The Group emphasizes the importance of returning profits to shareholders, based on the premise that the sustained growth of our core businesses will increase profits.

 

We also see the stable return of profits as a key management issue. We will determine the distribution of profits while accounting for the need to enhance internal reserves to strengthen our management foundations.

 

The minimum annual dividend per share will be set to 40 yen with the goal in mind of realizing stable return of profits to shareholders.

 

At the same time, we have established a basic policy of striving to achieve a consolidated dividend payout ratio of around 50%. Alongside our target for return on equity, this will lead to sustainable returns to shareholders, with a target dividend on equity ratio of approximately 5%.

 

For the FY03/2024, we paid an interim dividend of ¥15.00 per share. 

 

And the year-end dividend, after a comprehensive consideration of the policy aiming for a consolidated dividend payout ratio of approximately 50%, and the performance for the FY03/2024, dividend forecast of \15.00 per share increased by \9.00 to \24.00.

 

As a result, we paid an annual dividend of \39.00 per share (a consolidated dividend payout ratio of 49.1%).

 

For the FY03/2025, we expect an interim dividend and year-end dividend are both \20.00 per share, meaning a prospective annual dividend of ¥40.00 per share（a consolidated payout ratio of 49.1%）.

* Breakdown indicated in brackets