Home > About Us > Sustainability Management > Sustainability Report > Sustainability Report 2012 > Relations with Shareholders and Investors
Relations with Shareholders and Investors
The Kobe Steel Group strives to increase its corporate value as a whole by pursuing business development from a medium- and long-term perspective. As part of these efforts, we naturally place a high priority on returning profits to shareholders and recognizing the importance of enhancing the transparency of our operations through open communication with all stakeholders, including shareholders and investors. To that end, we are committed to the appropriate and timely disclosure of information and to its widespread release.
Returns to Shareholders
Kobe Steel places a high priority on returning profits to shareholders and is committed to increasing its overall corporate value by pursuing business operations from a medium- and long-term perspective.
The distribution of profits is decided comprehensively on the basis of various factors, including the company's current financial condition, trends in business performance, and future demand for capital. With regard to dividends, Kobe Steel’s policy is to provide continuous and stable distribution, taking into account such factors as each period's business results and the payout ratio.
For internal reserve funds, we strive to improve profitability by ensuring adequate investment for future growth and make ongoing efforts to improve and strengthen our financial structure.
For the foreseeable future, we will distribute profits in accordance with our business results, targeting a dividend payout ratio of 15% to 25% of our consolidated net profit.
Surplus funds are distributed according to our Articles of Incorporation, which are determined by the Board of Directors on the basis of the Companies Act, Section 459, Article 1 and Companies Act, Section 460, Article 1.
Accordingly, dividends are in principle paid out twice a year, at the end of the interim term and at the end of the fiscal year, after resolution by the board of directors, as stipulated by the Articles of Incorporation. For dividends to be paid out on any other date, the date must be designated separately by the Board.
Dividend Payouts
* Dividend payout ratios not applicable for fiscal 2008 and 2011 due to posting a consolidated net loss
Postcards reporting quarterly results (in Japanese)
Shareholdings
- Shareholdings by Type of Ownership (as of March 31, 2012)
Information Disclosure
To maintain the trust and support of shareholders and investors over the long term, we take very seriously our responsibility to provide information and are working hard to make timely and appropriate disclosures of corporate information and financial data.
Information disclosure is made in strict observance of statutory disclosure standards and based on stock exchange rules for the timing of disclosures. It is our aim to have the company's business conditions and activities widely understood for an accurate appraisal of corporate value, through the active, prompt and ongoing issuing of disclosable information relevant to investment decisions, even in cases where the timing rules do not apply.
Communicating with Shareholders and Investors
Communicating with Shareholders
Shareholders' meetings are seen as the forum for direct communication with shareholders. To encourage as many as possible to attend, we send out invitations well in advance and choose dates that do not conflict with other major shareholders' meetings. Shareholders are able to vote via the Internet (including cell phones).
To help shareholders deepen their understanding of the Kobe Steel Group, we also initiated factory tours in fiscal 2007. To date, we have organized tours of our steel operations at the Kakogawa Works and Kobe Works, our aluminum operations at the Moka Plant and our manufacturing operations at the Takasago Works, including steel castings and forgings and industrial machinery. Other tours will be held at various locations in the future.
Communicating with Institutional Investors
Briefings on financial results are held four times a year for institutional investors and securities analysts in Japan, to give them a better understanding of our management policies, operating results and financial position.
We also organize individual consultation sessions and make every effort to maintain ongoing communication with institutional investors and securities analysts, both at home and overseas.
Communicating with Individual Investors
redesigned with a clearer layout on
April 1, 2012.
We publish our financial statements, annual reports, and other information for individual investors online on the Kobe Steel website.
We also publish Japanese reports in postcard form, in August and February, and organize explanatory meetings aimed at individual investors in an effort to further deepen public understanding of the Kobe Steel Group.
The Kobe Steel Group will continue to strive for greater information disclosure and quality improvements in communication. By promoting IR activities, we hope to maintain the trust of shareholders and investors for many years to come.
