On June 11th, Sharp Business Policy Brief was held at Tokyo office for journalists, reporters and economic analysts. Chairman, President and CEO J.W. Tai, Executive Vice President Nomura, Executive Vice President Ishida, and Executive Managing Officer Hashimoto attended the brief.

The venue was packed with journalists, reporters and economic analysts

Chairman Tai welcoming attendees

The brief started with a welcome speech from Chairman Tai.
Mr. Hashimoto followed introducing our business transition, showing financial results from 2011 and management strategy since 2016. Sharp has transitioned our strategy to quality above quantity, and the number of employees are increasing since the start of the new management. Also on the same day,  Sharp announced that the remaining treasury shares (Class A Shares) issued to two main banks in 2015 will be acquired and cancelled on June 21st. This is observed as a punctuation in our managerial reconstruction.

Mr. Hashimoto presenting Sharp’s management strategy

Mr. Ishida followed introducing our future strategies.
Sharp aims to realize “8K+5G Ecosystem” and “AIoT World,” and become a company with a strong brand. To do so, business units will be reorganized into three business groups (Smart Business, 8K Ecosystem, and ICT), with devices, such as Display Device, Electronics Devices, and Camera Module at our foundation. Furthermore, business strategy direction, markets and opportunities, and global business expansion were explained as our strategies for business reformation.

Mr. Ishida expressing his strong intention to cultivate 8K and 5G market

Following, Mr. Nomura explained the new corporate structure to realize business reformation.
Three candidates are selected to join the Members of the Board, and the company will be managed by three newly reorganized business groups. Mr. Nomura also mentioned the intention to take various opportunities to communicate with and maximize the benefit of all stakeholders by increasing transparency in corporate management.

Mr. Nomura explaining corporate governance

The brief concluded with a presentation by Mr. Webber Chen from Hon Hai Group. Technologies and products displayed at Hon Hai Group IR meeting on June 10th and 11th were introduced.

Mr. Chen explaining technologies and products displayed at Hon Hai Group IR meeting

Q&A

Q&A session was held following the brief. Against questions of how Sharp will build strength in 8K, 5G, and AIoT business, Mr. Ishida answered “It is essential to challenge as a trailblazer, and technologies and knowhow accumulated will be our assets. We intend to cooperate with others such as communication service providers, hospitals and etc. As for the AIoT and platform business, home appliance usage data accumulated over years will be Sharp’s advantage, and Sharp intends to provide AIoT platform for spreading the technologies across various categories. Platform development must not be limited by categories.”

About Sharp’s intention to raise BtoB business ratio in product sales amount, “values are shifting from hardware to network technology, and we expect high value can be created in BtoB business. We intend to strengthen our BtoC business while expanding BtoB business.”

Regarding our new Medium-Term Management Plan, it was explained we are now at the final fiscal year of our current Medium-Term Management Plan, and we will make announcement of our new plan after thorough analysis and discussion.

Comments from Attendees
151 journalists, reporters and economic analysts from 89 companies joined the brief. Many positive comments were given, such as “I saw a strong determination of Chairman Tai to take the lead in the final year of the current Medium-Term Management Plan.” “The product business expansion strategy with Smart Home Business at its center seems to be advancing. I look forward to Sharp’s unique development of solution business based on core technologies.” “The announcement of treasury share acquisition and cancellation, and Chairman Tai’s strong commitment to Sharp management are likely to be well accepted by the stock market.”