As we continue to update you on the information we receive from Ricoh Company, Ltd., the response from the Ricoh employee community in the Americas has been overwhelming. Employees across the company have been asking how they can help and are clearly concerned about everyone impacted in Japan.
While our colleagues in Japan are still working through communications challenges with the areas affected most and assessing the situation, we have shared with them the overwhelming support and concern from the Ricoh Americas employees.
In considering the best ways that Ricoh Americas Corporation and our employees can help, we have partnered with the American Red Cross to create a customized Ricoh donation site to help raise funds to support the American Red Cross Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami Fund. This site will also be available for dealers, customers and partners, and we will be able to report on the total amount that Ricoh employees and dealers, customers and partners contribute to the American Red Cross. I am also pleased to announce that Ricoh Americas Corporation will make a $100,000 corporate donation to the American Red Cross through this fund.
Employees can visit this customized site to contribute to the American Red Cross Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami Fund. To make a donation using this customized site, please visit http://www.ricoh-usa.com/donatejapan. Please note that this site is open to employees in Canada and Latin America as well, but contributions must be made in U.S. dollars, and credit cards must have a 3 - 4 digit security code (CVV number).
For sales employees with Aficio League points, we have worked with our provider to allow you to redeem points toward a contribution to the American Red Cross through the Aficio League site as well. Any points that are redeemed for donations to the American Red Cross will not be included as taxable income.
Our dealers and their employees have also expressed their support, and we will be sending the link to Ricoh's customized site to them as well. We will also post the link on ricoh-usa.com and ikon.com for our partners and customers who want to contribute to the American Red Cross.
Update on manufacturing sites and FAQ
I want to share additional updates from Ricoh Company, Ltd. on the status Ricoh manufacturing sites in Japan affected by the earthquake and tsunami. An update is posted on Ricoh's global web site, with information as of March 16. As outlined, as of March 16, operations have been suspended in the areas most affected, and Ricoh is assessing the damage to facilities and infrastructure, and the length of the suspension is not yet determined. Other facilities outside the most affected area are in operation, but are subject to interrupted traffic and rolling blackouts. There is no damage reported in plants in Western Japan.
We recognize that customers and our dealer partners are concerned about this tragedy. We have prepared the attached FAQ to help you answer questions from customers and dealers, and we will continue to share more details as they become available. I can assure you that we will make every effort to minimize the impact to business continuity, with the full support of the entire Ricoh Group.
Thank you for your continued thoughts, generosity and support of our colleagues in Japan, and we will continue to provide additional information as it becomes available.
Kevin Togashi
Chairman and CEO
Ricoh Americas Corporation
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