Alpine 2014 Annual Report Download - page 4

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Dear Shareholders
Thank you all very much for your kind support.
I offer the following brief greeting to accompany our forty-eighth financial statements.
The domestic business environment during this period showed correction of the high yen and high stock
prices, and marked the appearance of positive indications, such as the improvement of business
performance centered on exports, all thanks to the Abenomics effect. The business environment
surrounding our company improved as, for example, the American economy recovered, new car sales were
strong, and in the Chinese market, new car sales set records at the same time as this market’s economic
growth seems to be slowing.
Under such circumstances, amidst rising orders accompanying strong new car sales by our customers and
the continuing computerization of automobiles, sales of our car navigation products, which contribute to
the driver safety and comfort, rose as more automobiles are equipped with high-functionality, high-quality
products. And in the domestic aftermarket, BIG X contributed to the expansion of the aftermarket, earning
high evaluations from the market for the added value of automobile-model specialization, and gained top
ranking for the second consecutive year by an authoritative customer satisfaction survey. We have also
worked hard to improve our earning capacity by, for example, conducting cost price reduction activities
jointly with our business partners.
As a result of the above, we have achieved sharp increases in sales and profits.
Thanks to this business performance, we will increase this term’s end of term dividend by 5 yen over the
previous term to pay 15 yen per share. Combined with the 10 yen per share paid as the mid-term dividend,
our annual dividend will be 25 yen per share. We have also decided to buy our own treasury shares.
In order to clarify the long-term corporate goals we aim to achieve in the midst of great changes in the
international politics, economy and environment, we have enacted VISION2020. With our new Corporate
Message, “Driving Mobile Media Innovation – to the future value of mobile media,” all employees will
become “one team” to constantly propose products and services that are revolutionary and filled with
originality, and provide our customers with the value of new car life.
“Building the Growth Foundation for VISION2020” is positioned in the Thirteenth Mid-term Business
Plan that begins this term, and we will work to create new value and strengthen our management
constitution. Also, as an initiative in the area of corporate governance, we will recruit a new director from
outside the company to strengthen our management constitution.