| OPTEX CO., LTD. (6914) |
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Company |
OPTEX CO., LTD. |
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Code No. |
6914 |
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Exchange |
TSE 1st Section |
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Industry |
Electric equipment (manufacturer) |
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President |
Toru Kobayashi |
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HQ Address |
5-8-12, Ogoto Otsu, Shiga |
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Year-end |
December |
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URL |
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* Stock price as of the close on November 7, 2012. Number of shares at the end of the most recent quarter excluding treasury shares.
ROE and BPS are based on the actual term end amounts. |
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* Estimates are those of the Company.
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| Key Points |
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| Company Overview |
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Apart from OPTEX FA CO., LTD., which specializes in FA sensors, the group is comprised of 18 consolidated subsidiaries, including FIBER SENSYS INC. (US), which develops fiber sensor intrusion detection system, and RAYTEC LIMITED. (UK) which manufactures supplemental lights for CCTV, and 2 equity methods affiliates.  Business Description   History In 2004, the company acquired GIKEN TRASTEM CO., LTD., which dealt with customer traffic/parked car counting and management systems, as a subsidiary. Recently, it has been working on enhancement of solutions based on image processing technologies and high-end security systems. In 2008, it acquired ZENIC INC., which specialized in contracted development of IC/LSI for image processing systems. Furthermore, it acquired FIBER SENSYS INC. (US) in 2010 and RAYTEC LIMITED (UK) in 2012 respectively. The former has abundant experience in high-end security systems (fiber-optics intrusion detection systems) for critical sites in US and Europe. The latter deals with supplemental lighting systems using infrared rays for CCTV installed in high-end security systems for large critical sites.  Advantages :Diversified Technologies/Expertise on Sensing and Unique Sensing Algorithm  |
| Business Strategy |
 (1) Expanding Core Businesses
In order to expand core businesses, the company has been actively launching new products both in low-end commodity products and highly value-added differentiated products. In FY12/12, it is working on the enhancement of product line-up for low-end universal outdoor sensors in security-related business, while tries to expand business for outdoor sensors for large facilities or pipeline leak detectors. Also in automatic door-related business, it has reinforced line-up of sensors for large automatic door OEMs in US and Europe by launching hybrid sensors with high level of safety for sliding doors and sensors for advanced sliding doors. In addition, it has launched a low-priced microwave sensor as a low-end commodity product.In FA business, the company tries to differentiate its products by focusing on value-added application sensors, such as image, LED light and displacement sensors. (2) Exploiting Emerging Markets : Russia, China, India/Southeast Asia, Latin America
The company set up a local subsidiary in Russia in October 2011 and is now making preparations for local production (you must be in compliant to GOST standard, which is under the management of local police, to manufacture and sell products in Russia). It plans to build the agency network in order to sell products primarily for outdoor critical facilities such as pipelines. In China, the company aims to penetrate into the luxury housing market by enhancing local security, and tries to appeal the past successful installation of its products in China (outdoor detectors for perimeter protection systems for Museum of the Terracotta Army /The Palace Museum and for prisons, sensors to start up CCTV installed in ATM, etc.). In India, the preparation to set up joint venture with a local company is in progress (security is yet to be mechanized in India). Singapore is to be the main business target in Southeast Asia, where the company plans to open a representative office. Furthermore, it prepares to set up a local subsidiary in Brasil to cover the Latin American market to which the company currently exports its products via US.
(3) Developing New Applications
The company is now particularly focusing on security lighting business and energy-saving/dimming control business. As for the former, the company achieved high efficiency of surveillance by integrating lighting products provided by RAYTEC (acquired in January 2012) and OPTEX's sensing technologies. For the latter, the company has already launched power-saving lighting systems for parking areas/commercial facilities.
Acquisition of RAYTEC and Security Lighting Business
RAYTEC is the world's leading manufacturer of supplemental lights for CCTV for which it maintains about 50 % share in global market. Its main products are infrared dark-field illuminators and visible light LED illuminators for outdoor use in mid-to long-distance, but the company also has a wide range of products to offer. Its products have high affinity for OPTEX's sensing technologies, and the integration of each other's technologies should help to improve efficiency of surveillance. OPTEX continues to focus on its security lighting business, but also seeks for the synergy effect with FIBER SENSYS (manufacturer of fiber-optics intrusion detection systems). RAYTEC's sales are mostly derived from its UK and EU businesses; therefore it has the complementary relationship with FIBER SENSYS, which maintains solid sales performance in North America and Middle East. Including OPTEX's activities in Asia, the group as a whole intends to attract new demand in North America, Asia and Middle East markets.
 Recently, outdoor long-distance CCTVs have been widely adopted at large critical facilities. To enable precise imaging, these CCTVs are also equipped with acquisition/tracking sensors and supplementary lights for cameras
(acquiring/tracking objects precisely with sensors and shedding light on them will improve surveillance efficiency).
(quote from company materials)
 Installation cases
India: Supplemental lights for perimeter protection systems for a broad-area power plant.Middle East: Supplemental lights for perimeter protection systems for oil facilities in UAE and Kuwait. Korea: Supplemental lights for perimeter protection systems for broad-area military facilities. (quote from company materials) Energy-saving/Dimming Control Business
In the domestic market, the company offers "Energy-saving lighting systems for parking areas/commercial facilities" which provide appropriate luminance as-and-when-needed-basis for the outdoor use. Energy-saving lighting systems designed specifically for parking areas can detect approaching cars or people by sensors to open/close gate bars or to brighten LED lights, and are in use at 830 parking areas operated by large parking management companies in Japan. Also, dimming systems with interactive sensors for large offices, large parking areas and commercial facilities (by combining with sensing technologies, significant energy-saving effects are expected) have been tentatively installed in more than 50 domestic companies operating large franchised restaurants, supermarkets, etc. and some of them are now in full-scale operation. For now, the company intends to accelerate business expansion by restructuring/enhancing its organization.  (4) New Business Areas
OPTEX tries to expand applications of sensing systems into various areas to increase mid-term profits, and has started to build up a new business, which deals with human body/object detection systems for critical/large facilities. One of them is the oil/gas leak detection system using technologies provided by FIBER SENSYS, which detects vibration of pipes caused by leak. Currently, the field test is in progress in New Jersey (North America) using 1 km-long gas pipe and in Columbia (South America) using 27 km-long oil pipelines. The test results will be used in proposals to energy industries in China and Russia. In Japan, the company has started promoting intrusion detection systems with laser/fiber sensors for critical facilities. The product is used as a customer traffic counting system (manufactured by its subsidiary GIKEN TRASTEM) at Tokyo Sky Tree, which opened in May this year. Needs for these systems are also increasing at shopping malls in emerging countries and the company considers entering into overseas markets. |
| 3Q Fiscal Year December 2012 Earnings Results |
 Sales Increased yoy, but Operating Profit Decreased by 36.5% due to Downturn in Normally Profitable Security-related Business in Europe and Appreciation of Yen
While RAYTEC (UK), which has become a consolidated subsidiary from this term, contributed to the sales increase, both sales to domestic security companies and orders for outdoor alarm sensors for large important facilities grew strong. Also, sensors for automatic-doors enjoyed strong sales as the safety and reliability of the company's products have been widely recognized among automatic-door manufactures. FA business recorded poor performance both in Japan and overseas. Overall profit increased by ¥869 million yoy, but operating profit decreased by 36.5% yoy. It was mainly caused by (1) higher cost ratio due to product mix change (¥487 million: normally profitable security-related business in Europe suffered from the impact of depressing economy and appreciation/depreciation of Yen/Euro, while domestic Security-related and Automatic door-related businesses growing), (2) acquisition of 100% ownership of RAYTEC (¥392 million), (3) increase in labor costs (¥225 million) (4) increase in SG&A and R&D costs (¥171million).   Sensing Business
Security-related business enjoyed double-digit sales growth (19.6%) yoy. Despite negative factors such as economic downturn in Europe, strong yen and weak euro, RAYTEC contributed to the sales increase and FIBER SENSYS (US) also supported with strong performance.In the domestic market, sales to large security companies and outdoor sensors for large important facilities maintained the steady growth. Automatic-door related business expanded its sales by 9.1% yoy. In Japan, with the recovery of construction demand, the number of automatic-doors installed increased, which enabled the solid sales growth of automatic-door sensors. In overseas markets, the company has successfully increased the number of new clients among main automatic-door manufactures with a good reputation due to safety and reliability. FA Business
Sales decreased by 7.0% yoy. Domestic sales shrunk on the back of lower capital spending by electronic component, semiconductor and LCD related industries. Overseas sales remained weak due to economic slowdown in Europe and LCD related capital spending cuts in China.Meanwhile, EMS business in China recorded significant sales growth despite the negative impact of strong yen, thanks to the increased production volume for contract manufacturing.  |
| Fiscal Year December 2012 Earnings Estimates |
 The company plans to increase both sales and profits by strengthening (1) sustainable growth in core businesses (2) exploitation of emerging markets (3) development of new applications (mainly for large facilities). Year-end dividends are expected to be ¥15 per share, which will add up to the annual dividend of ¥30. |
| Conclusions |
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However, the company only achieved 70% of sales target and 50% of profit target for 3Q so far. It is partially because the company currently focuses on R&D, but the one cannot deny that the business environment is rather tough assuming the prolonged economic downturn in Europe and appreciation of yen. From a mid-term perspective, we will keep a close eye on the company's "business strategies" and on how it capitalizes on its ample cash balance of ¥6 billion. Disclaimer
This report is intended solely for information purposes, and is not intended as a solicitation to invest in the shares of this company. The information and opinions contained within this report are based on data made publicly available by the Company, and comes from sources that we judge to be reliable. However we cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the data. This report is not a guarantee of the accuracy, completeness or validity of said information and or 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.Copyright(C) 2012 Investment Bridge Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved. To see IR related seminars of Bridge Salon, please go to our website at the following URL: www.bridge-salon.jp/ |
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