Vishay Intertechnology and Avnet Sign Worldwide Distribution Agreement

MALVERN, PENNSYLVANIA - January 14, 2000 - Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. (NYSE: VSH), and Avnet, Inc. have announced the signing of a worldwide distribution agreement that covers Vishay's full line of electronic components. This agreement extends the existing relationship between Vishay, a global leader in designing, manufacturing, and marketing passive electronic components, discrete semiconductors, and integrated circuits (ICs), and Avnet, one of the world's largest distributors of semiconductors, interconnect, passive and electromechanical components, and computer products.

Noted Dr. Felix Zandman, Vishay's Chairman and CEO, "We have taken significant steps to strengthen Vishay and leverage our broad range of products. The agreement with Avnet increases our ability to serve our customers by providing a single manufacturing source for both passive and discrete semiconductor components."

"This agreement with Avnet is an important part of Vishay's overall sales and marketing strategy," said Chuck Kaufmann, Vice President of Worldwide Distribution Sales, Vishay. "We are in the process of reducing our total number of distribution partners and focusing on companies with global supply-chain capabilities. Vishay, Avnet, and customers will benefit from the new agreement."

"This new global agreement with Vishay will combine Avnet's global capabilities and Vishay's leading line of technology products, providing customers with the products and services they require and the same level of service, whether they're located in Seattle, Europe or Singapore," said Tom McCartney, Senior Vice President/Director, Avnet Electronics Marketing's IP&E product business group.

Phoenix-based Avnet Inc. (NYSE:AVT), a Fortune 200 company with fiscal year 1999 sales exceeding $6.4 billion ($9 billion proforma, including recent acquisitions), is one of the world's largest distributors of semiconductors, interconnect, passive and electromechanical components and computer products from leading manufacturers. Serving customers in 60 countries, Avnet markets, inventories and adds value to these products and provides world-class supply-chain integration, engineering design and technical services. The company's Web site is located at www.avnet.com.

Vishay Intertechnology, Inc., a Fortune 1,000 Company listed on the NYSE (VSH), is one of the world's largest manufacturers of discrete semiconductors (diodes, rectifiers, transistors, and optoelectronics and selected ICs) and passive electronic components (resistors, capacitors, inductors, sensors, and transducers). These components are used in virtually all types of electronic devices and equipment, in the industrial, computing, automotive, consumer, telecommunications, military, aerospace, and medical markets. Its product innovations, successful acquisition strategy, and ability to provide "one-stop shop" service have made Vishay a global industry leader. Vishay can be found on the Internet at http://www.vishay.com.