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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and Subsidiaries
1. General and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
(a) Description of Business
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (the "Company") and its subsidiaries (collectively "Honda") mainly develop, manufacture and distribute motorcycles, automobiles, power products, and also provide financing for the sale of those products. Honda's manufacturing operations are principally conducted in 33 separate factories, four of which are located in Japan. Principal overseas manufacturing facilities are located in the United States of America, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Argentina, Brazil and Turkey.
(b) Basis of Presenting Consolidated Financial Statements
The Company and its domestic subsidiaries maintain their books of account in conformity with financial accounting standards of Japan, and its foreign subsidiaries generally maintain their books of account in conformity with those of the countries of their domicile.
The consolidated financial statements presented herein have been prepared in a manner and reflect the adjustments which are necessary to conform them with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
(c) Consolidation Policy
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, its subsidiaries and those variable interest entities where Honda is the primary beneficiary under the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Interpretation (FIN) No. 46 (revised December 2003), "Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities". All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Investments in affiliates in which Honda has the ability to exercise significant influence over their operating and financial policies, but where Honda does not have a controlling financial interest are accounted for using the equity method.
(d) Use of Estimates
Management of Honda has made a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reporting of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities to prepare its consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include, but are not limited to, allowance for credit losses, losses on lease residual values, retained interests in the sold pools of finance receivables, realizable values of inventories, realization of deferred tax assets, impairment of long-lived assets, unrecognized tax benefits, product warranty obligations, the fair values of assets and obligations related to employee benefits, and the fair value of derivative financial instruments. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
(e) Revenue Recognition
Sales of manufactured products are recognized when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred, title and risk of loss have passed to the customers, the sales price is fixed or determinable, and collectibility is probable.
Honda provides dealer incentives passed on to the end customers generally in the form of below-market interest rate loans or lease programs. The amount of interest or lease subsidies paid is the difference between the amount offered to retail customers and the amount stemmed from a market-based interest or lease rate. Honda also provides dealer incentives retained by the dealer, which generally represent discounts provided from Honda to the dealers. These incentives are classified as a reduction of sales revenue as the consideration is paid in cash, because Honda does not receive an identifiable benefit in exchange for this consideration. The incentives are estimated and accrued at the time the product is sold to the dealer.
Operating lease revenues are recorded on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease.
Interest income from finance receivables is recognized using the interest method. Finance receivable origination fees and certain direct origination costs are deferred, and the net fee or cost is amortized using the interest method over the contractual life of the finance receivables.
Finance subsidiaries of the Company periodically sell finance receivables. Gain or loss is recognized equal to the difference between the cash proceeds received and the carrying value of the receivables sold and is recorded in the period in which the sale occurs. Honda allocates the recorded investment in finance receivables between the portion(s) of the receivables sold and portion(s) retained, based on the relative fair values of those portions on the date the receivables are sold. Honda recognizes gains or losses attributable to the change in the fair value of the retained interests, which are recorded at estimated fair value and accounted for as "trading" securities. Honda determines the fair value of the retained interests by discounting the future cash flows. Those cash flows are estimated based on prepayments, credit losses and other information as available and are discounted at a rate which Honda believes is commensurate with the risk free rate plus a risk premium. Finance subsidiaries of the Company have historically amortized servicing assets or servicing liabilities in proportion to and over the period of estimated net servicing income. Effective April 1, 2007, the finance subsidiaries of the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 156, "Accounting for Servicing of Financial Assets" which requires the finance subsidiaries of the Company to measure servicing assets or servicing liabilities at fair value at each reporting date and report changes in fair value in earnings in the period in which the changes occur. The adoption of SFAS No. 156 did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial position as of April 1, 2007. Servicing assets and servicing liabilities at March 31, 2007 and 2008 were not significant.
Taxes collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities on revenue-producing transactions are accounted for on a net basis and therefore are excluded from revenues in consolidated statements of income.
(f) Cash Equivalents
Honda considers all highly liquid debt instruments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents consist of money market funds and commercial paper, and amount to ¥117,182 million and ¥110,336 million ($1,101 million) as of March 31, 2007 and 2008, respectively.
(g) Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost, determined principally by the first-in, first-out method, or market.
(h) Investments in Securities
Investments in securities consist of investment to affiliates and debt and equity securities. Investments in affiliates in which Honda has the ability to exercise significant influence over their operating and financial policies, but where Honda does not have a controlling financial interest are accounted for using the equity method. Differences between the cost of investments in affiliates and the amount of underlying equity in net assets of the affiliates principally represent investor level goodwill.
Honda considers whether the fair value of any of its equity method investments have declined below their carrying value whenever adverse events or changes in circumstances indicate that recorded values may not be recoverable. If Honda considers any such decline to be other-than-temporary based on various factors, then a write-down will be recorded to estimated fair value.
Honda classifies its debt and equity securities into the following categories: available-for-sale, trading, or held-to-maturity. Debt securities classified as "held-to-maturity" securities are reported at amortized cost. Debt and equity securities classified as "trading" securities are reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses included in earnings. Other marketable debt and equity securities are classified as "available-for-sale" securities and are reported at fair value, with unrealized gains or losses, net of deferred taxes included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in the stockholders' equity section of the consolidated balance sheets. The costs of available-for-sale securities sold are accounted for using the moving-average method. Honda did not hold any "trading" securities at March 31, 2007 and 2008, except for retained interests in the sold pools of finance receivables, which are accounted for as "trading" securities and included in finance subsidiaries—receivables.
Honda periodically compares the fair value of investment securities with their cost basis. If the fair value of investment securities has declined below our cost basis and such decline is judged to be other-than-temporary, Honda recognizes the impairment of the investment securities and the carrying value is reduced to its fair value through a charge to income. The determination of other-than-temporary impairment is based upon an assessment of the facts and circumstances related to each investment security. In determining the nature and extent of impairment, Honda considers such factors as financial and operating conditions of the issuer, the industry in which the issuer operates, degree and period of the decline in fair value and other relevant factors.
Non-marketable equity securities are carried at cost, and are examined the possibility of impairment periodically.
(i) Goodwill
Goodwill, all of which is allocated to Honda's reporting units, is not amortized but is tested for impairment at least annually. Honda completed its annual tests for March 31, 2006, 2007, and 2008 and concluded no impairment needed to be recognized. The carrying amount of goodwill at March 31, 2007 and 2008 was ¥20,791 million and ¥20,498 million ($205 million), respectively (see note 3).
(j) Property on Operating Leases
Property on operating leases is reported at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation of the vehicles is generally provided on a straight-line basis to an estimated residual value over the lease term. The residual values of the vehicles related to the operating leases are estimated by using our estimate of future used vehicle values, taking into consideration data obtained from third parties.
(k) Depreciation and Amortization
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment is calculated principally by the declining-balance method based on estimated useful lives and salvage values of the respective assets.
The estimated useful lives used in computing depreciation and amortization of property, plant and equipment are as follows:

(l) Impairment of Long-Lived Assets to Be Held and Used and Long-Lived Assets to Be Disposed Of
Honda's long-lived assets and identifiable intangible assets other than goodwill having finite useful lives are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to future net cash flows (undiscounted and without interest charges) expected to be generated by the asset. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the estimated fair value of the assets. Assets to be disposed of by sale are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or estimated fair value less costs to sell.
(m) Income Taxes
Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in earnings in the period that includes the enactment date.
The Company and its consolidated subsidiaries adopted the provision of Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Interpretation (FIN) No. 48 "Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes" on April 1, 2007. FIN No. 48 requires that an entity recognizes in the consolidated financial statements the impact of a tax position, if any, based on the technical merits of the position, when that position is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination. Benefits from tax positions that meet the more likely than not recognition threshold are measured at the largest amount of benefit that is a greater than 50 percent likely of being realized upon settlement. FIN No. 48 also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition. The initial adoption of this interpretation did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial position. Honda accounts for interest and penalties related to the liability for unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income tax expense in the consolidated statement of income.
(n) Product-Related Expenses
Advertising and sales promotion costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising expenses for each of the years in the three-year period ended March 31, 2008 were ¥287,901 million, ¥308,409 million and ¥315,656 million ($3,151 million), respectively. Provisions for estimated costs related to product warranty are made at the time the products are sold to customers or new warranty programs are initiated. Estimated warranty expenses are provided based on historical warranty claim experience with consideration given to the expected level of future warranty costs as well as current information on repair costs. Included in warranty expenses accruals are costs for general warranties on vehicles Honda sells and product recalls.
(o) Basic Net Income per Common Share
Basic net income per common share has been computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during each year. The weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the years ended March 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008 was 1,840,799,671 shares, 1,824,675,228 shares and 1,815,356,440 shares respectively. There were no potentially dilutive shares outstanding during the years ended March 31, 2006, 2007 or 2008.
The Company executed a two-for-one stock split for the Company's common stock effective July 1, 2006. All per share information has been adjusted retroactively for the year ended March 31, 2006 to reflect this stock split.
(p) Foreign Currency Translation
Foreign currency financial statement amounts are translated into Japanese yen on the basis of the year-end exchange rate for all assets and liabilities and the weighted average rate for the year for all income and expense amounts. The resulting translation adjustments are included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in the stockholders' equity section of the consolidated balance sheets.
Foreign currency receivables and payables are translated at the applicable current rates on the balance sheet date. All revenues and expenses associated with foreign currencies are converted at the rates of exchange prevailing when such transactions occur. The resulting exchange gains or losses are reflected in other income (expense) in the consolidated statements of income.
Foreign currency transaction gains (losses) included in other income (expenses)—other for each of the years in the three-year period ended March 31, 2008 are as follows:

(q) Derivative Financial Instruments
Honda has entered into foreign exchange agreements and interest rate agreements to manage currency and interest rate exposures. These instruments include foreign currency forward contracts, currency swap agreements, currency option contracts and interest rate swap agreements.
Honda recognizes at fair value all derivative financial instruments in its consolidated balance sheets. Derivative asset and liability positions are presented net by counterparty on the consolidated balance sheets when valid master netting agreement exists and the other conditions set out in Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Interpretation (FIN) No. 39, "Offsetting of Amounts Related to Certain Contracts" are met.
The Company applies hedge accounting for certain foreign currency forward contracts related to forecasted foreign currency transactions between the Company and its subsidiaries. These are designated as cash flow hedges on the date derivative contracts are entered into. The Company has a documented currency rate risk management policy. In addition, it documents all relationships between derivative financial instruments designated as cash flow hedges and the relevant hedged items to identify the relationship between them. The Company assesses, both at the hedge's inception and on an ongoing basis, whether the derivative financial instruments designated as cash flow hedge are highly effective to offset changes in cash flows of hedged items.
When it is determined that a derivative financial instrument is not highly effective as a cash flow hedge, when the hedged item matures, is sold or is terminated, or when it is identified that the forecasted transaction is no longer probable, the Company discontinues hedge accounting. To the extent derivative financial instruments are designated as cash flow hedges and have been assessed as being highly effective, changes in their fair value are recognized in other comprehensive income (loss). The amounts are reclassified into earnings in the period when forecasted hedged transactions affect earnings. When these cash flow hedges prove to be ineffective, changes in the fair value of the derivatives are immediately recognized in earnings.
Changes in the fair value of derivative financial instruments not designated as accounting hedges are recognized in earnings in the period of the change.
The amount recognized in earnings included in other income (expenses)—other during the years ended March 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008 are ¥55,516 million loss, ¥48,485 million loss and ¥48,746 million ($487 million) gain, respectively. In relation to this, the Company included gains and losses on translation of debts of finance subsidiaries denominated in foreign currencies intended to be hedged of ¥45,046 million gain, ¥8,351 million loss and ¥118,997 million ($1,188 million) loss in other income (expenses)—other during the years ended March 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008, respectively. In addition, net realized gains and losses on interest rate swap contracts not designated as accounting hedges by mainly finance subsidiaries of ¥827 million gain, ¥3,309 million gain and ¥10,550 million ($105 million) loss are included in other income (expenses)—other during the years ended March 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008, respectively. These gains and losses are presented on a net basis.
Honda doesn't hold any derivative financial instruments for trading purposes.
(r) Shipping and Handling Costs
Shipping and handling costs included in selling, general and administrative expenses for each of the years in the three-year period ended March 31, 2008 are as follows:

(s) Asset Retirement Liability
Honda recognizes an asset retirement liability if the fair value of the obligation can be reasonably estimated. Asset retirement obligations include those for which an entity has a legal obligation to perform an asset retirement activity, however, the timing and (or) method of settling the obligation are conditional on a future event that may or may not be within the control of the entity.
(t) New Accounting Pronouncements
In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 157, "Fair Value Measurements". This statement defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. This statement applies under other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements and does not require any new fair value measurements. This statement is effective as of an entity's first fiscal year that begins after November 15, 2007. In February 2008, FASB issued FASB staff position (FSP) No. FAS 157-2 "Effective date of FASB statement No. 157". This FSP delays the effective date for SFAS No. 157, for nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities, except for items that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis (at least annually). It is not anticipated that adoption will have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial position or results of operations.
The Company and its subsidiaries adopted the recognition and disclosure provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 158, "Employers' Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans — an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106, and 132(R)" on March 31, 2007.
This statement also changes the date at which benefit obligations are to be measured to the date of the year-end statement of financial position. Certain foreign subsidiaries of the Company use a December 31 measurement date for their plans. The measurement provisions of this statement are effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2008. It is not anticipated that adoption will have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial position or results of operations.
In February 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 159, "The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities — including an amendment of SFAS No. 115". This statement permits entities to choose to measure at fair value many financial instruments and certain other items that are not currently required to be measured at fair value. Subsequent changes in fair value for designated items will be required to be reported in earnings in the current period. The statement also establishes presentation and disclosure requirements for similar types of assets and liabilities measured at fair value. The statement is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. Honda is currently in the process of assessing the financial impact of adoption.
In December 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 141(R), "Business Combinations". This statement replaces SFAS No. 141. This statement requires an acquirer to recognize the assets acquired, liabilities assumed, and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree at the acquisition date measured at that date. The statement shall be applied prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date is on and after an entity's first fiscal year that begins after December 15, 2008, with early adoption not permitted. It is not anticipated that adoption will have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial position or results of operations.
In December 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 160, "Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements". This statement requires that a noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary is an ownership interest in the consolidated entity that should be reported as equity in the consolidated financial statements, and requires that changes in a parent's ownership interest while the parent retains its controlling financial interest in its subsidiary shall be accounted for as equity transactions. This statement is effective as of an entity's first fiscal year that begins after December 15, 2008, with early adoption not permitted. It is not anticipated that the initial adoption will have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial position or results of operations.
(u) Cumulative Effect of Prior Year Adjustments
In September 2006, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108, "Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements" ("SAB No. 108"). SAB No. 108 provides interpretive guidance on how the effects of the carryover or reversal of prior year misstatements should be considered in quantifying current year misstatements for the purpose of materiality assessment. SAB No. 108 requires that registrants quantify a current year misstatement using an approach that considers both the impact of prior year misstatements that remain on the balance sheet and those that were recorded in the current year income statement. The Company historically quantified misstatements and assessed materiality based on a current year income statement approach. The transition provisions of SAB No. 108 permit the Company to adjust for the cumulative effect on retained earnings of immaterial errors related to prior years.
The Company adopted SAB No. 108 effective beginning of the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007, and adjusted the items described below in the accompanying consolidated financial statements as of the beginning of the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007 to correct the prior year misstatements, which were considered to be immaterial to the consolidated statements of income and consolidated balance sheets in prior years under the income statement approach. The net impact of these adjustments decreased Honda's beginning retained earnings and beginning accumulated other comprehensive loss for 2007 by ¥62,640 million, net of tax effect of ¥31,235 million, and ¥18,149 million, respectively, for the items described below:
1. The Company and its certain domestic subsidiaries in Japan historically calculated depreciation of property, plant and equipment, using a salvage value determined as 5% of the acquisition cost. However, since the sales proceeds received for the liquidated assets and their economical value at the end of its useful life historically have been nominal, the Company and its certain domestic subsidiaries assessed the adequacy of the salvage value and concluded that they should have calculated depreciation using the salvage value of ¥1 for its property, plant and equipment. The Company and its certain domestic subsidiaries recalculated depreciation expenses retrospectively considering the corrected salvage value. The reassessment indicated that an accumulated overstatement of property, plant and equipment in the consolidated financial statements had occured.
2. Equity in income of affiliates should be recognized based on affiliates' consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. However, the Company historically recognized equity in income of affiliates based on the results of operations of the parent-only financial statements of the affiliates, as the Company assessed that the difference between the total amounts of equity in income on the consolidation basis and those on the parent-only basis had been immaterial to the Company's consolidated financial statements under the income statement approach. This misstatement resulted in an accumulated understatement of equity in income of affiliates and the carrying value of the investments in affiliates in the consolidated financial statements.
3. The Company reclassified the residual tax effect of minimum pension liabilities included in accumulated other comprehensive income during the year ended March 31, 2006, which related to corporate tax rate changes in the past based on the proportional allocation over the expiration of unrecognized obligation. However, the residual tax effect should have been reclassified only when the pension plan is liquidated or dissolved under the portfolio approach. This misstatement resulted in an understatement of accumulated other comprehensive loss and corresponding overstatement in income tax benefit.
(v) Reclassifications and Revisions of Classifications
Certain revisions for misclassifications and reclassifications have been made to the prior years' consolidated financial statements to conform to the presentation used for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008. Detailed information is provided in note 3.
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