Annual Report
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Form 20-F

 

 

 

¨ REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(B) OR 12(G) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

OR

 

x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2010

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from              to             

OR

 

¨ SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of event requiring this shell company report             

Commission file number 1-07294

 

 

KABUSHIKI KAISHA KUBOTA

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

KUBOTA CORPORATION

(Translation of registrant’s name into English)

JAPAN

(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

2-47, Shikitsuhigashi 1-Chome, Naniwa-Ku, Osaka, JAPAN

(Address of principal executive offices)

Junichi Adachi, +81-6-6648-2645, +81-6-6648-2632, 2-47, Shikitsuhigashi 1-Chome, Naniwa-Ku, Osaka, JAPAN

(Name, Telephone, E-mail and/or Facsimile number and Address of Company Contact Person)

 

 

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act

 

Title of each class

 

Name of each exchange

on which registered

Common Stock*   New York Stock Exchange

 

* Not for trading, but only in connection with the listing of American Depositary Receipts pursuant to the requirement of the New York Stock Exchange.

American Depositary Receipts evidence American Depositary Shares, each American Depositary Share representing five shares of the registrant’s common stock.

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act

None

(Title of Class)

Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act.

None

(Title of Class)

 

 

Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report.

 

     Outstanding as of

Title of Class

   March 31, 2010
(Tokyo Time)
  March 31, 2010
(New York Time)
Common stock    1,271,846,635 shares  
American Depositary Shares      6,236,091 ADS

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

Yes  x    No   ¨

If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by checkmark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Yes  ¨    No   x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes  x    No   ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

Yes  x    No   ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer  x    Accelerated filer  ¨    Non-accelerated filer  ¨

Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:

U.S. GAAP  x.

International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board  ¨.

Other  ¨ .

If “Other” has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow.

Item 17  ¨    Item 18   ¨

If it is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes  ¨    No   x

 

 

 


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page
PART I
Item 1.   Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers    1
Item 2.   Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable    1
Item 3.   Key Information    1
          3.A   Selected Financial Data    1
          3.B   Capitalization and Indebtedness    2
          3.C   Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds    2
          3.D   Risk Factors    2
Item 4.   Information on the Company    5
          4.A   History and Development of the Company    5
          4.B   Business Overview    6
          4.C   Organization Structure    11
          4.D   Property, Plant and Equipment    11
Item 4A.   Unresolved Staff Comments    13
Item 5.   Operating and Financial Review and Prospects    14
          5.A   Operating Results    14
          5.B   Liquidity and Capital Resources    23
          5.C   Research and Development, Patents and Licenses, etc    25
          5.D   Trend Information    26
          5.E   Off-balance Sheet Arrangements    27
          5.F   Tabular Disclosure of Contractual Obligations    28
          5.G   Safe Harbor    28
Item 6.   Directors, Senior Management and Employees    29
          6.A   Directors and Senior Management    29
          6.B   Compensation    35
          6.C   Board Practices    36
          6.D   Employees    37
          6.E   Share Ownership    38
Item 7.   Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions    39
          7.A   Major Shareholders    39
          7.B   Related Party Transactions    39
          7.C   Interests of Experts and Counsel    39
Item 8.   Financial Information    40
          8.A   Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information    40
          8.B   Significant Changes    41
Item 9.   The Offer and Listing    42
          9.A   Offer and Listing Details    42
          9.B   Plan of Distribution    43
          9.C   Markets    43
          9.D   Selling Shareholders    43
          9.E   Dilution    43
          9.F   Expenses of the Issue    43
Item 10.   Additional Information    44
          10.A   Share Capital    44
          10.B   Memorandum and Articles of Association    44
          10.C   Material Contracts    53
          10.D   Exchange Controls    53
          10.E   Taxation    54
          10.F   Dividends and Paying Agents    58
          10.G   Statement by Experts    58
          10.H   Documents on Display    58
          10.I   Subsidiary Information    58
Item 11.   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk    59
Item 12.   Description of Securities Other than Equity Securities    61
          12.A   Debt Securities    61
          12.B   Warrants and Rights    61
          12.C   Other Securities    61
          12.D   American Depositary Shares    61

 

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PART II
Item 13.    Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies    64
Item 14.    Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds    64
Item 15.    Controls and Procedures    64
Item 16A.    Audit Committee Financial Expert    65
Item 16B.    Code of Ethics    65
Item 16C.    Principal Accountant Fees and Services    66
Item 16D.    Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees    67
Item 16E.    Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers    68
Item 16F.    Change in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant    68
Item 16G.    Corporate Governance    68
PART III
Item 17.    Financial Statements    71
Item 18.    Financial Statements    71
Item 19.    Exhibits    71

All information contained in this annual report is as of or for the 12 months ended March 31, 2010 (“fiscal 2010”) unless otherwise specified.

As used herein, “Kubota” and “the Company” refer to Kubota Corporation and its subsidiaries unless the context otherwise indicates.

The noon buying rate for cable transfers in yen in New York City as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on June 4, 2010 was ¥91.83 = US$1.

<Cautionary Statement with Respect to Forward-Looking Statements>

Certain sections of this annual report on Form 20-F contain forward-looking statements that are based on management’s expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions. Words such as “expects”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, variations of these words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements which include but are not limited to projections of revenues, earnings, segment performance, cash flows and so forth. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks and uncertainties, which are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual future results may differ materially from what is forecast in forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including, without limitation: general economic conditions in the Company’s markets, particularly government agricultural policies, levels of capital expenditures, both in public and private sectors, foreign currency exchange rates, continued competitive pricing pressures in the marketplace, as well as the Company’s ability to continue to gain acceptance of its products.

 

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PART I

Item 1. Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers

Not applicable.

Item 2. Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable

Not applicable.

Item 3. Key Information

The information required by this item, in addition to those provided below, appears on page F-1 of the attached Consolidated Financial Statements.

A. Selected Financial Data

 

     Years ended March 31
     (Millions of Yen except number of shares outstanding)
     2010    2009    2008    2007    2006

Common stock (as of year end)

   84,070    84,070    84,070    84,070    84,070

Capital investments(1)

   26,038    33,337    35,163    44,715    33,805

Depreciation and amortization

   29,171    31,242    30,565    27,097    25,821

R & D expenses

   25,241    26,290    24,784    22,925    22,731

Number of shares outstanding in thousands (as of year end)

   1,271,847    1,272,063    1,280,604    1,291,513    1,299,488

 

     Years ended March 31
     2010    2009    2008    2007    2006

Cash dividends declared per depositary share:

              

Interim (in yen)

   35    35    30    25    20

(in U.S. dollars)(2)

   0.400    0.377    0.270    0.217    0.165

Year-end (in yen)

   25    35    40    35    30

(in U.S. dollars)(2)

   0.274    0.365    0.370    0.282    0.258

Exchange rates (yen amounts per U.S. dollar):

              

Year-end

   93.40    99.15    99.85    117.56    117.48

Average

   92.49    96.86    113.61    116.55    113.67

High

   100.71    111.02    124.09    121.81    120.93

Low

   86.12    87.80    96.88    110.07    104.41

 

     2010    2010    2010    2010    2010    2009
     May    Apr.    Mar.    Feb.    Jan.    Dec.

High

   94.68    94.51    93.40    91.94    93.31    93.08

Low

   89.89    92.03    88.43    88.84    89.41    86.62

Period-end

   90.81    94.24    93.40    88.84    90.38    93.08

Notes to Selected Financial Data:

1. The term “Capital investments” represents acquisition costs for the purchases of fixed assets on an accrual basis, while the purchases of fixed assets in the consolidated statements of cash flows represents payments for those assets on a cash basis.

2. Cash dividends in U.S. dollars are computed based on the exchange rates at each respective payment date.

3. Exchange rates are the noon buying rates for cable transfers between the yen and the U.S. dollar in New York City as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The rate on June 4, 2010 was ¥91.83 = US$1.

 

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B. Capitalization and Indebtedness

Not applicable.

C. Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds

Not applicable.

D. Risk Factors

Declines in economic conditions in the Company’s major markets, including private-sector capital expenditure, construction investment, and domestic public investment, may adversely impact the results of operations of the Company.

Industrial and capital goods make up a substantial portion of the Company’s products. Accordingly, revenues of the Company may decrease due to declining demand resulting from declines in general economic conditions, including private-sector capital expenditures, construction investment, and domestic public investment. In addition, governmental agricultural policies may adversely affect domestic sales of agriculture-related products. In overseas markets, especially those of North America and Europe, sales of the Company’s products, such as utility/compact tractors, may decrease due to declines in general economic conditions, including private consumption and residential construction investment in those regions.

Fluctuations of foreign exchange rates, including a stronger yen, may reduce revenues and adversely affect the results of operations of the Company.

The Company has overseas revenues and manufacturing subsidiaries. The financial results of each overseas subsidiary are consolidated into the results of the parent company after translation into Japanese yen. In addition, the transactions between the parent company and overseas subsidiaries or customers are generally denominated in the local currencies. The payments received in local currencies on such transactions are converted to Japanese yen. As a result, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates affect the consolidated financial results. In general, a stronger yen against other currencies adversely affects revenues and the results of operations of the Company.

If the prices of raw materials increase or the Company has difficulties in procuring adequate supplies of them, there may be a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations.

The Company purchases substantial raw materials and parts from outside suppliers. If the prices of raw materials substantially increase due to the supply and demand gap and changes in market conditions, and stay at high levels for a long time, they may deteriorate the Company’s profitability. Also, if the Company has difficulties in procuring adequate supplies of raw materials, there may be a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations due to difficulties in production and sales activities.

 

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The risks associated with international operations may adversely affect revenues and profitability of the Company.

In some businesses of the Company, substantial overseas operations are conducted. Accordingly, the Company is subject to a number of risks inherent in doing business in those markets. If such risks occurred, the Company may face difficulties in stable production and sales of products in overseas markets that may affect revenues and profitability of the Company or they may hinder growth of the Company in specific countries. The following risks are serious concerns for the Company:

 

   

Unexpected changes in international, or in an individual country’s, tax regulations;

 

   

Unexpected legal or regulatory changes in a country;

 

   

Difficulties in retaining qualified personnel;

 

   

Underqualified technological skills or instability between management and employee unions in developing countries; and

 

   

Political instability in those countries.

Among the United States, the EU, and Asian countries, which are important markets for the Company, the previously mentioned risks in Asian countries seem to be relatively higher than those of other regions.

If strategic alliances, mergers, and acquisitions do not generate successful results as planned, then the Company’s profitability may deteriorate.

The Company expects to use strategic alliances, mergers, and acquisitions to seek further growth. The success of these activities depends on such factors as the Company’s business environment, the ability of its business counterparts, and whether the Company and its counterparts share common goals. Therefore, if these activities are not successful and returns on related investments are lower than expected, the Company’s profitability may deteriorate.

Stock market fluctuations may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial position.

Stock market declines may cause impairment losses on the Company’s investments in marketable securities or cause an increase in actuarial loss of the Company’s retirement and pension plans as a result of a decline in the fair value of pension plan assets, which may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial position.

The Company is subject to intensifying competitive pressures. Unless the Company performs better than other companies in each of its businesses, revenues and/or net income may decrease in the future.

The Company is exposed to severe competition in each of its businesses. Unless the Company performs better than other companies in such areas as terms of trade, R&D, and quality, revenues and/or net income may decrease in the future.

If the Company’s products and services are alleged to have serious defects, such allegations may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial position.

If the Company’s products and services are alleged to have serious defects, the Company may have liability for significant damages, and there may be a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial position. If such claims are asserted, the Company may lose the confidence of the public and suffer a reduction in its brand value, which may result in decreased revenues or demand for its products.

 

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The Company may be required to incur considerable expenses in order to comply with various environmental laws and regulations. Such expenses may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial position.

The Company is subject to various environmental laws and regulations that apply to its products and activities. If these environmental laws and regulations, such as those that impose carbon dioxide emission controls, emission controls, and usage restrictions for certain materials which are used in the Company’s products, are strengthened or newly established in jurisdictions in which the Company conducts its businesses, the Company may be required to incur considerable expenses in order to comply with such laws and regulations. Such expenses may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial position. To the extent that the Company determines that it is not economical to continue to comply with such laws and regulations, the Company may have to curtail or discontinue its activities in the affected business areas.

The Company may be required to incur significant expenses in connection with environmental damage its activities may allegedly cause. Such expenses may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial position.

Claims may arise that the Company’s activities have caused environmental contamination, including the release of hazardous materials or air pollution, water pollution, and/or soil contamination. In such an event, the Company may elect or be required to implement costly corrective actions to resolve any issues associated with the release or presence of such hazardous materials or contamination and may face associated litigation. These factors may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial position.

If the Company is required to incur significant expenses relevant to asbestos-related issues, then there may be a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial position and liquidity.

The Company previously manufactured products containing asbestos from 1954 to 2001. If the Company is required to incur additional expenses, including payments to the individuals concerned or expenses arising from litigations related to the asbestos-related health hazards and such expenses become significant, they may result in a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial position and liquidity.

The Company may experience a material effect on its results of operations and financial position if it faces issues related to compliance.

The Company has declared its intention to conduct its corporate activities in compliance with legal regulations and ethical principles, and to exert efforts to cause all management and staff of the group companies not to act in violation of various legal regulations, ethical standards, or internal regulations. However, in the event that compliance issues arise, there is a possibility that the Company may be subject to disciplinary action by government ministries supervising its activities or to lawsuits, or may suffer a loss of public confidence, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial position.

If the Company is damaged by natural disasters, then the Company’s operations may suffer great losses.

Japan is a country with frequent earthquakes. If a strong earthquake or related tidal wave occurs, the Company’s manufacturing, logistics, and sales activities may be adversely affected, and may lose revenues and profits depending on the severity of the earthquake or tidal wave. Japan is also hit by typhoons very frequently. If major plants are struck by a large and powerful typhoon, the Company’s operations may suffer great losses due to disruption of operations, delay in production and shipment, and restoration costs for facilities.

 

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Item 4. Information on the Company

A. History and Development of the Company

KUBOTA CORPORATION (KABUSHIKI KAISHA KUBOTA), the ultimate parent company of the Kubota group, was founded in 1890 by Gonshiro Kubota and incorporated in 1930 under the Commercial Code of Japan. In 1949, the shares of the Company were listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and Osaka Securities Exchange. In 1976, the shares of the Company were also listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Today, Kubota is a manufacturer of farm equipment, engines, construction machinery and also producer of various pipe-related products, principally ductile iron pipes and environment-related products such as environmental control plants. In addition, the Company manufactures and sells industrial castings, spiral welded steel pipes, vending machines, electronic-equipped machinery, and air-conditioning equipment.

The Company’s registered office is located at 2-47, Shikitsuhigashi 1-chome, Naniwa-ku, Osaka 556-8601, Japan, telephone +81-6-6648-2111.

The Company’s production network primarily comprises 20 plants in Japan and 10 plants in overseas countries. Kubota also has 15 sales subsidiaries in overseas countries.

Principal Capital Expenditures and Divestitures

Capital expenditures in fiscal 2010, 2009 and 2008 amounted to ¥26,038 million, ¥33,337 million, and ¥35,163 million, respectively. The funding requirements for these capital expenditures were mainly provided by internal operations, and partially provided by external debt financing.

The following table sets forth the principal capital expenditures in progress for the last three fiscal years:

As of March 31, 2010

 

Location

  

Reporting segment included

  

Content

   Estimated amount of
expenditures
   Schedule
         Total amount of
expenditures

(¥ billion)
   Commenced
Chachoengsao (Thailand)    Farm & Industrial Machinery    Building of new production facility for casting parts of tractors and engines in Thailand    ¥6.6    May 2008
Dammam (Saudi Arabia)    Social Infrastructure    Building of new production facility for steel castings in Saudi Arabia    ¥3.4    Mar. 2009
Chon Buri (Thailand)    Farm & Industrial Machinery    Production facilities for combine harvesters in Thailand    ¥2.0    Oct. 2009

As of March 31, 2009

 

Location

  

Reporting segment included

  

Content

   Estimated amount of
expenditures
   Schedule
         Total amount of
expenditures

(¥ billion)
   Commenced
Chachoengsao (Thailand)    Farm & Industrial Machinery    Building of new production facility for casting parts of tractors and engines in Thailand    ¥6.6    May 2008
Dammam (Saudi Arabia)    Water & Environment Systems    Building of new production facility for steel castings in Saudi Arabia    ¥3.4    Mar. 2009

 

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As of March 31, 2008

 

Location

  

Reporting segment included

  

Content

   Estimated amount of
expenditures
   Schedule
         Total amount of
expenditures

(¥ billion)
   Commenced
Suzhou (China)    Farm & Industrial Machinery    Building of new production facility for agricultural equipment in China    ¥1.7    Oct. 2005
Chon Buri (Thailand)    Farm & Industrial Machinery    Building of new production facility for tractors in Thailand    ¥6.2    Jul. 2007

Sakai (Osaka)

Okajima (Osaka)

Tsukuba (Ibaraki)

   Farm & Industrial Machinery    Production facilities for vertical diesel engines to increase production and developing new models    ¥7.3    Jan. 2006
Hirakata (Osaka)    Farm & Industrial Machinery    Restructuring of production system for construction machinery    ¥1.6    Jun. 2006

B. Business Overview

The Company classifies its products for revenue reporting purposes into the following four reporting segments: Farm & Industrial Machinery (which includes farm equipment, engines and construction machinery); Water & Environment Systems (which includes ductile iron pipes, plastic pipes, valves, environmental control plants, pumps and other products); Social Infrastructure (which includes industrial castings, spiral welded steel pipes, vending machines, electronic-equipped machinery, and air-conditioning equipment); and Other (which includes construction, services and other businesses).

Revenues by Reporting Segment

The following table sets forth revenues by reporting segment for the last three fiscal years:

 

     Millions of yen
     2010    2009    2008
     ¥    %    ¥    %    ¥    %

Farm & Industrial Machinery

   616,726    66.2    754,416    68.1    793,654    68.7

Water & Environment Systems

   222,949    24.0    234,275    21.2    224,697    19.5

Social Infrastructure

   63,293    6.8    86,480    7.8    96,929    8.4

Other

   27,676    3.0    32,311    2.9    39,294    3.4
                             

Total

   930,644    100.0    1,107,482    100.0    1,154,574    100.0
                             

 

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Operations of Each Segment

Farm & Industrial Machinery

Farm & Industrial Machinery includes farm equipment, engines and construction machinery. Kubota is Japan’s leading manufacturer of farm equipment and small engines for agricultural use. This market in Japan is dominated by four major manufacturers. Main products include tractors ranging from 10.5 to 135 horsepower, combine harvesters, rice transplanters, power tillers and reaper binders. The Company also manufactures and sells a line of construction machinery including mini-excavators and wheel loaders as well as engines for various industrial uses. Overseas revenues of this segment accounted for 62.8% of the total revenues of this segment in fiscal 2010.

Domestic sales of farm equipment, engines and construction machinery are made through wholesale and retail dealers and the National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations. Overseas revenues are made through trading companies, local distributors and the Company’s overseas subsidiaries and affiliates.

The products in this segment are manufactured at six domestic plants, and the Company has manufacturing subsidiaries in the United States, Germany, China, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam.

Water & Environment Systems

Water & Environment Systems is comprised of pipe-related products and environment-related products. Pipe -related products consist of ductile iron pipes, plastic pipes and fittings, and various valves. Most of these products are sold to local and national governments and public utilities for use principally in water supply and sewage systems along with industrial water supply as well as gas supply, telecommunication and irrigation systems.

Environment-related products consist of environmental control plants, pumps and related engineering. The Company supplies water and sewage treatment plants, submerged membrane systems and biogas production systems for water treatment. The Company also supplies pulverizing facilities for solid waste treatment and various pumps for waterworks, sewage facilities, irrigation system, rainwater drainage and power supplies.

Domestic sales of pipe-related products are made through trading companies and dealers, or directly made to other companies and local and national governments. Overseas sales of pipe-related products are made through trading companies and a subsidiary, or directly made to other companies. A large portion of the sales of environment-related products are made to municipalities focusing on domestic environmental engineering market, which is competitive with many engineering companies. Overseas revenues of this segment accounted for 11.1% of the total revenues of this segment in fiscal 2010. There are 11 manufacturing plants in Japan and no overseas plants.

Social Infrastructure

This segment is comprised of industrial castings, spiral welded steel pipes, vending machines, electronic-equipped machinery, and air-conditioning equipment.

Demand for these products is mostly related to the capital spending of the private sector. Domestic sales of products of this segment are made through trading companies and subsidiaries, or directly made to other companies and public entities. Overseas sales are made through trading companies and a subsidiary, or directly made to other companies. Overseas revenues of this segment accounted for 25.7% of the total revenues of this segment in fiscal 2010. The products in this segment are manufactured at six plants in Japan and manufacturing subsidiaries in Canada and Indonesia.

Other

This segment encompasses all the other businesses that do not belong to the aforementioned three segments. This segment consists of construction, services and other businesses. Most of the products and services of this segment are directly sold to other companies and public entities. Overseas revenues of this segment accounted for 2.8% of the total revenues of this segment in fiscal 2010. There is no manufacturing plant in this segment.

 

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Revenues by Region

The following table sets forth revenues by region for the last three fiscal years:

 

     Millions of yen
     2010    2009    2008

Japan

   ¥ 501,663    ¥ 549,189    ¥ 572,236

Overseas:

        

North America

     174,371      274,151      329,495

Europe

     67,791      108,742      125,388

Asia

     148,589      139,069      93,014

Other Areas

     38,230      36,331      34,441
                    

Subtotal

     428,981      558,293      582,338
                    

Total

   ¥ 930,644    ¥ 1,107,482    ¥ 1,154,574
                    

Overseas Activities

The Company’s overseas revenues (which represent sales to unaffiliated customers outside Japan) in fiscal 2010, 2009, and 2008 amounted to ¥428,981 million, ¥558,293 million and ¥582,338 million, respectively. The ratios of such overseas revenues to consolidated revenues in 2010, 2009, and 2008 were 46.1%, 50.4% and 50.4%, respectively. The revenues of the Company’s subsidiaries outside Japan in fiscal 2010, 2009, and 2008 amounted to ¥386,503 million, ¥519,246 million and ¥547,197 million, respectively. Its ratio to consolidated revenues in fiscal 2010, 2009, and 2008 were 41.5%, 46.9% and 47.4%, respectively.

The Company has manufacturing subsidiaries in the U.S.A., Canada, Germany, China, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam and manufacturing affiliates in China and India. International sales subsidiaries are located in the U.S.A., Canada, France, the U.K., Germany, Spain, Australia, China, South Korea and India. In addition, liaison offices are located in Torrance (California: U.S.A.), Flowery Branch (Georgia : U.S.A.), London (the U.K.), Argenteuil (France), Dubai (U.A.E.), Beijing (China), Suzhou (China), Bangkok (Thailand), Navanakorn (Thailand), Chonburi (Thailand), Selangor (Malaysia), Cairo (Egypt), Delhi (India), Singapore (Singapore), and Quezon City (The Philippines).

Seasonality of the Company’s Businesses

In businesses such as ductile iron pipes, valves, environmental control plants, and pumps, which rely upon national government or municipalities for most of their sales, there is a tendency that sales in the second half of the fiscal year are much larger than those in the first half. Due to the fact that the fiscal years of the Japanese national government and municipalities generally end in March, the execution of public budgets in the second half is usually much larger than in the first half of the fiscal year.

Raw Materials and Source of Supply

The Company purchases raw materials and parts from numerous sources. The major materials purchased are steel scrap, polyvinyl chloride resin, rolled steel coils, non-ferrous metals and alloys and pig iron. Some of the purchase prices of the major materials such as steel scrap fluctuate significantly by supply and demand conditions of the market. Historically, the Company has not had difficulty in obtaining adequate supplies of all of its raw materials requirements.

Marketing Channels

Domestic sales of farm equipment, engines and construction machinery are made through wholesale and retail dealers and the National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations. Overseas sales of those products are made through trading companies, local distributors and the Company’s overseas subsidiaries and affiliates.

A large portion of pipes, valves, environmental control plants and pumps are sold to public-sector markets in Japan directly by the Company, as well as through dealers.

On the other hand, domestic sales of most of the industrial machinery and certain industrial castings are made to private-sector markets through dealers and trading companies, or directly to the end-users. In the case of vending machines, domestic sales are made to manufacturers of beverages or other products sold in vending machines. Overseas sales of those products are made directly by the Company or through trading companies, local distributors and the Company’s overseas subsidiary and an affiliate.

 

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Contracts, Licenses, Patents and Manufacturing Processes

The Company enters into various contracts. Some of them, for example, are for technical cooperation with other manufacturers, or for financing from banks. Although these contracts are relatively important to the Company, we are not dependent on any specific contracts.

With respect to licenses or patents, the Company is not dependent on specific licenses or patents. As of March 31, 2010, the Company held 4,546 Japanese patents and 1,105 foreign patents and utility model registrations. A utility model registration is a right granted under Japanese law and in certain other countries to inventions of lesser originality than those which qualify for patents. Although patent rights are important to Kubota, the Company does not consider that the expiration of any single patent or group of related patents would materially affect Kubota’s business. Kubota grants others licenses to use its technology including its patents, and obtains licenses under patents from third parties for technological assistance on a royalty basis. In fiscal 2010, royalty income and expenses were ¥792 million and ¥102 million, respectively, under such licensing arrangements.

Competition

The Company is the leading manufacturer of farm equipment in Japan. There are three other major Japanese manufacturers of farm equipment and engines for agricultural use, all of which offer a complete line of machinery and engines in competition with the Company. In overseas markets, the Company experiences strong competition from Japanese and foreign companies in the sale of farm equipment and engines.

In Japan, there are two other major manufacturers of ductile iron pipes, two other major manufacturers of plastic pipes and three other major manufacturers of spiral welded steel pipes according to internal research. In export markets for ductile iron pipes, the Company faces strong competition from foreign manufacturers. The Company also encounters strong competition from Japanese and foreign companies in all of its product lines.

Governmental Regulations

Businesses of the Company tend to be affected by the regulations or restrictions in the countries where the Company operate. Those are, for example, regulations concerning emissions, safety, noise and vibration, investments, tariffs, anti-monopoly, intellectual property, foreign exchange, and the environment.

The followings are some of the regulations which have an important effect on the Company’s business.

1) Emissions Regulations for Off-road Diesel Engines

In 1995, the California Air Resources Board in the United States enforced an emissions regulation for off-road engines (below 19 kW in power) for the first time in the world. The Company complied with this standard in the early stage and moved ahead of other competitors toward compliance with emissions regulations that were later enacted in several other countries. Subsequently, the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, in the United States introduced Tier 1 standards in 1994, which were phased in for engines at and above 37kW in power between 1996 and 2000. In 1998, EPA additionally adopted Tier 1 standards for engines below 37kW, which were phased in between 1999 and 2000, and more stringent Tier 2 and Tier 3 standards. Tier 2 standards were phased in between 2001 and 2005 for all engine sizes, and Tier 3 standards for engines between 37 and 560 kW were phased in between 2006 and 2008. The more stringent Tier 4 took effect beginning in 2008 and will be phased through 2015.

In Japan, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (the “Ministry”) launched the Stage 1 low emission construction machineries designation scheme in 1991 and decided to use “low emission construction machinery” in the Ministry’s directly controlled projects starting in 1996. The Stage 2 standard was announced in 1997, and the Ministry began to accept applications for designations under the Stage 2 standard from 2001. In 2003, a similar regulation began to apply to on-road special motor vehicles driven by diesel fuel such as agricultural and construction machinery. This 2003 regulation was set to be equivalent with the Tier 2 regulation of EPA’s. Later in 2006, the regulation for diesel special motor vehicles was tightened to the level of the second phase (equivalent with EPA Tier 3). In April 2006, the Act for the Regulations, etc. of Exhaust Gas from Off-road Special Motor Vehicles (Off-road Act of Japan), intended for motor vehicles that do not run on public roads such as construction machinery, went into effect, which was timed to coincide with the announcement of the Stage 3 of the low emission construction machinery designation scheme. Consequently, the scope of application of this regulation broadened. The regulation for special motor vehicles and off-road special motor vehicles will be tightened to the level of the third phase (equivalent with interim EPA Tier 4) between 2011 and 2013 and to the level of the fourth phase (equivalent with EPA Tier 4) between 2014 and 2015.

In Europe, the Stage 1 emission of gaseous and particulate pollutants from internal combustion engines to be installed in non-road mobile machinery was put into effect under EU Directive 97/68/EC in 1999. The Stage 2 standard was applied between 2001 and 2004 and the Stage 3 standard was applied in 2006, respectively. From 2011, the regulation will be tightened at the same time as Japan and the United States.

The Company’s research and development for new engines equipped with new technology is under way to cope with future Tier 4 regulations in Japan, the United States and Europe as well as regulations in Asian countries including China, Korea, and India.

 

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2) Safety Regulations

There are a variety of regulations concerning safety, and every country or region has its own regulations. ROPS (rollover protective structures), which are designed to protect operators of tractor from injuries caused by vehicle overturns or rollovers, are required to have the necessary specified bearing capacity based on the type of the machine installed and the deflection-related performance requirements. In case of construction machinery, TOPS (tip-over protective structures) and FOPS (falling object protective structures) are required in addition to ROPS. TOPS are designated to prevent an operator from being injured if a machine tips on its side. FOPS are designed to protect equipment operators from injuries caused by objects falling from above, and are required to comply with specified strength requirements specified based on how they are actually used. Those regulations differ in measurement methods or criteria, and major ones in the world are Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS), European Norm (EN), and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). In particular, the EN on safety regulations is compulsory.

3) Regulations on Noise and Vibration

In Europe, the Directive 86/662/EEC, which specifies the noise control standards for non-road equipment such as hydraulic shovels, excavation drills, bulldozers, loaders, and excavation loaders, became effective in December 1986. The Directive was revised in June 1995 into 95/27EC, which became effective in 1997. The Noise Emissions in the Environment by Equipment for Use Outdoors Directive, 2000/14/EC, became effective in January 2002 replacing 95/27/EC. The Directive 2000/14/EC regulates noise emitted to surrounding areas from 57 types of equipment for use in outdoors, such as lawn mowers and construction equipment. Manufacturers are obliged to demonstrate that their products generate noise within the specified range of noise and comply with the requirements of such Directive by attaching a label (guaranteed noise label) before shipping those products to the market (they are also required to attach the CE mark). The noise level regulations in the primary stage were applied during the period from January 3, 2002 to January 2, 2006. The noise value limit was further reduced in January 3, 2006 by the more stringent regulation 2005/88/EC.

In Japan, the Regulations on Designation of Low-noise and Low-vibration Construction Machinery were announced in October 1997 to mitigate noise and vibration from construction work, protect the living environment around the work site, and ensure smooth implementation of construction work. These regulations stipulate the designations of low-noise construction machines and low-vibration construction machines to promote diffusion of environmentally-friendly construction machines. Construction machines that satisfy the noise and emission requirements specified by these regulations are allowed to attach the low-noise construction equipment label. The Company’s mini backhoes of not more than 55 hp, which are required to comply with the noise limit of 99 dB in order to qualify for the level, are all qualified to attach the low-noise construction equipment label. Although compliance with the Regulations is voluntary, there are cases where the use of noncompliant machines is not permitted at work sites for projects under direct management of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

4) Regulation on Hazardous Chemical Substances

In Europe, the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (EC No 1907/2006), or (REACH), entered into force in June 2007. REACH covers a single chemical substance and its compounds as well as those in preparations and in articles. EU manufacturers and importers must gather information on safety assessment, including properties and uses of substances, and register it with the European Chemicals Agency. Also, manufacturers, importers, and users of products containing chemical substances are, in the supply chain, obliged to communicate information on chemical substances that are suspected to be hazardous to humans or the environment. In the future, if the results of the safety assessment by EU authorities require measures such as authorization or restriction of chemical substances, these substances may be required to be replaced by other substances.

The Company will study the REACH regulations that are being gradually introduced, and will continue to take measures to properly manage chemical substances.

 

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C. Organization Structure

As of March 31, 2010, the Kubota Corporation group consists of Kubota Corporation, 105 subsidiaries and 19 affiliates. Kubota Corporation plays a leading role in the group. The following table sets forth the Company’s significant subsidiaries:

 

Country of Incorporation or Residence        

 

Name

   Percentage
ownership (%)

Japan

 

Kubota Construction Co., Ltd.

Kubota Credit Co., Ltd.

Kubota Environmental Service Co., Ltd.

Kubota-C.I. Co., Ltd.

   100.0

66.8

100.0

70.0

U.S.A.

 

Kubota Tractor Corporation

Kubota Credit Corporation, U.S.A.

Kubota Manufacturing of America Corporation

Kubota Engine America Corporation

   90.0

100.0

100.0

90.0

Canada

  Kubota Metal Corporation    100.0

Germany

  Kubota Baumaschinen GmbH    100.0

France

  Kubota Europe S.A.S.    73.8

Thailand

  The Siam Kubota Industry Co., Ltd.    60.0

China

  Kubota Agricultural Machinery (SUZHOU) Co., Ltd    60.0

D. Property, Plant and Equipment

The following table sets forth information with respect to Kubota’s principal manufacturing facilities:

 

Location

   Land area
(Square meters)
   Floor space
(Square meters)
  

Principal products

     Owned    Leased    Owned    Leased     

Japan

              

Amagasaki (Hyogo)

   390,054    11,180    147,375    30    Ductile iron pipes, Rolls for steel mills

Funabashi (Chiba)

   559,372    20,157    146,248    1,124    Ductile iron pipes, Spiral welded steel pipes

Okajima (Osaka)

   78,145    825    48,220    —      Cast iron products

Sakai (Osaka)

   568,267    11,616    174,395    31,513    Farm equipment, Diesel engines

Utsunomiya (Tochigi)

   145,598    —      69,997    10,403    Farm equipment

Tsukuba (Ibaraki)

   334,518    30,118    155,659    23,765    Farm equipment, Diesel engines

Hirakata (Osaka)

   306,102    —      145,346    11,964    Construction machinery, Pumps, Valves, Cast steel products

Konan (Shiga)

   177,556    —      51,606    —      Septic tanks

Yao (Osaka)

   38,102    —      27,469    —      Electronic-equipped machinery

Ryugasaki (Ibaraki)

   84,795    —      31,108    —      Vending machines

U.S.A.

              

Gainesville (Georgia)

   840,812    —      117,978    —      Lawn and garden tractors

Jefferson (Georgia)

   356,000    —      37,400    —      Implements for tractors

Thailand

              

Amata Nakorn (Chon Buri)

   324,320    —      43,200    —      Tractors and Combine harvesters

 

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The Company considers its principal manufacturing facilities to be well maintained and suitable for the purpose for which they are employed and believes that its plant capacity is adequate for its current and near-term needs.

In addition, the Company owns 2,460,824 square meters of land (309,006 square meters of floor space) in Japan, used for the head office, branches, business offices and research facilities, and leases 2,605 square meters of land (124,208 square meters of floor space) used for sales offices, warehousing, employee housing and other purposes.

The Company plans its capital expenditures considering future business demand and cash flows. As of March 2010, the Company has planned to invest approximately ¥35.0 billion in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2011. The Company intends to fund the investment basically through cash obtained by operating activities, and to also utilize available borrowings from financial institutions. The Company’s commitments for capital expenditures outstanding at March 31, 2010 amounted to ¥1.6 billion.

Principal plans for new construction, expansion, reforming, and disposition as of March 31, 2010 are as follows:

New Construction

 

                Estimated amount of
expenditures

(Billions of yen)
  

Schedule

Location

  

Reporting segment included

  

Content

   Total
amount of
expenditures
   Amount
already
paid
  

Commenced

  

To be
completed

Chachoengsao (Thailand)

   Farm & Industrial Machinery    Building of new production facility for casting parts of tractors and engines in Thailand    ¥ 6.6    ¥ 2.8    May. 2008    Mar. 2012

Dammam (Saudi Arabia)

   Social Infrastructure    Building of new production facility for steel castings in Saudi Arabia    ¥ 3.4    ¥ 0.2    Mar. 2009    Sep. 2010

Expansion

 

                Estimated amount of
expenditures

(Billions of yen)
  

Schedule

Location

  

Reporting segment included

  

Content

   Total
amount of
expenditures
   Amount
already
paid
  

Commenced

  

To be
completed

Chon Buri (Thailand)

   Farm & Industrial Machinery    Production facilities for combine harvesters in Thailand    ¥ 2.0    ¥ 0.4    Oct. 2009    Dec. 2012

 

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Reforming

No material reforming is planned.

Disposition

No material disposition is planned.

Item 4A. Unresolved Staff Comments

The Company is a large accelerated filer as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. There are no unresolved comments provided by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding the Company’s periodic reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as of the date of the filing of this Form 20-F with the Commission.

 

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Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects

A. Operating Results

Overview

Organization

The Company is one of Japan’s leading manufacturers of a comprehensive range of machinery and products including farm equipment, pipes for water supply and sewage systems, environmental control plants, and industrial castings. The Company also provides retail finance and finance leases, which primarily finance sales of equipment by dealers, for the purpose of enhancing sales of equipment to individual customers.

The Company’s reporting segments consist of “Farm & Industrial Machinery”, “Water & Environment Systems”, “Social Infrastructure” and “Other”.

The Company generates revenues and cash primarily from the sales of products to dealers, affiliated companies and trading companies or direct sales of products to end users.

For more than a century since its founding, the Company has continued to help improve people’s quality of life and the development of society through its products and services. Currently, the Company is focusing on prioritizing the allocation of its resources, emphasizing agility in its operations, and strengthening consolidated operations. Through these measures, the Company intends to improve its ability to respond with flexibility to the changing times, to achieve high enterprise value.

Business environment

(Japan: The domestic market)

In Japan, the overall economic environment remained sluggish and the agricultural market recorded a slight decrease even with additional governmental subsidies.

According to a report of JFMMA (Japan Farm Machinery Manufacturer’s Association), the shipment amount of agricultural machinery in 2009 for the domestic market decreased by 0.5% from the prior year.

Budgets for public works projects have been gradually decreasing due to the growing budget deficits in the Japanese national and local governments. For example, the budget of the Japanese Government for the water supply decreased by 5.0% and budget for the sewage system also decreased by 4.9% from the prior year.

(North America)

The U.S. economy was in serious recession and business conditions remained severe throughout the year. Demand for tractors and construction machinery marked a sizable drop reflecting slumping housing starts and home sales.

According to a 2009 report by AEM (Association of Equipment Manufacturers), industry retail sales units of tractors under 40hp (horse power) decreased by 19.8% and industry retail sales units of tractors from 40 to 100hp decreased by 28.4% from the prior year.

In Canada, demand for agricultural machinery and construction machinery decreased. As for tractors, industry retail sales units of tractors in Canada in 2009 decreased 20.0% from the prior year according to the AEM report.

(Europe)

The economy in Europe entered into a steep recession in the first half of 2009 and the European Union recorded negative GDP growth of -4.2% in 2009, as compared to the positive growth of 0.7% in the prior year. Although the EU economy returned to positive growth in the latter half of 2009, the growth was at a sluggish pace.

Demand for construction machinery and engines for industrial use, which is highly sensitive to economic conditions, drastically decreased in Europe. Demand for tractors also declined substantially. However, the degree of decrease in demand for tractors was much milder than those of construction machinery and engines.

 

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(Asia outside Japan)

The Company believes that development of economy and industrialization as well as an increase in farmers’ income in a country are important factors for the progress of agricultural mechanization.

GDP per capita in Thailand exceeded US$ 3,000 several years ago, and demand for agricultural machinery has been rapidly increasing since then due to a decrease of labor force in rural area resulting from economic development and migration of the population from the agriculture sector to other industrial sectors.

In China, government subsidies to enhance agricultural mechanization are increasing each year. The subsidy in 2009 increased more than threefold, to Rmb13 billion from the prior year. As for rice farming, the Chinese government establishes target ratios of agricultural mechanization, and these policies are helping to grow demand for agricultural machinery over the long term.

(The fiscal year ended March 31, 2010 compared with the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009)

Revenues

For the year ended March 31, 2010, revenues of the Company decreased ¥176.8 billion (16.0%), to ¥930.6 billion, from the prior year.

In the domestic market, revenues decreased ¥47.5 billion (8.7%), to ¥501.7 billion from the prior year. Revenues in Farm & Industrial Machinery decreased mainly due to depressed sales of engines and construction machinery, while sales of tractors and farm machinery increased. Revenues in Water & Environment Systems decreased due to a decrease in sales of pipe-related products such as ductile iron pipes and plastic pipes, and a decrease in sales of environment-related products. Revenues in Social Infrastructure and Other also decreased.

Revenues in overseas markets decreased ¥129.3 billion (23.2%), to ¥429.0 billion from the prior year. In Farm & Industrial Machinery, revenues in Asia outside Japan favorably increased centering on combine harvesters and rice transplanters. However, revenues in North America and Europe decreased due to a decrease in sales of tractors, engines and construction machinery. Accordingly, total revenues in Farm & Industrial Machinery substantially decreased. On the other hand, revenues in Water & Environment Systems largely increased due to increased sales of ductile iron pipes and pumps. Revenues in Social Infrastructure decreased mainly due to a decrease in sales of industrial castings, and revenues in Other decreased. The ratio of overseas revenues to consolidated revenues was 46.1%, 4.3 percentage points lower than the prior year.

The Company estimates that the unfavorable impact of foreign currency fluctuations on the Company’s overseas revenues for the year under review was approximately ¥54.7 billion. The average exchange rates of the yen against the U.S. dollar were ¥94 and ¥103 for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and the average exchange rates of the yen against the Euro were ¥130 and ¥152 for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. These currency fluctuations mainly influence revenues in the Farm & Industrial Machinery segment, as the overseas revenues of this segment account for most of the Company’s overseas revenues.

Revenues by Reporting Segment

1) Farm & Industrial Machinery

Revenues in Farm & Industrial Machinery were ¥616.7 billion, 18.3% lower than the prior year, comprising 66.2% of consolidated revenues. Domestic revenues decreased 2.3%, to ¥229.6 billion, and overseas revenues decreased 25.5%, to ¥387.1 billion. This segment comprises farm equipment, engines and construction machinery.

In the domestic market, sales of farm equipment and engines decreased ¥2.2 billion (1.0%) from the prior year, and sales of construction machinery decreased ¥3.3 billion (16.4%) from the prior year. Demand for farm equipment in the first half of the year under review was sluggish due to the economic slump and uncertainty over the agricultural policy of national government. In addition, farmers’ investment for farm equipment decreased due to decreasing nonagricultural income of part-time farmers, which comprise a large percentage of the agricultural population in Japan. On the one hand, demand for farm equipment in the latter half of the year under review was brisk due to implementation of additional governmental subsidies for leasing agricultural machinery. The application for this subsidy started in July 2009 and the payment ended on March 31, 2010. At the same time, market condition of construction machinery remained severe with a lack of recovery of investment in construction. In this circumstance, the Company actively introduced new products and implemented promotional sales activities, and sales of tractors and farm machinery increased. However, sales of engine and construction machinery decreased substantially.

In the overseas markets, sales of farm equipment and engines decreased ¥107.9 billion (23.6%) from the prior year and sales of construction machinery decreased ¥24.2 billion (38.5%) from the prior year. Sales of tractors decreased significantly. In Asia outside Japan, although tractor unit sales were steady in terms of quantity, revenues from tractor sales decreased due to the appreciation of the yen. Moreover, sales of tractors in North America and Europe decreased substantially due to a stagnation of the markets and the appreciation of the yen. Sales of construction machinery and engines decreased substantially owing to a sharp decline of demand in North America and Europe. On the other hand, sales of combine harvesters and rice transplanters increased owing to a significant increase in sales in China and Thailand.

 

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2) Water & Environment Systems

Revenues in Water & Environment Systems decreased 4.8%, to ¥222.9 billion from the prior year, comprising 24.0% of consolidated revenues. Domestic revenues decreased 9.0%, to ¥198.1 billion, and overseas revenues increased 49.1%, to ¥24.9 billion. This segment comprises pipe-related products (ductile iron pipes, plastic pipes, valves, and other products) and environment-related products (environmental control plants, pumps and other products).

In the domestic market, sales of pipe-related products such as ductile iron pipes and plastic pipes decreased 10.3%, to ¥127.7 billion from the prior year due to shrinkage of public investments and sluggish demand in housing market. Sales of environment-related products also decreased 6.4%, to ¥70.4 billion from the prior year mainly due to a decrease in sales of waste engineering products.

In the overseas markets, export sales of ductile iron pipes to the Middle East favorably increased and sales of valves and pumps also increased steadily.

3) Social Infrastructure

Revenues in Social Infrastructure decreased 26.8%, to ¥63.3 billion from the prior year, comprising 6.8% of consolidated revenues. Domestic revenues decreased 28.3%, to ¥47.0 billion, and overseas revenues decreased 22.1%, to ¥16.3 billion. This segment consists of industrial castings, spiral welded steel pipes, vending machines, electronic-equipped machinery, and air-conditioning equipment.

In the domestic market, sales of all products in this segment, primarily industrial castings and spiral welded steel pipes, decreased affected by substantial declines in capital spending. In overseas markets, sales of industrial castings largely decreased.

4) Other

Revenues in Other decreased 14.3%, to ¥27.7 billion from the prior year, comprising 3.0% of consolidated revenues. Domestic revenues decreased 12.7%, to ¥26.9 billion, and overseas revenues decreased 47.9%, to ¥0.8 billion. This segment comprises construction, services and other businesses.

Construction sales decreased due to sluggish investment in construction and sales in other businesses in this segment largely decreased.

The Company adopted the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 280, “Segments Reporting”. Upon this adoption, the Company reclassified its reporting segments from previously classified segments of Internal Combustion Engine and Machinery; Pipes, Valves, and Industrial Castings; Environmental Engineering; and Other to the following four reporting segments : Farm & Industrial Machinery; Water & Environment Systems; Social Infrastructure; and Other. Accordingly, figures for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009 have been reclassified to conform to the presentation for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2010.

Cost of Revenues, SG&A Expenses, and Other Operating Expenses

The cost of revenues significantly decreased 15.9% from the prior year, to ¥681.4 billion in conjunction with substantial decline of sales. However, the cost of revenues as a ratio to consolidated revenues was 73.2%, the same level as the prior year due to company-wide cost reduction activities and the benefit of price declines of raw materials. The Company estimates that it was positively impacted by approximately ¥20.0 billion from such price declines of raw materials.

Selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) expenses decreased 7.3% from the prior year, to ¥179.4 billion. However, the ratio of SG&A expenses to revenues increased 1.8 percentage points, to 19.3% due to an increase in pension costs and lower revenues of the fiscal year under review.

Other operating expenses decreased ¥0.8 billion from the prior year, to ¥0.2 billion.

 

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Operating Income

Operating income decreased ¥33.1 billion (32.2%), to ¥69.7 billion from the prior year. Operating income in Farm & Industrial Machinery decreased substantially due to declining revenues in North America and Europe, and the appreciation of the yen. On the other hand, operating income in Water & Environment Systems increased sharply due to price declines of raw materials and absence of recorded losses related to the Anti-Monopoly Law in the prior year. Operating income in Social Infrastructure decreased largely as a result of decreased capital spending, while operating income in Other increased.

Operating income in each reporting segment (before the elimination of intersegment profits and adjustments) was as follows: Farm & Industrial Machinery, operating income of ¥60.5 billion, a 41.7% decrease; Water & Environment Systems, operating income of ¥19.7 billion, a 531.9% increase; Social Infrastructure, operating income of ¥2.7 billion, a 66.3% decrease; and Other, operating income of ¥2.6 billion, a 45.1% increase.

Other income

Other income, net, was ¥3.8 billion, as compared to other expenses, net of ¥19.6 billion in the prior year. This improvement was mainly due to a turn from a foreign exchange loss into a foreign exchange gain and a decrease in valuation losses on other investments. The Company recorded a foreign exchange gain-net of ¥2.9 billion, as compared to a foreign exchange loss-net of ¥11.5 billion in the prior year. Foreign exchange gains or losses generally arise from the revaluation of foreign currency-denominated assets such as notes and accounts receivables at the balance sheet date; the difference between carrying value and settlement value of foreign currency-denominated assets; and valuation on foreign exchange forward contracts and options. U.S. dollar, Euro and Baht-denominated assets accounted for a large portion of foreign exchange gains or losses. The valuation losses on other investments decreased ¥8.5 billion, to ¥0.1 billion from the prior year due to a recovery of the stock market.

Income from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes and Equity in Net Income of Affiliated Companies

Income from Continuing Operations before income taxes and equity in net income of affiliated companies decreased ¥9.8 billion, to ¥73.5 billion from the prior year due to a decrease in operating income.

Income Taxes, Equity in Net Income of Affiliated Companies, and Net Income

Income Taxes decreased 9.6% from the prior year, to ¥26.0 billion, primarily as a result of the decline in Income from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes and Equity in Net Income of Affiliated Companies. The effective tax rate was 35.4%, the similar level as 34.5% of the prior year. Equity in net income of affiliated companies was ¥0.4 billion, an increase of ¥0.2 billion from the prior year. As a result, net income decreased 12.5% from the prior year, to ¥47.9 billion.

Net Income attributable to the noncontrolling interests

Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests decreased 16.3% from the prior year, to ¥5.6 billion due to lower profits of consolidated subsidiaries.

Net Income attributable to Kubota Corporation

Due to the factors described above, net income attributable to Kubota Corporation decreased 11.9% from the prior year, to ¥42.3 billion. Return on shareholders’ equity decreased 0.8 percentage points, to 7.0%, from the prior year.

Net Income attributable to Kubota Corporation per ADS

Basic net income attributable to Kubota Corporation per ADS (five common shares) was ¥166, as compared to ¥188 in the prior year.

Dividends

The Company paid ¥25 per ADS as a year-end cash dividend. Accordingly, including the interim dividend of ¥35 per ADS paid by the Company, the total dividend for the year ended March 31, 2010 was ¥60 per ADS, which was ¥10 per ADS less than the prior year.

 

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Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive Income was ¥70.8 billion, as compared to comprehensive loss of ¥45.3 billion in the prior year. This improvement was mainly due to a favorable effect of foreign currency translation adjustments and a turn from unrealized losses on securities into unrealized gains on securities, which resulted from improvement in the stock market.

(The fiscal year ended March 31, 2009 compared with the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008)

Revenues

For the year ended March 31, 2009, revenues of the Company decreased ¥47.1 billion (4.1%), to ¥1,107.5 billion, from the prior year.

In the domestic market, revenues decreased ¥23.0 billion (4.0%), to ¥549.2 billion from the prior year. Revenues in Farm & Industrial Machinery decreased due to depressed sales of farm equipment and engines resulting from stagnant market conditions and substantially lower sales of construction machinery due to demand shrinkage accompanied by economic slowdown. Revenues in Water & Environment Systems increased due to a substantial increase in sales of ductile iron pipes and an increase in sales of water and sewage engineering products, while sales of plastic pipes decreased. Revenues in Social Infrastructure decreased due mainly to decreased sales of vending machine. Revenues in Other also decreased mainly due to a decline of sales of construction.

Revenues in overseas markets decreased ¥24.0 billion (4.1%), to ¥558.3 billion from the prior year. In Farm & Industrial Machinery, sales of combine harvesters and rice transplanters increased favorably, however, sales of engines decreased substantially and sales of tractors decreased slightly. In addition, sales of construction machinery significantly decreased in North American and European markets. Revenues in Water & Environment Systems increased due to increased sales of ductile iron pipes. Revenues in Social Infrastructure decreased due to a decrease in sales of industrial castings. Revenues in Other increased. The ratio of overseas revenues to consolidated revenues was 50.4%, the same as the prior year.

The Company estimates that the unfavorable impact of foreign currency fluctuations on the Company’s overseas revenues for the year under review was approximately ¥65.1 billion. The average rates of yen against the U.S. dollar were ¥103 and ¥118 for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and the average rates of yen against the Euro were ¥152 and ¥161 for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. These currency fluctuations mainly influence revenues in the Farm & Industrial Machinery segment, as these products account for most of the overseas revenues.

Revenues by Reporting Segment

1) Farm & Industrial Machinery

Revenues in Farm & Industrial Machinery were ¥754.4 billion, 4.9% lower than the prior year, comprising 68.1% of consolidated revenues. Domestic revenues decreased 5.3%, to ¥235.2 billion, and overseas revenues decreased 4.8%, to ¥519.3 billion. This segment comprises farm equipment, engines and construction machinery.

In the domestic market, sales of farm equipment and engines decreased ¥39.1 billion (1.8%) from the prior year, and sales of construction machinery decreased ¥9.2 billion (31.3%) from the prior year. The operating environment continued to be challenging due to stagnant demand for farm equipment resulting from the economic slowdown, the price hikes of agricultural materials and a decrease in construction investment. In these circumstances, the Company actively introduced new products and implemented promotional sales activity, and sales of combine harvesters and rice transplanters increased. However, sales of tractors and engine decreased, and construction machinery sales decreased substantially.

In overseas markets, sales of farm equipment and engines decreased ¥1.9 billion (0.4%) from the prior year. Sales of tractors decreased slightly. In Asia outside Japan, sales of tractors in Thailand sustained a sharp increase, and sales in Europe also increased steadily due to the launching of new products. However, sales of tractors in North America decreased substantially due to a stagnation of the markets and appreciation of the yen. Sales of engines decreased, as European and North American clients reduced purchases to lower their inventory levels. On the other hand, sales of combine harvesters and rice transplanters increased sharply in China. Sales of construction machinery decreased substantially by ¥24.2 billion (27.8%) from the prior year due to the rapid economic slowdown in Europe.

Foreign currency fluctuations had a significant influence on revenues in this segment. The unfavorable impact of these foreign currency fluctuations on the Company’s revenues is mostly related to this segment.

 

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2) Water & Environment Systems

Revenues in Water & Environment Systems increased 4.3%, to ¥234.3 billion from the prior year, comprising 21.2% of consolidated revenues. Domestic revenues increased 2.5%, to ¥217.6 billion, and overseas revenues increased 35.0%, to ¥16.7 billion. This segment comprises pipe-related products (ductile iron pipes, plastic pipes, valves and other products) and environment-related products (environmental control plants, pumps and other products).

In the domestic market, sales of pipe-related products increased ¥2.0 billion (1.4%) from the prior year. Sales of ductile iron pipes increased largely due to price increases. However, sales of plastic pipes decreased due to declining demand. Sales of environment-related products increased ¥3.3 billion (4.6%) from the prior year. Operating conditions remained challenging during the fiscal year under review. However, due to step-up sales efforts, sales of the products in this segment increased steadily.

In overseas markets, sales of pipe-related products increased ¥4.8 billion (74.3%) and environment-related products decreased ¥0.4 billion (7.4%) from the prior year sales. Export sales of ductile iron pipes to the Middle East favorably increased and sales of pumps also increased smoothly.

3) Social Infrastructure

Revenues in Social Infrastructure decreased 10.8%, to ¥86.5 billion from the prior year, comprising 7.8% of consolidated revenues. Domestic revenues decreased 9.6%, to ¥65.6 billion, and overseas revenues decreased 14.3%, to ¥20.9 billion. This segment consists of industrial castings, spiral welded steel pipes, vending machines, electronic equipped machinery, air-conditioning equipment.

In the domestic market, sales of spiral welded steel pipes increased largely due to price increases. However, sales of vending machines decreased substantially due to the decreased demand for cigarette-vending machines with the age-identification function, for which the temporary demand was very high in the prior year.

In overseas markets, sales of industrial castings decreased affected by the slowdown in capital spendings in the private sector.

4) Other

Revenues in Other decreased 17.8%, to ¥32.3 billion from the prior year, comprising 2.9% of consolidated revenues. Domestic revenues decreased 21.0%, to ¥30.8 billion, and overseas revenues increased 427.8%, to ¥1.5 billion. This segment comprises construction, services and other business.

Construction sales decreased. In addition, sales of condominiums were absent in this fiscal year because some shares of the subsidiary which conducted the condominium business were sold and the subsidiary changed into an affiliated company in the prior year. As a result, revenues in Other largely decreased.

Cost of Revenues, SG&A Expenses, and Other Operating Expenses

The cost of revenues decreased 1.7% from the prior year, to ¥810.2 billion. The cost of revenues as a ratio to consolidated revenues increased 1.7 percentage points, to 73.1%. The increase in the ratio was attributable to sharply rising material costs, including those for scrap iron and synthetic resin. The Company estimates that it was negatively impacted by approximately ¥16.0 billion from such sharply rising material costs consisting of approximately ¥11.0 billion in Farm & Industrial Machinery from the increase in prices of thin and thick steel sheets, castings and resin parts and approximately ¥5.0 billion in Water & Environment Systems and Social Infrastructure from the increase in prices of scrap iron, synthetic resin.

Selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) expense was ¥193.4 billion, the same level as the prior year. However, the ratio of SG&A expenses to revenues increased 0.8 percentage point, to 17.5% due to lower revenues of the fiscal year under review.

Other operating expenses increased ¥0.3 billion from the prior year, to ¥1.0 billion.

Operating Income

Operating income decreased ¥34.1 billion (24.9%), to ¥102.8 billion, from the prior year. Operating income in Farm & Industrial Machinery decreased largely due to decreased demand, the appreciation of the yen and price hikes of raw materials. Decreases in operating income in Water & Environment Systems resulted from recorded surcharge related to the Anti-Monopoly Law corresponding to ductile iron pipe business. Operating income in Social Infrastructure decreased mainly due to sales decline of vending machines, and operating income in Other also decreased mainly due to sales decline of construction and the absence of condominium business.

Operating income in each reporting segment (before the elimination of intersegment profits and adjustments) was as follows: Farm & Industrial Machinery, operating income of ¥103.8 billion, a 21.9% decrease; Water & Environment Systems, operating income of ¥3.1 billion, a 16.6% decrease; Social Infrastructure, operating income of ¥8.0 billion, a 31.3% decrease; and Other, operating income of ¥1.8 billion, a 46.4% decrease.

 

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Other Expenses

Other expenses, net, was ¥19.6 billion, an increase of ¥5.3 billion from the prior year. This increase was mainly due to increases in foreign exchange loss and valuation loss on other investments. The Company recorded a foreign exchange loss-net of ¥11.5 billion, an increase of ¥2.5 billion compared with the prior year. Foreign exchange gains or losses mainly arise from the revaluation of foreign currency-denominated assets such as trade notes and trade accounts at the balance sheet date; the difference between carrying value and settlement value of foreign currency-denominated assets; and valuation on foreign exchange forward contracts and options. The large amount of foreign exchange losses resulted mainly from the revaluation of foreign currency-denominated assets such as notes and accounts receivable due to the yen appreciation against major currencies during the fiscal year under review. U.S. dollar, Euro and Baht-denominated assets accounted for a large portion of foreign exchange losses. The valuation losses on other investment, which increased ¥1.9 billion, to ¥8.6 billion, were caused by a stock market declines in Japan and mainly related to the shares of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group and that of Tsukishima Kikai Co., Ltd.

Income from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes and Equity in Net Income of Affiliated Companies

Income before income taxes and equity in net income of affiliated companies was ¥83.3 billion, a decrease of ¥39.3 billion from the prior year.

This decrease was due to a decrease in operating income and an increase in other expenses resulting from increases in foreign exchange loss and valuation losses on other investments.

Income Taxes, Equity in Net Income of Affiliated Companies, and Net Income

Income taxes decreased 40.2% from the prior year, to ¥28.7 billion. The effective tax rate decreased 4.7% from 39.2% of the prior year, to 34.5%. The decrease in tax rate was mainly due to the effect of reversing part of the deferred tax liabilities because of a tax law revision related to the taxation of dividends from overseas subsidiaries. Equity in net income of affiliated companies was ¥0.2 billion at the same level of the prior year. As a result, net income decreased 26.8% from the prior year, to ¥54.7 billion.

Net Income attributable to the noncontrolling interests

Net Income attributable to the noncontrolling interests was ¥6.7 billion at the same level of the prior year.

Net Income attributable to Kubota Corporation

Due to the factors described above, net income attributable to Kubota Corporation decreased 29.3% from the prior year, to ¥48.1 billion. Return on shareholders’ equity decreased 2.6 percentage points, to 7.8%, from the prior year.

Income per ADS

Basic net income per ADS (five common shares) was ¥188, as compared to ¥264 in the prior year.

Dividends

The Company paid ¥35 per ADS as year-end cash dividends. Accordingly, including the interim dividend of ¥35 per ADS paid by the Company, the total dividends for the year ended March 31, 2009 were ¥70 per ADS, which was the same as the prior year.

The Company’s basic policy for the return of profit to shareholders is to maintain stable dividends or to provide increased dividends combined with share buy-backs and the cancellation of treasury stock. For reference, the Company purchased 8.40 million shares outstanding (¥5.3 billion) during the year under review.

Comprehensive loss

Comprehensive loss was ¥45.3 billion, ¥58.3 billion lower than the prior year. This decrease was mainly due to increase in negative effect of foreign currency translation adjustments resulting from the appreciation of the yen.

 

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Critical Accounting Estimates

The consolidated financial statements of the Company are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (U.S.GAAP). The preparation of these statements requires the uses of estimates and assumptions about future events. Accounting estimates and assumptions discussed in this section are those that the Company considers to be the most critical to an understanding of its financial statements.

1) Allowance for doubtful receivables

The evaluation of the collectability of the Company’s notes and accounts receivable, finance receivables, and non-current receivables requires the use of certain estimates. Such estimates require consideration of historical loss expense adjusted for current conditions, and judgments about the probable effects of relevant observable data including present economic conditions such as financial health of specific customers and collateral values. Sharp changes in the economy or a significant change in the economic health of a particular customer could result in actual receivable losses that are materially different from the estimated reserve.

2) Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The application of impairment accounting requires the use of significant estimates and assumptions. Long-lived assets to be held and used are reviewed for impairment by comparing the carrying value of asset group with their estimated undiscounted future cash flows. This review is primarily performed using estimates of future cash flows by product category. If the carrying value of the asset group is considered impaired, an impairment loss is recorded for the amount by which the carrying value of the asset group exceeds its fair value. The fair value is determined using the present value of estimated net cash flows. This approach uses significant estimates and assumptions, which are inherently uncertain and unpredictable and would not reflect unanticipated events and circumstances that may occur.

3) Pension Assumptions

The measurement of the Company’s benefit obligation to its employees and the periodic benefit cost requires the use of certain assumptions, such as estimates of discount rates, expected return on plan assets, retirement rate, and mortality rate. The Company immediately recognizes net actuarial gains and losses in excess of 20% of the larger of the projected benefit obligation or plan assets in the year following the year in which such gains and losses were incurred, while the portion between 10% and 20% is amortized over the average participants’ remaining service period (approximately 15 years). Accordingly, significant changes in assumptions or significant divergences of actual results from the assumptions may have a material effect on periodic benefit cost in the future periods.

The Company recorded an actuarial loss of ¥9.6 billion, which contained the immediate recognition amount of net actuarial losses in excess of 20% of the projected benefit obligation, as a component of net periodic benefit cost for the year ended March 31, 2010. This actuarial loss was derived from a significant decline on fair value of plan assets during the years ended March 31, 2009 and March 31, 2008 due to the financial crisis.

In preparing the financial statements, the Company assumed the discount rate used in calculating benefit obligation of 2.4% at March 31, 2010, and 2.5% at March 31, 2009, respectively. A lower discount rate increases benefit obligations, which could affect the periodic benefit cost in the following years by an increase in service cost, a decrease in interest cost, and, if amortized, an increase in amortization cost through the amortization of actuarial loss. Each 50 basis point increase or decrease in the discount rate will have an estimated increase or decrease of ¥8.2 billion on the benefit obligations at March 31, 2010.

The Company assumed an expected return on plan assets of 2.5% for the years ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, and 3.0% for the year ended March 31, 2008, respectively. The Company lowered the expected return on plan assets to 2.5% for the year ended March 31, 2009 in consideration of the revision of the portfolio of pension plan assets by increasing the portion of debt securities in order to stabilize the return on plan assets, which increased the periodic benefit cost for the year ended March 31, 2009 by approximately ¥0.5 billion.

The lower rate of return on plan assets decreases the expected return amount in the next year. Each 50 basis point increase or decrease in the expected rate of return on plan assets will have an estimated increase or decrease of ¥0.5 billion on the periodic benefit cost for the year ending March 31, 2011.

 

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4) Income Taxes

During the ordinary course of business, there are many transactions and calculations for which the ultimate tax determination is uncertain. As a result, the Company recognizes tax liabilities based on estimates of whether additional taxes will be due. These tax liabilities are recognized when, despite the Company’s belief that its tax return positions are supportable, the Company believes that certain positions are likely to be challenged and may not be fully sustained upon review by tax authorities. The Company uses a more likely than not threshold to the recognition and derecognition of tax positions. This assessment relies on estimates and assumptions and may involve a series of complex judgments about future events. To the extent that the final tax outcome of these matters is different than the amounts recorded, such differences will impact income tax expense in the period in which such determination is made.

During the year ended March 31, 2008, the tax authorities in the United States and Japan reached an agreement on a bilateral Advance Pricing Agreement (“APA”), which covered the periods through the year ended March 31, 2010, as to certain intercompany transactions between related parties in the United States and Japan. The Company estimated the unrecognized tax benefits for an additional tax payment to Japanese tax authority of ¥6.5 billion and a tax refund from the United States tax authority of ¥4.7 billion at March 31, 2009. In accordance with the expiration of the APA, the Company accrued a tax payment of ¥4.5 billion in income taxes payable with a recognition of a tax refund of ¥2.8 billion in other current assets at March 31, 2010. This difference between estimates and actual results did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated results of operations or financial position for the year ended March 31, 2010 since the tax refund decreased in proportion to the decrease of additional tax payment.

Significant judgment is also required in determining any valuation allowance recorded against deferred tax assets. In assessing the need for a valuation allowance, the Company considers all available evidence, including past operating results, estimates of future taxable income, and the feasibility of ongoing tax planning strategies. In the event that the Company changes its determination as to the amount of deferred tax assets that can be realized, the Company will adjust its valuation allowance with a corresponding impact to income tax expense in the period in which such determination is made.

5) Revenue recognition for long-term contracts

The Company uses the percentage of completion method to recognize revenue from long-term contracts primarily in construction works with the Japanese national government and local governments. The percentage of completion method requires the use of estimates and assumptions to measure total contracts, remaining costs to completion, and total contract revenues. The Company continually reviews the estimates and assumptions. Any revisions in revenue, cost, and profit estimates or in measurements of the extent of progress toward completion are accounted for in the consolidated statements of income for the fiscal year in which those revisions have been made.

6) Loss Contingencies

The Company is currently facing asbestos-related issues, and is a party to certain legal proceedings. The Company reviews the status of each matter and assesses its potential financial exposure on a regular basis. If the potential losses from these matters are considered probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated, the Company accrues a liability for the estimated loss. The Company considers the progress of legal proceedings, recent similar court cases, and other relevant factors in order to assess whether the conditions of loss contingencies are met. Because of uncertainties related to these matters, accruals are based only on the best information available at the time. As additional information becomes available, the Company reassesses the potential liability and may revise the estimates. Subsequent revisions in the estimates of the potential liabilities could have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations and financial position in the period they are made.

 

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New Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2009, the FASB issued the ASC. The ASC restructured the previous U.S. GAAP by providing the authoritative literature in a topical structure. The ASC is effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009 and was adopted by the Company for the second quarter ended September 30, 2009. The adoption of the ASC did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations and financial position.

In June 2009, the FASB issued a new accounting standard related to improvements to financial reporting by enterprises involved with variable interest entity (VIE). This standard requires an analysis to determine whether the enterprise’s variable interest or interests give it a controlling financial interest in a VIE. This standard also requires ongoing reassessments of whether an enterprise is the primary beneficiary of a VIE and eliminates the quantitative approach previously required for determining the primary beneficiary of a VIE. This standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2009. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In September 2009, the FASB issued a new accounting standard related to investments in certain entities that calculate net asset value per share (or its equivalent). This standard creates a practical expedient to measure the fair value of an investment on the basis of the net asset value per share of the investment (or its equivalent) determined as of the reporting entity’s measurement date. This standard is effective for the interim and annual periods ending after December 15, 2009 and was adopted by the Company for the third quarter ended December 31, 2009. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations and financial position.

In October 2009, the FASB issued a new accounting standard related to revenue recognition for multiple-deliverable arrangements. This standard requires arrangement consideration be allocated to all deliverables using a selling price or estimated selling price and eliminates the residual method of allocation. This standard also requires additional qualitative and quantitative disclosures. This standard is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010 and can be applied prospectively for revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified, or retrospectively for all prior periods. The Company is currently calculating the impact of the application of this standard on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

B. Liquidity and Capital Resources

Finance and Liquidity Management

The Company’s financial policy is to ensure adequate financing and liquidity for its operations and to maintain the strength of its balance sheet. Through cash and cash equivalents, other current assets, cash flows provided by operating activities, and borrowing, the Company is in a position to fully finance the expansion of its business, R&D, and capital expenditures for current and future business projects. The specific methods of obtaining financing available to the Company are borrowing from financial institutions, establishing committed lines of credit, and the issuance of bonds and commercial paper (CP) in the capital markets.

The weighted average interest rate on such short-term borrowings at March 31, 2010, was 1.5% (U.S. dollar 0.8%, Thai Baht 1.7%, others 1.7%). As for long-term debt, both fixed and floating rates were included in the interest rates, and the weighted average interest rate on such long-term debt at March 31, 2010, was 1.8% (Japanese yen 1.2%, U.S. dollar 2.0%, others 3.4%). With regard to the maturity profile of these borrowings, please refer to Item 5.F “Tabular Disclosure of Contractual Obligations”

Annual interest rates of short-term borrowings ranged primarily from 0.50% to 4.78% at March 31, 2010. The weighted average interest rate on such short-term borrowings was 1.5%. As for long-term debt, both fixed and floating rates were included in the interest rates, and the weighted average interest rate on such long-term debt at March 31, 2010, was 2.0%. With regard to the maturity profile of these borrowings, please refer to Item 5.F “Tabular Disclosure of Contractual Obligations”.

After the worsening of the sub-prime loan problem and shockwaves from the Lehman Brothers’ collapse in the United States, the world financial market had been in turmoil and unstable for a certain period. Even in such period, the Company was able to raise enough funds for business operations and has not encountered financing problems.

Regarding the lines of credit, the Company has established committed lines of credit totaling ¥20.0 billion with certain Japanese banks. However, the Company currently does not use these lines. The Company also maintains a CP program allowing for the issuance of CP of up to ¥100.0 billion. There was no outstanding issue of CP as of the end of March 2010.

The Company utilizes group financing. With group financing, the Company centralizes and pursues the efficiency of cash management domestically through the Kubota Cash Management System, under which the excess or shortage of cash at most of its subsidiaries in Japan is invested or funded, as necessary.

To maintain the strength of its balance sheet and help secure adequate funding resources, the Company carefully monitors its interest-bearing debt, excluding debt related to sale financing programs. The Company is providing retail financing programs to support machinery sales in Japan, North America and Thailand. At the end of March 2010, the amount of interest-bearing debt increased ¥2.0 billion, to ¥403.1 billion. Of the ¥403.1 billion, ¥343.5 billion was borrowings from financial institutions, and the remaining ¥59.6 billion consisted of corporate bonds.

 

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The Company plans its capital expenditures considering future business demand and cash flows. The Company intends to fund the investment basically through cash provided by operating activities, and to also utilize available borrowings from financial institutions. The Company’s commitments for capital expenditures are not material. The Company has underfunded pension liabilities of ¥40.2 billion, which relate primarily to the parent company, as of the end of March, 2010. The Company’s contributions to pension plans for the year ending March 31, 2011 are expected to be ¥14.3 billion.

The Company’s basic policy for the return of profit to shareholders is to maintain stable dividends or raise dividends together with repurchases of treasury stock. The Company uses net cash provided by operating activities for these dividends and repurchases.

The amount of working capital increased ¥58.6 billion, to ¥380.6 billion, from the prior year-end. Additionally, the ratio of current assets to current liabilities increased 21.4 percentage points, to 186.5%, due primarily to an increase in cash and cash equivalent, and a decrease in short-term borrowings. There is some seasonality to the Company’s liquidity and capital resources because a high percentage of the notes and accounts receivable from local governments is collected during April through June each year. Currently, the Company believes the working capital is sufficient for the Company’s present requirements.

All things considered, the Company believes that it can support its current and anticipated capital and operating requirements for the foreseeable future. The currencies in which the Company has its debt are mainly Japanese yen and U.S. dollars. There are no restrictions regarding the manner in which the funds may be used.

There are restrictive covenants related to its borrowings including clauses of negative pledges, rating triggers and minimum net worth. The financial covenants are as follows: the rating trigger covenant states that the Company shall keep or be higher than the “BBB-” rating by Rating and Investment Information, Inc. (R&I) and the minimum net worth covenant states that the Company shall keep the amount of total equity of more than ¥405.0 billion on the consolidated financial statement and more than ¥287.0 billion on the separate financial statement of a parent company. The Company is in compliance with those restrictive covenants at March 31, 2010.

Cash Flows

Net cash provided by operating activities during the year under review was ¥119.1 billion, and cash inflow increased ¥141.6 billion from the prior year. Cash inflow in the prior year substantially decreased due to discontinued sales of trade receivable in North America. Cash inflow in the year under review largely increased due to a decrease in inventories and notes and accounts receivables in addition to the absence of the effect of the above-mentioned discontinuation of sales of trade receivables.

Net cash used in investing activities was ¥43.4 billion, a decrease of ¥30.6 billion from the prior year. Cash outflow decreased substantially due to a decrease in purchases of fixed assets, increases in proceeds from sales and redemption of investments and slowdown of increase in finance receivables.

Net cash used in financing activities was ¥34.7 billion, and cash inflow decreased ¥119.5 billion from the prior year. In the prior year, the Company increased fund raisings by interest bearing debt as a result of discontinuing sales of trade receivables. Cash inflow largely decreased due to the absence of substantial fund raising in the current year.

Including the effect of exchange rate, cash and cash equivalents at the end of March 2010 were ¥111.4 billion, an increase of ¥41.9 billion from the prior year.

Over the past three years, the amount of net cash provided by operating activities was ¥186.6 billion in aggregate and net increases in borrowings were ¥111.6 billion in aggregate. Additionally, during the same period, proceeds from sales of property, plant, and equipment and proceeds from sales of investments were ¥14.1 billion in total. The aggregate amount of these cash flows was used chiefly to fund increases in finance receivables, which exceeded collections of finance receivables by ¥101.7 billion, purchase of fixed assets of ¥95.3 billion, payment of dividends to stockholders of ¥53.8 billion and repurchase of common stock for ¥13.5 billion. Cash and cash equivalents increased an aggregate of ¥28.8 billion during the same period.

Ratings

The Company has obtained a credit rating from R&I, a rating agency in Japan, to facilitate access to funds from the capital market in Japan. The Company’s ratings are “A+” for long-term debt and “a-1” for short-term debt as of March 2010 and its outlook is positive. The Company’s favorable credit ratings provide it access to capital markets and investors.

 

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Assets, Liabilities, and Equity

1) Assets

Total assets at the end of March 2010 amounted to ¥1,409.0 billion, an increase of ¥23.2 billion (1.7%) from the end of the prior year. Current assets were ¥820.8 billion, an increase of ¥4.5 billion from the prior year-end. Cash and cash equivalent increased, while inventories and notes and accounts receivable decreased due to reduced purchasing to lower their inventory levels and lower revenues of the fiscal year under review. Inventory turnover dropped 0.6 points, to 4.9 times.

Investments and long-term finance receivables were ¥321.7 billion, an increase of ¥41.8 billion from the prior year-end. Long-term finance receivables increased along with business expansion in Thailand, and other investment increased due to the recovery of the stock market. Other assets decreased ¥18.3 billion to ¥45.6 billion mainly due to a decrease of long-term deferred tax assets.

2) Liabilities

Total liabilities amounted to ¥737.4 billion, a decrease of ¥32.2 billion (4.2%) from the end of the prior year.

Current liabilities were ¥440.2 billion a decrease of ¥54.1 billion from the prior year-end mainly due to a decrease in short-term borrowings and a decrease in accounts payable due to decreased production.

On the other hand, long-term liabilities increased ¥22.0 billion, to ¥297.2 billion, long-term debt largely increased due to issuance of corporate bond by overseas subsidiaries, while accrued retirement and pension costs decreased.

3) Equity

Total equity amounted to ¥671.6 billion, an increase of ¥55.4 billion (9.0%) from the end of the prior year.

Retained earnings increased steadily due to net income, and accumulated other comprehensive income improved due mainly to an increase in unrealized gains on securities affected by upturn in stock prices. The shareholders’ equity ratio* was 44.5%, 2.8 percentage points higher than the prior year end. The debt-to-equity ratio** was 64.4%, 5.0 percentage points lower than at the prior year-end.

 

* Shareholders’ equity ratio = shareholders’ equity / total assets
** Debt-to-equity ratio = interest-bearing debt / shareholders’ equity

Derivatives

To offset currency and interest rate fluctuation risks, the Company uses various types of derivatives, including foreign exchange forward contracts, currency swaps, and interest rate swaps. As a basic policy, the Company conducts its derivative transactions within the range of its outstanding credit and obligations, and the Company does not engage in speculative derivative transactions. The counterparties for the Company’s derivative transactions are financial institutions with high creditworthiness; therefore, the Company does not anticipate any credit losses on such transactions. For more specific details, please refer to Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements.

C. Research and Development, Patents and Licenses, etc

Research and Development

The following table shows the Company’s research and development expenses for the last three fiscal years.

 

     Millions of yen  
     2010     2009     2008  

R&D Expenses

   ¥ 25,241      ¥ 26,290      ¥ 24,784   

As a percentage of consolidated revenues

     2.7     2.4     2.1

The R&D activities are conducted principally in R&D departments in each business division and subsidiary. In its business divisions and subsidiaries, there are 29 R&D departments. Each department promotes the R&D activities fortifying each business.

Total R&D expenses of four reporting segments, which are Farm & Industrial Machinery, Water & Environment Systems, Social Infrastructure, and Other segment, were ¥19.0 billion, ¥3.9 billion, ¥1.6 billion, and ¥0.8 billion, respectively.

 

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Patents and Licenses

With respect to licenses or patents, the Company does not rely on specific licenses or patents. As of March 31, 2010, the Company held 4,546 Japanese patents and 1,105 foreign patents and utility model registrations. A utility model registration is a right granted under Japanese law and in certain other countries to inventions of lesser originality than those which qualify for patents. Although patent rights are important to Kubota, the Company does not consider that the expiration of any single patent or group of related patents would materially affect Kubota’s business. Kubota grants licenses to others to use its technology including its patents, and obtains licenses under patents from third parties for technological assistance on a royalty basis. In fiscal 2010, royalty income and expenses were ¥792 million and ¥102 million, respectively, under such licensing arrangements.

D. Trend Information

Outlook for the Next Fiscal Year

The Company forecasts consolidated revenues for the year ending March 31, 2011 will increase from the year under review. Domestic revenues are forecast to increase due to an increase in revenues in Farm & Industrial Machinery and Social Infrastructure resulting from an improving general economic conditions and private capital spending, while revenues in Water & Environment Systems and Other are forecast to be the same level as the year under review due to a continuing sluggish public investments. Overseas revenues are forecast to increase substantially due to an increase in revenues in Farm & Industrial Machinery, in which revenues in Asia outside Japan will continue to grow favorably and revenues in North America and Europe are also expected to increase due to a gradual economic upturn.

The Company forecasts operating income will increase from the year under review, mainly due to an increase in revenues.

The Company expects income before income taxes and equity in net income of affiliated companies and net income attributable to Kubota Corporation for the next fiscal year will increase from the year under review.

Matters Related to the health hazard of Asbestos

Background

Until 1995, the Company’s plant in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture, which is now a company office, had produced products containing asbestos. In April 2005, the Company was advised that some residents who lived near the former plant suffered from mesothelioma, a form of cancer that is said to be mainly caused by the aspiration of asbestos. The Company announced its intention in June 2005 to act seriously and faithfully concerning various issues of the health hazard of asbestos from the viewpoint of corporate social responsibility (CSR) as a company that had once manufactured products containing asbestos for a long time.

According to the Company’s basic policy, the Company started the program of consolation payments to patients with mesothelioma who lived near the former plant and to the families of residents who died from mesothelioma. In April 2006, the Company decided to establish the relief payment system in place of the consolation payment system and make additional payment to the residents to whom consolation payment were eligible to be paid or payable.

After the Company established its internal policies and procedures of relief payment system, the Company has received claims for relief payments from 216 residents and paid or accrued relief payments to 196 of those residents after carefully reviewing those claims as of March 31, 2010.

With regard to the procedures for making claims to the Company for relief payments, the Company has asked the residents or the bereaved family of the residents who lived close to its former plant to communicate with the Company through Amagasaki Occupational Safety and Health Center with the documents requested by the Company.

 

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With regard to current and former employees of the Company who are suffering from or have died of asbestos-related disease, in accordance with the Company’s internal policies, the Company shall pay compensation which is not required by law. Upon certification of medical treatment compensation from the Workers’ Accident Compensation Insurance for asbestos-related diseases, the compensation for asbestos-related disease shall be paid. In case an employee dies during medical treatment and are certified for compensation from the Workers’ Accident Compensation Insurance for bereaved families, the compensation for asbestos-related disease for the bereaved family shall also be paid. In addition, the Company shall provide other financial aids, such as medical expenses during medical treatment which are incurred by the diseased employees or salary payments during the period of their absence from work. The cumulative number of current and former employees who are eligible for compensation in accordance with the Company’s internal policies that are not required by law is 160 as of the end of March 2008, 162 as of the end of March 2009, and 170 as of the end of March 2010.

In August 2006, the Company announced that the Company would provide a total donation of ¥1.2 billion to Hyogo College of Medicine made over 10 years and a ¥0.5 billion to Osaka Medical Center for Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases over five years. And the Company donated ¥200 million as a contribution for the year ended March 31, 2010.

As a result of the asbestos issue becoming an object of public concern, the Japanese government established the Law for the Relief of Patients Suffering from Asbestos-Related Diseases (“New Asbestos Law”) in March 2006. This law was enacted for the purpose of promptly providing relief to people suffering from asbestos-related diseases who are not eligible for relief by compensation from the Insurance in accordance with the Workers’ Accident Compensation Insurance Law. The relief aid payments are contributed by the national government, municipal governments, and business entities. The contribution includes a special contribution by companies which operated a business closely related to asbestos, and was made by business entities commencing from the year ended March 31, 2008. During the year ended March 31, 2007, the Company accounted for ¥735 million of the special contribution as a lump sum expense, which is imposed based on the New Asbestos Law during the four-year period commencing on April 1, 2007.

Contingencies Regarding Asbestos-Related Matters

The Company expenses the payments for the health hazard of asbestos based on the Company’s policies and procedures. The expenses include payments to certain residents who lived near the Company’s plant and current and former employees, and a special contribution in accordance with the New Asbestos Law. The amount of these expenses during the year ended March 31, 2010 was approximately ¥503 million. Of the ¥503 million, ¥360 million represented expenses relating to the payment for the residents who lived near the Company’s plant under the relief payment system established in April 2006. The Company has no basis or information to estimate the number of residents and current and former employees that are going to apply for payments.

Although the Company is currently a defendant in litigations relating to asbestos, the ultimate outcome of these litigations is also unpredictable with certainty due to inherent uncertainties in litigation.

Accordingly, the Company believes it is not possible to reasonably estimate the amount of its ultimate liability relating to asbestos issues. However, the Company believes asbestos-related issues contain potentially material risks for the Company’s consolidated results of operations, financial position, and its liquidity.

Subsequent events

On May 11, 2010, the Company’s Board of Directors resolved to pay a cash dividend to shareholders of record on March 31, 2010 of ¥5  per common share (¥25 per 5 common shares) or a total of ¥6,361 million.

E. Off-balance Sheet Arrangements

The Company previously utilized accounts receivable securitization programs, which were important for the Company to broaden its funding sources and raise cost-effective funds. However, in the United States, financing by securitization of trade receivables was quite difficult in the year ended March 31, 2009 because of turmoil in the U.S. financial markets. Under this situation, the Company terminated all securitization programs during the year ended March 31, 2009 and the Company has not resumed the programs. As a result, the Company has no sold receivables at March 31, 2010.

The Company provides guarantees to distributors, including affiliated companies, and customers for their borrowings from financial institutions. The Company would have to perform under these guarantees in the event of default on a payment within the guarantee periods. The maximum potential amount of undiscounted future payments of these financial guarantees as of March 31, 2010 was ¥6.0 billion.

 

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F. Tabular Disclosure of Contractual Obligations

The following summarizes contractual obligations at March 31, 2010.

 

     Millions of yen
   Total    Payments due by period
      Less than
1 year
   1-3 years    3-5 years    More than
5 years

Contractual obligations:

              

Short-term borrowings

   ¥ 88,333    ¥ 88,333    ¥ —      ¥ —      ¥ —  

Capital lease obligations

     5,986      3,123      2,690      150      23

Long-term debt

     308,779      68,309      185,184      42,451      12,835

Deposits from customers

     2,545      2,545      —        —        —  

Operating lease obligations

     3,508      1,088      1,422      817      181

Commitments for capital expenditures

     1,616      1,616      —        —        —  

Contributions to defined pension plans

     14,300      14,300      —        —        —  

Interest payments

     20,041      9,284      9,144      1,406      207
                                  

Total

   ¥ 445,108    ¥ 188,598    ¥ 198,440    ¥ 44,824    ¥ 13,246
                                  

Long-term debt represents unsecured bonds and loans principally from banks and insurance companies. Payments due by periods for interest payments are calculated using the contract rate of each borrowing or debt and derivative financial instruments at March 31, 2010.

The Company expects benefit payments to the participants of the defined benefit pension plans and the severance indemnity plans as disclosed in Notes 8, “RETIREMENT AND PENSION PLANS—Expected Cash Flows” on page F-22 of this annual report. While the Company will contribute to its defined benefit pension plans in the future periods to meet future benefit payments, its contributions to defined pension plans beyond the next fiscal year are not included in the table because they are not currently determinable.

The Company recorded liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits of ¥200 million at March 31, 2010, which are not included in the above tables because it is unable to make reasonable estimates of the period of settlements.

G. Safe Harbor

Projected results of operations and other future forecasts contained in this annual report are the estimates of the Company based on information available to the Company as of this published date. Therefore, those projections include certain potential risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, the users of this information are requested to note that the actual results could differ materially from those future projections. Major factors that could influence the ultimate outcome include the economic condition surrounding the Company, foreign exchange rates, agricultural policy in Japan, the trend of public investment and private capital expenditure in Japan, the price-competitive pressure in the market and the ability for the Company to manufacture or innovate products which will be accepted in the market. Finally the users of this information should note that the factors that could influence the ultimate outcome of the Company’s activities are not limited to the above.

 

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Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees

A. Directors and Senior Management

The following sets forth the information about the Company’s Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Auditors as of the date of filing of this annual report, together with their respective dates of birth and positions. The term of office of all Directors will expire at the conclusion of the ordinary general meeting of shareholders which will be held in 2011.

 

Name

(Birthday)

  

Number of

Company Shares

Owned as of

June 18, 2010

  

Current Positions and Brief Occupational History

(including responsibilities in other companies)

Yasuo Masumoto

(April 21, 1947)

   40,000 Shares    Representative Director, President & CEO of Kubota Corporation
      January 2009:   Representative Director, President & CEO of Kubota Corporation (to present)
      April 2008:   Executive Vice President and Director of Kubota Corporation
      April 2007:   In charge of Tokyo Head Office, General Manager of Water, Environment & Infrastructure Consolidated Division, General Manager of Tokyo Head Office, General Manager of Production Control Headquarters in Water, Environment & Infrastructure Consolidated Division, General Manager of Coordination Dept. in Water, Environment & Infrastructure Consolidated Division
      April 2006:   Executive Managing Director of Kubota Corporation
      April 2005:   Deputy General Manager of Industrial & Material Systems Consolidated Division
      January 2005:   In charge of Quality Assurance & Manufacturing Promotion Dept.
      June 2004:   General Manager of Purchasing Dept. in Industrial & Material Systems Consolidated Division
      April 2004:  

Managing Director of Kubota Corporation,

In charge of Manufacturing Planning & Promotion Dept.

      April 2003:   General Manager of Production Control Headquarters in Industrial & Material Systems Consolidated Division
      June 2002:   Director of Kubota Corporation
      October 2001:   General Manager of Farm Machinery Division
      April 1971:   Joined Kubota Corporation

Daisuke Hatakake

(June 29, 1941)

   86,000 Shares    Chairman of the Board of Directors of Kubota Corporation
      June 2009:   Chairman of the Board of Directors of Kubota Corporation (to present)
      January 2009:   Representative Director, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Kubota Corporation
      April 2003:   President and Representative Director of Kubota Corporation
      June 2002:   General Manager of Corporate Compliance Headquarters
      June 2001:  

Managing Director of Kubota Corporation,

In charge of Corporate Planning & Control Dept., Finance & Accounting Dept., Corporate Information Systems Planning Dept. (assistant)

      August 2000:   In charge of PV Business Planning & Promotion Dept.
      June 2000:  

In charge of Compliance Auditing Dept., Business Alliance Dept. (assistant), Corporate Information Systems Planning Dept. (assistant),

General Manager of Corporate Planning & Control Dept.

      June 1999:   Director of Kubota Corporation
      December 1998:   General Manager of Corporate Planning & Control Dept.
      April 1964:   Joined Kubota Corporation

 

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Table of Contents

Name

(Birthday)

  

Number of

Company Shares

Owned as of

June 18, 2010

  

Current Positions and Brief Occupational History

(including responsibilities in other companies)

Moriya Hayashi

(May 7, 1944)

   43,000 Shares    Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Kubota Corporation
      January 2009:   Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Kubota Corporation (to present)
      April 2006:   Executive Vice President and Representative Director of Kubota Corporation
      April 2004:   General Manager of Farm & Industrial Machinery Consolidated Division
      April 2004:   Executive Managing Director of Kubota Corporation
      April 2003:  

Managing Director of Kubota Corporation,

General Manager of Tractor Division

      January 2002:   General Manager of International Operations Headquarters in Farm & Industrial Machinery Consolidated Division
      October 2001:   Deputy General Manager of Tractor Division
      June 2001:   Director of Kubota Corporation
      June 1999:   President of Kubota Tractor Corporation
      April 1969:   Joined Kubota Corporation

Hirokazu Nara

(October 2, 1948)

   27,000 Shares    Representative Director and Senior Managing Executive Officer of Kubota Corporation, General Manager of Water & Environment Systems Consolidated Division
      April 2009:   General Manager of Water & Environment Systems Consolidated Division (to present)
      April 2009:   Representative Director and Senior Managing Executive Officer of Kubota Corporation (to present)
      April 2007:   In charge of Corporate Staff Section (assistant)
      April 2007:   Managing Director of Kubota Corporation
      October 2005:   In charge of Corporate Planning & Control Dept.
      June 2005:  

In charge of Air Condition Equipment Division, Septic Tanks Division, Housing & Building Materials Business Coordination Dept., PV Business Planning & Promotion Dept., Finance & Accounting Dept.

General Manager of Corporate Planning & Control Dept.

      June 2005:   Director of Kubota Corporation,
      April 2005:   In charge of Air Condition Equipment Division (assistant), Septic Tanks Division (assistant), Housing & Building Materials Business Coordination Dept. (assistant), PV Business Planning & Promotion Dept. (assistant), Finance & Accounting Dept. (assistant) and General Manager of Corporate Planning & Control Dept.
      April 2003:   General Manager of Corporate Planning & Control Dept.
      April 1971:   Joined Kubota Corporation

 

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Table of Contents

Name

(Birthday)

  

Number of

Company Shares

Owned as of

June 18, 2010

  

Current Positions and Brief Occupational History

(including responsibilities in other companies)

Tetsuji Tomita

(March 6, 1950)

   21,000 Shares    Representative Director and Senior Managing Executive Officer of Kubota Corporation, General Manager of Farm & Industrial Machinery Consolidated Division, General Manager of International Operations Headquarters in Farm & Industrial Machinery Consolidated Division
      April 2009:   Representative Director and Senior Managing Executive Officer of Kubota Corporation (to present)
      January 2009:  

General Manager of Farm & Industrial Machinery Consolidated Division,

General Manager of International Operations Headquarters in Farm & Industrial Machinery Consolidated Division (to present)

      April 2008:   Managing Director of Kubota Corporation
      June 2005:   Director of Kubota Corporation
      April 2004:   President of Kubota Tractor Corporation
      April 1973:   Joined Kubota Corporation

Satoru Sakamoto

(July 18, 1952)

   17,000 Shares   

Director and Managing Executive Officer of Kubota Corporation,

In charge of Corporate Planning & Control Dept. and Finance & Accounting Dept.

      April 2009:   In charge of Corporate Planning & Control Dept. and Finance & Accounting Dept. (to present)
      April 2009:   Director and Executive Managing Officer of Kubota Corporation (to present)
      June 2006:   Director of Kubota Corporation
      April 2006:  

General Manager of Air Condition Equipment Division and

President of Kubota Air Conditioner, Ltd.

      October 2005:  

Deputy General Manager of Air Condition Equipment Division and

Director of Kubota Air Conditioner, Ltd.

      April 2003:   General Manager of Planning Dept. in Ductile Iron Pipe Division
      April 1976:   Joined Kubota Corporation

Yuzuru Mizuno

(January 21, 1948)

   16,000 Shares   

Director of Kubota Corporation,

Executive Vice President of Matsushita Real Estate Co., Ltd.

      June 2009:   Director of Kubota Corporation (to present)
      July 2008:   Executive Vice President of Matsushita Real Estate Co., Ltd. (to present)
      June 2005:   Corporate Auditor of Kubota Corporation
      July 2004:  

Executive Director of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.,

In charge of Corporate Finance & Investor Relations

      February 2004:   Director (non full-time) of Nippon Otis Elevator Company
      October 2000:   President (non full-time) of Panasonic Finance (Japan) Co., Ltd.
      October 2000:   General Manager of Corporate Finance Dept. of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
      June 1998:   Managing Director of Matsushita Industrial Corporation Sdn. Bhd.
      December 1995:   General Manager of Accounting Dept. in Compressor Division of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
      April 1970:  

Joined Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

(subsequently, Panasonic Corporation)

 

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Table of Contents

Name

(Birthday)                    

  

Number of

Company Shares

Owned as of

June 18, 2010

  

Current Positions and Brief Occupational History

(including responsibilities in other companies)

Kan Trakulhoon

(May 15, 1955)

   0 Share   

Director of Kubota Corporation,

President and CEO, Siam Cement Group (SCG)

      June 2009:   Director of Kubota Corporation (to present)
      January 2006:   President and CEO, Siam Cement Group (SCG) (to present)
      July 2004:   Executive Vice President of The Siam Cement Plc.
      January 2003:   Vice President of The Siam Cement Plc.
      January 1999:   President of Cementhai Ceramics Co., Ltd.
      June 1977:   Joined The Siam Cement Plc.

Yoshiharu Nishiguchi

(January 29, 1947)

   24,000 Shares    Corporate Auditor of Kubota Corporation
      June 2007:   Corporate Auditor of Kubota Corporation (to present)
      April 2007:   Director of Kubota Corporation
      April 2006:   In charge of General Affairs Dept., Tokyo Administration Dept.
      April 2005:  

Managing Director of Kubota Corporation,

In charge of Personnel Dept., Health & Safety Planning & Promotion Dept., General Manager of Head Office

      April 2004:   In charge of Septic Tanks Division, Housing & Building Materials Business Coordination Dept., Secretary & Public Relations Dept., PV Business Planning & Promotion Dept.,
      June 2003:  

Director of Kubota Corporation,

In charge of Air Condition Equipment Division, Corporate Planning & Control Dept., Finance & Accounting Dept.

      December 2002:   General Manager of Compliance Auditing Dept.
      June 2000:   General Manager of Finance & Accounting Dept.
      July 1998:   General Manager of Accounting Dept.
      April 1970:   Joined Kubota Corporation

Toshihiro Fukuda

(October 12, 1945)

   65,000 Shares    Corporate Auditor of Kubota Corporation
      June 2009:   Corporate Auditor of Kubota Corporation (to present)
      April 2009:   Director of Kubota Corporation
      April 2008:   Executive Vice President and Director of Kubota Corporation
      April 2007:   In charge of Corporate Staff Section
      April 2006:   In charge of Secretary & Public Relations Dept.
      April 2005:  

Executive Managing Director of Kubota Corporation,

In charge of CSR Planning & Coordination Dept., General Manager of Corporate Compliance Headquarters

      April 2004:   Managing Director of Kubota Corporation, in charge of Corporate Compliance Headquarters, Environmental Protection Dept., General Affairs Dept.
      April 2003:   General Manager of Farm Machinery Division
      March 2003:   In charge of Related Products Division
      June 2002:   Director of Kubota Corporation
      October 2001:   Deputy General Manager of Sales Headquarters in Farm & Industrial Machinery Consolidated Division and General Manager of Sales Coordination Dept. in Farm & Industrial Machinery Consolidated Division
      April 1969:   Joined Kubota Corporation

 

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Table of Contents

Name

(Birthday)

  

Number of

Company Shares

Owned as of

June 18, 2010

  

Current Positions and Brief Occupational History

(including responsibilities in other companies)

Masao Morishita

(January 22, 1949)

   4,000 Shares    Corporate Auditor of Kubota Corporation,
      June 2009:   Corporate Auditor of Kubota Corporation (to present)
      April 2006:  

Director and CFO of MT Picture Display Co., Ltd.,

In charge of Administration Dept.

      April 2003:   Director and General Manager of Administrative Headquarter of Matsushita Toshiba Picture Display Co., Ltd.
      April 1998:   General Manager of Accounting Dept. and Business Planning Dept. in Compressor Division of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
      April 1994:   President and Director of Matsushita Compressor Corporation of America
      April 1971:   Joined Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (subsequently, Panasonic Corporation)

Yoshio Suekawa

(September 1, 1937)

   25,000 Shares    Corporate Auditor of Kubota Corporation
      June 2004:   Corporate Auditor of Kubota Corporation (to present)
      April 2004:   Appointed as a special visiting professor, the Faculty of Commerce, Doshisha University
      July 2002:   Established Suekawa CPA Office (to present)
      June 2002:   Retired from Representative Partner of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, Osaka
      May 1989:   Assumed Representative Partner of Deloitte Touche, Tohmatsu, Osaka
      July 1984:   Joined Sanwa Tokyo Marunouchi (currently, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu LLC)
      October 1963:   Registered as a CPA with the Japanese Institute of Certified Public Accountants
      October 1959:   Joined Lowe Bingham and Luckie (currently, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Osaka)

Masanobu Wakabayashi

(January 19, 1944)

   4,000 Shares    Corporate Auditor of Kubota Corporation
      June 2007:   Corporate Auditor of Kubota Corporation (to present)
      Mar 2004:   Chairman of Osaka Prefectural Labour Relations Commission
      April 1993:   Vice President of Osaka Bar Association
      April 1979:   Established Masanobu Wakabayashi Law Office (to present)
      April 1970:   Registered as an attorney with Osaka Bar Association

Yuzuru Mizuno and Kan Trakulhoon are outside directors as stipulated in the Corporate Law. Masao Morishita, Yoshio Suekawa and Masanobu Wakabayashi are outside corporate auditors as stipulated in the Corporate Law.

The Company notified the Japanese stock exchanges of all of its five outside directors and outside corporate auditors as “independent directors/corporate auditors” pursuant to recent amendments to the regulations of the Japanese stock exchanges. The definition of the “independent director/corporate auditor” is different from that of the independent directors under the corporate governance standards of the New York Stock Exchange or under Rule 10A-3 under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Among Directors or Corporate Auditors of Kubota Corporation, there is no family relationship. No Directors or Corporate Auditors, except Yuzuru Mizuno, Kan Trakulhoon, Masao Morishita, Yoshio Suekawa, and Masanobu Wakabayashi, have business activities outside the Company. Two Directors, Yuzuru Mizuno and Kan Trakulhoon, have directorship at other companies as above mentioned.

There is not any arrangement or understanding with major shareholders, customers, suppliers or others pursuant to which any person named above was selected as a Director or a Corporate Auditor.

The Company is not dependent on specific Directors, researchers, or any other entity for its management.

 

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The Company, by a resolution at the meeting of the Board of Directors held on February 10, 2009, introduced the Executive Officer System. The following sets for the information about the Executive Officers except three persons who also hold the post of Directors as of the date of filing of this annual report, together with their respective positions and responsibilities. Please refer to Item 6C “Board Practices” for details of the Executive Officer System.

 

Title

  

Name

  

Responsibilities and important concurrent offices

Senior Managing Executive Officer    Eisaku Shinohara    In charge of Research & Development Planning & Promotion Dept. and Environmental Protection Dept.
Managing Executive Officer    Nobuyuki Toshikuni   

General Manager of R & D Headquarters in Farm & Industrial Machinery Consolidated Division,

In charge of Instrumentation and Control Technology Center

Managing Executive Officer    Masayoshi Kitaoka   

General Manager of Water Engineering & Solution Division,

General Manager of Membrane Systems Business Unit,

General Manager of Business Coordination Dept. in

Membrane Systems Business Unit,

President of Kubota Membrane Co., Ltd.

Managing Executive Officer    Masatoshi Kimata   

Deputy General Manager of Farm & Industrial Machinery Consolidated Division,

General Manager of Sales Headquarters in Farm & Industrial Machinery Consolidated Division

Managing Executive Officer    Nobuyo Shioji   

General Manager of Construction Machinery Division,

General Manager of Planning & Control Dept. in Construction Machinery Division

Managing Executive Officer    Takeshi Torigoe   

General Manager of Social Infrastructure Consolidated Division,

In Charge of Quality Assurance & Manufacturing Promotion Dept.

Managing Executive Officer    Hideki Iwabu   

General Manager of Water & Environment Systems Manufacturing and Engineering Headquarters in Water & Environment Systems Consolidated Division,

General Manager of Tokyo Head Office

Managing Executive Officer    Katsuyuki Iwana    General Manager of Manufacturing Headquarters in Farm & Industrial Machinery Consolidated Division
Executive Officer    Takashi Yoshii   

General Manager of Machinery Quality Assurance Headquarters in Farm & Industrial Machinery Consolidated Division,

General Manager of International Quality Assurance Dept., Machinery Quality Assurance Headquarters in Farm & Industrial Machinery Consolidated Division

Executive Officer    Kohkichi Uji    General Manager of Pipe Systems Division
Executive Officer    Toshihiro Kubo    In charge of Personnel Dept., Secretary Dept., Corporate Communication Dept., General Affairs Dept., and Tokyo Administration Dept., General Manager of Head Office
Executive Officer    Kenshiro Ogawa   

General Manager of Sakai Plant,

General Manager of Production Engineering Center of Emission, Manufacturing Headquarters in Farm & Industrial Machinery Consolidated Division

Executive Officer    Tetsu Fukui   

General Manager of Environmental Equipment R&D Center, in

Water & Environment Systems Consolidated Division,

General Manager of Environmental Consolidated Technology Dept., Environmental Equipment R&D Center in Water & Environment Systems Consolidated Division

Executive Officer    Satoshi Iida    President of Kubota Tractor Corporation
Executive Officer    Shigeru Kimura   

In charge of Corporate Planning & Control Dept.(Assistant),

General Manager of Finance & Accounting Dept.

Executive Officer    Masakazu Tanaka    General Manager of Farm Machinery Division
Executive Officer    Taichi Itoh    General Manager of Health & Safety Planning & Promotion Dept.
Executive Officer    Yujiro Kimura    General Manager of Strategy Planning Office
Executive Officer    Shinji Sasaki    General Manager of Engine Division
Executive Officer    Hiroshi Matsuki    General Manager of Steel Pipe Division
Executive Officer    Yuichi Kitao    General Manager of Tractor Division
Executive Officer    Kunio Suwa    General Manager of CSR Planning & Coordination Headquarters
Executive Officer    Toshihiko Kurosawa    General Manager of Pumps Division
Executive Officer    Hiroshi Kawakami    President of Siam Kubota Tractor Co., Ltd.

 

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Table of Contents

B. Compensation

The following table sets forth the aggregate remunerations, including bonuses and other financial benefits given in consideration of the performance of duties (collectively, the “remunerations”), paid by the Company in fiscal 2010 to all Directors and Corporate Auditors of the Company:

 

     Number    Million of yen

Title

      Total    Remuneration    Bonuses

Director (excluding Outside Director)

   24    498    452    46

Corporate Auditor (excluding Outside Corporate Auditor)

   3    62    62    —  

Outside Director and Outside Corporate Auditor

   5    63    63    —  

 

Notes: 

 

1. The above remunerations for Directors of Kubota Corporation do not include the salary for employees’ portion of certain Directors. The salary for employees’ portion of certain Directors is not material.

 

2. The above remunerations for Directors and Corporate Auditors of Kubota Corporation include the remunerations for 18 Directors (excluding Outside Director) and 1 Corporate Auditor (excluding Outside Corporate Auditor) who left their office at the end of the ordinary general meeting of shareholders held on June 19, 2009.

No options to purchase securities from the registrant or any of its subsidiaries were outstanding on March 31, 2010. At the meeting of the Board of Directors of the Company held on May 13, 2005, the Company resolved that the retirement benefit system for Directors and Corporate Auditors was terminated as of June 24, 2005, and the ordinary general meeting of shareholders held on June 24, 2005 resolved that retirement benefits should be paid to the then Directors and Corporate Auditors for the services rendered before the termination of the system. The Company paid ¥ 33 million of the retirement benefits to four Directors at the time of their retirement from his/her office in accordance with the above resolution during the year under review. In addition, the balance of accrued retirement benefits as of March 31, 2010 in accordance with the above resolution were ¥112 million for five Directors and ¥1 million for an Outside Corporate Auditor, respectively and were allocated to other long-term liabilities in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

The remunerations for Directors are determined at the meeting of the Board of Directors based on the report of the Compensation Council within the range of the maximum aggregate amounts of remunerations approved at a general meeting of shareholders, in consideration of operating results, compensation levels of other companies, wage level of employees. The Compensation Council is composed of Representative Directors excluding the President and executive officers in charge of indirect departments. The report of the Compensation Council is submitted to the meeting of the Board of Directors after the approval of the President. The remunerations for Corporate Auditors are determined upon consultation among Corporate Auditors within the range of the maximum aggregate amounts of remunerations approved at a general meeting of shareholders, in consideration of the roles of the respective Corporate Auditors.

 

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Table of Contents

C. Board Practices

The Company’s Articles of Incorporation as revised as of June 19, 2009 provide that the number of Directors of the Company shall be not more than 10 and that of the Corporate Auditors shall be not more than six.

Directors and Corporate Auditors shall be elected by the general meeting of shareholders. The Board of Directors has ultimate responsibility for administration of the Company’s affairs. The Board of Directors may, by its resolution, appoint one Chairman of the Board of Directors, one Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, one President-Director, and one or more Vice President-Directors, Executive Managing Directors and Managing Directors. The Board of Directors shall, by its resolution, appoint Representative Directors. A Japanese joint stock corporation with corporate auditors, such as the Company, is not obliged under the Corporate Law to have any outside directors on its board of directors. However, the Company elected two Outside Directors at the ordinary general meeting of shareholders held in June 2009. An “outside director” is defined as a director of the company who does not engage or has not engaged in the execution of business of the company or its subsidiaries as a director of any of these corporations, and who does not serve or has not served as an executive officer, manager or in any other capacity as an employee of the company or its subsidiaries. The term of office of Directors shall, under the Articles of Incorporation of the Company, expire at the conclusion of the ordinary general meeting of shareholders with respect to the last closing of accounts within one year from their assumption of office, and in the case of Corporate Auditors, within four years from their assumption of office. However, they may serve any number of consecutive terms.

Under the Corporate Law, the Corporate Auditors of the Company are not required to be and are not certified public accountants. However, at least half of the Corporate Auditors shall be outside corporate auditors. An “outside corporate auditor” is defined as a corporate auditor who has not been a Director, accounting counselor, corporate executive officer, manager or any other employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries at any time prior to his or her election as a Corporate Auditor.

The Corporate Auditors may not at the same time be Directors, accounting counselor, corporate executive officers, managers or any other employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. Each Corporate Auditor has the statutory duty to examine the Company’s consolidated and non-consolidated financial statements and business report to be submitted by a Representative Director at the general meeting of shareholders and, based on such examination and a report of an Accounting Auditor referred to below, to respectively prepare his or her audit report. Each Corporate Auditor also has the statutory duty to supervise the administration by the Directors of the Company’s affairs. They are required to attend in meetings of the Board of Directors and express opinions, if necessary, at such meetings, but they are not entitled to vote.

Pursuant to recent amendments to the regulations of the Japanese stock exchanges, the Company is required to have one or more “independent director(s)/corporate auditor(s)” which terms are defined under the relevant regulations of the Japanese stock exchanges as “outside directors” or “outside corporate auditors” (each of which terms is defined under the Corporate Law) who are unlikely to have any conflicts of interests with shareholders of the Company. The definition of “independent director/corporate auditor” is different from that of the independent directors under the corporate governance standards of the New York Stock Exchange or under Rule 10A-3 under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Each of Yuzuru Mizuno, Kan Trakulhoon, Masao Morishita, Yoshio Suekawa and Masanobu Wakabayashi satisfies the requirements for “independent director/corporate auditor” under the regulations of the Japanese stock exchanges respectively.

In addition to Corporate Auditors, an independent certified public accountant or an audit corporation must be appointed at general meetings of shareholders as Accounting Auditor of the Company. Such Accounting Auditor has the duties to examine the consolidated and non-consolidated financial statements proposed to be submitted by a Representative Director at general meetings of shareholders and to report their opinion thereon to certain Corporate Auditors designated by the Board of Corporate Auditors to receive such report (if such Corporate Auditors are not designated, all Corporate Auditors) and the Directors designated to receive such report (if such Directors are not designated, the Directors who prepared the financial statements).

The Corporate Auditors constitute the Board of Corporate Auditors. The Board of Corporate Auditors has a statutory duty to, based upon the reports prepared by respective Corporate Auditors, prepare and submit its audit report to the accounting auditor and certain Directors designated to receive such report (if such Directors are not designated, the Directors who prepared the financial statements and the business report). A Corporate Auditor may note his or her opinion in the audit report if his or her opinion expressed in his or her audit report is different from the opinion expressed in the audit report. The Board of Corporate Auditors shall elect one or more full-time Corporate Auditors from among its members. The Board of Corporate Auditors is empowered to establish audit principles, method of examination by Corporate Auditors of the Company’s affairs and financial position and other matters concerning the performance of the Corporate Auditors’ duties.

 

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The Company resolved at the meeting of the Board of Directors held on February 10, 2009 to reform its management systems by (i) introducing the Executive Officer System, (ii) reducing the number of Directors, (iii) electing Outside Directors, (iv) reorganizing business divisions of the Company and (v) establishing the strategic planning committees to enhance research and development, quality control and manufacturing.

Executive Officers are appointed by the Board of Directors in order that the Company may promptly respond to changes in the business environment and improve management efficiency by strengthening strategic decision-making function of the Board of Directors and the operational functions of business activities by President and other Executive Officers. The Executive Officer System is not a statutory system and is different from the statutory executive officer system which is adopted by a “company with specified committees,” where the company is required to have audit, nominating and compensation committees, each composed of a majority of Outside Directors.

In June 2009, the number of the incumbent Directors was reduced from 24 to 6 in order to promote strategic decision-making by the Board of Directors more agilely. In addition, the Company elected 2 Outside Directors as described above at the ordinary general meeting of shareholders held in June 2009 in order to improve supervisory function of the Board of Directors.

Please refer to Item 6A “Directors and Senior Management” for details of all Directors and Executive Officers as the date of filing of this annual report.

There are no Directors’ service contracts with Kubota Corporation providing for benefits upon termination of service.

The rights of ADR holders, including their rights relating to corporate governance practices, are governed by the Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement (incorporated by reference to the Registration Statement on Form F-6 (File No. 333-91654) filed on June 26, 2002).

D. Employees

Head Count at the End of the Year

 

      2008    2009    2010
   24,464    25,140    24,778

Head Count in Each Segment

 

     2008    2009    2010

Farm & Industrial Machinery

   14,281    15,057    14,879

Water & Environment Systems

   5,464    5,374    5,269

Social Infrastructure

   2,778    2,762    2,596

Other

   1,458    1,449    1,439

Corporate

   483    498    595
              

Total

   24,464    25,140    24,778
              

The number of full-time employees of Kubota as of March 31, 2010 was 24,778. Most employees of the Company in Japan, other than managerial personnel, are union members. The unions belong to the Federation of all Kubota Labor Union, which is affiliated with the Japanese Trade Union Confederation. The Company believes it maintains good relationship with the union.

Basic wage rates are reviewed annually in spring, normally in April. In addition, in accordance with Japanese custom, Kubota grants its full-time employees semiannual bonuses.

The parent company and its domestic subsidiaries have a number of unfunded severance indemnity plans and defined benefit pension plans covering substantially all Japanese employees. Most employees of overseas subsidiaries are covered by defined benefit pension plans or defined contribution pension plans. As is customary in Japan, the Company provides a wide range of fringe benefits to its employees.

 

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E. Share Ownership

The following table shows the total number of shares of the Company’s common stock beneficially owned by the Directors and Corporate Auditors as a group as of June 18, 2010:

 

Title of Class

  

Identity of persons or group

   Number of shares owned    Percentage of class

Common stock

   Directors and Corporate Auditors    372,000    0.03%

For individual shareholdings, see Item 6.A “Directors and Senior Management.”

Employee Stock Ownership Association (Kubota Fund) owned 16,131,364 shares as of March 31, 2010, which amounted to 1.3 % of total shares issued.

The association consists of employees of the Company and some of its subsidiaries, and the members contribute a portion of their salaries to the association. The association purchases shares of Kubota’s common stock on behalf of members.

 

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Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions

A. Major Shareholders

As of March 31, 2010, three shareholders of record held 5% or more of the shares issued, respectively. The following table shows the information about 10 largest shareholders:

 

     (As of March 31, 2010)

Name

   Number of  shares
(thousand)
   (%)

Japan Trustee Services Bank, Ltd.

   167,920    13.19

The Master Trust Bank of Japan, Ltd.

   112,539    8.84

Nippon Life Insurance Company

   76,720    6.03

Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Company

   60,723    4.77

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation

   45,006    3.53

Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd.

   40,851    3.21

Moxley & Co.

   31,180    2.45

Sumitomo Life Insurance Company

   24,780    1.94

Trust & Custody Service Bank, Ltd.

   22,841    1.79

The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd.

   20,173    1.58

As far as is known to the Company, there is no arrangement, the operation of which may at a subsequent date result in a change in control of the Company. The major shareholders have the same voting rights as other common shareholders of the Company.

As of March 31, 2010, there were 1,271,846,635 shares of Common Stock outstanding, of which 31,180,458 shares were in the form of ADR and 149,789,330 shares were held by the residents in the U.S. The number of registered ADR holders was 49 and the number of registered holders of common stock in the U.S. was 132.

To the best knowledge of the Company, the Company is not, directly or indirectly, owned or controlled by other corporations or by the Japanese or any foreign government.

B. Related Party Transactions

In the ordinary course of business, the Company has transactions with numerous companies. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2010, the Company had sales transactions with affiliates accounted under the equity method, aggregating ¥65,246 million. As of March 31, 2010, the Company had trade notes and accounts receivable from affiliated companies of ¥24,827 million.

Refer to Note 3 of the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding the Company’s investments in and advances to affiliated companies.

C. Interests of Experts and Counsel

Not applicable.

 

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Item 8. Financial Information

A. Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information

The information required by this item, except as stated below, appears in the consolidated financial statements of this
Form 20-F.

Export Sales

Revenues from unaffiliated customers outside Japan are disclosed in Note 21 “Segment Information—Geographic Segments” on page F-35.

Legal Proceedings

Kubota is subject to various legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business including the following major legal proceedings.

Antitrust

In the fiscal year ended March 31, 1999, the Fair Trade Commission of Japan (the “FTCJ”) began an investigation of the Company for an alleged violation of the Anti-Monopoly Law (prohibition of private monopoly or unfair trade restraint) relating to participation in fixing the shares of ductile iron straight pipe orders in Japan. In March 1999, the Company received a cease and desist recommendation from the FTCJ, which was accepted by the Company in April 1999.

In December, 1999, the Company received a surcharge order of ¥7,072 million from the FTCJ. The Company has challenged this order and filed a petition for the initiation of hearing procedures that were started in March 2000. Under Section 49 of the then Anti-Monopoly Law, upon the initiation of the procedures, the surcharge order lost effect. In addition, Section 7-2 of the then Anti-Monopoly Law stipulates that surcharges are imposed in cases where price cartels or cartels that influence prices by curtailing the volume of supply are carried out. The Company believes that the alleged share cartel does not meet the requirement of Section 7-2.

The Company established a provision of ¥7,072 million for the ultimate liability in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009, because the Company received the preliminary decision ordering a surcharge of ¥7,072 million in March, 2009. Notwithstanding motion for objection of the Company, the Company received the ultimate decision in June 2009 which ordered the Company to pay the surcharge of ¥7,072 million, and paid the surcharge in accordance with the decision during the year ended March 31, 2010.

The Company believes, however, that the facts on which the decision is based are not established by substantial evidence, and filed a suit to rescind the decision of the FTCJ with the Tokyo High Court in July 2009, accordingly.

Asbestos-related lawsuits

Since the middle of the year 2005, with the asbestos issue becoming an object of public concern in Japan, seven asbestos-related lawsuits were filed against the Company, or the Japanese Government and asbestos-related companies including the Company and the aggregate amount of claims is ¥15,196 million. The four lawsuits concerning an aggregate 388 construction workers who suffered from asbestos-related diseases consist mostly of the aggregate amount of seven claims and defendants of these four lawsuits are the Japanese Government and 46 asbestos-related companies including the Company. Other three lawsuits are not material.

The Company does not have cost-sharing arrangements with other potentially responsible parties for these lawsuits. These asbestos-related lawsuits are all pending, and there have been no claim dismissed, settled, or otherwise resolved. There was not any amount of damages paid out and no accruals. The aggregate costs of administering and litigating the claims are immaterial as of the date of filing of this annual report. The time frame is not available over which presently unrecognized amount may be paid out.

 

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Policy on Dividends Distributions

The Company’s basic policy for the allocation of profit is to maintain stable dividends or to provide increased dividends. The Company’s policy is to determine the most appropriate use of retained earnings, by considering current business operations as well as the future business environment.

B. Significant Changes

Except as disclosed in this annual report, there have been no significant changes since the date of latest annual financial statements of the Company.

 

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Item 9. The Offer and Listing

A. Offer and Listing Details

The primary market for Kubota’s common stock is the Tokyo Stock Exchange (the “TSE”) in the form of original common stock. Kubota’s common stock has been listed on the TSE since 1949, and has also been listed on the Osaka Securities Exchange since 1949.

Overseas, Kubota’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) in the form of American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”) evidenced by American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”). Prior to July 15, 2002, each ADS represented 20 shares of common stock. On July 15, 2002, the Company changed the unit of ADS from 20 common shares to 5 in order to help increase the number of ADS holders and improve the liquidity of its ADSs.

Kubota’s ADSs, which have been listed on the NYSE since 1976, are issued by JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Depositary. Kubota’s common stock was also listed on Frankfurt Stock Exchange. However the Company applied for delisting its common stock form the Frankfurt Stock Exchange on January 7, 2009 and it was delisted on April 16, 2009.

The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the reported high and low sales prices of Kubota’s common stock on the TSE and of Kubota’s ADSs on the NYSE.

 

      TSE price per share
of common stock
   NYSE price per ADS
(5 common shares)
     High    Low    High    Low

Annual Highs and Lows

                 

2006

   ¥  1,295    ¥  517    $  55    21    $  24    20

2007

     1,379      897      60    60      38    51

2008

     1,162      575      48    30      28    34

Quarterly Highs and Lows

                 

2009

                 

1 st quarter

   ¥ 918    ¥ 612    $ 43    41    $ 31    00

2 nd quarter

     811      614      35    81      28    91

3 rd quarter

     669      328      36    29      17    72

4 th quarter

     667      423      36    79      22    51

2010

                 

1 st quarter

   ¥ 835    ¥ 540    $ 42    97    $ 27    66

2 nd quarter

     872      707      46    25      38    20

3 rd quarter

     881      683      48    69      38    27

4 th quarter

     945      761      51    08      42    63

Monthly Highs and Lows

                 

November, 2009

   ¥ 795    ¥ 690    $ 44    99    $ 38    59

December

     881      751      48    69      45    02

January, 2010

     945      811      51    08      44    51

February

     847      773      46    93      42    63

March

     868      761      47    09      43    00

April

     893      801      47    81      42    95

May

     807      690      44    60      38    01

The Company has never experienced trade suspension, and keeps enough liquidity for trading.

 

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B. Plan of Distribution

Not applicable.

C. Markets

The stock of the Company is listed on two stock exchanges in Japan (Tokyo and Osaka), and one overseas stock exchange (New York). In May 1949, the stock was listed on Tokyo Stock Exchange (the “TSE”) and Osaka Securities Exchange. The stock was also listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) in November 1976.

D. Selling Shareholders

Not applicable.

E. Dilution

Not applicable.

F. Expenses of the Issue

Not applicable.

 

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Item 10. Additional Information

A. Share Capital

Not applicable.

B. Memorandum and Articles of Association

Organization

The Company is a joint stock corporation (kabushiki kaisha) incorporated in Japan under the Corporate Law of Japan. The Company is registered in the Commercial Register (shogyo tokibo) maintained by the Osaka Legal Affairs Bureau.

Objects and Purposes

Article 2 of the Articles of Incorporation of the Company provides that the Company’s purpose is to engage in the following lines of business:

 

  1. Manufacture, sale and laying work of cast iron pipe, various kinds of pipe and fittings thereof;

 

  2. Manufacture and sale of castings, powder-metallurgy products and ceramic and other moldings;

 

  3. Manufacture and sale of internal combustion engines, automobiles, agricultural machinery and ancillary farming products;

 

  4. Manufacture, sale and installation of construction machinery, machine tools, pumps, valves, various kinds of industrial machinery and other machinery;

 

  5. Manufacture, sale and installation of weighing, measuring and control equipment, electrical, electronic and communication machinery and equipment, automatic vending machines and automatizing machinery and equipment;

 

  6. Manufacture and sale of various kinds of materials for civil engineering and construction as well as various kinds of machinery and equipment for houses;

 

  7. Construction and civil engineering, and planning, manufacture, supervision, performance and sale of, and contracting for, houses, building structures, steel-frame structures and storage facilities and equipment;

 

  8. Sale, purchase, lease and management of real estate and development of residential land;

 

  9. Planning, manufacture, engineering and construction of, and contracting for, various environmental control devices and equipment and various plants;

 

  10. Treatment, recovery and recycling business of various kinds of wastewater, exhaust gas and contaminated soil;

 

  11. Treatment, recovery and recycling business of municipal and industrial wastes;

 

  12. Manufacture and sale of chemicals for household use and for environmental control devices and equipment as well as bioproducts;

 

  13. Manufacture, processing and sale of synthetic resins and other chemical synthetic products;

 

  14. Development and sale of information processing and communication systems, and computer software;

 

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  15. Operation of facilities for sports, lodging, training, health and medical care, recuperation and recreation;

 

  16. Road cargo transportation business, water transportation business and warehousing business;

 

  17. General leasing business;

 

  18. Personnel dispatching agency business;

 

  19. Business of soliciting life insurance, casualty insurance agency business and insurance agency business pursuant to the Automobile Injury Compensation Law;

 

  20. Fee-charging employment agency;

 

  21. Accounting and payroll administration services;

 

  22. Copying, printing and bookbinding businesses;

 

  23. Any consulting business relating to each of the foregoing items; and

 

  24. Any other business ancillary to or relating to any of the foregoing items.

Directors

Each Director (other than an outside Director) has executive powers and duties to manage the affairs of the Company and each Representative Director, who is elected from among the Directors by the Board of Directors, has the statutory authority to represent the Company in all respects. Under the Corporate Law, the Directors must refrain from engaging in any business competing with the Company unless approved by the Board of Directors and any Director who has a special interest in the subject matter of a resolution to be taken by the Board of Directors cannot vote on such resolution. The maximum aggregate amounts of remunerations for the Company’s Directors and those of the Company’s Corporate Auditors must be approved at a general meeting of shareholders, respectively. The Company must also obtain the approval at a general meeting of shareholders if the Company desires to change such maximum aggregate amounts of remunerations. The remunerations for Directors are determined at the meeting of the Board of Directors based on the report of the Compensation Council within the range of the maximum aggregate amounts of remunerations approved at a general meeting of shareholders, in consideration of operating results, compensation levels of other companies, wage level of employees. The Compensation Council is composed of Representative Directors excluding the President and executive officers in charge of indirect departments. The report of the Compensation Council is submitted to the meeting of the Board of Directors after the approval of the President. The remunerations for Corporate Auditors are determined upon consultation among Corporate Auditors within the range of the maximum aggregate amounts of remunerations approved at a general meeting of shareholders, in consideration of the roles of the respective Corporate Auditors.

Except as stated below, neither the Corporate Law nor the Company’s Articles of Incorporation make special provisions as to the Directors’ or Corporate Auditors’ power to vote in connection with their own compensation, the borrowing power exercisable by a Representative Director (or a Director who is given power by a Representative Director to exercise such power), their retirement age or requirements to hold any shares of Common Stock of the Company. The Corporate Law specifically requires the resolution of the Board of Directors for a company to acquire or dispose of material assets; to borrow a substantial amount of money; to appoint or dismiss important employees, such as executive officers; to establish, change or abolish material corporate organizations such as a branch office; to determine material conditions concerning offering of corporate bonds set forth in the ordinances of the Ministry of Justice; and to establish and maintain the internal control system set forth in the ordinances of the Ministry of Justice, such as the system to ensure the legitimacy of the performance of duties by Directors. The Regulations of the Board of Directors and the relevant internal regulation of the Company require a resolution of the Board of Directors for the Company’s borrowing in an amount more than ¥5 billion or guaranteeing in an amount more than ¥1 billion or its equivalent.

 

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Common Stock

General

Except as otherwise stated, set forth below is information relating to the Company’s Common Stock, including brief summaries of the relevant provisions of the Company’s Articles of Incorporation and Share Handling Regulations, as currently in effect, and of the Corporate Law of Japan and related regulations.

Effective on January 5, 2009, a new central book-entry transfer system for listed shares of Japanese companies was established pursuant to the Act Concerning Book-Entry Transfer of Corporate Bonds, Shares etc. and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “Book-entry Transfer Act”), and this system is applied to the shares of Common Stock of the Company. Under this system, shares of all Japanese companies listed on any Japanese stock exchange are dematerialized, and shareholders of listed shares must have accounts at account management institutions to hold their shares unless such shareholder has an account at Japan Securities Depository Center, Inc. (“JASDEC”), the only institution that is designated by the relevant authorities as a clearing house under the Book-entry Transfer Act. “Account management institutions” are financial instruments business operators (i.e., securities companies), banks, trust companies and certain other financial institutions which meet the requirements prescribed by the Book-entry Transfer Act. Transfer of the shares of Common Stock of the Company is effected exclusively through entry in the records maintained by JASDEC and the account management institutions, and title to the shares passes to the transferee at the time when the transfer of the shares is recorded at the transferee’s account at an account management institution. The holder of an account at an account management institution is presumed to be the legal holder of the shares recorded in such account.

Under the Corporate Law and the Book-entry Transfer Act, in order to assert shareholders’ rights to which shareholders as of record dates are entitled (such as the rights to vote at a general meeting of shareholders or receive dividends) against the Company, a shareholder must have its name and address registered in the Company’s register of shareholders. Under the central book-entry transfer system, shareholders shall notify the relevant account management institutions of certain information prescribed under the Book-entry Transfer Act and the Company’s Share Handling Regulations, including their names and addresses, and the registration on the register of shareholders is made upon receipt by the Company of necessary information from JASDEC (as described in “— Record date”). On the other hand, in order to assert, directly against the Company, shareholders’ rights to which shareholders are entitled regardless of record dates such as minority shareholders’ rights including the right to propose a matter to be considered at a general meeting of shareholders, except for shareholders’ rights to request the Company to purchase or sell shares constituting less than a full unit (as described in “—Unit share system”), JASDEC shall, upon the shareholder’s request, issue a notice of certain information including the name and address of such shareholder to the Company. Thereafter, such shareholder is required to present the Company with a receipt of the request of the notice in accordance with the Company’s Share Handling Regulations. Under the Book-entry Transfer Act, the shareholder shall exercise such shareholders’ right within four weeks after the notice above has been given.

Non-resident shareholders are required to appoint a standing proxy in Japan or provide a mailing address in Japan. Each such shareholder must give notice of such standing proxy or mailing address to the relevant account management institution.  Such notice will be forwarded to the Company through JASDEC. Japanese securities companies and commercial banks customarily act as standing proxies and provide related services for standard fees. Notices from the Company to non-resident shareholders are delivered to such standing proxies or mailing addresses.

The registered holder of deposited shares underlying the American Depositary Shares (ADSs) is the Depositary for the ADSs. Accordingly, holders of ADSs will not be able to directly assert shareholders’ rights against the Company.

Authorized capital

Article 6 of the Articles of Incorporation of the Company provides that the total number of shares authorized to be issued by the Company is 1,874,700,000 shares.

As of March 31, 2010, 1,285,919,180 shares of Common Stock were issued. All shares of Common Stock of the Company have no par value. All issued shares of the Company are fully-paid and non-assessable.

 

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Distribution of Surplus

Distribution of Surplus – General

Under the Corporate Law, distributions of cash or other assets by joint stock corporations to their shareholders, so called “dividends”, are referred to as “distributions of Surplus” (“Surplus” is defined in “— Restriction on Distributions of Surplus”). The Company may make distributions of Surplus to the shareholders any number of times per business year, subject to certain limitations described in “— Restriction on Distributions of Surplus.” Distributions of Surplus are required in principle to be authorized by a resolution of a general meeting of shareholders, but the Company may also authorize distributions of Surplus by a resolution of the Board of Directors as long as its non-consolidated annual financial statements and certain documents for the last business year present fairly its assets and profit or loss, as required by ordinances of the Ministry of Justice.

Distributions of Surplus may be made in cash or in kind in proportion to the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company held by each shareholder. A resolution of a general meeting of shareholders or the Board of Directors, as the case may be, authorizing a distribution of Surplus must specify the kind and aggregate book value of the assets to be distributed, the manner of allocation of such assets to shareholders, and the effective date of the distribution. If a distribution of Surplus is to be made in kind, the Company may, pursuant to a resolution of a general meeting of shareholders or the Board of Directors, as the case may be, grant a right to the shareholders to require the Company to make such distribution in cash instead of in kind. If no such right is granted to shareholders, the relevant distribution of Surplus must be approved by a special resolution of a general meeting of shareholders (see “— Voting Rights” with respect to a “special resolution”).

Under the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, year-end dividends and interim dividends may be distributed to shareholders appearing in the Company’s register of shareholders as of March 31 and September 30 each year, respectively, in proportion to the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company held by each shareholder following approval by the general meeting of shareholders or the Board of Directors. The Company is not obliged to pay any dividends in cash unclaimed for a period of three years after the date on which they first became payable.

In Japan, the ex-dividend date and the record date for dividends precede the date of determination of the amount of the dividends to be paid. The price of the shares of common stock generally goes ex-dividend on the second business day prior to the record date for dividends.

Distribution of Surplus – Restriction on distribution of Surplus

In making a distribution of Surplus, the Company must, until the sum of its additional paid-in capital and legal reserve reaches one-quarter of its stated capital, set aside in its additional paid-in capital and/or legal reserve an amount equal to one-tenth of the amount of Surplus so distributed.

The amount of Surplus at any given time must be calculated in accordance with the following formula:

(A + B + C + D) – (E + F + G)

In the above formula:

“A” = the total amount of other capital surplus and other retained earnings, each such amount being that appearing on the non-consolidated balance sheet as of the end of the last business year

“B” = (if the Company has disposed of its treasury stock after the end of the last business year) the amount of the consideration for such treasury stock received by the Company less the book value thereof

“C” = (if the Company has reduced its stated capital after the end of the last business year) the amount of such reduction less the portion thereof that has been transferred to additional paid-in capital or legal reserve (if any)

 

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“D” = (if the Company has reduced its additional paid-in capital or legal reserve after the end of the last business year) the amount of such reduction less the portion thereof that has been transferred to stated capital (if any)

“E” = (if the Company has cancelled its treasury stock after the end of the last business year) the book value of such treasury stock

“F” = (if the Company has distributed Surplus to its shareholders after the end of the last business year) the total book value of the Surplus so distributed

“G” = certain other amounts set forth in ordinances of the Ministry of Justice, including (if the Company has reduced Surplus and thereby increased its stated capital, additional paid-in capital or legal reserve after the end of the last fiscal year) the amount of such reduction and (if the Company has distributed Surplus to the shareholders after the end of the last business year) the amount set aside in additional paid-in capital or legal reserve (if any) as required by ordinances of the Ministry of Justice.

The aggregate book value of Surplus to be distributed by the Company may not exceed a prescribed distributable amount (the “Distributable Amount”), as calculated on the effective date of such distribution. The Distributable Amount at any given time shall be equal to the amount of Surplus less the aggregate of the followings:

(a) the book value of its treasury stock;

(b) the amount of consideration for any of treasury stock disposed of by the Company after the end of the last business year; and

(c) certain other amounts set forth in ordinances of the Ministry of Justice, including (if the sum of one-half of goodwill and the deferred assets exceeds the total of stated capital, additional paid-in capital and legal reserve, each such amount being that appearing on the non-consolidated balance sheet as of the end of the last business year) all or certain part of such exceeding amount as calculated in accordance with the ordinances of the Ministry of Justice.

If the Company has become at its option a company with respect to which consolidated balance sheets should also be considered in the calculation of the Distributable Amount (renketsu haito kisei tekiyo kaisha), the Company shall further deduct from the amount of Surplus the excess amount, if any, of (x) the total amount of stockholders’ equity appearing on the non-consolidated balance sheet as of the end of the last business year and certain other amounts set forth by ordinances of the Ministry of Justice over (y) the total amount of stockholders’ equity and certain other amounts set forth by ordinances of the Ministry of Justice appearing on the consolidated balance sheet as of the end of the last business year.

If the Company has prepared interim financial statements as described below, and if such interim financial statements have been approved by the board of directors or (if so required by the Corporate Law) by a general meeting of shareholders, then the Distributable Amount must be adjusted to take into account the amount of profit or loss, and the amount of consideration for any of the treasury stock disposed of by the Company, during the period in respect of which such interim financial statements have been prepared. The Company may prepare non-consolidated interim financial statements consisting of a balance sheet as of any date subsequent to the end of the last business year and an income statement for the period from the first day of the current business year to the date of such balance sheet. Interim financial statements so prepared by the Company must be audited by the Corporate Auditors and the accounting auditor, as required by ordinances of the Ministry of Justice.

 

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Stock splits

The Company may at any time split shares in issue into a greater number of shares by resolution of the Board of Directors, and may in principle amend its Articles of Incorporation to increase the number of the authorized shares to be issued in proportion to the relevant stock split pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors rather than a special shareholders resolution (as defined in “—Voting Rights”) which is otherwise required for amending the Articles of Incorporation.

When a stock split is to be made, the Company must give public notice of the stock split, specifying the record date thereof, at least two weeks prior to such record date. Under the central book-entry transfer system operated by JASDEC, the Company must also give notice to JASDEC regarding a stock split at least two weeks prior to the relevant effective date. On the effective date of the stock split, the number of shares recorded in all accounts held by the Company’s shareholders at account managing institutions or JASDEC will be increased in accordance with the applicable ratio.

Consolidation of shares

The Company may at any time consolidate shares in issue into a smaller number of shares by a special shareholders resolution (as defined in “— Voting Rights”). When a consolidation of shares is to be made, the Company must give public notice or notice to each shareholder at least two weeks prior to the effective date of the consolidation of shares. Under the central book-entry transfer system operated by JASDEC, the Company must also give notice to JASDEC regarding a consolidation of shares at least two weeks prior to the effective date of the consolidation of shares. On the effective date of the consolidation of shares, the number of shares recorded in all accounts held by the Company’s shareholders at account managing institutions or JASDEC will be decreased in accordance with the applicable ratio. The Company must disclose the reason for the consolidation of shares at the general meeting of shareholders.

General meeting of shareholders

The ordinary general meeting of shareholders of the Company for each fiscal year is normally held in June in each year in Osaka, Japan. In addition, the Company may hold an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders whenever necessary by giving notice of convocation thereof at least two weeks prior to the date set for the meeting.

Notice of convocation of a shareholders’ meeting setting forth the place, time, purpose thereof and certain matters set forth in the Corporate Law and the ordinances of the Ministry of Justice, must be mailed to each shareholder having voting rights (or, in the case of a non-resident shareholder, to his or her standing proxy or mailing address in Japan) at least two weeks prior to the date set for the meeting. Under the Corporate Law, such notice may be given to shareholders by electronic means, subject to the consent of the relevant shareholders. The record date for exercising voting rights at an ordinary general meeting of shareholders is March 31 of each year.

Any shareholder or group of shareholders holding at least three percent of the total number of voting rights for a period of six months or more may require the convocation of a general meeting of shareholders for a particular purpose by specifying the purpose and reason for convocation to a Representative Director. Unless such shareholders’ meeting is convened promptly or a convocation notice of a meeting which is to be held not later than eight weeks from the day of such demand is dispatched, the requiring shareholder may, upon obtaining a court approval, convene such shareholders’ meeting.

Any shareholder or group of shareholders holding at least 300 voting rights or one percent of the total number of voting rights for a period of six months or more may propose a matter to be considered at a general meeting of shareholders by showing such matter to a Representative Director at least eight weeks prior to the date set for such meeting.

If the Company’s Articles of Incorporation so provide, any of the minimum percentages, time periods and number of voting rights necessary for exercising the minority shareholder rights described above may be decreased or shortened.

 

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Voting rights

So long as the Company maintains the unit share system (see Section B of this Item 10 – Memorandum and Articles of Association – Common Stock Unit share system below; currently 1,000 shares constitute one unit) a holder of shares constituting one or more full units is entitled to one voting right per unit of shares subject to the limitations on voting rights set forth in the following two sentences. Any corporate or certain entity one-quarter or more of whose total voting rights are directly or indirectly owned by the Company may not exercise its voting rights with respect to shares of Common Stock of the Company that it owns. In addition, the Company may not exercise its voting rights with respect to its shares that it owns. If the Company eliminates from its Articles of Incorporation the provisions relating to the unit of shares, holders of Common Stock will have one voting right for each share they hold. Except as otherwise provided by law or by the Articles of Incorporation, a resolution can be adopted at a general meeting of shareholders by a majority of the number of voting rights of all the shareholders entitled to exercise their voting rights represented at the meeting. The Corporate Law and the Company’s Articles of Incorporation provide, however, that the quorum for the election of Directors and Corporate Auditors shall not be less than one-third of the total number of voting rights of all the shareholders entitled to exercise their voting rights. The Company’s shareholders are not entitled to cumulative voting in the election of Directors. The Company’s shareholders may exercise their voting rights through proxies, provided that the proxies are also shareholders holding voting rights. The Company’s shareholders also may cast their votes in writing. The Company’s shareholders may also exercise their voting rights by electronic means pursuant to the method determined by the Board of Directors.

The Corporate Law and the Company’s Articles of Incorporation provide that in order to amend the Articles of Incorporation and in certain other instances, including:

 

  (1) acquisition of its own shares from a specific party other than its subsidiaries;

 

  (2) consolidation of shares;

 

  (3) any offering of new shares at a “specially favorable” price (or any offering of stock acquisition rights to subscribe for or acquire shares of capital stock, or bonds with stock acquisition rights at “specially favorable” conditions) to any persons other than shareholders;

 

  (4) the removal of a corporate auditor;

 

  (5) the exemption of liability of a director, corporate auditor or accounting auditor to the amounts set forth in the Corporate Law;

 

  (6) a reduction of stated capital with certain exceptions in which only a regular shareholder’s resolution described above is required or a shareholder’s resolution is not required;

 

  (7) a distribution of in-kind dividends which meets certain requirements;

 

  (8) dissolution, merger, consolidation or corporate split with certain exceptions in which a shareholders’ resolution is not required;

 

  (9) the transfer of the whole or a material part of the business;

 

  (10) the taking over of the whole of the business of any other corporation with certain exceptions in which a shareholders’ resolution is not required; or

 

  (11) share exchange or share transfer for the purpose of establishing 100% parent-subsidiary relationships with certain exceptions in which a shareholders’ resolution is not required,

the quorum shall be one-third of the total voting rights of all the shareholders entitled to exercise their voting rights and the approval by at least two-thirds of the voting rights of all the shareholders entitled to exercise their voting rights represented at the meeting is required (the “special shareholders resolutions”).

Pursuant to the terms of the Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement relating to American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) evidencing ADSs, each ADS representing 5 shares of Common Stock of the Company, as soon as practicable after receipt of notice of any meeting or solicitation of consents or proxies of shareholders of the Company, the Depositary (currently JPMorgan Chase Bank) will mail to the record holders of ADRs a notice which will contain the information in the original notice. The record holders of ADRs on a date specified by the Depositary will be entitled to instruct the Depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the shares of Common Stock of the Company represented by their ADSs, including instructions to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Company. The Depositary will endeavor, in so far as practicable, to vote the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company represented by such ADSs in accordance with such instructions. The Depositary will not itself exercise any voting discretion in respect of any Deposited Shares.

 

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Issue of additional shares and pre-emptive rights

Holders of the Company’s shares of Common Stock have no pre-emptive rights under its Articles of Incorporation. Authorized but unissued shares may be issued at such times and upon such terms as the Board of Directors determines, subject to the limitations as to the offering of new shares at a “specially favorable” price mentioned under “Voting rights” above. In the case of an issuance or transfer of the Company’s shares of Common Stock or stock acquisition rights by way of an allotment to a third party which would dilute the outstanding voting shares by 25% or more or change the controlling shareholder, in addition to a resolution of the Board of Directors, the approval of the shareholders or an affirmative opinion from a person independent of our management is generally required pursuant to the regulations of the Japanese stock exchanges. The Board of Directors may, however, determine that shareholders shall be given subscription rights regarding a particular issue of new shares, in which case such rights must be given on uniform terms to all shareholders as at a record date at least two weeks prior to which public notice must be given. Each of the shareholders to whom such rights are given must also be given notice of the expiry thereof at least two weeks prior to the date on which such rights expire.

Rights to subscribe for new shares may be made generally transferable by a resolution of the Board of Directors. Whether the Company will make subscription rights generally transferable in future rights offerings will depend upon the circumstances at the time of such offerings.

Subject to certain conditions, the Company may issue stock acquisition rights or bonds with stock acquisition rights by a resolution of the Board of Directors. Holders of stock acquisition rights may exercise their rights to acquire a certain number of shares within the exercise period as prescribed in the terms of their stock acquisition rights. Upon exercise of stock acquisition rights, the Company will be obliged to issue the relevant number of new shares or alternatively to transfer the necessary number of treasury stock held by it.

Liquidation rights

In the event of a liquidation of the Company, the assets remaining after payment of all debts and liquidation expenses and taxes will be distributed among shareholders in proportion to the respective numbers of shares of Common Stock held.

Record date

As mentioned above, March 31 is the record date for the Company’s year-end dividends. So long as the Company maintains the unit share system, the shareholders who are registered as the holders of one or more units of shares in the Company’s registers of shareholders at the end of each March 31 are entitled to exercise shareholders’ rights at the ordinary general meeting of shareholders with respect to the business year ending on such March 31. September 30 is the record date for interim dividends. In addition, the Company may set a record date for determining the shareholders entitled to other rights and for other purposes by giving at least two weeks’ prior public notice.

Under the Book-entry Transfer Act, JASDEC is required to give the Company a notice of the names and addresses of the shareholders, the number of shares held by them and other relevant information as of each such record date, and the Company’s register of shareholders shall be updated accordingly.

The price of shares generally goes ex-dividends or ex-rights on Japanese stock exchanges on the second business day prior to a record date (or if the record date is not a business day, the third business day prior thereto), for the purpose of dividends or rights offerings.

Acquisition by the Company of its common stock

Under the Corporate Law and the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, the Company may acquire its own shares of Common Stock (i) from a specific shareholder other than any of its subsidiaries (pursuant to a special shareholders resolution), (ii) from any of its subsidiaries (pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors), or (iii) by way of purchase on any Japanese stock exchange on which the Company’s shares of Common Stock listed or by way of tender offer (as long as its non-consolidated annual financial statements and certain documents for the last business year fairly present its asset and profit or loss status, as required by ordinances of the Ministry of Justice) (in either case pursuant to an ordinary resolution of a general meeting of shareholders or a resolution of the Board of Directors). In the case of (i) above, any other shareholder may make a request to the Company that such other shareholder be included as a seller in the proposed purchase, provided that no such right will be available if the purchase price or any other consideration to be received by the relevant specific shareholder will not exceed the last trading price of the shares on the relevant stock exchange on the day immediately preceding the date on which the resolution mentioned in (i) above was adopted (or, if there is no trading in the shares on the stock exchange or if the stock exchange is not open on such day, the price at which the shares are first traded on such stock exchange thereafter).

Shares acquired by the Company may be held by it for any period or may be cancelled by a resolution of the Board of Directors. The Company may also transfer to any person the shares held by it, subject to a resolution of the Board of Directors, and subject also to other requirements similar to those applicable to the issuance of new shares, as described in “Issue of additional shares and pre-emptive rights” above. The Company may also utilize its treasury stock for the purpose of transfer to any person upon exercise of stock acquisition rights or for the purpose of acquiring another company by way of merger, share exchange or corporate split through exchange of treasury stock for shares or assets of the acquired company.

 

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Unit share system

The Articles of Incorporation of the Company provide that 1,000 shares constitute one unit of shares of Common Stock. Although the number of shares constituting one unit is included in the Articles of Incorporation, any amendment to the Articles of Incorporation reducing (but not increasing) the number of shares constituting one unit or eliminating the provisions for the unit of shares may be made by a resolution of the Board of Directors rather than by a special shareholders resolution, which is otherwise required for amending the Articles of Incorporation. The number of shares constituting one unit, however, cannot exceed 1,000.

Under the unit share system, shareholders shall have one voting right for each unit of shares that they hold. Any number of shares less than a full unit will carry no voting rights. Moreover, holders of shares constituting less than one unit will have no other shareholder rights, except that such holders may not be deprived of certain rights specified in the Corporate Law or ordinances of the Ministry of Justice, or in the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, including the right to receive distribution of Surplus.

Under the central book-entry transfer system operated by JASDEC, shares constituting less than one unit are generally transferable. Under the rules of the Japanese stock exchanges, however, shares constituting less than one unit do not comprise a trading unit, except in limited circumstances, and accordingly may not be sold on the Japanese stock exchanges

A holder of shares constituting less than one unit may require the Company to purchase such shares at their market value in accordance with the provisions of the Share Handling Regulations of the Company.

In addition, the Articles of Incorporation of the Company provide that a holder of shares constituting less than one full unit may request the Company to sell to such holder such amount of shares which will, when added together with the shares constituting less than one full unit held by such holder, constitute one full unit of Common Stock, in accordance with the provisions of the Share Handling Regulations of the Company. As prescribed in the Share Handling Regulations, such requests shall be made through an account management institution and JASDEC pursuant to the rules set by JASDEC, without going through the notification procedure required for the exercise of shareholders’ rights entitled regardless of record dates as described in “— General”.

A holder who owns ADRs evidencing less than 200 ADSs will indirectly own less than one full unit of shares of Common Stock. Although, as discussed above, under the unit share system holders of less than one full unit have the right to require the Company to purchase their shares or sell shares held by the Company to such holders, holders of ADRs evidencing ADSs that represent other than integral multiples of full units are unable to withdraw the underlying shares of Common Stock representing less than one full unit and, therefore, are unable, as a practical matter, to exercise the rights to require the Company to purchase such underlying shares or sell shares held by the Company to such holders. As a result, access to the Japanese markets by holders of ADRs through the withdrawal mechanism will not be available for dispositions of shares of Common Stock in lots less than one full unit. The unit share system does not affect the transferability of ADSs, which may be transferred in lots of any size.

Sale by the Company of shares held by shareholders whose location is unknown

The Company is not required to send a notice to a shareholder if a notice to such shareholder fails to arrive at the registered address of the shareholder in the Company’s register of shareholders or at the address otherwise notified to the Company continuously for five years or more.

In addition, the Company may sell or otherwise dispose of shares of Common Stock for which the location of the shareholder is unknown. Generally, if (i) notices to a shareholder fail to arrive continuously for five years or more at the shareholder’s registered address in the Company’s register of shareholders or at the address otherwise notified to the Company, and (ii) the shareholder fails to receive dividends on the shares continuously for five years or more at the address registered in the Company’s register of shareholders or at the address otherwise notified to the Company, the Company may sell or otherwise dispose of the shareholder’s shares by a resolution of the Board of Directors and after giving at least three months’ prior public and individual notice, and hold or deposit the proceeds of such sale or disposal of shares at the then market price of the shares for the shareholder, the location of which is unknown.

 

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Reporting of substantial shareholdings

The Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan and regulations thereunder requires any person, regardless of his/her residence, who has become, beneficially and solely or jointly, a holder of more than 5 percent of the total issued shares (with voting rights) of common stock of a company listed on any Japanese stock exchange or whose shares are traded on the over-the-counter market in Japan to file with the Director-General of a competent Local Finance Bureau of Ministry of Finance within 5 business days a report concerning such shareholdings.

A similar report must also be filed in respect of any subsequent change of one percent or more in any such holding or any change in material matters set out in reports previously filed, with certain exceptions. For this purpose, shares issuable to such person upon conversion of convertible securities or exercise of share subscription warrants or stock acquisition rights are taken into account in determining both the number of shares (with voting rights) held by such holder and the issuer’s total issued share capital. Any such report shall be filed with the Director General of the relevant Finance Bureau of the Ministry of Finance through the Electronic Disclosure for Investors’ Network (EDINET) system. Copies of such report must also be furnished to the issuer of such shares.

Except for the general limitations under Japanese antitrust and anti-monopoly regulations against holding of shares of common stock of a Japanese corporation which leads or may lead to a restraint of trade or a monopoly, except for the limitations under the Foreign Exchange Regulations as described in “D. Exchange Controls” below, and except for general limitations under the Corporate Law or the Company’s Articles of Incorporation on the rights of shareholders applicable regardless of residence or nationality, there is no limitation under Japanese laws and regulations applicable to the Company or under its Articles of Incorporation on the rights of non-resident or foreign shareholders to hold the shares of Common Stock of the Company or exercise voting rights thereon.

There is no provision in the Company’s Articles of Incorporation that would have an effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of the Company and that would operate only with respect to merger, consolidation, acquisition or corporate restructuring involving the Company.

Daily Price Fluctuation Limits under Japanese Stock Exchange Rules

Stock prices on Japanese stock exchanges are determined on a real-time basis by the balance between bids and offers. These stock exchanges are order-driven markets without specialists or market makers to guide price formation. In order to prevent excessive volatility, these stock exchanges set daily upward and downward price range limitations for each listed stock, based on the previous day’s closing price. Although transactions may continue at the upward or downward limit price if the limit price is reached on a particular trading day, no transactions may take place outside these limits. Consequently, an investor wishing to sell at a price above or below the relevant daily limit on these stock exchanges may not be able to effect a sale at such price on a particular trading day, or at all.

C. Material Contracts

All contracts concluded by the Company during the two-year period preceding the date of this report were entered into in the ordinary course of business.

D. Exchange Controls

The Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act of Japan and its related cabinet orders and ministerial ordinances (the “Foreign Exchange Regulations”) govern the acquisition and holding of shares of Common Stock of the Company by “exchange non-residents” and by “foreign investors.” The Foreign Exchange Regulations currently in effect do not, however, affect transactions between exchange non-residents to purchase or sell shares outside Japan using currencies other than the Japanese yen.

 

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Exchange non-residents are:

 

  (i) individuals who do not reside in Japan; and

 

  (ii) corporations whose principal offices are located outside Japan.

Generally, branches and other offices of non-resident corporations that are located within Japan are regarded as residents of Japan. Conversely, branches and other offices of Japanese corporations located outside Japan are regarded as exchange non-residents.

Foreign investors are:

 

  (i) individuals who are exchange non-residents;

 

  (ii) corporations that are organized under the laws of foreign countries or whose principal offices are located outside of Japan; and

 

  (iii) corporations (1) of which 50% or more of their shares are held by individuals who are exchange non-residents and/or corporations (a) that are organized under the laws of foreign countries or (b) whose principal offices are located outside of Japan or (2) a majority of whose officers, or officers having the power of representation, are individuals who are exchange non-residents.

In general, the acquisition of shares of a Japanese company (such as the shares of Common Stock of the Company) by an exchange non-resident from a resident of Japan is not subject to any prior filing requirements. In certain limited circumstances, however, the Minister of Finance may require prior approval of an acquisition of this type. While prior approval, as described above, is not required, in the case where a resident of Japan transfers shares of a Japanese company (such as the shares of Common Stock of the Company) for consideration exceeding ¥100 million to an exchange non-resident, the resident of Japan who transfers the shares is required to report the transfer to the Minister of Finance within 20 days from the date of the transfer, unless the transfer was made through a bank or financial instruments business operator licensed or registered under Japanese law.

If a foreign investor acquires shares of a Japanese company that is listed on a Japanese stock exchange (such as the shares of Common Stock of the Company) or that is traded on an over-the-counter market in Japan and, as a result of the acquisition, the foreign investor, in combination with any existing holdings, directly or indirectly holds 10% or more of the issued shares of the relevant company, the foreign investor must file a report of the acquisition with the Minister of Finance and any other competent Ministers having jurisdiction over that Japanese company on or before the 15 th day of the month following the month in which such acquisition was made. In limited circumstances, such as where the foreign investor is in a country that is not listed on an exemption schedule in the Foreign Exchange Regulations, or where that Japanese company is engaged in certain business designated by the Foreign Exchange Regulations, a prior notification of the acquisition must be filed with the Minister of Finance and any other competent Ministers, who may then modify or prohibit the proposed acquisition.

Under the Foreign Exchange Regulations, dividends paid on and the proceeds from revenues in Japan of shares of Common Stock of the Company held by non-residents of Japan may generally be converted into any foreign currency and repatriated abroad.

E. Taxation

Japanese Taxation

The following is a summary of the major Japanese national tax consequences of the ownership, acquisition and disposition of shares of Common Stock of the Company and of ADRs evidencing ADSs representing shares of Common Stock of the Company by a non-resident Holder (as defined below). The summary does not purport to be a comprehensive description of all of the tax considerations that may be relevant to any particular investor depending on its individual circumstances. Accordingly, holders of shares of Common Stock of the Company including holders of ADRs evidencing ADSs are encouraged to consult their tax advisors regarding the application of the considerations discussed below to their particular circumstances.

 

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This summary is based in part upon the representations of the Depositary and the assumption that each obligation in the deposit agreement, and in any related agreement, will be performed under its terms.

In general, taking into account the earlier assumption, for purposes of the Convention between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Japan for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income (the “Treaty”), and Japanese income tax purposes, eligible U.S. holders of ADRs will be treated as owning the Common Stock underlying the ADSs evidenced by the ADRs. For the purposes of the discussion, an “eligible U.S. holder” is a holder that:

 

  (i) is a resident of the United States for purposes of the Treaty;

 

  (ii) does not maintain a permanent establishment in Japan (a) to which ADRs or shares of Common Stock are attributable or (b) of which ADRs or shares of Common Stock form part of the business property; and

 

  (iii) is eligible for benefits under the Treaty with respect to income and gain derived in connection with ADRs or shares of Common Stock.

The following is a summary of the principal Japanese tax consequences (limited to national taxes) to non-residents of Japan or non-Japanese corporations without permanent establishments in Japan (“non-resident Holders”) who are holders of shares of Common Stock of the Company or of ADRs evidencing ADSs representing shares of Common Stock of the Company.

Dividends and capital gains

Generally, non-resident Holders are subject to Japanese withholding tax on dividends paid by Japanese corporations. Such taxes are withheld prior to payment of dividends as required by Japanese law. Stock splits in themselves are not, in general, subject to Japanese income tax.

In the absence of an applicable tax treaty, convention or agreement reducing the maximum rate of Japanese withholding tax or allowing exemption from Japanese withholding tax, the rate of Japanese withholding tax applicable to dividends paid by Japanese corporations to non-resident Holders is 20 percent. However, with respect to dividends paid on listed shares issued by a Japanese corporation (such as the shares of Common Stock of the Company) to non-resident Holders, except for any individual shareholder who holds 5 percent or more of the total issued shares of the relevant Japanese corporation, the aforementioned 20 percent withholding tax rate is reduced to (i) 7 percent for dividends due and payable on or before December 31, 2011, and (ii) 15 percent for dividends due and payable on or after January 1, 2012. At the date of this annual report, Japan has income tax treaties, conventions or agreements whereby the above-mentioned withholding tax rate is reduced, in most cases to 15 percent or 10 percent for portfolio investors (15 percent under the income tax treaties with, among other countries, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland, and 10 percent under the income tax treaties with Australia, France, the United Kingdom and the United States).

Under the Treaty, the maximum rate of Japanese withholding tax which may be imposed on dividends paid by a Japanese corporation to an eligible U.S. holder that is a portfolio investor is generally limited to 10 percent of the gross amount actually distributed, and dividends paid by a Japanese corporation to an eligible U.S. holder that is a pension fund are exempt from Japanese taxation by way of withholding or otherwise unless such dividends are derived from the carrying on of a business, directly or indirectly, by such pension fund.

If the maximum tax rate provided for in the income tax treaty applicable to dividends paid by the Company to any particular non-resident Holder is lower than the withholding tax rate otherwise applicable under Japanese tax law or any particular non-resident Holder is exempt from Japanese income tax with respect to such dividends under the income tax treaty applicable to such particular non-resident Holder, such non-resident Holder of the Company’s shares of Common Stock who is entitled to a reduced rate of or exemption from Japanese withholding tax on payment of dividends is required to submit, through the withholding agent, an Application Form for Income Tax Convention Regarding Relief from Japanese Income Tax on Dividends in advance to the relevant tax authority before payment of dividends. A standing proxy for non-resident Holders of a Japanese corporation may provide this application service. With respect to ADSs, this reduced rate or exemption is applicable if the Depositary or its agent submits 2 Application Forms (one before payment of dividends, the other within 8 months after the record date concerning such payment of dividends) together with certain other documents. To claim this reduced rate or exemption, any non-resident Holder holding ADRs evidencing ADSs will be required to file a proof of taxpayer status, residence and beneficial ownership (as applicable) and to provide other information or documents as may be required by the Depositary. A non-resident Holder who is entitled, under an applicable income tax treaty, to a reduced treaty rate lower than the withholding tax rate otherwise applicable under Japanese tax law or an exemption from the withholding tax, but failed to submit the required application in advance will be entitled to claim the refund of withholding taxes withheld in excess of the rate under an applicable tax treaty (if such non-resident Holder is entitled to a reduced treaty rate under the applicable income tax treaty) or the whole of the withholding tax withheld (if such non-resident Holder is entitled to an exemption under the applicable income tax treaty) from the relevant Japanese tax authority, by complying with a certain subsequent filing procedure. The Company does not assume any responsibility to ensure withholding at the reduced treaty rate or not withholding for shareholders who would be eligible under an applicable tax treaty but where the required procedures as stated above are not followed.

Gains derived from the sale of shares of Common Stock of the Company or ADSs outside Japan by a non-resident Holder holding such shares or ADSs as a portfolio investor are, in general, not subject to Japanese income or corporation tax. Eligible U.S. holders are not subject to Japanese income or corporation tax with respect to such gains under the Treaty, subject to a certain filing requirement under Japanese law.

 

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Inheritance and gift

Japanese inheritance and gift taxes at progressive rates may be payable by an individual who has acquired shares of Common Stock or ADSs as a legatee, heir or donee from another individual even though neither the acquirer, the deceased nor the donor is a Japanese resident.

Holders of shares of Common Stock of the Company or ADSs should consult their tax advisors regarding the effect of these taxes and, in the case of U.S. holders, the possible application of the Estate and Gift Tax Treaty between the United States and Japan.

United States Federal Income Taxation

This section describes the material United States federal income tax consequences of owning Common Stock or ADSs. It applies to you only if you are a U.S. holder, as defined below, and you own your Common Stock or ADSs as capital assets for tax purposes. This section does not apply to you if you are a member of a special class of holders subject to special rules, including:

 

   

a dealer in securities,

 

   

a trader in securities that elects to use a mark-to-market method of accounting for your securities holdings,

 

   

a tax-exempt organization,

 

   

certain insurance companies,

 

   

a person liable for alternative minimum tax,

 

   

a person that actually or constructively owns 10% or more of the voting stock of the Company,

 

   

a person that holds Common Stock or ADSs as part of a straddle or a hedging or conversion transaction, or

 

   

a person whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar.

This section is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, its legislative history, existing and proposed regulations, published rulings and court decisions, as well as on the Treaty, all as currently in effect. These laws are subject to change, possibly on a retroactive basis. In addition, this section is based in part upon the representations of the Depositary and the assumption that each obligation in the Deposit Agreement and any related agreement will be performed in accordance with its terms.

If a partnership holds the Common Stock or ADSs, the United States federal income tax treatment of a partner will generally depend on the status of the partner and the tax treatment of the partnership. A partner in a partnership holding the Common Stock or ADSs should consult its tax advisor with regard to the United States federal income tax treatment of an investment in the Common Stock or ADSs.

You are a U.S. holder if you are a beneficial owner of Common Stock or ADSs and you are:

 

   

a citizen or resident of the United States,

 

   

a domestic corporation,

 

   

an estate whose income is subject to United States federal income tax regardless of its source, or

 

   

a trust if a United States court can exercise primary supervision over the trust’s administration and one or more United States persons are authorized to control all substantial decisions of the trust.

 

You should consult your own tax advisor regarding the United States federal, state and local and other tax consequences of owning and disposing of Common Stock and ADSs in your particular circumstances.

This discussion addresses only United States federal income taxation.

In general, and taking into account the earlier assumptions, for United States federal income tax purposes, if you hold ADRs evidencing ADSs, you will be treated as the owner of the Common Stock represented by the ADSs evidenced by the ADRs. Exchanges of Common Stock for ADRs, and ADRs for Common Stock, generally will not be subject to United States federal income tax.

 

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Taxation of Dividends

Under United States federal income tax laws, and subject to the passive foreign investment company, or “PFIC” rules discussed below, the gross amount of any dividend paid by the Company out of its current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined for United States federal income tax purposes) to a U.S. holder is subject to United States federal income taxation. If you are a non-corporate U.S. holder, dividends paid to you in taxable years beginning before January 1, 2011 that constitute qualified dividend income will be taxable to you at a maximum rate of 15% provided that you hold the shares or ADSs for more than 60 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the ex-dividend date and meet other holding period requirements. Dividends paid by the Company with respect to Common Stock or ADSs generally will be qualified dividend income.

You must include any Japanese tax withheld from the dividend payment in this gross amount even though you do not in fact receive the amount withheld. The dividend is taxable to you when you, in the case of Common Stock, or the Depositary, in the case of ADSs, receive the dividend, actually or constructively. The dividend will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction generally allowed to United States corporations in respect of dividends received from other United States corporations. The amount of the dividend distribution that you must include in your income as a U.S. holder will be the U.S. dollar value of the Japanese yen payments made, determined at the spot Japanese yen/U.S. dollar rate on the date the dividend distribution is includible in your income, regardless of whether the payment is in fact converted into U.S. dollars. Generally, any gain or loss resulting from currency exchange fluctuations during the period from the date you include the dividend payment in income to the date you convert the payment into U.S. dollars will be treated as ordinary income or loss and will not be eligible for the special tax rate applicable to qualified dividend income. This gain or loss generally will be income or loss from sources within the United States for foreign tax credit limitation purposes.

Distributions in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits, as determined for United States federal income tax purposes, will be treated as a non-taxable return of capital to the extent of your basis in the Common Stock or ADSs and thereafter as capital gain.

Subject to certain limitations, the Japanese tax withheld in accordance with the Treaty, and paid over to Japan will be creditable against your United States federal income tax liability. Special rules apply in determining the foreign tax credit limitation with respect to dividends that are subject to the maximum 15% tax rate. To the extent a refund of the tax withheld is available to you under Japanese law or under the Treaty, the amount of tax withheld that is refundable will not be eligible for credit against your United States federal income tax liability. The rules governing foreign tax credits are complex and the Company urges you to consult your tax advisor regarding the foreign tax credit in your situation.

Dividends will be income from sources outside the United States and, depending on your circumstances, will generally be either “passive” or “general” for purposes of computing the foreign tax credit allowable to you.

Taxation of Capital Gains

Subject to the PFIC rules discussed below, if you are a U.S. holder and you sell or otherwise dispose of your Common Stock or ADSs, you will recognize capital gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes equal to the difference between the U.S. dollar value of the amount that you realize and your tax basis, determined in U.S. dollars, in your Common Stock or ADSs. Capital gain of a non-corporate U.S. holder is generally taxed at preferential rates where the holder has a holding period greater than one year. The gain or loss will generally be income or loss from sources within the United States for foreign tax credit limitation purposes.

Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules

The Company believes that Common Stock and ADSs should not be treated as stock of a PFIC for United States federal income tax purposes, but this conclusion is a factual determination that is made annually and thus may be subject to change. If the Company is treated as a PFIC, unless Common Stock or ADSs are “marketable stock” and a U.S. holder elects to be taxed annually on a mark-to-market basis with respect to the Common Stock or ADSs, gain realized on the sale or other disposition of the Common Stock or ADSs would in general not be treated as capital gain. Instead, if you are a U.S. holder, you would be treated as if you had realized such gain and certain “excess distributions” ratably over your holding period for the Common Stock or ADSs, the amount allocated to the taxable year in which you realized the gain or received the excess distribution would be taxed as ordinary income, the amount allocated to each prior year would generally be taxed at the highest tax rate in effect for each such year, and an interest charge would be applied to any such tax attributable to the prior years. With certain exceptions, your Common Stock or ADSs will be treated as stock of a PFIC if the Company was a PFIC at any time during your holding period of your Common Stock or ADSs. Dividends that you receive from the Company will not be eligible for the special tax rates applicable to qualified dividend income if the Company is a PFIC either in the taxable year of the distribution or the preceding taxable year.

 

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F. Dividends and Paying Agents

Not applicable.

G. Statement by Experts

Not applicable.

H. Documents on Display

According to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Company is subject to the requirements of informational disclosure. The Company files various reports and other information, including this annual report on Form 20-F, to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. These reports may be inspected at the following sites.

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission : 100 F Street, N.E., Washington D.C. 20549

Form 20-F is also available at the website of the Company. URL : http://www.kubota.co.jp

I. Subsidiary Information

Not applicable.

 

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Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

The Company is exposed to market risks, including changes in foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates and prices of marketable equity securities. In order to hedge the risks of changes in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates, the Company uses derivative financial instruments. The Company uses these derivative financial instruments solely for the purpose of mitigating risk and no derivative instruments are held or used for speculative purposes.

Foreign Currency Exchange Risks

The Company’s foreign currency exposure relates primarily to its foreign currency denominated assets in its international operations. The Company utilizes foreign exchange forward contracts and foreign currency option contracts (foreign exchange contracts) primarily to fix the value of cash flows resulting from accounts receivable and payable and future transactions denominated in foreign currencies.

The following table provides information regarding the Company’s derivative financial instruments related to foreign exchange contracts as of March 31, 2010. All foreign exchange contracts have original maturities of less than one year.

Foreign Exchange Contracts (as of March 31, 2010)

 

     Yen    Millions of Yen  
     Average
contractual
exchange rate
   Contract
Amounts
   Fair
Value
 

Sell U.S. Dollar, Buy Yen

   91.75    ¥ 25,231    ¥ (345

Sell Euro, Buy Yen

   126.68      8,741      125   

Sell Thai Baht, Buy Yen

   2.77      6,717      (223

Others

   —        1,215      (15
      ¥ 41,904    ¥ (458

Interest Rate Risks

The Company is exposed to interest rate risks mainly inherent in its finance receivables and debt obligations. The Company has finance receivables with fixed rates and long-term debt with both fixed and variable rates. The Company uses interest rate swap agreements to enable the Company to choose between fixed and variable interest rates depending on how the funds are used as well as diversifying funding methods and lowering funding costs.

The following tables provide information about the Company’s financial instruments that are sensitive to changes in interest rates at March 31, 2010. For finance receivables—net and long-term debt, these tables present annual maturities and fair value. For interest rate swap contracts and cross-currency interest rate swap contracts, the table presents weighed average rate and notional amount by expected maturity dates.

Finance Receivables—net excluding finance leases (as of March 31, 2010)

 

     Weighted
Average

Interest
rate
    Millions of Yen
       2011    2012    2013    2014    2015    2016 and
thereafter
   Total    Fair value

U.S. dollar

   1.84   ¥ 66,093    ¥ 52,000    ¥ 36,659    ¥ 20,261    ¥ 2,772    ¥ 1,186    ¥ 178,971    ¥ 177,815

Canadian dollar

   6.00        12,276      9,013      5,730      3,381      1,546      446      32,392      34,206
     ¥ 78,369    ¥ 61,013    ¥ 42,389    ¥ 23,642    ¥ 4,318    ¥ 1,632    ¥ 211,363    ¥ 212,021

 

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Long-term trade accounts receivable (as of March 31, 2010)

 

           Millions of Yen
   Weighted
Average

Interest
rate
    2011    2012    2013    2014    2015    2016 and
thereafter
   Total    Fair value

Japanese yen

   0.49   ¥ 21,145    ¥ 10,836    ¥ 7,320    ¥ 4,666    ¥ 2,340    ¥ 1,303    ¥ 47,610    ¥ 50,409

Long-term debt excluding capital lease obligations (as of March 31, 2010)

 

           Millions of Yen
   Weighted
Average

Interest
rate
    2011    2012    2013    2014    2015    2016 and
thereafter
   Total    Fair value

Japanese yen

   1.21   ¥ 16,452    ¥ 17,555    ¥ 45,179    ¥ 14,869    ¥ 22,929    ¥ 12,835    ¥ 129,819    ¥ 130,394

U.S. dollar

   1.96        46,198      64,693      29,390      2,209      2,208      —        144,698      144,802

Others

   3.40        5,659      11,349      17,018      170      66      —        34,262      34,062
     ¥ 68,309    ¥ 93,597    ¥ 91,587    ¥ 17,248    ¥ 25,203    ¥ 12,835    ¥ 308,779    ¥ 309,258

Interest Rate Swap Contracts (as of March 31, 2010)

 

     Millions of Yen, except rates  
   2011     2012     2013     2014     2015     2016 and
thereafter
   Total     Fair value  

Notional amounts (Yen)

   ¥ 16,500      ¥ 14,500      ¥ 12,500      ¥ 12,500      ¥ 5,500      —      ¥ 61,500      ¥ (195

Average pay rate

     1.11     1.08     1.06     1.06     1.04   —        1.08     —     

Average receive rate

     0.56     0.56     0.52     0.52     0.61   —        0.55     —     

Notional amounts (U.S. dollar)

   ¥ 80,500      ¥ 57,500      ¥ 16,100      ¥ 2,300        —        —      ¥ 156,400      ¥ (2,241

Average pay rate

     3.90     3.41     2.77     2.27     —        —        3.58     —     

Average receive rate

     0.53     0.56     1.06     0.85     —        —        0.60     —     

Notional amounts (Can$)

   ¥ 4,136      ¥ 1,760      ¥ 528      ¥ 88        —        —      ¥ 6,512      ¥ (190

Average pay rate

     4.39     4.47     4.50     4.52     —        —        4.42     —     

Average receive rate

     0.40     0.40     0.40     0.40     —        —        0.40     —     

Notional amounts (Other)

   ¥ 3,312      ¥ 3,312        —          —          —        —      ¥ 6,624      ¥ (138

Average pay rate

     4.63     4.63     —          —          —        —        4.63     —     

Average receive rate

     1.98     1.98     —          —          —        —        1.98     —     

 

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Cross-Currency Interest Rate Swap Contracts (as of March 31, 2010)

 

     Millions of Yen, except rates  
     2011     2012     2013     2014     2015     2016 and
thereafter
   Total     Fair
value
 

Receive Yen, Pay Thai Baht

                 

Notional amounts (Yen)

   ¥ 24,000      ¥ 24,000      ¥ 20,000      ¥ 6,000      ¥ 6,000      —      ¥ 80,020      ¥ (1,352

Average pay rate

     4.04     4.02     1.84     2.12     0.26   —        3.06     —     

Average receive rate

     1.07     1.06     0.56     0.70     0.08   —        0.84     —     

Receive USD, Pay Thai Baht

                 

Notional amounts (U.S. dollar)

   ¥ 14,720      ¥ 14,720      ¥ 14,720      ¥ 5,520      ¥ 5,520      —      ¥ 55,200      ¥ (512

Average pay rate

     3.85     3.85     3.49     3.00     1.11   —        3.40     —     

Average receive rate

     0.90     0.90     0.80     0.59     0.22   —        0.78     —     

Receive Yen, Pay Canadian dollar

                 

Notional amounts (Yen)

   ¥ 5,000      ¥ 5,000      ¥ 5,000        —          —        —      ¥ 15,000      ¥ (752

Average pay rate

     4.07     4.07     2.03     —          —        —        3.39     —     

Average receive rate

     0.70     0.70     0.36     —          —        —        0.59     —     

Equity Price Risk

The Company holds available-for-sale securities included in investments. These securities are exposed to changes in equity price risks arising from changes in market prices for such securities. The Company does not hold marketable securities for trading purposes. The following table discloses the cost, fair value and unrealized holding gains and losses on marketable equity securities at March 31, 2010:

 

     Millions of Yen
     Cost    Fair Value    Gross
Unrealized

Holding
Gains
   Gross
Unrealized

Holding
Losses

Available-for-sale:

           

Equity securities of financial institutions

   ¥ 24,422    ¥ 44,186    ¥ 19,775    ¥ 11

Other equity securities

     16,080      54,985      38,946      41
                           
   ¥ 40,502    ¥ 99,171    ¥ 58,721    ¥ 52
                           

Item 12. Description of Securities Other than Equity Securities

A. Debt Securities

Not applicable.

B. Warrants and Rights

Not applicable.

C. Other Securities

Not applicable.

D. American Depositary Shares

Fees and charges payable by a holders of ADSs

The Company has appointed JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. as its depositary pursuant to its American Depositary Receipt program for the Company.

In accordance with the terms of the Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. may charge holders of the Company’s American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”), either directly or indirectly, fees or charges up to the amounts described below.

 

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Category (as defined by SEC)

  

Depositary Actions

  

Associated Fee

  

To whom the fees or

charges are paid

•    Depositing or substituting the underlying shares

  

Issuance of ADSs against the deposit of shares, including deposits and issuances in respect of:

•    Share distributions, stock split, rights, merger

•    Exchange of securities or any other transaction or event or other distribution affecting the ADSs or the deposited securities

   $5.00 for each 100 ADSs (or portion thereof) Evidenced by the new American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) delivered    JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A

•    Receiving or distributing Dividends

  

Distribution of dividends

  

$0.02 or less per ADS

   JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A

•    Selling or exercising rights

   Distribution or sale of securities, the fee being in an amount equal to the fee for the execution and delivery of ADSs which would have been charged as a result of the deposit of such securities    $5.00 for each 100 ADSs (or portion thereof)    JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A

•    Withdrawing an underlying security

   Acceptance of ADRs surrendered for withdrawal of deposited securities    $5.00 for each 100 ADSs (or portion there of ) evidenced by the ADRs surrendered    JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A

•    Transferring, splitting or grouping receipts;

   Transfers, combining or grouping of depositary receipts   

$1.50 per ADR Certificate

  

JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A

•    General depositary services

  

Expenses incurred on behalf of Holders in connection with

•    Compliance with foreign exchange control regulations or any law or regulation relating to foreign investment

•    The depositary’s or its custodian’s compliance with applicable law, rule or regulation

•    Stock transfer or other taxes and other governmental charges

•    Cable, telex, facsimile transmission/delivery

•    Expenses of the depositary in connection with the conversion of foreign currency into U.S. dollars (which are paid out of such foreign currency)

•    Any other charge payable by depositary or its agents

   Payable by Holders or persons depositing Shares or Holders withdrawing Deposited Securities.   

JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A

 

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Fees and payments made by the Depositary to the issuer

There were no fees and other direct and indirect payments made by the depositary to the Company in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2010.

 

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PART II

Item 13. Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies

None.

Item 14. Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds

None.

Item 15. Controls and Procedures

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Company’s management, with the participation of its chief executive and chief financial officers, evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,) as of March 31, 2010. Based on that evaluation, the Company’s chief executive and chief financial officers concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of that date.

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Management of the Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for the Company.

Management evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2010 using the criteria set forth in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

Based on this evaluation, management concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of March 31, 2010.

The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu LLC, has issued an audit report on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Their report appears on page F-3 of the attached Consolidated Financial Statements.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

No change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting occurred during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2010 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

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Item 16A . Audit Committee Financial Expert

The Company’s Board of Corporate Auditors has determined that Yoshio Suekawa qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by the rules of the SEC. He is a certified public accountant in Japan. He started his career at Lowe Bingham and Luckie (subsequently, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Osaka) in 1959. Since then he has worked in several major accounting firms including Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu as a public accountant for more than 40 years. From 1974 to 1976 he worked at Price Waterhouse in Los Angeles. Currently he maintains Suekawa CPA Office. He was elected as one of the Company’s Corporate Auditors at the ordinary general meeting of shareholders held on June 25, 2004, and reelected at the ordinary general meeting of shareholders held on June 20, 2008. See Item 6.A. for information regarding his business experience. He meets the independence requirements imposed on corporate auditors under the Corporate Law of Japan.

Item 16B . Code of Ethics

The Board of Directors of the Company adopted a “Code of Ethics” in April, 2004, which is applicable to its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and General Manager of Finance & Accounting Department. This Code requires the relevant Officers to act honestly and candidly, including the ethical handling of conflict of interest, and to comply with all applicable laws, accounting standards, rules and regulations of self-regulatory organization, and policies and internal regulation of the Company. The Code also requires the relevant Officers to conduct full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in reports and documents which are filed with or submitted to the SEC, and in other communications with the public and prompt internal reporting of violations of this Code.

Our Code of Ethics is attached as an exhibit to this annual report (exhibit11.1).

 

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Item 16C. Principal Accountant Fees and Services

Fees and Services of Principal Accountant

The following table discloses the aggregate fees accrued or paid to principal accountant and associated entities for each of the last two fiscal years:

 

     Millions of yen
     2010    2009

Audit Fees

   ¥ 576    ¥ 623

Audit-Related Fees

     3      3

Tax Fees

     104      121

All Other Fees

     20      40
             

Total

   ¥ 703    ¥ 787
             

Audit Fees include fees charged for professional services rendered for audits of the Company’s semi-annual and annual consolidated financial statements, statutory audits of the Company and its subsidiaries.

Audit-Related Fees include fees charged for consultations concerning financial accounting and reporting standards.

Tax Fees include fees charged for services related to tax compliance, including the preparation of tax returns and claims for refund, tax planning and tax advice, including assistance with tax audits and appeals, tax services for employee benefit plans and assistance with respect to requests for rulings from tax authorities.

All Other Fees include fees charged for services rendered with respect to consultation relating to improvements in the Company’s internal controls. Services rendered by principal accountant and associated entities did not include design, development, and/or implementation of the Company’s internal controls

Policies for Pre-Approval of Audit and Non-Audit Services rendered by Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Corporate Auditors of the Company consists of 5 auditors, including 3 outside corporate auditors. The Board has adopted Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures for Audit and Non-Audit Services (the “Policies”) for the purpose of supervising the services of its Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. The Policies govern external auditors to render audit or non-audit services to the Company. The Policies classify audit and non-audit services into 3 categories depending on the nature of services and regulate them differently.

The first category includes the following services and they are pre-approved comprehensively.

 

 

All services necessary to perform audit or review of the Company and any subsidiaries to comply with the rules of the SEC, Corporate Law of Japan, Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan, rules and regulation of Stock Exchanges in Japan and any other rules and regulation, and related consultation of accounting procedures and voluntary audit and examination of subsidiaries.

 

 

Audit-related services, such as due diligence related to merger & acquisition activity, audit of employee benefit plans including audit of pension fund and audit or review of information systems related to accounting.

 

 

Services and consultation related to the preparation of tax returns.

 

 

Other services, such as training of employees regarding accounting practices.

The second category includes non-audit services which are restricted by the Sarbanes-Oxley act and the rules of SEC to be rendered by the same public accountants which renders audit services to the Company. The Policies prohibits such services to be rendered.

The third category includes additional services other than the above which may be pre-approved by the Board on an individual basis.

No services were provided for which pre-approval was waived pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.

 

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Item 16D. Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees

With respect to the requirements of Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 relating to listed company audit committees, which apply to the Company through Section 303A.06 of the New York Stock Exchange’s Listed Company Manual, the Company relies on an exemption provided by paragraph (c)(3) of that Rule available to foreign private issuers with boards of corporate auditors meeting certain requirements. For a New York Stock Exchange-listed Japanese company with a board of corporate auditors, the requirements for relying on paragraph (c)(3) of Rule 10A-3 are as follows:

 

  1. The board of corporate auditors must be established, and its members must be selected, pursuant to Japanese law expressly requiring such a board for Japanese companies that elect to have a corporate governance system with corporate auditors.

 

  2. Japanese law must and does require the board of corporate auditors to be separate from the board of directors.

 

  3. None of the members of the board of corporate auditors is elected by management, and none of the listed company’s executive officers is a member of the board of corporate auditors.

 

  4. Japanese law must and does set forth standards for the independence of the members of the board of corporate auditors from the listed company or its management.

 

  5. The board of corporate auditors, in accordance with Japanese law or the listed company’s governing documents, must be responsible, to the extent permitted by Japanese law, for the appointment, retention and oversight of the work of any registered public accounting firm engaged (including, to the extent permitted by Japanese law, the resolution of disagreements between management and the auditor regarding financial reporting) for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or performing other audit, review or attest services for the listed company, including its principal accountant which audits its consolidated financial statements included in its annual reports on Form 20-F.

 

  6. To the extent permitted by Japanese law:

 

   

the board of corporate auditors must establish procedures for (i) the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the listed company regarding accounting, internal accounting controls, or auditing matters, and (ii) the confidential, anonymous submission by its employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters;

 

   

the board of corporate auditors must have the authority to engage independent counsel and other advisers, as it determines necessary to carry out its duties; and

 

   

the listed company must provide for appropriate funding, as determined by its board of corporate auditors, for payment of (i) compensation to any registered public accounting firm engaged for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or performing other audit, review or attest services for the listed company, (ii) compensation to any advisers employed by the board of corporate auditors, and (iii) ordinary administrative expenses of the board of corporate auditors that are necessary or appropriate in carrying out its duties.

In the Company’s assessment, the Company’s Board of Corporate Auditors, which meets the requirements for reliance on the exemption in paragraph (c)(3) of Rule 10A-3 described above, is not materially less effective than an audit committee meeting all the requirements of paragraph (b) of Rule 10A-3 (without relying on any exemption provided by that Rule) at acting independently of management and performing the functions of an audit committee as contemplated therein.

 

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Item 16E. Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers

The following table sets forth the Company’s purchases of its common stock during fiscal 2010:

 

Period

   (a) Total Number of
Shares Purchased
   (b) Average Price Paid
per Share
(Yen)
   (c) Total Number of
Shares Purchased
as Part of Publicly
Announced Plans
or Programs
   (d) Maximum Number of
Shares that

May Yet Be Purchased
Under the Plans
or Programs

April 1, 2009 – April 30, 2009

   9,848    590.42    0    0

May 1, 2009 – May 31, 2009

   8,552    625.18    0    0

June 1, 2009 – June 30, 2009

   6,712    704.93    0    0

July 1, 2009 – July 31, 2009

   4,880    781.14    0    0

August 1, 2009 – August 31, 2009

   2,624    792.24    0    0

September 1, 2009 – September 30, 2009

   2,804    757.06    0    0

October 1, 2009 – October 31, 2009

   4,933    724.45    0    0

November 1, 2009 – November 30, 2009

   3,810    729.15    0    0

December 1, 2009 – December 31, 2009

   111,629    846.57    0    0

January 1, 2010 – January 31, 2010

   36,850    885.88    0    0

February 1, 2010 – February 28, 2010

   17,334    824.83    0    0

March 1, 2010 – March 31, 2010

   23,627    813.27    0    0
                   

Total

   233,603    —      0    —  
                   

 

Note: All purchases other than purchases publicly announced were made as a result of holders of shares less than one unit, which is 1,000 shares of common stock, requesting the Company to purchase shares that are a fraction of a unit in accordance with the Corporate Law.

Item 16F. Changes in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant.

Not applicable.

Item 16G. Corporate Governance

The following shows the significant differences between the corporate governance practices followed by U.S. listed companies under the NYSE Corporate Governance Rules and those followed by the Company under its home country practice.

Independence of Directors

A NYSE-listed U.S. company must have a majority of directors meeting the independence requirements under Section 303A of the NYSE Listed Company Manual.

Under the Corporate Law of Japan and relevant laws and ordinances (collectively, the “Corporate Law of Japan”), Japanese joint stock corporations (kabushiki kaisha) with the board of directors and the accounting auditor (kaikei-kansanin) may elect to structure their corporate governance system to be either that of a company with corporate auditors (kansayaku secchigaisha) or that of a company with specified committees (iinkai secchigaisha). The Company is currently a company with corporate auditors, and does not have specified committees.

As a company with corporate auditors, the Company is not required under the Corporate Law of Japan to have outside directors who meet any independence requirements under the Corporate Law of Japan on its board of directors. However, the Company has two Outside Directors. An “outside director” is defined as a director of the company who does not engage or has not engaged in the execution of business of the company or its subsidiaries as a director of any of these corporations, and who does not serve or has not served as an executive officer, manager or in any other capacity as an employee of the company or its subsidiaries. The tasks of supervising the administration of the Company’s affairs by the Directors are assigned not only to the Board of Directors but also to the Company’s Corporate Auditors, who are separate from the Company’s management, under the Corporate Law of Japan. The tasks of examining the Company’s financial statements are also assigned to the Company’s Corporate Auditors under the Corporate Law of Japan. All Corporate Auditors must meet certain independence requirements under the Corporate Law of Japan. At least half of the Company’s Corporate Auditors are required to be “outside” Corporate Auditors who must meet additional independence requirements under the Corporate Law of Japan. An outside corporate auditor is defined as a corporate auditor who has not served as a director, accounting counselor, executive officer, manager or any other employee of the company or any of its subsidiaries prior to the appointment. Currently, the Company has five Corporate Auditors, three of whom are Outside Corporate Auditors.

In addition, pursuant to recent amendments to the regulations of the Japanese stock exchanges, the Company is required to have one or more “independent director(s)/corporate auditor(s)” which terms are defined under the relevant regulations of the Japanese stock exchanges as “outside directors” or “outside corporate auditors” (each of which terms is defined under the Corporate Law) who are unlikely to have any conflicts of interests with shareholders of the Company. Each of the Outside Directors and Outside Corporate Auditors of the Company satisfies the requirements for the “independent director/corporate auditor” under the regulations of the Japanese stock exchanges respectively. The definition of “independent director/corporate auditor” is different from that of the independent directors under the corporate governance standards of the New York Stock Exchange or under Rule 10A-3 under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

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Audit committee

A NYSE-listed U.S. company must have an audit committee with responsibilities described under Section 303A of the NYSE Listed Company Manual, including those imposed by Rule 10A-3 under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The audit committee must be composed entirely of independent directors, and the audit committee must have at least three members.

Under the corporate auditor system that the Company employs in Japan, the board of corporate auditors is a legally separate and independent body from the board of directors. The function of the board of corporate auditors is similar to that of independent directors, including those who are members of the audit committee, of a U.S. company: to monitor the performance of the directors, and review and express opinion on the method of auditing by the company’s accounting auditor and on such accounting auditor’s audit reports, for the protection of the Company’s shareholders. Under the Corporate Law of Japan, the Company is required to have at least three corporate auditors. The Articles of Incorporation of the Company provide for no more than six corporate auditors. Currently, the Company has five corporate auditors. Each corporate auditor has a four-year term. In contrast, the term of each director of the Company is one year. With respect to the requirements of Rule 10A-3 under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934 relating to listed company audit committees, the Company relies on an exemption under paragraph (c) (3) of that rule which is available to foreign private issuers with boards of corporate auditors meeting certain criteria.

Nominating /corporate governance committee

A NYSE-listed U.S. company must have a nominating/corporate governance committee with responsibilities described under Section 303A of the NYSE Listed Company Manual. The nominating/corporate governance committee must be composed entirely of independent directors.

Under the Corporate Law of Japan, the Company’s Directors must be elected at a general meeting of shareholders. Its Board of Directors does not have the power to fill its vacancies. The Company’s Corporate Auditors must also be elected and dismissed at a general meeting of shareholders. The Company’s Board of Directors must obtain the consent of its Board of Corporate Auditors in order to submit a proposal for election of a Corporate Auditor to a general meeting of shareholders. The Board of Corporate Auditors is also empowered to adopt a resolution requesting that the Company’s Directors submit a proposal for election of a Corporate Auditor to a general meeting of shareholders. All Corporate Auditors have the right to state their opinion concerning the election, dismissal and resignation of a Corporate Auditor at the general meeting of shareholders.

Compensation committee

A NYSE-listed U.S. company must have a compensation committee with responsibilities described under Section 303A of the NYSE Listed Company Manual. The compensation committee must be composed entirely of independent directors.

Under the Corporate Law of Japan, the maximum aggregate amounts of remunerations, for the Company’s Directors and those of the Company’s Corporate Auditors must be approved at a general meeting of shareholders, respectively. The Company must also obtain the approval at a general meeting of shareholders if the Company desires to change such maximum amount of remunerations. The remunerations for Directors are determined at the meeting of the Board of Directors based on the report of the Compensation Council within the range of the maximum aggregate amounts of remunerations approved at a general meeting of shareholders, in consideration of operating results, compensation levels of other companies, wage level of employees. The Compensation Council is composed of Representative Directors excluding the President and executive officers in charge of indirect departments. The report of the Compensation Council is submitted to the meeting of the Board of Directors after the approval of the President. The remunerations for Corporate Auditors are determined upon consultation among Corporate Auditors within the range of the maximum aggregate amounts of remunerations approved at a general meeting of shareholders, in consideration of the roles of the respective Corporate Auditors.

 

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Shareholders approval of equity compensation plan

A NYSE-listed U.S. company must generally obtain shareholder approval with respect to any equity compensation plan.

Pursuant to the Corporate Law of Japan, if the Company desires to adopt an equity compensation plan under which stock acquisition rights are granted on specially favorable conditions (except where such rights are granted to all of its shareholders on a pro rata basis), the Company must approve the plan by a “special resolution” of a general meeting of shareholders, where the quorum is one-third of the total number of voting rights and the approval of at least two-thirds of the voting rights represented at the meeting is required.

 

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PART III

Item 17. Financial Statements

Not applicable.

Item 18. Financial Statements

See Consolidated Financial Statements attached hereto.

Item 19. Exhibits

Documents filed as exhibits to this annual report are as follows:

 

1.1 Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant (English translation)

 

1.2 Share Handling Regulations of the Registrant (English translation)

 

2.1 Form of Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement among the Registrant, JPMorgan Chase Bank as Depositary and all owners and holders from time to time of American Depositary Receipts, including the form of American Depositary Receipt (incorporated by reference to the Registration Statement on Form F-6 (File No. 333-91654) filed on June 26, 2002)

 

8.1 List of Significant Subsidiaries (See “Organizational Structure” in Item 4.C. of this Form 20-F)

 

11.1 Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers of the Registrant (English translation)

 

12.1 Certification of the principal executive officer of the Company required by Rule 13a-14(a)

 

12.2 Certification of the principal financial officer of the Company required by Rule 13a-14(a)

 

13.1 Certification required by Rule 13a-14(b) and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code

 

101 Instance Document

 

101 Schema Document

 

101 Calculation Linkbase Document

 

101 Definition Linkbase Document

 

101 Labels Linkbase Document

 

101 Presentation Linkbase Document

(Note) The Company has not included as exhibits certain instruments with respect to its long-term debt, the amount of debt authorized under each of which does not exceed 10% of its total assets, and it agrees to furnish a copy of any such instrument to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.

 

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SIGNATURE

The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this annual report on its behalf.

 

    KUBOTA CORPORATION
Date: June 18, 2010   By  

/s/ Satoru Sakamoto

    Satoru Sakamoto
   

Director and Managing Executive Officer

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

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Attachment

Kubota Corporation

Index to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

     Page in
Consolidated Financial  Statements

Five-Year Financial Summary

   F-1

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

(relating to the Company’s consolidated financial statements)

  

F-2

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

(relating to the Company’s internal control over financial reporting)

  

F-3

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(At March 31, 2010 and 2009)

  

F-4 and F-5

Consolidated Statements of Income

(For the years ended March 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008)

  

F-6

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)

(For the years ended March 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008)

  

F-6

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity

(For the years ended March 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008)

  

F-7

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(For the years ended March 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008)

  

F-8

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

   F-9 to F-36


Table of Contents

Five-Year Financial Summary

KUBOTA Corporation and Subsidiaries

 

(¥ in millions except per share amounts)

                              
     2010     2009     2008     2007     2006  

For the year:

          

Revenues

   ¥ 930,644      ¥ 1,107,482      ¥ 1,154,574      ¥ 1,127,456      ¥ 1,065,736   

Ratio to previous year

     84.0     95.9     102.4     105.8     107.2

Cost of revenues

     681,374        810,226        824,093        794,687        753,952   

Selling, general, and administrative expenses

     179,352        193,426        192,935        199,356        186,017   

Other operating expenses

     216        1,015        671        3,066        4,709   

Operating income

     69,702        102,815        136,875        130,347        121,058   

Income from continuing operations

     47,908        54,735        74,627        83,957        86,087   

Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes

     —          —          189        (1,286     (115

Net income

     47,908        54,735        74,816        82,671        85,972   

Net income attributable to Kubota Corporation:

     42,326        48,064        68,026        76,457        81,034   

Ratio to previous year

     88.1     70.7     89.0     94.4     68.7

Ratio to revenues

     4.5     4.3     5.9     6.8     7.6

At year-end:

          

Total assets

   ¥ 1,409,033      ¥ 1,385,824      ¥ 1,464,270      ¥ 1,502,532      ¥ 1,405,402   

Working capital

     380,590        321,971        303,177        240,417        241,786   

Long-term debt

     243,333        208,588        183,945        150,105        152,024   

Net assets

     671,619        616,243        691,327        695,706        635,382   

Total Kubota Corporation shareholders’ equity

     626,397        578,284        648,097        659,637        606,484   

Per common share and per 5 common shares data:

  

       

Income from continuing operations attributable to Kubota Corporation per common share:

          

Basic

   ¥ 33.28      ¥ 37.68      ¥ 52.65      ¥ 60.00      ¥ 62.23   

Diluted

     33.28        37.68        52.65        60.00        61.76   

Income from continuing operations attributable to Kubota Corporation per 5 common shares:

          

Basic

   ¥ 166.38      ¥ 188.40      ¥ 263.27      ¥ 299.99      ¥ 311.13   

Diluted

     166.38        188.40        263.27        299.99        308.57   

Net income attributable to Kubota Corporation per common share:

          

Basic

   ¥ 33.28      ¥ 37.68      ¥ 52.80      ¥ 59.01      ¥ 62.14   

Diluted

     33.28        37.68        52.80        59.01        61.67   

Net income attributable to Kubota Corporation per 5 common shares:

          

Basic

   ¥ 166.38      ¥ 188.40      ¥ 264.01      ¥ 295.03      ¥ 310.69   

Diluted

     166.38        188.40        264.01        295.03        308.34   

Kubota Corporation shareholders’ equity per common share outstanding

   ¥ 492.51      ¥ 454.60      ¥ 506.09      ¥ 510.75      ¥ 466.71   

Kubota Corporation shareholders’ equity per 5 common shares outstanding

   ¥ 2,462.55      ¥ 2,273.02      ¥ 2,530.44      ¥ 2,553.74      ¥ 2,333.55   

Cash dividends per common share

   ¥ 14      ¥ 15      ¥ 13      ¥ 11      ¥ 9   

Cash dividends per 5 common shares

   ¥ 70      ¥ 75      ¥ 65      ¥ 55      ¥ 45   

 

Notes: 1.

  Per share amounts have been calculated per common share and per 5 common shares since each American Depository Share represents 5 shares of common stock.

  2.

  Cash dividends per common share are based on dividends paid during the year.

  3.

  In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification 810, “Consolidation”, the figures of the consolidated statements of income for the prior years have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.

 

F-1


Table of Contents
LOGO  

Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu LLC

Yodoyabashi Mitsui Building

4-1-1, Imabashi, Chuo-ku

Osaka-shi, Osaka 541-0042

Japan

 

Tel: +81 (6) 4560 6000

Fax: +81 (6) 4560 6001

www.deloitte.com/jp

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Kubota Corporation:

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Kubota Corporation and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of March 31, 2010 and 2009, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income (loss), changes in equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended March 31, 2010. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our report dated June 19, 2009, we expressed a qualified opinion, because certain information required by Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 280, “Segment Reporting” was not presented in the consolidated financial statements for the years ended March 31, 2009 and 2008. As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has now presented the segment information required by ASC 280 for the years ended March 31, 2009 and 2008. Accordingly, our present opinion on the consolidated financial statements for the years ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, as expressed herein, is different from that expressed in our prior report on the previously issued consolidated financial statements for the years ended March 31, 2009 and 2008.

In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Kubota Corporation and subsidiaries as of March 31, 2010 and 2009, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended March 31, 2010, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company adopted a new accounting standard for noncontrolling interests during the year ended March 31, 2010.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2010, based on the criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated June 18, 2010 expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

June 18, 2010

 

 

Member of

Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu

 

F-2


Table of Contents
LOGO  

Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu LLC

Yodoyabashi Mitsui Building

4-1-1, Imabashi, Chuo-ku

Osaka-shi, Osaka 541-0042

Japan

 

Tel: +81 (6) 4560 6000

Fax: +81 (6) 4560 6001

www.deloitte.com/jp

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Kubota Corporation:

We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Kubota Corporation and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of March 31, 2010, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the company’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by the company’s board of directors, management, and other personnel to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of the inherent limitations of internal control over financial reporting, including the possibility of collusion or improper management override of controls, material misstatements due to error or fraud may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Also, projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting to future periods are subject to the risk that the controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2010, based on the criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended March 31, 2010 of the Company and our report dated June 18, 2010 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and included an explanatory paragraph regarding the Company’s adoption of a new accounting standard for noncontrolling interests during the year ended March 31, 2010.

June 18, 2010

 

 

Member of

Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu

 

F-3


Table of Contents

Consolidated Balance Sheets

KUBOTA Corporation and Subsidiaries

 

(¥ in millions)

            

At March 31:

   2010     2009  

ASSETS

    

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   ¥ 111,428      ¥ 69,505   

Notes and accounts receivable:

    

Trade notes

     57,412        65,429   

Trade accounts

     317,485        324,583   

Less: Allowance for doubtful notes and accounts receivable

     (2,821     (2,512

Short-term finance receivables—net

     104,840        97,292   

Inventories

     172,323        207,401   

Other current assets

     60,161        54,648   
                

Total current assets

     820,828        816,346   
                

Investments and long-term finance receivables:

    

Investments in and loan receivables from affiliated companies

     15,945        14,511   

Other investments

     109,306        96,197   

Long-term finance receivables—net

     196,473        169,257   
                

Total investments and long-term finance receivables

     321,724        279,965   
                

Property, plant, and equipment:

    

Land

     89,664        90,479   

Buildings

     214,329        208,901   

Machinery and equipment

     358,354        361,323   

Construction in progress

     5,306        6,970   
                

Total

     667,653        667,673   

Accumulated depreciation

     (446,760     (442,052
                

Net property, plant, and equipment

     220,893        225,621   
                

Other assets:

    

Long-term trade accounts receivable

     26,688        27,071   

Other

     19,670        37,680   

Less: Allowance for doubtful non-current receivables

     (770     (859
                

Total other assets

     45,588        63,892   
                

Total

   ¥ 1,409,033      ¥ 1,385,824   
                

 

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Table of Contents

(¥ in millions)

            

At March 31:

   2010     2009  

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

    

Current liabilities:

    

Short-term borrowings

   ¥ 88,333      ¥ 132,100   

Trade notes payable

     14,266        16,405   

Trade accounts payable

     143,683        163,222   

Advances received from customers

     3,397        6,306   

Notes and accounts payable for capital expenditures

     9,245        13,301   

Accrued payroll costs

     25,856        26,266   

Accrued expenses

     27,352        25,717   

Income taxes payable

     22,842        4,733   

Other current liabilities

     33,832        45,947   

Current portion of long-term debt

     71,432        60,378   
                

Total current liabilities

     440,238        494,375   
                

Long-term liabilities:

    

Long-term debt

     243,333        208,588   

Accrued retirement and pension costs

     40,177        56,591   

Other long-term liabilities

     13,666        10,027   
                

Total long-term liabilities

     297,176        275,206   
                

Commitments and contingencies

    

Equity:

    

Kubota Corporation shareholders’ equity:

    

Common stock,
authorized 1,874,700,000 shares in 2010 and 2009, respectively
issued 1,285,919,180 shares in 2010 and 2009, respectively

     84,070        84,070   

Capital surplus

     89,241        93,150   

Legal reserve

     19,539        19,539   

Retained earnings

     477,303        452,791   

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (34,491     (62,184

Treasury stock (14,072,545 shares and 13,856,291 shares in 2010 and 2009, respectively), at cost

     (9,265     (9,082
                

Total Kubota Corporation shareholders’ equity

     626,397        578,284   
                

Noncontrolling interests

     45,222        37,959   
                

Total equity

     671,619        616,243   
                

Total

   ¥ 1,409,033      ¥ 1,385,824   
                

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

Consolidated Statements of Income

KUBOTA Corporation and Subsidiaries

 

(¥ in millions except per share amounts)

                  

For the years ended March 31:

   2010     2009     2008  

Revenues

   ¥ 930,644      ¥ 1,107,482      ¥ 1,154,574   

Cost of revenues

     681,374        810,226        824,093   

Selling, general, and administrative expenses

     179,352        193,426        192,935   

Other operating expenses

     216        1,015        671   
                        

Operating income

     69,702        102,815        136,875   
                        

Other income (expenses):

      

Interest and dividend income

     3,381        4,822        4,472   

Interest expense

     (2,127     (2,664     (986

Gain (loss) on sales of securities—net

     1,821        (116     704   

Valuation loss on other investments

     (143     (8,618     (6,715

Foreign exchange gain (loss)—net

     2,894        (11,525     (9,043

Other—net

     (2,045     (1,455     (2,730
                        

Other income (expenses), net

     3,781        (19,556     (14,298
                        

Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net income of affiliated companies

     73,483        83,259        122,577   
                        

Income taxes:

      

Current

     28,540        23,637        43,929   

Deferred

     (2,563     5,109        4,115   
                        

Total income taxes

     25,977        28,746        48,044   
                        

Equity in net income of affiliated companies

     402        222        94   
                        

Income from continuing operations

     47,908        54,735        74,627   
                        

Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes

     —          —          189   
                        

Net income

     47,908        54,735        74,816   
                        

Less: Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests

     5,582        6,671        6,790   
                        

Net income attributable to Kubota Corporation

   ¥ 42,326      ¥ 48,064      ¥ 68,026   
                        

Net income attributable to Kubota Corporation per common share:

      

Basic and Diluted:

      

Continuing operations

   ¥ 33.28      ¥ 37.68      ¥ 52.65   

Discontinued operations

     —          —          0.15   
                        

Total

   ¥ 33.28      ¥ 37.68      ¥ 52.80   
                        

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)

KUBOTA Corporation and Subsidiaries

 

(¥ in millions)

                 

For the years ended March 31:

   2010    2009     2008  

Net income

   ¥ 47,908    ¥ 54,735      ¥ 74,816   
                       

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:

       

Foreign currency translation adjustments

     8,250      (61,832     (563

Unrealized gains (losses) on securities

     11,761      (26,283     (36,839

Unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives

     556      (1,512     (126

Pension liability adjustments

     9,808      (13,945     (16,405
                       

Total other comprehensive income (loss)

     30,375      (103,572     (53,933
                       

Comprehensive income (loss)

     78,283      (48,837     20,883   
                       

Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interests

     7,528      (3,540     7,927   
                       

Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Kubota Corporation

   ¥ 70,755    ¥ (45,297   ¥ 12,956   
                       

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity

KUBOTA Corporation and Subsidiaries

 

(¥ in millions except shares of common stock outstanding)

       
     Kubota Corporation Shareholders’ Equity     Non-
Controlling
Interests
    Total
Equity
 
     Common
Stock
   Capital
Surplus
    Legal
Reserve
   Retained
Earnings
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income(Loss)
    Treasury
Stock
at Cost
     

Balance at March 31, 2007
(1,291,513 thousands of shares)

   ¥ 84,070    ¥ 93,150      ¥ 19,539    ¥ 376,815      ¥ 86,247      ¥ (184   ¥ 36,069      ¥ 695,706   

Cumulative effect of adopting accounting for uncertainty in income taxes

             261              261   

Net income

             68,026            6,790        74,816   

Other comprehensive income (loss)

               (55,070       1,137        (53,933

Cash dividends paid to Kubota Corporation shareholders, ¥13 per common share

             (16,777           (16,777

Cash dividends paid to noncontriolling interests

                   (1,681     (1,681

Purchases and sales of treasury stock
(less 10,909 thousands of shares)

                 (7,980       (7,980

Retirement of treasury stock

             (4,398       4,398          —     

Increase in noncontrolling interests related to contribution

                   1,482        1,482   

Changes in ownership interests in subsidiaries

                   (567     (567
                                                              

Balance at March 31, 2008
(1,280,604 thousands of shares)

     84,070      93,150        19,539      423,927        31,177        (3,766     43,230        691,327   

Net income

             48,064            6,671        54,735   

Other comprehensive loss

               (93,361       (10,211     (103,572

Cash dividends paid to Kubota Corporation shareholders, ¥15 per common share

             (19,193           (19,193

Cash dividends paid to noncontriolling interests

                   (767     (767

Purchases and sales of treasury stock
(less 8,541 thousands of shares)

             (7       (5,316       (5,323

Increase in noncontrolling interests related to contribution

                   14        14   

Changes in ownership interests in subsidiaries

                   (978     (978
                                                              

Balance at March 31, 2009
(1,272,063 thousands of shares)

     84,070      93,150        19,539      452,791        (62,184     (9,082     37,959        616,243   

Net income

             42,326            5,582        47,908   

Other comprehensive income

               28,429          1,946        30,375   

Cash dividends paid to Kubota Corporation shareholders, ¥14 per common share

             (17,814           (17,814

Cash dividends paid to noncontriolling interests

                   (489     (489

Purchases and sales of treasury stock
(less 216 thousands of shares)

                 (183       (183

Increase in noncontrolling interests related to contribution

                   2,109        2,109   

Changes in ownership interests in subsidiaries

        (3,909          (736       (1,885     (6,530
                                                              

Balance at March 31, 2010
(1,271,847 thousands of shares)

   ¥ 84,070    ¥ 89,241      ¥ 19,539    ¥ 477,303      ¥ (34,491   ¥ (9,265   ¥ 45,222      ¥ 671,619   
                                                              

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

KUBOTA Corporation and Subsidiaries

 

(¥ in millions)

                  

For the years ended March 31:

   2010     2009     2008  

Operating activities:

      

Net income

   ¥ 47,908      ¥ 54,735      ¥ 74,816   

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

      

Depreciation and amortization

     29,171        31,242        30,565   

(Gain) loss on sales of securities—net

     (1,821     116        (704

Valuation loss on other investments

     143        8,618        6,715   

(Gain) loss from disposal of fixed assets—net

     118        (151     925   

Equity in net income of affiliated companies

     (402     (222     (94

Deferred income taxes

     (2,563     5,109        4,115   

Change in assets and liabilities:

      

(Increase) decrease in notes and accounts receivable

     20,380        (128,586     31,750   

(Increase) decrease in inventories

     38,802        (35,636     (6,656

(Increase) decrease in interest in sold receivables

     —          70,132        (6,763

(Increase) decrease in other current assets

     1,205        (21,322     (13,309

Decrease in trade notes and accounts payable

     (22,780     (19,771     (23,311

Increase (decrease) in income taxes payable

     18,005        (7,008     (10,842

Increase (decrease) in other current liabilities

     (9,896     28,727        7,539   

Increase (decrease) in accrued retirement and pension costs

     467        (10,054     (10,998

Other

     335        1,494        6,362   
                        

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

     119,072        (22,577     90,110   
                        

Investing activities:

      

Purchases of fixed assets

     (26,621     (32,959     (35,735

Purchases of investments and change in loan receivables

     (389     (5,908     3,337   

Proceeds from sales of property, plant, and equipment

     1,182        2,961        115   

Proceeds from sales and redemption of investments

     9,101        261        490   

Increase in finance receivables

     (172,218     (193,495     (196,494

Collection of finance receivables

     150,368        154,935        155,202   

Other

     (4,822     184        741   
                        

Net cash used in investing activities

     (43,399     (74,021     (72,344
                        

Financing activities:

      

Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt

     121,966        129,967        113,962   

Repayments of long-term debt

     (90,067     (74,386     (84,895

Net increase (decrease) in short-term borrowings

     (43,729     54,619        (15,840

Cash dividends

     (17,814     (19,193     (16,777

Purchases of treasury stock

     (191     (5,338     (7,997

Purchases of noncontrolling interests

     (6,407     —          —     

Other

     1,570        (809     (133
                        

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     (34,672     84,860        (11,680
                        

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     922        (7,541     97   
                        

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     41,923        (19,279     6,183   

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year

     69,505        88,784        82,601   
                        

Cash and cash equivalents, end of year

   ¥ 111,428      ¥ 69,505      ¥ 88,784   
                        

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

KUBOTA Corporation and Subsidiaries

1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Description of Business

Kubota Corporation (the “parent company”) and subsidiaries (collectively the “Company”) are one of Japan’s leading manufacturers of a comprehensive range of machinery and other industrial and consumer products, including farm equipment, engines, construction machinery, pipe-related products, environment-related products, and industrial castings.

The manufacturing operations of the Company are conducted primarily at 20 plants in Japan and at 10 overseas plants located in the United States and certain other countries. Farm equipment, construction machinery, ductile iron pipe, and certain other products are sold both in Japan and in overseas markets which consist mainly of North America, Europe, and Asia.

Basis of Financial Statements

The consolidated financial statements are presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”).

In September 2008, the Securities and Exchange Comission amended the foreign issuer reporting requirements to eliminate an option which permitted foreign private issuers to omit segment disclosures in accordance with U.S. GAAP. This amendment is effective for fiscal years ended on or after December 15, 2009, and was adopted by the Company in the year ended March 31, 2010 for all periods presented.

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the parent company and all majority-owned subsidiaries. The accounts of certain consolidated subsidiaries that have December 31 fiscal year-ends have been included in the March 31 consolidated financial statements. The accounts of variable interest entity (“VIE”) are included in the consolidated financial statements, as applicable.

The Company is involved with a VIE which engages in farming by water culture. The VIE has been consolidated since the Company is the primary beneficiary. Total assets of the VIE at March 31, 2010 were ¥219 million. There are no restrictions on the use of the VIE’s assets. Also, the creditors or beneficial interest holders of the consolidated VIE have no recourse to the general credit of the Company. The Company is not a primary beneficiary of the unconsolidated VIEs and does not hold any significant variable interests in these VIEs.

Intercompany items have been eliminated in consolidation.

Investments in affiliates in which the Company has the ability to exercise significant influence over their operating and financial policies, but where the Company does not have a controlling financial interest are accounted for using the equity method.

Use of Estimates

Preparing financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts and related disclosures. Significant estimates and assumptions are used primarily in the area of inventory valuation, impairment of investments, collectability of notes and receivables, impairment of long-lived assets, accruals for employee retirement and pension plans, valuation allowance for deferred tax assets, uncertain tax positions, revenue recognition for long-term contracts, and loss contingencies. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Foreign Currency Translation

The assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries, using the local currency as their functional currency, are translated to Japanese yen based on the current exchange rate prevailing at each balance sheet date and any resulting translation adjustments are included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Revenues and expenses are translated into Japanese yen using the average exchange rates prevailing for each period presented.

Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Time deposits with original maturities of three months or less amounting to ¥24,230 million, ¥4,022 million, and ¥3,915 million, respectively, were included in cash and cash equivalents at March 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008,.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined by the average-cost method.

 

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Investments

The Company classifies all its marketable equity securities as available for sale and carries them at fair value with a corresponding recognition of the net unrealized holding gains or losses (net of tax) as an item of other comprehensive income (loss) in equity. The fair values of those securities are determined based on quoted market prices.

Gains and losses on sales of available-for-sale securities as well as other nonmarketable equity securities which are carried at cost are computed on the average-cost method. When a decline in a value of the marketable security is deemed to be other than temporary, the Company recognizes an impairment loss to the extent of the decline. In determining if and when such a decline in value is other than temporary, the Company evaluates the extent to which cost exceeds market value, the duration of market declines, and other key measures. Other non-marketable securities are stated at cost and reviewed periodically for impairment.

Allowance for Doubtful Receivables

The Company provides an allowance for doubtful notes and receivables. The allowance for these doubtful receivables is based on historical collection trends and management’s judgement on the collectability of these accounts. Historical collection trends, as well as prevailing and anticipated economic conditions, are routinely monitored by management, and any required adjustment to the allowance is reflected in current operations.

Property, Plant, and Equipment

Property, plant, and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation expenses related to manufacturing activities are included in cost of revenues, and the other depreciation expenses are classified in selling, general, and administrative expenses. Depreciation of those assets is principally computed using the declining-balance method based on the estimated useful lives of the assets. The estimated useful lives range from 10 to 50 years for buildings and from 2 to 14 years for machinery and equipment.

Long-Lived Assets

The Company evaluates long-lived assets to be held and used for impairment using an estimate of undiscounted cash flows whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. If the estimate of undiscounted cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the assets, an impairment loss is recorded based on the fair value of the assets. The Company evaluates long-lived assets to be disposed of by sale at the lower of carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell.

Retirement and Pension Plans

The funded status of the Company’s defined benefit pension plans and severance indemnity plans are recognized as an asset or a liability in the consolidated balance sheets with a corresponding adjustment to pension liability adjustment in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax. The funded status is measured as the difference between the fair value of plan assets and the benefit obligation at March 31, the measurement date.

The Company amortizes the prior service costs (benefits) due to the amendments of the benefit plans over the average remaining service period of the participants at the time of amendments. The Company immediately recognizes net actuarial gains and losses in excess of 20% of the larger of the projected benefit obligation or plan assets in the year following the year in which such gains and losses were incurred, while the portion between 10% and 20% is amortized over the average participants’ remaining service period.

Income Taxes

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are computed based on the differences between the financial statement and the income tax bases of assets and liabilities and tax loss and other carry forwards using the enacted tax rate. A valuation allowance is established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount that management believes will more likely than not be realized.

The Company recognizes the financial statement effects of tax positions when it is more likely than not, based on the technical merits, that the tax positions will be sustained upon examination by the tax authorities. Benefits from tax positions that meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold are measured at the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50 percent likely of being realized upon settlement. Interest and penalties accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits are included in income taxes in the consolidated statements of income.

Sales Tax

Revenues are presented exclusive of sales tax.

 

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Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue related to product sales when (1) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, (2) delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, (3) the sales price is fixed or determinable, and (4) collectibility is reasonably assured. The Company records estimated reductions to sales at the time of sale for sales incentive programs including product discounts, customer promotions, and volume-based rebates.

The sales of environmental and other plant and equipment are recorded when the installation of plant and equipment is completed and accepted by the customer for short-term contracts, and recorded under the percentage-of-completion method of accounting for long-term contracts. (See Note 9. REVENUE RECOGNITION FOR LONG-TERM CONTRACTS.) Estimated losses on sales contracts are charged to income in the period in which they are identified. The percentages of revenues to consolidated revenues for the years ended March 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008 that pertain to long-term contracts were 2.1%, 1.9%, and 1.7%, respectively.

Housing real estate sales are recorded when the title is legally transferred to the customer in accordance with the underlying contract and real estate laws and regulations.

In October 2007, Kubota Maison Co., Ltd., subsidiary of housing real estate, was excluded from consolidated subsidiaries and became an affiliated company. As a result, there were no housing real estate sales for the year ended March 31, 2010 and 2009. The percentage of revenues to consolidated revenues for the years ended March 31, 2008 that pertain to housing real estate sales was 0.3%.

Finance receivables are composed of the total arrangement fee less unamortized discounts. Based on imputed interest for the time value of money and reserve for credit losses, income is recorded over the terms of the receivables using the interest method.

Research and Development and Advertising

Research and development and advertising costs are expensed as incurred.

Shipping and Handling Costs

Shipping and handling costs are included in selling, general, and administrative expenses.

Expense from the Payments for Health Hazard of Asbestos

The Company expenses payments to certain residents who lived near the Company’s plant and current and former employees when the Company determines that a payment is warranted based on the medical condition of the individual concerned and in accordance with the Company’s policies and procedures.

The Company also accrues an estimated loss from asbestos-related matters by a charge to income if both of the following conditions are met:

 

(a) It is probable that a liability has been incurred at the date of financial statements.

 

(b) The amount of loss can be reasonably estimated.

(See Note 18. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES.)

Derivative Financial Instruments

All derivatives are recognized in the consolidated balance sheets at fair value and are reported in other current assets, other assets, other current liabilities, or other long-term liabilities.

On the date the derivative contract is entered into, the Company designates the derivative as a hedge of a forecasted transaction or the variability of cash flows to be received or paid related to a recognized asset or liability (“cash flow” hedge).

The Company formally documents all relationships between hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as its risk management objective and strategy for undertaking various hedge transactions. This process includes linking all derivatives that are designated as cash flow hedges to specific assets and liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets or to specific firm commitments or forecasted transactions. The Company considers its hedges to be highly effective in offsetting changes in cash flows of hedged items, because the currency, index of interest rates, amount, and terms of the derivatives correspond to those of the hedged items in accordance with the Company’s policy.

Changes in the fair value of a derivative that is highly effective and that is designated and qualifies as a cash flow hedge are recorded in other comprehensive income (loss), until earnings are affected by the variability in cash flows of the designated hedged item. The ineffective portion of changes in the fair value of derivatives is immediately recorded in earnings.

The Company also uses derivatives not designated as cash flow hedges in certain relationships for economic purposes. Changes in the fair value of derivatives not designated are reported in earnings immediately.

 

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Fair Value Measurement

Certain assets and liabilities that fall within the scope of the fair value measurements are classified into three levels.

 

Level 1       Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2       Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the assets or liabilities, either directly or indirectly.
Level 3       Unobservable inputs for the assets or liabilities. These are measured using entity’s own assumptions and inputs that are reasonably available or inputs many market participants use with reasonable confidence because observable inputs are not available due to lack of similar assets or liabilities in active markets or inappropriate market price by a decline of liquidity.

Securitization of Receivables

The Company sold trade receivables to investors through independent securitization trusts until the year ended March 31, 2009. At the time the receivables are sold to the securitization trusts, the balances are removed from the consolidated balance sheets of the Company. The investment in the sold receivables pool is allocated between the portion sold and the portion retained based on their relative fair values on the date of sale. The gain or loss for each qualifying sale of receivables is determined based on book value allocated to the portion sold. If forecasted future cash flows result in an other-than-temporary decline in the fair value of the retained interests, then an impairment loss is recognized to the extent that the fair value is less than the carrying amount. Such losses would be included in the consolidated statements of income. The Company estimates fair value based on the present value of expected future cash flows less credit losses.

Discontinued Operations

The results of discontinued operations are reported as a separate line item in the consolidated statements of income under income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes.

Net income attributable to Kubota Corporation per common share

Net income attributable to Kubota Corporation per common share is computed by dividing net income attributable to Kubota Corporation by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during each year. The weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the years ended March 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008 was 1,271,985,454, 1,275,574,702 and 1,288,336,590, respectively. There were no potentially dilutive shares outstanding for the years ended March 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008.

New Accounting Standards

In December 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued a new accounting standard related to business combinations. This standard requires an acquirer to measure the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree at their fair values on the acquisition date, with goodwill being the excess value over the net identifiable assets acquired. This standard also requires recognition of contingent consideration and capitalization of in-process research and development at fair values as well as expensing of acquisition-related costs as incurred. This standard is effective in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008 and was adopted by the Company on April 1, 2009. The adoption of this statement did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations and financial position.

In December 2007, the FASB issued a new accounting standard related to noncontrolling interests in consolidated financial statements. This standard establishes accounting and reporting standards for the noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a subsidiary. This standard is effective in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008 and was adopted by the Company on April 1, 2009. Upon the adoption of this standard, noncontrolling interests, which were previously referred to as minority interests and classified between total liabilities and shareholders’ equity on the consolidated balance sheets, are now included as a separate component of total equity. Net income is classified and attributed between noncontrolling interests and Kubota Corporation in the consolidated statements of income, and related presentation of consolidated statements of cash flows and other consolidated financial statements has been changed. Amounts in the prior consolidated financial statements have been reclassified or adjusted to conform to the current presentation. In addition, changes in a parent’s ownership interest while the parent retains its controlling financial interest in its subsidiary are accounted for as equity transactions. The adoption of this standard resulted in a ¥3,909 million decrease of capital surplus at March 31, 2010.

 

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In December 2008, the FASB issued a new accounting standard related to employers’ disclosures about postretirement benefit plan assets. This standard requires more detailed disclosures about plan assets including investment allocation, each class of plan assets, valuation techniques used to measure the fair value of plan assets, and concentrations of risk within plan assets. This standard is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2009 and was adopted by the Company for the year ended March 31, 2010. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations and financial position.

In May 2009, the FASB issued a new accounting standard related to subsequent events. This standard establishes general standards of accounting for and disclosures of events that occur after the balance sheet date but before financial statements are issued or are available to be issued. This standard is effective for interim or annual financial periods ending after June 15, 2009. In February 2010, the FASB amended this standard to remove the requirement for an SEC filer to disclose the date through which subsequent events have been evaluated. The Company adopted this standard for the first quarter ended June 30, 2009. The adoption of this standard did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated result of operations and financial position.

In June 2009, the FASB issued the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”). The ASC restructured the previous U.S. GAAP by providing the authoritative literature in a topical structure. The ASC is effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009 and was adopted by the Company for the second quarter ended September 30, 2009. The adoption of the ASC did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations and financial position.

In June 2009, the FASB issued a new accounting standard related to improvements to financial reporting by enterprises involved with VIE. This standard requires an analysis to determine whether the enterprise’s variable interest or interests give it a controlling financial interest in a VIE. This standard also requires ongoing reassessments of whether an enterprise is the primary beneficiary of a VIE and eliminates the quantitative approach previously required for determining the primary beneficiary of a VIE. This standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2009. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In September 2009, the FASB issued a new accounting standard related to investments in certain entities that calculate net asset value per share (or its equivalent). This standard creates a practical expedient to measure the fair value of an investment on the basis of the net asset value per share of the investment (or its equivalent) determined as of the reporting entity’s measurement date. This standard is effective for the interim and annual periods ending after December 15, 2009 and was adopted by the Company for the third quarter ended December 31, 2009. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations and financial position.

In October 2009, the FASB issued a new accounting standard related to revenue recognition for multiple-deliverable arrangements. This standard requires arrangement consideration be allocated to all deliverables using a selling price or estimated selling price and eliminates the residual method of allocation. This standard also requires additional qualitative and quantitative disclosures. This standard is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010 and can be applied prospectively for revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified, or retrospectively for all prior periods. The Company is currently calculating the impact of the applying this standard on the consolidated financial statements.

 

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2. INVENTORIES

Inventories are comprised of the following:

 

(¥ in millions)

         

At March 31:

   2010    2009

Finished products

   ¥ 111,280    ¥ 132,125

Spare parts

     23,544      23,848

Work in process

     22,498      31,165

Raw materials and supplies

     15,001      20,263
             
   ¥ 172,323    ¥ 207,401
             

3. INVESTMENTS IN AND LOAN RECEIVABLES FROM AFFILIATED COMPANIES

Investments in and loan receivables from affiliated companies in which the Company has the ability to exercise significant influence over their operating and financial policies are comprised of the following:

 

(¥ in millions)

         

At March 31:

   2010    2009

Investments

   ¥ 15,667    ¥ 14,443

Loan receivables

     278      68
             
   ¥ 15,945    ¥ 14,511
             

The following table presents a summary of financial information of affiliated companies:

 

(¥ in millions)

         

At March 31:

   2010    2009

Current assets

   ¥ 55,958    ¥ 68,841

Noncurrent assets

     62,414      62,858
             

Total assets

     118,372      131,699

Current liabilities

     61,495      74,758

Noncurrent liabilities

     19,441      20,794
             

Net assets

   ¥ 37,436    ¥ 36,147
             

 

(¥ in millions)

              

For the years ended March 31:

   2010    2009    2008

Revenues

   ¥ 210,492    ¥ 216,430    ¥ 215,574

Cost of revenues

     155,350      160,690      162,533

Net income

     873      419      482

Trade notes and accounts receivable from affiliated companies at March 31, 2010 and 2009 were ¥24,827 million and ¥21,302 million, respectively.

Revenues from affiliated companies aggregated ¥65,246 million, ¥55,374 million, and ¥48,847 million for the years ended March 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008, respectively.

Cash dividends received from affiliated companies were ¥72 million, ¥46 million, and ¥31 million for the years ended March 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008, respectively.

Retained earnings include net undistributed earnings of affiliated companies in the amount of ¥10,652 million and ¥9,719 million at March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

 

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4. OTHER INVESTMENTS

The following table presents the cost, fair value, and gross unrealized holding gains and losses for securities by major security type:

 

(¥ in millions)

    
     2010    2009

At March 31:

   Cost    Fair Value    Gross
Unrealized
Holding
Gains
   Gross
Unrealized
Holding
Losses
   Cost    Fair Value    Gross
Unrealized
Holding
Gains
   Gross
Unrealized
Holding
Losses

Other investments:

                       

Available-for-sale:

                       

Equity securities of financial institutions

   ¥ 24,422    ¥ 44,186    ¥ 19,775    ¥ 11    ¥ 24,412    ¥ 40,275    ¥ 15,864    ¥ 1

Other equity securities

     16,080      54,985      38,946      41      17,665      40,653      23,304      316
                                                       
   ¥ 40,502    ¥ 99,171    ¥ 58,721    ¥ 52    ¥ 42,077    ¥ 80,928    ¥ 39,168    ¥ 317
                                                       

The following table presents the gross unrealized losses on, and related fair value of, the Company’s available-for-sale securities, aggregated by the length of time that individual investment securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position:

 

(¥ in millions)

    
     2010    2009
     Less than 12 months    12 months or longer    Less than 12 months    12 months or longer

At March 31:

   Fair Value    Gross
Unrealized
Holding
Losses
   Fair Value    Gross
Unrealized
Holding
Losses
   Fair Value    Gross
Unrealized
Holding
Losses
   Fair Value    Gross
Unrealized
Holding
Losses

Other investments:

                       

Available-for-sale:

                       

Equity securities of financial institutions

   ¥ 22    ¥ 11    ¥ —      ¥ —      ¥ 2    ¥  1    ¥ —      ¥ —  

Other equity securities

     700      41      —        —        1,958      316      —        —  
                                                       
   ¥ 722    ¥ 52    ¥ —      ¥ —      ¥ 1,960    ¥ 317    ¥ —      ¥ —  
                                                       

For the years ended March 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008, valuation losses on other investments were recognized to reflect the decline in fair value considered to be other-than-temporary totaling ¥143 million, ¥8,618 million, and ¥6,715 million, respectively.

The following table presents proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities and the gross realized gains and losses on these sales:

 

(¥ in millions)

                 

For the years ended March 31:

   2010    2009     2008  

Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities

   ¥ 3,588    ¥ 182      ¥ 2,001   

Gross realized gains

     1,821      20        705   

Gross realized losses

     —        (132     (1

Investments in non-traded and unaffiliated companies, for which there is no readily determinable fair value, were stated at cost of ¥10,135 million and ¥15,269 million at March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Investments in non-marketable equity securities for which there is no readily determinable fair value were accounted for using the cost method. Each investment in non-marketable equity securities is reviewed annually for impairment or upon the occurrence of an event on change in circumstances that may have a significant adverse effect on the carrying value of the investment.

 

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5. FINANCE RECEIVABLES

The Company provides retail finance and finance leases to customers mainly in order to facilitate sales of farm equipment and construction machinery.

Finance receivables—net are comprised of the following:

 

(¥ in millions)

            

At March 31:

   2010     2009  

Retail

   ¥ 211,875      ¥ 218,745   

Finance leases

     106,774        59,442   
                

Total finance receivables

     318,649        278,187   

Less:

    

Unearned income

     (15,630     (10,052

Allowance for credit losses

     (1,706     (1,586
                

Total finance receivables—net

     301,313        266,549   

Less: current portion

     (104,840     (97,292
                

Long-term finance receivables—net

   ¥ 196,473      ¥ 169,257   
                

The following table presents the annual maturities of retail finance receivables and future minimum lease payments on finance leases:

 

(¥ in millions)

         

Years ending March 31:

   Retail    Finance
Leases

2011

   ¥ 78,568    ¥ 32,413

2012

     61,158      28,336

2013

     42,488      21,548

2014

     23,698      13,407

2015

     4,328      6,897

2016 and thereafter

     1,635      4,173
             

Total

   ¥ 211,875    ¥ 106,774
             

There are no unguaranteed residual values related to finance leases at March 31, 2010.

The Company includes finance income and expenses in revenues and cost of revenues in the consolidated statements of income.

The following table presents the amounts of finance income and expenses included in revenues and cost of revenues:

 

(¥ in millions)

              

For the years ended March 31:

   2010    2009    2008

Finance income

   ¥ 21,364    ¥ 23,242    ¥ 27,539

Finance expenses

     10,029      11,578      15,363

 

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6. ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS

The following table presents the changes in allowance for doubtful notes and accounts receivable:

 

(¥ in millions)

                  

For the years ended March 31:

   2010     2009     2008  

Balance at beginning of year

   ¥ 2,512      ¥ 1,983      ¥ 2,011   

Provision for doubtful accounts

     636        1,041        482   

Write-offs

     (46     (32     (531

Other

     (281     (480     21   
                        

Balance at end of year

   ¥ 2,821      ¥ 2,512      ¥ 1,983   
                        

The following table presents the changes in allowance for doubtful non-current receivables:

 

(¥ in millions)

                  

For the years ended March 31:

   2010     2009     2008  

Balance at beginning of year

   ¥ 859      ¥ 981      ¥ 2,811   

Provision for doubtful accounts

     59        50        140   

Write-offs

     (74     (1     (137

Other

     (74     (171     (1,833
                        

Balance at end of year

   ¥ 770      ¥ 859      ¥ 981   
                        

The following table presents the changes in allowance for finance receivables:

 

(¥ in millions)

                  

For the years ended March 31:

   2010     2009     2008  

Balance at beginning of year

   ¥ 1,586      ¥ 1,380      ¥ 1,072   

Provision for doubtful accounts

     855        914        542   

Write-offs

     (327     (308     (133

Other

     (408     (400     (101
                        

Balance at end of year

   ¥ 1,706      ¥ 1,586      ¥ 1,380   
                        

7. SHORT-TERM BORROWINGS AND LONG-TERM DEBT

Short-term borrowings at March 31, 2010 consisted of notes payable to banks of ¥88,333 million. Short-term borrowings at March 31, 2009 consisted of notes payable to banks of ¥125,600 million and commercial paper of ¥6,500 million.

Stated annual interest rates on short-term borrowings ranged primarily from 0.50% to 4.78% and from 0.20% to 5.41% at March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The weighted average interest rates on such short-term borrowings at March 31, 2010 and 2009 were 1.5% and 3.1%, respectively.

Available committed lines of credit with certain banks at March 31, 2010 and 2009 totaled ¥20,000 million and ¥25,000 million, respectively. The terms of committed lines of credit are 1 year. The Company had no outstanding borrowings as of March 31, 2010 and 2009 related to committed lines of credit.

Long-term debt is comprised of the following:

 

(¥ in millions)

      

At March 31:

   Due in years ending
March 31:
   2010     2009  

Unsecured bonds:

       

Yen notes (fixed rate 1.20%)

   2011    ¥ 10,000      ¥ 10,000   

Yen notes (floating rate 0.83%)

   2012      4,000        4,000   

Yen notes (floating rate 0.92%)

   2013      4,000        —     

Yen notes (floating rate 0.91%)

   2013      2,000        —     

Yen notes (floating rate 0.65%)

   2013      5,000        —     

U.S.$ notes (floating rate 0.73%)

   2013      4,600        —     

Yen notes (fixed rate 1.54%)

   2013      10,000        10,000   

Yen notes (fixed rate 1.27%)

   2013      10,000        10,000   

Yen notes (fixed rate 1.53%)

   2015      10,000        10,000   

Loans, principally from banks and insurance companies, maturing on various dates through 2018:

       

Collateralized

        24,216        37,320   

Unsecured

        224,963        181,125   

Capital lease obligations

        5,986        6,521   
                   

Total

        314,765        268,966   

Less: current portion

        (71,432     (60,378
                   
      ¥ 243,333      ¥ 208,588   
                   

Both fixed and floating rates were included in the interest rates of the long-term loans from banks and insurance companies. The weighted average rates at March 31, 2010 and 2009 were 2.0% and 2.9%, respectively.

 

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The following table presents the annual maturities of long-term debt at March 31, 2010:

 

(¥ in millions)

    

Years ending March 31:

    

2011

   ¥ 71,432

2012

     95,545

2013

     92,329

2014

     17,343

2015

     25,258

2016 and thereafter

     12,858
      

Total

   ¥ 314,765
      

Assets pledged as collateral are comprised of the following:

 

(¥ in millions)

         

At March 31:

   2010    2009

Trade notes

   ¥ —      ¥ 2,061

Trade accounts

     17,806      14,214

Short-term finance receivables

     18,445      23,797

Other current assets *1

     573      566

Long-term finance receivables

     12,447      21,416

Property, plant, and equipment

     6,233      8,782
             

Total

   ¥ 55,504    ¥ 70,836
             

 

*1

Other current assets represent the restricted cash which are pledged as collateral in accordance with the terms of borrowing.

The above assets were pledged against the following liabilities:

 

(¥ in millions)

         

At March 31:

   2010    2009

Short-term borrowings

   ¥ 20,751    ¥ 28,233

Current portion of long-term debt

     14,137      17,416

Long-term debt

     10,079      19,904
             

Total

   ¥ 44,967    ¥ 65,553
             

Both short-term and long-term bank loans are made under general agreements which provide that security and guarantees for future indebtedness will be given upon request of the bank, and that the bank has the right to offset cash deposits against obligations that have become due or, in the event of default, against all obligations due to the bank. Long-term agreements with lenders other than banks also generally provide that the Company must give additional security upon request of the lender.

There are restrictive covenants related to its borrowings including clauses of the negative pledges, rating trigger and minimum net worth. The financial covenants are as follows: the rating trigger states that the Company shall keep or be higher than the “BBB–” rating by Rating and Investment Information, Inc. and the minimum net worth covenant states that the Company shall keep the amount of total equity of more than ¥405.0 billion on consolidated financial statement and more than ¥287.0 billion on separate financial statement of a parent company. The Company is compliant with those restrictive covenants at March 31, 2010.

 

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8. RETIREMENT AND PENSION PLANS

The parent company and most subsidiaries mainly in Japan have defined benefit pension plans and/or severance indemnity plans covering substantially all of their employees. In the parent company and certain subsidiaries, employees who terminate their employment have the option to receive benefits in the form of a lump-sum payment or annuity payments from defined benefit pension plans. The benefits are mainly calculated based on accumulated “points” under the point-based benefits system. The “points” consist of “service period points” which are attributed to the length of service, “job title points” which are attributed to the job title of each employee, and “performance points” which are attributed to the annual performance evaluation of each employee.

Certain subsidiaries have defined contribution pension plans covering most of their employees.

Funded Status

The following table presents the funded status and the amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets:

 

(¥ in millions)

            

At March 31:

   2010     2009  

Funded status:

    

Benefit obligations

   ¥ 168,974      ¥ 167,277   

Fair value of plan assets

     129,156        111,006   
                

Funded status-net

   ¥ (39,818   ¥ (56,271
                

Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets:

    

Accrued retirement and pension costs

   ¥ (40,177   ¥ (56,591

Prepaid expenses for benefit plans, included in other assets

     359        320   
                

Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets-net

   ¥ (39,818   ¥ (56,271
                

The following table presents the amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income, before tax:

 

(¥ in millions)

            

At March 31:

   2010     2009  

Actuarial loss

   ¥ 24,192      ¥ 41,371   

Prior service benefit

     (4,436     (5,244
                

Total recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income, before tax

   ¥ 19,756      ¥ 36,127   
                

The following table presents the projected benefit obligations and the fair value of plan assets for the pension plans with projected benefit obligations in excess of plan assets, and the accumulated benefit obligations and the fair value of plan assets for the pension plans with accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets:

 

(¥ in millions)

         

At March 31:

   2010    2009

Plans with projected benefit obligations in excess of plan assets:

     

Projected benefit obligations

   ¥ 166,643    ¥ 165,625

Fair value of plan assets

     126,466      109,034
             

Plans with accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets:

     

Accumulated benefit obligations

   ¥ 165,148    ¥ 164,556

Fair value of plan assets

     125,074      109,034
             

 

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Benefit Obligations

The following table presents the changes in benefit obligations, the balances of accumulated benefit obligations, and the weighted-average assumptions used in calculating benefit obligation:

 

(¥ in millions)

            
     2010     2009  

Change in benefit obligations:

    

Benefit obligations at beginning of year

   ¥ 167,277      ¥ 173,689   

Service cost

     5,933        5,944   

Interest cost

     3,646        3,730   

Actuarial loss (gain)

     3,729        (2,554

Benefits paid (lump-sum payments)

     (7,913     (7,736

Benefits paid (annuity payments)

     (4,247     (4,079

Foreign currency exchange rate changes

     549        (1,717
                

Benefit obligations at end of year

   ¥ 168,974      ¥ 167,277   
                

Accumulated benefit obligations at March 31

   ¥ 168,377      ¥ 166,850   
                

Weighted-average assumptions used in calculating benefit obligation at March 31*1:

    

Discount rate

     2.4     2.5
                

 

*1

The rate of compensation increase is not used in the calculations of benefit obligations under the point-based benefits system.

Plan Assets

The following table presents the changes in plan assets:

 

(¥ in millions)

            

For the years ended March 31:

   2010     2009  

Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year

   ¥ 111,006      ¥ 130,360   

Actual return on plan assets

     13,064        (22,073

Employer contributions

     13,830        13,374   

Benefits paid (lump-sum payments)

     (5,053     (4,819

Benefits paid (annuity payments)

     (4,247     (4,079

Foreign currency exchange rate changes

     556        (1,757
                

Fair value of plan assets at end of year

   ¥ 129,156      ¥ 111,006   
                

The Company’s policy and objective for plan asset management is to maximize returns on plan assets to meet future benefit payment requirements under risks which the Company considers permissible. To mitigate any potential concentration risk, careful consideration is given to balancing the portfolio among industry sectors, companies and geographies, taking into account interest rate sensitivity, dependence on economic growth, currency and other factors that affect investment returns. The Company’s target allocation is 40% equity securities, 58% debt securities, and 2% other investment vehicles, mainly consisting of cash and short-term investments and the general accounts of insurance company.

A large portion of the plan assets is managed by trust banks and investment advisors. Those fund managers are bound by the Company’s plan asset management guidelines which are established to achieve the optimized asset compositions in terms of the long-term overall plan asset management, and are measured against specific benchmarks.

To measure the performance of the plan asset management, the Company establishes bench mark return rates for each individual investment, combines these individual bench mark rates based on the asset composition ratios within each asset category, and compares the combined rates with the corresponding actual return rates on each asset category.

 

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The following table presents the fair value of plan assets by category at March 31, 2010:

 

(¥ in millions)

         
     Level 1    Level 2    Level 3    Total

Equity securities:

           

Financial institutions (Japanese companies)

   ¥ 6,805    ¥ —      ¥ —      ¥ 6,805

Other industries (Japanese companies)

     5,129      —        —        5,129

Pooled funds (Japanese companies) *1

     —        20,284      —        20,284

Pooled funds (foreign companies) * 1

     —        22,764      —        22,764

Debt securities:

           

Pooled funds (Japanese issuers) *2

     —        58,377      —        58,377

Pooled funds (foreign issuers) *3

     —        10,998      —        10,998

Cash and short-term investments

     1,056      1,509      —        2,565

General accounts of insurance company

     —        1,717      —        1,717

Other assets * 4

     —        205      312      517
                           

Fair value of plan assets

   ¥ 12,990    ¥ 115,854    ¥ 312    ¥ 129,156
                           

 

*1

These funds are invested in listed equity securities.

*2

These funds are invested in approximately 85% Japanese government and municipal bonds, and 15% Japanese corporate bonds.

*3

These funds are invested in foreign government bonds.

*4

This class includes the pooled funds which invest in private equity.

Plan assets are categorized by level based on the inputs used to measure the fair value of each asset.

The equity securities of financial institutions and other industries are valued at the closing price reported on the stock exchange on which the individual securities are traded. Pooled funds and the general accounts of insurance company are typically valued using the net asset value per share (“NAV”) provided by the administrator of the fund or insurance company. The NAV is based on the value of the underlying assets owned by the fund or insurance company, minus liabilities and divided by the number of shares or units outstanding. Cash and short-term investments are valued at their cost plus imputed interest. These assets were classified as Level 1 or Level 2 at March 31, 2010, depending on availability of quoted market prices.

The ending balance of, and the change in, the other assets categorized as Level 3 were not material for the year ended March 31, 2010.

Net Periodic Benefit Cost

The following table presents the components of the total net periodic benefit cost for the defined benefit pension plans and the severance indemnity plans:

 

(¥ in millions)

                  

For the years ended March 31:

   2010     2009     2008  

Net periodic benefit cost:

      

Service cost

   ¥ 5,933      ¥ 5,944      ¥ 5,830   

Interest cost

     3,646        3,730        3,751   

Expected return on plan assets

     (2,200     (2,428     (3,023

Amortization of prior service benefit

     (808     (808     (808

Amortization of actuarial loss

     9,611        128        —     
                        

Total

   ¥ 16,182      ¥ 6,566      ¥ 5,750   
                        

Weighted-average assumptions used in calculating net periodic benefit cost *1 :

      

Expected return on plan assets

     2.5     2.5     3.0

Discount rate

     2.5     2.5     2.5

 

*1

The rate of compensation increase is not used in the calculations of net periodic benefit cost under the point-based benefits system.

The amortization of actuarial loss of ¥9,611million for the year ended March 31, 2010 contained the immediate recognition amount of net actuarial losses in excess of 20% of the projected benefit obligation. This actuarial loss was derived from significant decline on fair value of plan assets during the years ended March 31, 2009 and March 31, 2008 due to financial crisis.

 

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The expected rate of return on plan assets is determined after considering several applicable factors including the composition of plan assets held, assumed risks of asset management, historical results of the returns on plan assets, the Company’s principal policy for plan asset management, and forecasted market conditions.

The following table presents the amounts recognized in other comprehensive income (loss), before tax, and the reclassification adjustments for the loss (benefit) realized in net income, before tax:

 

(¥ in millions)

                  

For the years ended March 31:

   2010     2009     2008  

Actuarial gain (loss) recognized in other comprehensive income

   ¥ 7,712      ¥ (22,897   ¥ (26,868

Reclassification adjustment for prior service benefit realized in net income

     (808     (808     (808

Reclassification adjustment for actuarial loss realized in net income

     9,611        128        —     
                        

Net recognized in other comprehensive income (loss), before tax

   ¥ 16,515      ¥ (23,577   ¥ (27,676
                        

The following table presents the estimated prior service benefit and actuarial loss that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income into net periodic benefit cost for the year ending March 31, 2011:

 

(¥ in millions)

      

Prior service benefit

   ¥ (808

Actuarial loss

     472   

Expected Cash Flows

The Company estimates contributions to its defined benefit pension plans for the year ending March 31, 2011, to be approximately ¥14,300 million.

The following table presents the total expected benefit payments to the participants of the defined benefit pension plans and the severance indemnity plans:

 

(¥ in millions)

    

Years ending March 31:

    

2011

   ¥ 12,477

2012

     12,095

2013

     12,140

2014

     11,686

2015

     11,687

2016-2020

     50,238

9. REVENUE RECOGNITION FOR LONG-TERM CONTRACTS

Long-term contracts accepted by the Company consist mainly of construction works with the Japanese national government and local governments, such as construction of environmental control plants and facilities for water supply. These contracts are generally completed within two to three years.

The contracts, which are fully executed before the commencement of construction projects, include the terms of the contract price, expected completion date and critical milestone dates, and acceptance inspections (e.g., performance tests and external appearance inspections). The contracts are legally enforceable and the parties are expected to perform their obligations under the contracts. The Company is able to develop reasonably dependable estimates of the total contract cost based on the construction order, that includes details on every single component unit, labor hour costs, and all overhead. Further, the Company believes that it is able to develop reasonably dependable estimates of the extent of progress towards completion of individual contracts and, therefore, the long-term contracts are accounted for using the percentage of completion method. Concerning the method of measuring the extent of progress toward completion, the Company uses the cost-to-cost method in measuring the extent of progress toward completion. In most cases, the Company’s contracts with customers include the delivery and installation of component units.

 

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In the situation where an option or an addition which has separate content from an existing contract has occurred, it is treated as a separate contract. Otherwise, it is combined with the original contract. Additional contract revenue arising from any claims for customer-caused overruns or delays is recognized when the contract modification is approved by the customer. Any revisions in revenue, cost, and profit estimates or in measurements of the extent of progress toward completion are accounted for in the consolidated statements of income in the fiscal year in which those revisions are determined. A disclosure is made of the effect of such revisions in the financial statements, if significant.

The following table details the notes receivable and accounts receivable related to the long-term contracts accounted for under the percentage of completion method, by maturities:

 

(¥ in millions)

    
     2010    2009

At March 31:

   Less than
1  year
   1-2 years    Over
2 years
   Less than
1  year
   1-2 years    Over
2 years

Notes receivable

   ¥ 176    ¥ —      ¥ —      ¥ 99    ¥ —      ¥ —  

Accounts receivable

     7,945      236      —        8,930      40      —  
                                         
   ¥ 8,121    ¥ 236    ¥ —      ¥ 9,029    ¥ 40    ¥ —  
                                         

A large portion of such receivables have already been billed to customers. The total aggregated amounts which had not been billed or were not billable were not material at March 31, 2010 and 2009. The total aggregated amounts subject to uncertainty were not material.

With respect to the inventories related to the long-term contracts, the aggregated amounts of manufacturing or production costs which exceed the aggregated estimate costs of all in-process, the total aggregated amounts subject to uncertainty, and advances received offset with inventories were not material at March 31, 2010 and 2009.

10. INCOME TAXES

Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net income of affiliated companies and income taxes are comprised of the following:

 

(¥ in millions)

                

For the years ended March 31:

   2010     2009     2008
                      
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net income of affiliated companies:       

Domestic

   ¥ 42,208      ¥ 35,739      ¥ 65,172

Foreign

     31,275        47,520        57,405
                      

Total

   ¥ 73,483      ¥ 83,259      ¥ 122,577
                      

Income taxes:

      

Current—

      

Domestic

   ¥ 16,462      ¥ 5,719      ¥ 26,550

Foreign

     12,078        17,918        17,379
                      
     28,540        23,637        43,929
                      

Deferred—

      

Domestic

     (2,090     7,073        3,537

Foreign

     (473     (1,964     578
                      
     (2,563     5,109        4,115
                      

Total

   ¥ 25,977      ¥ 28,746      ¥ 48,044
                      

 

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A reconciliation of the differences between the Japanese statutory tax rate and the effective tax rate is as follows:

 

For the years ended March 31:

   2010     2009     2008  

Normal Japanese statutory tax rates applied to income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net income of affiliated companies

   40.6   40.6   40.6

Increase (decrease) in taxes resulting from:

      

Increase (decrease) in valuation allowance

   (0.2   0.4      0.1   

Permanently nondeductible expenses *1

   0.4      4.1      0.4   

Nontaxable dividend income

   (0.4   (0.7   (0.4

Extra tax deduction on expenses for research and development

   (2.8   (0.5   (1.7

Reversal of taxes provided on unremitted earnings of foreign subsidiaries and affiliates *2

   —        (8.3   —     

Other—net

   (2.2   (1.1   0.2   
                  

Effective income tax rates applied to income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net income of affiliated companies

   35.4   34.5   39.2
                  

 

*1

Permanently nondeductible expenses for the year ended March 31, 2009 consisted primarily of nondeductible surcharge expense of ¥2,958 million for the alleged violation of the Anti-Monopoly Law.

*2

Reversal of taxes provided on unremitted earnings of foreign subsidiaries and affiliates for the year ended March 31, 2009 amounting to ¥6,870 million was due to Japanese tax law revision related to the taxation of dividends from overseas subsidiaries and affiliates.

Net deferred tax assets are included in the consolidated balance sheets as follows:

 

(¥ in millions)

            

At March 31:

   2010     2009  

Other current assets

   ¥ 29,938      ¥ 26,583   

Other assets

     4,199        16,683   

Other current liabilities

     (4     (2

Other long-term liabilities

     (3,119     (254
                

Net deferred tax assets

   ¥ 31,014      ¥ 43,010   
                

The significant components of deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows:

 

(¥ in millions)

            

At March 31:

   2010     2009  

Deferred tax assets:

    

Allowance for doubtful receivables

   ¥ 1,030      ¥ 1,069   

Intercompany profits

     7,483        6,121   

Adjustment of investment securities

     8,334        8,445   

Write-downs of inventories and fixed assets

     1,404        1,988   

Accrued bonus

     5,847        5,938   

Retirement and pension costs

     19,115        25,960   

Tax loss and credit carryforwards

     4,025        3,991   

Other temporary differences

     21,737        21,086   
                

Gross deferred tax assets

     68,975        74,598   

Less: valuation allowance

     (1,509     (1,631
                

Net deferred tax assets

   ¥ 67,466      ¥ 72,967   
                

Deferred tax liabilities:

    

Adjustment of investment securities

   ¥ 25,554      ¥ 17,570   

Unremitted earnings of foreign subsidiaries and affiliates

     7,284        5,878   

Other temporary differences

     3,614        6,509   
                

Gross deferred tax liabilities

   ¥ 36,452      ¥ 29,957   
                

Deferral of income taxes relating to intercompany profits of ¥7,483 million and ¥6,121 million at March 31, 2010 and 2009 included in the above table is accounted for in accordance with ASC 810, “Consolidation.” The movements of ¥1,362 million, ¥(5,672) million, and ¥(547) million for the years ended March 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008 in such deferral of income taxes are presented as “Income taxes – Deferred” in the consolidated statements of income. The total amounts of deferred tax assets recorded in accordance with ASC 740, “Income Taxes” were ¥59,983 million and ¥66,846 million at March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

 

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Provisions have been recorded for unremitted earnings of all foreign subsidiaries and affiliates where earnings are not deemed to be permanently reinvested. Substantially all of the undistributed earnings of domestic subsidiaries and affiliates would not, under present Japanese tax law, be subject to tax through tax-free distributions.

The following table presents the reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of the valuation allowance:

 

(¥ in millions)

                  

For the years ended March 31:

   2010     2009     2008  

Balance at beginning of year

   ¥ 1,631      ¥ 1,326      ¥ 1,212   

Addition

     391        565        421   

Deduction

     (513     (260     (307
                        

Balance at end of year

   ¥ 1,509      ¥ 1,631      ¥ 1,326   
                        

Based upon the level of historical taxable income and projections for future taxable income over the periods which the net deductible temporary differences are expected to reverse and/or the tax losses and credits are carried forward, management believes it is more likely than not that the Company will realize the benefits of these deferred tax assets, net of the existing valuation allowances at March 31, 2010.

At March 31, 2010, the tax loss carryforwards in the aggregate amounted to ¥10,048 million, which are available to offset future taxable income, and will expire in the period from 2011 through 2017.

The following table presents the reconciliation of unrecognized tax benefits:

 

(¥ in millions)

                  

For the years ended March 31:

   2010     2009     2008  

Balance at beginning of year

   ¥ 6,759      ¥ 6,950      ¥ 3,491   

Gross increase for tax positions taken in prior years

     26        31        3,535   

Gross decrease for tax positions taken in prior years

     (2,029     (23     (40

Settlements

     (4,534     (108     (11

Lapse of statute of limitations

     (27     (15     (9

Other

     5        (76     (16
                        

Balance at end of year

   ¥ 200      ¥ 6,759      ¥ 6,950   
                        

The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits that would affect the effective tax rate, if recognized, is not material at March 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008.

The Company recognizes interest and penalties accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits in income taxes in the consolidated statements of income. Both interest and penalties accrued at March 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008, and interest and penalties included in income taxes for the years ended March 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008 were not material.

During the year ended March 31, 2008, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and the National Taxation Agency in Japan (“NTA”) reached an agreement on a bilateral Advance Pricing Agreement (“APA”), for which the Company had submitted requests with respect to certain intercompany transactions between related parties in U.S. and Japan. The Company accrued an estimated additional tax payment to the NTA of ¥6,500 million and ¥6,521 million in other long-term liabilities at March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and recognized an estimated tax refund from the IRS of ¥4,647 million and ¥5,941 million in other assets at March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

The Company accrued a tax payment to the NTA of ¥4,534 million in income taxes payable and recognized a tax refund from the IRS of ¥2,807 million in other current assets at March 31, 2010 by settling the related unrecognized tax benefits due to the expiration of the period covered by the APA. This difference between estimates and actual results is attributed to decline in operating profit ratio of the U.S. subsidiaries, and is included in Gross decrease for tax positions taken in prior year in the above table.

Based on the information available as of March 31, 2010, a change to the unrecognized tax benefits within the next 12 months is not material.

The Company files income tax returns in Japan, U.S., and various foreign tax jurisdictions. At March 31, 2010, the Company is no longer subject, with limited exception, to regular income tax examinations by the tax authorities for the years on or before March 31, 2008 in Japan, and for the years on or before December 31, 2001 in U.S., respectively. While the tax authority could conduct a transfer pricing examination for the years on and after April 1, 2001, the intercompany transactions between related parties in U.S. and Japan will not be subject to a tax examination since the Advance Pricing Agreement between U.S. and Japan has been agreed.

 

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11. SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Dividends

The Corporate Law of Japan (the “Corporate Law”) permits companies to pay dividends at any time during the fiscal year in addition to the year-end dividend upon resolution of the shareholders meeting. Semiannual interim dividends may also be paid once a year upon resolution of the Board of Directors if the articles of incorporation of the companies so stipulate. For companies that meet certain criteria such as (1) having the Board of Directors, (2) having independent auditors, (3) having the Board of Corporate Auditors, (4) the term of service of the directors is one year rather than two years of normal term, and (5) prescribing that the Board of Directors may declare dividends in its articles of incorporation, the Board of Directors may declare dividends (except for dividends in kind). The Company meets all the above criteria.

The Corporate Law also provides certain limitations on the amounts available for dividends. Under the Corporate Law, the amount available for dividends is based on other retained earnings, less treasury stock, as recorded on the books of the parent company. At March 31, 2010, other retained earnings, less treasury stock, recorded on the parent Company’s books of account were ¥218,109 million.

Purchase of Treasury Stock

The Corporate Law also provides for companies to purchase treasury stock. Companies may purchase its treasury stock through market transactions by resolution of the Board of Directors if companies have prescribed so in its articles of incorporation. The Company meets this condition. The same limitations as dividends exist in the amount available for this purchase of treasury stock.

Increases/Decreases and Transfer of Common Stock, Reserve, and Surplus

The Corporate Law requires that an amount equal to 10% of dividends must be appropriated as additional paid-in capital or as a legal reserve depending on the equity account charged upon the payment of such dividends until the total of additional paid-in capital and legal reserve equals 25% of the common stock. Under the Corporate Law, the total amount of additional paid-in capital and legal reserve may be reversed without limitation of such threshold. The Corporate Law also provides that common stock, capital surplus, legal reserve, and other retained earnings can be transferred among the accounts under certain conditions upon resolution of the shareholders meeting.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The following table presents the components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes:

 

(¥ in millions)

            

At March 31:

   2010     2009  

Foreign currency translation adjustments

   ¥ (42,215   ¥ (47,887

Unrealized gains on securities

     21,050        9,322   

Unrealized losses on derivatives

     (1,592     (2,162

Pension liability adjustments

     (11,734     (21,457
                

Total accumulated other comprehensive loss

   ¥ (34,491   ¥ (62,184
                

Effects of Changes in Ownership Interests in Subsidiaries

The following table presents the effects of changes in Kubota Corporation’s ownership interests in its subsidiaries on Kubota Corporation shareholder’s equity for the year ended March 31, 2010:

 

(¥ in millions)

      

Net income attributable to Kubota Corporation

   ¥ 42,326   
        

Transfers from (to) the noncontrolling interests:

  

Increase in capital surplus for purchases of noncontrolling interests

     125   

Decrease in capital surplus for purchases of noncontrolling interests

     (3,828

Decrease in capital surplus for changes in ownership interests in subsidiaries from other transactions

     (206
        

Net transfers to the noncontrolling interests

     (3,909
        

Change from net income attributable to Kubota Corporation and transfer to noncontrolling interests

   ¥ 38,417   
        

 

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12. OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

The following table presents the components of other comprehensive income (loss), including reclassification adjustments and tax effects:

 

(¥ in millions)

 
     2010     2009     2008  

For the years ended March 31:

   Before-tax
Amount
    Tax  Benefit
(Expense)
    Net-of-tax
Amount
    Before-tax
Amount
    Tax  Benefit
(Expense)
    Net-of-tax
Amount
    Before-tax
Amount
    Tax  Benefit
(Expense)
    Net-of-tax
Amount
 

Foreign currency translation adjustments:

                  

Foreign currency translation adjustments arising during period

   ¥ 8,248      ¥ 2      ¥ 8,250      ¥ (62,293   ¥ 461      ¥ (61,832   ¥ (1,794   ¥ 1,231      ¥ (563

Reclassification adjustment for losses (gains) realized in net income

     —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —          —     
                                                                        
     8,248        2        8,250        (62,293     461        (61,832     (1,794     1,231        (563
                                                                        

Unrealized gains (losses) on securities:

                  

Unrealized gains (losses) on securities arising during period

     21,476        (8,718     12,758        (53,868     21,870        (31,998     (68,025     27,615        (40,410

Reclassification adjustment for losses (gains) realized in net income

     (1,678     681        (997     8,734        (3,019     5,715        6,011        (2,440     3,571   
                                                                        
     19,798        (8,037     11,761        (45,134     18,851        (26,283     (62,014     25,175        (36,839
                                                                        

Unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives:

                  

Unrealized losses on derivatives arising during period

     (1,310     472        (838     (2,378     1,054        (1,324     (916     322        (594

Reclassification adjustments for losses (gains) realized in net income

     2,179        (785     1,394        (316     128        (188     795        (327     468   
                                                                        
     869        (313     556        (2,694     1,182        (1,512     (121     (5     (126
                                                                        

Pension liability adjustments:

                  

Pension liability adjustments arising during period

     7,712        (3,133     4,579        (22,897     9,356        (13,541     (26,868     10,943        (15,925

Reclassification adjustment for losses (gains) realized in net income

     8,803        (3,574     5,229        (680     276        (404     (808     328        (480
                                                                        
     16,515        (6,707     9,808        (23,577     9,632        (13,945     (27,676     11,271        (16,405
                                                                        

Other comprehensive income (loss)

   ¥ 45,430      ¥ (15,055   ¥ 30,375      ¥ (133,698   ¥ 30,126      ¥ (103,572   ¥ (91,605   ¥ 37,672      ¥ (53,933
                                                                        

The following table presents the components of other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Kubota Corporation and noncontrolling interests:

 

(¥ in millions)

                 
     2010    2009     2008  

For the years
ended March 31:

   Kubota
Corporation
   Non-controlling
Interests
    Total    Kubota
Corporation
    Non-controlling
Interests
    Total     Kubota
Corporation
    Non-controlling
Interests
    Total  

Foreign currency translation adjustments

   ¥ 6,408    ¥ 1,842      ¥ 8,250    ¥ (51,789   ¥ (10,043   ¥ (61,832   ¥ (1,425   ¥ 862      ¥ (563

Unrealized gains (losses) on securities

     11,728      33        11,761      (26,270     (13     (26,283     (36,834     (5     (36,839

Unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives

     570      (14     556      (1,512     —          (1,512     (485     359        (126

Pension liability adjustments

     9,723      85        9,808      (13,790     (155     (13,945     (16,326     (79     (16,405
                                                                      

Other comprehensive income (loss)

   ¥ 28,429    ¥ 1,946      ¥ 30,375    ¥ (93,361   ¥ (10,211   ¥ (103,572   ¥ (55,070   ¥ 1,137      ¥ (53,933
                                                                      

 

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13. DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Risk Management Policy

The Company is subject to market rate risks due to fluctuation of foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates. The Company manages these risks by using derivative financial instruments in accordance with established policies and procedures. The Company does not use derivative financial instruments for trading purposes. The credit risks associated with these instruments are not considered to be significant since the counterparties are financial institutions with high creditworthiness and the Company does not anticipate any such losses.

Foreign Currency Exchange Risks

The Company’s foreign currency exposure relates primarily to its foreign currency denominated assets in its international operations. The Company entered into foreign exchange forward contracts and foreign currency option contracts (foreign exchange contracts) designated to mitigate its exposure to foreign currency exchange risks.

Interest Rate Risks

The Company is exposed to interest rate risks mainly inherent in its debt obligations with both fixed and variable rates. Debt obligations that are sensitive to interest rate changes are disclosed in Note 7. In order to hedge these risks, the Company uses interest rate swap contracts and cross-currency interest rate swap contracts to change the characteristics of its fixed and variable rate exposures.

Cash Flow Hedges

The accounting treatments of changes in the fair value of foreign exchange contracts and interest rate swap agreements depend on whether derivatives are designated as cash flow hedges. The effective portion of changes in the fair value of derivatives designated and qualifying as cash flow hedges are reported in accumulated other comprehensive income. As for foreign exchange contracts related to forecasted intercompany transactions, the amounts are subsequently reclassified into earnings when unrelated third party transactions occur. In the case of interest rate swaps, the amounts are reclassified into earnings when the related interest expense is recognized. The unrecognized net loss (net of tax) of approximately ¥ 1,019 million on derivatives included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) at March 31, 2010 will be reclassified into earnings within the next 12 months. The ineffective portion of changes in the fair value of derivatives is immediately recorded in earnings.

Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments

The Company uses derivatives not designated as cash flow hedges in certain relationships, such as a part of foreign exchange contracts, interest rate swap contracts, and cross-currency interest rate swap contracts, for economic purposes. Changes in the fair value of derivatives not designated are reported in earnings immediately.

Fair Values of Derivative Instruments

 

(¥ in millions)

     Other current assets    Other current liabilities    Other long-term liabilities

At March 31:

   2010    2009    2010    2009    2010    2009

Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:

                 

Foreign exchange contracts

   ¥ 14    ¥ —      ¥ —      ¥ 139    ¥ —      ¥ —  

Interest rate swap contracts

     —        —        1,688      3,153      704      48

Cross-currency interest rate swap contracts

     —        —        41      —        52      —  
                                         

Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments

   ¥ 14    ¥ —      ¥ 1,729    ¥ 3,292    ¥ 756    ¥ 48
                                         

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:

                 

Foreign exchange contracts

   ¥ 2    ¥ 7    ¥ 474    ¥ 1,939    ¥ —      ¥ —  

Interest rate swap contracts

     —        —        230      223      142      511

Cross-currency interest rate swap contracts

     —        —        1,032      72      1,491      137
                                         

Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments

   ¥ 2    ¥ 7    ¥ 1,736    ¥ 2,234    ¥ 1,633    ¥ 648
                                         

Total

   ¥ 16    ¥ 7    ¥ 3,465    ¥ 5,526    ¥ 2,389    ¥ 696
                                         

Income Effect of Derivative Instruments

 

(¥ in millions)

      
     Gain (Loss) (before tax) Recognized in Other Comprehensive  Income
and Realized in Net Income
 

Derivative instruments in cash flow hedges

   Effective Portion
Recognized  in OCI
    Consolidated Statements
of Income Line Item
   Effective Portion
Reclassified  from
Accumulated OCI
to Net Income
 

For the year ended March 31, 2010:

       

Foreign exchange contracts

   ¥ 356      Revenues    ¥ 203   

Interest rate swap contracts

     (1,495   Interest expense      (2,304

Cross-currency interest rate swap contracts

     (171   Interest expense      (78
                   

Total

   ¥ (1,310      ¥ (2,179
                   

For the three months ended March 31, 2009:

       

Foreign exchange contracts

   ¥ (139   Revenues    ¥ 563   

Interest rate swap contracts

     (1,637   Interest expense      (177
                   

Total

   ¥ (1,776      ¥ 386   
                   

 

(¥ in millions)

           
     Gain (Loss) (before tax) Recognized in Net Income  

Derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments

   Consolidated Statements
of Income Line Item
   Gain (Loss)
Recognized
in Net Income
 

For the year ended March 31, 2010:

     

Foreign exchange contracts

   Foreign exchange gain (loss)—net    ¥ 1,346   

Interest rate swap contracts

   Other—net      (175

Cross-currency interest rate swap contracts

   Other—net      (2,525
           

Total

      ¥ (1,354
           

For the three months ended March 31, 2009:

     

Foreign exchange contracts

   Foreign exchange gain (loss)—net    ¥ (5,026

Interest rate swap contracts

   Other—net      (340

Cross-currency interest rate swap contracts

   Other—net      (209
           

Total

      ¥ (5,575
           

The amount of gain or loss related to the hedging ineffectiveness was not material for the year ended March 31, 2010.

 

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14. FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The following table summarizes the carrying value and fair value of financial instruments:

 

(¥ in millions)

            
     2010     2009  

At March 31:

   Carrying Value     Fair Value     Carrying Value     Fair Value  

Financial assets:

        

Finance receivables—net

   ¥ 211,363      ¥ 212,021      ¥ 217,503      ¥ 223,508   

Long-term trade accounts receivable

     47,610        50,409        50,004        52,616   

Financial liabilities:

        

Long-term debt

     (308,779     (309,258     (262,445     (261,891

The fair value of finance receivables, long-term trade accounts receivable, and long-term debt is based on discounted cash flows using the current market rate. The carrying value of finance receivables—net at March 31, 2010 and 2009 in the table excludes finance leases. Long-term trade accounts receivable in the table includes the current portion, which is included in trade accounts receivable on the consolidated balance sheet.

The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents, notes and accounts receivable and payable (excluding the current portion of long-term trade accounts receivable), and short-term borrowings approximate the fair value because of the short maturity of those instruments. The carrying value and fair value of other investments and derivatives are disclosed in Note 15.

Concentration of Credit Risks

A large portion of trade accounts receivable and retail finance receivables are from dealers or customers in the farm equipment market in North America. Trade accounts receivable and retail finance receivables arise from the sales of the Company’s products to a large number of dealers and to retail customers, respectively. The Company considers that credit risks on these receivables are limited since no single dealer or customer represents a significant concentration of credit risks.

 

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15. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

The following table presents the Company’s financial assets and financial liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis:

 

(¥ in millions)

         

At March 31:

   Level 1    Level 2    Level 3    Total

2010:

           

Assets:

           

Available-for-sale securities:

           

Equity securities of financial institutions

   ¥ 44,186    ¥ —      ¥ —      ¥ 44,186

Other equity securities

     54,985      —        —        54,985

Derivatives:

           

Foreign exchange contracts

     —        16      —        16
                           

Total assets

   ¥ 99,171    ¥ 16    ¥ —      ¥ 99,187
                           

Liabilities:

           

Derivatives:

           

Foreign exchange contracts

   ¥ —      ¥ 474    ¥ —      ¥ 474

Interest rate swap contracts

     —        2,764      —        2,764

Cross-currency interest rate swap contracts

     —        2,616      —        2,616
                           

Total liabilities

   ¥ —      ¥ 5,854    ¥ —      ¥ 5,854
                           

2009:

           

Assets:

           

Available-for-sale securities:

           

Equity securities of financial institutions

   ¥ 40,275    ¥ —      ¥ —      ¥ 40,275

Other equity securities

     40,653      —        —        40,653

Derivatives:

           

Foreign exchange contracts

     —        7      —        7
                           

Total assets

   ¥ 80,928    ¥ 7    ¥ —      ¥ 80,935
                           

Liabilities:

           

Derivatives:

           

Foreign exchange contracts

   ¥ —      ¥ 2,078    ¥ —      ¥ 2,078

Interest rate swap contracts

     —        3,935      —        3,935

Cross-currency interest rate swap contracts

     —        209      —        209
                           

Total liabilities

   ¥ —      ¥ 6,222    ¥ —      ¥ 6,222
                           

Available-for-sale securities are valued using a quoted price for identical instruments in active markets. Derivatives are valued using observable market inputs from major international financial institutions.

16. SUPPLEMENTAL EXPENSE INFORMATION

The following table presents the amounts of research and development expenses, advertising costs, shipping and handling costs, and depreciation included in cost of revenues and selling, general, and administrative expenses:

 

(¥ in millions)

              

For the years ended March 31:

   2010    2009    2008

Research and development expenses

   ¥ 25,241    ¥ 26,290    ¥ 24,784

Advertising costs

     7,658      9,721      9,550

Shipping and handling costs

     36,497      49,172      51,068

Depreciation

     28,903      30,467      30,119

Other operating expenses for the year ended March 31, 2009 included a loss from impairment of fixed assets of ¥748 million.

Other operating expenses for the year ended March 31, 2008 included a loss from disposal of fixed assets of ¥925 million and a gain on disposal of business of ¥314 million resulting from a partial sale of the shares of a company which conducts condominium business.

 

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17. SECURITIZATION OF RECEIVABLES

The Company sold trade receivables to investors through independent securitization trusts until the year ended March 31, 2009. The Company has no sold receivables at March 31, 2010 and 2009.

The Company recognized pretax losses resulting from the sales of trade receivables of ¥679 million and ¥3,008 million for the years ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The Company recognized pretax gains resulting from the sales of finance receivables of ¥77 million for the year ended March 31, 2008.

The Company continued to service the receivables for a fee based on a percentage of the receivables transferred. The investors and the securitization trusts had no recourse to the Company’s assets for failure of debtors to pay when due. The amount of servicing assets or liabilities was not material at March 31, 2008.

The following table summarizes certain cash flows received from securitization trusts:

 

(¥ in millions)

    

For the years ended March 31:

   2010    2009    2008

Proceeds from collections reinvested in revolving-period securitizations

   ¥ —      ¥ 55,561    ¥ 160,468

Servicing fees received

     —        230      413

18. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Commitments

The Company leases certain office space and equipment and employee housing under cancelable and noncancelable lease agreements. Leased assets under capital leases are comprised of the following:

 

(¥ in millions)

            

At March 31:

   2010     2009  

Machinery and equipment

   ¥ 11,633      ¥ 12,415   

Accumulated depreciation

     (7,572     (6,961

Software

     302        350   
                
   ¥ 4,363      ¥ 5,804   
                

Amortization expenses under capital leases for the years ended March 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008 were ¥4,550 million, ¥4,840 million, and ¥3,861 million, respectively.

The following table presents the annual maturities of future minimum lease commitments under capital and non-cancelable operating leases at March 31, 2010:

 

(¥ in millions)

          

Years ending March 31:

   Capital Leases     Operating Leases

2011

   ¥ 3,201      ¥ 1,088

2012

     1,983        775

2013

     753        647

2014

     97        554

2015

     55        263

2016 and thereafter

     23        181
              

Total minimum lease payments

     6,112      ¥ 3,508
        

Less: amounts representing interest

     (126  
          

Present value of net minimum capital lease payments

   ¥ 5,986     
          

Capital lease obligations are included in the current portion of long-term debt and long-term debt in the consolidated balance sheets. Rental expenses under operating leases for the years ended March 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008 were ¥4,942 million, ¥5,281 million, and ¥5,619 million, respectively.

Commitments for capital expenditures outstanding at March 31, 2010 amounted to ¥1,616 million.

 

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Guarantees

The Company is contingently liable as guarantor of the indebtedness of distributors including affiliated companies, and customers for their borrowings from financial institutions. The Company would have to perform under these guarantees in the event of default on a payment within the guarantee periods of 1 year to 10 years. The maximum potential amount of undiscounted future payments of these financial guarantees at March 31, 2010 was ¥5,991 million. The fair value of these financial guarantees is not material and the probability of incurrence of a loss is remote.

The Company issues contractual product warranties under which it generally guarantees the performance of products delivered and services rendered for a specified period or term. The Company determines its reserve for product warranties based on an analysis of the historical data of costs to perform under product warranties.

The following table presents the reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of accrued product warranty cost:

 

(¥ in millions)

            

For the years ended March 31:

   2010     2009  

Balance at beginning of year

   ¥ 6,031      ¥ 6,457   

Addition

     4,284        4,503   

Utilization

     (3,739     (3,984

Other

     131        (945
                

Balance at end of year

   ¥ 6,707      ¥ 6,031   
                

Accrued product warranty cost is included in other current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.

Legal Proceedings

The Company is subject to various legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business. The following is a summary of the significant legal proceedings.

(Anti-Trust)

In December 1999, the Company received a surcharge order from the Fair Trade Commission of Japan for a violation of the Anti-Monopoly Law relating to participation in fixing the shares of ductile iron straight pipe orders in Japan. In June 2009, the Company received, as a result of the hearing procedure, the ultimate decision which ordered the Company to pay the surcharge of ¥ 7,072 million, and the Company paid the surcharge during the year ended March 31, 2010. However, the Company filed a revocation suit to the Tokyo High Court considering the ultimate decision unacceptable in July 2009.

The Company recorded the surcharge as selling, general, and administrative expenses for the year ended March 31, 2009 based on the preliminary decision of the commission.

(Asbestos-Related Lawsuits)

Since May 2007, the Company has been subject to seven asbestos-related lawsuits in Japan, which were filed against the Company or defendant party consisting of the Japanese Government and asbestos-related companies including the Company. The claims for compensation totaling ¥15,196 million consisted mostly of four lawsuits, which concerned a total of 388 construction workers who suffered from asbestos-related diseases, and were filed against the Japanese Government and 46 asbestos-related companies including the Company. The Company does not have any cost-sharing arrangements with other potentially responsible parties for these seven lawsuits.

The Company is not able to predict the ultimate outcome of these lawsuits or the timing of settlement due to inherent uncertainties in lawsuits.

Matters Related to Health Hazard of Asbestos

(Background)

Until 1995, the Company’s plant in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, had produced asbestos-containing products. The Company decided to make voluntary consolation payments to certain residents in June 2005, and established the relief payment system in place of the consolation payment to the residents in April 2006. With regard to the current and former employees who suffered and are suffering from asbestos-related diseases, the Company will make the compensation which is not required by law but is made in accordance with the Company’s internal policies.

 

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The Japanese government established the Law for the Relief of Patients Suffering from Asbestos-Related Diseases (Asbestos Law) in March 2006. This law was enacted for the purpose of promptly providing relief to the people suffering from asbestos-related diseases who are not eligible for relief by compensation from the Insurance in accordance with the Workers’ Accident Compensation Insurance Law. The relief aid payments are contributed by the national government, municipal governments, and business entities. The contribution made by business entities includes a special contribution by the companies which operated a business closely related to asbestos, and commenced from the year ended March 31, 2008.

(Accounting for Asbestos-Related Expenses)

The Company expenses the consolation payments, the relief payments, and the compensation for employees, based on the Company’s accounting policies and procedures. The Company accrues in those cases where the conditions of loss contingencies are met. (See Note 1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES.) The recorded expenses totaled ¥503 million, ¥1,155 million, and ¥1,090 million for the years ended March 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008, respectively, which were included in selling, general, and administrative expenses. The Company accrued the asbestos-related expenses of ¥352 million, ¥721 million, and ¥968 million at March 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008, respectively. Though the Company believes that this amount appears to be a better estimate than any other amount within a reasonably estimable range of amounts, the additional exposure to loss in excess of this accrued amount of ¥760 million exists.

Since the Company has no basis or information to estimate the number of current and former employees and residents that are going to apply for payments, such payments are not included in the accrued amounts. The Company believes it is not possible to reasonably estimate the amount of its ultimate liability relating to this contingency. However, the Company believes the asbestos-related issues contain potentially material risks for the Company’s consolidated results of operations, financial position, and its liquidity.

19. SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION

Supplemental information related to the consolidated statements of cash flows is as follows:

 

(¥ in millions)

              

For the years ended March 31:

   2010    2009    2008

Cash paid during the year:

        

Interest

   ¥ 9,614    ¥ 12,768    ¥ 12,875

Income taxes

     15,336      38,472      56,535

Non-cash investing and financing activities:

        

Retirement of treasury stock

   ¥ —      ¥ —      ¥ 4,398

Obtaining assets by entering into capital leases capital lease

     2,740      2,916      3,678

During the year ended March 31, 2010, the Company purchased noncontrolling interests reported in the Farm & Industrial Machinery segment. The Company retains the controlling interests before and after the transaction, the cash flow of which is classified in financing activities as Purchases of noncontrolling interests.

20. DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

During the year ended March 31, 2007, Kubota Retex Corp., a subsidiary reported in the Social Infrastructure Segment, decided to liquidate and withdraw from the industrial waste treatment market. During the year ended March 31, 2008, the Company completed liquidation.

The following table presents the operating results of the discontinued operation for the year ended March 31, 2008:

 

(¥ in millions)

      

Revenues

   ¥ —     
        

Income from discontinued operations before income taxes

   ¥ 316   

Income taxes

     (127

Income from discontinued operations

   ¥ 189   

 

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21. SEGMENT INFORMATION

The Company’s major operations comprise: Farm & Industrial Machinery; Water & Environment Systems; Social Infrastructure; and Other. The Farm & Industrial Machinery segment manufactures and distributes farm equipment, engines, and construction machinery. The Water & Environment Systems segment manufactures and distributes pipe-related products and environment-related products. The Social Infrastructure segment manufactures and distributes industrial castings, spiral welded steel pipes, vending machines, electronic equipped machinery, and air-conditioning equipment. The Other segment includes construction and other services.

The segments represent the components of the Company for which separate financial information is available that is utilized on a regular basis by the chief executive officer in determining how to allocate the Company’s resources and evaluate performance. The segments also represent the Company’s organizational structure principally based on the nature of products and services.

The accounting policies for the reporting segments are consistent with the accounting policies used in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Reporting Segments

Information by reporting segment is summarized as follows:

 

(¥ in millions)

    

For the years ended March 31:

   Farm &
Industrial
Machinery
   Water &
Environment
Systems
   Social
Infrastructure
   Other    Adjustments     Consolidated

2010:

                

Revenues:

                

External customers

   ¥ 616,726    ¥ 222,949    ¥ 63,293    ¥ 27,676    ¥ —        ¥ 930,644

Intersegment

     77      611      2,710      14,091      (17,489     —  
                                          

Total

     616,803      223,560      66,003      41,767      (17,489     930,644
                                          

Operating income

   ¥ 60,485    ¥ 19,723    ¥ 2,699    ¥ 2,629    ¥ (15,834   ¥ 69,702
                                          

Identifiable assets at March 31, 2010

   ¥ 930,480    ¥ 186,768    ¥ 65,519    ¥ 42,246    ¥ 184,020      ¥ 1,409,033

Depreciation

     18,489      6,033      1,933      552      1,896        28,903

Capital expenditures

     14,820      5,969      1,992      741      2,516        26,038
                                          

2009:

                

Revenues:

                

External customers

   ¥ 754,416    ¥ 234,275    ¥ 86,480    ¥ 32,311    ¥ —        ¥ 1,107,482

Intersegment

     52      1,748      2,872      14,085      (18,757     —  
                                          

Total

     754,468      236,023      89,352      46,396      (18,757     1,107,482
                                          

Operating income

   ¥ 103,831    ¥ 3,121    ¥ 8,004    ¥ 1,812    ¥ (13,953   ¥ 102,815
                                          

Identifiable assets at March 31, 2009

   ¥ 899,104    ¥ 206,793    ¥ 73,947    ¥ 45,225    ¥ 160,755      ¥ 1,385,824

Depreciation

     20,040      6,062      1,953      485      1,927        30,467

Capital expenditures

     24,072      5,285      1,988      618      1,374        33,337
                                          

2008:

                

Revenues:

                

External customers

   ¥ 793,654    ¥ 224,697    ¥ 96,929    ¥ 39,294    ¥ —        ¥ 1,154,574

Intersegment

     16      1,312      2,889      13,971      (18,188     —  
                                          

Total

     793,670      226,009      99,818      53,265      (18,188     1,154,574
                                          

Operating income

   ¥ 132,961    ¥ 3,744    ¥ 11,657    ¥ 3,379    ¥ (14,866   ¥ 136,875
                                          

Identifiable assets at March 31, 2008

   ¥ 932,231    ¥ 211,577    ¥ 80,420    ¥ 39,381    ¥ 200,661      ¥ 1,464,270

Depreciation

     19,791      5,879      1,933      423      2,093        30,119

Capital expenditures

     26,798      4,750      2,408      478      729        35,163
                                          

(Notes)

 

1. The unallocated corporate expenses included in “Adjustments” amounted to ¥15,834 million, ¥13,953 million, and ¥14,866 million for the years ended March 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008, respectively. The unallocated corporate assets included in “Adjustments” amounted to ¥190,282 million, ¥167,079 million, and ¥208,180 million at March 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008, respectively, which consisted mainly of cash and cash equivalents, investment securities, and corporate properties held or used by the administration departments of the parent company. “Adjustments” also included the elimination of intersegment transactions.
2. The aggregated amounts of operating income equal to those in the consolidated statements of income, and please refer to the consolidated statements of income for the reconciliation of operating income to income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net income of affiliated companies.
3. Intersegment revenues are recorded at values that approximate market prices.

 

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Revenues from External Customers by Product Groups

Information for revenues from external customers by product groups is summarized as follows:

 

(¥ in millions)

              

For the years ended March 31:

   2010    2009    2008

Farm & Industrial Machinery:

        

Farm Equipment and Engines

   ¥ 561,165    ¥ 671,292    ¥ 677,074

Construction Machinery

     55,561      83,124      116,580
                    
     616,726      754,416      793,654
                    

Water & Environment Systems:

        

Pipe-related Products

     144,465      153,514      146,806

Environment-related Products

     78,484      80,761      77,891
                    
     222,949      234,275      224,697
                    

Social Infrastructure

     63,293      86,480      96,929

Other

     27,676      32,311      39,294
                    

Total

   ¥ 930,644    ¥ 1,107,482    ¥ 1,154,574
                    

Geographic Segments

Information for revenues from external customers by destination and long-lived assets based on physical location are summarized as follows:

 

(¥ in millions)

              
     2010    2009    2008

Revenues from external customers by destination for the years ended March 31:

        

Japan

   ¥ 501,663    ¥ 549,189    ¥ 572,236

North America

     174,371      274,151      329,495

Europe

     67,791      108,742      125,388

Asia

     148,589      139,069      93,014

Other Areas

     38,230      36,331      34,441
                    

Total

   ¥ 930,644    ¥ 1,107,482    ¥ 1,154,574
                    

Long-lived assets based on physical location at March 31:

        

Japan

   ¥ 183,042    ¥ 190,662    ¥ 199,806

North America

     20,210      21,442      26,889

Other Areas

     17,641      13,517      11,378
                    

Total

   ¥ 220,893    ¥ 225,621    ¥ 238,073
                    

(Notes)

 

1. Revenues from North America include those from the United States of ¥146,319 million, ¥236,473 million, and ¥281,590 million for the years ended March 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008, respectively.
2. There is no single customer, revenues from whom exceed 10% of total consolidated revenues of the Company.

 

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Supplemental Geographic Information

In addition to the disclosure required by U.S. GAAP, the Company provides the following supplemental information of revenues, cost of revenues and operating expenses, operating income, and identifiable assets based on physical location as required by Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan, to which the Company is subject as a Japanese public company:

 

(¥ in millions)

    

For the years ended March 31:

   Japan    North
America
   Europe    Asia    Other
Areas
   Total    Corporate &
Eliminations
    Consolidated

2010:

                      

Revenues:

                      

External customers

   ¥ 544,141    ¥ 174,069    ¥ 64,561    ¥ 135,384    ¥ 12,489    ¥ 930,644    ¥ —        ¥ 930,644

Intersegment

     178,670      6,196      1,707      850      —        187,423      (187,423     —  
                                                        

Total

     722,811      180,265      66,268      136,234      12,489      1,118,067      (187,423     930,644

Cost of revenues and operating expenses

     667,762      167,075      63,488      121,558      10,724      1,030,607      (169,665     860,942
                                                        

Operating income

   ¥ 55,049    ¥ 13,190    ¥ 2,780    ¥ 14,676    ¥ 1,765    ¥ 87,460    ¥ (17,758   ¥ 69,702
                                                        

Identifiable assets at March 31, 2010

   ¥ 644,611    ¥ 401,106    ¥ 60,387    ¥ 177,509    ¥ 14,487    ¥ 1,298,100    ¥ 110,933      ¥ 1,409,033
                                                        

2009:

                      

Revenues:

                      

External customers

   ¥ 588,236    ¥ 280,231    ¥ 102,746    ¥ 122,248    ¥ 14,021    ¥ 1,107,482    ¥ —        ¥ 1,107,482

Intersegment

     259,324      9,588      3,420      1,153      —        273,485      (273,485     —  
                                                        

Total

     847,560      289,819      106,166      123,401      14,021      1,380,967      (273,485     1,107,482

Cost of revenues and operating expenses

     795,095      262,515      99,520      108,600      11,930      1,277,660      (272,993     1,004,667
                                                        

Operating income

   ¥ 52,465    ¥ 27,304    ¥ 6,646    ¥ 14,801    ¥ 2,091    ¥ 103,307    ¥ (492   ¥ 102,815
                                                        

Identifiable assets at March 31, 2009

   ¥ 675,623    ¥ 429,974    ¥ 69,960    ¥ 118,220    ¥ 7,908    ¥ 1,301,685    ¥ 84,139      ¥ 1,385,824
                                                        

2008:

                      

Revenues:

                      

External customers

   ¥ 607,377    ¥ 332,042    ¥ 121,114    ¥ 79,483    ¥ 14,558    ¥ 1,154,574    ¥ —        ¥ 1,154,574

Intersegment

     292,371      9,160      4,142      1,623      —        307,296      (307,296     —  
                                                        

Total

     899,748      341,202      125,256      81,106      14,558      1,461,870      (307,296     1,154,574

Cost of revenues and operating expenses

     806,786      305,194      114,224      71,808      12,444      1,310,456      (292,757     1,017,699
                                                        

Operating income

   ¥ 92,962    ¥ 36,008    ¥ 11,032    ¥ 9,298    ¥ 2,114    ¥ 151,414    ¥ (14,539   ¥ 136,875
                                                        

Identifiable assets at March 31, 2008

   ¥ 716,207    ¥ 487,654    ¥ 82,992    ¥ 88,882    ¥ 11,314    ¥ 1,387,049    ¥ 77,221      ¥ 1,464,270
                                                        

(Note) Major countries or regions outside Japan in each geographic area:

 

North America    United States, Canada   

Europe

   Germany, France, United Kingdom   

Asia

   Thailand, China, South Korea   

Other Areas

   Australia   

22. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

On May 11, 2010, the Company’s Board of Directors resolved to pay a cash dividend to shareholders of record on March 31, 2010 of ¥5 per common share (¥25 per 5 common shares) or a total of ¥6,361 million.

 

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