OREANDA-NEWS. ITOCHU Corporation announced its consolidated results for the first quarter (April-June) of fiscal year (FY) 2013, ending March 31, 2014.

Revenue for the three - month period ended June 30, 2013, increased by 19.9%, or 206.5 billion yen, compared with the same period of the previous fiscal year, to 1,242.7 billion yen. This increase was attributable to higher revenue from the Energy & Chemicals Company, mainly due to higher transaction volume of petroleum products in the U.S. energy - related companies and organic chemicals; higher revenue from the Food Company, reflecting acquisition of the Dole business; and higher revenue from the Machinery Company, due to the acquisition of automobile - related companies in the second quarter of the previous fiscal year.

Gross trading profit increased by 5.4%, or 11.9 billion yen, compared with the same period of the previous fiscal year, to 231.5 billion yen. This increase was attributable to higher earnings from the Food Company, due to the acquisition of the Dole business; higher earnings from the Machinery Company, reflecting the acquisition of automobile - related companies in the second quarter of the previous fiscal year and the effect of yen depreciation; and higher earnings from the Metals & Minerals Company, as a result of higher sales volume of iron ore and the effect of yen depreciation, which more than offset falling iron ore and coal prices. These increases in earnings offset lower earnings from the ICT, General  Products & Realty Company, due to the absence of domestic ICT - related companies’ large - scale project in the same period of the previous fiscal year and the conversion of a mobile – phone - related subsidiary into an equity - method associated company in the third quarter of the previous fiscal year, which counteracted favorable pulp transactions and favorable performance by housing – materials - related companies, and lower earnings from the Energy & Chemicals Company due to the absence of the gain on valuation of derivatives related to transactions of exploration and production of crude oil in the same period of the previous fiscal year.

Selling, general and administrative expenses rose by 5.2%, or 8.6 billion yen, compared with the same period of the previous fiscal year, to 175.6 billion yen, due to higher expenses accompanying the inclusion of new consolidated subsidiaries, including the acquisition of the Dole business, and the effect of yen depreciation, which offset decrease in expenses resulting from the conversion of subsidiaries into equity-method associated companies.

Provision for doubtful receivables deteriorated by 3.2 billion yen, compared with the same period of the previous fiscal year, to a loss of 1.3 billion yen, mainly due to the absence of the gain on reversal of allowance for doubtful receivables in the same period of the previous fiscal year.

Net interest expenses improved by 13.0%, or 0.5 billion yen, compared with the same period of the previous fiscal year, to expense of 3.2 billion yen, due to lower debt cost despite increase in interest - bearing debt. Dividends received decreased by 2.8%, or 0.2 billion yen, compared with the same period of the previous fiscal year, to 5.4 billion yen. Consequently, Net financial income, which is the total of Net interest expenses and Dividends received, improved by 0.3 billion yen, compared with the same period of the previous fiscal year, to a gain of 2.2 billion yen.

Gain on investments – net in creased by 12.3 billion yen, compared with the same period of the previous fiscal year, to a gain of 22.0 billion yen. This gain was attributable to an increase in gain on sales of investments and a decrease in impairment losses on investment securities.

Gain (loss)  on property and equipment – net improved by 1.1 billion yen, compared with the same period of the previous fiscal year, to a gain of 0.7 billion yen, due to an improvement in gain on sales of property and equipment and in impairment losses.

Other – net in creased by 1.6 billion yen, compared with the same period of the previous fiscal year, to a gain of 3.0 billion yen, due to an improvement in foreign currency translation.

As a result, Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of associated companies in creased by 23.0%, or 15.4 billion yen, compared with the same period of the previous fiscal year, to 82.4 billion yen. Income taxes in creased (deteriorate) by  21.0%, or 5.0 billion yen, compared with the same period of the previous fiscal year, to expenses of 29.1 billion yen.

Equity in earnings of associated companies decreased by 13.8%, or 4.2 billion yen, compared with the same period of the previous fiscal year, to 26.3 billion yen. This decline was attributable to the absence of an unordinary gain recognized by an investment in an industrial – textiles - related company in the same period of the previous fiscal year and recognition of impairment losses on oil and gas properties of U.S. oil – and – gas – development - related company as a result of falling crude oil prices, which more than offset increases in equity in earnings of finance-related companies, overseas pulp-related companies, and steel-products-related companies.

As a result, Net income in creased by 8.4%, or 6.1 billion yen, compared with the same period of the previous fiscal year, to 79.7 billion yen.

Consequently, Net income attributable to ITOCHU, which is calculated as Net income minus Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest of 2.4 billion yen, in creased by 9.4%, or 6.6 billion yen, compared with the same period of the previous fiscal year, to 77.3 billion yen.