Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Business Report FY ended Mar. 2015

Business Highlights

Financial Overview

(in million JPY)
  FY ended Mar. 31, 2015 FY ended Mar. 31, 2014 Rate of
Change (%)
Factors
Overall
Sales 706,470 597,502 18.2 -
Operating income 64,155 49,506 29.6 -
Ordinary income 66,880 51,895 28.9 -
Current net income 36,060 21,378 68.7 -
Sales by Segment
Japan 280,119 277,617 0.9 -Sales increased due to the growing use of LED lamps, even though automobile unit-production decreased.
North America 136,902 93,580 46.3 -Sales increased due to greater production volume and the Company's receiving more orders because of the recovery in automotive demand, in addition to the growing use of LED lamps and the launch of production in Mexico.
China 185,248 149,846 23.6 -Sales increased because of higher demand for automobiles and the Company's receiving more orders from Japanese, European, and American OEMs in China.
Asia 71,865 57,285 25.5 -Sales were higher due to the Company's receiving more product orders in Thailand, as well as in Indonesia for automobiles and motorcycles.
Europe 32,335 19,171 68.7 -Sales were higher due to strong automotive sales in Europe in line with the economic recovery in Europe, as well as because of the Company's receiving more new orders and the growing use of LED lamps.



Reorganizes Production Operations in Japan

Reducing Production capacity at Shizuoka Plant to half
-The Company plans to reduce its annual headlamp production capacity in Japan from current 9 million sets to 5.8 million sets by March 2016. The company decided to cut its capacity drastically, because vehicle production volume is decreasing in the country. In addition to reducing the capacity by more than 50% at its Shizuoka Plant, its major facility, the Company will cut Koito Kyushu's capacity by 20%. Automakers are proceeding with their plans to transfer production overseas despite falling yen. Furthermore, vehicle demand in Japan is declining. The Company has a 60% share in the Japanese headlamp market. It has maintained a production structure to supply headlamps for 13 million vehicles per year. (From an article in the Nikkan Jidosha Shimbun on December 25, 2014)

Launching production of LED headlamps at Haibara Plant
-The Company will begin LED headlamp production at Haibara Plant, its rear lamp production base located in Makinohara, Shizuoka Prefecture, in 2014 or 2015. The plan was devised to deal with a rapid increase in the use of LED headlamps for new models. The Company is also expanding its production capacity at the Sagara Plant, also in Makinohara, Shizuoka Prefecture. With these production boosts, the Company will have the capacity to produce 1.5 million LED headlamps per year in the fiscal year ending March 2016 (FY2015), which is 2.2 times its production capacity outlook in FY2013. The Company had previously halved the production at the Haibara Plant when it reduced rear lamp production. The Company intends to meet the growing needs of LED headlamps in Japan by partially resuming operations at the plant. (From an article in the Nikkan Jidosha Shimbun on January 6, 2014)

Reorganized European Operations

Transferring sales and development function in Belgium to Czech Republic
-The Company announced that it will integrate the functions of Koito Europe NV, its sales and development subsidiary in Leuven, Belgium, into Koito Czech s.r.o., its manufacturing subsidiary in Zatec, the Czech Republic, in April 2015. Koito Europe NV will be dissolved in September 2015. As a result of this reorganization, the Company's sales and development activities for the European market, which are currently carried out at Koito Europe NV, will be performed at its two manufacturing companies, the Czech subsidiary and Koito Europe Limited in the UK. The consolidation is expected to open up more marketing opportunities for the Company. The Company has launched such reorganization projects in other regions, planning to establish integrated organizational structures. (From an article in the Nikkan Jidosha Shimbun on December 1, 2014)

Contracts

-The Company said it has commercialized its single-lamp LED headlamp that can emit both low and high beams. The Company will supply the headlamps for the Toyota "Prius α". The Company has already won orders for the headlamp from 29 models including the "Prius α", and intends to expand sales of this headlamp in global markets. The Company's new LED single-lamp bi-function projector is 1.6 times brighter than the existing LED headlamp, enabling the integration of low beam and high beam lights. The Company expects that half or more of its headlamps produced in Japan will use LED in 2017. (From an article in the Nikkan Jidosha Shimbun on November 20, 2014)

Mid-term Management Plan

-The Company announced its business forecasts for the next three years through FY 2018 that ends in March 2019. Sales in FY 2018 are expected to reach JPY 900 billion, which will be a 27% increase from the FY 2014 result. Operating profit is forecast at JPY 78 billion, which will be a 22% improvement from FY 2014. These predictions are based on an outlook that global vehicle production will reach 92 million units in FY 2018, a 7% increase from 85.98 million units in FY 2014. The Company aims to achieve these targets by boosting sales of LED headlamps, expanding its production capacity, and stepping up its sales activities to increase its global market share. (From an article in the Nikkan Jidosha Shimbun on May 12, 2015)

-Regarding technological development, the Company will improve its headlamp design and safety technologies as well as introducing new products into the market through the development of next-generation light sources.

 (Assumed exchange rate: USD 1/JPY110)
FY ended March 2014
(Result)
FY ended March 2015
(Result)
FY ending March 2016
(Plan)
FY ending
March 2019
(Forecast)
FY ending March 2019 comparing with FY ended March 2015
Increase/
decrease
Index
Global automobile production volume (10,000 vehicles) 8,442 8,598 8,750 9,200 602 107%
Net sales (100 million yen) 5,975 7,064 7,800 9,000 1,936 127%
Operating income (100 million yen) 495 641 670 780 139 122%
Profit ratio 8.3% 9.1%
8.6%
8.7% - -

Region Key policies
Japan -Expand sales of LED headlamps.
-Build highly-efficient production system through re-development of domestic plants.
North America -Expand business for Japanese/U.S. car makers.
-Expand sales of LED headlamps.
Europe -Expand business for European car makers.
-Strengthen sales/development systems
China -Sustain business expansion in growing markets
-Expand local production system (Hubei Koito scheduled to start operation in June 2016)
Asia -Sustain business expansion in growing markets
-Strengthen sales/development systems

>>>Financial Forecast for the Next Fiscal Year (Sales, Operating Income etc.)

R&D Expenditure

(in million JPY)
FY ended Mar. 31, 2015 FY ended Mar. 31, 2014 FY ended Mar. 31, 2013
Overall 27,900 24,700 20,000
-Japan 13,200 12,800 11,900
-North America 5,800 4,500 3,300
-China 5,500 4,400 2,600
-Asia 2,800 2,500 1,800
-Europe 300 300 300



R&D Structure

-R&D activities are aimed to respond to new developments at global OEM's, and are conducted at the following locations:

  • Japan: R&D Headquarters, and R&D offices
  • USA: Technical center at North American Lighting, Inc.
  • Europe: Technical Section at Koito Europe NV in Belgium.
  • China: Technical Center at Shanghai Koito Automotive Lamp Co., Ltd.
  • Thailand: Technical Center at Thai Koito Company Limited.

-As of the end of March 2015, 2,609 employees are conducting R&D activities.

R&D Activities

<Japan>
-Developing core technologies in the field of automotive lighting, namely in the areas of optics, electronics, machinery, structural mechanics, etc.

  • Development of headlamps using lasers: Laser's advantage is their high luminance, which enables headlamps to offer excellent long-distance visibility as well as super-compact innovative designs.
  • Development of signal lamps using an organic EL (OLED): Organic ELs (OLEDs) emitting light from the surface, are super-thin and light-weight. They can be designed to fit curved surface. They are transparent when turned off. They broaden the design possibilities of signal lamps, including glowing logos and patterns.

-Developing production technology
-Developing simulation technology
-Developing systems that will serve as ITS equipment
-Developing systems that respond to the Internet
-Developing auto parts outside of the lighting sector
-Developing new products for new business areas.

<North America, China, Asia, and Europe>
-Developing core technologies in the field of automotive lighting, namely in the areas of optics, electronics, etc.
-Developing production technology

Technology Licensing-out Agreement

(As of Mar. 31, 2015)
Company Agreement details Contract Period
Hella Automotive Mexico S.A. de C.V.
(Mexico)
Provide technological information, sales and manufacturing license 22 years from
Apr. 22, 1992
Industrias Arteb S.A
(Brazil)
Provide technological information, sales and manufacturing license 5 years from
Oct. 4, 2012
Farba Otomotiv Aydinlatma ve Plastik Fabrikalari A.S.
(Turkey)
Provide technological information, sales and manufacturing license 18 years from
Oct. 24, 1997
Hella Australia Pty Ltd.
(Australia)
Provide technological information, sales and manufacturing license 25 years from
May 1, 1994
Lumotech (Pty.) Ltd.
(South Africa)
Provide technological information, sales and manufacturing license 10 years from
May 4, 2006
EP Polymers (M) Sdn. Bhd.
(Malaysia)
Provide technological information, sales and manufacturing license 20 years from
Apr. 29, 1995
AuVitronics Ltd.
(Pakistan)
Provide technological information, sales and manufacturing license 15 years from
Mar. 7, 2005
AMS Co., Ltd.
(Korea)
Provide technological information, sales and manufacturing license 7 years from
Jan. 16, 2013
AVTOSVET Limited Liability Company
(Russia)
Provide technological information, sales and manufacturing license 5 years from
Mar. 21, 2013



Capital Expenditure

(in million JPY)
FY ended Mar. 31, 2015 FY ended Mar. 31, 2014 FY ended Mar. 31, 2013
Japan 15,000 10,100 8,300
North America 16,800 8,400 3,600
China 9,700 9,700 2,200
Asia 5,100 4,900 7,200
Europe 1,600 1,300 800
Total 48,400 34,500 22,200

-In the fiscal year ended March 2015, the Company invested mainly in Japan to rationalize and renew production operations, enhance product quality, and lower costs.

Investments Outside Japan

<China>
-The Company will establish a new subsidiary for producing headlamps and rear lamps in Hubei Province, China. JPY 8 billion will be invested in the project. The new subsidiary will be capitalized at JPY 1 billion, all of which will be financed by Koito Manufacturing. The capital will be increased depending on the progress of equipment introduction and other necessity. The subsidiary's plant will begin operations in July 2016. The plant plans to raise its production capacity of headlamps and rear lamps to 500,000 units each by the end of 2016. (From an article in the Nikkan Jidosha Shimbun on July 31, 2014)

Planned Capital Investment

(As of Mar. 31, 2015)
Company / Plant Equipment to be introduced Estimated
amount of
investment
(in million JPY)
Project Period
From To
Shizuoka Plant
(Shizuoka Pref., Japan)
Manufacturing equipment for automotive lamps 4,864 Apr.
2015
Mar.
2016
Haibara Plant
(Shizuoka Pref., Japan)
Manufacturing equipment for automotive lamps 7,788 Apr.
2015
Mar.
2016
Sagara Plant
(Shizuoka Pref., Japan)
Manufacturing equipment for automotive lamps 1,014 Apr.
2015
Mar.
2016
Koito Kyushu Ltd.
(Saga Pref., Japan)
Manufacturing equipment for automotive lamps 2,485 Mar.
2015
Mar.
2016
AOITEC Inc.
(Shizuoka Pref., Japan)
Manufacturing equipment for automotive lamps 1,156 Mar.
2015
Mar.
2016
North American Lighting Inc.
(Illinois, USA)
Manufacturing equipment for automotive lamps 7,765 Mar.
2015
Mar.
2016
North American Lighting Mexico, S.A. de C.V.
(San Luis Potosi, Mexico)
Manufacturing equipment for automotive lamps 2,660 Mar.
2015
Mar.
2016
Shanghai Koito Automotive Lamp Co., Ltd.
(Shanghai, China)
Manufacturing equipment for automotive lamps 2,599 Mar.
2015
Mar.
2016
Guangzhou Koito Automotive Lamp Co., Ltd.
(Guangzhou, China)
Manufacturing equipment for automotive lamps 2,917 Mar.
2015
Mar.
2016
Hubei Koito Automotive Lamp Co., Ltd.
(Xiaogan City, China)
Manufacturing equipment for automotive lamps 2,870 Mar.
2015
Mar.
2016
Thai Koito Co., Ltd.
(Samutprakarn, Thailand)
Manufacturing equipment for automotive lamps 3,143 Mar.
2015
Mar.
2016
India Japan Lighting Pvt. Ltd.
(Tamil Nadu, India)
Manufacturing equipment for automotive lamps 2,339 Mar.
2015
Mar.
2016