Toyota Alvark Tokyo Corporation Established
to Welcome Toyota's Men's Basketball Team to Professional League

Toyota City, Japan, June 13, 2016―Toyota Motor Corporation and Mitsui & Co. Foresight Ltd. have jointly established a new company: Toyota Alvark Tokyo Corporation. This new management company, located in Tokyo where the team will be based, is formed in conjunction with the conversion of Toyota's men's basketball team, the Alvark, into a professional team¹. With the advent of this new company, Alvark Tokyo will begin competing in the Japanese men's professional basketball league, the B. League², which will commence in the autumn of 2016.

With the establishment of this new company, Toyota and Mitsui & Co. Foresight hope that Alvark Tokyo will grow into a team truly cherished by its community and fans, and one that possesses the qualities necessary to continuously pursue the championship. Through the conversion of Alvark Tokyo into a professional team, the companies also intend to evolve the team's operation into that of a sustainable sports business.

Through Alvark Tokyo's activities in the B. League, the new company hopes to join hands with other teams to promote and further popularize basketball in Japan. The new company is also planning to contribute to the team's hometown by holding exchanges with the community and conducting events that will help to lift spirits and encourage more familiarity with basketball.

President Hayashi proudly noted, "As the forerunning sports club at Toyota, the Toyota Alvark finished the final season of the Japanese NBL (National Basketball League) with a record high percentage of wins. As part of the B. League, Alvark Tokyo will aim to grow even stronger. Not only will they compete, but they will also work on strengthening the ties between the team and the community in which they are based, as well as hold events to increase local interest in basketball itself. Through these activities, they will contribute to raising spirits among the people of their home town."

CEO of Toyota Motor Corporation and Toyota Alvark Tokyo Corporation, Akio Toyoda, has high words of praise for the team. "Alvark Tokyo subtly possess great power. Simply by playing, they have the power to invoke energy in their fans and in the people of their community who watch over them. I look forward to seeing them continue playing not only for themselves, but also to give heart to others, in the B. League. We of Toyota will wholeheartedly back up both the team and our workers, so that they can focus on playing the game and striving to win, and on becoming 'a strong team' and 'a team loved by its hometown' as all teams endeavor to become."