The 137th General Meeting of Shareholders

Sumitomo Riko held its 137th Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders on June 19 at JP Tower Nagoya (Nakamura-ku, Nagoya City), where its global headquarters is located.
This year's meeting was again held as a “hybrid participatory virtual shareholders' meeting” combining on-site and live broadcast to ensure appropriate information disclosure and transparency.
I would like to thank the 55 shareholders who attended the meeting at the venue and the 26 shareholders who attended online.
This was the fifth time I chaired the meeting, and I had the opportunity to explain “Business Report” and “Issues to be addressed” directly to the shareholders.
In line with our mid-term management plan “2025P,” I spoke about our efforts to evolve into “a leading company that continues to provide solutions to social issues with the power of science and technology” as stated in 2029V.
At the same time, I also reported that we are developing products to contribute to the realization of a sustainable society by utilizing our polymer material technology and comprehensive evaluation technology, which have been handed down for over 90 years, while valuing our founding principles of “Banji-nissei”, ‘Shinyo-kakujitsu’, and “Fusu-furi”.

Questions and Answers

During this session, we received many warm and strong words of encouragement regarding our performance and dividends for the current fiscal year and our achievements in a challenging economic environment.
I would like to express my sincere appreciation.
Regarding one of the questions, “Status of Achievement of Criteria for Maintaining Listing on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market and Future Policies,” I answered, "We have met all the criteria and will continue to steadily conduct our corporate activities in this market.”
Regarding another question, “Why did net income attributable to owners of the parent company increase by approximately 47% year-on-year?” I explained, "In addition to the results of our structural reforms, we reduced our debt through improved cash flow, which was a major factor.”

Summary

FY 2024 was a year of record sales and profits, following on from the previous year.
This achievement is thanks to the efforts of our predecessors who have built the foundation of our company over the years, and to the persistent efforts of each and every one of our employees who support us today.
Once again, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all of you.

We are moving forward as a united group toward the realization of 2029V, based on the attitude that “we will not be bound by past concepts, but will seize change as an opportunity and boldly take on new challenges.”
To continue to be a company that earns the trust and support of our shareholders, we will continue to make daily efforts with the combined strength of our 25,617 group employees.