Overview

In the fiscal year under review, the business environment in which the Group operates continued to be uncertain with the continuing conflict in Ukraine, the deteriorating situation in the Middle East, the rising cost of energy and other resources, and price and exchange rate fluctuations attributable to monetary tightening worldwide.

Under these conditions, the Group actively promoted sales activities and made progress on various measures, including measures intended to lower costs, improve productivity, and improve business efficiency.

Consequently, the financial results for the fiscal year under review showed growth in sales and a decrease in profit from the previous fiscal year.

Performance by Industry Segment

In the Die Castings business, sales were up from the previous fiscal year, while profits declined. Net sales increased in both domestic and overseas markets thanks to higher yen-based sales of overseas subsidiaries due to the weak yen, despite the impact of the certification fraud problem in the domestic automotive industry and the struggles of Japanese, American, and European automotive manufacturers in China. Profits fell due to increasing fixed costs such as labor costs.

In the Builders' Hardware business, sales were up from the previous fiscal year, while profits declined. Net sales increased in both domestic and overseas markets. Profits fell for various reasons, including the temporary expenses associated with the consolidation of a production plant in China and rising procurement costs for products produced overseas due to the weak yen despite efforts to improve productivity and reduce costs.

In the Printing Equipment business, sales were up from the previous fiscal year, while profit declined. Net sales remained flat year on year. Profits fell due to factors such as the impact of soaring raw material prices.

Forecasts for the Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 2025

As of February 13, 2025

Despite lingering uncertainties in the Japanese economy, such as policy trends in the U.S. and concerns about the slowing Chinese economy, the Japanese economy is expected to maintain a path of moderate recovery, thanks in part to improving employment and income and the effects of various policies.

Based on these circumstances, we currently anticipate higher sales and profit for the fiscal year ending December 2025 than in the fiscal year under review.

The assumed exchange rates are 145 yen to the U.S. dollar, 180 yen to the British pound, 20 yen to the Chinese yuan, and 4.0 yen to the Thai baht.

The outlook for full-year operating results by segment for the next fiscal year is as follows.

Sales in the Die Castings business are expected to increase both in Japan and overseas due mainly to progress in launching new products. Thanks to the effect of higher sales, profits are also expected to increase.

Sales in the Builders' Hardware business are expected to remain mostly flat both in Japan and overseas. Profits are expected to increase due mainly to the full-year contribution from the Chinese manufacturing subsidiary that became a subsidiary last year.

Sales in the Printing Equipment business are expected to decline in Japan but increase overseas. Profits are expected to decline due mainly to soaring raw material costs.