| OPTEX GROUP (6914) |
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Company |
OPTEX GROUP 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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Chairman |
Toru Kobayashi |
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President |
Isamu Oguni |
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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 Aug 14, 2017. Number of shares at the end of the most recent quarter excluding treasury shares.
ROE and BPS are from the last year-end. |
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* Estimates are those of the Company. From the current fiscal year, the definition for net profit has been changed to net profit attributable to owners of parent.
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| Key Points |
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| Company Overview |
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OPTEX GROUP holds subsidiaries including OPTEX FA CO., LTD., which deals with FA related sensing business, CCS Inc. which holds the global top share in the LED lighting business for image processing, RAYTEC LIMITED (UK), which has attained the largest global share (about 50 %) for supplemental lights for CCTV, and FIBER SENSYS INC. (US), which deals with optical fiber intrusion detection systems.   Business Description   Advantages :Diversified Technologies/Expertise on Sensing and Unique Sensing Algorithm  History 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. In May 2016, the company reorganized CCS Inc. (6669, JASDAQ), which has the largest share in the global industrial LED lighting field, into a subsidiary. On Jan. 1, 2017, the company shifted to the holding company system, with the aim of advancing to next-generation management and pursuing group synergy.   The Company sets a goal of ROE of 10% or more as an important management index and aims for recovery to more than 8%. |
| Second Quarter of Fiscal Year December 2017 Earnings Results |
 Sales and profit grew considerably. The earnings forecast has been revised upwardly.
Sales were 18,514 million yen, up 42.4% yoy. The sales of the security-related business grew slightly, the sales of the automatic door-related business dropped, the performance of the FA business was healthy, and the reorganization of CCS into a subsidiary contributed. Domestic sales were 7,845 million yen, up 76.8% yoy, while overseas sales were 10,669 million yen, up 24.6% yoy. Due to the reorganization into a consolidated subsidiary, SG&A expenses augmented, but it was offset by sales growth, and operating profit was 2,724 million yen, up 82.0% yoy. (There was an exchange loss amounting to 196 million yen.) Ordinary profit rose 147.6% to 2,776 million yen, thanks to the increase in investment gain on equity method and the shrinkage of exchange loss. Reflecting the favorable business performance, the earnings forecasts for the first half and the full year have been revised upwardly. For dividends, too, the interim dividend has been changed from 20 yen/share to 25 yen/share.     ◎SS Business
Japan: The sales of outdoor security sensors targeted at security companies were sluggish, and dropped.(Security-related) AMERICAs: Sales declined, because the receipt of orders for outdoor security sensors targeted at large-scale facilities was carried over. EMEA: Sales increased slightly by 8%, excluding the effect of exchange rate fluctuations, as the performance of outdoor security sensors targeted at large-scale facilities was healthy. Asia: Sales grew significantly, as the performance of outdoor security sensors targeted at large-scale facilities was healthy. (Automatic Door-related)
Japan: The sales of sensors for automatic doors and factory shutters were healthy.AMERICAs: The sales of sensors for automatic doors targeted at major clients in North America decreased compared to the same period of the previous fiscal year. EMEA: The sales of sensors for automatic doors targeted at major clients in Europe declined compared to the same period of the previous fiscal year. Outside Japan, the company lost ground to the new products of competitors. From the second half, the company will release new products to cover it. ◎FA Business
Japan: The sales of semiconductors, secondary batteries, flat-panel displays, electronic parts, displacement sensors for the food industry, image sensors, and LED lamps for image inspection were healthy.EMEA: Since the sales promotion toward OEMs turned out to be effective, displacement sensors sold well. Asia: As the investment in labor-saving equipment was active in China, the sales of displacement sensors, especially those for the smartphone industry, were favorable. In each region, displacement sensors sold well. The shipment to SICK in Germany, especially for electric appliances, machinery, and secondary batteries for automobiles, was healthy. ◎MVL lighting business
Japan: Sales expanded steadily, as solutions were enriched and proposals were strengthened.AMERICAs: Performance was healthy, as there were large-scale orders for products for smartphones and continuous transactions in North America. EMEA: As the semiconductor market in Europe was healthy, the sales toward major clients increased continuously. Asia: Sales dropped as the joint venture in China was discontinued, but the sales in emerging countries, such as Malaysia, increased.  Due to the decrease in short-term and long-term debts, total liabilities declined 234 million yen to 8,792 million yen. Net assets grew 1,552 million yen to 30,206 million yen, as non-controlling shareholders' interest decreased, but capital surplus and retained earnings increased. As a result, equity ratio rose by 5.6% from 65.0% at the end of the previous term to 70.6%.  Investing CF became positive, because the expenditure for acquiring the shares of subsidiaries, which existed in the same period of the previous year, no longer exists. Financing CF became negative, due to the decrease in short-term debts, etc. The cash position is nearly unchanged. |
| Fiscal Year December 2017 Earnings Estimates |
  The earnings forecast has been revised upwardly. In the full year, sales and profit are estimated to grow by double digits, but in the second half, sales and profit are forecasted to drop.
The full-year earnings forecast, too, has been revised upwardly, but the revision amount is smaller than that for the first half, because sales and profit in the second half are estimated to decline. Sales are projected to be 36.3 billion yen, up 17.0% yoy. Its business performance is healthy as a whole, but the FA business will see the ebb of smartphone-related sales, which were favorable in the first half. In the MVL business, the company will redevelop the business in China. Operating profit is estimated to rise 39.3% to 4.2 billion yen. In the second half, the cost rates are forecasted to increase because projects in the first half with high profit rates will decrease. The company will also actively conduct upfront investment, including the establishment of a U.S. distributor of OPTEX FA. As for dividends, as described above, the interim dividend is to be increased by 5 yen/share, and the annual dividend is to be 50 yen/share. The estimated payout ratio is 31.0%.  |
| Future Growth Strategy |
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(1) Growth strategies
There is a problem with detecting abnormality just by a sensor from an accuracy point of view (e.g. triggering a false alarm). In the UK, the police rushes to the site only after the sensor detects abnormality and a camera image is confirmed. In the USA, some states impose a fine on false alarms. ◎Security-related: Incorporation of surveillance cameras and sensors Furthermore, not only for residential use, the need for high-end visual verification is increasing in emerging countries where infrastructure development for important facilities is accelerating amid frequent terrorist attacks in the world. In response to the expansion of the needs for visual verification, it is expected that the global surveillance camera market, including network security cameras, will grow at an annual rate of 15% until 2018. As a concrete action to take in such demands, the company had a tie-up with a leading security manufacturer in the global residential market in July 2017 and released a new product that is equipped with a ''sensor'' to detect, a ''camera" to shoot images and a "wireless" function to send that signal. This integrated camera has fused the company's strong points, after accumulating the know-how of outdoor sensing over many years. As the company is the only one that possesses an outdoor integrated model as a product, starting from this new product, it will promote sales of new solutions for "outdoor advance security" which they occupy the top share in the global market under the concept of "Internet of Sensing Solution (IoS)," in the high-end market and the residential market. ◎Factory automation-related: pursuit of synergy
In the field of Factory Automation (FA), the company will pursue a synergetic effect of the "sensor business" of OPTEX FA and the "machine vision lighting business" of CCS.(FA Business) In present America, the demand for capital investment is expanding as the manufacturing industry returns to the country along with IT-related demands. Considering this business environment as an opportunity, an American sales company is to be established within 2017 that aims at expanding the sales of highly-competitive "displacement sensors" further. Its sales system is to be shifted from having sales distributers to direct selling. The company plans to scoop up detailed needs of customers by direct selling, and to strengthen the trusting relationship with them. (MVL Business) The LED lightning market for image processing has been expanding in China too. As its background, in addition to the acceleration of automation of inspection process due to a sudden rise in labor cost and the growth of electricity and electronic components-related demands, rising demands for high-quality and advanced LED lightning for inspection due to the advance of the Chinese manufacturing sites cannot be overlooked. CCS Inc. had set up a joint venture with a local capital in 2014, but it was dissolved in June 2017, while it established a 100% subsidiary "CCS China." Along with launching a local brand to respond swiftly to the local needs, it will implement a multi-brand strategy and pursue the increase in its share in the Chinese MVL market. The company is aiming for sales of 1 billion yen in 3 years. (Synergetic effect) They already started a joint purchase of components, but they are expecting a maximum synergy effect from sharing the customer base. The FA sensor of OPTEX FA has its major customers in "three industries", i.e., food, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, while LED lighting and power sources for image inspection of CCS has its major customers in electricity, electronics, semiconductor and automobile industries. By utilizing sales routes that each possesses, they will aim more expansion of domestic FA business. Also, the OPTEX group has its bases in 15 countries around the world and supplies its products and services to approximately 80 countries. It will promote CCS to use this overseas network. For example, in case CCS sets up a testing room for LED lighting abroad, the OPTEX group can make use of the facilities of its subsidiaries and second-tier subsidiaries overseas. In addition, since it has various sales channels and information networks, CCS can make use of them to save time and effort for expansion of the overseas MVL business that currently holds a 20% share. (2) Management benchmarks and performance goals
The management benchmarks for the OPTEX GROUP are "a sales growth rate of over 15%," "an operating profit margin of over 15%" and "an ROE of over 10%." To speed up the sales expansion, the company will work for the overall growth of the group by spinning off companies and setting up new companies, and in addition, it will continue to implement the M&A strategy for security-related and factory automation-related businesses under a medium-term policy of "aiming for a corporate group full of venture spirits." To raise operating profit margin, the company will continuously work on reducing costs and minimize the influence of exchange rates by increasing domestic sales ratio and expanding the overseas manufacturing system. The goals of the company for 2019 are sales of 50 billion yen and an operating profit of 7.5 billion yen. It is planning to carry out M&A worth about 7 to 8 billion yen for 4 to 5 companies for boosting sales. |
| Conclusion |
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In the second half, sales and profit are estimated to decline from the previous year and also from the first half, but it seems that the stock market highly evaluates their upfront investment for growth, as their recent performance has been favorable. We would like to pay attention to how much they strive to improve their performance in the second half while sales and profit are estimated to decline in the short term, and how rapidly a camera-integrated sensor will be distributed as a new solution to prevent outdoor crimes in the medium term.  |
| <Reference:Regarding Corporate Governance> |
 ◎ Corporate Governance Report
The latest revision date: April 10, 2017
  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 come 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) 2017 Investment Bridge Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved. |
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