Parent companies form alliance

Kioritz Corporation in Tokyo, Japan, parent company of ECHO
Incorporated in Lake Zurich, Illinois, and Shindaiwa Corporation in
Hiroshima, Japan, parent company of Shindaiwa Incorporated in Tualatin, Oregon, have
announced plans to form a joint holding company which will own and
operate the two business entities.

The two companies entered into a business and shareholder alliance in
May 2007 to investigate mutual means of addressing today’s competitive global environment through product and operational synergies.