Form 6-K

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 6-K

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER

PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16

UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the month of June 2008.

Commission File Number 001-33098

Mizuho Financial Group, Inc.

(Translation of registrant’s name into English)

5-5, Otemachi 1-chome

Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0004

Japan

(Address of principal executive office)

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 the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form 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-                    .

 

 

 


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.

 

Date:   June 2, 2008
Mizuho Financial Group, Inc.
By:  

/s/ Takashi Tsukamoto

Name:   Takashi Tsukamoto
Title:   Deputy President - Executive Officer / CFO


[Translation]

(Securities Code: 8411)

June 2, 2008

To: Shareholders

Terunobu Maeda

President & CEO

Mizuho Financial Group, Inc.

5-5, Otemachi 1-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

CONVOCATION NOTICE OF

THE 6TH ORDINARY GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

Dear Sirs/Madams:

Notice is hereby given that the 6th Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders of Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. (the “Company”) will be held as set forth below. You are cordially invited to attend the meeting.

If you are not able to attend the meeting, we request that you exercise your voting rights in one of the following ways. After examining the reference materials for the ordinary general meeting of shareholders set forth below, please refer to the “Guidance Notes on the Exercise of the Voting Rights” (pages 3 through 4) and exercise your voting rights no later than 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 25, 2008.

[Exercise of Voting Rights in Writing]

By returning to us the voting form enclosed herewith on which your approval or disapproval is indicated.

[Exercise of Voting Rights by Electromagnetic Method (Using the Internet, etc.)]

By accessing the website for exercising voting rights specified by the Company (http://www.it-soukai.com/) and exercising your voting rights using the “Code for the Exercise of Voting Rights” and the “Password” provided on the voting form enclosed herewith in accordance with the directions on the screen.

 

 

 

                     Description
1.    Date and Time:                   10:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 26, 2008
2.    Place:                   Hall A, Tokyo International Forum
                     5-1, Marunouchi 3-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

 

1


3.    Purpose:     
   Report Item 1:      Report on the Business Report for the 6th fiscal year (from April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2008), on the consolidated financial statements, and on the Results of Audit of the Consolidated Financial Statements by the Independent Auditors and the Board of Corporate Auditors
                       2:     

Report on the non-consolidated financial statements for the 6th fiscal year (from April 1, 2007 to

March 31, 2008)

   Matters to be Resolved:     
       Proposal 1:      Disposal of surplus
       Proposal 2:      Allotment of shares or fractions of a share without consideration
       Proposal 3:      Partial amendment to the Articles of Incorporation, Etc.
       Proposal 4:      Appointment of two (2) Directors
       Proposal 5:      Appointment of two (2) Corporate Auditors
       Proposal 6:      Revision of the remuneration of Directors and Corporate Auditors, and determination of the amount and specific details of stock option remuneration
       Proposal 7:      Grant of retirement allowances to the retiring Directors and the retiring Corporate Auditor, and payment of lump-sum retirement allowances to the Directors and the Corporate Auditor, due to the abolishment of the retirement allowances program for Directors and Corporate Auditors

– End of Notice –

 

 

 

 

 

*         *         *         *         *        *

 

§ Upon arrival at the meeting, please submit the voting form enclosed herewith to the reception at the entrance to the meeting place. In the case of attendance by proxy, you may arrange to do so by appointing as a proxy one of the shareholders holding and being entitled to use voting rights at this general meeting of shareholders, after submitting the document certifying the authority of such proxy.

 

§ Any corrections made to the reference materials for the ordinary general meeting of shareholders and the attached documents shall be notified by being posted on the Company’s website (http://www.mizuho-fg.co.jp/investors/stock/meeting.html).

 

2


Guidance Notes on the Exercise of the Voting Rights

This is to introduce the procedure to exercise voting rights of shareholders of the Company in writing or by electromagnetic method (using the Internet, etc.).

[Exercise of Voting Rights in Writing]

Please indicate your approval or disapproval for the proposals on the voting form enclosed herewith and return the voting form to us so that it reaches us by no later than 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 25, 2008. No indication on the voting form of your approval or disapproval for any proposal shall be treated as an indication of approval.

[Exercise of Voting Rights by Electromagnetic Method (using the Internet, etc.)]

 

1. Items Required to be Agreed on for the Exercise of Voting Rights via the Internet

If you wish to exercise your voting rights via the Internet, please make sure to exercise your voting rights by no later than 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 25, 2008 pursuant to the following terms:

 

  (1) You may exercise your voting rights via the Internet only through the website for exercising voting rights specified by the Company (see 2.(1) below).

 

  (2) When exercising your voting rights via the Internet, the “Code for the Exercise of Voting Rights” and the “Password” described in the voting form enclosed with this convocation notice are required. The “Code for the Exercise of Voting Rights” and the “Password” will be renewed and sent to you for every general meeting of shareholders to be held in the future.

 

  (3) If you exercise your voting rights twice, in writing and via the Internet, we will only accept the exercise of your voting rights via the Internet as effective.

 

  (4) If you exercise your voting rights more than once via the Internet, we will only accept the last exercise of your voting rights as effective.

 

  (5) The cost of Internet access (access fees to providers, telecommunications fees, etc.) will be borne by the shareholders.

 

2. Specific Procedures to Exercise Your Voting Rights via the Internet

 

  (1) Access the website for exercising voting rights specified by the Company (http://www.it-soukai.com/ or https://daiko.mizuho-tb.co.jp/). Please note that you will not be able to access the above URL between 3:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. during the exercise period.

 

*

   You may access the website for exercising voting rights by scanning the “QR Code” (shown to the right) with the bar-code scanner of your cellular phone. For the details for this operation, please refer to the instruction manual of your cellular phone.       Image of
the “QR

Code”

 

  (2) Enter the “Code for the Exercise of Voting Rights” and the “Password” and click on the “Log-in” button.

 

  (3) Exercise your voting rights by following the directions on the screen.

 

3


3. System Requirements

 

  (1) If Using a Personal Computer

 

  § Personal Computer

Windows® computer (PDAs and game machines are not supported.)

 

  § Browser

Microsoft® Internet Explorer 5.5 or higher

 

  § Internet Environment

It is a requirement that you have Internet access such as through a contract with an Internet service provider.

 

  § Monitor Resolution

1024×768 pixels or higher is recommended.

 

  (2) If Using a Cellular Phone

 

  § Cellular Phone

Phone types capable of 128bitSSL telecommunications (encrypted communication) and able to provide one of the following three services: “i-mode”; “EZweb”; or “Yahoo! Keitai”. (Some phone types do not have this capability.)

 

  * Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other countries.

 

  * “i-mode” is a registered trademark of NTT DoCoMo, Inc.

 

  * “EZweb” is a registered trademark of KDDI CORPORATION.

 

  * “Yahoo!” is a registered trademark or a trademark of Yahoo! Inc. of the United States.

 

 

*

“QR Code®” is a registered trademark of DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED.

 

4. Security

You may exercise your voting rights safely due to the encryption technology (SSL128bit) used to protect your voting information from tampering and interception.

In addition, the code for the exercise of voting rights and the password described in the voting form are very important to authenticate shareholders, so please ensure that you do not disclose them to other people. Please note that the Company does not and will not make any inquiries regarding your password.

 

5. For Inquiries with respect to the Exercise of Voting Rights via the Internet

Please contact:

Internet Help Dial

Stock Transfer Agency Department

Mizuho Trust & Banking Co., Ltd.

Telephone: 0120-768-524 (toll-free number)

Operating Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays)

[To Institutional Investors]

The electronic voting platform for institutional investors operated by Investor Communications Japan Inc., which was established by the Tokyo Stock Exchange, Inc., etc., is available for custodian banks and any other nominal shareholders (including standing proxies) that have applied to use such platform in advance.

 

4


[Translation]

Reference Materials for the Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders

Proposals and Reference Matters:

Proposal 1: Disposal of surplus

The Company will place our management emphasis on ROE (Return on Equity) from the perspective of effective utilization of our capital and consider returning profits to our shareholders while maintaining and strengthening the capital base.

Based on the policy mentioned above, with respect to the dividends from the surplus at the end of this fiscal year, in view of our consolidated financial results, the level of Retained Earnings and other factors, the Company, from the perspective of further returning profits to our shareholders, proposes the dividends from the surplus as follows.

No other disposal of the surplus is being made.

 

  1. Type of Distributed Assets

Cash

 

  2. Matters related to Allotment of Distributed Assets and Aggregate Amount thereof

With respect to common stock, the Company proposes paying JPY ten thousand (10,000) per share, which is a JPY three thousand (3,000) increase over the previous fiscal year.

With respect to each class of preferred stock, the Company also proposes paying the prescribed dividend amounts, respectively.

 

     Amount of
Dividend per Share
   Aggregate Amount of
Dividends

Common stock

   JPY        10,000    JPY 113,922,908,400

Eleventh Series Class XI Preferred Stock

   JPY        20,000    JPY   18,874,800,000

Thirteenth Series Class XIII Preferred Stock

   JPY        30,000    JPY     1,100,700,000

Total

   —      JPY 133,898,408,400

 

  3. Effective Date of Dividends from Surplus

June 26, 2008

 

5


Proposal 2: Allotment of shares or fractions of a share without consideration

With the implementation of the electronic share certificate system under the “Law for Partial Amendments to the Law Concerning Book-entry Transfer of Corporate Bonds and Other Securities for the Purpose of Streamlining the Settlements of Trades of Stocks and Other Securities” (Law No. 88 of 2004, the “Settlement Rationalization Law”) scheduled to be implemented as of January 2009, all listed shares are to become eligible for book-entry transfer. Since fractional shares will not be eligible for book-entry transfer and will no longer be handled under the new “book-entry transfer system” after the implementation of the electronic share certificate system, allotment of shares or fractions of a share without consideration to all the shareholders and the holders of fractional shares will be conducted pursuant to the provisions of Article 88 of the “Law Concerning Adjustment and Coordination of Relevant Laws in Association with the Enforcement of the Company Law” (Law No. 87 of 2005, the “Adjustment Law”), as set forth below. The allotment of shares or fractions of a share without consideration proposed in this Proposal 2 shall be subject to the approval of Proposal 3.

 

  1. Calculation method of numbers of shares and fractions of a share to be allotted to the shareholders and the holders of fractional shares

The same type of shares and fractions of a share will be respectively allotted to the shareholders and the holders of fractional shares who are registered or recorded in the register of shareholders, the register of beneficial shareholders or the register of fractional shares as of the end of the preceding day of the day on which the allotment of shares or fractions of a share without consideration becomes effective, as set forth below, depending on the number of shares of common stock, shares of each class of preferred stock and fractional shares held by the shareholders and the holders of fractional shares, without any additional consideration, and such allotment will be made at the rate of 999 shares per one (1) share, and 9.99 shares per every 0.01 of a share.

 

  2. Day on which the allotment of shares or fractions of a share without consideration becomes effective

The allotment of shares or fractions of a share without consideration is to become effective on the preceding day of the date the Settlement Rationalization Law becomes effective.

 

6


Proposal 3: Partial amendment to the Articles of Incorporation, Etc.

Because fractional shares will no longer be handled under the new “book-entry transfer system” after the implementation of the electronic share certificate system, as set forth in Proposal 2, in addition to abolishing the fractional share system as described in Proposal 2, partial amendment to the Articles of Incorporation and partial amendment to the Terms and Conditions of the Eleventh Series of Class XI preferred stock and of the Thirteenth Series of Class XIII preferred stock, which are outstanding, will be made, as set forth below, pursuant to Article 88, Paragraph 5 of the Adjustment Law, in order to adopt the unit share system. In addition, in conjunction with such amendment, necessary amendments to prepare for the adoption of the electronic public notice system and the implementation of the electronic share certificate system will be made. The partial amendment to the Articles of Incorporation and the partial amendment to each of the Terms and Conditions of the preferred stock proposed in this Proposal 3 shall become effective on the respective effective dates stipulated in the supplementary provisions of each proposed amendment, subject to the approval of Proposal 2.

In order to lower the minimum investment amount to one-tenth (1/10) in conjunction with the adoption of the unit share system, the Company has resolved, at the meeting of the Board of Directors held on May 15, 2008, to make an amendment to the Articles of Incorporation, with which the number of shares constituting one (1) unit of shares will be reduced from 1,000 to 100 pursuant to Article 195 of the Company Law, subject to the approval of Proposal 2 and this Proposal 3 and being the effective date the day preceding the date the Settlement Rationalization Law becomes effective. Therefore, the number of shares constituting one (1) unit of shares under Article 9 of the proposed amendments to the Articles of Incorporation, which is 1,000 by the application of Article 88, Paragraph 5, Item 1 of the Adjustment Law, will become 100, with respect to the common stock and each class of preferred stock, on the day preceding the date the Settlement Rationalization Law becomes effective.

[Proposed Amendments to the Articles of Incorporation]

 

  (1) Pursuant to Article 88, Paragraph 5, Item 2 of the Adjustment Law, as of the day the allotment of shares or fractions of a share without consideration becomes effective, the total number of shares of the Company authorized to be issued and the total number of shares in each share class of the Company authorized to be issued will be respectively changed to numbers obtained by multiplying the number of shares constituting one (1) unit of shares as described in (2) below to the total number of shares of the Company authorized to be issued or the total number of shares in each share class of the Company authorized to be issued as of the day preceding the date of the allotment of shares or fractions of a share without consideration becomes effective. Prior to this change, with the acquisition and cancellation of all the shares of common stock of the Company held by its subsidiary as of May 28, 2007, and with the partial acquisition of the shares of common stock of the Company during the period commencing on August 16, 2007 and ending on September 6, 2007, followed by the cancellation thereof as of September 28, 2007, the number of such shares will be reduced from the total number of shares of the Company authorized to be issued and the total number of shares in such share class (common stock) of the Company authorized to be issued set forth in Article 6 of the current Articles of Incorporation (Article 6 of the proposed amendments to the Articles of Incorporation, and Article 1, Paragraphs 2 and 3 of the supplementary provisions of the proposed amendments to the Articles of Incorporation).

 

7


  (2) Pursuant to Article 88, Paragraph 5, Item 1 of the Adjustment Law, an amendment with respect to all the respective share classes of the Company stating to the effect that the number of shares constituting one (1) unit of shares will be 1,000, as well as an amendment prescribing the establishment of provisions concerning the rights, etc., of shares constituting less than one (1) unit, and necessary amendments required by such amendments will be made (Articles 9, 10, 11 and a portion concerning the shares constituting less than one (1) unit in Article 14 of the proposed amendments to the Articles of Incorporation).

 

  (3) With the abolishment of the fractional share system, the provisions concerning fractional shares will be deleted (Article 9, Article 11, Paragraph 4, and a portion concerning the fractional shares in Articles 12 through 15 and Articles 52 and 53 of the current Articles of Incorporation).

 

  (4) Pursuant to Article 88, Paragraph 5, Item 3 of the Adjustment Law, with respect to the rights and benefits of the preferred stock, of which certain amounts or quantities are stipulated, including dividends from surplus and distribution of residual assets, the stipulated amounts or quantities will be changed to amounts or quantities obtained by dividing such amounts or quantities by the number of shares constituting one (1) unit of shares described in (2) above (portions concerning the cash amount in Articles 15 and 17, and Article 22 of the proposed amendments to the Articles of Incorporation).

 

  (5) In addition to the foregoing, amendments to the method of public notice brought about by the adoption of the electronic public notice system (Article 5 of the proposed amendments to the Articles of Incorporation) and necessary amendments to prepare for the implementation of the electronic share certificate system (Article 12 and a portion concerning share certificates in Article 14 of the proposed amendments to the Articles of Incorporation) will be made. Also, other necessary amendments, including renumbering of the articles, will be made.

 

  (6) The supplementary provisions of the proposed amendments to the Articles of Incorporation will stipulate the effective date concerning the aforementioned amendments.

 

8


The substance of these amendments is set forth below.

(Changes are indicated by underline.)

 

Current Articles of Incorporation

  

Proposed Amendments

Article 5.

(Method of Public Notices)

Public notices by the Company shall be given in the Nihon Keizai Shimbun.

  

Article 5.

(Method of Public Notices)

Public notices by the Company shall be given by electronic public notices; provided, however, that in the case where an electronic public notice is impracticable due to an accident or any other unavoidable reason, the same public notice of the Company may be given in the Nihon Keizai Shimbun.

Article 6.

(Total Number of Authorized Shares)

The total number of shares which the Company is authorized to issue shall be 29,266,700 shares, and each total number of the classes of shares which the Company is authorized to issue shall be as set forth below; provided, however, that in the case where a cancellation of shares is made, the number of shares which the Company is authorized to issue shall be reduced by the number of shares so canceled:

  

Article 6.

(Total Number of Authorized Shares)

The total number of shares which the Company is authorized to issue shall be 28,790,759,000 shares, and each total number of the classes of shares which the Company is authorized to issue shall be as set forth below; provided, however, that in the case where a cancellation of shares is made, the number of shares which the Company is authorized to issue shall be reduced by the number of shares so canceled:

Common stock:

Class XI preferred stock:

Class XII preferred stock:

Class XIII preferred stock:

   

24,868,200 shares

  1,398,500 shares

  1,500,000 shares

  1,500,000 shares

  

Common stock:

Class XI preferred stock:

Class XII preferred stock:

Class XIII preferred stock:

   24,392,259,000 shares

  1,398,500,000 shares

  1,500,000,000 shares

  1,500,000,000 shares

 

Article 7.

(Issuance of Share Certificates)

  
The Company shall issue share certificates representing its issued stock.   

(No change.)

Article 9.

(Additional Purchase of Fractional Shares)

  
As provided for in the Share Handling Regulations, any holder of fractional share shall be entitled to demand that the Company sell to the holder of fractional share the fraction of a share that would, together with the fractional share owned by such holder of fractional share, constitute one share.    (Deleted.)
  

Article 9.

(Number of Shares Constituting one (1) Unit of Shares)

(Newly established.)

   The number of shares constituting one (1) unit of shares of the Company shall be one thousand (1,000) with respect to the common stock and each class of preferred stock, respectively.
  

Article 10.

(Rights Pertaining to Shares Constituting Less Than One (1) Unit)

(Newly established.)

  

A shareholder of the Company may not exercise any rights, except for the rights set forth below (excluding the rights which may not be exercised as the rights pertaining to shares constituting one (1) unit of shares), with respect to shares constituting less than one (1) unit held by such shareholder:

 

1. The rights provided for in each item of Article 189, Paragraph 2 of the Law;

 

2. The right to make a request pursuant to Article 166, Paragraph 1 of the Law;

 

3. The right to receive an allotment of offered shares and offered stock acquisition rights in proportion to the number of shares held by such shareholder; and

 

4. The right to make a request provided for in the following Article.

 

 

 

 

 

 

9


Current Articles of Incorporation

  

Proposed Amendments

  

Article 11.

(Additional Purchase of Shares Constituting Less Than One (1) Unit)

(Newly established.)    A shareholder of the Company may request the Company to sell to such shareholder a number of shares which will, when combined with the shares constituting less than one (1) unit already held by such shareholder, constitute one (1) unit of shares pursuant to the Share Handling Regulations.

Article 10.

(Record Date)

  

Article 12.

(Record Date)

1. The Company shall deem shareholders having voting rights appearing in writing or electronically in the register of shareholders (including the register of beneficial shareholders; the same shall apply hereinafter) as of the end of March 31 of each year as the shareholders who are entitled to exercise their rights at the ordinary general meeting of shareholders for the relevant business year.    1. The Company shall deem shareholders having voting rights appearing in writing or electronically in the register of shareholders as of the end of March 31 of each year as the shareholders who are entitled to exercise their rights at the ordinary general meeting of shareholders for the relevant business year.
2. In addition to the preceding paragraph, the Company may temporarily set the record date whenever necessary, by a resolution of the Board of Directors and upon giving a prior public notice thereof.    2.                                         (No change.)

Article 11.

(Shareholder Register Manager, etc.)

  

Article 13.

(Shareholder Register Manager)

1. The Company shall appoint a shareholder register manager.    1.                                         (No change.)
2. The shareholder register manager and its handling office shall be determined by a resolution of the Board of Directors, and a public notice shall be given with respect thereto.    2.                                         (No change.)
3. The preparation and keeping of, and other operations relating to the register of shareholders, the register of stock acquisition rights and the register of lost share certificates of the Company shall be entrusted to the shareholder register manager and shall not be handled by the Company.    3.                                         (No change.)
4. The Company shall appoint a transfer agent with respect to fractional shares, to which the preceding two (2) paragraphs shall apply mutatis mutandis.    (Deleted.)

 

10


Current Articles of Incorporation

  

Proposed Amendments

Article 12.

(Share Handling Regulations)

Denominations of share certificates of the Company and, an entry, whether written or electronic, in the register of shareholder and the register of fractional share, a purchase and additional purchase of fractional shares, and other operations relating to shares and fractional shares and handling fees therefor and the method of request or notice by shareholders with respect to general meetings of shareholders shall be governed by the Share Handling Regulations prescribed by the Board of Directors, in addition to laws and regulations and these Articles of Incorporation.

  

Article 14.

(Share Handling Regulations)

An entry, whether written or electronic, in the register of shareholder, a purchase and additional purchase of shares constituting less than one (1) unit, and other operations relating to shares and handling fees therefor and the method of request or notice by shareholders with respect to general meetings of shareholders shall be governed by the Share Handling Regulations prescribed by the Board of Directors, in addition to laws and regulations and these Articles of Incorporation.

Article 13.

(Preferred Stock Dividends)

1. In respect of dividends from its surplus provided for in Article 52, the Company shall distribute dividends from its surplus by cash on preferred stock (hereinafter referred to as the “Preferred Stock Dividends”) in such amount as provided for below to shareholders of preferred stock (hereinafter referred to as the “Shareholders of Preferred Stock”) or registered stock pledgees in respect of preferred stock (hereinafter referred to as the “Registered Preferred Stock Pledgees”) in priority to holders of common stock (hereinafter referred to as the “Shareholders of Common Stock”), registered stock pledgees in respect of common stock (hereinafter referred to as the “Registered Common Stock Pledgees”) or holders of fractional shares in respect of common stock; provided, however, that in the case where all or a part of the Preferred Stock Interim Dividends provided for in Article 14 have been paid in the relevant business year, the amount so paid shall be reduced accordingly:

 

 

Class XI preferred stock:

 

Amount decided by the resolution of the Board of Directors on the issuance of such stock, which amount shall not exceed 50,000 yen per share per year

 

Class XII preferred stock:

 

Amount decided by the resolution of the Board of Directors on the issuance of such stock, which amount shall not exceed 50,000 yen per share per year

 

Class XIII preferred stock:

 

Amount decided by the resolution of the Board of Directors on the issuance of such stock, which amount shall not exceed 100,000 yen per share per year

  

Article 15.

(Preferred Stock Dividends)

1. In respect of dividends from its surplus provided for in Article 54, the Company shall distribute dividends from its surplus by cash on preferred stock (hereinafter referred to as the “Preferred Stock Dividends”) in such amount as provided for below to shareholders of preferred stock (hereinafter referred to as the “Shareholders of Preferred Stock”) or registered stock pledgees in respect of preferred stock (hereinafter referred to as the “Registered Preferred Stock Pledgees”) in priority to holders of common stock (hereinafter referred to as the “Shareholders of Common Stock”) or registered stock pledgees in respect of common stock (hereinafter referred to as the “Registered Common Stock Pledgees”); provided, however, that in the case where all or a part of the Preferred Stock Interim Dividends provided for in Article 16 have been paid in the relevant business year, the amount so paid shall be reduced accordingly:

 

Class XI preferred stock:

 

Amount decided by the resolution of the Board of Directors on the issuance of such stock, which amount shall not exceed 50 yen per share per year

 

Class XII preferred stock:

 

Amount decided by the resolution of the Board of Directors on the issuance of such stock, which amount shall not exceed 50 yen per share per year

 

Class XIII preferred stock:

 

Amount decided by the resolution of the Board of Directors on the issuance of such stock, which amount shall not exceed 100 yen per share per year

2. In a given business year, if all or a part of the Preferred Stock Dividends have not been paid to the Shareholders of Preferred Stock or Registered Preferred Stock Pledgees, the unpaid amount shall not be accumulated for the subsequent business years.   

2.                                               (No change.)

3. The Company shall not distribute dividends from its surplus to any Shareholder of Preferred Stock or Registered Preferred Stock Pledgee, any amount in excess of the amount of the relevant Preferred Stock Dividends.   

3.                                               (No change.)

 

11


Current Articles of Incorporation

  

Proposed Amendments

Article 14.

(Preferred Stock Interim Dividends)

In respect of interim dividends provided for in Article 53, the Company shall distribute dividends from its surplus by cash in one half of the amount of the Preferred Stock Dividends provided for in the main clause of Paragraph 1 of the preceding article (referred to as the “Preferred Stock Interim Dividends” in these Articles of Incorporation) to the Shareholders of Preferred Stock or Registered Preferred Stock Pledgees in priority to the Shareholders of Common Stock, Registered Common Stock Pledgees or holders of fractional shares in respect of common stock.

  

Article 16.

(Preferred Stock Interim Dividends)

In respect of interim dividends provided for in Article 55, the Company shall distribute dividends from its surplus by cash in one half of the amount of the Preferred Stock Dividends provided for in the main clause of Paragraph 1 of the preceding article (referred to as the “Preferred Stock Interim Dividends” in these Articles of Incorporation) to the Shareholders of Preferred Stock or Registered Preferred Stock Pledgees in priority to the Shareholders of Common Stock or Registered Common Stock Pledgees.

Article 15.

(Distribution of Residual Assets)

1. In respect of distribution of residual assets, the Company shall pay to the Shareholders of Preferred Stock or Registered Preferred Stock Pledgees in priority to the Shareholders of Common Stock, Registered Common Stock Pledgees or holders of fractional shares in respect of common stock in such amount as provided for below:

 

Classes XI through XIII preferred stock:

 

1,000,000 yen per share

  

Article 17.

(Distribution of Residual Assets)

1. In respect of distribution of residual assets, the Company shall pay to the Shareholders of Preferred Stock or Registered Preferred Stock Pledgees in priority to the Shareholders of Common Stock or Registered Common Stock Pledgees in such amount as provided for below:

 

Classes XI through XIII preferred stock:

 

1,000 yen per share

2. No distribution of residual assets other than those provided for in the preceding paragraph shall be made to any Shareholder of Preferred Stock or Registered Preferred Stock Pledgee.   

2.                                       (No change.)

Article 16. to Article 19. (Omitted.)    Article 18. to Article 21. (No change.)

Article 20.

(Mandatory Acquisition of Preferred Stock)

1. The Company may acquire any of Classes XI and XII preferred stock, in respect of which a request for acquisition has not been made during the Period for Acquisition Request, on the day immediately following the last day of such period (hereinafter referred to as the “Mandatory Acquisition Date”) and instead, the Company shall deliver its own common stock to holders of the relevant preferred stock. In this case, the number of shares of the common stock to be delivered in exchange for the acquisition of one (1) share of the relevant preferred stock shall be obtained by dividing the amount equivalent to the subscription money per one (1) share of the relevant preferred stock by the current market price of a share of the common stock of the Company; provided, however, that such current market price of a share of the common stock shall be the daily average price of closing prices (including the closing bid or offered price) of the common stock of the Company (in regular trading) as reported by the Tokyo Stock Exchange for the 30 consecutive trading days (excluding any trading day or days on which no closing prices or closing bids or offered prices are reported) commencing on the 45th trading day prior to the Mandatory Acquisition Date, and such calculation shall be made to units of ten (10) yen, and by rounding up to the nearest 100 yen when equal to or more than fifty (50) yen and disregarding amounts less than fifty (50) yen.

  

Article 22.

(Mandatory Acquisition of Preferred Stock)

1. The Company may acquire any of Classes XI and XII preferred stock, in respect of which a request for acquisition has not been made during the Period for Acquisition Request, on the day immediately following the last day of such period (hereinafter referred to as the “Mandatory Acquisition Date”) and instead, the Company shall deliver its own common stock to holders of the relevant preferred stock. In this case, the number of shares of the common stock to be delivered in exchange for the acquisition of one (1) share of the relevant preferred stock shall be obtained by dividing the amount equivalent to the subscription money per one (1) share of the relevant preferred stock by the current market price of a share of the common stock of the Company (with respect to the Eleventh Series of Class XI preferred stock, 1,000 yen; the same shall apply hereinafter); provided, however, that such current market price of a share of the common stock shall be the daily average price of closing prices (including the closing bid or offered price) of the common stock of the Company (in regular trading) as reported by the Tokyo Stock Exchange for the 30 consecutive trading days (excluding any trading day or days on which no closing prices or closing bids or offered prices are reported) commencing on the 45th trading day prior to the Mandatory Acquisition Date, and such calculation shall be made to units of 0.01 yen, and by rounding up to the nearest 0.1 yen when equal to or more than 0.05 yen and disregarding amounts less than 0.05 yen.

2. In respect of Classes XI and XII preferred stock, the number of common stock referred to in the preceding paragraph shall not exceed the number of shares obtained by dividing the amount equivalent to the subscription money per one (1) share of each such class of preferred stock by the minimum acquisition price determined by the resolution of the Board of Directors relating to the relevant issuance of the preferred stock.   

2.                                           (No change.)

3. In the calculation of the number of common stock provided for in the preceding two (2) paragraphs, any number less than one (1) share shall be treated pursuant to the provisions provided for in Article 234 of the Law.   

3.                                           (No change.)

 

12


Current Articles of Incorporation

 

Proposed Amendments

Article 21. to Article 28. (Omitted.)   Article 23. to Article 30. (No change.)

Article 29.

(General Meetings of Holders of Classes of Stock)

 

Article 31.

(General Meetings of Holders of Classes of Stock)

1. Unless otherwise provided for by laws or regulations or these Articles of Incorporation, resolutions of a general meeting of holders of classes of stock shall be adopted by an affirmative vote of a majority of the voting rights held by the holders present at the meeting who are entitled to exercise their voting rights.   1.                                         (No change.)
2. Resolutions provided for in Article 324, Paragraph 2 of the Law shall be adopted by an affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds (2/3) of the voting rights held by the holders present at the relevant meeting who shall hold in aggregate not less than one-third (1/3) of the voting rights of the holders entitled to exercise their voting rights.   2.                                         (No change.)
3. The provisions of Articles 23 through 25 and 27 and the preceding Article shall apply mutatis mutandis to the general meetings of holders of classes of stock.   3. The provisions of Articles 25 through 27 and 29 and the preceding Article shall apply mutatis mutandis to the general meetings of holders of classes of stock.
Article 30. to Article 51. (Omitted.)   Article 32. to Article 53. (No change.)

Article 52.

(Dividends from Surplus Approved by Resolution of Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders)

Dividends from the surplus approved by a resolution of an ordinary general meeting of shareholders shall be distributed to the shareholders or registered stock pledgees appearing in writing or electronically in the register of shareholders as of the end of March 31 of each year or to the holders of fractional shares appearing in writing or electronically in the register of fractional share as of the end of March 31 of each year.

 

Article 54.

(Dividends from Surplus Approved by Resolution of Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders)

Dividends from the surplus approved by a resolution of an ordinary general meeting of shareholders shall be distributed to the shareholders or registered stock pledgees appearing in writing or electronically in the register of shareholders as of the end of March 31 of each year.

Article 53.

(Interim Dividends)

The Company may, by a resolution of the Board of Directors, distribute interim dividends provided for in Article 454, Paragraph 5 of the Law to the shareholders or registered stock pledgees appearing in writing or electronically in the register of shareholders as of the end of September 30 of each year or to the holders of fractional share appearing in writing or electronically in the register of fractional share as of the end of September 30 of each year.

 

Article 55.

(Interim Dividends)

The Company may, by a resolution of the Board of Directors, distribute interim dividends provided for in Article 454, Paragraph 5 of the Law to the shareholders or registered stock pledgees appearing in writing or electronically in the register of shareholders as of the end of September 30 of each year.

 

13


Current Articles of Incorporation

 

Proposed Amendments

Article 54.

(Prescription for Payment of Dividends)

                                         (Omitted.)

 

Article 56.

(Prescription for Payment of Dividends)

                                         (No change.)

  SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS
 

Article 1.

(Effective Date)

                                (Newly established.)

  1. Amendments in relation to Article 6, Articles 9 through 11, Articles 13 through 17 (but with respect to Article 14, only the amended portion concerning the register of fractional shares, fractional shares and shares constituting less than one (1) unit), Article 22, Article 31, Article 54 and Article 55 of the Articles of Incorporation, the deletion of Article 9 of the Articles of Incorporation prior to the amendment, and the renumbering of the articles in conjunction with these amendments shall become effective on the day preceding the day on which the “Law for Partial Amendments to the Law Concerning Book-entry Transfer of Corporate Bonds and Other Securities for the Purpose of Streamlining the Settlement of Trades of Stocks and Other Securities” (Law No. 88 of 2004, the “Settlement Rationalization Law”) is enforced.
  2. The provisions of Article 6 of the Articles of Incorporation prior to the amendment shall be amended as set forth below and such amendments shall apply until the effective date set forth in the preceding paragraph.
 

Article 6.

(Total Number of Authorized Shares)

The total number of shares that the Company is authorized to issue shall be 28,790,759 shares, and each total number of the classes of shares that the Company is authorized to issue shall be as set forth below; provided, however, that in the case where a cancellation of shares is made, the number of shares that the Company is authorized to issue shall be reduced by the number of shares so canceled:

 

Common stock:

  24,392,259 shares
 

Class XI preferred stock:

    1,398,500 shares
 

Class XII preferred stock:

    1,500,000 shares
 

Class XIII preferred stock:

    1,500,000 shares
                                (Newly established.)   3. In the case where a cancellation of shares, as set forth in the proviso of Article 6 of the immediately preceding paragraph, is made before the effective date set forth in Paragraph 1, the number of shares so cancelled multiplied by one thousand (1,000) will be reduced from the total number of shares of the Company authorized to be issued and from the total number of shares in the relevant share class of the Company authorized to be issued as provided for in Article 6 of the Articles of Incorporation (i.e., Article 6 of the Articles of Incorporation which will become effective on the effective date stipulated in Paragraph 1).
  4. Amendments to Article 12 and Article 14 (but with respect to Article 14, only the amended portion concerning share certificates) of the Articles of Incorporation shall become effective on the date the Settlement Rationalization Law becomes effective.
  5. Amendments to Article 5 of the Articles of Incorporation and Paragraph 2 of this Article shall become effective when the proposed amendments to the Articles of Incorporation are approved at the sixth (6th) ordinary general meeting of shareholders.
 

Article 2.

(Issuance of Share Certificates)

  In accordance with Article 6, Paragraph 1 of the supplementary provisions of the Settlement Rationalization Law, it is deemed to have been resolved that the Articles of Incorporation would be amended in order to abolish the provision of the Articles of Incorporation that the Company issue share certificates, of which the effective date being the date such Law becomes effective. Accordingly, the provisions of Article 7 of the Articles of Incorporation shall be abolished after such Law becomes effective.
 

Article 3.

(Miscellaneous)

  These supplementary provisions shall be deleted after the Settlement Rationalization Law becomes effective.

 

14


[Proposed Amendments to the Terms and Conditions of the Eleventh Series of Class XI preferred stock and of the Thirteenth Series of Class XIII preferred stock]

 

  (1) Pursuant to Article 88, Paragraph 5, Item 3 of the Adjustment Law, with respect to the rights and benefits of the preferred stock, of which certain amounts or quantities are stipulated, including dividends from surplus and distribution of residual assets, such amount or quantity will be changed to the amount or quantity obtained by dividing such amount or quantity by the number of shares constituting one (1) unit of shares described in (2) of “Proposed Amendments to the Articles of Incorporation” above (provisions concerning “Preferred Stock Dividends”, “Distribution of Residual Assets”, “Right of Request for Acquisition” and “Mandatory Acquisition” in the proposed amendments to the Terms and Conditions of the Eleventh Series of Class XI preferred stock, and provisions concerning “Preferred Stock Dividends”, “Distribution of Residual Assets” and “Provisions for Acquisition” in the proposed amendments to the Terms and Conditions of the Thirteenth Series of Class XIII preferred stock).

 

  (2) With the abolishment of the fractional share system, the provisions concerning fractional shares will be deleted, and necessary amendments will be made (a portion concerning the fractional shares in the current Terms and Conditions of the Eleventh Series of Class XI preferred stock and of the Thirteenth Series of Class XIII preferred stock).

 

  (3) In addition to the foregoing, necessary amendments for the preparation for the implementation of the electronic share certificate system (provisions concerning “Right of Request for Acquisition, (F) Effectiveness of Request for Acquisition” in the proposed amendments to the Terms and Conditions of the Eleventh Series of Class XI preferred stock) will be made. Also, with the amendments to the Articles of Incorporation proposed in this proposal, other necessary amendments, including renumbering of the referred articles of the Articles of Incorporation, will be made.

 

  (4) The respective supplementary provisions of the Terms and Conditions of the Eleventh Series of Class XI preferred stock and of the Thirteenth Series of Class XIII preferred stock will stipulate the effective date, etc., concerning the aforementioned amendments.

The content of the Terms and Conditions of Issuance of the Eleventh Series of Class XI preferred stock and of the Thirteenth Series of Class XIII preferred stock was determined by the resolution of the Board of Directors upon the issuance of the relevant preferred stock. However, after the issuance of such classes of preferred stock, the Terms and Conditions of Issuance would be deemed as substantively included in the Articles of Incorporation of the Company. Therefore, amendments to such Terms and Conditions will be made in accordance with the procedures for making amendments to the Articles of Incorporation.

 

15


The substance of these amendments is set forth below.

(Changes are indicated by underline.)

 

Current Terms and Conditions

  

Proposed Amendments

The Eleventh Series of Class XI preferred stock

  

(10) Preferred Stock Dividends

 

(A) Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock Dividends

 

In case the Company makes dividends from its surplus as provided for in Article 52 of the Articles of Incorporation, the Company shall distribute such dividends on the Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock (hereinafter referred to as the “Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock Dividends”) by cash in such amount per share of the Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock as provided for in (B) below to shareholders of the Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock (hereinafter referred to as the “Shareholders of the Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock”) or registered stock pledgees in respect of the Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock (hereinafter referred to as the “Registered Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock Pledgees”) in priority to holders of common stock (hereinafter referred to as the “Shareholders of Common Stock”), registered stock pledgees in respect of common stock (hereinafter referred to as the “Registered Common Stock Pledgees”) or holders of fractional shares in respect of common stock; provided, however, that in the case where all or a part of the Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock Interim Dividends provided for in (C) below have been paid in the relevant business year, the amount so paid shall be reduced accordingly.

  

(10) Preferred Stock Dividends

 

(A) Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock Dividends

 

In case the Company makes dividends from its surplus as provided for in Article 54 of the Articles of Incorporation, the Company shall distribute such dividends on the Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock (hereinafter referred to as the “Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock Dividends”) by cash in such amount per share of the Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock as provided for in (B) below to shareholders of the Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock (hereinafter referred to as the “Shareholders of the Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock”) or registered stock pledgees in respect of the Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock (hereinafter referred to as the “Registered Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock Pledgees”) in priority to holders of common stock (hereinafter referred to as the “Shareholders of Common Stock”) or registered stock pledgees in respect of common stock (hereinafter referred to as the “Registered Common Stock Pledgees”); provided, however, that in the case where all or a part of the Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock Interim Dividends provided for in (C) below have been paid in the relevant business year, the amount so paid shall be reduced accordingly.

 

16


Current Terms and Conditions

  

Proposed Amendments

(B) Amount of Preferred Stock Dividends

20,000 yen per share per year.

 

(C) Preferred Stock Interim Dividends

 

In case the Company makes interim dividends as provided for in Article 53 of the Articles of Incorporation, the Company shall distribute dividends from its surplus by cash in one half (1/2) of the amount of the Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock Dividends provided for in (B) above (hereinafter referred to as the “Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock Interim Dividends”) to the Shareholders of Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock or Registered Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock Pledgees in priority to the Shareholders of Common Stock, Registered Common Stock Pledgees or holders of fractional shares in respect of common stock.

  

(B) Amount of Preferred Stock Dividends

20 yen per share per year.

 

(C) Preferred Stock Interim Dividends

 

In case the Company makes interim dividends as provided for in Article 55 of the Articles of Incorporation, the Company shall distribute dividends from its surplus by cash in one half (1/2) of the amount of the Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock Dividends provided for in (B) above (hereinafter referred to as the “Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock Interim Dividends”) to the Shareholders of Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock or Registered Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock Pledgees in priority to the Shareholders of Common Stock or Registered Common Stock Pledgees.

(D) Non-cumulative clause

 

In any given business year, if all or a part of the Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock Dividends have not been paid to the Shareholders of the Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock or Registered Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock Pledgees, the unpaid amount shall not be accumulated for the subsequent business years.

  

(D) Non-cumulative clause

 

(Unchanged)

(E) Non-participation clause

 

The Company shall not distribute dividends from its surplus to any Shareholder of the Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock or any Registered Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock Pledgee, in excess of the amount of the relevant Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock Dividends.

  

(E) Non-participation clause

 

(Unchanged)

(11) Distribution of Residual Assets

 

In case the Company makes a distribution of residual assets, the Company shall pay 1,000,000 yen per share of the Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock to the Shareholders of the Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock or Registered Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock Pledgees in priority to the Shareholders of Common Stock, Registered Common Stock Pledgees or holders of fractional shares in respect of common stock. No distribution of residual assets other than the distribution provided for in the preceding sentence shall be made to any Shareholder of the Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock or any Registered Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock Pledgee.

  

(11) Distribution of Residual Assets

 

In case the Company makes a distribution of residual assets, the Company shall pay 1,000 yen per share of the Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock to the Shareholders of the Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock or Registered Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock Pledgees in priority to the Shareholders of Common Stock or Registered Common Stock Pledgees. No distribution of residual assets other than the distribution provided for in the preceding sentence shall be made to any Shareholder of the Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock or any Registered Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock Pledgee.

 

17


Current Terms and Conditions

  

Proposed Amendments

(14) Right of Request for Acquisition

 

(A) Period During Which a Request for Acquisition May be Made

 

The period during which any Shareholder of the Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock may request the Company to acquire the Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock shall be the period from July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2016.

  

(14) Right of Request for Acquisition

 

(A) Period During Which a Request for Acquisition May be Made

 

(Unchanged)

(B) Conditions for Acquisition

 

During the period provided for in (A) above, any Shareholder of the Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock may request the Company to deliver common stock in the number calculated by the formula provided for in (C) below, at the acquisition price per share of the Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock calculated pursuant to (a) through (c) below, in exchange for acquisition by the Company of such Preferred Stock.

  

(B) Conditions for Acquisition

 

(Unchanged)

(a) Initial Acquisition Price

 

The initial acquisition price shall be the current market price of a share of the common stock as of July 1, 2008; provided, however, that, if the acquisition price so calculated is less 50,000 yen, the relevant acquisition price shall be 50,000 yen. The “current market price” set forth above shall mean the daily average price of closing prices (including the closing bid or offered price) of the common stock of the Company (in regular trading) as reported by the Tokyo Stock Exchange for the thirty (30) consecutive trading days (excluding any trading day or days on which no closing prices or closing bids or offered prices are reported) commencing on the forty-fifth (45th) trading day prior to July 1, 2008, and such calculation shall be made to units of ten (10) yen, by rounding up to the nearest 100 yen when equal to or more than fifty (50) yen and disregarding amounts less than fifty (50) yen.

  

(a) Initial Acquisition Price

 

(Unchanged)

(b) Reset of Acquisition Price

 

If the current market price of a share of the common stock on July 1 of each year from and including July 1, 2009 up to and including July 1, 2015 (each, hereinafter referred to as the “Acquisition Price Reset Date”) is less than the acquisition price in effect on the date immediately preceding the relevant Acquisition Price Reset Date, the acquisition price shall be reset to the relevant current market price which shall become effective as of the relevant Acquisition Price Reset Date; provided, however, that if the relevant current market price is less than the amount equivalent to 60% of the initial acquisition price (such calculation shall be made to units of ten (10) yen, by rounding up to the nearest 100 yen when equal to or more than fifty (50) yen and disregarding amounts less than fifty (50) yen; however, subject to any adjustment in accordance with (c) below) or 50,000 yen, then the acquisition price after reset shall be the higher of either such amounts (hereinafter referred to as the “Acquisition Floor Price”). The “current market price” set forth above shall mean the daily average price of closing prices (including the closing bid or offered price) of the common stock of the Company (in regular trading) as reported by the Tokyo Stock Exchange for the thirty (30) consecutive trading days (excluding any trading day or days on which no closing prices or closing bids or offered prices are reported) commencing on the forty-fifth (45th) trading day prior to the relevant Acquisition Price Reset Date, and such calculation shall be made to units of ten (10) yen, by rounding up to the nearest 100 yen when equal to or more than fifty (50) yen and disregarding amounts less than fifty (50) yen.

  

(b) Reset of Acquisition Price

 

If the current market price of a share of the common stock on July 1 of each year from and including July 1, 2009 up to and including July 1, 2015 (each, hereinafter referred to as the “Acquisition Price Reset Date”) is less than the acquisition price in effect on the date immediately preceding the relevant Acquisition Price Reset Date, the acquisition price shall be reset to the relevant current market price which shall become effective as of the relevant Acquisition Price Reset Date; provided, however, that if the relevant current market price is less than the amount equivalent to 60% of the initial acquisition price (such calculation shall be made to units of ten (10) yen, by rounding up to the nearest 100 yen when equal to or more than fifty (50) yen and disregarding amounts less than fifty (50) yen; however, subject to any adjustment in accordance with (c) below) or fifty (50) yen, then the acquisition price after reset shall be the higher of either such amounts (hereinafter referred to as the “Acquisition Floor Price”). The “current market price” set forth above shall mean the daily average price of closing prices (including the closing bid or offered price) of the common stock of the Company (in regular trading) as reported by the Tokyo Stock Exchange for the thirty (30) consecutive trading days (excluding any trading day or days on which no closing prices or closing bids or offered prices are reported) commencing on the forty-fifth (45th) trading day prior to the relevant Acquisition Price Reset Date, and such calculation shall be made to units of 0.01 yen, by rounding up to the nearest 0.1 yen when equal to or more than 0.05 yen and disregarding amounts less than 0.05 yen.

 

18


Current Terms and Conditions

 

Proposed Amendments

(c) Adjustment of Acquisition Price   (c) Adjustment of Acquisition Price

I   After the issuance of the Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock, the acquisition price (including the Acquisition Floor Price) will be adjusted in accordance with the following formula (hereinafter referred to as the “Acquisition Price Adjustment Formula”) in any of the following events. The calculation using the Acquisition Price Adjustment Formula shall be made to units of ten (10) yen, by rounding up to the nearest 100 yen when equal to or more than fifty (50) yen and disregarding amounts less than fifty (50) yen.

 

I   After the issuance of the Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock, the acquisition price (including the Acquisition Floor Price) will be adjusted in accordance with the following formula (hereinafter referred to as the “Acquisition Price Adjustment Formula”) in any of the following events. The calculation using the Acquisition Price Adjustment Formula shall be made to units of 0.01 yen, by rounding up to the nearest 0.1 yen when equal to or more than 0.05 yen and disregarding amounts less than 0.05 yen.

Acquisition

price after
adjustment

 

 

 

 

=  

 

 

 

     

Acquisition price before adjustment

 

 

 

 

×

 

 

 

  Number of
shares of
common stock already issued
 

 

 

Number of

shares of common

stock

to be newly

issued

 

×    

 

 

 

Subscription
money per

share

         

Acquisition

price after
adjustment

 

 

 

 

=  

 

 

 

     

Acquisition price before adjustment

 

 

 

 

×

 

 

 

  Number of
shares of
common stock already issued
 

 

 

Number of

shares of common

stock

to be newly

issued

 

×    

 

 

 

Subscription
money per

share

                   

Current market

price per share

                             

Current market

price per share

           

Number of shares

of common stock

already issued

      +  

Number of shares

of common stock

to be newly issued

                     

Number of shares

of common stock

already issued

      +  

Number of shares

of common stock

to be newly issued

(i)     In the event that the Company issues common stock in an amount of a subscription money less than the current market price to be applied to the Acquisition Price Adjustment Formula (including the case where the Company disposes of its treasury stock), then the acquisition price after adjustment shall become effective as of the date immediately following the payment date, or if the record date for the offering is fixed, as of the date immediately following such record date. The number of shares of treasury stock to be disposed of shall be added to the “Number of shares of common stock to be newly issued” in the Acquisition Price Adjustment Formula.

 

(i)                                              (Unchanged)

 

19


Current Terms and Conditions

 

Proposed Amendments

(ii)    In the event that the Company issues common stock by way of a stock split or a free allotment of common stock (including the case where the Company disposes of its treasury stock), the acquisition price after adjustment shall become effective as of the date immediately following the record date for the stock split or the free allotment of common stock; provided, however, that, if (x) the Board of Directors resolves that the stock split or the free allotment of common stock (including the cases where the Company disposes of its treasury stock) shall be made by an increase of stated capital by virtue of the reduction of the amount of surplus, and (y) the record date for the stock split or the free allotment of common stock shall fall on or prior to the date of the closing of the general meeting of shareholders held to approve such increase of the stated capital, then the acquisition price after adjustment shall become effective as of the date immediately following the date of the closing of the relevant general meeting of the shareholders at which such increase of the stated capital is approved.

 

(ii)                (Unchanged)

(iii)  In the event that the Company issues (x) any stock that the holder thereof may request the Company to acquire in exchange for delivery of common stock in a number per share of such stock as shall be obtained by dividing (a) the subscription money per share of such stock by (b) the price less than the current market price to be applied to the Acquisition Price Adjustment Formula, or (y) securities (interests) to exercise stock acquisition rights, where the sum of the (a) subscription money for the offered stock acquisition rights and (b) the value of properties to be contributed upon exercise of such stock acquisition rights shall be less than the current market price to be applied to the Acquisition Price Adjustment Formula, then the acquisition price after adjustment shall become effective as of the date immediately following the payment date or the allotment date of the relevant securities (interests) or, if the record date for the offering is fixed, as of the date immediately following such record date, on the assumption that the common stock has been delivered in exchange for the acquisition of the entire amount of the securities (interests) to be issued or that all of the stock acquisition rights have been exercised as of the payment date or the allotment date or as of the close of such record date. For the purpose of any adjustment thereafter, the number of shares to be obtained upon such

assumption shall be added to the “Number of shares of common stock already issued” to the extent that such assumed number of shares exceeds the number of shares actually issued upon request for acquisition or upon exercise of the stock acquisition rights (which shall be also applied to (iv) below).

 

(iii)              (Unchanged)

 

20


Current Terms and Conditions

 

Proposed Amendments

(iv)   In the event that (x) the Company issues any stock that the holder thereof may request the Company to acquire in exchange for delivery of common stock or securities (interests) to exercise stock acquisition rights, at an acquisition price or exercise price that is to be fixed, not on the payment date or the allotment date, but on a certain date after the payment date or the allotment date (hereinafter referred to as the “Price Fix Date”), based on the then current market price, and (y) either (a) the acquisition price so fixed or (b) the sum of the subscription money for the offered stock acquisition rights and the value of the properties to be contributed upon exercise of such stock acquisition rights is less than the current market price to be applied to the Acquisition Price Adjustment Formula, then the acquisition price after adjustment shall be effective as of the date immediately following the relevant Price Fix Date, on the assumption that the common stock has been delivered in exchange for the acquisition of the entire amount of the securities (interests) then outstanding or that all of the stock acquisition rights have been exercised as of the relevant Price Fix Date.

 

(iv)               (Unchanged)

II    In addition to the events set forth in I above, if an adjustment of the acquisition price is required by virtue of any amalgamation or merger, reductions in amount of stated capital, or consolidation of common stock, etc., then the acquisition price shall be adjusted to such price as the Board of Directors of the Company determines appropriate.

 

II                (Unchanged)

III  The “Current market price per share” in the Acquisition Price Adjustment Formula shall be the daily average price of closing prices (including the closing bid or offered price) of the common stock of the Company (in regular trading) as reported by the Tokyo Stock Exchange for the thirty (30) consecutive trading days (excluding any trading day or days on which no closing prices or closing bids or offered prices are reported) commencing on the forty-fifth (45th) trading day prior to the date on which the acquisition price after adjustment becomes effective (however, in the case of the proviso to I (ii) above, the record date), and such calculation shall be made to units of ten (10) yen, by rounding up to the nearest 100 yen when equal to or more than fifty (50) yen and disregarding amounts less than fifty (50) yen. If any of the events of adjustment of the acquisition price as set forth in I or II above occurs during the above forty-five (45) trading day period, the current market price (the relevant average price) to be applied to the Acquisition Price Adjustment Formula shall be adjusted to such amount as the Board of Directors of the Company determines appropriate.

 

III  The “Current market price per share” in the Acquisition Price Adjustment Formula shall be the daily average price of closing prices (including the closing bid or offered price) of the common stock of the Company (in regular trading) as reported by the Tokyo Stock Exchange for the thirty (30) consecutive trading days (excluding any trading day or days on which no closing prices or closing bids or offered prices are reported) commencing on the forty-fifth (45th) trading day prior to the date on which the acquisition price after adjustment becomes effective (however, in the case of the proviso to I (ii) above, the record date), and such calculation shall be made to units of 0.01 yen, by rounding up to the nearest 0.1 yen when equal to or more than 0.05 yen and disregarding amounts less than 0.05 yen. If any of the events of adjustment of the acquisition price as set forth in I or II above occurs during the above forty-five (45) trading day period, the current market price (the relevant average price) to be applied to the Acquisition Price Adjustment Formula shall be adjusted to such amount as the Board of Directors of the Company determines appropriate.

 

21


Current Terms and Conditions

 

Proposed Amendments

IV  The “Acquisition price before adjustment” in the Acquisition Price Adjustment Formula shall be the acquisition price in effect on the date immediately preceding the date on which the acquisition price after adjustment becomes effective, and the “Number of shares of common stock already issued” in the Acquisition Price Adjustment Formula shall be the number of shares of common stock of the Company issued and outstanding on the record date, if fixed, or if such date is not fixed, on the date one (1) month prior to the date on which the acquisition price after adjustment is to become effective. The number of shares of treasury stock to be disposed of shall be deducted from the “Number of shares of common stock already issued” in the Acquisition Price Adjustment Formula.

 

IV              (Unchanged)

V    The “Subscription money per share” in the Acquisition Price Adjustment Formula shall be as follows:

 

(i)     In the event that the Company issues common stock (or disposes of its treasury stock) in an amount of a subscription money (or at a disposal price) less than the current market price set forth in I (i), then the relevant subscription money or disposal price (in the event that payment thereof is made by any consideration other than cash, the fair value of such consideration);

 

(ii)    In the event that the Company issues common stock by way of a stock split or a free allotment of common stock (including the case where the Company disposes of its treasury stock), then zero (0) yen;

 

(iii)  In the event that the Company issues (x) any stock that the holder thereof may request the Company to acquire in exchange for delivery of common stock in such a number as shall be obtained by dividing (a) the subscription money per share of such stock by (b) the price less than the current market price set forth in I (iii) above, or (y) securities (interests) to exercise stock acquisition rights with the terms and conditions set forth in I (iii) above, then the relevant acquisition price, or the sum of (a) the subscription money for the relevant offered stock acquisition rights and (b) the value of properties to be contributed upon exercise of such stock acquisition rights; and

 

(iv)   In the event of I (iv) above, the acquisition price fixed on the Price Fix Date, or the sum of the (a) subscription money for the offered stock acquisition rights and (b) the value of properties to be contributed upon exercise of such stock acquisition rights.

 

V                (Unchanged)

 

22


Current Terms and Conditions

 

Proposed Amendments

(C)   Number of Shares of Common Stock to be Delivered in Exchange for Acquisition

 

(C)   Number of Shares of Common Stock to be Delivered in Exchange for Acquisition

 

The number of shares of the common stock to be delivered in exchange for acquisition of the Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock shall be as follows:

 

 

The number of shares of the common stock to be delivered in exchange for acquisition of the Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock shall be as follows:

 

 

Number of share of common

stock to be delivered in

exchange for acquisition

 

 

 

=    

 

 

Aggregate subscription money for
the Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred
Stock submitted by their holders in order

to make request for acquisition

   

Number of share of common

stock to be delivered in

exchange for acquisition

 

 

 

=    

 

 

Number of shares of
the Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred
Stock submitted by their holders in order
to make request for acquisition

  ×   1,000
      Acquisition price         Acquisition price    

 

The calculation of the number of shares of the common stock to be delivered in exchange for the acquisition shall be made to units of thousandth (1/1000) of shares, by rounding up to the nearest hundredth (1/100) of one share.

 

 

The calculation of the number of shares of the common stock to be delivered in exchange for the acquisition shall be made to units of one (1) share, by rounding up to the nearest ten (10) shares.

 

(D)   Kind of Shares to be Issued upon Request for Acquisition Common stock of the Company.

 

 

(D)   Kind of Shares to be Issued upon Request for Acquisition

 

(Unchanged)

 

(E)   Places Where the Request for Acquisition May be Made Shareholder Register Manager:

 

Mizuho Trust & Banking Co., Ltd.

2-1, Yaesu 1-chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

 

Handling Office:

 

Stock Transfer Agency Department of the Head Office of Mizuho Trust & Banking Co., Ltd.

2-1, Yaesu 1-chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

 

Liaison Offices:

 

All branches in Japan of Mizuho Trust & Banking Co., Ltd.

Head office and all branches in Japan of Mizuho Investors Securities

 

 

(E)   Places Where the Request for Acquisition May be Made

 

(Unchanged)

 

(F)    Effectiveness of Request for Acquisition

 

The request for acquisition shall be effective concurrently with arrival of the request for acquisition and the certificates for the Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock concerned at the places where the request for acquisition may be made as provided for in (E) above; provided, however, that if no share certificates have been issued for the Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock, then submission of share certificates shall not be required.

 

 

(F)    Effectiveness of Request for Acquisition

 

The request for acquisition shall be effective concurrently with arrival of the request for acquisition at the places where the request for acquisition may be made as provided for in (E) above.

 

 

 

23


Current Terms and Conditions

  

Proposed Amendments

(15) Mandatory Acquisition

 

The Company may acquire, as of July 1, 2016 (hereinafter referred to as the “Mandatory Acquisition Date”), any of the Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock, in respect of which a request for acquisition has not been made until June 30, 2016, and instead, the Company shall deliver its own common stock to Shareholders of the Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock. In this case, the number of shares of the common stock to be delivered in exchange for the acquisition of one (1) share of the Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock shall be obtained by dividing the amount equivalent to the subscription money per share of the Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock by the current market price of a share of the common stock of the Company. The “current market price” set forth above shall be the daily average price of closing prices (including the closing bid or offered price) of the common stock of the Company (in regular trading) as reported by the Tokyo Stock Exchange for the thirty (30) consecutive trading days (excluding any trading day or days on which no closing prices or closing bids or offered prices are reported) commencing on the forty-fifth (45th) trading day prior to the Mandatory Acquisition Date, and such calculation shall be made to units of ten (10) yen, by rounding up to the nearest 100 yen when equal to or more than fifty (50) yen and disregarding amounts less than fifty (50) yen. In this case, if the relevant current market price is less than the Acquisition Floor Price (provided, however, that if the Acquisition Floor Price is less than 50,000 yen, then 50,000 yen), the number of shares of common stock referred to in the preceding sentence shall not exceed the number of shares obtained by dividing the amount equivalent to the subscription money per share of the Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock by the Acquisition Floor Price; provided, however, that if the acquisition price is adjusted prior to the Mandatory Acquisition Date in accordance with (14)(B)(c) above, the Acquisition Floor Price shall be adjusted in the same manner. In the calculation of the number of shares of common stock provided for in the foregoing, any number less than one (1) share shall be treated pursuant to the provisions provided for in Article 234 of the Company Law.

  

(15) Mandatory Acquisition

 

The Company may acquire, as of July 1, 2016 (hereinafter referred to as the “Mandatory Acquisition Date”), any of the Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock, in respect of which a request for acquisition has not been made until June 30, 2016, and instead, the Company shall deliver its own common stock to Shareholders of the Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock. In this case, the number of shares of the common stock to be delivered in exchange for the acquisition of one (1) share of the Eleventh Series of Class XI Preferred Stock shall be obtained by dividing 1,000 yen by the current market price of a share of the common stock of the Company. The “current market price” set forth above shall be the daily average price of closing prices (including the closing bid or offered price) of the common stock of the Company (in regular trading) as reported by the Tokyo Stock Exchange for the thirty (30) consecutive trading days (excluding any trading day or days on which no closing prices or closing bids or offered prices are reported) commencing on the forty-fifth (45th) trading day prior to the Mandatory Acquisition Date, and such calculation shall be made to units of 0.01 yen, by rounding up to the nearest 0.1 yen when equal to or more than 0.05 yen and disregarding amounts less than 0.05 yen. In this case, if the relevant current market price is less than the Acquisition Floor Price (provided, however, that if the Acquisition Floor Price is less than fifty (50) yen, then fifty (50) yen), the number of shares of common stock referred to in the preceding sentence shall not exceed the number of shares obtained by dividing 1,000 yen by the Acquisition Floor Price; provided, however, that if the acquisition price is adjusted prior to the Mandatory Acquisition Date in accordance with (14)(B)(c) above, the Acquisition Floor Price shall be adjusted in the same manner. In the calculation of the number of shares of common stock provided for in the foregoing, any number less than one (1) share shall be treated pursuant to the provisions provided for in Article 234 of the Company Law.

 

24


Current Terms and Conditions

  

Proposed Amendments

   Supplementary Provision

(Newly established)

  

Any amendment pursuant to the resolution of the 6th ordinary general meeting of shareholders of the Company (other than any amendment to “Right of Request for Acquisition, (F) Effectiveness of Request for Acquisition”) shall take effect on the day immediately preceding the date the “Law for Partial Amendments to the Law Concerning Book-entry Transfer of Corporate Bonds and Other Securities for the Purpose of Streamlining the Settlement of Trades of Stocks and Other Securities” (Law No. 88 of 2004, the “Settlement Rationalization Law”) becomes effective, and any amendment to “Right of Request for Acquisition, (F) Effectiveness of Request for Acquisition” shall take effect on the date the Settlement Rationalization Law becomes effective.

 

This Supplementary Provision shall be deleted on the day immediately after the Settlement Rationalization Law becomes effective.

The Thirteenth Series of Class XIII preferred stock

  

(10) Preferred Stock Dividends

 

(A) Thirteenth Series of Class XIII Preferred Stock Dividends

 

In case the Company makes dividends from its surplus as provided for in Article 52 of the Articles of Incorporation, the Company shall distribute such dividends on the Thirteenth Series of Class XIII Preferred Stock (hereinafter referred to as the “Thirteenth Series of Class XIII Preferred Stock Dividends”) by cash in such amount per share of the Thirteenth Series of Class XIII Preferred Stock as provided for in (B) below to shareholders of the Thirteenth Series of Class XIII Preferred Stock (hereinafter referred to as the “Shareholders of the Thirteenth Series of Class XIII Preferred Stock”) or registered stock pledgees in respect of the Thirteenth Series of Class XIII Preferred Stock (hereinafter referred to as the “Registered Thirteenth Series of Class XIII Preferred Stock Pledgees”) in priority to holders of common stock (hereinafter referred to as the “Shareholders of Common Stock”), registered stock pledgees in respect of common stock (hereinafter referred to as the “Registered Common Stock Pledgees”) or holders of fractional shares in respect of common stock; provided, however, that in the case where all or a part of the Thirteenth Series of Class XIII Preferred Stock Interim Dividends provided for in (C) below have been paid in the relevant business year, the amount so paid shall be reduced accordingly.

  

(10) Preferred Stock Dividends

 

(A) Thirteenth Series of Class XIII Preferred Stock Dividends

 

In case the Company makes dividends from its surplus as provided for in Article 54 of the Articles of Incorporation, the Company shall distribute such dividends on the Thirteenth Series of Class XIII Preferred Stock (hereinafter referred to as the “Thirteenth Series of Class XIII Preferred Stock Dividends”) by cash in such amount per share of the Thirteenth Series of Class XIII Preferred Stock as provided for in (B) below to shareholders of the Thirteenth Series of Class XIII Preferred Stock (hereinafter referred to as the “Shareholders of the Thirteenth Series of Class XIII Preferred Stock”) or registered stock pledgees in respect of the Thirteenth Series of Class XIII Preferred Stock (hereinafter referred to as the “Registered Thirteenth Series of Class XIII Preferred Stock Pledgees”) in priority to holders of common stock (hereinafter referred to as the “Shareholders of Common Stock”) or registered stock pledgees in respect of common stock (hereinafter referred to as the “Registered Common Stock Pledgees”); provided, however, that in the case where all or a part of the Thirteenth Series of Class XIII Preferred Stock Interim Dividends provided for in (C) below have been paid in the relevant business year, the amount so paid shall be reduced accordingly.

 

25


Current Terms and Conditions

  

Proposed Amendments

(B) Amount of Preferred Stock Dividends

 

30,000 yen per share per year.

  

(B) Amount of Preferred Stock Dividends

 

30 yen per share per year.

(C) Preferred Stock Interim Dividends

 

In case the Company makes interim dividends as provided for in Article 53 of the Articles of Incorporation, the Company shall distribute dividends from its surplus by cash in one half (1/2) of the amount of the Thirteenth Series of Class XIII Preferred Stock Dividends provided for in (B) above (hereinafter referred to as the “Thirteenth Series of Class XIII Preferred Stock Interim Dividends”) to the Shareholders of Thirteenth Series of Class XIII Preferred Stock or Registered Thirteenth Series of Class XIII Preferred Stock Pledgees in priority to the Shareholders of Common Stock, Registered Common Stock Pledgees or holders of fractional shares in respect of common stock.

  

(C) Preferred Stock Interim Dividends

 

In case the Company makes interim dividends as provided for in Article 55 of the Articles of Incorporation, the Company shall distribute dividends from its surplus by cash in one half (1/2) of the amount of the Thirteenth Series of Class XIII Preferred Stock Dividends provided for in (B) above (hereinafter referred to as the “Thirteenth Series of Class XIII Preferred Stock Interim Dividends”) to the Shareholders of Thirteenth Series of Class XIII Preferred Stock or Registered Thirteenth Series of Class XIII Preferred Stock Pledgees in priority to the Shareholders of Common Stock or Registered Common Stock Pledgees.

(D) Non-cumulative clause

 

In any given business year, if all or a part of the Thirteenth Series of Class XIII Preferred Stock Dividends have not been paid to the Shareholders of the Thirteenth Series of Class XIII Preferred Stock or Registered Thirteenth Series of Class XIII Preferred Stock Pledgees, the unpaid amount shall not be accumulated for the subsequent business years.

  

(D) Non-cumulative clause

 

                                                  (Unchanged)

(E) Non-participation clause

 

The Company shall not distribute dividends from its surplus to any Shareholder of the Thirteenth Series of Class XIII Preferred Stock or any Registered Thirteenth Series of Class XIII Preferred Stock Pledgee, in excess of the amount of the relevant Thirteenth Series of Class XIII Preferred Stock Dividends.

  

(E) Non-participation clause

 

                                                  (Unchanged)

(11) Distribution of Residual Assets

 

In case the Company makes a distribution of residual assets, the Company shall pay 1,000,000 yen per share of the Thirteenth Series of Class XIII Preferred Stock to the Shareholders of the Thirteenth Series of Class XIII Preferred Stock or Registered Thirteenth Series of Class XIII Preferred Stock Pledgees in priority to the Shareholders of Common Stock, Registered Common Stock Pledgees or holders of fractional shares in respect of common stock. No distribution of residual assets, other than the distribution provided for in the preceding sentence, shall be made to any Shareholder of the Thirteenth Series of Class XIII Preferred Stock or any Registered Thirteenth Series of Class XIII Preferred Stock Pledgee.

  

(11) Distribution of Residual Assets

 

In case the Company makes a distribution of residual assets, the Company shall pay 1,000 yen per share of the Thirteenth Series of Class XIII Preferred Stock to the Shareholders of the Thirteenth Series of Class XIII Preferred Stock or Registered Thirteenth Series of Class XIII Preferred Stock Pledgees in priority to the Shareholders of Common Stock or Registered Common Stock Pledgees. No distribution of residual assets, other than the distribution provided for in the preceding sentence, shall be made to any Shareholder of the Thirteenth Series of Class XIII Preferred Stock or any Registered Thirteenth Series of Class XIII Preferred Stock Pledgee.

 

26


Current Terms and Conditions

  

Proposed Amendments

(14) Provisions for Acquisition

 

On or after April 1, 2013, the Company may acquire, at the acquisition price as set forth below, all or a part of the Thirteenth Series of Class XIII Preferred Stock on the date separately determined by a resolution of a general meeting of shareholders. Partial acquisition shall be made by way of lot or pro rata allocation. The acquisition price shall be 1,000,000 yen per share plus an amount equivalent to any accrued dividends. The “amount equivalent to any accrued dividends” set forth above shall be an amount per day of the amount of the Thirteenth Series of Class XIII Preferred Stock Dividends during the period from and including the initial date of the business year to which the acquisition date belongs up to and including the acquisition date, and such calculation shall be made to units of 0.1 yen, by rounding up to the nearest one (1) yen when equal to or more than 0.5 yen and disregarding amounts less than 0.5 yen; provided, however, that in the case where the Thirteenth Series of Class XIII Preferred Stock Interim Dividends have been paid in the relevant business year, the amount so paid shall be reduced accordingly.

  

(14) Provisions for Acquisition

 

On or after April 1, 2013, the Company may acquire, at the acquisition price as set forth below, all or a part of the Thirteenth Series of Class XIII Preferred Stock on the date separately determined by a resolution of a general meeting of shareholders. Partial acquisition shall be made by way of lot or pro rata allocation. The acquisition price shall be 1,000 yen per share plus an amount equivalent to any accrued dividends. The “amount equivalent to any accrued dividends” set forth above shall be an amount per day of the amount of the Thirteenth Series of Class XIII Preferred Stock Dividends during the period from and including the initial date of the business year to which the acquisition date belongs up to and including the acquisition date, and such calculation shall be made to units of 0.0001 yen, by rounding up to the nearest 0.001 yen when equal to or more than 0.0005 yen and disregarding amounts less than 0.0005 yen; provided, however, that in the case where the Thirteenth Series of Class XIII Preferred Stock Interim Dividends have been paid in the relevant business year, the amount so paid shall be reduced accordingly.

   Supplementary Provision
(Newly established)   

Any amendment pursuant to the resolution of the 6th ordinary general meeting of shareholders of the Company shall take effect on the date the “Law for Partial Amendments to the Law Concerning Book-entry Transfer of Corporate Bonds and Other Securities for the Purpose of Streamlining the Settlement of Trades of Stocks and Other Securities” (Law No. 88 of 2004, the “Settlement Rationalization Law”) becomes effective.

This Supplementary Provision shall be deleted on the day immediately after the date the Settlement Rationalization Law becomes effective.

 

27


Proposal 4: Appointment of two (2) Directors

Two (2) Directors, Messrs. Masato Ono and Satoru Nishibori will resign from their respective office of Director shortly. Accordingly, the Company proposes the appointment of two (2) new Directors.

The candidates for Directors are as follows:

 

Candidate

No.

  

Name

(Date of Birth)

  

Brief Personal Record, Representative Status in Other Corporations, etc., and

Title and Assignment in the Company

   Number of Shares
of Stock of the
Company held

1

  

Takashi

Tsukamoto

(August 2, 1950)

   April 1974    Joined The Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank, Limited    37 Shares
of
Common
Stock
     

April 2002

   Executive Officer / General Manager of Human Resources Division of Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd.   
     

March 2003

   Managing Executive Officer / Head of Risk Management Group,
Head of Human Resources Group and General Manager of
Post-retirement Counseling of the Company
  
      February 2004    Managing Executive Officer / Head of Risk Management Group and Head of Human Resources Group   
      April 2004    Managing Executive Officer / Head of Europe, Middle East and Africa of Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd.   
      March 2006    Managing Director / Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Financial Officer   
      April 2007    Deputy President   
      April 2008    Deputy President-Executive Officer / Head of Financial Control and Accounting Group of the Company (current)   
      April 2008   

President & CEO of Mizuho Financial Strategy Co., Ltd. (current)

 

  
         

(Representative Status in Other Corporations, etc.)
President & CEO of Mizuho Financial Strategy Co., Ltd.

 

    

2

  

Tsuneo
Morita

(April 29, 1954)

   April 1978    Joined The Fuji Bank, Limited    13 Shares
of
Common
Stock
      April 2002    General Manager of Kichijoji Branch of Mizuho Bank, Ltd.   
      April 2003    Senior Manager of Administration of the Company   
      July 2003    General Manager for Administration   
      August 2003    General Manager of Administration   
      March 2006    Executive Officer / General Manager of Administration   
          April 2008   

Managing Executive Officer / Head of Internal Audit Group (current)

 

    

 

28


Proposal 5: Appointment of two (2) Corporate Auditors

The term of office of Mr. Masahiko Kadotani, Corporate Auditor, will expire at the closing of this ordinary general meeting of shareholders, and Mr. Shigeru Yamamoto will resign from Corporate Auditor at the closing of this ordinary general meeting of shareholders. Accordingly, the Company proposes the appointment of two (2) new Corporate Auditors.

The candidates for Corporate Auditors are as set forth below.

The Board of Corporate Auditors has approved this Proposal in advance.

 

Candidate

No.

  

Name

(Date of Birth)

  

Brief Personal Record, Representative Status in Other Corporations, etc., and

Title and Assignment in the Company

   Number of Shares
of Stock of the
Company held

1

  

Tsuneo
Muneoka

(May 14, 1951)

   April 1976    Joined The Industrial Bank of Japan, Limited    8 Shares
of
Common
Stock
      April 2002    General Manager of Financial Planning Division of Mizuho Bank, Ltd.   
      April 2004    Executive Officer / General Manager of Financial Planning Division   
      April 2005    Managing Executive Officer   
          April 2008   

Advisor (current)

 

  

2

  

Masami
Ishizaka

(December 5, 1939)

   April 1963    Joined Ministry of Finance    24 Shares
of
Common
Stock
      June 1993    Director-General of the Financial Bureau   
      July 1994    Director-General of the Planning and Co-ordination Bureau of Environment Agency   
      July 1995    Administrative Vice Minister   
      July 1996    Vice Chairman of Automobile Insurance Rating Organization of Japan   
      July 1998    Executive Vice President of Japan National Oil Corporation   
      March 2004    Advisor   
      July 2004    Vice Chairman of The General Insurance Association of Japan   
      September 2007   

Chairman of Okura Zaimu Kyokai (current)

 

  
         

(Representative Status in Other Corporations, etc.)
Chairman of Okura Zaimu Kyokai

    

 

29


(Notes)

   1.    Mr. Tsuneo Muneoka, one of the candidates for Corporate Auditor, has accepted to assume the office of Corporate Auditor immediately after the closing of this ordinary general meeting of shareholders following his retirement from his position as Advisor of Mizuho Bank, Ltd.
   2.    Mr. Masami Ishizaka is a “candidate for outside corporate auditor” provided for in Article 2, Paragraph 3, Item 8 of the Enforcement Regulations of the Company Law of Japan. And he has accepted to assume the office of Corporate Auditor immediately after the closing of this ordinary general meeting of shareholders.
   3.    Reasons for Appointment of Candidates for Outside Corporate Auditors, Independence as Outside Corporate Auditors and Liability Limitation Agreements with Outside Corporate Auditors.

 

  (1) Reasons for Appointment of Candidates for Outside Corporate Auditors, Independence as Outside Corporate Auditors

The Company proposes to appoint Mr. Masami Ishizaka based on its conclusion that he will be able to contribute to maintaining and improving the corporate governance level of the Company by making use of his high degree of expertise gained through the experience of his duties as the Director-General of the Financial Bureau, Ministry of Finance, etc. Although he has not been engaged in management of a company other than in his career as an outside director and outside corporate auditor, the Company believes he will fulfill the audit duties of the Company appropriately due to his high degree of expertise.

 

  (2) Liability Limitation Agreements with Outside Corporate Auditors

Pursuant to the provisions of Article 427, Paragraph 1 of the Company Law of Japan (the “Law”), the Company is expected to enter into a liability limitation agreement with Mr. Masami Ishizaka which will limit the liability provided for in Article 423, Paragraph 1 of the Law to the higher of either (i) the pre-determined amount not less than JPY 20 million or (ii) the amount prescribed in laws and regulations, provided that such Outside Corporate Auditor is bona fide and without gross negligence in performing his duty.

 

30


Proposal  6:  Revision of the remuneration of Directors and Corporate Auditors, and determination of the amount and specific details of stock option remuneration

 

1. Since the establishment of the Company, the maximum aggregate amount of remuneration for Directors (not including the salary for non-Director related services paid to Directors who are also employees of the Company) has been JPY45 million per month and the maximum aggregate amount of remuneration for Corporate Auditors has been JPY15 million per month. The Company hereby proposes, as part of its revisions to the compensation program for Directors and Officers, that it abolish the retirement allowances program for Directors and Officers and that the remuneration for Directors and Corporate Auditors be revised as set forth below.

The Company proposes that each category of remuneration described below be paid separately, and the remuneration for Directors shall not include the salaries for non-Director services paid to Directors who are also employees of the Company.

 

(1) Directors

 

  (i) Annual remuneration

The Company proposes that the remuneration for Directors (including Outside Directors) be paid annually rather than monthly in order for the Company to put a more flexible remuneration policy into effect and that the maximum amount thereof shall be JPY540 million per year, which is the aggregate annual amount of the maximum monthly remuneration of JPY45 million, for current Directors (including Outside Directors).

The amount of annual remuneration for Directors (excluding Outside Directors) was calculated based on factors such as the business executed by, and the degree of contribution of, each Director. In addition, the amount of annual remuneration for the Outside Directors was calculated based on the activities as an Outside Director and the degree of contribution of each Outside Director.

 

  (ii) Remuneration in the form of stock options (stock acquisition rights)

As a separate category from the aforementioned remuneration for the Directors, the Company seeks shareholders’ approval to establish remuneration in the form of stock options (stock acquisition rights) in an amount not to exceed JPY200 million per year for Directors (excluding Outside Directors) of the Company. While the Company proposes to abolish the retirement allowances program for Directors and Officers, it proposes, as an alternative to such retirement allowances program, to make available allotments of stock acquisition rights to Directors (excluding Outside Directors) of the Company within the limits described below, for the purpose of allowing them to share the benefits and risks associated with stock price changes with our shareholders and thereby further strengthen the Directors’ motivation to contribute to increases in the stock price and profits of the Company. The stock acquisition rights are “stock compensation-type stock options” under which the amount to be paid in per share that is to be issued or transferred upon the exercise of such stock acquisition rights shall be one (1) yen.

 

31


The amount of remuneration in the form of stock acquisition rights as stock compensation-type stock options for Directors (excluding Outside Directors) of the Company was determined based on the factors such as the business executed by, and the degree of contribution of, a Director of the Company. In addition, the specific details of the stock acquisition rights were determined, taking into account the fact that the stock acquisition rights would be issued as “stock compensation-type stock options.”

In addition, in lieu of the payment based on the fair value upon the issuance of stock acquisition rights as stock compensation-type stock options, the payment is deemed to be made by offsetting such payment with the Directors’ claim for remuneration based on the stock options (stock acquisition rights) pursuant to this Proposal.

In light of these reasons, the Company believes that the content of stock acquisition rights as stock compensation-type stock options is appropriate.

 

(2) Corporate Auditors

 

  (i) Annual remuneration

The Company proposes that the remuneration for the Corporate Auditors be paid annually rather than monthly, in order for the Company to put a more flexible remuneration policy into effect, and the amount thereof shall not exceed JPY180 million per year, which is the aggregate annual amount of the monthly remuneration of JPY15 million, for current Corporate Auditors.

The amount of annual remuneration for Corporate Auditors was calculated based on the activities, etc., as a Corporate Auditor.

 

  (ii) Remuneration regarding stock acquisition rights as stock options

The retirement allowances program for Directors and Officers will be abolished, but a category of remuneration in the form of stock acquisition rights will not be established for Corporate Auditors.

 

2. Number of Directors and Corporate Auditors

The current number of Directors is nine (9) (including three (3) Outside Directors), and the current number of Corporate Auditors is five (5). If Proposal 4 and Proposal 5 were approved as proposed, the number of Directors will remain nine (9) (including three (3) Outside Directors), and the number of Corporate Auditors will remain five (5).

 

32


3. The Company proposes that the specific details of the stock options (stock acquisition rights) to Directors (excluding Outside Directors) be as follows.

 

  (i) Class and Number of Shares to be Issued or Transferred upon Exercise of Stock Acquisition Rights

The class of shares to be issued or transferred upon the exercise of stock acquisition rights shall be shares of common stock of the Company.

The maximum number of shares to be issued or transferred upon the exercise of the stock acquisition rights that may be issued to Directors (excluding Outside Directors) within one (1) year after the date of each ordinary general meeting of shareholders shall be a total of 500 shares per year. In the event that the number of shares to be issued or transferred upon the exercise of each stock acquisition right (the “Number of Granted Shares”) is adjusted, the total number of shares to be issued or transferred upon the exercise of the stock acquisition rights that may be issued to Directors (excluding Outside Directors) within one (1) year after the date of each ordinary general meeting of shareholders shall not exceed the number obtained by multiplying the Number of Granted Shares after adjustment by the maximum number of stock acquisition rights allotted to the Directors (excluding the Outside Directors), as described in (ii) below.

The Number of Granted Shares shall be one (1) share of common stock of the Company.

In the event that the Company conducts a stock split, an allotment of shares without consideration or an allotment of shares or fractions of a share without consideration, or the Company consolidates the shares of common stock of the Company, the Number of Granted Shares shall be adjusted in accordance with the following formula and any fraction less than one (1) share resulting from the adjustment shall be disregarded:

 

 

Number of

Granted Shares            =

after adjustment

 

 

Number of

Granted Shares                x

before adjustment

  Ratio of stock split, allotment of shares without consideration, allotment of shares or fractions of a share without consideration, or stock consolidation  

Furthermore, if the Company conducts any mergers or corporate splits, or if any other events occur that require an adjustment of the Number of Granted Shares in a manner similar to such events, the Company may appropriately adjust the Number of Granted Shares to a reasonable extent.

 

  (ii) Aggregate Number of Stock Acquisition Rights

The number of stock acquisition rights which shall be allotted to Directors (excluding Outside Directors) within one (1) year after the date of each ordinary general meeting of shareholders shall not exceed a total of 500 per year.

 

33


  (iii) Amount to be Paid upon Allotment of Stock Acquisition Rights

The amount to be paid upon allotment of one (1) stock acquisition right shall be an amount determined by the Board of Directors of the Company based on the fair value of such stock acquisition right, which shall be calculated in accordance with a fair calculation method, such as the Black-Scholes model, upon allotment of such stock acquisition right.

 

  (iv) Amount of Assets to be Contributed upon Exercise of Stock Acquisition Rights

The amount of assets to be contributed upon the exercise of each stock acquisition right shall be an amount obtained by multiplying the amount to be paid-in per share to be issued or transferred upon the exercise of such stock acquisition right (which shall be one (1) yen) by the Number of Granted Shares.

 

  (v) Period During which Stock Acquisition Rights May be Exercised

The period during which the stock acquisition rights may be exercised shall be determined by the Board of Directors of the Company to begin no earlier than the date of the allotment of such stock acquisition rights and end no later than 20 years from such date.

 

  (vi) Restrictions on the Acquisition of Stock Acquisition Rights Through Transfer

The acquisition of stock acquisition rights through transfer shall require the approval by a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

  (vii) Other Conditions for the Exercise of Stock Acquisition Rights

Other conditions for the exercise of stock acquisition rights, including the condition that any Director (excluding Outside Directors) of the Company who is a holder of stock acquisition rights may exercise such stock acquisition rights on or after the time when such holder ceases to be a Director of the Company, shall be determined by the Board of Directors of the Company when the terms and conditions of offering the stock acquisition rights and other matters are determined.

 

34


Proposal  7:  Grant of retirement allowances to the retiring Directors and the retiring Corporate Auditor, and payment of lump-sum retirement allowances to the Directors and the Corporate Auditor, due to the abolishment of the retirement allowances program for Directors and Corporate Auditors

The Company proposes to grant the retirement allowance to (i) each of Messrs. Masato Ono and Satoru Nishibori, both of whom will resign shortly from their respective positions as Director, and (ii) Mr. Shigeru Yamamoto, who will resign from his position as Corporate Auditor at the close of this ordinary general meeting of shareholders. The purpose of each retirement allowance is to reward the aforementioned persons for their services during their respective terms of offices, in an amount not exceeding the applicable amount determined in accordance with the Company’s established rules. The Company seeks shareholders’ approval to give discretion to the Board of Directors (with respect to retiring Directors) and the Corporate Auditors (with respect to retiring Corporate Auditor) to determine the actual amount, timing of presentation, method and related details regarding the retirement allowance to be awarded to the aforementioned retiring Directors and retiring Corporate Auditor, based on discussions within the Board of Directors and among the Corporate Auditors, respectively.

The respective brief personal records of the aforementioned retiring Directors and retiring Corporate Auditor are as follows:

 

Name

  

Brief Personal Record

Masato Ono

  

June 2007

     Deputy President / Head of Internal Audit Group of the Company
   April 2008      Director (to the present)

Satoru Nishibori

  

June 2004

     Managing Director / Head of Financial Control and Accounting Group of the Company
   April 2008      Director (to the present)

Shigeru Yamamoto

   June 2007      Corporate Auditor (full-time) of the Company (to the present)

In addition, as part of the revisions to the compensation program for Directors and Officers, the Company will abolish its retirement allowances program for Directors and Officers (a program which was based heavily on seniority) at the close of this ordinary general meeting of shareholders.

Accordingly, the Company proposes to grant a lump-sum retirement allowance to: (i) each of the following four (4) incumbent Directors: Messrs. Terunobu Maeda, Hiroshi Motoyama, Hiroshi Saito and Seiji Sugiyama and (ii) incumbent Corporate Auditor, Mr. Yoshiaki Sugita. The purpose of these retirement allowances is to reward the aforementioned persons for their service during their years with the Company which will end at the close of this ordinary general meeting of shareholders. It is proposed that with respect to the respective terms of office of the aforementioned persons, which terms will continue up through the close of this ordinary general meeting of shareholders, payment of each of the lump-sum retirement allowances will be made in an amount not exceeding the applicable amount determined in accordance with the Company’s established rules. With respect to Outside Directors and Outside Corporate Auditors, the retirement allowances program was abolished in the previous fiscal year.

Furthermore, the Company proposes that each of the allowances be presented at the time of retirement of each Director and Corporate Auditor, and the Company seeks shareholders’ approval to give discretion to the Board of Directors (with respect to retiring Directors) and the Corporate Auditors (with respect to retiring Corporate Auditor) to determine the actual amount and method of presentation, etc., of the allowance to the aforementioned Directors and Corporate Auditor, based on discussions within the Board of Directors and among the Corporate Auditors, respectively.

 

35


The respective brief personal records of the aforementioned Directors and Corporate Auditor are as follows:

 

Name

  

Brief Personal Record

Terunobu Maeda

   January 2003      President and CEO of the Company (to the present)

Hiroshi Motoyama

   June 2007      Managing Director / Head of Strategic Planning Group and Head of IT, Systems & Operations Group of the Company (to the present)

Hiroshi Saito

   January 2003      Director (to the present)

Seiji Sugiyama

   June 2003      Deputy President / Head of IT, Systems & Operations Group of the Company
   March 2004      Director (to the present)

Yoshiaki Sugita

   June 2005      Corporate Auditor (full-time) of the Company (to the present)

-End of Document-

 

36


Access to the 6th Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders Site

Place: Hall A, Tokyo International Forum

   5-1, Marunouchi 3-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

 

The nearest stations:

 

  JR Line

   Yurakucho Station
     Tokyo Station
 

  Subway

   Yurakucho Station(Yurakucho Line)
     Tokyo Station (Marunouchi Line)
     Hibiya Station (Mita Line, Hibiya Line, Chiyoda Line)
     Ginza Station (Marunouchi Line, Hibiya Line, Ginza Line)
     Nijubashimae Station (Chiyoda Line)

[Map]

LOGO

Notice: No parking lot is reserved for attendees. We suggest the use of public transportation.


[Translation]

Voting Form

To: Mizuho Financial Group, Inc.

 

      Shareholder Number   Number of Exercisable Voting Rights
   *******   *********

With respect to each proposal at the 6th Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders of Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. held as of June 26, 2008 (including its adjourned meetings or adjournments), I hereby exercise my voting rights as follows (Approval or disapproval is indicated by putting circles below.).

June [    ], 2008

 

Proposal

   Proposal 1    Proposal 2    Proposal 3    Proposal 4   Proposal 5   Proposal 6    Proposal 7
Approval or Disapproval for the Original Proposal    Approval

Disapproval

   Approval

Disapproval

   Approval

Disapproval

   Approval

(Except            )

Disapproval

  Approval

(Except            )

Disapproval

  Approval

Disapproval

   Approval

Disapproval

 

 

 

 

No indication of your approval or disapproval for each of proposals shall be treated as approval.

 

 

If you exercise your voting rights twice, in writing and via the internet, we will only accept the exercise of your voting rights via the internet as effective.

 

 

If you exercise your voting rights more than once via the internet, we will only accept the last exercise of your voting rights as effective.

Mizuho Financial Group, Inc.

 

 

 

Number of shares of stock you hold:

   *****shares

Number of shares of stock registered in the register of shareholders out of the shares you hold:

   *****shares

Number of shares of stock registered in the register of beneficial shareholders out of the shares you hold:

   *****shares

 

Code for exercise of voting rights:

  **************

Password:

  ******

NOTICE

 

1. If you attend the general meeting of shareholders, please submit this voting form without cutting off this portion to the reception at the entrance to the meeting place.

 

2. If you are not able to attend the general meeting of shareholders, we request that you exercise your voting rights in one of the following ways.

 

  (a) Exercise of voting rights in writing

Please cut off this portion and return the left voting form to us so as to reach us by no later than 5:00 p.m. on June 25, 2008 on which your approval or disapproval is indicated.

 

  (b) Exercise of voting rights by electromagnetic method (using the internet, etc.)

Please access the website for exercising voting rights (http://www.it-soukai.com/) and exercise your voting rights via the internet by no later than 5:00 p.m. on June 25, 2008 following the directions on the screen.

 

3. In addition, if you disapprove of any of the candidates in the proposals of appointment of Directors and Corporate Auditors, please circle “Approval” and enter the candidate number of the candidate you disapprove of in the bracket (Each candidate is numbered consecutively in the “Reference Materials for the Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders” attached to the “Convocation Notice of the 6th Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders”.).

Mizuho Financial Group, Inc.


[Translation]

(Securities Code: 8411)

(Materials Attached to the Notice of Convocation of the 6th Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders)

Report for the 6th Fiscal Year

(from April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2008)

LOGO

Mizuho Financial Group, Inc.


Table of Contents

Materials Attached to the Notice of Convocation of the 6th Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders

 

         Page

Business Report for the 6th Fiscal Year (from April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2008)

  

1.

 

Matters Regarding the Current State of the Company

  
 

(1) Developments and Results of Operations, etc. of the Mizuho Financial Group

   1
 

(2) Changes in Financial Conditions and Results of Operations

   10
 

(3) Employees of the Group

   12
 

(4) Principal Offices

   13
 

(5) Capital Investment (Consolidated Basis)

   14
 

(6) Principal Subsidiaries

   15
 

(7) Major Borrowings

   17

2.

 

Matters regarding the Officers

   18

3.

 

Matters regarding Outside Officers

   22

4.

 

Matters regarding MHFG’s Shares

   25

5.

 

Matters regarding the Independent Auditor

   28

6.

 

Structure to Ensure Appropriate Conduct of Operations

   29

(Consolidated Basis)

Consolidated Balance Sheet (As of March 31, 2008)

   32

Consolidated Statement of Income (for the fiscal year ended March, 2008)

   33

Consolidated Statement of Changes In Net Assets (for the fiscal year ended March, 2008)

   34

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

   35

Report of Independent Auditors

   50

Audit Report on the Consolidated Financial Statements

   51

(Non-consolidated Basis)

Non-Consolidated Balance Sheet (As of March 31, 2008)

   52

Non-Consolidated Statement of Income (for the fiscal year ended March, 2008)

   53

Non-Consolidated Statement of Changes In Net Assets (for the fiscal year ended March, 2008)

   54

Notes to Non-Consolidated Financial Statements

   55

Report of Independent Auditors

   60

Audit Report

   61

Announcement Regarding Setting up a Limit for Repurchase of Own Stock

   63

*            *            *            *             *            *

(Reference)

I. Consolidated Financial Data of Mizuho Financial Group, Inc.

   64

II. Aggregated Figures of Mizuho Bank, Ltd., Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd.

   65

III. Consolidated Financial Data of Mizuho Securities Co., Ltd.

   67


[Translation]

Business Report for the 6th Fiscal Year

(from April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2008)

1. Matters Regarding the Current State of the Company

(1) Developments and Results of Operations, etc. of the Mizuho Financial Group

Financial and Economic Environment

Looking back over the global economic climate during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008, in addition to the sharp slowdown of the U.S. economy due to slower growth in personal consumption, declines in housing investment or other causes attributable mainly to the subprime loan problem, the European economy also seems to be slowing down and there has been concern about its effect on the world economy, including Asia. Especially during the latter half of the fiscal year, the turmoil caused by the subprime loan problem, such as rapidly rising concerns over liquidity risks on securitized instruments, expanded in the international financial and capital markets. As a result, global financial institutions announced one after another significant losses and their capital reinforcement to cover such losses, and the unstable situation still continues. As for the Japanese economy, while soaring prices of crude oil and raw materials are damping growth of corporate earnings, the turmoil in the financial and capital markets and the rapid rise in the yen’s exchange rate started to have an influence on the actual economy in 2008. As a result, business sentiment is worsening.

Japanese stock prices held firm during the first half of the fiscal year but dropped substantially during the latter half of the period in the wake of an increasingly intensified downturn in the U.S. economy. In spite of a temporary rise in long-term yen interest rates at the beginning of the fiscal year, the rates turned downward during the latter half of the period due to the declining trends in U.S. interest rates, etc., and remained below the levels at the beginning of the fiscal year.

Financial institutions are required to further strengthen the system of internal controls in response to global concerns over the economic slowdown and turmoil in the financial and capital markets, especially at a time when financial deregulation, including the broadening of the scope of services that may be offered, is being promoted . In this changing economic environment, it becomes ever more important for Mizuho Financial Group (the “Group”) to secure a competitive edge over our rivals and further strengthen profitability while further enhancing corporate governance such as risk management.

Main Businesses of the Group

The Group is composed of Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. (“MHFG”), 146 consolidated subsidiaries and 21 affiliates under the equity method. The Group engages in banking, securities, trust, asset management and other financial businesses.

 

1


Developments and Results of Operations

For fiscal 2007, the Group has, for purposes of enhancing profitability under solid internal control systems, steadily advanced its “Business Portfolio Strategy” and “Corporate Management Strategy” as action programs under its business strategy, the “Channel to Discovery” Plan, in order to gain recognition as a global financial group.

It was, however, deeply regrettable that our performance estimates had to be significantly revised downward, mainly due to the significant losses recognized by Mizuho Securities Co., Ltd. (“MHSC”) from the turmoil in the financial markets caused by the subprime loan problem. The Group will, through a thorough examination of the issues that caused this situation, fundamentally review its internal control systems in order to enhance the Group’s future management.

[Business Portfolio Strategy]

The three global groups established on the basis of customer needs (the Global Corporate Group, Global Retail Group, and Global Asset & Wealth Management Group) implemented various measures to further strengthen profitability by leveraging their respective characteristics.

(Global Corporate Group)

Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd. (“MHCB”) strongly expanded its global reach in order to establish a complete support system to meet various customer needs both in Japan and overseas. To further reinforce its overseas network, MHCB opened branches in Milan and Toronto, established Mizuho Corporate Bank (China), Ltd. and opened its Tianjin Branch in China. MHCB also entered into strategic alliances with major financial institutions in China and India. As for the syndicated loan business, which the Group has continued to focus on, MHCB strengthened its global structure by further cooperating with its offices in New York, London, Shanghai, etc., and contributed to the expansion of the loan trading market that is considered essential for restructuring the financial system and facilitating the smooth flow of funds. MHCB also achieved steady results globally in areas that require advanced financial skills such as project financing.

Although Mizuho Securities Co., Ltd. (“MHSC”) developed advanced services consisting of three pillars: corporate bonds, equities and investment banking, MHSC regretfully has recognized losses exceeding JPY 400 billion resulting from the turmoil in the financial markets caused by the subprime loan problem. Taking into consideration these unfavorable results, we are fundamentally strengthening our risk management systems.

Because the turmoil in the financial markets is still ongoing and the electronic share certificate system is scheduled to be implemented in January 2009, the merger between MHSC and Shinko Securities Co., Ltd. has been postponed from May 2008 to May 2009 (scheduled).

 

2


Management Structure of Mizuho Financial Group, Inc.

LOGO

 

3


(Global Retail Group)

Mizuho Bank, Ltd. (“MHBK”) implemented various measures to provide individual customers with ample convenience and security. MHBK increased the number of “Mizuho Personal Squares,” which are branches that are designed to focus on serving individual customers, to 135. To further strengthen its consulting business, MHBK increased the number of financial consultants who offer various proposals to individual customers, deployed “Premium Salons,” which is a designated space located in our branches for private consultations with customers, at 312 branches, and offered services on bank holidays at 17 branches. MHBK also enhanced its ability to meet its customers’ one-stop shopping needs for banking, trust and securities services by increasing the number of securities consulting booths to 134 located in the lobbies of branches and offices, which we call “Planet Booths,” that offer the services of Mizuho Investors Securities Co., Ltd. and by selling trust products at all branches as agents of MHTB. MHBK enhanced its services for “Mizuho Mileage Club,” which is a benefits club with a membership now exceeding 5 million, including by issuing a co-branded card under a tie-up with All Nippon Airways (ANA). MHBK introduced new and reinforced security measures for its internet banking service, “Mizuho Direct,” such as “one-time password” authentication that makes use of different passwords for each transaction. In order to enhance customers’ convenience, MHBK began mutual usage of biometric authentication ATMs with a growing number of financial institutions that issue ATM cards that utilize finger vein pattern authentication.

For corporate customers, MHBK proactively responded to the financial needs of customers through loan staff that focus on new loans and “Mizuho Business Financial Centers” which primarily engage in loans to smaller enterprises. Further, MHBK collaborated with other group companies and developed a system to promote solution businesses so that MHBK could offer wide-ranging solutions for customer business strategies such as business successions, M&As, business-to-business matching services and advisory services on global expansion.

(Global Asset & Wealth Management Group)

Mizuho Trust & Banking Co., Ltd. (“MHTB”) focused on strengthening its trust and asset management businesses such as pensions, investment management, real estate transactions, securitization, trust & custody, and stock transfer agent businesses. MHTB achieved successful results in business areas such as acceptances for trusteeships of assets under investment trusts and testamentary trusts by appropriately satisfying the demands of its customers through its high-quality and professional capabilities. MHTB was also actively involved in creating new trust businesses, including trust services for the management of CO2 gas emission rights.

Mizuho Private Wealth Management Co., Ltd. offers comprehensive and integrated private banking services, comparable to those found in the U.S. and Europe, in compliance with Japanese laws and regulations.

Mizuho Asset Management Co., Ltd. (formed by the merger of Dai-Ichi Kangyo Asset Management Co., Ltd. and Fuji Investment Management Co., Ltd. in July 2007) and DIAM Co., Ltd. (formerly DLIBJ Asset Management Co., Ltd. which changed its company name in January 2008) aim to provide high-quality services and to win high levels of customer satisfaction as core companies in the asset management business of the Group.

 

4


[Corporate Management Strategy]

As part of the corporate management strategy outlined in the “Channel to Discovery” Plan, we have worked to build a solid internal control system, promoted CSR (corporate social responsibility) and reinforced our brand strategy.

With regard to our internal control system, MHFG, as a New York Stock Exchange listed company, established a system for financial disclosure based on U.S. GAAP, a major global accounting standard, and established disclosure and internal control practices in compliance with the U.S. Sarbanes-Oxley Act, an accounting and reporting standard recognized as among the strictest of its kind in the world today. In order to further promote customer protection and forestall any violation of laws, we have strengthened our compliance structure in various ways, including building a system for early detection of problems.

As for CSR activities, MHFG has been making efforts to reduce its environmental load by establishing targets for reducing CO2 gas emissions, paper recycling rates and green purchasing rates. In addition, MHFG has continued its active support for financial education for the next generation, the bearers of the country’s future. MHFG has provided Mizuho-sponsored courses and lectures organized by key personnel dispatched from group companies to Kyoto University, Keio University, University of Tokyo, Hitotsubashi University and Waseda University. We have also carried out joint research in financial education with Tokyo Gakugei University. Together with the Export-Import Bank of China and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), MHCB started to examine the feasibility of providing financial support to promote exchanges in areas of energy-saving and the environment in China. MHBK actively provided financial support to companies positively engaged in environmental issues by offering environment-related loan products and proactively supported the environment-conscious management of small and medium-sized businesses by using business-to-business matching schemes. Aiming to become “a bank that is accessible to anyone regardless of age, gender or disability,” MHBK continued its efforts to make its branches barrier-free.

Under our brand strategy, we actively promoted our brand slogan, “Channel to Discovery,” both internally and externally. The slogan represents the role the Group will play, not only to realize today’s dreams, but also to discover new possibilities that lie ahead and to create a better future.

 

5


[Results of Operations for fiscal 2007]

Due to the turmoil in the financial markets caused by the subprime loan problem, the Group as a whole (including MHSC) recognized losses in the amount of approximately JPY 645.0 billion. While income from the individual customer-related business, which the Group has focused on , and the market-related business increased as a result of implementing various measures to strengthen profitability, the consolidated figures (146 consolidated subsidiaries and 21 affiliates under the equity method) of Ordinary Profits and Net Income for this fiscal year decreased to JPY 397.1 billion and JPY 311.2 billion, respectively, mainly due to the above reason.

LOGO

Results of operations for the major subsidiaries were as follows:

 

 

     (JPY billion)

Company Name

   Ordinary Income
(Operating Income)
   Ordinary Profits    Net Income

Consolidated Results of MHFG

   4,523.5    397.1    311.2

MHBK (non-consolidated)

   1,441.3    221.9    195.5

MHCB (non-consolidated)

   2,328.3    371.7    (Note 1) (88.7)

MHTB (non-consolidated)

   243.7    78.7    86.7

MHSC (consolidated) (Note 2)

   223.6    (433.6)    (418.6)

 

(Notes)

 

1. Includes JPY (473.1) billion in impairment losses of MHSC.
2. MHSC (non-consolidated): Operating Income: JPY 93.9 billion; Ordinary Profits: JPY (25.6) billion: Net Income: JPY (437.8) billion.

 

6


Our consolidated capital adequacy ratio (BIS Standard) as of March 31, 2008 was maintained at a sufficient level of 11.69%, and the non-performing loan ratio for the three banks (MHBK, MHCB, and MHTB combined) was 1.61%. From this fiscal year, in view of the changes in market conditions, we have employed accounting methods with high transparency in light of USGAAP, such as expanding the scope of marked-to-market valuation applicable to “other securities,” and setting reserve for possible losses on loans scheduled for sale.

As for our capital policy, we repurchased and cancelled all treasury stock (261,040 shares) held by our subsidiary, Mizuho Financial Strategy Co., Ltd. (approximately JPY 220 billion), in May 2007, and we redeemed JPY185.5 billion of preferred debt securities in June 2007. In September 2007, we repurchased and cancelled JPY 150 billion (214,900 shares) of our shares (common stock) for the purpose of, among other things, offsetting the potential dilutive effect of the conversion of the Eleventh Series Class XI preferred stock (JPY 943.7 billion in issued value), in consideration of the possibility that the number of shares of our common stock will increase after the commencement of its conversion period in July 2008. Further, in January 2008, we issued a total of JPY 274.5 billion of non-dilutive preferred debt securities through our overseas special purpose subsidiary to reinforce our capital base.

In addition to the above-mentioned measures in respect of our capital policy implemented in the first half of fiscal 2007, we considered a repurchase and cancellation of our stock for offsetting the potential dilutive effect in the second half of fiscal 2007. However, we were unable to conduct such repurchase and cancellation mainly because our financial results were lower than estimated. Nevertheless, we will continue to repurchase and cancel our stock based on market conditions, our earnings trends and other factors, aiming to complete the process of offsetting the potential dilutive effect in about two years (Expected total amount of repurchase for fiscal 2008 is approximately JPY 400 billion.)

In view of our consolidated financial results, the level of Retained Earnings and other factors, we proposed an increase in the year-end cash dividend per share of common stock for fiscal 2007 to JPY 10,000 to further return profits to our shareholders. We also proposed making dividend payments on preferred stock, as prescribed.

In the future, we will place our management emphasis on ROE (*) from the perspective of effective utilization of our capital and consider returning profits to shareholders while maintaining and strengthening our capital base for future growth.

 

* ROE (Return on Equity)

A financial measure of the effectiveness with which a company uses its equity, etc., to earn profits.

 

7


Issues to be Addressed by the Group

The three global groups organized on the basis of customer needs within the Group will steadily implement the business strategies while maximizing their respective characteristics. The Group companies will work to strengthen profitability by providing the best financial services to their customers through utilization of their respective strengths and promotion of mutual collaboration within the Group. We will also strive to win the further confidence of domestic and overseas customers by establishing a solid compliance structure and advanced risk management system.

[Business Strategy]

(The Global Corporate Group)

Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd. (“MHCB”) will promote its “investment banking strategy” and “global strategy,” with a selective and agile allocation of management resources through careful assessment of the uncertain market conditions. In addition, establishing its global business platform, including risk management, MHCB will aim to become Japan’s top global investment bank by working in collaboration with Mizuho Securities Co. Ltd. (“MHSC”). Specifically, based on the Financial Holding Company (“FHC”) status under the U.S. Bank Holding Company Act which it acquired in December 2006, MHCB will develop its comprehensive investment banking business by combining its banking and securities capabilities in the United States, the world’s largest financial market. With the establishment of Mizuho Corporate Bank (China), which began operations in June 2007, we will further develop business bases in China and expand the network strategically and responsively in the Americas, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. We have been establishing cooperative business relationships with major financial institutions in countries such as China and India through alliances and investments in these financial institutions. We will continuously promote strategic business cooperation with overseas financial institutions in order to complement our branch networks and to support our customers with more fine-tuned services as they expand their businesses globally.

MHSC has already reviewed its internal control systems, including risk management, and worked on strengthening such systems. Moreover, MHSC will strive to reform drastically its business operations by promptly implementing the “Business Restructuring Program” announced in April 2008. In particular, MHSC will aim to restore and strengthen profitability by selectively allocating management resources. In addition, MHSC will steadily promote its plan to strengthen its risk management and overseas office management system for market related business operations. Further, in order to ensure efficient and agile organizational operation, MHSC will promptly streamline its organizational structure by cutting the number of departments in half, while implementing a reduction in workforce of around 300 employees, including voluntary resignations, a 20% reduction in various costs compared with fiscal year 2007 and a reduction of board members’ compensation. Following these actions, MHSC will proceed with thorough preparations necessary to conclude smoothly its merger with Shinko Securities Co., Ltd. in May 2009 (scheduled).

 

8


(The Global Retail Group)

Aiming to become the “strongest retail bank in Japan,” based on its strong customer base and human resources, Mizuho Bank, Ltd. (“MHBK”) will establish a strong revenue base and a highly efficient business model by strategically allocating management resources to promising business areas, managing its loan business by taking credit costs into consideration and further enhancing group collaboration within the Group. Specifically, MHBK will enhance consulting services to individual customers and improve its assets under management by having 500 manned business offices, increasing the number of financial consultants to 4,000, actively establishing “Planet Booths” and building a support system at all branches by the Trust Business Office, all of which are scheduled to be completed by the fiscal year 2010. For corporate customers, MHBK will provide top quality solutions to its customers by re-distributing management resources to high-priority business areas in each locale and customer segment, developing professional personnel through training programs, etc., and strengthening collaboration with the banks, securities companies and trust banks within the Group while reinforcing its system of credit control.

(The Global Asset & Wealth Management Group)

Mizuho Trust & Banking Co., Ltd. (“MHTB”) aims to become “a top brand in asset & wealth management” by further strengthening its consulting and product development capabilities, providing trust services to customers of MHBK and other group companies, promoting business based on the customers’ confidence, thoroughly carrying out internal controls and developing highly professional personnel.

Mizuho Private Wealth Management Co., Ltd. will promote high-quality wealth management and establish its status as a pioneer by further strengthening owner consulting capabilities, developing new products and services tailored to the needs of individual customers and developing professional personnel.

As core companies in the asset management business of the Group, Mizuho Asset Management Co., Ltd. and DIAM Co., Ltd. will respond to the diversified needs of customers.

In our efforts to become “a financial partner that helps customers shape their future and achieve their dreams,” which is an ideal implicit in the Group brand slogan, “Channel to Discovery”, the Group will work to fulfill our social responsibilities and public duties and further promote our corporate values by steadily pursuing business strategies under a solid internal control system and promoting CSR (corporate social responsibility) activities including support for financial education and environmental efforts. We sincerely look forward to the continuing support of our shareholders.

 

9


(2) Changes in Financial Conditions and Results of Operations (Consolidated Basis and Non-consolidated Basis)

a. Changes in Financial Conditions and Results of Operations (Consolidated basis)

 

     (JPY billion)
     FY 2004
(For the fiscal
year ended
March 31, 2005)
   FY 2005
(For the fiscal
year ended
March 31, 2006)
   FY 2006
(For the fiscal
year ended
March 31, 2007)
   FY 2007
(For the fiscal
year ended
March 31, 2008)

Ordinary Income

   3,039.1    3,557.5    4,099.6    4,523.5

Ordinary Profits

   657.4    921.0    748.1    397.1

Net Income

   627.3    649.9    620.9    311.2

Total Net Assets

   3,905.7    4,804.9    6,724.4    5,694.1

Total Assets

   143,076.2    149,612.7    149,880.0    154,412.1

 

(Note)

Amounts less than JPY one hundred million are rounded down.

 

(Reference)

Ordinary Income and Ordinary Profits by type of business for FY 2007 are as follows (Consolidated Basis):

 

     (JPY billion)
     Banking
Business
   Securities
Business
    Other    Elimination     Consolidated
Results

Ordinary Income

   3,989.1    516.5     285.1    (267.3 )   4,523.5

Ordinary Profits

   774.0    (400.5 )   29.7    (6.1 )   397.1

 

10


b. Changes in Financial Conditions and Results of Operations (Non-consolidated basis)

 

     (JPY billion)  
     FY 2004
(For the fiscal
year ended
March 31, 2005)
    FY 2005
(For the fiscal
year ended
March 31, 2006)
    FY 2006
(For the fiscal
year ended
March 31, 2007)
    FY 2007
(For the fiscal
year ended
March 31, 2008)
 

Operating Income

   26.4     128.9     1,250.0     806.5  

Cash Dividends Received

   13.7     112.5     1,220.9     770.8  

Cash Dividends Received from Majority-owned Banking Subsidiaries

   6.9     6.9     265.3     406.5  

Cash Dividends Received from Other Subsidiaries and Affiliates

   6.8     105.6     955.6     364.3  

Net Income

   (millions of yen

30,886

)

 

  (millions of yen

790,240

)

 

  (millions of yen

1,239,710

)

 

  (millions of yen

811,002

)

 

Net Income (Loss) per Share of Common Stock

   (yen

(588.84

)

)

  (yen

63,040.65

)

 

  (yen

102,168.76

)

 

  (yen

68,658.41

)

 

Total Assets

   3,178.6     4,793.0     4,764.0     4,658.9  

Investments in Majority-owned Banking Subsidiaries

   1,500.5     4,420.4     4,411.6     4,389.8  

Investments in Other Subsidiaries and Affiliates

   1,589.2     84.8     84.8     81.3  

 

(Notes)

1. Amounts less than JPY one hundred million are rounded down.

2. Net Income/Loss per share of common stock was computed based upon the following formula:

 

    Net Income (Loss)     per share of     common stock    =      Net Income recognized in the statement of income       –         Amount not attributable to common stock (Cash Dividends on Preferred Stock, and others)
     Average outstanding shares of common stock       –        

Average outstanding shares of

treasury common stock

 

11


(3) Employees of the Group

 

     March 31, 2008    March 31, 2007
   Banking
Business
   Securities
Business
   Other    Banking
Business
   Securities
Business
   Other

Number of Employees

   37,009    5,150    6,955    35,125    4,856    7,468

 

(Notes)

1. The Number of Employees is the number of persons engaged in the Group.

2. The Number of Employees includes overseas local staff and does not include temporary employees.

 

(Reference)

The following sets forth information regarding the employees of Mizuho Financial Group, Inc., Mizuho Bank, Ltd., Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd., and Mizuho Trust & Banking Co., Ltd. (collectively, the “Four Companies”):

 

    

March 31, 2008

  

March 31, 2007

Number of Employees

   28,119    27,471

Average Age

   37 years, 1 month    37 years, 7 months

Average Years of Employment

   13 years, 11 months    14 years, 8 months

Average Monthly Salary

   JPY 453,000    JPY 457,000

 

(Notes)

1. The Number of Employees is the number of persons engaged in the Four Companies.

2. The Number of Employees is the aggregate total of employees of the Four Companies. The Average Age, Average Years of Employment, and Average Monthly Salary are the collective averages for the Four Companies.

3. The Number of Employees does not include temporary employees.

4. The calculations of Average Age, Average Years of Employment and Average Monthly Salary do not take into account seconded employees and employees hired locally overseas. Amounts less than whole digits are rounded down.

5. In the calculation of Average Years of Employment, employees who have transferred from one group company to another (Mizuho Financial Group, Inc., Mizuho Bank, Ltd., Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd., Mizuho Securities Co., Ltd., Mizuho Trust & Banking Co., Ltd., and Mizuho Information & Research Institute, Inc.) are assumed to have remained under the continuous employment of one company.

6. The Average Monthly Salary is the average salary for the month of March, tax inclusive, and does not include bonuses.

 

12


(4) Principal Offices

 

a. Bank Holding Company

 

     Mizuho Financial Group, Inc.: Head Office

 

b. Banking Business

 

     Mizuho Bank, Ltd.

 

Region

   Number of Offices  

Principal Offices

   March 31, 2008   March 31, 2007  

Kanto, Koshinetsu

   328   322   Head Office, etc.

Hokkaido, Tohoku

   14   14   Sapporo Branch, Sendai Branch, etc.

Hokuriku, Tokai, Kinki

   74   71   Osaka Branch, Nagoya Branch, etc.

Chugoku, Shikoku

   14   14   Hiroshima Branch, Takamatsu Branch, etc.

Kyushu, Okinawa

   12   12   Fukuoka Branch, etc.

Total

   442   433  

 

(Notes)

1. Offices include sub branches, transfer-only branches, ATM management branches (“joint-use ATM” management branches), defined contribution pension plan branches (defined contribution pension plan-only branches), and Internet branches.

2. In addition to the above, 49 agencies (47 as of March 31, 2007) and 28,176 non-branch ATMs (24,784 as of March 31, 2007) were in operation as of March 31, 2008.

3. In addition to the above, 3 sub branches (3 as of March 31, 2007) at Narita Airport, 2 sub branches (2 as of March 31, 2007) at Kansai International Airport (mainly for foreign currency exchange), and 4 non-branch automated foreign currency exchange machines (4 as of March 31, 2007) at Narita Airport were in operation as of March 31, 2008.

 

     Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd.

 

Region

   Number of Offices  

Principal Offices

   March 31, 2008   March 31, 2007  

Kanto, Koshinetsu

   24   22   Head Office, etc.

Hokkaido, Tohoku

   2   2   Sapporo Corporate Banking Division, Sendai Corporate Banking Division.

Hokuriku, Tokai, Kinki

   6   6   Osaka Corporate Banking Division, Nagoya Corporate Banking Division, etc.

Chugoku, Shikoku, Kyushu

   3   3   Fukuoka Corporate Banking Division, etc.

Domestic Total

   35   33  

The Americas

   10   7   New York Branch, etc.

Europe and the Middle East

   6   4   London Branch, etc.

Asia and Oceania

   14   19   Hong Kong Branch, Singapore Branch, etc.

Overseas Total

   30   30  

Total

   65   63  

 

(Notes)

1. Offices include sub branches.

2. In addition to the above, 8 representative offices overseas (10 as of March 31, 2007) were in operation as of March 31, 2008.

 

     Mizuho Trust & Banking Co., Ltd.

 

Region

   Number of Offices  

Principal Offices

   March 31, 2008   March 31, 2007  

Kanto, Koshinetsu

   23   23   Head Office, Yokohama Branch, etc.

Hokkaido, Tohoku

   2   2   Sapporo Branch, Sendai Branch.

Hokuriku, Tokai, Kinki

   7   7   Osaka Branch, Nagoya Branch, etc.

Chugoku, Shikoku

   2   2   Hiroshima Branch, Okayama Branch.

Kyushu

   3   3   Fukuoka Branch, etc.

Total

   37   37  

 

(Notes)

1. Offices include sub branches.

2. In addition to the above, 1 representative office overseas (1 as of March 31, 2007), 55 trust agencies (56 as of March 31, 2007) and 1 non-branch ATM (1 as of March 31, 2007) were in operation as of March 31, 2008.

 

13


c. Securities Business

 

     Mizuho Securities Co., Ltd.: Head Office, Kansai Corporate Banking Division

 

     Mizuho Investors Securities Co., Ltd.

 

Region

   Number of Offices  

Principal Offices

   March 31, 2008   March 31, 2007  

Kanto, Koshinetsu

   29   30   Head Office, Yokohama Branch, etc.

Hokkaido, Tohoku

   4   4   Sapporo Branch, Sendai Branch, etc.

Hokuriku, Tokai, Kinki

   15   15   Osaka Branch, Nagoya Branch, etc.

Chugoku, Shikoku

   5   5   Hiroshima Branch, Takamatsu Branch, etc.

Kyushu

   4   4   Fukuoka Branch, etc.

Total

   57   58  

 

(Note)

In addition to the above, 134 Planet Booths (100 as of March 31, 2007) were in operation in the branch lobbies of Mizuho Bank, Ltd. for securities investment consultations as of March 31, 2008.

 

d. Other Businesses

 

     Mizuho Information & Research Institute, Inc.: Head Office, etc.

(5) Capital Investment (Consolidated Basis)

 

     (JPY million)
     Banking Business    Securities Business    Other Businesses

Total Amount of Capital Investment

   74,779    15,039    4,262

 

(Note)

Amounts less than JPY one million are rounded down.

 

14


(6) Principal Subsidiaries

 

Company Name

  

Location

  

Main Business

  

Date of

Establishment

  

Capital

(JPY million)

   Percentage of
Voting Rights
of MHFG
(%)
    Amount of
Dividend
Paid to
MHFG
(JPY million)

Mizuho Bank, Ltd.

  

Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

  

Banking

   June 7, 1897    650,000    100.00     200,003

Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd.

  

Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

  

Banking

   May 7, 1923    1,070,965    100.00     200,004

Mizuho Trust & Banking Co., Ltd.

  

Chuo-ku, Tokyo

  

Trust banking,

banking

   May 9, 1925    247,231    70.18

(0.48

 

)

  6,524

Mizuho Securities Co., Ltd.

  

Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

  

Securities

   July 2, 1993    395,146    89.81

(89.81

 

)

  —  

Mizuho Investors Securities Co., Ltd.

  

Chuo-ku, Tokyo

  

Securities

   December 14, 1922    80,288    66.87

(66.87

 

)

  —  

Trust & Custody Services Bank, Ltd.

  

Chuo-ku, Tokyo

  

Trust banking,

banking

   January 22, 2001    50,000    54.00     —  

Mizuho Asset Management Co., Ltd.

  

Minato-ku, Tokyo

  

Investment trust

management,

investment

advisory

   May 26, 1964    2,045    98.70     732

DIAM Co., Ltd.

  

Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

  

Investment trust

management,

investment

advisory

   July 1, 1985    2,000    50.00     1,182

Mizuho Information & Research Institute, Inc.

  

Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

  

Information

processing

   May 11, 1970    1,627    91.50     1,112

Mizuho Research Institute Ltd.

  

Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

  

Think tank

consulting

   December 2, 1967    900    98.60     278

Mizuho Private Wealth Management Co., Ltd.

  

Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

  

Consulting

   October 3, 2005    500    100.00     —  

Mizuho Financial Strategy Co., Ltd.

  

Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

  

Consulting

   September 29, 2000    10    100.00     360,994

 

15


Company Name

  

Location

  

Main Business

  

Date of

Establishment

  

Capital

(JPY million)

   Percentage of
Voting Rights
of MHFG
(%)
    Amount of
Dividend
Paid to
MHFG
(JPY million)

Shinko Securities Co., Ltd.

  

Chuo-ku, Tokyo

  

Securities

   July 16, 1917    125,167    27.44

(27.44

 

)

          —  

Mizuho Credit Guarantee Co., Ltd.

  

Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

  

Credit guarantee

   November 29, 1974    13,281    100.00

(100.00

 

)

  —  

Defined Contribution Plan Services Co., Ltd.

  

Chuo-ku, Tokyo

  

Defined contribution pension related business

   September 11, 2000    2,000    60.00

(60.00

 

)

  —  

Mizuho Factors, Limited

  

Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

  

Factoring

   April 1, 1977    1,000    100.00

(100.00

 

)

  —  

Mizuho Capital Co., Ltd.

  

Chuo-ku, Tokyo

  

Venture capital

   July 27, 1983    902    49.99

(49.99

 

)

 

UC Card Co., Ltd.

  

Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

  

Credit cards

   October 1, 2005    500    38.99

(38.99

 

)

  —  

Mizuho International plc

  

London, U.K.

  

Securities, banking

   March 14, 1975   

463,339

(GBP 2,314

million)

   100.00

(100.00

 

)

  —  

Mizuho Corporate Bank (China), Ltd.

  

Shanghai, PRC

  

Banking

   June 1, 2007   

57,160

(CNY 4,000

million)

   100.00

(100.00

 

)

 

Mizuho Corporate Bank Nederland N.V.

  

Amsterdam,
The Netherlands

  

Banking, securities

   March 1, 1974   

22,429

(EUR 141

million)

   100.00

(100.00

 

)

  —  

PT. Bank Mizuho Indonesia

  

Jakarta, Indonesia

  

Banking

   July 8, 1989   

14,426

(IDR 1,323,574

million)

   98.99

(98.99

 

)

  —  

Mizuho Corporate Bank (USA)

  

New York, N.Y., U.S.A.

  

Banking

   November 29, 1974   

9,867

(USD 98

million)

   100.00

(100.00

 

)

  —  

Mizuho Corporate Bank (Germany) Aktiengesellschaft

  

Frankfurt am Main, Hessen, F.R. Germany

  

Banking, securities

   December 4, 1972   

7,278

(EUR 46

million)

   83.33

(83.33

 

)

  —  

 

16


Company Name

  

Location

  

Main Business

  

Date of

Establishment

  

Capital

(JPY million)

   Percentage of
Voting Rights
of MHFG
(%)
    Amount of
Dividend
Paid to
MHFG
(JPY million)

Mizuho Bank (Switzerland) Ltd

  

Zurich, Switzerland

  

Banking, trust banking

   October 20, 1976   

5,342

(CHF 53

million)

   100.00

(100.00

 

)

 

Mizuho Trust & Banking Co. (USA)

  

New York, N.Y., U.S.A.

  

Trust banking, banking

   October 19, 1987   

3,291

(USD 32

million)

   100.00

(100.00

 

)

          —  

Mizuho Trust & Banking
(Luxembourg) S.A.

  

Munsbach, Luxembourg

  

Trust banking, banking

   March 21, 1989   

3,006

(USD 30

million)

   100.00

(100.00

 

)

  —  

Mizuho Corporate Bank (Canada)

  

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

  

Banking

   November 1, 2000   

489

(CAD 5

million)

   100.00

(100.00

 

)

  —  

Mizuho Securities USA Inc.

  

New York, N.Y., U.S.A.

  

Securities

   August 16, 1976   

23

(USD 231

thousand)

   100.00

(100.00

 

)

  —  

Mizuho Capital
Markets
Corporation

  

New York, N.Y., U.S.A.

  

Derivatives

   January 27, 1989   

0

(USD 3

thousand)

   100.00

(100.00

 

)

  —  

 

(Notes)

1. Amounts less than JPY one million (and units shown for other currencies) are rounded down.

2. The JPY equivalent of capital is calculated using the foreign exchange rate as of the account closing date.

3. The Percentage of Voting Rights of MHFG is rounded down to the nearest second decimal place.

4. Figures in parentheses ( ) in the Voting Rights column are voting rights held indirectly.

5. Mizuho Corporate Bank (China), Ltd. is newly added to the list of principal subsidiaries.

6. Dai-Ichi Kangyo Asset Management Co., Ltd. merged with Fuji Investment Management Co., Ltd. and changed its corporate name to Mizuho Asset Management Co., Ltd. on July 1, 2007.

7. DLIBJ ASSET MANAGEMENT CO., LTD. changed its corporate name to DIAM Co., Ltd. on January 1, 2008.

(7) Major Borrowings

 

Creditors

 

Balance of

Borrowings

(JPY million)

 

Number of Company Shares and
Percentage of Voting Interest Held by Creditors

   

Number of Shares Held

(shares)

 

Voting Interest

(%)

Mizuho Bank, Ltd.

  500,000   —     —  

Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd.

  500,000   —     —  

Total

  1,000,000   —     —  

 

17


2. Matters regarding the Officers

(1) Officers

(As of March 31, 2008)

 

Name

  

Title and Assignment

  

Major Concurrent Office

   Other
Terunobu Maeda   

President & CEO

(Representative Director)

   Vice Chairman of Nippon Keidanren (Japan Business Federation)   
Masato Ono   

Deputy President

(Representative Director)

     
Satoru Nishibori    Managing Director    President & CEO of Mizuho Financial Strategy Co., Ltd.   
Hiroshi Motoyama    Managing Director      
Hiroshi Saito    Director    President & CEO of Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd.   
Seiji Sugiyama    Director    President & CEO of Mizuho Bank, Ltd.   
Akihiko Nomiyama    Director (outside officer)    Special Advisor of NIPPON MINING HOLDINGS, INC.   
Mitsuo Ohashi    Director (outside officer)    Director and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Showa Denko K.K.   
Kanemitsu Anraku    Director (outside officer)      
Yoshiaki Sugita    Corporate Auditor (full- time)      
Shigeru Yamamoto    Corporate Auditor (full- time)      
Yukio Nozaki    Corporate Auditor (outside officer)    Attorney at Law   
Masahiro Seki    Corporate Auditor (outside officer)    Seki Konin Kaikeishi Jimusho (Seki Certified Public Accountants)    Certified Public
Accountant
Masahiko Kadotani    Corporate Auditor (outside officer)      

 

18


 

(Notes)

1. Mr. Shunichi Asada resigned from his position as director on June 25, 2007.

2. Mr. Tetsuji Kosaki resigned from his position as director on June 26, 2007.

3. Messrs. Yoshiharu Fukuhara and Glen S. Fukushima retired from their positions as directors on June 26, 2007.

4. Mr. Junichi Iwabuchi resigned from his position as corporate auditor on June 26, 2007.

5. Messrs. Akihiko Nomiyama, Mitsuo Ohashi and Kanemitsu Anraku are “outside directors” as provided for in Article 2, Item 15 of the Company Law of Japan.

6. Messrs. Yukio Nozaki, Masahiro Seki and Masahiko Kadotani are “outside corporate auditors” as provided for in Article 2, Item 16 of the Company Law of Japan.

7. MHFG uses the executive officer system. The executive officers are as follows:

(As of March 31, 2008)

 

Title

  

Name

  

Areas of Oversight

President    Terunobu Maeda    Overall management of the execution of MHFG’s business

Deputy President -

Executive Officer

   Masato Ono    Assistance in the overall management of the execution of MHFG’s business / Head of Internal Audit Group / Chief Auditor
Managing Executive Officer    Satoru Nishibori    Head of Financial Control and Accounting Group / Chief Financial Officer
Managing Executive Officer    Masayuki Saito    Head of Risk Management Group, Head of Human Resources Group and Head of Compliance Group / Chief Risk Officer, Chief Human Resources Officer and Chief Compliance Officer
Managing Executive Officer    Hiroshi Motoyama    Head of Strategic Planning Group and Head of IT, Systems & Operations Group / Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Information Officer
Executive Officer    Tsuneo Morita    General Manager of Administration
Executive Officer    Masanori Murakami    General Manager of Corporate Communications
Executive Officer    Hidemi Hiroi    General Manager of Group Strategic Planning

 

19


(Reference)

The members of the Officers as of April 1 are as follows.

(As of April 1, 2008)

 

Name

  

Title and Assignment

  

Major Concurrent Office

  

Other

Terunobu Maeda   

President & CEO

(Representative Director)

   Vice Chairman of Nippon Keidanren (Japan Business Federation)   
Hiroshi Motoyama    Managing Director      
Hiroshi Saito    Director    President & CEO of Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd.   
Seiji Sugiyama    Director    President & CEO of Mizuho Bank, Ltd.   
Masato Ono    Director      
Satoru Nishibori    Director    Deputy President of Mizuho Bank, Ltd.   
Akihiko Nomiyama    Director (outside officer)    Special Advisor of NIPPON MINING HOLDINGS, INC.   
Mitsuo Ohashi    Director (outside officer)    Director and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Showa Denko K.K.   
Kanemitsu Anraku    Director (outside officer)      
Yoshiaki Sugita   

Corporate Auditor (full- time)

     
Shigeru Yamamoto   

Corporate Auditor (full- time)

     
Yukio Nozaki    Corporate Auditor (outside officer)    Attorney at Law   
Masahiro Seki    Corporate Auditor (outside officer)    Seki Konin Kaikeishi Jimusho (Seki Certified Public Accountants)   

Certified Public

Accountant

Masahiko Kadotani    Corporate Auditor (outside officer)      

 

(Notes)

1. Messrs. Akihiko Nomiyama, Mitsuo Ohashi and Kanemitsu Anraku are “outside directors” as provided for in Article 2, Item 15 of the Company Law of Japan.

2. Messrs. Yukio Nozaki, Masahiro Seki and Masahiko Kadotani are “outside corporate auditors” as provided for in Article 2, Item 16 of the Company Law of Japan.

 

20


3. The Executive Officers as of April 1 are as follows.

(As of April 1, 2008)

 

Title

  

Name

  

Areas of Oversight

President    Terunobu Maeda    Overall management of the execution of MHFG’s business
Deputy President - Executive Officer    Takashi Tsukamoto    Assistance in the overall management of the execution of MHFG’s business /
Head of Financial Control and Accounting Group / Chief Financial Officer
Managing Executive Officer    Hiroshi Motoyama    Head of Strategic Planning Group and Head of IT, Systems & Operations Group / Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Information Officer
Managing Executive Officer    Tsuneo Morita    Head of Internal Audit Group / Chief Auditor
Managing Executive Officer    Hajime Saito    Head of Risk Management Group, Head of Human Resources Group, Head of Compliance Group / Chief Risk Officer, Chief Human Resources Officer and Chief Compliance Officer
Executive Officer    Masanori Murakami    General Manager of Corporate Communications
Executive Officer    Hidemi Hiroi    General Manager of Group Strategic Planning
Executive Officer    Toshitsugu Okabe    General Manager of Executive Secretariat

(2) Aggregate Compensation for the Officers

 

     (JPY million)

Classification

   Aggregate Compensation

Directors

   214

Corporate Auditors

   88

Total

   302

 

(Notes)

1. Amounts less than JPY one million are rounded down.

2. The total monthly compensations for Directors and Corporate Auditors is not to exceed JPY 45 million and JPY 15 million, respectively.

3. In addition to the above, the provisions of the reserve for retirement allowances for the fiscal year are JPY 131 million for Directors and JPY 22 million for Corporate Auditors. No provision is made for the bonuses of officers.

 

21


3. Matters regarding Outside Officers

(1) Concurrent Offices and Other Details of Outside Officers

 

Name

  

Concurrent Offices and Other Details

Akihiko Nomiyama

   Special Advisor of NIPPON MINING HOLDINGS, INC.

Mitsuo Ohashi

   Director and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Showa Denko K.K.

Kanemitsu Anraku

  

Yukio Nozaki

   Outside Corporate Auditor of Mizuho Bank, Ltd. / Outside Corporate Auditor of Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd.

Masahiro Seki

   Seki Konin Kaikeishi Jimusho (Seki Certified Public Accountants)

Masahiko Kadotani

   Outside Corporate Auditor of Mizuho Securities Co., Ltd. / Outside Corporate Auditor of Mizuho Financial Strategy Co., Ltd.

 

(Notes)

1. MHFG employs a relative (third degree of consanguinity or closer) of Mr. Mitsuo Ohashi.

2. Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd. employs a relative (third degree of consanguinity or closer) of Mr. Masahiko Kadotani.

 

22


(2) Major Activities of Outside Officers

 

Name

  

Term in
Office

  

Attendance of the Board of

Directors Meeting

  

Input at the Board of Directors

Meeting and Other Activities

Akihiko Nomiyama

   9 months    He attended 11 of the 16 Board of Directors Meetings held after his appointment in June 2007 during the fiscal year.    He participated in the discussions on proposals, etc., by voicing external viewpoints, making use of his abundant experience in NIPPON MINING HOLDINGS, INC. and his wide-ranging insight as a top executive.

Mitsuo Ohashi

  

2 years,

9 months

   He attended 16 of the 20 Board of Directors Meetings held during the fiscal year.    He participated in the discussions on proposals, etc., by voicing external viewpoints, making use of his abundant experience in Showa Denko K.K. and his wide-ranging insight as a top executive.

Kanemitsu Anraku

   9 months    He attended all of the 16 Board of Directors Meetings held after his appointment in June 2007 during the fiscal year.    He participated in the discussions on proposals, etc., by voicing external viewpoints, making use of his abundant experience in Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. and his wide-ranging insight as a top executive.

Yukio Nozaki

  

5 years,

2 months

   He attended 18 of the 20 Board of Directors Meetings and all of the 15 Board of Corporate Auditors Meetings held during the fiscal year.    He contributed by voicing opinions mainly from professional viewpoint as an attorney at law.

Masahiro Seki

  

1 year,

9 months

   He attended 17 of the 20 Board of Directors Meetings and all of the 15 Board of Corporate Auditors Meetings held during the fiscal year.    He contributed by voicing opinions from viewpoints as an expert in U.S. and Japanese accounting.

Masahiko Kadotani

  

3 years,

9 months

   He attended 17 of the 20 Board of Directors Meetings and all of the 15 Board of Corporate Auditors Meetings held during the fiscal year.    He contributed mainly based on his abundant experience in the Ministry of Finance and his significant financial expertise gained through his career as the President of the Japan Finance Corporation for Small and Medium Enterprises.

 

23


(3) Liability Limitation Agreement

 

Name

  

Summary of Liability Limitation Agreement

Akihiko Nomiyama

   Agreement pursuant to the provisions provided for in Article 427, Paragraph 1 of the Company Law of Japan (the “Law”), which limits the liability provided for in Article 423, Paragraph 1 of the Law to the higher of either (i) JPY 20 million or (ii) the amount prescribed in laws and regulations, provided that such Outside Director is bona fide and without gross negligence in performing his duty.

Mitsuo Ohashi

  

Kanemitsu Anraku

  

Yukio Nozaki

   Agreement pursuant to the provisions provided for in Article 427, Paragraph 1 of the Company Law of Japan (the “Law”), which limits the liability provided for in Article 423, Paragraph 1 of the Law to the higher of either (i) JPY 20 million or (ii) the amount prescribed in laws and regulations, provided that such Outside Corporate Auditor is bona fide and without gross negligence in performing his duty.

Masahiro Seki

  

Masahiko Kadotani

  

(4) Compensation for Outside Officers

 

     (JPY million)
     Compensation Paid by MHFG    Compensation Paid by Parent
Company, etc., of MHFG

Total Amount of Compensation

   86    —  

 

(Notes)

1. Amounts less than JPY one million are rounded down.

2. In addition to the above, no provision of the reserve is made for retirement allowances of outside officers during the fiscal year. No provision is made for the bonuses of officers.

 

24


4. Matters regarding MHFG’s Shares

(1) Number of Shares as of March 31, 2008

 

     (Number of shares)

Total Number of Authorized Shares

   28,790,759

Total Number of Classes of Shares Authorized to be Issued

  

Common Stock

   24,392,259

Class XI Preferred Stock

   1,398,500

Class XII Preferred Stock

   1,500,000

Class XIII Preferred Stock

   1,500,000

Total Number of Shares Outstanding

  

Common Stock

   11,396,254.66

Eleventh Series Class XI Preferred Stock

   943,740

Thirteenth Series Class XIII Preferred Stock

   36,690

 

(Notes)

1. As a result of a repurchase and cancellation of treasury stock made on May 28, 2007, there was a decrease of 261,040.83 shares of Common Stock. Accordingly, the Total Number of Authorized Shares and the Total Number of Classes of Shares Authorized to be Issued for Common Stock each decreased by 261,041 shares.

2. As a result of a repurchase of 214,900 shares of treasury stock executed from August 16, 2007 to September 6, 2007 and a cancellation of all such shares made on September 28, 2007, there was a decrease of 214,900 shares of Common Stock. Accordingly, the Total Number of Authorized Shares and the Total Number of Classes of Shares Authorized to be Issued for Common Stock each decreased by the same quantity.

(2) Number of Shareholders as of March 31, 2008

 

Common Stock

   359,917

Eleventh Series Class XI Preferred Stock

   2,153

Thirteenth Series Class XIII Preferred Stock

   49

 

(Note)

The number of shareholders of Common Stock listed above does not include the holders of 25,267 fractional shares who own only fractional shares

 

25


(3) Major Shareholders as of March 31, 2008

a. Common Stock

 

Name of Shareholder

   Number of Shares Held and
Percentage of Shares Held
   Number
of Shares Held
   Percentage
of Shares Held

Japan Trustee Services Bank, Ltd. (Trustee account)

   700,643.00    6.14

The Master Trust Bank of Japan (Trustee account)

   595,358.00    5.22

The Dai-ichi Mutual Life Insurance Company

   279,158.00    2.44

Japan Trustee Services Bank, Ltd. (Trustee account 4)

   226,316.00    1.98

BNY GCM CLIENT ACCOUNT JPRD ISG (FE - AC)

(Standing proxy agent: The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd.)

   194,330.00    1.70

MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INTERNATIONAL PLC

(Standing proxy agent: Morgan Stanley Japan Securities Co., Ltd.)

   144,106.00    1.26

Trust & Custody Services Bank, Ltd.

(Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Company Retirement Benefit Trust

Account re-entrusted by Mizuho Trust & Banking Co., Ltd.)

   137,000.00    1.20

HERO & CO

(Standing proxy agent: Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd.)

   133,558.00    1.17

Nippon Life Insurance Company

   132,630.76    1.16

DEUTSCHE BANK AG, LONDON 610

(Standing proxy agent: Deutsche Securities Inc.)

   101,270.00    0.88

 

26


b. Preferred Stock

 

Name of Shareholder

   Number of Shares Held and
Percentage of Shares Held
   Number
of Shares Held
   Percentage
of Shares Held

DEUTSCHE BANK AG, LONDON 610

(Standing proxy agent: Deutsche Securities Inc.)

   48,630    4.96

MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INTERNATIONAL PLC

(Standing proxy agent: Morgan Stanley Japan Securities Co., Ltd.)

   32,795    3.34

UBS AG LONDON A/C IPB SEGREGATED CLIENT ACCOUNT

(Standing proxy agent: Citibank Japan Ltd.)

   27,045    2.75

The Dai-ichi Mutual Life Insurance Company

   27,000    2.75

BNP PARIBAS LONDON BRANCH FOR BNPPPB EVOTOK

(Standing proxy agent: HSBC Limited)

   25,600    2.61

Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Company

   25,000    2.54

MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INC

(Standing proxy agent: Morgan Stanley Japan Securities Co., Ltd.)

   19,290    1.96

LEHMAN BROTHERS INTERNATIONAL (EUROPE)

(Standing proxy agent: Lehman Brothers Japan Inc.)

   19,260    1.96

Sompo Japan Insurance Inc.

   19,000    1.93

FUKOKU MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

   15,000    1.52

 

(Notes on Major Shareholders)

1. Figures for the Percentage of Shares Held are rounded down to the nearest second decimal place.

2. HERO & CO is a nominee of the shares deposited for the purpose of issuance of American Depository Receipts (ADR).

3. The numbers of Preferred Stock above are the total shares of Eleventh Series Class XI and Thirteenth Series Class XIII Preferred Stock.

4. Percentages of Shares Held of Common Stock are calculated by including the treasury stock (3,963.82 shares). There was no Preferred Stock within the treasury stock.

 

27


5. Matters regarding the Independent Auditor

(1) Independent Auditor

 

Name

 

Compensation for the Fiscal Year

 

Other

Ernst & Young ShinNihon

    MHFG paid consideration to the Independent Auditor for certain permitted advisory services not included within the services set forth in Article 2, Paragraph 1 of the Certified Accountant Law (non-audit services) with respect to the establishment of internal control systems, etc.

 

Designated and Engaged Partners:

   

 

Naoki Matsumura, C.P.A.

  54 JPY million  

 

Mutsuo Emi, C.P.A.

   

 

Tetsuya Mogi, C.P.A.

   

 

Noboru Miura, C.P.A.

   

 

(Notes)

1. Amounts less than JPY one million are rounded down.

2. The audit contract between MHFG and the Independent Auditor does not separate the compensation for the audit under the Company Law from the compensation for the audit under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law. Moreover, it is practically impossible to separate the two. Accordingly, the above amount is the total of such compensation.

In addition, because the amounts of compensation to be paid under the audit contract have not yet been determined, approximate amounts are used for the calculations.

3. The total amount of cash and other proprietary benefits to be paid to the Independent Auditor of MHFG by MHFG, its majority owned consolidated subsidiaries, and its other consolidated subsidiaries is JPY 4,902 million.

If the amounts to be paid under the audit contract concluded with the Independent Auditor by MHFG, its majority-owned consolidated subsidiaries, and other consolidated subsidiaries have not yet been determined, approximate amounts are used for the calculations.

(2) Other Matters regarding the Independent Auditor

a. Policy for Determination of Dismissal or Non-reappointment of the Independent Auditor

Dismissal of the Independent Auditor is discussed at the Board of Directors and the Board of Corporate Auditors if the Independent Auditor falls subject to any of the events set forth in the Items of Article 340, Paragraph 1 of the Company Law.

Non-reappointment of the Independent Auditor is discussed at the Board of Directors and the Board of Corporate Auditors by comprehensively considering various factors, including the performance of duties and the quality of audits by the Independent Auditor.

b. Principal Majority-owned Subsidiaries and other Subsidiaries Audited by any Certified Public Accountant or Audit Corporation other than the Independent Auditor of MHFG

Mizuho International plc and nine other companies among MHFG’s principal majority-owned subsidiaries and other subsidiaries are subject to audits (limited to the audits under the provisions of the Company Law or the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law (including any foreign law equivalent to either of these laws)) by audit corporations (including entities in a form equivalent thereto in the relevant foreign country) other than the Independent Auditor of MHFG.

 

28


6. Structure to Ensure Appropriate Conduct of Operations

MHFG has resolved matters regarding its “Structure for Ensuring Appropriate Conduct of Operations” prescribed by the Company Law and the Enforcement Regulations of the Company Law of Japan, as summarized below.

(1) Structure to ensure that the duties of directors and employees are executed in compliance with laws, regulations, and the Articles of Incorporation

 

* MHFG has set forth its structure to ensure that the duties of directors and employees are executed in compliance with laws, regulations, and the Articles of Incorporation in compliance-related rules such as the “Basic Policy of Compliance” and “Compliance Manual.”

 

* More specifically, MHFG has established complete compliance as a basic principle of management, has determined a compliance-management structure and created a “Compliance Manual,” has formulated compliance programs each fiscal year for the implementation of specific plans for complete compliance, and has periodically followed up on the status of the implementation of such plans. Furthermore, MHFG’s activities against anti-social elements are conducted as part of its compliance structure. MHFG’s commitment to confront anti-social elements viewed as an important policy of the Group when designing and implementing specific compliance programs among Group members.

 

* The Board of Directors of MHFG resolved that the structure under the above “Basic Policy of Compliance,” etc., is the company’s structure for ensuring that the directors and employees execute their duties in compliance with laws, regulations, and the Articles of Incorporation.

(2) Structure for the safekeeping and management of information on the execution of duties by the directors

 

* MHFG has established a structure for the safekeeping, management, etc., of information through its information-management-related rules, including the company’s “Information Security Policy.” The safekeeping and management of information in connection with the execution of duties by the company’s directors has also been carried out in accordance with these rules.

 

* More specifically, MHFG has fixed the period for retention of information such as the minutes of the Board of Directors Meetings, Executive Management Committee meetings, and other various committee meetings and materials related thereto, as well as ringisho (or approval documents) and reports, and has carried out other necessary matters relating to the safekeeping and management thereof.

 

* The Board of Directors of MHFG resolved that the structure under the above “Information Security Policy,” etc., is the company’s structure for the safekeeping and management of information on the execution of duties by the directors.

(3) Rules and other structure for managing risk of loss

 

* MHFG has established a structure for managing its risk of loss through its risk-management-related rules, including its basic policy towards various risk management procedures, such as its “Basic Policy for Comprehensive Risk Management.”

 

* More specifically, MHFG has defined various types of risk and has determined strategies to improve its business structure and develop human resources for risk management in order to evaluate risk qualitatively and quantitatively. Moreover, MHFG has implemented comprehensive risk management to control risk within limits acceptable to management.

 

* The Board of Directors of MHFG resolved that the structure under the above “Basic Policy for Comprehensive Risk Management,” etc., is the company’s structure for managing the risk of loss.

 

29


(4) Structure to ensure the efficient execution of director’s duties

 

* MHFG has established a structure to ensure the efficient execution of directors’ duties through its rules, such as the “Bylaws Regarding the Board of Directors,” “Bylaws Regarding the Executive Management Committee,” “Bylaws Regarding the Business Policy Committee,” “Organization Regulations,” and “Authorization Regulations.”

 

* More specifically, MHFG has determined the criteria for matters to be resolved or reported to the Board of Directors, assignment of each organization, decision-making authority in accordance with the importance of matters, etc. MHFG has also established an Executive Management Committee and several Business Policy Committees. Thus, MHFG has ensured that the directors execute their duties efficiently on a company-wide basis.

 

* The Board of Directors of MHFG resolved that the structure under the above “Bylaws Regarding the Board of Directors,” etc., is the company’s structure for ensuring the efficient execution of directors’ duties.

(5) Structure to ensure the propriety of business operations within the corporate group consisting of MHFG and its subsidiaries

 

* MHFG has established a structure to ensure the propriety of business operations within the corporate group through its “Group Management Administration Regulations,” etc.

 

* More specifically, MHFG directly administers the management of its principal banking subsidiaries and other core group companies in accordance with the “Group Management Administration Regulations,” while principal banking subsidiaries and other core group companies administer the management of subsidiaries and affiliates other than the principal banking subsidiaries and other core group companies in accordance with standards established by MHFG.

 

* The Board of Directors of MHFG resolved that the structure under the above “Group Management Administration Regulations,” etc., is the company’s structure for ensuring propriety of business operations in the corporate group consisting of MHFG and its subsidiaries.

(6) Matters concerning employees posted as assistants to the corporate auditors when the corporate auditors so require

 

* The “Organization Regulations” of MHFG specify matters concerning employees posted as assistants to the corporate auditors to assist the latter in performing their duties.

 

* More specifically, MHFG has designated the Corporate Auditors Office as the office in charge of matters concerning assistance in the performance of the corporate auditors’ duties and matters concerning the secretariat for the Board of Corporate Auditors. The Head of the Corporate Auditors Office manages this office’s business under the instructions of the corporate auditors.

 

* The Board of Directors of MHFG resolved that the matters specified in the above “Organization Regulations” are matters concerning employees posted as assistants to the corporate auditors when the corporate auditors so require.

(7) Matters concerning measures for ensuring that employees who assist the corporate auditors remain independent from the directors

 

* The supplementary provisions of the “Bylaws Regarding the Board of Directors” specify matters concerning the measures for ensuring that employees who assist the corporate auditors remain independent from the directors.

 

* More specifically, any change in personnel and/or organizational change that relates to employees who assist the corporate auditors in performing the latter’s duties shall be subject to prior consultation with a corporate auditor nominated by the Board of Corporate Auditors.

 

* The Board of Directors of MHFG resolved that matters specified in the above supplementary provisions of the “Bylaws Regarding the Board of Directors” are matters concerning the measures for ensuring that employees who assist the corporate auditors remain independent from the directors.

 

30


(8) Structure under which the directors and employees report to the corporate auditors, and structure concerning reports to the corporate auditors

 

* MHFG has established a structure under which the directors and employees report to the corporate auditors in the “Bylaws Regarding the Board of Directors” and the “Bylaws Regarding the Executive Management Committee,” etc.

 

* More specifically, MHFG has regulations governing attendance by the corporate auditors in Board of Directors Meetings, Executive Management Committee meetings, etc. MHFG also maintains procedures for circulating the ringisho (or approval documents) to be approved by the President among the corporate auditors, for reporting information received through the compliance hot-line, for reporting the results of internal audits and so on.

 

* The Board of Directors of MHFG resolved that the structure under the above “Bylaws Regarding the Board of Directors,” etc., is a structure under which the directors and employees report to the corporate auditors and a structure concerning reports to the corporate auditors.

(9) Other structure to ensure the effectiveness of audits by the corporate auditors

 

* MHFG has established a structure for ensuring the effectiveness of audits by the corporate auditors in the “Basic Policy for Internal Audit,” etc.

 

* More specifically, the internal audit division, corporate auditors and accounting auditors exchange opinions and information on a regular basis and whenever else required as a means of strengthening cooperation in efforts to enhance effectiveness and efficiency of the overall audit function.

 

* The Board of Directors of MHFG resolved that the structure under the above “Basic Policy for Internal Audit,” etc., is another structure for ensuring the effectiveness of the audits by the corporate auditors.

 

31


CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

AS OF MARCH 31, 2008

 

     Millions of yen  

Assets

  

Cash and Due from Banks

   ¥ 3,483,802  

Call Loans and Bills Purchased

     248,728  

Receivables under Resale Agreements

     7,233,199  

Guarantee Deposits Paid under Securities Borrowing Transactions

     9,069,138  

Other Debt Purchased

     3,388,461  

Trading Assets

     13,856,237  

Money Held in Trust

     32,827  

Securities

     33,958,537  

Loans and Bills Discounted

     65,608,705  

Foreign Exchange Assets

     803,141  

Other Assets

     10,984,529  

Tangible Fixed Assets

     802,692  

Buildings

     274,751  

Land

     395,873  

Construction in Progress

     7,044  

Other Tangible Fixed Assets

     125,023  

Intangible Fixed Assets

     284,825  

Software

     228,412  

Other Intangible Fixed Assets

     56,413  

Deferred Tax Assets

     607,920  

Customers’ Liabilities for Acceptances and Guarantees

     4,733,852  

Reserves for Possible Losses on Loans

     (684,465 )

Reserve for Possible Losses on Investments

     (30 )
        

Total Assets

   ¥ 154,412,105  
        

Liabilities

  

Deposits

   ¥ 76,175,319  

Negotiable Certificates of Deposit

     10,088,721  

Debentures

     3,159,443  

Call Money and Bills Sold

     6,693,712  

Payables under Repurchase Agreements

     11,511,019  

Guarantee Deposits Received under Securities Lending Transactions

     6,927,740  

Commercial Paper

     30,000  

Trading Liabilities

     8,313,072  

Borrowed Money

     4,818,895  

Foreign Exchange Liabilities

     222,652  

Short-term Bonds

     787,784  

Bonds and Notes

     4,052,189  

Due to Trust Accounts

     1,119,946  

Other Liabilities

     9,795,054  

Reserve for Bonus Payments

     43,375  

Reserve for Employee Retirement Benefits

     36,019  

Reserve for Director and Corporate Auditor Retirement Benefits

     7,057  

Reserve for Possible Losses on Sales of Loans

     50,895  

Reserve for Contingencies

     14,095  

Reserve for Frequent Users Services

     8,349  

Reserve for Reimbursement of Deposits

     9,614  

Reserves under Special Laws

     2,680  

Deferred Tax Liabilities

     11,354  

Deferred Tax Liabilities for Revaluation Reserve for Land

     105,096  

Acceptances and Guarantees

     4,733,852  
        

Total Liabilities

     148,717,945  
        

Net Assets

  

Common Stock and Preferred Stock

     1,540,965  

Capital Surplus

     411,093  

Retained Earnings

     1,476,129  

Treasury Stock

     (2,507 )
        

Total Shareholders’ Equity

     3,425,680  
        

Net Unrealized Gains on Other Securities, net of Taxes

     401,375  

Net Deferred Hedge Gains, net of Taxes

     5,985  

Revaluation Reserve for Land, net of Taxes

     147,467  

Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments

     (78,394 )
        

Total Valuation and Translation Adjustments

     476,434  
        

Minority Interests

     1,792,045  
        

Total Net Assets

     5,694,159  
        

Total Liabilities and Net Assets

   ¥ 154,412,105  
        

 

32


CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME

FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2008

 

          Millions of yen

Ordinary Income

   ¥                      ¥ 4,523,510

Interest Income

   2,864,796   

Interest on Loans and Bills Discounted

   1,507,449   

Interest and Dividends on Securities

   671,783   

Interest on Call Loans and Bills Purchased

   12,847   

Interest on Receivables under Resale Agreements

   460,390   

Interest on Securities Borrowing Transactions

   46,492   

Interest on Due from Banks

   73,783   

Other Interest Income

   92,049   

Fiduciary Income

   64,355   

Fee and Commission Income

   596,759   

Trading Income

   249,076   

Other Operating Income

   294,356   

Other Ordinary Income

   454,165   
       

Ordinary Expenses

        4,126,390

Interest Expenses

   1,801,156   

Interest on Deposits

   581,601   

Interest on Negotiable Certificates of Deposit

   127,984   

Interest on Debentures

   23,746   

Interest on Call Money and Bills Sold

   58,020   

Interest on Payables under Repurchase Agreements

   606,806   

Interest on Securities Lending Transactions

   70,596   

Interest on Commercial Paper

   78   

Interest on Borrowed Money

   70,255   

Interest on Short-term Bonds

   7,970   

Interest on Bonds and Notes

   90,253   

Other Interest Expenses

   163,841   

Fee and Commission Expenses

   102,233   

Trading Expenses

   192,927   

Other Operating Expenses

   312,094   

General and Administrative Expenses

   1,124,527   

Other Ordinary Expenses

   593,450   
           

Ordinary Profits

        397,120

Extraordinary Gains

        125,571

Gains on Disposition of Tangible Fixed Assets

   9,915   

Recovery on written-off Claims

   39,832   

Reversal of Reserves for Possible Losses on Loans

   75,779   

Other Extraordinary Gains

   43   
       

Extraordinary Losses

        36,629

Losses on Disposition of Tangible Fixed Assets

   8,215   

Losses on Impairment of Fixed Assets

   2,698   

Provision for Reserve for Contingent Liabilities from Financial Instruments and Exchange

   0   

Amortization of Goodwill of Security Subsidiary

   25,715   
           

Income before Income Taxes and Minority Interests

        486,062

Income Taxes:

     

Current

        32,212

Deferred

        118,546

Minority Interests in Net Income

        24,079
         

Net Income

      ¥ 311,224
         

 

33


CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2008

 

    Millions of yen  
    Shareholders’ Equity     Valuation and Translation Adjustments              
    Common
Stock and
Preferred
Stock
  Capital
Surplus
    Retained
Earnings
    Treasury
Stock
    Total
Shareholders’
Equity
    Net
Unrealized
Gains on
Other
Securities,
net of
Taxes
    Net Deferred
Hedge Losses,
net of Taxes
    Revaluation
Reserve for
Land, net of
Taxes
    Foreign
Currency
Translation
Adjustments
    Total
Valuation
and
Translation
Adjustments
    Minority
Interests
    Total Net
Assets
 

Balance as of March 31, 2007

  ¥ 1,540,965   ¥ 411,110     ¥ 1,440,310     ¥ (32,330 )   ¥ 3,360,055     ¥ 1,550,628     ¥ (111,042 )   ¥ 150,616     ¥ (38,964 )   ¥ 1,551,237     ¥ 1,813,115     ¥ 6,724,408  

Effect of Unification of Accounting Policies Applied to Foreign Subsidiaries

  ¥ —     ¥ —       ¥ 2,867     ¥ —       ¥ 2,867     ¥ —       ¥ —       ¥ —       ¥ —       ¥ —       ¥ —       ¥ 2,867  

Changes during the fiscal year

                       

Cash Dividends

    —       —         (101,229 )     —         (101,229 )     —         —         —         —         —         —         (101,229 )

Net Income

    —       —         311,224       —         311,224       —         —         —         —         —         —         311,224  

Repurchase of Treasury Stock

    —       —         —         (150,464 )     (150,464 )     —         —         —         —         —         —         (150,464 )

Disposition of Treasury Stock

    —       —         (1 )     100       98       —         —         —         —         —         —         98  

Cancellation of Treasury Stock

    —       —         (180,189 )     180,189       —         —         —         —         —         —         —         —    

Transfer from Revaluation Reserve for Land, net of Taxes

    —       —         3,148       —         3,148       —         —         —         —         —         —         3,148  

Effect of Exclusion of an Affiliate from the Scope of the Equity Method

    —       (16 )     —         —         (16 )     —         —         —         —         —         —         (16 )

Effect of Decrease in the Equity Position of an Affiliate

    —       (0 )     —         —         (0 )     —         —         —         —         —         —         (0 )

Increase in Stock issued by MHFG held by Equity-Method Affiliates

    —       —         —         (3 )     (3 )     —         —         —         —         —         —         (3 )

Net Changes in Items other than Shareholders’ Equity

    —       —         —         —         —         (1,149,253 )     117,028       (3,148 )     (39,429 )     (1,074,803 )     (21,070 )     (1,095,873 )
                                                                                             

Total Changes during the fiscal year

    —       (16 )     32,951       29,822       62,757       (1,149,253 )     117,028       (3,148 )     (39,429 )     (1,074,803 )     (21,070 )     (1,033,116 )
                                                                                             

Balance as of March 31, 2008

  ¥ 1,540,965   ¥ 411,093     ¥ 1,476,129     ¥ (2,507 )   ¥ 3,425,680     ¥ 401,375     ¥ 5,985     ¥ 147,467     ¥ (78,394 )   ¥ 476,434     ¥ 1,792,045     ¥ 5,694,159  
                                                                                             

 

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[NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS]

Amounts less than one million yen are rounded down.

BASIS FOR PRESENTATION OF CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION

 

1. Definitions of majority-owned subsidiary, other subsidiary and affiliate conform to Article2, Paragraph 8 of the Banking Law and Article 4-2 of the Banking Law Enforcement Ordinance.

 

2. Scope of Consolidation

 

  (a) Number of majority-owned consolidated subsidiaries and other consolidated subsidiaries: 146

Names of principal companies:

Mizuho Bank, Ltd.

Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd.

Mizuho Trust & Banking Co., Ltd.

Mizuho Securities Co., Ltd.

During the period, Mizuho Corporate Bank (China), Ltd. and twenty-two other companies were newly consolidated upon their establishment and so on.

During the period, UC Card Co., Ltd. and nine other companies were excluded from the scope of consolidation as a result of partial disposal of their shares, and other factors.

 

  (b) Number of majority-owned non-consolidated subsidiaries and other non-consolidated subsidiaries: 0

 

3. Application of the Equity Method

 

  (a) Number of majority-owned non-consolidated subsidiaries and other non-consolidated subsidiaries under the equity method: 0

 

  (b) Number of affiliates under the equity method: 21

Names of principal companies:

The Chiba Kogyo Bank, Ltd.

Shinko Securities Co., Ltd.

During the period, UC Card Co., Ltd. and four other companies were newly included in the scope of the equity method.

During the period, Japan Mortgage Co., Ltd. and two other companies were excluded from the scope of the equity method as a result of the disposal of its shares, and other factors.

 

  (c) Number of majority-owned non-consolidated subsidiaries and other non-consolidated subsidiaries not under the equity method: 0

 

  (d) Affiliates not under the equity method:

Name of principal company:

Asian-American Merchant Bank Limited

Majority-owned non-consolidated subsidiaries, other non-consolidated subsidiaries and affiliates not under the equity method are excluded from the scope of the equity method since such exclusion has no material effect on MHFG’s consolidated financial statements in terms of Net Income/Net Loss (amount corresponding to MHFG’s equity position), Retained Earnings (amount corresponding to MHFG’s equity position), Net Deferred Hedge Gains(Losses), net of Taxes (amount corresponding to MHFG’s equity position) and others.

 

35


4. Fiscal Years of Majority-owned Consolidated Subsidiaries and Other Consolidated Subsidiaries

 

  (a) Balance sheet dates of majority-owned consolidated subsidiaries and other consolidated subsidiaries are as follows:

 

October 31

   1 company   

December 31

   58 companies   

March 31

   63 companies   

The day before the last business day of June

   24 companies   

 

  (b) Majority-owned consolidated subsidiaries and other consolidated subsidiaries with balance sheet dates of October 31 and the day before the last business day of June were consolidated based on their tentative financial statements as of and for the period ended December 31. Other majority-owned consolidated subsidiaries and other consolidated subsidiaries were consolidated based on their financial statements as of and for the period ended their respective balance sheet dates.

The necessary adjustments have been made to the financial statements for any significant transactions that took place between their respective balance sheet dates and the date of the consolidated financial statements.

 

5. Evaluation of Assets and Liabilities of Majority-owned Consolidated Subsidiaries and Other Consolidated Subsidiaries

Assets and liabilities of majority-owned consolidated subsidiaries and other consolidated subsidiaries, including the portion attributable to minority shareholders, are valued at fair value as of the respective date of acquisition.

 

6. Amortization of Goodwill and Negative Goodwill

Goodwill of Mizuho Securities Co., Ltd. was entirely amortized in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008, in accordance with the devaluation of its stocks. As for other Goodwill and Negative Goodwill, the entire amount is amortized in the period of occurrence as the amount has no material impact on MHFG’s consolidated financial statements.

 

36


7. Accounting Methods

 

(1) Valuation of Trading Assets and Liabilities and Recording of Income and Expenses

Trading transactions intended to take advantage of short-term fluctuations and arbitrage opportunities in interest rates, currency exchange rates, market prices of securities and related indices are recognized on a trade date basis and recorded in Trading Assets or Trading Liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet. Income or expenses generated on the relevant trading transactions are recorded in Trading Income or Trading Expenses on the consolidated statement of income.

Securities and other monetary claims held for trading purposes are stated at fair value at the consolidated balance sheet date. Derivative financial products, such as swaps, futures and option transactions, are stated at fair values, assuming that such transactions are terminated and settled at the consolidated balance sheet date.

Trading Income and Trading Expenses include the interest received and the interest paid during the fiscal year, the gains or losses resulting from any change in the value of securities and other monetary claims between the beginning and the end of the fiscal year, and the gains or losses resulting from any change in the value of financial derivatives between the beginning and the end of the fiscal year, assuming they were settled at the end of the fiscal year.

 

(2) Securities

(i) Bonds held to maturity are stated at amortized cost (straight-line method) and determined by the moving average method. Investments in majority-owned non-consolidated subsidiaries, other non-consolidated subsidiaries and affiliates which are not under the equity method, are stated at acquisition cost and determined by the moving average method. Other Securities which have readily determinable fair value are stated at fair value. Fair value of Japanese stocks with a quoted market price is determined based on the average quoted market price over the month preceding the consolidated balance sheet date. Fair value of securities other than Japanese stocks is determined at the quoted market price if available, or other reasonable value at the consolidated balance sheet date (cost of securities sold is calculated primarily by the moving average method). Other Securities which do not have readily determinable fair value are stated at acquisition cost or amortized cost and determined by the moving average method.

The net unrealized gains on Other Securities are included directly in Net Assets, net of applicable income taxes after excluding gains and losses as a result of the fair-value hedge method.

(Additional Information)

Net Unrealized Gains/ Losses on Other Securities, net of Taxes have been receiving greater focus because of the considerable change in the market circumstances these days, and the values of securities deemed as market prices such as those obtained from brokers and financial information vendors have been more available. Hence, taking into account the convergence of global accounting standards, if the values deemed as market prices could be obtained by the reasonable estimate, Other Securities formerly measured at acquisition cost as securities without fair values are measured at such values. This valuation decreases Securities by ¥49,948 million, Net unrealized Gains/Losses on Other Securities, net of Taxes by ¥36,246 million, respectively, and increases Other Debt Purchased by ¥152 million and Deferred Tax Assets by ¥13,549 million, respectively, on the consolidated balance sheet. Among Other Securities valued at acquisition cost, Reserves for Possible Losses on Loans are provided for the bonds which are issued by private placement (Article 2 Paragraph 3 of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law) .

(ii) Securities which are held as trust assets in Money Held in Trust accounts are valued in the same way as given in (i) above.

 

37


(3) Derivative Transactions

Derivative transactions (other than transactions for trading purposes) are valued at fair value.

(4) Depreciation

(a)Tangible Fixed Assets

Depreciation of buildings is computed mainly by the straight-line method, and that of equipment is computed mainly by the declining-balance method, and the applicable share of estimated annual depreciation costs for the period is recorded based on the following range of useful lives.

Buildings: 3 years to 50 years

Equipment: 2 years to 20 years

(Changes in Basis for Presentation and Principles of Preparation of Financial Statements)

In accordance with the revision of the Corporate Tax Law of 2007, depreciation of the tangible fixed assets acquired on or after April 1, 2007 is computed by the procedure stipulated in the revised law. As a result, Ordinary Profits and Income before Income Taxes and Minority Interests decreased by ¥2,211 million compared with the corresponding amounts under the previously applied method.

(Additional Information)

As for the tangible fixed assets acquired before April 1, 2007 and depreciated to their final depreciable limit, the salvage values of them are depreciated using the straight-line method in the following five fiscal years. As a result, Ordinary Profits and Income before Income Taxes and Minority Interests both decreased by ¥1,687 million compared with the corresponding amounts under the previously applied method.

(b) Intangible Fixed Assets

Amortization of Intangible Fixed Assets is computed by the straight-line method. Development costs for internally-used software are capitalized and amortized over their estimated useful lives of mainly five years as determined by MHFG and consolidated subsidiaries.

 

(5) Deferred Assets

(a) Bond issuance costs

Bond issuance costs are expensed at issuance of each bond.

(b) Debenture issuance costs

Debenture issuance costs are expensed as incurred. Debenture issuance costs booked on the consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2006 are amortized under the straight-line method within a certain period by applying the previous accounting method based on the tentative measure stipulated in “Tentative Solution on Accounting for Deferred Assets” (the Accounting Standards Board of Japan (“ASBJ”) Report No. 19, August 11, 2006).

(c) Bond discounts

Bonds are stated at amortized costs computed by the straight-line method on the consolidated balance sheet.

Bond discounts booked on the consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2006 are amortized under the straight-line method over the term of the bond by applying the previous accounting method and the unamortized balance is directly deducted from bonds, based on the tentative measure stipulated in the “Tentative Solution on Accounting for Deferred Assets” (ASBJ Report No. 19, August 11, 2006).

 

38


(6) Reserves for Possible Losses on Loans

Reserves for Possible Losses on Loans of major domestic majority-owned consolidated subsidiaries and other consolidated subsidiaries are maintained in accordance with internally established standards for write-offs and reserve provisions.

For claims extended to obligors that are legally bankrupt under the Bankruptcy Law, Special Liquidation under the Company Law or other similar laws (“Bankrupt Obligors”), and to obligors that are effectively in similar conditions (“Substantially Bankrupt Obligors”), reserves are maintained at the amounts of claims, net of direct write-offs described below and expected amounts recoverable from the disposition of collateral and the amounts recoverable under guarantees. For claims extended to obligors that are not yet legally or formally bankrupt but are likely to be bankrupt (“Intensive Control Obligors”), reserves are maintained at the amounts deemed necessary based on overall solvency analyses of the amounts of claims, net of expected amounts recoverable from the disposition of collateral and the amounts recoverable under guarantees.

For claims extended to Intensive Control Obligors and Obligors with Restructured Loans and others, if the exposure to an obligor exceeds a certain specific amount, reserves are provided as follows: (i) if future cash flows of the principal and interest can be reasonably estimated, the discounted cash flow method is applied, under which the reserve is determined as the difference between the book value of the loan and its present value of future cash flows discounted using the contractual interest rate before the loan was classified as a Restructured Loan, and (ii) if future cash flows of the principal and interest cannot be reasonably estimated, reserves are provided for the losses estimated for each individual loan.

For claims extended to other obligors, reserves are maintained at rates derived from historical credit loss experience and other factors. Reserve for Possible Losses on Loans to Restructuring Countries is maintained in order to cover possible losses based on analyses of the political and economic climates of the countries.

All claims are assessed by each claim origination department in accordance with the internally established “Self-assessment Standard,” and the results of the assessments are verified and examined by the independent examination departments. Reserves for Possible Losses on Loans are provided for on the basis of such verified assessments.

In the case of claims to Bankrupt Obligors and Substantially Bankrupt Obligors, which are collateralized or guaranteed by a third party, the amounts deemed uncollectible (calculated by deducting the anticipated proceeds from the sale of collateral pledged against the claims and amounts that are expected to be recovered from guarantors of the claims) are written off against the respective claims balances. The total directly written-off amount was ¥515,809 million.

The claims above include corporate bonds which are issued by private placement (Article 2, Paragraph 3 of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law) and others.

Other majority-owned consolidated subsidiaries and other consolidated subsidiaries provide the amount necessary to cover the loan losses based upon past experience and other factors for general claims and the assessment for each individual loan for other claims.

 

(7) Reserve for Possible Losses on Investments

Reserve for Possible Losses on Investments is maintained to provide against possible losses on investments in securities, after taking into consideration the financial condition and other factors concerning the investee company. Except for securitization products which are included as reference assets of another securitization schemes of the Group’s domestic banking subsidiary, Reserve for Possible Losses on Investments is provided against unrealized losses on securitization products related with the discontinuation of business regarding credit investments primarily in Europe which was made as an alternative to loans by the Group’s domestic banking subsidiary. Since securities are recognized at fair value on the consolidated balance sheet, the balance of Securities is offset against that of Reserve for Possible Losses on Investments by ¥45,939 million.

 

(8) Reserve for Bonus Payments

Reserve for Bonus Payments, which is provided for future bonus payments to employees, is maintained at the amount accrued at the end of the fiscal year, based on the estimated future payments.

 

39


(9) Reserve for Employee Retirement Benefits

Reserve for Employee Retirement Benefits (including Prepaid Pension Cost), which is provided for future benefit payments to employees, is recorded as the required amount, based on the projected benefit obligation and the estimated plan asset amounts at the end of the fiscal year. Unrecognized actuarial differences are recognized as income or expenses from the following fiscal year under the straight-line method over a certain term within the average remaining service period of the employees of the respective fiscal year.

 

(10) Reserve for Director and Corporate Auditor Retirement Benefits

Reserve for Director and Corporate Auditor Retirement Benefits, which is provided for future retirement pension payments to directors, corporate auditors, and executive officers, is recognized at the amount accrued at the end of the respective fiscal year, based on the internally established standards.

 

(11) Reserve for Possible Losses on Sales of Loans

(Additional Information)

Reflecting the considerable changes in the market circumstances these days, Reserve for Possible Losses on Sales of Loans is provided for possible future losses on sales of loans at the amount deemed necessary based on a reasonable estimate of possible future losses.

 

(12) Reserve for Contingencies

Reserve for Contingencies is maintained to provide against possible losses from contingencies, which are not covered by other specific reserves in off-balance transactions, trust transactions and others. The balance is an estimate of possible future losses, on an individual basis, considered to require a reserve.

 

(13) Reserve for Frequent Users Services

Reserve for Frequent Users Services is provided mainly to meet the future use of points of Mizuho Mileage Club at the amount deemed necessary based on the reasonable estimate of the future usage of points.

(Changes in Presentation of Financial Statements)

While the Reserve was formerly included within Other Liabilities because of its limited materiality, it has been stated independently from this fiscal year due to its increased materiality with the increase in the number of members.

Reserve for Frequent Users Services formerly included within Other Liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2007 was ¥ 3,773 million.

 

(14) Reserve for Reimbursement of Deposits

Reserve for Reimbursement of Deposits is provided for the deposits derecognized from the liabilities at the estimated amount of future claims for withdrawal.

(Changes in Basis for Presentation and Principles of Preparation of Financial Statements)

In accordance with “Auditing Treatment relating to Reserve defined under the Special Tax Measurement Law, Reserves defined under the Special Law and Reserve for Directors and Corporate Auditor Retirement Benefits” (The Japanese Institute of Certified Public Accountants (“JICPA”) Auditing and Assurance Practice Committee report No.42, April 13, 2007) effective from the fiscal year 2007, MHFG has adopted the report from this fiscal year. As a result, Ordinary Profits and Income before Income Taxes and Minority Interests both decreased by ¥9,614 million compared with the corresponding amounts under the previously applied method.

 

40


(15) Reserve under Special Laws

Reserve under Special Laws is Reserve for Contingent Liabilities from Financial Instruments and Exchange of ¥2,680 million. This is the reserve pursuant to Article 46-5, Paragraph 1 and Article 48-3, Paragraph 1 of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law to indemnify the losses incurred from accidents in the purchase and sale of securities, other transactions or derivative transactions.

Reserve for Contingent Liabilities from Futures Transactions and Reserve for Contingent Liabilities from Securities Transactions, which were recognized under Article 81 of the Financial Futures Transaction Law and under Article 51 of the Securities and Exchange Law respectively, are stated as Reserve for Contingent Liabilities from Financial Instruments and Exchange from this fiscal year because of the enforcement of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law on September 30, 2007.

(Changes in Presentation of Financial Statements)

With the revision of the appendix forms of “Banking Law Enforcement Regulations” (Ministry of Finance Ordinance No. 10, 1982) by the “Cabinet Office Ordinance to Amend Part of Banking Law Enforcement Regulations” (Cabinet Office Ordinance No. 60, August 8, 2007) and the enforcement of the revision on September 30, 2007, Reversal of Reserve for Contingent Liabilities from Futures Transactions, formerly recorded in Extraordinary Gains, and Provision for Reserve for Contingent Liabilities from Securities Transactions, formerly recorded in Extraordinary Losses, are recorded in Extraordinary Losses as Provision for Reserve for Contingent Liabilities from Financial Instruments and Exchange from this consolidated fiscal year.

(16) Assets and Liabilities denominated in foreign currencies

Assets and Liabilities denominated in foreign currencies and accounts of overseas branches of domestic majority-owned consolidated banking subsidiaries and a domestic consolidated trust banking subsidiary are translated into Japanese yen primarily at the exchange rates in effect at the consolidated balance sheet date, with the exception of the investments in majority-owned non-consolidated subsidiaries, other non-consolidated subsidiaries and affiliates not under the equity method, which are translated at historical exchange rates.

Assets and Liabilities denominated in foreign currencies of the majority-owned consolidated subsidiaries and other consolidated subsidiaries, except for the transactions mentioned above, are translated into Japanese yen primarily at the exchange rates in effect at the consolidated balance sheet dates.

(17) Lease Transactions

Finance leases of MHFG and domestic majority-owned consolidated subsidiaries and other consolidated subsidiaries that do not involve transfer of ownership to the lessee are accounted for as operating leases.

 

41


(18) Hedge Accounting

(a) Interest Rate Risk

The deferred method, the fair-value hedge method or the exceptional accrual method for interest rate swaps are applied as hedge accounting methods.

The portfolio hedge for a large volume of small-value monetary claims and liabilities of domestic majority-owned consolidated banking subsidiaries and domestic consolidated trust banking subsidiaries is accounted for by the method stipulated in the “Accounting and Auditing Treatment relating to Adoption of Accounting Standards for Financial Instruments for Banks” (JICPA Industry Audit Committee Report No.24).

The effectiveness of hedging activities for the portfolio hedge for a large volume of small-value monetary claims and liabilities is assessed as follows:

 

  (i) as for hedging activities to offset market fluctuation risks, the effectiveness is assessed by bracketing both the hedged instruments, such as deposits and loans, and the hedging instruments, such as interest-rate swaps, in the same maturity bucket.

 

  (ii) as for hedging activities to fix the cash flows, the effectiveness is assessed based on the correlation between a base interest rate index of the hedged cash flow and that of the hedging instrument.

The effectiveness of the individual hedge is assessed based on the correlation between the fluctuation in the market or cash flows of the hedged instruments and that of the hedging instruments.

Net Deferred Hedge Losses, net of Taxes recorded on the consolidated balance sheet resulted from the application of the macro-hedge method based on the “Tentative Accounting and Auditing Treatment relating to Adoption of Accounting Standards for Financial Instruments for Banks” (JICPA Industry Audit Committee Report No.15), under which the overall interest rate risks inherent in loans, deposits and others are controlled on a macro-basis using derivatives transactions. These deferred hedge gains/losses are amortized as interest income or interest expenses over the remaining maturity and average remaining maturity of the respective hedging instruments. The unamortized amounts of gross deferred hedge losses and gross deferred hedge gains on the macro-hedges, before net of applicable income taxes, at the end of the fiscal year were ¥154,316 million and ¥143,643 million, respectively.

(b) Foreign Exchange Risk

Domestic majority-owned consolidated banking subsidiaries and a domestic consolidated trust banking subsidiary apply the deferred method of hedge accounting to hedge foreign exchange risks associated with various financial assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies as stipulated in the “Accounting and Auditing Treatment relating to Adoption of Accounting Standards for Foreign Currency Transactions for Banks” (JICPA Industry Audit Committee Report No.25). The effectiveness of the hedge is assessed by confirming both the amount for the foreign currency position of the hedging instruments of currency-swap transactions, exchange swap transactions and similar transactions as the method of hedging the foreign exchange risks of monetary claims and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies and the amount for the foreign currency position of the hedged monetary claims and liabilities denominated in foreign currency are equivalent.

In addition to the above methods, these subsidiaries apply the deferred method or the fair-value hedge method to portfolio hedges of the foreign exchange risks associated with investments in majority-owned consolidated subsidiaries and other consolidated subsidiaries and affiliates in foreign currency and Other Securities in foreign currency (except for bonds) identified as hedged items in advance, as long as the amount of foreign currency payables of spot and forward foreign exchange contracts exceeds the amount of acquisition cost of the hedged foreign securities in foreign currency.

(c) Inter-company Transactions

Inter-company interest rate swaps, currency swaps and similar derivatives among consolidated companies or between trading accounts and other accounts, which are designated as hedges, are not eliminated and related gains and losses are recognized in the statement of income or deferred under hedge accounting, because these inter-company derivatives are executed according to the criteria for appropriate outside third-party cover operations which are treated as hedge transactions objectively in accordance with JICPA Industry Audit Committee Reports Nos. 24 and 25.

(19) Consumption Taxes and other

With respect to MHFG and its domestic majority-owned consolidated subsidiaries and other consolidated subsidiaries, Japanese consumption taxes and local consumption taxes are excluded from transaction amounts.

 

42


CHANGES IN BASIS FOR PRESENTATION OF CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Practical Solutions on Unification of Accounting Policies Applied to Foreign Subsidiaries for Consolidated Financial Statements)

Given that the “Practical Solutions on Unification of Accounting Policies Applied to Foreign Subsidiaries for Consolidated Financial Statements” (ASBJ Report No. 18, May 17, 2006) can be adopted from the fiscal year beginning on or before March 31, 2008, MHFG has adopted the new standards commencing with this fiscal year. The effect of this adoption on the consolidated statement of income is immaterial.

(Accounting Standards for Financial Instruments)

The definitions of securities in “Accounting Standards for Financial Instruments” (ASBJ Statement No. 10) and in “Practical Guidelines on Accounting Standards for Financial Instruments” (JICPA Laws and Regulations Committee Report No. 14) were partially revised on June 15, 2007 and on July 4, 2007 respectively, which is applicable from the fiscal year ending on or after the enforcement date of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law. MHFG has adopted the revised standards and guidelines commencing with this fiscal year.

(Practical Guidelines for Tax Effects on Consolidated Financial Statements)

As for the tax effects of sales of investments (such as subsidiaries’ stocks) within the Group, MHFG has adopted Paragraph 30-2 of “Practical Guidelines for Tax Effects on Consolidated Financial Statements” (JICPA Laws and Regulations Committee Report No. 6, March 29, 2007) from this fiscal year. The effect of this application on the consolidated balance sheet is immaterial.

 

43


NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

 

1. Securities include shares of ¥95,493 million and investments of ¥421 million in majority-owned non-consolidated subsidiaries, other non-consolidated subsidiaries and affiliates.

 

2. Unsecured loaned securities which the borrowers have the right to sell or repledge amounted to ¥4,794 million and are included in trading securities under Trading Assets. MHFG has the right to sell or repledge some of unsecured borrowed securities, securities purchased under resale agreements and securities borrowed with cash collateral. Among them, the total of securities repledged was ¥7,435,947 million, securities re-loaned was ¥24 million and securities neither repledged nor re-loaned was ¥6,535,867 million, respectively.

 

3. Loans and Bills Discounted include Loans to Bankrupt Obligors of ¥27,769 million and Non-Accrual Delinquent Loans of ¥434,330 million.

Loans to Bankrupt Obligors are loans, excluding loans written-off, on which delinquencies in payment of principal and/or interest have continued for a significant period of time or for some other reason there is no prospect of collecting principal and/or interest (“Non-Accrual Loans”), as per Article 96 Paragraph 1 Item 3, Subsections 1 to 5 or Item 4 of the Corporate Tax Law Enforcement Ordinance (Government Ordinance No. 97, 1965).

Non-Accrual Delinquent Loans represent Non-Accrual Loans other than (i) Loans to Bankrupt Obligors and (ii) loans on which interest payments have been deferred in order to assist or facilitate the restructuring of the obligors.

 

4. Balance of Loans Past Due for Three Months or More: ¥8,492 million

Loans Past Due for Three Months or More are loans on which payments of principal and/or interest have not been made for a period of three months or more since the next day following the last due date for such payments, and which are not included in Loans to Bankrupt Obligors, or Non-Accrual Delinquent Loans.

 

5. Balance of Restructured Loans: ¥695,144 million

Restructured Loans represent loans of which contracts were amended in favor of obligors (e.g. reduction of, or exemption from, stated interest, deferral of interest payments, extension of maturity dates and renunciation of claims) in order to assist or facilitate the restructuring of the obligors. Loans to Bankrupt Obligors, Non-Accrual Delinquent Loans and Loans Past Due for Three Months or More are not included.

 

6. Total balance of Loans to Bankrupt Obligors, Non-Accrual Delinquent Loans, Loans Past Due for Three Months or More and Restructured Loans: ¥1,165,736 million

The amounts given in Notes 3 through 6 are gross amounts before deduction of amounts for the Reserves for Possible Losses on Loans.

 

7. In accordance with JICPA Industry Audit Committee Report No. 24, bills discounted are accounted for as financing transactions. The banking subsidiaries have rights to sell or pledge these bankers’ acceptances, commercial bills, documentary bills and foreign exchange bills. The face value of these bills amounted to ¥826,360 million.

 

44


8. The following assets were pledged as collateral:

 

Trading Assets:

   ¥5,395,565 million

Securities:

   ¥12,510,007 million

Loans and Bills Discounted:

   ¥5,347,130 million

Other Assets:

   ¥13,565 million

Tangible Fixed Assets:

   ¥133 million

The following liabilities were collateralized by the above assets:

 

Deposits:

   ¥921,280 million

Call Money and Bills Sold:

   ¥2,230,560 million

Payables under Repurchase Agreements:

   ¥5,877,444 million

Guarantee Deposits Received under Securities Lending Transactions:

   ¥6,174,017 million

Borrowed Money:

   ¥2,975,997 million

In addition to the above, the settlement accounts of foreign and domestic exchange transactions or derivatives transactions and others were collateralized, and margins for futures transactions were substituted by Cash and Due from Banks of ¥9,185 million, Trading Assets of ¥421,623 million, Securities of ¥2,529,793 million and Loans and Bills Discounted of ¥604,444 million.

None of the assets was pledged as collateral in connection with borrowings by majority-owned non-consolidated subsidiaries, other non-consolidated subsidiaries and affiliates.

Other Assets includes guarantee deposits of ¥122,807 million, collateral pledged for derivatives transactions of ¥1,172,978 million, margins for futures transactions of ¥20,782 million and other guarantee deposits of ¥13,448 million.

 

9. Overdraft protection on current accounts and contracts of the commitment line for loans are contracts by which banking subsidiaries are bound to extend loans up to the prearranged amount, at the request of customers, unless the customer is in breach of contract conditions. The unutilized balance of these contracts amounted to ¥55,431,471 million. Of this amount, ¥46,637,717 million relates to contracts of which the original contractual maturity is one year or less, or which are unconditionally cancelable at any time.

Since many of these contracts expire without being exercised, the unutilized balance itself does not necessarily affect future cash flows. A provision is included in many of these contracts that entitles the banking subsidiaries to refuse the execution of loans, or reduce the maximum amount under contracts when there is a change in the financial situation, necessity to preserve a claim or other similar reasons. The banking subsidiaries require collateral such as real estate and securities when deemed necessary at the time the contract is entered into. In addition, they periodically monitor customers’ business conditions in accordance with internally established standards and take necessary measures to manage credit risks such as amendments to contracts.

 

10. In accordance with the Land Revaluation Law (Proclamation No.34 dated March 31, 1998), land used for business operations of domestic majority-owned consolidated banking subsidiaries was revalued. The applicable income taxes on the entire excess of revaluation are included in Deferred Tax Liabilities for Revaluation Reserve for Land under Liabilities, and the remainder, net of applicable income taxes, is stated as Revaluation Reserve for Land, net of Taxes included in Net Assets.

Revaluation date: March 31, 1998

Revaluation method as stated in Article 3 Paragraph 3 of the above law: Land used for business operations was revalued by calculating the value on the basis of the valuation by road rating stipulated in Article 2 Paragraph 4 of the Enforcement Ordinance relating to the Land Revaluation Law (Government Ordinance No.119 promulgated on March 31, 1998) with reasonable adjustments to compensate for sites with long depth and other factors, and also on the basis of the appraisal valuation stipulated in Paragraph 5.

The difference at the consolidated balance sheet date between the total fair value of land for business operation purposes, which has been revalued in accordance with Article 10 of the above-mentioned law, and the total book value of the land after such revaluation was ¥114,251 million.

 

45


11. Accumulated Depreciation of Tangible Fixed Assets amounted to ¥704,635 million.

 

12. The book value of Tangible Fixed Assets adjusted for gains on sales of replaced assets and others amounted to ¥40,229 million.

 

13. Borrowed Money includes subordinated borrowed money of ¥791,061 million with a covenant that performance of the obligation is subordinated to that of other obligations.

 

14. Bonds and Notes include subordinated bonds of ¥2,135,234 million.

 

15. The principal amounts of money trusts and loan trusts with contracts indemnifying the principal amounts, which are entrusted to domestic majority-owned consolidated trust banking subsidiaries, are ¥908,537 million and ¥86,775 million, respectively.

 

16. Liabilities for guarantees on corporate bonds included in Securities, which were issued by private placement (Article 2, Paragraph 3 of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law) amounted to ¥ 1,438,495 million.

 

17. Net Assets per share of common stock: ¥254,722.01

 

18. In addition to Fixed Assets booked on the consolidated balance sheet, certain computers are used on the basis of finance lease contracts that do not involve transfer of ownership to the lessee.

 

19. Projected pension benefit obligations etc. as of the consolidated balance sheet date are as follows:

 

     Millions of yen

Projected Benefit Obligations

   ¥(1,171,273)

Plan Assets (fair value)

   1,295,219
    

Unfunded Retirement Benefit Obligations

   123,946

Unrecognized Actuarial Differences

   405,558
    

Net Amounts on Consolidated Balance Sheet

   ¥529,505

Prepaid Pension Cost

   565,524

Reserve for Employee Retirement Benefits

   (36,019)
    

 

20. (Subsequent events) The redemption of Preferred Securities

The Board of Directors of MHFG resolved on April 18, 2008 to redeem preferred securities issued by MHFG’s overseas special purpose subsidiaries, as described below.

 

  (1) Issuer
  (a) Mizuho Preferred Capital (Cayman) 5 Limited
  (b) Mizuho Preferred Capital (Cayman) 6 Limited
  (c) Mizuho Preferred Capital (Cayman) 7 Limited
  (d) Mizuho Preferred Capital Company L.L.C.
  (e) Mizuho JGB Investment L.L.C.

 

  (2) Type of securities
       Non-cumulative Perpetual Preferred Securities

 

  (3) Aggregate redemption amount
(a)       ¥45,500 million
(b)    (i) Series A    ¥19,500 million
   (ii) Series B    ¥  2,500 million
(c)       ¥51,000 million
(d)       US$1,000 million
(e)       US$1,600 million

 

  (4) Scheduled redemption date
       June 30, 2008

 

  (5) Reason for the redemption
       Arrival of optional redemption date

 

21. (Subsequent events) The postponement of merger of Securities Subsidiaries

Shinko Securities Co., Ltd. and Mizuho Securities Co., Ltd. have been postponing the effective date of merger based on the merger agreement signed on March 29, 2007, initially from January 1, 2008 to May 7, 2008, and then to the earliest possible date in 2009.

Further, the respective board meetings of the two companies held on April 28, 2008, reconfirmed the basic policies and points in relation to proceeding with the merger, canceled the agreement mentioned above, and decided to sign a new “Basic Agreement for Merger” which sets the effective date of merger on May 7, 2009.

 

46


NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME

 

1. Other Ordinary Income includes gains on sales of stocks of ¥343,965 million.

 

2. Other Ordinary Expenses includes losses on write-offs of loans of ¥128,089 million, losses on devaluation of stocks of ¥102,621 million, a loss of ¥95,289 million incurred in relation to receipt of securitized products as a substitution payment of loans provided by the Group’s domestic majority-owned banking subsidiary to an overseas ABCP conduit, provision for Reserve for Possible Losses on Sales of Loans of ¥50,895 million, provision for Reserve for Possible Losses on Investments of ¥45,939 million, related with the discontinuation of business regarding credit investments primarily in Europe which was made as an alternative to loans by the Group’s domestic majority-owned banking subsidiary.

 

3. Amortization of Goodwill of Securities Subsidiary included in Extraordinary Losses is the amortization of Goodwill of Mizuho Securities Co., Ltd. in accordance with the devaluation of its stocks.

 

4. Net Income per share of common stock for the fiscal year: ¥25,370.25

 

5. Diluted Net Income per share of common stock for the fiscal year: ¥24,640.00

 

47


NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

1. Types and number of issued shares and of treasury stock are as follows:

 

     Thousands of Shares
     As of
March 31,
2007
   Increase
during the
fiscal year
   Decrease
during the
fiscal year
   As of
March 31,
2008
   Remarks

Issued shares

              

Common stock

   11,872    —      475    11,396    *1

Eleventh Series Class XI Preferred Stock

   943    —      —      943   

Thirteenth Series Class XIII Preferred Stock

   36    —      —      36   
                        

Total

   12,852    —      475    12,376   
                        

Treasury stock

              

Common stock

   265    215    476    4    *2
                        

Total

   265    215    476    4   
                        

 

*1. Decreases are due to cancellation of treasury stock (common stock).
*2. Increases are due to repurchase of treasury stock (215 thousand shares of common stock) and repurchase of fractional shares (0 thousand shares), decreases are due to cancellation of treasury stock (475 thousand shares of common stock) and additional purchase of fractional shares (0 thousand shares).

 

48


2. Cash dividends distributed by MHFG are as follows (non-consolidated basis):

Cash dividends paid during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008

 

Resolution

 

Types

   Cash
Dividends
(Millions of yen)
   Cash
Dividends
per Share

(Yen)
   Record
Date
   Effective
Date
 

June 26,

2007

    Common Stock    83,081    7,000    March 31,

2007

   June 26,
2007

(

 

Ordinary

General Meeting

of Shareholders

 

)

 

 

Eleventh Series Class

XI Preferred Stock

   18,874    20,000    March 31,

2007

  
     

 

Thirteenth Series Class

XIII Preferred Stock

   1,100    30,000    March 31,

2007

  
   

Total

           103,056               

Cash dividends with record dates falling in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008 and effective dates coming after the end of the fiscal year

Cash dividends on common stock and preferred stock are proposed as above as a matter to be resolved at the ordinary general meeting of shareholders scheduled to be held on June 26, 2008.

 

Resolution

  

Types

   Cash
Dividends
(Millions of yen)
   Resource
of
Dividends
   Cash
Dividends
per Share

(Yen)
   Record
Date
   Effective
Date
 

June 26,

2008

     Common Stock    113,922    Retained

Earnings

   10,000    March 31,

2008

   June 26,
2008
      

Eleventh Series

Class XI

Preferred Stock

   18,874    Retained

Earnings

   20,000    March 31,

2008

  

(

 

Ordinary

General Meeting

of Shareholders

 

)

  

Thirteenth Series

Class XIII

Preferred Stock

   1,100    Retained

Earnings

   30,000    March 31,

2008

  

 

49


[Translation]

Report of Independent Auditors

May 13, 2008

The Board of Directors of Mizuho Financial Group, Inc.

 

 

  

Ernst & Young ShinNihon

  

Naoki Matsumura

Certified Public Accountant

Designated and Operating Partner

  

Mutsuo Emi

Certified Public Accountant

Designated and Operating Partner

  

Tetsuya Mogi

Certified Public Accountant

Designated and Operating Partner

  

Noboru Miura

Certified Public Accountant

Designated and Operating Partner

In accordance with Article 444, Paragraph 4 of the Company Law, we have audited the consolidated balance sheet, the consolidated statement of income, the consolidated statement of changes in net assets and the notes to the consolidated financial statements of Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. (the “Company”) applicable to the fiscal year from April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2008. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to independently express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in Japan. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position and results of operations of the Mizuho Financial Group, which consisted of the Company and consolidated subsidiaries, applicable to the fiscal year from April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2008 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in Japan.

We have no interest in the Company which should be disclosed in compliance with the Certified Public Accountants Law.

 

50


[Translation]

Audit Report on the Consolidated Financial Statements

The Board of Corporate Auditors, upon deliberation, prepared this audit report regarding the consolidated financial statements (consolidated balance sheet, consolidated statements of income, consolidated statements of changes in shareholders’ equity and notes to the consolidated financial statements) for the 6th fiscal year from April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2008, based on the audit reports prepared by each Corporate Auditor and hereby reports as follows:

 

1. Auditing Method Employed by Corporate Auditors and the Board of Corporate Auditors and Details Thereof

The Board of Corporate Auditors established an auditing policy and auditing plans, including assignment of the duties of each Corporate Auditor, received from each Corporate Auditor reports on the execution of audits and results thereof, and in addition, received from the Directors, etc., and the independent auditors reports on the performance of their duties and, when necessary, requested explanations regarding such reports.

In accordance with the auditing standards for Corporate Auditors established by the Board of Corporate Auditors, each Corporate Auditor, based on the auditing plans, has received from the Directors, employees and other related persons reports on the consolidated financial statements and, when necessary, requested explanations regarding such reports.

In addition, the Corporate Auditors monitored and examined whether the independent auditors maintain their independence and carry out audits in an appropriate manner. The Corporate Auditors received from the independent auditors reports on the performance of their duties and, when necessary, requested explanations regarding those reports. The Corporate Auditors also received notification from the independent auditors regarding the “Structure for ensuring appropriate execution of the duties of the independent auditors” (as enumerated in each Item of Article 159 of the Company Calculation Regulations). When necessary, the Corporate Auditors requested explanations on such notification.

 

2. Audit Results

In our opinion, the method and results of the audit employed and rendered by Ernst & Young ShinNihon, the independent auditors, are fair and reasonable.

May 14, 2008

 

  Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. Board of Corporate Auditors
  Full time Corporate Auditor    (Yoshiaki Sugita)    (seal)
  Full time Corporate Auditor    (Shigeru Yamamoto)    (seal)
  Outside Corporate Auditor    (Yukio Nozaki)    (seal)
  Outside Corporate Auditor    (Masahiro Seki)    (seal)
  Outside Corporate Auditor    (Masahiko Kadotani)    (seal)

 

51


NON-CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

AS OF MARCH 31, 2008

 

     Millions of yen  

Assets

  

Current Assets

  

Cash and Due from Banks

   ¥ 10,440  

Advances

     4  

Prepaid Expenses

     3,527  

Accounts Receivable

     160,990  

Other Current Assets

     1,131  

Total Current Assets

     176,094  

Fixed Assets

  

Tangible Fixed Assets

     1,283  

Buildings

     221  

Equipment

     1,062  

Intangible Fixed Assets

     3,972  

Trademarks

     94  

Software

     3,510  

Other Intangible Fixed Assets

     367  

Investments

     4,477,571  

Investment Securities

     2  

Investments in Subsidiaries and Affiliates

     4,471,185  

Other Investments

     6,383  

Total Fixed Assets

     4,482,828  
        

Total Assets

   ¥ 4,658,922  
        

Liabilities

  

Current Liabilities

  

Short-term Borrowings

   ¥ 1,000,000  

Short-term Bonds

     140,000  

Accounts Payable

     902  

Accrued Expenses

     774  

Accrued Corporate Taxes

     128  

Deposits Received

     222  

Reserve for Bonus Payments

     248  

Total Current Liabilities

     1,142,276  

Non-Current Liabilities

  

Deferred Tax Liabilities

     638  

Reserve for Employee Retirement Benefits

     963  

Reserve for Director and Corporate Auditor Retirement Benefits

     527  

Other Non-Current Liabilities

     1,669  

Total Non-Current Liabilities

     3,800  
        

Total Liabilities

     1,146,076  
        

Net Assets

  

Shareholders’ Equity

  

Common Stock and Preferred Stock

     1,540,965  

Capital Surplus

  

Capital Reserve

     385,241  

Total Capital Surplus

     385,241  

Retained Earnings

  

Appropriated Reserve

     4,350  

Other Retained Earnings

     1,584,764  

Retained Earnings Brought Forward

     1,584,764  

Total Retained Earnings

     1,589,114  

Treasury Stock

     (2,447 )
        

Total Shareholders’ Equity

     3,512,873  
        

Valuation and Translation Adjustments

  

Net Unrealized Gains on Other Securities, net of Taxes

     (27 )
        

Total Valuation and Translation Adjustments

     (27 )
        

Total Net Assets

     3,512,845  
        

Total Liabilities and Net Assets

   ¥ 4,658,922  
        

 

52


NON-CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME

FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2008

 

     Millions of yen  

Operating Income

   ¥                     

Cash Dividends Received from Subsidiaries and Affiliates

     770,832  

Fee and Commission Income Received from Subsidiaries and Affiliates

     35,686  

Total Operating Income

     806,519  

Operating Expenses

  

General and Administrative Expenses

     19,364  

Total Operating Expenses

     19,364  
        

Operating Profits

     787,155  
        

Non-Operating Income

  

Interest on Deposits

     100  

Interest on Securities

     69  

Rent Received

     2  

Other Non-Operating Income

     133  

Total Non-Operating Income

     306  

Non-Operating Expenses

  

Interest Expenses

     13,363  

Interest on Short-term Bonds

     1,432  

Other Non-Operating Expenses

     29  

Total Non-Operating Expenses

     14,825  
        

Ordinary Profits

     772,635  
        

Extraordinary Gains

  

Gains on Disposition of Investments in Subsidiaries

     38,254  

Other Extraordinary Gains

     361  

Total Extraordinary Gains

     38,616  

Extraordinary Losses

  

Other Extraordinary Losses

     370  

Total Extraordinary Losses

     370  
        

Income before Income Taxes

     810,882  
        

Income Taxes:

  

Current

     11  

Deferred

     (131 )
        

Net Income

   ¥ 811,002  
        

 

53


NON-CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2008

 

     Millions of yen  
     Shareholders’ Equity     Valuation
and
Translation
Adjustments
    Total Net
Assets
 
     Common
Stock and
Preferred
Stock
   Capital Surplus    Retained Earnings     Treasury
Stock
    Total
Shareholders’
Equity
    Net
Unrealized
Gains on
Other
Securities,
net of Taxes
   
      Capital
Reserve
   Total
Capital
Surplus
   Appropriated
Reserve
   Other
Retained
Earnings
    Total
Retained
Earnings
         
               Retained
Earnings
Brought
Forward
           

Balance as of March 31, 2007

   ¥ 1,540,965    ¥ 385,241    ¥ 385,241    ¥ 4,350    ¥ 1,247,876     ¥ 1,252,226     ¥ (2,037 )   ¥ 3,176,394     ¥ 9     ¥ 3,176,404  
                                                                            

Changes during the fiscal year

                        

Cash Dividends

     —        —        —        —        (103,056 )     (103,056 )     —         (103,056 )     —         (103,056 )

Net Income

     —        —        —        —        811,002       811,002       —         811,002       —         811,002  

Repurchase of Treasury Stock

     —        —        —        —        —         —         (371,565 )     (371,565 )     —         (371,565 )

Disposition of Treasury Stock

     —        —        —        —        (1 )     (1 )     100       98       —         98  

Cancellation of Treasury Stock

     —        —        —        —        (371,055 )     (371,055 )     371,055       —         —         —    

Net Changes in Items other than

Shareholders’ Equity

     —        —        —        —        —         —         —         —         (37 )     (37 )
                                                                            

Total Changes during the fiscal

year

     —        —        —        —        336,888       336,888       (409 )     336,478       (37 )     336,441  
                                                                            

Balance as of March 31, 2008

   ¥ 1,540,965    ¥ 385,241    ¥ 385,241    ¥ 4,350    ¥ 1,584,764     ¥ 1,589,114     ¥ (2,447 )   ¥ 3,512,873     ¥ (27 )   ¥ 3,512,845  
                                                                            

 

54


[NOTES TO NON-CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS]

BASIS FOR PRESENTATION AND PRINCIPLES OF PREPARATION OF NON-CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

1. Valuation of Securities

Investments in subsidiaries and affiliates and Other Securities which do not have readily determinable fair value are stated at acquisition cost and determined by the moving average method.

 

2. Depreciation and Amortization of Fixed Assets

 

(a) Tangible Fixed Assets

Depreciation of Buildings is computed by the straight-line method, and that of Equipment is computed by the declining-balance method with the following range of useful lives.

Buildings: 4 years to 47 years

Equipment: 2 years to 17 years

(Changes in Basis for Presentation and Principles of Preparation of Non-Consolidated Financial Statements)

In accordance with the revision of the Corporate Tax Law of 2007, depreciation of the tangible fixed assets acquired on or after April 1, 2007 is computed by the procedure stipulated in the revised law. The effect on the non-consolidated balance sheet is immaterial.

(Additional Information)

As for the tangible fixed assets acquired before April 1, 2007 and depreciated to their final depreciable limit, the salvage values of them are depreciated using the straight-line method in the following five fiscal years. The effect on the non-consolidated balance sheet is immaterial.

 

(b) Intangible Fixed Assets

Trademarks are amortized under the straight-line method over ten years.

Development costs for internally-used software are capitalized and amortized under the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives of mainly five years.

 

3. Reserves

 

(a) Reserve for Bonus Payments, which is provided for future bonus payments to employees, is maintained at the amount accrued at the end of the fiscal year, based on the estimated future payments.

 

(b) Reserve for Employee Retirement Benefits, which is provided for future benefit payments to employees, is recorded as the required amount, based on the projected benefit obligation and the estimated plan asset amounts at the end of the fiscal year. Unrecognized actuarial differences are recognized as income or expenses from the following fiscal year under the straight-line method over a certain term (ten years) within the average remaining service period of the employees of the respective fiscal year.

 

(c) Reserve for Director and Corporate Auditor Retirement Benefits, which is provided for future retirement benefit payments to directors and corporate auditors, is recorded as the required amount at the end of the fiscal year, based on internally established standards.

 

4. Leases

Finance leases that do not involve transfer of ownership to the lessee are accounted for as operating leases.

 

5. Consumption Taxes and Local Consumption Taxes

Consumption taxes and local consumption taxes are excluded from transaction amounts.

 

55


CHANGES IN PRESENTATION OF NON-CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Until the previous fiscal year, “Interest on Deposits” was included in and presented as “Other Non-Operating Income.” Commencing with this fiscal year, “Interest on Deposits” is separately stated due to its increased materiality.

The amount of “Interest Income “ at the end of the previous fiscal year was ¥18 million.

NOTES TO NON-CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

 

1. Amounts less than one million yen are rounded down.

 

2. Assets pledged as collateral accounted for ¥3,389 million of Investments.

 

3. Accumulated depreciation of Tangible Fixed Assets amounted to ¥1,453 million.

Accumulated amortization of Intangible Fixed Assets amounted to ¥3,739 million.

 

4. Guarantee

 

(a) MHFG has guaranteed on a subordinated basis the principal of and interest on the subordinated notes issued by Mizuho Financial Group (Cayman) Limited. The amount of the subordinated guarantee is ¥430,809 million.

 

(b) Based upon the regulations of the German Deposit Protection Fund, MHFG has submitted to the Association of German Banks a letter of indemnity to recompense the association regarding deposits of the German branches of Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd. and Mizuho Corporate Bank (Germany) Aktiengesellschaft if necessary.

 

Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd.

   ¥ 33,124 million

Mizuho Corporate Bank (Germany) Aktiengesellschaft

   ¥ 12,965 million

 

5. Short-term monetary claims against subsidiaries and affiliates amounted to ¥10,440 million.

Short-term monetary liabilities against subsidiaries and affiliates amounted to ¥1,000,155 million.

Long-term monetary claims against subsidiaries and affiliates amounted to ¥18 million.

Long-term monetary liabilities against subsidiaries and affiliates amounted to ¥1,669 million.

 

56


NOTES TO NON-CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME

 

1. Amounts less than one million yen are rounded down.

 

2. Transactions with subsidiaries and affiliates

 

Operating transactions

  

Operating Income

   ¥ 806,519 million

Operating Expenses

   ¥ 4,160 million

Other than operating transactions

   ¥ 52,022 million

 

3. Other Non-Operating Income includes interest on the refund of withholding tax and others of ¥89 million.

 

4. Other Extraordinary Losses include expenses of ¥356 million related to the establishment of internal control systems.

NOTES TO NON-CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

 

1. Amounts less than one million yen are rounded down.

 

2. Types and number of treasury stock are as follows:

 

 

     Thousands of Shares
     As of
March 31,
2007
   Increase
during the
fiscal year
   Decrease
during the
fiscal year
   As of
March 31,
2008
   Remarks

Treasury stock

              

Common stock

   3    476    476    3    *
                        

Total

   3    476    476    3   
                        

 

*       Increases are due to repurchase of treasury stock (475 thousand shares of common stock) and fractional shares (0 thousand shares), decreases are due to cancellation of treasury stock (475 thousand shares of common stock) and additional purchase of fractional shares (0 thousand shares).

 

57


NOTES TO DEFERRED TAXES

Breakdown of Deferred Tax Assets / Liabilities

 

     Millions of yen  

Deferred Tax Assets

  

Investments in Subsidiaries and Affiliates

   ¥ 1,384,968  

Tax Losses Carried Forward

     515,228  

Other

     955  

Sub-total of Deferred Tax Assets

     1,901,152  

Valuation Allowance

     (1,900,674 )

Total Deferred Tax Assets

     477  

Deferred Tax Liabilities

  

Prepaid Pension Cost

     (1,116 )

Total Deferred Tax Liabilities

     (1,116 )

Net Deferred Tax Assets (Liabilities)

   ¥ (638 )

NOTES TO FIXED ASSETS USED ON THE BASIS OF FINANCE LEASE CONTRACTS

In addition to Fixed Assets booked on the non-consolidated balance sheet, equipment (including vehicles) is used on the basis of finance lease contracts that do not involve transfer of ownership to the lessee.

 

58


NOTES TO PER SHARE INFORMATION

 

1. Total Net Assets per Share of Common Stock is based on the following information:

 

Total Net Assets per Share of Common Stock

   ¥    220,538.65  

Total Net Assets

   ¥ million    3,512,845  

Deductions from Total Net Assets

   ¥ million    1,000,405  

Paid-in Amount of Preferred Stock

   ¥ million    (980,430 )

Cash Dividends on Preferred Stock

   ¥ million    (19,975 )

Net Assets (year-end) related to Common Stock

   ¥ million    2,512,440  
           

Year-end Outstanding Shares of Common Stock, based on which Total Net Assets per Share of Common Stock was calculated

   Thousands

of shares

   11,392  
           

 

2. Net Income per Share of Common Stock is based on the following information:

 

Net Income per Share of Common Stock    ¥    68,658.41  

Net Income

   ¥ million    811,002  

Amount not attributable to Common Stock

   ¥ million    19,975  

Cash Dividends on Preferred Stock

   ¥ million    (19,975 )

Net Income related to Common Stock

   ¥ million    791,027  
           

Average Outstanding Shares of Common Stock (during the period)

   Thousands

of shares

   11,521  
           

 

59


[Translation]

Report of Independent Auditors

May 13, 2008

The Board of Directors of Mizuho Financial Group, Inc.

 

  

Ernst & Young ShinNihon

  
  

Naoki Matsumura

  

Certified Public Accountant

  

Designated and Operating Partner

  
  

Mutsuo Emi

  

Certified Public Accountant

  

Designated and Operating Partner

  
  

Tetsuya Mogi

  

Certified Public Accountant

  

Designated and Operating Partner

  
  

Noboru Miura

  

Certified Public Accountant

  

Designated and Operating Partner

In accordance with Article 436, Paragraph 2, Clause 1 of the Company Law, we have audited the non-consolidated balance sheet, the non-consolidated statement of income, the non-consolidated statement of changes in net assets, the notes to the non-consolidated financial statements and the related supplementary schedules of Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. (the “Company”) applicable to the 6th fiscal year from April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2008. These non-consolidated financial statements and the related supplementary schedules are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to independently express an opinion on these non-consolidated financial statements and the related supplementary schedules based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in Japan. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the non-consolidated financial statements and the related supplementary schedules are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the non-consolidated financial statements and the related supplementary schedules. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements and the related supplementary schedules. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the non-consolidated financial statements and the related supplementary schedules referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position and results of operations of the Company applicable to the 6th fiscal year from April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2008 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in Japan.

We have no interest in the Company which should be disclosed in compliance with the Certified Public Accountants Law.

 

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[Translation]

Audit Report

The Board of Corporate Auditors, upon deliberation, prepared this audit report regarding the performance of duties of the Directors of the Company during the 6th fiscal year from April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2008, based on the audit reports prepared by each Corporate Auditor and hereby reports as follows:

 

1. Auditing Method Employed by Corporate Auditors and the Board of Corporate Auditors and Details Thereof

The Board of Corporate Auditors established an auditing policy and auditing plans, including assignment of the duties of each Corporate Auditor, received from each Corporate Auditor reports on the execution of audits and results thereof, and in addition, received from the Directors, etc., and the independent auditors reports on the performance of their duties and, when necessary, requested explanations regarding such reports.

In accordance with the auditing standards for Corporate Auditors established by the Board of Corporate Auditors, each Corporate Auditor, based on the auditing plans, has endeavored to gather information and create an improved environment for auditing. Each Corporate Auditor also attended meetings of the Board of Directors and other important meetings, received from the Directors, employees and other related persons reports on the performance of their duties and when necessary, requested explanations regarding such reports. Also, each Corporate Auditor inspected important authorized documents and associated information and examined the business and financial position of the Company. In addition, each Corporate Auditor monitored and examined the content of resolutions made by the Board of Directors regarding the establishment of structures, to ensure that the performance of duties by the Directors will be in compliance with the laws and regulations of Japan and with the Company’s Articles of Incorporation and other structures as provided for in Article 100, Paragraphs 1 and 3 of the Enforcement Regulations of the Company Law of Japan, to ensure that the Company’s operation will be conducted appropriately. Moreover, each Corporate Auditor monitored and examined the status of such structures that have been established in compliance with such resolutions (internal control systems). As for the subsidiaries of the Company, each Corporate Auditor has shared information with the directors and corporate auditors and other related persons of the subsidiaries and, when necessary, received reports from the subsidiaries regarding their businesses. Based on the foregoing method, we examined the business report and the supplementary schedules for this fiscal year.

In addition, the Corporate Auditors also monitored and examined whether the independent auditors maintain their independence and carry out audits in an appropriate manner. The Corporate Auditors received from the independent auditors reports on the performance of their duties and, when necessary, requested explanations regarding those reports. The Corporate Auditors also received notification from the independent auditors regarding the “Structure for ensuring appropriate execution of the duties of the independent auditors” (as enumerated in each Item of Article 159 of the Company Calculation Regulations). When necessary, the Corporate Auditors requested explanations on such notification. Based on the foregoing method, the Corporate Auditors reviewed the financial statements for this fiscal year (non-consolidated balance sheet, non-consolidated statements of income, non-consolidated statements of changes in shareholders’ equity and notes to the non-consolidated financial statements) and supplementary schedules thereto.

 

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2. Audit Results

 

(1) Audit Results on the Business Report, etc.

 

  A. In our opinion, the business report and the supplementary schedules fairly represent the Company’s condition in conformity with the applicable laws and regulations of Japan as well as the Articles of Incorporation of the Company.

 

  B. With regard to the execution of duties by the Directors, we have found no evidence of misconduct or material facts in violation of the applicable laws and regulations of Japan or the Articles of Incorporation of the Company in the course of the execution of duties of the Directors.

 

  C. In our opinion, the content of the resolutions of the Board of Directors regarding the internal control systems is appropriate, and furthermore, we have not found anything to be pointed out on the performance of duties of the Directors regarding the internal control systems.

 

(2) Results of Audit of the Financial Statements and Supplementary Schedules

In our opinion, the method and results of the audit employed and rendered by Ernst & Young ShinNihon, the independent auditors, are fair and reasonable.

May 14, 2008

 

   Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. Board of Corporate Auditors
   Full time Corporate Auditor    (Yoshiaki Sugita)   (seal)
   Full time Corporate Auditor    (Shigeru Yamamoto)   (seal)
   Outside Corporate Auditor    (Yukio Nozaki)   (seal)
   Outside Corporate Auditor    (Masahiro Seki)   (seal)
   Outside Corporate Auditor    (Masahiko Kadotani)   (seal)

 

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Announcement Regarding Setting up a Limit for Repurchase of Own Stock

We, Mizuho Financial Group, Inc., after receipt of (i) the Audit Report prepared by the Board of Corporate Auditors with respect to the non-consolidated financial statements and the business report, and the supplementary schedules thereof, and (ii) the Audit Report prepared by the Board of Corporate Auditors with respect to the consolidated financial statements, resolved the following matters at the meeting of the Board of Directors, which were subsequently announced to the public.

Setting up a Limit for Repurchase of Own Stock

We, at the meeting of the Board of Directors held on May 15, 2008, set up a limit for repurchasing our common stock up to the maximum amount of JPY 150 billion as described below. As with the repurchase that we conducted last year, this repurchase will be made for the purpose of offsetting the potential dilutive effect due to the commencement of the conversion period for the Eleventh Series Class XI Preferred Stock from July 1, 2008.

Details of Repurchase

 

  (1) Type of shares to be repurchased:

Shares of common stock of Mizuho Financial Group, Inc.

 

  (2) Aggregate number of shares to be repurchased:

Up to a maximum of 600,000 shares

 

  (3) Aggregate amount of repurchase:

Up to a maximum of JPY 150 billion

 

  (4) Period of repurchase:

From June 10, 2008 to November 30, 2008

We plan to cancel all the common shares repurchased, except shares that we assign for the exercise of stock compensation type stock options (stock acquisition rights) to be issued in the future.

 

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(Reference)

I. Consolidated Financial Data of Mizuho Financial Group, Inc.

1. Income Analysis (Consolidated)

 

 

     (Billions of yen)  
          Fiscal 2007     Change     Fiscal 2006  

Consolidated Gross Profits

   1    1,660.9     (456.4 )   2,117.3  

Net Interest Income

      1,063.6     (26.6 )   1,090.2  

Fiduciary Income

      64.3     (2.6 )   66.9  

Credit Costs for Trust Accounts

      —       —       —    

Net Fee and Commission Income

      494.5     (56.5 )   551.1  

Net Trading Income

      56.1     (205.3 )   261.5  

Net Other Operating Income

      (17.7 )   (165.2 )   147.5  

General and Administrative Expenses

   2    (1,124.5 )   (32.9 )   (1,091.6 )

Personnel Expenses

      (461.4 )   (6.8 )   (454.6 )

Non-Personnel Expenses

      (606.2 )   (24.4 )   (581.7 )

Expenses related to Portfolio Problems (including Reversal of (Provision for) General Reserve for Possible Losses on Loans)

   3    (201.7 )   (59.0 )   (142.6 )

Net Gains (Losses) related to Stocks

   4    253.3     362.8     (109.5 )

Equity in Income from Investments in Affiliates

   5    9.0     (0.2 )   9.3  

Other

   6    (199.9 )   (165.2 )   (34.7 )
                       

Ordinary Profits

   7

(Total of 1-6)

   397.1     (351.0 )   748.1  
                       

Net Extraordinary Gains

   8    88.9     (137.7 )   226.7  

Reversal of Reserves for Possible Losses on Loans, etc.

      118.6     16.2     102.4  

Income before Income Taxes and Minority Interests

   9=7+8    486.0     (488.8 )   974.8  

Income Taxes-Current

   10    (32.2 )   11.0     (43.2 )

-Deferred

   11    (118.5 )   105.1     (223.6 )

Minority Interests in Net Income

   12    (24.0 )   62.8     (86.9 )
                       

Net Income

   13=9+10+11+12    311.2     (309.7 )   620.9  
                       

 

*       Amounts less than one hundred million yen are rounded down.

         

Credit-related Costs (including Credit Costs for Trust Accounts)

      (83.0 )   (42.8 )   (40.1 )

 

*        Credit-related Costs =   Expenses related to Portfolio Problems (including Reversal of (Provision for) General Reserve for Possible Losses on Loans) + Reversal of Reserves for Possible Losses on Loans, etc. + Credit Costs for Trust Accounts

2. Consolidated Capital Adequacy Ratio (BIS Standard)

 

     (Billions of yen)  
     As of March 31, 2008
(Preliminary)
   As of March 31, 2007    Change  

Risk-based Capital

   7,708.3    8,841.3    (1,133.0 )

Risk-weighted Assets

   65,898.6    70,795.4    (4,896.8 )

Capital Adequacy Ratio (%)

   11.69    12.48    (0.79 )

 

* Amounts less than one hundred million yen are rounded down.

 

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II. Aggregated Figures of Mizuho Bank, Ltd., Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd. and Mizuho Trust & Banking Co., Ltd.

1. Income Analysis (Non-Consolidated)

 

 

     (Billions of yen)  
          Fiscal 2007           Fiscal 2006  
          Mizuho
Bank
    Mizuho
Corporate
Bank
    Mizuho
Trust &
Banking
    Aggregated
Figures
    Change    

Gross Profits

   1    942.8     606.3     172.6     1,721.8     21.6     1,700.2  

Net Interest Income

      606.9     293.6     53.4     954.0     1.4     952.5  

Fiduciary Income

      —       —       63.0     63.0     (3.1 )   66.1  

Credit Costs for Trust Accounts

      —       —       —       —       —       —    

Net Fee and Commission Income

      189.0     119.8     42.8     351.7     (49.1 )   400.8  

Net Trading Income

      122.5     245.2     1.1     368.9     239.5     129.4  

Net Other Operating Income

      24.3     (52.3 )   12.1     (15.8 )   (167.1 )   151.3  

General and Administrative Expenses (excluding Non-Recurring Losses)

   2    (537.2 )   (236.1 )   (86.7 )   (860.1 )   (4.4 )   (855.7 )

Personnel Expenses

      (127.3 )   (73.9 )   (27.9 )   (229.2 )   15.6     (244.9 )

Non-Personnel Expenses

      (376.8 )   (148.9 )   (55.8 )   (581.6 )   (20.1 )   (561.4 )
                                         

Net Business Profits (before Reversal of (Provision for) General Reserve for Possible Losses on Loans)

   3=1+2    405.6     370.2     85.8     861.7     17.1     844.5  
                                         

Reversal of (Providon for) General Reserve for Possible Losses on Loans

   4    (12.0 )   —       —       (12.0 )   5.2     (17.3 )
                                         

Net Business Profits

   5=3+4    393.5     370.2     85.8     849.6     22.3     827.2  
                                         

Net Non-Recurring Gains (Losses)

   6    (171.6 )   1.5     (7.1 )   (177.2 )   77.5     (254.7 )

Net Gains (Losses) related to Stocks

      49.0     190.3     0.7     240.1     355.5     (115.3 )

Expenses related to Portfolio Problems

      (182.8 )   (26.9 )   (5.1 )   (214.8 )   (103.7 )   (111.1 )
                                         

Ordinary Profits

   7=5+6    221.9     371.7     78.7     672.3     99.8     572.4  
                                         

Net Extraordinary Gains (Losses)

   8    17.1     (381.8 )   22.0     (342.7 )   (578.5 )   235.8  

Reversal of Reserves for Possible Losses on Loans, etc.

      15.4     97.9     21.0     134.3     29.2     105.1  

Losses on Devaluation of Stocks of Subsidiary

      —       (473.1 )   —       (473.1 )   (473.1 )   —    

Income before Income Taxes

   9=7+8    239.0     (10.1 )   100.7     329.6     (478.7 )   808.3  

Income Taxes-Current

   10    (0.5 )   (0.0 )   (0.0 )   (0.5 )   0.0     (0.5 )

-Deferred

   11    (42.9 )   (78.5 )   (13.9 )   (135.5 )   74.0     (209.5 )
                                         

Net Income

   12=9+10+11    195.5     (88.7 )   86.7     193.5     (404.7 )   598.2  
                                         

 

* Amounts less than one hundred million yen are rounded down.
* Net Business Profits (before Reversal of (Provision for) General Reserve for Possible Losses on Loans) of Mizuho Trust & Banking excludes the amount of Credit Costs for Trust Accounts.

(Reference)

 

Income before Devaluation of Stocks of Subsidiary

      195.5   384.3    86.7    666.6    68.4    598.2

 

* Income before Devaluation of Stocks of Subsidiary = Net Income - Losses on Devaluation of Stocks of Subsidiary

 

Credit-related Costs

      (179.4 )   70.9    15.8    (92.5 )   (69.2 )   (23.3 )

 

*        Credit-related Costs =

  Expenses related to Portfolio Problems + Reversal of (Provision for) General Reserve for Possible Losses on Loans + Reversal of Reserves for Possible Losses on Loans, etc. + Credit Costs for Trust Accounts

 

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2. “Deposits” and “Loans and Bills Discounted”

 

     (Billions of yen)
     As of March 31, 2008      
     Mizuho Bank    Mizuho Corporate
Bank
   Mizuho Trust &
Banking
   Aggregated
Figures
   Change     As of March 31,
2007

Deposits (including Negotiable Certificates of Deposit)

   56,092.9    27,635.4    3,431.4    87,159.8    2,751.3     84,408.5

Loans and Bills Discounted

   33,745.8    28,439.6    3,481.3    65,666.7    (1,159.3 )   66,826.1

 

* Amounts less than one hundred million yen are rounded down.

3. Disclosed Claims under the Financial Reconstruction Law

 

     (Billions of yen)
     As of March 31, 2008      
     Mizuho Bank    Mizuho Corporate
Bank
   Mizuho Trust &
Banking
   Aggregated
Figures
   Change     As of March 31,
2007

Claims against Bankupt and Substantially Bankrupt Obligors

   99.5    8.3    29.3    137.3    15.0     122.2

Claims with Collection Risk

   311.7    53.4    10.3    375.5    (222.9 )   598.4

Claims for Special Attention

   239.4    410.5    40.4    690.4    164.4     526.0

Total

   650.8    472.2    80.1    1,203.2    (43.4 )   1,246.7

 

* Amounts less than one hundred million yen are rounded down.
* Amounts of Mizuho Trust & Banking include trust accounts.

4. Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Other Securities

 

     (Billions of yen)  
     As of March 31, 2008        
     Mizuho Bank     Mizuho Corporate
Bank
    Mizuho Trust &
Banking
    Aggregated
Figures
    Change     As of March 31,
2007
 

Japanese Stocks

   63.3     730.1     102.0     895.6     (1,714.2 )   2,609.8  

Japanese Bonds

   (46.6 )   (29.1 )   (22.8 )   (98.6 )   58.5     (157.2 )

Other

   (16.6 )   (178.1 )   (0.2 )   (195.0 )   (99.3 )   (95.7 )

Total

   0.0     522.8     79.0     601.9     (1,754.9 )   2,356.8  

 

* Amounts less than one hundred million yen are rounded down.
* Figures above denote differences between book value and acquisition cost (including amortized cost) of Other Securities which have readily determinable fair value.
* In addition to “Securities” on the balance sheets, negotiable certificates of deposit in “Cash and Due from Banks” and certain items in “Other Debt Purchased” are also included.
* Fair value of Japanese stocks with a quoted market price is determined based on the average quoted market price over the month preceding the balance sheets date. Fair value of securities other than Japanese stocks is determined at the quoted market price if available, or other reasonable value at the balance sheets date.

 

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5. Consolidated Capital Adequacy Ratio(Preliminary)

 

     (Billions of yen)
     As of March 31, 2008 (Preliminary)
     Mizuho Bank
Domestic Standard
   Mizuho Corporate Bank
BIS Standard
   Mizuho Trust & Banking
BIS Standard

Risk-based Capital

   3,339.6    4,278.8    585.2

Risk-weighted Assets

   27,888.8    35,173.0    3,667.7

Capital Adequacy Ratio (%)

   11.97    12.16    15.95

 

* Amounts less than one hundred million yen are rounded down.

III. Consolidated Financial Data of Mizuho Securities Co., Ltd.

1. Results of Operations

 

     (Billions of yen)  
     Fiscal 2007     Fiscal 2006    Change  

Operating Income

   223.6     647.2    (423.6 )

Net Operating Income

   (296.5 )   165.4    (462.0 )

Operating Profits

   (430.2 )   45.8    (476.1 )

Ordinary Profits

   (433.6 )   46.3    (479.9 )

Net Income

   (418.6 )   26.9    (445.6 )

 

* Amounts less than one hundred million yen are rounded down.

2. Financial Conditions

 

     (Billions of yen)  
     As of March 31, 2008    As of March 31, 2007    Change  

Net Assets

   331.0    439.2    (108.2 )

 

*  Amounts less than one hundred million yen are rounded down.

 

(Reference)

    

 

Capital Adequacy Ratio (%) (non-consolidated)

   266.9    263.1    3.8  

 

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