SDK to Change Record Date for Dividend Payment

1. Outline of dividend payment

- Amount decidedRecord date: Dec. 31, 2016Dividend per share: Common stock: 0 yen

- Recent forecast (Announced on Nov. 2, 2016)Record date: Dec. 31, 2016Dividend per share: Common stock: 30 yen

- Actual results for fiscal 2015Record date: Dec. 31, 2015Dividend per share: Common stock: 3.0 yenTotal amount of dividend: 4,285 million yenEffective date: Mar. 30, 2016Dividend resource: Retained earnings

Note: SDK consolidated every ten shares of its common stock into one share on July 1, 2016. The amount of dividend per share for 2015 is calculated on the basis of the number of outstanding shares before this consolidation.

2. Reasons

As announced in our news release of March 1, 2017 entitled "SDK to Further Postpone Announcement of 2016 Financial Results," closing procedures at our consolidated subsidiary Shoko Co., Ltd. are being delayed. Audits by auditing corporation and the Audit & Supervisory Board will not be completed prior to our ordinary general meeting of shareholders for the 108th business term scheduled for March 30, 2017.

As we cannot finalize our financial statements for the 108th business term at this moment, we are unable to submit a proposal for appropriation of surplus based on the record date of December 31, 2016 to the ordinary general meeting of shareholders.

After the financial statements for the 108th business term are finalized, we will make a decision on dividend payment and set a new record date. We will announce our decision and results of study as quickly as possible.

We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused to our shareholders, investors, and other parties concerned.

About Showa Denko K.K.

Showa Denko K.K. ("SDK"; TSE:4004, US:SHWDF) is a major manufacturer and marketer of chemical products serving a wide range of fields ranging from heavy industry to the electronic and computer industries. The Petrochemicals Sector provides cracker products such as ethylene and propylene, the Chemicals Sector provides industrial and high-performance gases and chemicals and high-purity gases and chemicals for the semiconductor industry, and the Inorganics Sector provides ceramics products such as alumina, abrasive, refractory and graphite electrodes and fine carbon products. Today, the Aluminum Sector provides aluminum materials and high-value-added fabricated aluminum, the Electronics Sector provides HD media, compound semiconductors such as ultra high-bright LEDs and rare earth magnetic alloys, and the Advanced Battery Materials Department (ABM) provides lithium-ion battery components. For more information, please visit www.sdk.co.jp/english/.

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