Form 6-K
Table of Contents

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


FORM 6 - K

 


Report of Foreign Private Issuer

Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the month of August 2007

Commission File Number: 1-07294

 


KUBOTA CORPORATION

(Translation of registrant’s name into English)

 


2-47, Shikitsuhigashi 1-chome, Naniwa-ku, Osaka, Japan

(Address of principal executive offices)

 


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F :

Form 20-F      X            Form 40-F              

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1) :                  

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7) :                  

Indicate by check mark whether by furnishing the information contained in this Form, the registrant is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 :

Yes                      No       X    

If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b) : 82-                  

 


 


Table of Contents

Information furnished on this form:

EXHIBITS

Exhibit Number

 

1. Results of operations for the three months ended June 30, 2007 reported by Kubota Corporation (Thursday, August 3, 2007)

 

2. Notice on the production of tractors in Thailand (Monday, August 20, 2007)

 

3. Notice on purchase of treasury stock through ToSTNeT-2 (Friday, August 31, 2007)


Table of Contents

Contact:

IR Group

Kubota Corporation

2-47, Shikitsuhigashi 1-chome,

Naniwa-ku, Osaka 556-8601, Japan

Phone     : +81-6-6648-2645

Facsimile: +81-6-6648-2632

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (THURSDAY, AUGUST 3, 2007)

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED

JUNE 30, 2007 REPORTED BY KUBOTA CORPORATION

OSAKA, JAPAN, August 3, 2007 —Kubota Corporation reported its consolidated results of operations for the three months ended June 30, 2007 today.

Consolidated Financial Highlights

(Unaudited)

1. Consolidated Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended June 30, 2007

 

(1) Results of operations  

(In millions of yen and thousands of U.S. dollars except

per American Depositary Share (“ADS”) amounts)

 

    

Three months ended

Jun. 30, 2007

   

%

(*)

   

Three months ended

Jun. 30, 2006

  

%

(*)

  

Year ended

Mar. 31, 2007

Revenues

   ¥

$

269,021

[2,187,163

 

]

  6.3     ¥ 253,137    13.7    ¥ 1,127,456

Operating income

   ¥ 38,185     (1.4 )   ¥ 38,710    25.3    ¥ 130,347
   $ [310,447 ]          

Income from continuing operations before income taxes, minority interests in earnings of subsidiaries, and equity in net income (loss) of affiliated companies

   ¥

$

42,762

[347,659

 

]

  6.4     ¥ 40,177    25.2    ¥ 131,565

Net income

   ¥ 23,993     7.0     ¥ 22,425    17.7    ¥ 76,457
   $ [195,065 ]          

Net income per ADS

            

Basic

   ¥ 93       ¥ 86       ¥ 295
   $ [0.76 ]          

Diluted

   ¥ 93       ¥ 86       ¥ 295
   $ [0.76 ]          

 


Note : (*) represents percentage change from the corresponding period in the prior year.

 

  (In millions of yen and thousands of U.S. dollars
(2) Financial position   except per ADS amounts)

 

     Jun. 30, 2007     Jun. 30, 2006     Mar. 31, 2007  

Total assets

   ¥

$

1,503,764

[12,225,724

 

]

  ¥ 1,402,307     ¥ 1,502,532  

Shareholders’ equity

   ¥

$

683,350

[5,555,691

 

]

  ¥ 611,353     ¥ 659,637  

Ratio of shareholders’ equity to total assets

     45.5 %     43.6 %     43.9 %

Shareholders’ equity per ADS

   ¥ 2,646     ¥ 2,352     ¥ 2,554  
   $ [21.51 ]    

 

-1-


Table of Contents

Kubota Corporation

and Subsidiaries

2. Anticipated results of operations for the year ending March 31, 2008

(In millions of yen except per ADS amounts)

 

    

Six months ending

Sep. 30, 2007

  

%

(*)

   

Year ending

Mar. 31, 2008

  

%

(*)

Revenues

   ¥ 560,000    0.4     ¥ 1,140,000    1.1

Operating income

   ¥ 64,000    (16.6 )   ¥ 131,000    0.5

Income from continuing operations before income taxes, minority interests

in earnings of subsidiaries, and equity in net income (loss) of affiliated companies

   ¥ 65,000    (17.4 )   ¥ 132,000    0.3

Net income

   ¥ 37,000    (16.5 )   ¥ 76,500    0.1

Net income per ADS

   ¥ 143      ¥ 296   

Note.

(*) represents percentage change from the corresponding previous period.

3. Other

 

(1) Changes in number of material subsidiaries during the fiscal year    : None
(2) Changes in accounting method from the latest consolidated fiscal year    : None

 

-2-


Table of Contents

Kubota Corporation

and Subsidiaries

<Results of Operations>

During the three months under review, revenues increased ¥15.9 billion (6.3 %), to ¥269.0 billion from the corresponding period in the prior year. Although an increase in domestic revenues was limited, overseas revenues increased largely due to steady growth in Internal Combustion Engine and Machinery.

Total domestic revenues increased ¥1.1 billion (1.0 %), to ¥116.6 billion from the corresponding period in the prior year. Revenues in Internal Combustion Engine and Machinery decreased from the corresponding period in the prior year mainly due to sales downturn of farm equipment. Revenues in Pipes, Valves, and Industrial Castings increased due to substantial sales increase in Industrial Castings Division, while sales of ductile iron pipes and plastic pipes were almost the same level as the corresponding period in the prior year. Revenues in Environmental Engineering sharply decreased due to effect from downsizing of business in Waste Engineering Division and compliance issues. Revenues in “Other” segment substantially increased due to sales increase of vending machine and construction business.

Overseas revenues increased ¥14.8 billion (10.7 %), to ¥152.4 billion from the corresponding period in the prior year. In Internal Combustion Engine and Machinery, sales of tractors, engines and construction machinery increased. Sales of tractors increased because of substantial sales expansion in Europe and Asia, while sales in the U.S. were almost the same level as the corresponding period in the prior year. Sales of engines and construction machinery largely increased in Europe, on the background of its brisk market condition. Revenues in Pipes, Valves, and Industrial Castings decreased mainly due to sales decline in ductile iron pipes, while revenues in Environmental Engineering increased mainly due to sales increase of pumps.

Operating income decreased ¥0.5 billion (1.4 %), to ¥38.2 billion from the corresponding period in the prior year. Operating income in Internal Combustion Engine and Machinery was almost the same level as the corresponding period in the prior year. Operating income in Pipes, Valves, and Industrial Castings decreased due to soaring costs of raw materials, mainly steel scraps. Operating income in Environmental Engineering decreased due to sales decrease and profit deterioration resulting from price decline of sales orders. Operating income in Others increased mainly due to sales expansion in vending machine.

Income from continuing operations before income taxes, minority interests in earnings of subsidiaries, and equity in net income (loss) of affiliated companies increased ¥2.6 billion (6.4 %), to ¥42.8 billion from the corresponding period in the prior year, mainly due to increased foreign exchange gains. Income taxes were ¥16.5 billion (38.6 % of effective tax rate), and net amount of minority interests in earnings of subsidiaries and equity in net income (loss) of affiliated companies to deduct was ¥2.2 billion. After deduction of loss from discontinued operation, net income increased ¥1.6 billion (7.0 %), to ¥24.0 billion from the corresponding period in the prior year.

 

-3-


Table of Contents

Kubota Corporation

and Subsidiaries

<Financial Position>

(Comparison with the end of corresponding period in the prior year)

Total assets at the end of the period under review amounted to ¥1,503.8 billion, an increase of ¥101.5 billion (7.2 %) from the end of corresponding period in the prior year. As for assets, notes and accounts receivable and short- and long-term finance receivables increased substantially reflecting expansion of overseas business in Internal Combustion Engine and Machinery. Property, plant, and equipment also increased reflecting an increase in investments to expand production capacity in Internal Combustion Engine and Machinery. As for liabilities, accrued retirement and pension costs decreased substantially as a result of the application of a new accounting standard for pensions at the end of March 2007. However, interest-bearing debt increased reflecting the increased short- and long-term finance receivables. Other long- term liabilities also increased due to an increase in deferred tax liabilities resulting from the application of the new accounting standard for pensions. Shareholders’ equity increased substantially due to recorded net income and an increase of accumulated other comprehensive income resulting from the application of the new accounting standard for pensions.

(Comparison with the end of the prior year)

Total assets remained almost the same level as the end of March 2007. As for assets, notes and accounts receivable decreased due to collection of receivables from public sector, which increase seasonally at the end of fiscal year. However, investments and long-term finance receivables increased due to an increase of unrealized gain of marketable securities. As for liabilities, notes and accounts payable decreased substantially. Other current liabilities also decreased due to the payments of income taxes. On the other hand, shareholders’ equity increased due mainly to recorded net income and the increased unrealized gains on securities. Shareholders’ equity ratio was 45.5%, 1.6 percentage points higher than that at the prior year end.

<Prospect for the Fiscal Year>

The forecasts of the anticipated results of operations for the year ending March 31, 2008, and for the six months ending September 30, 2007, which were announced on May 11, 2007, are unchanged.

The forecasts anticipate an exchange rate of ¥116=US$1.

 


< Cautionary Statements with Respect to Forward-Looking Statements >

This document may contain forward-looking statements that are based on management’s expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions. 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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Table of Contents

Kubota Corporation

and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Income

(Unaudited)

(In millions of yen)

 

     Three months ended
Jun. 30, 2007
    Three months ended
Jun. 30, 2006
   Change    

Year ended

Mar. 31, 2007

     Amount     %     Amount     %    Amount     %     Amount     %

Revenues

   269,021     100.0     253,137     100.0    15,884     6.3     1,127,456     100.0

Cost of revenues

   188,152     70.0     173,685     68.6    14,467     8.3     794,687     70.5

Selling, general, and administrative expenses

   42,875     15.9     40,084     15.8    2,791     7.0     199,356     17.7

Loss (gain) from disposal and impairment of businesses and fixed assets

   (191 )   (0.1 )   658     0.3    (849 )   —       3,066     0.2
                                 

Operating income

   38,185     14.2     38,710     15.3    (525 )   (1.4 )   130,347     11.6

Other income (expenses):

                 

Interest and dividend income

   2,018       1,517        501       3,283    

Interest expense

   (502 )     (413 )      (89 )     (1,219 )  

Gain on sales of securities-net

   151       700        (549 )     1,313    

Gain on nonmonetary exchange of securities

   —         —          —         997    

Foreign exchange gain (loss) -net

   3,540       (59 )      3,599       (442 )  

Other-net

   (630 )     (278 )      (352 )     (2,714 )  
                                 

Other income, net

   4,577       1,467        3,110       1,218    

Income from continuing operations before income taxes, minority interests in earnings of subsidiaries, and equity in net income (loss) of affiliated companies

   42,762     15.9     40,177     15.9    2,585     6.4     131,565     11.7

Income taxes

   16,500       15,987        513       48,961    

Minority interests in earnings of subsidiaries

   2,101       1,891        210       6,214    

Equity in net income (loss) of affiliated companies

   (146 )     141        (287 )     1,353    
                                 

Income from continuing operations

   24,015     8.9     22,440     8.9    1,575     7.0     77,743     6.9

Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes

   (22 )     (15 )      (7 )     (1,286 )  
                                 

Net income

   23,993     8.9     22,425     8.9    1,568     7.0     76,457     6.8
                                 
                (In yen)

Basic earnings per ADS (five common shares):

   93     86      295

Diluted earnings per ADS (five common shares):

   93     86      295

 

-5-


Table of Contents

Kubota Corporation

and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Unaudited)

 

Assets    (In millions of yen)

 

     Jun. 30, 2007    Jun. 30, 2006    Change     Mar. 31, 2007
     Amount    %    Amount    %    Amount     Amount    %

Current assets:

                   

Cash and cash equivalents

   70,578       92,232       (21,654 )   82,601   

Notes and accounts receivable

   291,942       266,950       24,992     316,208   

Short-term finance receivables-net

   99,355       79,255       20,100     97,798   

Inventories

   204,862       195,337       9,525     205,658   

Other current assets

   139,612       133,372       6,240     114,835   
                             

Total current assets

   806,349    53.6    767,146    54.7    39,203     817,100    54.4

Investments and long-term finance receivables

   406,753    27.1    360,600    25.7    46,153     398,915    26.5

Property, plant, and equipment

   239,077    15.9    225,282    16.1    13,795     237,646    15.8

Other assets

   51,585    3.4    49,279    3.5    2,306     48,871    3.3
                                   

Total

   1,503,764    100.0    1,402,307    100.0    101,457     1,502,532    100.0
                                   

 

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity    (In millions of yen)

 

     Jun. 30, 2007    Jun. 30, 2006    Change     Mar. 31, 2007
     Amount     %    Amount     %    Amount     Amount     %

Current liabilities:

                

Short-term borrowings

   142,613        191,996        (49,383 )   128,365    

Notes and accounts payable

   214,710        207,685        7,025     237,295    

Other current liabilities

   124,032        112,116        11,916     139,594    

Current portion of long-term debt

   67,106        38,019        29,087     71,429    
                                

Total current liabilities

   548,461     36.5    549,816     39.2    (1,355 )   576,683     38.4

Long-term liabilities:

                

Long-term debt

   153,971        116,771        37,200     150,105    

Accrued retirement and pension costs

   18,524        50,929        (32,405 )   27,306    

Other long-term liabilities

   61,219        42,594        18,625     52,732    
                                

Total long-term liabilities

   233,714     15.5    210,294     15.0    23,420     230,143     15.3

Minority interest

   38,239     2.5    30,844     2.2    7,395     36,069     2.4

Shareholders' equity:

                

Common stock

   84,070        84,070        —       84,070    

Capital surplus

   93,150        93,150        —       93,150    

Legal reserve

   19,539        19,539        —       19,539    

Retained earnings

   391,765        337,742        54,023     376,815    

Accumulated other comprehensive income

   95,039        77,054        17,985     86,247    

Treasury stock

   (213 )      (202 )      (11 )   (184 )  
                                

Total shareholders' equity

   683,350     45.5    611,353     43.6    71,997     659,637     43.9
                                

Total

   1,503,764     100.0    1,402,307     100.0    101,457     1,502,532     100.0
                                

 

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Table of Contents

Kubota Corporation

and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Segment Information by Industry Segment

(Unaudited)

 

Three months ended Jun. 30, 2007   (In millions of yen)

 

     Internal
Combustion
Engine &
Machinery
  

Pipes, Valves,

& Industrial

Castings

  

Environmental

Engineering

    Other    Total   

Corporate

&
Eliminations

    Consolidated

Revenues

                  

Unaffiliated customers

   202,617    38,376    7,891     20,137    269,021    —       269,021

Intersegment

   6    36    17     3,202    3,261    (3,261 )   —  
                                    

Total

   202,623    38,412    7,908     23,339    272,282    (3,261 )   269,021
                                    

Cost of revenues and operating expenses

   165,235    34,793    9,969     20,851    230,848    (12 )   230,836

Operating income (loss)

   37,388    3,619    (2,061 )   2,488    41,434    (3,249 )   38,185

 

Three months ended Jun. 30, 2006   (In millions of yen)

 

     Internal
Combustion
Engine &
Machinery
  

Pipes, Valves,

& Industrial

Castings

  

Environmental

Engineering

    Other    Total   

Corporate

&
Eliminations

    Consolidated

Revenues

                  

Unaffiliated customers

   191,112    37,199    8,736     16,090    253,137    —       253,137

Intersegment

   21    96    46     2,901    3,064    (3,064 )   —  
                                    

Total

   191,133    37,295    8,782     18,991    256,201    (3,064 )   253,137
                                    

Cost of revenues and operating expenses

   153,590    33,464    9,768     17,940    214,762    (335 )   214,427

Operating income (loss)

   37,543    3,831    (986 )   1,051    41,439    (2,729 )   38,710

 

Year ended Mar. 31, 2007   (In millions of yen)

 

     Internal
Combustion
Engine &
Machinery
  

Pipes, Valves,

& Industrial

Castings

  

Environmental

Engineering

    Other    Total   

Corporate

&
Eliminations

    Consolidated

Revenues

                  

Unaffiliated customers

   746,808    194,224    90,613     95,811    1,127,456    —       1,127,456

Intersegment

   22    768    340     16,893    18,023    (18,023 )   —  
                                    

Total

   746,830    194,992    90,953     112,704    1,145,479    (18,023 )   1,127,456
                                    

Cost of revenues and operating expenses

   621,926    172,985    96,568     105,577    997,056    53     997,109

Operating income (loss)

   124,904    22,007    (5,615 )   7,127    148,423    (18,076 )   130,347

 

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Table of Contents

Kubota Corporation

and Subsidiaries

Notes:

 

1. The United States dollar amounts included herein represent translations using the approximate exchange rate on June 29, 2007, of ¥123 = US$1, solely for convenience.

 

2. Each American Depositary Share (“ADS”) represents five common shares.

 

3. 117 subsidiaries are consolidated.

 

Major consolidated subsidiaries:    Domestic    Kubota Construction Co., Ltd.
      Kubota Credit Co., Ltd.
      Kubota Maison Co., Ltd.
      Kubota Environmental Service Co., Ltd.
      Kubota-C.I. Co., Ltd.
   Overseas    Kubota Tractor Corporation
      Kubota Credit Corporation, U.S.A.
      Kubota Manufacturing of America Corporation
      Kubota Engine America Corporation
      Kubota Metal Corporation
      Kubota Baumaschinen GmbH
      Kubota Europe S.A.S.

On July 27, 2007, the Company announced that the Company and Urbanex Co., Ltd. have reached a basic agreement

to start negotiations of a transfer of all the shares of Kubota Maison Co., Ltd., which conducts business of sales of condominiums, to Urbanex Co., Ltd. If the companies conclude a final agreement of the transfer, Kubota Maison Co., Ltd. will be excluded from consolidated subsidiaries by a transfer of 70% shares by October 2007, and will be excluded from affiliated companies by a transfer of 30% shares by April 2009.

 

4. 25 affiliated companies are accounted for under the equity method.

 

Major affiliated companies:      Domestic    17 sales companies of farm equipment,
        Kubota Matsushitadenko Exterior Works, Ltd.

 

5. Summary of accounting policies

 

  (1). The accompanying consolidated financial information has been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America except for the presentation for segment information described in (2).

 

  (2). The consolidated segment information is prepared in accordance with a requirement of the Japanese Securities and Exchange regulations. This disclosure is not consistent with SFAS No.131, “Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information”.

 

6. In the consolidated statements of income for the three months ended June 30, 2006, finance income and expenses from retail finance business were classified mainly into “Interest income” and “Interest expense” in other income (expenses). However, from the consolidated statements of income for the year ended March 31, 2007, the Company has classified them into “Revenues” and “Cost of revenues”, since the significance of retail finance business has been increasing and the business is becoming one of the major or central operations of the Company. Accordingly, the reclassification has been made to the presentation of the consolidated statements of income for the three months ended June 30, 2006.

Finance income included in “Revenues” for the three months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006 are ¥6,292 million and ¥4,724 million, respectively, and finance expenses included in “Cost of revenues” for the three months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006 are ¥3,535 million and ¥2,557 million, respectively.

 

7. The Company accounts for discontinued operations in accordance with SFAS No.144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets” and presents the results of discontinued operations as a separate line item in the consolidated statements of income under loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes. The figures of the consolidated statements of income for the prior year related to the discontinued operations have been separately reported from the ongoing operating results to conform with the current year presentation.

 

8. Reclassification

The consolidated financial reports for the year ended March 31, 2007 and the three months ended June 30, 2006 have been reclassified to conform to the presentation for the three months ended June 30, 2007.

 

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Table of Contents

Kubota Corporation

and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Revenues by Industry Segment

(Unaudited)

(In millions of yen)

 

    

Three months ended

Jun. 30, 2007

   Three months ended
Jun. 30, 2006
   Change    

Year ended

Mar. 31, 2007

     Amount    %    Amount    %    Amount     %     Amount    %

Farm Equipment and Engines

   176,906    65.8    166,672    65.8    10,234     6.1     643,214    57.1
                                         

Domestic

   51,953       56,248       (4,295 )   (7.6 )   228,155   

Overseas

   124,953       110,424       14,529     13.2     415,059   

Construction Machinery

   25,711    9.5    24,440    9.7    1,271     5.2     103,594    9.2
                                         

Domestic

   5,593       5,527       66     1.2     30,122   

Overseas

   20,118       18,913       1,205     6.4     73,472   

Internal Combustion Engine & Machinery

   202,617    75.3    191,112    75.5    11,505     6.0     746,808    66.3
                                         

Domestic

   57,546    21.4    61,775    24.4    (4,229 )   (6.8 )   258,277    22.9

Overseas

   145,071    53.9    129,337    51.1    15,734     12.2     488,531    43.4

Pipes and Valves

   25,856    9.6    27,797    11.0    (1,941 )   (7.0 )   155,320    13.8
                                         

Domestic

   24,731       24,673       58     0.2     143,485   

Overseas

   1,125       3,124       (1,999 )   (64.0 )   11,835   

Industrial Castings

   12,520    4.7    9,402    3.7    3,118     33.2     38,904    3.4
                                         

Domestic

   7,686       5,135       2,551     49.7     19,949   

Overseas

   4,834       4,267       567     13.3     18,955   

Pipes, Valves, & Industrial Castings

   38,376    14.3    37,199    14.7    1,177     3.2     194,224    17.2
                                         

Domestic

   32,417    12.1    29,808    11.8    2,609     8.8     163,434    14.5

Overseas

   5,959    2.2    7,391    2.9    (1,432 )   (19.4 )   30,790    2.7

Environmental Engineering

   7,891    2.9    8,736    3.4    (845 )   (9.7 )   90,613    8.0
                                         

Domestic

   6,734    2.5    7,881    3.1    (1,147 )   (14.6 )   86,475    7.6

Overseas

   1,157    0.4    855    0.3    302     35.3     4,138    0.4

Building Materials & Housing

   1,988    0.7    2,137    0.9    (149 )   (7.0 )   17,247    1.5
                                         

Domestic

   1,988       2,137       (149 )   (7.0 )   17,247   

Other

   18,149    6.8    13,953    5.5    4,196     30.1     78,564    7.0
                                         

Domestic

   17,937       13,897       4,040     29.1     78,069   

Overseas

   212       56       156     278.6     495   

Other

   20,137    7.5    16,090    6.4    4,047     25.2     95,811    8.5
                                         

Domestic

   19,925    7.4    16,034    6.3    3,891     24.3     95,316    8.5

Overseas

   212    0.1    56    0.1    156     278.6     495    0.0

Total

   269,021    100.0    253,137    100.0    15,884     6.3     1,127,456    100.0
                                         

Domestic

   116,622    43.4    115,498    45.6    1,124     1.0     603,502    53.5

Overseas

   152,399    56.6    137,639    54.4    14,760     10.7     523,954    46.5

 

-9-


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August 20, 2007

To whom it may concern

Kubota Corporation

2-47, Shikitsu-higashi 1-chome,

Naniwa-ku, Osaka 556-8601, Japan

Contact: IR Group

Finance & Accounting Department

Phone: +81-6-6648-2645

Notice on the production of tractors in Thailand

Kubota Corporation (hereinafter “the Company”) and The Siam Cement Group (hereinafter “Siam Cement”) located in Bangkok, Thailand will jointly establish a company and construct a plant for manufacturing tractors that will be sold in Thailand.

1. The closing date of the agreement

August 20, 2007

2. Outline of the new company

 

Name:    Siam Kubota Tractor Co., Ltd.
Time of foundation:    September 2007 (production will begin in March 2009)
Location:    Amata Nakorn Industrial Estate, Chonburi, Thailand
   (60 km southeast of center of Bangkok City)
Plant size:    Land – 324,320 square meters, Floor space – 31,200 square meters
Capital:    1.1 billion Bahts (Approx. ¥4.4 billion)
Share allotment ratio:    Kubota Corporation – 60%, The Siam Cement Group – 40%
Total amount of investment:    1.76 billion Bahts (Approx. ¥7.04 billion)
Business:    Manufacturing tractors and implements sold in Thailand
   (Sales of tractors and implements in Thailand will be ongoingly conducted by The Siam Kubota Industry Co., Ltd.)
Capacity of production:    25,000 thousand tractors per year
Employee:    300 (in the first year)

3. Backgrounds and purposes of establishing the new company

(1) Expansion of Asian market outside Japan and tractor business in Thailand

The Company is enhancing its business operation of Internal Combustion Engine and Machinery in Japan, North America, Europe and Asia outside Japan. Among them, Asian market outside Japan has been expanding rapidly during past several years. Especially, sales of brand-new tractors in Thailand is expanding due to rising income levels of farmers and labor shortage in rural area resulted from its economic growth.


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(2) Necessity of establishing a production base for low-priced tractors

The Company has concluded that it is necessary to establish a production base for tractors with low price and high price performance in Thailand as soon as possible, in order to relief shortage of production capacity of Tsukuba plant (Tsukubamirai, Ibaraki, Japan) resulted from a rapid increase of the demand for brand-new tractors in Thailand and to compete against low-priced tractors made in Korea and India.

The Company will consider exporting the low-priced tractors produced by the new company to North America and Europe.

(3) Reasons for selecting Thailand as the site for establishing the new plant

The Company decided to establish a production base in Thailand for the following reasons; there is an advantage in procuring parts and components because there are a lot of parts supply companies in Thailand resulted from the growth of automobile industry; it is suitable to export its products to neighboring countries because the location of the plant is very close to a harbor; there is a strong operational base established by the Siam Kubota Industry Co., Ltd., which was jointly established in 1978 by the Company and Siam Cement.

(4) Building “KUBOTA BRAND” in Asia outside Japan

The Company will further expand its business in Thailand by locally producing tractors sold in Thailand. Moreover, with utilizing the new production base, the Company will promptly build KUBOTA BRAND in Asia outside Japan through expanding its business in rice farming countries in Southeast Asia that are potential markets for the Company.

4. Business Target

Sales target of the new company in 2010 will be 7.0 billion Bahts (Approx. ¥28.0 billion).

 


< Cautionary Statements with Respect to Forward-Looking Statements >

This document may contain forward-looking statements that are based on management’s expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions. 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.

 


End of document


Table of Contents

August 31, 2007

To whom it may concern

KUBOTA CORPORATION

2-47, Shikitsu-higashi 1-chome,

Naniwa-ku, Osaka 556-8601, Japan

Contact: IR Group

Finance & Accounting Department

Phone: +81-6-6648-2645

Notice on purchase of treasury stock through ToSTNeT-2

Please be advised that Kubota Corporation has reached the following decision regarding the specific method of purchase of treasury stock on-market, pursuant to Article 165, Paragraph 2 of the Corporate Law.

1. Method of purchase

Buy order shall be placed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s ToSTNeT-2 (closing-price transaction) at 8:45 A.M. on September 3, 2007 to be executed at today’s closing price of ¥898. (No change shall be made in trading arrangements or trading times.) This buy order should be restricted to the above-mentioned trading time.

2. Details of purchase of shares

 

(1) Type of shares to be purchased:    Shares of common stock of Kubota Corporation
(2) Number of shares to be purchased:    3,000,000 shares

(Notes)

 

  1) No change shall be made in the number of shares to be purchased. However, some or all of the shares might not be purchased due to market developments or other factors.

 

  2) The purchase shall be executed based on the sell order corresponding to the number of shares to be purchased.

3. Announcement of results of purchase

Results of purchase would be announced after completion of the trade at 8:45 A.M. on September 3, 2007.

(Reference)

Details of the resolution at the Board of Directors’ Meeting held on June 22, 2007.

 

Type of shares to be purchased:    Shares of common stock of Kubota Corporation
Number of shares to be purchased:    Not exceeding 10 million shares (0.8% of the total numbers of shares issued)
Amount of shares to be purchased:    Not exceeding ¥11 billion
Term of validity:    From June 25, 2007 to September 27, 2007

 

Total number of shares purchased as of August 31, 2007:      0 shares
Total amount of shares purchased as of August 31, 2007:    ¥0

 


< Cautionary Statements with Respect to Forward-Looking Statements >

This document may contain forward-looking statements that are based on management’s expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions. 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.

 


End of document


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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

  KUBOTA CORPORATION
Date: September 3, 2007   By:  

/s/ Shigeru Kimura

  Name:   Shigeru Kimura
  Title:   General Manager
    Finance & Accounting Department