RubberNetwork.com, LLC Announces a Seventh Member, The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.

    ATLANTA, March 1 RubberNetwork.com LLC, a global
electronic purchasing and procurement marketplace created by six leading
companies in the tire and rubber industry, announced the addition of the
seventh major tire company to the marketplace.  The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.,
of Japan has become a member of RubberNetwork.com, LLC.
    RubberNetwork.com(SM) announced earlier this month that they had received
approval from the German Federal Cartel Office (Bundeskartellamt) clearing the
transaction and giving a green light to the establishment of the marketplace
and to the commencement of its operations.  The first North American business
release is scheduled for early April.  This will be followed by progressive
launches of functionality in North America, followed by launches in Europe and
Southeast Asia in the course of 2001. Bob Webster, Vice President of
Operations, noted that the company is evolving around the globe.  "We have a
team preparing for the first European launch, which is scheduled for early
July.  In late February, we officially welcomed Yokohama and began the
planning process for the Asian launch, which is scheduled for September."
    The RubberNetwork(SM) membership now includes seven of the largest
companies in the tire and rubber industry.  They are: Continental AG, Cooper
Tire & Rubber Company, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Pirelli SpA, Groupe
Michelin, Sumitomo Rubber Industries and The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.  The
seven members represent slightly more than half of the industry's global tire
manufacturing capacity.  Total purchases for the industry are estimated at
more than $50 billion a year on raw materials, equipment, machinery, goods and
services.
    The RubberNetwork marketplace will be open to all tire and rubber industry
manufacturers and suppliers.  Webster further noted, "Our buy-side marketplace
model encourages sellers to derive value by actively utilizing all of the
RubberNetwork service offerings.  We also welcome the opportunity to work
closely with other existing and future exchanges."

    TIRE COMPANY MEDIA CONTACTS:

    Continental (Germany)                    Michelin (France)
    Petra Hamich                             Patrick Oliva
    49-511-938-1278                          33-473-32-2041
    petra.hamich@conti.de                    patrick.oliva@fr.michelin.com

    Cooper (U.S.)                            Pirelli (Italy)
    Roger Hendriksen                         Daniele Pirola
    419-427-4768                             39-02-8535-4251
    rshendriksen@coopertire.com              daniele.pirola@pirelli.com

    Goodyear (U.S.)                          Sumitomo (Japan)
    Keith Price                              Masatoshi Hayashi
    330-796-1863                             81-78-265-3004
    kprice@goodyear.com                      125288@sri.dunlop.co.jp

    Yokohama (Japan)
    Corporate Communications Dept.
    The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    81-3-5400-4531
    mailto:yinfo@yrc.co.jp