Bridgestone Voted ‘Best Investor’ in Poland

For the second year running, Bridgestone Poland has won the ‘Best investor in Poland’ award from Poland’s Rzeczpospolita newspaper, the country’s respected business and political daily. The award was received by Mr Hiroyoshi Takigawa, President of Bridgestone Poland Sp z o.o., from the Polish ministers of Finance and State Treasury at a ceremony on 25 April 2006.

Rzeczpospolita is renowned in Poland for its annual ranking and review of the country’s top 500 companies, including both locally-owned firms and subsidiaries of foreign companies. At the same time, a jury appointed by the newspaper makes awards to outstanding companies across several categories.

Bridgestone Poland’s ranking in the Rzeczpospolita top 500 grew sharply in 2005, reflecting the group’s increasing investment in the country. Sales revenue ranking grew from #343 in 2004 to #295, while ranking based on market value soared from #296 to #140.
The Best Investor award was again won by Bridgestone Poland for its long-term investment in new high-technology manufacturing plants and the expansion of existing facilities.

Bridgestone Group’s Commitments in Poland

Bridgestone Poland Sp. z o.o., a fully-owned subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation located at Poznan, 300 km west of Warsaw, started manufacturing high-performance radial tyres in 2000. Capacity has been steadily expanded, rising from 10,000 tyres a day at the end of 2003 to more than 20,000 daily in 2006. During the same period, the workforce has risen from 550 to 1250. Capital investment in the plant totals more than € 330 million.

Bridgestone Diversified Products Poland Sp. z o.o., wholly-owned by Bridgestone Corporation, is completing construction of a rubber tracks manufacturing plant at Zarow in south-west Poland. The 12 million euros plant, due to start production in July 2006, will produce around 26,000 rubber tracks a year to meet growing European demand from the construction industry.

Firestone Industrial Products Poland Sp. z o.o., a business unit of Bridgestone Diversified Products, located at Wolsztyn, specialises in air spring manufacturing and technology. Investment in the plant totalled approximately € 10 million and the 200 employees supply a growing number of European commercial vehicle manufacturers with advanced air springs.

Bridgestone Sales Polska Sp. z o.o. in Warsaw, a key central-European subsidiary of Bridgestone Europe s.a./n.v., is responsible for the sales and distribution of all Bridgestone products in the Polish market. The company sold more than 450,000 tyres in 2005 and net sales climbed to almost 30 million euros.

Bridgestone Stargard Sp. z o.o. Bridgestone Europe n.v./s.a., operating through a wholly-owned subsidiary to be established shortly, will start construction of a truck and bus radial tyre plant at Stargard Szczeciński, in north-west Poland, in the first half of 2007. Approximately 200 million euros has been earmarked for the project, which will begin production in early 2009. The projected daily output of 5,000 truck and bus tyres will enhance the company’s degree of self-sufficiency in the region and contribute to the creation of a strategic product supply system.