Bridgestone/Firestone Announces New Distribution Center In Lebanon, Tenn.

Nashville, Tenn. (February 18, 2002) - Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT) announced today that Tennessee will become the company's primary tire distribution center for all its customers in the Mid-South and the sole distribution center for all large truck tire customers east of the Rocky Mountains. In order to accomplish this expansion and centralization of its distribution network, BFNT will build a new facility in Lebanon, Tenn. The company's Memphis distribution center will be relocated to Lebanon once the building is completed.

The new 750,000 square foot warehouse will have capacity for more than a million tires, ranging in size from small passenger and industrial to large off-the-road tires. The facility will employ more than 200, ranging from warehouse, maintenance and loading jobs to drivers of distribution trucks. BFNT has engaged the Pannatoni Development Company to build the new facility, which will be located on State Highway 109 approximately one mile from I-840, and three miles from I-40.

"Nashville makes an excellent location for us due to the proximity to our production facilities, in particular our LaVergne and Warren plants. In addition, it provides us excellent access to a large customer base throughout Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi," said Nelson Miller, director of distribution, BFNT. "By moving the distribution from our smaller Memphis facility, we can centralize our systems within the state and the region. With the help and dedication of our excellent Memphis staff, we believe this expansion will be a seamless one."

All Bridgestone/Firestone employees in Memphis, and the majority of contractors, will be offered jobs at the new distribution center along with a relocation package to assist in the move. Those who chose not to move will receive a severance package. The 400,000 square foot Memphis facility currently employs 40 Bridgestone/Firestone workers and 30 third-party contractors.

Nashville-based Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC is a subsidiary of Bridgestone/Firestone Americas Holding, Inc., whose parent company, Bridgestone Corporation, is the world's largest tire and rubber company. BFNT develops, manufactures and markets Bridgestone, Firestone, Dayton and associate and private brand tires. The company is focused on wholesale and original equipment markets, supplying passenger, light truck, commercial vehicle, off-road, agriculture and other tires to its customers in the Americas.