Accelerating the Creation of New Businesses and Expansion into New Markets, Including Overseas Markets

「In its new business, the company is focusing on research and development and the establishment of a business framework with battery manufacturers in preparation for launching a lithium-ion battery recycling business (LiB; Lithium-ion Battery). As a result of its research and development, the company established a process that both reduces CO₂ emissions and achieves a high recovery rate for rare metals. While continuing research and development to further stabilize the process and improve production efficiency, the company is expanding its Iwaki Plant and installing production equipment. To establish the business framework, the company continues negotiations with relevant companies and others based on an MOU under which it will undertake recycling services for part of the process scrap discharged from battery manufacturers’ plants.」

「The business is progressing steadily toward the start of mass-production operations at our Iwaki plant in April 2028.」

「In the new business, we focused on research and development and collaboration with a battery manufacturer to establish a business framework for commercializing the lithium-ion battery (LiB: Lithium-ion Battery) recycling business. In research and development, we advanced the establishment of a process that both reduces CO₂ emissions and achieves a high recovery rate for rare metals, and began installing production equipment at our Iwaki plant. Regarding establishment of the business framework, progress toward realizing a business model based on an MOU under which we will undertake part of the recycling of process waste generated at the battery manufacturer’s plant has been steady.」

「In its new lithium-ion battery (LiB) recycling business, the company is focusing on commercialization by developing proprietary technology and entering into partnerships with battery manufacturers to realize the recycling of lithium-ion batteries, for which demand is rising worldwide.」

「In the new business, we focused on research and development and establishing a business framework to commercialize the lithium-ion battery (LiB: Lithium-ion Battery) recycling business. In research and development, we worked to establish a process that both reduces CO₂ emissions and achieves a high recovery rate for rare metals, while also pursuing joint development with a battery manufacturer. Regarding the establishment of a business framework, negotiations with multiple companies toward alliance agreements are still continuing to form a broad framework.」

「In the new business, we focused on research and development and establishing a business framework to commercialize the lithium-ion battery (LiB: Lithium-ion Battery) recycling business. In research and development, we worked to establish a process that both reduces CO₂ emissions and achieves a high recovery rate for rare metals, while also pursuing joint development with a battery manufacturer. Regarding the establishment of a business framework, negotiations with multiple companies toward alliance agreements are still continuing to form a broad framework.」

「In its new business, the company focused on the research and development and commercialization of a lithium-ion battery recycling business (LiB; Lithium-ion Battery), and made significant progress toward commercialization, including successfully developing a proprietary process that substantially reduces waste such as CO₂ while recovering rare metals such as lithium from LiBs at a high recovery rate.」

「In the new business, we are continuing to focus on the research and development and commercialization of the lithium-ion battery (LiB: Lithium-ion Battery) recycling business and are conducting demonstration testing aimed at establishing a more efficient product manufacturing process. Regarding collaboration with business partners to establish a business framework, negotiations with multiple companies toward alliance agreements are still continuing to form a broad framework.」

「In the new business, we are continuing to focus on the research and development and commercialization of the lithium-ion battery (LiB: Lithium-ion Battery) recycling business and are conducting demonstration testing aimed at establishing a more efficient product manufacturing process. Regarding collaboration with business partners to establish a business framework, negotiations with multiple companies toward alliance agreements are still continuing to form a broad framework.」

「In the new business, we are continuing to focus on the research and development and commercialization of the lithium-ion battery (LiB: Lithium-ion Battery) recycling business and are conducting demonstration testing aimed at establishing a more efficient product manufacturing process. Regarding collaboration with business partners to establish a business framework, negotiations with multiple companies toward alliance agreements are still continuing to form a broad framework.」

「In the new business, we are continuing to focus on the research and development and commercialization of the lithium-ion battery (LiB: Lithium-ion Battery) recycling business and are currently conducting demonstration testing aimed at establishing a more efficient product manufacturing process. Regarding collaboration with business partners to establish a business framework, negotiations with multiple companies toward alliance agreements are still continuing to form a broad framework.」

「In the new business, we are continuing to focus on the research and development and commercialization of the lithium-ion battery (LiB: Lithium-ion Battery) recycling business and are currently conducting demonstration testing aimed at establishing a more efficient product manufacturing process. Regarding collaboration with business partners to establish a business framework, negotiations with multiple companies toward alliance agreements are still continuing to form a broad framework.」

「In the new business, we are continuing to focus on the research and development and commercialization of the lithium-ion battery (LiB: Lithium-ion Battery) recycling business. As the first step in collaborating with a business partner to establish a business framework, we signed a joint research and development agreement with Toho Zinc Co.,Ltd. to establish a pretreatment process. Beyond the scope of joint research and development, we intend to pursue the business jointly with the company after moving to the commercialization phase, taking advantage of the fact that both factories are located in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture.」

「In the new business, we are continuing to focus on the research and development and commercialization of the lithium-ion battery (LiB: Lithium-ion Battery) recycling business. We are making final adjustments to research and development activities toward the planned start of operations at the mass-production plant in January 2022, while continuing discussions with business partners to establish a business framework. In addition, to secure a stable supply of raw materials, we have begun regularly procuring raw materials from a major battery manufacturer.」

「In the new business, we are focusing on the research and development and commercialization of the lithium-ion battery (LiB: Lithium-ion Battery) recycling business. We are at the stage of discussions with business partners aimed at establishing a business framework and making final adjustments to research and development activities ahead of the planned start of operations at the mass-production plant in January 2022.」

「Evaluation testing by manufacturers of rare metals used in LiB materials is almost complete, and we are expected to begin supply from the following fiscal year onward. In addition to our previous efforts, we have also reached a stage where the establishment of technology for “LiB to LiB” is in sight, involving the separation and recovery of valuable metals contained in LiBs, their refining and purification to high-purity levels, and their regeneration into LiB raw materials, with a view to the recycling of spent batteries, which is expected to increase in the future.」

「In the rare-metal business, we are developing recycling technology for rare metals used in lithium-ion secondary battery materials, whose market is expected to expand in the future, while currently conducting evaluation testing with secondary battery materials manufacturers and others. We will continue developing the technology and establishing a mass-production framework, accelerating efforts to commercialize the business at an early stage.」

「In the rare-metal business, we will diversify our products and expand the range of products handled by broadening the range of raw materials collected and improving material-conversion technology. For the recovery of rare metals used in lithium-ion secondary batteries and other products, we will continue evaluation testing with a secondary battery materials manufacturer and accelerate efforts to commercialize the business at an early stage.」

「In the rare-metal business, we are focusing on recovering rare metals used in lithium-ion batteries and other products and have reached the evaluation-testing stage with a secondary battery materials manufacturer.」

「In the rare-metal business, we are focusing on recovering rare metals used in lithium-ion batteries and other products and have reached the evaluation-testing stage with a secondary battery materials manufacturer.」

「In the rare-metal business, we are focusing on recycling rare metals used in lithium-ion batteries and other products and converting them into raw materials, and worked to establish the framework for shipping trial mass-produced products from the third quarter.」

「In the rare-metal business, we will work to develop products and expand sales destinations.」

「In its newly promoted rare-metal business, the company worked to develop products and expand sales destinations. During the current consolidated fiscal year, it developed raw materials for electronic components, which are expected to grow in demand, and expanded its sales destinations.」

「Against this backdrop, the company is working to strengthen and improve the efficiency of its existing businesses while continuing to pursue new technology development. In its existing businesses, it is deepening relationships with existing customers and developing new customers, expanding sales channels for precious-metal materials and photocatalysts, and improving efficiency by automating and robotizing manufacturing processes.」

「In the newly promoted rare-metal business, in addition to materials for optical glass, sales of which have begun, we are developing materials for electronic components and conducting evaluation tests with customers. Although customer approvals have progressed and the number of sales destinations has increased, demand for the products concerned has fallen below initial expectations, making sales for the current fiscal year uncertain.」

「• Accelerating the creation of new businesses and development of new markets, including overseas markets Increasing speed through organizational and mindset reforms」

「During the cumulative third-quarter consolidated period, the Group worked to increase the volume of precious metals handled in Japan and overseas in its precious metals business, pursued activities to increase sales volumes of inorganic chemicals and photocatalysts for exterior walls in its environmental business, and worked to develop new recycling technologies in its rare metal and rare earth business, which is included in the precious metals business.」

「During the second quarter of the current consolidated cumulative period, the Group worked in its precious-metals business to increase the volume of precious metals handled in Japan and overseas, pursued activities to increase sales volumes of inorganic chemicals and photocatalysts for exterior walls in its environmental business, and worked to develop new recycling technologies for rare metals and rare earths in the rare-metal and rare-earth business included in its precious-metals business.」

「During the first quarter of the current consolidated cumulative period, the Group worked to increase the volume of precious metals handled in Japan and overseas, pursued activities to increase sales volumes of inorganic chemicals and photocatalysts for exterior walls in its environmental business, and worked to develop new recycling technologies for rare metals and rare earths in the rare-metal and rare-earth business included in its precious-metals business.」

「Accelerating the creation of new businesses and development of new markets, including overseas markets Increasing speed through organizational and mindset reforms」