STAMFORD, CT – HARMAN, the global audio and infotainment group (NYSE:HAR), said today that it has launched a company-wide relief initiative to assist those affected by last week’s disastrous earthquake and tsunami in Japan. The Company has pledged a $100,000 contribution to the Red Cross International Response Fund and will match all employee contributions for Japan relief through April 15, 2011. A dedicated online contribution system is being established for this purpose in cooperation with the American Red Cross.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Japan and other areas affected by this unprecedented disaster,” said Dinesh C. Paliwal, HARMAN Chairman, President and CEO. “We are working closely with our local employees, customers and distribution partners to provide immediate help for those in need and to ensure continuity of business operations.”

The Company said all employees in Japan are safe and that its operations were not damaged by the earthquake or tsunami. HARMAN is prepared to continue normal business operations as utility and infrastructure repairs are completed in surrounding areas. The Japan initiative joins similar HARMAN outreach efforts following previous natural disasters in Haiti, China and Myanmar, for which the Company and its employees raised some $500,000 in relief assistance funds.

HARMAN (www.harman.com) designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets – supported by 15 leading brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon® and Mark Levinson®. The Company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 20 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a workforce of about 11,800 people across the Americas, Europe and Asia, and reported sales of $3.5 billion for the twelve months ended December 31, 2010. The Company’s shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol NYSE:HAR.