Alaskan Machine Shop Obtains Dual Certifications for Quality

ANCHORAGE, AK, June 12, 2007 -- Unique Machine, the largest machine shop operator in Alaska, has become the first Alaskan company to be both API Q1 and ISO 9002 certified for the manufacture of oilfield equipment and the proprietary threading of casing and tubing.

Both certificates were obtained by Unique Machine following extensive reviews by a committee of the American Petroleum Institute Quality Registrar (APIQR), the certifying body.

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Sumitomo Corporation Acquires Equity Stake in HOWCO Group

Tokyo, Japan -- April, 2007 -- Sumitomo Corporation (“Sumitomo”; President: Motoyuki Oka) executed a strategic partnership agreement with HOWCO Group (Chairman: Malcolm Howat; President: John Ferguson) and acquired a 50% equity stake.

HOWCO Group is a global supplier to the Oilfield Services Sector focusing on supply chain management activities which include tubular and bar distribution, added-value processing and manufacturing.

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Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District Awards Contract for New Gallery EMU Commuter Rail Cars to Sumitomo Corporation of America and Nippon Sharyo, Ltd

New York, NY -- March 16, 2007 -- Sumitomo Corporation of America (SCOA) and its car builder partner Nippon Sharyo, Ltd, together with Nippon Sharyo’s affiliate in the US, Nippon Sharyo USA, received a Notice of Award from Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) in February for the contract of 14 New Gallery Type Electric Multi-Unit (EMU) commuter rail cars.

The cars for the contract will be similar to the 26 Gallery Type EMU cars that were delivered in 2005-2006 to Metra, Chicago’s commuter rail authority. Due to the expanding NICTD system and increased ridership, these Gallery Type cars will have a much larger capacity for seating, accommodating up to 140 passengers per car. These cars will replace the older and smaller capacity single-level passenger cars that are currently in the NICTD fleet.

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William Ecker Named New President of The Hartz Mountain Corporation®

Secaucus, N.J. -- April 3, 2006 -- The Hartz Mountain Corporation®, has selected William D. Ecker as its new President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Ecker succeeds Robert Devine who is leaving the company to pursue other interests

Before joining Hartz®, Mr. Ecker was chairman of Diam International, the largest designer and manufacturer of retail displays in the nation. A seasoned consumer products executive, Mr Ecker has held senior positions at General Foods, Unilever and Bristol-Myers Squibb where he was president of Clairol's US retail operations prior to joining Diam.

The Hartz Mountain Corporation® is owned by Sumitomo Corporation of America (SCOA), together with its parent, Sumitomo Corporation, Japan (SC).

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Sumitomo Corporation of America Announces Agreement to Acquire TBC Corporation

York, NY / West Palm Beach, FL - September 19, 2005—Sumitomo Corporation of America (SCOA), together with its parent, Sumitomo Corporation, Japan (TSE: 8053) an integrated global trading company, and TBC Corporation (NASDAQ: TBCC), one of the leading marketers of automotive replacement tires in the U.S., today announced that SCOA has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire TBC for $35.00 per share in cash, for a total transaction value of $1.1 billion including debt.

The transaction, which is subject to approval by the shareholders of the TBC Corp., as well as regulatory approval under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act, is expected to close by the end of the year. Upon completion of the transaction, TBC will become a subsidiary of SCOA and will continue to be led by the existing senior management team.

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