Note:
This English translation of the Business Report for the 93rd Fiscal Period is for English readers' convenience only. If there are any differences between this translation and the Japanese original, the Japanese original supersedes this translation.

First, I would like to convey my thanks for your support of the Bridgestone Group.

In this message, I will provide an overview of the Bridgestone Group’s results during its 93rd fiscal year (from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2011).

During this fiscal year, the Group’s operating environment continued to be plagued by high material prices and the persistence of the strong yen. Domestically, there was some recovery from the impacts of the Great East Japan Earthquake, which occurred on March 11, 2011, but the harsh economic climate this disaster created lingered throughout the year. Overseas, meanwhile, economic recovery began to slow in Europe and the United States, while recovery and economic expansion were seen in China, India, and other parts of Asia. In this environment, the Group worked to strengthen our operating foundation while implementing various strategic measures based on the Mid-term Management Plan and a Lean and Strategic management stance.

As a result of these efforts, net sales rose 6% year on year, to ¥3,024.3 billion; operating income increased 15%, to ¥191.3 billion; ordinary income was up 21%, to ¥179.3 billion; and net income increased 4%, to ¥102.9 billion.

In regard to year-end dividends, the Group intended to issue dividend payments of ¥12 per share, making for total dividend payments of ¥22 per share for the year when combined with the interim dividend of ¥10 per share.

Looking ahead, the Group anticipates that the Group’s operating environment will continue to face drastic changes. These changes will include the persistence of high material prices and the strong yen, shifts in customers’ sense of value, the transformation of the business environment in Japan following the Great East Japan Earthquake, and the impacts of the government finance issues in Europe. In this highly unclear operating environment, the Bridgestone Group will continue to advance management initiatives in an optimal manner geared toward accomplishing our ultimate management goal of being the “World’s undisputed No. 1 tire and rubber company in both name and reality.”

Also, in January 2012, the Bridgestone Group announced our intention to switch over to a new management system under which the Company’s top management consist of three officers: one who serve as Chairman of the Board, one who serve as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Representative Board Member, and one who serve as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Representative Board Member. This change was approved at the Company’s annual Shareholders’ Meeting and the subsequent Board of Directors meeting on March 27, 2012. Upon approval of this change, I left my position as Chairman of the Board, CEO and President, and Representative Board Member to assume the position of Chairman of the Board; former Senior Vice President Masaaki Tsuya assumed the position of CEO and Representative Board Member; and former Senior Vice President Kazuhisa Nishigai assumed the position of COO and Representative Board Member. This new system will allow the Bridgestone Group to pursue further management reform while also clarifying its position on strengthening corporate governance systems.

I would like to ask for your continued support as we continue to strengthen Bridgestone’s business operations.