Bridgestone/Firestone.

Bridgestone/Firestone, Nashville, TN, has acquired 14% equity interest in Neumaticos de Chile S.A. (NECSA), a licensee of Firestone passenger, light truck and truck tire products in Chile since 1983. The stock was acquired by a newly formed Chilean company, Bridgestone/ Firestone (Chile) Ltda. Immediately after the closing, NECSA changed its name to Firestone Chile S.A. (FSCH). FSCH manufactures and sells Firestone passenger and light truck tire products in the Chilean market. It also manufactures and sells Firestone agricultural and off-the-road tires. FSCH, located in Santiago, Chile, had total sales of $50 million in 1997. With the expansion of its plant and the modernization of its equipment, Firestone de Costa Rica has begun an expansion process that will increase its production capacity by 100%. Tires produced in Costa Rica will be exported to the North American markets and to other markets. Bridge stone/Fire stone acquired 20% of the shares of Firestone de Costa Rica in February 1996 and is currently in negotiations at this time to acquire majority interest in the plant. Firestone de Costa Rica is investing more than $33 million in the expansion, of which $20 million will be invested in the construction of a new building, $5 million in the modernization of its equipment, and the remaining $8 million will be invested as working capital. This investment will allow Firestone de Costa Rica to increase its current production of 2,300 tires per day to 5,400 tires per day. According to estimates of the company, by 1999 the plant will be producing more than one million tires for export.