Microsoft Corp. Awards Hitachi Consulting for Advancements in Business Intelligence

Business Wire, August 8, 2006

DALLAS -- For helping its clients improve their business insight with Microsoft Corp. products, Hitachi Consulting, the consulting company of Hitachi, Ltd. (NYSE:HIT), was recently named a Microsoft Partner of the Year for 2006.

The distinction recognizes Hitachi Consulting's extensive background in Business Intelligence Solutions, which provide companies with views into mission-critical data for the purposes of improved decision making. "Hitachi Consulting excels at helping its clients make better, faster and more relevant decisions with BI solutions and Microsoft is recognizing our ongoing success in this expanding area," said Drew Naukam, director, Microsoft Strategic Service Line for Hitachi Consulting.

Earlier this year, Microsoft awarded Hitachi Consulting Gold Certified status in the Microsoft Partner Program by demonstrating competencies in Advanced Infrastructure, Business Intelligence, Business Process and Integration, Custom Development and Information Worker Solutions. "Hitachi Consulting is continuing to invest in its growing relationship with Microsoft and as a result is now recognized as a leader with Microsoft Business Intelligence capabilities," Mr. Naukum said. "Our enterprise program management capabilities, deep corporate performance management experience and enterprise architecture thought leadership all contributed to the receipt of this award. The beneficiaries, our clients, are proof of our ongoing success."

Beyond providing value-added solutions to its clients, Hitachi Consulting received authorship credit for a just-released book on Microsoft products. "Microsoft(R) SQL Server(TM) 2005 Reporting Services: Step by Step," co-authored by Reed Jacobsen of Hitachi Consulting, is a how-to guide that takes readers from start to finish in building reporting solutions for the enterprise.

"The book and the award come at an important time, as companies are looking more and more at ways to manage performance at an enterprise level. Microsoft's direction in performance management ties in directly with our experience in the business intelligence arena," said Mr. Naukam.

About Hitachi Consulting

As Hitachi, Ltd.'s (NYSE:HIT) global consulting company, with operations in the US, Europe and Asia, Hitachi Consulting is a recognized leader in delivering proven business and IT solutions to Global 2000 companies across many industries. We leverage decades of business process, vertical industry, and leading-edge technology experience to understand each company's unique business needs. From business strategy development through application deployment, our consultants are committed to helping clients quickly realize measurable business value and achieve sustainable ROI.

Hitachi Consulting's client base includes nearly 35 percent of the Fortune 100 and 25 percent of the Global 100 as well as many leading mid-market companies. We offer a client-focused, collaborative approach and transfer knowledge throughout each engagement. For more information, call 1.877.664.0010 or visit www.hitachiconsulting.com.

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About Hitachi, Ltd.

Hitachi, Ltd., (NYSE:HIT) (TOKYO:6501), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a leading global electronics company with approximately 356,000 employees worldwide. Fiscal 2005 (ended March 31, 2006) consolidated sales totaled 9,464 billion yen ($80.9 billion). The company offers a wide range of systems, products and services in market sectors including information systems, electronic devices, power and industrial systems, consumer products, materials and financial services. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's website at http://www.hitachi.com.