WASHINGTON, March 11, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the country's largest Hispanic business organization, applauded Toyota's creation of a new financial services product aimed toward improving diversity and inclusion. Toyota Financial Services (TFS) has launched its first Diversity and Inclusion Corporate Bond, aimed at supporting the company's corporate programs that foster diversity inside and outside of the workplace.
"TFS's launch of a Diversity and Inclusion Corporate Bond will allow both Toyota to reach a more diverse investor base and the Hispanic business community to better access large, high profile procurement opportunities," said USHCC President and CEO Javier Palomarez. "With the creation of this new financing tool, TFS has sent a strong message about the importance of business practices that advance diversity and inclusion.
Citi, another long-standing USHCC partner, also led execution of the Diversity and Inclusion Corporate Bond. "Citi's Capital Markets team is proud to partner with Toyota on this groundbreaking transaction, which is a testament to the importance of Diversity & Inclusion initiatives to Toyota, Citi, and the industry," said Peter Aherne, Head, North America Capital Markets, Syndicate and New Products at Citi.
The legal firm Gonzalez Saggio & Harlan, LLP served as co-counsel and lead underwriters included: Ramirez & CO, Inc.; Lebenthal Capital Markets; Loop Capital Markets; MischlerFinancial Group, Inc; and the Williams Capital Group, LP. Also involved as co-managers were Cabrera Capital Markets, LLC and Guzman & Company.
"As one of the oldest and largest Hispanic Investment banks in the country, Ramirez & Co., Inc. (Ramirez) was honored to be asked to participate in the Toyota Financial Services (TFS) bond offering," said Samuel Ramirez Jr, Senior Director at Ramirez. "Our team, along with several other very capable capital markets firms, worked hard to make this transaction a success. Over our 40 years in business, we have built a track record of success with companies like Toyota in the capital markets, proving that small/midsize investment banks do bring considerable value and expertise to capital markets transactions. Toyota has given Ramirez, as well as other firms, the opportunity to perform at a higher level, allowing us to demonstrate our capabilities."
For more information on TFS's Capital Markets programs, please visit www.toyotafinancial.com. For more information about Toyota's commitment to diversity and inclusion, please visitwww.toyota.com/diversity
About the USHCC
Founded in 1979, the USHCC actively promotes the economic growth and development of Hispanic entrepreneurs and represents the interests of over 3 million Hispanic-owned businesses across the United States that contribute in excess of $465 billion to the American economy each year. It also serves as the umbrella organization for more than 200 local Hispanic chambers and business associations in the United States and Puerto Rico. Follow us on Twitter @USHCC.