The Board of Directors of Asahi Chemical
Industry Co., Ltd. voted on May 23, 2000 to submit a
proposal for shareholder approval at the General Shareholders'
Meeting to be held on June 29, 2000, to change the company
name as described below.
At present, the company name in Japanese
is “Asahi Kasei Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha”.
The proposed new name in Japanese is “Asahi
Kasei Kabushiki Kaisha”. The proposed new company
name in English is “Asahi Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.”,
replacing “Asahi Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.”
Pending shareholder approval, the name change is scheduled
for January 1, 2001.
In Japan, the name “Asahi Kasei”,
by which the company is widely known, imbues considerable
brand value, while the word “kogyo”
is used only in the formal company name. The proposed
Japanese name change brings the company name in line
with generally held perceptions. Further, as the company's
business operations become increasingly global in scope,
there is a heightened need for a uniform brand and identity
which can be used internationally. The proposed English
name change eliminates the possibility of confusion
stemming from the difference between the present Japanese
and English names.
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