Along with the report on the Company’s businesses for the 95th Fiscal Year (April 1, 2017-March 31, 2018), we hereby include the following message.

During the fiscal year under review, the overall Japanese economy continued to expand with improvement in the employment and income environments and moderate increases in capital investment and production. Overseas, moderate economic growth continued mainly in Europe, the United States and Asia.

Under these circumstances, the NOF Group (the “Group”), with the basic policy of “Creating and expanding innovative value,” promoted each initiative—the “Creating products and markets,” “Improving productivity,” “Enhancing Group management” and “Promoting CSR activities”—under the three-year 2019 Mid-Term Management Plan, which started in the fiscal year. At the same time, the Group undertook many management efforts toward sustainable growth to explore new markets by leveraging its high-function, high-value-added products, expanding sales of such products and reducing production costs. As a result, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, consolidated net sales, consolidated operating income, consolidated ordinary income and net income attributable to owners of the parent all increased compared with the previous fiscal year.

Setting “Greater Progress” as the Group’s management policy for fiscal year 2018, the Group will flexibly adapt to changes in market needs and promote the creation of products and markets as well as the enhancement of productivity in its three prioritized business fields of life sciences, electronics/IT and environment/energy. We thereby aim to evolve further as a functional materials manufacturer that can provide unique products to the global market and continue our efforts to be a trusted business group with a strong presence.

We kindly ask all shareholders for your continuing support.
June 2018