Containing SG&A expenses through reviewing work practices and eliminating waste

「By containing the increase in selling, general and administrative expenses through expense reviews based on the thorough elimination of waste, the operating profit margin on net sales, a key management indicator for the Company, increased 1.6 percentage points year on year to 8.2%.」

「The Company also continued efforts to improve the efficiency of selling, general and administrative expenses by reviewing how officers and employees work and thoroughly eliminating waste.」

「In terms of profit, in addition to the increase in net sales described above, earnings improved through steady progress in new businesses, while efforts to contain selling, general and administrative expenses by reviewing how officers and employees work and thoroughly eliminating waste also contributed, resulting in performance above that of the same cumulative period of the previous year.」