Showa Denko KK

TSE:4004

Earnings Call Transcript 2023-Q2

[Hideki Somemiya, executive]

Hello, everyone. I am Hideki Somemiya, CFO of Resonac Holdings Corporation. Thank you very much for your continued interest in our business performance. I will present the financial results of the second quarter FY 2023. Page 2 shows 2 points as today's key takeaways. First is a summary of the second quarter business results. And the second is a full year forecast for FY 2023.

Total sales in the first half 2023 were JPY 616.1 billion, down JPY 39.9 billion year-on-year. In Chemicals segment, sales increased due to the shutdown maintenance in Olefins & Derivatives in the previous year, but sales in Semiconductor and Electronic Materials segment decreased due to the production adjustment of Semiconductors and a slowdown in data center demand and that led to the segment sales decrease.

Operating income decreased by JPY 51.1 billion year-on-year to JPY 13.2 billion in operating loss due to the declined sales in Semiconductors and Electronic Materials and inventory valuation difference in Chemicals segment. But in comparison with the [ earlier ] forecast in May, operating income improved by JPY 6.8 billion due to the Semiconductor and Electronic Materials, which performed better than the forecast.

Next, as for the forecast for the full year of 2023, sales are expected to decrease by JPY 70 billion from the [ earlier ] forecast due to the sales decrease caused by the lower crude oil prices. As for operating income, Chemicals segment profit will decrease despite the improvement in Semiconductor and Electronic Materials segment and operating income remains unchanged from the [ earlier ] forecast.

So far, we set dividend as undecided, but even amid the tough business performance to continue the stable dividend for shareholders, we present our plan to pay JPY 65 per share, keeping it unchanged from the previous year.

Please turn to Page 4 for summary 2022. Consolidated results of January to June in 2023 are shown with year-on-year comparison. Former Showa Denko Materials, which has been the subsidiary up to the last year adopted IFRS, but with the transition to the holding company structure, the standard shifted to [ JYEP ]. So change in accounting policy is applied [ refractory ] to 2022 figures.

Please turn to the table on the left. In this January to June period, net sales were JPY 616.1 billion, down JPY 39.9 billion or 6% year-on-year. Operating income was JPY 13.2 billion in loss, down JPY 51.1 billion. Ordinary income was JPY 11.4 billion in loss, down JPY 59.1 billion and net income attributable to owners of the parent was JPY 19.8 billion in loss, down JPY 52.4 billion.

EBITDA was JPY 41 billion, down JPY 50.4 billion or 55% year-on-year, and the EBITDA margin worsened 7.3 points to 6.7%. Table on the right shows the results based on the ongoing businesses and the year-on-year comparison. Net sales decreased JPY 33.3 billion or 5% year-on-year. Operating income decreased JPY 51.2 billion. EBITDA decreased JPY 50.5 billion or 55%, and EBITDA margin to sales worsened by 7.4 points.

Page 5 shows breakdown of operating income changes. This chart shows the difference of JPY 51.1 billion between the loss of JPY 13.2 billion in the first half of 2023 and operating income of JPY 38 billion in the first half of 2022 by factor. From operating income of JPY 38 billion in the first half 2022, sales volume -- due to the sales volume decrease in Semiconductor and Electronic Materials and Others negatively affected profit by JPY 49.9 billion.

Sales price factor, including price hike for cost pass-through, selling price increase affected by raw material cost surge and foreign exchange rate fluctuation, mainly in Innovation Enabling Materials and Semiconductor and Electronic Materials pushed up the profit by JPY 13.8 billion. Variable and fixed cost includes the raw material cost surge, and this corresponds to the improvement in sales price partially, but it negatively affected profit by JPY 2.3 billion.

Finally, Others include the loss on disposal of inventory in Hard Disk media and valuation decline and the inventory valuation difference in Graphite Electrodes and its negatively affected profit by JPY 12.8 billion.

Page 6 shows sales, operating income and EBITDA by segment. Sales, operating income and EBITDA by segment are shown with year-on-year comparison. In the year-on-year comparison, Semiconductor and the Electronic Materials segment is a major reason for the deterioration in terms of both sales and profit. The details of each segment will be provided on the next slide onward.

From Page 7 to 10, results by segment, are shown more in detail. Details are described in the column of the performance overview on the right, so please refer to them later. I'd like to explain only about the outline here. Page 7 shows the Semiconductor and Electronic Materials segment. Sales decreased 30% year-on-year to JPY 153.4 billion, operating income was down JPY 40.4 billion to JPY 13.1 billion in operating loss.

In addition to the significant sales drop due to the weakened demand in each subsegment, inventory write-down through lower the cost or market [ application ] and loss on disposal of inventories in hard disk media business operating loss was incurred.

Page 8 shows Mobility segment. Sales decreased year-on-year, 1% to JPY 85.6 billion. Operating income improved JPY 0.2 billion to JPY 0.8 billion in operating loss. Automotive Products saw an increase in sales with the launch of products for new model vehicles. While sales of lithium-ion battery materials decreased due to the weak consumer demand, segment profit remained almost flat.

Page 9 shows Innovation Enabling Materials. Sales decreased 12% year-on-year to JPY 61.9 billion, and operating income decreased JPY 1.2 billion to JPY 4.3 billion. Despite the price increase reflecting the material cost surge, sales and profit decreased due to the sales volume decline.

Page 10 shows Chemicals. Sales increased 14% year-on-year to JPY 254.9 billion, and operating income decreased JPY 8.3 billion to JPY 4.8 billion. In Olefins & Derivatives, sales increased significantly due to the absence of full year cycle shutdown maintenance that took place last year in Oita, but due to the negative impact of the inventory valuation difference, profit decreased.

In Basic Chemicals, sales and profit increased due to price pass-through for the raw material and fuel cost surge. In Graphite Electrodes, the sales increased due to the higher sales price reflecting cost increase despite decreased sales volume decrease. But due to the negative impact of the inventory valuation difference, profit decreased.

Please turn to Page 11 for nonoperating income and expenses. Extraordinary profit and loss are shown with the year-on-year comparison. Nonoperating income and expenses worsened by JPY 7.9 billion year-on-year. Major reasons are as follows: Foreign exchange gains contraction caused a deterioration of JPY 5.3 billion and interest and dividend income and expenses worsened by JPY 2.3 billion due to the increase in interest payment for the purchase of preferred stock through subordinated loans financed in the previous year.

On the other hand, as shown on Page 23, preferred stock dividend of JPY 5.4 billion in the previous year is 0 this year. Extraordinary profit and loss deteriorated JPY 0.9 billion year-on-year, mainly due to the posting of impairment losses.

Please turn to Page 12 for the consolidated balance sheet. This slide shows the consolidated balance sheet. Total assets went down by JPY 48.3 billion from the end of the last fiscal year to JPY 2,045.4 billion due to the decrease in cash and deposit notes and account receivables and the intangible fixed assets, including goodwill.

Total liabilities decreased by JPY 47.9 billion from the end of the last fiscal year to JPY 1,471.1 billion, due to the decrease in notes and accounts payable.

Total net assets decreased JPY 0.4 billion to JPY 574.3 billion, with loss in profit attributable to the owners of the parent and the shareholders' equity decrease of JPY 31.9 billion due to the dividend payment in the previous year, but total accumulated other comprehensive income increased JPY 30.2 billion due to the foreign currency translation adjustment.

As a result, a key indicator net D/E ratio worsened by 0.01 points to 1.08x and the equity ratio improved 0.5 points to 26.8%. And as shown in the footnote in small letters every time, 50% of subordinated loans are considered as equity capital in net D/E ratio calculation, and it is based on the credit rating given by Japan credit Rating Agency.

Please turn to Page 14 for 2023 consolidated forecast. We revised the full year forecast announced in May. In the newly revised full year consolidated forecast, net sales are JPY 1,270 billion, down JPY 122.6 billion or 9% year-on-year. Operating income is JPY 20 billion in loss, down JPY 81.7 billion. Ordinary income is JPY 26 billion in loss, down JPY 87.7 billion and net income attributable to owners of the parent is JPY 37 billion in loss, down JPY 69.4 billion.

As for extraordinary profit and loss, only highly likely items are -- as of today are included, but in the case of changes by the additional [ ventures ] to clear the negative legacy, we'll disclose them in time manner. In comparison to the [ earlier ] forecast in May, sales went down due to the crude oil price fall. And as for the operating income, in the first half, it is up due to the Semiconductor and Electronic Materials segment, but incorporating the profit decline in Chemicals segment in the second half, we kept it unchanged. Cash dividends per share is kept unchanged from the previous year at JPY 65 in the forecast.

Please turn to Page 15 for sales and operating income forecast for 2023 by segment. Here, the change in 2023 full year forecast from the previous year is shown. In our forecast, net sales will be down JPY 122.6 billion and operating income will be down by JPY 81.7 billion.

Please turn to Page 16 for sales and operating income forecast for 2023 by segment. Here, the change in 2023 full year forecast from the [ earlier ] forecast announced in May. Net sales will be down JPY 70 billion and operating income will be flat. In Semiconductor and Electronic Materials, sales will be down by JPY 25 billion, but profit will improve by JPY 2 billion. Sales and profit of hard disk media may go down, but the recovery of Semiconductor Back-end process materials will be faster than our forecast in May.

In Mobility, sales will be flat, but profit will improve by JPY 1.5 billion and in Innovation Enabling Materials, sales will be down by JPY 10 billion and profit will increase by JPY 1 billion.

In Chemicals, sales will be down by JPY 35 billion and profit will be down by JPY 5 billion. This is mainly due to the selling price decline caused by the crude oil and naphtha price fall in Olefins & Derivatives and inventory valuation difference.

Please turn to Page 17 for the update on structural reforms. As mentioned in the first quarter results meeting, under the current severe external environment, we are taking actions in the structural reforms, capturing that change in the business environment. Let me update its progress.

First, in Mobility business. In the progressing shift from the engine car to environmental friendly cars, including EV, we have established a designated team in the Mobility business headquarters for the business structure reform. And today, I will talk about the overall plan and the time frame. First, we are implementing the classification by structural reform, our designated team. Through these works, we internally identify the positioning of each business in the Mobility business in the portfolio. Going forward, we will allocate the resources and manage business based on the respective positioning.

Second, based on the plant consolidation to promote the fixed cost reduction and asset streamlining for the more efficient business management, we will promote the consolidation. We are already working on the preparation to close and consolidate the plastic-molded product plants in Kansai region. We are considering the similar consolidation of overseas basis as well.

Third, focusing on the combination of unprofitable products and customers, we are promoting the price increase or business exit. As explained in the first quarter, 30% sales are from the combination of loss-making products and customers. For those cases, we are accelerating the engagement with customers for fundamental price hike or exit. Targeting the profit improvement in 2024, we will complete our negotiations with customers for price hike or exit targeting 47 products by the end of this fiscal year.

I will explain the structure reform in hard disk media and the elimination of loss-making products on Page 18. In Hard Disk media business, we plan to reduce our production capacity by 20% in this year to optimize the production capacity based on the premise of constant sales volume decrease. But given the current severe demand environment, we are considering the additional measures.

In the first half, we disposed the potential debt stock and cleared most of those stocks. In other businesses, to eliminate loss-making products, mainly in Japan, we have identified a combination of loss-making products and customers in our list and accelerating the -- drafting the profit improvement plan and their implementation. As of the end of June this year, for 52% of cases identified in the list, we have completed improvement action, including price increase and exit. And for the rest, we will continue to work on them.

Page 19 onward are appendix, so please refer to them at your convenience. This concludes my presentation. Thank you for your attention.