- Move Undertaken to Strengthen Service Operations in North America through Direct Sales Network Expansion -

Tokyo, Jan 8, 2013 - (JCN Newswire) - Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) has completed the acquisition of Daily Equipment Company (DE), an American forklift truck sales and service dealer based in Jackson, Mississippi. The move is targeted at strengthening MHI's service operations in North America, a core market for the company's forklift trucks and other logistics equipment, by expanding its direct sales network with close ties to local customers. The acquisition of DE was carried out through MHI's local forklift production and sales subsidiary: Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America Inc. (MCFA), which is based in Houston, Texas.

DE was established in 1985 and has approximately 160 employees. From its headquarters in Jackson, Mississippi, the company maintains six sales bases in that state and neighboring Louisiana. DE sells forklift trucks and other logistics equipment including the three product brands handled by MCFA: Mitsubishi forklift trucks, Cat(R) lift trucks and Jungheinrich(R). After this acquisition, MHI plans to expand DE's sales of forklifts, parts and service while keeping DE's management unchanged.

The acquisition expands MHI's direct sales network supporting the customer-oriented business model in the North American market. It will also create efficiencies with MCFA's other factory owned dealers in North America.

In its Medium-Term Business Plan (2012 Business Plan) launched this year, MHI is looking to fortify its earnings base in forklift truck operations by implementing two core policies: reorganizing its global production structure and strengthening its service operations. Production and business restructuring processes are already under way mainly in Japan and Europe, and now with the fortification of its service operations in the core North American market, the company will accelerate its initiative to further expand its global share within the forklift truck market, targeting sales of 250 billion yen in the fiscal year 2014 (ending March 31, 2015).

About Mitsubishi Heavy Industries

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is one of the world's leading heavy machinery manufacturers, with consolidated sales of 2,820.9 billion yen in fiscal 2011, the year ended March 31, 2012. MHI's diverse lineup of products and services encompasses shipbuilding, power plants, chemical plants, environmental equipment, steel structures, industrial and general machinery, aircraft, space rocketry and air-conditioning systems. For more information, please visit the MHI website at www.mhi.co.jp.



Source: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries

Contact:

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Hideo Ikuno
h.ikuno@daiya-pr.co.jp
+81-3-6716-5277