Sustainability ESG Management: Social Issues / Dialogue with Our Stakeholders
Dialogue with Our Stakeholders
Basic Approach
Given that collaborative value creation with diverse stakeholders is key to corporate management, we work on proper multistakeholder collaborations. These stakeholders are not only our shareholders, but our customers, business partners, employees, creditors, and local communities, among others.
Summary of Stakeholder Engagement
We believe that, to maintain and strengthen good relationships, it is vital to fully understand and meet stakeholders’ expectations and interests, and thus we actively create opportunities for stakeholder engagement.
Stakeholder Engagement
| Major stakeholders | Major channels of dialogue |
|---|---|
| Customers | ●Daily sales activities (throughout the year) ●Various exhibitions and private shows (irregular) ●Factory tours (as needed) ●General meeting of agents (once a year) ●Technical workshops and social events (as needed) ●Website (year-round) |
| Shareholders and investors | ●General Meeting of Shareholders (once a year) ●Financial results briefing (twice a year) ●IR meetings (96 meetings in FY2025) ●Various publications (annual securities reports, Integrated reports, business reports, etc.) ●Website (year-round) |
| Business partners | ●Purchasing policy briefing (once a year) ●Quality and environmental audits of suppliers (as needed) ●Green Procurement Survey (as needed) ●CSR Procurement Guideline Compliance Survey (as needed) |
| Employees | ●Personnel evaluation and MBO interviews (4 times a year) ●Self-assessment interview (once a year) ●Stress check organizational diagnosis (once a year) ●Labor-management consultations (as needed) ●In-house magazine (as needed) ●Various consultation services (as needed) |
| Local communities | ●Neighborhood cleanup activities (about twice a year at multiple locations in Japan and overseas) ●Donation activities to nearby welfare facilities(multiple locations in Japan and overseas, as needed) ●Acceptance of student company visits and business introduction events (as needed) ●Acceptance of factory tours for neighborhood residents (as needed) |
Dialogues with shareholders
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Held by | ●President & COO, Director in charge of the Corporate Planning Dept., General Manager of Corporate Planning Dept., investor relations (IR) staff |
| Summary of dialogues with shareholders/investors |
●IR interviews with domestic/international investors (e.g., fund managers, analysts) (96 interviews, 3 more than the last year) ●Financial results briefing (twice; total view count of archived videos: 965 (as of the end of July 2025)) |
| Main topics and shareholders’ concerns | ●Business performance at the moment and the outlook for it; progress on the medium-term business plan; growth strategies; shareholder returns policy; our ESG practices, etc. |
| How shareholders’ feedback is communicated to the management |
●Details of dialogues are reported quarterly to the Board of Directors, and also reported to President & COO and the management team as needed, for discussion. |
| Action based on dialogues | ● As part of our shareholder returns policy, we have set a dividend on equity ratio (DOE) of 2.5% as a new standard for a minimum dividend, in addition to the conventional total payout ratio of 50% or above (May 2025). We aspire to earn the trust of our shareholders through a stable and foreseeable dividend policy. |
Co-Existence with Local Communities
Basic Approach
The Group intends to be a company that is needed and trusted by communities by contributing, through our corporate activities, to the creation of a safe and secure society in all regions. We believe that this will not only improve our brand image, but will also lead to increasing the Group’s corporate value as we enhance our human capital by good corporate citizenship, as defined in our Code of Conduct.
Please refer to the Company’s website (below) for the Code of Conduct.
https://www.ikont.co.jp/eg/sustainability/management-promo.html
Specific Initiatives
The entire Group, not only domestic but also overseas sites, has been deeply involved in community activities. In addition to organizing local cleanup drives and participating in neighborhood events, we have also been contributing to local communities in Japan and other countries through various initiatives over the years, including making donations at overseas locations. In this way, we have built strong relationships with local communities.
Continuing cleanup activities near factories
NIPPON THOMPSON regularly performs cleaning activities around our factories. As part of the training for new employees, every year, we remove garbage and perform cleaning in the areas around our factories in cooperation with neighbors to help maintain the environment. Also, we participate in cleaning activities around our head office (Takanawa Gateway Station area).
In addition to our environmental activities, we will continue making efforts to maintain coexistence with the local community through such cleanup activities.
Donations
Our Gifu factory complex (located in Mino, Gifu Prefecture) annually conducts a fundraising activity with the aim of donating to welfare facilities and children's facilities in the city. This activity will mark its 50th milestone in December 2024, and it has been met with deep gratitude for its continuous support over the years.
Sponsor of the Mino Stage of the Tour of Japan
NIPPON THOMPSON is a sponsor of the Mino Stage of the Tour of Japan held in Mino City, Gifu Prefecture every year with the aim of helping local revitalization. The “Tour of Japan” is the largest international bicycle road race held in Japan where top athletes from around the world participate.
The “Mino Stage” is a 139.4 km 6 circuit course that passes the clear waters of the Nagara River, reaches a mountain point of 192 m, goes by the Mino-Washi Museum after a parade through the “Udatsu Wall Historical District,” which is an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings. Every year, many people attend to cheer on the riders.
Disaster recovery support activities
NIPPON THOMPSON has provided support for victims of disasters living around the Company.
In July 2018, we donated relief funds to victims of heavy rains in Gifu, and in January 2024, we provided support for the damage caused by the Noto Peninsula Earthquake of 2024.
Years of participating in blood drives
NIPPON THOMPSON has actively participated in blood drives for people needing blood transfusions for medical treatments and surgeries. Through posters at Company eating areas, employees are encouraged to participate in blood drives every year, and many show understanding and give support.
At the 2018 Gatherings to Thank Blood Donors held in Gifu Prefecture, the Gifu Factory complex, which is our main production site, received a Certificate of Commendation from the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare in recognition of the efforts we have been making over the years. We will continue giving proactive support to such blood drives as part of our social contribution activities.
Hanami, showroom tours and exchange meetings with neighborhood residents
In the spring, we hold gatherings for cherry blossom viewing (hanami) and showroom tours for fulltime employees, contracted employees, part-time workers and their families at the Gifu Factory complex. These are opportunities for developing new relationships in an environment that differs from daily work, and help everyone to deepen their understanding of NIPPON THOMPSON.
The Company will continue engaging in activities that contribute to the local area as a Company that shows consideration for all related parties including employees and their families.
Community contribution activities at overseas locations
As a member of the local community, our sales subsidiary in the United States, IKO INTERNATIONAL,INC. (U.S.), strives to actively participate in and cooperate with local events, such as conducting food donations to a hunger relief organization.
