20-F 1 d20f.htm FORM 20-F Form 20-F
Table of Contents

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

 


 

FORM 20-F

 


 

¨ REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR 12(g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

OR

 

x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2006

 

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

OR

 

¨ SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Date of event requiring this shell company report

 

For the transition period from              to             

 

Commission file number: 1-7952

 


 

Kyocera Kabushiki Kaisha

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Kyocera Corporation

(Translation of Registrant’s name into English)

 


 

Japan  

6, Takeda, Tobadono-cho, Fushimi-ku,

Kyoto 612-8501, Japan

(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)   (Address of principal executive offices)

 

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act.

 

Title of Each Class


  

Name of Each Exchange On Which Registered


Common Stock (“Shares”)*    New York Stock Exchange

 

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act.

None

(Title of Class)

 

Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act.

None

(Title of Class)

 


 

Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report.

 

As of March 31, 2006, 187,754,750 shares of common stock were outstanding, comprised of 182,786,746 Shares and 4,968,004 American Depositary Shares (equivalent to 4,968,004 Shares).

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.     Yes  x    No  ¨

 

If this report is an annual transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.     Yes  ¨    No   x

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.     Yes   x     No  ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check One):

Large accelerated filer   x     Accelerated filer   ¨    Non-accelerated filer   ¨

 

Indicate by check mark which financial statement item the Registrant has elected to follow.     Item 17  ¨     Item 18   x

 

If this is an annual report, indicated by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).     Yes  ¨     No  x

 

* Not for trading, but only in connection with the registration of the American Depositary Shares, each representing one share of Common Stock.

 



Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page

    

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

   4

PART I

        6

Item 1.

  

Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers

   6

Item 2.

  

Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable

   6

Item 3.

  

Key Information

   6
    

A. Selected Financial Data

   6
    

B. Capitalization and Indebtedness

   7
    

C. Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds

   7
    

D. Risk Factors

   7

Item 4.

  

Information on Kyocera Corporation and its Consolidated Subsidiaries

   12
    

A. History and Development of Kyocera Corporation and its Consolidated Subsidiaries

   12
    

B. Business Overview

   14
    

C. Organizational Structure

   24
    

D. Property, Plants and Equipment

   28

Item 4A.

  

Unresolved Staff Comments

   30

Item 5.

  

Operating and Financial Review and Prospects

   30
    

A. Operating Results

   30
    

B. Liquidity and Capital Resources

   56
    

C. Research and development activities

   61
    

D. Trend Information

   63
    

E. Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

   64
    

F. Tabular Disclosure of Contractual Obligations

   64

Item 6.

  

Directors, Senior Management and Employees

   65
    

A. Directors and Senior Management

   65
    

B. Compensation

   70
    

C. Board Practices

   71
    

D. Employees

   71
    

E. Share Ownership

   72

Item 7.

  

Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions

   78
    

A. Major Shareholders

   78
    

B. Related Party Transactions

   79
    

C. Interests of Experts and Counsel

   79

Item 8.

  

Financial Information

   79
    

A. Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information

   80
    

B. Significant Changes

   80

Item 9.

  

The Offer and Listing

   80
    

A. Offering and Listing Details

   80
    

B. Plan of Distribution

   82
    

C. Markets

   82
    

D. Selling Shareholders

   82
    

E. Dilution

   82
    

F. Expenses of the Issue

   82

Item 10.

  

Additional Information

   82
    

A. Share Capital

   82
    

B. Memorandum and Articles of Association

   82
    

C. Material Contracts

   91
    

D. Exchange Controls

   91
    

E. Taxation

   91
    

F. Dividends and Paying Agents

   96
    

G. Statement by Experts

   96
    

H. Documents on Display

   96
    

I. Subsidiary Information

   97

Item 11.

  

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

   97

Item 12.

  

Description of Securities Other Than Equity Securities

   99

 

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PART II

        100

Item 13.

  

Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies

   100

Item 14.

  

Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds

   100

Item 15.

  

Controls and Procedures

   100

Item 16A.

  

Audit Committee Financial Expert

   101

Item 16B.

  

Code of Ethics

   101

Item 16C.

  

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

   101

Item 16D.

  

Exemption from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees

   103

Item 16E.

  

Purchase of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers

   104

PART IV

        105

Item 17.

  

Financial Statements

   105

Item 18.

  

Financial Statements

   105

Item 19.

  

Exhibits

   106

 

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Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

This annual report on Form 20-F contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Act of 1934. To the extent that statements in this Form 20-F do not relate strictly to historical or current facts, they may constitute forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon our current assumptions and beliefs in the light of the information currently available to us, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause our actual actions or results to differ materially from those discussed in or implied by the forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement after the date of this Form 20-F, but investors are advised to consult any further disclosures by us in our subsequent filings pursuant to the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

Important risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from our expectations are generally set forth in Item 3.D “Risk Factors” of this Form 20-F and include, without limitation:

 

    general economic conditions in our markets, which are primarily Japan, North America, Europe, and Asia, including in particular China;

 

    the effect of foreign exchange fluctuations on our results of operations, particularly between the yen and each of the U.S. dollar and Euro, in which we make significant sales;

 

    our ability to launch innovative products and otherwise meet the advancing technical requirements of our customers, particularly in the highly competitive markets for ceramics, semiconductors and electronic components;

 

    the level of continuing demand for existing products of our competitors and the pricing of those products, and their ability to introduce new products;

 

    the extent and pace of future growth or contraction in information technology (IT)-related markets around the world, including those for communications and personal computers;

 

    the level of continuing demand for, and timing of sales of, our existing products;

 

    declining prices for our products and services;

 

    the effect of future acquisitions on our financial condition and results of operations;

 

    the effect of prevailing interest rates and the performance of equity and other financial markets generally;

 

    the timing of new product introductions and market acceptance for our new products;

 

    an increase in the incidence of product returns;

 

    events that may impact negatively on our markets or supply chain, including terrorist acts and outbreaks of diseases;

 

and other risks discussed under Item 3.D “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Form 20-F.

 

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Presentation of Certain information

 

As used in this Form 20-F, references to “Kyocera,” “we,” “our” and “us” are to Kyocera Corporation and, except as the context otherwise requires, its consolidated subsidiaries.

 

Also, as used in this Form 20-F:

 

    “U.S. dollar” or “$” means the lawful currency of the United States of America, “yen” or “¥” means the lawful currency of Japan and “Euro” means the lawful currency of the European Union.

 

    “U.S. GAAP” means accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, and “Japanese GAAP” means accounting principles generally accepted in Japan.

 

    “ADS” means an America Depositary Share, each representing one share of Kyocera’s common stock, and “ADR” means an American Depositary Receipt evidencing ADSs.

 

    “fiscal 2006” refers to Kyocera’s fiscal year ended March 31, 2006, and other fiscal years are referred to in a corresponding manner.

 

    Unless otherwise indicated, we have translated the yen amounts for the year ended March 31, 2006, as of March 31, 2006 and thereafter presented in this Form 20-F into U.S. dollars solely for your convenience. The rate we used for such translations was ¥117.00 = $1.00, which was the noon buying rate in New York City for cable transfers in foreign currencies as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on March 31, 2006, rounded to the nearest yen. These translations do not imply that the yen amounts actually represent, or have been or could be converted into, equivalent amounts in the U.S. dollars.

 

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PART I

 

Item 1. Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers

 

Not Applicable.

 

Item 2. Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable

 

Not Applicable.

 

Item 3. Key Information

 

A. Selected Financial Data

 

The selected consolidated financial data set forth below for each of the five fiscal years ended March 31 have been derived from Kyocera’s consolidated financial statements that are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

You should read the U.S. GAAP selected consolidated financial data set forth below together with Item 5 “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” and Kyocera’s Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 20-F.

 

     (Yen in millions, U.S. dollars and shares in thousands, except per share amounts)

     2002

   2003

   2004

   2005

   2006

   2006

Years ended March 31:

                                         

Net sales

   ¥ 1,034,574    ¥ 1,069,770    ¥ 1,140,814    ¥ 1,180,655      ¥1,181,489    $ 10,098,197

Profit from operations

     51,561      83,388      108,962      100,968      103,207      882,111

Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

     33,791      43,421      68,086      45,908      69,696      595,692

Net income

     31,953      41,165      68,086      45,908      69,696      595,692

Earnings per share :

                                         

Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle:

                                         

Basic

   ¥ 178.74    ¥ 233.02    ¥ 364.79    ¥ 244.86    ¥ 371.68    $ 3.18

Diluted

     178.59      232.97      364.78      244.81      371.43      3.17

Net income:

                                         

Basic

     169.02      220.91      364.79      244.86      371.68      3.18

Diluted

     168.88      220.86      364.78      244.81      371.43      3.17

Weighted average number of shares outstanding:

                                         

Basic

     189,050      186,338      186,643      187,489      187,514       

Diluted

     189,204      186,382      186,649      187,528      187,640       

Cash dividends declared per share:

                                         

Per share of common stock

   ¥ 60    ¥ 60    ¥ 60    ¥ 80    ¥ 100    $ 0.85

At March 31:

                                         

Total assets

   ¥ 1,645,458    ¥ 1,635,014    ¥ 1,794,758    ¥ 1,745,519    ¥ 1,931,522    $ 16,508,735

Long-term debt

     96,856      60,736      70,608      33,557      33,360      285,128

Common stock

     115,703      115,703      115,703      115,703      115,703      988,915

Stockholders’ equity

     1,036,185      1,000,207      1,150,453      1,174,851      1,289,077      11,017,752

Depreciation

   ¥ 76,252    ¥ 64,988    ¥ 60,861    ¥ 58,790    ¥ 63,018    $ 538,615

Capital expenditures

   ¥ 54,631    ¥ 40,614    ¥ 54,937    ¥ 63,176    ¥ 90,271    $ 771,547

 

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The following table shows the exchange rates for Japanese yen per $1.00 based upon the noon buying rate in New York City for cash transfers in foreign currencies as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York:

 

     High

   Low

   Average

   Period-end

Years ended March 31,

                   

2002

   134.77    115.89    125.05    132.70

2003

   133.40    115.71    121.94    118.07

2004

   120.55    104.18    112.75    104.18

2005

   114.30    102.26    107.49    107.22

2006

   120.93    104.41    113.15    117.48

Most Recent 6 months

                   

December, 2005

   120.93    115.78    118.46    117.88

January, 2006

   117.55    113.96    115.48    116.88

February, 2006

   118.95    115.82    117.86    115.82

March, 2006

   119.07    115.89    117.28    117.48

April, 2006

   118.66    113.79    117.07    113.79

May, 2006

   113.46    110.07    111.73    112.26

 

The noon buying rate for Japanese yen on June 26, 2006 was $1.00 = ¥ 116.38

 

B. Capitalization and Indebtedness

 

Not Applicable.

 

C. Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds

 

Not Applicable.

 

D. Risk Factors

 

You should carefully read the risks described below before making an investment decision.

 

(1) The Japanese or global economy may significantly reduce demand for Kyocera’s products

 

The Japanese economy showed stable growth due mainly to an expanded market for digital consumer equipment from the second half of fiscal 2006. However, the economic outlook has been uncertain and has been negatively affected by inventory reductions in the IT-related industries. Though the current global economic outlook, including for the U.S., also remains to grow, there may continue to be instability in light of the appreciation of the yen and the rise in prices of oil and certain raw materials. Kyocera is substantially dependent for its growth on the markets for semiconductors, mobile phone handsets and PC-related equipment. These markets may be adversely affected by demand in electronics industry and by sluggish consumer spending brought by economic recession.

 

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(2) Unexpected changes in economic, political and legal conditions in China, in which Kyocera is becoming increasingly active, may have an adverse effect on Kyocera’s business

 

Based on its expectation that the Chinese markets for IT-related products, including electronic components, mobile phone handsets, personal computers (PCs) and PC peripherals will continue to grow continuously, Kyocera has been making substantial investments in new production and marketing facilities in China. Kyocera now has four principal production facilities located in Shanghai, Dongguan, Guiyang, and Tianjin, and plans to make additional investments to increase production capacity at these sites and to increase its marketing and distribution capabilities in China. Although the Chinese economy has been growing at a rapid rate in recent years, and the central government has been increasingly utilizing market forces as opposed to central economic planning, growth has been uneven among various regions of the country and among various sectors of the economy. Unexpected changes in the central government’s economic policy or in the business climate, including those due to changes in institutional systems in various parts of the country, may adversely affect its IT-related markets in which Kyocera seeks to sell its products. In addition, China is in the process of developing a comprehensive system of laws and regulations dealing with economic matters, such as currency controls, and foreign corporations currently active in the country, such as Kyocera, face risks and uncertainties including enforcement of contractual terms, administrative intrusion by local governments and difficulty with expatriation of profits.

 

(3) Kyocera sells a diverse variety of products, and in each of its businesses Kyocera is subject to intense competitive pressures, including in terms of price, technological change, product development, quality and speed of delivery, and these pressures are likely to increase in the near term

 

Kyocera sells a wide variety of products and therefore faces a broad range of competitors from large international companies to relatively small, rapidly growing and highly specialized companies. Kyocera has a variety of businesses in different industries while many of its competitors specialize in one or more of these business areas. As a result, Kyocera may not fund or invest in certain of its businesses to the same degree as its competitors, or these competitors may have greater financial, technical, and marketing resources available to them than the portion of its business against which they compete. While some of the factors that drive competition vary by product area, price and speed of delivery are factors in all areas of Kyocera’s business. Price pressure has been intense, and thus Kyocera predicts that its production prices will continue to be lower over fiscal 2007 partly depending on the demand and competition situation. In production businesses in which Kyocera develops, produces and distributes specialized parts for its customers’ products, its competitive position depends significantly on being involved early in the process of creating a new product that fits its customers’ needs. This requires maintaining close ties with customers so that Kyocera can ensure that it is able to meet required specifications and be the first supplier to create and deliver the product. Kyocera’s gross margins may be reduced if it cannot maintain these important relationships or market share or if it is forced in the future to further reduce prices in response to the actions of its competitors.

 

(4) Small manufacturing delays or defects resulting from outsourcing or internal manufacturing processes can adversely affect Kyocera’s production yields and operating results

 

Kyocera ordinarily outsources the fabrication of certain components and sub-assemblies of its products, often to sole source suppliers or a limited number of suppliers. Kyocera has experienced occasional delays in obtaining components and sub-assemblies because the manufacturing process for these items is very complex and requires a long lead-time. Kyocera’s revenues derived from sales of these products will be materially and adversely affected if Kyocera is unable to obtain a high quality, reliable and timely supply of these components and sub-assemblies. In addition, any reduction in the precision of these components will result in sub-standard end products and will cause delays and interruptions in Kyocera’s production cycle.

 

Within Kyocera’s manufacturing facilities, minute impurities, difficulties in the production process or other factors can cause a substantial percentage of its products to be rejected or non-functional. These factors can result in lower than expected production yields, which delay product shipments and may materially and adversely affect Kyocera’s operating results. Because the majority of Kyocera’s costs of manufacture are relatively fixed, production yield and capacity utilization rate are critical to its financial results.

 

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(5) Since a significant percentage of Kyocera’s revenues has been derived from foreign sales in recent years, various export risks may disproportionately affect its revenues

 

Kyocera’s sales to customers located outside Japan accounted for 59.8% of its total revenues in fiscal 2006. Kyocera believes that overseas sales will continue to account for a significant percentage of its revenues. Therefore, the following export risks may disproportionately affect Kyocera’s revenues:

 

    a strong yen may make Kyocera’s products less attractive to foreign purchasers;

 

    political and economic instability may inhibit export of Kyocera’s products;

 

    Kyocera may experience difficulties in the timeliness of collection of accounts receivable due from foreign customers and be forced to write off those receivables;

 

    tariffs and other barriers may make Kyocera’s products less cost competitive;

 

    shipping and handling costs of Kyocera’s products may increase;

 

    Kyocera may have difficulty in staffing and managing its international operations; and

 

    the laws of certain foreign countries may not adequately protect Kyocera’s trade secrets and intellectual property.

 

(6) Currency exchange rate fluctuations could adversely affect Kyocera’s financial results

 

Kyocera conducts business in countries outside of Japan, which exposes it to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. Kyocera may enter into short-term forward exchange transaction to hedge this risk according to its outlook on future exchange rates; nevertheless, fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates could have an adverse effect on its business. Fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates may affect its results of operations and the value of its foreign assets, which in turn may adversely affect reported earnings and the comparability of period-to-period results of operations. Changes in currency exchange rates may affect the relative prices at which Kyocera and foreign competitors sell products in the same market. In addition, changes in the value of the relevant currencies may affect the cost of imported items required in its operations.

 

(7) Industry demand for skilled employees, particularly engineering and technical personnel, exceeds the number of personnel available

 

Kyocera’s future success depends, in part, on its ability to attract and retain certain key personnel, including engineering, operational and management personnel. Kyocera anticipates that it will need to hire additional skilled personnel in all areas of its business. The competition for attracting and retaining these employees, especially engineers in key fields, including software design in telecommunications, is intense. Because of this intense competition for these skilled employees, Kyocera may be unable to retain its existing personnel or attract additional qualified employees in the future.

 

(8) Insufficient protection of Kyocera’s trade secrets and patents could have a significant adverse impact on its competitive position

 

Kyocera’s success and competitive position depend on protecting its trade secrets and other intellectual property. Kyocera’s strategy is to rely both on trade secrets and patents to protect its manufacturing and sales processes and products, but reliance on trade secrets is only an effective business practice insofar as trade secrets remain undisclosed and a proprietary product or process is not reverse engineered or independently developed. Kyocera takes certain measures to protect its trade secrets, including executing nondisclosure agreements with certain of its employees, joint venture partners, customers and suppliers. If parties breach these agreements or the measures Kyocera takes are not properly implemented, Kyocera may not have an adequate remedy. Disclosure of its trade secrets or reverse engineering of its proprietary products, processes or devices could materially and adversely affect its business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

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Kyocera is actively pursuing patents on some of its recent inventions, but these patents may not be issued. Even if these patents are issued, they may be challenged, invalidated or circumvented. In addition, the laws of certain other countries may not protect Kyocera’s intellectual property to the same extent as Japanese laws.

 

(9) Kyocera may require licenses to continue to manufacture and sell certain of its products, the expense of which may adversely affect its results of operations

 

From time to time Kyocera has received, and may receive in the future, notice of claims of infringement of other parties’ proprietary rights and licensing offers to commercialize third party patent rights. Although Kyocera is not currently involved in any litigations relating to its intellectual property except in the ordinary course of its business, Kyocera cannot assure that:

 

    infringement claims (or claims for indemnification resulting from infringement claims) will not be asserted against Kyocera,

 

    future assertions against Kyocera will not result in an injunction against the sale of infringing or allegedly infringing products or otherwise significantly impair its business and results of operations; or

 

    Kyocera will not be required to obtain licenses, the expense of which may adversely affect its results of operations.

 

(10) Future initiatives and in-process research and development may not produce the desired results

 

Kyocera intends to expand its product lines to satisfy customer demand in its target markets. Unexpected technical delays in completing these initiatives could lengthen development schedules and result in lower revenues based on the products or technologies developed from these initiatives. There can be no assurance that the products derived from Kyocera’s in-process research and development activities will achieve market acceptance.

 

(11) Kyocera’s markets or supply chains may be adversely affected by terrorism, plague, wars or similar events

 

Kyocera as a global company has been expanding its business worldwide. At the same time, we will be exposed to risks of our getting involved in terrorism, plague, war and other similar events. In the case that those events occur, Kyocera’s operating activities would be suspended. Furthermore, there would be delay, disorder or suspension in Kyocera’s R&D, manufacturing, sales and services. If such delay or disruption occurs and continues for a long period of time, Kyocera’s business, financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.

 

(12) Kyocera’s headquarters and major facilities are subject to devastating effects of earthquakes and other natural disasters

 

Kyocera’s headquarters and major facilities including plants, sales offices and R&D centre are located not only in Japan but also all over the world. It might be inevitable that Kyocera would suffer from natural disasters such as earthquake, typhoon, and floods and so on. For instance, if a strong earthquake occurs, Kyocera’s R&D or manufacturing facilities will be damaged devastatingly. In this case, Kyocera’s operating activities would be suspended and manufacturing and shipment would be delayed. Due to this, Kyocera would lose its sales and profits. Furthermore, Kyocera may incur a great amount of expenses, for example, medical care expenses for injured employees and damage expenses for the damaged machines or facilities will be incurred. As a consequence, Kyocera’s operating result and financial condition may be adversely affected.

 

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(13) Kyocera may have to incur impairment losses on its investments in equity securities

 

Kyocera holds investments in equity securities of companies not affiliated with itself, which Kyocera generally holds on a long-term basis for business relationship purposes. A substantial portion of these investments consists of shares of common stock of public companies in Japan, including KDDI Corporation (a Japanese telecommunication service provider), and Japanese financial institutions. As of March 31, 2006, the aggregate fair value of equity securities included in available-for-sale securities was ¥415,950 million ($3,555 million), with gross unrealized gains in the amount of ¥141,059 million ($1,206 million) and gross unrealized losses in the amount of ¥94million ($1 million). If there is a decline in the fair value, i.e., the market price, of the shares Kyocera holds in those companies over a period of time, and it determines that the decline is other-than-temporary, Kyocera will need to record an impairment loss for the applicable fiscal period. During fiscal 2006, Kyocera recorded losses on impairment of investment securities in the amount of ¥385 million ($3 million), mainly due to management’s estimation that certain non-public companies in which Kyocera invested would need considerable time to show profitability in their operating activities. For some of the equity securities Kyocera owns, including the shares of KDDI Corporation, Kyocera intends to keep its ownership at the current level in light of the importance of its business relationships with the issuers of these equity securities. For other equity securities in its portfolio, although Kyocera may dispose of them over time, market conditions may not permit it to do so at the time, speed or price it may wish.

 

(14) As a holder of ADSs, you will have fewer rights than a shareholder has and you will have to act through the depositary to exercise those rights

 

The rights of shareholders under Japanese law to take various actions, including voting their shares, receiving dividends and distributions, bringing derivative actions, examining a company’s accounting books and records and exercising appraisal rights, are available only to holders of record. Because the depositary, through its custodian agents, is the record holder of the Shares underlying the ADSs, only the depositary can exercise those rights in connection with the deposited Shares. The depositary will make efforts to vote the Shares underlying your ADSs as instructed by you and will pay to you the dividends and distributions collected from us. However, in your capacity as an ADS holder, you will not be able to bring a derivative action, examine our accounting books and records or exercise appraisal rights through the depositary.

 

(15) Rights of shareholders under Japanese law may be more limited than under the law of other jurisdictions

 

Our Articles of Incorporation, Regulations of the Board of Directors, Regulations of the Board of Corporate Auditors and the Japanese Commercial Code govern our corporate affairs. Legal principles relating to such matters as the validity of corporate procedures, directors’ and officers’ fiduciary duties and shareholders’ rights may be different from those that would apply if we were a U.S. company. Shareholders’ rights under Japanese law may not be as extensive as shareholders’ rights under the laws of the United States. You may have more difficulty in asserting your rights as a shareholder than you would as a shareholder of a U.S. corporation. In addition, Japanese courts may not be willing to enforce liabilities against us in actions brought in Japan which are based upon the securities laws of the United States or any U.S. state.

 

(16) Because of daily price range limitations under Japanese stock exchange rules, you may not be able to sell your shares of our Common Stock at a particular price on any particular trading day, or at all

 

Stock prices on Japanese stock exchanges are determined on a real-time basis by the equilibrium between bids and offers. These exchanges are order-driven markets without specialists or market makers to guide price formation. To prevent excessive volatility, these exchanges set daily upward and downward price fluctuation limits for each stock, based on the previous day’s closing price. Although transactions may continue at the upward or downward limit price if the limit price is reached on a particular trading day, no transactions may take place outside these limits. Consequently, an investor wishing to sell at a price above or below the relevant daily limit may not be able to sell his or her shares at such price on a particular trading day, or at all.

 

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(17) Foreign exchange fluctuations may affect the dollar value of our ADSs and dividends payable to holders of our ADSs

 

Market prices for our ADSs may fall if the value of the yen declines against the U.S. dollar. In addition, the U.S. dollar amount of cash dividends and other cash payments made to holders of our ADSs would be reduced if the value of the yen declines against the U.S. dollar.

 

Item 4. Information on Kyocera Corporation and its Consolidated Subsidiaries

 

A. History and Development of Kyocera Corporation and its Consolidated Subsidiaries

 

Kyocera Corporation is a joint stock corporation that was incorporated under the laws of Japan in 1959 with the name Kyoto Ceramic Kabushiki Kaisha. Its name was changed to Kyocera Kabushiki Kaisha (or Kyocera Corporation) in 1982. Our corporate headquarters is at 6 Takeda Tobadono-cho, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto 612-8501, Japan. Our telephone number is +81-75-604-3500.

 

Our business originally consisted of the manufacture of ceramic parts for electronic equipment. In the 1960’s, we expanded our business and technology horizontally into the design and production of fine ceramic parts, ceramic integrated circuit (“IC”) packages and electronic components. In the 1970’s, we began to produce consumer-related products, including cutting tools, ceramics for medical and dental uses, jewelry and solar energy products.

 

In the 1980’s, we diversified into new strategic fields. In 1982, we merged with Cybernet Electronics Corporation, a telecommunications equipment manufacturer in which we had made an equity investment three years earlier. We expanded into another new business through the acquisition of Yashica Co., Ltd., a camera and camera lens manufacturer. We also played a leading role in the establishment of DDI Corporation (currently KDDI Corporation), which has become one of Japan’s leading providers of telecommunications services. In 1989, we gained a presence in the electronic connector market through our acquisition of Elco International Corporation (currently Kyocera Elco Corporation).

 

In the 1990’s, we strengthened our position as an internationally integrated electronic components manufacturer through our acquisition of AVX Corporation, a maker of capacitors and other passive electronic components, in January 1990.

 

In the middle of the 1990’s, Kyocera developed two main business categories, “the components business,” in which Kyocera provides parts and devices such as fine ceramics parts, semiconductor parts, electronic components and devices and applied ceramic products to mainly electronic equipment manufacturers in IT industrial fields, and “the equipment business,” in which Kyocera manufactures and sells telecommunications and information equipment and optical instruments, such as mobile handsets, PHS-related products, copiers, multifunctional products, printers, and digital still cameras to distributors or directly to customers.

 

Since 2000, we have further enhanced our position as a market leader in telecommunications and information equipment. In February 2000, we acquired the code division multiple access (“CDMA”) mobile phone handset business from QUALCOMM Inc. to create our U.S. subsidiary, Kyocera Wireless Corp. In April 2000, we invested in Kyocera Mita Corporation, a manufacturer of copiers and other document solutions equipment, to make it a wholly-owned subsidiary, and in April 2002, we transferred Kyocera Corporation’s printer business into Kyocera Mita Corporation to further enhance our information equipment business by pursuing group synergies.

 

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In addition, we also strengthened the components business resources to become a leading company in IT-related applications. In August 2002, we made Toshiba Chemical Corporation (currently Kyocera Chemical Corporation) a wholly-owned subsidiary through a share exchange in order to reinforce its electronic components and materials businesses by pursuing group synergies between fine chemical technologies and fine ceramic technologies.

 

With the aim of becoming a more global enterprise and enhancing its profitability, Kyocera has been expanding its production in China through three Chinese production bases located in Shanghai, Dongguan and Guiyang. Kyocera also established a sales company, Kyocera (Tianjin) Sales and Trading Corporation, in March 2003 to cultivate the Chinese market. We are enhancing our marketing ability for both our products manufactured in China as well as our products imported into China. In addition, we established a subsidiary, Kyocera (Tianjin) Solar Energy Co., Ltd. to assemble solar modules, production of which commenced in November 2003, and to respond to market needs swiftly.

 

In August 2003, we made Kinseki, Limited (currently Kyocera Kinseki Corporation), a major producer of artificial crystal-related products, a wholly-owned subsidiary through a share exchange to strengthen our Electronic Device Group. In addition, to further enhance our organic circuit board business by pursuing group synergies, we also made an agreement with IBM Corporation and IBM Japan, Ltd. for the transfer from IBM Japan to Kyocera of its Surface Laminar Circuitry (“SLC”) business and we completed the transfer of IBM Japan’s SLC business from IBM Japan to a newly-established wholly-owned subsidiary, Kyocera SLC Technologies Corporation in August 2003. In April 2004, Kyocera integrated the organic material components business into Kyocera SLC Technologies Corporation and the marketing division of Kyocera Kinseki Corporation was merged into the marketing division of the electronic components of Kyocera Corporation and the manufacturing division of crystal related components of Kyocera Corporation was transferred to Kyocera Kinseki Corporation through corporate splits. In organic circuit board business, Kyocera SLC Technologies Corporation established Kyocera SLC Components Corporation as a manufacturing company of build-up substrates in Ayabe, Kyoto Prefecture in August 2004.

 

In September 2004, Kyocera and Kobe Steel, Ltd. established Japan Medical Materials Corporation (JMM)” and Kyocera Corporation transferred its medical materials business to Japan Medical Materials Corporation through corporate splits. The shareholding ratios of Kyocera and Kobe Steel in Japan Medical Materials Corporation are 77% and 23%, respectively.

 

In October 2004, Kyocera Corporation invested in WILLCOM, Inc. which succeeded PHS business provided by DDI Pocket Inc. to enhance PHS-related business.

 

To meet with strong demand of solar energy products, Kyocera established Kyocera Solar Europe S.R.O. for assembling of solar modules in the Czech Republic in April 2005.

 

For a discussion of recent and current capital expenditures, please see Item 5 “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects “ of this Form 20-F. We have had no recent significant divestitures nor are any significant divestitures currently being made.

 

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B. Business Overview

 

Overview

 

Kyocera is engaged in numerous high-tech fields, from fine ceramic components to electronics devices, equipment, services and networks. Our manufacturing and distribution operations are conducted worldwide. As of March 31, 2006, we had 138 subsidiaries and 5 affiliates outside Japan and 32 subsidiaries and 7 affiliates in Japan. Our customers include individuals, corporations, governments and governmental agencies. For information on our sales by category of activity and information on our sales by geographic area and product segment, see Item 5.A “Operating Results” of this Form 20-F.

 

Business Strategy

 

Kyocera aims to be a company respected by society from the perspective of corporate ethics, while maintaining continuous sales growth and high profitability. To achieve this management vision, Kyocera’s management policy is to further drive business expansion to be “a creative company that continues to grow.” Kyocera promotes efficient resource management and emphasizes consolidated group management and intends to increase corporate value (aggregate market value of its shares) through improvement of business performance.

 

Management Strategies

 

Kyocera promotes “high-value-added diversification” as its management strategy to realize its management policy. By making each individual business highly profitable and maximizing group synergies, Kyocera seeks to propel continuous corporate growth even in a tough, rapidly changing business environment.

 

In particular, Kyocera aims to: (1) exploit competitive advantages; (2) strengthen existing businesses; and (3) create new businesses.

 

(1) Exploit competitive advantages

 

The “Kyocera Philosophy,” a corporate philosophy of Kyocera that is run with faith in the human spirit, and the so-called “amoeba” management system, which has been a unique management system of Kyocera based on small business units and has been a driving force for corporate growth since Kyocera Corporation was founded, as well as its strong financial basis have been Kyocera’s particular competitive advantages in promoting its diversification strategy. Leveraging off this base, Kyocera will focus its energies into two high-growth-potential areas going forward, namely the markets for telecommunications and information processing and for environmental preservation. By establishing further competitive advantages in technology, and sales and marketing, Kyocera intends to improve business performance through its diversification strategy.

 

(2) Strengthen existing businesses

 

Kyocera plans to improve the profitability of each existing business on a daily basis and improve profitability of each reporting segment on a consolidated business by deepening the ties between Kyocera Group companies and each Corporate Business Group of Kyocera Corporation to pursue maximization of synergies. Kyocera will also employ a global strategy in each business and integrate group-wide management resources to establish a structure well-suited to undertake research and development, production and sales at optimal locations. As a result, Kyocera plans to enhance the competitive edge of each of its existing businesses. Kyocera also regularly reviews those businesses that have lost market competitiveness or where significant performance improvement is not expected in the future.

 

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(3) Create new businesses

 

Kyocera will create new core businesses to spur growth over the medium to long term by integrating group-wide management resources and developing new technologies, products and markets. Special emphasis will be placed on generating new business domains in the markets for telecommunications and information processing and for environmental preservation.

 

Challenges

 

Kyocera promotes “high-value-added diversification” as its management strategy, and aims to be a creative company that continues to grow. To achieve this management policy, Kyocera seeks to improve the profitability of its component and equipment businesses, and is working to rapidly attain a pre-tax income ratio of over 15% or more on a group-wide basis. Toward this goal, Kyocera will strive to further strengthen its business foundation.

 

The following outlines specific measures being undertaken to accomplish this goal.

 

(1) Further strengthen “amoeba” management system

 

Kyocera’s aims to further strengthen its management system, in which small business units called “amoeba” independently develop their operations, has been a driving force for corporate growth since Kyocera’s foundation. As Kyocera believes its management system offers a superior competitive advantage over rival companies, Kyocera aims to further strengthen this management system. Kyocera will further seek to thoroughly implement this management system and enhance it in its development, manufacturing, sales and marketing departments, to in turn improve the ability to achieve objectives. In particular, Kyocera is working to strengthen its capabilities in manufacturing, which is the profit center of Kyocera.

 

(2) Translate results of strategic investments and structural reforms into improved performance

 

Kyocera aims to ensure that strategic investment during fiscal 2006 will translate into improved performance in fiscal 2007 and beyond. Concrete initiatives include launching new businesses and improving profitability in the components business, especially the Fine Ceramic Parts Group (ceramic parts for LCD fabrication equipment), the Semiconductor Parts Group (ceramic packages and organic packages) and the Applied Ceramic Products Group (solar energy products and cutting tools). Kyocera also expects structural reforms implemented in fiscal 2006 to lead to increased sales and profit.

 

(3) Promote commercialization of strategic businesses from a medium term perspective

 

Kyocera plans to promote the commercialization of new businesses that will be key growth drivers for Kyocera in the medium term. In addition to pursuing business expansion in prospective markets including ceramic parts for diesel engines, Kyocera aims to realize practical application of next-generation solar cells and solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), and to ensure that these businesses contribute to its business performance in a timely manner.

 

Operations

 

Kyocera classified its operations into eight reporting segments: (1) Fine Ceramic Parts Group, (2) Semiconductor Parts Group, (3) Applied Ceramic Products Group, (4) Electronic Device Group, (5) Telecommunications Equipment Group, (6) Information Equipment Group, (7) Optical Equipment Group, and (8) Others.

 

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Our principal products and services offered in each reporting segment are shown below.

 

(1) Fine Ceramic Parts Group:

 

Information & Telecommunication Components,

Sapphire Substrates,

Semiconductor Process Equipment Components,

LCD Process Equipment Components,

Automotive & ITS related Components,

General Industrial Ceramic Components

 

(2) Semiconductor Parts Group:

 

Ceramic Packages for Surface Mount Devices,

Ceramic Multilayer Package / Multilayer Substrates,

Metallized Products,

Optical Communication Ceramic Packages / Components,

Organic Multilayer Packages / Substrates

 

(3) Applied Ceramic Products Group:

 

Residential & Industrial Photovoltaic Generating Systems,

Solar Cells / Modules,

Cutting Tools, Micro Drills,

Dental & Orthopedic Implants,

Jewelry & Applied Ceramic Related Products

 

(4) Electronic Device Group:

 

Ceramic Chip Capacitors,

Tantalum Capacitors,

Timing Devices (Temperature Compensated Crystal Oscillators (TCXOs),

Voltage Controlled Oscillators (VCOs)),

RF Modules,

Ceramic Resonators / Filters,

Thermal Printheads,

LED Printheads,

Amorphous Silicon Drums,

Liquid Crystal Displays,

Connectors

 

(5) Telecommunications Equipment Group:

 

CDMA Mobile Phone Handsets,

PHS Related Products (PHS handsets, PHS Base Stations, High Speed Wireless Data Transfer Systems)

 

(6) Information Equipment Group:

 

ECOSYS Non-cartridge Printers and Copiers,

Digital Network Multi-function Products

 

(7) Optical Equipment Group:

 

Optical Modules,

Lenses

 

(8) Others:

 

Chemical Materials for Electronic Components,

Insulators, Resin Products,

Telecommunications Network Systems Business,

Computer Network System Business,

IT solutions Services Business,

Consulting Business,

Leasing Business,

Hotel Business,

Realty Develop Business,

Insurance Agent and Travel Agent Business

 

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(1) Fine Ceramic Parts Group

 

Products in this reporting segment are widely used in the computing, telecommunications, automotive and various industrial sectors. These products are made from a variety of ceramic materials, such as silicon carbide, silicon nitrides and zirconia as well as alumina, utilizing their characteristics of heat resistance, corrosion resistance and wear resistance.

 

Products Kyocera develops, manufactures and sells in this reporting segment include substrates, which are thin ceramic bases used by manufacturers for hybrid integrated circuit (“IC”) foundations. Kyocera also produces substrates for thermal printheads, ceramic/alumina tape substrates for thin film chip resistors, substrate for HDD thin film magnetic heads, parts for LCD fabrication equipment, sapphire substrates for LCD projectors and LEDs, parts for semiconductor fabrication equipment, mechanical seals for pumps, engine components for the automobile industry, friction tight discs and thread guides for yarn texturing machines in the textile industry, rings for fishing rods, nozzles and parts for paper-making machinery.

 

(2) Semiconductor Parts Group

 

Kyocera develops, manufactures and sells inorganic (ceramic) and organic packages in this reporting segment. Ceramic packages have the characteristics of being air and water tight and corrosion resistance and also having the ability to dissipate heat efficiently. In addition, they have a superior capacity for use in high frequency and embedded passive components. Kyocera develops, produces and sells ceramic packages for ICs or other semiconductors and electronic components.

 

The most common types of the ceramic IC packages Kyocera develops, makes and sales are multilayer packages, including surface mount device (“SMD”) packages and pin grid arrays. Kyocera also develops, produces and sells opto-electronic packages and ceramic parts for fiber-optic communications connectors. SMD packages are used for surface acoustic wave (“SAW”) filters and oscillators, which are mostly inserted into mobile handsets. Pin grid arrays are sold to manufacturers of MPUs and of other logic ICs, which are principally inserted into information equipment and peripherals. Kyocera also produces ceramic packages for charge-coupled-devices (“CCDs”) and complementary metal oxide semiconductor (“CMOS”) devices, which are mainly used in camera-equipped mobile phone handsets.

 

In the organic package business, Kyocera established a specialized high density organic circuit board manufacturer, Kyocera SLC Technologies Corporation, which develops, produces and sells system in a package (“SiP”) used in miniature and high functional electronic equipment such as mobile handsets, digital still cameras and mobile music players and organic packages for high-end application specific integrated circuits (“ASICs”). It also produces and sells organic package for next generation micro processor units (“MPUs”) and its peripheral devices for digital consumer equipment.

 

(3) Applied Ceramic Products Group

 

This reporting segment consists of four product lines: 1) Solar Energy Products, 2) Cutting Tools, 3) Dental and Orthopedic Implants, 4) Jewelry and Applied Ceramic Related Products.

 

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1) Solar Energy Products

 

Kyocera develops, manufactures and sells a solar cell and module, applied solar cell products and solar photovoltaic systems for generating electricity in residential homes and public facilities. We are expanding our solar cell production capacity in Japan and commenced assembly of solar modules by Kyocera (Tianjin) Solar Energy Co., Ltd in China, which was established as our manufacture and sales subsidiary of solar modules in May 2003. In addition, Kyocera constructed a solar module assemble facility, Kyocera Solar, Inc. Mexico Plant in Tijuana, Mexico, for the U.S market in October 2004. To increase sales in Europe, Kyocera established a new plant for solar modules in the Czech Republic in April 2005.

 

2) Cutting Tools

 

Kyocera produces cutting tools for metal processing in industrial production, particularly in the automotive industry. To expand its cutting tools business, Kyocera Corporation acquired Tycom Corporation (currently Kyocera Tycom Corporation, a consolidated subsidiary), which was a U.S. major manufacturer of carbide cutting tools for the printed circuit board industry in January 2001. Kyocera aims to be a market leader in cutting tools business by pursuing synergies between Kyocera Tycom Corporation and Kyocera Corporation in worldwide manufacturing and sales channels.

 

3) Dental and Orthopedic Implants

 

Kyocera established Japan Medical Materials Corporation with Kobe Steel, Ltd. by integrating the medical material businesses in September 2004. Japan Medical Materials Corporation produces a wide range of orthopedic and dental applications such as dental and orthopedic implants, artificial knee joint replacement systems, and ceramic materials helping heal hip fractures by combinations of materials, processing technologies of ceramics and titanium alloys and integrating business resources such as development, manufacturing, marketing and sales channels with Kyocera and Kobe Steel, Ltd.

 

4) Jewelry and Applied Ceramic Related Products

 

Recrystallized jewelry comprises mainly synthetic emeralds, alexandrines and rubies. These stones are manufactured using a single crystal growth technology developed by us, and are chemically and physically equivalent to natural stones. We introduced recrystallized jewelry products to meet consumer needs and to cultivate our sales network. Kyocera also produces applied ceramic related products such as kitchen knives utilizing ceramic characteristics of wear resistance and corrosion resistance from acid and alkalinity.

 

(4) Electronic Device Group

 

Kyocera develops, manufactures and sells high quality and cost competitive electronic components and devices for the telecommunications and information processing industry. This field creates demand for miniaturization, low voltage, high frequency and low energy consumption, and we produce high-value-added products such as miniature ceramic capacitors with high capacitance capacitors, tantalum capacitors, miniature timing devices like a temperature compensated crystal oscillators (“TCXOs”) or voltage-controlled oscillators (“VCOs”), and high frequency modules for mobile phone handsets and PCs. We also produce thin-film products such as thermal printheads, amorphous silicon drums and LCDs for audio visual electronic equipment, office automation equipment and industrial equipment.

 

We are strengthening our manufacturing and sales in China with enhance price competition and cultivation of new markets. We established a new manufacturing subsidiary and commenced production of ceramic capacitors and timing devices in Shanghai in fiscal 2001. In fiscal 2004, we established a sales company in Tianjin and started marketing our products made both in China and around the world through this company with expanded sales in China.

 

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To expand this reporting segment business, we are pursuing the synergies with subsidiaries. AVX Corporation, which produces and markets ceramic capacitors, tantalum capacitors and other passive components for telecommunications and information equipment, has a global manufacturing and sales network. AVX Corporation is a major contributor to our Electronic Device Group sales and pursues synergies with development and manufacturing in our ceramic capacitor business. In our timing device business, Kyocera Corporation acquired Kinseki, Limited (currently Kyocera Kinseki Corporation, a consolidated subsidiary) through a share exchange in August 2003. The marketing division of Kyocera Kinseki Corporation was merged into the marketing division of the electronic components of Kyocera Corporation and the manufacturing division of crystal related components of Kyocera Corporation was transferred to Kyocera Kinseki Corporation through corporate splits to pursue synergies in development, manufacture and sales in April 2004.

 

(5) Telecommunications Equipment Group

 

This reporting segment includes CDMA mobile phone handsets, PDC mobile phone handsets and PHS-related products such as PHS handsets and base stations. These products are produced and distributed mainly for KDDI Corporation and WILLCOM, Inc., as well as for other Asian and U.S. telecommunication service providers. KDDI Corporation is a telecommunications service company, in which we made an equity investment when it was founded in 1984, when the telecommunications business, which had previously been monopolized by a national telephone company, was opened to private companies. KDDI Corporation and its subsidiaries are currently engaged in providing domestic and international telephone services and cellular services. WILLCOM, Inc., former DDI Pocket Inc., was established in February 2005, and provides PHS services. Our shareholder ratio in WILLCOM, Inc. is 30%.

 

One of our major areas in the Telecommunications Equipment Group is cellular handsets, and we focus on the CDMA mobile phone handsets. This technology has become one of the fastest growing mobile phone protocols. We acquired CDMA mobile phone handset business of Qualcomm Inc. and established Kyocera Wireless Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary in February 2000.

 

In addition, we established a joint venture, Kyocera Zhenhua Communication Equipment Co., Ltd., which develops, manufactures, sells and provides after servicing for CDMA mobile phone handsets in Guiyang City in China in December 2001. It commenced production of CDMA mobile phone handsets for China in January 2002. We established Kyocera Wireless (INDIA) PVT. LTD., a subsidiary of developing software for CDMA mobile phone handsets in June 2003.

 

In May 2005, we decided to outsource the manufacturing division of Kyocera Wireless Corp. to Flextronics International Ltd., a leading provider of electronics manufacturing services. With regard to telecommunications equipment, we aim to become a leader in the CDMA market by pursuing a global marketing strategy with bases in Japan, the United States and China, and to optimize our global product development and production structure.

 

The other major area in the Telecommunications Equipment Group is the PHS-related business. We are expanding this business by cultivating new markets overseas. Specifically, we seek to expand sales of mobile PHS systems through the expansion of PHS mobile handsets and base stations in China. We are spreading this PHS system to other Asian countries as well as promoting new PHS mobile phone handsets and base stations which meet the high speed data transmission services offered in Japan. We also promote wireless Internet systems, which enable internet services to be used at broadband speed with wireless technology. By promoting these businesses in the appropriate markets, we expect to increase sales of PHS related products.

 

(6) Information Equipment Group

 

The major products in this reporting segment comprise page printers, digital copiers and multifunction products. Our products are marketed under the name of “ECOSYS” and have a long life cycle and cartridge-free technology utilizing our thin film products, amorphous silicon drums.

 

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In April 2000, Kyocera Mita Corporation became our wholly-owned subsidiariy. Kyocera Corporation’s ECOSYS printer unit was merged into this subsidiary, enabling us to build a unified presence in the document solutions business. Further efficiencies have resulted from the merger of our printer and copier sales operations with those of Kyocera Mita Corporation. We have enhanced our product line through the standardization of engines between the printers and MFPs. We established a new plant, Kyocera Mita Office Equipment (Dongguan) Co., Ltd in Dongguan, China mainly to strengthen price competitiveness.

 

We expect strong demand for color printers, copiers and MFPs. We are focused on expanding our comprehensive color-capable product line up of printers, copiers and MFPs with more inexpensive running cost, as well as monochrome products.

 

(7) Optical Equipment Group

 

The major products in this reporting segment include optical modules and lenses. We plan to expand application of optical modules for projectors and bar code readers.

 

(8) Others

 

This reporting segment includes revenues from telecommunication network systems, financial services such as leasing and credit financing, office leasing, and other services in Japan and Asia. This segment also develops, manufactures and sells electronic component materials, electric insulators and synthetic resin molded parts.

 

Kyocera Leasing Co., Ltd. is principally involved in providing credit financing services and commercial leasing services for copiers, MFPs and other equipment.

 

Kyocera Communication Systems Co., Ltd. operates total telecommunications network system business, from system development to design, construction and maintenance services. Kyocera Communication Systems Co., Ltd. is also expanding its data center services for mobile content distribution services and IT solutions services for business users by developing new products featuring network services as well as system integration services.

 

Kyocera Chemical Corporation, which joined Kyocera in August 2002, mainly produces electronic component materials. We will develop new products by pursuing the synergies with fine chemical technologies and our components technologies such as the Electronic Device Group.

 

Sales and Distribution

 

Our products are marketed worldwide by our sales personnel, as well as through sales companies within our group, compensated solely on a commission basis, and by independent distributors. We have regional sales and design application personnel in strategic locations to provide technical and sales support for independent manufacturers’ representatives and independent distributors. We believe that this combination of distribution channels leads to a high level of market penetration and efficient coverage of our customers on a cost-effective basis.

 

Most of all our sales of the Fine Ceramic Parts Group, the Semiconductor Parts Group and the Electronic Device Group are made directly to manufacturers worldwide who incorporate them into their own products. However, cutting tools are sold to distributors and wholesalers. Jewelry sales are made mainly through direct sales shops and agencies in Japan. Sales of consumer solar energy products are made through direct sales shops, as well as through sales distributors. BIOCERAM (orthopedic and dental implants) are supplied through the distributors to dental clinics and hospitals. In the Telecommunications Equipment Group, our domestic sales of mobile handsets include sales to KDDI Corporation and PHS handsets to WILLCOM, Inc., and in addition we sell our mobile phone handsets to telecommunication providers directly in overseas markets. The Information Equipment Group markets products such as page printers, copiers and digital multifunctional products both in Japan and abroad under our brand name through distributors and wholesalers. In the Optical Equipment Group, optical modules for mobile phone handsets are marketed directly to mobile phone handset manufacturers. Financing and leasing services which are included in Others are provided to companies and individuals in Japan. Office renting and other services are provided to companies, mainly in Japan. Our telecommunication network engineering and data center services are provided directly to customers and users.

 

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Domestic sales are made in the yen, while overseas sales are made in a variety of currencies, but predominantly in the U.S. dollars and Euro.

 

Sources and Availability of Raw Materials and Supplies

 

We purchase a variety of raw materials. The principal ones in terms of volume are alumina (a mineral substance produced from bauxite and from which aluminum is made), zircon, titania, silicon nitride, tungsten and tantalum, used for the products of the Fine Ceramic Parts Group, the Semiconductor Parts Group, the Applied Fine Ceramics Group and the Electronic Device Group. Each of these materials is subject to price volatility. In terms of costs, gold, which is primarily used in the production process for IC packages in the Semiconductor Parts Group is also subject to price volatility, and is the most significant raw material. Our policy is to protect ourselves from fluctuations in the price of gold by keeping a small gold inventory and by pricing products generally on a “gold adder” system so that customers pay for the gold contained in semiconductor parts at a rate which approximates our cost. Our main supplies are ICs, Liquid Crystals and Printed Circuit Board, used for the products of the Electronic Device Group, the Telecommunications Equipment Group and the Information Equipment Group, such as thin-film devices, mobile handsets, printers, copiers and optical instruments.

 

As we typically receive our supply of these raw materials and supplies from several large companies which we believe are reliable sources, we have not generally experienced, and we do not anticipate experiencing in the near future, any difficulty in obtaining raw materials or supplies, or in meeting fuel requirements. Although oil prices have risen recently, the increases have not materially affected our purchase price of certain oil-related supplies.

 

During fiscal 2006, no single supplier accounted for a significant portion of our consolidated purchases of raw materials and supplies. However, a number of components and sub-assemblies used in our products are sourced to sole source suppliers. These tend to be complex, precision components that are sometimes produced only by a limited number of suppliers or a single supplier that may own intellectual property related to the component or sub-assembly.

 

Patents and Licenses

 

Our success and competitive position depend on a number of significant patents, licenses and trade secrets relating to our manufacturing and sales processes and products. The following table sets forth information, as of March 31, 2006, with respect to our significant patents and license agreements.

 

(a) License permitted to produce products

 

Counterparty


  

Country


  

Contents


  

Period


Qualcomm Incorporated    United States    License under patents regarding mobile phone    From August 31, 1996 to patent expiration
Interdigital Group    United States    License under patents regarding mobile phone    From July 1, 2004 to June 30, 2009
Openwave Systems Inc.    United States    Master Browser License regarding mobile phones using CDMA    From September 27, 2005 to September 27, 2006
Monotype Imaging    Japan    License under patents regarding font software    From June 1, 2001 to May 31, 2006

 

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(b) License – cross agreements

 

Counterparty


   Country

  

Contents


  

Period


Motorola, Inc.    United States    License under patents regarding mobile phone    From July 1, 2004 to June 30, 2009
Lucent Technologies International Sales Limited    United States    License under patents regarding mobile phone    From September 26, 2005 to December 31, 2009
Nokia Corporation    Finland    License under patents regarding mobile phone    From October 1, 2005 to September 30, 2008
Canon Incorporated    Japan    License under patents regarding electric photo printer    From April 1, 2002 to patent expiration

 

Competitive Position

 

(1) Fine Ceramic Parts Group

 

Products in this reporting segment are highly customized, and major customers are primarily secondary manufacturers who incorporate our products in their own products. Therefore, our competitive position largely depend on maintaining close contacts with, and being the first to meet the needs of, secondary manufacturers. We compete with different ceramic manufacturers depending on the product.

 

(2) Semiconductor Parts Group

 

In this reporting segment, our goal is to further strengthen our competitive position in both of ceramic and organic materials package business in the world market. To meet with latest technologies, we are strengthening our R&D activities to develop new applications for telecommunication areas such as wireless and optical communications. In the ceramic package field, surface mount device packages for electronic components are one example. We believe that we can maintain our market leadership in the area of ceramic packages and satisfy customer needs by applying our technological and managerial expertise.

 

In the organic package field, we are relatively a late comer and compete with plastic electronic device manufacturers. To strengthen our technological expertise and expand our business, we acquired the Surface Laminar Circuitry business of IBM Japan in September 2003 and established Kyocera SLC Technologies Corporation (KST). We integrated our management resources into KST in April 2004, and Kyocera SLC Components Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of KST established a new plant in Kyoto, Japan in June 2005. We aim to strengthen our organic material components business going forward by fully utilizing this new plant.

 

(3) Applied Ceramic Products Group

 

The awareness of the importance of environmental protection is evident worldwide. We are the third largest manufacturer of solar cells and modules in the world. To be a market leader in the solar energy business, we expanded out solar cell production line with 20MW capacity per month and established a new production plant of solar modules in Czech Republic during fiscal 2006. We are the major supplier of cutting tools, and our major application of cutting tools is for the automotive industry. Although we have a lot of global competitors, we introduced new facilities to handle new material processing and started a vertically integrated production. We intend to expand our market share on a global basis by utilizing its vertically integrated production line.

 

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(4) Electronic Device Group

 

We are a unique electronic device manufacturer compared with our competitors which specialize in passive components. We produce not only passive components but also crystal related products, connectors and thin-film devices. In this reporting segment, one of our advantages is that we can supply a variety of components. However, the products in this reporting segment are largely standardized, so competition is based largely on price, quality and delivery time.

 

Kyocera is one of the major manufacturers of capacitors and timing devices. Most of our competitors in this reporting segment are Japanese manufacturers. However, AVX Corporation, a U.S. subsidiary, competes with overseas manufacturers in producing tantalum capacitors. Our thin-film products, such as thermal printheads, or amorphous silicon drums, are market-leading products in applications for printers and copiers.

 

We are also continuing to seek synergies within Kyocera and reduce costs in order to expand this business. We strive to optimize our development, production, and sales throughout our global network, to reduce manufacturing costs, and to enhance price competitiveness. Specifically, these goals can be achieved by maximizing our production capability of Chinese production bases.

 

(5) Telecommunications Equipment Group

 

In the Japanese market, our main competitors for mobile phone handsets are Japanese manufacturers despite overseas manufacturers just entered into the market. In the mobile phone handsets market outside Japan, Kyocera competes with U.S., European and Asian manufacturers. We are currently a middle-class supplier in terms of sales volume on a global CDMA handsets market. During fiscal 2006, Kyocera outsourced its CDMA handset production at Kyocera Wireless Corp. to Flextronics International Ltd. to reduce manufacturing costs and improve profitability. In terms of PHS-related products in Japan, our main competitors are Japanese manufacturers, and we directly compete with local manufacturers in China.

 

(6) Information Equipment Group

 

We compete with both Japanese and overseas manufacturers in the information equipment such as copiers, printers and multifunction products (MFPs). Our products are based on unique “ECOSYS” concept that provide longer lifecycle of engine and inexpensive operating costs, and realize non-cartridge systems by utilizing own highly durable amorphous silicon photoconductive drums. ECOSYS concept is widely used in our printers, copiers and MFPs as well as monochrome and color, low speed to high speed models.

 

(7) Optical Equipment Group

 

Japanese manufacturers are our main competitors for our camera modules for mobile phone handsets. We focus on introducing high-value-added smaller optical modules for mobile phone handsets with higher pixels by integrating our in-house lens design and technologies in production, electronic device as well as in semiconductor parts.

 

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Government Regulation

 

There are some governmental regulations specifically applicable to industries in which Kyocera operates. However, we do not believe that such governmental regulations currently have material effects on Kyocera’s business.

 

C. Organizational Structure

 

We had 182 subsidiaries and affiliates as of March 31, 2006. Our management structure is based on a business segment structure. Therefore, the management of each segment is conducted uniformly regardless of whether our operations are conducted by the parent company or by one of our subsidiaries.

 

The following table sets forth information, as of March 31, 2006, with respect to our significant subsidiaries.

 

Name


  

Country of
Incorporation


   Percentage
held by
Kyocera


   

Main Business


(1) Fine Ceramic Parts Group                
Kyocera Industrial Ceramics Corporation    United States    100.00 %   Manufacture and sale of fine ceramic-related products and sale of electronic devices
Kyocera Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd.    Singapore    100.00 %   Sale of fine ceramic-related products and electronic devices
Kyocera Fineceramics GmbH    Germany    100.00 %   Sale of fine ceramic-related products, thin-film devices and solar energy products
(2) Semiconductor Parts Group                
Kyocera SLC Technologies Corporation    Japan    100.00 %   Manufacture and sale of organic multilayer printed circuit board
Kyocera SLC Components Corporation    Japan    100.00 %   Manufacture of organic multilayer printed circuit board
Kyocera America, Inc.    United States    100.00 %   Manufacture and sale of semiconductor parts
Kyocera Mexicana, S.A. de C.V.    Mexico    100.00 %   Manufacture of ceramic-related products and solar modules
Shanghai Kyocera Electronics Co., Ltd.    China    100.00 %   Manufacture and sale of semiconductor parts and electronic devices

 

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Table of Contents

Name


  

Country of
Incorporation


   Percentage
held by
Kyocera


   

Main Business


(3) Applied Ceramic Products Group                
Kyocera Solar Corporation    Japan    100.00 %   Sale of solar energy products
Japan Medical Materials Corporation    Japan    77.00 %   Development, manufacture and sale of medical materials and equipment
Kyocera Solar, Inc.    United States    100.00 %   Manufacture and sale of solar energy products
Kyocera Tycom Corporation    United States    100.00 %   Manufacture and sale of micro drills
Kyocera (Tianjin) Solar Energy Co., Ltd.    China    90.00 %   Manufacture of solar energy products
Kyocera Precision Tools Korea Co., Ltd.    Korea    90.00 %   Manufacture and sale of cutting tools
Kyocera Solar Europe S.R.O.    Czech    100.00 %   Manufacture of solar energy products
(4) Electronic Device Group                
Kyocera Kinseki Corporation    Japan    100.00 %   Manufacture and sale of electronic devices
Kyocera Elco Corporation    Japan    100.00 %   Manufacture and sale of electronic devices
Kyocera Display Institute Co., Ltd.    Japan    100.00 %   R&D of organic electro luminescence display
AVX Corporation    United States    70.73 %   Manufacture and sale of electronic devices
Kyocera Elco Korea Co., Ltd.    Korea    100.00 %   Manufacture and sale of electronic devices
Kyocera Elco Hong Kong Ltd.    Hong Kong    100.00 %   Sale of electronic devices
Kyocera (Tianjin) Sales & Trading Corporation    China    90.00 %   Sale of electronic devices, semiconductor parts and information equipment

 

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Table of Contents

Name


  

Country of
Incorporation


   Percentage
held by
Kyocera


   

Main Business


(5) Telecommunications Equipment Group                
Kyocera Wireless Corp.    United States    100.00 %   Manufacture and sale of telecommunications equipment
Kyocera Wireless (India) PVT. Ltd.    India    100.00 %   R&D of telecommunications equipment
Kyocera Telecommunications Research Corporation    United States    100.00 %   R&D of telecommunications equipment
Kyocera Zhenhua Communication Equipment Co., Ltd.    China    70.00 %   Manufacture and sale of telecommunications equipment
(6) Information Equipment Group                
Kyocera Mita Corporation    Japan    100.00 %   Manufacture and sale of information equipment
Kyocera Mita Japan Corporation    Japan    100.00 %   Sale of information equipment
Kyocera Mita America, Inc.    United States    100.00 %   Sale of information equipment
Kyocera Mita Office Equipment (Dongguan) Co., Ltd.    China    90.00 %   Manufacture and sale of information equipment
Kyocera Mita Europe B.V.    Netherlands    100.00 %   Sale of information equipment
Kyocera Mita Deutschland GmbH    Germany    100.00 %   Sale of information equipment

 

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Table of Contents

Name


   Country of
Incorporation


   Percentage
held by
Kyocera


   

Main Business


(7) Optical Equipment Group                
Kyocera Optec Co., Ltd.    Japan    100.00 %   Manufacture and sale of optical equipment
Kyocera Yashica do Brasil Indústria e Comércio Ltda.    Brazil    100.00 %   Manufacture and sale of optical equipment and cutting tools
Yashica Hong Kong, Co., Limited    Hong Kong    100.00 %   Intermediary services as to sale of optical equipment
Universal Optical Industries, Ltd.    Hong Kong    100.00 %   Manufacture and sale of optical equipment, cutting tools and thin-film devices
Dongguan Shilong Kyocera Optics Co., Ltd.    China    90.00 %   Manufacture and sale of optical equipment, cutting tools and thin-film devices
(8) Others                
Kyocera Leasing Company Limited    Japan    100.00 %   Various leasing services, property management and financing services
Kyocera Communication Systems Co., Ltd.    Japan    76.30 %   Provision of IT services
Kyocera Realty Development Co., Ltd.    Japan    100.00 %   Real estate services
Hotel Kyocera Co., Ltd.    Japan    100.00 %   Hotel management and operations
Hotel Princess Kyoto Co., Ltd.    Japan    100.00 %   Hotel management and operations
Kyocera International Co., Ltd.    Japan    100.00 %   Insurance and travel agency
Kyocera Chemical Corporation    Japan    100.00 %   Manufacture and sale of electronic materials
Piazza Investment Co., Ltd.    Hong Kong    100.00 %   Real estate leasing
Shanghai Kyocera Realty Development Co., Ltd.    China    100.00 %   Real estate leasing

 

In addition to the above consolidated subsidiaries, Kyocera had 122 other consolidated subsidiaries as of March 31, 2006, including Kyocera International Inc., a wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary which is a holding company established to own Kyocera’s subsidiaries in North America. Kyocera also had interests in two subsidiaries accounted for by the equity method and 12 affiliates accounted for by the equity method as of March 31, 2006.

 

AVX Corporation, in our Electronic Device Group, is one of our most significant subsidiaries. Most of the electronic devices we produce for overseas sales are distributed by AVX Corporation by utilizing AVX Corporation’s wide range of marketing channels. In addition, we market passive components produced by AVX Corporation in the Japanese market. We also utilize AVX Corporation’s manufacturing process for ceramic capacitors to improve productivity and to enhance our competitiveness. In addition, AVX Corporation introduced our materials technologies into its ceramic capacitor production. We have been seeking better ways to cooperate in expanding our electronic device businesses. Currently, four of our directors are members of AVX Corporation’s board of directors and AVX Corporation’s chief executive officer is one of our directors. Within the Electronic Device Group, we have a close relationship with AVX Corporation in marketing, manufacturing, and research and development, and we are seeking and pursuing synergies to be a leading passive component manufacturer. AVX Corporation posted net income of $81,752 thousand in fiscal 2006, compared to $55,732 thousand in fiscal 2005, and its strong performance contributed significantly to Kyocera’s results of operations and financial condition for fiscal 2005 and 2006. See Item 5.A “Operating Results” of this Form 20-F.

 

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D. Property, Plants and Equipment

 

Our manufacturing operations are conducted in Japan, the United States, Mexico, El Salvador, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, the Czech Republic, Singapore, South Korea, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Israel, Thailand and Philippines. As of March 31, 2006, we had property, plants and equipment with a net book value of ¥285,346 million ($2,439 million). During the five years ended March 31, 2006, we invested a total of ¥303,629 million ($2,595 million) for additions to property, plants and equipment. Our property, plants and equipment are not subject to any material encumbrances or environmental issues.

 

The following table sets forth information, as of March 31, 2006, with respect to our manufacturing facilities with floor space of more than 100,000 square feet.

 

Name of Plant


  

Location


   Status

   Floor Space

   Lease
Expires


  

Principal Products Manufactured


               (in thousands
of square feet)
         

Japan

                        

Hokkaido Kitami Plant

   Kitami, Hokkaido    Owned    295         Fine ceramic parts, mobile phone handsets

Fukushima Tanagura Plant

   Higashi-Shirakawa, Fukushima    Owned    126         Telecommunications equipment

Koriyama Plant

   Koriyama, Fukushima    Owned    192         Electronic parts and materials

Nagano Okaya Plant

   Okaya, Nagano    Owned    384         Fine ceramic parts, Electronic components

Kawasaki Plant

   Kawasaki, Kanagawa    Owned    163         Electronic parts and materials

Kawaguchi Plant

   Kawaguchi, Saitama    Owned    298         Electronic parts and materials

Ise Plant

   Ise, Mie    Owned    102         Solar modules

Tamaki Plant

   Watarai, Mie    Owned    200         Non-cartridge printers and copiers, digital network multi function equipment

Shiga Gamo Plant

   Higashi-Ohmi, Shiga    Owned    724         Fine ceramic parts, Semiconductor parts

Shiga Yokaichi Plant

   Higashi-Ohmi, Shiga    Owned    1,417         Fine ceramic parts, Electronic components, Solar cells, Cutting tools

Hirakata Plant

   Hirakata, Osaka    Owned    446         Non-cartridge printers and copiers, digital network multi function equipment

Kagoshima Sendai Plant

   Satsuma-Sendai, Kagoshima    Owned    1,522         Fine ceramic parts, Semiconductor parts, Electronic components

Kagoshima Kokubu Plant

   Kirishima, Kagoshima    Owned    2,090         Fine ceramic parts, Semiconductor parts, Electronic components

Kagoshima Hayato Plant

   Kirishima, Kagoshima    Owned    278         Electronic components

Yamagata Higashine Plant

   Higashine, Yamagata    Owned    379         Electronic components

Shiga Yasu Plant

   Yasu, Shiga    Owned    146         Organic multilayer printed circuit boards

Ayabe Plant

   Ayabe, Kyoto    Owned    291         Organic multilayer printed circuit boards

 

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Table of Contents

Name of Plant


  

Location


   Status

   Floor Space

   Lease
Expires


  

Principal Products Manufactured


               (in thousands
of square feet)
         

United States

                        

Balboa Plant

   San Diego, California    Owned    300         Semiconductor parts

Mountain Home Plant

   Mountain Home, North Carolina    Owned    134         Cutting tools

Myrtle Plant

   Myrtle Beach, South Carolina    Owned    628         Electronic components

Olean Plant

   Olean, New York    Owned    110         Electronic components

Raleigh Plant

   Raleigh, North Carolina    Owned    206         Electronic components

South Carolina Plant

   Fountain Inn, South Carolina    Owned    300         Non-cartridge printers and copiers, digital network multi function equipment

Mexico

                        

Tijuana Plant

   Tijuana    Owned    117         Semiconductor parts, Solar modules

El Salvador

                        

San Salvador Plant

   San Salvador    Owned    306         Electronic components

United Kingdom

                        

Paignton Plant

   Paignton, England    Owned    128         Electronic components

Coleraine Plant

   Coleraine, Northern Ireland    Owned    185         Electronic components

Germany

                        

Betzdorf Plant

   Betzdorf    Owned    102         Electronic components

France

                        

Saint-Apollinaire Plant

   Saint-Apollinaire    Leased    321    2010    Electronic components

Czech Republic

                        

Lanskroun Plant

   Lanskroun    Leased    239    2017    Electronic components

Lanskroun Plant

   Lanskroun    Owned    281         Electronic components

Uherske Hradiste Plant

   Uherske Hradiste    Owned    319         Electronic components

Hong Kong

                        

Hong Kong Plant

   Hong Kong    Leased    183    2008    Non-cartridge printers and copiers, digital network multi function equipment

 

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Name of Plant


  

Location


   Status

   Floor Space

   Lease
Expires


  

Principal Products Manufactured


               (in thousands
of square feet)
         
China                         

Tianjin Plant

   Tianjin    Owned    507         Electronic components

Shilong Plant

   Dongguan, Canton    Leased    2,331    2020    Non-cartridge printers and copiers, digital network multi function equipment

Shilong Plant

   Dongguan, Canton    Leased    156    2008    Non-cartridge printers and copiers, digital network multi function equipment

Shilong Plant

   Dongguan, Canton    Leased    776    2016   

Optical Equipment,

Cutting tools

Shanghai Pudong Plant

   Shanghai    Leased    863    2026   

Semiconductor parts,

Electronic components

Malaysia                         

Penang Plant

   Penang    Owned    161         Electronic components
Singapore                         

Singapore Plant

   Singapore    Owned    128         Electronic parts and materials
Thailand                         

Thailand Plant

   Thailand    Owned    264         Electronic components
Philippines                         

Philippines Plant

   Philippines    Owned    135         Electronic components

 

Item 4A. Unresolved Staff Comments

 

We are a large accelerated filer as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. There are no written comments which have been provided by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding our periodic reports under that Act not less than 180 days before the end of the fiscal year ended March 31, 2006 and which remain unresolved as of the date of the filing of this Form 20-F with the Commission.

 

Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects

 

A. Operating Results

 

You should read the discussion of our financial condition and results of operations together with our consolidated financial statements and information included in this Form 20-F. This discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including, but not limited to, those set forth under Item 3.D “Risk Factor” and elsewhere in this Form 20-F.

 

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Overview

 

Kyocera develops, produces and distributes various kinds of products globally for the telecommunications and information processing and environmental protection markets. Kyocera Corporation was established in 1959 as a manufacturer of ceramic parts for electronic equipment and has been expanding and diversifying its business mainly through active merger and acquisition activities, as well as applying its ceramic technologies to the areas of semiconductor parts, electronic components, telecommunication, metal processing, medical and dental implants and solar energy fields. Kyocera develops, produces and distributes a variety of parts and devices for electronic equipment such as computers, auto-mobiles, printers and copiers as well as consumer electronic products such as mobile phone handsets. Kyocera earns revenue and income and generates cash from sales of these products.

 

Kyocera divides its worldwide operations into eight reporting segments for its financial reporting purposes: the Fine Ceramic Parts Group, the Semiconductor Parts Group, the Applied Ceramic Products Group, the Electronic Device Group, the Telecommunications Equipment Group, the Information Equipment Group, the Optical Equipment Group and Others. Kyocera categorizes the Fine Ceramic Parts Group, the Semiconductor Parts Group, the Applied Ceramic Products Group and the Electronic Device Group into one main business referred to “the components business,” and also categorizes the Telecommunications Equipment Group, the Information Equipment Group and the Optical Equipment Group into another main business referred to “the equipment business.”

 

Kyocera’s revenue and profits mostly come through sales of products and providing services in the telecommunications and information processing markets. In the first quarter of fiscal 2006, the business environment was severe in the electronics industry, which is a key market for Kyocera, as recovery in demand was moderate while components prices declined significantly. Nonetheless, the business environment made an about-turn last summer. Not only has production of core digital consumer products such as mobile phone handsets, PCs and digital home appliances expanded remarkably, but demand for related electronic components also maintained an upward trend until the end of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2006.

 

In this market condition, consolidated net sales in fiscal 2006 remained roughly the same as in fiscal 2005, while profits increased due to a substantial improvement in the equipment business as a result of the positive effects of structural reforms.

 

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Results of Operations

 

Fiscal 2006 compared with Fiscal 2005

 

The following table shows a summary of Kyocera’s results of operations for fiscal 2005 and fiscal 2006:

 

     (Yen in millions and U.S. dollars in thousands)

 
     Years ended March 31,

   

Increase

(Decrease)


 
     2005

    2006

   
     Amount

    %

    Amount

    %

    %

 

Net sales

   ¥ 1,180,655     100.0     ¥ 1,181,489     $ 10,098,197     100.0     0.1  

Cost of sales

     855,067     72.4       838,295       7,164,915     71.0     (2.0 )
    


 

 


 


 

 

Gross profit

     325,588     27.6       343,194       2,933,282     29.0     5.4  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     224,620     19.0       239,987       2,051,171     20.3     6.8  
    


 

 


 


 

 

Profit from operations

     100,968     8.6       103,207       882,111     8.7     2.2  

Interest and dividend income

     6,396     0.5       8,968       76,650     0.8     40.2  

Interest expense

     (1,275 )   (0.1 )     (1,301 )     (11,120 )   (0.1 )   —    

Foreign currency transaction gains (losses), net

     2,618     0.2       (316 )     (2,701 )   (0.0 )   —    

Equity in losses of affiliates and unconsolidated subsidiaries

     (1,678 )   (0.1 )     (1,216 )     (10,393 )   (0.1 )   —    

Loss on impairment of investment in an affiliate

     —       —         (3,492 )     (29,846 )   (0.3 )   —    

Gain on sale of investment in an affiliate

     —       —         6,931       59,239     0.6     —    

Gains on exchange for the shares

     —       —         5,294       45,248     0.4     —    

Other, net

     501     0.0       3,313       28,316     0.3     561.3  
    


 

 


 


 

 

       6,562     0.5       18,181       155,393     1.6     177.1  
    


 

 


 


 

 

Income before income taxes and minority interests

     107,530     9.1       121,388       1,037,504     10.3     12.9  

Income taxes

     58,480     4.9       47,303       404,299     4.0     (19.1 )
    


 

 


 


 

 

Income before minority interests

     49,050     4.2       74,085       633,205     6.3     51.0  

Minority interests

     (3,142 )   (0.3 )     (4,389 )     (37,513 )   (0.4 )   —    
    


 

 


 


 

 

Net income

   ¥ 45,908     3.9     ¥ 69,696     $ 595,692     5.9     51.8  
    


 

 


 


 

 

 

Net sales

 

Consolidated net sales in fiscal 2006 increased by ¥834 million ($7 million), or 0.1%, to ¥1,181,489 million ($10,098 million) compared with ¥1,180,655 million in fiscal 2005.

 

In the component business, demand for electronic equipment only showed a slight recovery in the first quarter of fiscal 2006, and performance was affected negatively by a considerable decline in component prices. In the equipment business, structural reforms of the mobile phone handset business at Kyocera Wireless Corp., a U.S. subsidiary, were conducted in the first half of fiscal 2006. At the same time, the camera business of the Optical Equipment Group was considerably reduced. As a result, consolidated net sales in the first half amounted to ¥545,258 million ($4,660 million).

 

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On the other hand, production activities for core digital consumer equipment such as mobile phone handsets, PCs and digital home appliances expanded markedly from last summer. Furthermore, demand for electronic components remained high into the fourth quarter. In addition, the introduction of new mobile phone handsets and PHS-related products coupled with aggressive efforts in expanding sales of printers and digital- multifunction products led to a substantial increase in sales in the equipment business in the second half. Consequently, consolidated net sales in the second half were ¥636,231 million ($5,438 million), which showed a significant increase of ¥90,973 million ($778 million), or 16.7%, compared with the first half.

 

Consolidated net sales in the components business in fiscal 2006 increased by ¥23,272 million ($199 million), or 4.2%, compared with fiscal 2005. In particular, sales in the Applied Ceramic Products Group were strong throughout the year, notably solar energy products and cutting tools. Sales in the Applied Ceramic Products Group resulted in an increase of ¥23,676 million ($202 million), or 25.2%, compared with fiscal 2005.

 

Consolidated net sales in the equipment business decreased by ¥34,476 million ($295 million), or 6.5%, compared with fiscal 2005. Sales in the Telecommunications Equipment Group and the Optical Equipment Group declined by ¥21,883 million ($187 million) and ¥20,829 million ($178 million), or 8.7% and 58.2%, respectively, compared with fiscal 2005, due to continued structural reforms.

 

A detailed analysis and discussion of Kyocera’s net sales by the reporting and the geographic segments are as follows:

 

Net sales by reporting segment

 

The following table shows a breakdown of Kyocera’s total consolidated net sales for fiscal 2005 and fiscal 2006 by the eight reporting segments:

 

     (Yen in millions and U.S. dollars in thousands)

 
     Years ended March 31,

   

Increase

(Decrease)


 
     2005

    2006

   
     Amount

    %

    Amount

    %

    %

 

Fine Ceramic Parts Group

   ¥ 73,711     6.2     ¥ 69,373     $ 592,932     5.9     (5.9 )

Semiconductor Parts Group

     127,960     10.8       135,299       1,156,402     11.4     5.7  

Applied Ceramic Products Group

     93,879     8.0       117,555       1,004,744     9.9     25.2  

Electronic Device Group

     262,997     22.3       259,592       2,218,735     22.0     (1.3 )

Telecommunications Equipment Group

     250,918     21.3       229,035       1,957,564     19.4     (8.7 )

Information Equipment Group

     241,145     20.4       249,381       2,131,461     21.1     3.4  

Optical Equipment Group

     35,776     3.0       14,947       127,752     1.3     (58.2 )

Others

     118,040     10.0       124,974       1,068,154     10.6     5.9  

Adjustments and eliminations

     (23,771 )   (2.0 )     (18,667 )     (159,547 )   (1.6 )   —    
    


 

 


 


 

 

     ¥ 1,180,655     100.0     ¥ 1,181,489     $ 10,098,197     100.0     0.1  
    


 

 


 


 

 

 

(1) Fine Ceramic Parts Group

 

Sales in this reporting segment in fiscal 2006 decreased by ¥4,338 million ($37 million), or 5.9%, to ¥69,373 million ($593 million) compared with ¥73,711 million in fiscal 2005. This decrease was due to less demand for ceramic parts used in semiconductor fabrication equipment than in fiscal 2005, and to decreased sales of sapphire products for LCD projectors resulting from intensified market competition with other substitute materials.

 

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(2) Semiconductor Parts Group

 

Sales in this reporting segment increased by ¥7,339 million ($63 million), or 5.7%, to ¥135,299 million ($1,156 million) compared with ¥127,960 million in fiscal 2005. Demand for ceramic packages for digital consumer products such as mobile phone handsets and digital cameras recovered in the second half. Furthermore, sales of organic packages for servers and digital consumer products increased. Approximately 85% of sales in this reporting segment were sales of ceramic packages.

 

(3) Applied Ceramic Products Group

 

Sales in this reporting segment increased by ¥23,676 million ($202 million), or 25.2%, to ¥117,555 million ($1,005 million) compared with ¥93,879 million in fiscal 2005. This increase was due to strong sales growth recorded in the solar energy business amid an expanding global market spurred by rising environmental awareness. Sales of cutting tools also grew due to healthy production activity in the automobile industry.

 

(4) Electronic Device Group

 

Sales in this reporting segment decreased by ¥3,405 million ($29 million), or 1.3%, to ¥259,592 million ($2,219 million) compared with ¥262,997 million in fiscal 2005. Components demand for digital consumer products such as mobile phone handsets started to recover last summer. However, this was insufficient to compensate for a decline in sales in the first half of fiscal 2006, mainly due to slow sales of thin-film devices resulting from decreased demand for LCDs for mobile phone handsets and crystal related components for digital still cameras and mobile phone handsets. However sales at AVX Corporation, a key subsidiary in this reporting segment, grew steadily, especially in the digital consumer equipment and telecommunications equipment markets.

 

(5) Telecommunications Equipment Group

 

Sales in this reporting segment decreased by ¥21,883 million ($187 million), or 8.7%, to ¥229,035 million ($1,958 million) compared with ¥250,918 million in fiscal 2005. Although domestic sales of new mobile phone handsets and PHS handsets were strong, overseas sales of mobile phone handsets decreased as Kyocera Wireless Corp. was in the process of executing structural reforms in the first half of fiscal 2006. Slow overseas sales of PHS-related products also contributed to the decrease.

 

(6) Information Equipment Group

 

Sales in this reporting segment increased by ¥8,236 million ($70 million), or 3.4%, to ¥249,381 million ($2,131 million) compared with ¥241,145 million in fiscal 2005. This increase reflected the introduction of new printers and digital multifunction products and encouraged sales activities, which contributed to higher sales volume.

 

(7) Optical Equipment Group

 

Sales in this reporting segment decreased by ¥20,829 million ($178 million), or 58.2%, to ¥14,947 million ($128 million) compared with ¥35,776 million in fiscal 2005. The main reason for the considerable decrease was the withdrawal from the digital still camera business as a result of the structural reform of Kyocera’s camera business in fiscal 2005.

 

(8) Others

 

Sales in this reporting segment increased by ¥6,934 million ($59 million), or 5.9%, to ¥124,974 million ($1,068 million) compared with ¥118,040 million in fiscal 2005. The increase was due in part to strong sales recorded in the telecommunications engineering business of Kyocera Communication Systems Co., Ltd. Sales at a subsidiary of Kyocera Communication Systems Co., Ltd., which was newly consolidated in fiscal 2005, also contributed to the overall increase in sales. However, sales of Kyocera Chemical Corporation decreased compared with fiscal 2005 due to slow sales of molding products and flexible print boards.

 

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Net Sales by geographic segment

 

The following table shows a breakdown of Kyocera’s total consolidated net sales for fiscal 2005 and fiscal 2006, distinguishing between domestic and overseas sales and, in respect of overseas sales, showing the geographical areas in which such sales were made:

 

     (Yen in millions and U.S. dollars in thousands)

 
     Years ended March 31,

  

Increase

(Decrease)


 
     2005

   2006

  
     Amount

   %

   Amount

   %

   %

 

Japan

   ¥ 472,417    40.0    ¥ 474,980    $ 4,059,658    40.2    0.5  

United States of America

     248,333    21.0      253,696      2,168,342    21.5    2.2  

Asia

     203,848    17.3      198,731      1,698,556    16.8    (2.5 )

Europe

     175,850    14.9      184,351      1,575,650    15.6    4.8  

Others

     80,207    6.8      69,731      595,991    5.9    (13.1 )
    

  
  

  

  
  

     ¥ 1,180,655    100.0    ¥ 1,181,489    $ 10,098,197    100.0    0.1  
    

  
  

  

  
  

 

Sales in Japan, which comprised 40.2% of consolidated net sales, increased by ¥2,563 million ($22 million), or 0.5%, to ¥474,980 million ($4,060 million) compared with ¥472,417 million in fiscal 2005 due to sales growth in solar energy products, mobile phone handsets and PHS-related products. Overseas sales, which comprised 59.8% of consolidated net sales, decreased by ¥1,729 million ($15 million), or 0.2%, to ¥706,509 million ($6,039 million) compared with ¥708,238 million in fiscal 2005 due primarily to decreased sales in the Telecommunications Equipment Group.

 

Since almost all overseas sales were denominated in the U.S. dollars or Euro, the depreciation of the yen against these currencies during fiscal 2006 increased consolidated net sales by approximately ¥32.2 billion ($275 million) compared with fiscal 2005 after translation into the yen.

 

An increase in sales in Japan was attributed to the strong growth in solar energy products, mobile phone handsets and PHS-related products, combined with steady sales growth in the telecommunications engineering business of Kyocera Communication Systems Co., Ltd., which is based in Japan.

 

Sales in the United States increased by ¥5,363 million ($46 million), or 2.2%, to ¥253,696 million ($2,168 million) compared with ¥248,333 million in fiscal 2005. Although sales in the Telecommunications Equipment Group in the United States declined due to continued structural reforms at Kyocera Wireless Corp., sales in the Electronic Device Group, the solar energy business and the Information Equipment Group increased.

 

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Sales in Asia decreased by ¥5,117 million ($44 million), or 2.5%, to ¥198,731 million ($1,699 million) compared with ¥203,848 million in fiscal 2005. Although sales in solar energy business and cutting tools business in the Applied Ceramic Products Group and sales in the Electronic Group grew, sales in the Telecommunications Equipment Group, especially mobile phone handsets, decreased.

 

Sales in Europe increased by ¥8,501 million ($73 million), or 4.8%, to ¥184,351 million ($1,576 million) compared with ¥175,850 million in fiscal 2005 due mainly to growth in the solar energy business amid continued market expansion.

 

Sales in Others decreased by ¥10,476 million ($90 million), or 13.1%, to ¥69,731 million ($596 million) compared with ¥80,207 million in fiscal 2005 due to decreased sales of the Telecommunications Equipment Group in Latin America, particularly mobile phone handsets.

 

Cost of sales and gross profit

 

In fiscal 2006, cost of sales decreased by ¥16,772 million ($143 million), or 2.0%, to ¥838,295 million ($7,165 million) from ¥855,067 million in fiscal 2005. Raw material costs of ¥345,309 million ($2,951 million) accounted for 41.2%, and labor costs of ¥156,363 million ($1,336 million) accounted for 18.7% of this total. The ratio of cost of sales to net sales was 71.0%, a decrease of 1.4 points compared with 72.4% in fiscal 2005. In fiscal 2005, Kyocera recorded ¥5,421 million of one time expenses in line with structural reforms in the Telecommunications Equipment Group and the Optical Equipment Group. Cost of sales in fiscal 2006 decreased due mainly to outsourcing the manufacture of mobile phone handsets at Kyocera Wireless Corp. to Flextronics International Ltd., a leading provider of electronics manufacturing services, in the Telecommunications Equipment Group and to significantly downsizing of the camera business in the Optical Equipment Group.

 

As a result, gross profit increased by ¥17,606 million ($150 million), or 5.4%, in fiscal 2006 to ¥343,194 million ($2,933 million) from ¥325,588 million in fiscal 2005. The gross profit ratio increased by 1.4 points from 27.6% to 29.0%.

 

SG&A expenses and profit from operations

 

Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses in fiscal 2006 increased by ¥15,367 million ($131 million), or 6.8%, to ¥239,987 million ($2,051 million) compared with ¥224,620 million in fiscal 2005. Labor cost was ¥115,370 million ($986 million), or 48.1% of total SG&A expenses, and sales promotion and advertising cost was ¥38,274 million ($327 million), or 15.9% of total SG&A expenses. The proportion of SG&A expenses to net sales rose by 1.3 points to 20.3% in fiscal 2006 compared with 19.0% in fiscal 2005. The increase in SG&A expenses in fiscal 2006 reflected an increase in costs associated with aggressive R&D activities for new businesses and new products. As a result, profit from operations increased by ¥2,239 million ($19 million), or 2.2%, to ¥103,207 million ($882 million) compared with ¥100,968 million in fiscal 2005. The operating margin rose by 0.1 point to 8.7% in fiscal 2006 compared with 8.6% in fiscal 2005.

 

Interest and dividend income

 

Interest and dividend income in fiscal 2006 increased by ¥2,572 million ($22 million), or 40.2%, to ¥8,968 million ($77 million) compared with ¥6,396 million in fiscal 2005. This was mainly due to an increase in dividend income from KDDI Corporation and favorable fund management results at AVX Corporation. Kyocera has an investment policy aimed at low risk, stability and liquidity, and does not typically invest in high-risk financial instruments only for pursuing profits.

 

Interest expense

 

Interest expense in fiscal 2006 increased by ¥26 million ($0 million), or 2.0%, to ¥1,301 million ($11 million) compared with ¥1,275 million in fiscal 2005. Though interest rates in the Japanese financial market were on a slight upward trend, there was not material impact on interest expense.

 

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Foreign currency translation

 

During fiscal 2006, the yen depreciated by ¥5, or 4.6%, against the U.S. dollar and depreciated by ¥3, or 2.2%, against Euro compared with fiscal 2005, respectively. At March 31, 2006, the yen depreciated by ¥10, or 9.3%, against the U.S. dollar and depreciated by ¥4, or 2.9%, against Euro compared with at March 31, 2005, respectively. Kyocera recorded foreign currency transaction losses of ¥316 million ($3 million) in fiscal 2006.

 

Kyocera typically enters into forward exchange contracts to minimize currency exchange risks on foreign currency denominated receivables and payables. Kyocera confines its use of derivative financial instruments to the hedging of its foreign exchange exposures, and does not utilize derivative transactions for trading purposes.

 

Gains and losses from investments

 

In fiscal 2006, Kyocera’s earnings or losses on equity method investments resulted in losses of ¥1,216 million ($10 million), a decrease of ¥462 million ($4 million) compared with losses of ¥1,678 million in fiscal 2005.

 

Kyocera’s equity in earnings or losses of affiliates and unconsolidated subsidiaries in fiscal 2006 was derived mainly from interests in WILLCOM, Inc. Kyocera Corporation owns a 30% interest in WILLCOM, Inc., which operates a PHS service. Kyocera Corporation accounted for this investment using the equity method. Net losses at WILLCOM, Inc. decreased compared with fiscal 2005 due to one time expenses related to the business acquisition in fiscal 2005. As a result, Kyocera’s loss on its equity method investment decreased.

 

Kyocera Corporation owned a 36.02% interest in Taito Corporation, a major affiliate which operates in the electric amusement business and accounted for by the equity method. On September 28, 2005, Kyocera Corporation sold its entire holding of shares of Taito Corporation in a tender offer bid for the shares of Taito Corporation by Square Enix Co., Ltd., a Japanese game software developer. As a result of this sale of the shares of Taito Corporation, Kyocera recorded a gain on sales of investment in an affiliate of ¥6,931 million ($59 million).

 

Kyocera Mita Corporation owns a 30% interest in Triumph-Adler AG Group, a distributor of office equipment and accounted for its investment by the equity method. Kyocera recognized loss on impairment of investment in an affiliate of ¥3,492 million ($30 million) due to an extended decline in its market value in fiscal 2006.

 

Following the merger of Mitsubishi Tokyo Financial Group, Inc. and UFJ Holdings, Inc., on October 1, 2005, Kyocera’s shares of UFJ Holdings, Inc. were exchanged for the shares of the new company, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. As a result of this share exchange, Kyocera recorded a gain of ¥5,281 million ($45 million) in the third quarter of fiscal 2006.

 

Income before income taxes

 

The Applied Ceramic Products Group, especially the solar energy business, recorded higher sales, although sales in the Electronics Device Group significantly declined in the first half. As a result, operating profit in the components business decreased compared with fiscal 2005. In contrast, operating profit in the equipment business increased compared with fiscal 2005. The increase in operating profit reflected benefits of structural reforms in the Optical Equipment Group and the Telecommunication Equipment Group in fiscal 2005. Consequently, income before income taxes increased by ¥13,858 million ($118 million), or 12.9%, to ¥121,388 million ($1,038 million) compared with ¥107,530 million in fiscal 2005.

 

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Operating profit by reporting segment

 

The following table shows a breakdown of Kyocera’s consolidated income before income taxes, and operating profit for fiscal 2005 and fiscal 2006 by the eight reporting segments:

 

     (Yen in millions and U.S. dollars in thousands)

 
     Years ended March 31,

   

Increase

(Decrease)


 
     2005

    2006

   
     Amount

    Amount

    %

 

Fine Ceramic Parts Group

   ¥ 11,535     ¥ 11,014     $ 94,137     (4.5 )

Semiconductor Parts Group

     17,550       17,742       151,641     1.1  

Applied Ceramic Products Group

     17,129       21,876       186,974     27.7  

Electronic Device Group

     35,406       27,170       232,222     (23.3 )

Telecommunications Equipment Group

     (14,918 )     (1,706 )     (14,581 )   —    

Information Equipment Group

     36,186       26,412       225,744     (27.0 )

Optical Equipment Group

     (15,387 )     (5,774 )     (49,350 )   —    

Others

     13,019       12,560       107,350     (3.5 )
    


 


 


 

       100,520       109,294       934,137     8.7  

Corporate

     8,683       13,358       114,171     53.8  

Equity in losses of affiliates and unconsolidated subsidiaries

     (1,678 )     (1,216 )     (10,393 )   —    

Adjustments and eliminations

     5       (48 )     (411 )   —    
    


 


 


 

Income before income taxes

   ¥ 107,530     ¥ 121,388     $ 1,037,504     12.9  
    


 


 


 

 

(1) Fine Ceramic Parts Group

 

Operating profit in this reporting segment decreased by ¥521 million ($4 million), or 4.5%, to ¥11,014 million ($94 million) compared with ¥11,535 million in fiscal 2005. This was primarily due to the decrease in sales of parts for semiconductor fabrication equipment and sapphire products for LCD projectors, the core products in this reporting segment.

 

(2) Semiconductor Parts Group

 

Operating profit in this reporting segment increased by ¥192 million ($2 million), or 1.1%, to ¥17,742 million ($152 million) compared with ¥17,550 million in fiscal 2005. Operating profit was impacted by an increase in depreciation costs combined with capital expenditures of ¥24,136 million ($206 million) geared towards business expansion, including the construction of a new plant for organic packages. Profit from increased sales of ceramic packages, however, led to a slight increase in overall operating profit in this reporting segment.

 

(3) Applied Ceramic Products Group

 

Operating profit in this reporting segment increased by ¥4,747 million ($41 million), or 27.7%, to ¥21,876 million ($187 million) compared with ¥17,129 million in fiscal 2005. Increased sales and enhanced productivity of solar energy business and cutting tools business, core areas in this reporting segment, led to an increase in operating profit. In particular, effective utilization of four production bases located globally enhanced productivity and led to a significant increase in profit in the solar energy business, despite a trend of increases in raw material costs.

 

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(4) Electronic Device Group

 

Operating profit in this reporting segment decreased by ¥8,236 million ($70 million), or 23.3%, to ¥27,170 million ($232 million) compared with ¥35,406 million in fiscal 2005. Component demand for digital consumer products began to recover last summer, which contributed to a marked improvement in operating profit in the second half. Nonetheless, a decline in demand for thin-film devices combined with stagnant demand and declining unit prices, especially in components for mobile phone handsets in the first half which contributed to the decrease in operating profit.

 

(5) Telecommunications Equipment Group

 

Operating loss in this reporting segment improved significantly by ¥13,212 million ($113 million) to ¥1,706 million ($15 million) compared with ¥14,918 million in fiscal 2005. Despite a one time expense of approximately ¥3.1 billion ($26 million) recorded in fiscal 2006 in line with structural reforms at Kyocera Wireless Corp. that included the transfer of mobile phone handsets manufacturing operations to Flextronics International Ltd., operating profits from sales of mobile phone handsets and PHS handsets in the domestic market increased.

 

(6) Information Equipment Group

 

Operating profit in this reporting segment decreased by ¥9,774 million ($ 84 million), or 27.0%, to ¥26,412 million ($226 million) compared with ¥36,186 million in fiscal 2005. This was due mainly to a decline in product prices amid intensified global market competition and increased development costs for color printers and digital multifunction products equipped with solutions for business expansion. R&D expenses in this reporting segment increased by ¥3,146 million ($27 million) compared with fiscal 2005.

 

(7) Optical Equipment Group

 

Operating loss in this reporting segment improved by ¥9,613 million ($82 million) to ¥5,774 million ($49 million) compared with ¥15,387 million in fiscal 2005. The downsizing of the camera business, which included the withdrawal of the digital camera business, led to the reduction in operating loss.

 

(8) Others

 

Operating profit in this reporting segment decreased by ¥459 million ($4 million), or 3.5%, to ¥12,560 million ($107 million) compared with ¥13,019 million in fiscal 2005. This was due mainly to a decline in sales at Kyocera Chemical Corporation.

 

(9) Corporate

 

Corporate income and losses constitute income and expenses related to the provision of management-related services by Kyocera’s head office to each reporting segment, together with any profit-and-loss items that management judges not to belong within the above reporting segments, such as gains or losses on valuation of investment securities. Corporate income increased by ¥4,675 million ($40 million), or 53.8%, to ¥13,358 million ($114 million) compared with ¥8,683 million in fiscal 2005. Interest and dividends were the main contributors. In addition, income in fiscal 2006 included a gain of ¥6,931 million ($59 million) through the sale of all of Kyocera’s shares of Taito Corporation, a gain of ¥5,281 million ($45 million) on shares of UFJ Holdings, Inc. in connection with the exchange of shares for the shares of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. and a loss of ¥3,492 million ($30 million) on impairment of the investment in Triumph-Adler AG Group, an affiliate of Kyocera Mita Corporation. As a result, corporate gain increased compared with fiscal 2005.

 

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Taxes

 

Current and deferred income taxes in fiscal 2006 decreased by ¥11,177 million ($96 million), or 19.1%, to ¥47,303 million ($404 million) compared with ¥58,480 million in fiscal 2005. The effective tax rate of 39.0% in fiscal 2006 was 15.4 points lower than 54.4% in fiscal 2005. The amount of income taxes in fiscal 2005 included the additional income taxes of ¥12,748 million by receiving a notice of tax assessment based on transfer pricing adjustments from the Osaka Regional Tax Bureau stating that, in the Bureau’s judgment, allocation of profit earned from transfers of products between Kyocera Corporation and its overseas subsidiaries was not appropriate from fiscal 1999 to fiscal 2003.

 

Minority interests

 

Kyocera’s minority interests are principally related to AVX Corporation, which accounted for approximately 30% of all minority ownership interests. Minority interests increased by ¥1,247 million ($11 million) to ¥4,389 million ($38 million) in fiscal 2006 compared with ¥3,142 million in fiscal 2005. This was mainly due to a large increase in net income at AVX Corporation.

 

Structural reforms

 

In the Telecommunications Equipment Group, Kyocera transferred production location of Kyocera Wireless Corp. to Mexico in fiscal 2005. The purpose of this move is to reduce costs in response to cost competition from rival companies. Kyocera recorded ¥503 million as headcount reduction costs related to this transfer of production.

 

In fiscal 2006, Kyocera outsourced the manufacture of mobile phone handsets of Kyocera Wireless Corp., and sold its manufacturing equipment and inventories to Flextronics International Ltd, a leading provider of electronics manufacturing services. Kyocera Wireless Corp. reduced its manufacturing costs significantly and improved its profitability by taking cost-down activities upon its procurements of parts and materials through a strong promotion of the outsourcing to Flextronics International Ltd., and by making fixed costs related to the manufacturing of mobile phone handsets into variable costs. Kyocera Wireless Corp. also focused its business operation on specializing in the research, development, sales and marketing of mobile phone handsets.

 

In the Optical Equipment Group, structural reform was focused on downsizing the camera business. Since the acquisition of Yashica Co., Ltd. in 1983, Kyocera advanced its optical equipment business centered on the camera business under the CONTAX, KYOCERA and YASHICA brands. With the shift from still to digital cameras in the camera market in 2004, Kyocera pushed ahead with the production and sale of digital cameras best suited to consumer needs. The digital camera market has expanded considerably on a global scale, however, and because the optical equipment business was unable to achieve sufficient cost reductions to counter the ensuing intense cost competition with competitors, it was forced into a difficult business situation. As a result of extensive investigation into how to effectively utilize management resources under the policies of “business selection and concentration” and “high-value-added diversification,” Kyocera started to downsize the Optical Equipment Group in fiscal 2005. As part of the program to scale back this business, Kyocera closed two overseas sales companies, Yashica Kyocera GmbH Group and Kyocera Optics Inc., during fiscal 2005. Costs associated with the closure of two overseas sales companies amounted to ¥3,285 million, including expenses mainly related to headcount reductions. In addition to the closure of overseas sales companies, a further ¥3,581 million of one time charge in fiscal 2005 was spent to downsize the domestic camera business. This included the implementation of sales promotions to reduce inventory. During fiscal 2006, Kyocera completed its downsizing of the digital camera business.

 

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Receipt of a notice of tax assessment based on transfer pricing adjustments and filing complaint against it

 

On March 28, 2005, Kyocera Corporation received a notice of tax assessment based on transfer pricing adjustments from the Osaka Regional Tax Bureau stating that, in the Bureau’s judgment, allocation of profit earned from the transfer of products between Kyocera Corporation and its overseas subsidiaries was not appropriate for the five years from fiscal 1999 through fiscal 2003. The notice indicated that income should be adjusted upwards by ¥24,394 million and that resultant additional tax, including local taxes, etc., amounted to ¥12,748 million. On May 24, 2005, Kyocera Corporation filed a complaint against the tax assessment based on transfer pricing adjustments with the Osaka Regional Tax Bureau. Although the final resolution of the proposed tax assessment is not certain, management believes the ultimate disposition of this matter will not have a material impact on the results of operations.

 

Investment in WILLCOM, Inc. in fiscal 2005

 

On June 21, 2004, the Carlyle Group, Kyocera, KDDI Corporation and DDI Pocket Inc. reached an agreement that a consortium of the Carlyle Group, Kyocera and KDDI Corporation would acquire the business of DDI Pocket Inc., a subsidiary of KDDI Corporation. Under the agreement, the company that succeeds DDI Pocket’s business, the name of which was changed to WILLCOM, Inc. in February 2005, was invested 30% by Kyocera. In cooperation with WILLCOM, Inc., Kyocera will endeavor to expand sales in its PHS-related business by carving out new markets in Japan as well as overseas.

 

Establishment of Japan Medical Materials Corporation in fiscal 2005

 

On May 21, 2004, Kyocera reached an agreement with Kobe Steel, Ltd. to merge the medical material operations of both companies into a successor company, Japan Medical Materials Corporation, which was established on September 1, 2004. As a dedicated manufacturer of medical materials, the successor company is expected to benefit from the integration of the specialized expertise of Kyocera and Kobe Steel, Ltd in material processing technologies, while maximizing synergies by integrating development, production and marketing divisions. It also seeks to expand its business worldwide.

 

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Table of Contents

Fiscal 2005 compared with Fiscal 2004

 

The following table shows a summery of Kyocera’s results of operations for fiscal 2004 and fiscal 2005:

 

     (Yen in millions)

 
     Years ended March 31,

    Increase  
     2004

    2005

    (Decrease)

 
     Amount

    %

    Amount

    %

    %

 

Net sales

   ¥ 1,140,814     100.0     ¥ 1,180,655     100.0     3.5  

Cost of sales

     860,224     75.4       855,067     72.4     (0.6 )
    


 

 


 

 

Gross profit

     280,590     24.6       325,588     27.6     16.0  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     171,628     15.0       224,620     19.0     30.9  
    


 

 


 

 

Profit from operations

     108,962     9.6       100,968     8.6     (7.3 )

Interest and dividend income

     4,883     0.4       6,396     0.5     31.0  

Interest expense

     (1,286 )   (0.1 )     (1,275 )   (0.1 )   —    

Foreign currency transaction (losses) gains, net

     (1,546 )   (0.1 )     2,618     0.2     —    

Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates and unconsolidated subsidiaries

     2,575     0.2       (1,678 )   (0.1 )   —    

Losses on impairment of investment securities

     (1,030 )   (0.1 )     (132 )   (0.0 )   —    

Other, net

     2,482     0.2       633     0.0     (74.5 )
    


 

 


 

 

       6,078     0.5       6,562     0.5     8.0  
    


 

 


 

 

Income before income taxes and minority interests

     115,040     10.1       107,530     9.1     (6.5 )

Income taxes

     50,310     4.4       58,480     4.9     16.2  
    


 

 


 

 

Income before minority interests

     64,730     5.7       49,050     4.2     (24.2 )

Minority interests

     3,356     0.3       (3,142 )   (0.3 )   —    
    


 

 


 

 

Net income

   ¥ 68,086     6.0     ¥ 45,908     3.9     (32.6 )
    


 

 


 

 

 

Net sales

 

In fiscal 2005, Kyocera’s net sales increased by ¥39,841 million, or 3.5%, to ¥1,180,655 million compared with ¥1,140,814 million in fiscal 2004.

 

The increase in net sales was due mainly to growth in demand for major components used in mobile phone handsets, computer-related equipment and digital consumer products, which boosted revenues from sales in the Fine Ceramic Parts Group, the Semiconductor Parts Group and the Electronic Device Group in the first half of fiscal 2005. The business environment in the second half of fiscal 2005 changed considerably from the first half of fiscal 2005. Components demand for mobile phone handsets and digital consumer products slowed down, due to stagnant demand after the Olympic Games and production adjustment for reducing inventories by set manufacturers in the second half of fiscal 2005. Total sales in the Fine Ceramic Parts Group, the Semiconductor Parts Group and the Electronic Device Group amounted to ¥217,810 million in the second half of fiscal 2005, a decrease of ¥29,048 million or 11.8%, compared with ¥246,858 million in the first half of fiscal 2005. Full-year sales of these reporting segments increased by ¥30,220 million, or 7.0%, to ¥464,668 million compared with ¥434,448 million in fiscal 2004.

 

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Sales in the Applied Ceramic Products Group and the Information Equipment Group rose by contributions of new products through the year. Sales in the Applied Ceramic Products Group increased by ¥15,592 million, or 19.9% and sales in the Information Equipment Group increase by ¥26,953 million, or 12.6%, respectively. Conversely, revenue from the Telecommunications Equipment Group in fiscal 2005 decreased by ¥51,869 million, or 17.1% compared with fiscal 2004, due to a delayed release of new CDMA mobile phone handsets to the North American market and stagnant demand for PHS-related products caused by inventory reductions in China.

 

A detailed analysis and discussion of Kyocera’s net sales by the reporting and the geographic segments are as follows:

 

Net sales by reporting segment

 

The following table shows a breakdown of Kyocera’s total consolidated net sales for fiscal 2004 and fiscal 2005 by the eight reporting segments:

 

     (Yen in millions)

 
     Years ended March 31,

    Increase  
     2004

    2005

    (Decrease)

 
     Amount

    %

    Amount

    %

    %

 

Fine Ceramic Parts Group

   ¥ 68,758     6.0     ¥ 73,711     6.2     7.2  

Semiconductor Parts Group

     108,784     9.5       127,960     10.8     17.6  

Applied Ceramic Products Group

     78,287     6.9       93,879     8.0     19.9  

Electronic Device Group

     256,906     22.5       262,997     22.3     2.4  

Telecommunications Equipment Group

     302,787     26.5       250,918     21.3     (17.1 )

Information Equipment Group

     214,192     18.8       241,145     20.4     12.6  

Optical Equipment Group

     29,297     2.6       35,776     3.0     22.1  

Others

     100,505     8.8       118,040     10.0     17.4  

Adjustments and eliminations

     (18,702 )   (1.6 )     (23,771 )   (2.0 )   —    
    


 

 


 

 

     ¥ 1,140,814     100.0     ¥ 1,180,655     100.0     3.5  
    


 

 


 

 

 

(1) Fine Ceramic Parts Group

 

Sales in this reporting segment increased by ¥4,953 million, or 7.2%, to ¥73,711 million compared with ¥68,758 million in fiscal 2004. In particular, components demand for semiconductor and LCD fabrication equipment and sapphire substrates for LEDs grew favorably.

 

(2) Semiconductor Parts Group

 

Sales in this reporting segment increased by ¥19,176 million, or 17.6%, to ¥127,960 million compared with ¥108,784 million in fiscal 2004. Sales of ceramic packages and organic packages used in mobile phone handsets and digital consumer products rose.

 

(3) Applied Ceramic Products Group

 

Sales in this reporting segment increased by ¥15,592 million, or 19.9%, to ¥93,879 million compared with ¥78,287 million in fiscal 2004. Sales of solar modules and solar power generation systems expanded in Europe and Japan. Sales of cutting tools for automotive industry also grew.

 

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(4) Electronic Device Group

 

Sales in this reporting segment increased by ¥6,091 million, or 2.4%, to ¥262,997 million compared with ¥256,906 million in fiscal 2004. A full year sales contribution from Kyocera Kinseki Corporation resulted in an increase in sales in this reporting segment. Sales of thin-film devices also expanded considerably, as sales grew for LCDs both in Japan and overseas and for thermal printheads for digital photo printers. In addition, sales at AVX Corporation, which account for approximately 53% of the net sales in this reporting segment, and at Kyocera Kinseki Corporation, grew steadily, supported by strong demand for digital consumer products through more active market environment for the electronic industry in the first half of fiscal 2005.

 

(5) Telecommunications Equipment Group

 

Sales in this reporting segment decreased by ¥51,869 million, or 17.1%, to ¥250,918 million compared with ¥302,787 million in fiscal 2004. Sales of mobile phone handsets decreased both in Japan and overseas. Sales at Kyocera Wireless Corp. declined due to a delayed launch of new CDMA handsets in the United States and intensified price competition of mobile phone handsets. Sales of mobile phone handsets in Japan also decreased, due to the delayed introduction of new models and negative impact of inventory reduction by a PDC carrier. Sales of PHS-related products dropped due to inventory reduction in China.

 

(6) Information Equipment Group

 

Sales in this reporting segment increased by ¥26,953 million, or 12.6%, to ¥241,145 million compared with ¥214,192 million in fiscal 2004. This increase was due to expanded sales of mid- and high-speed digital MFPs and the sales contribution of new models, such as low- and mid- speed models in Europe.

 

(7) Optical Equipment Group

 

Sales in this reporting segment increased by ¥6,479 million, or 22.1%, to ¥35,776 million compared with ¥29,297 million in fiscal 2004. In this reporting segment, Kyocera decided to downsize the camera business and focus on the optical components business. As a result, sales of digital still cameras dropped. However, sales of optical modules used in mobile phone handsets contributed to sales for the first time, which resulted in year-on-year growth in this reporting segment. Optical modules sales accounted for approximately 40% of sales in this reporting segment.

 

(8) Others

 

Sales in this reporting segment increased by ¥17,535 million, or 17.4%, to ¥118,040 million compared with ¥100,505 million in fiscal 2004.

 

Sales in Kyocera Communication Systems Co., Ltd. which accounts for approximately 61% of this reporting segment net sales, increased due to a growth in sales of telecommunications engineering and data center businesses.

 

Kyocera Chemical Corporation increased sales due to the steady growth of flexible printed circuit boards, molding dies of components for automobiles and casting resin.

 

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Net Sales by geographic segments

 

The following table shows a breakdown of Kyocera’s total consolidated net sales for fiscal 2004 and fiscal 2005, distinguishing between domestic and overseas sales and, in respect of overseas sales, showing the geographical areas in which such sales were made:

 

     (Yen in millions)

 
     Years ended March 31,

  

Increase

(Decrease)


 
     2004

   2005

  
     Amount

   %

   Amount

   %

   %

 

Japan

   ¥ 456,807    40.0    ¥ 472,417    40.0    3.4  

United States of America

     251,326    22.0      248,333    21.0    (1.2 )

Asia

     194,302    17.0      203,848    17.3    4.9  

Europe

     156,929    13.8      175,850    14.9    12.1  

Others

     81,450    7.2      80,207    6.8    (1.5 )
    

  
  

  
  

     ¥ 1,140,814    100.0    ¥ 1,180,655    100.0    3.5  
    

  
  

  
  

 

Sales in Japan, which accounted for 40.0% of total net sales, increased by ¥15,610 million, or 3.4%, to ¥472,417 million compared with ¥456,807 million in fiscal 2004. Kyocera’s sales in overseas markets, which accounted for 60.0% of total net sales, increased by ¥24,231 million, or 3.5%, to ¥708,238 million compared with ¥684,007 million in fiscal 2004.

 

Sales in overseas markets are denominated primarily in the U.S. dollars and Euro. Compared with fiscal 2004, the yen appreciated against the U.S. dollar and depreciated against Euro. In terms of net sales, the negative effects of the rising yen against the U.S. dollar outweighed the positive impact of the weak yen against Euro. Accordingly, consolidated net sales after translation into yen decreased approximately ¥21.2 billion compared with fiscal 2004.

 

Sales in Japan increased due mainly to a full year contribution from Kyocera Kinseki Corporation and Kyocera SLC Technologies Corporation, which became consolidated subsidiaries in fiscal 2004 and contributed to increased sales of semiconductor and LCD fabrication components, and solar modules and solar power generation systems. In addition, sales of optical modules for camera-equipped mobile phone handsets contributed to sales for the first time in fiscal 2005, and resulted in a sales increase of the Optical Equipment Group.

 

The weak yen against Euro produced a positive impact on sales in Europe, and sales growth in Europe was stronger than in other overseas markets. Sales in Europe expanded by ¥18,921 million, or 12.1%, to ¥175,850 million compared with ¥156,929 million in fiscal 2004, due to increased sales in the Information Equipment Group and solar energy products supported by expansion of demand, particularly in Germany. Sales in Asia rose by ¥9,546 million, or 4.9%, to ¥203,848 million compared with ¥194,302 million in fiscal 2004. In fiscal 2004, Kyocera Corporation acquired 100% of the shares of Kyocera Kinseki Corporation and established new sales subsidiaries of AVX Corporation to pursue group synergies within the Electronic Device Group and to expand this business. Synergy effects through these measures were evident in fiscal 2005, as sales of mobile phone handsets increased in India through active marketing by Kyocera Wireless Corp. Sales in the United States decreased by ¥2,993 million, or 1.2%, to ¥248,333 million compared with ¥251,326 million in fiscal 2004, due mainly to downturn sales in the Telecommunications Equipment Group.

 

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Cost of sales and gross profit

 

In fiscal 2005, cost of sales decreased by ¥5,157 million, or 0.6%, to ¥855,067 million from ¥860,224 million in fiscal 2004. Raw material costs of ¥386,262 million accounted for 45.2%, and labor costs of ¥158,427 million accounted for 18.5%. The ratio of cost of sales to net sales was 72.4%, a decrease of 3.0 points compared with 75.4% in fiscal 2004. In fiscal 2004, cost of sales contained a write-down amounting to ¥10,351 million of current inventories of tantalum materials and purchase commitments based on long-term contracts at AVX Corporation, labor costs totaling ¥13,735 million related to the transfer of the substitutional portion of Employee Pension Funds of Kyocera Corporation and Kyocera Mita Corporation to the Japanese government, and a reduction of labor costs of ¥2,821 million by the withdrawal from Employee Pension Funds at Kyocera Chemical Corporation. Aside from the special factors stated above, cost of sales in fiscal 2005 substantially increased due to increases of sales in the Fine Ceramic Parts Group, the Semiconductor Parts Group, the Applied Ceramic Products Group, the Electronic Device Group, the Information Equipment Group, and the Optical Equipment Group.

 

In fiscal 2005, Kyocera recorded ¥5,421 million of one time charges related to structural reforms in the Telecommunications Equipment Group and the Optical Equipment Group. In the Optical Equipment Group, losses of ¥4,918 million related to reduction of inventories, were recorded to downsize the camera business. In the Telecommunications Equipment Group, one time charges of ¥503 million were recorded at Kyocera Wireless Corp. with the transfer of production to Mexico, where more cost-effective labor is possible. As a result, gross profit increased by ¥44,998 million, or 16.0%, in fiscal 2005 to ¥325,588 million from ¥280,590 million in fiscal 2004. The gross profit ratio increased by 3.0 point from 24.6% to 27.6%.

 

SG&A expenses and profit from operations

 

Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses in fiscal 2005 increased by ¥52,992 million, or 30.9%, to ¥224,620 million compared with ¥171,628 million in fiscal 2004. Labor cost was ¥111,461 million, or 49.6% of total SG&A, and sales promotion and advertising cost was ¥39,175 million, or 17.4% of total SG&A. The proportion of SG&A expenses to net sales rose by 4.0 points to 19.0% in fiscal 2005 compared with 15.0% in fiscal 2004. The transfer of the substitutional portion of Employee Pension Funds of Kyocera Corporation and Kyocera Mita Corporation resulted in the deduction of SG&A expenses of ¥32,652 million, while the withdrawal from Employee Pension Funds at Kyocera Chemical Corporation resulted in a deduction of ¥3,132 million in fiscal 2004. Excluding the special items above, the increase in SG&A expenses in fiscal 2005 reflected an increase in costs associated with aggressive R&D activities and an increase in advertising expenses, mainly at Kyocera Mita Corporation. As a result, profit from operations decreased by ¥7,994 million, or 7.3%, to ¥100,968 million compared with ¥108,962 million in fiscal 2004. The gross margin fell by 1.0 point to 8.6% in fiscal 2005 compared with 9.6% in fiscal 2004.

 

Interest and dividend income

 

Interest and dividend income in fiscal 2005 increased by ¥1,513 million, or 31.0%, to ¥6,396 million compared with ¥4,883 million in fiscal 2004. This was mainly because KDDI Corporation increased its corporate dividend per share thanks to a favorable business performance, thus increasing dividend income on Kyocera’s investments in KDDI Corporation. Kyocera has an investment policy aimed at low risk, stability and liquidity, and does not typically invest in high-risk financial instruments only for pursuing profits.

 

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Interest expense

 

Interest expense in fiscal 2005 decreased by ¥11 million, or 0.9%, to ¥1,275 million compared with ¥1,286 million in fiscal 2004. The Japanese financial market was still in a low-interest climate, and therefore there was no material fluctuation in interest expense.

 

Foreign currency translation

 

During fiscal 2005, the yen appreciated by ¥5, or 4.4%, against the U.S. dollar and depreciated by ¥2, or 1.5%, against Euro compared with fiscal 2004, respectively. At March 31, 2005, the yen depreciated by ¥1, or 0.9%, against the U.S. dollar and depreciated by ¥10, or 7.8%, against Euro compared with at March 31, 2004, respectively. The net effect of foreign currency fluctuations was a gain of ¥2,618 million.

 

Kyocera typically enters into forward exchange contracts to minimize currency exchange risks on foreign currency denominated receivables and payables. Kyocera confines its use of derivative financial instruments to the hedging of its foreign exchange exposures, and does not utilize derivative transactions for trading purposes.

 

Gains and losses from investments

 

In fiscal 2005, Kyocera’s earnings or losses on equity method investments resulted in losses of ¥1,678 million, a fall of ¥4,253 million, compared with earnings of ¥2,575 million in fiscal 2004. Kyocera’s equity in earnings or losses of affiliates and unconsolidated subsidiaries in fiscal 2005 was derived mainly from interests in WILLCOM, Inc. and Taito Corporation.

 

Kyocera Corporation owned a 13.33% interest in WILLCOM, Inc., which was formerly known as DDI Pocket, Inc. and which changed its name in February 2005. WILLCOM, Inc. operates a PHS business. In October 2004, Kyocera purchased an additional 16.67% ownership interest for ¥9,993 million to expand sales in its PHS-related business. Due to its cumulative ownership interest of 30%, Kyocera Corporation accounts for its investment by the equity method. As WILLCOM, Inc. recorded a net loss due to an increase in operating costs related to its business expansion in fiscal 2005, Kyocera recorded a loss on its equity-method investment in WILLCOM, Inc.

 

Kyocera Corporation owns a 36.02% interest in Taito Corporation, a major affiliate which operates in electronic amusement business. In fiscal 2005, Taito’s net income decreased compared with fiscal 2004 due to a sluggish sales of home-use game machines, an additional investment in production facilities for game machines and costs of opening new game arcades, in spite of an increase in sales of commercial-use game machines. As a result, Kyocera’s earning on its equity-method investment in Taito Corporation decreased.

 

In fiscal 2005, losses on impairment of investment securities amounted to ¥132 million, a decrease of ¥898 million, compared with ¥1,030 million in fiscal 2004. Losses recorded in fiscal 2005 and fiscal 2004 were due mainly to management’s estimation that certain non-public companies in which Kyocera invested would still need considerable time to recover profitability in their operating activities.

 

Income before income taxes

 

In fiscal 2005, Kyocera recorded an increase in operating profit due to higher sales, especially in the components business, and to various cost-reduction activities. In contrast, however, a significant decrease in profits was recorded in the equipment business. Despite higher revenues from sales of the Information Equipment Group, such as digital MFPs, the Telecommunications Equipment Group slumped due to repair costs for defective products, and one time charges were recorded in line with the policy to downsize the camera business. Consequently, income before income taxes decreased by ¥7,510 million, or 6.5%, to ¥107,530 million compared with ¥115,040 million in fiscal 2004. In fiscal 2004 Kyocera also recorded a settlement gain of ¥18,917 million for a substitutional portion of Employee Pension Funds and ¥5,953 million of a withdrawal gain of Employee Pension Funds at a subsidiary.

 

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Operating profit by reporting segment

 

The following table shows a breakdown of Kyocera’s consolidated income before income taxes, and operating profit for fiscal 2004 and fiscal 2005 by the eight reporting segments:

 

     (Yen in millions)

 
     Years ended March 31,

       
     2004

    2005

    Increase
(Decrease)


 
     Amount

    Amount

    %

 

Fine Ceramic Parts Group

   ¥ 10,239     ¥ 11,535     12.7  

Semiconductor Parts Group

     10,603       17,550     65.5  

Applied Ceramic Products Group

     10,297       17,129     66.3  

Electronic Device Group

     5,047       35,406     601.5  

Telecommunications Equipment Group

     5,082       (14,918 )   —    

Information Equipment Group

     31,986       36,186     13.1  

Optical Equipment Group

     (5,826 )     (15,387 )   —    

Others

     9,683       13,019     34.5  
    


 


 

       77,111       100,520     30.4  

Corporate

     34,871       8,683     (75.1 )

Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates and unconsolidated subsidiaries

     2,575       (1,678 )   —    

Adjustments and eliminations

     483       5     (99.0 )
    


 


 

Income before income taxes

   ¥ 115,040     ¥ 107,530     (6.5 )
    


 


 

 

(1) Fine Ceramic Parts Group

 

Operating profit in this reporting segment increased by ¥1,296 million or 12.7%, to ¥11,535 million compared with ¥10,239 million in fiscal 2004. This was due primarily to improvement of manufacturing efficiency by higher sales of fine ceramic components used in semiconductor and LCD fabrication equipment and sapphire substrates.

 

(2) Semiconductor Parts Group

 

Operating profit in this reporting segment increased by ¥6,947 million or 65.5%, to ¥17,550 million compared with ¥10,603 million in fiscal 2004. This was due primarily to improved capacity utilization by higher sales of ceramic packages used in mobile phone handsets, and due to reduced costs through the utilization of China-based production facilities.

 

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(3) Applied Ceramic Products Group

 

Operating profit in this reporting segment increased by ¥6,832 million or 66.3%, to ¥17,129 million compared with ¥10,297 million in fiscal 2004. Sales in the solar energy business increased steadily supported by a rising global orientation towards clean energy. Meanwhile, profit in this business also grew as Kyocera reduced costs through the utilization of China-based production facilities established in fiscal 2004. Brisk markets led to increases in both sales and profits of cutting tools and dental and orthopedic implants.

 

(4) Electronic Device Group

 

Operating profit in this reporting segment increased by ¥30,359 million or 601.5%, to ¥35,406 million compared with ¥5,047 million in fiscal 2004. In fiscal 2004, AVX Corporation wrote down ¥10,351 million of inventories of tantalum materials and purchase commitments based on long-term contracts, and also booked a restructuring charge of ¥2,975 million associated with the closure of its overseas ferrite manufacturing facilities and headcount reductions. In fiscal 2005, despite deterioration in the markets for capacitors and connectors in the second half, the absence of large-scale write-downs and restructuring charges that were evident in fiscal 2004, together with improved productivity led to strong growth in profit.

 

(5) Telecommunications Equipment Group

 

Operating profit in this reporting segment substantially decreased by ¥20,000 million to a loss of ¥14,918 million compared with income of ¥5,082 million in fiscal 2004. This decrease was due to significant operating losses recorded at Kyocera Wireless Corp. It recorded significant losses due to decline in market prices, some defective products, and the relocation costs of production sites. Furthermore, repair costs for defective software and delays in the market introduction of new products in Japan also led to losses.

 

(6) Information Equipment Group

 

Operating profit in this reporting segment increased by ¥4,200 million or 13.1%, to ¥36,186 million compared with ¥31,986 million in fiscal 2004. This increase was due primarily to a steady growth in sales of digital MFPs and an increase in sales of high-value-added products. Lower costs achieved through a China-based production facility also contributed to the increase in operating profit.

 

(7) Optical Equipment Group

 

Operating loss in this reporting segment increased by ¥9,561 million to ¥15,387 million compared with a loss of ¥5,826 million in fiscal 2004. This reflected higher-than-expected costs associated with the launch of the optical module business in fiscal 2005, and one time charges related to the downsizing of the camera business in fiscal 2005.

 

(8) Others

 

Operating profit in this reporting segment increased by ¥3,336 million or 34.5%, to ¥13,019 million compared with ¥9,683 million in fiscal 2004. This was due primarily to increased earnings in Kyocera Communication Systems Co., Ltd., arising from improved development efficiency and lower costs, as well as increased sales in Kyocera Chemical Corporation, especially in the businesses related to flexible printed circuit boards.

 

(9) Corporate

 

Corporate income and losses constitute income and expenses related to the provision of management-related services by Kyocera’s head office to each reporting segment, together with any profit-and-loss items that management judges not to belong within the above reporting segments, such as litigation expenses or losses on impairment of investment securities. In fiscal 2005, Kyocera recorded Corporate income of ¥8,683 million. This represented a decrease of ¥26,188 million, or 75.1%, compared with Corporate income of ¥34,871 million in fiscal 2004. The main contributors in fiscal 2005 were interest and dividends. The income in fiscal 2004 included ¥18,917 million of a settlement gain for a substitutional portion of Employee Pension Funds, ¥5,953 million of a withdrawal gain of Employee Pension Funds at a subsidiary, and ¥2,284 million of a gain on reversal of excess accruals resulting from a settlement of litigation in the LaPine Case. As a result, Corporate gain decreased markedly compared with fiscal 2004.

 

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Taxes

 

Current and deferred income taxes in fiscal 2005 increased by ¥8,170 million, or 16.2%, to ¥58,480 million compared with ¥50,310 million in fiscal 2004. The effective tax rate of 54.4% in fiscal 2005 was 10.7 points higher than 43.7% in fiscal 2004. Kyocera Corporation received a notice of tax assessment based on transfer pricing adjustments from the Osaka Regional Tax Bureau stating that, in the Bureau’s judgment, allocation of profit earned from transfers of products between Kyocera Corporation and its overseas subsidiaries was not appropriate for five years from fiscal 1999 through fiscal 2003, and this resulted in additional current income taxes of ¥12,748 million. Although the final resolution of the proposed tax assessment is not certain, management believes the ultimate disposition of this matter will not have a material impact on the results of operations.

 

Minority interests

 

Minority interests are principally related to AVX Corporation, which accounted for an approximately 30% minority ownership interest in fiscal 2005. Minority interests decreased by ¥6,498 million to a loss in minority interests of ¥3,142 million, compared with a gain in minority interests of ¥3,356 million in fiscal 2004. This was mainly due to an increase in net income at AVX Corporation because it recorded one time charges related to a write-down of inventories and restructuring activities in fiscal 2004, and there were no such costs in fiscal 2005.

 

Settlement of LaPine Case in Fiscal 2004

 

On September 1, 1994, the International Chamber of Commerce issued its award with respect to the arbitration between Kyocera Corporation and LaPine Technology Corporation (LTC), Prudential-Bache Trade Corporation (PBTC) (presently renamed Prudential- Bache Trade Services, Inc.), et al. for the alleged breach of an agreement by Kyocera Corporation in connection with the reorganization of LTC. The award ordered Kyocera Corporation to pay to LTC and PBTC as damages, approximately $257 million, including interest, arbitration costs and attorney’s fees. Kyocera Corporation filed a motion to vacate, modify and correct the award in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California pursuant to an agreement between the parties providing for broad judicial examination of arbitration awards.

 

With respect to this case, Kyocera Corporation subsequently appealed to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and then to the Supreme Court of the United States asserting the validity of the provision for broad judicial examination of arbitration awards. On December 22, 2003, Kyocera Corporation reached an agreement with Prudential Securities Group, Inc., Prudential Equity Group, Inc., LaPine Technology Corporation and LaPine Holding Company to settle all claims in pending litigation between the parties. Kyocera Corporation has paid $331.5 million pursuant to this settlement and recorded ¥35,454 million as cash payment in its consolidated financial statements in fiscal 2004.

 

Kyocera had recognized a provision for accrued litigation expenses as cost of sales in fiscal 2004. The excess accrual of ¥2,284 million was reversed as a reduction of cost of sales to account for the difference between accrued litigation expenses and the cash settlement in fiscal 2004.

 

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Transfer to the Japanese Government of the Substitutional Portion of Employee Pension Fund Liabilities in Fiscal 2004

 

In fiscal 2004, Kyocera Corporation and Kyocera Mita Corporation transferred to the Japanese government the substitutional portion of Employee Pension Funds liabilities and the related government-specified portion of plan assets of Employee Pension Funds upon approval by the Ministry of the Health, Labor and Welfare in Japan.

 

Kyocera Corporation and Kyocera Mita Corporation adopted Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 03-02, “Accounting for the Transfer to the Japanese Government of the Substitutional Portion of Employee Pension Fund Liabilities” for the settlement process of the substitutional portion of Employee Pension Funds, and recorded ¥18,917 million of a settlement gain for the substitutional portion of Employee Pension Funds. Detailed information regarding this transfer process of and settlement gain for the substitutional portion of Employee Pension Funds is described in Note 9 to The Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 20-F.

 

Investment in Kinseki, Limited in Fiscal 2004

 

On August 1, 2003, Kyocera Corporation made Kinseki, Limited, which is in the business of manufacturing crystal components and which had been a 28.09%-owned affiliate, its wholly-owned subsidiary through a share exchange. Under the share exchange, a total of 2,529,154 shares of common stock of Kyocera Corporation were allocated to Kinseki, Limited’s minority shareholders in return for the remaining 25,291,542 shares (71.91 %) of Kinseki, Limited’s shares not previously owned by Kyocera Corporation. On April 1, 2004, Kinseki, Limited changed its name to “Kyocera Kinseki Corporation.”

 

Investment in Kyocera SLC Technologies Corporation in Fiscal 2004

 

On June 30, 2003, in order to reinforce the business of organic circuit boards, Kyocera Corporation and IBM Japan, Ltd. reached an agreement for the transfer to Kyocera Corporation from IBM Japan, Ltd. of the SLC (Surface Laminar Circuitry: laminated high density printed circuit board) business of Yasu Site of IBM Japan, Ltd., and have executed a business transfer agreement. Kyocera Corporation acquired this business in exchange for cash of ¥8,594 million. Kyocera Corporation incorporated a new successor company, “Kyocera SLC Technologies Corporation”, on August 12, 2003, which commenced operation on September 1, 2003.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

Kyocera’s consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The preparation of these consolidated financial statements requires the use of estimates, judgments, and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the periods presented. Actual results may differ from these estimates, judgments and assumptions.

 

An accounting estimate in Kyocera’s consolidated financial statements is a critical accounting estimate if it requires Kyocera to make assumptions about matters that are highly uncertain at the time the accounting estimate is made, and either different estimates that Kyocera reasonably could have used in the current period, or changes in the accounting estimate that are reasonably likely to occur from period to period, would have a material impact on the presentation of Kyocera’s financial condition, changes in financial condition or results of operations. Kyocera has identified the following critical accounting policies with respect to its financial presentation.

 

Allowances for doubtful accounts

 

Kyocera maintains allowances for doubtful accounts related to both trade and finance receivables for estimated losses resulting from customers’ inability to make timely payments, including interest on finance receivables. Kyocera’s estimates are based on various factors including the length of past due payments, historical experience and current business environments. In circumstances where it is aware of a specific customer’s inability to meet its financial obligations, a specific allowance against these amounts is provided considering the fair value of assets pledged by the customer as collateral.

 

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A substantial portion of allowances for doubtful accounts is recorded with respect to the finance receivables of Kyocera Leasing Co., Ltd. in the Others segment, which provides credit financing and commercial leasing services. Based on the factors discussed above, Kyocera Leasing Co., Ltd. sets estimated recovery percentages that are applied to the amount of receivables to determine future cash flow. On a case-by-case basis, adjustments are made to the amount of allowances so determined in light of particular customers’ circumstances. Kyocera Leasing Co., Ltd. continuously monitors the correlation between the allowances so determined and the actual loss experienced, and makes an appropriate modification to the schedule of percentages for determining allowance amounts.

 

At March 31, 2006, Kyocera Leasing Co., Ltd. had ¥6,332 million ($54 million) of allowances for doubtful accounts against ¥126,741 million ($1,083 million) of finance receivables, which comprise over 50% of Kyocera’s allowances for doubtful accounts.

 

Inventory valuation

 

Kyocera estimates the amount of write-downs required to properly value inventory. Write-downs are provided for excess, slow-moving and obsolete inventory as well as valuation losses required to adjust recorded cost to its market value. Kyocera generally considers all inventory aged over 12 months to be slow-moving or obsolete. Kyocera also records inventory write-downs based on its projections of future demand, market conditions and related management-led initiatives even if the age of corresponding inventory is shorter than 12 months.

 

In fiscal 2006, as a result of continuous strict controls and adjustments on inventories, Kyocera recognized inventory write-downs of ¥8,446 million ($72 million). The amounts of these inventory write-downs by reporting segments appear in Note 17 to The Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 20-F. A large portion of these inventory write-downs arose from inventories of telecommunication equipment and information equipment. These products were subject to a decrease in demand and a decline in price, or turned out to be obsolete because of their short product lives. In the telecommunications equipment business, Kyocera implemented structural reforms to improve future profitability following the previous year and recognized inventory write-downs or losses on disposal based on business plans.

 

The majority of Kyocera’s inventories are produced for the IT industry. Each of these products generally has a short product life, and is susceptible to market demand and price fluctuations. Inventory write-downs generally affect all segments except Others. If market conditions and demand in the information technology industry are less favorable than Kyocera’s projections, additional write-downs may be required.

 

Impairment of securities and investments

 

Kyocera records impairment charges for debt and equity securities and investments in affiliates and unconsolidated subsidiaries accounted for by the equity method when it believes that the decline of value is considered to be other-than-temporary. Kyocera regularly reviews each security and investment for impairment based on the extent to which the fair value is less than cost, the duration of the decline, the anticipated recoverability of fair value in the future and the financial conditions of the issuer. Poor operating results of the issuers of these securities or adverse changes in the market may cause impairment losses in future periods. The impairment losses are recorded as Corporate losses.

 

In fiscal 2006, Kyocera recognized losses on impairment of investment securities amounting to ¥385 million ($3 million), which was attributable mainly to management’s estimation that certain non-public companies in which Kyocera invested would need considerable periods to gain profitability in their operating activities.

 

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Kyocera Corporation is currently a major shareholder of KDDI Corporation. The price fluctuation of the shares of KDDI Corporation may affect Kyocera’s financial conditions. At March 31, 2006, the unrealized gain of ¥111,178 million ($950 million) on the shares of KDDI Corporation held by Kyocera Corporation increased compared with that of ¥55,056 million at March 31, 2005, reflecting a fluctuation of the market price of the share of KDDI Corporation during fiscal 2006. As the operating results of KDDI Corporation recently grew steadily, the performance of the share of KDDI Corporation is considered to be stable. For detailed information on the gross unrealized gain or loss, see Note 3 to The Consolidated Financial Statements in this Form 20-F.

 

Kyocera Mita Corporation owns a 30% interest in Triumph-Adler AG Group, a distributor of office equipment and accounted for by the equity method. Kyocera recognized loss on impairment of investment in affiliate of ¥3,492 million ($30 million) due to an extended decline in its market value in fiscal 2006.

 

Impairment of long-lived assets

 

Kyocera reviews its long-lived assets and intangible assets with definite useful lives for impairment periodically. Long-lived assets and intangible assets with definite useful lives are considered to be impaired when the expected undiscounted cash flow from the asset is less than its carrying value. A loss on impairment is recognized based on the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value of the long-lived assets and intangible assets with definite useful lives. In fiscal 2006, Kyocera recognized loss on impairment of long-lived assets in a foreign subsidiary. However this loss on impairment did not have a material impact on Kyocera’s consolidated results of operations and financial position.

 

Goodwill and other intangible assets

 

Goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite useful lives are tested for impairment at least annually, rather than being amortized, and also following any events or changes in circumstances that might lead to impairment. Intangible assets with definite useful lives are amortized over their respective estimated useful lives to their estimated residual values, and reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amount may not be recoverable.

 

Kyocera undertook a review for impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets in fiscal 2006. The results of this review revealed no impairment in the carrying values of such assets.

 

Deferred tax assets

 

Kyocera records deferred tax assets with valuation allowances to adjust their carrying amounts when it believes that it is more likely than not that the assets will not be realized. The valuation of deferred tax assets principally depends on the estimation of future taxable income and feasible tax planning strategies. If future taxable income is lower than expected due to future market conditions or poor operating results, significant adjustments to deferred tax assets may be required. At March 31, 2006, deferred tax assets amounted to ¥82,342 million ($704 million), which Kyocera considers will reasonably be realized in the future compared with the amounts of taxable income and income taxes in fiscal 2006.

 

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Benefit plans

 

Projected benefit obligations and plan assets are determined on an actuarial basis and are significantly affected by the assumptions used in their calculation, such as the discount rates, the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets, the rate of increase in compensation levels and other assumptions. Kyocera determines the discount rate by referencing the yield on high quality fixed income securities such as Japanese Government Bonds. The expected return on plan assets is determined based on the rate of historical earnings and Kyocera’s expectation of future performance of the funds in which plan assets are invested. The rate of increase in compensation levels is determined based mainly on results of operations and inflation. Kyocera annually reviews the assumptions underlying its actuarial calculations, making adjustments based on current market conditions, if necessary. If Japanese and global financial markets stagnate, Kyocera may be required to decrease its assumptions of the discount rate and the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets, and a decrease in such assumptions will lead to an increase in projected benefit obligations and net periodic pension costs. Particularly, an increase in projected benefit obligations may negatively affect Kyocera’s accrued pension and severance liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet and labor costs included in cost of sales and selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statement of income. An increase in accumulated benefit obligations may also require Kyocera to record additional minimum pension liability in accumulated other comprehensive income. In fiscal 2004, Kyocera Corporation and Kyocera Mita Corporation transferred to the Japanese government the substitutional portion of Employee Pension Funds liabilities and the related government-specified portion of plan assets of Employee Pension Funds. Kyocera Corporation and Kyocera Mita Corporation adopted Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 03-02, “Accounting for the Transfer to the Japanese Government of the Substitutional Portion of Employee Pension Fund Liabilities” for the settlement process of the substitutional portion of Employee Pension Funds, and recorded ¥18,917 million of a settlement gain for the substitutional portion of Employee Pension Funds. As a result of this settlement, Kyocera’s projected benefit obligation decreased by ¥71,243 million and plan assets decreased by ¥29,493 million, respectively. This decrease in projected benefit obligation is particularly considered to lead to a reduction of a potential negative impact on Kyocera’s financial conditions and results of operations. Detailed information regarding this transfer process of and settlement gain for the substitutional portion of Employee Pension Funds is described in Note 9 to The Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 20-F.

 

Sensitivity analysis of benefit plans

 

The following table illustrates the effect of assumed changes in discount rates and the expected rate of return on plan assets, assuming all other assumptions consistent, for benefit plans at Kyocera Corporation and certain domestic subsidiaries which account for a significant portion of Kyocera’s projected benefit obligations and net periodic pension costs.

 

     (Yen in millions)

 
     Effect on projected benefit obligation
as of March 31, 2006


 

Discount rates:

      

0.5% decrease

   ¥          8,011  

0.5% increase

   (7,316 )
    
 
     Effect on income before income taxes
for the year ending March 31, 2007


 

Discount rates:

      

0.5% decrease

   ¥          (284 )

0.5% increase

   286  

Expected rate of return on plan assets:

      

0.5% decrease

   (556 )

0.5% increase

   556  

 

Contingencies

 

Kyocera is subject to various lawsuits and claims which arise in the ordinary course of business. Kyocera consults with legal counsel and assesses the likelihood of adverse outcomes of these contingencies. Kyocera records liabilities for these contingencies when the likelihood of an adverse outcome is probable and the amount is reasonably estimable. In making these estimates, Kyocera considers the progress of the lawsuits, the situations of other companies that are subject to similar lawsuits and other relevant factors. The amounts of liabilities accrued are based on estimates and may be significantly affected by further developments or the resolution of these contingencies in the future.

 

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Revenue recognition

 

Kyocera sells various types of products, including fine ceramic parts, semi-conductor parts, and telecommunications equipment. Kyocera recognizes revenue upon completion of the earnings process, which occurs when products are shipped or delivered to the customer in accordance with the terms of an agreement of sale, there is a fixed or determinable selling price, title and risk of loss have been transferred, and collectibility is reasonably assured. Most of these conditions are satisfied at the time of delivery to customers in domestic sales (FOB destination) and at the time of shipment (FOB shipping) for export sales.

 

Sales returns

 

Kyocera records an estimated sales return allowance at the time of sales based on its historical returns experience.

 

Products warranty

 

At the time of sale, Kyocera accrues a product warranty liability for claims under warranties relating to the products that have been sold. Kyocera records an estimated product warranty reserve based on its historical repair experience.

 

Revenue from financial services

 

In addition to the tangible products as discussed above, Kyocera also provides certain services, primarily financial services. Revenue from direct financing leases is recognized over the term of the lease, and amortization of unearned lease income is recognized using the interest method. Interest income on installment loans is recognized on an accrual basis.

 

New Accounting Standards

 

In November 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 151, “Inventory Costs an amendment of ARB No. 43, Chapter 4.” SFAS No. 151 requires that all abnormal idle facility expense, freight, handling costs, and spoilage be recognized as current-period charges regardless of whether they meet the criterion of “so abnormal.” In addition, SFAS No. 151 requires that allocation of fixed production overheads to the costs of conversion be based on the normal capacity of the production facilities. SFAS No. 151 is effective for inventory costs incurred during fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2005. The adoption of SFAS No. 151 will not have a material impact on Kyocera’s consolidated results of operations and financial position.

 

In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004) (SFAS No. 123R), “Share-Based Payments.” This statement is a revision of SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation.” SFAS No. 123R supersedes Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” and its related interpretations. SFAS No. 123R requires that the cost resulting from all share-based payment transactions be recognized in the financial statements. SFAS No. 123R establishes fair value as the measurement objective in accounting for share-based payment arrangements and requires all entities to apply a fair-value based measurement method in accounting for share-based payment transactions with employees except for equity instruments held by employee share ownership plans. SFAS No. 123R was announced to be effective as of the beginning of the first fiscal year that would begin after June 15, 2005, however, on April 14, 2005, the Securities and Exchange Commission Staff postponed implementation of SFAS No. 123R. Kyocera will adopt SFAS No. 123R effective on April 1 2006, and estimates that the impact of SFAS No. 123R will be approximately ¥400 million ($3 million) on Kyocera’s consolidated results of operations for fiscal 2007.

 

In March 2005, the FASB issued Interpretation (FIN) No. 47, “Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations - an interpretation of SFAS No. 143.” This Interpretation clarifies use of the term conditional asset retirement obligation in SFAS No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligation.” FIN No. 47 requires recognition of a liability for the fair value of a conditional asset retirement obligation when incurred if the liability’s fair value can be reasonably estimated. FIN No. 47 is effective no later than the end of fiscal years ended after December 15, 2005. The adoption of FIN No. 47 did not have a material impact on Kyocera’s consolidated results of operations and financial position.

 

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In May 2005, the FASB issued SFAS No. 154, “Accounting Changes and Error Corrections - a replacement of APB Opinion No. 20 and SFAS No. 3.” SFAS No. 154 replaces APB Opinion No. 20, Accounting Changes, and SFAS No. 3, Reporting Accounting Changes in Interim Financial Statements, and changes the requirements for the accounting for and reporting of a change in accounting principle. SFAS No. 154 applies to all voluntary changes in accounting principle. It also applies to changes required by an accounting pronouncement when the pronouncement does not include specific transition provisions. APB Opinion No. 20 previously required that most voluntary changes in accounting principle be recognized by including in net income of the period of the change the cumulative effect of changing to the new accounting principle. SFAS No. 154 requires retrospective application to prior periods’ financial statements of changes in accounting principle. SFAS No. 154 is effective for accounting changes and corrections of errors made in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2005. The impact of SFAS No. 154 will depend on the changes, if any, that Kyocera may identify and record in a future period.

 

In November 2005, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position 115-1 and 124-1, “The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and Its Application to Certain Investments” (FSP FAS 115-1 and FAS 124-1). FSP FAS 115-1 and FAS 124-1 explains the determination as to when an investment is considered impaired, whether that impairment is other than temporary, and the measurement of an impairment loss. In addition, it also addresses accounting considerations subsequent to the recognition of an other-than-temporary impairment and requires certain disclosures about unrealized losses that have not been recognized as other-than-temporary impairment. FSP FAS 115-1 and FAS 124-1 is effective in reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2005. The adoption of FSP FAS 115-1 and FAS 124-1 did not have a material impact on Kyocera’s consolidated results of operations and financial position.

 

B. Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Capital resources

 

Fiscal 2006 compared with Fiscal 2005

 

In the short term, Kyocera expects cash demands for working capital and funds for capital expenditures required for the expansion of operations, purchases of Kyocera Corporation’s common stock, and payments of dividends to stockholders. Kyocera’s primary source of short-term liquidity is cash generated by operations. Certain subsidiaries also generate capital in the form of loans from financial institutions. At March 31, 2006, Kyocera’s short-term borrowings and long-term debt including current portion totaled ¥140,572 million ($1,201 million). The ratio to total assets of 7.3% still reflected a low level of dependence. Most borrowings were denominated in the yen but certain borrowings were denominated in foreign currencies, such as the U.S. dollar. And there is no material seasonality in Kyocera’s borrowing requirement. Details of these borrowings are described in Item 5F “Tabular Disclosure of Contractual obligations,” which also includes the information regarding obligations for the acquisition or construction of property, plant and equipment.

 

Capital expenditures in fiscal 2006 increased by ¥27,095 million ($232 million), or 42.9%, to ¥90,271 million ($772 million) compared with ¥63,176 million in fiscal 2005. In fiscal 2006, capital expenditures for business expansion increased significantly, especially in the solar energy business and organic package business, compared with fiscal 2005. R&D expenditures increased by ¥3,038 million ($26 million), or 5.6%, to ¥57,436 million ($491 million) compared with ¥54,398 million in fiscal 2005. Nearly all capital and R&D expenditures were funded using cash in hand or cash generated by operations.

 

During fiscal 2007, Kyocera expects total capital expenditures to be approximately ¥72,000 million ($615 million), and total R&D expenditures to be approximately ¥63,000 million ($538 million). Kyocera believes that Kyocera needs to invest its resources continuously in the development of new business areas and improved technology in order to create new products, commercialize advanced technologies and thereby secure future earnings streams.

 

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At March 31, 2006, Kyocera’s working capital totaled ¥542,045 million ($4,633 million), a decrease of ¥9,173 million ($78 million), or 1.7%, from ¥551,218 million at March 31, 2005. This was due to the effect of a decrease in inventories, mainly in the Telecommunications Equipment Group and the Information Equipment Group, and an increase in notes and accounts payable which exceeded the effect of an increase in short-term investments including negotiable certificate of deposits. Kyocera plans to continue to improve capital efficiency by shortening manufacturing lead-time and reducing inventory level. Cash from operations has generally been sufficient for Kyocera to fund its working capital requirements and to fulfill its future capital expenditures, debt repayments and other obligations. Kyocera’s net cash provided by operating activities in fiscal 2006 was ¥171,077 million ($1,462 million) and cash and cash equivalents at March 31, 2006 were ¥300,809 million ($2,571 million). Kyocera believes that its working capital is sufficient for present and predictable future requirements.

 

Kyocera Corporation undertakes purchases of its common stock to facilitate the implementation of flexible capital policies and to develop its business in a dynamic manner in response to changes in the operating environment.

 

In fiscal 2006, Kyocera Corporation paid cash dividends totaling ¥18,748 million ($160 million), at ¥100 ($0.9) per share. Kyocera Corporation received approval at the general meeting of shareholders held on June 23, 2006 for the payment of year-end dividends totaling ¥9,387 million ($80 million), at ¥50 ($0.4) per share, on June 26, 2006 to all stockholders of record on March 31, 2006.

 

Kyocera believes cash in hand and cash from operations will be sufficient to fund all cash requirements outlined above, at least through fiscal 2007. Consequently, Kyocera does not currently intend to use any other external financing sources that might affect its credit agency ratings. If cash generated by operations are insufficient for funding purposes, Kyocera retains other financing options, including external sources, such as short-term or long-term borrowings, as well as financing directly in the capital markets through issuances of debt or equity securities. As evidenced by equity to assets ratio of 66.7% at March 31, 2006, Kyocera maintains a strong financial position, which leads Kyocera to believe that any capital requirements could be secured from external sources at a relatively low cost. Kyocera also maintains good business relationships with several major Japanese financial institutions.

 

Any future significant deterioration in market demand for Kyocera’s products, or a slump in product prices to levels substantially below those projected by Kyocera, could adversely affect Kyocera’s operating results and financial position, possibly resulting in reduced liquidity.

 

Fiscal 2005 compared with Fiscal 2004

 

In the short term, Kyocera expects cash demands for working capital and funds for capital expenditures required for the expansion of operations, purchases of Kyocera Corporation’s common stock, and payments of dividends to stockholders. Kyocera’s primary source of short-term liquidity is cash generated by operations. Certain subsidiaries also generate capital in the form of loans from financial institutions. At March 31, 2005, Kyocera’s short-term borrowings and long-term debt including current portion totaled ¥144,164 million. The ratio to total assets of 8.3% was still at a low level of dependence. Most borrowings were denominated in yen but certain borrowings were denominated in foreign currencies, such as the U.S. dollar.

 

At March 31, 2005, Kyocera’s working capital totaled ¥551,218 million, a decrease of ¥5,839 million, or 1.0%, from ¥557,057 million at March 31, 2004. This was due mainly to decreases in cash and cash equivalents as a result of purchases of government bonds and negotiable certificate of deposits in consideration of the current and future financial position in accordance with our investment policy, and in notes and accounts payable as a result of decreases of orders and production in the Telecommunications Equipment Group. Cash from operations has generally been sufficient for Kyocera to fund its working capital requirements and to fulfill its future capital expenditures, debt repayments and other obligations. Kyocera’s net cash provided by operating activities in fiscal 2005 was ¥145,523 million and cash and cash equivalents at March 31, 2005 were ¥310,592 million. In Kyocera’s opinion, working capital is sufficient for present and predictable future requirements.

 

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Capital expenditures in fiscal 2005 increased by ¥8,239 million, or 15.0%, to ¥63,176 million compared with ¥54,937 million in fiscal 2004. R&D expenditures increased by ¥7,768 million, or 16.7%, to ¥54,398 million from ¥46,630 million in fiscal 2004. Nearly all capital and R&D expenditures were funded using cash in hand or cash generated by operations.

 

Kyocera Corporation undertakes purchases of its common stock to facilitate the implementation of flexible capital policies and develop its business in a dynamic manner in response to changes in the operating environment.

 

In fiscal 2005, Kyocera Corporation paid cash dividends totaling ¥11,249 million, ¥60 per share. Kyocera Corporation received approval at the general meeting of shareholders held on June 28, 2005 for the payment of year-end dividends totaling ¥9,374 million, ¥50 per share, on June 29, 2005 to all stockholders of record on March 31, 2005.

 

Kyocera believes cash in hand and cash from operations will be sufficient to fund all cash requirements outlined above, at least through fiscal 2006. Consequently, Kyocera does not currently intend to use any other external financing sources that might affect its credit agency ratings. If cash generated by operations are insufficient for funding purposes, Kyocera retains other financing options, including external sources, such as short-term or long-term borrowings as well as financing directly in the capital markets through issuances of debt or equity securities. As evidenced by an equity ratio to assets of 67.3% at March 31, 2005, Kyocera maintains a strong financial position, which leads Kyocera to believe that any capital requirements could be secured from external sources at a relatively low cost. Kyocera also maintains good business relationships with several major Japanese financial institutions.

 

Any future significant deterioration in market demand for Kyocera’s products, or a slump in product prices to levels substantially below those projected by Kyocera, could adversely affect Kyocera’s operating results and financial position, possibly resulting in reduced liquidity.

 

Cash flows

 

Fiscal 2006 compared with Fiscal 2005

 

The following table shows a summary of Kyocera’s cash flows for fiscal 2005 and fiscal 2006:

 

     (Yen in millions and U.S. dollars in thousands)

 
     Years ended March 31,

       
     2005

    2006

   

Increase

(Decrease)


 
     Amount

    Amount

    %

 

Cash flows from operating activities

   ¥ 145,523     ¥ 171,077     $ 1,462,197     17.6  

Cash flows from investing activities

     (132,494 )     (165,467 )     (1,414,248 )   24.9  

Cash flows from financing activities

     (67,344 )     (23,289 )     (199,051 )   (65.4 )

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

     310,592       300,809       2,571,017     (3.1 )

 

Net cash provided by operating activities in fiscal 2006 increased by ¥25,554 million ($218 million), or 17.6%, to ¥171,077 million ($1,462 million) from ¥145,523 million in fiscal 2005. This was due to an increase in net income by ¥23,788 million ($203 million), or 51.8%, to ¥69,696 million ($596 million) from ¥45,908 million in fiscal 2005, coupled with a decrease in inventory as a result of inventory normalization and an increase in notes and account payable in line with an increase in orders and production.

 

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Net cash used in investing activities in fiscal 2006 increased by ¥32,973 million ($282 million), or 24.9%, to ¥165,467 million ($1,414 million) from net cash used in investing activities of ¥132,494 million in fiscal 2005. In fiscal 2006, proceeds from sales of Taito Corporation shares and a decrease in payment for purchase of investments and advances compared with fiscal 2005 provided cash inflow in investing activities. Nonetheless, payment for purchases of property, plant and equipment increased owing to aggressive capital expenditure, payment for purchase of securities increased in line with fund management, and deposits of negotiable certificates of deposits and time deposits increased compared with fiscal 2005. As a result, net cash used in investing activities in fiscal 2006 increased compared with fiscal 2005.

 

Net cash used in financing activities in fiscal 2006 decreased by ¥44,055 million ($377 million), or 65.4%, to ¥23,289 million ($199 million) from ¥67,344 million in fiscal 2005. Although dividend payments increased in fiscal 2006 compared with fiscal 2005, an increase in short-term debt caused net cash used in financing activities to decrease compared with fiscal 2005.

 

The yen’s depreciation against the U.S. dollar and Euro between March 31, 2005 and 2006 resulted in an increase in cash and cash equivalents of ¥7,896 million ($67 million).

 

At March 31, 2006, cash and cash equivalents totaled ¥300,809 million ($2,571 million). This represented a decrease of ¥9,783 million ($84 million), or 3.1%, from ¥310,592 million at March 31, 2005. Most of Kyocera’s cash and cash equivalents were denominated in the yen but certain cash and cash equivalents, mainly in overseas subsidiaries, were denominated in foreign currencies, such as the U.S. dollar.

 

Fiscal 2005 compared with Fiscal 2004

 

     (Yen in millions)

 
     Years ended March 31,

   

Increase

(Decrease)


 
     2004

    2005

   
     Amount

    Amount

    %

 

Cash flows from operating activities

   ¥ 62,575     ¥ 145,523     132.6  

Cash flows from investing activities

     29,581       (132,494 )   —    

Cash flows from financing activities

     (20,422 )     (67,344 )   (229.8 )

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

     361,132       310,592     (14.0 )

 

Net cash provided by operating activities in fiscal 2005 increased by ¥82,948 million, or 132.6%, to ¥145,523 million from ¥62,575 million in fiscal 2004. This was due to a significant decrease in receivables by collection, including short-term finance receivables, although net income decreased by ¥22,178 million, or 32.6%, to ¥45,908 million compared with fiscal 2004. Kyocera Leasing Co., Ltd., which provides financial services, collected large-lot loans, and these collections resulted in the decrease in receivables. In addition, due to the settlement regarding the LaPine Case of ¥35,454 million in fiscal 2004, net cash provided by operating activities in fiscal 2005 increased compared with fiscal 2004. A decrease in notes and accounts payable due to decreases of production in the Telecommunications Equipment Group offset an increase in net cash provided by operating activities.

 

Net cash used in investing activities in fiscal 2005 increased by ¥162,075 million to ¥132,494 million from net cash provided by investing activities of ¥29,581 million in fiscal 2004. This was due mainly to increases in purchases of government bonds and deposits of negotiable certificate of deposits in consideration of market trends and current and future financial position according to our investment policy. In addition, in fiscal 2005, there was no cash inflow from withdrawal of restricted cash for settlement regarding the LaPine Case.

 

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Net cash used in financing activities in fiscal 2005 increased by ¥46,922 million, or 229.8%, to ¥67,344 million from ¥20,422 million in fiscal 2004. This was due mainly to a decrease in proceeds from issuance of long-term debt and an increase in repayments of long-term debt.

 

The yen’s depreciation against the U.S. dollar and Euro between March 31, 2004 and 2005 resulted in increases in cash and cash equivalents of ¥3,775 million.

 

At March 31, 2005, cash and cash equivalents totaled ¥310,592 million. This represented a decrease of ¥50,540 million, or 14.0%, from ¥361,132 million at March 31, 2004. Most of Kyocera’s cash and cash equivalents were denominated in yen but certain cash and cash equivalents, mainly in overseas subsidiaries, were denominated in foreign currencies, such as the U.S. dollar.

 

Assets, liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 

Kyocera’s total assets at March 31, 2006 increased by ¥186,003 million ($1,590 million), or 10.7%, to ¥1,931,522 million ($16,509 million), compared with ¥1,745,519 million at March 31, 2005.

 

Cash and cash equivalents decreased by ¥9,783 million ($84 million), or 3.1%, to ¥300,809 million ($2,571 million). This was due mainly to the effect of purchases of government bonds and deposits with over 3 months original maturities aiming for higher interest from investments, exceeding cash gained by the sale of all of Kyocera’s shares of Taito Corporation.

 

Short-term investments increased by ¥53,004 million ($453 million), or 151.7%, to ¥87,942 million ($752 million), due mainly to increases in deposits with over 3 months original maturities and bonds maturing within one year, which were reclassified from securities and other investments. Short-term and long-term finance receivables increased by ¥13,247 million ($113 million), or 12.4%, to ¥120,475 million ($1,030 million), due mainly to an increase of loan assets by Kyocera Leasing Co., Ltd. Short-term and long-term finance receivables also included finance lease receivables.

 

Inventories decreased by ¥22,847 million ($195 million), or 10.7%, to ¥190,564 million ($1,629 million). This was due mainly to a reduction of inventories in the Telecommunications Equipment Group in Kyocera Corporation and in Kyocera Mita Corporation, as well as sales of inventories following the outsourcing of the manufacture of mobile phone handsets of Kyocera Wireless Corp.

 

Investments in and advances to affiliates and unconsolidated subsidiaries decreased by ¥23,268 million ($199 million), or 76.0%, to ¥7,355 million ($63 million), due mainly to the sale of all of Kyocera’s shares of Taito Corporation and loss on impairment of investment in Triumph-Adler AG Group, an affiliate of Kyocera Mita Corporation.

 

Securities and other investments increased by ¥122,940 million ($1,051 million), or 28.6%, to ¥553,377 million ($4,730 million), due mainly to an increase in market value at March 31, 2006 of the shares of KDDI Corporation and other equity securities compared with March 31, 2005, and purchases of government bonds. Total property, plant and equipment at cost, net of accumulated depreciation, increased by ¥26,349 million ($225 million), or 10.2%, to ¥285,346 million ($2,439 million). In fiscal 2006, aggressive capital expenditures were executed in the solar energy business and organic package business. Capital expenditure in fiscal 2006 was ¥90,271 million ($772 million) and depreciation was ¥63,018 million ($539 million).

 

Intangible assets increased by ¥15,380 million ($131 million), or 97.1%, to ¥31,227 million ($267 million), due mainly to an increase of patent rights in the Telecommunications Equipment Group. Kyocera’s total liabilities at March 31, 2006 increased by ¥67,317 million ($575 million), or 13.2%, to ¥577,503 million ($4,936 million), compared with ¥510,186 million at March 31, 2005.

 

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Total debt, comprised of short-term borrowings and long-term debt including debt due within one year, decreased by ¥3,592 million ($31 million), or 2.5%, to ¥140,572 million ($1,201 million), as repayments of loans exceeded borrowings from banks. Trade notes and accounts payable increased by ¥16,631 million ($142 million), or 19.1%, to ¥103,503 million ($885 million), due mainly to increases of purchases with strong demand for components.

 

Other notes and accounts payable increased by ¥17,307 million ($148 million), or 49.9%, to ¥51,997 million ($444 million), due mainly to an increase in purchases of government bonds and accounts payable related to patent right contracts. Deferred income taxes increased by ¥29,341 million ($251 million), or 30.5%, to ¥125,686 million ($1,074 million), due mainly to an increase in market value at March 31, 2006 of the shares of KDDI Corporation and other equity securities compared with March 31, 2005.

 

Minority interests in subsidiaries, principally AVX Corporation, increased by ¥4,460 million ($38 million), or 7.4%, to ¥64,942 million ($555 million), compared with ¥60,482 million at March 31, 2005, due mainly to strong performance at AVX Corporation. Total stockholders’ equity at March 31, 2006 increased by ¥114,226 million ($976 million), or 9.7%, to ¥1,289,077 million ($11,018 million), compared with ¥1,174,851 million at March 31, 2005. Retained earnings at March 31, 2006 increased by ¥50,948 million ($435 million), or 5.6%, due to net income for fiscal 2006 of ¥69,696 million ($596 million) and cash dividend payments of ¥18,748 million ($160 million).

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income increased by ¥61,108 million ($522 million), or 516.2%, to ¥72,947 million ($623 million). Net unrealized gains on securities increased by ¥40,188 million ($343 million), or 94.6%, due mainly to an increase in market value at March 31, 2006 of the shares of KDDI Corporation and other equity securities compared with March 31, 2005. Foreign currency translation adjustments increased by ¥21,396 million ($183 million), or 73.9% due to the depreciation of the yen against the U.S. dollar and Euro. The stockholders’ equity ratio at March 31, 2006 was 66.7%, a decrease of 0.6 points compared with 67.3% at March 31, 2005.

 

C. Research and development activities

 

Kyocera promotes a strategy of “high-value-added diversification,” which aims continuously at expanding sales and boosting profitability in its components and equipment businesses. To achieve these objectives, Kyocera seeks to enhance existing businesses and to create new businesses by integrating group-wide management resources while advancing, focusing and integrating technological capabilities. Kyocera will channel its energies into two high-growth-potential areas; the markets for telecommunications and information processing and for environmental preservation. R&D activities are conducted in all of these markets in the realms of materials, components, devices and equipment. Specific initiatives in each reporting segment follow.

 

(1) Fine Ceramic Parts Group

 

By making effective use of fine ceramic materials technology, processing technology and design technology, Kyocera is seeking to strengthen the development of large-sized fine ceramic parts for next-generation semi-conductor and large LCD fabrication equipment and of high-quality, cost-competitive sapphire products for LEDs, applicability of which is increasing. In the growing automotive market, efforts are being undertaken to develop products that meet the need for advanced electronics and growing concerns with safety and the environment. Specific projects include the development of glow plugs by fully utilizing the high temperature durability of ceramics and piezo actuators that enable precision control for the fuel injection of diesel engine cars, which are becoming more widespread in Europe.

 

(2) Semiconductor Parts Group

 

Kyocera is advancing the development of new ceramic and organic packages for digital consumer products, where demand is expected to expand. In the ceramic packages business, efforts are being made to develop smaller, thinner and more highly sophisticated ceramic packages with a variety of built-in functions in order to meet rapid advancements in mobile phone handsets. Kyocera is also developing ceramic packages for different types of sensors for use in the automotive market. Elsewhere, Kyocera is developing organic packages for next-generation MPUs and their peripheral devices.

 

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(3) Applied Ceramic Products Group

 

While striving to further increase the conversion efficiency of solar cells for the environmental preservation market, Kyocera is developing a variety of next-generation solar cells. Kyocera is also working toward the practical application of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) for residential use, which are expected to be the next-generation distributed power generation system for small-scale power sources.

 

(4) Electronic Device Group

 

Kyocera develops various electronic components for the high-growth digital consumer products and automotive markets. In the digital consumer products, Kyocera is working to develop components for the hard-disk-drive market, in which demand is growing in line with increasing product sophistication. Specifically, Kyocera develops small, high-capacitance ceramic capacitors, ultra small, low frequency crystal units, ceramic resonators and shock sensors products. Global Positioning System (GPS) modules and other products are being developed in accordance with the spreading of a network society.

 

In thin-film devices, Kyocera is developing thermal printheads for digital photo printers capable of handling high-pixel photos, and industrial-use LCDs equipped with LED backlights to meet the need for environmentally-friendly products. In addition, Kyocera is working on the commercial application of organic EL displays, which are especially superior in moving images in mobile equipment while preserving a low-energy consumption feature.

 

(5) Telecommunications Equipment Group

 

By making effective use of component, device and software technologies within the group, Kyocera is seeking to develop sophisticated CDMA handsets with terrestrial digital TV and IP video phone functionality to meet needs in the mobile telecommunications equipment market, in which functions are becoming increasingly advanced. In the domestic PHS market, Kyocera is developing handsets compatible with high-performance PHS base stations to ensure faster data transmission rates and the provision of diverse services. Kyocera is also strengthening the development of equipment for wireless broadband systems such as iBurstTM and VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) that enable stable, high-speed and high-data rate communication. (iBurstTM is a trade mark of ArrayComm, Inc.)

 

(6) Information Equipment Group

 

Kyocera is promoting the development of more color-based and solutions-oriented products based on the ECOSYS concept, which is realized through the incorporation of a long-lasting amorphous silicon drum. Apart from bolstering the lineup for both black and white and color machines, Kyocera is advancing the development of document solutions products that can handle the integrated management of documents and digital information.

 

(7) Optical Equipment Group

 

Kyocera is developing optical components such as lenses and optical modules for mobile phone handsets by integrating optical technologies with electronic devices and semiconductor parts technologies amassed within the group. In particular, Kyocera focuses on the development of optical modules for small, low-profile mobile phone handsets with high-resolution displays and zoom capability. Kyocera is also developing the projector and barcode reader markets for further growth.

 

(8) Others

 

Kyocera Chemical Corporation is currently strengthening the development of semiconductor and crystal-related materials. Focused efforts include the development of photo-sensitive, heat-resistant resin as a protective coating for the surface of semiconductors and of photo spacers for LCDs. The development of materials for different capacitors and materials for solar cells creates positive synergistic effects with Kyocera’s other businesses. Kyocera Communication Systems Co., Ltd. is promoting development in the area of fixed mobile convergence (FMC) and optimization by anticipating the needs for next-generation mobile handsets and other mobile communication equipment. In addition, Kyocera Communication Systems Co., Ltd. continues to develop authentication and security technologies, which seek to meet the need for fast changing next-generation networks.

 

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The following table shows a breakdown of Kyocera’s total consolidated research and development expenses for fiscal 2004, fiscal 2005 and fiscal 2006 by the eight reporting segments:

 

     (Yen in millions and U.S. dollars in thousands)

 
     Years ended March 31,

   Increase (Decrease)
Fiscal 2006 compared
with Fiscal 2005


 
     2004

   2005

   2006

  
     Amount

   Amount

   Amount

   %

 

Fine Ceramic Parts Group

   ¥ 2,990    ¥ 4,252    ¥ 3,107    $ 26,556    (26.9 )

Semiconductor Parts Group

     3,314      2,890      3,549      30,333    22.8  

Applied Ceramic Products Group

     2,444      2,747      3,923      33,530    42.8  

Electronic Device Group

     9,487      11,416      10,940      93,504    (4.2 )

Telecommunications Equipment Group

     14,144      14,972      15,313      130,880    2.3  

Information Equipment Group

     10,643      13,270      16,416      140,308    23.7  

Optical Equipment Group

     2,785      2,636      1,079      9,222    (59.1 )

Others

     823      2,215      3,109      26,573    40.4  
    

  

  

  

  

Total

   ¥ 46,630    ¥ 54,398    ¥ 57,436    $ 490,906    5.6  
    

  

  

  

  

 

We have a variety of patents in Japan and other countries, and hold licenses for the use of patents from others. Details are set forth in Item 4 B “Patents and Licenses” in this Form 20-F.

 

D. Trend Information

 

The following statements contain forward- looking statements. They are based on estimates and assumptions of our management about the future and are subject to significant uncertainty. You should read these statement in conjunction with the Item 3.D “Risk Factors” in this Form 20-F, which describe factors that may contribute to actual events or our results of operations differing from that stated in the forward looking statements below, including changes in the Japanese or world economies and demand for our products.

 

The information below should be read in conjunction with other sections within Item 5 “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” of this Form 20-F, which contains some of the trend information required by this item.

 

Market Trends

 

In the telecommunications and information processing market, a key area for Kyocera, the rising popularity of advanced handsets featuring high-pixel color LCDs, built-in cameras and other advanced functions including GPS (global positioning system), terrestrial TV broadcasting and hard disk drives, enabling music download, is expected to propel demand for mobile phone handsets. In addition, stable growth is predicted to continue in PC-related and digital cameras, while strong growth in demands for DVD recorders and flat panel digital TVs is anticipated. Kyocera expects these areas of growth will produce a positive impact on both the components and equipment businesses.

 

In the information equipment industry, demand for high-speed multifunctional products equipped with printers, copiers and facsimile, is expected to grow. To seize this opportunity by meeting with such needs, we aim at expanding our product lines ranging from monochrome to color models.

 

In the environmental preservation market, which is another key area for Kyocera, solar energy market is growing rapidly on a global basis due to rising environmental awareness. Demand for solar energy is expanding, especially in Japan and Europe supported by governmental subsidy systems. As these subsidy systems are penetrating in the United States and other Asian countries, solar energy market is expected to expand in the future. In addition, ceramic components for automobiles, which are complied with current environmental regulations, are also expected to grow in the future.

 

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E. Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

Refer to Note 13 in The Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 20-F.

 

As a part of its ongoing business, we have no unconsolidated special purpose financing or partnership entities that are likely to create material contingent obligations.

 

F. Tabular Disclosure of Contractual Obligations

 

The following tables provide information about Kyocera’s contractual obligations and other commercial commitments that will affect Kyocera’s liquidity for the next several years, as of March 31, 2006. Kyocera anticipates that funds to be required to fulfill these debt obligations and commitments will be generated internally from operations.

 

Contractual obligations


   (Yen in millions)

    

Less than

1 year


   2-3 years

   4-5 years

   Thereafter

   Total

Short-term borrowings*

   ¥ 90,865    ¥ —      ¥ —      ¥ —      ¥ 90,865

Interest payments for short-term borrowings*

     644      —        —        —        644

Long-term debt (including due within one year)*

     16,347      25,617      4,824      2,919      49,707

Interest payments for long-term debt*

     377      361      133      102      973

Supply agreement material used in operation

     2,482      8,831      10,078      20,697      42,088

Operating Leases

     7,785      8,955      3,191      5,437      25,368

Obligations for the acquisition or construction of property, plant and equipment

     13,236      —        —        —        13,236
    

  

  

  

  

Total Contractual Obligations

   ¥ 131,736    ¥ 43,764    ¥ 18,226    ¥ 29,155    ¥ 222,881
    

  

  

  

  

Contractual obligations


  

(U.S. dollars in thousands)


    

Less than

1 year


   2-3 years

   4-5 years

   Thereafter

   Total

Short-term borrowings*

   $ 776,624    $ —      $ —      $ —      $ 776,624

Interest payments for short-term borrowings*

     5,505      —        —        —        5,505

Long-term debt (including due within one year)*

     139,718      218,948      41,231      24,949      424,846

Interest payments for long-term debt*

     3,222      3,085      1,137      872      8,316

Supply agreement material used in operation

     21,214      75,479      86,136      176,897      359,726

Operating Leases

     66,538      76,539      27,274      46,470      216,821

Obligations for the acquisition or construction of property, plant and equipment

     113,128      —        —        —        113,128
    

  

  

  

  

Total Contractual Obligations

   $ 1,125,949    $ 374,051    $ 155,778    $ 249,188    $ 1,904,966
    

  

  

  

  

 

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* At March 31, 2006, Kyocera’s contractual obligations were mainly comprised of short-term borrowings and long-term debt including those due within one year, which amounted to ¥90,865 million ($777 million) and ¥49,707 million ($425 million), respectively. Over 80% of those debts were attributable to Kyocera Mita Corporation and Kyocera Leasing Co., Ltd. Kyocera Leasing Co., Ltd. provides financial services such as credit financing and leasing. Due to the nature of its operations, Kyocera Leasing Co., Ltd. had ¥80,351 million ($687 million) of short-term borrowings and ¥25,857 million ($221 million) of long-term debt from banks and other financial institutions at March 31, 2006 as the primary source of funding for operating its business. For Kyocera’s variable interest rate of borrowings and debt, Kyocera utilized the rates in effect as of March 31, 2006 when estimating schedule of interest payments.

 

In addition to contractual obligations shown in the above tables, Kyocera forecasts to contribute ¥9,058 million ($77 million) to its defined benefit pension plans in fiscal 2007.

 

Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees

 

A. Directors and Senior Management

 

Since April 1, 2006, Kyocera implemented a new management system. In June 2005, Kyocera initiated a management system with the roles of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and the Chief Operating Officer (COO). Subsequently, however, Kyocera decided that its traditional management system, which had been in place for many years, enables faster decision-making across-the-board through the use of a top management system comprising the chairman, the deputy chairman and the president. With this setup, the chairman takes on the position as the head of the board of directors, providing guidance to the president, while the president has total responsibility for daily business execution. It is also believed that more accurate management decisions can be made with the traditional system as the chairman, the deputy chairman and the president can provide diverse perspectives on critical issues.

 

The following table shows Kyocera’s Directors and Corporate Auditors as of June 26, 2006.

 

Name


  

Date of Birth


  

Position


  

Since


Kensuke Itoh    December 17, 1937    Director and Advisor    1975
Yasuo Nishiguchi    October 9, 1943    Director and Advisor    1987
Noboru Nakamura    October 6, 1944   

Representative Director and Chairman

(Representative Director and President of JAPAN MEDICAL MATERIALS CORPORATION and Representative Director and Chairman of KYOCERA CHEMICAL CORPORATION )

  

1991

(Chairman 2006)

 

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Name


  

Date of Birth


  

Position


  

Since


Masahiro Umemura

   August 8, 1943    Representative Director and Vice Chairman    1991

Yuzo Yamamura

   December 4, 1941   

Representative Director and Vice Chairman

(Representative Director and President of KYOCERA ELCO CORPORATION)

   2003

Naoyuki Morita

   April 8, 1942   

Representative Director and Vice Chairman

(Representative Director and Chairman and President of KYOCERA COMMUNICATION

SYSTEMS CO., LTD.)

   2003

Makoto Kawamura

   August 13, 1949    Representative Director and President   

2005

(President 2005)

Koji Seki

   December 8, 1937   

Director

(Representative Director and Chairman and President of KYOCERA MITA CORPORATION)

   2003

Michihisa Yamamoto

   November 13, 1942    Director (Representative Director and President of KYOCERA OPTEC CO., LTD., and General Manager of Corporate Optical Equipment Group)    1987

Isao Kishimoto

   November 30, 1943   

Director

(Representative

Director and President of KYOCEA KINSEKI CORPORATION)

   1993

Hisao Hisaki

   July 2, 1946    Director (General Manager of KYOCERA (TIANJIN) SALES AND TRADING CORPORATION)    1991

Rodney N. Lanthorne

   February 5, 1945   

Director

(Director and President of KYOCERA INTERNATIONAL, INC.)

   1989

John S. Gilbertson

   December 4, 1943   

Director

(Director, President and Chief Executive Officer of AVX CORPORATION)

   1995

Yasuo Akashi

   May 29, 1944    Full-time Corporate Auditor    2003

Yoshihiko Nishikawa

   September 11, 1945    Full-time Corporate Auditor    2005

Osamu Nishieda

   January 10, 1943    Corporate Auditor(Lawyer)    1993

Shinji Kurihara

   July 19, 1932    Corporate Auditor(General Manager of TAKEDA Hospital Research Institute)    2003

Shigekazu Tamura

   February 18, 1950    Corporate Auditor(Registered Public Accountant)    2005

 

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Kensuke Itoh has served as a Director and the Advisor of Kyocera Corporation since 2005. He became a Director in 1975, a Managing Director in 1979, and a Senior Managing Director in 1981 and the Chairman of the Board and Representative Director in 1999. He joined Kyocera Corporation in 1959 and has served as Representative Director and Chairman of Kyoto Purple Sanga Ltd.

 

Yasuo Nishiguchi has served as a Director and the Advisor of Kyocera Corporation since 2006. He became a Director in 1987, a Managing Director in 1989 and a Senior Managing and Representative Director in 1992 and the Chairman of the Board and Representative Director in 2005. He joined Kyocera Corporation in 1975 and has served as the Representative Director and Chairman of Kyocera Leasing Co., Ltd., Chairman of the Board of Directors of Shanghai Kyocera Electronics Co., Ltd., Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dongguan Shilong Kyocera Optics Co., Ltd., Chairman of the Board of Directors of Kyocera Zhenhua Communication Equipment Co., Ltd., Chairman of the Board of Directors of Kyocera Mita Office Equipment (Dongguan) Co., Ltd., Chairman of the Board of Directors of Kyocera (Tianjin) Sales and Trading Corporation and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Kyocera (Tjianjin) Solar Energy Co., Ltd..

 

Noboru Nakamura has served as a Representative Director and Chairman of Kyocera Corporation since 2006. He became a Director in 1991, a Managing Director in 1995, a Senior Managing and Representative Director in 1997 and an Executive Vice President and Representative Director in 1999. He joined Kyocera Corporation in 1967 and has served as the Representative Director and Chairman of Kyocera Chemical Corporation, Representative Director and President of Japan Medical Materials Corporation, Representative Director and Chairman of Kyocera Solar Corporation, Representative Director and Chairman of Kyocera SLC Technologies Corporation, and Representative Director and Chairman of Kyocera Display Institute Co., Ltd., Representative Director and Chairman of Kyocera International Co., Ltd., and Representative Director and President of Kyoto Fashion Center Ltd.

 

Masahiro Umemura has served as a Representative Director and Vice Chairman since 2005. He became a Director in 1991, a Managing Director in 1993 and a Senior Managing and Representative Director in 1997 and an Executive Vice President and Representative Director in 1999. He joined Kyocera Corporation in 1966 and is in charge of Finance and Corporate Development Group and has served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Shanghai Kyocera Realty Development Co., Ltd. and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Shanghai Kyocera Trading Co., Ltd.

 

Yuzo Yamamura has served as a Representative Director and Vice Chairman since 2006. He rejoined Kyocera Corporation as a Director in 2003. He first became a Director in 1987, and retired in 1993. He rejoined Kyocera Corporation as a Senior Managing and Representative Director in 1995 and retired again in 1999. He originally joined Kyocera Corporation in 1965 and has served as the President and Representative Director of Kyocera ELCO Corporation.

 

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Naoyuki Morita has served as a Representative Director and Vice Chairman since 2006. He rejoined Kyocera Corporation as a Director in 2003. He first became a Director in 1987, a Managing Director in 1989 and a Senior Managing and Representative Director in 1995, and retired in 1999. He originally joined Kyocera Corporation in 1967 and has served as the Representative Director and Chairman and President of Kyocera Communication Systems Co., Ltd., and Representative Director and Chairman and President of IT Marketing Humans Inc.

 

Makoto Kawamura has served as a Representative Director and President of Kyocera Corporation since 2005. He became a Director in 2001 and retired in 2003. He rejoined as a Representative Director, and President in 2005. He has served as Representative Director and Chairman and President in Kyocera Korea Co., Ltd. since 2006. He joined Kyocera Corporation in 1973.

 

Koji Seki rejoined Kyocera Corporation as a Director in 2003. He first became a Director in 1989 and a Managing Director in 1999, and he retired in 2001. He originally joined Kyocera Corporation in 1982 and has served as the Representative Director and Chairman and President of Kyocera Mita Corporation.

 

Michihisa Yamamoto has served as a Director of Kyocera Corporation since 1987. He became a Director in 1987, and a Managing Director in 1989 and a Senior Managing and Representative Director in 1992 and an Executive Vice President and a Representative Director in 1999. He joined Kyocera Corporation in 1970 and has served as Representative Director and President of Kyocera Optec Co., Ltd.

 

Isao Kishimoto has served as a Director of Kyocera Corporation since 1993. He became a Director in 1993, a Managing Director in 1997 and a Senior Managing Director in 2001. He joined Kyocera Corporation in 1967 and has served as Representative Director and President of Kyocera Kinseki Corporation.

 

Hisao Hisaki has served as a Director of Kyocera Corporation since 1991. He joined Kyocera Corporation in 1969 and has served as Representative Director and President of Kyocera Tianjin Sales and Trading Corporation.

 

Rodney N. Lanthorne has served as a Director of Kyocera Corporation since 1989. He became a Director in 1989, a Managing Director in 1990 and a Senior Managing and Representative Director in 1999. He joined Kyocera International, Inc. in 1979 and has served as Director and President of Kyocera International, Inc.

 

John S. Gilbertson has served as a Director of Kyocera Corporation since 1995. He became a Director in 1995 and a Managing Director in 1999. He joined AVX Corporation in 1981 and has served as Director, President and Chief Executive Officer of AVX Corporation.

 

Yasuo Akashi has served as a Full-time Corporate Auditor of Kyocera Corporation since 2003. He became a Director in 1991, a Managing Director in 1993 and a Senior Managing and Representative Director in 1997. He joined Kyocera Corporation in 1967.

 

Yoshihiko Nishikawa has served as a Full-time Corporate Auditor of Kyocera Corporation since 2005. He became a Director in 1995 and retired in 2003. He joined Kyocera Corporation in 1970.

 

Osamu Nishieda has served as a Corporate Auditor of Kyocera Corporation since 1993. He has served as an In-House Council of Kyocera Corporation.

 

Shinji Kurihara has served as a Corporate Auditor of Kyocera Corporation since 2003. He has served as the Representative Director of Takeda Management Institution.

 

Shigekazu Tamura has served as a Corporate Auditor of Kyocera Corporation since 2005. He is registered as the Certified Public Accountant defined by the Certified Public Accountant Law of Japan.

 

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Kyocera adopts an “executive officer system,” of which objectives are to establish corporate governance appropriate for a global corporation, together with a decision making system responsive to the business environment, and to train the next generation of senior executives.

 

The following table shows Kyocera’s Executive Officers as of June 26, 2006.

 

Name


  

Position


Makoto Kawamura

   Executive Officer and President

Isao Yukawa

   Senior Managing Executive Officer (General Manager of Corporate Solar Energy Group)

Tatsumi Maeda

   Managing Executive Officer (Deputy General Manager of Corporate Solar Energy Group)

Hisashi Sakumi

   Managing Executive Officer (General Manager of Corporate Environment and Education Group)

Tsutomu Yamori

   Managing Executive Officer (General Manager of Corporate General Affairs Human Resources Group)

Takashi Itoh

   Managing Executive Officer (General Manager of Corporate Purchasing Group)

Tetsuo Kuba

   Managing Executive Officer (General Manager of Corporate Fine Ceramics Group and Corporate Semiconductor Components Group)

Osamu Nomoto

   Managing Executive Officer (General Manager of Corporate Electronic Components Group)

Eiichi Toriyama

   Managing Executive Officer (Deputy General Manager of Corporate Electronic Components Group and General Manager of Corporate Electronic Components Sales Division)

Akiyoshi Okamoto

   Managing Executive Officer (General Manager of SHANGHAI KYOCERA ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.)

Keijiro Minami

   Senior Executive Officer (General Manager of Corporate Legal & Intellectual Property Group)

Goro Yamaguchi

   Senior Executive Officer (Deputy General Manager of Corporate Semiconductor Components Group and General Manager of Corporate Semiconductor Components Sales Division)

Yasushi Matsumura

   Senior Executive Officer (General Manager of Corporate Thin-Film Devices Group)

Yoshihito Ota

   Executive Officer (General Manager of Office of the Chief Executives)

Yasuyuki Yamamoto

   Executive Officer (General Manager of Corporate Mobile Communication Equipment Group)

Jyunichi Jinno

   Executive Officer (General Manager of Corporate Communication Systems Equipment Group)

Gen Takayasu

   Executive Officer (General Manager of Corporate Communication Devices Division, Corporate Semiconductor Components Group)

 

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Name


  

Position


Nobuhiro Ochiai

   Executive Officer (General Manager of Corporate Capacitor Division, Corporate Electronic Components Group)

Jyunzo Katsuki

   Executive Officer (Deputy General Manager of Corporate Electronic Components Sales Division, Corporate Electronic Components Group)

Yukihiro Takarabe

   Executive Officer (General Manager of Corporate Cutting Tool Group)

Masakazu Mitsuda

   Executive Officer (General Manager of Corporate Business Systems Administration Group)

Toshimi Gejima

   Executive Officer (General Manager of Automotive Components Division)

Michiaki Furuhashi

   Executive Officer (General Manager of General Affairs Division, Corporate General Affairs Human Resources Group)

Mitsuru Imanaka

   Executive Officer (Director and President of KYOCERA FINE CERAMICS GmbH)

Shoichi Aoki

   Executive Officer (General Manager of Corporate Financial & Accounting Group)

Hiroshi Togi

   Executive Officer (General Manager of Corporate Ceramic Packages Division, Corporate Semiconductor Components Group)

Yoshihiro Kano

   Executive Officer (General Manager of Corporate Development Group)

Yoichi Yamashita

   Executive Officer (General Manager of Corporate Production Technology and Development Group)

Robert Whisler

   Executive Officer (Director and President of KYOCERA AMERICA INC.)

John Rigby

   Executive Officer (Director and President of KYOCERA INDUSTRIAL CERAMICS CORPORATION)

 

B. Compensation

 

The aggregate amount of compensation, including bonuses, paid by Kyocera Corporation and its certain subsidiaries in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2006 to all Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Auditors of Kyocera Corporation and its certain subsidiaries was ¥1,272 million ($11 million). The aggregate amount includes compensation and bonuses paid during the three months ended June 30, 2006 to one Director and one Corporate Auditor who retired on June 28, 2005, and excludes the lump sum retirement allowance paid to them. The number of Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Auditors to whom the above aggregate amount relates differs from the number of Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Auditors as of the filing date of this Form 20-F.

 

In accordance with customary Japanese business practice, when a Director or Corporate Auditor retires, a proposal to pay a lump sum retirement allowance is submitted to the ordinary general meeting of shareholders for approval. After such approval, the amount to be paid to each Director or Corporate Auditor is consulted with and fixed by the Board of Directors in accordance with Kyocera Corporation’s internal regulations. Annual provisions are made in the accounts of Kyocera Corporation for the estimated cost of the retirement allowance for Directors and Corporate Auditors.

 

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The annual provisions and costs charged to income for such retirement allowance for fiscal 2006 were ¥1,444 million ($12 million).

 

We have neither disclosed to our shareholders nor otherwise made public any of the information specified in this item for individually named Directors, Officers or Corporate Auditors.

 

C. Board Practices

 

In accordance with the requirements of the Company Law of Japan which came into effect on May 1, 2006 (the “Company Law”), our Articles of Incorporation provide for not more than five Corporate Auditors. Corporate Auditors are elected at a general meeting of shareholders, and their normal term of office is four years. However, Corporate Auditors may serve any number of consecutive terms. At least half of the Corporate Auditors must be persons who have not been Directors or employees of Kyocera Corporation or its subsidiaries (“Outside Corporate Auditors”). Corporate Auditors form the Board of Corporate Auditors. Corporate Auditors are under a statutory duty to oversee the administration of our affairs by the Directors, to examine our financial statements and business reports to be submitted by the Board of Directors to the general meetings of shareholders and to report their opinions thereon to the shareholders. They are obliged to attend meetings of the Board of Directors and to express their opinions, but they are not entitled to vote. Corporate Auditors also have a statutory duty to provide their report on the audit report prepared by our independent certified public accountants to the Board of Corporate Auditors, which must submit its audit report to the Board of Directors. The Board of Corporate Auditors will also determine matters relating to the duties of the Corporate Auditors, such as audit policy and methods of investigation of our affairs.

 

Under the Company Law, the Directors and Corporate Auditors are liable for any damages suffered by us as a result of their violation of laws or regulations or any failure to perform their duties. Under our Articles of Incorporation, any such liabilities incurred by the Outside Corporate Auditors may, except in the case of willful misconduct or gross negligence or in certain other cases, be limited by a liability limitation agreement entered into between the Outside Corporate Auditors and us, up to an amount to be calculated in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Company Law with reference to annual remuneration, retirement allowance and profits received upon exercise or transfer of stock options, if any.

 

Kyocera Corporation has no remuneration committee. Matters of remuneration are decided by top management as a group. None of our Directors have contracts with us providing for benefits upon termination. It is customary to provide lump-sum severance benefits to Directors and Corporate Auditors upon retirement and we provide such benefits in accordance with our internal regulations.

 

There is no arrangement or understanding between any Director or Corporate Auditor and any other person pursuant to which he was elected as a Director or a Corporate Auditor.

 

There is no family relationship between any Director or Corporate Auditor and any other Director or Corporate Auditor.

 

The rights of ADR holders, including their rights relating to corporate governance practice, are provided in the Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement and an amendment thereto which are included in an exhibit to this Form 20-F. See also Item 10.B “Memorandum and Articles of Association” of this Form 20-F.

 

D. Employees

 

At March 31, 2006, Kyocera had 61,468 employees, of whom 2,640 worked in the Fine Ceramic Parts Group, 9,690 worked in the Semiconductor Parts Group, 5,105 worked in the Applied Ceramic Products Group, 21,686 worked in the Electronic Device Group, 3,245 worked in the Telecommunications Equipment Group, 12,364 worked in the Information Equipment Group, 1,542 worked in the Optical Equipment Group, 3,611 worked for Others and 1,585 worked in Corporate. Kyocera’s number of employees at March 31, 2006 increased by 2,909 compared with the number of employees of 58,559 at March 31, 2005.

 

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Kyocera Corporation had 12,457 employees, and their average age and average service years were 38.3 and 15.5, respectively.

 

Most regular employees of Kyocera Corporation, other than management, are members of the Kyocera Union. Over 90% of Kyocera Corporation’s regular employees are members of this union. The Kyocera Union is only open to Kyocera Corporation employees, not to our Japanese or overseas subsidiaries. The employees at three of our subsidiaries in Japan are unionized. Employees at our Japanese subsidiaries are not otherwise unionized. In the United States, our employees are generally unionized, subsidiaries in other countries are unionized on a case-by-case basis. Employees of our overseas subsidiaries belong to labor unions organized by industry, as opposed to a company specific union like the Kyocera Union. There is no material item to be specifically addressed regarding relationships between labor and management.

 

E. Share Ownership

 

As of March 31, 2006, Kyocera’s Directors, Corporate Auditors and Executive Officers owned 1,760,654 shares of Kyocera Corporation in total (1,737,896 shares of common stock of Kyocera Corporation and 22,758 ADRs of Kyocera Corporation), or 1.0% of the outstanding shares of Kyocera Corporation. The numbers of shares owned by each Directors, Corporate Auditors and Executive Officers are shown in the following table.

 

Name


  

Title


  

Number of Shares


Kensuke Itoh

   Director and Advisor    557,072

Yasuo Nishiguchi

   Director and Advisor    4,095

Noboru Nakamura

   Representative Director and Chairman    3,100

Masahiro Umemura

   Representative Director and Vice Chairman    5,000

Yuzo Yamamura

   Representative Director and Vice Chairman    82,000

Naoyuki Morita

   Representative Director and Vice Chairman    5,600

Makoto Kawamura

   Representative Director and President    2,000

Koji Seki

   Director    2,318

Michihisa Yamamoto

   Director    9,232

Isao Kishimoto

   Director    4,100

Hisao Hisaki

   Director    3,171

 

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Name


  

Title


  

Number of Shares


Rodney N. Lanthorne

   Director    3,533 (ADR)

John S. Gilbertson

   Director    16,656 (ADR)

Yasuo Akashi

   Corporate Auditor    6,323

Yoshihiko Nishikawa

   Corporate Auditor    2,102

Osamu Nishieda

   Corporate Auditor    1,000,037

Shinji Kurihara

   Corporate Auditor    500

Shigekazu Tamura

   Corporate Auditor    —  

Isao Yukawa

   Senior Managing Executive Officer    1,200

Tatsumi Maeda

   Managing Executive Officer    1,100

Hisashi Sakumi

   Managing Executive Officer    9,000

Tsutomu Yamori

   Managing Executive Officer    2,000

Takashi Itoh

   Managing Executive Officer    9,000

Tetsuo Kuba

   Managing Executive Officer    2,000

Osamu Nomoto

   Managing Executive Officer    1,315

Eiichi Toriyama

   Managing Executive Officer    1,500

Akiyoshi Okamoto

   Managing Executive Officer    4,864

Keijiro Minami

   Senior Executive Officer    600

Goro Yamaguchi

   Senior Executive Officer    3,700

Yasushi Matsumura

   Senior Executive Officer    100

Yoshihito Ota

   Executive Officer    900

Yasuyuki Yamamoto

   Executive Officer    —  

Jyunichi Jinno

   Executive Officer    —  

Gen Takayasu

   Executive Officer    500

 

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Name


  

Title


  

Number of Shares


Nobuhiro Ochiai

  

Executive Officer

   1,000

Jyunzo Katsuki

  

Executive Officer

   800

Yukihiro Takarabe

  

Executive Officer

   300

Masakazu Mitsuda

  

Executive Officer

   500

Toshimi Gejima

  

Executive Officer

   1,400

Michiaki Furuhashi

  

Executive Officer

   7,867

Mitsuru Imanaka

  

Executive Officer

   1,100

Shoichi Aoki

  

Executive Officer

   200

Hiroshi Togi

  

Executive Officer

   300

Yoshihiro Kano

  

Executive Officer

   —  

Yoichi Yamashita

  

Executive Officer

   —  

Robert Whisler

  

Executive Officer

   1,429(ADR)

John Rigby

  

Executive Officer

   1,140(ADR)

 

Stock Option Plans

 

On June 25, 2003, the stockholders approved Kyocera Corporation’s Board of Directors resolution for approval of the issuance of stock acquisition rights (Plan 2003) to directors, corporate auditors, corporate executive officers and certain key employees of Kyocera. Plan 2003 were granted on September 1, 2003 and fully vested on October 1, 2003 to 1,390 persons to acquire amounts ranging from 600 to 8,000 shares of common stock each, or to acquire 1,070,100 shares of common stock in the aggregate. The exercise price and the exercisable period of Plan 2003 have been set at ¥7,900 per share, and from October 1, 2003 to September 30, 2008.

 

On June 25, 2004, the stockholders approved Kyocera Corporation’s Board of Directors resolution for approval of the issuance of stock acquisition rights (Plan 2004) to directors, corporate auditors, corporate executive officers and certain key employees of Kyocera. Plan 2004 were granted on September 1, 2004 and fully vested on October 1, 2004 to 1,644 persons to acquire amounts ranging from 600 to 8,000 shares of common stock each, or to acquire 1,243,300 shares of common stock in the aggregate. The exercise price and the exercisable period of Plan 2004 have been set at ¥8,725 per share, and from October 1, 2004 to September 30, 2008.

 

On June 28, 2005, the stockholders approved Kyocera Corporation’s Board of Directors resolution for approval of the issuance of stock acquisition rights (Plan 2005) to directors, corporate auditors, corporate executive officers and certain key employees of Kyocera. Plan 2005 were granted on September 1, 2005 and fully vested on October 1, 2005 to 1,715 persons to acquire common stock ranging from 600 to 8,000 shares or to acquire 1,301,900 shares of common stock in the aggregate. The exercise price and the exercisable period of Plan 2005 have been set at ¥8,619 per share, and from October 1, 2005 to September 30, 2008.

 

Kyocera Corporation covers Plan 2003, Plan 2004 and Plan 2005 by utilizing common stock held by Kyocera Corporation (treasury stock).

 

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Towards fiscal 2007, Kyocera Corporation decided not to issue nor grant new stock options utilizing shares of common stock of Kyocera Corporation.

 

As of May 31, 2006, the amount of common stock to be issued upon the exercise of all outstanding options issued to Directors, Corporate Auditors and Executive Officers is set forth in further detail in the following table. Note, however, that there can be no assurances that the options described above will be exercised in whole or in part.

 

Option Holder


  

Title


  

Total Options

Outstanding


  

Exercise Price per Share


Kensuke Itoh    Director and Advisor   

8,000 (Plan 2003)

8,000 (Plan 2004)

8,000 (Plan 2005)

  

7,900 YEN (Plan 2003)

8,725 YEN (Plan 2004)

8,619 YEN (Plan 2005)

Yasuo Nishiguchi    Director and Advisor    —      —  
Noboru Nakamura    Representative Director and Chairman   

6,000 (Plan 2003)

6,000 (Plan 2004)

6,000 (Plan 2005)

  

7,900 YEN (Plan 2003)

8,725 YEN (Plan 2004)

8,619 YEN (Plan 2005)

Masahiro Umemura    Representative Director and Vice Chairman   

6,000 (Plan 2003)

6,000 (Plan 2004)

8,000 (Plan 2005)

  

7,900 YEN (Plan 2003)

8,725 YEN (Plan 2004)

8,619 YEN (Plan 2005)

Yuzo Yamamura    Representative Director and Vice Chairman   

6,000 (Plan 2003)

6,000 (Plan 2004)

6,000 (Plan 2005)

  

7,900 YEN (Plan 2003)

8,725 YEN (Plan 2004)

8,619 YEN (Plan 2005)

Naoyuki Morita    Representative Director and Vice Chairman   

6,000 (Plan 2003)

6,000 (Plan 2004)

6,000 (Plan 2005)

  

7,900 YEN (Plan 2003)

8,725 YEN (Plan 2004)

8,619 YEN (Plan 2005)

Makoto Kawamura    Representative Director and President   

3,000 (Plan 2003)

4,000 (Plan 2004)

8,000 (Plan 2005)

  

7,900 YEN (Plan 2003)

8,725 YEN (Plan 2004)

8,619 YEN (Plan 2005)

Koji Seki    Director   

6,000 (Plan 2004)

6,000 (Plan 2005)

  

8,725 YEN (Plan 2004)

8,619 YEN (Plan 2005)

Michihisa Yamamoto    Director   

4,500 (Plan 2003)

6,000 (Plan 2004)

6,000 (Plan 2005)

  

7,900 YEN (Plan 2003)

8,725 YEN (Plan 2004)

8,619 YEN (Plan 2005)

Isao Kishimoto    Director   

4,000 (Plan 2003)

5,500 (Plan 2004)

6,000 (Plan 2005)

  

7,900 YEN (Plan 2003)

8,725 YEN (Plan 2004)

8,619 YEN (Plan 2005)

Hisao Hisaki    Director   

2,500 (Plan 2003)

5,000 (Plan 2004)

5,000 (Plan 2005)

  

7,900 YEN (Plan 2003)

8,725 YEN (Plan 2004)

8,619 YEN (Plan 2005)

Rodney N. Lanthorne    Director   

4,500 (Plan 2003)

4,500 (Plan 2004)

4,500 (Plan 2005)

  

7,900 YEN (Plan 2003)

8,725 YEN (Plan 2004)

8,619 YEN (Plan 2005)

John S. Gilbertson    Director   

4,500 (Plan 2003)

4,500 (Plan 2004)

4,500 (Plan 2005)

  

7,900 YEN (Plan 2003)

8,725 YEN (Plan 2004)

8,619 YEN (Plan 2005)

 

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Option Holder


  

Title


  

Total Options

Outstanding


  

Exercise Price per Share


Yasuo Akashi

   Corporate Auditor   

3,000 (Plan 2003)

3,000 (Plan 2004)

3,000 (Plan 2005)

  

7,900 YEN (Plan 2003)

8,725 YEN (Plan 2004)

8,619 YEN (Plan 2005)

Yoshihiko Nishikawa

   Corporate Auditor   

3,000 (Plan 2003)

3,000 (Plan 2004)

3,000 (Plan 2005)

  

7,900 YEN (Plan 2003)

8,725 YEN (Plan 2004)

8,619 YEN (Plan 2005)

Osamu Nishieda

   Corporate Auditor    —      —  

Shinji Kurihara

   Corporate Auditor    —      —  

Shigekazu Tamura

   Corporate Auditor    —      —  

Isao Yukawa

   Senior Managing Executive Officer   

4,000 (Plan 2003)

4,000 (Plan 2004)

4,300 (Plan 2005)

  

7,900 YEN (Plan 2003)

8,725 YEN (Plan 2004)

8,619 YEN (Plan 2005)

Tatsumi Maeda

   Managing Executive Officer   

4,000 (Plan 2004)

4,000 (Plan 2005)

  

8,725 YEN (Plan 2004)

8,619 YEN (Plan 2005)

Hisashi Sakumi

   Managing Executive Officer   

4,000 (Plan 2003)

4,000 (Plan 2004)

4,000 (Plan 2005)

  

7,900 YEN (Plan 2003)

8,725 YEN (Plan 2004)

8,619 YEN (Plan 2005)

Tsutomu Yamori

   Managing Executive Officer   

4,000 (Plan 2003)

4,000 (Plan 2004)

4,000 (Plan 2005)

  

7,900 YEN (Plan 2003)

8,725 YEN (Plan 2004)

8,619 YEN (Plan 2005)

Takashi Itoh

   Managing Executive Officer   

3,000 (Plan 2003)

3,000 (Plan 2004)

4,000 (Plan 2005)

  

7,900 YEN (Plan 2003)

8,725 YEN (Plan 2004)

8,619 YEN (Plan 2005)

Tetsuo Kuba

   Managing Executive Officer   

1,000 (Plan 2003)

2,500 (Plan 2004)

4,000 (Plan 2005)

  

7,900 YEN (Plan 2003)

8,725 YEN (Plan 2004)

8,619 YEN (Plan 2005)

Osamu Nomoto

   Managing Executive Officer   

1,000 (Plan 2003)

2,500 (Plan 2004)

4,000 (Plan 2005)

  

7,900 YEN (Plan 2003)

8,725 YEN (Plan 2004)

8,619 YEN (Plan 2005)

Eiichi Toriyama

   Managing Executive Officer   

2,500 (Plan 2003)

4,000 (Plan 2004)

4,000 (Plan 2005)

  

7,900 YEN (Plan 2003)

8,725 YEN (Plan 2004)

8,619 YEN (Plan 2005)

Akiyoshi Okamoto

   Managing Executive Officer   

3,000 (Plan 2003)

3,000 (Plan 2004)

3,000 (Plan 2005)

  

7,900 YEN (Plan 2003)

8,725 YEN (Plan 2004)

8,619 YEN (Plan 2005)

Keijiro Minami

   Senior Executive Officer   

1,000 (Plan 2003)

2,500 (Plan 2004)

3,000 (Plan 2005)

  

7,900 YEN (Plan 2003)

8,725 YEN (Plan 2004)

8,619 YEN (Plan 2005)

Goro Yamaguchi

   Senior Executive Officer   

2,500 (Plan 2004)

3,000 (Plan 2005)

  

8,725 YEN (Plan 2004)

8,619 YEN (Plan 2005)

Yasushi Matsumura

   Senior Executive Officer   

600 (Plan 2003)

2,500 (Plan 2004)

3,000 (Plan 2005)

  

7,900 YEN (Plan 2003)

8,725 YEN (Plan 2004)

8,619 YEN (Plan 2005)

 

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Option Holder


  

Title


  

Total Options

Outstanding


  

Exercise Price per Share


Yoshihito Ota

  

Executive Officer

  

1,000 (Plan 2003)

2,500 (Plan 2004)

2,500 (Plan 2005)

  

7,900 YEN (Plan 2003)

8,725 YEN (Plan 2004)

8,619 YEN (Plan 2005)

Yasuyuki Yamamoto

  

Executive Officer

  

2,500 (Plan 2003)

2,500 (Plan 2004)

2,500 (Plan 2005)

  

7,900 YEN (Plan 2003)

8,725 YEN (Plan 2004)

8,619 YEN (Plan 2005)

Jyunichi Jinno

  

Executive Officer

  

1,000 (Plan 2003)

2,500 (Plan 2004)

2,500 (Plan 2005)

  

7,900 YEN (Plan 2003)

8,725 YEN (Plan 2004)

8,619 YEN (Plan 2005)

Gen Takayasu

  

Executive Officer

  

1,900 (Plan 2003)

2,500 (Plan 2004)

2,500 (Plan 2005)

  

7,900 YEN (Plan 2003)

8,725 YEN (Plan 2004)

8,619 YEN (Plan 2005)

Nobuhiro Ochiai

  

Executive Officer

  

2,500 (Plan 2003)

2,500 (Plan 2004)

2,500 (Plan 2005)

  

7,900 YEN (Plan 2003)

8,725 YEN (Plan 2004)

8,619 YEN (Plan 2005)

Jyunzo Katsuki

  

Executive Officer

  

1,000 (Plan 2003)

2,500 (Plan 2004)

2,500 (Plan 2005)

  

7,900 YEN (Plan 2003)

8,725 YEN (Plan 2004)

8,619 YEN (Plan 2005)

Yukihiro Takarabe

  

Executive Officer

  

1,000 (Plan 2003)

2,500 (Plan 2004)

2,500 (Plan 2005)

  

7,900 YEN (Plan 2003)

8,725 YEN (Plan 2004)

8,619 YEN (Plan 2005)

Masakazu Mitsuda

  

Executive Officer

  

1,000 (Plan 2003)

2,500 (Plan 2004)

2,500 (Plan 2005)

  

7,900 YEN (Plan 2003)

8,725 YEN (Plan 2004)

8,619 YEN (Plan 2005)

Toshimi Gejima

  

Executive Officer

  

2,500 (Plan 2004)

2,500 (Plan 2005)

  

8,725 YEN (Plan 2004)

8,619 YEN (Plan 2005)

Michiaki Furuhashi

  

Executive Officer

  

600 (Plan 2003)

2,500 (Plan 2004)

2,500 (Plan 2005)

  

7,900 YEN (Plan 2003)

8,725 YEN (Plan 2004)

8,619 YEN (Plan 2005)

Mitsuru Imanaka

  

Executive Officer

  

1,200 (Plan 2003)

1,200 (Plan 2004)

2,500 (Plan 2005)

  

7,900 YEN (Plan 2003)

8,725 YEN (Plan 2004)

8,619 YEN (Plan 2005)

Shoichi Aoki

  

Executive Officer

  

600 (Plan 2003)

600 (Plan 2004)

2,500 (Plan 2005)

  

7,900 YEN (Plan 2003)

8,725 YEN (Plan 2004)

8,619 YEN (Plan 2005)

Hiroshi Togi

  

Executive Officer

  

600 (Plan 2004)

2,500 (Plan 2005)

  

8,725 YEN (Plan 2004)

8,619 YEN (Plan 2005)

Yoshihiro Kano

  

Executive Officer

  

600 (Plan 2003)

600 (Plan 2004)

2,500 (Plan 2005)

  

7,900 YEN (Plan 2003)

8,725 YEN (Plan 2004)

8,619 YEN (Plan 2005)

Yoichi Yamashita

  

Executive Officer

  

600 (Plan 2003)

600 (Plan 2004)

2,500 (Plan 2005)

  

7,900 YEN (Plan 2003)

8,725 YEN (Plan 2004)

8,619 YEN (Plan 2005)

Robert Whisler

  

Executive Officer

  

2,500 (Plan 2003)

2,500 (Plan 2004)

3,000 (Plan 2005)

  

7,900 YEN (Plan 2003)

8,725 YEN (Plan 2004)

8,619 YEN (Plan 2005)

John Rigby

  

Executive Officer

  

2,500 (Plan 2003)

2,500 (Plan 2004)

3,000 (Plan 2005)

  

7,900 YEN (Plan 2003)

8,725 YEN (Plan 2004)

8,619 YEN (Plan 2005)

         
    

Total

       

105,600 (Plan 2003)

145,600 (Plan 2004)

167,800 (Plan 2005)

    
         
    

 

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Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions

 

A. Major Shareholders

 

As far as is known to us, Kyocera is not, directly or indirectly, owned or controlled by any other corporation or by the Japanese or any foreign government, and there is no arrangement which may at a subsequent date result in a change in control of Kyocera.

 

The following table shows the ten largest stockholders of record of Kyocera Corporation at March 31, 2006.

 

Name


  

Shares owned

(in thousands)


   Ownership (%)

Japan Trustee Services Bank, Ltd.

(Trust Account)

   13,170    6.88

The Master Trust Bank of Japan, Ltd.

(Trust Account)

   12,902    6.74

The Bank of Kyoto, Ltd.

   7,218    3.77

Kazuo Inamori

   6,806    3.56

The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd.

   5,076    2.65

The Inamori Foundation

   4,680    2.45

Keiai Kosan K.K.

   3,550    1.86

Nats Cumuco

(Standing proxy: Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation)

   3,375    1.76

The Dai-ichi Mutual Life Insurance Company

   2,748    1.44

Nippon Life Insurance Company

   2,397    1.25

Total

   61,922    32.37

 

None of the above shareholders has voting rights that are different from those of other shareholders.

 

Under the Securities and Exchange Law of Japan, any person that becomes a holder (together with its related persons) of 5% of the total issued voting shares of a company listed on any Japanese stock exchange (including ADSs representing such shares) must file a report with the Director of the relevant Local Finance Bureau and send a copy of such report to the company. A similar report must also be filed if the percentage holding of a holder of more than 5% of the total issued voting shares of a company increases or decreases by 1% or more.

 

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In accordance with the Securities and Exchange Law of Japan, the financial institutions below informed us that they and their related partners became a holder of over 5% of the total issued voting shares of Kyocera Corporation. However, they were not included in the above major shareholders as a single major holder because not all partners of them were shareholders of record as of March 31, 2006.

 

Filing Date


  

Name


  

Shares owned

(in thousands)


   Ownership (%)

January 5, 2006

   Morgan Stanley Japan Limited and its related partners    Holding 8,888 thousand shares as of December 31, 2005    4.65

January 16, 2006

   Barclays Global Investors Japan Trust & Banking Co., Ltd. and its related partners    Holding 8,571 thousand shares as of October 31, 2005    4.48

February 15, 2006

   The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. and its related partners    Holding 10,083 thousand shares as of January 31, 2006    5.27

 

None of the above shareholders has voting rights that are different from those of other shareholders.

 

According to Citibank N.A., depositary for Kyocera’s ADSs, as of March 31, 2006, 4,965,034 shares of Kyocera’s common stock were held in the form of ADSs and there were 838 ADS holders of record in the United States. According to Kyocera’s register of shareholders, as of March 31, 2006, there were 73,703 holders of Kyocera’s common stock of record worldwide. As of March 31, 2006, there were 109 record holders of Kyocera’s common stock with addresses in the United States, holding 20,600,709 shares of the outstanding common stock on that date. Because some of these shares were held by brokers or other nominees, the number of record holders with addresses in the United States might not fully show the number of beneficial owners in the United States.

 

B. Related Party Transactions

 

Significant customer

 

In fiscal 2006, Kyocera’s sales to KDDI Corporation amounted to ¥97,177 million ($831 million), or 8.2% of consolidated net sales. KDDI Corporation provides telecommunication services, and Kyocera sells mainly telecommunication equipments to KDDI Corporation. Kyocera Corporation made an equity investment in KDDI Corporation when it was founded and currently, a director of Kyocera Corporation is a member of the board of directors of KDDI Corporation. At March 31, 2006, Kyocera Corporation’s equity interest in KDDI Corporation was 12.93%. Kyocera serves KDDI Corporation as an independent vendor in terms of price determination, remittance condition and product distribution. All of the agreements and ongoing contractual commitments between Kyocera and KDDI Corporation have been made on an arm’s-length basis. Kyocera expects that KDDI Corporation will remain a significant customer in the future.

 

C. Interests of Experts and Counsel

 

Not Applicable.

 

Item 8. Financial Information

 

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A. Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information

 

Financial Statements

 

The information required by this item is set forth beginning on page F-2 of this Form 20-F.

 

Dividend Policy

 

Since the listing of its shares, Kyocera Corporation has endeavored to increase dividends per share in line with improvements in performance. Kyocera Corporation has also boosted dividends by actively undertaking free share distributions and stock splits. Traditionally, Kyocera Corporation has set dividend amounts with the goal of maintaining stable dividends to shareholders. In the interest of shareholders, however, Kyocera has decided, commencing with the year-end dividend relating to fiscal 2005, to change this policy to establish a greater linkage between dividend amounts and its performance. In particular, Kyocera will determine dividend amounts based on an overall assessment that will take into consideration capital expenditures necessary for the further development of itself from a medium to long-term perspective, while also aiming for a payout ratio of approximately 20 to 25% on a consolidated basis.

 

Based on this policy, Kyocera Corporation decided that the year-end dividend for fiscal 2006 should be ¥50 per share in the ordinary general meeting of shareholders on June 23, 2006. When aggregated with the interim dividend ¥50 per share, the total annual dividend amount was ¥100 per share.

 

We held board of directors meeting for the interim dividend on October 27, 2005.

 

B. Significant Changes

 

Except as disclosed in this Form 20-F, there have been no significant changes since March 31, 2006.

 

Item 9. The Offer and Listing

 

A. Offering and Listing Details

 

Price Range of Shares

 

The principal non-United States market on which the shares of Common Stock of Kyocera Corporation are traded is the Tokyo Stock Exchange, the largest stock exchange in Japan. The American Depositary Shares of Kyocera Corporation, each representing one share of Common Stock of Kyocera Corporation, are traded on the New York Stock Exchange. Citibank, N.A. acts as the Depositary in respect of the American Depositary Shares. Common Stock of Kyocera Corporation is also listed on the Osaka Securities Exchange in Japan.

 

     Tokyo Stock Exchange

   New York Stock Exchange

     Price per Share of
Common Stock (yen)


  

Price per American
Depositary Share

(U.S. dollars)*


Years ended March 31


   High

   Low

   High

   Low

2002

   12,900    7,000    105.72    53.77

2003

   10,070    5,630    80.27    47.96

2004

   8,970    5,570    84.66    47.25

2005

   9,630    7,080    90.90    67.81

2006

   10,830    7,090    91.59    62.58

Most Recent 6 months


   High

   Low

   High

   Low

December, 2005

   8,860    7,980    74.27    68.73

January, 2006

   10,490    8,510    89.00    73.33

February, 2006

   10,830    9,960    91.59    85.05

March, 2006

   10,610    9,690    89.65    82.41

April, 2006

   11,590    10,370    98.01    88.60

May, 2006

   10,820    9,200    96.86    83.15

* The prices of American Depositary Shares are based upon reports by the New York Stock Exchange, with all fractional figures rounded up to the nearest two decimal points.

 

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The following table shows the information about high and low sales prices for each quarterly period in fiscal 2005 and 2006 in respect of the shares of Common Stock of Kyocera Corporation on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, and the American Depositary Shares on the New York Stock Exchange.

 

For Voting Securities by Fiscal Quarter

 

         
          2005

          1st

   2nd

   3rd

   4th

Common Stock:

                                

Market price per share (A)

   —High    ¥ 9,630    ¥ 9,380    ¥ 8,320    ¥ 8,080
     —Low      8,110      7,370      7,080      7,120

Cash dividends paid per share

          30.00      —        30.00      —  

American Depositary Share:

                                

Market price per share (B)

   —High    $ 90.90    $ 86.20    $ 77.23    $ 77.58
     —Low      71.10      67.81      68.86      68.67

Cash dividends paid per share (C)

          0.28      —        0.29      —  
         
          2006

          1st

   2nd

   3rd

   4th

Common Stock:

                                

Market price per share (A)

   —High    ¥ 8,500    ¥ 8,670    ¥ 8,860    ¥ 10,830
     —Low      7,090      7,640      7,220      8,510

Cash dividends paid per share

          50.00      —        50.00      —  

American Depositary Share:

                                

Market price per share (B)

   —High    $ 78.45    $ 78.02    $ 74.27    $ 91.59
     —Low      67.20      69.01      62.58      73.33

Cash dividends paid per share (C)

          0.45      —        0.41      —  

(A) Price on the Tokyo Stock Exchange
(B) Price on the New York Stock Exchange
(C) Translated into U.S. dollars based on the exchange rates at each respective payment date

 

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B. Plan of Distribution

 

Not Applicable.

 

C. Markets

 

See Item 9.A. of this Form 20-F for information on the markets on which our common stock is listed or quoted.

 

D. Selling Shareholders

 

Not Applicable.

 

E. Dilution

 

Not Applicable.

 

F. Expenses of the Issue

 

Not Applicable.

 

Item 10. Additional Information

 

A. Share Capital

 

Not Applicable.

 

B. Memorandum and Articles of Association

 

General

 

Set out below is certain information regarding the organization and shares of Kyocera Corporation, including brief summaries of certain provisions of the Articles of Incorporation, the Share Handling Regulations and the Regulations of the Board of Directors of Kyocera Corporation and of the Company Law relating to joint stock corporations (kabushiki kaisha) and certain related legislation, all as currently in effect.

 

Organization

 

Kyocera Corporation is a joint stock corporation (kabushiki kaisha) incorporated in Japan under the Company Law. It is registered in the Commercial Register maintained by the Kyoto Local Registry Office of the Ministry of Justice.

 

Objects and Purposes

 

The objects of Kyocera Corporation are set forth in Article 2 of its Articles of Incorporation, as follows:

 

(1) Manufacture and sale of and research on fine ceramics and various kinds of products utilizing fine ceramics;

 

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(2) Manufacture and sale of and research on single crystal materials and various kinds of products utilizing single crystal materials;

 

(3) Manufacture and sale of and research on composite materials;

 

(4) Manufacture and sale of and research on specialty plastics;

 

(5) Manufacture and sale of and research on measurement instruments for electronics;

 

(6) Manufacture and sale of and research on electronic and electric instruments and parts thereof;

 

(7) Manufacture and sale of and research on component parts of automobiles;

 

(8) Manufacture and sale of and research on precious metals, precious stones and semiprecious stones and various kinds of products utilizing precious metals, precious stones and semiprecious stones;

 

(9) Manufacture and sale of and research on accessories and interior and exterior decorations and ornaments;

 

(10) Wholesales and retail sale of health foods;

 

(11) Manufacture and sale of and research on material and equipment for medical use;

 

(12) Manufacture and sale of and research on equipment utilizing solar energy;

 

(13) Manufacture and sale of and research on optical machinery and instruments and precision machinery and instruments and parts hereof;

 

(14) Manufacture and sale of and research on machinery and equipment for business use and machinery and equipment for industrial use and parts thereof;

 

(15) Manufacture and sale of and research on photosensitive materials for photographic use;

 

(16) Design, control and contract of construction relating to public works, building, electric equipment and piping construction;

 

(17) Sale, purchase, lease, maintenance and brokerage of real estate;

 

(18) Lease, maintenance and management of facilities relating to sports, recreation, medical care, hotels and restaurants, and the travel agency business;

 

(19) Road freight handling and warehousing;

 

(20) Business relating to non-life insurance agency and life insurance canvassing, and general leasing, factoring and finance business;

 

(21) Sale and purchase of various kinds of plants and technology related thereto;

 

(22) Design and sale of software relating to computers;

 

(23) Disposition through sale and the like and acquisition through purchase and the like of patents and other industrial property rights and know-how appertaining to the preceding items and acting as intermediary in such transactions;

 

(24) Businesses relating to import and export of any of the foregoing items; and

 

(25) All commercial activities relating or incidental to any of the foregoing.

 

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Directors

 

Under the Company Law, the Board of Directors has the ultimate responsibility for the management of Kyocera Corporation and each Representative Director, who is elected from among the members of the Board of Directors, has the statutory authority to represent Kyocera Corporation in all respects. Under both the Company Law and the Regulations of the Board of Directors of Kyocera Corporation, the Directors must refrain from engaging in any business competing with Kyocera Corporation unless approved by the Board of Directors and any Director who has a material interest in the subject matter of a resolution to be taken by the Board of Directors cannot vote in such resolution. The Company Law and the Articles of Incorporation of Kyocera Corporation provide that remuneration of Directors and Corporate Auditors shall be determined at a general meeting of shareholders.

 

Except as stated below, neither the Company Law nor Kyocera Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation make any special provision as to a Director’s or Corporate Auditor’s power to vote in connection with their compensation; or the borrowing powers exercisable by a Representative Director (or a Director who is given power by a Representative Director to exercise such powers), their retirement age or requirement to hold any shares of capital stock of Kyocera Corporation.

 

The Company Law specifically requires a resolution of the Board of Directors for a joint stock corporation, among other things, to acquire or dispose of material assets; to borrow substantial amounts of money; to employ or discharge from employment important employees, such as executive officers; to establish, change or abolish a material corporate organization such as a branch office; or to issue bonds. A resolution of the Board of Directors is also specifically required for the establishment of a control system to ensure adequacy of Kyocera Corporation’s affairs, such as a control system to ensure the exercise of Directors’ duty to comply with laws and regulations and the Articles of Incorporation of Kyocera Corporation. The Regulations of the Board of Directors of Kyocera Corporation require a resolution of the Board of Directors for Kyocera Corporation, among other things, to issue of bonds or bonds with stock acquisition rights; to borrow, lend or contribute a significant amount of money; to give a guarantee of a significant amount of debt; or to waive the right to receive a significant amount of money. The Regulations of the Board of Directors of Kyocera Corporation defines a “significant amount” as five billion yen or more with respect to borrowing and one hundred million yen or more with respect to other matters. The Regulations of the Board of Directors of Kyocera Corporation also require a resolution of the Board of Directors to approve any transaction between a Director and Kyocera Corporation; allocate remuneration and bonuses of Directors as previously determined or approved by the general meeting of shareholders ; or determine the amount and manner of payment of retirement allowances or condolence money payable to Directors, determination of which has been previously entrusted to the Board of Directors by the general meeting of shareholders.

 

Capital Stock

 

Authorized capital

 

Article 5 of the Articles of Incorporation of Kyocera Corporation provides that the total number of shares authorized for issuance by Kyocera Corporation is 600,000,000 shares. If shares of common stock are retired, the number of shares so retired shall be deducted from the total number of shares authorized to be issued by Kyocera Corporation.

 

Distributions of Surplus

 

General

 

Under the Company Law, distributions of cash or other assets by joint stock corporations to their shareholders, so called “dividends”, are referred to as “distributions of Surplus” (“Surplus” is defined in “– Restriction on distributions of Surplus”). Kyocera Corporation may make distributions of Surplus to its shareholders any number of times per fiscal year, subject to certain limitations described in “– Restriction on distributions of Surplus”. Distributions of Surplus are required in principle to be authorized by a resolution of a general meeting of shareholders, but may also be made pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors if all the requirements described in (a) through (c) are met:

 

  (a) Kyocera Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation provide that the Board of Directors has the authority to decide to make distributions of Surplus;

 

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  (b) the normal term of office of Kyocera Corporation’s Directors is not longer than one year; and

 

  (c) Kyocera Corporation’s non-consolidated annual financial statements and certain documents for the latest fiscal year present fairly its assets and profit or loss, as required by ordinances of the Ministry of Justice.

 

In the case of Kyocera Corporation, at present, the requirements in (a) and (b) above are not met. Nevertheless, Kyocera Corporation may make distributions of Surplus in cash as an interim dividend (an “interim dividend”) to its shareholders by resolutions of the Board of Directors once per fiscal year under Kyocera Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation and the Company Law.

 

Under Kyocera Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation, a year-end dividend may be distributed to shareholders of record as of March 31 of each year pursuant to a resolution of a general meeting of shareholders, and an interim dividend may be distributed to shareholders of record as of September 30 of each year pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors. In addition, under the Company Law, Kyocera Corporation may make further distributions of Surplus by resolution of general meetings of shareholders. Kyocera Corporation is not obliged to pay any dividends unclaimed for a period of three years after the date on which they first became payable.

 

Distributions of Surplus, other than interim dividends, may be made in cash or in kind in proportion to the number of shares held by each shareholder. A resolution of a general meeting of shareholders or the Board of Directors authorizing a distribution of Surplus must specify the kind and aggregate book value of the assets to be distributed, the manner of allocation of such assets to shareholders, and the effective date of the distribution. If a distribution of Surplus is to be made in kind, Kyocera Corporation may, pursuant to a resolution of a general meeting of shareholders or (as the case may be) the Board of Directors, grant a right to its shareholders to require Kyocera Corporation to make such distribution in cash instead of in kind. If no such right is granted to shareholders, the relevant distribution of Surplus must be approved by a special resolution of a general meeting of shareholders (see “Voting rights” with respect to a “special resolution”).

 

In Japan the “ex-dividend” date and the record date for dividends precede the date of determination of the amount of the dividend to be paid. The market price of shares generally goes ex-dividend on the third business day prior to the record date.

 

Restriction on distributions of Surplus

 

When Kyocera Corporation makes a distribution of Surplus, it must, until the sum of its additional paid-in capital and legal reserve reaches one-quarter of its stated capital, set aside in its additional paid-in capital and/or legal reserve an amount equal to one-tenth of the amount of Surplus so distributed.

 

The amount of Surplus at any given time must be calculated in accordance with the following formula:

 

A + B + C + D - (E + F + G)

 

In the above formula:

 

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“A”    =    the total amount of other capital surplus and other retained earnings, each such amount being that appearing on Kyocera Corporation’s non-consolidated balance sheet as of the end of the last fiscal year
“B”    =    (if Kyocera Corporation has disposed of its treasury stock after the end of the last fiscal year) the amount of the consideration for such treasury stock received by Kyocera Corporation less the book value thereof
“C”    =    (if Kyocera Corporation has reduced its stated capital after the end of the last fiscal year) the amount of such reduction less the portion thereof that has been transferred to additional paid-in capital or legal reserve (if any)
“D”    =    (if Kyocera Corporation has reduced its additional paid-in capital or legal reserve after the end of the last fiscal year) the amount of such reduction less the portion thereof that has been transferred to stated capital (if any)
“E”    =    (if Kyocera Corporation has cancelled its treasury stock after the end of the last fiscal year) the book value of such treasury stock
“F”    =    (if Kyocera Corporation has distributed Surplus to its shareholders after the end of the last fiscal year) the total book value of the Surplus so distributed
“G”    =    certain other amounts set forth in ordinances of the Ministry of Justice , including (if Kyocera Corporation has reduced Surplus and increased its stated capital, additional paid-in capital or legal reserve after the end of the last fiscal year) the amount of such reduction and (if Kyocera Corporation has distributed Surplus to its shareholders after the end of the last fiscal year) the amount set aside in its additional paid-in capital or legal reserve (if any) as required by ordinances of the Ministry of Justice

 

The aggregate book value of Surplus distributed by Kyocera Corporation may not exceed a prescribed distributable amount (the “Distributable Amount”), as calculated on the effective date of such distribution. The Distributable Amount at any given time shall be equal to the amount of Surplus less the aggregate of (a) the book value of its treasury stock, (b) the amount of consideration for any of its treasury stock disposed of by it after the end of the last fiscal year and (c) certain other amounts set forth in ordinances of the Ministry of Justice, including (if the sum of one-half of goodwill and the deferred assets exceeds the total of stated capital, additional paid-in capital and legal reserve, each such amount being that appearing on Kyocera Corporation’s non-consolidated balance sheet as of the end of the last fiscal year) all or certain part of such exceeding amount as calculated in accordance with the ordinances of the Ministry of Justice.

 

If Kyocera Corporation has become at its option a company with respect to which consolidated balance sheets should also be taken into consideration in the calculation of the Distributable Amount (renketsu haito kisei tekiyo kaisha), it will be required to further deduct from the amount of Surplus the excess amount, if any, of (x) the total amount of shareholders’ equity appearing on its non-consolidated balance sheet as of the end of the last fiscal year and certain other amounts set forth by an ordinance of the Ministry of Justice over (y) the total amount of shareholders’ equity and certain other amounts set forth by an ordinance of the Ministry of Justice appearing on its consolidated balance sheet as of the end of the last fiscal year.

 

If Kyocera Corporation has prepared interim financial statements as described below, and if such interim financial statements have been approved by the Board of Directors or (if so required by the Company Law) by a general meeting of shareholders, then the Distributable Amount must be adjusted to take into account the amount of profit or loss, and the amount of consideration for any of its treasury stock disposed of by it, during the period in respect of which such interim financial statements have been prepared. Kyocera Corporation may prepare non-consolidated interim financial statements consisting of a balance sheet as of any date subsequent to the end of the last fiscal year and an income statement for the period from the first day of the current fiscal year to the date of such balance sheet. Interim financial statements so prepared by Kyocera Corporation must be audited by its Corporate Auditors and independent certified public accountants, as required by ordinances of the Ministry of Justice.

 

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General Meeting of Shareholders

 

Pursuant to the Articles of Incorporation of Kyocera Corporation, an ordinary general meeting of shareholders of Kyocera Corporation shall be convened within three months after the last day of each fiscal year, either in Kyoto City or at the Shiga Factory of Kyocera Corporation. In addition, Kyocera Corporation may hold an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders whenever necessary.

 

Notice of a shareholders’ meeting, setting forth the place, time and purpose thereof, must be mailed to each shareholder having voting rights (or, in the case of a non-resident shareholder, to the resident proxy or mailing address thereof in Japan) at least two weeks prior to the date set for the meeting. Under the Company Law, such notice may be given to shareholders by electronic means, subject to the consent by the relevant shareholders.

 

Any shareholder or group of shareholders holding at least 300 voting rights (see “‘Unit’ share system” below) or one percent of the total number of voting rights for six months or more may propose a matter to be considered at a general meeting of shareholders by submitting a written request to a Representative Director at least eight weeks prior to the date set for such meeting. If Kyocera Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation so provide, any of the minimum percentages, time periods and number of voting rights necessary for exercising the minority shareholder rights described above may be decreased or shortened.

 

Voting rights

 

A holder of shares constituting one or more whole units (see “‘Unit’ share system” below) is entitled to one vote for each whole unit of shares. However, in general, neither Kyocera Corporation nor any corporate shareholder or certain other entity one-quarter or more of the total voting rights of which are directly or indirectly held by Kyocera Corporation, has voting rights in respect of the shares held by Kyocera Corporation or such entity.

 

Except as otherwise provided by law or by the Articles of Incorporation of Kyocera Corporation, a resolution can be adopted at a general meeting of shareholders by a majority of the total number of voting rights represented at the meeting. Under the Company Law and Kyocera Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation, however, the quorum for the election of Directors and Corporate Auditors is one-third of the total number of voting rights. Kyocera Corporation’s shareholders are not entitled to cumulative voting in the election of Directors. Shareholders may exercise their voting rights through proxies, provided that the proxies are also shareholders holding voting rights. Kyocera Corporation’s shareholders also may cast their votes in writing. Holders of shares who do not attend a general meeting of shareholders may also exercise their voting rights by electronic means if the Board of Directors approves such method of exercising voting rights.

 

The Company Law provides that certain important matters shall be approved by a “special resolution” of a general meeting of shareholders. Under Kyocera Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation, the quorum for a special resolution is one-third of the total number of voting rights and the approval of at least two-thirds of the voting rights represented at the meeting is required for adopting a special resolution. Such important matters include:

 

  (i) purchase of shares by Kyocera Corporation from a specific shareholder other than Kyocera Corporation’s subsidiary;

 

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  (ii) consolidation of shares;

 

  (iii) issuance or transfer of new shares or existing shares held by Kyocera Corporation as treasury stock to persons other than the shareholders at a “specially favorable” price;

 

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