Greetings to all of our stakeholders, I would first like to thank all of you for your ongoing support.

We recently announced our financial results for the first half ended September 30, 2013, part of the second year of Medium-term Management Plan 2014: Change for Challenge.

In the period under review. Spanning from April 1 to September 30, 2013, the economic climate surrounding the Sojitz Group’s operations was plagued by economic slowdown in emerging and resource-rich countries. Nevertheless, conditions in developed countries proved relatively strong.

In this environment, our consolidated performance for the period under review benefited from higher revenues associated with completed overseas orders for large-scale steelmaking facilities as well as with overseas automotive businesses. As a result, net sales (JGAAP) increased ¥42.4 billion year on year, to ¥2,002.2 billion. Gross profit rose ¥4.4 billion, to ¥99.5 billion, following strong performance in overseas automobile business as well as solid transaction volumes for fertilizers and chemicals in Southeast Asia. This growth in gross profit combined with contributions from the improved profitability of investments accounted for using the equity method drove profit before tax up ¥6.9 billion, to ¥26.3 billion. Subsequently, profit for the period (attributable to the owners of the Company) increased ¥1.6 billion, to ¥14.0 billion.

This performance represents smooth progress toward accomplishing the full-year forecasts we announced together with our financial results for the year ended March 31, 2013, which called for us to achieve profit before tax of ¥45.0 billion and profit for the period (attributable to the owners of the Company) of ¥25.0 billion.

In consideration of performance during the first half of the fiscal year, we have chosen to adhere to the initial forecasts for dividends. We are thus planning to issue total dividend payments of ¥4.00 per share for the year, which will include an interim dividend of ¥2.00 per share.

During the second half of the fiscal year, we will respond flexibly to the ever-changing operating environment as we advance asset replacement and conduct new investments and loans targeting future growth. Through these efforts, we aim to enhance our asset portfolio and accelerate the improvement of profitability, thereby constructing foundations to be leveraged in year ending March 31, 2015, which will be the final year of Medium-term Management Plan 2014.

All of us at the Sojitz Group are devoted to showing our stakeholders how the Group will continue growing into the future, and we will work to our fullest in this pursuit. I hope we can expect your continued understanding and support as we take on new challenges into the future.

November 6, 2013

President & CEO
Yoji Sato