Quarterlytics / Consumer Defensive / Household & Personal Products / Kao Corp.

Kao Corp.

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Ticker kaocf
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Sector Consumer Defensive
Industry Household & Personal Products
Employees 10,000+
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FY2012 Annual Report · Kao Corp.
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Enriching lives, 
in harmony with nature

Kao is dedicated to filling consumers’ daily lives with smiles.

The philosophy behind our product development and manufacturing

has remained unchanged over the 120 years since Kao Sekken (Kao Soap)

was introduced in 1890.

With the business environment continuing to change on a global scale,

what can Kao do as a leading manufacturer? We believe we can

provide new value to people around the world through

Yoki-Monozukuri,* pursued from an ecological perspective.

Positioning ecology at the core of management, Kao is striving for

the wholehearted satisfaction and enrichment of the lives of people

globally in the fields of cleanliness, beauty and health.

Going forward, the Kao Group will continue to enhance

Yoki-Monozukuri and pursue true, sustainable enrichment made

possible through the harmony of people and nature.

* We define “Yoki-Monozukuri” as “a strong commitment by all members to provide products 
   and brands of excellent value for consumer satisfaction.” In Japanese, “Yoki” literally means 
  “good/excellent,” “Monozukuri” means “development/manufacturing of products.”

Forward-Looking Statements

Forward-looking statements such as earnings forecasts and other projections contained in this report are 
based on information available at the time of publication and assumptions that management believes to be 
reasonable. Actual results may differ materially from those expectations due to various factors.

Contents

Financial Highlights 

Segment Information 

A Message from Chairman of the Board of Directors Motoki Ozaki 

An Interview with New President and CEO Michitaka Sawada 

Kao at a Glance 

2

4

6

8

14

Feature: 

Innovation That Satisfies

Beauty Care 
Business

Human Health Care 
Business

Global Integrated 
Management

Meeting Local 
Consumer Needs

16

18

Fabric and Home Care 
Business

Chemical 
Business

Offering 
Eco-Innovation

Rapid Progress 
toward an 
Eco-Chemical 
Business

19

20

Kao’s Management Framework

Directors, Corporate Auditors and Executive Officers 
Corporate Governance 
Compliance 

Financial Section

11-Year Summary 

  Management Discussion and Analysis 
Consolidated Financial Statements 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 
Independent Auditor’s Report 

Principal Subsidiaries and Affiliates 

Investor Information 

22
24
26

28
30
40
46
67

68

69

Kao Annual Report 2012     1

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Highlights

Outstanding Year-on-Year Performance

Net Sales

+2.5%

¥1,216.1 billion

EVA*

106

(Year ended March 31, 2000=100)

*EVA (Economic Value Added) is a registered trademark of Stern Stewart & Co. 
   The fi gure is a comparison to the base year ended March 31, 2000.

Operating Income

+3.8%

¥108.6 billion

Net Income

+12.2%

¥52.4 billion

EBITA

+2.2%

¥142.2 billion

Cash Dividends

+¥2.00 per share

¥60.00

Kao Corporation and Consolidated Subsidiaries 

  Years ended March 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010

Billions of yen 

2012 

2011 

2010 

Millions of 
U.S. dollars 

2012 

Change

2012/2011

For the year:
  Net sales .......................................................  
  Beauty Care Business  ...............................  
      Human Health Care Business ....................  
  Fabric and Home Care Business ................  
      Consumer Products Business ................  
  Chemical Business ....................................  
  Eliminations ...............................................  

   Japan ..........................................................  
   Asia & Oceania ...........................................  
   North America ............................................  
   Europe ........................................................  
   Eliminations ................................................  

  EBITA  ............................................................  
  Operating income ..........................................  
  Net income ....................................................  
  EBITDA ..........................................................  

At year-end:
  Total assets ...................................................  
  Net worth ......................................................  

¥1,216.1 
537.9  
181.8  
285.6  
1,005.3  
247.6  
(36.9) 

¥1,186.8 
533.5 
175.8 
279.0 
988.3 
232.0 
(33.4) 

¥1,184.4 
547.9 
183.2  
276.9  
1,008.0 
207.8  
(31.5) 

925.3  
173.6  
85.4  
117.0  
(85.2) 

142.2  
108.6  
52.4  
188.4  

912.4 
152.4 
80.3 
112.1 
(70.4) 

139.1 
104.6 
46.7 
186.0 

918.5 
131.7 
79.2 
111.2 
(56.2) 

129.5 
94.0 
40.5 
178.8 

$14,796.2  
6,545.1  
2,211.4  
3,475.4  
12,231.9  
3,013.0   
(448.7) 

11,258.5  
2,112.0  
1,039.0  
1,423.6  
(1,037.0) 

1,729.9  
1,321.2  
638.0  
2,292.2  

991.3  
538.0  

1,022.8 
528.9 

1,065.8 
565.1 

12,060.7  
6,546.2  

2.5%
0.8  
3.4 
2.4 
1.7 
6.7 
.–

1.4 
13.9 
6.3 
4.4 
.–

2.2 
3.8 
12.2 
1.3 

(3.1)
1.7 

Per share:
  Net income ....................................................  
  Cash dividends ..............................................  
  Net worth ......................................................  

Yen 

U.S. dollars 

Change

¥  100.46  
60.00  
1,031.08  

¥     87.69 
 58.00 
1,013.05 

¥     75.57 
57.00 
1,054.31 

$  1.22  
0.73  
12.55  

14.6%
3.4 
1.8 

Notes:   1.  The U.S. dollar amounts are translated, for convenience only, at the rate of ¥82.19=US$1, the approximate exchange rate at March 31, 2012.

2.   Eliminations represent intersegment sales and interregion sales. Net sales of the Chemical Business include intersegment sales to the Beauty Care 

Business, the Human Health Care Business and the Fabric and Home Care Business.

3.  Net sales by region are classified based on the location of Kao Group companies.
4.  Yen and U.S. dollar amounts are rounded to the nearest whole number or decimal.
5.  EBITA (Earnings before interest, taxes and amortization) is operating income before amortization of goodwill and other items related to acquisitions.
6.  EBITDA (Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) is operating income before depreciation and amortization.
7.  Net worth is equity, excluding minority interests and stock acquisition rights.

2     Kao Annual Report 2012

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net Sales and 
Operating Income Ratio

(Billions of yen)

1,500

1,318.5

1,276.3

1,184.4

1,186.8

1,216.1

1,000

500

0

8.8

7.6

7.9

8.8

8.9

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Net Sales (Left)
Operating Income Ratio (Right)

Net Income and ROE*

Net Income per Share

(Years ended March 31)

(%)
25

(Billions of yen)
80

(%)
20

(Yen)
150

20

15

10

5

0

60

40

20

0

66.6

64.5

11.7

11.5

52.4

9.8

46.7

8.5

40.5

7.3

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Net Income (Left)
ROE* (Right)

*In calculating ROE, equity excludes minority 
  interests and stock acquisition rights.

15

10

5

0

100

50

0

122.53

120.25

100.46

87.69

75.57

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Cash Dividends and 
Payout Ratio

Net Worth and DER*

EBITDA

40

20

0

(Yen)
60

54.00

56.00

57.00

58.00

60.00

(%)
100

(Billions of yen)
600

574.0

545.2

565.1

528.9

538.0

75.4

66.1

59.7

46.6

44.1

80

60

40

20

400

200

0.5

0.5

0.3

0.3

0.2

184.3

178.8

186.0

188.4

(Times)

1.2

1.0

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

(Billions of yen)
250

209.7

200

150

100

50

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

0

0

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

0

0

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Cash Dividends (Left)
Payout Ratio (Right)

Net Worth (Left)
DER* (Right)

*DER (Debt to Equity Ratio)=Interest-bearing debt ÷
  Equity, excluding minority interests and stock
  acquisition rights

Capital Expenditures and 
Depreciation and Amortization

R&D Expenses and 
Percentage of Net Sales

Free Cash Flow*

(Billions of yen)
150

127.9

128.1

(Billions of yen)
120

119.5

100

93.4

100

50

0

78.4

76.1

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

*Free cash flow = Net cash provided by operating
  activities + Net cash used in investing activities

80

60

40

20

0

87.5

84.8

81.4

79.8

49.0

44.6

44.9

49.1

47.2

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Capital Expenditures 
Depreciation and Amortization

(Billions of yen)
50

45.1

46.1

44.9

45.5

(%)
8

48.2

40

30

20

10

0

6

4

2

0

3.4

3.6

3.8

3.8

4.0

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

R&D Expenses (Left)
Percentage of Net Sales (Right)

Kao Annual Report 2012     3

Segment Information

Net Sales

(Billions of yen)
1,500

1,318.5

1,276.3

Operating Income

(Billions of yen)
120

116.3

104.6

108.6

(Years ended March 31)

1,184.4

1,186.8

1,216.1

96.8

94.0

1,000

500

0

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

80

40

0

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

(cid:129)

(cid:129)

Figures are rounded to the nearest
whole number or decimal.
Figures in the graph represent net
sales to outside customers only.

Beauty Care Business

Human Health Care Business

Fabric and Home Care Business

Chemical Business

Business Segment Sales

(Year ended March 31, 2012)

Chemical Business
Breakdown by Region

Japan 
Asia 

North America 

Europe 

Eliminations 

(Billions of yen)
210.8

125.5

89.2

35.9

55.7

(95.5)

Chemical Business
Oleo chemicals
Performance chemicals
Specialty chemicals

¥
¥210.8
billion
17.3%

Consumer Products Business 
Breakdown by Region

Japan 

Asia & Oceania 

North America 

Europe 

Eliminations 

(Billions of yen)
1,005.3

832.3

87.4

49.6

61.5

(25.5)

Beauty Care Business
Prestige cosmetics
Premium skin care products
Premium hair care products

Consolidated
Net Sales
¥1,216.1
billion

¥537.9
billion
44.2%

¥285.6
billion
23.5%

Fabric and Home Care Business
Fabric care products
Home care products

¥181.8
billion
15.0%
15.0%

Human Health Care Business
Food and beverage products
Sanitary products
Personal health products

(cid:129)

(cid:129)

(cid:129)

(cid:129)

Figures are rounded to the nearest 
whole number or decimal.
Figures in the graph represent net 
sales to outside customers only.
Net sales by region are classified 
based on the location of Kao 
Group companies.
Eliminations represent interregion 
sales.

4     Kao Annual Report 2012

 
 
Operating Income / EBITA*
Operating Income Ratio

(Years ended March 31)

Net Sales

(Billions of yen)
800

600

547.9

533.5

537.9

Beauty Care 
Business

400

200

0

(Billions of yen)
80

Operating Income (Left)

EBITA* (Left)
Operating Income Ratio (Right)

60

40

40.0

39.9

48.9

2.9

20

0.9

1.0

15.4

4.7

5.5

0

2010

2011

2012

2010

2011

2012

(Billions of yen)
300

(Billions of yen)
20

Operating Income (Left)

Operating Income Ratio (Right)

200

183.2

175.8

181.8

Human Health 
Care Business

100

0

15.3

8.7

14.6

8.0

15

10

5

0

9.0

4.9

2010

2011

2012

2010

2011

2012

(Billions of yen)
400

(Billions of yen)
80

Operating Income (Left)

Fabric and 
Home Care 
Business

300

200

100

0

276.9

279.0

285.6

60

Operating Income Ratio (Right)

60.7

59.7

55.5

30

40

21.9

21.4

19.4

20

0

2010

2011

2012

2010

2011

2012

*

EBITA (Earnings 
before interest, 
taxes and 
amortization) is 
operating income 
before amortization 
of goodwill and 
other items related 
to acquisitions.

(%)
5.0

4.0

3.0

2.0

1.0

0

(%)
20.0

16.0

12.0

8.0

4.0

0

(%)
40

Chemical 
Business

(Billions of yen)
400

(Billions of yen)
40

Operating Income (Left)

Operating Income Ratio (Right)

232.0

247.6

207.8

300

200

100

0

19.7

9.5

24.1

10.4

23.0

9.3

30

20

10

0

2010

2011

2012

2010

2011

2012

Note: Net sales include intersegment sales.

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Kao Annual Report 2012     5

 
 
 
A Message from Chairman of the Board of Directors Motoki Ozaki

After eight years as Kao’s 
president and chief executive 
officer, I am confident that the 
Company is in an excellent 
position to achieve profitable 
growth both in Japan and 
around the world as a result 
of structural evolution. Just 
as important, this growth will 
also be sustainable as a result 
of our commitment to 
reducing environmental 
impact and contributing to 
society. The market agrees, 
given Kao’s inclusion in 
socially responsible 
investment indexes and its 
selection as one of the 
world’s most ethical 
companies. Kao will continue 
to serve its stakeholders 
effectively and with integrity.

6     Kao Annual Report 2012

A key theme during my tenure as CEO was leveraging innovative 

technology to raise Kao’s competitive advantage in global markets and 

achieve profi table growth. In each of our businesses, we are using our unique 

capabilities and expertise to launch high-value-added products. 

  We complemented product innovation with structural innovation and 

implemented a matrix management system that shifted the focus of our 

businesses from product categories to the consumer’s perspective. Structural 

reorganization has also helped Kao strategically and efficiently allocate 

resources to respond to changes in market structure and consumers.

Integration of business operations across Asia has also supported 

profi table global growth. This initiative successfully enhanced communication 

among Asian countries to effi ciently develop high-value-added products that 

meet the needs of both particular countries and the broader market. We are 

now taking a similar approach by implementing matrix management in our 

North American and European operations.

  Over the past eight years we have deepened our commitment to the 

environment and in 2009 issued the Kao Environmental Statement. Our 

“eco together” concept is a key component of our approach, guiding us as 

we work together with stakeholders and consumers worldwide throughout 

the product lifecycle, from materials procurement and manufacturing, to 

distribution, sales, use and fi nal disposal. We have also maintained our 

longstanding emphasis on corporate social responsibility issues such as 

effective governance and corporate ethics.

  The Kao Group clarifi ed its deployment of free cash fl ow (net cash provided 

by operating activities plus net cash used in investing activities) during my 

tenure. We invested in future growth, as shown by the acquisition of Kanebo 

Cosmetics Inc. We also used free cash fl ow to increase cash dividends per 

share at a compound annual rate of nearly 7 percent over the past eight 

years. In addition, we reduced interest-bearing debt related to the 

acquisition while repurchasing shares totaling ¥135 billion. 

  Our focus on efficiently putting our resources to work has created an 

organization that is well positioned to continue generating profitable 

growth and consistently strong shareholder returns. In my new role as 

Chairman of the Board of Directors, I plan to support the new company 

leadership and the sustainable growth of the Kao Group by focusing on 

corporate governance and risk management issues.

Motoki Ozaki
Chairman of the Board of Directors

Kao Annual Report 2012     7

 
An Interview with New President and CEO Michitaka Sawada

Michitaka Sawada
President and Chief Executive Officer

Michitaka Sawada joined Kao in 1981 after 
earning a Master of Engineering specialized in 
applied chemistry from Osaka University. 
Sawada’s career over more than thirty years in 
research and development at Kao spans both 
fundamental research and product development 
research, from the development of the 
polymer materials used in the iconic Bioré 
pore strips through to leadership on the 
re-engineering of Merries baby diapers after 
his appointment as Vice President of the 
Sanitary Products Research Laboratories in 
2003. In 2006, Sawada became an Executive 
Officer of Kao and assumed broader 
responsibility across the entire R&D Division. 
He was the fi rst to lead the Human Health Care 
R&D Center following its establishment in 
2007 and quickly progressed to appointment to 
the Board of Directors in 2008. 

  Recognition of Sawada’s significant 
achievements in leading R&D teams in diverse 
fields, as well as his dynamism, energy and 
wide-ranging insights on global growth, all 
contributed to his appointment as 
Representative Director, President and Chief 
Executive Officer of Kao on June 28, 2012.
  Sawada has been an active member of the 
Japan Chief Technology Officer Forum, Japan 
Management Association and the Japan 
Association for Chemical Innovation, where 
he has contributed to the development of 
industry policies and strategies. He was 
recently appointed as Vice Chairman of the 
Japan Soap and Detergent Association, a leading 
industry body. 
  Sawada was born on December 20, 1955 in 
Osaka Prefecture, Japan. He and his wife have 
two daughters. 

LEADERSHIP

8     Kao Annual Report 2012

CONTINUOUS 
INNOVATION

What is your core theme for the Kao Group 
as you lead it into the future?

“Yoki-Monozukuri” is one of the Kao Group’s core concepts. We defi ne it as 
“a strong commitment by all members to provide products and brands of 

excellent value for consumer satisfaction.” But this concept is not simply 

about producing high quality products – it also encompasses our commitment 

to enriching people’s lives, reducing environmental impact and resolving 

social issues arising from changing lifestyles. That requires fresh ideas and 

the will to make them realities, which is why we need innovation. But not 

just innovation. We need “continuous innovation.”

  The Kao Group is an exciting place because of its positive, innovative 

corporate culture, and I am proud that I have helped keep this spirit 

burning brightly. My career has focused on research and development, 

so I have seen fi rsthand that continuous innovation drives profi table growth. 

  This concept of continuous innovation starts with breakthrough 

innovation; we need great new ideas for products that cause creative 

destruction. This kind of innovation changes the game. With its proven 

innovative capabilities, the Kao Group can take the lead in the markets that 

emerge. But we cannot stop there; we must follow up with step-by-step 

innovation. By this I mean a series of small but significant steps that keep 

The Key to 
Strategic Success

Continuous innovation 
is the key, and has 
two phases:

Breakthrough 
innovation: 
great new ideas 
for products that 
cause creative 
destruction

Step-by-step 
innovation: 
a series of small but 
significant steps that 
keep our brands fresh 
in the marketplace

The Kao Group’s Mid-Term Growth Strategies 

Use the Kao Group’s innovative technology to raise its competitive 
advantage in the global market and achieve profitable growth 

Consumer Products Business

Further reinforcement of business in Japan, 
the Kao Group’s profit base 

Accelerated globalization 

Mature markets: 

Achieve further growth driven by high-value-added products 

Growth markets: 

Invest management resources to strengthen focal strategic brands 
Establish corporate identity

Chemical Business

Rapid progress toward an eco-chemical 
business 

Kao Annual Report 2012     9

 
our brands fresh in the marketplace. This involves incremental additions to 

value over time. After all, a product is not innovative if nobody uses it, and 

we are not in the business of creating fads. This cycle is essential for Kao.

  For example, we created the compact detergent market in Japan with 

breakthrough innovation, and have been the leader in this market for 25 

years using step-by-step innovation. Kao is serious about nurturing its 

product concepts over the long term. 

  Continuous innovation adapts products and approaches to evolving 

market and consumer needs, so that our innovative products remain 

relevant and at the forefront of consumer consciousness. It means 

constant improvement of what we make and do. And it requires 

persistence – we cannot afford to become complacent. We must 

continuously come up with new ideas that maintain our product leadership 

as competitors will inevitably try to replicate our innovations.

I also want to make the most of our organizational strengths while making 

sure that we are not doing research for its own sake, but research that is 

creating value. That is how we will meet challenges successfully to keep 

sales and earnings on an upward vector over the medium and long term. 

VALUE

How is Kao responding to the increasing maturity of 
the Japanese market?

The Kao Group adapts. We remain open to new ideas as our markets 

change. This is what sustains us as we turn challenges like market 

maturity into opportunities.

  We absolutely want to create value that consumers appreciate. As 

markets in Japan have matured, we have expanded the spectrum of value 

we offer through our products. We have always focused on functional 

value, creating products that consumers love because they work really 

well and make life better. Then we complemented the focus on functional 

value by emphasizing emotional value, such as more appealing fragrances 

and enhanced look and feel. Going forward, we also intend to strengthen 

our offering in terms of social value. This involves effectively meeting 

needs and wants in a social context, such as employing universal design 

to enhance ease of use for seniors, or making our offerings even more 

environmentally responsible.

  Our concept of continuous innovation is key to leveraging the maturity 

10     Kao Annual Report 2012

 
of the market in order to sustain profitable growth in Japan. We are 

innovating every day and looking for additional opportunities to evolve 

beyond providing products alone to include suites of products and 

services that offer functional, emotional and social value, such as a health 

solution business that focuses on prevention and improvement of health 

issues for an aging society. In the future, the Kao Group will consider 

how to apply the know-how gained through this business in markets 

outside Japan.

GLOBAL

Japan is a large market for the Kao Group, while 
some countries outside Japan are growth drivers. 
How will you build the Kao Group’s global business?

Overseas markets present many opportunities for global expansion. This is 

particularly true for growth markets with large populations such as China 

and Indonesia, which we see as fundamental to our future. Previously, we 

targeted upper-tier consumers with premium products in these markets, 

but now we are adding a strong emphasis on volume zones – categories 

with sizable markets such as laundry detergents, sanitary products and 

diapers targeting mid-tier consumers. We intend to make use of another 

Kao Group strength: our ability to deliver volume zone products that 

consistently connect with consumers because they are easy to 

understand and meet clearly identified needs. 

  As in the premium products market, we need to be known as an 

innovative company through continuous innovation in volume zones. We 

are competing against huge global companies, and will not succeed if we 

use the same approaches they do. We will use consumer insights and 

continuous innovation to compete with truly differentiated products that 

are compelling, while making sure they are price competitive as well. 

  Through this focus, we are generating meaningful results in China and 

elsewhere in Asia, giving us a great base for further expansion.

  Our initiative to integrate management of the Beauty Care Business in 

North America and Europe demonstrates another aspect of our approach 

to global expansion. Not simply an exercise in integration to raise 

efficiency, this is the next stage of our strategy for ultimately creating a 

strong, unified business worldwide through global integrated management 

of the Consumer Products Business.

Kao Annual Report 2012     11

PRESENCE

The Kao Group’s global identity is a strategic asset. 
How will you build it?

I think of our global identity in terms of the word “presence.” Our 

presence is our standing among consumers, communities and other 

stakeholders. It means awareness of the Kao Group, its brands and its 

commitment to enriching lives, in harmony with nature. Our presence is 

the result of everything we do and achieve. We want markets to know and 

respect the Kao Group, because that drives profitable growth and creates 

a virtuous cycle in which earnings growth funds the innovation that 

supports more earnings growth. We want society to know and respect the 

Kao Group for its contribution as a corporate citizen, because that makes 

our employees and the communities we serve proud of the Kao Group. 

  The key to building our presence will be to constantly renew ourselves 

as we embrace a commitment to change. Employees must have the desire 

to take on the challenges of innovation, and the courage to be creative. 

Enhancing our presence involves thinking about markets in which we have 

the best opportunities to sweep away the conventional and lead with the 

new. It also means continuous innovation that incrementally strengthens 

our brands and our ability to contribute to communities.

Sustainability is a core Kao Group management 
focus. How is sustainability related to the overall 
objectives of the Kao Group?

The Kao Group has embedded sustainability in its management, and we 

are deploying our unique ability to innovate to address environmental 

awareness. We have to be environmentally responsible in Japan and 

overseas. Companies that fail to do that will not succeed. They will simply 
become irrelevant. Our concept of Yoki-Monozukuri certainly includes 
ecologically conscious products, and was a core rationale for founding the 

Eco-Technology Research Center. It is a unique expression of what 

differentiates the Kao Group, a place where we are using eco-innovation 

research to link product creation and use to environmental responsibility. 

  Continuous innovation drives sustainability. It drove the development of 

our “eco together” environmental statement, in which we work with 

consumers, business partners and society to reduce environmental impact 

throughout the entire product lifecycle. It drives our commitment to eco-
innovation, which has resulted in products such as the Neo fabric care 

12     Kao Annual Report 2012

series that conserves water, electricity and resources, as well as 

innovations that help us use less water in our operations. It also supports 

our drive to develop eco-chemical products for global markets. 

  Since 2005, we have been participating in the United Nations Global 

Compact, a strategic policy initiative for businesses that are committed to 

aligning their operations and strategies with ten universally accepted 

principles in the areas of environment, human rights, labor and anti-

corruption. We have also demonstrated our global commitment to social 

and environmental issues in ways such as participating in the Round Table 

on Sustainable Palm Oil since September 2010.

  Sustainability will certainly remain central to Kao Group management 

worldwide.

How will the Kao Group continue to generate solid 
shareholder returns?

Kao Corporation has raised dividends for 22 consecutive years and has 

repurchased nearly 138 million shares since 1999, and I will maintain this 

clear and consistent commitment to shareholder returns. How? The short 

answer is profitable growth. The Kao Group is focusing on effective use of 

free cash flow and other fundamentals that drive value and enable 

shareholder satisfaction, because we contribute to society and make 

ourselves an attractive investment when we grow profitably. We will 

maintain our emphasis on deploying free cash flow toward reinvesting 

earnings in capital expenditures, mergers and acquisitions that support 

profitable global growth. 

Use of Free Cash Flow*

1. Capital expenditures and M&A for future growth

2. Steady and continuous cash dividends

Year ended 
March 31, 2012

Cash dividends per share:  ¥60.00
59.7%
Payout ratio: 

3. Share repurchases and repayment of interest-bearing debt including borrowings
t includi
t including borrowings

rest bearing debt

* Free cash flow = Net cash provided by operating activities + Net cash used in investing activities

  We see that as a win-win approach that benefits the Kao Group and its 

stakeholders. I expect continuous innovation to ensure that Kao Corporation 

generates attractive returns for shareholders while upholding the ethical 

and community principles that are the basis for the Kao Group’s strong 

stakeholder support.

Michitaka Sawada
President and Chief Exective Officer

Kao Annual Report 2012     13

 
 
Kao at a Glance

Beauty Care Business

Human Health Care Business

Fabric and Home Care Business

Chemical Business

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14     Kao Annual Report 2012

Business Overview

In order to allow all consumers to achieve their 

own unique beauty with leading technologies, the 

Kao Group offers a wide range of products 

including prestige cosmetics, premium skin care 

products such as facial and body cleansers, and 

premium hair care products such as shampoos 

and conditioners.

The Kao Group offers products that help 

consumers live healthily and comfortably, 

including sanitary products created using 

proprietary technologies, functional health 

beverages that offer new performance values, 

and other products such as bath additives and 

toothpaste.

The Kao Group offers products designed for 

quality, functionality, and ease of use in order to 

help consumers enjoy a clean, comfortable 

lifestyle, including fabric care products such as 

laundry detergents and fabric treatments, as well 

as dishwashing detergents, kitchen cleaners and 

other home care products.

The Kao Group’s Chemical Business offers 

customers worldwide a range of chemical 

products designed to meet the diverse needs of 

global industry, including oleo chemicals 

manufactured from natural oil and fat raw 

materials, surfactants, toners and toner binders, 

and fragrances and aroma chemicals.

 
 
 
Representative Products

Mid-Term Strategies

Accelerate growth through integrated 
global business operations.

Attain profitable growth utilizing value- 
added technologies in targeted market 
segments.

Achieve top-line growth in facial and body 
cleanser categories through differentiation 
in quality and cost.

Promote expansion of sanitary products in 
Asia based on recognition of Japanese 
quality.

In Japan, work to add value to existing 
products in response to market changes 
and create new markets.

In Japan, further promote “eco together” 
with the growth of Attack Neo, which is 
effective even in small amounts and can 
conserve water and electricity as a 
single-rinse detergent.

In China and other Asian countries where 
the liquid laundry detergent market is 
expanding, launch, nurture and strengthen 
new products with Kao’s unique 
technology to meet local needs and 
surpass market growth.

Expand sales and develop markets in 
BRICs and other growing markets.

Promote greater added value with a focus 
on ecology. 

Kao Annual Report 2012     15

Beauty Care Business
Global Integrated 
Management

Originally introduced as a facial cleanser, Bioré has 
established a solid position in the Japanese 
market as a leading brand in the Kao Group’s 
premium skin care portfolio. Since the start of our 
global expansion in 1982, Bioré products have 
been tailored to local markets, but the brand is 
now undergoing worldwide renewal driven by the 
Kao Group’s exclusive new Skin Purifying Technology. 

Feature: 

Innovation 
That 
Satisfies

To succeed globally, it is important to pair technologies 

that are applicable worldwide with local insight to 

understand the different needs and characteristics of 

each market and respond appropriately. Moreover, to 
ensure that we fully convey the unique value of Bioré in 

markets around the world, the Kao Group is conducting 

strong rollouts at the local level with a thorough 

understanding of the needs of the target demographics 

in each country, based on the brand guidelines that 

support global development. 

The Kao Group is constantly exploring new 

science and technologies to create valuable 

products and offer them to consumers 

around the world. We seek to enhance our 

brand value with an approach that pairs a 

global perspective for developing world-

class technology with local insights to 

tailor products to each market. Here we 

highlight some of our initiatives. 

16     Kao Annual Report 2012

Cleansing ingredients
(aggregation)

Bioré Skin Care Facial Foam, 
which presented the concept 
of “cleansing skin care” 
to the market, uses the 
Kao Group’s Skin Purifying 
Technology to gently remove 
dirt and excess oil that can 
irritate the skin, leaving it 
feeling smooth. 

Skin

We intend to enhance the brand value of Bioré by returning to 
the basics, centered on world-class cleansing technology. 

The various markets around the world differ in terms of consumer needs and 
competitive landscapes. In order for Bioré to build a strong global presence, the 
Kao Group must focus on its core value of “clean, healthy beautiful skin.” We 
have returned to the basics to better define Bioré’s strengths around its 
cleansing ability, and now we plan to begin our new offerings with facial cleanser, 
the product that best represents these core values. Our technology is what 
makes this possible. Even though the facial cleanser market is maturing, I believe 
that by adding new value to our products, we can further increase consumer 
satisfaction in every market. 

Global Rollout of New Bioré

Taiwan

United States

Satoru Tanaka
President, Premium Skin Care Business Group, 
Beauty Care Business Unit

Bioré is a top-ranking brand in Taiwan. A high level of 

satisfaction with the facial cleanser, the core driver of 

Kao USA Inc. (formerly Kao Brands Company) launched 
the Bioré Restage Project in 2010 and set out to 

the brand’s image, can be expected to carry over to the 

restructure its brand strategy. To gain an advantage 

makeup remover and body cleanser lines as well. That 

in the highly competitive U.S. facial cleanser market, 

is why this is a critically important item. In restaging the 

the company identified the need to rethink its target 

facial cleanser with the introduction of Skin Purifying 

demographic, and decided to focus on women in their 

Technology in 2012, Kao (Taiwan) Corporation conducted 

twenties because of their outstanding brand loyalty.  

extensive surveys of consumers in their homes, and 
used these findings to effectively spotlight Bioré’s 

  Based on extensive surveys of this target 

demographic, the company is carrying out a 

advanced functional value and to enhance its established 

communications strategy centered on digital marketing. 

brand image. 

Kao Annual Report 2012     17

Human Health Care Business
Meeting Local Consumer Needs

Laurier products are sold in nine countries and regions in Asia, and the Kao Group aims to make it 
Asia’s leading sanitary napkin brand. With the development and introduction of a groundbreaking 
new surface material, the Kao Group repositioned the brand and, in 2010, began a series of launches 
in Asia, where it has gained strong support from local women. By both strengthening standard global 
product functions with innovative technology and introducing products developed from a consumer-
driven perspective in each local market, the Kao Group aims to be the closest to Asian consumers. 

Product Development Aimed at Creating a 
“Next-Generation Sanitary Napkin”
Laurier has won steady support in the growing Asian market for feminine hygiene products, including the top market share 
in Singapore. However, with competition increasing, the Kao Group is targeting younger consumers by highlighting the 
functional and emotional appeal of Laurier, which uses a new surface material developed for superior absorbency, as a 
“next-generation sanitary napkin.” 

Taiwan

Thailand

“Magnetic Absorbency” is the Brand-Building Catch Phrase
In Taiwan, aggressive promotion of the comfort and other 
features of Laurier Super Slim Guard in magazines and 
online has established a solid position for it as a high-value-
added product. In August 2011, we launched the renewed 
Laurier Super Slim Guard with a new surface material, and 
created the catch phrase “magnetic absorbency” to evoke 
the product’s originality and unrivaled absorbency. As a 
result, it is gaining strong support from women in the 
target segment. 

Dealing with Two Different Markets
In the sanitary napkin market in Thailand, it is necessary 
to win share in two different markets: urban areas, 
where the hypermarkets of global retailers and 
convenience stores are the dominant sales channels, 
and rural areas, where traditional outlets such as long-
established family-run shops are prevalent. When we 
introduced the new product with stronger absorbency 
using a new surface material, we devised and 
aggressively implemented effective marketing 
strategies for each of these two markets. 

Innovation is the Key to Winning the Top Share

In sales promotions for Laurier Soft & Safe, a brisk-selling new thin-type product, 
we focused on television commercials. Employing a well-known actress to 
increase trust, the commercials were designed based on extensive surveys of 
consumers’ real-life experiences to gain insight into their needs and help them 
identify with the product. For Laurier Super Slim Guard, on the other hand, we 
highlighted the product’s absorbency to appeal to active career women, and sales 

have been strong. We realize the importance of listening to consumers and 

constantly innovating.  

Kanwara Chingchit
Category Manager, Marketing, 
Consumer Business, 
Kao Commercial Thailand Co., Ltd.

18     Kao Annual Report 2012

Fabric and Home Care Business 
Offering Eco-Innovation

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the 1987 debut of Attack, the world’s fi rst compact laundry 
detergent. In 2009, after two years of development aimed at making single-rinse laundering 
possible, the Kao Group launched Attack Neo, which reduces washing time and saves water and 
electricity. The same technology used in Attack Neo was applied in Attack Instant Clean Liquid 
detergent, which was launched in China in 2010. 

Simultaneously Reducing 
Environmental Impact and 
Benefiting Consumers

In developing Attack Neo, the Kao Group sought to 
create a product that was not just “eco-friendly” but 
would also use environmental technology to benefit 
consumers. Efforts focused on the water used in 
laundering. The toilet, bathing, cooking and laundry 
account for about 90 percent of daily water use in the 
average household. Researchers therefore looked to 
find a way to save water by making single-rinse 
laundering possible, and succeeded in developing a 
surfactant with strong cleaning performance and 
excellent rinsing properties. At the same time, the 
product was made much more concentrated, 
resulting in the creation of Attack Neo, a completely 
new, ultra-concentrated liquid detergent. The 
technology of Attack Neo has also been applied in 
China and Australia to create products tailored to 
laundry habits in those countries. 

Creating New Value with Attack Instant Clean Liquid 

When we were developing Attack Instant Clean Liquid detergent, which was launched in 
September 2010, we surveyed 850 average households in Chinese urban areas (Shanghai 
and Beijing) to see how they do their laundry. We found that most people use a combination 
of machine washing and hand washing, and that roughly 80 percent of the water used in 

laundering is consumed in rinsing. That led us to focus on the need for efficient rinsing, just 
as the Kao Group did in Japan. Through joint development with the Japanese team, we came 

up with a product that offers high cleaning performance and easy rinsing, both by machine 

and by hand washing, and also helps to reduce water consumption.   

From left: Wen Limeng, Ji Kan and Zhu Ye
Research and development staff at Kao (China) 
Research & Development Center Co., Ltd.  

Kao Annual Report 2012     19

Chemical Business
Rapid Progress toward an Eco-Chemical Business

The Kao Group is taking steps to provide new value to customers while reducing its environmental 
footprint. The Eco-Technology Research Center, a base for development of next-generation environmental 
technologies, started operation in June 2011. With this new facility, the Kao Group will accelerate ecology-
centered management by further blending technologies and exercising its creativity. 

Development of Toner and 
Toner Binder with 
Low-Temperature Fusing

Eco-Innovation Research Laboratories

The Eco-Innovation Research Laboratories established in 
the Eco-Technology Research Center centralizes research 
on the environment, which was previously dispersed 
across the organization. It will play a leading role in 
realizing Kao’s vision of ecology-centered management in 
actual development and manufacturing. 

The Kao Group has been providing toner and toner binder for laser printers 
and copiers globally since 1980. Looking for a way to reduce energy 
consumption, we focused on polyester resin ahead of our competitors. 
This led to the development of a product that easily fuses to paper even at 
low temperatures, enabling sharp printing quality. Today, the Kao Group 
accounts for more than 30 percent of the world’s total annual production 
volume of toner binder. 

In addition, our low-temperature fusing toner binder substantially 

reduces the impact on the environment, and lowering the fusing 
temperature by 10°C is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 
10 percent. The Kao Group is further improving its toner binder to enable 
fusing at temperatures 30°C lower than conventional toner binders. 

Promoting Innovation by Blending Technologies from Different Fields

In eco-innovation research, we have constructively integrated the various eco-research 
functions of the Kao Group’s research and development division. Our intention is to be a 
professional research institute that competes on the global stage by developing next-
generation technologies around the theme of sustainability. We are aiming to develop 
environmental management indexes that will determine how good each product is for the 

environment as a whole, rather than determining whether or not a product is 

environmentally-conscious based solely on greenhouse gas emissions or water usage. We 
hope that the new technologies we create will contribute to the advancement of the Kao 

Group’s ecology-centered management and to a sustainable society.  

Naoki Katada
Vice President, Eco-Innovation 
Research Laboratories 

20     Kao Annual Report 2012

 
Kao’s

Management

Framework

Directors, 
Corporate Auditors and 
Executive Officers 

Corporate Governance

Compliance

22

24

26

Kao Annual Report 2012     21

Directors, Corporate Auditors and Executive Officers   (As of June 28, 2012)

Board of Directors     * Holds the post of Executive Officer concurrently    ** Outside Director

Motoki Ozaki

Michitaka Sawada*

Hiroshi Kanda*

Chairman of the Board of Directors 
President, The Kao Foundation for 
Arts and Sciences

Representative Director

Representative Director

Tatsuo Takahashi*

Representative Director

Toshihide Saito*

Ken Hashimoto*

Hisao Mitsui*

Teruhiko Ikeda**

Advisor, Mizuho Trust & Banking Co., Ltd.

Takuma Otoshi**

Sonosuke Kadonaga**

Senior Advisor, IBM Japan, Ltd.

President, Intrinsics

22     Kao Annual Report 2012

Corporate Auditors      *** Outside Corporate Auditor

Masanori Sunaga

Takayuki Ishige

Full-time Corporate Auditor

Full-time Corporate Auditor

Tadashi Oe***

Corporate Auditor, 
Attorney-at-Law

Teruo Suzuki***

Corporate Auditor, 
Certified Public Accountant

Executive Officers

Michitaka Sawada
President and Chief Executive Officer

Hiroshi Kanda
Senior Managing Executive Officer

President, Consumer Products, Global 
Responsible for Corporate Communications, 
and Kao Professional Services Co., Ltd.

Tatsuo Takahashi
Senior Managing Executive Officer

Representative Director, President and Chief Executive Officer, 
Kao Customer Marketing Co., Ltd.

Toshiharu Numata
Senior Managing Executive Officer

Masumi Natsusaka
Managing Executive Officer

Representative Director, President, Kanebo Cosmetics Inc.
President, Beauty Care Business Unit, Global

Katsuhiko Yoshida
Managing Executive Officer

President, Fabric and Home Care Business Unit, Global
President, Consumer Products, Asia (except China)

Yoshinori Takema
Managing Executive Officer

Senior Vice President, Research and Development, Global
Responsible for Product Quality Management (except Export 
Regulations Service)

President, Consumer Products and Chemical Business, China
Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive 
Officer, Kao (China) Holding Co., Ltd.
Chairman of the Board of Directors, Kao Commercial 
(Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
Chairman of the Board of Directors, Kanebo Cosmetics (China) 
Co., Ltd.

Masato Hirota
Senior Vice President, Media Planning and Management, 
Global

Shinichiro Hiramine
Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications, Global

Toshihide Saito
Managing Executive Officer

Shigeru Koshiba
Vice President, Corporate Strategy, Global

Shoji Kobayashi
President, Chemical Business Unit, Global
Chairman of the Board of Directors, Pilipinas Kao, Incorporated
Chairman of the Board of Directors, Fatty Chemical (Malaysia) 
Sdn. Bhd.
Chairman of the Board of Directors, Kao Chemicals Europe, S.L.

Takuji Yasukawa
President, Human Health Care Business Unit - Food and 
Beverage Business, Global

Senior Vice President, Human Capital Development, Global
Senior Vice President, Corporate Strategy, Global
Responsible for Legal and Compliance
Chairman of the Board of Directors, Kao USA Inc.
President, Kao Group Corporate Pension Fund
President, Kao Health Insurance

Ken Hashimoto
Managing Executive Officer

Senior Vice President, Procurement, Global
Responsible for Accounting and Finance, Information Systems 
and EVA Promotion

Hisao Mitsui
Managing Executive Officer

Senior Vice President, Production and Engineering, Global
Senior Vice President, Environment and Safety Management, 
Global
Responsible for Chemical Business Unit, Logistics, and TCR 
Promotion

Naohisa Kure
Vice President, Research and Development – Beauty Care, 
Global

Akira Yoshimatsu
Vice President, Research and Development, Global
Vice President, Research and Development - Fabric and Home 
Care, Global
Vice President, Research and Development - Chemical, Global

Hideko Aoki
Senior Vice President, Product Quality Management, Global

Minoru Utsumi
Vice President, Production and Engineering - Beauty Care 
Supply Chain Management, Global
Vice President, Supply Chain Management Strategy and 
Planning, Global
Vice President, Plant Management, Tokyo Plant

Yoshimichi Saita
President, Human Health Care Business Unit, Global

Muneki Hirao
Vice President, Production and Engineering - Chemical Supply 
Chain Management, Global
Vice President, Plant Management, Wakayama Plant

Motohiro Morimura
Vice President, Production and Engineering - Fabric and Home 
Care Supply Chain Management, Global
Vice President, Plant Management, Wakayama Plant

Kenji Miyawaki
Senior Vice President, Marketing Research and Development, 
Global

Kazuyoshi Aoki
Senior Vice President, Accounting and Finance, Global

Yasushi Aoki
Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Administration, 
Kanebo Cosmetics Inc.

Tadaaki Sugiyama
Senior Vice President, Legal and Compliance, Global

William J. Gentner
Vice President, Corporate Strategy, Global
President, Consumer Products, Americas and EMEA

Toshiaki Takeuchi
Representative Director, Senior Managing Executive Officer, 
Kao Customer Marketing Co., Ltd.

Kao Annual Report 2012     23

Corporate Governance

Kao considers corporate governance to be a key management task.  The Company’s basic approach to corporate 
governance is to maintain the management structure and internal control system necessary to realize highly 
effi cient, sound and transparent management, with the aim of continuously increasing corporate value.  

Corporate Governance Structure

Kao has introduced, within the framework of the Board of 
Directors, including Outside Directors, and the Board of 
Corporate Auditors including Outside Corporate Auditors, an 
Executive Officer system to separate supervision from 
execution. Following the conclusion of the Annual General 
Meeting of Shareholders and the subsequent meeting of the 
Board of Directors in June 2012, Kao has as part of continuing 
corporate governance improvements increased the number of 
Outside Directors from two to three, reduced the number of 
members of the Board of Directors from fifteen to ten 
(including the Chairman, who does not have executive 
authority), and reinforced the organization of Executive Officers 
by increasing the number from twenty-six to twenty-eight and 
by establishing four new Executive Officer positions, titled 
Senior Managing Executive Officer or Managing Executive 
Officer, without concurrent positions in the Board of Directors. 
Furthermore, Kao has four Corporate Auditors, including two 
Outside Corporate Auditors. All Outside Directors and Outside 
Corporate Auditors maintain their neutrality and independence 
from the Company’s management.  

Kao has established the Compensation Advisory 
Committee and the Committee for the Examination of the 
Nominees for the Chairman of the Board of Directors and the 
President, which fulfill functions similar to the compensation 
committee and nominating committee of a “company with 

committees.” In June 2011, a meeting of the Compensation 
Advisory Committee was held with all Outside Directors in 
attendance. It reported to the Board of Directors meeting in 
the same month its evaluation that the current compensation 
system and level of compensation for Members of the Board 
and Executive Officers were appropriate. Also, prior to the 
appointment of the Chairman and the President following the 
election of Members of the Board at the Annual General 
Meeting of Shareholders in June 2012, a meeting of the 
Committee for the Examination of the Nominees for the 
Chairman of the Board of Directors and the President was 
held by all Outside Directors and Outside Corporate Auditors. 
The committee subsequently submitted to the Board its 
opinion that each candidate was qualified and appropriate. 

In order to improve the effectiveness of audits and 
strengthen auditing functions, the four Corporate Auditors, 
including the two Outside Corporate Auditors, exchange 
opinions with Representative Directors on regularly scheduled 
occasions, attend meetings of the Board of Directors and 
Management Committee as well as other important 
meetings, and participate in regular conferences by corporate 
auditors of domestic Kao Group companies. They also share 
auditing information with the internal auditing division and the 
Company’s accounting auditor, and conduct interviews of 
internal divisions and subsidiaries regularly or as necessary. 

Functions of Committees

Compensation Advisory Committee

This committee is composed of all Representative Directors, the Chairman of the Board of Directors and all 
Outside Directors. The Committee meets at least once a year during the compensation review period for 
Members of the Board and Executive Officers. At this meeting, the committee obtains and examines 
opinions on the compensation system and the level of compensation for the Members of the Board and 
Executive Officers. The results of that examination are reported at a meeting of the Board of Directors. 

Committee for the Examination of the 
Nominees for the Chairman of the 
Board of Directors and the President

Composed of all Outside Directors and all Outside Corporate Auditors, this committee examines the 
nominees prior to the appointment or reappointment of the Chairman of the Board of Directors and/or the 
President, and submits its evaluation of the nominees’ qualifications to the Board of Directors. 

Ensuring the Independence of Outside Directors/Corporate Auditors

In February 2010, Kao established and announced the 
Standards for Independence of Outside Directors/Corporate 
Auditors of Kao Corporation. All of the current Outside 
Directors and Outside Corporate Auditors meet these 
standards, and are registered with the Tokyo Stock Exchange 
as independent directors/corporate auditors. 

Outside Directors are expected to utilize their 

considerable experience and expertise as managers or people 
of relevant knowledge and experience to fulfill a checking 
function from a neutral position, independent of the 
Company’s management, to ensure that management 
decisions of the Company are not disproportionately biased by 
the views of Company insiders. 

In addition, the Company believes that thorough 

discussion at Board of Directors meetings is vital to corporate 

governance. Therefore, the Secretariat of the Board of 
Directors provides Outside Directors with adequate 
explanations of the background, purpose and content of 
agenda items prior to each meeting of the Board of Directors. 
Furthermore, administrative divisions such as Global 
Accounting and Finance, Global Internal Audit and Global 
Legal and Compliance are available to assist Outside 
Corporate Auditors at the Outside Corporate Auditors’ request. 
The average attendance rate of Outside Directors and 

Outside Corporate Auditors at the 14 Board of Directors 
meetings held in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012 was 92.9 
percent and 92.9 percent, respectively. The average attendance 
rate of Outside Corporate Auditors at the 7 Corporate Auditors 
meetings during the same period was 92.9 percent.

24     Kao Annual Report 2012

 
 
 
 
 
Internal Control System and Risk Management System

Internal Control System
Kao formulated its Policies regarding the Development of the 
Internal Control System in May 2006, and revises them as 
necessary after confirming the level of compliance each year. 
In accordance with these policies, the Internal Control 
Committee, chaired by the Representative Director, President 
and Chief Executive Officer of Kao, discusses and determines 
plans for the maintenance and operation of the internal 
control system. The committee also evaluates these plans on 
a regular basis and makes improvements as necessary. 

Six committees have been placed under the Internal 

Control Committee. Each of these subcommittees assesses 
the state of internal controls and makes improvements as 

Risk Management
Among the various risks related to overall business activities, 
risks related to management strategies that affect business 
opportunities are evaluated by the relevant divisions and 
countermeasures are developed. When necessary, the 
Management Committee and Board of Directors check and 
oversee these countermeasures. Management of operational 
risks is based on the order of priority specified in the Kao Risk 
Management Policy (1. Protection of human life; 2. Environmental 
conservation; 3. Continuation of operations; and 4. Protection 
of assets). 

The Risk Management Committee, chaired by the 

Member of the Board in charge of risk management, 

needed by employing the PDCA (Plan, Do, Check and Act) 
cycle. The subcommittees have begun activities for global 
management integration in their respective business areas. 

Six Committees under the Internal Control Committee: 
Number of Times Convened during the Year Ended March 31, 2012

Disclosure Committee
Compliance Committee
Information Security Committee
Risk Management Committee
Committee for Responsible Care Promotion
Quality Assurance Committee

6 times
2 times
8 times
12 times
2 times
4 times

promotes risk management throughout the Company. In the 
event of a serious crisis, a task force headed by the 
Representative Director, President & CEO is set up to 
respond to the situation. 

Objectives of Activities to Properly Manage Risk 

1.   Identify at the global level risks that could affect 
1.   Identify at the global level risks that could affect 

Yoki-Monozukuri and the continuation of 
Yoki-Monozukuri and the continuation of 
operations, and strengthen countermeasures 
operations, and strengthen countermeasures 

i

2.  Strengthen the emergency response system
2.  Strengthen the emergency response system

3.  Maintain and enhance the business continuity plan (BCP) 
3.  Maintain and enhance the business continuity plan (BCP) 

Measures to Maintain and Enhance the Business Continuity Plan 

Some of the Kao Group’s manufacturing, research, distribution and sales bases were damaged to a greater or lesser 
extent in the Great East Japan Earthquake, but the Group pulled together to restore normal operations to fulfill its mission 
as a manufacturer of daily necessities. We are reflecting the issues brought to light on that occasion in our business 
continuity plan (BCP) and other aspects of our operations. For procurement of raw materials, the Kao Group is purchasing 
from multiple vendors and standardizing specifications to enable flexible purchasing according to conditions. To 
strengthen our manufacturing system, we have taken measures such as seismic strengthening and liquefaction 
countermeasures to make factories more disaster resistant. In addition, we are restructuring our manufacturing bases 
from a global perspective to accommodate priority products.

Another new issue we are aware of is the possibility that an 
earthquake with an epicenter in Tokyo or other disaster could damage 
the head office and interrupt its functions. Therefore, we are 
studying how to maintain head office functions by considering duty 
assignments and ways of continuing operations under emergency 
conditions. 

In 2012, we will work to establish a stronger business 
continuity framework by swiftly dealing with the issues we have 
been studying in order to improve the effectiveness of the BCP. 

Kao Annual Report 2012     25

 
 
 
 
Compliance

Measures to Promote and Establish Compliance

The principle of integrity, passed down from Kao’s founder, 

and revision of Kao’s Business Conduct Guidelines (BCG), 

is a core value of the Company’s corporate philosophy, The 

(2) implementation of educational activities to promote each 

Kao Way. Integrity means behaving lawfully and ethically 

employee’s understanding of the BCG (employees sign an 

and conducting fair and honest business activities. Kao 

acknowledgement of their understanding), and (3) 

regards integrity as the starting point of compliance and a 

establishment and operation of compliance hotlines to resolve 

guiding principle to follow so that it may continue to earn 

employees’ questions and give them support to take 

the respect and trust of all stakeholders. 

responsible action in a timely and appropriate manner. 

To practice integrity in our daily business activities, we 

Compliance-related activities are conducted throughout the 

have defined three compliance priorities: (1) establishment 

entire Kao Group, primarily through the Compliance Committee.

Main Activities in the Year Ended March 31, 2012
(cid:129) Revised BCG and conducted e-learning in domestic  
   Kao Group companies and annual review 

(cid:129)  Conducted Integrity Workshops (total number of attendees 

from October 1, 2008 to March 31, 2012):

  Asia/Oceania 
  North America and Europe  

Japan  

Total 

            4 times /  110 people
  192 times /  4,520 people
62 times /  1,262 people
  258 times /  5,892 people

(cid:129) Established and began operation of compliance hotlines for 
  reporting and consultation 

(cid:129) Conducted regular monitoring: Annual departmental self-
  assessment, supplier satisfaction survey, and self-check 
  during training 

Note:   Besides the Integrity Workshops, Kao has conducted other BCG seminars since 2003 and has secured acknowledgements of understanding from all 

employees of domestic Kao Group companies.

Kao Named One of the World’s Most Ethical Companies for Sixth Consecutive Year

In March 2011, Kao was named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies 2012 by Ethisphere Institute, a U.S. think tank. 
Since the first listing in 2007, Kao is the only Japanese company, and also the only consumer products company and chemical 
company in the world to be included in the list for six consecutive years. This year’s record number of surveyed companies 
came from over 100 countries, and 145 companies from more than 36 industries made the list. 

Companies are evaluated in five categories: Ethics and Compliance Program; Reputation, Leadership and Innovation; 
Corporate Citizenship and Responsibility; Governance; and Culture of Ethics. Among these categories, Kao received particular 
recognition for its measures to promote ethics and compliance. These include establishing and revising the BCG, conducting 
Integrity Workshops to instill a commitment to integrity in all Kao Group employees, and 
setting up hotlines at all Kao Group companies for employees to report or consult on possible 
legal or ethical violations. The hotlines resolve employees’ questions and give them support to 
take responsible action. 

In addition to these measures, Kao also received praise for enhancing environmental 
initiatives under its policy of ecology-centered management, including the June 2011 opening 
of a new research facility, the Eco-Technology Research Center. 

Further information is available on the Kao CSR webpage at
http://www.kao.com/jp/en/corp_csr/csr.html

26     Kao Annual Report 2012

 
 
 
 
 
Financial Section

11-Year Summary 

Management Discussion and Analysis 

Consolidated Financial Statements 

28

30

40

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

46

Independent Auditor’s Report 

67

Kao Annual Report 2012     27

11-Year Summary

Kao Corporation and Consolidated Subsidiaries

Years ended March 31 
For the year:
  Net sales ................................................................  

  Segments

Millions of yen

2012 

2011 

2010 

2009 

¥1,216,096 

¥1,186,831 

¥1,184,385 

¥1,276,316

  Beauty Care Business .....................................
  Human Health Care Business ..........................
  Fabric and Home Care Business ......................
  Consumer Products Business ......................
  Chemical Business ..........................................
  Eliminations .....................................................

537,938 
181,758 
285,645 
1,005,341 
247,635 
(36,880)

  Former Segments

  Consumer Products .........................................
  Prestige Cosmetics .........................................
  Chemical Products ..........................................
  Eliminations .....................................................

  Region

  Japan ..............................................................
  Asia and Oceania .............................................
  North America .................................................
  Europe ............................................................
  Eliminations .....................................................

  Operating income ..................................................
  Net income ............................................................

  Capital expenditures ..............................................
  Depreciation and amortization ................................
  Cash flows .............................................................
  Research and development expenditures...............
(% of sales) ............................................................
  Advertising expenditures .......................................
(% of sales) ............................................................

At year-end:
  Total assets ...........................................................
  Net worth ..............................................................

—
—
—
—

925,339 
173,588 
85,397 
117,005 
(85,233)

108,590 
52,435 

47,178 
79,798 
101,960 
48,171 
4.0% 
82,209 
6.8% 

991,272 
538,029 

533,514 
175,761 
279,008 
988,283 
231,997 
(33,449)

—
—
—
—

912,443 
152,361 
80,328 
112,123 
(70,424)

104,591 
46,738 

49,101 
81,380 
97,028 
45,516 
3.8% 
81,082 
6.8% 

547,944 
183,151 
276,918 
1,008,013 
207,834 
(31,462)

588,330 
191,319 
274,202 
1,053,851 
262,058 
(39,593)

—
—
—
—

918,499 
131,699 
79,200 
111,158 
(56,171)

94,034 
40,507 

44,868 
84,778 
95,269 
44,911 
3.8% 
86,359 
7.3% 

—
—
—
—

953,369 
161,927 
98,999
140,623
(78,602)

96,800 
64,463 

44,624 
87,463 
122,441
46,126 
3.6% 
90,258 
7.1% 

1,022,799 
528,895 

1,065,751 
565,133 

1,119,676 
545,230 

  Number of employees............................................

34,069 

34,743 

34,913 

33,745

Per share:
  Net income ............................................................
  Cash dividends .......................................................
  Net worth ..............................................................

  Weighted average number of shares

Yen

¥   100.46 
60.00 
1,031.08 

¥     87.69 
58.00 
1,013.05 

¥     75.57 
57.00 
1,054.31 

¥   120.25 
56.00 
1,017.19 

  outstanding during the period (in thousands) ........

521,936 

532,980 

536,009 

536,085 

Key financial ratios:
  Return on sales ......................................................
  Return on equity ....................................................
  Net worth ratio .......................................................

%

4.3% 
9.8 
54.3 

3.9% 
8.5 
51.7 

3.4% 
7.3 
53.0 

5.1%

11.5
48.7

Notes:   1.   Kao reorganized its operations effective April 2007 by integrating the former consumer products business and prestige cosmetics business into the 

Consumer Products Business, which is divided into three businesses (the Beauty Care Business, the Human Health Care Business and the Fabric and Home 
Care Business). Together with the Chemical Business, Kao’s business operations now consist of four segments. Figures for 2007 have been restated to 
reflect the change.

2.   Net sales by segment include intersegment sales. Under the former segments, net sales of Chemical Products include intersegment sales to Consumer 

Products and Prestige Cosmetics. Under the current segments, net sales of the Chemical Business include intersegment sales to the Beauty Care Business, 
the Human Health Care Business and the Fabric and Home Care Business.

3.   Kanebo Cosmetics Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries are included in the consolidated statements of income from the year ended March 31, 2007, and in 
the consolidated balance sheets as of March 31, 2006. The results of Kanebo Cosmetics Inc., which had a fiscal year ended December 31, are included for 
the eleven months starting in February 2006, after the company was added to the Kao Group.

28     Kao Annual Report 2012 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2008 

2007 

2006 

2005 

2004 

2003 

2002

¥1,318,514

¥1,231,808

¥   971,230

¥936,851

¥902,628

¥865,247

¥839,026

627,914 
191,300 
274,657 
1,093,871 
258,674 
(34,031)

584,284 
183,608 
269,519 
1,037,411 
223,609 
(29,212)

—
—
—
—

968,594 
158,295 
111,017
154,648
(74,040)

116,253 
66,562 

49,045 
93,444 
131,114
45,070 
3.4% 
99,176 
7.5% 

744,748 
292,663 
223,609
(29,212)

924,196
125,989
106,731
135,918
(61,026)

120,858
70,528

70,143
92,171
134,906
44,389
3.6%
96,892
7.9%

—
—
—
—
—
—

704,034 
85,247 
208,890 
(26,941)

708,056
110,898
95,168
109,486
(52,378)

120,135
71,140

203,595
60,758
107,943
40,262
4.1%
83,770
8.6%

1,232,601 
574,038 

1,247,797
564,532

1,220,564
509,676

32,900

32,175

29,908

¥   122.53 
54.00 
1,070.67 

¥   129.41
52.00
1,035.66

¥130.58
50.00
935.11

—
—
—
—
—
—

690,007 
78,294 
196,989 
(28,439)

703,085
100,282
83,638
93,804
(43,958)

121,379
72,180

54,318
56,794
109,704
39,764
4.2%
84,157
9.0%

688,974
448,249

19,143

¥131.16
38.00
821.47

—
—
—
—
—
—

670,438 
77,648 
181,621 
(27,079)

673,657
101,452
79,907
84,899
(37,287)

119,706
65,359

51,823
58,166
106,430
38,506
4.3%
82,773
9.2%

723,891
427,757

19,330

¥119.06
32.00
782.14

—
—
—
—
—
—

646,413 
75,833 
170,935 
(27,934)

654,595
101,555
75,796
67,845
(34,544)

114,915
62,462

84,544
58,310
104,436
37,713
4.4%
74,277
8.6%

720,849
417,031

19,807

¥108.05
30.00
744.56

—
—
—
—
—
—

626,047 
74,176 
162,802 
(23,999)

648,188
93,499
70,274
57,625
(30,560)

111,728
60,275

49,537
58,484
103,657
37,543
4.5%
66,069
7.9%

772,145
459,731

19,923

¥100.43
26.00
779.44

543,228 

544,996

544,127

549,626

547,865

576,770

600,150

5.0%

11.7
46.6

5.7%

13.1
45.2

7.3%

14.9
41.8

7.7%

16.5
65.1

7.2%

15.5
59.1

7.2%

14.2
57.9

7.2%

13.1
59.5

4.  Net sales by region including interregion sales are classified based on the location of Kao Group companies.
5.  Cash flows are defined as net income plus depreciation and amortization minus cash dividends.
6.   Net income per share is computed based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the respective years. From the year ended 

March 31, 2003, the portion of net income unavailable to common shareholders, such as preferred dividends, which should be included in the 
appropriation of retained earnings, is deducted from net income for the calculation of net income per share. The same method is applied to the 
calculation of net worth per share.

7.  Cash dividends per share are the amounts applicable to the respective years, including dividends to be paid after the end of the year.
8.  Net worth is equity, excluding minority interests and stock acquisition rights.
9.   In calculating return on equity, equity excludes minority interests and stock acquisition rights.

Kao Annual Report 2012     29

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Management Discussion and Analysis

Overview of Consolidated Results

  As a result, net sales increased 2.5 percent compared with 

the previous fiscal year to ¥1,216.1 billion (US$14,796.2 

During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012, the global 

million). Excluding the effect of currency translation, net sales 

economy recovered overall, albeit weakly, despite the impact 

would have increased 4.0 percent. In the Beauty Care 

of the European financial crisis. In Asia, economic expansion 

Business, sales of prestige cosmetics grew in Japan, and 

continued, but at a slower pace. In Japan, there were signs of 

premium hair care products performed well outside Japan. 

a gradual recovery, although conditions remained severe due 

Sales increased in the Human Health Care Business and the 

to the effects of the Great East Japan Earthquake (the 

Fabric and Home Care Business. In the Chemical Business, 

“Earthquake”) in March 2011 as well as deflation and the 

sales outside Japan increased as the Kao Group adjusted its 

appreciation of the yen. The household and personal care 

selling prices in response to fluctuations in raw material prices. 

products market in Japan, a key market for the Kao Group, 

  Operating income increased 3.8 percent compared with the 

contracted 1 percent on a value basis as consumer purchase 

previous fiscal year to ¥108.6 billion (US$1,321.2 million) and net 

prices fell compared with the previous fiscal year with the 

income increased 12.2 percent to ¥52.4 billion (US$638.0 million).  

purchasing behavior of budget-strapped consumers. The 

cosmetics market in Japan continued to contract due to a shift 

in consumer preference to lower-priced products. 

*   The Kao Group defines “Yoki-Monozukuri” as a strong commitment by all 
members to provide products and brands of excellent value for consumer 
satisfaction. In Japanese, “Yoki” literally means “good/excellent,” and 
“Monozukuri” means “development/manufacturing of products.”

  Under these circumstances, the Kao Group made all-out 

Analysis of Income Statements

efforts to ensure a stable supply of products after the 

Earthquake as the mission of a manufacturer of daily 

Net Sales and Operating Income

necessities, and worked to launch and nurture products with 

Net sales increased 2.5 percent compared with the previous 

high added value based on its concept of Yoki-Monozukuri.* 

fiscal year to ¥1,216.1 billion (US$14,796.2 million). Excluding 

In addition, while aggressively investing for growth, including 

the effect of currency translation, net sales would have 

the completion of the Eco-Technology Research Center, which 

increased 4.0 percent. In the Beauty Care Business, sales of 

centralizes environmental research functions to accelerate 

prestige cosmetics expanded in Japan, while sales of 

eco-innovation research, the Kao Group also worked to rebuild 

premium hair care products were strong overseas. Sales also 

its prestige cosmetics business in Japan and promote cost 

increased in the Human Health Care Business and the Fabric 

reduction measures. 

and Home Care Business. In the Chemical Business, the Kao 

Net Sales / Gross Profit Ratio

Net Sales (Left)
Gross Profit Ratio (Right)

Operating Income /
Operating Income Ratio 

Operating Income (Left)
Operating Income Ratio  (Right)

(Billions of yen)

1,500

1,318.5

1,276.3

1,184.4

1,186.8

1,216.1

1,000

58.0

56.2

58.4

58.0

56.8

500

0

2008

2009

2010
(Years ended March 31)

2011

2012

30     Kao Annual Report 2012 

(%)
100

(Billions of yen)
150

(%)
20

80

60

40

20

0

116.3

8.8

2008

100

50

0

96.8

7.6

94.0

7.9

104.6

108.6

15

8.8

8.9

10

5

0

2012

2009

2010
(Years ended March 31)

2011

Costs, Expenses and Income as Percentages of Net Sales  

Years ended March 31, 

Cost of sales ..................................................................................  

2012 

43.2% 

2011 

42.0% 

Gross profit ....................................................................................  

56.8 

(–1.2) 

58.0 

(– 0.4) 

Selling, general and 
  administrative expenses ..............................................................  

47.9 

(–1.3) 

49.2 

(– 1.3) 

Operating income ..........................................................................  

8.9 

(+0.1) 

8.8 

(+0.9) 

Income before income taxes
  and minority interests ..................................................................  

Net income ....................................................................................  

8.7 

(+0.6) 

4.3 

(+0.4) 

8.1 

(+1.1) 

3.9 

(+0.5) 

Note: Figures in parentheses represent changes in percentage points from the previous year.

 2010

41.6%

58.4

50.5

7.9

7.0

3.4

Group adjusted selling prices in response to changes in raw 

In addition, loss related to the Earthquake decreased to ¥2.0 

material prices, resulting in sales growth overseas. 

billion from ¥4.1 billion in the previous fiscal year, and the 

  Prices of raw materials increased due to volatility in market 

effect of application of the accounting standard for asset 

prices, mainly of natural oils and fats and petrochemicals. 

retirement obligations, which totaled ¥1.6 billion in the 

However, in addition to the effect on profits of increased 

previous fiscal year, was absent in the fiscal year. 

sales, the Kao Group continued its efforts to reduce costs and 

  As a result, income before income taxes and minority 

cut back expenses. As a result, operating income increased 

interests increased from ¥96.0 billion in the previous fiscal 

¥4.0 billion from ¥104.6 billion in the previous fiscal year to 

year to ¥105.3 billion (US$1,280.7 million). Total income taxes 

¥108.6 billion (US$1,321.2 million). 

increased from ¥48.2 billion in the previous fiscal year to 

¥50.8 billion (US$617.8 million). The income tax rate after 

Other Expenses and Net Income

application of tax effect accounting was 48.2 percent, a 

Net other expenses were ¥3.3 billion (US$40.5 million), 

decrease from 50.2 percent in the previous fiscal year. 

compared with net other expenses of ¥8.6 billion in the 

  Net income increased ¥5.7 billion from ¥46.7 billion in the 

previous fiscal year. Interest expense decreased as the Kao 

previous fiscal year to ¥52.4 billion (US$638.0 million). Net 

Group refinanced debt and redeemed bonds, and foreign 

income per share was ¥100.46 (US$1.22), an increase of 

currency exchange loss decreased because the appreciation 

¥12.77, or 14.6 percent, from ¥87.69 in the previous fiscal year.

of the yen eased in comparison with the previous fiscal year. 

Net Income / Return on Sales  

(Billions of yen)
80

66.6

64.5

Net Income (Left)
Return on Sales (Right)

(%)
15

60

40

20

0

46.7

40.5

52.4

10

5.0

5.1

3.4

3.9

4.3

2008

2009

2010
(Years ended March 31)

2011

2012

5

0

Kao Annual Report 2012     31

 
 
 
Information by Segment

Consumer Products Business

(US$1,041.3 million). Although there was an impact from 

Sales increased 1.7 percent compared with the previous fiscal 

higher raw material prices, the Kao Group curtailed expenses 

  Operating income increased ¥5.1 billion to ¥85.6 billion 

year to ¥1,005.3 billion (US$12,231.9 million). Excluding the effect 

and took steps to reduce costs. 

of currency translation, sales would have increased 2.8 percent.

In Japan, sales increased 1.8 percent to ¥832.3 billion 

Beauty Care Business

(US$10,126.2 million). Although sales were impacted by the 

Sales increased 0.8 percent compared with the previous fiscal 

Earthquake, intensified market competition and deflation, the 

year to ¥537.9 billion (US$6,545.1 million). Excluding the effect of 

Kao Group took measures including proposing environmentally 

currency translation, sales would have increased 2.4 percent. 

conscious products, launching new products in response to 

  Sales of prestige cosmetics, which consist of self-selection 

changing consumer lifestyles and enhancing proposal-based 

and counseling cosmetics, increased 2.2 percent to ¥260.0 

sales and in-store merchandising activities. 

billion (US$3,163.2 million) with the launch of new products, 

In Asia and Oceania, sales increased 6.6 percent to ¥87.4 

although the downtrend continued in Japan’s cosmetics market 

billion (US$1,063.8 million). Excluding the effect of currency 

with the impact of the Earthquake in addition to the shift in 

translation, sales would have increased 11.8 percent. Although 

consumer preference toward lower-priced products. In Japan, 

market competition intensified, the Kao Group carried out 

the Kao Group launched new products and enhanced in-store 

aggressive measures including collaborations with retailers and 

merchandising for self-selection brands such as KATE makeup 

introduction of new products amid continued market growth. 

and EVITA total cosmetics. In counseling cosmetics, the Kao 

In North America, sales decreased 2.7 percent to ¥49.6 

Group nurtured and strengthened its megabrands with annual 

billion (US$603.9 million). Excluding the effect of currency 

sales of more than ¥10 billion, including making improvements to 

translation, sales would have increased 6.6 percent. The 

the BLANCHIR SUPERIOR whitening skin care and SOFINA 

market was firm, and new products contributed to sales, but 

beauté skin care brands, and adding a new product line for 

the appreciation of the yen exerted an impact on results.

SOFINA Primavista base makeup. In addition, the Kao Group 

In Europe, sales increased 1.3 percent to ¥61.5 billion 

carried out reform of sales methods including optimization of 

(US$748.4 million). Excluding the effect of currency 

marketing activities and counseling in response to changes in 

translation, sales would have increased 5.1 percent. The 

consumer needs and increased its share in a contracting market. 

market recovered, albeit gradually, and new products launched 

Sales outside Japan expanded steadily. 

in 2010 performed well.

Consumer Products Business

Net Sales / 
Operating Income

(Billions of yen)

1,093.9

1,053.9

96.5

1,200

1,000

800

600

400

200

0

32     Kao Annual Report 2012 
32     Kao Annual Report 2012 

Net Sales (Left)
Operating Income (Right)

Beauty Care Business
Net Sales / 
Operating Income

(Billions of yen)

150

(Billions of yen)
750

Net Sales (Left)
Operating Income (Right)

(Billions of yen)
50

1,008.0

988.3

1,005.3

627.9

588.3

547.9

533.5

537.9

79.6

74.4

80.5

85.6

100

500

27.3

50

0

2012

250

17.6

4.7

5.5

0

2008

2009

2010
(Years ended March 31)

2011

15.4

2012

2008

2009

2010
(Years ended March 31)

2011

40

30

20

10

0

 
 
 
 
  Sales of premium skin care products grew in Japan as the Kao 

Human Health Care Business

Group launched products from the Bioré facial cleanser and Bioré U 

Sales increased 3.4 percent compared with the previous fiscal 

body cleanser brands that use new cleansing technology (Skin 

year to ¥181.8 billion (US$2,211.4 million). Excluding the effect of 

Purifying Technology) to wash away dirt with the least possible 

currency translation, sales would have increased 4.0 percent.

damage to the skin, and continued to make proposals for dry and 

In food and beverage products, the Healthya brand of 

sensitive skin with the Curél brand. Sales in Asia increased, with 

functional drinks that promote body fat utilization gained support 

product improvements contributing to strong performance by 

from consumers and sales were firm. 

Bioré in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Indonesia. In North America, 

  Sales of sanitary products were essentially flat compared 

Jergens performed well in the hand and body lotion category. 

with the previous fiscal year. Sales of sanitary napkins grew 

  Sales of premium hair care products decreased in Japan. 

steadily in Japan, aided by the launch of improved Laurier F, and 

Sales of Merit shampoo and conditioner were steady, but sales 

also increased in Asian countries. Sales of baby diapers were 

of hair coloring products were weak due to market contraction 

impacted by market contraction and competition in Japan, 

and intensifying competition. Sales in Asia increased, with 

although market share grew. In Taiwan, China and Russia, baby 

strong performance by Liese foam hair color in Hong Kong, 

diapers performed strongly. 

Taiwan and Thailand. In North America and Europe, strong sales 

  Sales of personal health products increased, as toothpastes 

of foam hair color, hair styling products and other new John Frieda 

and Bub bath additives performed well.

products drove substantial sales growth. 

  Operating income decreased ¥0.7 billion to ¥14.6 billion 

  Operating income increased ¥9.9 billion to ¥15.4 billion 

(US$178.0 million) with the impact of increased raw material 

(US$187.5 million) due to ongoing efforts to rebuild the prestige 

prices and market competition, despite the Kao Group’s cost 

cosmetics business in Japan and other factors, even though the 

reduction activities in addition to the impact of increased sales. 

Kao Group invested aggressively in advertising expenses for new 

products in North America and Europe. Operating income before 

Fabric and Home Care Business

amortization of goodwill and other items related to acquisitions 

Sales increased 2.4 percent compared with the previous fiscal 

(EBITA) increased ¥9.0 billion to ¥48.9 billion (US$594.9 million), 

year to ¥285.6 billion (US$3,475.4 million). Excluding the effect 

which is equivalent to 9.1 percent of sales.

of currency translation, sales would have increased 2.9 percent.

  Sales of fabric care products increased. In Japan, the Kao 

Group worked to highlight the reduced laundry time and 

Human Health Care Business
Net Sales / 
Operating Income

Net Sales (Left)
Operating Income (Right)

Fabric and Home Care Business
Net Sales / 
Operating Income

Net Sales (Left)
Operating Income (Right)

(Billions of yen)
191.3

200

191.3

183.2

175.8

(Billions of yen)
20

181.8

(Billions of yen)
300

274.7

274.2

276.9

279.0

(Billions of yen)
80

285.6

150

100

50

0

15.3

14.6

13.2

13.0

9.0

2008

2009

2010
(Years ended March 31)

2011

2012

16

12

8

4

0

200

100

0

56.1

49.1

60.7

59.7

55.5

2008

2009

2010
(Years ended March 31)

2011

2012

60

40

20

0

Kao Annual Report 2012     33
Kao Annual Report 2012     33

 
environmental appeal of conserving water, electricity and 

increased 10.0 percent.

resources with the Neo series, and strengthened the product 

In oleo chemicals, the Kao Group made efforts to adjust 

line by additionally launching Attack Neo Antibacterial EX 

selling prices in response to fluctuations in prices of natural 

Power ultra-concentrated liquid laundry detergent, which 

oils and fats and petrochemicals. In performance chemicals, 

suppresses odor-causing bacteria in laundry. Wide Haiter EX 

the Kao Group worked to develop and expand sales of high-

Power fabric bleach for color garments and new Flair 

value-added products with reduced environmental impact. 

Fragrance fabric softener performed strongly. In Asia, 

Sales of specialty chemicals, primarily toner and toner binder 

consumer support led to increased sales of Attack Instant 

for copiers and printers, were firm. 

Clean Liquid laundry detergent in China and Attack Easy 

  Operating income decreased ¥1.1 billion to ¥23.0 billion 

laundry detergent in Indonesia and other countries. 

(US$279.9 million) due to the impact of the appreciation of the 

In home care products in Japan, there was a steady increase 

yen and decreased demand from customer industries, despite 

in sales of CuCute dishwashing detergent, Toilet Quickle 

efforts to adjust selling prices and cost reduction activities.

cleaning wipes, Quickle Wiper dust mop kits following a product 

renewal, and Resesh Aroma Charge fabric and air freshener. 

Financial Structure

  Operating income decreased ¥4.1 billion to ¥55.5 billion 

(US$675.8 million) with the impact of increased raw material 

Total assets decreased ¥31.5 billion from the previous fiscal 

prices, although the Kao Group conducted cost reduction 

year-end to ¥991.3 billion (US$12,060.7 million). The principal 

activities and other measures. 

increases in assets were a ¥20.1 billion increase in notes and 

accounts receivable – trade, an ¥11.8 billion increase in short-

Chemical Business

term investments and a ¥9.2 billion increase in finished 

In the Chemical Business, while sales in Japan were affected 

goods. The principal decreases in assets were a ¥25.3 billion 

by decreased demand in customer industries due to the 

decrease in cash and time deposits, an ¥11.5 billion decrease 

Earthquake, the appreciation of the yen, flooding in Thailand 

in short-term and long-term deferred tax assets, and a ¥35.5 

and other factors, sales grew substantially outside Japan. As a 

billion decrease in intangible assets due to the progress of 

result, sales increased 6.7 percent compared with the 

amortization of trademarks and other intellectual property 

previous fiscal year to ¥247.6 billion (US$3,013.0 million). 

rights and goodwill. 

Excluding the effect of currency translation, sales would have 

  Total liabilities decreased ¥41.7 billion from the previous 

Chemical Business
Net Sales / 
Operating Income

(Billions of yen)
300

258.7

262.1

Net Sales (Left)
Operating Income (Right)

Total Assets / Net Worth*

Total Assets
Net Worth

(Billions of yen)
40

(Billions of yen)

1,500

247.6

232.0

207.8

24.1

23.0

200

100

0

19.7

19.7

17.2

2008

2009
Note: Net sales include intersegment sales.

2010

2011

2012

(Years ended March 31)

34     Kao Annual Report 2012 

30

20

10

0

1,000

500

0

1,232.6

1,119.7

1,065.8

1,022.8

991.3

574.0

545.2

565.1

528.9

538.0

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

* Net worth is equity, excluding minority interests and stock 
   acquisition rights.

(As of March 31)

 
 
fiscal year-end to ¥441.6 billion (US$5,372.5 million). The 

income before income taxes and minority interests of ¥105.3 

principal increase in liabilities was a ¥5.9 billion increase in 

billion (US$1,280.7 million), depreciation and amortization of 

notes and accounts payable – trade. The principal decrease in 

¥79.8 billion (US$970.9 million) and change in trade payables 

liabilities was a ¥50.0 billion decrease in the current portion of 

of ¥9.0 billion (US$109.5 million). The principal decreases 

long-term debt due to redemption of bonds.

were income taxes paid of ¥38.3 billion (US$466.5 million), 

  Total equity increased ¥10.1 billion from the previous fiscal 

change in trade receivables of ¥26.5 billion (US$322.6 million) 

year-end to ¥549.7 billion (US$6,688.2 million). The principal 

and change in inventories of ¥14.9 billion (US$181.7 million). 

increase in equity was net income totaling ¥52.4 billion. The 

principal decreases in equity were a ¥30.3 billion decrease 

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

due to recognition of cash dividends and an ¥11.7 billion 

Net cash used in investing activities totaled ¥49.0 billion 

change in foreign currency translation adjustments. In May 

(US$595.6 million). This primarily consisted of purchase of 

2011, Kao Corporation retired 13.9 million shares of treasury 

property, plant and equipment of ¥41.7 billion.

stock worth ¥32.5 billion.

  As a result, the net worth ratio, defined as net worth 

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

divided by total assets, was 54.3 percent, compared with 51.7 

Net cash used in financing activities totaled ¥86.2 billion 

percent at the end of the previous fiscal year. 

(US$1,048.3 million). This primarily consisted of ¥50.0 billion 

Cash Flows

for redemption of bonds and ¥30.8 billion for payments of 

cash dividends, including to minority shareholders. Taking 

advantage of low market interest rates, the Kao Group also 

The balance of cash and cash equivalents at March 31, 2012 

refinanced ¥20.0 billion in long-term debt in September 2011 

decreased ¥13.4 billion compared with the end of the 

and used refinancing to shift ¥30.0 billion in current portion of 

previous fiscal year to ¥129.7 billion (US$1,578.5 million).

long-term debt into long-term debt in March 2012.

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

Net cash provided by operating activities totaled ¥125.0 billion 

(US$1,521.3 million), compared with ¥151.3 billion in the 

previous fiscal year. The principal increases in net cash were 

Cash Flows*/
Capital Expenditures 

(Billions of yen)
200

Cash Flows
Capital Expenditures

Cash Dividends / Payout Ratio

Cash Dividends (Left)
Payout Ratio (Right)

(Yen)
60

54.00

56.00

57.00

58.00

60.00

(%)

100

150

100

50

0

131.1

122.4

95.3

97.0

102.0

49.0

44.6

44.9

49.1

47.2

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

* Cash flows are defined as net income plus depreciation and 
   amortization minus cash dividends.

(Years ended March 31)

40

20

0

75.4

66.1

59.7

44.1

46.6

2008

2009

2010
(Years ended March 31)

2011

2012

75

50

25

0

Kao Annual Report 2012     35

Planned Change in Fiscal Year End 

Corporation plans to pay total cash dividends of ¥62.00 per 

share, an increase of ¥2.00 per share compared with the 

Due to a planned change in the fiscal year end from March 31 

previous fiscal year. Although consolidated group companies 

to December 31, the fiscal year ending December 31, 2012 

with a fiscal year end in March will only report a nine-month 

will be the nine-month period from April through December 

period due to the change in the fiscal year end, this plan is in 

for Kao Corporation and its subsidiaries with a fiscal year end 

accordance with the Company’s basic policies regarding 

in March, and the twelve-month period from January through 

distribution of profits, and free cash flow and other factors 

December for subsidiaries with a fiscal year end in December.

have also been taken into consideration. As a result, the 

projected consolidated payout ratio will be 53.9 percent.

Basic Policies Regarding Distribution of 
Profits and Dividends for the Period 

EVA

In order to achieve profitable growth, Kao Corporation secures 

Economic Value Added (EVA®) is the Kao Group’s main 

an internal reserve for capital investment and acquisitions 

management metric, defined as net operating profit after tax 

from a medium-to-long-term management perspective and 

(NOPAT) less a charge for the cost of invested capital in the 

places priority on providing shareholders with steady and 

business. We believe EVA indicates “true” profit. Continuously 

continuous dividends. In addition, the Company flexibly 

increasing EVA raises corporate value, which is consistent 

considers the repurchase and retirement of shares from the 

with the long-term interest of not only shareholders but other 

standpoint of improving capital efficiency. 

stakeholders as well. The Kao Group aims to conduct 

In accordance with these policies, and in light of the 

business activities that expand the scale of its business while 

increase in net income compared with the previous fiscal 

also increasing EVA, and uses EVA for business performance 

year, Kao Corporation announced a year-end dividend for the 

evaluation, performance-based compensation and strategic 

fiscal year ended March 31, 2012 of ¥31.00 (US$0.38) per 

decision-making. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012, 

share, an increase of ¥2.00 per share from the previous 

due to an increase in NOPAT and a decrease in invested 

fiscal year. Consequently, cash dividends for the fiscal year 

capital, EVA increased to 106 from 95 for the previous fiscal 

increased ¥2.00 per share compared with the previous fiscal 

year, expressed as an index with the year ended March 31, 

year, resulting in a total of ¥60.00 (US$0.73) per share and a 

2000 as 100. The Kao Group conducted the following EVA-

consolidated payout ratio of 59.7 percent.

related activities during the fiscal year. 

  For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2012, Kao 

EVA*
(EVA for the the year ended March 31, 2000 = 100)

(Billions of yen)

154

163

142

132

134

125

113

120

100

106

95

91

67

200

150

100

50

0

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

*EVA (Economic Value Added) is a registered trademark of Stewart & Co.

36     Kao Annual Report 2012 

 
Investing for Growth: During the fiscal year ended March 31, 

market conditions. During the fiscal year, the Kao Group 

2012, the Kao Group invested aggressively for future growth. In 

redeemed bonds totaling ¥50.0 billion (US$608.3 million). The 

the growth market of China, a new factory is under construction 

Kao Group also took advantage of low market interest rates to 

and is scheduled to begin production of baby diapers at the end 

refinance ¥50.0 billion (US$608.3 million) in debt.

of December 2012. To raise its competitiveness in global 

* Free cash flow:  Net cash provided by operating activities + Net cash

 used in investing activities

markets and achieve profitable growth, the Kao Group built the 

Eco-Technology Research Center in Wakayama, Japan, which 

started operation in June 2011. This centralizes and combines 

the Kao Group’s environmental research functions and 

accelerates the development of next-generation environmental 

technologies, particularly eco-innovation research and 

technologies, in order to embody ecology-centered 

management in the development and manufacture of products. 

Research and development expenditures, which increased ¥2.7 

billion compared with the previous fiscal year to ¥48.2 billion 

(US$586.1 million), were the equivalent of 4.0 percent of net 

sales, compared with 3.8 percent in the previous fiscal year. 

Increasing Profit: During the fiscal year ended March 31, 

2012, NOPAT increased due to an increase in sales volume 

from strong performance by the Chemical Business outside 

Japan and steady results from rebuilding the prestige 

cosmetics business in Japan. Moreover, ongoing total cost 

reduction activities cut costs by ¥9.0 billion year on year. 

Business Risks and Other Risks

Various risks arise in the course of a company’s business. The 

Kao Group takes reasonable measures to mitigate risks by 

preventing the occurrence of, diversifying and hedging them. 

However, unanticipated situations may occur that exert a 

significant impact on the Kao Group’s business results and 

financial condition. The risks described below are not a 

comprehensive list of risks the Kao Group faces. Other risks 

exist and may have an impact on investment decisions. 

  Any statements below concerning the future are judgments 

made by Kao Corporation as of the submission of its securities 

report to the Ministry of Finance on June 28, 2012.  

(1)  Market and Consumer Demand

The Japanese consumer products market, the foundation of 

the Kao Group’s operations, has been sluggish in recent years, 

due to economic stagnation as well as changes in the Kao 

Financial Improvement: Free cash flow* totaled ¥76.1 billion 

Group’s customer base as a consequence of the declining birth 

(US$925.7 million) for the year ended March 31, 2011, a 

rate and aging society. Utilizing the changes in the values of its 

decrease of ¥43.4 billion compared with the previous fiscal 

customer base, the Kao Group aims to respond to consumers’ 

year due to an increase in capital expenditures and an 

needs by applying its comprehensive Yoki-Monozukuri (see 

increase in notes and accounts receivable because the fiscal 

note on page 30) capabilities and working to develop value-

year end was on a weekend. The Kao Group has set priorities 

added products to maintain and improve its brand values. 

for how it will deploy this free cash flow. Investments for 

However, a number of factors could cause uncertainties in the 

mergers and acquisitions and additional capital expenditures 

Kao Group’s business activities, delaying an adequate response 

for future growth are the top priorities in deploying free cash 

to these changes. This could have a gradual impact on the Kao 

flow, followed by stable and continuous dividends. Kao 

Group’s business results and financial condition.  

Corporation increased cash dividends per share for the fiscal 

year by ¥2.00 to ¥60.00 (US$0.73) for the 22nd consecutive 

(2) Prestige Cosmetics Business 

year of growth in cash dividends. Moreover, the Kao Group 

The Kao Group operates the prestige cosmetics business, 

uses the remaining free cash flow for the repurchase of 

where it is difficult to attain significant results using the 

shares as a payout measure and for repayment of interest-

business model it has developed to date, due to intensifying 

bearing debt, considering its investment plans and financial 

competition in Japan and overseas from competitors in the 

Kao Annual Report 2012     37

same industries and the entrance of new companies from 

However, results may not meet the initial intentions due to 

other industries, as well as changes in consumer purchasing 

reasons including a lack of consumer acceptance of new 

attitudes accompanied by substantial changes in retail 

products’ environmental technologies or a lack of distinct 

channels. The Kao Group is rebuilding its prestige cosmetics 

advantage over other companies’ products. This could have an 

business in Japan through initiatives including brand and 

impact on the Kao Group’s business results and financial 

marketing reform. However, a delay in appropriate response 

condition. 

could have an impact on the Kao Group’s business results and 

financial condition.

(6) Raw Material Prices 

Market prices for fats and oils used as raw materials for 

(3) Distributors and Retailers 

products of the Kao Group and petroleum-related raw 

The Kao Group is highly dependent on the Japanese market. 

materials may change for various reasons including 

Particularly in the consumer products business in Japan, the 

geopolitical risks, the balance between supply and demand, 

progress of new groups of retailers due to merger and 

abnormal weather and exchange rate fluctuations. The Kao 

integration, changes in sales channels and the appearance of 

Group has moved to reduce the effect of increases in raw 

new distributors in response to changes in consumer activity 

material prices through measures including cost reductions 

could affect the Kao Group’s sales activities. The Kao Group is 

and passing on increases in raw material costs into product 

offering proposals and conducting activities that correspond to 

prices. However, unexpectedly radical changes in market 

these changes in the retail environment. Nevertheless, a delay 

conditions and pricing could have an impact on the Kao 

in appropriate response could have an impact on the Kao 

Group’s business results and financial condition.

Group’s business results and financial condition.

(7) Product Quality 

(4) Overseas Operations 

The Kao Group designs and manufactures products from the 

As one of its growth strategies, the Kao Group is conducting 

viewpoint of consumers, in compliance with related laws and 

operations in markets in Asia, North America and Europe, with 

regulations and voluntary standards. In the development 

a particular emphasis on strengthening its operations in 

stage prior to market launch, the Kao Group conducts 

countries where higher economic growth rates and market 

thorough safety testing and survey research to confirm the 

expansion are forecast. However, in the course of business, 

safety of products. After market launch, the Kao Group works 

factors such as competition, pricing, cost management, 

to further improve quality by incorporating the opinions and 

distribution, and relationships with vendors may not go as 

desires of consumers through its consumer communication 

planned. This could have an impact on the Kao Group’s 

centers. However, the unanticipated occurrence of a serious 

business results and financial condition. 

quality problem or concerns about product safety or reliability 

resulting from new scientific knowledge would not only cause 

(5) Environmental Activities 

difficulties for the relevant brand, but would also have a major 

The Kao Group works for both business growth and “eco-

impact on the reputation of all of the Kao Group’s products. 

innovation” by developing products with high environmental 

This could cause a decrease in sales, which could impact the 

value that conserve water and other resources, as well as 

Kao Group’s business results and financial condition. 

focusing on using raw materials that are low in greenhouse 

gas emission volumes or recyclable, conserving energy in 

(8) Earthquakes and Other Incidents 

production and distribution, and employing renewable energy, 

The Kao Group has implemented earthquake resistance 

in addition to their original product quality and performance. 

diagnoses, seismic retrofitting, emergency drills simulating 

38     Kao Annual Report 2012 

crisis situations, and systems to confirm employee safety at 

(10) Impairment 

all of its production facilities and primary offices in Japan, and 

The Kao Group records various tangible and intangible fixed 

has promoted the formulation of a business continuity plan 

assets and deferred tax assets including assets used in the 

(BCP). The Kao Group is currently planning to strengthen its 

course of business and goodwill incurred in corporate 

disaster countermeasures, including reviewing its measures 

acquisitions. Impairment of or increase in valuation allowance 

to respond to risks and reinforcing its BCP. In spite of these 

for these assets may be required if cash flow does not meet 

measures, however, in the event of an earthquake on a scale 

expectations due to trends in future business results, decline 

beyond our assumptions and the consequent damage, the 

in market value or other factors. This accounting treatment 

Kao Group’s ability to secure raw materials, maintain 

could have an impact on the Kao Group’s business results and 

production, or supply products to the market may be 

financial condition. 

disrupted, or demand trends could change significantly due to 

a worsening economic environment, which could have a 

(11) Human Resources 

serious impact on the Kao Group’s business results and 

Securing capable human resources is indispensable to achieve 

financial condition. Furthermore, impediments to continuing 

the Kao Group’s business goals. Hiring, developing and 

production, securing raw materials, or supplying products to 

retaining human resources with advanced expertise to 

markets due to factors including a fire or explosion at 

implement R&D, production of technologies, market planning 

production facilities, information system malfunction, 

and sales activities are necessary to the Yoki-Monozukuri (see 

problems at a supplier of raw materials, dysfunction of social 

note on page 30) that consumers consistently support. 

infrastructures such as electric power and water, 

However, an inability to secure superior human resources due 

environmental pollution from radioactive materials or other 

to changes in employment conditions or other factors could 

harmful substances, terrorism, political change, riots and 

have an impact on the Kao Group’s business results and 

other incidents could have a serious impact on the Kao 

financial condition. 

Group’s business results and financial condition.

(12) Legal and Regulatory Issues 

(9) Currency Exchange Rate Fluctuations 

In the course of its business activities, the Kao Group must 

Foreign currency-denominated transactions are affected by 

comply with a variety of laws and regulations concerning 

changes in currency exchange rates. The Kao Group hedges 

areas such as standards for product quality and safety, the 

foreign exchange risk through various measures such as 

environment and chemical substances, as well as accounting 

settlement of transactions through foreign currency accounts, 

standards, tax law and regulations related to labor and 

foreign exchange contracts, and currency swaps to mitigate 

transactions. The Kao Group has constructed a compliance 

the effect on business results. The Kao Group does not 

system and strives to comply with all related laws and 

engage in derivative transactions for the purpose of 

regulations. However, a serious legal violation, change in 

speculation. However, items denominated in local currencies, 

current laws and regulations, or new laws and regulations 

including the sales, expenses and assets of overseas 

could restrict the Kao Group’s business activities, require 

consolidated subsidiaries, are translated into Japanese yen for 

investment for compliance, or otherwise affect the Kao 

preparation of the consolidated financial statements. If the 

Group. This could have an impact on the Kao Group’s business 

exchange rate at the time of conversion differs substantially 

results and financial condition.

from the expected rate, the value after translation into yen will 

change significantly, which will have an impact on the Kao 

Group’s business results and financial condition. 

Kao Annual Report 2012     39

Consolidated Balance Sheets

Kao Corporation and Consolidated Subsidiaries
March 31, 2012 and 2011

Assets 

Current assets:
  Cash and time deposits (Notes 3 and 16) ..................................................  
  Short-term investments (Notes 3, 4 and 16) ..............................................  
  Notes and accounts receivable (Note 16):

  Trade (Note 5) ........................................................................................  
  Nonconsolidated subsidiaries and affiliates ............................................  
  Other ......................................................................................................  
Inventories:
  Finished goods .......................................................................................  
  Work in process and raw materials ........................................................  
  Deferred tax assets (Note 6) ......................................................................  
  Other current assets ..................................................................................  
  Allowance for doubtful receivables (Note 16) .............................................  
  Total current assets ............................................................................  

Millions of yen 

2012 

2011 

Thousands of
U.S. dollars (Note 2)
2012

 ¥     85,483
48,798

¥    110,762
37,028

 $  1,040,066
593,722

140,352
3,349
2,670

82,393
38,313
17,736
14,970
(1,115)
432,949

120,297 
1,610  
3,066 

73,190 
36,148 
21,854 
13,959 
(1,081) 
416,833 

1
  1,707,653
2,912
40,747
6,101
32,486

82,581
  1,002,470
42,4,170
466,151
22,3,222
215,793
15,905
182,138
(2,36)
(13,566)
4351,025
  5,267,660

6887
788,369
330
  3,931,585
775
  8,440,905
—18
145,200
9,,880
122,996
1,190
  13,429,055
(83)
  (10,501,959)
234
  2,927,096

Property, plant and equipment (Note 5):
  Land...........................................................................................................  
  Buildings and structures ............................................................................  
  Machinery, equipment and other ...............................................................  
  Lease assets ..............................................................................................  
  Construction in progress ............................................................................  
  Total ....................................................................................................  
  Accumulated depreciation .........................................................................  
  Net property, plant and equipment .....................................................  

64,796
323,137
693,758
11,934
10,109
  1,103,734
(863,156)
240,578

62,873 
321,040 
694,261 
12,147 
8,321 
1,098,642 
(853,918) 
244,724 

Intangible assets:
  Goodwill ....................................................................................................  
  Trademarks ................................................................................................  
  Other intangible assets ..............................................................................  
  Total intangible assets ........................................................................  

165,614
53,583
18,266
237,463

179,225 
71,176 
22,557 
272,958 

2387
  2,015,014
1255
651,941
375
222,241
4047
  2,889,196

Investments and other assets:

Investment securities (Notes 4 and 16) .....................................................  
Investments in and advances to nonconsolidated
  subsidiaries and affiliates .......................................................................  
  Deferred tax assets (Note 6) ......................................................................  
  Other assets (Note 8) ................................................................................  
  Total investments and other assets ....................................................  

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

7,516

7,023 

04
91,447

6,927
42,554
23,285
80,282
  ¥   991,272

5,590 
49,966 
25,705 
88,284 
¥ 1,022,799 

287
84,280
4,029
517,752
438
283,306
,108
976,785
x8,514
 $12,060,737

40     Kao Annual Report 2012 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities and Equity 

Current liabilities:
  Short-term debt (Notes 5 and 16) ...................................................................  
  Current portion of long-term debt (Notes 5 and 16) ........................................  
  Notes and accounts payable (Note 16):

  Trade ...........................................................................................................  
  Nonconsolidated subsidiaries and affiliates .................................................  
  Other ...........................................................................................................  
Income taxes payable (Note 16) .....................................................................  
  Accrued expenses ..........................................................................................  
  Liability for loss related to the Great East Japan Earthquake ..........................  
  Other current liabilities (Notes 5 and 6) ..........................................................  
  Total current liabilities ..............................................................................  

Long-term liabilities:
  Long-term debt (Notes 5 and 16) ....................................................................  
  Liability for retirement benefits (Note 8) .........................................................  
  Other (Notes 5 and 6) .....................................................................................  
  Total long-term liabilities ..........................................................................  

Commitments and contingent liabilities (Notes 7, 9 and 17)

Equity (Notes 10 and 11):
  Common stock:

  Authorized — 1,000,000,000 shares in 2012 and 2011

Issued — 526,212,501 shares in 2012 and 540,143,701 shares in 2011 ....  
  Capital surplus .................................................................................................  
  Stock acquisition rights ...................................................................................  
  Retained earnings ...........................................................................................  
  Treasury stock, at cost

Millions of yen 

2012 

2011 

Thousands of
U.S. dollars (Note 2)
2012

  ¥    2,060
811

¥       6,776 
80,795 

986
 $       25,064
28
9,867

108,081
5,493
44,778
18,306
73,388
33
21,960
274,910

106,565
45,026
15,067
166,658 

102,206 
5,133 
43,689 
18,785 
68,267 
2,658
19,886 
348,195 

77,451 
42,317 
15,272 
135,040 

668
  1,315,014
33
66,833
,251
544,811
74
222,728
8546
892,907
401
79
267,186
95
  3,344,811 

04
  1,296,569
,497
547,828
218
183,319
3,519
  2,027,716

85,424
109,561
1,238
447,619 

85,424 
109,561 
1,143 
457,918 

632
  1,039,348
52
  1,333,021
41
15,063
426795
  5,446,149

  (4,402,474 shares in 2012 and 18,063,790 shares in 2011) ..........................  

(9,064) 

(40,977) 

(110,281) 

379)

  Accumulated other comprehensive income

  Unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities ...........................................  
  Deferred gain (loss) on derivatives under hedge accounting ......................  
  Foreign currency translation adjustments ...................................................  
  Post retirement liability adjustments for foreign consolidated subsidiaries ...  
  Total .........................................................................................................  
  Minority interests ............................................................................................  
  Total equity ..............................................................................................  

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

2,283
(3)
(96,094)
(1,697)
539,267
10,437
549,704
  ¥991,272

1,861 
(2) 
(84,430) 
(461) 
530,037 
9,527 
539,564 
¥1,022,799 

387
27,777
22)
(37)
(77)
(1,169,169)
43)
(20,647)
86
  6,561,224
,714
126,986
500
  6,688,210
,514
 $12,060,737

Kao Annual Report 2012     41

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statements of Income

Kao Corporation and Consolidated Subsidiaries
Years ended March 31, 2012 and 2011

Millions of yen 

2012 

2011 

Thousands of
U.S. dollars (Note 2)
2012

Net sales (Note 13) ............................................................................................  

 ¥1,216,096

¥1,186,831 

139
  $14,796,155

Cost of sales  .....................................................................................................  
  Gross profit .....................................................................................................  

Selling, general and administrative expenses (Note 14) ...............................  
  Operating income (Note 13) ............................................................................  

Other income (expenses):

Interest and dividend income ..........................................................................  
Interest expense  ............................................................................................  
  Foreign currency exchange gain (loss) ............................................................  
  Equity in earnings (losses) of nonconsolidated subsidiaries and affiliates ......  
  Other, net (Note 15) ........................................................................................  
  Other income (expenses), net .....................................................................  

525,012
691,084

582,494
108,590

1,068
(2,204)
(621)
1,658
(3,233)
(3,332)

498,970 
687,861 

583,270 
104,591

990
(3,342) 
(2,233) 
973 
(4,960) 
(8,572)

04
6,387,784
35
8,408,371

093
7,087,164
1,321,207

12,994
2)
(26,816)
)
(7,555)
86
20,173
)
(39,336)
(40,540)

Income before income taxes and minority interests .....................................  

105,258

96,019 

6,710
1,280,667

Income taxes (Note 6):
  Current ............................................................................................................  
  Deferred ..........................................................................................................  
  Total income taxes ......................................................................................  

38,653
12,120
50,773

38,996 
9,182 
48,178 

470,289
147,463
26,570 
617,752

Income before minority interests ....................................................................  

54,485

47,841 

662,915

  Minority interests in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries ............................  

2,050

1,103 

24,942

Net income ........................................................................................................  

 ¥     52,435

¥     46,738 

  $     637,973 

Per share of common stock (Notes 1.t and 18): 
  Basic net income ............................................................................................  
  Diluted net income ..........................................................................................  
  Cash dividends applicable to the year .............................................................  

Yen 

U.S. dollars (Note 2)

¥100.46
100.43
60.00 

¥87.69 
87.67 
58.00 

$1.22
1.22
0.73

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

42     Kao Annual Report 2012 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

Kao Corporation and Consolidated Subsidiaries
Years ended March 31, 2012 and 2011

Millions of yen 

2012 

2011 

Thousands of
U.S. dollars (Note 2)
2012

Income before minority interests .......................................................................

  ¥ 54,485 

  ¥  47,841 

$ 662,915 

Other comprehensive income (Note 12)
  Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities .........................................
  Foreign currency translation adjustments ..........................................................
  Share of other comprehensive income in affiliates ............................................
  Post retirement liability adjustments for foreign consolidated subsidiaries .......
  Total other comprehensive income ................................................................

487
(12,169)
(172)
(1,236)
(13,090)

(480)
(21,865)
77
(15)
(22,283)

5,925
(148,059)
(2,093)
(15,038)
(159,265)

Comprehensive income ......................................................................................

  ¥ 41,395

  ¥ 25,558

$ 503,650

Comprehensive income attributable to:
  Shareholders of Kao Corporation .......................................................................
  Minority interests ...............................................................................................

¥39,956
1,439

¥24,853
705

$486,142
17,508

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Kao Annual Report 2012     43

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity

Kao Corporation and Consolidated Subsidiaries
Years ended March 31, 2012 and 2011

Millions of yen 

Thousands of
U.S. dollars
(Note 2)

2012 

2011 

2012

Millions of yen 

Thousands of
U.S. dollars
(Note 2)

2012 

2011 

2012

Common stock

Total 

  Balance at beginning of year .......
  Net income ..............................
  Cash dividends ........................
  Purchase of treasury stock ......
  Disposal of treasury stock .......
  Retirement of treasury stock ...
  Net change in the year ............
  Balance at end of year .................

¥530,037
52,435
(30,273)
(628)
80
— 
(12,384)
539,267

  ¥566,155 
46,738
(31,090)
(30,093)
91
—
(21,764)
530,037 

  $6,448,923
637,973
(368,329)
(7,641)
973
—
(150,675)
6,561,224

Minority interests

  Balance at beginning of year .......
  Net change in the year ............
  Balance at end of year .................

9,527
910
10,437 

9,139
388
9,527 

115,914
11,072
126,986

Total equity

  Balance at beginning of year .......
  Net income ..............................
  Cash dividends ........................
  Purchase of treasury stock ......
  Disposal of treasury stock .......
  Retirement of treasury stock ...
  Net change in the year ............
  Balance at end of year ................

539,564
52,435
(30,273)
(628)
80
—
(11,474)
¥549,704

575,294
46,738
(31,090)
(30,093)
91
—
(21,376)
  ¥539,564

6,564,837
637,973
(368,329)
(7,641)
973
—
(139,603)
  $6,688,210

Cash dividends per share ..............

Yen 

2012 

¥58.00

2011 

¥58.00

U.S. dollars
(Note 2)

2012

$0.71

Thousands

2012 

2011 

2011

Outstanding number of shares  
   of common stock

  Balance at beginning of year .......
  Purchase of treasury stock ......
      Disposal of treasury stock .......
  Balance at end of year .................

522,080
(305)
35
521,810

536,021
(13,974)
33
522,080

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. 

  Balance at beginning of year .......
  Balance at end of year ................

  ¥   85,424
85,424 

  ¥  85,424
85,424 

 $ 1,039,348
  1,039,348

Capital surplus

  Balance at beginning of year .......
  Balance at end of year ................

109,561 
109,561 

109,561 
109,561 

  1,333,021
  1,333,021

Stock acquisition rights

  Balance at beginning of year .......
  Net change in the year ............
  Balance at end of year ................

Retained earnings

  Balance at beginning of year .......
  Net income ..............................
  Cash dividends ........................
  Disposal of treasury stock .......
  Retirement of treasury stock ...
  Balance at end of year ................

Treasury stock, at cost

  Balance at beginning of year .......
  Purchase of treasury stock ......
  Disposal of treasury stock .......
  Retirement of treasury stock ...
  Balance at end of year ................

Accumulated other  
comprehensive income
  Unrealized gain on 
  available-for-sale securities

1,143
95
1,238 

1,022
121
1,143 

13,907
1,156
15,063 

457,918
52,435
(30,273)
(1)
(32,460)
447,619 

442,273
46,738
(31,090)
(3)
—
457,918 

  5,571,456
637,973
(368,329)
(12)
(394,939)
  5,446,149

(40,977)
(628)
81
32,460
(9,064)

(10,978)
(30,093)
94
—
(40,977) 

(498,564)
(7,641)
985
394,939
(110,281)

  Balance at beginning of year .......
  Net change in the year ............
  Balance at end of year ................

1,861
422
2,283

2,292
(431)
1,861

22,643
5,134
27,777

  Deferred gain (loss) on 
  derivatives under hedge accounting
  Balance at beginning of year .......
  Net change in the year ............
  Balance at end of year ................

  Foreign currency translation 
  adjustments

  Balance at beginning of year .......
  Net change in the year ............
  Balance at end of year ................

(2)
(1)
(3)

(0)
(2)
(2)

(25)
(12)
(37)

(84,430)
(11,664)
(96,094)

(62,993)
(21,437)
(84,430)

  (1,027,254)
(141,915)
  (1,169,169)

  Post retirement liability adjustments 
for foreign consolidated subsidiaries
  Balance at beginning of year .......
  Net change in the year ............
  Balance at end of year ................

(461)
(1,236)
  ¥    (1,697)

(446)
(15)
  ¥      (461)

(5,609)
(15,038)
 $     (20,647)

44     Kao Annual Report 2012 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Kao Corporation and Consolidated Subsidiaries
Years ended March 31, 2012 and 2011

Operating activities:

Income before income taxes and minority interests ......................................  

 ¥105,258 

¥  96,019

 $ 1,280,667

Millions of yen 

2012 

2011 

Thousands of
U.S. dollars (Note 2)
2012

  Adjustments for:

Income taxes paid .......................................................................................  
  Depreciation and amortization .....................................................................  
  Loss on sales or disposals of property, plant and equipment, net ..............  
  Equity in (earnings) losses of nonconsolidated subsidiaries and affiliates ..  
  Unrealized foreign currency exchange (gain) loss .......................................  
  Change in trade receivables ........................................................................  
  Change in inventories ..................................................................................  
  Change in prepaid pension cost ..................................................................  
  Change in trade payables ............................................................................  
  Change in liability for retirement benefits ...................................................  
  Other, net ....................................................................................................  
  Net cash provided by operating activities ................................................  

Investing activities:
  Purchase of property, plant and equipment ....................................................  
  Proceeds from sales of property, plant and equipment ..................................  
  Purchase of intangible assets .........................................................................  
  Proceeds from the redemption and sales of investment securities ...............  

Increase in investments in and advances to nonconsolidated
  subsidiaries and affiliates ..............................................................................  
  Proceeds from cancellation of derivatives ......................................................  
  Other, net ........................................................................................................  
  Net cash used in investing activities ........................................................  

Financing activities:

Increase (decrease) in short-term debt ...........................................................  
  Proceeds from long-term loans .......................................................................  
  Repayments of long-term loans  .....................................................................  
  Redemption of bonds  ....................................................................................  
  Purchase of treasury stock .............................................................................  
  Payments of cash dividends ...........................................................................  
  Other, net ........................................................................................................  
  Net cash used in financing activities ........................................................  

Translation adjustments on cash and cash equivalents ...............................  
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents ..................................  
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year (Note 3) .................................  
Cash and cash equivalents of newly consolidated subsidiaries, increase ..  
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year (Note 3) ...........................................  

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

  (38,339)
  79,798
2,202
(1,658)
159
  (26,513)
  (14,937)
906
8,997
3,056
6,103
  125,032 

  (41,684)
746
(3,375)
1

(1,221)
—
(3,419)
  (48,952)

(4,610)
  50,013
  (50,012)
  (50,000)
(10)
  (30,776)
(768)
  (86,163)

(3,323)
  (13,406)
  143,143
—
 ¥129,737 

(40,888)
81,380
1,334
(973)
455
(642)
(7,566)
(73)
7,794
4,596
9,863
151,299

(27,725)
2,410
(4,001)
594

(153)
4,297
(7,200)
(31,778)

12
17
(24,960)
—
(30,093)
(31,427)
(872)
(87,323)

(6,401)
25,797
117,180
166
¥143,143

(466,468)
970,897
26,792
(20,173)
1,935
(322,582)
(181,737)
11,023
109,466
37,182
74,254
  1,521,256 

(507,166)
9,076
(41,063)
12

(14,856)
—
(41,599)
(595,596)

(56,089)
608,505
(608,493)
(608,347)
(122)
(374,449)
(9,344)
  (1,048,339)

(40,431)
(163,110)
  1,741,611
—
 $ 1,578,501

Kao Annual Report 2012     45

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Kao Corporation and Consolidated Subsidiaries 
Years ended March 31, 2012 and 2011

1

 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

a) Basis of presenting consolidated financial statements
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been 
prepared in accordance with the provisions set forth in the Japanese 
Financial Instruments and Exchange Law and its related accounting 
regulations, and in conformity with accounting principles generally 
accepted in Japan (“Japanese GAAP”), which are different in certain 
respects as to application and disclosure requirements of 
International Financial Reporting Standards.  

In preparing the consolidated financial statements, certain 
reclassifications and rearrangements have been made to the 
consolidated financial statements issued in Japan in order to present 
them in a form that is more familiar to readers outside Japan. Certain 
2011 financial statement items were reclassified to conform to the 
presentation for 2012.
  The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally 
accepted accounting principles requires management to make 
estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of 
assets, liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at 
the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of 
revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results 
could differ from these estimates.

b)  Consolidation and accounting for investments in 

nonconsolidated subsidiaries and affiliates

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the 
accounts of Kao Corporation (the “Company”) and its significant 
subsidiaries (collectively, the “Companies”). Investments in most of 
the nonconsolidated subsidiaries and affiliates over which the Companies 
have the ability to exercise significant influence (mainly 20-50 percent 
owned companies) are accounted for using the equity method.
  Under the control or influence concept, companies in which the 
parent company and/or its consolidated subsidiaries, directly or 
indirectly, are able to exercise control over operations are fully 
consolidated, and other companies over which the Company and/or 
its consolidated subsidiaries have the ability to exercise significant 
influence are accounted for using the equity method.  

Investments in the remaining subsidiaries and affiliates are stated at 
cost except for write-downs recorded for the value of investments that 
have been permanently impaired. If the equity method of accounting 
had been applied to these investments, the effect on the accompanying 
consolidated financial statements would not be material. 
  All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been 
eliminated in consolidation. All material unrealized profit included in 
assets resulting from transactions within the Companies is eliminated. 
The excess of cost of investments in the subsidiaries and affiliates 
over the fair value of the net assets of the acquired subsidiary and 
affiliate at the dates of acquisition, consolidation goodwill, is being 
amortized over an estimated period not exceeding 20 years, or 5 
years in situations in which the useful lives cannot be estimated.

c)   Unification of accounting policies applied to foreign 
subsidiaries for the consolidated financial statements

The accounting standard for unification of accounting policies applied 
to foreign subsidiaries for the consolidated financial statements 
requires: (1) the accounting policies and procedures applied to a 
parent company and its subsidiaries for similar transactions and 
events under similar circumstances should in principle be unified for 
the preparation of the consolidated financial statements, (2) financial 
statements prepared by foreign subsidiaries in accordance with either 
International Financial Reporting Standards or the generally accepted 

46     Kao Annual Report 2012 

accounting principles in the United States of America tentatively may 
be used for the consolidation process, (3) however, the following 
items should be adjusted in the consolidation process so that net 
income is accounted for in accordance with Japanese GAAP unless 
they are not material: 
 1) Amortization of goodwill
 2)   Scheduled amortization of actuarial gain or loss of pensions that 

has been directly recorded in equity

 3) Expensing capitalized development costs of R&D
 4)   Cancellation of the fair value model accounting for property, plant, 
and equipment and investment properties and incorporation of the 
cost model accounting

 5)   Exclusion of minority interests from net income, if contained 

d)  Unification of accounting policies applied to foreign affiliated

 companies for the equity method

The accounting standard requires adjustments to be made to conform 
the affiliate’s accounting policies for similar transactions and events 
under similar circumstances to those of the parent company when 
the affiliate’s financial statements are used in applying the equity 
method unless it is impracticable to determine adjustments. In 
addition, financial statements prepared by foreign affiliated companies 
in accordance with either International Financial Reporting Standards 
or the generally accepted accounting principles in the United States 
tentatively may be used in applying the equity method if the following 
items are adjusted so that net income is accounted for in accordance 
with Japanese GAAP unless they are not material:
 1) Amortization of goodwill
 2)   Scheduled amortization of actuarial gain or loss on pensions that 

has been directly recorded in equity

 3)   Expensing capitalized development costs of R&D
 4)   Cancellation of the fair value model accounting for property, plant, 
and equipment and investment properties and incorporation of the 
cost model accounting

 5) Exclusion of minority interests from net income, if contained 

e) Business combinations
The accounting standard for business combinations requires 
companies to account for in accordance with following policies:
 1)   Business combinations should be accounted for by the purchase 
method except combinations of entities under common control 
and joint ventures. 

 2)   In-process research and development (IPR&D) acquired in the 

business combination should be capitalized as an intangible asset. 
 3)   The acquirer should recognize the bargain purchase gain in profit or 
loss immediately on the acquisition date after reassessing and 
confirming that all of the assets acquired and all of the liabilities 
assumed have been identified after a review of the procedures 
used in the purchase allocation.

  Under the accounting standard for business separations, in a 
business separation where the interests of the investor no longer 
continue and the investment is settled, the difference between the 
fair value of the consideration received for the transferred business 
and the book value of net assets transferred to the separated 
business is recognized as a gain or loss on business separation in the 
statement of income. In a business separation where the interests of 
the investor continue and the investment is not settled, no such gain 
or loss on business separation is recognized. 

 
 
f) Cash equivalents
For purposes of the statements of cash flows, cash equivalents are 
short-term investments that are readily convertible into cash and that 
are exposed to insignificant risk of changes in value. 
  Cash equivalents include time deposits, commercial paper, 
investment trusts in bonds and receivables that are represented as 
short-term investments, all of which mature or become due within 
three months of the date of acquisition.

g) Inventories
The accounting standard for measurement of inventories requires that 
inventories held for sale in the ordinary course of business be 
measured at the lower of cost or net selling value, which is defined as 
the selling price less additional estimated manufacturing costs and 
estimated direct selling expenses. The replacement cost may be used 
in place of the net selling value, if appropriate.  
  Cost of inventories is determined principally by the average 
method. The cost of inventories held by certain foreign consolidated 
subsidiaries is determined by the first-in, first-out method. 

h) Short-term investments and investment securities
Short-term investments and investment securities are classified and 
accounted for, depending on management’s intent, as follows: i) held-
to-maturity debt securities, which are expected to be held to maturity 
with the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity, are reported at 
amortized cost and ii) available-for-sale securities, which are not 
classified as the aforementioned securities, are reported at fair value, 
with unrealized gains and losses, net of applicable taxes, reported in a 
separate component of equity.
  Non-marketable available-for-sale securities are stated at cost 
determined by the moving-average method.
  For other than temporary declines in fair value, investment 
securities are reduced to net realizable value by a charge to income.

i) Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation of 
property, plant and equipment is computed under the declining-
balance method for the assets located in Japan and principally under 
the straight-line method for the assets located outside Japan, using 
rates based upon the estimated useful lives, principally ranging from 
21 to 35 years for buildings and structures and 7 or 9 years for 
machinery and equipment.

j) Intangible assets
Goodwill and trademarks are amortized on a straight-line basis over 15 
or 20 years, and 10 years, respectively. 

k) Long-lived assets
The Companies review their long-lived assets for impairment 
whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying 
amount of an asset or asset group may not be recoverable. An 
impairment loss would be recognized if the carrying amount of an 
asset or asset group exceeds the sum of the undiscounted future 
cash flows expected to result from the continued use and eventual 
disposition of the asset or asset group. The impairment loss would be 
measured as the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset 
exceeds its recoverable amount, which is the higher of the discounted 
cash flows from the continued use and eventual disposition of the 
asset or the net selling price at disposition. 

l) Retirement and pension plans
The Company and most domestic consolidated subsidiaries have a 
cash balance plan and a defined contribution pension plan covering 

substantially all of their employees. The cash balance plan is linked to 
market interest rates and treated as a defined benefit plan. The 
pension plan also covers employees of certain nonconsolidated 
subsidiaries and affiliates in Japan. In addition, these companies may 
pay an early retirement allowance to early retired employees.
  Certain domestic consolidated subsidiaries have a defined benefit 
plan that provides for a lump-sum payment to terminated employees. 
The subsidiaries may pay an additional lump-sum payment that is not 
subject to actuarial calculations under the accounting standard for 
retirement benefits.
  Certain foreign subsidiaries have a defined contribution plan and/or 
a defined benefit plan. Some of these foreign subsidiaries apply the 
“corridor approach” in calculating actuarial gain or loss. 
  Certain foreign subsidiaries also have local employees’ retirement 
benefit plans and provide for the amount to recognize the liability for 
these employees’ retirement benefits, primarily determined on an 
actuarial basis. 
  The unrecognized transitional obligation, the unrecognized net 
actuarial gain or loss and the unrecognized prior service cost are 
being amortized over 15, 10 and 15 years, respectively. These 
amortizations are recognized in cost of sales and selling, general and 
administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of income. 

m) Asset retirement obligations
The accounting standard for asset retirement obligations defines an 
asset retirement obligation as a legal obligation imposed either by law 
or contract that results from the acquisition, construction, 
development and the normal operation of a tangible fixed asset and is 
associated with the retirement of such tangible fixed asset. 
  The asset retirement obligation is recognized as the sum of the 
discounted cash flows required for the future asset retirement and is 
recorded in the period in which the obligation is incurred if a 
reasonable estimate can be made. If a reasonable estimate of the 
asset retirement obligation cannot be made in the period the asset 
retirement obligation is incurred, the liability should be recognized 
when a reasonable estimate of asset retirement obligation can be 
made. Upon initial recognition of a liability for an asset retirement 
obligation, an asset retirement cost is capitalized by increasing the 
carrying amount of the related fixed asset by the amount of the 
liability. The asset retirement cost is subsequently allocated to 
expense through depreciation over the remaining useful life of the 
asset. Over time, the liability is accreted to its present value each 
period. Any subsequent revisions to the timing or the amount of the 
original estimate of undiscounted cash flows are reflected as an 
increase or a decrease in the carrying amount of the liability and the 
capitalized amount of the related asset retirement cost. 

n) Stock options
The accounting standard for stock options requires companies to 
recognize compensation expense for employee stock options based 
on the fair value at the date of grant and over the vesting period as 
consideration for receiving goods or services. The standard also 
requires companies to account for stock options granted to non-
employees based on the fair value of either the stock option or the 
goods or services received. In the balance sheet, the stock option is 
presented as a stock acquisition right as a separate component of 
equity until exercised. The standard covers equity-settled, share-based 
payment transactions, but does not cover cash-settled, share-based 
payment transactions. In addition, the standard allows unlisted 
companies to measure options at their intrinsic value if they cannot 
reliably estimate fair value. 

Kao Annual Report 2012     47

 
o) Leases
The accounting standard for lease transactions requires that all 
finance lease transactions should be capitalized to recognize lease 
assets and lease obligations in the balance sheet. In addition, the 
accounting standard permits leases which do not transfer ownership 
of the leased property to the lessee to be measured at the obligations 
under finance leases less interest expense and recorded as 
acquisition cost of lease assets.
  All other leases are accounted for as operating leases.

p) Income taxes 
The Companies provide for income taxes applicable to all items 
included in the consolidated statements of income regardless of 
when such taxes are payable. Income taxes based on temporary 
differences between tax and financial reporting purposes are reflected 
as deferred income taxes in the consolidated financial statements 
using the asset and liability method.

q) Foreign currency transactions
All short-term and long-term monetary receivables and payables 
denominated in foreign currencies are translated into Japanese yen at 
the exchange rates at the balance sheet date. The foreign exchange 
gains and losses from translation are recognized in the consolidated 
statements of income to the extent that they are not hedged by 
foreign exchange derivatives.

r) Foreign currency financial statements
The balance sheet accounts of the consolidated foreign subsidiaries 
are translated into Japanese yen at the current exchange rate as of 
the balance sheet date except for equity, which is translated at the 
historical rate. Differences arising from such translation are shown as 
“Foreign currency translation adjustments” in a separate component 
of equity. Revenue and expense accounts of the consolidated foreign 
subsidiaries are translated into Japanese yen at the average exchange rate.

s) Derivatives and hedging activities
The Companies use derivative financial instruments to manage their 
exposures to fluctuations in foreign exchange and interest rates.  
Foreign exchange forward contracts, foreign currency swaps and 
interest rate swaps are utilized by the Companies to reduce foreign 
currency exchange and interest rate risks. The Companies do not 
enter into derivatives for trading purposes or speculative purposes.
  Derivative financial instruments and foreign currency transactions 
are classified and accounted for as follows:  a) all derivatives are 
recognized as either assets or liabilities and measured at fair value, 
and gains or losses on derivative transactions are recognized in the 
consolidated statements of income, and b) for derivatives used for 
hedging purposes, if derivatives qualify for hedge accounting because 
of high correlation and effectiveness between the hedging 
instruments and the hedged items, gains or losses on derivatives are 

2

 Translation into United States Dollars

The Companies’ accounts are maintained in or translated into 
Japanese yen. The United States dollar (US$) amounts included 
herein represent translations using the approximate exchange rate 
at March 31, 2012 of ¥82.19=US$1, solely for convenience. 

deferred until maturity of the hedged transactions.
  Short-term and long-term loan receivables denominated in foreign 
currencies, for which foreign exchange forward contracts or foreign 
currency swaps are used to hedge the foreign currency fluctuations, 
are translated at the contracted rate if the forward contracts or the 
swap contracts qualify for specific hedge accounting.
  The interest rate swaps which qualify for hedge accounting and 
meet specific matching criteria are not remeasured at market value 
but the differential paid or received under the swap agreements are 
recognized and included in interest expense or income as incurred.

t) Per share information
Basic net income per share is computed by dividing net income 
available to common shareholders by the weighted-average number 
of common shares outstanding for the period, retroactively adjusted 
for stock splits.
  Diluted net income per share of common stock reflects the 
potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to 
issue common stock were converted or exercised into common stock 
or resulted in the issuance of common stock.
  Cash dividends per share presented in the accompanying 
consolidated statements of income are dividends applicable to the 
respective years including dividends to be paid after the end of the year.

u) Accounting changes and error corrections 
The accounting standard for accounting changes and error corrections 
requires the following;
  1) Changes in Accounting Policies:

When a new accounting policy is applied with revision of 
accounting standards, the new policy is applied retrospectively 
unless revised accounting standards include specific transitional 
provisions. When revised accounting standards include specific 
transitional provisions, an entity shall comply with the specific 
transitional provisions.  
  2) Changes in Presentations:

When the presentation of financial statements is changed, prior 
period financial statements are reclassified in accordance with the 
new presentation.

  3) Changes in Accounting Estimates:

A change in an accounting estimate is accounted for in the period 
of the change if the change affects that period only, and is 
accounted for prospectively if the change affects both the period 
of the change and future periods.
  4) Corrections of Prior Period Errors:

When an error in prior period financial statements is discovered, 
those statements are restated.

  This accounting standard is applicable to accounting changes and 
corrections of prior period errors which are made from the beginning 
of the fiscal year that begins on or after April 1, 2011.

The translations should not be construed as representations that 
Japanese yen have been, could have been, or could in the future be, 
converted into United States dollars at that or any other rate.

48     Kao Annual Report 2012 

3

  Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at March 31, 2012 and 2011 consisted of the following:

Cash and time deposits ............................................................................................ 
Short-term investments ............................................................................................ 
Less: time deposits and short-term investments which mature or become  

Millions of yen 

2012 

¥  85,483 
48,798 

2011 

¥ 110,762 
37,028 

Thousands of
U.S. dollars
2012

$1,040,066
593,722

  due over three months after the date of acquisition ....................................... 
Cash and cash equivalents ....................................................................................... 

(4,544) 
¥129,737 

(4,647) 
¥143,143 

(55,287)
$1,578,501

4

 Short-Term Investments and Investment Securities

Short-term investments and investment securities as of March 31, 2012 and 2011 consisted of the following:

Millions of yen 

2012 

2011 

Short-term investments:
  Government and corporate bonds ........................................................................ 
Investment trust funds and other ........................................................................  
  Total .................................................................................................................  

Investment securities:
  Marketable equity securities ................................................................................. 
Investment trust funds and other .........................................................................  
  Total ..................................................................................................................  

¥        — 
48,798 
¥48,798 

¥   6,335 
1,181 
¥   7,516 

¥  6,270 
30,758 
¥ 37,028 

¥  5,828 
1,195 
¥   7,023 

Thousands of
U.S. dollars
2012

$         —
593,722
$593,722

$   77,078
14,369
$  91,447

The carrying amount and aggregate fair value of the securities classified as available-for-sale and held-to-maturity at March 31, 2012 and 2011 were as follows:

Millions of yen
2012

Cost 

Unrealized 
gains 

Unrealized 
losses 

Fair 
value

Securities classified as:
Available-for-sale:

Equity securities ....................................................................... 
Debt securities and other ......................................................... 

¥  2,785 
38,799 

¥3,630 
— 

Held-to-maturity:

Debt securities and other .........................................................  

9,999 

— 

¥80 
— 

— 

¥  6,335
38,799

9,999

Millions of yen
2011

Cost 

Unrealized 
gains 

Unrealized 
losses 

Fair 
value

Securities classified as:
Available-for-sale:

Equity securities ....................................................................... 
Debt securities and other ......................................................... 

¥  2,765 
27,029 

¥3,202 
— 

Held-to-maturity:

Debt securities and other .........................................................  

9,999 

— 

¥139 
— 

— 

¥  5,828
27,029

9,999

Thousands of U.S. dollars
2012

Cost 

Unrealized 
gains 

Unrealized 
losses 

Fair 
value

Securities classified as:
Available-for-sale:

Equity securities ....................................................................... 
Debt securities and other ......................................................... 

$  33,885 
472,065 

$44,166 
— 

Held-to-maturity:

Debt securities and other .........................................................  

121,657 

— 

$973 
— 

— 

$  77,078
472,065

121,657

Kao Annual Report 2012     49

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale securities whose fair values are not readily determinable as of March 31, 2012 and 2011 were as follows:

Carrying amount

Millions of yen 

2012 

2011 

Thousands of
U.S. dollars
2012

      Available-for-sale:

 Equity securities ........................................................................................... 
    Total .......................................................................................................... 

 ¥1,181 
¥1,181 

¥1,195 
¥1,195 

$14,369
$14,369

Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities for the years 
ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 were ¥1 million (US$12 thousand) 
and ¥594 million, respectively. Gross realized gains and losses on 
these sales, computed on the moving-average cost basis, for the 
year ended March 31, 2012 were not recognized, and for the year 

ended March 31, 2011 were ¥186 million and ¥4 million, 
respectively.
  The carrying values of debt securities by contractual maturities for 
securities classified as held-to-maturity at March 31, 2012 are 
included in Note 16. 

5

 Short-Term and Long-Term Debt

Short-term debt at March 31, 2012 and 2011 was comprised of the following: 

Secured loans principally from financial institutions ................................................. 
Unsecured loans principally from financial institutions ............................................. 
  Total .................................................................................................................. 

Millions of yen 

2012 

¥     99 
1,961 
¥2,060 

2011 

¥     69 
6,707 
¥6,776 

Thousands of
U.S. dollars
2012

$  1,205
23,859
$25,064

The weighted average interest rates applicable to the above loans 
were 2.00% and 3.90% at March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
In addition to the above short-term debt, deposits payable to 
affiliates, included in other current liabilities, were ¥6,527 million 
(US$79,414 thousand) and ¥5,058 million at March 31, 2012 and 

2011, respectively, and the applicable interest rates were 0.44% 
and 0.44% at March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
  The secured loans are collateralized by trade accounts receivable 
of ¥189 million (US$2,300 thousand) at March 31, 2012.

Long-term debt at March 31, 2012 and 2011 consisted of the following:

Unsecured bonds due 2011, 1.60%  and  due 2013, 1.91%  .................................. 
Unsecured loans principally from financial institutions,
   weighted average rate 0.57% in 2012, 1.75% in 2011 ......................................... 
Lease obligations ...................................................................................................... 

  Less current portion .............................................................................................. 
  Total .................................................................................................................. 

Millions of yen 

2012 

2011 

¥   49,999 

¥  99,998 

50,055 
7,322 
¥107,376 
 (811) 
¥106,565 

50,056 
8,192 
¥158,246 
(80,795) 
¥  77,451 

Thousands of
U.S. dollars
2012

$   608,334

  609,016
89,086
   $1,306,436
 (9,867)
$1,296,569

The current portion of long-term debt refinanced into long-term debt 
during the year ended March 31, 2012 was ¥30,000 million 
(US$365,008 thousand). The unsecured bonds redeemed during the 
year ended March 31, 2012 was ¥50,000 million (US$608,347 
thousand). In addition to the above long-term debt, deposits payable 

to customers, included in other long-term liabilities, were ¥6,008 
million (US$73,099 thousand) and ¥6,060 million at March 31, 2012 
and 2011, respectively, and the applicable interest rates were 0.13% 
and 0.15% at March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. 

The aggregate annual maturities of long-term debt as of March 31, 2012 were as follows:

Years ending March 31 

  2013 .................................................................................................................................................  
  2014 .................................................................................................................................................  
  2015 .................................................................................................................................................  
  2016 .................................................................................................................................................  
  2017 .................................................................................................................................................  
  2018 and thereafter .........................................................................................................................  
    Total .............................................................................................................................................  

Millions of yen 

¥       811 
50,793 
41,118 
784 
10,724 
3,146 
¥107,376 

Thousands of
U.S. dollars

$       9,867
617,995
500,280
9,539
130,478
38,277
$1,306,436

50     Kao Annual Report 2012 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
6

 Income Taxes

The Company and its domestic subsidiaries are subject to Japanese 
national and local taxes based on income, which in the aggregate 
resulted in a normal statutory tax rate of approximately 41% for 

both 2012 and 2011. 
  Foreign subsidiaries are subject to income taxes of the countries 
in which they operate.  

Tax effects of significant temporary differences and tax loss carryforwards that resulted in deferred tax assets or liabilities at March 31, 
2012 and 2011 were as follows:

Millions of yen 

2012 

2011 

Deferred tax assets:
  Depreciation and amortization .............................................................................. 
  Pension and severance costs ............................................................................... 
  Accrued expenses ................................................................................................ 
  Enterprise taxes .................................................................................................... 
  Tax loss carryforwards .......................................................................................... 
  Other ..................................................................................................................... 
  Less valuation allowance ...................................................................................... 
Deferred tax assets .................................................................................................. 

Deferred tax liabilities:
  Unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities  .................................................... 
  Undistributed foreign earnings ............................................................................. 
  Deferred gains on sales of property ..................................................................... 
  Prepaid pension cost ............................................................................................ 
  Other ..................................................................................................................... 
Deferred tax liabilities ............................................................................................... 

¥ 18,221 
16,323 
10,791 
1,327 
46,854 
13,283 
(29,189) 
¥  77,610 

¥  (1,289) 
(6,007) 
(3,884) 
(1,218) 
(6,421) 
¥(18,819) 

¥ 21,552 
16,362 
11,720 
1,487 
63,157 
15,981 
(40,270) 
¥ 89,989 

¥  (1,310) 
(5,893) 
(4,531) 
(1,042) 
(7,161) 
¥(19,937) 

Thousands of
U.S. dollars
2012

$ 221,694
198,601
131,293
16,146
570,069
161,613
(355,141)
$ 944,275

$   (15,683)
(73,087)
(47,256)
(14,819)
(78,124)
$(228,969)

Net deferred tax assets ............................................................................................ 

¥ 58,791 

¥ 70,052 

$  715,306 

A reconciliation between the normal effective statutory tax rates and the actual effective tax rates reflected in the 
accompanying consolidated statements of income for the years ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 were as follows:

Normal effective statutory tax rate ........................................................................... 
  Tax credit for research and development costs and other .................................... 
  Valuation allowance ............................................................................................... 
  Expiration of tax loss carryforwards ..................................................................... 
  Amortization expenses not deductible for income tax purposes .......................... 
  Effect of tax rate reduction ................................................................................... 
  Other – net ............................................................................................................ 
Actual effective tax rate ............................................................................................ 

2012 

40.5% 
(2.6) 
(6.4) 
9.0 
4.6 
5.4 
(2.3) 
48.2% 

2011

40.5%
(2.7)
9.5
0.9
4.9
—
(2.9)
50.2%

On December 2, 2011, new tax reform laws were enacted in Japan, 
which will reduce the corporation tax rate and will impose special 
corporation tax for reconstruction of the Great East Japan Earthquake 
for fiscal years beginning on or after April 1, 2012. Consequently, the 
effective statutory tax rate used to measure deferred tax assets and 
liabilities changed from 40.54% to 38.01% for expected reversal of 
temporary differences during fiscal years beginning on or after April 1, 
2012 until March 31, 2015. The rate will be changed to 35.64% for 
expected reversal of temporary differences during fiscal years 
beginning on or after April 1, 2015.
  As a result of these tax rate changes, net deferred tax assets after 
deducting deferred tax liabilities as of March 31, 2012 decreased 
¥5,500 million (US$66,918 thousand), while deferred income taxes 

and unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities increased ¥5,676 
million (US$69,059 thousand) and ¥176 million (US$2,141 thousand), 
respectively.
  Moreover, effective fiscal years beginning on or after April 1, 2012 
the deferral period for tax loss carryforwards will be extended to nine 
years from seven years and the deduction will be limited to 80% of 
earnings prior to adjustment for tax loss carryforwards. Deferred tax 
assets increased ¥3,215 million (US$39,117 thousand) as a result. 
Deferred income taxes increased ¥2,461 million (US$29,943 
thousand) because of the combined effect of the corporate tax rate 
changes, the deferral period extension and the limit on the deduction 
of tax loss carryforwards.

Kao Annual Report 2012     51

 
 
 
 
 
7

 Leases

(a) Finance leases:
The Companies lease certain buildings, machinery, computer equipment and other assets. 

(b) Operating leases:
The minimum rental commitments under noncancellable operating leases as of March 31, 2012 and 2011 were as follows:

Due within one year ...................................................................................................  
Due after one year ......................................................................................................  
  Total ........................................................................................................................  

8

 Retirement Benefits

Millions of yen 

2012 

¥  8,132 
24,791 
¥32,923  

2011 

¥  8,624 
30,826 
¥39,450 

Thousands of
U.S. dollars
2012

$  98,941
301,631
$400,572

The Company and most domestic consolidated subsidiaries have a 
cash balance plan and a defined contribution pension plan. The cash 
balance plan is linked to market interest rates and treated as a 
defined benefit pension plan. These companies may pay an early 
retirement allowance to early retired employees.
  Certain domestic consolidated subsidiaries have a defined benefit 

plan that provides for a lump-sum payment to terminated employees. 
The subsidiaries may make an additional lump-sum payment that is 
not subject to actuarial calculations under the accounting standard for 
retirement benefits.
  Certain foreign consolidated subsidiaries have a contribution plan 
and/or a defined benefit plan.

The liability for retirement benefits at March 31, 2012 and 2011 consisted of the following:

Projected benefit obligation ...................................................................................... 
Fair value of plan assets ........................................................................................... 
Unrecognized prior service cost ............................................................................... 
Unrecognized actuarial loss ...................................................................................... 
Unrecognized transitional obligation ......................................................................... 
Prepaid pension cost ................................................................................................ 
  Net liability for retirement benefits ....................................................................... 

¥ 239,032 
(196,235) 
9,537 
(2,009) 
(5,413) 
114 
¥   45,026 

¥ 231,540 
(189,043) 
14,128 
(8,223) 
(7,213) 
1,128  
¥   42,317 

Millions of yen 

2012 

2011 

The components of net periodic benefit costs for the years ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 were as follows:

Service cost .............................................................................................................. 
Interest cost ............................................................................................................. 
Expected return on plan assets ................................................................................ 
Amortization of prior service cost (credit) ................................................................. 
Recognized actuarial loss ......................................................................................... 
Amortization of transitional obligation ...................................................................... 
  Net periodic benefit costs ..................................................................................... 

Millions of yen 

2012 

¥  8,694 
5,177 
(4,413) 
(3,261) 
3,307 
1,815 
¥11,319 

2011 

¥  8,399 
5,147 
(4,423) 
(3,603) 
4,903 
1,679 
 ¥12,102 

Thousands of
U.S. dollars
2012

$ 2,908,286
(2,387,578)
116,036
(24,443)
(65,860)
 1,387
$    547,828

Thousands of
U.S. dollars
2012

$105,779
62,988
(53,693)
(39,676)
40,236
22,083
$137,717 

Assumptions used for the years ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 were set forth as follows:

Discount rate ................................................................................................................. 
Expected rate of return on plan assets .......................................................................... 
Amortization period of prior service cost ....................................................................... 
Recognition period of actuarial gain/loss ....................................................................... 
Amortization period of transitional obligation ................................................................ 

Primarily 2.0% 
Primarily 2.0% 
Primarily 15 years 
Primarily 10 years 
Primarily 15 years 

Primarily 2.0%
Primarily 2.0%
Primarily 15 years
Primarily 10 years
Primarily 15 years

2012 

2011

In addition to the above net periodic benefit costs, the costs for 
other retirement and pension plans such as a defined contribution 
plan and for other supplemental retirement benefits were ¥2,772 
million (US$ 33,727 thousand) and ¥2,358 million for the years 

ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
  Certain foreign subsidiaries apply the “corridor approach” in 
calculating actuarial gain or loss.

52     Kao Annual Report 2012 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
9

 Contingent Liabilities

At March 31, 2012, the Companies had the following contingent liabilities:

Trade notes discounted .......................................................................................................................  
Guarantees of borrowings, principally of affiliates and employees ......................................................  

¥128 
819 

Millions of yen 

Thousands of
U.S. dollars

$ 1,557
9,965

The Companies are parties to pending litigation arising in the 
normal course of business. While it is not possible to predict the 
outcome of pending litigation, the Company believes, after 
consultation with counsel, that the results of such proceedings will 

not have a material adverse effect upon the Company's 
consolidated financial position and the results of its operations and 
its cash flows.

10

 Equity

Significant provisions in the Corporation Law of Japan (the 
“Corporation Law”) that affect financial and accounting matters are 
summarized below:

(a) Dividends
Under the Corporation Law, companies can pay dividends at any 
time during the fiscal year in addition to the year-end  dividend upon 
resolution at the shareholders’ meeting. 
  For companies that meet certain criteria such as having: (1) a 
board of directors, (2) independent auditors, (3) a board of corporate 
auditors, and (4) terms of service of directors prescribed as one 
year under the articles of incorporation rather than the normal term 
of two years, the boards of directors of such companies may 
declare dividends (except for dividends in kind) at any time during 
the fiscal year if the companies have prescribed so in their articles 
of incorporation. The Company's governance system on March 31, 
2012 meets the first three criteria but the two-year service period 
of the members of the Board of Directors does not meet the fourth 
criterion. The Company pays the dividends semi-annually as a year-
end dividend and an interim dividend. 
  Semiannual interim dividends may also be paid once a year upon 
resolution by the board of directors if the articles of incorporation of 
the company so stipulate. The Company pays semiannual interim 
dividends upon the resolution by the Board of Directors because 
the articles of incorporation of the Company so stipulate. 
  The Corporation Law permits companies to distribute dividends-
in-kind (non-cash assets) to shareholders subject to a certain 
limitation and additional requirements. The Corporation Law 
provides certain limitations on the amounts available for dividends 
or the purchase of treasury stock. The limitation is defined as the 
amount available for distribution to the shareholders, but the 
amount of net assets after dividends must be maintained at no less 
than ¥3 million.

(b)  Increases / decreases and transfer of common stock, reserve 

and surplus

The Corporation Law requires that an amount equal to 10% of 
dividends must be appropriated as a legal reserve (a component of 
retained earnings) or as additional paid-in capital (a component of 
capital surplus) depending on the equity account charged upon the 

payment of such dividends until the total of aggregate amount of 
legal reserve and additional paid-in capital equals 25% of the 
common stock. Under the Corporation Law, the total amount of 
additional paid-in capital and legal reserve may be reversed without 
limitation. The Corporation Law also provides that common stock, 
legal reserve, additional paid-in capital, other capital surplus and 
retained earnings can be transferred among the accounts under 
certain conditions upon resolution at the shareholders’ meeting.
  The Company’s legal reserve amount, which is included in 
retained earnings, totals ¥14,117 million (US$171,761 thousand) at 
both March 31, 2012 and 2011. The Company’s additional paid-in 
capital amount, which is included in capital surplus, totals ¥108,889 
million (US$1,324,845 thousand) at both March 31, 2012 and 2011.
  The accompanying consolidated financial statements do not 
include any provision for the year-end dividend of ¥31.0 (US$0.38) 
per share, aggregating ¥16,193 million (US$197,019 thousand) 
which the Company will subsequently propose at the 106th Annual 
General Meeting of Shareholders to be held on June 28, 2012 as an 
appropriation of retained earnings in respect of the year ended 
March 31, 2012.

(c) Treasury stock and treasury stock acquisition rights
The Corporation Law also provides for companies to purchase own 
stock and retire treasury stock by resolution of the board of 
directors. The amount of own stock purchased cannot exceed the 
amount available for distribution to the shareholders which is 
determined by a specific formula. 
  Under the Corporation Law, stock acquisition rights are 
presented as a separate component of equity.
  The Corporation Law also provides that companies can purchase 
both own stock and stock acquisition rights in their own companies. 
Such treasury stock is presented as a separate component of equity. 
Such stock acquisition rights are presented as a separate component 
of equity or deducted directly from stock acquisition rights.
  On May 20, 2011, the Company retired 13.9 million shares of treasury 
stock by the resolution of the Board of Directors at the meeting held on 
April 26, 2011. The Company purchased 0.3 million shares of its 
common stock from untraceable shareholders on September 21, at an 
aggregate cost of ¥619 million (US$7,531 thousand).

Kao Annual Report 2012     53

 
 
 
11

 Stock-Based Compensation Plans

The stock options for the year ended March 31, 2012 were as follows:

Name 

Persons originally granted 

Number of options 
originally granted 

Date of grant 

Exercise price  Exercise price
(U.S. dollars) 

(Yen) 

  Stock option 2004 

  Stock option 2005 

  Stock option 2006 I 

13 Directors of the Company 
89 Employees of the Company 
  5 Directors of subsidiaries 
     of the Company

13 Directors of the Company 
90 Employees of the Company 
  5 Directors of subsidiaries 
     of the Company

12 Executive Officers 
     of the Company** 

 1,163,000 shares* 

July 8, 2004 

¥2,695 

$32.79 

 1,167,000 shares* 

July 8, 2005 

¥2,685 

$32.67 

  Stock option 2006 II 

14 Directors of the Company 

 26,000 shares* 

September 29, 2006 

 12,000 shares* 

September 29, 2006 

¥1 

¥1 

$0.01 

$0.01 

  Stock option 2006 III 

79 Employees of the Company 
  4 Directors of subsidiaries 
     of the Company 

 437,000 shares* 

September 29, 2006 

¥3,211 

$39.07 

  Stock option 2007 I 

13 Directors of the Company 

25,000 shares* 

August 31, 2007 

  Stock option 2007 II 

14 Executive Officers 
     of the Company*** 

 14,000 shares* 

August 31, 2007 

¥1 

¥1 

$0.01 

$0.01 

  Stock option 2007 III 

78 Employees of the Company 
  4 Directors of subsidiaries 
     of the Company 

 430,000 shares* 

August 31, 2007 

¥3,446 

$41.93 

  Stock option 2008 I 

14 Directors of the Company 

24,000 shares* 

August 29, 2008 

  Stock option 2008 II 

12 Executive Officers 
     of the Company**** 

 12,000 shares* 

August 29, 2008 

¥1 

¥1 

$0.01 

$0.01 

  Stock option 2008 III 

81 Employees of the Company 
  4 Directors of subsidiaries 
     of the Company 

 447,000 shares* 

August 29, 2008 

¥3,100 

$37.72 

  Stock option 2009 I  

13 Directors of the Company 

 36,000 shares* 

August 28, 2009 

  Stock option 2009 II 

12 Executive Officers 
     of the Company***** 

 24,000 shares* 

August 28, 2009 

¥1 

¥1 

$0.01 

$0.01 

  Stock option 2009 III 

74 Employees of the Company 
  8 Directors of subsidiaries 
     of the Company 

 430,000 shares* 

August 28, 2009 

¥2,355 

$28.65 

  Stock option 2010 I  

14 Directors of the Company 

 38,000 shares* 

August 25, 2010 

  Stock option 2010 II 

12 Executive Officers 
     of the Company****** 

 24,000 shares* 

August 25, 2010 

¥1 

¥1 

$0.01 

$0.01 

  Stock option 2010 III 

81 Employees of the Company 
  2 Directors of subsidiaries 
     of the Company 

 435,000 shares* 

August 25, 2010 

¥2,190 

$26.65 

  Stock option 2011 I  

13 Directors of the Company 

 36,000 shares* 

August 25, 2011 

  Stock option 2011 II 

13 Executive Officers 
     of the Company******* 

 26,000 shares* 

August 25, 2011 

¥1 

¥1 

$0.01 

$0.01 

  Stock option 2011 III 

81 Employees of the Company 
  1 Director of subsidiary 
     of the Company 
  1 Employee of subsidiary 
     of the Company 

 435,000 shares* 

August 25, 2011 

¥2,254 

$27.42 

* The number of options originally granted converts into number of shares of common stock.
** The 12 Executive Officers were not members of the Board of Directors of the Company at the date of grant.
*** The 14 Executive Officers were not members of the Board of Directors of the Company at the date of grant.
**** The 12 Executive Officers were not members of the Board of Directors of the Company at the date of grant.
***** The 12 Executive Officers were not members of the Board of Directors of the Company at the date of grant.
****** The 12 Executive Officers were not members of the Board of Directors of the Company at the date of grant.
******* The 13 Executive Officers were not members of the Board of Directors of the Company at the date of grant.

54     Kao Annual Report 2012 

Exercise period

July 1, 2006
through
June 30, 2011

July 1, 2007
through
June 29, 2012

July 1, 2008
through
June 28, 2013

July 1, 2008
through
June 28, 2013

July 1, 2008
through
June 28, 2013

July 1, 2009
through
June 30, 2014

July 1, 2009
through
June 30, 2014

September 1, 2009
through
August 29, 2014

July 1, 2010
through
June 30, 2015

July 1, 2010
through
June 30, 2015

September 1, 2010
through
August 31, 2015

July 1, 2011
through
June 30, 2016

July 1, 2011
through
June 30, 2016

September 1, 2011
through
August 30, 2016

July 1, 2012
through
June 30, 2017

July 1, 2012
through
June 30, 2017

September 1, 2012
through
August 31, 2017

July 1, 2013
through
June 29, 2018

July 1, 2013
through
June 29, 2018

September 1, 2013
through
August 31, 2018

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The activity of stock options was as follows:

(Number of shares)

Stock option Stock option Stock option Stock option Stock option Stock option Stock option Stock option Stock option Stock option Stock option 
2007 I 

2006 II  2006 III 

2007 II  2007 III 

2008 II  2008 III

2006 I 

2008 I 

2004 

2005 

For the year ended March 31, 2012
Non-vested
  Outstanding at

  March 31, 2011  ............................  
  Granted ...................................... 
  Expired ....................................... 
  Vested ........................................ 

  Outstanding at

  March 31, 2012 .............................

Vested
  Outstanding at

—
—
—
—

—

—
—
—
—

—

—
—
—
—

—

—
—
—
—

—

—
—
—
—

—

—
—
—
—

—

—
—
—
—

—

—
—
—
—

—

—
—
—
—

—

—
—
—
—

—

—
—
—
—

—

  March 31, 2011 .............................. 
  Vested ........................................ 
  Exercised .................................... 
  Expired ....................................... 

 624,000
—
—
 624,000

 807,000
—
—
  69,000

  4,000
—
  1,000
—

  4,000
—
—
—

 372,000
—
—
  35,000

  6,000
—
—
—

  6,000
—
  1,000
—

 391,000
—
—
  30,000

  13,000
—
  5,000
—

  7,000
—
  1,000
—

  442,000
—
—
—

  Outstanding at

  March 31, 2012 .............................. 

—

 738,000

  3,000

  4,000

 337,000

  6,000

  5,000

 361,000

  8,000

  6,000

  442,000

  Exercise price

  Yen ................................................. 
  U.S. dollars .....................................  

  ¥2,695
  $32.79

  ¥2,685
  $32.67

¥1
  $0.01

¥1
  $0.01

  ¥3,211
  $39.07

¥1
  $0.01

¥1
  $0.01

  ¥3,446
  $41.93

¥1
  $0.01

¥1
  $0.01

  ¥3,100
  $37.72

  Average stock price at exercise 

  Yen ................................................. 
  U.S. dollars ..................................... 
  Fair value price at grant date ..............
  Yen ................................................. 
  U.S. dollars ..................................... 

—
—

—
—

—
—

—
—

  ¥2,166
  $26.35

—
—

—
—

—
—

  ¥2,070
  $25.19

—
—

  ¥2,039
  $24.81

  ¥2,075
  $25.25

—
—

  ¥2,932
  $35.67

  ¥2,932
  $35.67

¥435
$5.29

  ¥3,063
  $37.27

  ¥3,063
  $37.27

¥420
$5.11

  ¥2,865
  $34.86

  ¥2,865
  $34.86

¥426
$5.18

Kao Annual Report 2012     55

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Stock option Stock option Stock option Stock option Stock option Stock option Stock option Stock option Stock option
2011 III
2010 II 

2009 III 

2010 III 

2009 II 

2011 II 

2011 I 

2009 I 

2010 I 

(Number of shares)

For the year ended March 31, 2012
Non-vested
  Outstanding at

  March 31, 2011  ............................  
  Granted ...................................... 
  Expired ....................................... 
  Vested ........................................ 

  Outstanding at

  March 31, 2012 .............................

Vested
  Outstanding at

—
—
—
—

—

—
—
—
—

—

—
—
—
—

—

—
—
—
—

—

—
—
—
—

—

—
—
—
—

—

—
  36,000
—
  36,000

—
  26,000
—
  26,000

—
 435,000
—
435,000

—

—

—

  March 31, 2011 .............................. 
  Vested ........................................ 
  Exercised .................................... 
  Expired ....................................... 

  36,000
—
  16,000
—

  24,000
—
9,000
—

 430,000
—
—
—

  38,000
—
—
—

  24,000
—
—
—

 435,000
—
—
—

—
  36,000
—
—

—
  26,000
—
—

—
435,000
—
—

  Outstanding at

  March 31, 2012 .............................. 

  20,000

  15,000

 430,000

  38,000

  24,000

 435,000

  36,000

  26,000

435,000

  Exercise price

  Yen ................................................. 
  U.S. dollars .....................................  

  Average stock price at exercise 

¥1
$0.01

¥1
$0.01

  ¥2,355
  $28.65

¥1
  $0.01

¥1
  $0.01

  ¥2,190
  $26.65

¥1
  $0.01

¥1
  $0.01

   ¥2,254
   $27.42

  Yen ................................................. 
  U.S. dollars ..................................... 
  Fair value price at grant date ..............
  Yen ................................................. 
  U.S. dollars ..................................... 

  ¥2,059
  $25.05

  ¥2,115
  $25.73

  ¥2,055
  $25.00

—
—

—
—

—
—

—
—

—
—

—
—

—
—

  ¥2,115
  $25.73

  ¥394
  $4.79

  ¥1,749
  $21.28

  ¥1,749
  $21.28

  ¥245
  $2.98

  ¥1,718
  $20.90

  ¥1,718
  $20.90

     ¥211
    $2.57

 The fair value prices for 2011 stock options were estimated using the Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model with the following assumptions:

Stock option 
2011 I 

Stock option 
2011 II 

Stock option
2011III

  Volatility of stock price ...........................................................................................  
  Estimated remaining outstanding period ...............................................................  
  Estimated dividend per share

25.396% 
4.5 years 

  Yen ......................................................................................................................  
  U.S. dollars ..........................................................................................................  
  Risk-free interest rate ............................................................................................  

¥58 
$0.71 
0.295% 

25.396% 
4.5 years 

¥58 
$0.71 
0.295% 

25.396%
4.5 years

¥58
$0.71
0.295%

56     Kao Annual Report 2012 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
12

 Comprehensive Income

Each component of other comprehensive income for the year ended March 31, 2012 was the following:

Millions of yen 

2012 

Thousands of
U.S. dollars

2012

Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities:
  Gains arising during the year ...........................................................................................................  
  Reclassification adjustments to profit or loss ..................................................................................  
  Amount before income tax effect ....................................................................................................  
Income tax effect .............................................................................................................................  
  Total  .................................................................................................................................................  
Foreign currency translation adjustments
  Adjustments arising during the year ................................................................................................  
  Reclassification adjustments to profit or loss ..................................................................................  
  Amount before income tax effect ....................................................................................................  
Income tax effect .............................................................................................................................  
  Total  .................................................................................................................................................  
Share of other comprehensive income in affiliates

¥      517 
12 
529 
(42) 
¥      487 

¥(12,169) 
— 
(12,169) 
— 
¥(12,169) 

 Gains arising during the year ..........................................................................................................  
 Total .................................................................................................................................................  

¥     (172) 
¥     (172) 

Post retirement liability adjustments for foreign consolidated subsidiaries
  Adjustments arising during the year ................................................................................................  
  Reclassification adjustments to profit or loss ..................................................................................  
  Amount before income tax effect ....................................................................................................  
Income tax effect .............................................................................................................................  
  Total  .................................................................................................................................................  

¥  (2,049) 
87 
(1,962) 
726 
¥  (1,236) 

$     6,290
146
6,436
(511)
$     5,925

$(148,059)
—
(148,059)
—
$(148,059)

$    (2,093)
$    (2,093)

$  (24,930)
1,059
(23,871)
8,833
$  (15,038)

    Total other comprehensive income ..............................................................................................  

¥(13,090) 

$(159,265)

The corresponding information for the year ended March 31, 2011 
was not required under the accounting standard for presentation of 

comprehensive income as an exemption for the first year of 
adopting that standard and not disclosed herein.

13

 Segment Information

(1) Description of reportable segments
The Companies’ reportable segments are components for which 
separate financial information is available, and whose operating 
results are reviewed regularly by the chief operating decision maker 
in order to determine allocation of resources and assess segment 
performance.
  The Companies are organized into four business operating units, 
the Beauty Care Business, the Human Health Care Business and 
the Fabric and Home Care Business (collectively, the Consumer 
Products Business) and the Chemical Business. Each business 
operating unit plans comprehensive strategies for business in 
Japan and other countries, and conducts its own business activities.
  Therefore, the Companies have four reportable segments: the 
Beauty Care Business, the Human Health Care Business, the Fabric 
and Home Care Business and the Chemical Business. The Beauty 

Care Business segment manufactures and sells prestige 
cosmetics, premium skin care and premium hair care products. The 
Human Health Care Business segment manufactures and sells food 
and beverage, sanitary and personal health products. The Fabric and 
Home Care Business segment manufactures and sells fabric care 
and home care products. The Chemical Business segment 
manufactures and sells oleo chemicals, performance chemicals and 
specialty chemicals.

(2) Methods of measurement for sales, profit (loss), assets, and
      other items for reportable segments
The amount of segment profit corresponds to that of operating 
income. Intersegment sales and transfer prices are calculated 
mainly based on market value or manufacturing cost.

Kao Annual Report 2012     57

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Information by reportable segment of the Companies for the years ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 was as follows::

Millions of yen
2012

 Reportable segment

Consumer Products Business

Human Health  Fabric and Home 
Care Business  Care Business 

Total 

¥181,758 
— 
181,758 
¥  14,630 
¥  99,535 

— 
285,645 

¥285,645   ¥1,005,341 
— 
1,005,341 
¥  55,544  ¥     85,586 
¥128,858  ¥   724,570 

Beauty Care 
Business 
¥537,938 
— 
537,938 
¥  15,412 
¥496,177 

Chemical 
Business 
¥210,755 
36,880 
247,635 
¥  23,001 
¥194,582 

Reconciliations* 
¥        — 
(36,880) 
(36,880) 
¥          3 
¥ 72,120 

  Consolidated
¥1,216,096
—
1,216,096
¥   108,590
¥   991,272

¥  37,766 

¥    7,926 

¥    9,794  ¥     55,486 

¥  11,648  

¥        — 

¥     67,134

1,780 

1,083 

1,239 

4,102 

1,661 

13,106 

11,520 

12,219 

36,845  

10,333 

— 

— 

5,763

47,178

Sales to customers ........................... 
Intersegment sales ........................... 
Total sales ......................................... 
Segment profit (Operating income) ... 
Segment assets ................................ 

Other
  Depreciation and amortization** .... 

Investments in equity 
  method affiliates ......................... 
Increase in property, plant and
  equipment and intangible assets .. 

*   Reconciliation of segment profit includes elimination of intersegment transactions of inventory.

Reconciliation of assets includes ¥78,742 million of the Company’s financial assets and negative ¥6,622 million elimination of receivables among reportable 
segments.

**Depreciation and amortization excludes amortization of goodwill.

Millions of yen
2011

 Reportable segment

Beauty Care 
Business 
¥533,514 
— 
533,514 
¥    5,536 
¥547,092 

Consumer Products Business

Human Health  Fabric and Home 
Care Business  Care Business 
¥279,008 
— 
279,008 
¥  59,659 
¥124,561 

¥175,761 
— 
175,761 
¥  15,284 
¥  87,127 

Total 
¥988,283 
— 
988,283 
¥  80,479 
¥758,780 

Chemical 
Business 
¥198,548 
33,449 
231,997 
¥  24,100 
¥186,704 

Reconciliations* 
¥          — 
(33,449) 
(33,449) 
¥        12 
¥ 77,315 

  Consolidated
¥1,186,831

—
1,186,831
¥   104,591
¥1,022,799

¥  39,186 

¥    7,902 

¥    9,438 

¥  56,526 

¥  12,347 

¥          — 

¥     68,873

1,603 

936 

1,019 

3,558 

1,483 

16,276 

8,871 

12,223 

37,370 

11,731 

— 

— 

5,041

49,101

Sales to customers ........................... 
Intersegment sales ........................... 
Total sales ......................................... 
Segment profit (Operating income) ... 
Segment assets ................................ 

Other
  Depreciation and amortization** .... 

Investments in equity 
  method affiliates ......................... 
Increase in property, plant and
  equipment and intangible assets .. 

*   Reconciliation of segment profit includes elimination of intersegment transactions of inventory.

Reconciliation of assets includes ¥81,193 million of the Company’s financial assets and negative ¥3,878 million elimination of receivables among reportable 
segments.

**Depreciation and amortization excludes amortization of goodwill.

58     Kao Annual Report 2012 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Thousands of U.S. dollars

2012

 Reportable segment

Consumer Products Business

Beauty Care 
Business 

Human Health  Fabric and Home 
Care Business  Care Business 

Total 

Sales to customers ...........................  $6,545,054   $2,211,437  $3,475,423  $12,231,914 
Intersegment sales ........................... 
— 
— 
Total sales ......................................... 
3,475,423  12,231,914 
6,545,054 
Segment profit (Operating income) ...  $   187,517 
$   178,002  $   675,800  $  1,041,319 
Segment assets ................................  $6,036,952 
$1,211,035  $1,567,806  $  8,815,793 

— 
2,211,437 

— 

Chemical 
Business 
$2,564,241 
448,716 
3,012,957 
$   279,851 
$2,367,466 

Reconciliations* 
$           — 
 (448,716)  
(448,716) 
$          37 
$  877,478 

  Consolidated
$14,796,155
—
14,796,155
$  1,321,207
$12,060,737

Other
  Depreciation and amortization** ....  $   459,496 

$     96,435  $   119,163  $     675,094   $   141,721 

$            — 

$     816,815

Investments in equity 
  method affiliates ......................... 
Increase in property, plant and
  equipment and intangible assets .. 

21,657 

13,177 

15,075 

49,909 

20,209 

159,460 

140,163 

148,668 

448,291 

125,720 

— 

— 

70,118

574,011

*   Reconciliation of segment profit includes elimination of intersegment transactions of inventory. 

Reconciliation of assets includes $958,048 thousand of the Company’s financial assets and negative $80,570 thousand elimination of receivables among 
reportable segments.

**Depreciation and amortization excludes amortization of goodwill.

(b) Information related to reportable segments
Sales by geographic area for the years ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 were as follows:

Sales to customers ...................................................... 

Japan 
¥887,100 

Asia/Oceania* 
¥138,821 

Sales to customers ...................................................... 

Japan 
¥874,771 

Asia/Oceania* 
¥131,473 

Millions of yen
2012

America** 
¥87,289 

Millions of yen
2011

America** 
¥83,082 

Europe*** 
¥102,886 

Consolidated
¥1,216,096

Europe*** 
¥97,505 

Consolidated
¥1,186,831

Sales to customers ...................................................... 

Japan 
$10,793,284 

Asia/Oceania* 
$1,689,025 

America** 
$1,062,039 

Europe*** 
$1,251,807 

Consolidated
$14,796,155

Note: Sales are classified in countries or regions based on location of customers

Thousands of U.S. dollars
2012

Kao Annual Report 2012     59

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Property, plant and equipment by geographic area for the years ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 were as follows:

Property, plant and equipment .................................... 

Japan 
¥190,318 

Asia/Oceania* 
¥29,496 

Property, plant and equipment .................................... 

Japan 
¥190,878 

Asia/Oceania* 
¥29,956 

Millions of yen
2012

America** 
¥6,980 

Millions of yen
2011

America** 
¥8,123 

Europe*** 
¥13,785 

Consolidated
¥240,579

Europe*** 
¥15,767 

Consolidated
¥244,724

Thousands of U.S. dollars
2012

Property, plant and equipment .................................... 

Japan 
$2,315,586 

Asia/Oceania* 
$358,876 

America** 
$84,925 

Europe*** 
$167,721 

Consolidated
 $2,927,108

* Asia/ Oceania: Asia and Oceania    ** America: North America
*** Europe: Europe and South Africa

(c) Impairment losses by reportable segment
Impairment losses by reportable segment for the years ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 were as follows:

Millions of yen
2012

Impairment losses of assets .............. 

 Reportable segment

Beauty Care 
Business 
¥193 

Consumer Products Business

Human Health  Fabric and Home 
Care Business  Care Business 

¥90 

¥137 

Total 
¥420 

Chemical 
Business 
¥1 

Reconciliations 
¥— 

  Consolidated
¥421

Impairment losses of assets .............. 

 Reportable segment

Beauty Care 
Business 
¥63 

Consumer Products Business

Human Health  Fabric and Home 
Care Business  Care Business 

¥32 

¥48 

Total 
¥143 

Chemical 
Business 
¥210 

Reconciliations 
¥ — 

  Consolidated
¥353

Millions of yen

2011

Impairment losses of assets .............. 

Beauty Care 
Business 
$2,348 

Consumer Products Business

Human Health  Fabric and Home 
Care Business  Care Business 

$1,095 

$1,667 

Total 
$5,110 

Chemical 
Business 
 $12 

Reconciliations 
$— 

  Consolidated
$5,122

  Thousands of U.S. dollars

2012

 Reportable segment

60     Kao Annual Report 2012 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(d) Amortization and balance of goodwill by reportable segment
Amortization and balance of goodwill by reportable segment for the years ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 were as follows:

Millions of yen
2012

 Reportable segment

Amortization of goodwill .................... 
Goodwill at March 31, 2012 .............. 

Beauty Care 
Business 
¥  12,664 
165,614 

Consumer Products Business

Human Health  Fabric and Home 
Care Business  Care Business 

¥— 
— 

¥— 
— 

Total 
¥  12,664 
165,614 

Chemical 
Business 
¥— 
— 

Reconciliations 
¥— 
— 

  Consolidated
¥  12,664 
165,614 

Millions of yen
2011

 Reportable segment

Amortization of goodwill .................... 
Goodwill at March 31, 2011 .............. 

Beauty Care 
Business 
¥  12,507 
179,225 

Consumer Products Business

Human Health  Fabric and Home 
Care Business  Care Business 

¥ — 
— 

¥ — 
— 

Total 
¥  12,507 
179,225 

Chemical 
Business 
¥ — 
— 

Reconciliations 
¥ — 
— 

  Consolidated
¥  12,507 
179,225 

  Thousands of U.S. dollars

2012

 Reportable segment

Beauty Care 
Business 
Amortization of goodwill ....................  $   154,082 
Goodwill at March 31, 2012 .............. 
2,015,014 

Consumer Products Business

Human Health  Fabric and Home 
Care Business  Care Business 

$— 
— 

$— 
— 

Total 

$   154,082 
2,015,014 

Chemical 
Business 
$— 
— 

Reconciliations 
$— 
— 

  Consolidated
$   154,082 
2,015,014 

14

 Selling, General and Administrative Expenses 

Selling, general and administrative expenses principally consisted of the following:

Advertising ................................................................................................................ 
Promotion ................................................................................................................. 
Research and development ...................................................................................... 
Salaries and bonuses ................................................................................................ 
Packing and delivery expenses ................................................................................. 

15

 Other Income (Expenses)

“Other, net” consisted of the following:

Gain on sales of investment securities ..................................................................... 
Loss related to the Great East Japan Earthquake .................................................... 
Effect of application of Accounting Standard for Asset Retirement Obligations ...... 
Loss on sales or disposals of property, plant and equipment, net ........................... 
Insurance .................................................................................................................. 
Other, net ................................................................................................................. 
  Total ...................................................................................................................... 

Millions of yen 

2012 

¥  82,209 
62,980 
48,171 
121,787 
68,388 

2011 

¥ 81,082 
64,655 
45,516 
124,348 
66,924 

Millions of yen 

2012 

¥       — 
(2,028) 
— 
(2,202) 
39 
 958 
¥(3,233) 

2011 

¥    186 
(4,129) 
(1,634) 
(1,334) 
— 
1,951 
¥(4,960) 

Thousands of
U.S. dollars
2012

$1,000,231
766,273
586,093
1,481,774
832,072

Thousands of
U.S. dollars
2012

$         —
 (24,675)
—

(26,792) 
 475
11,656
$(39,336)

Kao Annual Report 2012     61

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
16

 Financial Instruments 

(1) Group policy for financial instruments
The Companies position excess cash as standby funds until 
investing them in business activities, and manage them by 
investment only in short-term, low-risk financial instruments. The 
Companies have a policy to finance by debt from financial 
institutions and issuance of corporate bonds and other instruments 
in capital markets. The Companies use derivatives to hedge risk 
and do not use derivatives for the purposes of speculation.

(2)  Nature and extent of risks arising from financial 

instruments and risk management 

Receivables such as trade notes and trade accounts are exposed 
to customer credit risk. The Companies manage this risk by 
ensuring their internal deliberations and approval processes of 
reviewing customers’ credit standing before entering into 
transactions with new customers. In addition, the Companies 
secure guarantee deposits or collaterals as necessary. 
Furthermore, the Companies monitor due dates and manage 
balances of receivables by customer and periodically check the 
credit risk of key customers.         
  Marketable securities, which consist of commercial papers of 
highly-rated companies and bond investment trusts including MMF 
and others, are highly safe and liquid financial instruments.
  Investment securities, which consist mainly of stock of business 
partners, are exposed to stock price volatility risk. The Companies 
periodically check the validity of their stockholdings. 
  Payment terms of payables, such as trade notes and trade 
accounts, are mostly less than one year.
  Loans, principally from financial institutions, in short-term debt 

are mainly for financing related to operating activities. Bonds and 
loans principally from financial institutions in long-term debt are for 
financing related to M&A and investment in property, plant and 
equipment. Certain loans with floating interest rates are exposed 
to interest rate volatility risk. The Companies use interest rate 
swaps for the purpose of hedging the interest rate volatility risk by 
converting the floating rates into fixed rates.
  Derivative transactions entered into and managed by the 
Companies are made in accordance with internal policies that 
regulate objectives, credit limit amount, scope, organization and 
others. The Companies do not use derivatives for the purpose of 
speculation. All derivative transactions are entered into to meet 
requirements for hedging risk incorporated in the Companies’ 
business. The Companies limit the counterparties to these 
derivative transactions to major international financial institutions 
to reduce their credit risk.

 With regard to payables, such as trade notes, trade accounts 
and loans, the Companies monitor and manage liquidity risk by 
preparing monthly forecast statements of cash flows of each 
company.

(3) Fair values of financial instruments
Fair values of financial instruments are based on the quoted price 
in active markets. If a quoted price is not available, other rational 
valuation techniques are used. Also see Note 17 for details of the 
fair values of derivatives. The contract amounts of derivatives 
which are shown in Note 17 do not represent the amounts 
exchanged by the parties and do not measure the Companies’ 
exposure to credit or market risk.

The carrying amount, fair value and unrealized gain or loss of financial instruments as of March 31, 2012 and 2011 consisted of the following: 

  Cash and time deposits ........................................................................................ 
  Short-term investments  ....................................................................................... 
  Notes and accounts receivable ............................................................................. 
   Allowance for doubtful receivables ................................................................... 
  Notes and accounts receivable, net .................................................................. 
Investment securities ........................................................................................... 
  Total ................................................................................................................... 

  Short-term debt .................................................................................................... 
  Current portion of long-term debt ......................................................................... 
  Notes and accounts payable ................................................................................. 
Income taxes payable ........................................................................................... 
  Long-term debt ..................................................................................................... 
  Total ................................................................................................................... 

Carrying 
amount 

¥  85,483 
   48,798 
146,371 
(1,020) 
145,351 
6,335 
¥285,967 

¥    2,060 
811 
158,352 
18,306 
106,565 
¥286,094 

Millions of yen 
2012
Fair 
value 

¥  85,483 
48,798 

145,351 
6,335 
 ¥285,967 

¥    2,060 
773 
158,352 
18,306 
107,441 
¥286,932 

Unrealized
gain/(loss)

¥      —
—

—
—  

 ¥      —

¥      —
38
—
—
(876)
¥   (838)

  Derivatives ............................................................................................................ 

¥      (340) 

¥      (340) 

¥      —

62     Kao Annual Report 2012 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Cash and time deposits ........................................................................................ 
  Short-term investments  ....................................................................................... 
  Notes and accounts receivable ............................................................................. 
   Allowance for doubtful receivables ................................................................... 
  Notes and accounts receivable, net .................................................................. 
Investment securities ........................................................................................... 
  Total ................................................................................................................... 

  Short-term debt .................................................................................................... 
  Current portion of long-term debt ......................................................................... 
  Notes and accounts payable ................................................................................. 
Income taxes payable ........................................................................................... 
  Long-term debt ..................................................................................................... 
  Total ................................................................................................................... 

Carrying 
amount 

¥110,762 
   37,028 
124,973 
(1,002) 
123,971 
5,828 
¥277,589 

¥    6,776 
80,795 
151,028 
18,785 
77,451 
¥334,835 

Millions of yen 
2011
Fair 
value 

¥110,762 
37,028 

123,971 
5,828 
 ¥277,589 

¥    6,776 
81,261 
151,028 
18,785 
79,340 
¥337,190 

Unrealized
gain/(loss)

¥        —
—

—
—  

 ¥        —

¥        —
(466)
—
—
(1,889)
¥(2,355)

  Derivatives ............................................................................................................ 

¥         80 

¥         80 

¥        —

  Cash and time deposits ........................................................................................ 
  Short-term investments  ....................................................................................... 
  Notes and accounts receivable ............................................................................. 
  Allowance for doubtful receivables ................................................................... 
  Notes and accounts receivable, net .................................................................. 
Investment securities ........................................................................................... 
  Total ................................................................................................................... 

  Short-term debt .................................................................................................... 
  Current portion of long-term debt ......................................................................... 
  Notes and accounts payable ................................................................................. 
Income taxes payable ........................................................................................... 
  Long-term debt ..................................................................................................... 
  Total ................................................................................................................... 

Thousands of U.S. dollars 
2012
Fair 
value 

$1,040,066  
593,722 

1,768,475 
77,078 
$3,479,341  

$     25,064 
9,405 
1,926,658 
222,728 
1,307,227 
$3,491,082  

Carrying 
amount 

$1,040,066  
593,722 
1,780,886 
(12,411) 
1,768,475 
77,078 
$3,479,341  

$     25,064  
 9,867 
1,926,658 
222,728 
1,296,569 
$3,480,886  

Unrealized
gain/(loss)

$         —
—

—
—
 $         —

$         —
462
—
—
(10,658)
$(10,196)

  Derivatives ............................................................................................................ 

$      (4,137)  

$      (4,137)  

$         —

Cash and time deposits
The carrying values of cash and time deposits approximate fair value 
because of their short maturities.

Notes and accounts receivables
The carrying values of notes and accounts receivable approximate 
fair value because of their short maturities.

Short-term investments and investment securities
The fair value of marketable equity securities is measured at the 
quoted market price of the stock exchange. The fair value of 
marketable debt securities is measured at the quoted market price 
of the stock exchange or at the quoted price obtained from the 
financial institutions if there is no quoted market price. The carrying 
value of other marketable securities, such as commercial papers, 
investment trust funds and other which consist of MMF and others, 
approximate fair value because of their short maturities. See Note 4 
for information of the fair value of short-term investments and 
investment securities by classification.

Short-term debt
The carrying values of short-term debt approximate fair value 
because of their short maturities.

Current portion of long-term debt
The fair value of fixed interest loans is measured at the present 
value by discounting expected repayments of principal and interest 
in the remaining period using an assumed interest rate on an 
equivalent new loan.

Kao Annual Report 2012     63

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes and accounts payable
The carrying values of notes and accounts payable approximate fair 
value because of their short maturities.

Long-term debt
The fair value of bonds issued by the Company is measured at the 
quoted market price.
   The fair value of fixed interest loans is measured at the present 
value by discounting expected repayments of principal and interest 
in the remaining period using an assumed interest rate on an 
equivalent new loan.
   The fair value of long-term loans subject to a special accounting 
method for interest rate swaps which qualify for hedge accounting 

and meet specific matching criteria is measured at the present 
value by discounting expected repayments of principal and interest 
together with the interest rate swaps in the remaining period using 
an assumed interest rate on an equivalent new loan.
   The fair value of lease obligations is measured at the present 
value by discounting expected repayments of lease obligations 
including interest in the remaining period using an assumed interest 
rate on equivalent new lease obligations.

Derivatives
Information on fair value of derivatives is included in Note 17.

The carrying amount of financial instruments whose fair value cannot be reliably determined as of March 31, 2012 and 2011 consisted of the following:

Investment securities that do not have a quoted 
  market price in an active market ............................................................................ 

¥1,181 

¥1,195 

$14,369

Millions of yen 

2012 

2011 

Thousands of
U.S. dollars
2012

(4) Maturity analysis for financial assets and securities with contractual maturities
The maturity analysis for financial assets and securities with contractual maturities as of March 31, 2012 was as follows:

Due within 
one year 

Millions of yen

Due after 
one year 
through five 
years 

Due after 
 five years 
through ten 
years

Cash and time deposits ............................................................................................  ¥  85,483 
Short-term investments and investment securities
  Held-to-maturity debt securities ........................................................................... 
10,000 
  Available-for-sale other securities with contractual maturities ............................. 
147 
Notes and accounts receivable ................................................................................. 
146,371 
  Total ......................................................................................................................  ¥242,001 

¥— 

— 
— 
— 
¥— 

¥— 

— 
— 
— 
¥— 

Due within 
one year 

Thousands of U.S. dollars

Due after 
one year 
through five 
years 

Due after 
 five years 
through ten 
years

Cash and time deposits ............................................................................................  $1,040,066 
Short-term investments and investment securities
  Held-to-maturity debt securities ........................................................................... 
121,668 
  Available-for-sale other securities with contractual maturities ............................. 
1,789 
Notes and accounts receivable ................................................................................. 
1,780,886 
  Total ......................................................................................................................  $2,944,409 

$— 

— 
— 
— 
$— 

$— 

— 
— 
— 
$— 

Please see Note 5 for annual maturities of long-term debt.

Due after
ten years

¥—

—
—
—
¥—

Due after
ten years

$—

—
—
—
$—

64     Kao Annual Report 2012 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
17

 Derivatives

(a) Derivative transactions to which hedge accounting is not applied
The Companies had the following derivative contracts outstanding to which hedge accounting was not applied at March 31, 2012 and 2011:

2012 

2011

Millions of yen

Contract 
amount 

Contract 
amount 
due after 
one year 

Fair 
value 

Unrealized 
gain/(loss) 

Contract 
amount 

Foreign exchange forward contracts:
  Buying U.S. Dollar ...............................................   ¥ 1,087 
  Buying Japanese Yen .........................................  
81 
  Buying British Pound ..........................................  
774 
  Buying other currencies ......................................  
3 
  Selling U.S. Dollar ...............................................  
11,082 
  Selling other currencies ......................................  
2,733 

Foreign currency swaps:
  Selling put option British Pound  .........................   ¥    464 
         Option premium  ..........................................  
— 
  Buying call option U.S. Dollar  .............................  
334 
         Option premium  ..........................................  
— 
  Buying call option Euro  ......................................  
302 
         Option premium ...........................................  
— 

¥   — 
— 
— 
— 
714 
— 

¥   — 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 

¥     9 
2 
28 
0 
(284) 
(96) 

¥  (14) 
— 
12 
— 
3 
— 

¥     9 
2 
28 
0 
(284) 
(96) 

¥  (14) 
— 
12 
— 
3 
— 

¥1,010 
49 
806 
233 
7,301 
3,863 

¥      — 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 

Contract 
amount 
due after 
one year

¥   331 
— 
— 
— 
1,569 
— 

  ¥     — 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 

Fair 
value 

Unrealized
gain/(loss)

¥ (42) 
1 
36 
27 
(52) 
110 

  ¥   — 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 

¥ (42)
1
36
27
(52)
110

¥  —
—
—
—
—
—

Thousands of U.S. dollars
2012

Contract 
amount 

Contract 
amount 
due after 
one year 

Fair 
value 

Unrealized
gain/(loss)

Foreign exchange forward contracts:
  Buying U.S. Dollar ...............................................   $  13,225 
  Buying Japanese Yen .........................................  
986 
  Buying British Pound ..........................................  
9,417 
  Buying other currencies ......................................  
37 
  Selling U.S. Dollar ...............................................   134,834 
  Selling other currencies ......................................  
33,252 

Foreign currency swaps:
  Selling put option British Pound  .........................   $   5,645 
         Option premium  ..........................................  
— 
  Buying call option U.S. Dollar  .............................  
4,064 
         Option premium  ..........................................  
— 
  Buying call option Euro  ......................................  
3,674 
         Option premium ...........................................  
— 

$     — 
— 
— 
— 
8,687 
— 

$     — 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 

$    110 
24 
341 
0 
(3,456) 
(1,169) 

$    110
24
341
0
(3,456)
(1,169)

$   (170)  $   (170)
—
146
—
37
—

— 
146 
— 
37 
— 

(b) Derivative transactions to which hedge accounting is applied
The Companies had the following derivative contracts outstanding to which hedge accounting was applied at March 31, 2012:

Hedged
item

Contract 
amount 

Millions of yen 
2012 
Contract 
amount 
due after 
one year 

Fair 
value 

Thousands of U.S. dollars
2012 
Contract 
amount 
due after 
one year 

Fair
value

Contract 
amount 

Interest rate swaps:
  (Fixed rate payment, Floating rate receipt) ..........  

Long-term 
debt

  ¥40,000  ¥40,000 

— 

$486,677  $486,677  —

The interest rate swaps which qualify for hedge accounting and 
meet specific matching criteria are not remeasured at market value 
but the differentials paid or received under the swap agreements 

are recognized and included in interest expense or income.  In 
addition, the fair value of the interest rate swaps is included in that 
of the hedged item, long-term debt, in Note 16.

Kao Annual Report 2012     65

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
18

 Net Income per Share

A reconciliation of the differences between basic and diluted net income per share (“EPS”) for the years ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 
was as follows:

For the year ended March 31, 2012: 

Basic EPS
  Net income available to common shareholders ......................  
Effect of dilutive securities
  Warrants .................................................................................  
Diluted EPS
  Net income for computation ...................................................  

Millions of yen 

Net income 

Thousands of
shares 

Weighted
average shares 

Yen 

U.S. dollars

EPS 

¥52,435 

521,936 

¥100.46 

$1.22

— 

183

¥52,435 

522,119 

¥100.43 

$1.22

For the year ended March 31, 2011: 

Basic EPS
  Net income available to common shareholders ......................  
Effect of dilutive securities
  Warrants .................................................................................  
Diluted EPS
  Net income for computation ...................................................  

Millions of yen 

Net income 

Thousands of
shares 

Weighted
average shares 

Yen

EPS 

¥46,738 

532,980 

¥87.69

— 

151

¥46,738 

533,131 

¥87.67

Supplemental information

Reorganization of Beauty Care Business in North America 
and Europe
In order to conduct integrated management by unifying multiple 
managements of Beauty Care Business in each country in North 

America and Europe, the Company has been conducting a 
sequential reorganization within the Group since January 2012.
   As a result, major companies subject to reorganization and changes 
to their corporate names as of March 31, 2012 were as follows:

Country

Before Reorganization

After Reorganization

United States of America

KPSS, Inc.

Kao Brands Company

KMS Global Marketing LLC

Kao Brands Canada Inc.

KPSS Canada Ltd.

Canada

Germany

Kao USA Inc.

Kao Canada Inc.

KPSS – Kao Professional Salon Services GmbH

Kao Germany GmbH

United Kingdom

Kao Brands Europe Limited

Switzerland

Netherlands

Singapore

KPSS AG

KPSS Netherland B.V.

Kao (Singapore) Private Limited

KPSS Pte. Ltd.

Kao (UK) Limited

Kao Switzerland AG

Kao Netherlands B.V.

Kao Singapore Private Limited

66     Kao Annual Report 2012 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Independent Auditor’s Report

Kao Annual Report 2012     67

Principal Subsidiaries and Affiliates   (As of June 28, 2012)

Country/Area

Business

Company

Country/Area

Business

Company

●

●

Kao Customer Marketing Co., Ltd. 

Japan

China

Taiwan

Vietnam

Philippines

Thailand

Malaysia

●

●

●

●

●

●

●

●

●

●

●

●

●

●

●

●

●

●

●

●

●

●

●

●

●

●

●

●

●

●

●

●

●

●

●

●

●

●

●

●

Kanebo Cosmetics Inc. 

E'quipe, Ltd. 

Lissage Ltd. 

Kanebo Cosmillion Ltd. 

Nivea-Kao Co., Ltd.

Ehime Sanitary Products Co., Ltd.

Kao Professional Services Co., Ltd.

Kao-Quaker Co., Ltd.

Kao (China) Holding Co., Ltd. 

Kao Corporation Shanghai 

Kao Commercial (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. 

Kanebo Cosmetics (China) Co., Ltd. 

Shanghai Kanebo Cosmetics Co., Ltd. 

Kao Chemical Corporation Shanghai 

Switzerland

Kao Trading Corporation Shanghai

Kao (Hong Kong) Ltd. 

Spain

●

Kao (Taiwan) Corporation 

●

●

Kao Vietnam Co., Ltd.

Pilipinas Kao, Incorporated

Kao Industrial (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

Kao Commercial (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

Kao Soap (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.

Canada

United States

Mexico

Germany

Netherlands

United Kingdom

●

●

●

●

●

●

●

●

●

●

●

●

●

●

●

Kao Canada Inc. 

Kao USA Inc. 

Kao America Inc.

Kao Specialties Americas LLC

Quimi-Kao, S.A. de C.V.

Kao Germany GmbH

Guhl Ikebana GmbH

Kao Corporation GmbH

●

Kao Chemicals GmbH

Kao Netherlands B.V.

Kao (UK) Limited

KPSS (UK) Limited

Kao Prestige Limited

Molton Brown Limited

Kao Switzerland AG

Kanebo Cosmetics (Europe) Ltd.

●

●

Kao Chemicals Europe, S.L.

Kao Corporation S.A.

Consumer Products Business

 ● Beauty Care Business
 ● Human Health Care Business
 ● Fabric and Home Care Business

Chemical Business
 ● Chemical Business

●

●

Kao (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.  

●

●

●

●

Fatty Chemical (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.

Kao Plasticizer (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.

Kao Oleochemical (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.

Kao Singapore Private Limited 

P.T. Kao Indonesia

●

P.T. Kao Indonesia Chemicals

Singapore

Indonesia

●

●

●

●

●

●

68     Kao Annual Report 2012 

 
Investor Information   (As of March 31, 2012)

Kao Corporation 
Head Office
14-10, Nihonbashi Kayabacho 1-chome
Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-8210, Japan
Telephone: 81-3-3660-7111

Founded
June 19, 1887

Common Stock
Authorized: 1,000,000,000 shares
Issued: 526,212,501 shares
Outstanding (excluding treasury stock): 
             522,366,519 shares
Number of Shareholders: 54,622

Stock Listing
Tokyo Stock Exchange

Ticker Symbol Number
4452

Administrator of Shareholder Register
Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Limited 
8-4, Izumi 2-chome, Suginami-ku, Tokyo 168-0063, Japan

Depositary and Registration for American Depositary
Receipts (ADR Ticker Symbol: KCRPY)
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
1 Chase Manhattan Plaza, Floor 58, New York, NY 10005, U.S.A.

Top Ten Shareholders

  Name of Shareholders 

Number of 
Shares 
(thousand shares) 

Ratio of
Shareholding* 
(percentage)

  Japan Trustee Services Bank, Ltd.
      (Trust Account) 
  Northern Trust Co. (AVFC)
      Sub A/C American Clients 
  The Master Trust Bank of Japan, Ltd.
      (Trust Account) 
  State Street Bank and Trust Company 
  Mellon Bank, N.A. as Agent for 
      its Client Mellon Omnibus US Pension 
  Northern Trust Co. AVFC Re U.S. 
      Tax Exempted Pension Funds 
  SSBT OD05 Omnibus Account – Treaty Clients 
  Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd. 
  Kao Group Employee Shareholding Association 
  State Street Bank and Trust Company 505225 
* Ratio of shareholding is calculated based on the issued shares.

32,332 

23,076 

21,492 
18,844 

13,585 

12,346 
12,021 
10,442 
8,815 
8,618 

6.14

4.38

4.08
3.58 

2.58

2.34
2.28
1.98
1.67
1.63

Composition of Shareholders

Securities Companies  3.59%

Other Japanese Companies  4.04%

Individuals and Others  14.57%

Financial 
Institutions  29.32%

Treasury Stock  0.73%

Companies and Individuals
in Foreign Countries  47.75%

For the Kao Sustainability Report and Kao Group 
Profile, please refer to the Kao Group website at
http://www.kao.com/group/en/group/reports.html

Investor Relations

Telephone: 81-3-3660-7101       Facsimile:  81-3-3660-8978

     e-mail:  ir@kao.co.jp
     Web site:  http://www.kao.com/jp/en/corp_ir/investors.html

Stock Price Range and Trading Volume (Tokyo Stock Exchange)

Stock Price Range (Yen)

Common Stock Price Range

Tokyo Price Index Close

Monthly Trading Volume (Million Shares)

4,000

3,500

3,000

2,500

2,000

1,500

1,000

500

0

120

100

80

60

40

20

0

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

Note: Fiscal years beginning April and ending March the following calendar year

Kao Annual Report 2012     69