LOS ANGELES — Marubeni Corp., which owns a 20 percent stake
in Westlake Financial Services and has two seats on the company board,
announced the promotion of an executive to general manager of Marubeni
Automotive Department-I among other changes.

Relocating from Westlake's Los Angeles headquarters to Japan
for this new role is Atsushi Suzuki, who is currently a member of the board at
Westlake as well as president and chief executive officer of Marubeni Auto
Investment (USA) Holding. 

Officials said Suzuki will remain on Westlake's board of
directors after moving to Japan. 

The company highlighted Suzuki's new role at Marubeni
Automotive Department-I will involve overseeing automotive business in North
and South American countries, including the United States as well as China and
India.

In other moves, officials said Eiichiro Ito will assume Suzuki's
role in Los Angeles. Ito currently serves as executive vice president and
member of the board at Kencana Internusa Artha Finance in Indonesia, which is
49 percent owned by Marubeni Corp.

Ito will take the second Marubeni seat on Westlake's board
from Nobuyuki Mokkoh, who will continue to support business development of
Westlake from New York.  Mokkoh is from
Marubeni America Corp.

"Suzuki-san has helped take Westlake to a new level," said
Don Hankey, Westlake's founder and chairman. "Marubeni enabled Westlake to
double our balance sheet equity in 2011 and Suzuki quickly became involved with
all our departments. Suzuki-san was always able to motivate and encourage
Westlake management in a positive way.

"Bottom Line: Suzuki was able to put together a perfect
marriage between Marubeni and Westlake and will certainly be missed," Hankey
continued.

"We look forward to working with Ito-san. Ito-san's
international finance experience should help Westlake continue our growth in
revenue and profit," Hankey went on to say. 

Westlake president Ian Anderson also weighed in on the
personnel moves.

"Suzuki-san brought a fresh perspective to Westlake. His
contributions helped strengthen not only our balance sheet, but also our
corporate culture," Anderson said. "Suzuki-san helped develop Westlake's growth strategy, which will
continue to push Westlake as a diversified financial services leader, serving
the underserved market. 

"We are thankful Suzuki-san will remain on Westlake's board
as we continue to strive towards our goals in the coming years," Anderson
added. "At the same time, we welcome Mr. Ito to the team and cannot wait to see
him put his finance expertise to work at Westlake."

Suzuki acknowledged that, "I have mixed feelings about
leaving Los Angeles. Westlake feels like home now. People are open and there is
a creative energy here.  I have enjoyed
working with everyone and wish to thank all the executives and employees who
have made me feel so welcome."

Officials noted Suzuki will work closely with Ito during the
transition process. Ito joined Marubeni
Corp. in 1988 and has been involved in international business in various
countries including Brazil and Indonesia.

"His dedication to the business is outstanding and he will
bring his finance expertise to Westlake. 
I am confident he will be a great fit," Suzuki said of Ito.

Ito added, "I am very impressed with Westlake's business
model. Westlake is much more systematic and on a much bigger scale than my
current position in Indonesia.

"I would like to express gratitude for the opportunity to
join Westlake and look forward to contributing to Westlake's continued success,"
Ito concluded.

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