Bridge Report:（6250）YAMABIKO Fiscal Year ended December 2020

President Hiroshi Kubo	YAMABIKO CORPORATION(6250)

Company Information

Stock Information

* The share price is the closing price on March 19. The numbers are taken from the brief financial report of the FY12/20.

Earnings Trend

*Unit: Million yen or yen. Net income is profit attributable to owners of the parent. Hereinafter the same shall apply. FY December 2017 was a 9-month one. The DPS of 40 yen for FY December 2018 includes the 5yen dividend for commemorating the company‘s10th anniversary.

This report introduces YAMABIKO CORPORATION’s earnings results for Fiscal Year ended December 2020 and other financial details.

Table of Contents

Key Points
1.Company Overview
2.Fiscal Year ended December 2020 Earnings Results
3.Fiscal Year ending December 2021 Earnings Forecasts
4.Progress of the Medium-term Management Plan 2022
5.Conclusions
<Reference1：Outline and key initiatives of the Medium-term Management Plan2022>
<Reference2：Concerning Corporate Governance>

Key Points

• In the term ended in December 2020, the company witnessed record-high sales and profit. Sales increased 9.1% year on year to 131.9 billion yen. Domestic sales grew 5.8%. Sales of outdoor power equipment rose sharply, thanks to the demand from housebound customers and new products. Pest control equipment sales picked up on the back of the government’s economic measures. Overseas sales increased 11.2% year on year, mainly due to the growth of the demand for outdoor power equipment in the Americas. Operating income increased 55.5% year on year to 9.6 billion yen.

   

• Sales for the term ending in December 2021 are expected to decrease 3% year on year to 128 billion yen, and operating income is projected to decline 30.5% year on year to 6.7 billion yen. Domestic sales are expected to decline due to a pullback for agricultural machinery for government's economic policy and generators for the residential area service station development project, which grew sharply in the previous year thanks to said government's economic policy. Overseas, the company anticipates a rebound from the decline in demand for outdoor power equipment in Europe and industrial machinery in North America. Although the cost-to-sales ratio is expected to improve due to better productivity, it sees profits declining due to drags from lower sales volume and development investments in Japan and overseas. The company plans to pay an annual dividend of 35 yen per share, down 5 yen per share from the previous year. The estimated payout ratio is 30.3%.

   

• On January 1, 2021, Mr. Hiroshi Kubo, Director and Senior Executive Officer, was appointed as President and Executive Officer, and President Yoshiaki Nagao was appointed as Chairman and Executive Officer. Eyes will be on aggressive initiatives to be carried out under the new management team. Of the capital investments outlined in the medium-term management plan, the company only spent 2.8 billion yen in the previous term, significantly lower than the plan of 5 billion yen. As such, the company plans to upwardly revise the estimates for the current term, and steadily carry out the plan. In addition, the YAMABIKO R&D Headquarters will be reorganized into a cross-departmental organization that transcends segment barriers. It is to be positioned as a unit that will generate seeds for future profits. From both short-term and medium/long-term perspectives, the company is poised to step on the accelerator to further strengthen its development capability, which is the source of its competitive advantage.

   

• Focus will also be on the amendment to the Articles of Incorporation scheduled for March. Such amendments, which will pave the way for directors, including outside directors who are independent of business execution, to become Chairperson of the Board of Directors, are still rare across the TSE First Section. The company aims to growth with an appropriate sense of urgency, while ensuring management transparency and strengthening its management base. While sales and profits are expected to decline this fiscal year, our attention will be on how the company's aggressive measures, including digital transformation (DX) led by the new president Hiroshi Kubo, will lead to profits.

   

1. Company Overview

YAMABIKO CORPORATION develops, manufactures and sells outdoor power equipment (e.g., trimmers, chain saws etc.), agricultural machinery (e.g., pest control equipment, sloop mower), industrial machinery (e.g., generators, welders etc.) in Japan and overseas. The overseas sales occupy about 60% of their total sales. In terms of manufacturing and selling outdoor power equipment, the company not only has the top share in Japan but also a large share in the US. Its strength is owning unique production technology, a variety of product line-ups, and an excellent technical support system.

1-1 Corporate history

YAMABIKO CORPORATION started as a joint holding company established in December 2008 through a merger between KIORITZ CORPORATION (listed in the first section of the Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya Stock Exchanges), which dealt with agricultural machinery in Japan and outdoor power equipment overseas, and Shindaiwa Corporation (listed in the second section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange), which dealt with outdoor power equipment and industrial machinery globally. In October 2009, YAMABIKO CORPORATION established its current business entity by merging both KIORITZ and Shindaiwa.

KIORITZ CORPORATION was established in 1947 in Tokyo and originally called KIORITZ AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION. It has been a leading company in both agricultural equipment business through which they developed “Japan’s first speed sprayers” and outdoor power equipment business through which they developed “Japan’s first motorized backpack trimmers” and “the world’s first handheld power blowers”. Furthermore, since its establishment, it has been focusing on self-development of engines for outdoor power equipment. The accumulative number of engines produced in 2008, before the merger, was about 40 million.

Shindaiwa Corporation was established in 1952 in Hiroshima and was originally called Asamoto Precision Manufacturer. It not only developed “Japan’s first electric chain saws” for the outdoor power equipment business, but also manufactured and sold engine generators and engine welders for the industrial machinery business. Its strength was high technological development capabilities, as can be seen in the development of the world’s first mixed fuel 4-cycle engine.

In the late 1990s, with growing concern about global warming caused by greenhouse effect gas, and as engine’s emission gas control became stricter in the Western countries, especially in the US, research and development expenses increased to comply with the new regulations. In the 2000s, the medium and small-sized companies that could not afford these expenses went through rapid industry restructuring on a global scale in the outdoor power equipment industry.
Moreover, the business environment became further uncertain due to a flood of cheaper products from newly emerging countries and diversification of customers’ needs.

Under these circumstances, the two companies concluded a business and capital alliance agreement in May 2007 on the premise of future business integration in order to strengthen the vitality to survive and win the intensifying competition.
In December 2008, YAMABIKO CORPORATION was established as a joint holding company to achieve better efficiency and expansion for all its businesses including development, manufacturing, logistics, sales and management. In October 2009, YAMABIKO CORPORATION conducted an absorption-type merger of KIORITZ and Shindaiwa and became the current business entity.

The company name “YAMABIKO” derives from the mountain god, “Yamabiko”. Its corporate philosophy is to “create the bridge that bonds people and nature with the future”. This expresses the company’s willingness to contribute to the conservation and improvement of the nature and environment.

1-2 Corporate philosophy, etc.

YAMABIKO Group’s corporate philosophy is formed from three elements: “Essence”, “Purpose of Existence” and “Code of Conduct”.
“Essence”, which incorporates both “Purpose of Existence” and “Code of Conduct”, expresses in a single word what YAMABIKO Group aims to be as a company, and the essence of its corporate activities.
“Purpose of Existence” sets out the role and responsibilities of YAMABIKO Group in society and makes a commitment to this.
“Code of Conduct” defines the attitude of each YAMABIKO Group employee in relation to their work.

(From the Company’s website)

<Essence>

<Significant Beliefs>

<Principles>

In addition, the company established 14 detailed measures that augment the Code of Conduct to facilitate the implementation of business activities in accordance with the corporate philosophy.

1-3 Market environment

Although no detailed statistics about the outdoor power equipment market is available, it is known that the largest market is in North America including the US, followed by Europe. In Japan, about 1 million outdoor power equipment/tools are sold per year. The indicators that may impact the company’s trend in the earnings include “number of housing start”, “commodity (grain) price”, and “crude oil price” for the overseas market and “rice price” for the Japanese market.

The company recognizes that there are two global manufacturers of outdoor power equipment in Europe (Germany and Sweden).

1-4 Business contents

1. Segment
YAMABIKO Group operates businesses in three sectors: Outdoor power equipment, Agricultural machinery and Industrial machinery. These three segments are reported.

(Developed by us based on YAMABIKO CORPORATION’s financial report.)

“Outdoor power equipment business”
YAMABIKO CORPORATION manufactures and sells handheld or backpack-style forestry and landscape maintenance machinery powered by small internal combustion engines. The main products include chain saws, trimmers, power blowers, hedge trimmers, etc.
In Nov. 2014, the company acquired “Belrobotics SA,” a Belgian venture company, which develops, manufactures, and sells robotic mowers for professional use. (In Jan. 2017, Belrobotics SA was renamed “Yamabiko Europe SA” for the purpose of enhancing sales in Europe.)

Based on the accumulated experiences and know-how and excellent development capabilities that meet the customers’ needs, YAMABIKO CORPORATION continues to produce high performance, highly durable and high-quality engines.

<Chain saws>	<Trimmers>
<Power blowers>

(Gasoline engine system)
The engines for outdoor power equipment such as chain saws and trimmers are mainly 2-stroke gasoline engines. As described later, the company’s excellent capability to develop engines is one of their most important features/strengths.
Brief information concerning the company’s engines is provided below because knowing the gasoline engine system and characteristics of each engine type helps to understand the business of the company,

Basically, a gasoline engine generates power by moving the piston down with the combustion of gasoline through the following 4 steps.

Reciprocating motion of the piston is converted into revolution by a crankshaft. The rotating motion turns the rotating shaft of axel of a car or revolving shaft of chain saws.
The gasoline engine is largely categorized in two types (2-stroke engine and 4-stroke engine), depending on the number of reciprocating motions by piston to complete “1 cycle” of the 4 steps.

“2-stroke engine”
One power cycle is completed by 2-stroke. In other words, a power is generated by “1 piston reciprocating motion, 1 crankshaft revolution”.
First stroke (piston moving up): “Intake” and “compression” of air-fuel mixture occurs.
Second stroke (piston moving down): Piston moves down due to the “expansion” of air-fuel mixture and “exhaust” occurs later.

“4-stroke engine”
One power cycle is completed by 4-stroke. A power is generated by “2 piston reciprocating motions, 2 crankshaft revolutions”.
First stroke (piston moving down): “Intake” of air-fuel mixture occurs.
Second stroke (piston moving up): “Compression” of air-fuel mixture occurs.
Third stroke (piston moving down): Piston rapidly moves down as a result of “expansion”.
Fourth stroke (piston moving up): Combusted gas is “exhausted”.

The advantage of the 4-stroke engine is the easy control of intake and exhaust. However, its structure is complicated compared to a 2-stroke engine, because the intake/exhaust valves of a 4-stroke engine are installed at the cylinder head, while intake and exhaust of a 2-stroke engine occur at the port that is located on the body of the cylinder. Because of this structure, the weight of a 4-stroke engine is heavier than a 2-stroke engine.

On the other hand, a 2-stroke engine has a larger ratio of burning engine oil and fuel in order to make smooth piston motion and blow-by of air-fuel mixture. This means it releases more harmful substances in the exhaust gas as compared with a 4-stroke engine. However, because of its simple structure and smaller number of parts, the 2-stroke engine can be smaller and lighter. The overhaul is also easier for the same reasons. Therefore, a 2-stroke engine is the most appropriate engine for outdoor power equipment.

“Agricultural machinery business”
YAMABIKO CORPORATION manufactures and sells pest control equipment for Japan and agricultural harvesting equipment for North America.
Its major products include pest control equipment (speed sprayers, mounted equipment for cropland pest control, power sprayers), sloop mower, soy and potato harvesters, etc.
YAMABIKO CORPORATION’s technological strengths in this business segment are KIORITZ’s blowing, spraying, and pumping technology as well as technology to create small and light equipment. These technological capabilities have been built up over many years at KIORITZ.

<Mounted equipment for cropland pest control>	<Speed sprayers>
<Sloop mowers>

“Industrial machinery business”
YAMABIKO CORPORATION manufactures and sells equipment for construction, civil engineering and iron works.
Its major products include generators, welders, lighting equipment, cutting machines and high-pressure washers.

Technological strengths in this business segment are established by the R&D knowledge accumulated since YAMABIKO CORPORATION started business as Shindaiwa, and such strengths can be found in alternator designing capability enhanced by their efforts for alternative current motor development, as well as technologies for electronic control and noise prevention.

<Generators>

<Welders>

“Accessories and parts”
The company manufactures and sells accessories and the parts for after purchasing service for various machines and equipment.
The profitability in this segment is the highest among all segments.

<Maintenance kit>

<Nylon trimmer line>

<Fuel/Oil>

2. Brand
YAMABIKO CORPORATION was established based on the integration of two companies. The products of both companies are well recognized both in Japan and overseas for many years. Therefore, YAMABIKO CORPORATION maintains the brand names as KIORITZ, Shindaiwa, and ECHO.
YAMABIKO CORPORATION is proactively investing in marketing activities as well as exploring new sales routes to enhance its brand values.

3. Development structure
Each business segment is working on development with a focus on the following priority issues.

The exhaust gas regulations are expected to be further tightened in the future. Therefore, addressing them is of paramount importance.
In addition, the company is conducting research on control technology in the field of electronic control.

4. Production structure
The company has 3 plants (Yokosuka, Morioka, and Hiroshima) and 4 production related subsidiaries in Japan and a total of 10 production related subsidiaries in the USA, Belgium, China and Vietnam.

5. Sales route and sales methods
The company supplies its products in over 90 countries for about 28,000 stores.
More than 60% of the sales are from overseas sales.

<Domestic market>
Seven sales subsidiaries, which were separated mainly by region, were merged into YAMABIKO JAPAN CO., LTD. in April 2017, with the aim of allocating management resources in a more efficient manner, strengthening sales capabilities, and improving customer services through a unified management system and integral operation of business assets.

YAMABIKO JAPAN CO., LTD sells the products to distributors, ZEN-NOH (National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations), home centers, and construction machinery rental companies, etc. Through them, the products are supplied to the end users including farmers/foresters, companies in the construction, civil engineering and iron industries and landscapers.
The company presents their products in exhibitions in collaboration with dealers and distributors and facilitates sales through demonstration and test drive.
Furthermore, the company accompanies dealers to visit end users to understand their needs and utilize the information for product development.

<North American market>
ECHO Incorporated Group, one of the company’s subsidiaries, sells the products to The Home Depot (*) and other distributors, through which the products are supplied to the end users such as landscapers, homeowners, farmers/foresters, and companies in the construction/civil engineering industry.

*The Home Depot: The Home Depot, Inc. is the world’s largest home center and construction products and services. It was established in 1978. Sales in 2019 were US$110.2 billion and net income was US$11.2 billion. It has over 2,291 stores in the US, Canada and Mexico. It is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. (Excerpted from the company’s website)

The Home Depot classifies their products into GOOD, BETTER and BEST in accordance with the quality. It is only YAMABIKO CORPORATION that supplies the high-quality BEST products to The Home Depot. This is one of the proofs that the company’s products are highly reputed in the North American market.

In the Central and South American market, ECHO Incorporated, one of the company’s subsidiaries, sells the products to the distributors of each country, and made their products supplied to the end users through dealers.
Yamabiko Europe SA in Europe and ECHO MACHINERY (SHENZHEN) Co., Ltd. in China, both of which are subsidiaries of Yamabiko, sell products to distributors in their respective countries
Asia and other areas, YAMABIKO CORPORATION sells the products to the distributors in each country.

The overseas dealers display the products by brand, and salesperson conducts person-to-person sales while understanding the needs of the end users.
The home center also displays the products by type and price. The end users purchase the products based on the needs, budget and image they have from advertisement, etc.

1-5 Characteristics and strengths

①Unique production and technological capabilities and vertically integrated production
The most important characteristics and strengths of the company are the “unique production and technological capabilities and vertically integrated production capabilities”.
Their mainstay 2-stroke engines that are mounted to the outdoor power equipment are manufactured by an integrated production system solely by the company from development, procurement of aluminum, molding, parts production, processing to assembly, which is said to be unique anywhere in the world. The power sources for the products of agricultural machinery and industrial machinery are also engines, but they are mostly procured externally.

The company have solved various issues with their unique technologies including iron plating and electric discharge processing. This results in the quality improvement and production capacity improvement of the company.
Specifically, the company has established the following technologies.

<Example 1: Iron plating>
Plating is a surface covering method in which the surface of a metal is covered by a thin layer of another metal. For engine production, inside of the cylinder should be plated to avoid abrasion caused by dispute with a piston.
The conventional method is to use chrome plating from durability and cost perspectives. However, chrome plating gives negative impact on the environment. Its production efficiency is also low. Therefore, there was an increasing demand for different materials for plating.

The company has been working on “iron plating” since 1978 to reduce environmental load.
Initially, they could produce only hundreds per day. However, as a result of enhanced productivity, enhanced plating precision, and reduction of environmental load, the company now has the iron plating technology that does not require finish processing. Their technology has drastically smaller environmental load. Furthermore, their daily production capacity increased significantly, reaching thousands.
The company holds 5 patents related to iron plating.

<Example 2: Electric discharge processing>
As described above, a 2-stroke engine requires a smaller number of parts and has a simpler structure as compared to a 4-stroke engine. Therefore, it is most suitable for the “handheld” and “backpack-style” outdoor power equipment. However, it releases some fuel mixed gas. In order to respond to the increasingly strict exhaust gas regulations globally, the company was faced with a challenge to control the flow of the fuel mixed gas for efficient burning.
In order to achieve it, the company explored the production methods to modify the internal shape of the cylinder (by installing a wall between the fuel mixed gas passage and internal shape of the cylinder).

A “wall” can be created by die-casting (*), but it requires a horizontal hole to lead the fuel mixed gas to a combustion chamber. With die-casting, it was impossible to create a horizontal hole. It was also difficult to carry out machining due to small space in the chamber.
The company came up with the idea of using “electric discharge processing (*)” to create a form while taking advantage of die-casting.

Although electric discharge processing enabled to create complicated forms, it was costly due to long processing time and high electrode consumption. The company conducted research on processing conditions for a large volume production and developed designs of special electrode form. As a result, it succeeded in producing a large volume of products, by shortening processing time, saving personnel, lowering the cost of electrode and enhancing efficiency.
Having obtained three patents related to electrode processing, the company has established the unique technology that cannot be imitated by other companies.
(*) Die-casting
Die-casting is one of the metal mold casting methods. By injecting melted metal in a metallic mold, a large amount of casting with high precision can be produced within a short period of time. It enables to create a thin product at low cost.
(*) Electric discharge processing
Electric discharge processing is a machine processing method to remove a part of the surface of a non-processed workpiece through repeated electrode discharge at short cycles between electrode and the non-processed workpiece. It enables to cut out complicated outline on extremely hard steel.
With “advanced capabilities for creation” such as the above-mentioned technologies, the Company not only complies with exhaust gas regulations but also responds to various needs including weight reduction, enhancing durability and cost reduction. It succeeded in developing and mass-producing “a light weight and highly durable 2-stroke engine that meets the exhaust gas regulations”.
While many companies in the world are forced to leave the industry because they cannot address these issues, YAMABIKO CORPORATION continues to make further development as a leading manufacturer.

②Unique research and development capabilities for each business segment
The company’s capability to address environmental issues is high. The company possesses one of the highest number of US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-accredited engines in the world.
Furthermore, not only for outdoor power equipment, the company also has unique research and development capabilities for the agricultural machinery and industrial machinery. Based on the technological capacities that have been accumulated by KIORITZ and Shindaiwa for many years, the company is further brushing up the capabilities.

③Extensive product lineup and expansion of sales network and domestic services network
The company has an extensive lineup of products that meet various needs of the customers in each of the three business segments.
It also currently supplies the products to about 28,000 stores in more than 90 countries across the world.
As a result of merging KIORITZ and Shindaiwa, YAMABIKO CORPORATION’s product lineup and sales network were further expanded.
With the aim of improving the satisfaction level of diversifying users, the company established “Yamabiko Service Shop” inside Japan in 2013, and is operating service systems for maintenance, repair a failure, etc., which are not offered by competitors, throughout Japan. The number of affiliated shops is 342 as of Mar.2020.

④Excellent technical support system
The company also provides excellent technical support in order to enhance credibility of the products and strengthen the relationships with distributors and dealers.
In addition to offering about 40 service schools annually both in Japan and abroad, in 2018, the company started to provide a new e-learning course using its originally developed teaching materials targeted at overseas distributors in an attempt to enhance their repair skills and deepen their understanding of the mechanism of the engines.
Furthermore, the European subsidiaries of the company recently organize road show-style education and training sessions for nurturing trainers at distributors, and lecture classes designed for distributors’ salespersons, endeavoring to further fortify its service capabilities.

⑤High product share
By demonstrating the above-mentioned characteristics and strengths (1-5-1) to (1-5-4) in an integrated manner, the company is becoming highly competitive at a global level. For the outdoor power equipment business, the company has the top market share (more than 30%) in Japan and is ranked high in North America, the largest market.

1-6 Return on Equity (ROE) Analysis

ROE rose to 11.4% in the previous fiscal year, thanks to margin improvement owing to sales growth.

2. Fiscal Year ended December 2020 Earnings Results

2-1 Consolidated Business Results

*Unit: million yen. Net income means profit attributable to owners of parent.

Sales and profit increased, resulting in record-high sales and profit and exceeded forecasts.
Sales increased 9.1% year on year to 131.9 billion yen. Domestic sales grew 5.8%. Sales of outdoor power equipment rose sharply, thanks to the demand from housebound customers and new products. Pest control equipment sales picked up on the back of the government’s economic measures. Overseas sales increased 11.2% year on year, mainly due to the growth of the demand for outdoor power equipment in the Americas. Operating income increased 55.5% year on year to 9.6 billion yen. Record-high sales and profit.

2-2 Trends by Segment and region

*Unit: million yen. The composition ratio for operating income means the ratio of operating income to sales.

◎ Outdoor power equipment

*Unit: million yen

(Japan)
Domestic sales increased 10.8% year on year to 15,087 million yen. In addition to mainstay trimmers, for which the company launched new products that are lighter and easier to operate, sales of chainsaws, accessories, and spare parts grew. Sales to home improvement retailers were strong in particular.

(Overseas)
Demand for gardening in the U.S. has boosted sales significantly. While there remains political and economic instability in Latin America, the market is recovering due to the increase in time spent at home. Sales have been flat in Western Europe, as in Russia, where sales have been sluggish due to prolonged restrictions on sales activities due to the spread of COVID-19. Sales declined in other regions such as Asia and Oceania. Overall, sales rose sharply, up 14.6% year on year.

◎Agricultural machinery

*Unit: million yen

(Japan)
Lawn mowers, mowers, and elevating work platforms, which are seeing growing demand, continued to perform well. In the fourth quarter (October-December), sales of pest control equipment such as mounted equipment for cropland pest control and large sprayers also picked up, backed by the government’s economic measures. As a result, sales increased 5.6% year on year to 16,476 million yen.

(Overseas)
Sales grew 7.7% year on year to 5,153 million yen. In North America, potato-related products performed well, and rising grain prices toward the end of the fiscal year worked as a tailwind.

◎Industrial machinery

*Unit: million yen

(Japan)
While a decline in sales of welders and lighting equipment due to delays with construction work, etc., the company’s mainstay generators are steadily capturing infrastructure development demand, covering a decline in sales of welders and lighting equipment. Sales came to 15,343 million yen, largely in line with year-earlier levels.

(Overseas)
Sales dropped 48.6% year on year to 1,764 million yen due partly to the impact from the economic downturn and stalled sales activities caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

◎Others

*Unit: million yen

Sales rose, mainly thanks to growth for maintenance services. Sales increased 13.4% year on year to 2,280 million yen.

2-3 Financial standing and cash flows

◎Main Balance Sheet

*Unit: million yen. Trade payables include electronically recorded accounts payable.

Current assets increased 6.5 billion yen from the end of the previous term due to an increase in cash and deposits, a decrease in inventories, and an increase in accounts receivable. Fixed assets decreased 2.2 billion yen.
Total assets grew 4.3 billion yen to 107.1 billion yen.
Liabilities rose 700 million yen to 47.3 billion yen due to an increase in accounts payable, trade payables, and a decrease in borrowings.
Net assets increased 3.5 billion yen to 59.8 billion yen due to an increase in retained earnings and a decrease in foreign currency translation adjustments.
As a result, capital-to-asset ratio rose 1.1 points from the end of the previous term to 55.8%.
Due to the increase in sales and profit, D/E ratio (Debt Equity Ratio) decreased from 85.0% to 79.0%.

◎Cash Flow

*Unit: million yen

The surplus of operating CF (cash flow) and free CF expanded.

2-4 Topics

Partial amendment to the Articles of Incorporation
On February 12, 2021, the company announced a partial amendment to the Articles of Incorporation, enabling outside directors independent of the company to also become Chairperson of the Board of Directors. It is intended to enhance the supervisory function of the Board or Directors.
As stated in the priority measures for this term (which will be detailed later), the company recognizes strengthening its management base as an important issue. This amendment to the Articles of Incorporation is one step toward realizing this objective.
(The company plans to discuss this at the general meeting of shareholders scheduled for March 30, 2021).

3. Fiscal Year ending December 2021 Earnings Forecasts

3-1 Earnings forecasts

*Unit: Million yen. The forecast was those released by the company.

*Exchange assumptions

*The dollar is based on a rate assumed by YAMABIKO CORPORATION

Forecast decrease in both sales and profit
Sales for the term ending in December 2021 are expected to decrease 3% year on year to 128 billion yen, and operating income is projected to decline 30.5% year on year to 6.7 billion yen. Domestic sales are expected to decline due to a pullback for agricultural machinery for the government's economic policy and generators for the residential area service station development project, which grew sharply in the previous year thanks to said government's economic policy. Overseas, the company anticipates a rebound from the decline in demand for outdoor power equipment in Europe and industrial machinery in North America. Although the cost-to-sales ratio is expected to improve due to better productivity, it sees profits declining due to drags from lower sales volume and development investments in Japan and overseas. The company plans to pay an annual dividend of 35 yen per share, down 5 yen per share from the previous year. The estimated payout ratio is 30.3%.

(2) Priority measures for the current term

The company will focus on the following five measures.
1. Reorganization of the development organizations
Until now, the company’s development functions have been separated by its three segments: outdoor power equipment, agricultural machinery, and industrial machinery. The company will add three cross-divisional organizations to this, as well as a new development organization “Engineering Research Center” to create a new matrix organization. By doing so, the company aims to enhance its development support system and improve development efficiency.
・ Three cross-divisional organizations:
“Department of Products Planning & Strategy”: A one-stop organization that plans and executes the company's product strategy.
“Engineering Support Department”: Responsible for promoting technology standards and the unification of parts list, etc.
“Department of Regulatory Compliance & Intellectual Property”: Provides regulatory information, such as compliance, and intellectual property (IP) information.
・ New development organization: "Engineering Research Center"
This organization is to be newly established this April, in charge of new development with emphasis on profitability that goes beyond the boundaries of the company’s business segments.

2. Strengthening of the management base. The company aims to promote globalization so that it can respond flexibly and promptly to changes in the market.
・ Aim to speed up decision-making by reducing the number of executive officers from 21 to 16.
・ Promoting globalization by appointing the president of an overseas subsidiary as an executive officer.
・ Improve the supervisory function of the board of directors. (*refer to the topics mentioned above)
・ Make revisions to the current HR system, which tends to be based on seniority, so that it will be more performance-based.

3. Enhancement of the IT infrastructure and digital transformation (DX)
The company established a new "Digital Strategy Office.” It is a strategic planning unit that is independent of the existing Data Processing Department. President Hiroshi Kubo is also in charge of the Digital Strategy Office, and views DX promotion as a policy of major importance. The company is currently moving forward with forming projects for each of the four themes, with the aim of optimizing networks and designing projects based on its digital strategy and generating benefits from them.

（Source: the company）

4. Expansion of sales and improvement of profitability. The company plans to generate sales and profits through the following measures.
・ “Professional machinery strategy"
The company will work to promote itself as a brand for professionals through the introduction of the "X Series" products geared toward professionals.
・ “Enhancement of product lineup"
The company will continue to introduce engine models that have a low environmental impact, which are its core products. At the same time, from the perspective of local production for local consumption, it plans to set up a development center for high-performance battery products developed in-house in the U.S., and develop them through Japan-U.S. collaboration while boosting added value (in terms of brand, services, backup systems, etc.).
・ "Strengthening of sales strategies "
It will continue to develop promotions with Home Depot and form partnerships with new dealers.
・ “Cost reduction"
Shorten manufacturing lead times and reduce inventory.
・ "Review of production bases"
Suzhou Yamabiko Agricultural Machinery CO., Ltd, which was the firm’s assembly base last year, will be liquidated and consolidated into Echo Machinery Co., Ltd.
・ "Enhancement of service capabilities”
Promote sales of remote services utilizing IoT and of highly profitable parts and accessories.

5. Sustainable management of the Yamabiko Group
The company believes that it will contribute to solving environmental and social problems through its business activities. It aims to help achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by further instilling and deepening its corporate philosophy of "connecting people, nature and the future."

（Source: the company）

4. Progress of the Medium-term Management Plan 2022

In the previous fiscal year, capital investment amount was 2.8 billion yen, significantly lower than the plan of 5 billion yen due to COVID-19. From this term onward, the company intends to implement capital investment in accordance with its plan.
R&D and depreciation costs were largely in line with its projections. No other changes have been made. This term, the company will continue to work toward achieving its targets.

（Source: the company）

5. Conclusions

On January 1, 2021, Mr. Hiroshi Kubo, Director and Senior Executive Officer, was appointed as President and Executive Officer, and President Yoshiaki Nagao was appointed as Chairman and Executive Officer. Eyes will be on aggressive initiatives to be carried out under the new management team. Of the capital investments outlined in the medium-term management plan, the company only spent 2.8 billion yen in the previous term, significantly lower than the plan of 5 billion yen. As such, the company plans to upwardly revise the estimates for the current term, and steadily carry out the plan. In addition, the YAMABIKO R&D Headquarters will be reorganized into a cross-departmental organization that transcends segment barriers. It is to be positioned as a unit that will generate seeds for future profits. From both short-term and medium/long-term perspectives, the company is poised to step on the accelerator to further strengthen its development capability, which is the source of its competitive advantage.

<Reference1: Outline and key initiatives of the2022 Medium-term Management Plan＞

(1) Policies and Key initiatives set in the Mid-term Management Plan 2022

① Basic policy
The basic policy set in the previous Mid-term Management Plan will be continued.

② Goals and strategies in each segment
As to the major market environment, the demand for engine products is expected to remain strong in the professional market for outdoor power equipment where long-lasting products that can tolerate heavy loads are demanded, the company will shift to the professional market further.
As for agricultural machinery and industrial machinery, the Japanese agricultural and construction industries are seeing the shortage of manpower and the aging of workers, so labor-saving and energy-saving products are in demand.

◎Outdoor power equipment business
The priority measures are (1) to develop engine products ahead of the strict environmental regulations, (2) to monetize the robot business, and (3) to augment the lineup of DC products.

＊Efforts to each region

*The parenthesis represents the growth rate from the term ended Dec. 2019.

(North America)
The company will enhance marketing strategies targeted at professionals, strive to grow sustainably, expand its presence in the market of engine products, and aim to expand its market share, which has been increasing steadily.

As priority measures, the company will augment the lineup of “X Series,” which is a highly functional product lineup for professionals and continue to enhance digital marketing activities. The company will strive to enhance its brand recognition, by diffusing professionals’ comments on the latest products via social media, optimizing marketing activities for each generation, and posting ads in baseball (MiLB) and football (MSL), which attract users.
At the Home Depot, which is the primary sales route, the company will concentrate on the sale of flagship products, expand sales area, and continue effective expansion of product sales for a limited period of time.
In addition, the company will put energy into the cultivation of the U.S. market for robot products.

(Europe)
The company will promote the sales of products –conforming to the needs of the market and enhance its brand recognition level.

As priority measures, the company will promote the sales of “X Series,” which is the lineup for professionals, and augment the lineups of battery products and engine products that comply with regulations on emissions, promote the sales of robot products, cultivate the relative market, and enhance the market recognition through digital marketing activities, etc.
In order to enhance the performance of robot products further, the company will reorganize Quimesis S.R.L. into an equity-method affiliate (capital contribution rati 24.9%) and proceed with software development.

(Japan)
As priority measures, the company will launch top handle chain saws as a new DC product, continue effective campaigns, promote the launch of labor-saving, efficient products (robotic mowers), and enhance the sales via home centers.

◎Agricultural machinery business

*The parenthesis represents the growth rate from the term ended December 2019.

In detail, the company will reduce production costs and enhance profitability through close collaboration between the development, manufacturing, and sales department, and expand sales routes, continue effective sales campaigns, and adapt to smart agriculture, etc.

◎Industrial machinery business

*The parenthesis represents the growth rate from the term ended December 2019.

(Japan)
As there is the initiative of investment in infrastructure for preventing and mitigating natural disasters and promoting national resilience, the company will continue effective sales campaigns and enhance the sale to rental companies, so as to meet the increased demand adequately.

(Overseas)
The company will build a market on a full scale targeting at wide-area rental companies in North America, promote sales of welders targeted at resource markets in Russia, and build new sales networks in Asia and Africa.

③ Key initiatives
◎Total cost reduction and product quality improvement
The company will keep improving production efficiency for further cost reduction.
The company will aim to establish a new production system for shortening manufacturing lead time and reducing inventory of products and also improve quality control continuously for actualizing “absolute quality.”

◎Strengthening of service capabilities
The company will strive to enhance its service capabilities, which would lead to the improvement in profitability.
The company will concentrate on the augmentation and expansion of sales of highly profitable service parts and accessories, the augmentation promotion of service materials for each product, the strengthening of training systems, the reduction of total logistics costs, the decrease of inventory, etc.

（3）Capital investment, R&D costs, and depreciation

（Source: the company）

Capital investment is estimated to be 13.3 billion yen, exceeding the total amount in the previous Mid-term Management Plan: 10.4 billion yen. (revised at the end of December 2020) While in cost control, the company will invest in R&D as planned.

（4）Numerical goals

The company aims to achieve “sales of 134 billion yen and an operating income of 8 billion yen” in the term ending December 2022.
While monitoring the situation of COVID-19, the company will make continuous efforts.

（Source: the company）

（Source: the company）

<Reference2：Concerning Corporate Governance>

*Composition of the organizational structure, directors and auditors

◎Corporate Governance Report
Last update date: April 1, 2021

<Basic policy>
YAMABIKO CORPORATION (“the company”) actively promotes various measures to enhance the corporate value of the entire Group, including an optimization strategy and supervision function at the Group level, as well as the allocation of resources in order to achieve the Group’s global management strategy and growth.
To realize these objectives, the company implements sound and highly transparent Group management in order to deliver value to all of its stakeholders, including regional companies, shareholders, customers and employees. We do this by building a robust corporate culture based on our Corporate Philosophy and Code of Conduct, while enhancing and strengthening a system of corporate governance focused on Group compliance and risk management.

Our board of directors is composed of 7 directors, including 2 outside ones, and makes important decisions regarding our group’s management policy and strategy, and the guidance and supervision for business administration of group companies. In the board of directors, directors monitor and oversee the work of other directors and report their own performance regularly at their meetings. In order to put resolutions of the board of directors into action accurately and swiftly, the management strategy council deliberates them to a sufficient degree.

Our company adopted the auditor system, organizing the board of auditors with a total of 4 auditors, composed of 2 corporate auditors and 2 outside ones.
Auditors participate in the meetings of the board of directors, the management strategy council, and operating officers, and other important in-house meetings, to audit the business execution of directors, and secure the effectiveness of audit in cooperation with accounting auditor and the internal audit section, in accordance with the regulations for the board of auditors and the standards for auditors’ audit.

＜Reasons for Non-Compliance with the Principles of the Corporate Governance Code (Excerpts)＞

<Disclosure Based on the Principles of the Corporate Governance Code (Excerpts)>