Oct. 27, 2023
Komatsu Ltd. ("Company") (President and CEO: Hiroyuki Ogawa) and its consolidated subsidiaries (together "Komatsu") have revised the projections for consolidated business results as well as cash dividend for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024 (April 1, 2023 - March 31, 2024), which Komatsu announced on April 28, 2023.
1. Projection for Consolidated Business Results for the Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2024 (U.S. GAAP)
Reasons for the Revision
For the first six-month period under review, both sales and profits increased due to not only increased sales centering on North and Latin Americas, but also improved selling prices and the Japanese yen's depreciation in the construction, mining and utility equipment business. In the second six-month period, Komatsu projects that demand for mining equipment will remain steady, while demand for construction equipment is expected to slow down mainly due to concerns over an economic recession caused by uncertainty in the economic outlook around the world.
In response to the Japanese yen's more-than-anticipated depreciation, Komatsu has revised the projected exchange rates, which are preconditions for the projection of full-year results (to USD 1=JPY 135, EUR 1=JPY 148, and AUD 1=JPY 88 as the average exchange rate in the second six-month period). As Komatsu projects business results to outperform its initial projection announced on April 28, 2023, it is revising projected consolidated sales and profits for the year.
With respect to average exchange rates for the full year, Komatsu estimates them as follows: USD 1=JPY 137.7, EUR 1=JPY 150.3, and AUD 1=JPY 90.3 (Initial assumption: USD 1=JPY 125.0, EUR 1=JPY 133.0 and AUD 1=JPY 83.0).
2. Revision of Projected Cash Dividend
Reasons for the Revision
Komatsu is building a sound financial position and is enhancing its competitiveness in order to increase its sustainable corporate value. Concerning cash dividends, Komatsu has the policy of continuing stable payment of dividends after comprehensively considering consolidated business results and reviewing future investment plans, cash flows and the like. Specifically, Komatsu has the policy of maintaining a consolidated payout ratio of 40% or higher.
Concerning the interim cash dividend under this basic policy, after reviewing business results for the first six-month period under review and considering future business prospects, Komatsu is planning to increase JPY 3 per share from the projection of April 28 this year, to JPY 72 per share. Similarly, with respect to the year-end cash dividend, Komatsu is also planning to increase that dividend by JPY 2 from the projection, to JPY 72 per share. As a result, Komatsu plans to pay annual cash dividends of JPY 144 per share, increase of JPY 5 per share from the previous fiscal year ended March 31, 2023. The consolidated payout ratio will become 40.1%.
Cautionary Statement
The announcement set forth herein contains forward-looking statements which reflect management's current views with respect to certain future events, including expected financial position, operating results, and business strategies. These statements can be identified by the use of terms such as "will," "believes," "should," "projects" and similar terms and expressions that identify future events or expectations. Actual results may differ materially from those projected, and the events and results of such forward-looking assumptions cannot be assured.
Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted by such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, unanticipated changes in demand for the Company's principal products, owing to changes in the economic conditions in the Company's principal markets; changes in exchange rates or the impact of increased competition; unanticipated cost or delays encountered in achieving the Company's objectives with respect to globalized product sourcing and new Information Technology tools; uncertainties as to the results of the Company's research and development efforts and its ability to access and protect certain intellectual property rights; and, the impact of regulatory changes and accounting principles and practices.
No : 0059(3282)
Corporate Communications Department
Sustainability Promotion Division
Komatsu Ltd.
tel: +81-(0)3-5561-2616
mail: JP00MB_cc_department@global.komatsu
*The information may be subject to change without notice.
