Kawasaki Renews Private Label Credit Program With Household

Multi-Year Agreement Confirms Household's Success as Powersports Retail Finance Provider

PROSPECT HEIGHTS, Ill., Aug. 3 -- Household International, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of HSBC North America Holdings Inc., announced today that its retail services business has signed Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A., to another multi-year, private-label financing agreement. Kawasaki is a leading distributor of motorcycles, ATVs, utility vehicles and personal watercraft.

The agreement extends and strengthens Household's long-term relationship with Kawasaki. Household has extended credit through Kawasaki's private label credit program since 1989, providing Kawasaki dealers multiple credit products that offer quick and efficient processing, exciting credit promotions that drive customers to purchase and enables customers to make repeat purchases without having to re-apply.

"By extending our relationship, Kawasaki confirms their confidence in Household to provide the best financing products and services to their dealers," said Sandy Derickson, vice chairman for Household International. "Kawasaki has participated in Household's private label program for 15 years because we understand their needs in the power sports industry and are flexible in meeting their strategic goals. We offer our clients credit programs that help them drive customer satisfaction, build loyalty and increase sales."

"We value the open and straightforward relationship we share with Household," said Ken Ohta, executive vice president finance for Kawasaki. "We look forward to extending that relationship for years to come."

About Retail Services

Household Retail Services is the third largest issuer of private label credit cards in the United States. This business provides flexible, customized financing solutions for the world's premier retailers and manufacturers and has more than 60 active merchant relationships, including Best Buy, Levitz Furniture and Saks Fifth Avenue.

About Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.

Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A., is headquartered in Irvine, CA, and maintains a network of more than 1,500 dealers. Its best-selling Ninja(R) sportbikes, classic Vulcan(TM) cruisers, rugged ATV and Mule(TM) utility vehicles and exclusive JET SKI(R) watercraft form the foundation of Kawasaki's Good Times Company image.

About Household International, Inc.

Household International, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of HSBC North America Holdings Inc., is one of the top 10 financial services holding companies in the United States. Household's businesses are leading providers of consumer loans, credit cards, auto finance and credit insurance products in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada. In the United States, Household companies operate under the two oldest and most recognized names in consumer finance -- HFC and Beneficial. Additionally, Household's businesses are some of the nation's largest issuers of private label and general-purpose credit cards, including The GM Card(R) and the AFL-CIO's Union Plus(R) card. For more information, visit http://www.household.com/ .