I would like to extend my gratitude to Toppan’s shareholders for their ongoing support.
I would also like to offer my thoughts and sympathies for the lives that have been lost as a result of the coronavirus pandemic as well as my wishes for a prompt recovery for everyone affected by the virus.

The Toppan Group’s results for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020, have been finalized. Based on TOPPAN VISION 21, which sets out our Corporate Structure and Business Fields, we have identified Healthcare & Life Sciences, Education & Cultural Exchange, Urban Space & Mobility, and Energy & Food Resources as our four growth fields and worked to provide comprehensive solutions and expand business by reinforcing collaboration across the Group and driving the evolution of our printing technologies. With the aim of establishing new revenue models promptly, we have undertaken efforts to establish competitive advantages by proactively directing management resources into new businesses while bolstering technological development and reducing costs in existing operations. However, the global economy has slowed down rapidly due to the coronavirus pandemic, and this has had an impact on the Toppan Group’s activities and performance.

In the year ended March 31, 2020, net sales increased by 1.5% year on year to \1.486 trillion. Operating profit increased 45.2% to \66.4 billion, ordinary profit increased by 35.8% to \66.7 billion, and profit attributable to owners of parent increased by 112.1% to \87.0 billion.

The year-end dividend has been set at \20 per share. In addition to this, we are providing a special dividend of \20 per share to commemorate the 120th anniversary of Toppan’s founding. This means that the total annual dividend is \60 per share, comprised of \40 in regular dividends and the \20 commemorative dividend.

The Toppan Group has always striven to engage in business that is aligned with changes being seen in the market. The acceleration of digitalization in recent years, however, has made the printing industry a more challenging environment, and we must shift promptly to business models matched to the demands of a new era. The coronavirus pandemic has now spurred considerable change in people’s values and the structure of industry. As the digitalization of society accelerates rapidly, we will transform the Toppan Group’s business models swiftly and work to enhance enterprise value by becoming a social value creator driven by the efforts of all of our employees to embrace change.

The ongoing understanding and support of all of our shareholders is and will continue to be greatly appreciated.