4 February 2010
Tokyo, February 4, 2010 --- Hitachi, Ltd. (NYSE:HIT / TSE:6501) today announced revisions to the Company’s consolidated business forecasts for fiscal 2009, year ending March 31, 2010, which were announced on October 29, 2009, in light of recent business performance.
Revisions of Consolidated Business Forecasts for Fiscal 2009
(from April 1, 2009 to March 31, 2010) (Millions of yen)
Revenues | Operating income | Loss before income taxes | Net loss | Net loss attributable to Hitachi, Ltd | |
Previous forecast (A) | 8,700,000 | 80,000 | (90,000) | (220,000) | (230,000) |
Revised forecast (B) | 8,700,000 | 135,000 | (45,000) | (195,000) | (210,000) |
(B)-(A) | 0 | 55,000 | 45,000 | 25,000 | 20,000 |
% change | 0.0% | 68.8% | - | - | - |
Fiscal 2008 ended March 31,2009 | 10,000,369 | 127,146 | (289,871) | (795,120) | (787,337) |
The Company also disclosed the revisions of consolidated revenues and operating income forecasts by Industry Segment for fiscal 2009 on page 2 of “Supplementary Information for the Third Quarter ended December 31, 2009”
Reasons for Revisions
Although the gradual economic recovery is expected to continue in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009, Hitachi concerns the delay of recovery of private-sector capital investment and other factors. Therefore Hitachi is forecasting consolidated revenues for the full year of only the same level as previously forecast on October 29, 2009. In terms of earnings, Hitachi is projecting an improvement over previous forecasts thanks to cost-cutting measures and ongoing business restructuring as well as better project management in the Social Innovation Business.
Cautionary Statement
Certain statements found in this document may constitute “forward-looking statements” as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such “forward-looking statements” reflect management’s current views with respect to certain future events and financial performance and include any statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. Words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “intend,” “plan,” “project” and similar expressions which indicate future events and trends may identify “forward-looking statements.” Such statements are based on currently available information and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or implied in the “forward-looking statements” and from historical trends. Certain “forward-looking statements” are based upon current assumptions of future events which may not prove to be accurate. Undue reliance should not be placed on “forward-looking statements,” as such statements speak only as of the date of this document.
Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or implied in any “forward-looking statement” and from historical trends include, but are not limited to:
- economic conditions, including consumer spending and plant and equipment investments in Hitachi’s major markets, particularly Japan, Asia, the United States and Europe, as well as levels of demand in the major industrial sectors which Hitachi serves, including, without limitation, the information, electronics, automotive, construction and financial sectors;
- exchange rate fluctuations for the yen and other currencies in which Hitachi makes significant sales or in which Hitachi’s assets and liabilities are denominated, particularly against the U.S. dollar and the euro;
- uncertainty as to Hitachi’s ability to access, or access on favorable terms, liquidity or long-term financing;
- uncertainty as to general market price levels for equity securities in Japan, declines in which may require Hitachi to write down equity securities that it holds;
- the potential for significant losses on Hitachi’s investments in equity method affiliates;
- legislative and regulatory changes enacted by the new Japanese government;
- increased commoditization of information technology products and digital media-related products and intensifying price competition for such products, particularly in the Information & Telecommunication Systems, the Electronic Devices and the Digital Media & Consumer Products segments;
- uncertainty as to Hitachi’s ability to continue to develop and market products that incorporate new technology on a timely and cost-effective basis and to achieve market acceptance for such products;
- rapid technological innovation;
- the possibility of cost fluctuations during the lifetime of or cancellation of long-term contracts, for which Hitachi uses the percentage-of-completion method to recognize revenue from sales;
- fluctuations in the price of raw materials including, without limitation, petroleum and other materials, such as copper, steel, aluminum and synthetic resins;
- fluctuations in product demand and industry capacity;
- uncertainty as to Hitachi’s ability to implement measures to reduce the potential negative impact of fluctuations in product demand, exchange rates and/or price of raw materials;
- uncertainty as to Hitachi’s ability to achieve the anticipated benefits of its strategy to strengthen its Social Innovation Business;
- uncertainty as to the success of restructuring efforts to improve management efficiency by divesting or otherwise exiting underperforming businesses and to strengthen competitiveness and other cost reduction measures;
- general socio-economic and political conditions and the regulatory and trade environment of Hitachi’s major markets, particularly Japan, Asia, the United States and Europe, including, without limitation, direct or indirect restrictions by other nations on imports, or differences in commercial and business customs including, without limitation, contract terms and conditions and labor relations;
- uncertainty as to the success of alliances upon which Hitachi depends, some of which Hitachi may not control, with other corporations in the design and development of certain key products;
- uncertainty as to Hitachi’s access to, or ability to protect, certain intellectual property rights, particularly those related to electronics and data processing technologies;
- uncertainty as to the outcome of litigation, regulatory investigations and other legal proceedings of which the Company, its subsidiaries or its equity method affiliates have become or may become parties;
- the possibility of incurring expenses resulting from any defects in products or services of Hitachi;
- the possibility of disruption of Hitachi’s operations in Japan by earthquakes or other natural disasters;
- uncertainty as to Hitachi’s ability to maintain the integrity of its information systems, as well as Hitachi’s ability to protect its confidential information and that of its customers;
- uncertainty as to the accuracy of key assumptions Hitachi uses to valuate its significant employee benefit related costs; and
- uncertainty as to Hitachi’s ability to attract and retain skilled personnel.
The factors listed above are not all-inclusive and are in addition to other factors contained in Hitachi’s periodic filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and in other materials published by Hitachi.
About Hitachi, Ltd.
Hitachi, Ltd., (NYSE: HIT / TSE: 6501), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a leading global electronics company with approximately 400,000 employees worldwide. Fiscal 2008 (ended March 31, 2009) consolidated revenues totaled 10,000 billion yen ($102.0 billion). The company offers a wide range of systems, products and services in market sectors including information systems, electronic devices, power and industrial systems, consumer products, materials, logistics and financial services. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's website at http://www.hitachi.com.
Contacts
Japan: Masanao Sato
Hitachi, Ltd.
+81-3-5208-9324
masanao.sato.sz@hitachi.com
U.S.: Dash Hisanaga
Hitachi America, Ltd.
+1-914-333-2987
tadashi.hisanaga@hal.hitachi.com
Hitachi in Canada
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