BRIDGE REPORT
(6722)

TOKYO PRO Market

A&T Corporation (6722)
President Shigetaka Misaka
President
Shigetaka Misaka
Corporate Profile
Company
A&T Corporation
Code No.
6722
Exchange
JASDAQ
Industry
Electrical equipment (manufacturing industry)
President
Shigetaka Misaka
Address
Yokohama Plaza Bldg. 2-6 Kinko-cho, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama-shi
Year-end
End of December
URL
Stock Information
Share Price Number of shares issued Total market cap ROE (Actual) Trading Unit
¥941 6,257,900 shares ¥5,888 million 10.4% 100 shares
DPS (Est.) Dividend Yield (Est.) EPS (Est.) PER (Est.) BPS (Actual) PBR (Actual)
¥20.00 2.1% ¥94.30 10.0 times ¥1,084.50 0.9 times
* The share price is the closing price on March 12, 2018. The number of shares issued, ROE and BPS are those for the previous term.
 
Earnings Trends
Fiscal Year Net Sales Operating
      Income
Ordinary
     Income
Net
   Income
EPS     DPS    
Dec. 2011 (Actual) 8,485 823 803 477 76.34 12.00
Dec. 2012 (Actual) 8,663 757 738 484 77.51 12.00
Dec. 2013 (Actual) 9,221 742 716 471 75.29 16.00
Dec. 2014 (Actual) 9,569 856 832 455 72.80 16.00
Dec. 2015 (Actual) 10,138 1,202 1,183 839 134.18 20.00
Dec. 2016 (Actual) 10,234 1,015 1,004 651 104.14 20.00
Dec. 2017 (Actual) 10,371 773 757 678 108.41 20.00
Dec. 2018 (Forecast) 10,500 820 800 590 94.30 20.00
* The forecasted values were provided by the company.

This report outlines A&T Corporation, briefly reports the results for the term ending Dec. 2017, the medium-term management plan, the interview with President Misaka and so on.
 
Key Points
 
 
 
Company Overview
 
The core businesses of A&T Corporation are the "blood testing business," in which the company develops, manufactures, and sells IVD devices, reagents, etc. mainly for electrolyte and glucose tests, and the "IT and automation support business," which facilitates the streamlining of clinical tests.
The company excels at proposing an optimal one-stop solution for preparing necessary products in a laboratory, installing and operating equipment while proposing a layout, and possesses advanced technologies that are highly evaluated by leading overseas OEM clients.
 
1-1 Corporate history
In the 1980s, the general chemical manufacturer Tokuyama Corporation (4043, 1st section of Tokyo Stock Exchange) was expanding its business scope from materials to fine chemicals. While taking inventory of various technologies and items, Tokuyama Corporation decided to develop latex (rubber material; one of the chemical products) reagents for testing antigen-antibody reactions.
In the development process, Tokuyama Corporation formed a business tie-up with Analytical Instruments Inc., which develops, manufactures, and sells clinical test equipment and had been leading the industry by releasing such products as fully automatic blood sugar analyzer in 1978, and in Apr. 1988, they founded a joint venture for distributing their products, A&T Corporation. ("A" of Analytical Instruments and "T" of Tokuyama were combined.)
In November 1990, the company established Esashi Factory, which is now the primary production site, in Iwate Prefecture.
In 1994, A&T Corporation underwent an absorption-type merger, integrating the diagnosis system division of Tokuyama Corporation. The period from the 1980s to the 1990s was the growth period of the clinical testing industry, in which many core technologies were developed, and the company expanded its business steadily while taking advantage of that trend.
In Jul. 2003, the company issued over-the-counter shares. It is now listed in the JASDAQ market of Tokyo Stock Exchange.
 
1-2 Corporate ethos, etc.
A&T Corporation upholds its corporate ethos: "Support medical care and contribute to people's health around the world," and aims to improve the quality of medical care and reduce cost, under following three management policies.
 
 
1-3 Market environment
◎ Market scale
(Domestic and global markets)
According to the Fuji Research Institute Corporation, the scale of the Japanese clinical testing market was 501.3 billion yen in 2016, accounting for 6.0% of the scale of the global market, but the market growth is slight, because the growth of immunoserological tests became sluggish. The market scale is estimated to be 519.5 billion yen in 2022, with average annual growth rate being only 0.6%.
Based on the information in the website of the Japan Association of Clinical Reagents Industries, A&T Corporation estimated that the scale of the Japanese market of related devices and reagents is about 590 billion yen. The market scales of clinical chemistry and hematology tests are 195.8 billion yen and 30.6 billion yen, respectively.

On the other hand, also according to the Fuji Research Institute, the global market scale reached about 62.3 billion US dollars (6.23 trillion yen under the assumption that 1 dollar is equivalent to 100 yen) in 2015, and is projected to keep growing at an annual rate of 2.4%, and reach about 70.4 billion US dollars (7.04 trillion yen under the assumption that 1 dollar is equivalent to 100 yen). It is expected that Eastern Europe, Russia, Asia, South America, and Africa, where the testing environment is still to be developed, will lead the growth. It was mentioned that as the Japanese market was already saturated, Japanese manufacturers would try to operate their business in the global market by utilizing their advanced technology and quality based on their stable business bases in Japan.
 
 
(Trend in each testing field)
Immunoserological testing formed the largest market (37.1%; about 23.1 billion US dollars; about 2.31 trillion yen), and the market of tests mainly for infectious diseases is growing.
The blood testing market, in which A&T Corporation operates business, accounts for 7.5% and has a scale of about 4.7 billion US dollars (about 470 billion yen). In North America, Europe (especially western Europe), and Japan, blood testing has been already diffused, and the market growth is stagnant or slightly increasing. In Asia and other regions, the market is growing, and expected to keep growing steadily, according to the survey.
 
(Trend of IVD devices)
According to "Statistical Survey on Trends in Pharmaceutical Production" by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the scale of the Japanese medical products market (domestic production amount) in 2015 was about 1.9 trillion yen. Products for medical treatment is dominant, and medical Analyzers, which is handled by A&T Corporation, has a market scale of about 180 billion yen.
While there is a significant excess of imports of the overall medical product, there is an excess of exports of IVD devices. This indicates how competitive Japanese companies are. Hitachi and Toshiba supply testing equipment to Roche in Switzerland and Abbott in the U.S., respectively. Likewise, A&T Corporation supplies OEM products to Siemens. Namely, testing equipment made in Japan is now indispensable in the global clinical testing field.
 
 
 
 
We compared major listed clinical testing device manufacturers. A&T Corporation has the smallest business scale among them and the share price evaluation is the lowest as its price-to-book ratio is under one. It would be necessary to manifest its strategies to enhance popularity and expand business as well as promoting understanding.
 
1-4 Business contents
In addition to the development, manufacturing, and sale of products, including testing devices and reagents used in the clinical testing rooms of hospitals, A&T Corporation offers customer support. The company also offers comprehensive consulting services, including the proposal for the layout of a laboratory, installation and operation.
 
 
(What is clinical testing?)
Clinical tests can be classified into "biopsies" for directly examining the body with medical equipment, such as X-ray equipment, CT, MRI, electrocardiographic and ultrasonic equipment, and "laboratory tests" for examining biological samples (specimens), such as blood, urine, stool, and cells, collected from patients.
A&T Corporation handles products used for laboratory testing, especially blood tests.
There are a variety of blood tests conducted at hospitals and in comprehensive medical checkups, including the tests of the hepatic system, the renal system, uric acid, the lipid system, glucose metabolism, blood cells, and infectious diseases. A&T Corporation mainly conducts business related to "electrolyte tests" and "glucose tests."
 
"Electrolyte tests"
The water content constitutes about 60% of the human body, as body fluids, including intracellular fluid and blood plasma. Body fluids are classified into electrolytes, which are mineral ions that dissolve in water and conduct electricity (such as sodium, potassium, calcium, and chlorine), and non-electrolytes, which dissolve in water, but do not conduct electricity (such as glucose and urea).
Each electrolyte takes important roles for keeping human beings alive while maintaining a healthy balance - "sodium" adjusts the water content of the body, "potassium" controls muscles and nerves, "calcium" forms bones and teeth, conveys nervous stimuli, and coagulates blood, and "chlorine" supplies oxygen to the inside of the body. If the concentration of electrolytes in blood is abnormal, there is a possibility that the kidneys or hormones are malfunctioning.

The purpose of electrolyte tests is to measure the concentration of each electrolyte ion in body fluid, detect the disruption of a balance, and then diagnose a disorder in the body. Sampled blood and urine are examined with testing device.
 
 
"Glucose tests"
The sugar in blood plasma (blood sugar) is composed mostly of glucose, which is the only energy source for the central nervous system, including the cerebrum. When the stomach is empty (over 5 hours after eating), the liver emits about 8 grams of glucose per hour, and the brain consumes about half of them, and muscles and red blood cells consume one fourth of them, respectively.
Blood sugar level in its normal condition is strictly controlled while keeping a balance between the increase through the absorption from the intestine and the generation in the liver and the decrease through the consumption in the muscles. If this control does not work properly, hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia will occur.
A glucose test is conducted for measuring the concentration of glucose in blood or urine.
 
 
1. Business Field
The business of A&T Corporation is composed of the "blood testing business," in which the company develops, manufactures, and sells clinical testing devices, reagents, supplies, etc. for blood tests, and the "IT and automation support business," which facilitates the streamlining of manual work in hospital laboratories with IT and automated systems. The company comprehensively supports hospital laboratories.
(Since this company conducts this business only, neither its brief financial reports nor securities reports contain segment information. It should be noted that the company discloses the sales of each product series in reference materials for briefing results, etc., but not the sales of each type of business.)
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1) Blood testing business
(Outline)
The company works on developing, manufacturing, and selling Analyzers for "electrolyte tests" and "glucose tests," reagents for clinical tests (for measuring the concentrations of electrolytes, blood sugar, etc.), and supplies (such as sensors installed in analyzer), and offers customer support.
 
 
(Commercial distribution)
*Inside Japan
The company directly sells analyzers, reagents, and supplies to small and medium-sized hospitals via 8 branches nationwide. As of now, about 4,000 units of equipment are in operation.

*Outside Japan
The company sells analyzers as an OEM. It supplies electrolyte units, which are the specialty products of the company, to other Japanese manufacturers, including JEOL (6951, 1st section of TSE). The OEM clients combine the unit with large-size clinical chemistry analyzers and sell them. As an OEM, JEOL supplies products to Siemens, which is one of global enterprises handling large-size clinical chemistry analyzers.
 
(Business model)
Once Analyzers is newly installed, clinical reagents and supplies will be continuously delivered, and the maintenance service for the equipment will be offered.
Once adopted, it is rare for client hospitals to change manufacturers considering the continuity of test data and usability, and so it is difficult for new manufacturers to enter the market. 7 to 10 years later, upgraded models will replace them. This characterizes this business field.
 
(Major enterprises in this field)
Sysmex (6869, 1st section of TSE), Hitachi High-Technologies (8036, 1st section of TSE), JEOL (6951, 1st section of TSE), Wako Pure Chemical Industries (unlisted), ARKRAY (unlisted)
 
(2) IT and automation support business
(Outline)
In the case of blood tests, it is necessary to convey patient's blood (specimen) sampled in a blood collection room to a clinical laboratory and manually set the specimen at testing equipment.
As several kinds of tests need to be conducted for many specimens at the same time, this work is extremely labor-intensive and inefficient, and the human error of taking a wrong specimen is difficult to avoid.
In these circumstances, A&T Corporation supports the streamlining of the testing process with the following 2 systems.
 
 
 
It is expected that the installation of LAS will decrease the necessary number of workers from 7-8 to about 2, and the necessary time of testing from 90 min. to 30-40 min.
Through the introduction of LIS, it became possible to put together the data of test results, which had been printed out for each test item, and give feedback to medical doctors swiftly and accurately. In addition, the data mining function is helpful for reducing the number of times of abnormal value retesting and the duration of testing.
 
(Commercial distribution)
*Inside Japan
Targeting the laboratories of medium and large-sized hospitals, the sales division of A&T Corporation sells LIS in cooperation with hospital information system manufacturers, including Hitachi, IBM, and Fujitsu, and LAS in cooperation with large-size clinical chemistry and immunoassay analyzer manufacturers, including Hitachi, Toshiba, and JEOL, as comprehensive solutions *.
*For the details of comprehensive solutions, see the section "1-5 Characteristics and Strengths."

*Outside Japan
Previously, the company has been selling LAS directly in Korea, China, etc., but in China it has started OEM supply. In the United States, OEM sales of blood aliquoting instruments, which are the main components in LAS, are made to partner companies.
 
(Business model)
In addition to the maintenance service of LIS and LAS after their installation, the company can connect additional systems, customize the system, and so on for LIS, and can offer maintenance services, sell supplies, and so on for LAS. For both of the systems, stable sales can be expected.
Like Analyzers, clients are rarely motivated to shift to other manufacturer's equipment, considering usability, data continuity, etc. The price range per transaction is 10 to 50 million yen for LIS, and 10 to 100 million yen for LAS.
 
(Major enterprises in this field)
LIS: Sysmex CNA (subsidiary of Sysmex), local vendors, etc.
LAS: IDS (unlisted), Hitachi-Aloka (unlisted), Siemens, etc.
 
2. Development systems
The company has organized separate groups for electricity, machinery, chemistry and information systems, in order to apply elementary technologies cultivated over many years to a wide range of product development.
The company is developing products for offering comprehensive solutions related to C.A.C.L. beyond product categories.
About 70 staff members are employed at the headquarters and Shonan Office.
The research and development cost for the term ended Dec. 2017 was 1,093 million yen, and the R&D to sales ratio was 10.5%. Although intensive investment took place during the term ended Dec. 2017, the company will continue to actively pursue R&D in the future, with a target of around 10% of R&D to sales ratio.
 
3. Production systems
There are two production sites: Shonan Factory, in Kanagawa Prefecture, for manufacturing clinical reagents and supplies and Esashi Factory, in Iwate Prefecture, for producing equipment and Laboratory Automation System (LAS).
The company manufactures high-quality, safe products with advanced equipment under rigorous management. In cooperation with the development section, the company is striving to improve quality and streamline operation.
In order to develop the foundation for expanding sales further, the company will construct a new building with a total floor area of 7,300 m2 at Esashi Factory by investing 1.7 billion yen in August 2017.The Company strengthens capabilities considerably through this construction.
 
4. Sales routes and methods
As mentioned above, A&T Corporation sells its products to client hospitals via 8 branches in Japan, by utilizing its capability of proposing comprehensive solutions.
Outside Japan, the company supplies products to overseas clients and dealers including Siemens through domestic OEM partners such as JEOL.
To expand its business scale by supplying products as an OEM like this is the basic strategy, and the company concentrates on the diversification of OEM clients.

The direct overseas sales to overseas clients and dealers and its ratio for the term ended Dec. 2017 were about 100 million yen and 9.3%, respectively.
But, as the ratio of virtual overseas sales, including the (estimated) overseas sales via domestic OEM clients, for the term ended Dec. 2015 for the term ended Dec. 2016, and for the term ended Dec. 2017 was 23.4%, 24.7%, 27.5% respectively, the ratio of overseas sales is in upward momentum
 
 
1-5 Characteristics and strengths
◎ Capability of proposing comprehensive solutions
A&T Corporation handles products mainly for electrolyte and glucose tests, and does not handle large products for analyzing other tests. However, client hospitals need to install a variety of testing instruments in their clinical laboratories.
To meet their needs, the Laboratory Automation System (LAS) has an automatic conveyor line that is compatible with not only its own products, but also other manufacturers'instruments.
There are few manufacturers that possess technologies for producing systems for connecting their own products and other manufacturers'products freely and conveying them. Accordingly, the company occupies about 30% of the Japanese market.
The sales staff of the company not only delivers equipment, but also proposes a layout for the most efficient testing with 3D CAD or the like, while considering the area and shape of a laboratory.
All above, the company can offer optimal one-stop solutions for preparing necessary products in a laboratory, installing and operating equipment while proposing a layout. This is highly evaluated by client hospitals.
 
◎ Advanced technologies in specific fields
A&T Corporation handles products mainly for "electrolyte tests" and "glucose tests." Especially, its advanced technology for electrolyte analyzers can be verified by the fact that its products are supplied to JEOL, which is a leading manufacturer of measurement devices, including medical instruments, and Siemens, which is a large global company.
As mentioned in the section of the market environment, Japanese medical Analyzers is highly competent in the world, and A&T Corporation contributes to the competitiveness of Japanese products.
 
1-6 ROE analysis
 
The company maintained a double-digit ROE in the term ended Dec. 2017 as well. The estimated ratio of net income to sales for the term ended Dec. 2018 is 5.6%.
 
 
Fiscal Year December 2017 Earnings Results
 
 
Sales increased, profit decreased. Sales reached a record high.
Sales grew 1.3% year on year to 10,371 million yen, marking a record high. Although the sales of clinical testing equipment and systems decreased, sales increased due to the rise in sales of supplies and purchased products.
Operating income was 773 million yen, down 23.8% year on year. This is because, in addition to the decrease in gross profit and gross profit rate due to increased sales of purchased products accompanying large-scale transactions, the increase in SG&A expenses due to the augmentation of R&D cost (investment in the development of subsystems for Laboratory Information System) could not be offset.
Sales were mostly in line with estimates, and profits were slightly short of estimates.
 
 
◎ Clinical Testing Equipment and Systems
Sales decreased 6.6% year on year. The sales of Analyzers dropped because one of main OEM partners for the electrolyte unit has changed strategy for its key driver and prices were revised. The OEM sales outside Japan were healthy. The company considers that it is important to keep seeking new OEM partners for electrolyte, and is approaching two Japanese companies and some Chinese ones. In addition to demand for renewal, Laboratory Information System sales grew due to an increase of new transactions. Although the number of Laboratory Automation System sales decreased only slightly, there was a drop in large-scale transactions of "CLONLOG V4," and sales declined.
 
◎ Diagnostic reagents
Sales decreased 1.2% year on year.
Overseas sales were healthy, but the domestic OEM sales were sluggish due to price revision.
 
◎ Supplies
Sales grew 11.4% year on year.
The number of customers for analyzers and the Laboratory Automation System increased. Demand for new sensors also increased, in anticipation of replacing existing sensors.
 
◎ Other
Sales rose 32.0% year on year.
Sales increased for purchased products accompanying comprehensive proposals for large transactions.
 
 
Current assets increased 1,091 million yen from the end of the previous term, due to an increase in trade receivables, etc. Noncurrent assets increased 1,128 million yen from the end of the previous term due to an increase in buildings, etc. associated with the enlargement of the Esashi plant, and total assets increased 2,219 million yen from the end of the previous term to 12,330 million yen.
Total liabilities rose 1,656 million yen from the end of the previous term to 5,544 million yen due to an increase in short and long-term debts.
Net assets grew 563 million yen from the end of the previous term to 6,785 million yen, due to an increase in retained earnings.
As a result, equity ratio was 55.0%, a 6.5% decrease from 61.5% at the end of the previous term.
 
 
Operating CF shrank due to an increase in trade receivables. The deficit of investing CF expanded, as the purchase of property, plant, and equipment increased with the enlargement of the Esashi plant, etc. Free CF went into the negative. Financing CF became positive, due to the increase in long-term debts. The cash position is largely unchanged.
 
 
Fiscal Year December 2018 Earnings Estimates
 
 
Sales and profit are estimated to grow.
Sales are estimated to be 10.5 billion yen, up 1.2% year on year. The sales of clinical testing equipment and systems were generally favorable, particularly the Laboratory Automation System. The sales of supplies and purchased products, which experienced an increase in the previous term, are expected to decrease.
Gross profit rate is estimated to decline 1.3 points, and gross profit is also estimated to decline due to cost increases caused by increases in overseas transactions for the Laboratory Automation System, response to overseas regulation of expendable sensors (RoHS directive: A directive by the EU concerning restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment), increases in depreciation due to additional production facilities, etc.
Operating income is expected to be 820 million yen, up 6.0% year on year. SG&A expenses are estimated to decrease 3.4%, as the previous term's intensive investments in the development of subsystems for the Laboratory Information System have finished.
The dividend amount is to be 20 yen/share, unchanged from the previous term. The estimated payout ratio is 21.2%.
 
 
The company anticipates the following situation.
OEM sales of analyzers will remain unchanged.
The lineup will be expanded with launch of new product of the subsystems for Laboratory Information System "CLINILAN GL-3", and renewals as well as an increase in new customers are expected, as in the previous term.
The Laboratory Automation System is expected to experience an increase in sales due to sales of the V4 OEM package to Chinese partners, as will be described later.
Supplies are expected to experience a decline in sales due to OEM inventory adjustments made in order to comply with overseas regulations (RoHS directive) on expendable sensors.
In the previous term, sales of purchased products increased, but this year the company will raise the sales ratio for original products.
 
(3) Business development in China
(Progress made so far)
In 2012, the company established a joint venture, to sell Analyzers (electrolyte units), and has conducted the OEM sales to one Chinese manufacturer, but considering that it is necessary to operate business in a more multifaceted manner, in order to cultivate the huge market, the company obtained a new business license for the joint venture in June 2016, and established a division for promoting the business in China, to develop a system for carrying out full-scale business in China, and opened an expatriates'office in Shanghai in September 2016.
The expatriates'office in Shanghai strives to glean information more meticulously, and the company is looking for an adequate partner.
As for Laboratory Automation System which the company regard as a central product, the core product, CLINILOG V4, was installed through direct sales in a large hospital in China for the first time in the previous term.

Meanwhile, the company has been seeking business partners for OEM sales, but now, it has signed a distributor agreement with Shanghai Runda Medical Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Runda Medical; Shanghai Stock Exchange Code: 603108.SS) as an OEM supplier.

(Strategies after this term)
Sales of the "Laboratory Automation System (LAS)" in China will focus on OEM supply for Runda Medical.
 
 
In addition to meeting the needs for laboratory automation in China, A&T sells the OEM package "CLINILOG V4" to Runda Medical in order to improve business efficiency.
Originally, sales proposals for LAS required changing specifications and customization according to the needs of the supplier, but attempting to meet every need can lead to a decline in profitability.
As such, the company will prepare four fixed patterns of OEM products with fixed equipment that can be incorporated depending on the size of the laboratory where V4 is installed.
With this packaging, in addition to reducing labor for design changes, development, and improvement for each hospital, stable sales and production planning become possible, and sales of the "Laboratory Automation System (LAS)" in China become more efficient.
Utilizing Runda Medical's customer base and service structure, the company aims to expand sales of V4 in the Chinese market.

In addition, in hopes of acquiring new OEM clients for analyzers (electrolyte unit), the company will continue negotiations with Chinese analyzer manufacturers.
 
 
Medium-Term Management Plan (FY Dec. 2018-FY Dec. 2020)
 
In May 2018, as a celebration of the 40th anniversary of its founding, and in anticipation of its 50th anniversary in 2028, the company has formulated a three-year medium-term management plan starting this term.
Sales in the last three terms have been mostly unchanged, and ordinary income has declined after reaching a peak in FY Dec. 2015, but with the theme of "building a framework for sustainable growth," the company aims to "shift toward an increasing trend in sales and profits, and quickly recover ordinary income."

<Target Figures>
For the term ending Dec. 2020, the company mentioned "sales of 12 billion yen or greater, an ordinary income rate of over 10%, and an overseas direct sales ratio of 10% or more."
 
 
 
The company believes that overseas expansion is crucial for both businesses in order to achieve the objective.
 
 
 
 
 
Interview with President Misaka
 
We asked President Misaka about the current situation, the main points of the medium-term management plan, and the message he'd like to give to shareholders and investors.
 
Q: "What is the current business environment like?"
A: "Hospital management continues to be difficult, competition is intense, and there are strong demands for price revisions."
The current trend is to curb expenses for medical care, and overall, hospital management continues to be difficult. As competition becomes more and more intense, there are strong demands for price revisions from existing routes. We would like to be acknowledged more in the industry for our innovation through product updates, but that is quite difficult given the current situation.
 
Q: "In that sort of situation, what are the company's challenges and how do you plan to handle them?"
A: "We will focus on finding new OEM clients and developing competitive products."
It was also mentioned in the medium-term management plan announced this time, but one of the big issues is the possibility that revenue volatility may increase, because sales of the electrolyte unit are concentrating on certain OEM clients. We are focusing on developing new clients in Japan and China while strengthening relationships with existing OEM clients, and are starting to see results.
Also, based on the intensive investment conducted up until the previous term, we will focus on developing products that other companies can't match.
 
Q: "How about the significant progress made in the Chinese business?"
A: "We will meet China's extensive laboratory automation needs through a strong partner."
Runda Medical, which has now signed a distributor agreement, is a listed company on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, and has established a strong customer base including roughly 1,700 hospitals. In the previous term, we launched direct sales of the LAS specialty product, "CLINILOG V4" for the first time in large-scale hospitals in China, and in the future, we will mainly develop OEM sales with our partner Runda Medical. We will meet China's extensive laboratory automation needs with V4 package sales that emphasize efficiency and profitability. In addition, in order to expand the business in a stable fashion, it is extremely important to build a system for after-sales service. We will also conduct thorough training of Runda Medical employees at the Esashi factory.
Currently, there is only one OEM client for the electrolyte unit, but we are seeking out new suppliers, particularly analyzer manufacturers.
Although the business structure in China is currently a representative office, we will evaluate it at each stage and consider the best options, such as full-scale sales by establishing a local subsidiary, and in the future, construction of our own factory.
 
Q: "This is the first time the medium-term management plan will be announced after listing. What are its main points?"
A: "We will focus on things such as expanding overseas business, improving profitability, and work-style reforms, in order to create a system that can achieve sustainable growth."
In anticipation of the company's 50th anniversary in 2028, the goals of this medium-term plan are to create a framework for sustainable growth, shift toward an increasing trend in sales and profit, and quickly recover ordinary income, but to do that, overseas expansion will be key. We gained a strong partner in China, and we plan to put sales of the Laboratory Automation System there on track as soon as possible.
Currently, our overseas direct sales ratio is 9.3%, but we will raise it to above 10%. When that happens, the real sales ratio will be close to 50%.

Since all of the necessary investment for the time being was completed in the previous term, we will not make any particularly big investments during the plan's 3 years. We will definitely see results of the investment as we raise the ordinary income rate of 7.3% to over 10% while absorbing depreciation expenses. To that end, we will proceed with continuous cost reductions, standardization in production, and sales in China as planned.

Work-style reforms are also a major point.
In order to secure and nurture outstanding employees amidst constant manpower shortages, we plan to enrich employee education by consolidating and organizing the structure and programs for human resource education, introducing a new career path system, and appropriately arranging human resources.
Also, part-time employees have made great contributions, particularly to the Esashi factory, and they will become more important. So, we also introduced a region-specific full-time employee system to improve productivity.
Additionally, by actively recruiting students from technical colleges, and through various other strategies, we intend to strengthen the foundation of 'human resources,' which is one of the most important assets in a company.
 
Q: "Lastly, is there a message you'd like to give to shareholders and investors?"
A: "I would like you to continue supporting our company with a medium-to-long-term perspective, as we aim for rapid progress in the huge Chinese market."
A company grows through the development of new products and expansion of its sales area, and this medium-term management plan aims to create a system that enables these two to operate stably 10 years from now.
This medium-term management plan marks the first time we announced to the public, but I would like you to understand that our company becomes capable of firmly and reliably conveying our message to stakeholders outside the company.
After producing an instrument, we are always asked more about its specific capabilities. We will take outside evaluations seriously and develop a feeling of tension as we push forward as a united company toward our promised goal.
Under the basic policy laid out in the medium-term management plan, we plan to steadily implement key strategies and effectively utilize alliances to greatly develop businesses both domestically and abroad.
We would like to encourage our shareholders and investors to continue supporting our company with a medium-to-long-term perspective, as we aim for rapid progress in the huge Chinese market.
 
 
Conclusions
 
Sales of electrolyte units, which are one of the company's main products, were sluggish during the first half due to a product change by one of the OEM clients, but due to efforts in the second half, sales reached a record high and are mostly on-track with the plan. The company anticipates higher income and profits this term as well, and expects a shift towards a strong performance trend. However, investors expect that the company recovers its profit level, as the company states in their medium-term management plan.
On that note, there will be a great deal of focus on how quickly the OEM supply to Runda Medical will become full-scale.
 
 
<Reference: Regarding corporate governance>
 
 
◎ Corporate Governance Report
Last Update: March 29 2017.
As a JASDAQ listed company, the company fully follows the 5 items of basic principles of the corporate governance code.
 
Disclaimer
This report is intended solely for information purposes, and is not intended as a solicitation for investment. The information and opinions contained within this report are made by our company based on data made publicly available, and the information within this report comes from sources that we judge to be reliable. However, we cannot wholly guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the data. This report is not a guarantee of the accuracy, completeness or validity of said information and opinions, nor do we bear any responsibility for the same. All rights pertaining to this report belong to Investment Bridge Co., Ltd., which may change the contents thereof at any time without prior notice. All investment decisions are the responsibility of the individual and should be made only after proper consideration.

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