Yamaha Motor Co Ltd

TSE:7272

Earnings Call Transcript 2021-Q1

[Tatsumi Okawa, executive]

So this is Okawa speaking. Thank you very much for attending the online earnings report of Yamaha Motors.

First of all, I would like to offer the gratitude to the people who are fighting at the front line against the pandemic.

Let me start about expanding the first quarter results. Please go to Page 4. This shows the wholesale and the inventory as of end of March in the major products and compare that between 2020 and 2019 results.

First of all, about wholesale. For March 2020, the impacts of the lockdown due to COVID-19 started to appear. However, as you can see, excluding Indonesia, all the regions has been able to exceed last year. In Indonesia, the wholesale has been over our expectations. Even compared to 2019, in the pre-pandemic days, in most of the markets, sales has recovered. On the other hand, if you go to inventory, there's still the impact from shipment delays due to the lack of containers, and supply has not yet been able to catch up with the sharp recovery in demand. Overall, inventory is low.

Please go to Page 5. This is about the overall financial figures. On the slide from the left, this is 2019, which is the benchmark year. In 2020, which the impact of coronavirus had become relevant and the results of the first quarter of 2021. On the right, we show the comparison between 2019 and 2020. For 2021, sales was year-over-year 112% at JPY 444.1 billion. Operating income was 190% year-over-year at JPY 48.3 billion.

[Local] income ratio was plus 4.5 points at 10.9%. Ordinary income was 197% year-over-year at JPY 52.9 billion. Net income attributable to parent company shareholders was 435% year-over-year at JPY 41.8 billion. From the second half onwards from last year, the recovery has continued. So not only against the 2020 first quarter, against the first quarter of 2019, each of the profit lines has increased. In each of the profit lines, as of first quarter, we have been able to see a record high level. In terms of the actual exchange rate, U.S. dollar was JPY 106, euro was JPY 128. In terms of the emerging market currencies, the IDR was 14,108 against the dollar and BRL was 5.5 against the dollar.

Please turn to Page 6. This is a change of the operating income in the first quarter comparing 2020 and 2021. We saw the change of each businesses and the growth strategy expenses and the impact of the exchange rate. In each of the businesses, profit has increased, specifically a large contribution coming from the emerging market motorcycles at plus JPY 9.6 billion. This is due to the sales increase in major markets, excluding Indonesia, and the improvement of the model mix.

Please turn to Page 7. This is the comparison against the first quarter of 2019, which is the actual benchmark of our performance. As you can see, at the most businesses, it has been over 2019. And the Land Mobility business, both for the developed countries and emerging markets, has improved strongly. For the land mobility business overall, it was plus JPY 12.9 billion. The breakdown is for the developed countries Motorcycles, due to the reduction of sales promotion and advertisement costs, plus JPY 4.6 billion; for the emerging market Motorcycles, through the increase of the high end models, plus JPY 7.2 billion; RV was plus JPY 1.1 billion; for SPV, electrically powered assisted bicycle, plus/minus 0.

For the Marine Products business, 2019, specifically the wholesale, has been large. And for 2021, this has been a shipment delay due to lack of containers was minus JPY 1.1 billion.

For the Robotics business, from the second half of 2019, we have consolidated Yamaha Robotics Holdings. Due to this, impact was plus JPY 0.8 billion.

For the Financial services business, plus JPY 3.1 billion. For the others business, plus JPY 0.3 billion. Besides this, the growth strategy expense was plus/minus 0. The exchange rate impact was minus JPY 3.6 billion.

Please turn to Page 8. Based on the continuing strength of each of the businesses in the developed countries and the more-than-expected recovery of the emerging market Motorcycle business, inflecting the impact of exchange rates and the effects of structural improvement mainly through fixed cost reduction, we will revise our full year outlook for 2021 upwards. Sales 2% up, JPY 1.735 billion; operating income, 18% up, JPY 130 billion; operating income ratio, the improvement of 1 point to 7.5%; ordinary income, 23% up to JPY 135 billion; net income attributable to the parent shareholders, 25% up, JPY 90 billion. For the full year exchange rate, it will be adjusted to the first quarter actual figures, JPY 106 to to the dollar, JPY 128 to the euro.

Please turn to Page 9. I would like to explain about the forecast and the assumptions we are using for upward revision. The assumptions for the exchange rate has -- is as I have explained in the previous page. In terms of the external environment, in countries such as India, the coronavirus is spreading again. But overall, we assume the economic activity will continue to normalize. We are not assuming a global lockdown due to the spread of variants of COVID-19. As for factors such as the tight logistics status represented by the lack of containers and confusion of the ports, supply shortage of parts, such as semiconductors and the sharp rise of raw material prices as in rhodium and aluminum, we have reflected that in increased cost and impact to our production under a reasonable estimation under the current situation. However, the status is changing day by day, so we will continue to observe the situation closely.

As for the business environment for the developed countries business, with the land vehicle and the Marine Products business, the outdoor leisure demand is continuing. And for the emerging market Motorcycle business, the demand is recovering. In the Robotics business, overall in the world, the CapEx demand is expanding and the demand for semiconductors is increasing. We think that the positive environment will continue for us. In terms of initiatives to improve our profitability by focusing on managerial resources to the premium models, we want to improve our marginal profit ratio. At the same time, we are determined to reduce our fixed cost.

Please turn to Page 10. This is the progress of our mid- to long-term initiatives. First, let me explain about the connected strategy. We are conducting our activity toward the objective of making all of our products connected by 2030 in order to offer new value. Under this initiative, we introduced 2 models in the market. NMAX is a global model in which we have started sales in Indonesia. Aerox is a model that we have launched in the ASEAN market from this year.

Preparing for carbon neutrality is a very important managerial issue. Currently, we are setting new targets and milestones. We are planning to conduct a presentation about our activities as early as possible. As for initiatives towards electrification, we are participating in the swappable battery consortium for electric motorcycles in Japan and Europe, and things are progressing. Last month, we announced receiving orders for the development of a prototype for electric motor units for hyper-electric vehicles. Since we made this announcement in February 2020, we have received many inquiries on a global level.

Please turn to Page 11. This is a marine CASE strategy. This strategy aims to change the marine life of our customers that is a more secure and comfortable experience by utilizing cutting-edge technology. Under Connected, we will aim to realize connected boats, which offer peace of mind. In the U.S. market, we have introduced Helm link, which enables early detection of quality issues, prevention of problems and improved service. We have also invested in a U.S. company, Siren Marine, which is strong in the Connected area and started to conduct technological development. In the Autonomous, Shared and Electric domains, we are conducting initiatives shown on the slide.

Next, I would like to explain the situation by each business. Please turn to Page 13. Thereby, business sales operating income is what I want to explain. The graph is in 2019, 2020 and 2021, we show 3 years' worth. Excluding the Financial Service business, all of the business saw the increased sales and increased profit against 2020. From the next page onwards, I would like to explain about the major segments in detail.

Please turn to Page 14. On the left is a Land Mobility. Within that, the developed countries Motorcycle business. For 2021, in North America and Oceania, strong demand continued for outdoor and family leisure. With this trend, sales volume increased leading to increased sales. In Europe, although demand was strong due to the delay of supply from container shortages, sales volume declined. As a result, sales increased slightly from $58.7 to JPY 59.2 billion. However, as we have reduced SG&A, operating income ratio improved from minus 5.4% to minus 1.2%.

On the right is the emerging market Motorcycle business. In 2021, the ASEAN and Indian market recovered more than we have expected. More specifically, sales volume increased in India, Thailand, China, Taiwan and the Philippines. Sales increased from $173.5 billion to JPY 195.9 billion. Profit increased due to the strong sales of the high-end MAX series, such as XMAX in Thailand and NMAX in ASEAN. As a result, operating income ratio improved from 6.4% to 9.3%.

Please turn to Page 15. On the left is the RV business. Similar to the Motorcycle business, outdoor and family leisure demand continued to be strong for 2021 and sales volume increased. As a result, sales increased from JPY 16.5 billion to JPY 21.7 billion. Operating margin turned positive from minus 5.8% to 0.8%. On the other hand, there are issues surrounding part supply and lack of containers. We will respond to these issues and strive to answer the expectations of our customers.

On the right is the SPV business. For 2021, sales of domestic completed units and E-kits for Europe continued to be strong. Sales increased from JPY 11.7 billion to JPY 13.7 billion. Profit wise, the model mix improves as sales of E-kits for Europe improved and the operating margin went up from 13.8% to 15.6%.

Please turn to Page 16. On the left is the Marine Products business. Robust demand is continuing in the North American and European markets. At the beginning of the year, we were severely impacted to the delay of shipments due to shortage of containers, but as we have enhanced our supply by bringing up our production total capacity, sales volume increased. Sales of boats in North America and Europe and parts trended strongly. As a result, sales increased from JPY 90.8 billion to JPY 97.5 billion. Operating margin improved from 17.1% to 19.8%. Going forward, to respond to the increased demand mainly in the developed markets, we will enhance our supply by operating under full capacity.

On the right is our Robotics business. Strong demand is continuing in China, Taiwan and Korea. At the same time, demand from the U.S. and Europe has started to recover. With this, sales volume of service mounters increased. Sales at Yamaha Robotics Holdings was strong. Post-merger integration centering on structural reform has progressed, leading to a reduction of losses. As a result, sales increased from JPY 17.9 billion to JPY 27.1 billion. Operating margin improved dramatically from 1.4% to 11.4%. Operating margin, excluding Yamaha Robotics Holdings, is 16.2%.

Please turn to Page 17. Lastly, this is about our Financial Services business. On the graph on the left-hand side, we show the balance of the receivables and the breakdown by each region. On the right-hand side, we show the sales and the operating profit margin. For the March end 2021 receivable balance, due to the strong retail and delay of the products supply, the market inventory went down substantially. As a result, receivables towards wholesales has gone down and the receivables stood at JPY 373 billion.

Due to this, for 2021 sales, this will be the interest income is JPY 11.3 billion. This is a slight decline year-over-year. But in terms of the profit, there has been a decrease of the allowance for doubtful accounts and the retail finance profit has gone up. So this led to increase of the profit, and operating income ratio has gone up to 42.2%. This has been the result for the first quarter. We'll continue to observe the impact of COVID-19 going forward. Our basic stance, we will continue to proactively manage our company under the assumption that we'll be able to recover more than our initial expectations.

Thank you very much for your attention.

[Statements in English on this transcript were spoken by an interpreter present on the live call.]