Avnet and Bourns Mark 45-year Milestone.

PHOENIX -- As the developer of the first trimming potentiometer and founder of Bourns, Inc., Marlan Bourns embodies the spirit of innovation. As America celebrates National Inventor's Month this month, Avnet Electronics Marketing Americas and Bourns, Inc. honor Marlan as well as celebrating their 45-year distribution alliance.

Since its inception, Bourns has been a company focused on creating solutions for tomorrow's technology. In 1965, Hamilton Electro Sales - now Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT) - and Bourns formalized one of the first franchised supplier agreements in electronics history, setting in motion one of the industry's most resilient supply and design chain alliances. Despite the mergers that transformed Hamilton's semiconductor division into the Avnet Electronics Marketing operating group, Avnet and Bourns continue to work together to provide a consistent stream of innovative technology to customers in the telecommunications, computer, instrumentation, medical and automotive sectors.

"Avnet helped to introduce Bourns' pioneering Trimpot[R] trimming potentiometer products, and was instrumental in gaining initial print positions to a broad customer base," said Dennis Lause, senior vice president of worldwide sales at Bourns. "Throughout our long history, we have initiated numerous successful programs together that have resulted in significant growth for both companies."

Today, Bourns has greatly expanded the scale and scope of its products. Recently, Bourns' Model 3046 Linear Motion Potentiometer was used in the Mini Power Tool on a mission to repair the Hubble Telescope in outer space. "Bourns has an impressive history of innovation and the ability to provide cutting-edge solutions to our customers," said Ed Smith, president of Avnet Electronics Marketing Americas. "Avnet and Bourns have been able to face 45 years of change within our industry, and with our strong relationship I look forward to the next 45 years."

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About Bourns

Bourns, Inc. is a leading manufacturer and supplier of automotive sensors, circuit protection solutions, magnetic products, microelectronic modules, trimming and precision potentiometers, panel controls and encoders and resistive products. Headquartered in Riverside, Calif., Bourns serves a broad range of markets, including telecommunications, computer, industrial, instrumentation, automotive, consumer, non-critical life support medical, audio and various other market segments. Bourns([R]) products are manufactured according to ISO-9000 standards under Six Sigma quality programs. Bourns([R]) automotive products are manufactured in accordance with the TS16949 standard. Additional company and product information is available at the company's website at www.bourns.com.

About Avnet Electronics Marketing

Avnet Electronics Marketing is an operating group of Phoenix-based Avnet, Inc. that serves electronic original equipment manufacturers (EOEMs) and electronic manufacturing services (EMS) providers in more than 70 countries, distributing electronic components from leading manufacturers and providing associated design-chain and supply-chain services. The group's website is located at www.em.avnet.com. Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT), a Fortune 500 company, is one of the largest distributors of electronic components, computer products and embedded technology in the world. Avnet accelerates its partners' success by connecting the world's leading technology suppliers with a broad base of more than 100,000 customers and providing cost-effective, value-added services and solutions. For the fiscal year ended July 3, 2010, Avnet generated revenue of $19.16 billion. For more information, visit www.avnet.com.