LIXIL : Announces Global Partnership Agreement with Pro Tennis Player Kei Nishikori

LIXIL Group Corporation, ("LIXIL"), a Japan-based global leader in housing and building materials, products and services, today announced a global partnership agreement with pro tennis player Kei Nishikori.

The term of the sponsorship will be 3 years, beginning in April, 2015 until March, 2018. Through this agreement, LIXIL has acquired the rights to carry out promotional campaigns with Nishikori, and the LIXIL logo will now be visible on the sleeve of his playing uniform for all international and domestic matches.

LIXIL has a rich heritage of supporting sports that bring excitement into people's lives

including soccer, American football, and rugby and so on.

Combining the technological prowess and craftsmanship honed in Japan with the power of a worldwide marketing network and international brands, LIXIL is in the process of reinventing itself as a truly global leader in the housing and building industry. Nishikori and LIXIL share the same drive to achieve global excellence on a worldwide stage and passion to inspire.

Kei Nishikori commented: "I am thrilled to partner with LIXIL, a Japanese company that is on a mission to become a truly global brand. Not unlike LIXIL, I was born in Japan and my goal is to become World No.1, so we share similar aspirations and values. The partnership with LIXIL will take me one step closer to becoming the best tennis player

in the world.''

Yoshiaki Fujimori, President and CEO of LIXIL Group Corporation and LIXIL Corporation, commented: "I am extremely pleased that we were able to reach a global partnership deal with Kei Nishikori. Kei's popularity transcends his home country of Japan as he is one of the most respected tennis players in the world. In addition to supporting Kei's

dream to be #1 in the world, LIXIL is similarly on a path to be #1 in the housing and building materials, products and services business. We look forward to learning from Kei's passion and determination to make it to the top and we are excited about supporting Kei's achievements moving forward. "

Through its vision of "providing superior products and services that contribute to improving people's comfort and lifestyles," LIXIL will continue to support sports initiatives that provide people with passion and emotion, while in the comfort of their own home.

LIXIL has opened a special site for LIXIL X NISHIKORI, which will provide campaign information, materials and giveaways.

Video of the press event announcing this partnership will be available on LIXIL X NISHIKORI from April 13th, 10:00AM.

Please access the LIXIL X NISHIKORI campaign site through:

http://www.lixil.co.jp/s/sports/ (Japanese Only)

■Birthday：December 29th, 1989 (Age 25)

■Birthplace：Matsue City, Shimane, Japan

■Height ：178cm

■Weight：70kg

■Play Style：Right Handed (Double-handed back hand)

Nishikori began playing tennis at the age of five, and in 2001 he won the All Japan Tennis Championships for Children, the National Children's Tournament as well as the Japan Junior Tournament while he was still under 12 years old, making him the fifth person to be a triple tournament champion in history.
In October 2007, Nishikori made his debut as a pro-tennis player at the Japan Open. In the following year, he had his first ATP championship victory, winning the Delray Beach tournament in February. At the U.S. Open in 2008, he ranked in the top 16, which was the first time in 71 years a Japanese singles male tennis player had made it to the top 16. He was awarded the ATP World Tour Award for Newcomer of the year.
Nishikori was ranked 20th in the world in 2012, making it to the last 8 at the Australian Open. He also represented Japan at the London Olympics, reaching the quarter finals. In October
2012, Nishikori won the Rakuten Japan Open, his second ATP Tour career title, and from there his career continued to advance rapidly.
In 2014 he won the Memphis Open, reached the semifinals of the Miami Open, won the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell, and was a finalist at the Madrid Mutua Open, reaching a ranking of World No.9 on May 12th 2014. This put Nishikori into the top ten ranked tennis players, which was one of his dreams. At the U.S. Open in the same year, he reached the final, the first Grand Slam final for an Asian tennis player in the history of the sport.
Since then, he has continued his streak of success at the Malaysian Open, the Rakuten Japan Open, rising to world number eight. Nishikori won the 2015 Memphis Open and reached the final of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel. He is currently ranked World No.4 (as of April 10th 2015)

Headquartered in Tokyo, LIXIL Corporation is a global leader in housing and building materials, products and services business. The foundation of LIXIL's success is our constant investment in technological innovation to improve people's lives. Drawing on a heritage of over 100 years of technological innovation, LIXIL is grouped into four technology businesses, LIXIL Water Technology (brands include: LIXIL, INAX, GROHE, American Standard, JOYOU, and JAXSON), LIXIL Housing Technology (includes Tostem, Shinnikkei, and TOEX brands, etc.), LIXIL Building Technology (including the Permasteelisa Group) and LIXIL Kitchen Technology. LIXIL Japan Company is the fifth business of the LIXIL Corporation and operates as a customer-focused sales organization with the most comprehensive range of products and services from all four technologies to customers and business partners in Japan. LIXIL produces some of the worlds most fundamental and innovative products and services, and our solutions are an integral part of some of the worlds most iconic and cutting-edge living and working spaces LIXIL brands are present in 150 countries and our businesses employ more than 80,000 people worldwide. LIXIL brings together technology, quality, design and sustainability to enhance people's lives around the world.

2014. Please refer to http://global.lixil.co.jp/for more information.

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