March 14, 2011

Friends and Colleagues:

Thank you for your notes and phone calls regarding the events in Japan. As we’ve reported to some of you, ORIX Corporation personnel and facilities are operating normally, except for the disruptions one would expect when essential services have been affected.

The situation in Japan is hard to comprehend. It is apparent to me that the full scope of the tragedy cannot at this time be quantified. Even without such quantification, this is a disaster of massive proportions.

Many of you have offered to help and asked whether the ORIX Foundation will organize an effort. The answer to this question is yes – we will begin accepting contributions now. In fact, I have been informed that one such contribution has already been made.

Mr. Nishitani, Deputy President of ORIX USA Corporation, is working out how we might best coordinate with the ORIX Corporation Social Contributions Fund and the Japan America Society of DFW to optimize our contribution toward relief efforts. In particular, we are focusing upon one of the hardest-hit areas, Sendai, which is Dallas’ International Friendship city and one of ORIX Corporation’s strategic business locations in the northern region of Japan.

If you would like to contribute to this effort, simply send a check to Carol Green payable to ORIX Foundation with a notation that it is for “Japan Relief”. If you’re an ORIX USA employee, ORIX USA will match your donation, subject to the $5000 annual individual matching maximum. I will report back to you periodically as to how your dollars have been directed and to what effect. Keep in mind that the ORIX Foundation is a qualified charitable organization and your contributions are tax deductible.

Please feel free to forward this message to your friends and business colleagues if they ask how they might help. You can direct them to www.orixfoundation.org for more information about the ORIX Foundation. I plan to do the same.

Thank you in advance for your kindness and generosity toward our friends in need in Japan.

Jim Thompson
President and Director, ORIX Foundation