Nikon 1999 Annual Report Download - page 6

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04
BUSINESS RESULTS
In the fiscal year ended March 31, 1999, divisional
sales rose 6.9% to ¥139.2 billion. Operating income
surged 23.3% to ¥2.5 billion, which caused the
operating margin to rise 0.2 percentage point to 1.8%.
IMAGING PRODUCTS
In June 1998, the Camera Division and Electronic
Imaging Division were merged into the Imaging
Products Division to boost operational efficiency.
Sales of single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras increased
during the year as a result of the popularity of models
such as the new Nikon F100, a lightweight multi-func-
tional compact version of our flagship Nikon F5.
The Nikon Pronea S, which utilizes Advanced
Photo System (APS) technology, enjoyed resounding
success, while the Nikon F60 series, a range of
easy-to-use mod-
els for beginners,
also proved high-
ly popular. While
the new range of
interchangeable
lenses with built-in
silent wave motors
(ultrasonic motors) performed well, price erosion neg-
atively affected sales of lenses as a whole. In compact
cameras, the launch of new models such as the high-
performance APS Nikon Nuvis S, which features a
superior 3.0X zoom lens, helped boost sales. In digital
cameras, the year saw the introduction of the
COOLPIX910 [COOLPIX900 (E900S)], the successor to
the COOLPIX900, which has received a number of
accolades including the Digital Camera of the Year
award in Japan, and the COOLPIX950, which features
a 2.1 million-pixel CCD imaging element. As well as
the excellent performance of these new models,
booming market demand for digital cameras in gen-
eral boosted sales compared with the previous year.
Nikon's high-speed film scanners such as the LS-2000
(SUPER COOLSCAN 2000) and the COOLSCAN III,
which offer outstanding image quality, also did well,
with sales rising year-on-year.
The strategic aim of this division is to raise
margins, while also increasing its overall share of con-
solidated net sales. This is in line with Nikon’s drive to
try to reduce dependence on sales of steppers. As part
of this initiative, the division is studying whether it can
lessen its reliance on production outsourcing by
bringing the manufacture of more parts and materials
review of operations
consumer
products
Pronea S
QX 33.nikon first 00.5.18 4:10 PM ページ 7