Press Release

The Toyo Environmental Protection Fund, which relies on contributions from Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd. (President: Yoshio Kataoka) and employees of the Toyo Group companies, has decided to expand its geographic coverage beyond Japan and start supporting not-for-profit environmental organizations based in the Group's local communities across the world. Coinciding with the 60th anniversary year of Toyo Tire & Rubber's foundation, this move demonstrates the collective commitment of the Toyo Group to playing a public service role commensurate with its growing presence in the world.

The first non-Japanese NPO to receive the Fund's aid is The Margaret and Luke Pettit Environmental Preserve Inc. in Georgia, USA, where Toyo Tire North America, Inc. is building a manufacturing facility, scheduled to be completed in December of this year.

Since its establishment in 1999, the Preserve has been active in the protection and management of its local ecosystem in Bartow County in the State of Georgia, as well as in the training of environmental experts.

As part of its efforts to upgrade educational activities, the organization is in the process of building a learning center. The contribution from the Toyo Fund goes to supporting the construction of this facility.

The Toyo Environmental Protection Fund is composed of voluntary donations from the Toyo Group's concerned employees and matching gift contributions from their employers. Over 80 percent of the Group's employees have already participated in the program. The Fund intends to assist an increasing number of organizations in the Toyo Group's neighborhoods around the world.