The Company obtained permission from the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare absolving its future payment obligations for certain portions of the employees' pension plans hitherto covered by the Company on behalf of the national government.
The permission took effect on January 30, 2003 and the Company recognized that the said pension liabilities expired as of such date.
Due to this change, the Company anticipates to post approximately five billion yen as special income in its unconsolidated and consolidated financial statements for fiscal 2002 ending March 2003.
The Company intends to evaluate effects of the change on its future financial positions as well as other factors including business environments and developments of the stock market, and revise the performance forecast if deemed necessary.