Risk Factors
Following are summaries of major foreseeable risks present in the business environments in which the Kurita Group operates. Forward-looking statements herein are based on judgments made by management as of March 31, 2011.
1. Economic and market conditions
The Group's Water Treatment Chemicals and Water Treatment Facilities businesses are affected by economic conditions in Japan and countries and regions outside Japan where the Group operates. Demand in the Water Treatment Chemicals business fluctuates in response to factory capacity utilization rates in industries such as steel, petroleum refining and petrochemicals, and pulp and paper-main sources of demand for the business. Such demand fluctuations may affect the Group's financial results. Demand in the Water Treatment Facilities business fluctuates in response to trends in capital expenditure in electronics-main sources of demand for the business-and other industries. Such demand fluctuations may affect the Group's financial results. More intense competition with rivals in the Group's business domains could lead to declines in prices of products and services, which could lower the Group's profitability.
2. Materials and parts procurement
The Group procures raw materials and parts from outside the Group for the manufacture of products and fabrication of facilities. The prices of raw materials and parts fluctuate based on changes in market conditions, and this may affect the Group's financial results.
3. Overseas business development
The Group is striving to expand its business outside Japan. In contrast to the Japanese market, doing business in overseas markets involves a number of inherent, unforeseen risks, including the risk of changes to local laws and regulations, the risk of political and economic instability, and the risk of foreign exchange rate fluctuations. If such risks materialized, the Group's financial results could be affected.
4. New product development
The Group continuously endeavors to develop new technology and appealing new products.
The success of new technology and product development efforts cannot be guaranteed. The Group may not be able to offer new technologies and products that meet the needs of its customers or launch new products in a timely fashion. The Group may also fail to keep pace with rapid changes in technological innovation and changing customer needs. If the Group were to fail to develop appealing new products, this could hamper its future growth and profitability or otherwise affect its financial results.
5. Intellectual property
The Group recognizes the importance of intellectual property and continually seeks to register its own intellectual property while avoiding infringing the intellectual property rights of third parties, both in Japan and overseas. Given the wide scope of the Group's business, however, there is potential for the Group's intellectual property rights to be infringed and potential for the Group to infringe the rights of third parties. Such occurrences may affect the Group's financial results.
6. Dependence on information systems
The Group's use of information systems is increasing, as is the importance of information systems to the Group's business. If a computer virus or some other factor were to obstruct the functions of the Group's information systems, the Group's business activities, financial results, and financial condition could be negatively affected.
7. Large-scale natural disasters
If an earthquake, typhoon, or other kind of natural disaster were to directly or indirectly upset the Group's business execution, the Group's business activities, financial results, and financial condition could be negatively affected.
