Unknown Executive
Management
Welcome to the Honda Financial Results Audio Presentation. On October 30, 2013, Honda Motor Co. announced its financial results for the fiscal second quarter, which ended on September 30, 2013. Through this audio presentation, we would like to review the financial results and highlight the major factors, which influenced Honda's business operations during the period. The presentation material, which will serve as the basis for today's program, is available on Honda's Investor Relations website at http://world.honda.com/investors. For those of you who have not yet downloaded the material, please do so now, as we will start immediately following a forward-looking statement. Forward-looking statement. This audio presentation contains forward-looking statements as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such statements are based on management’s assumptions and beliefs, taking into account information which is currently available. Therefore, please be advised that Honda’s actual results could differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements as a result of numerous factors, including general economic conditions in Honda’s principal markets and foreign exchange rates between the Japanese yen and U.S. dollar, the euro and other major currencies, as well as other factors detailed from time to time. The various factors for increases and decreases in income have been classified in accordance with the method that Honda considers reasonable. Financial summary. We would now like to review the financial summary for the fiscal second quarter, which ended on September 30. Please refer to Slide 3. Operating income for the second quarter was JPY 171.4 billion, a 70% increase compared to the same period last year. A number of factors contributed to this boost in earnings, including higher Automobile sales in North America, a rise in Motorcycle sales in Asia,…