work on the cash low management
implementation project to achieve its goals.
We worked diligently to further accelerate
the cash conversion cycle by reducing trade
receivables and inventories, downsizing the
balance sheet and creating cash.
As a result, free cash low came to 353.5
billion yen for iscal 2015 and a cumulative
total of 947.6 billion yen from iscal 2014.
Net cash improved substantially to 331.5
billion yen while the shareholders’ equity
ratio also increased to 30.6%. Buoyed by
such factors as successful efforts to turn
around unproitable businesses, which
contributed to an upswing in net income,
ROE came to 10.6%.
The mid-term inancial targets that were
supposed to be achieved by iscal 2016
were all achieved one year ahead of schedule.
The Company’s credit rating was also raised
in iscal 2015 thanks to its improved inancial
position and proitability.