February 12, 2010

Business Performance for the First Three Quarters of Fiscal 2010
(on a consolidated basis)
1. Outline of business operations for the first three quarters fiscal 2010 (April 1 toDecember 31, 2009)(1) Operating results(Amounts less than ¥1 million are omitted.)
Net sales(¥ million)

First 3 quartersof fiscal 2010
First 3 quartersof fiscal 2009

Operating income(YoYchange)(¥ million)

Recurring income(YoYchange)(¥ million)

Net income(YoYchange)(YoYchange)(¥ million)

311,513(17.3%)

19,840(22.0%)

19,374(23.3%)

10,812(19.6%)

376,719-

25,452-

25,255-

13,441-

Earnings pershare (Yen)First 3 quarters of fiscal 2010
First 3 quarters of fiscal 200927.04
33.46(2) Financial position(As of end of terms; amounts less than ¥1 million are omitted.)
Total assets(¥ million)
First 3 quarters of fiscal
2010 (Dec. 31, 2009)
Reference: End of FY 2009
(March 31, 2009)

Net assets(¥ million)

Net assets
per share (¥)

Equity ratio (%)

611,071204,07031.2

477.25534,350

194,25033.9

452.67

Notes:
EquityFirst 3 quarters of fiscal 2010: ¥190,822 millionEnd of FY 2009: ¥181,037 million

2. Forecasts for business operations for the fiscal 2010 full term (April 1, 2009 – March 31, 2010)(Amounts less than ¥1 million are omitted.)
Net sales(YoYchange)
450,000(9.2%)(¥ million)

FY2010 full term

RecurringincomeOperating income(YoYchange)
27,400(6.0%)(¥ million)

1(YoYchange)
24,600 (12.0%)(¥ million)

Net income(YoYchange)
13,300 (19.6%)(¥ million)

Earnings pershare(Yen)

33.26

3. Business Performance and Financial Results (consolidated basis)
1.

Business performance for the first three quarters of fiscal 2010

During the first three quarters (April to December 31), the Japanese economy showed amoderate recovery trend, thanks to improvement in export-related demand accompanying ageneral recovery in China and the other Asian economies. This trend was also supported by an
expansion in demand for eco-friendly cars and energy-saving home appliances, as a result of
the Japanese government’s economic stimulus measures.
However, in Japan the general outlook is far from optimistic. Consumer spending
remains sluggish, and commodities prices are extending their downward trend. Manufacturers
continue to curb plant and equipment investment, and corporate earnings performance is slow
to reflect the recovery trend against the backdrop of the yen’s rapid appreciation.
Unemployment also remains at a high level.
In the Company’s main user industries – the steel, non-ferrous metals, automotive, andsemiconductor industries – inventory adjustments ran their course and production recoveredagainst a backdrop of an ongoing increase in exports, mainly of LCDs and steel products toChina and other East Asian countries.
Amid these circumstances, the Group made concerted efforts to strengthen marketing
capabilities, further reduce costs and restore profitability. Nonetheless, sales declined 17.3%
year-on-year to ¥311,513 million, operating income fell 22.0% to ¥19,840 million, recurringincome decreased 23.3% to ¥19,374 million, and net income came to ¥10,812 million, down
19.6% from the same period of the previous year.

Breakdown of business performance by operational segment
Gas Business
In Japan, sales volumes of our mainline products of oxygen, nitrogen, and argon as well as
specialty gases stayed below the levels of the corresponding nine-month period of the previous
fiscal year. However, improvement was also seen in industries directly benefiting from the2government’s economic stimulus measures in addition to growing demand for exports of LCD
panels and steel products. Consequently, demand for industrial gases showed a gradual
recovery trend. Overseas, meanwhile, revenues declined year-on-year, due in part to the yen’s
appreciation against the dollar, although signs of recovery in demand emerged in NorthAmerica.
As a result, sales of the Gas Business declined by 15.3% year-on-year, to ¥221,100million, while operating income fell 20.4% to ¥16,115 million.

Machinery & Equipment Business
Demand remained weak overall in response to reductions in or postponements of capital
investment in our main customer industries and sluggish public sector spending. Consequently,
sales revenues for electronics-related equipment (including installation) and cutting andwelding-related equipment showed a year-on-year decline compared with the previous year’s
first three quarters.
As a result, sales of Machinery & Equipment segment came to ¥76,124 million, down
24.7% year-on-year, while operating income fell 48.8% to ¥4,337 million.

Housewares Business and Others
In the Housewares Business, sales of our popular “Portable Mug” were favorable, enabling
Thermos K.K. to post a year-on-year rise in revenues and earnings. However, demand for theOthers business segment remained weak. Consequently, sales declined 1.4% to ¥14,288
million, while operating income rose 37.4% to ¥2,681 million.

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Breakdown of business performance by geographical segment

Japan
In the Gas Business, we saw signs of a recovery in demand from our users, primarily chemicalcompanies, electronics manufacturers, and steelmakers. However, demand from the metal
processing and construction industries remained sluggish. In the Machinery & Equipment
Business, total segment sales fell below the previous year’s level, reflecting the impact ofreductions in or postponements of capital investment plans in our user industries, and sluggish
investment by the public sector.
Sales in Japan were down 17.5% year-on-year to ¥238,762 million, while operating
income decreased 10.9% to ¥16,917 million.

North America
In the Gas Business, there emerged a recovery trend in demand for mainline products ofoxygen, nitrogen, argon and specialty gases. In the Machinery & Equipment Business, there
was a sharp decrease in demand for cutting and welding-related equipment. Sales posted on ayen basis also resulted in a year-on-year decline, due partly to the yen’s appreciation against
the dollar. Consequently, sales in North America decreased 10.7% year-on-year to ¥57,172
million, while operating income fell sharply by 50.3% to ¥3,399 million.

Other Regions
Sales in Other Regions on a Japanese-currency basis declined year-on-year, attributable in partto the yen’s appreciation against the dollar. In the Asian region as a whole, signs of a recovery
in demand for industrial gases were being seen. In Taiwan, a recovery trend was seen in
demand for specialty gases from electronics manufacturers.

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Total sales for Other Regions fell 33.4% to ¥15,579 million, while operating income
declined 33.2% to ¥1,283 million.

4. Results by operating segment
First three quarters fiscal 2010 (April 1 to December 31, 2009)(Millions of yen)
MachineryandEquipment
BusinessHousewares
Business andOthers

221,100

76,124

14,288311,513-

311,513

4

7,112

26

7,143

(7,143)-

221,105
16,115

83,236
4,337

14,314
2,681

318,657
23,134(7,143)(3,293)

311,513
19,840Gas
BusinessSales(1) Sales to externalcustomers(2) Sales from intersegment transactions andtransfers
Total
Operating income

Total

Eliminations orCorporate

Consolidated

First three quarters fiscal 2009 (April 1 to December 31, 2008)(Millions of yen)
MachineryandEquipment
BusinessHousewares
Business andOthers

261,175

101,045

14,498376,719-

376,719

18

18,17849

18,246(18,246)-

261,193
20,254

119,223
8,470

14,548
1,951

394,965
30,675(18,246)(5,223)376,719
25,452

GasBusinessSales(1) Sales to externalcustomers(2) Sales from intersegment transactions andtransfers
Total
Operating income

Total

Eliminations orCorporate

Consolidated

Notes
1. Segmentation method
Products (whether developed and/or made in-house or by other companies [i.e. bought-inmerchandise]) are allocated to one of the three segments of the Gas Business, the Machineryand Equipment Business, and the Housewares Business and Others.
2. The principal products and services included in the three segments are shown in the tablebelow.
Business segment
Main products
Oxygen, nitrogen, argon, carbon dioxide, helium, rare gases such as
xenon and neon, hydrogen, medical gases(oxygen, nitrogen oxide,
Gas Businessetc), specialty gases (semiconductor materials gases, standard
reference gas, etc), dissolved acetylene, liquid petroleum gas (LPG),
other gases, stable isotopes, equipment lease
Machinery andCutting and welding equipment, welding materials, cylinders,
Equipment Business semiconductor related equipment /engineering, semiconductor

5manufacturing equipment, medical equipment, air separation plants(oxygen, nitrogen, argon, rare gases), cryogenic air separation plants,
ultra-low-temperature equipment, high-vacuum equipment, pressure
swing adsorption (PSA) gas generators, hydrogen generators, gascompressors, gas expanders, liquefied gas storage tank/pumps,
vacuum brazing, atomic power/space development related equipment
and other related equipment
Stainless steel vacuum bottles (household, laboratory), vacuum
Housewares Business thermal insulation cooking pots, assembly processing and inspection ofand Others
electronic components, maintenance of facilities, other outsourced
business
3. Changes in accounting standards
Previous term (first three quarters of fiscal 2009)
Accounting standards for valuation of inventory assets
From the first quarter of the previous term, the Company applied the “Accounting Standardsfor Measurement of Inventories” (Accounting Standards Board of Japan (ASBJ) Statement
No. 9 on July 5, 2006). The changes in the accounting standards have no material effect on theincome statement.
Unification of accounting policies applied to foreign subsidiaries
From the first quarter of the previous term, the Company applied the “Practical Solution on
Unification of Accounting Policies Applied to Foreign Subsidiaries for Consolidated FinancialStatements” (ASBJ Practical Issues Task Force No. 18 on May 17, 2006). As a result,operating income for the Gas Business for the first three quarters of the previous term
decreased by ¥1,083 million.
Application of accounting standards for lease transactions
From the first quarter of the previous term, the Company applied the Accounting Standard forLease Transactions (ASBJ Statement No. 13 (June 17, 1993 (Business Accounting Council,First Subcommittee) revised March 30, 2007) and the Implementation Guidance on theAccounting Standard for Lease Transactions (ASBJ Guidance No. 16 (January 18, 1994
(Japanese Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Accounting System Committee) revised
March 30, 2007). The changes in the accounting standards have no material effect on theincome statement.
Reporting term (first three quarters of fiscal 2010)

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Changes in accounting standards for recognition of construction revenues and cost ofcompleted work
With regard to accounting standards employed for the recognition of revenues resulting fromconstruction work undertaken for customers using the completed-contract method, wepreviously recognized the total lump-sum amount of the completed contract values atcompletion, excepting for contracts with a contract amount of ¥1billion or larger and a work
period of longer than one year to which the percentage-of-completion method was applied.
However, with effect from the first quarter of the current term, the Accounting Standards forConstruction Contracts (ASBJ Statement No. 15, issued on December 27, 2007) and theGuidance on Application of Accounting Standards for Construction Contracts (ASBJ
Guidance No. 18, issued on December 27, 2007) have been applied to construction contracts.
The percentage-of-completion method is applied to construction contracts meeting thefollowing criteria: construction had started within the first quarter of the current term (exceptfor short-period work); and the percentage of construction already completed by the end of thereporting third quarter can be estimated fairly reliably. (The estimation is based on theproportion of direct costs incurred for each work phase as compared with the estimated total
cost for the entire contract.) Other than the above-mentioned construction contracts, thecompleted-contract method has been applied. This change has no effect on sales revenues oroperating income.
4. Additional information
Previous term (first three quarters of fiscal 2009)
Changes in useful life of machinery and equipment
Effective from the first quarter of the previous term, the Company and its consolidated
subsidiaries in Japan have changed their accounting policy for the depreciation of machineryand equipment in line with amendments to the Income Tax Law effective from fiscal 2009.
Accordingly, the useful life of machinery and equipment has been changed to more
effectively reflect the actual useful lives.
As a result, operating income for the first three quarters of the previous term decreasedby ¥1,393 million for the Gas Business, ¥34 million for the Machinery and Equipment
Business, and ¥11 million for the Housewares Business and Others compared with the amounts
calculated under the previous standards.

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5. Results by geographical segment
First three quarters fiscal 2010 (April 1 to December 31, 2009)(Millions of yen)JapanSales(1) Sales to externalcustomers(2) Sales from intersegment transactionsTotalOperating income

North
America

Other countries

Total

Eliminations or
Corporate

Consolidated

238,762

57,172

15,579311,513-

311,513

2,783

3,529

2,628

8,941

(8,941)-

241,545
16,91760,701
3,399

18,207
1,283

320,455
21,600(8,941)(1,759)311,513
19,840First three quarters fiscal 2009 (April 1 to December 31, 2008)(Millions of yen)
Japan
Sales
(1) Sales to externalcustomers(2) Sales from intersegment transactions
Total
Operating income

North
America

Other countries

Total

Eliminations or
Corporate

Consolidated

289,283

64,03523,400376,719-

376,719

5,657

8,744

2,533

16,936(16,936)-

294,941
18,986

72,7796,838

25,934
1,922

393,655
27,747(16,936)(2,294)

376,719
25,452Notes
1. Principal countries in the North America and Other Countries segments are as follows:(1) North America: The United States of America(2) Other countries: Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, China, Taiwan etc.
2. Changes in Accounting Standards
Previous term (first three quarters of fiscal 2009)
Accounting standards for valuation of inventory assets
From the first quarter of the previous term, the Company applied the “Accounting Standards
for Measurement of Inventories” (Accounting Standards Board of Japan (ASBJ) Statement
No. 9 on July 5, 2006). The changes in the accounting standards have no material effect on theincome statement.
Unification of accounting policies applied to foreign subsidiaries
From the first quarter of the previous term, the Company applied the “Practical Solution on
Unification of Accounting Policies Applied to Foreign Subsidiaries for Consolidated FinancialStatements” (ASBJ Practical Issues Task Force No. 18 on May 17, 2006). As a result,8operating income from business operations in North America for the first three quarters of theprevious term decreased by ¥1,083 million compared with the amounts calculated under theprevious standards.
Application of accounting standards for lease transactions
From the first quarter of the previous term, the Company applied the Accounting Standard forLease Transactions (ASBJ Statement No. 13 (June 17, 1993 (Business Accounting Council,First Subcommittee) revised March 30, 2007) and the Implementation Guidance on theAccounting Standard for Lease Transactions (ASBJ Guidance No. 16 (January 18, 1994
(Japanese Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Accounting System Committee) revised
March 30, 2007). The changes in the accounting standards have no material effect on theincome statement.
Reporting term (first three quarters of fiscal 2010)
Changes in accounting standards for recognition of construction revenues and cost ofcompleted work
With regard to accounting standards employed for the recognition of revenues resulting fromconstruction work undertaken for customers using the completed-contract method, we
previously recognized the total lump-sum amount of the completed contract values atcompletion, excepting for contracts with a contract amount of ¥1 billion or larger and a work
period of longer than one year to which the percentage-of-completion method was applied.
However, with effect from the first quarter of the current term, the Accounting Standards forConstruction Contracts (ASBJ Statement No. 15, issued on December 27, 2007) and the
Guidance on Application of Accounting Standards for Construction Contracts (ASBJ
Guidance No. 18, issued on December 27, 2007) have been applied to construction contracts.
The percentage-of-completion method is applied to construction contracts meeting thefollowing criteria: construction had started within the first quarter of the current term (exceptfor short-period work); and the percentage of construction already completed by the end of thereporting third quarter can be estimated fairly reliably. (The estimation is based on theproportion of direct costs incurred for each work phase as compared with the estimated total
cost for the entire contract.) Other than the above-mentioned construction contracts, the9completed-contract method has been applied. This change has no effect on sales revenues oroperating income.
3. Additional information
Previous term (first three quarters of fiscal 2009)
Changes in useful life of machinery and equipmentEffective from the first quarter of the previous term, the Company and its consolidated
subsidiaries in Japan have changed their accounting policy for the depreciation of machineryand equipment in line with amendments to the Income Tax Law effective from fiscal 2009.
Accordingly, the useful life of machinery and equipment has been changed to more
effectively reflect the actual useful lives.
As a result, operating income from business operations in Japan for the first threequarters of the previous term decreased by ¥1,439 million compared with the amounts
calculated under the previous standards.

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