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The Sojitz Group to Participate as an Alliance Partner in the 'B747 Large Cargo Freighter Operation Project', Next-generation Aircraft Boeing 'B787 Dreamliner' Transport Program

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Dec. 16, 2005

Sojitz Corporation of America, the US subsidiary of Sojitz Corporation, and Evergreen International Airlines, Inc. (EIA - Head Office: Oregon, U.S.A.; President: Brian Bauer) have reached an agreement that Sojitz will participate as an alliance partner in the 'B747 Large Cargo Freighter' (B747 LCF; first flight planned for January 2007) Operation Project. The 'B747 Large Cargo Freighter' operation project is a program for transporting major aircraft components for the Boeing next-generation aircraft 'B787 Dreamliner (with 230 seats, overall length of approximately 57 meters)', which aircraft components will be jointly manufactured by leading aircraft manufacturers around the world.

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Passenger 'B747-400' converted into the 'B747 Large Cargo Freighter' freight aircraft

Major aircraft components for the 'B787 Dreamliner' will be manufactured by program participating manufacturers in the US, Italy and Japan, and the final assembly work will be performed by Boeing at its in-house factory in Washington State. In this project, Boeing will employ 'B747 LCF' aircraft, which will be converted from 'B747-400' aircraft owned by the company, to transport 787 components manufactured by respective companies participating in the program, instead of employing traditional marine container transportation. The company has selected EIA to operate the 747 LCF fleet.

Concerning the major aircraft components manufactured by Japan's leading 'B787 Dreamliner' aircraft manufacturers Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI), Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. (KHI) and Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI), Sojitz Corporation of America, in cooperation with Sojitz Corporation, Sojitz Aerospace Corporation (Head office: Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Yasuhiko Hirata) and Sojitz Logistics Corporation (Head office: Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Sekio Hara), will be entrusted with operations pertaining to freight transport and scheduling services in Japan, cargo handling operations at Chubu Centrair International Airport, which is to be serviced by the 'B747 LCF' aircrafts, and with management operations for the 'B747 LCF' flight logistics.

Further, the company will also be entrusted with the construction and management of the Internet-based 'B747 LCF' operation transport management system, related to major aircraft components to be manufactured not only by Japanese manufacturers but also by those in the US and Italy. The transport management system will be operated within a designated site, which will utilize the Internet-based logistics management system 'CYBERLOGIX' developed by Sojitz Logistics Corporation.

The Sojitz Group has been engaged in Boeing's civil aviation business for over half a century, and its capability, experience and past performance are highly evaluated, leading to the conclusion of the subject agreement. The Group, together with EIA, will continue to support Boeing's 'B787 Dreamliner Project', and will make the utmost effort to ensure the success of the project.

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