Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. (MHFG) hereby announces that its Board of Directors has resolved today to revise its estimates of annual (fiscal year–end) dividend per common stock for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2014 as set forth below.
- 1.Revision of Dividend Estimates
(yen)
| Cash Dividend per Common Stock | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Record Date | Second quarter–end | Fiscal year–end | Annual |
| Previous Estimates (November 2013) | 3.0 | 3.0 | 6.0 |
| Revised Estimates | – | 3.5 | 6.5 |
| Net Change | – | ＋0.5 | ＋0.5 |
| Fiscal 2013 (results) | 3.0 | – | – |
| (Reference) Dividend for Fiscal 2012 |
3.0 | 3.0 | 6.0 |
- 2.Reasons for the Revision
We are pursuing "strengthening of stable capital base" and "steady returns to shareholders" as our "disciplined capital management" policy.
Reflecting the financial results to date and other factors, we revised the fiscal year–end dividend estimates to 3.5 yen per common stock, an increase of 0.5 yen from the previous estimates. Based on the foregoing, the annual dividend for the fiscal year ending March 2014 will be 6.5 yen per common stock.
This immediate release contains statements that constitute forward–looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including estimates, forecasts, targets and plans. Such forward–looking statements do not represent any guarantee by management of future performance. In many cases, but not all, we use such words as "aim," "anticipate," "believe," "endeavor," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "probability," "project," "risk," "seek," "should," "strive," "target" and similar expressions in relation to us or our management to identify forward–looking statements. You can also identify forward–looking statements by discussions of strategy, plans or intentions. These statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions.
We may not be successful in implementing our business strategies, and management may fail to achieve its targets, for a wide range of possible reasons, including, without limitation: incurrence of significant credit–related costs; declines in the value of our securities portfolio; changes in interest rates; foreign currency fluctuations; decrease in the market liquidity of our assets; revised assumptions or other changes related to our pension plans; a decline in our deferred tax assets; the effect of financial transactions entered into for hedging and other similar purposes; failure to maintain required capital adequacy ratio levels; downgrades in our credit ratings; our ability to avoid reputational harm; our ability to implement our Medium–term Business Plan, realize the synergy effects of "One MIZUHO," and implement other strategic initiatives and measures effectively; the effectiveness of our operational, legal and other risk management policies; the effect of changes in general economic conditions in Japan and elsewhere; and changes to applicable laws and regulations.
Further information regarding factors that could affect our financial condition and results of operations is included in "Item 3.D. Key Information—Risk Factors" and "Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects" in our most recent Form 20–F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and our report on Form 6–K furnished to the SEC on January 27, 2014, both of which are available in the Financial Information section of our web page at www.mizuhogroup.com and also at the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov.
We do not intend to update our forward–looking statements. We are under no obligation, and disclaim any obligation, to update or alter our forward–looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by the rules of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.