■Shareholder return measures and SDGs initiatives
1. Shareholder return policy
Carrier Link ＜6070＞ has introduced dividends and shareholder benefit programs as shareholder return measures. The basic policy is to comprehensively judge management results and overall management while securing internal reserves necessary for business development and strengthening the management base to achieve sustainable growth, and continue appropriate and stable dividends. Although the financial results for the fiscal year ended 2024/3 declined, dividends per share were increased for the fourth consecutive term to 120.0 yen (dividend payout ratio 64.7%), which is a 10.0 yen increase from the previous fiscal year, based on the same dividend policy. The same amount of 120.0 yen (same 59.6%) is also scheduled for the fiscal year ending 2025/3. Also, since baseline profit can be expected to be secured during the medium-term management plan period up to the 2027/3 fiscal year, it is a policy to maintain 120.0 yen. The dividend payout ratio for the fiscal year ending 2027/3 is expected to be around 42%, but since the lower limit of dividend payout ratio is around 30%, there is also a possibility of an increase in dividends when it falls below 30%.
Under the shareholder benefit program, QUO cards are presented to shareholders at the end of September every year according to the number of shares held and the holding period. Specifically, for shareholders who have held 100 shares or more and less than 200 shares equivalent to 500 yen, 500 shares or more equivalent to 1,000 yen, 500 shares or more, and have held continuously for 3 years or more, they hold shares over a long period of time, such as presenting 200 shares or more with less than 300 shares equivalent to 2,000 yen, 300 shares or less than 400 shares equivalent to 3,000 yen, 400 shares or more and less than 500 shares equivalent to 4,000 yen, 500 shares or more Returns to stable shareholders have been enhanced. The yield for a single shareholder, which combines dividends and shareholder benefits, is in the 5% range (calculated at the 6/7 closing price of 2,398 yen).
2. SDGs Initiatives
The company recognizes that fulfilling contributions to a sustainable society through the expansion of employment and provision of various industries and work opportunities is an important management issue based on the corporate philosophy of “happiness at work for all,” and has identified materiality related to sustainability and is tackling each issue. In particular, we have set specific items and targets for “human resource development,” “securing diversity of human resources,” and “improving the internal environment,” and are promoting initiatives.
Among these, for “human resource development” initiatives, in addition to implementing group training, e-learning, external training, etc. for the purpose of acquiring business knowledge and management methods, leadership development, etc., support systems are in place to improve skills. Furthermore, by utilizing career consulting, we are striving to grasp the career aspirations and aptitudes of employees, and we are starting to build a training system to realize education tailored to each individual's level and issues. In addition, management employees are also encouraged to participate in executive board meetings for the purpose of advising and providing guidance on the management of affiliated organizations and sharing company-wide issues, etc., and participation in external training and seminars is actively carried out to promote exchanges with external human resources.
(Author: FISCO Visiting Analyst Joe Sato)