1. Basic Management Policy

Okasan Securities Group Inc. manages a corporate group comprised of itself, a holding company, and the Group's Japanese and overseas consolidated subsidiaries. The Group strives to strengthen enterprise value in a sustained manner through the provision of investment services centering on the securities business and asset management.

2. Basic policy on the distribution of profits

Returning profits to shareholders as an important management issue. The distribution of profits is a policy based on enhancing retained earnings to reinforce management practices and pave the way for future growth. Our fundamental approach entails the distribution of dividends in line with performance and based on the need to maintain stable dividends.

The company's articles of incorporation stipulate the record date for the year-end dividend is March 31 and the record date for the interim dividend is September 30. The company's articles of incorporation also allow the company to set record dates and pay dividends from retained earnings and to determine dividends from retained earnings by resolution of the Board of Directors, pursuant to Article 459, Paragraph 1 of the Companies Act.

3. Important management index

In rapidly changing market conditions, it is important to secure stable profits. Based on this understanding, we consider return on equity (ROE) an important management index. We aim to achieve a stable consolidated ROE of 10% as a business objective.

4. Medium and long-term management strategy

5. Challenges the Company should address

The business environment in which the Group operates is entering an era of major turning point. Various developments, including a backlash against globalization, the progress of digital transformation (DX), and trends toward sustainability, point to a new era, one in which the existing order is breaking down. In the securities business in Japan, the business model itself is undergoing dramatic change, including changing commission structures, various systemic reforms, and a rapid digital shift. On the other hand, risk assets still account for a small percentage of personal financial assets in Japan compared to Europe and the United States. With growing need to lengthen asset lives in light of the coming era of 100-year lifespans, we believe considerable growth potential remains in the securities business based on the influx of new investors and new funds. Signs of change are already visible, centered on younger investors, and we expect to see expanding opportunities for growth in accordance with our own ability to adapt to change.

Under these conditions, based on the Medium-Term Management Plan (FY2020–2022), the Okasan Securities Group is advancing with reforms across a wide front. In our core retail business, we seek to realize One-to-One Marketing to provide services tailored to the increasingly diverse individual needs of our customers. By improving our capacity to provide added value in various ways, including consulting services that propose optimal portfolios for the entire assets and solutions businesses, we are developing business models that do not rely excessively on trading commissions on financial instruments. Speed and flexibility are vital to adapting to large-scale environmental changes. We have adopted a policy of improving the efficiency of management resources and service quality by departing from traditional approaches to dealing with all operations in-house. We will invest proactively in and develop our human resources to enhance competitive strengths and corporate value.

The securities business entails transforming change into energy. Times of dramatic change underscore the scale of our role. We intend to fulfill our social mission by contributing to the sustainability of society; by prioritizing and funding businesses that promote transformation; and by creating new flows of funds. In April 2023, the Okasan Securities Group will mark the centennial of its founding. We will continue to strive to be a company capable of making significant contributions, based on a sense of gratitude to all our customers, employees, and shareholders and to society at large.