Orix Corp

TSE:8591

Earnings Call Transcript 2021-Q1

[Operator]

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you very much for joining this telephone conference for ORIX Corporation for First Quarter Consolidated Financial Results for the 3-Month Period Ending June 30, 2020. The attendees at today's conference are Executive Officer, Head of Treasury and accounting headquarters, Mr. Yano. [Operator Instructions]

At this time, I would like to turn the call over to Mr. Yano. Please go ahead.

[Hitomaro Yano, executive]

This is Yano speaking from the Treasury and Accounting department. Thank you very much for your participation on this call despite of your busy schedule. So without further ado, I'd like to get started with the business performance announcement of 2021 March and first quarter. So I hope you had received the PowerPoint slide in front of you. And I would like to make use of this deck. And please turn to the second page to begin with.

So to begin this explanation session, I'd like to give you the procedure of this meeting. First of all, I'd like to explain the summary of business performances. Net income is JPY 50 billion, annualized ROE of 6.8%. ORIX is pretty well diversified in terms of its businesses. And as a result, although some businesses are affected negatively by COVID-19, but we did manage to generate some profit. First half dividend is scheduled at JPY 35. And full year payout ratio of 50% remains unchanged.

Second, the segment performance. For the first quarter, we increased the number of segments from 6 to 10. The remarkably growing overseas businesses, in fact, is growing, its significance. So we have decided to the split the overseas businesses into 4 segments and also domestic business that shares the same sales network as well as reporting line are expected to enjoy synergy, and thereby, we have decided to integrate into one, the segment. And also at the same time, we have environment and energy segment as an independent segment. Our business model is often described to be too complicated and not easy to understand. But we would like to enhance disclosure continuously so to facilitate for a better understanding on the part of investment community.

And the third, I will be explaining about the financial soundness of our company. Back in July, S&P had announced the maintenance of the current rating, and we have managed to maintain A rating and above with all the credit agencies. And as at the end of June, liquidity on hand, excluding bank and life insurance will remain high at JPY 1.1 trillion back in June. At the coupon of 0.03%, a very low coupon rate. We managed to issue a straight bond of JPY 70 billion in total. So funding environment remains to be favorable.

And finally, I would like to talk about investment pipelines. Despite the current environment, our investment pipeline remains to be rich and examination can discontinue with a view to execute within this fiscal period.

So let us move on to the next page. Now first of all, I'd like to elaborate on the business performance summary. I'm sorry to be redundant, but the first quarter net income declined by 27.7% year-on-year at JPY 50 billion. Annualized ROE had become 6.8%.

So let me move on to the next page. The next is breakdown of segment profit. Segment profit was JPY 75.4 billion. And I'd like to explain just like before by separating the profit into 2: Base profit versus investment gain.

The new recorder indicates base profit. Year-on-year decline of 23% at JPY 60.5 billion and mostly affected by COVID-19, that is the decline. And as for the [ blue -- payer blue color ], in fact this investment gain, as compared to the prior year of JPY 27.2 billion, the generation of investment gain was JPY 15 billion this quarter. So this is a reaction [ fall ] due to a large investment gain generated from PE investment in the United States in the last fiscal period. However, we managed to post certain amount of investment gain this year.

On this page, you can see the impact of COVID-19 in the first quarter on various segment profit. In May, during the earning announcement, we identified real estate, aircraft leasing and concession through businesses that would suffer the biggest impact. In addition, automotive business and ORIX U.S. also have been impact. And the segment profit was down by JPY 24 billion.

On the other hand, environment and energy, and retail-related businesses such as the life insurance and banking and credit were not impacted that much by COVID-19, and the performance is solid.

Please turn to the next page. Now I would like to turn to the second point, which is change of segments and the segment performance. This is a comparison chart of the increased or improved disclosure of the segment, as was explained in the beginning. Last year, we started using 6 segments and 16 units to do the presentation. And we changed the segments but the 16 units remain the same as before, more or less. So this is an easy way of comparing the changes.

On the next page, you can see our performance by segment, starting with our segment profits. [ Centering on the ] businesses impacted by COVID-19, as explained before, 7 segments were down in profit. But 3 segments will negatively soon impact increased in profit.

Year-on-year change and the factors are summarized on this table. And also Page 13 and onwards will explain the details. We don't have enough time to go through all the details over Page 13 and beyond, but I would like to use that chart on Page 7 to explain. Starting with 3 segments, with the biggest impact of COVID-19. At the full year earnings announcement, we explained the impact of COVID-19 on these 3 businesses for the fiscal year. For real estate, profit reduction of JPY 25 billion to JPY 30 billion, for aircraft lease, JPY 20 billion to JPY 30 billion. Decrease and for concessions, we mentioned that the net income may be 0 or even in the negative territory.

Now looking at the current environment. Facilities Operation which is in the real estate segment. Let us look at this business first. We operate more than 5,000 rooms in hotels and inns throughout Japan. In order to stop the spread of COVID-19, we closed most of these facilities until the end of May, which meant JPY 4 billion reduction in profit in the real estate segment.

Since the certain measures was lifted from July, we started operating with a maximum of 50% operational level. And then after August, we'll be moving this upper limit of 50% of Operation, and we view the way these facilities are operated and how the expenses are spent. And therefore, the outlook for this fiscal year's performance is better than initially expected.

Moving on the concession business. We own 40% of Kansai airports, which operate 3 airports, including Kansai International Airport. And their performance is reflected in our numbers. [Foreign Language], which means for the first quarter results, we are looking at the performance of the Kansai airports from January to March of 2020. Due to global travel ban, many international flights were reduced or canceled and number of travelers reduced. And in the PE investment and concession segment, we saw a reduction in profit of JPY 5.8 billion. Overall, there are some recoveries in the domestic airlines. Since there is a lot of uncertainties, we have not really changed the pessimistic scenario that we explained to you last time.

Moving on to the aircraft lease business. Again, demand for air transport is reducing mostly around international airlines and the proceeds for the aircraft reduced. Some improvements have to be recognized and the transport segment suffered JPY 3.3 billion reduction in profit.

Now Avolon, our affiliated company with our stake being about 30%, announced the second quarter earnings on July 30. We are currently in payment of some of their fleet and as a result, generated a loss of USD 162 million. However, their accounting standard is IFRS whereas ours is U.S. GAAP. And this is why the differences in recognition standard for impairment lies between the 2 companies and/or accounting standards.

So according to U.S. GAAP, we did not recognize any impairment. And as a result, in the first quarter, we've accounted an equity gain in a positive manner from Avolon. So as of now, with the international flights, we need to be sluggish. However, we are beginning to see some sound recovery in China for the domestic airlines. On the other hand, I think we need to be quite the diligent cautious as to the future perspectives of these businesses. And as of now, the 3 major businesses -- the business performances of the 3 businesses are pretty mixed.

However, if we work to put the 3 businesses together, so the performance remains to be unchanged for the fiscal year. On the other hand, environment and energy, life, bank and credit are not greatly affected by COVID-19, and the business remains to be solid with the profit increasing. And at the moment, we can continue to generate profit as we stand right now. So they're not only affected the -- greatly by COVID-19, but they managed to benefit from the change in the milestone due to COVID-19 outbreak. Life increased the number of policy involved by leveraging their online and mail order capability. And the same can be said true with the bank businesses of ours. They leverage on their non face-to-face online capabilities and growing their real estate investment loan asset. And the Rentec unit is preparing for PC rental demand increased due to growing needs to telework or work from home.

In the second quarter, the impact from COVID-19 outbreak may expand further. But we intend to utilize our strength of having a well-diversified business portfolio in generating a profit led by businesses that will correspond nicely to the changing society.

Let's move on to the next page. Now as for segment assets, so I would like to just focus on the major changes from last fiscal year-end.

First of all, corporate financial services and maintenance leasing, so the financial assets continued to decrease slowly at the 3% decline year-on-year at JPY 1.7439 trillion. ORIX, unlike commercial banks, we do not extend loans for working capital, but we extend loans for facilities and also capacities. So therefore, we haven't been receiving much request for payment deferrals. But of course, if we do receive such a request, we are dealing with those requests in a very careful manner.

As for the insurance segment, we increased the management of investment securities, and we managed to increase the asset thereby by 5% at JPY 1.664 trillion. Bank and credit segment utilizing their non face-to-face capabilities in capturing real estate investment loan and the demand. And as a result, the assets increased by 1% to JPY 2.6295 trillion.

Now finally, ORIX U.S.A. They were impacted -- their earnings were impacted by FX of minus JPY 13.7 billion. But as far as decrease in installment loans reduced down the asset by 4% at JPY 1.3168 trillion.

Let us move on to the third point, and that is to do with the financial soundness. As I have mentioned right at the beginning of the session, the rating maintained at A and above with liquidity on hand, excluding bank and life, remained high at 1.1 trillion. Although at the final year-end performance of that announcement in May, we explained the possibility of decline in operating cash and collection rate to as low as 70%. But the request for payment deferral as well as payment delay has been remaining at a very low level company-wide or group-wide, allowing us to enjoy a high collection rate of about 95%, even including aircraft leasing businesses. So therefore, as I have said, the collection rate has been maintained at -- as high as 95%.

Let us move on to the next page. Based on our strong financial health, the financing status for our company is very favorable. We have sufficient additional capacity for funding, both from banks as well as capital market. And the funding is our long-term -- long-term debt ratio continues to stay at above 90%. As you can see to the right, employed capital ratio is 87% at the end of June 2020. No major investments, new investments were made in the first quarter.

And beginning the impact of CECL, which is a new accounting standard, has already been reflected in our capital. Whether we make new investment or provide shareholder return, we have a sufficient on-hand liquidity as well as shareholders' equity.

Turning on to the next page and the fourth point, investment pipeline. In the past, we have executed many new investments, and captured high returns through timely exits. On the back of a strong track record, we now have a very rich pipeline at JPY 2 trillion approximately, and we're examining these investment opportunities. By field and by size, these are some of the examples: Valuable business companies in Japan and overseas, about JPY 300 billion; roll-up of existing asset management company, approximately JPY 200 billion; and the private equity investment deals in Japan, U.S. and Asia, JPY 250 billion; and domestic real estate development project, JPY 250 billion; Osaka MICE IR, JPY 650 billion; and other new potential investments, JPY 350 billion. In total, JPY 2 trillion.

As you may know Osaka MICE IR, as of last November, we indicated the highest number, which is JPY 650 billion. We are still using the same number here. But the actual amount may differ from this number noted on this slide. Please be mindful of that.

Global monetary easing brought excess liquidity, which means that asset prices, including stock prices, did not drop as much as had been anticipated. Despite this environment, we have strength in exclusive dealing, and we are carefully examining various opportunities, which meet our investment criteria. In some cases, the discussion examination may have been discontinued due to COVID-19 but the prices may have come down recently.

In the first quarter, for example, there was a PE investment into DOJIN IYAKU-KAKO. This was a new investment that was made. We have sufficient level of on-hand liquidity for additional new investments. We will look at a rich pipeline and identify the deals that would satisfy our investment criteria and try to close some of them before the end of this fiscal year.

Moving onto the next page. Net income for first quarter of fiscal year ending March 2021 was JPY 50 billion. Annualized ROE was 6.8%. In May, during the earnings announcement, we presented 2 different scenarios. If corona's -- COVID-19's impact continues 1 year, net income may drop to JPY 80 billion to JPY 120 billion. Or if it recovers and normalizes by the end of the third quarter, net income may stay around JPY 180 billion to JPY 200 billion.

Status merges was lifted on the 25th of May, but future is still very uncertain. But we are now operating with the assumption that corona, or COVID-19, is here to stay, at least for the time being.

It really depends on the environment going forward, but at this point in time, we do not believe that we would go for the worst scenario of the 2. On the 22nd of May, during the full year earnings announcement, we communicate to you that the payout ratio for the fiscal year was 50%. And as Mr. Inoue, CEO, explained to you, in order to make it possible for us to maintain the JPY 76 of our full year dividend, we will continue to make efforts to achieve JPY 180 billion to JPY 200 billion of net income for this fiscal year.

Starting from this first quarter, we increased the number of segments from 6 to 10 in order to improve the disclosure. We are hoping to provide more useful information to the investors. Most recent turning around business outside of Japan. We will continue to maintain the A rating or higher. We have high level of owner liquidity. We have sufficient cash and capital to support our rich pipeline so we'll continue to execute projects with a high return and also take care of stakeholders, including our shareholders and ratings, and we will continue to use the capital in the most appropriate manner. That's all from me. Thank you.

[Operator]

Mr. Yano, thank you very much for your explanation and presentation. So we'd like to move on Q&A session. [Operator Instructions] So let us get started with the Daiwa Securities, Mr. Watanabe.

[Kazuki Watanabe, analyst]

My name is Watanabe from Daiwa Securities. So I have to limit my questions to just one. So let me ask you the question with regard to base profit. JPY 60.5 billion of profit seems to be pretty high. So in your presentation, you had told us that there is a very small possibility of turning to a negative scenario. So do you think that you are higher or lower at this point in time? And as for the second quarter and onwards, if there was to be any overshoot or undershoot, what would be the negative factor or a positive factor that would affect the base profit?

[Hitomaro Yano, executive]

So thank you for your question. So what would happen from the worst scenario? If I were to ask -- answer to the question, it is -- I would like to give the disclaimer that it is very much dependent on how things would unfold from here down the road because you see the worst scenario is, of course, assuming all the worst that could happen. But of course, we have been responding to COVID-19 outbreak as much as possible. So we think -- we're pretty confident that we can avoid this worst scenario from happening as a result of this response that we have been taking so far.

Well then -- so JPY 180 billion, JPY 200 billion, whether we will be able to achieve this upside result? I think was your question in a nutshell. So we are going to be furthering our efforts in achieving a better result, of course. But in the businesses that we operate, we have hotel operations, accommodation operations as well as airport operation as well. And it will be affected greatly by whatever that happens from here down the road.

So we have no more certainty for the future. So how we can make up for any possible losses that could be generated from these businesses by other lines of businesses? Of course, we would be happy if we can enjoy a better, of course, development of the COVID-19 and all other situations. But this is how we foresee ourselves, I think, performing from here down the road. I don't know whether I have -- I managed to answer to your question. But -- so base profit, I think you have asked me the question with regard to base profit.

[Kazuki Watanabe, analyst]

So with regard to the base profit from second quarter onwards, is there a possibility of undershoot or overshoot as compared to the first quarter base profit result was my question.

[Hitomaro Yano, executive]

As a matter of fact. So by unit by unit, it differs very much. So just as I had told you corporate financial services and maintenance leasing, I think we have been -- we have managed to adapt to COVID-19 outbreak and there could perhaps be a possibility of an overshoot. Whereas concession businesses, in fact, have been delaying by 3 months perhaps. And the first quarter, in fact, have managed to only capture January to March of this calendar year because you see airport has started to suffer from February or mid-February, to be precise, so the concession businesses -- I think we are going -- we are yet to experience the negative impact from COVID-19 from here down the road as opposed to the first quarter results.

So if I were to just name some of the negatives. So there was Hartford Life Insurance, for example, the lost generation, for example, in the first quarter, we did manage to recover. So we did manage to enjoy the positive uplift. So I cannot draw a kind of an outright conclusion. So if we were to -- there are negatives as well as positive in the second quarter as I foresee.

[Operator]

SMBC Nikko Securities, Muraki-san.

[Masao Muraki, analyst]

Yes. This is Muraki, SMBC. Aircraft lease. This is where I want to ask a question, Page 27 and 28. You are showing us some tables there. From second quarter and onwards, what is the outlook for the aircraft lease? That's my general question.

For the first quarter, except for Avalon, there is no profit. Profit is down by JPY 75 million or so. And this is -- can be explained by the reduction in the proceeds only. And the IFRS versus GAAP, you said there was a difference between the 2, including the end of the year situation. What is the possibility of incurring impairment? And what is the full year outlook for aircraft lease as a whole?

[Hitomaro Yano, executive]

Air craft lease, let me try to explain this. At this point in time, we cannot really be complacent. In other words, we cannot really definitely say that the outlook is positive. But of course, I have to say, it depends on the market development. For Avalon, there is a one-off delay in reflecting the numbers. And also impairment was not really posted. And the Avalon bought back some of the bond in order to generate profit. And that is why the profit looks a little bit higher. Whereas OAS, there was not a lot of profit from sales. And chapter 11 impairment was partially included as well, which meant lower level of profit.

[Masao Muraki, analyst]

Going forward, payment deferral requests, how long will that linger? That's one of the questions. And also during that kind of situation, what would happen to the price of the aircraft themselves? And do we need to recognizing payment or not?

[Hitomaro Yano, executive]

So all of the factors will influence the situation. And at this point in time, I cannot say anything bullish about the aircraft lease business. But we have to pay close attention to the profitability of impairment.

[Masao Muraki, analyst]

According to U.S. GAAP, impairment, what is the trigger to including payment in the consolidated segment? What kind of things should we look for?

[Hitomaro Yano, executive]

Well, Avalon themselves, say it's impairment according to IFRS, but not according to U.S. GAAP. Now according to U.S. GAAP, if the price is low, in the case of IFRS impairment does happen. But U.S. GAAP looks at the signs of impairment. And they would say, yes, there is a sign for impairment. And it looks like the future cash flow, how the lease payments would come in. And the assumption of the cash flow will take place and also residual value several years down the line, the actual selling price will be included in the test in order to decide whether the actual impairment is needed. And currently, the appraisal price is not dramatically dropping. So if you look at the fair value presently, it's slightly negative, which would be impairment according to IFRS. But this impairment can be recovered in the future. With the improvement test based on U.S. GAAP, whilst it's determined it's permanent impairment, it's a big drop, and it will never be recovered in the future. So the concept behind each of these accounting standards are different. So Avalon, well, we've received the impairment test data based on IFRS from them, and we did our own evaluation. We showed it to the accounting auditor, we had some discussions with the auditor. And finally, we've decided that there is no need to recognize impairment according to the U.S. GAAP. That is why we have not recognizing payment this time around.

[Operator]

Let us move on to the next question from JPMorgan. We have Mr. Otsuka asking the question.

[Wataru Otsuka, analyst]

This is Otsuka from JPMorgan. So this is going to be a very simple question. So once we proceed to the second quarter, I suppose, much to the extent, you see we would be left with the second half for the year. So I think things will be clearer as to how the performance would be for the whole year. So would you be making your forecast announcement for the full year? Just has been explained by Yano-san, of course, it is very much dependent on how COVID-19 outbreak would unfold. But what do you think?

[Hitomaro Yano, executive]

So from that perspective, of course, whether we will be making full year forecast or not, I would find it difficult to answer to your question in a precise manner. But once we would be in the second quarter. I think things would be a clear for the -- in actual fact. And I suppose the third quarter would be -- the forecast would be clearer. So I think it will be better for us to make a certain announcement as to how we foresee the whole year unfolding.

Of course, I was kind of wondering whether you would be asking the question with regard to shareholders' return as well. So at the time of the second quarter and also full year result announcement, we will be providing you with further information with regard to shareholders' return as well. So from that perspective, I think the business performance forecast will have to be announced in combination with how we foresee us paying out to the shareholders. So therefore, in the second quarter, as of today, whether we would, for sure, be making announcements for the full -- I mean, full year forecast or not is not to be concluded, but we would like to, of course, continue to watch over the development in a vigilant manner.

[Wataru Otsuka, analyst]

Well, then unless the second wave of -- or third wave of COVID-19 outbreak is going to be quite significant, that does not allow you to foresee the full year forecast. You're going to be making some kind of indication as to how your business performance would unfold from here down the road.

[Hitomaro Yano, executive]

I don't want you to push me into making a commitment. But of course, it will be dependent on how things would unfold. I'm sorry to repeat myself, but that's what I think as of now.

[Operator]

Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities, Tsujino-san.

[Natsumu Tsujino, analyst]

I have a question about the situation in the United States. The disclosure has changed, I don't really see it very clearly, but segment profit is close to 0. And the level is about same as January through March, marketable security is the same and the service revenues are coming down. There are different factors. It is difficult to see what's happening. Can you please explain what is happening? What is the loss due to the marketable securities, and the other factors?

[Hitomaro Yano, executive]

Yes, I'm sorry I didn't provide you with enough explanation about what's happening in the United States. Please turn to Page 29. So FY 2019, first quarter, you can see high profit. Houlihan Lokey Bank divestiture was a big impact. This was just under JPY 10 billion or so in the last quarter. So it did not happen in this first quarter. And then there is impairment and provision. Rentec segment, I have to explain, as I explained in the fourth quarter, in fact, is the energy-related portfolio. We call this legacy asset internally. JPY 20 billion or so, we used to have traditionally, but we had to increase the allowance for this in the fourth quarter and the first quarter as well because the situation is getting harder for us. And there are many other factors, too. Also, some of the funds had to be mark-to-market, which means that the impairment had to be recognized.

Now we have to apply certain type of evaluation rules and the discussion had to be had with the accounting auditors because we could not really apply our own rules. And this is something that had to be reflected 10 months later, in the first quarter closing, we had to look at the market status as at the month of March, which means that there was a big negative impact on calculation. But looking back, I would say this is probably the bottom. And in the next quarter, we have expectation that we will see some recovery. So there are many factors, different factors involved. Looking at the earnings results from the United States, you may have many questions in your mind. But from the second quarter, we believe that we will begin to see some recovery. I have an expectation that we will see some recovery in this area. Does that answer your question?

[Natsumu Tsujino, analyst]

Service revenue is declining, but we don't have to worry about that. Is that your stance?

In the third quarter and fourth quarter, expenses were increasing -- it's increasing, but it's not decreasing. Do you think you can maintain this level going forward?

[Hitomaro Yano, executive]

With regard to the service revenue, companies that were consolidated will be moved from the list of consolidation. And I think that is why you see a big gap, while service revenue decline is just noise.

[Natsumu Tsujino, analyst]

I understand. So it's not really a profit contribution?

[Hitomaro Yano, executive]

That's correct. There was a capital gain posted last year.

[Natsumu Tsujino, analyst]

So expense reduction is also because of the removal of that converted subsidiary?

[Hitomaro Yano, executive]

Yes, among others, that's the reason. And similar to Europe, if the performance is poor, then performance-based bonuses will be decreased as well. That could be another factor behind all these numbers.

[Operator]

So the next person is from Merrill Lynch Japan, Sasaki-san.

[Futoshi Sasaki, analyst]

This is Sasaki from Merrill Lynch Japan. So I want you to tell me this JPY 2 trillion worth of investment pipeline. So you had given us some idea of this pipeline. But there is a lot of uncertainty in this fiscal period. So no one knows -- well, you have been explaining to us that no one knows exactly what -- how things will develop from here down the road. But do you think that you'll be able to execute some of these deals within the fiscal period? What is the probability like, the likelihood? So if you could be so kind enough to perhaps elaborate on this investment pipeline?

[Hitomaro Yano, executive]

So at the time of fiscal year-end announcement, Mr. Inoue, CEO, has said that we are going to put a stop on all the investment because we have no idea how COVID-19 outbreak is going to unfold, and we would have to prioritize a liquidity and nothing else. So in other words -- but what we remain by just a major investment, and we have been, of course, continuing to execute small bits and pieces of deals. So -- but now this -- with corona, there is a continuing, and as for ORIX part. So with regard to the sizeable deals, we think that the time is right for us to consider and -- consider the possibility of execution of some of these sizable deals. And so with the current environment and conditions, it doesn't mean to say that the price is going to decline quite sharply. So therefore, we are not going to stretch ourselves or push ourselves hard in executing these deals. So this is why we have put a suspend or stop at the time of March end, but we have started to reconsider some of these sizable deals, whether to restart the consideration of execution or not. So overall, we have been decreasing the number of investment, especially the sizable deals. But it is very much dependent on the conditions of these investments, terms and conditions. But we would like to, of course, continue to make a certain amount of investment, of course. Which means that as compared to 3 months ago, may I take it that your -- I think attitude has changed?

[Futoshi Sasaki, analyst]

Yes. On Page 11, the table that you have shown us, it didn't quite ring a bell, but like asset management companies, for example, are you thinking of putting a capital into these kind of businesses?

[Hitomaro Yano, executive]

So of course, environment and energy, I think, is easy to understand. But regard asset management businesses, as we have been telling you from long time back, we mean by a ride broader definition, asset management businesses. So in the case of United States, for example, we are a state service-related businesses, we are taking those kind of businesses into consideration. So it is not just limited to a general understanding of asset management businesses. Of course, it is very much dependent on the terms and conditions from here down the road, but if the price is right and if there is a normalization of the pricing, we would like to take into consideration the possibility of acquisition or the expansion of asset management businesses, and there are some offers as well, I must admit.

And the private equity, domestically, that is, we would like to seek for a non-auction deals. It doesn't mean to say that the price is right or the price impact at least, I think some inflated portion has been eliminated, and we are beginning to see some signs of normalization of the pricing. So if the price is right, we'd like to proceed with the execution.

[Futoshi Sasaki, analyst]

And if you could be so kind enough to explain about the hotels as well the possibility of investment into hotels?

[Hitomaro Yano, executive]

Well, at the moment, rather than hotels or real-time inns, the deals that are underway is to be preceded, just like before. It doesn't mean to say that we are going to turn pretty aggressively making a new investment into hotels and real-time inns. So this is perhaps description, perhaps, maybe a bit misleading.

[Operator]

From [ Alma Capital, we have Mr. Ku ].

[Unknown Analyst]

I was just wondering, in the maintenance leasing segment, I think you were sort of quite clear about the fact that the auto leasing business would come under pressure. And I was wondering, obviously, the Q1 results there were down quite heavily, whether that's how much you can read into that as being coronavirus-related? And how much is just the tough environment that you've been experiencing in the last couple of years? And also in that segment, Rentec, specialist equipment leasing, I was not expecting that to be sort of as heavily impacted as perhaps it has been in Q1. So could you just comment on that as well?

[Hitomaro Yano, executive]

Thank you very much. And I'm sorry that I'm speaking in Japanese. With regard to automotive lease, the biggest impact comes from rental car and car sharing. In the automotive business, we have a lease for corporations and also lease for individuals, which is the smaller in size. And the rental cars as well as car sharing services. Rental cars and car sharing has the biggest impact. And that's the biggest driver behind this number. Of course, suffering from the tough environment over the last couple of years, but this time around, that impact is not that great.

Second-hand car price has come down. So it really depends on how you interpret that. You could say it's due to COVID-19 or it's not. But anyway, it's quite interesting. Unfortunately, new cars are not really selling very much and automotive OEMs are really struggling right now. But that means that the second-hand vehicle prices are going up which means that this business is making a recovery more recently. So we are expecting a slightly positive situation. That's the automotive status.

Moving on to Rentec. Rentec maybe causing some noise or issues as you can see from this slide. So the question is how came quickly, in a good status, deliver the equipment to the end customers? And due to COVID-19, what is happening is that including our work style, things have changed, things were disrupted. And unfortunately, for the first quarter, the performance went down. However, we are rebuilding what we're doing. In the second quarter and beyond, we are expecting a big recovery. So I don't think this should be a big cause for concern for you. That's all from me. Thank you very much for your question.

[Operator]

Like to move on to the next question from Mizuho Securities, we have Sato-san asking the question.

[Koki Sato, analyst]

This is Sato from Mizuho Securities. I am referring to Page 5. So the first quarter impact from COVID-19 outbreak has been explained. For the first 3, at the time of full year announcement, I think you are indicating some progress that has been made from the time of full year announcement back in May, automotive and also domestic as well as services, some loan losses as well as impairment. And so as compared to the initial anticipation, the forecast if there was to be any kind of changes that you have been observing in the mix of these businesses, we'll be very grateful. So as compared to the initial anticipation, if there was to be any major changes?

[Hitomaro Yano, executive]

I would have to conclude that it was almost in line with our initial expectations. But the United States as well as auto, I don't think we have taken much time in explaining about those businesses at the time of full year announcement. I'm sorry about that.

[Koki Sato, analyst]

And with regard to the domestic businesses, such as financial, of course, assets, are they okay?

[Hitomaro Yano, executive]

At the time of full year announcement, we were a little -- we were slightly concerned about this financial asset. We are anticipating perhaps due in payment and as well as request for deferral as well, quite a number of them. But as compared to our initial anticipation, we did not receive much of those requests, and the credit loss was not as great as we had initially anticipated. This is my impression so far. And as the impairment just as I have been explaining so far, such as aircraft, I think we have to remain to be pretty cautious in watching over the development from here down the road. If you could perhaps follow-up in terms of United States businesses.

[Koki Sato, analyst]

Thank you for explaining. But how about Asia in terms of credit loss, if there was to be any kind of further explanation that you can provide in Asian region?

[Hitomaro Yano, executive]

Well, as compared to domestic market in Asian region, the payment deferral request, in fact, was more than that of here in Japan. So the deferral payment has been received the request. And if there was to be any possibility of referral in actual fact, we don't have to, of course, stop the recognition of the numbers, but we would have to take every care in dealing with these reports. And just because the central bank or the government, in fact, have made an announcement, we would have to, of course, defend as to, of course, appropriating the provision. So -- but the size of the businesses from Asian region is not that large anyway. So therefore, even if we were in the position to be appropriate in certain loan loss provision, I don't think it will be as sizable as one may perhaps think.

So about JPY 2 billion of provision was accounted in the first quarter. And so if you could refer to the appendix, we had giving you further details of this. So -- of course, it varies from one country to the other. Even if we were to talk about the Asia region as a whole, Korea, for example, or China, Taiwan, we didn't have much concern. But India, for example, it really varies from one to the other dependent on the impact that comes from COVID-19 outbreak.

[Operator]

Citigroup Securities, Niwa-san.

[Koichi Niwa, analyst]

This is Niwa from Citi speaking. First quarter investment execution. I want to ask some questions about that. I may have missed your explanation but what's the amount of investment that was executed in the first quarter? JPY 500 billion per year, that's the plan. So how far did you progress? And what was the content? And as far as M&A is concerned, I think there was comment in the first quarter. It's difficult to do because you cannot really visit outside of Japan. Do you think the initiative has changed due to COVID-19?

[Hitomaro Yano, executive]

We tend to make a lot of investments in the first quarter. It's less than JPY 100 billion in the first quarter. As I mentioned, there is a pharmaceutical company that we reinvested into and nothing major. Because everything was on hold by the strong message by the CEO. Mr. Inoue mentioned this in the full year announcement last time, we don't want to be involved or execute investment projects where we cannot do physical due diligence. But when we started the project on renewable energy recently, and we did the diligence once. And also, we had local staff nearby.

So although the borders are closed, we can restart due diligence in some of these countries. Which means that outside of Japan, we can still do physical due diligence and continue to push these projects forward, not for every project, of course, but we do what we can. So that we can continue to reopen and work on these overseas deals as well.

[Koichi Niwa, analyst]

One additional question, if I may. You spoke about JPY 2 trillion worth of investment pipeline. Compared to 3 months ago, is this an increase or decrease or flat? Maybe flat on net, but maybe increased or decreased on a gross basis. Can you explain?

[Hitomaro Yano, executive]

Well, I would say it's flat. We usually have a list of potential investments, and then we make selections and decide which ones to go forward with or not. And among the list of deals, some new ones actually were brought to us more recently. And some of them, of course, were flatly rejected from the beginning and not even was considering, but we always have a list of deals like this. Compared to 3 months ago, was there a big change? The answer is, no. In other words, we have not really seen a lot of movements, big movements in the last 3 months. But anyway, we have always about this much in our pipeline.

[Operator]

[Operator Instructions]

So this is going to be the final question that we're going to be entertaining. From Nomura Securities, we have Sakamaki-san asking the question.

[Naruhiko Sakamaki, analyst]

This is Sakamaki from Nomura Securities. So this is going to be a quick question. With regard to shareholders' return, so you haven't adopted the worst scenario for the business performances. Of course, you have indicated quite strongly with regard to the dividend payout. But was there any kind of changes that you have made in the shareholders' return policy?

[Hitomaro Yano, executive]

Although I have not touched upon this topic, in terms of shares repurchase, it doesn't mean to say that we have given up the whole idea of shares repurchase. But it's just that we have put as a spend. We have stopped proceeding with the share repurchase program. But now until we can foresee how COVID-19 outbreak is going to be developing, we have decided to stop the execution of the program. But it doesn't mean to say that we have given up on the idea altogether. We would, of course, start reconsidering the execution of the program. And once the time is right and as to whether we are going to go ahead and proceed with the execution of the program or not, it would be dependent very much on the situation. And -- but as of now, nothing has been concluded or decided as to the result of the program on that. But as to the buyback of the shares, but it doesn't mean to say that we have given up, so we are progressing about the program altogether.

[Operator]

So it is almost -- we have come to the end of the scheduled time. So I'd like to invite Mr. Yano to make a final remarks.

[Hitomaro Yano, executive]

So thank you all very much for your participation in this conference despite of the manifold duties of your work. I'm sure that you may have further questions, please do put them forward to us on an individual basis, and we would like to continue to provide further information as we enter into the second quarter. Thank you very much indeed.

[Operator]

So we'd like to conclude the ORIX business performance announcement for the first quarter of 2021 March end. Thank you very much for your participation. And you may now disconnect.

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