluetooth(R) technologies.
    "The signing of Fractus represents a significant technical addition to the Richardson Electronics engineered components solutions line card," stated Kevin McCormack, Business Unit Manager of Richardson's Interconnect, Passive and Electro-Mechanical Business Unit. "Fractus' selection of Richardson as its global distributor was based on Richardson's market span, technical expertise and focus on providing value in niche markets through engineered solutions."
    "We are pleased to become part of the Richardson Electronics family and provide the growing wireless market with the most sophisticated embedded antennas on the market," stated Torbjorn Folkebrant, Executive Chairman of Fractus.
    "Richardson Electronics' global and local sales expertise directly complements Fractus' design and development of innovative antenna products targeting current and next generation wireless standards," stated Ruben Bonet, CEO Fractus.
    "The Fractus-Richardson global distribution alliance provides OEMs and ODMs with an unbeatable value equation of price, performance and technical support," stated Tim Hillison, Director of Wireless Applications and Marketing at Fractus.

    About Fractus

    Fractus specializes in designing and manufacturing miniature and multi-band antennas for wireless applications that are easy to integrate, cost-effective and provide high performance. Using the unique space-filling and multi-level properties of fractals as the backbone of its technology, Fractus has proved how its antennas raise standards within mobile phones, Bluetooth(R) and WLAN devices, base stations and military applications. Fractus has a significant IPR portfolio to protect customer invention and has been awarded the 2004 Frost & Sullivan Technology Innovation Award. Apax Partners and 3i are Fractus' primary investors. For further information, visit us at www.fractus.com.

    About Richardson Electronics

    Richardson Electronics, Ltd. is a global provider of "Engineered Solutions," serving the RF and Wireless Communications, industrial power conversion, security and display systems markets. The Company delivers engineered solutions for its customers' needs through product manufacturing, systems integration, prototype design and manufacture, testing and logistics. Press announcements and other information about Richardson are available on the World Wide Web at http://www.rell.com/investor.asp.

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CONTACT: Richardson Electronics Kevin McCormack, 631-468-3911 kevinmc@rell.com or Fractus, SA Tim Hillison, +34 93 544 2690 tim.hillison@fractus.com

KEYWORD: ILLINOIS INDUSTRY KEYWORD: SOFTWARE COMPUTERS/ELECTRONICS TELECOMMUNICATIONS MARKETING AGREEMENTS SOURCE: Richardson Electronics

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