Final Results 11
Toyota Motor Corporation
11 May 2004
For immediate release
May 11, 2004
Toyota Reports Record Year-End Results
Higher Vehicle Sales in All Regions Play Key Role
(All financial information has been prepared in accordance with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP).
Unconsolidated figures are reported according to Japan GAAP.)
Tokyo - TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) announced today consolidated and
unconsolidated operating results for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2004.
Toyota's consolidated financial results are reported in accordance with U.S.
generally accepted accounting principles (U.S. GAAP). For the purposes of
comparison, fiscal year 2003 figures have also been restated according to U.S.
GAAP.
On a consolidated basis, net revenues for the twelve months ended March 31,
2004, increased 11.6 percent year-over-year to 17.29 trillion yen. Operating
income reached a new high at 1.66 trillion yen, an increase of 395.2 billion
yen, or 31.1 percent, over the previous fiscal year. Net income climbed 54.8
percent, or to 1.16 trillion yen. All of these figures marked record highs.
Basic earnings per share for the year was 342.90 yen, an increase of 131.58 yen
over the fiscal year ended March 31, 2003.
Positive contributions to operating income included 320 billion yen in improved
marketing efforts, 230 billion yen in cost reduction efforts, and a 107.0
billion yen gain from the transfer of the substitutional portion of the employee
pension fund to the government. These gains offset the negative effects of
changes in exchange rates (140 billion yen) and a 121.8 billion yen increase in
labor costs and other expenses.
Unconsolidated net revenues and ordinary income for the fiscal year also
increased, with net sales reaching 8.96 trillion yen, an increase of 2.6 percent
versus last year. Ordinary income increased 2.6 percent to 915.7 billion yen.
TMC also announced a second-half cash dividend for the six months ended March
31, 2004 of twenty-five yen, an increase of five yen per share compared with the
same period last fiscal year. Total dividend payout for the full year was
forty-five yen per share, an increase of nine-yen year-over-year. TMC has
increased its dividend for five consecutive terms, and the payout has almost
doubled over that span.
Commenting on the results, TMC President Fujio Cho said, 'In fiscal year 2004,
Toyota's consolidated vehicle sales increased in all regions to 6.71 million
units. As a result, our production reached full capacity, leading to improved
profitability at our subsidiaries. Overall, operating profits of our
subsidiaries have increased almost 300 percent over the past five years.
Clearly, we are benefiting from our efforts to strengthen our overseas
operations and create a global business model that is more resistant to market
fluctuations and currency exchange risk.'
In Japan, despite difficult market conditions, demand for new models like the
new Raum, SIENTA, and Crown contributed to higher sales than last year. Toyota's
share of the domestic market (excluding mini-vehicles) for the twelve months
ended March 31, 2004 was 42.9 percent, up 0.6 percent from the previous fiscal
year.
Sales in North America reached 2.10 million vehicles, an increase of 121
thousand vehicles, mainly due to the strong popularity of models including the
Sienna, Lexus RX330 and Corolla.
In Europe, favorable sales, mainly of the new Avensis and other core models such
as the Yaris and Corolla, resulted in total sales of 898 thousand units, an
increase of 122 thousand units over last year.
Sales in other regions including Asia, the Middle East and Oceania improved to
reach 1.41 million vehicles, an increase of 277 thousand units. In Asia
specifically, sales i ncreases have exceeded the market's rate of recovery since
the economic crisis.
TMC also announced its forecast for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2005.
Based on an exchange rate of 105 yen to the U.S. dollar and 125 yen to the euro,
TMC forecasts unconsolidated net sales of nine trillion yen, ordinary income of
830 billion yen and net income of 520 billion yen.
TMC estimates that consolidated vehicle sales for the fiscal year ending March
31, 2005 will be 7.02 million vehicles.
Cho concluded by commenting on the consolidated profit outlook for the fiscal
year ending March 31, 2005. 'With a number of important domestic and overseas
projects underway, we recognize the uncertainties we're facing in both the
foreign exchange and interest rate environment. In responding to these
challenges, Toyota will continue its sales and cost reduction efforts and work
hard to maintain the profit levels of the fiscal year ending March 2004.'
(Please see the attached information for details on the financial results.
Further information is also available on the Internet at www.toyota.co.jp)
Cautionary Statement with Respect to Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements that reflect Toyota's plans and
expectations. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future
performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors
that may cause Toyota's actual results, performance, achievements or financial
position to be materially different from any future results, performance,
achievements or financial position expressed or implied by these forward-looking
statements. These factors include: (i) changes in economic conditions
affecting, and the competitive environment in, the automotive markets in Japan,
North America, Europe and other markets in which Toyota operates; (ii)
fluctuations in currency exchange rates, particularly with respect to the value
of the Japanese yen, the U.S. dollar, the euro and the British pound; (iii)
Toyota's ability to realize production efficiencies and to implement capital
expenditures at the levels and times planned by management; (iv) changes in the
laws, regulations and government policies affecting Toyota's automotive
operations, in the markets in which Toyota operates, particularly laws,
regulations and policies relating to trade restrictions, environmental
protection, vehicle emissions, vehicle fuel economy and vehicle safety, as well
as changes in laws, regulations and government policies affecting Toyota's other
operations, including the outcome of future litigation and other legal
proceedings; (v) political instability in the markets in which Toyota operates;
(vi) Toyota's ability to timely develop and achieve market acceptance of new
products; and (vii) fuel shortages or interruptions in transportation systems,
labor strikes, work stoppages or other interruptions to, or difficulties in, the
employment of labor in the major markets where Toyota purchases materials,
components and supplies for the production of its products or where its products
are produced, distributed or sold. A discussion of these and other factors
which may affect Toyota's actual results, performance, achievements or financial
position is contained in the 'Operating and Financial Review and Prospects' and
'Information on the Company' sections and elsewhere in Toyota's annual report on
Form 20-F, which is on file with the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission.
This information is provided by RNS
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