JAPANESE

Revision of Projections for the Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2009

Komatsu Ltd. has revised the projections for consolidated and non-consolidated results for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2009, which the Company announced on October 29, 2008.


1. Revision of Projections for the Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2009



2. Reasons for the Revision

In the construction, mining and utility equipment business, while demand remained sluggish in Japan, North America and Europe, it continued to expand in emerging economies against the background of brisk infrastructure investment and resource development until the end of the first half period of the current fiscal year. However, the financial turmoil, which originated in the United States last fall, has adversely affected emerging economies, suddenly changing Komatsu's business environment. With a quick and drastic drop in demand around the world, Komatsu expects to face a similar challenging environment in the fourth quarter (January - March, 2009) of the current fiscal year. In addition to demand sliding worldwide, Komatsu has been making a sizable adjustment of production in order to ensure an appropriate level of distributors' inventories as soon as possible. Currencies of resource-rich countries, such as Australia, Russia, South Africa and Brazil have remained depreciated against the Japanese yen. In light of these factors, Komatsu anticipates that full-year sales will be lower than the figure projected earlier. In the industrial machinery and others business, Komatsu also anticipates that full-year sales will be lower than the figure projected earlier, as adversely affected by rapidly curtailed capital investment in automobile manufacturing and other industries since last fall. Mainly due to projected declines in sales of these two segments, Komatsu also anticipates that profits for the current fiscal year will be lower than the figures projected earlier. Based on these conditions, Komatsu has revised the projections for both consolidated and non-consolidated results for the current fiscal year. With respect to foreign exchange rates for the fourth quarter on which the new projection is based, Komatsu assumes ¥90 per US$1 and ¥120 per EUR1.




Komatsu's basic policy for redistribution of profits is described below, and it has not been changed.


<Basic Policy for Redistribution of Profits>

Komatsu is building a sound financial position and flexible and agile corporate strengths to increase its corporate value. Concerning cash dividends to shareholders, the Company maintains the policy of redistributing profits by considering consolidated business results and continuing stable dividends.
Specifically, the Company has set the goal of a consolidated payout ratio of 20% or higher, and maintains the policy of not decreasing dividends, as long as a consolidated payout ratio will not surpass 40%.

(end)


Cautionary Statement

The announcement set forth herein contains forward-looking statements which reflect management's current views with respect to certain future events, including expected financial position, operating results, and business strategies. These statements can be identified by the use of terms such as "will," "believes," "should," "projects" and similar terms and expressions that identify future events or expectations. Actual results may differ materially from those projected, and the events and results of such forward-looking assumptions cannot be assured.
Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted by such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, unanticipated changes in demand for the Company's principal products, owing to changes in the economic conditions in the Company's principal markets; changes in exchange rates or the impact of increased competition; unanticipated cost or delays encountered in achieving the Company's objectives with respect to globalized product sourcing and new Information Technology tools; uncertainties as to the results of the Company's research and development efforts and its ability to access and protect certain intellectual property rights; and, the impact of regulatory changes and accounting principles and practices.


Information in the news releases is current on the date of the announcement and is subject to change without notice.

2009/01/23

KOMATSU Corporate Communications
TEL: 03(5561)2616