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Masato Hamatani
Corporate Vice President
General Manager of Medical Business Development Division
Message
Q How would you summarize the scal year ended March 31, 2016?
During the scal year ended March 31, 2016, we concluded the acquisition of U.K.-based Optos Plc, a leading
company in the retina diagnostic imaging equipment market, and achieved our goal of improving Optos’ earnings.
In the years ahead, we must create synergies with Nikon and bring about further advances at Optos.
At present, the business performance of Optos is as far along as planned, but the Medical Business as a whole
is recording an operating loss. In addition to the expenses incurred for R&D and other areas necessary to develop
the Medical Business, this situation is due to the investments needed to promote alliances with a number of univer-
sities and companies. As there are regulations governing medical equipment, the Medical Business is unable to
launch products immediately to market. Because clinical trials and ofcial certications are needed, such as from
the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Medical Business is therefore one in which it is difcult to make a
prot at an early stage. To ensure the early generation of business prots, for example through M&As and alliances,
we are thus allowing for a preparatory period in which to take on board information and knowledge, while making
active progress in prior investment activities.
Q Please tell us the key points of creating synergies with Optos.
Currently, we are focusing our efforts on realizing diagnoses of chronic diseases, such as diabetes and Alzheimer’s,
with Optos products. The incidence of both these diseases is anticipated to increase in Japan, where the population
is continuing to age. With regard to medical need, the Medical Business Development Division is leveraging Optos’
technologies and Nikon’s optical and image processing technologies, while placing the highest priority on the
development of new products that will assist in the early detection and prevention of such chronic diseases.
As part of our efforts to enhance our R&D, we established a medical laboratory housed in Nikon Research
Corporation of America (NRCA), the R&D base that the Company owns. Having designated the United States—the
prime mover of global medical business—as a priority area, we are promoting human resource placements and
exchanges, while working to accelerate the creation of synergies with Optos.
MEDICAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIVISION
We will work on the early realization
of technological synergies between
Nikon and Optos Plc and then link them
to quality of life (QOL) improvements for
people all over the world.
36 NIKON REPORT 2016