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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FY2018 Annual Report · Kao Corp.
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Financial Report 2018

For the year ended December 31, 2018

Management Discussion and Analysis 

Consolidated Financial Statements 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

Independent Auditor’s Report 

1

14

19

66

Management Discussion and Analysis

Management Policies

  Among the various elements of ESG, the Kao Group views 

corporate governance as the cornerstone of management for 

Management Policies of the Kao Group

supporting management’s intentions and ambitions from both 

The Kao Group’s mission is to strive for the wholehearted 

“proactive” and “protective” aspects and for continuously 

satisfaction and enrichment of the lives of people globally and 

increasing its corporate value. For this purpose, the Kao Group 

to contribute to the sustainability of the world, with products 

works for ongoing “Innovation”3 and will further enhance its 

and brands of excellent value that are created from the 

internal controls for the execution of management that is 

consumer’s and customer’s perspective. 

swift, efficient and sound, as well as impartial and transparent.

  The Kao Way, which is the corporate philosophy of the Kao 

1.   Research that pursues the essence of things for both humans and 

materials from a scientific standpoint.

Group, serves as the foundation of all our activities. All 

2.  Kirei is a Japanese word that represents the concept of cleanliness, 

members of the Kao Group will share the Kao Way and put it 

beauty, health, purity, and fairness.

3.  Innovation is one of the values of the Kao Way, the corporate philosophy 

into practice every day as the foundation of our approaches 

of the Kao Group.

and actions. Moreover, this commitment is embraced by all 

members of the Kao Group as we further promote efforts to 

Management Metric Used as a Target

fully utilize our assets and work together with passion to 

As its principal management metric, the Kao Group uses 

continue to share joy with consumers and customers in our 

economic value added (EVA®*), which measures true profit by 

core domains of cleanliness, beauty, health and chemicals.  

factoring in the cost of invested capital. This essentially takes 

  Social conditions and the natural environment are changing 

the perspective of shareholders and other asset owners to 

dramatically. For the Kao Group to continue to grow 

deploy capital efficiently and generate profits. The Kao Group 

sustainably, we must transform ourselves to drive change. We 

believes that continuously increasing EVA will lead to 

will deepen our Essential Research1 to proactively offer 

innovations on a level that exerts an impact on society.

increases in corporate value and thus corresponds with long-

term benefits, not only for shareholders, but for all 

In addition, the Kao Group considers non-financial as well 

stakeholders. The target of the Kao Group’s business activities 

as financial strategies and initiatives to be a top management 

is to increase EVA while expanding its business scale. The Kao 

priority, and will conduct more substantive ESG activities 

Group uses this metric to assess its businesses, to make 

globally under the name “Kirei2 Action.” To help create the 

evaluations on investment in facilities, acquisitions and other 

future that people worldwide envision, we will take an 

items, and to develop performance targets for each fiscal year 

approach unique to the Kao Group in squarely confronting the 

and for its compensation system. 

social issues raised by the Sustainable Development Goals 

(SDGs) and addressing matters such as the strengthening of 

environmental laws and regulations and the ethical concerns 

of consumers. As we achieve profitable growth and a high 

level of returns to stakeholders, we will become a corporate 

group with a global presence by 2030.

*  EVA is a registered trademark of Stern Stewart & Co. EVA is defined as 

net operating profit after tax (NOPAT) less a charge for the cost of capital 
employed in the business.

1

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

 
Medium-to-long-term Management 
Strategies of the Kao Group

Long-term Management Strategy
Long-term Targets

As its vision by 2030 based on the above management 

The Kao Group’s Vision by 2030

Make Kao a company with a global presence that

•  Has a distinctive corporate image

  Become a company that is always by the consumer’s side

•  Is a high-profit global consumer goods company that 

policies, the Kao Group aims to make Kao a company with a 

exceeds: 

global presence by combining sustained “profitable growth,” 

  - ¥2.5 trillion in net sales (¥1.0 trillion outside Japan) 

and “contributions to the sustainability of the world” with 

  - 17% operating margin

proposals to resolve social issues and social contribution 

  - 20% ROE

activities conducted through its business operations. To 

•  Provides a high level of returns to stakeholders

achieve this vision, the Kao Group will promote the further 

reinforcement of the existing businesses that are its strength 

and the creation of new markets from a global perspective 

utilizing the R&D capabilities that will create value for the 

future, in addition to implementing basic measures to further 

raise the level of safety and reliability.

It is becoming difficult to predict the various changes that 

will occur throughout the world in all aspects, such as speed, 

size and direction. To deal with this situation, the Kao Group 

aims to achieve the above vision by fully embracing the slogan 

of “Transforming Ourselves to Drive Change.”

Net Sales / Operating Margin

ROE

(Billions of yen)
1,600

1,401.7

1,471.8

1,474.6

1,457.6 1,489.4*

1,508.0

1,200

800

400

0

13.7

13.8

12.7

11.2

11.3

9.5

2014

2015

2015

2016

2017

2018

(%)
20

15

10

5

0

(%)
25

20

15

10

5

0

18.6

19.8

18.9

16.1

14.8

12.4

2014

2015

2015

2016

2017

2018

Japanese GAAP

IFRS

Japanese GAAP

IFRS

Net Sales (Left)
Operating Margin (Right)

* In FY2017, the Kao Group adopted IFRS 15 early in tandem with a revision of
its sales system for the Consumer Products Business in Japan. As a result, 

  certain items formerly treated as SG&A expenses are accounted for as 
  reductions of net sales or cost of sales.

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

2

 
 
Mid-term Business Plan

The Kao Group regards its mid-term business plan for the 

period to 2020 as an important milestone toward achieving its 

vision by 2030. To enhance corporate value, it established the 

Kao Group Mid-term Plan 2020 “K20” targeting the four years 

from fiscal 2017 to fiscal 2020 and announced it publicly on 

December 12, 2016. 

K20 Goals – Three Commitments

•  Commitment to fostering a distinctive corporate image

•  Commitment to profitable growth

  - Continue to set new record highs for profits

  -  Aim for like-for-like* net sales CAGR of +5%, 

operating margin of 15%

  To further enhance its ESG activities, the Kao Group will 

  -  Three ¥100 billion brands (Merries baby diapers, 

thoroughly instill the Integrity set forth in the Kao Way, the 

Kao Group’s corporate philosophy, by sharing and practicing it 

Attack laundry detergents, Bioré skin care products)

  *  Excluding the effect of currency translation, change of sales 

system, etc. 

among all employees while deepening Essential Research. In 

•  Commitment to returns to stakeholders

July 2018, we established a new ESG Division to set up a 

  -  Shareholders: Continuous cash dividend increases 

structure for promoting ESG activities globally. In addition, by 

(40% payout ratio target)

utilizing artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, robotics 

  -  Employees: Continuous improvement in 

and other cutting-edge technologies to take the full use of its 

assets to the next dimension, the Kao Group will realize 

profitable growth at a high level of quality and create new 

assets to achieve the following goals.

compensation, benefits and health support

  -  Customers: Maximization of win-win relationships

  - Society: Advanced measures to address social issues

  The Kao Group must securely build this foundation under 

K20 to achieve its vision by 2030. This entails promoting the 

evolution of its post-deflation growth model of using proactive 

investments to generate earning power, thus achieving 

profitable growth. Doing so will require drastically revising 

current procedures, approaches and concepts to maximize 

Cash Dividends per Share

(Yen)
120

100

80

60

40

20

0

Increases in dividends for 29 consecutive periods

7.1 7.1 8.87 9.09 10.0 10.5 11.5 12.5 14

15

16

20

24

26

38

30

32

54

56

57

58

60

62

64

52

50

120

110

94

80

70

1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Note: Impact of share splits is reflected retroactively.

3

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

Management Discussion and Analysis

Costs, Expenses and Income as Percentages of Net Sales

Years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016

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

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

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

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

Income before income taxes ...................................................................................

Net income attributable to owners of the parent ....................................................

2018

56.6%

43.4

29.5

13.8

13.7

10.2

IFRS

2017

56.0%

44.0

30.4

13.7

13.7

9.9

2016

43.7%

56.3

43.5

12.7

12.6

8.7

and make full use of Kao Group assets. While remaining 

significance. Moreover, amid the global expansion of business 

committed to thoroughly instilling Integrity, the Kao Group will 

and the progress of structural changes in various fields, 

put into practice the K20 slogan of “Transforming Ourselves 

companies must deal with changes in the risks entailed in 

to Drive Change.”

their businesses. Under these conditions, the Kao Group will 

Issues for Management

promote both profitable growth and contributions to the 

sustainability of society through Yoki-Monozukuri* that is a 

half-step ahead of these changes. To that end, it will address 

With intensifying market competition, changing market 

and deal appropriately with the following issues.

structure and volatility in raw material market conditions and 

*  The Kao Group defines Yoki-Monozukuri as a strong commitment by all 

exchange rates, the operating environment remains uncertain. 

Changes in the attitudes of consumers regarding the 

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.”

environment, health and other matters and associated 

(1)  To deal with changes in the risks entailed in its 

changes in their purchasing attitudes, as well as the aging 

businesses, the Kao Group will define risks that have a 

society, hygiene and other social issues, are growing in 

particularly large impact on management and for which it 

Payout Ratio

44.7

40.6

(%)
50

40

30

20

10

0

must enhance its response as corporate risks and work 

to prevent damage to the corporate value of the Group as 

a whole by further enhancing its management system. 

(2)  Given the current rapid progress of factors such as the 

diversification of values brought on by technology 

innovations and the accompanying changes in 

purchasing behavior and the structure of retailing, our 

38.1

37.1

36.9

38.238.238.2

business model targeting the mass market, which could 

2014

2015

2015

2016

2017

2018

Japanese GAAP

IFRS

formerly be conducted efficiently, must be reconsidered 

from all aspects, including research and development, 

production, logistics, sales and marketing. To resolve 

these issues, the Kao Group will proactively promote 

the enhancement of Essential Research and the use of 

artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, robotics and 

other cutting-edge technologies. 

(3)  To sustainably enhance its corporate value, the Kao 

Group must appropriately address social issues in the 

areas of environmental preservation and resource 

conservation such as problems with marine plastic and 

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

4

 
 
 
other kinds of trash, depletion of water resources, 

Overview of Consolidated Results

sustainable and responsible procurement, as well as 

safety and human rights, among others. Therefore, the 

Conditions in the global economy are unclear due to factors 

Kao Group will globally roll out and accelerate the ESG-

including trends in trade issues, the economic outlook for 

related initiatives it has been conducting, primarily 

China and other emerging countries in Asia and the impact of 

through the ESG Division, and enhance its management 

uncertainty about the policies of the Americas and Europe.

system for conducting checks and administering these 

  From January to December 2018, the markets for household 

initiatives. In October 2018, the Kao Group announced 

and personal care products and cosmetics in Japan, which are 

“Our Philosophy & Action on Plastic Packaging.”

key markets for the Kao Group, were in solid condition according 

Basic Approach to Selection of 
Accounting Standards

to retail sales and consumer purchasing survey data. In every 

product category, the share of the e-commerce channel 

increased further and average unit prices for household and 

personal care products increased by 1 percentage point 

compared with the same period a year earlier. 

Having decided that unifying accounting standards within the 

  Under these circumstances, the Kao Group completed the 

Kao Group will contribute to improving the quality of its 

business management, the Kao Group has voluntarily adopted 

International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) from fiscal 

second fiscal year of the Kao Group Mid-term Plan “K20” 

covering the four years from 2017 to 2020. With technology 

innovations such as artificial intelligence and the Internet of 

2016. This will enable management based on standardized 

procedures and information for each Group company and 

business, and the Kao Group intends to reinforce its 

management foundation in order to increase its corporate 

value as a global company. The Kao Group also believes that 

the application of IFRS will facilitate the international 

comparability of its financial statements in capital markets.

Things, the structure of retailing and purchasing behavior and 

other factors are changing rapidly worldwide and consumer 

values are diversifying. The Kao Group invested proactively for 

the future and made efforts that included enhancing new and 

improved product launches, marketing and sales activities that 

address these changes. As a result, in its consolidated operating 

results the Kao Group increased operating income and net income 

Basic Earnings per Share

Net Sales / Operating Margin

(Yen)
400

300

200

100

0

Consumer Products Business

(Billions of yen)
1,500

314.25

298.30

253.43

197.19

209.82

156.46

2014

2015

2015

2016

2017

2018

1,000

500

0

1,222.8

1,225.6

1,219.8

1,216.0

1,232.9

11.0

11.2

12.7

14.2

14.3

1,154.5

9.6

2014

2015

2015

2016

2017

2018

Japanese GAAP

IFRS

Japanese GAAP

IFRS

(%)
25

20

15

10

5

0

Net Sales (Left)
Operating Margin (Right)

Notes: In FY2017, the Kao Group adopted IFRS 15 early in tandem with a  

revision of its sales system for the Consumer Products Business in Japan.
In FY 2018, due to the reorganization of the sales organization of the 
Consumer Products Business in Japan, operating income for the previous 
fiscal year has been restated. 

5

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

 
 
 
 
Management Discussion and Analysis

for the ninth consecutive fiscal year and achieved record-high 

2.  The Curél derma care brand, which formerly had been 

operating income for the sixth consecutive fiscal year. The Kao 

classified as skin care and hair care products, has been 

Group did not reach its forecast of consolidated operating results, 

included in the Cosmetics Business, and the Success men’s 

but the entire Group will continue to work to achieve “K20.”

products brand, which formerly had been classified in the 

Analysis of Income Statement

Human Health Care Business, has been included in the Skin 

Care and Hair Care Business. Net sales and operating income 

for the previous fiscal year have been restated accordingly.

3.  Due to the reorganization of the sales organization of the 

Net sales increased 1.2% compared with the previous fiscal 

Consumer Products Business in Japan, operating income 

year to ¥1,508.0 billion. On a like-for-like basis, net sales 

for the previous fiscal year has been restated.

increased 1.3%. In the Consumer Products Business in Japan, 

the Kao Group made efforts including launches of new and 

Consumer Products Business

improved products and further enhancement of its sales 

Sales increased 1.4% compared with the previous fiscal year to 

promotion activities, but sales decreased slightly. Outside 

¥1,232.9 billion. On a like-for-like basis, sales increased 1.6%.

Japan, sales increased. The Chemical Business was impacted 

  The Kao Group worked for more effective marketing and 

by factors including selling price adjustments associated with 

sales activities, including launching new and improved 

a drop in prices for natural fats and oils, but sales increased 

products that address the diversification of consumer values 

due to promotion of high-value-added products. 

and enhancing activities in the e-commerce channel in line 

  As for profits, depreciation expenses and other costs 

with changes in purchasing behavior. 

increased, but due to more efficient deployment of marketing 

In Japan, sales decreased slightly by 0.3% to ¥883.9 billion. 

expenses and the effect of increased sales in the Consumer 

In Asia, sales were steady, increasing 5.3% to ¥198.7 

Products Business in Asia, among other factors, operating 

billion. On a like-for-like basis, sales increased 6.3%. 

income was ¥207.7 billion, an increase of ¥2.9 billion 

In the Americas, sales increased 10.0% to ¥85.0 billion. On 

compared with the previous fiscal year, the operating margin 

a like-for-like basis, sales increased 12.1%. In Europe, sales 

was 13.8% and income before income taxes was ¥207.3 

increased 2.3% to ¥65.2 billion. On a like-for-like basis, sales 

billion, an increase of ¥3.0 billion. Net income was ¥155.3 

increased 0.1%. 

billion, an increase of ¥6.7 billion. 

  Operating income increased ¥2.7 billion compared with the 

  Basic earnings per share were ¥314.25, an increase of 

previous fiscal year to ¥175.7 billion. 

¥15.95, or 5.3%, from ¥298.30 in the previous fiscal year.

Note:  The Kao Group’s Consumer Products Business consists of the 

  To improve capital efficiency and further increase 

shareholder returns, Kao Corporation (the Company) resolved 

Cosmetics Business, the Skin Care and Hair Care Business, the Human 
Health Care Business, and the Fabric and Home Care Business.

at a meeting of its Board of Directors held on April 27, 2018 to 

Cosmetics Business

repurchase its own shares, and repurchased shares totaling 

Sales increased 5.0% compared with the previous fiscal year 

¥50.0 billion. The Company retired 6.3 million treasury shares 

to ¥279.6 billion. On a like-for-like basis, sales increased 5.0%. 

on September 14, 2018. 

Information by Segment

As of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, the following 

changes have been made.

1.  The Beauty Care Business has been divided into the Cosmetics 

Business and the Skin Care and Hair Care Business, changing 

the four former reportable segments into five.

  The Kao Group announced a new growth strategy in May 

2018, and was able to achieve some success from optimizing 

the brand portfolio, enhancing marketing and other measures. 

The Kao Group determined key strategic brands to promote 

selection and concentration, and enhanced digital marketing 

in response to changes in consumer purchasing behavior.

  Counseling cosmetics SUQQU and RMK, which are 

available in the department store channel, and in self-selection 

cosmetics, freeplus, which is hypoallergenic and contains 

Japanese and Chinese botanical extracts, and the Curél derma 

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

6

 
 
 
care brand sold strongly. SOFINA iP base essence was 

growing premium market and the impact of the shrinking 

improved in September 2018, and sales grew steadily as it 

mass market. In Europe, the John Frieda hair care brand was 

gained acceptance among an increasing number of 

affected by intense market competition.

consumers. Sales increased substantially in the strongly 

In January 2018, U.S.-based Oribe Hair Care, LLC, which 

growing Asian region, led by China. The Kao Group will further 

owns Oribe, a super-premium-price brand for hair salons, 

develop the Cosmetics Business by executing its new growth 

became a consolidated subsidiary and its sales were strong. 

strategy as it steadily implements structural reforms.

  Operating income decreased ¥0.5 billion compared with 

  Operating income was ¥27.7 billion, a substantial 

the previous fiscal year to ¥48.8 billion due to factors 

improvement of ¥14.7 billion from the previous fiscal year, 

including expenses incurred for structural reforms in the 

due to the effects of increased sales of strongly performing 

Americas and Europe, despite the effect of increased sales of 

brands and the Asia business, among other factors. 

skin care products in Japan and in Asia. 

Skin Care and Hair Care Business

Human Health Care Business

Sales increased 2.6% compared with the previous fiscal year 

Sales decreased 4.8% compared with the previous fiscal year 

to ¥341.4 billion. On a like-for-like basis, sales increased 2.7%. 

to ¥267.7 billion. On a like-for-like basis, sales decreased 4.4%.

In skin care products, sales of the Bioré brand grew 

  For Merries baby diapers, sales in Japan decreased. The 

steadily in Japan and Asia, but were impacted by stiff 

Kao Group gained greater consumer support in Japan by 

competition in the Americas. Jergens hand and body lotions 

conducting product improvements and enhancing sampling 

performed steadily in the Americas.

and other sales promotion activities, but due to factors 

In hair care products in Japan, the Kao Group launched 

including the impact of the new e-commerce law in China, 

Rerise, an innovative next-generation brand for gray hair care, 

which came into effect as of January 2019, there was a 

and its performance was strong but sales of shampoos and 

substantial downturn in demand for the purpose of resale in 

conditioners decreased due to a delayed response to the 

China. Sales in China also decreased due to factors including 

Net Sales / Operating Margin

Cosmetics 
Business

Skin Care and 
Hair Care Business

Human Health 
Care Business

Fabric and 
Home Care Business

Chemical 
Business

(Billions of yen)
400

300

200

100

0

341.4

332.9

14.8

14.3

240.1
240.1

280.7 281.7
280.7

281.7 273.1

273.1 281.2

281.2 267.7
267.7

324.5 334.4 335.3 345.2

335.7

344.1

20.7 19.7

18.8

22.6 22.7

20.7

288.0 288.5
288.0

288.5
288.5 288.5

273.8
273.8

310.3 312.8

12.7 11.8

12.3

10.4

9.5

9.1

10.4

9.9

10.8

9.8

9.8

7.7

279.6

266.2

9.9

4.9

2017

2018

2017

2018

2014

2015 2015 2016

2017 2018

2014

2015 2015 2016

2017 2018

2014

2015 2015 2016

2017 2018

IFRS

IFRS

Japanese
GAAP

IFRS

Japanese
GAAP

IFRS

Japanese
GAAP

IFRS

Net Sales (Left)
Operating Margin (Right)

(%)
40

30

20

10

0

Notes: In FY2017, the Kao Group adopted IFRS 15 early in tandem with a revision of its sales system for the Consumer Products Business in Japan.

In FY 2018, due to the reorganization of the sales organization of the Consumer Products Business in Japan, operating income for the previous fiscal year has been restated. 
The Beauty Care Business has been divided into the Cosmetics Business and the Skin Care and Hair Care Business, changing the four former reportable segments into five. 
The Curél derma care brand, which formerly had been classified as skin care and hair care products, has been included in the Cosmetics Business, and the Success men’s 
products brand, which formerly had been classified in the Human Health Care Business, has been included in the Skin Care and Hair Care Business. Net sales and operating
income for the previous fiscal year have been restated accordingly.
Figures for the Consumer Products Business present sales to external customers and figures for the Chemical Business include sales to the Consumer Products 
Business in addition to external customers.

7

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Management Discussion and Analysis

intensifying price competition and aggressive activities by 

the impact of increased costs for petrochemicals and other 

local manufacturers. On the other hand, locally produced 

raw materials in a severe competitive environment.

products targeting the middle-class consumer segment 

performed well in Indonesia and market share grew in Russia 

Chemical Business

and neighboring countries as the products gained broad 

Sales increased 0.8% compared with the previous fiscal year 

acceptance among consumers. 

to ¥312.8 billion. On a like-for-like basis, sales increased 0.5%.

  For Laurier sanitary napkins, high-value-added products 

  Sales of oleo chemicals decreased due to the impact of 

performed strongly in Japan, China and elsewhere, and 

selling price adjustments associated with a drop in prices for 

among adult incontinence products, sales grew steadily in 

natural fats and oils, although demand outside Japan was firm. 

Japan for a line of Relief ultra-thin pants-type diapers 

Sales of performance chemicals increased, due in part to the 

designed to be like regular underwear.

contribution from growth in sales volume in infrastructure-

  Sales of personal health products were steady. In oral care 

related fields. In specialty chemicals, sales of hard disk-related 

and bath additives, high-performance products sold steadily. 

products were steady, despite the impact of a decrease in 

Sales of MegRhythm thermo products grew as the Kao Group 

customer demand for toner and toner binder.

increased the number of loyal users through measures such 

  Operating income increased ¥0.3 billion compared with the 

as launching improved items and enhancing digital marketing. 

previous fiscal year to a record high of ¥30.6 billion due to 

In food and beverage products, the Kao Group conducted 

growth in sales of oleo chemicals outside Japan and 

business reforms and the profit structure improved.

promotion of high-value-added products.

  Operating income decreased ¥6.5 billion compared with 

the previous fiscal year to ¥27.9 billion, due to the decrease in 

sales of baby diapers, higher raw material costs, increased 

Financial Position

depreciation expenses and other factors. 

Fabric and Home Care Business

Total assets increased ¥33.6 billion from December 31, 2017 

to ¥1,461.0 billion. The principal increases in assets were a 

Sales increased 2.5% compared with the previous fiscal year 

¥13.7 billion increase in inventories, a ¥23.1 billion increase in 

to ¥344.1 billion. On a like-for-like basis, sales increased 2.6%.

property, plant and equipment, a ¥41.6 billion increase in 

  Sales of fabric care products were firm amid an 

goodwill and a ¥29.7 billion increase in intangible assets. The 

environment of severe competition in Japan. The Kao Group 

principal decrease in assets was a ¥77.1 billion decrease in 

worked to enhance communication of the value of Attack 

cash and cash equivalents. 

laundry detergent in “changing tap water for washing to 

  Total liabilities increased ¥17.5 billion from December 31, 

antibacterial water” and increased the market share of fabric 

2017 to ¥625.5 billion. The principal increase in liabilities was a 

softeners by improving Flair Fragrance amid the ongoing 

¥19.9 billion increase in retirement benefit liabilities.

expansion of the market for high-value-added products. 

  Total equity increased ¥16.1 billion from December 31, 

  Sales of home care products were firm. In Japan, the Kao 

2017 to ¥835.5 billion. The principal increase in equity was net 

Group cultivated new users by improving foam spray-type 

income totaling ¥155.3 billion. The principal decreases in 

CuCute dishwashing detergent, and sales grew steadily.

equity were purchase of treasury shares from the market 

  Sales were firm in Asia as the Kao Group launched high-value-

totaling ¥50.0 billion, dividends totaling ¥57.5 billion and other 

added products and enhanced in-store merchandising in Thailand 

comprehensive income totaling ¥32.1 billion. 

and other countries. In addition, to strengthen its commercial-

  As a result of the above factors, the ratio of equity 

use products business outside Japan, the Kao Group completed 

attributable to owners of the parent to total assets was 56.3% 

the acquisition of U.S.-based Washing Systems, LLC and made it 

compared with 56.5% at December 31, 2017. The Kao Group 

a consolidated subsidiary in August 2018.

maintained return on equity at the high level of 18.9%.

  Operating income decreased ¥5.0 billion compared with 

In addition, the Company retired 6.3 million treasury shares 

the previous fiscal year to ¥71.2 billion due to factors including 

on September 14, 2018.

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

8

 
 
Cash Flows

activities and net cash flows from investing activities, was 

¥37.7 billion. 

The balance of cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2018 

decreased ¥77.1 billion compared with December 31, 2017 to 

Cash Flows from Financing Activities 

¥266.0 billion, including the effect of exchange rate changes.

Net cash flows from financing activities totaled negative ¥108.6 

billion. The Company emphasizes steady and continuous 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities 

dividends and flexibly repurchases and retires treasury shares to 

Net cash flows from operating activities totaled ¥195.6 billion. 

improve capital efficiency from the perspective of EVA. During 

The principal increases in net cash were income before income 

fiscal 2018, this primarily consisted of ¥57.6 billion for dividends 

taxes of ¥207.3 billion, depreciation and amortization of ¥60.7 

paid to owners of the parent and non-controlling interests and 

billion and increase in retirement benefit liabilities of ¥20.7 

¥50.0 billion for purchase of treasury shares. In addition, to 

billion. The principal decreases in net cash were increase in trade 

reinforce its financial base in order to maintain an appropriate 

and other receivables of ¥12.6 billion, increase in inventories of 

capital cost rate and to invest for growth, the Kao Group issued 

¥15.7 billion and income taxes paid of ¥51.7 billion.

and redeemed corporate bonds, which resulted in ¥25.1 billion in 

proceeds from issuance of bonds and payments totaling ¥24.9 

Cash Flows from Investing Activities 

billion for redemption of bonds.

Net cash flows from investing activities totaled negative ¥157.9 

billion. This primarily consisted of purchase of property, plant and 

equipment of ¥80.3 billion for capacity expansion at production 

bases in Japan and proactive capital investments in Asia, where 

growth is notable, and payments for business combinations of 

¥73.9 billion for businesses for hair salons, commercial-use 

products and other purposes where synergies with existing 

Basic Policies regarding Distribution of 
Profits and Dividends for the Fiscal Years 
Ended December 31, 2018 and Ending 
December 31, 2019

business are expected. 

The Kao Group uses economic value added (EVA) as its 

  Free cash flow, the sum of net cash flows from operating 

principal management metric and clearly sets the uses of its 

Net Cash Flows from Operating Activities / 
Capital Expenditures

Free Cash Flows*

180.9

181.7

184.3

185.8

195.6

(Billions of yen)
150

(Billions of yen)
200

150

145.1

100

50

0

83.4

82.8

89.9

89.1

79.4

68.5

2014

2015

2015

2016

2017

2018

100

50

0

106.8

107.5

95.7

89.7

81.3

37.7

2014

2015

2015

2016

2017

2018

Japanese GAAP

IFRS

Japanese GAAP

IFRS

Net Cash Flows from Operating Activities 
Capital Expenditures

* Free cash flow is the sum of net cash flows from operating activities 
   and net cash flows from investing activities.

9

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

Management Discussion and Analysis

steadily generated cash flow as shown below from that 

EVA and Related Activities

viewpoint. Shareholder returns are one such use, and they are 

implemented after considering future demand for funds and 

EVA for fiscal 2018 was ¥93.5 billion, an increase of ¥3.1 

the situation in financial markets.

billion compared with the previous fiscal year due to growth in 

Use of cash flow:

net operating profit after tax (NOPAT) that exceeded the 

increase in capital costs from the previous fiscal year.

•  Investment for future growth (capital expenditures, 

  The Kao Group conducted the following EVA-related 

M&A, etc.)

activities during the fiscal year.

•  Steady and continuous dividends (40% payout ratio target)

•  Share repurchases and early repayment of interest-

Investing for Growth: During fiscal 2018, the Kao Group 

bearing debt including borrowings  

invested aggressively for future growth. Capital expenditures 

were ¥89.1 billion. In the Consumer Products Business, the 

In accordance with these policies, the Company plans to 

Kao Group carried out activities including facility expansion, 

pay a year-end dividend for fiscal 2018 of ¥60 per share, an 

streamlining, maintenance and renewal in each of its 

increase of ¥4 per share compared with the previous fiscal 

businesses. The Kao Group reinforced its supply system in the 

year. Consequently, annual cash dividends will increase ¥10 per 

Skin Care and Hair Care Business by constructing a new 

share compared with the previous fiscal year, resulting in a total 

building on the grounds of the Toyohashi Plant for efficient 

of ¥120 per share. The consolidated payout ratio will be 38.2%.

production of premium products, and in the Human Health 

  For fiscal 2019, the Company plans to pay total cash dividends 

Care Business by expanding production capacity at its factories 

of ¥130 per share (39.1% payout ratio), an increase of ¥10 per share 

for sanitary products inside and outside Japan. In the Chemical 

compared with the previous fiscal year. This plan is in accordance 

Business, the Kao Group expanded production capacity inside 

with the Company’s basic policies regarding distribution of 

and outside Japan and conducted activities including 

profits, and free cash flow and other factors have also been 

streamlining, maintaining and renewing facilities. Expenditures 

taken into consideration. As a result, the Company is aiming 

for business combinations with a hair salon business, a 

for its 30th consecutive fiscal year of increases in dividends.

commercial-use products business and other businesses with 

Total Dividend Payment / Share Repurchases* / 
Net Income Attributable to Owners of the Parent

Cost of Capital / EVA

(Billions of yen)
150

153.7

147.0

(Billions of yen)
150

90.4

93.593.593.5

100

50

0

105.2

126.6

98.9

50.0

46.8

40.2

40.2

50.0

79.6

35.5

54.3

58.5

2014

2015

2015

2016

2017

2018

50.050.050.0

100

47.6

70.6

58.6

73.4

50

0

53.3

55.1

54.8

56.4

59.1

62.7

2014

2015

2015

2016

2017

2018

Japanese GAAP

IFRS

Japanese GAAP

IFRS

Total Dividend Payment
Share Repurchases
Net Income Attributable to Owners of the Parent

* Excludes repurchase of shares of less than one trading unit

Cost of Capital
EVA

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

10

 
 
 
 
the expectation of synergy with existing businesses totaled 

comprehensive list of risks the Kao Group faces. Other risks 

¥73.9 billion. Research and development expenditures were 

exist and may have an impact on investment decisions. Any 

¥57.7 billion, which was the equivalent of 3.8% of net sales, 

statements below concerning the future are judgments made 

remaining at a high level relative to net sales.

by the Company as of the submission of its securities report 

to the Ministry of Finance.

Increasing Profit: The Kao Group increased operating income 

in the Consumer Products Business by launching new and 

(1)  Consumer Products Business

improved products, further enhancing sales promotion 

1. Response to Changes in Consumer Needs

activities and promoting a shift to digital marketing in Japan. 

The Kao Group’s Consumer Products Business is affected by 

In the Chemical Business, the Kao Group achieved record-high 

business cycles and changes in consumers’ values in the 

operating income from growth in sales of oleo chemicals 

market of each country. The Consumer Products Business 

outside Japan and promotion of high-value-added products.

maintains and improves brand value by understanding 

changes in consumer needs and using the comprehensive 

Financial Improvement: For fiscal 2018, the Company paid 

strength of the Kao Group’s product development and 

annual dividends per share of ¥120.00, a year-on-year increase 

manufacturing in working to create high-value-added products 

of ¥10.00, or 9%, as announced in its forecast at the 

and provide services through approaches in areas including 

beginning of the fiscal year. As a result, the Company has 

the environment, health, the aging society and hygiene. 

achieved 29 consecutive fiscal periods of dividend growth. In 

However, as a consequence of uncertainties in these 

addition, the Kao Group repurchased ¥50.0 billion of its own 

business activities due to various factors, the Consumer 

shares to improve capital efficiency.

Products Business may be unable to provide products and 

R&D Expenses

services that respond to changes in consumer needs and 

(Billions of yen)

brand value could decrease. This could have an impact on the 

Cosmetics Business ..........................................

Skin Care and Hair Care Business ...................

Human Health Care Business .........................

Fabric and Home Care Business .....................

Chemical Business ..........................................

2018

10.5

16.0

11.3

9.8

10.2

Business Risks and Other Risks

Kao Group’s business results and financial condition.

2. Response to Changes in Retailing

The Kao Group’s Consumer Products Business is affected by 

changes in the structure of retailing, including progress in the 

creation of new corporate groups through retail industry 

mergers and integration in the market, and the emergence and 

expansion of new retail channels. The Consumer Products 

Business conducts sales activities and makes new offerings 

that respond to these structural changes. However, as a 

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

consequence of uncertainties in these business activities due 

Kao Group manages risks appropriately by identifying and 

to various factors, the Consumer Products Business may be 

evaluating risks to formulate and implement necessary 

unable to conduct sales activities or make new offerings that 

countermeasures, among other activities. In addition, in the 

respond to these structural changes. This could have an impact 

event a risk manifests itself, the Kao Group sets up an 

on the Kao Group’s business results and financial condition.

emergency response organization and strives to keep the 

extent of injury and damage as small as possible by 

(2)  Chemical Business

responding promptly. However, in the event a major risk such 

The Kao Group’s Chemical Business is affected by factors 

as those described below manifests itself, it may exert a 

including trends in customer demand and fluctuations in raw 

significant impact on the Kao Group’s business results and 

material prices. The Chemical Business promotes creation of 

financial condition. The major risks described below are not a 

high-value-added products that match customer needs, 

11

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

 
Management Discussion and Analysis

conducts research and development of products in 

material costs into product prices. In addition, the Kao Group 

consideration of the environment, and provides such products 

is conducting development of substitute raw materials for 

while working to reduce costs and deal with product prices. 

natural fats and oils through research into advanced effective 

However, as a consequence of uncertainties in these 

utilization of non-edible raw materials. However, unexpected 

business activities due to various factors, the Chemical 

radical changes in market prices could have an impact on the 

Business may be unable to provide products that match 

Kao Group’s business results and financial condition.

customer needs or respond to matters such as fluctuations in 

raw material prices. This could have an impact on the Kao 

(6)  Product Quality

Group’s business results and financial condition.

The Kao Group designs and manufactures products from the 

viewpoint of consumers, in compliance with related laws and 

(3) Business Acquisitions, Business Alliances and Mergers

regulations and voluntary standards. In the development 

The Kao Group may implement business acquisitions, business 

stage prior to market launch, the Kao Group conducts 

alliances, mergers or other such measures. When implementing 

thorough safety testing and survey research to confirm the 

them, the Kao Group makes decisions after thoroughly 

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

assessing economic value and its partner companies. However, 

to further improve quality by incorporating the opinions and 

due to various unforeseeable uncertainties in its business 

desires of consumers through its consumer communication 

activities, the Kao Group may be unable to produce the results it 

centers. However, the unanticipated occurrence of a serious 

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

quality problem or concerns about product safety or reliability 

business results and financial condition.

resulting from new scientific knowledge would not only cause 

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

(4)  Overseas Business Expansion

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

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

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

operations in markets in Asia, the Americas, Europe and 

results and financial condition.

elsewhere, with a particular emphasis on strengthening its 

operations in countries where higher economic growth rates 

(7)   Response to Natural Disasters Associated with Events 

and market expansion are forecast. However, the Kao Group 

Such as Large-scale Earthquakes or Climate Change, 

may be unable to strengthen its operations as a consequence 

Accidents and Other Incidents

of uncertainties due to various factors in the course of business 

To deal with earthquakes and other natural disasters, the Kao 

including the occurrence of a slowdown in economic growth or 

Group has formulated disaster countermeasures for its 

uncertain political or social conditions, intensifying competition, 

production facilities and primary offices and a business 

the inability to conduct sufficient cost management or the 

continuity plan (BCP), and will continue to strengthen and 

emergence of problems in relationships with retail outlets, sales 

reinforce them in the future. However, natural disasters 

agents or other trading partners. This could have an impact on 

associated with events such as a large-scale earthquake or 

the Kao Group’s business results and financial condition.

climate change that hinder the supply of products to the market 

due to problems in areas such as securing raw materials and 

(5)  Procurement of Raw Materials

maintaining production, among other impediments, could have 

Market prices for natural fats and oils and petroleum-related 

a serious impact on the Kao Group’s business results and 

materials used as raw materials for products of the Kao Group 

financial condition. In addition, the emergence of major changes 

are affected by factors including geopolitical risks, the balance 

in demand trends due to a worsening economic environment 

between supply and demand, abnormal weather and exchange 

associated with the earthquake could have a serious impact on 

rate fluctuations. The Kao Group has moved to reduce the 

the Kao Group’s business results and financial condition. 

effect of increases in raw material prices through measures 

Furthermore, the occurrence of an explosion or fire at production 

including cost reductions and passing on increases in raw 

facilities, information or control system malfunction, problems at 

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

12

Management Discussion and Analysis

a supplier of raw materials, dysfunction of social infrastructure 

(11)  Compliance with and Response to Laws and 

such as electric power and water, environmental pollution from 

Regulations, Etc.

harmful substances, the spread of infectious disease, terrorism, 

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

political change, riots and other incidents could hinder the supply 

comply with a variety of laws and regulations concerning 

of products to the market. This could have a serious impact on the 

areas such as standards for product quality and safety, the 

Kao Group’s reputation, business results and financial condition.

environment and chemical substances, as well as accounting 

standards, tax law and regulations related to labor and 

(8)  Currency Exchange Rate Fluctuations

transactions. It will also be required to respond to policies and 

Foreign currency-denominated transactions are affected by 

tightening of legal and regulatory systems in various countries 

changes in currency exchange rates. The Kao Group hedges 

for mitigating climate change. The Kao Group has constructed 

foreign exchange risk through various measures such as 

a compliance system, among other measures, and strives to 

settlement of transactions through foreign currency accounts, 

comply with and respond to all related laws, regulations, 

foreign exchange contracts, and currency swaps to mitigate 

policies and systems. However, a serious legal violation by the 

the effect on business results. The Kao Group does not 

Kao Group or by a consignee or other party could have an 

engage in derivative transactions for the purpose of 

impact on the Kao Group’s reputation, business results and 

speculation. However, because items on the financial 

financial condition. Moreover, a change in current laws and 

statements of overseas consolidated subsidiaries are 

regulations, or new laws and regulations could restrict the 

translated into Japanese yen, substantial variance in the 

Kao Group’s business activities, require investment for 

exchange rate from the expected rate at the time of 

compliance, or otherwise affect the Kao Group. This could 

conversion will have an impact on the Kao Group’s business 

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

results and financial condition.

financial condition.

(9)  Impact of Deferred Tax Assets and Impairment

(12) Information Management

The Kao Group records various tangible fixed assets and 

The Kao Group possesses confidential information related to 

intangible assets and deferred tax assets including assets 

matters including research and development, production, 

used in the course of business and goodwill incurred in 

marketing and sales, as well as the personal information of 

corporate acquisitions. The Kao Group may not generate the 

numerous customers used for product development, sales 

expected cash flow due to divergence from planned future 

promotion and other purposes. The Kao Group conducts 

business results, a decline in market value or other factors. 

thorough information management using guidelines for 

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

handling information and implements appropriate security 

results and financial condition.

measures for its information systems, including both hardware 

and software. However, a leak of confidential or personal 

(10) Securing Human Capital

information held by the Kao Group resulting from an attack on 

The Kao Group strives to secure diverse, superior human 

its server, unlawful access, a computer virus or other factor 

capital to achieve its business goals globally. Human capital 

that exceeds expectations could have an impact on the Kao 

with advanced expertise in areas such as research and 

Group’s reputation, business results and financial condition.

development, production, marketing and sales is 

indispensable in aiming for the Yoki-Monozukuri (see note on 

(13) Litigation

page 4) that consumers support. However, an inability to 

The Kao Group conducts diverse businesses globally, and 

secure the necessary human capital due to changes in 

various types of litigation may be brought against it. The result 

employment conditions or other factors could have an impact 

of such litigation could have an impact on the Kao Group’s 

on the Kao Group’s business results and financial condition.

business results and financial condition.

13

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position

Kao Corporation and Consolidated Subsidiaries
As of December 31, 2018

Assets
  Current assets

Notes

2018

2017

(Millions of yen)

  Cash and cash equivalents ............................................................................................
  Trade and other receivables ...........................................................................................
Inventories .....................................................................................................................
  Other financial assets ....................................................................................................
Income tax receivables ..................................................................................................
  Other current assets .....................................................................................................
  Subtotal .....................................................................................................................
  Non-current assets held for sale ...................................................................................
  Total current assets ................................................................................................

  Non-current assets

  Property, plant and equipment ......................................................................................
  Goodwill ........................................................................................................................
Intangible assets ...........................................................................................................
Investments accounted for using the equity method....................................................
  Other financial assets ....................................................................................................
  Deferred tax assets .......................................................................................................
  Other non-current assets ..............................................................................................
  Total non-current assets .........................................................................................

8, 35
9, 35
10
35

11

12

13
14
14
15
35
16
11, 20

265,978 
223,102 
197,571 
15,146 
2,066 
22,449 
726,312 
—
726,312 

418,935 
180,286 
46,549 
7,931 
23,540 
49,158 
8,275 
734,674 

343,076 
216,507 
183,921 
14,914 
2,653 
28,162 
789,233 
147 
789,380 

395,800 
138,735 
16,829 
7,682 
27,345 
40,918 
10,686 
637,995 

  Total assets .........................................................................................................

1,460,986 

1,427,375 

Liabilities and equity
Liabilities
  Current liabilities

Notes

2018

2017

  Trade and other payables ...............................................................................................
  Bonds and borrowings ...................................................................................................
  Other financial liabilities .................................................................................................
Income tax payables ......................................................................................................
  Provisions ......................................................................................................................
  Contract liabilities ..........................................................................................................
  Other current liabilities ..................................................................................................  
  Total current liabilities .............................................................................................

  Non-current liabilities

  Bonds and borrowings ...................................................................................................
  Other financial liabilities .................................................................................................
  Retirement benefit liabilities ..........................................................................................
  Provisions ......................................................................................................................
  Deferred tax liabilities ....................................................................................................
  Other non-current liabilities ...........................................................................................
  Total non-current liabilities ......................................................................................

19, 35
17, 35
18, 35

21
26
22

17, 35
18, 35
20
21
16

225,560 
40,488 
6,880 
34,198 
2,873 
18,387 
102,452 
430,838 

80,339 
9,506 
84,552 
12,175 
2,864 
5,203 
194,639 

224,893 
25,262 
7,739 
34,255 
4,822 
17,296 
107,404 
421,671 

95,322 
10,091 
64,694 
10,617 
435 
5,181 
186,340 

  Total liabilities......................................................................................................

625,477 

608,011 

Equity

  Share capital ..................................................................................................................
  Capital surplus ...............................................................................................................
  Treasury shares .............................................................................................................
  Other components of equity .........................................................................................
  Retained earnings ..........................................................................................................
  Equity attributable to owners of the parent ...............................................................
  Non-controlling interests ...............................................................................................
  Total equity .........................................................................................................

23
23
23
23
23

85,424 
108,245 
(11,282)
(30,029)
670,002 
822,360 
13,149 
835,509 

85,424 
107,980 
(9,593)
(12,315)
634,885 
806,381 
12,983 
819,364 

  Total liabilities and equity ....................................................................................

1,460,986 

1,427,375 

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

14

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statement of Income

Kao Corporation and Consolidated Subsidiaries
Year ended December 31, 2018

  Net sales ....................................................................................................................
  Cost of sales .............................................................................................................. 10, 13, 14, 20
  Gross profit ................................................................................................................

6, 26

Notes

  Selling, general and administrative expenses ............................................................ 13, 14, 20, 27
  Other operating income .............................................................................................
  Other operating expenses ......................................................................................... 13, 14, 20, 29
  Operating income ......................................................................................................

13, 26, 28

6

  Financial income ........................................................................................................
  Financial expenses .....................................................................................................
  Share of profit in investments accounted for using the equity method .....................
Income before income taxes .....................................................................................

Income taxes .............................................................................................................
  Net income ................................................................................................................

6, 20, 30

6, 20, 30

6, 15

6

16

Attributable to:
  Owners of the parent .................................................................................................
  Non-controlling interests ............................................................................................
  Net income ................................................................................................................

2018
1,508,007 
(853,989)

654,018 

(444,845)
14,288 
(15,758)

207,703 

1,717 
(4,251)
2,082 

(Millions of yen)

2017
1,489,421 
(834,107)

655,314 

(452,666)
14,909 
(12,766)

204,791 

1,452 
(3,960)
2,007 

207,251 

204,290 

(51,920)
155,331 

(55,683)
148,607

153,698 
1,633 

155,331 

147,010 
1,597 

148,607 

Earnings per share
  Basic (Yen) ..................................................................................................................
  Diluted (Yen) ...............................................................................................................

31

31

314.25 
314.12 

298.30
298.09

15

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

 
 
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

Kao Corporation and Consolidated Subsidiaries
Year ended December 31, 2018

Net income ..........................................................................................................................
Other comprehensive income

Items that will not be reclassified to profit or loss:

 Net gain (loss) on revaluation of financial assets measured
    at fair value through other comprehensive income ...................................................
  Remeasurements of defined benefit plans ...................................................................

 Share of other comprehensive income of investments 
    accounted for using the equity method .....................................................................
  Total of items that will not be reclassified to profit or loss ............................................

Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss:
  Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations ............................................

 Share of other comprehensive income of investments 
    accounted for using the equity method .....................................................................
  Total of items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss ..........................

  Other comprehensive income, net of taxes .....................................................................
Comprehensive income .....................................................................................................

Attributable to:
  Owners of the parent ........................................................................................................
  Non-controlling interests ...................................................................................................
  Comprehensive income ....................................................................................................

Notes

2018
155,331 

(Millions of yen)

2017
148,607 

32, 35

32

32

32

32

(2)
(15,524)

(345)
(15,871)

1,166 
21,260 

317 
22,743 

(16,140)

8,541 

(73)
(16,213)

(32,084)
123,247 

(1)
8,540 

31,283 
179,890 

122,324 
923 
123,247 

178,020 
1,870 
179,890 

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

16

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

Kao Corporation and Consolidated Subsidiaries
Year ended December 31, 2018

Equity attributable to owners of the parent

(Millions of yen)

Other components of equity
Net gain (loss) on 
revaluation of 
financial assets 
measured at fair 
value through other 
compre hensive 
income
8,490 
—

Net gain (loss) 
on derivatives 
designated 
as cash flow 
hedges
4 
—

Exchange 
differences on 
translation of 
foreign 
operations
(21,540)
—

Subscription 
rights to 
shares
731 
—

Notes

Share
Capital 
capital
surplus
85,424  107,980 
—

—

Treasury 
shares
(9,593)
—

Remeasurements 
of defined
benefit plans
—
—

Total
(12,315)
—

Retained 
earnings
634,885 
153,698 

Total
806,381 
153,698 

Non-
controlling 
interests
12,983 
1,633 

Total
equity
819,364 
155,331 

—
—

—
—

—
—

(15,492)
(15,492)

(338)
(338)

(15,539)
(15,539)

(31,374)
(31,374)

— (31,374)
122,324 

153,698 

(710)
923 

(32,084)
123,247 

23 

23 

34 

25 

23 

23 

34 

25 

January 1, 2018 ...............

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

 Other comprehensive 
    income .......................

Comprehensive income ....

 Disposal of treasury 
    shares ........................

 Purchase of treasury 
    shares ........................

 Share-based payment 

transactions..............

  Dividends ......................

 Transfer from other 
     components of equity 
to retained earnings ...

 Other increase
    (decrease) ..................

 Total transactions with 
    the owners .................

December 31, 2018 .........

January 1, 2017 ...............

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

 Other comprehensive 
    income .......................

Comprehensive income ....

 Disposal of treasury 
    shares ........................

 Purchase of treasury 
    shares ........................

 Share-based payment 
    transactions ...............

  Dividends ......................

 Changes in the 
     ownership interest 

in a subsidiary ............

 Transfer from other 
     components of equity 
to retained earnings ...

 Other increase 
    (decrease) ..................

 Total transactions with 
    the owners .................

December 31, 2017 .........

—
—

—

—

—
—

—

—

—
—

—

—

—
—

—

—

—

—

—

265 
85,424  108,245 

(1,689)
(11,282)

85,424  107,648 
—

—

(57,124)
—

(99) 48,345 

(167)

— (50,034)

364 
—

—

—

—
—

—

—

—
—

—
—

— (1,842)

332 
—

(0)

—

—

—
—

—

—

—

—

—
—

(18)

—

(185)
546 

911 
—

—
—

—

—
—

—

(15)

—

(180)
731 

— 49,373 

(165)

—

—

—
—

—

—

—
(37,032)

(29,761)
—

8,221 
8,221 

—

—

—
—

—

—

—

—
(21,540)

(5)
(5)

—

—

—
—

—

—

—
(1)

4 
—

(0)
(0)

—

—

—
—

—

—

—

—
4 

—

—
—

—

—
—

—

—

—

—
—

—

—

—
—

(167)

(47,961)

118 

— (50,034)

—

—

118 

(50,034)

—
(56,793)

364 
(56,793)

—
(746)

364 
(57,539)

(1,694)

15,539 

13,827 

(13,827)

—

—

—

—

—

—

(11)

—

(11)

—

(1,694)
6,458 

7,025 
—

1,472 
1,472 

—

—

—
—

—

(7)

—

15,539 
—

13,660 
(30,029)

(118,581)
670,002 

(106,345)
822,360 

(757)
13,149 

(107,102)
835,509 

—
—

(21,821)
—

565,715 
147,010 

679,842 
147,010 

11,621 
1,597 

691,463 
148,607 

21,317 
21,317 

31,010 
31,010 

—
147,010 

31,010 
178,020 

273 
1,870 

31,283 
179,890 

(165)

(48,914)

294 

—

(1,842)

—

—

294 

(1,842)

—
(50,265)

332 
(50,265)

—
(369)

332 
(50,634)

—

(0)

—

—

—

—

(0)

—

(139)

(139)

(21,317)

(21,339)

21,339 

—

—

—

—

—

—
—

—

332  47,531 
(9,593)

85,424  107,980 

(7)
8,490 

(21,317)
—

(21,504)
(12,315)

(77,840)
634,885 

(51,481)
806,381 

(508)
12,983 

(51,989)
819,364 

17

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

Kao Corporation and Consolidated Subsidiaries
Year ended December 31, 2018

Notes

2018

2017

(Millions of yen)

Cash flows from operating activities

Income before income taxes ............................................................................................
  Depreciation and amortization ..........................................................................................
Interest and dividend income ............................................................................................
Interest expense ...............................................................................................................
  Share of profit in investments accounted for using the equity method ............................

 (Gains) losses on sale and disposal of property, plant and 
    equipment, and intangible assets .................................................................................

(Increase) decrease in trade and other receivables ...............................................................
(Increase) decrease in inventories.....................................................................................
Increase (decrease) in trade and other payables ...............................................................
Increase (decrease) in retirement benefit liabilities ..........................................................
  Other .................................................................................................................................
  Subtotal .........................................................................................................................
Interest received ...............................................................................................................
  Dividends received ............................................................................................................
Interest paid ......................................................................................................................
Income taxes paid .............................................................................................................
  Net cash flows from operating activities ...................................................................

Cash flows from investing activities
  Payments into time deposits ............................................................................................
  Proceeds from withdrawal of time deposits .....................................................................
  Purchase of property, plant and equipment ......................................................................
  Purchase of intangible assets ...........................................................................................
  Payments for business combinations ...............................................................................
  Other .................................................................................................................................
  Net cash flows from investing activities ....................................................................

33

Cash flows from financing activities

Increase (decrease) in short-term borrowings ..................................................................
  Proceeds from long-term borrowings ...............................................................................
  Repayments of long-term borrowings ..............................................................................
  Proceeds from issuance of bonds ....................................................................................
  Redemption of bonds .......................................................................................................
  Purchase of treasury shares .............................................................................................
  Dividends paid to owners of the parent ............................................................................
  Dividends paid to non-controlling interests .......................................................................
  Other .................................................................................................................................
  Net cash flows from financing activities ....................................................................

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents ....................................................
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year ................................................
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents .....................................
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year ...........................................................

8

8

207,251 
60,662 
(1,578)
1,256 
(2,082)

4,531 
(12,591)
(15,677)
3,951 
20,740 
(21,437)
245,026 
1,273 
2,312 
(1,293)
(51,708)
195,610 

(26,768)
26,987 
(80,295)
(7,703)
(73,915)
3,799 
(157,895)

230 
—
(67)
25,060 
(24,939)
(50,035)
(56,838)
(745)
(1,245)
(108,579)

(70,864)
343,076 
(6,234)
265,978 

204,290 
54,508 
(1,295)
1,339 
(2,007)

3,111 
(3,464)
(15,349)
14,637 
(30,886)
14,476 
239,360 
1,069 
2,047 
(1,329)
(55,302)
185,845 

(26,673)
25,349 
(83,663)
(6,273)
(2,906)
(1,980)
(96,146)

(59)
30,000 
(30,090)
—
—
(1,842)
(50,299)
(369)
(585)
(53,244)

36,455 
303,026 
3,595 
343,076 

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

18

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Kao Corporation and Consolidated Subsidiaries
Year ended December 31, 2018

1

Reporting Entity

Kao Corporation (hereinafter the “Company”) is a corporation 
established pursuant to the Companies Act of Japan (hereinafter 
the “Companies Act”) with its headquarters in Chuo-ku, Tokyo. 
  The consolidated financial statements of the Company and its 
subsidiaries (hereinafter the “Group”) have a closing date of 
December 31 and comprise the financial statements of the Group 
and the interests in associates of the Company.

  The Group manufactures consumer products including 
cosmetics, skin care products, hair care products, sanitary 
products, fabric care products, and chemical products including 
fatty alcohols and surfactants. The Group delivers its products to 
customers through its sales companies and distributors in Japan 
and other countries. Details of these principal business activities 
of the Group are presented in Note 6 “Segment Information.”

2

Basis of Preparation

(1)  Compliance with International Financial Reporting 

Standards (hereinafter “IFRS”)

The Group’s consolidated financial statements have been 
prepared in accordance with IFRS issued by the International 
Accounting Standards Board, as permitted by the provision of 
Article 93 of the Ordinance on Terminology, Forms, and 
Preparation Methods of Consolidated Financial Statements 
(Ordinance of the Ministry of Finance of Japan No. 28 of 1976), as 
they satisfy the requirements for an “IFRS Specified Company” in 
Article 1-2 of the same ordinance.

(2)  Basis of Measurement
The Group’s consolidated financial statements have been 
prepared on the historical cost basis, except for certain assets and 
liabilities including financial instruments measured at fair value as 
presented in Note 3 “Significant Accounting Policies.”

3

Significant Accounting Policies

(1) Basis of Consolidation

1) Subsidiaries

Subsidiaries refer to all business entities controlled by the 
Company. The Company controls an entity when it has 
exposure, or rights, to variable returns from involvement 
with an investee and has the ability to affect those returns 
through its power over the investee.
  The financial statements of subsidiaries are included in the 
consolidated financial statements of the Group from the 
date the Company gains control until the date it loses 
control of the subsidiary.
  All intergroup balances, transactions, income and 
expenses and unrealized gains and losses arising from 
intergroup transactions are eliminated in preparing the 
consolidated financial statements.
  A change in the Company’s ownership interest in a 
subsidiary, without a loss of control, is accounted for as an 
equity transaction. Any difference between the amount by 
which the non-controlling interests are adjusted and the fair 
value of the consideration paid or received is recognized 
directly in equity attributable to the Group.
  Non-controlling interests in subsidiaries are identified 
separately from the Group’s equity therein. Comprehensive 

19

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

(3) Functional Currency and Presentation Currency
The Group’s consolidated financial statements are presented in 
Japanese yen, which is the Company’s functional currency. All 
financial information presented in Japanese yen is rounded to the 
nearest million yen. 

(4)  Changes in Presentation 

(Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows)

“Acquisition of subsidiaries and businesses,” which was presented 
in cash flows from investing activities for the fiscal year ended 
December 31, 2017, has been presented as “Payments for 
business combinations” to appropriately reflect the substance of 
the transactions for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018.

income of subsidiaries is attributed to owners of the parent 
and to the non-controlling interests even if this results in the 
non-controlling interests having a deficit balance. 
  All subsidiaries have the same closing date as the Company. 

2) Associates

An associate is defined as an entity over which the Company 
has significant influence on financial and operating policy 
decisions but does not have control over the entity. The 
Company is presumed to have significant influence over 
another entity when it directly or indirectly holds at least 
20%, but no more than 50% of the voting rights of that 
entity. Entities over which the Company is able to exercise 
significant influence on financial and operating policy 
decisions are also included in associates, even if it holds 
less than 20% of the voting rights.

Investments in associates are initially recognized at cost, 
and are accounted for by the equity method from the date 
the Company gains significant influence until the date it 
loses that influence.
  Goodwill recognized on acquisition of associates (less any 
accumulated impairment losses) is included in investments 
in associates.

 
  The closing dates of some associates differ from that of 
the Company. Associates with different closing dates 
prepare additional financial closings as of the closing date of 
the Company.

(2) Business Combinations
Business combinations are accounted for using the acquisition 
method. The consideration of an acquisition is measured as the 
aggregate of the acquisition-date fair value of the assets 
transferred, liabilities assumed and equity securities issued by the 
Company to the former owners of the acquiree in exchange for 
control of the acquiree.

Identifiable assets and liabilities of the acquiree in business 
combinations are measured at their acquisition-date fair value, 
with the following exceptions:

•   Deferred tax assets or liabilities and assets or liabilities related 

to employee benefit arrangements are recognized and 
measured in accordance with IAS 12 “Income Taxes” and IAS 
19 “Employee Benefits,” respectively.

•   Non-current assets and disposal groups that are classified as 
held for sale in accordance with IFRS 5 “Non-current Assets 
Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations” are measured in 
accordance with that Standard.

•   Liabilities or equity instruments related to share-based payment 

transactions of the acquiree or share-based payment 
transactions of the Company entered into to replace such 
transactions of the acquiree are measured in accordance with 
IFRS 2 “Share-based Payment.”

  Any excess of the consideration over the net fair value of 
identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the 
acquisition date is recognized as goodwill in the consolidated 
statement of financial position. Conversely, any deficit is 
immediately recognized as income in the consolidated statement 
of income.
  Costs associated with business combinations, such as advisory 
fees, attorney fees and due diligence costs, are expensed as 
incurred.
  The additional acquisition of non-controlling interests is 
accounted for as an equity transaction, and therefore no goodwill 
is recognized with respect to such a transaction.
  Business combinations under common control are business 
combinations in which all of the combining entities or combining 
businesses are ultimately controlled by the same party or parties 
both before and after the business combination, and that control 
is not transitory. These business combinations are accounted for 
based on the carrying amounts.

2) Foreign currency transactions

Foreign currency transactions are translated into the 
functional currency at the spot exchange rate at the date of 
the transaction, or an exchange rate that approximates the 
spot rate. 
  At the end of each reporting period, foreign currency 
monetary items are translated into the functional currency 
using the rates at the end of each reporting period. 
  Non-monetary items that are measured in terms of 
historical cost in foreign currencies are translated using the 
exchange rates at the date of acquisition. Non-monetary 
items that are measured at fair value in foreign currencies 
are translated into the functional currency using the 
exchange rates at the date when the fair value was 
measured. Exchange differences arising from such 
translations and settlements are recognized in profit or loss. 
However, exchange differences arising from equity 
instruments measured at fair value through other 
comprehensive income and cash flow hedges are 
recognized in other comprehensive income.

3) Financial statements of foreign operations

Assets and liabilities of foreign operations are translated at 
the rates at the end of each reporting period. Income and 
expenses are translated at the average exchange rates for 
the period, provided that there were no significant 
fluctuations in the exchange rates during the period. 
Exchange differences arising from translation of the financial 
statements of foreign operations are recognized in other 
comprehensive income. On the disposal of a foreign 
operation, the cumulative amount of exchange differences 
relating to that foreign operation is reclassified from equity to 
profit or loss when the gain or loss on disposal is recognized.

(4) Financial Instruments
1) Financial assets

(i) Initial recognition and measurement

The Group initially recognizes trade and other receivables 
at the date they are originated. Other financial assets are 
initially recognized at the transaction date when the 
Group becomes a party to the contractual provisions of 
the financial instrument.
  At initial recognition, all financial assets are measured at 
fair value, but those that are not classified as financial 
assets measured at fair value through profit or loss are 
measured at fair value plus transaction costs directly 
attributable to the acquisition of the financial asset. 
Transaction costs of financial assets measured at fair value 
through profit or loss are recognized in profit or loss.

(3) Foreign Currency Translation

1) Functional currency and presentation currency

(ii) Classification and subsequent measurement

The presentation currency used in the Group’s consolidated 
financial statements is Japanese yen, which is the Company’s 
functional currency. Subsidiaries and associates in the Group 
determine their own functional currencies and each entity’s 
transactions are measured in its functional currency.

The Group classifies the financial assets it holds as (a) 
financial assets measured at amortized cost; (b) debt 
instruments measured at fair value through other 
comprehensive income; (c) equity instruments measured 
at fair value through other comprehensive income; or (d) 
financial assets measured at fair value through profit or 

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

20

 
loss. This classification is determined at initial recognition, 
and measurement of financial assets after initial recognition 
is performed according to the classification of the financial 
asset as follows:

(a) Financial assets measured at amortized cost

Financial assets held by the Group are measured at 
amortized cost if both of the following conditions are met:

•  The financial asset is held in a business model 

whose objective is to hold financial assets in order to 
collect contractual cash flows; and

•  The contractual terms of the financial asset give rise 

on specified dates to cash flows that are solely 
payments of principal and interest on the principal 
amount outstanding.

  After initial recognition, the carrying amounts of 
financial assets measured at amortized cost are 
recognized using the effective interest method less 
impairment loss, if any. Amortization using the 
effective interest method and gains and losses on 
derecognition are recognized in profit or loss for the 
period.

(b)  Debt instruments measured at fair value through other 

comprehensive income
Financial assets held by the Group are classified as 
debt instruments measured at fair value through other 
comprehensive income if both of the following 
conditions are met:

•  The financial asset is held within a business model 

whose objective is achieved by both collecting 
contractual cash flows and selling the financial asset; 
and

•  The contractual terms of the financial asset give rise 

on specified dates to cash flows that are solely 
payments of principal and interest on the principal 
amount outstanding.

(c)  Equity instruments measured at fair value through 

other comprehensive income
The Group has made an irrevocable election to present 
subsequent changes in the fair value of certain equity 
instruments in other comprehensive income, and 
classifies them in equity instruments measured at fair 
value through other comprehensive income.
  These financial assets are measured at fair value 
after initial recognition, and changes in the fair value 
are included in other comprehensive income. If the 
Group disposes of an investment, or if the fair value of 
the investment declines significantly, the cumulative 
gain or loss recognized in other comprehensive 
income is reclassified from other components of 
equity to retained earnings.

  Dividends from equity instruments measured at fair 
value through other comprehensive income are 
recognized as financial income in profit or loss.

(d)  Financial assets measured at fair value through profit 

or loss
Financial assets that are not classified as financial 
assets measured at amortized cost, debt instruments 
measured at fair value through other comprehensive 
income, or equity instruments measured at fair value 
through other comprehensive income are classified as 
financial assets measured at fair value through profit 
or loss. The Group’s financial assets that are measured 
at fair value through profit or loss include certain short-
term investments and derivative assets. The Group has 
not irrevocably designated any financial assets as 
measured at fair value through profit or loss.
  These financial assets are measured at fair value 
after initial recognition, and changes in their fair value 
are recognized in profit or loss. Gains and losses on 
financial assets measured at fair value through profit 
or loss are recognized in profit or loss.

(iii) Impairment of financial assets

With respect to impairment of financial assets measured 
at amortized cost, the Group recognizes a loss allowance 
for expected credit losses on such financial assets.
  At each reporting date, the Group assesses whether 
the credit risks on the financial assets have increased 
significantly since initial recognition.

If credit risk on a financial instrument has not increased 

significantly since initial recognition, the loss allowance 
for that financial instrument is measured at an amount 
equal to the 12-month expected credit losses. If credit 
risk on a financial instrument has increased significantly 
since initial recognition, the loss allowance is measured in 
an amount equal to the lifetime expected credit losses.
  However, the loss allowance on trade receivables and 
others is always measured in an amount equal to the 
lifetime expected credit losses.
  The expected credit losses of financial assets are 
estimated in a way that reflects the following:

•  An unbiased and probability-weighted amount 

determined by evaluating a range of possible outcomes

•  The time value of money
•  Reasonable and supportable information about past 

events, current conditions and forecasts of economic 
conditions that is available without undue cost or effort 
at the reporting date

  The amounts of these measurements are recognized 
in profit or loss.

If an event that reduces an impairment loss occurs 

after the impairment loss has been recognized, the 
impairment loss will be reversed to the extent of the 
decrease and credited to profit or loss.

21

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

 
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(iv) Derecognition of financial assets

4) Fair value of financial instruments

The Group derecognizes financial assets only when the 
contractual rights to the cash flows from the financial 
assets expire, or when the Group transfers financial 
assets and substantially all the risks and rewards of 
ownership of the financial assets.

The Group recognizes the fair value of financial instruments 
using various valuation methodologies and inputs. The fair 
values recognized based on the observability of inputs into 
the valuation methodologies are grouped into the following 
three levels:

2) Financial liabilities

(i) Initial recognition and measurement

The Group initially recognizes bonds and borrowings at 
the date they are issued, and other financial liabilities at 
the transaction date.
  Upon initial recognition, all financial liabilities are 
measured at fair value. However, financial liabilities 
measured at amortized cost are measured in the full 
amount after deducting directly attributable transaction 
costs from the fair value.
  Transaction costs of financial liabilities measured at fair 
value through profit or loss are recognized in profit or loss.

(ii) Classification and subsequent measurement

The Group classifies financial liabilities as either financial 
liabilities measured at fair value through profit or loss, or 
financial liabilities measured at amortized cost. This 
classification is determined at initial recognition. Measurement 
of financial liabilities after initial recognition is performed as 
follows, according to the classification of the financial liability.
  The Group’s financial liabilities measured at fair value 
through profit or loss are derivative liabilities. The Group 
has not irrevocably designated any financial liabilities as 
measured at fair value through profit or loss at initial 
recognition. Financial liabilities measured at fair value 
through profit or loss are measured at fair value after 
initial recognition, and any changes in their fair value are 
recognized in profit or loss for the period.
  Financial liabilities measured at amortized cost are 
subsequently measured at amortized cost using the 
effective interest method. Amortization using the effective 
interest method and gains and losses on derecognition are 
recognized in profit or loss for the period.

(iii) Derecognition of financial liabilities

The Group derecognizes financial liabilities when they are 
extinguished (i.e., when the obligation specified in the 
contract is discharged or cancelled or expires).

3) Offsetting of financial assets and financial liabilities

Financial assets and financial liabilities are offset and the net 
amount is presented in the consolidated statement of 
financial position only when the Group currently has a legally 
enforceable right to set off the recognized amount and 
intends either to settle on a net basis or realize the assets 
and settle the liabilities simultaneously.

Level 1:  Fair value measured with quoted prices in active 
markets for identical assets or liabilities

Level 2:  Fair value measured with inputs other than quoted 
prices categorized within Level 1 that are observable 
for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly

Level 3:  Fair value measured with unobservable inputs for 

the asset or liability

5) Hedge accounting

The Group uses interest rate swaps and other derivatives to 
hedge interest rate risk. At the inception of a hedging 
relationship, the Group formally designates and documents 
the hedging relationship and the interest rate risk 
management objective and strategy for undertaking the 
hedge. The documentation includes identification of the 
hedging instrument, the hedged item, the nature of the risk 
being hedged, and the methods of assessing whether the 
hedging relationship meets the hedge effectiveness 
requirements. In addition, the Group assesses whether the 
hedging relationship meets the hedge effectiveness 
requirements, both at the inception and on an ongoing 
basis. Ongoing assessments are conducted either at each 
reporting date or upon a significant change in the 
circumstances affecting the hedge effectiveness 
requirements, whichever comes first.
  The Group does not use cash flow hedges, fair value 
hedges or net investment hedges in foreign operations.

(5) Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash on hand, demand 
deposits and short-term investments that are highly liquid and 
readily convertible to known amounts of cash subject to an 
insignificant risk of changes in value, and that mature or become 
due within three months from the date of acquisition.
  Cash equivalents include certificates of deposit, time deposits, 
commercial paper, public and corporate bonds in investment 
trusts, and money in trust.

(6) Inventories
Inventories are measured at the lower of cost and net realizable 
value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling price in the 
ordinary course of business less the estimated costs of 
completion and the estimated costs necessary to make the sale. 
The cost of inventories includes all costs of purchase, costs of 
conversion and other costs incurred in bringing the inventories to 
their present location and condition, and are determined 
principally by the weighted average method.

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

22

(7) Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment are measured using the cost model 
and carried at cost less any accumulated depreciation and any 
accumulated impairment losses.
  The cost of an item of property, plant and equipment comprises 
any costs directly attributable to acquisition of the asset and the 
initial estimate of the costs of dismantling and removing the item 
and restoring the site on which it is located.
  Depreciation of assets other than land and construction in 
progress is calculated on a straight-line basis over the estimated 
useful lives of the assets.
  The estimated useful lives of major asset items are as follows:

•  Buildings and structures: 10 to 35 years
•  Machinery and vehicles: 7 to 14 years
•  Tools, furniture and fixtures: 3 to 10 years

  The estimated useful lives, residual values and depreciation 
method are reviewed at each fiscal year end, and any revisions are 
applied prospectively as changes in accounting estimates.

(8) Goodwill and Intangible Assets

1) Goodwill

Goodwill arising from a business combination is not 
amortized, and is carried at cost, determined at the 
acquisition date, less any accumulated impairment losses. 
In addition, goodwill is allocated to the cash generating 
unit or group of cash-generating units that is expected to 
benefit from the synergies of the business combination, and 
is tested for impairment at least once a year by each fiscal 
year end or if there are indications of impairment. Impairment 
loss on goodwill is recognized in profit or loss and is not 
reversed in subsequent periods.
  Goodwill measurements at initial recognition are 
presented in Note 3 “Significant Accounting Policies (2) 
Business Combinations.”

2) Intangible assets

Intangible assets are measured using the cost model and 
carried at cost less any accumulated amortization and any 
accumulated impairment losses.
  The costs of separately acquired intangible assets comprise 
any costs directly attributable to acquisition of the assets.
  The costs of intangible assets acquired in business 
combinations are measured at fair value at the acquisition date.
  Expenditures related to internally generated intangible 
assets are recognized as expenses when incurred, with the 
exception of development expenses that meet the criteria 
for capitalization. Software development expense only 
meets the criteria for capitalization.
  After initial recognition, with the exception of intangible 
assets with indefinite useful lives, intangible assets are 
amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated 
useful lives.
  The Group has no material intangible assets with 
indefinite useful lives. The estimated useful lives of major 
intangible assets are as follows:

•  Trademarks: 20 years
•  Customer relationships: 15 or 20 years
•  Software: 5 years

  The estimated useful lives, residual values and 
amortization method are reviewed at each fiscal year end, 
and any revisions are applied prospectively as changes in 
accounting estimates.

3) Research and development expenses

Research expenditures are expensed as incurred. 
Development expenditures are capitalized only if they can 
be measured reliably, future economic benefits are probable, 
and the Group intends to, and has sufficient resources to, 
complete development and to use or sell the asset. If 
research expenditures and development expenditures 
cannot be clearly distinguished, they are expensed as 
incurred as research expenditures.

(9) Leases
The Group classifies a lease that transfers substantially all the 
risks and rewards incidental to ownership of an asset as a finance 
lease and a lease other than a finance lease as an operating lease.
In finance lease transactions, leased assets and lease obligations 

are initially recognized at the lower of the fair value of leased 
property and the present value of the minimum lease payments, 
each determined at the inception of the lease.
  Leased assets are depreciated on a straight-line basis over the 
shorter of their estimated useful lives and lease terms. Lease 
payments are apportioned between the finance charges and the 
reduction of the outstanding liability using the interest method.
  Lease payments under operating leases are recognized as an 
expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
  Determination of whether an arrangement is, or contains, a 
lease is based on the substance of the arrangement, in accordance 
with IFRIC Interpretation 4 “Determining Whether an Arrangement 
Contains a Lease.”

(10) Impairment of Non-financial Assets
Non-financial assets, excluding inventories, deferred tax assets, 
non-current assets classified as held for sale and assets arising 
from employee benefits, are assessed at the end of each reporting 
period to determine whether there is any indication of impairment. 
If there is an indication of impairment, the recoverable amount of 
the asset is estimated. For goodwill, the recoverable amount is 
estimated at least once a year by each fiscal year end, irrespective 
of whether there is any indication of impairment.
  The recoverable amount of an asset or a cash-generating unit is 
the higher of its value in use and fair value less cost of disposal. 
The discount rate used in calculating the asset’s value in use is a 
pre-tax rate that reflects current market assessments of the time 
value of money and the risks specific to the asset, for which the 
future cash flow estimates have not been adjusted.

If it is not possible to estimate the recoverable amount of an 
individual asset, the recoverable amount of the cash-generating 
unit to which the asset belongs is measured. Goodwill acquired in 
business combinations is allocated to each of the cash-generating 

23

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

 
 
 
units or groups of cash-generating units of the Group that is 
expected to benefit from synergies of the business combinations 
after the acquisition date, and is tested for impairment.
  Because corporate assets do not generate separate cash 
inflows, the recoverable amount of individual corporate assets 
cannot be measured unless management has decided to dispose 
of the asset. If there is an indication that a corporate asset may be 
impaired, the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit or 
group of cash-generating units to which the asset belongs is 
measured and compared with the carrying amount.

Impairment losses are recognized in profit or loss whenever the 

recoverable amount is less than the carrying amount. Such 
impairment losses of the cash-generating unit or group of cash-
generating units are recognized by first reducing the carrying 
amount of any goodwill allocated to the cash-generating unit or 
group of cash-generating units, and then allocating the rest of the 
losses to other assets of the unit pro rata on the basis of the 
carrying amount of each asset in the unit.
  The Group reviews assets other than goodwill at each fiscal 
year end to determine whether there is any indication that 
previously recognized impairment losses may no longer exist or 
may have decreased. If there are any such indications, the Group 
estimates the recoverable amount of the asset.

Impairment losses on assets other than goodwill that were 
recognized in prior fiscal years are reversed only when there have 
been changes in the estimates used to determine the recoverable 
amount of the asset since the last impairment loss was recognized. 
In this case, the carrying amount of the asset is increased as a 
reversal of impairment loss to the recoverable amount.

Impairment losses are reversed up to the carrying amount, net 
of amortization or depreciation, that would have been determined 
had no impairment loss for the asset been recognized in prior 
fiscal years.

(11) Employee Benefits

1) Post-employment benefits

The Group sponsors a defined benefit plan and a defined 
contribution plan as post-employment benefit plans for 
employees.
(i)  Defined benefit plan

For the defined benefit plan, the projected unit credit 
method is used to individually determine the present 
value of defined benefit obligations, related current 
service costs and past service costs of each plan.
  The discount rate is determined by referring to market 
yields at the end of the fiscal year on high quality 
corporate bonds corresponding to the period until the 
expected date of future benefit payment.
  The net amount of the present value of defined benefit 
obligations and the fair value of plan assets is accounted 
for as a liability or asset. However, if the defined benefit 
plan has surplus, the net defined benefit asset is limited 
to the present value of any economic benefits available in 
the form of refunds from the plan or reductions in the 
future contributions to the plan. Net interest on the net 
defined benefit liability (asset) is recognized in profit or 
loss as financial expenses (income).

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

  Remeasurements of the net defined benefit liability 
(asset) are recognized in other comprehensive income 
and immediately reclassified to retained earnings in the 
period in which they occur.
  Past service costs are recognized in profit or loss for 
the period in which they are incurred. 

(ii) Defined contribution plan

Payments to the defined contribution plan are recognized 
as expenses when employees have rendered services 
entitling them to the contributions.

2) Other employee benefits

Short-term employee benefit obligations are measured on 
an undiscounted basis, and are recognized as an expense 
when the related services are rendered.
  For bonuses, when there is a present legal or constructive 
obligation to make payments of bonuses, and a reliable 
estimate of the obligation can be made, the estimated 
amount to be paid is accounted for as a liability.
  For the paid absence expenses, when there is a legal or 
constructive obligation with respect to accumulating paid 
absence systems and a reliable estimate of the obligation 
can be made, the estimated amount to be paid based on 
those systems is accounted for as a liability.

(12) Share-based Payments
1) Stock option plan

The Company has a stock option plan accounted for as an 
equity-settled share-based payment plan. Due to the 
introduction of a performance share plan, the stock option plan 
has been abolished except for the options already granted.

2) Performance share plan

The Company introduced a performance share plan 
accounted for as an equity-settled share-based payment plan.
  The performance share plan measures services received 
at the fair value of the Company’s shares on the date of 
grant, recognizing them as an expense from the date of 
grant through the vesting period and recognizing the same 
amount as an increase in capital surplus. The fair value of 
the Company’s shares on the date of grant is determined 
by adjusting the market price of the shares taking expected 
dividends into account.

(13) Provisions
Provisions are recognized when the Group has a present 
obligation (legal or constructive) as a result of a past event, it is 
probable that an outflow of resources embodying economic 
benefits will be required to settle the obligation, and a reliable 
estimate can be made of the amount of the obligation.
  The amounts recognized as provisions are the best estimates of 
necessary expenditures to settle the present obligation at the end 
of the reporting period, taking into account the risks and 
uncertainties associated with the obligation. When the effect of 
the time value of money is material, the amount of provision is 
measured at the present value of the expenditures expected to be 
required to settle the obligation.

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

24

 
 
 
(14) Revenue
The Group recognizes revenue based on the following five-step 
model:

Step 1: Identify the contract with a customer
Step 2: Identify the performance obligations in the contract
Step 3: Determine the transaction price
Step 4:  Allocate the transaction price to the performance 

Unrecognized deferred tax assets are reassessed each 
period and are recognized to the extent that it has become 
probable that future taxable income will allow the deferred 
tax assets to be recovered.
  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are not recognized for 
the following temporary differences:

•  Taxable temporary differences arising from initial 

obligations in the contract

recognition of goodwill

Step 5:  Recognize revenue when the entity satisfies a 

•  Temporary differences arising from initial recognition of 

performance obligation

  The Group sells consumer products including cosmetics, skin 
care products, hair care products, sanitary products and fabric 
care products, as well as chemical products including fatty 
alcohols and surfactants. For sales of such products, because the 
customer obtains control over the products upon delivery, the 
performance obligation is judged to have been satisfied and 
revenue is therefore recognized upon delivery of the products. 
Revenue is measured at the consideration promised in a contract 
with a customer, less discounts, rebates, returned products and 
other items.

(15) Income Taxes
Income taxes consist of current income taxes and deferred 
income taxes. Income taxes are recognized as income or expenses 
and included in profit or loss, except for taxes related to business 
combinations and taxes related to items that are recognized directly 
in equity or in other comprehensive income.

1) Current income taxes

Current income taxes are recognized in the amount of the 
expected taxes payable to or receivable from the taxation 
authorities. Calculation of the amount of tax is based on the 
tax rates and tax laws enacted or substantively enacted by 
the end of the reporting period in countries where the Group 
conducts business and earns taxable income.

2) Deferred income taxes

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for 
temporary differences between the carrying amounts of 
assets or liabilities at the end of the reporting period and its 
tax base, and for tax loss carryforwards and tax credits.
  Deferred tax assets are recognized for deductible 
temporary differences, the carryforwards of unused tax 
losses and the carryforwards of unused tax credits to the 
extent that it is probable that future taxable income will be 
available against such deferred tax assets. Deferred tax 
liabilities are recognized, in principle, for all taxable 
temporary differences.
  The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed 
each period and reduced to the extent that it is no longer 
probable that sufficient future taxable income will be 
available to realize benefits from all or part of the assets. 

assets and liabilities from transactions that are not 
business combinations and affect neither accounting 
income nor taxable income

•  Taxable temporary differences on investments in subsidiaries 

and associates, when the timing of the reversal of the 
temporary differences can be controlled and it is probable 
that the temporary differences will not reverse in the 
foreseeable future

•  Deductible temporary differences on investments in 

subsidiaries and associates, when it is probable that the 
temporary differences will not reverse in the foreseeable future

  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured at the tax 
rates that are expected to apply to the period when the 
assets are realized or the liabilities are settled, based on the 
tax rates and tax laws enacted or substantively enacted by 
the end of the reporting period.
  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset if the Group 
has a legally enforceable right to set off current tax assets 
against current tax liabilities and income taxes are levied by 
the same taxation authority on the same taxable entity.
  The Company and some of its subsidiaries have adopted 
the consolidated tax system.

(16) Earnings per Share
Basic earnings per share are calculated by dividing net income 
attributable to owners of the parent by the weighted average 
number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period, adjusted 
for treasury shares held. Diluted earnings per share are calculated 
by adjusting the effects of all dilutive potential ordinary shares.

(17) Non-current Assets Held for Sale
A non-current asset or disposal group whose carrying amount is 
expected to be recovered principally through a sale transaction 
rather than through continuing use is classified as a non-current 
asset or disposal group held for sale if it is highly probable that the 
asset or disposal group will be sold within one year and is 
available for immediate sale in its present condition, and the 
Group’s management is committed to a plan to sell. Non-current 
assets are not depreciated or amortized while they are classified 
as held for sale or are part of a disposal group classified as held 
for sale. Non-current assets or disposal groups classified as held 
for sale are measured at the lower of the carrying amount and fair 
value less costs to sell.

25

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(18) Equity and Other Capital

1) Ordinary shares

Ordinary shares are recognized in share capital and capital 
surplus at their issue price. Share issuance costs are 
deducted from the issue price.

2) Treasury shares

Treasury shares are recognized at cost and deducted from 
equity. No gain or loss is recognized on the purchase, sale or 

retirement of the Company’s treasury shares. Any difference 
between the carrying amount and consideration received on 
the sale of treasury shares is recognized directly in equity.

(19) Dividends
Dividend distributions to shareholders of the Company are 
recognized as liabilities in the period in which year-end dividends 
are resolved upon by the General Meeting of Shareholders and 
interim dividends are resolved upon by the Board of Directors.

4

Significant Accounting Estimates and Judgments

The Group’s consolidated financial statements include estimates 
and assumptions made by management regarding income and 
expenses, measurement of the carrying amounts of assets and 
liabilities, and disclosure of contingencies and others at the end of 
the reporting period. These estimates and assumptions are based 
on management’s best judgment at the end of the reporting 
period, and take into account historical experience and various 
other factors that can be considered as reasonable. However, due 
to their nature, actual results may differ from these estimates and 
assumptions.
  The estimates and their underlying assumptions are reviewed 
by management on an ongoing basis. The effects of revisions to 
accounting estimates and assumptions are recognized in the 
period when the estimates are revised and in future periods.
  Estimates and assumptions that significantly affect the amounts 
recognized in the Group’s consolidated financial statements are as 
follows:

(1)  Impairment of Property, Plant and Equipment, Goodwill 

and Intangible Assets

The Group conducts impairment tests for property, plant and 
equipment, goodwill and intangible assets when there is an 
indication that the recoverable amount of the asset or cash-
generating unit is less than the carrying amount.
  Triggering events for impairment testing include, for example, 
significant changes with adverse effects on past or projected 
business performance, significant changes in the use of acquired 
assets, or changes in overall business strategy.
  Furthermore, goodwill is tested for impairment at least once a year 
by each fiscal year end, irrespective of indication of impairment, to 
verify that the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit to 
which goodwill is allocated exceeds the carrying amount.

Impairment tests are performed by comparing the carrying amount 

and the recoverable amount of the asset or cash-generating unit. If 
the recoverable amount is less than the carrying amount, the 
carrying amount is reduced to the recoverable amount and the 
reduction is recognized as an impairment loss. The recoverable 
amount is the higher of the value in use and the fair value less cost 
of disposal of the asset or cash-generating unit.

In calculating the value in use, the Group makes certain 

assumptions about the remaining useful life and future cash flows 
of the asset, discount rate, growth rate and other factors. These 
assumptions are based on management’s best estimates and 

judgments, but may be affected by changes in future business 
plans, economic conditions or other factors. If revisions to the 
assumptions become necessary, such revisions could have a 
material effect on the amounts recognized in the consolidated 
financial statements in future periods.
  Note 14 “Goodwill and Intangible Assets” presents the method 
for measuring the recoverable amount and sensitivity associated 
with goodwill.

(2) Post-employment Benefits
The Group provides a variety of post-retirement benefit plans that 
include a defined benefit plan. The present value of defined 
benefit obligations and related service costs are determined 
based on actuarial assumptions.
  Actuarial assumptions are based on management’s best 
estimates and judgments, but may be affected by the revision of 
inputs including the discount rate and mortality rate due to 
changes in economic conditions. If revisions to the assumptions 
become necessary, such revisions could have a material effect on 
the amounts recognized in the consolidated financial statements 
in future periods.
  Note 20 “Employee Benefits” presents actuarial assumptions 
and related sensitivity.

(3) Provisions
The Group has recognized a provision for loss related to cosmetics, 
a provision for asset retirement obligations and other provisions in 
the consolidated statement of financial position.
  The amounts recognized are the best estimates of the 
expenditures required to settle the present obligations, taking into 
account historical experience and other factors at the end of the 
reporting period.
  The provision for loss related to cosmetics may be affected by 
changes in compensation-related and other expenses.
  The provision for asset retirement obligations and other 
provisions may be affected by factors such as changes in future 
business plans.

If the actual amounts paid differ from the estimates, such 

differences could have a material effect on the amounts recognized 
in the consolidated financial statements in future periods. 
  Note 21 “Provisions” presents the nature and amounts of these 
provisions.

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

26

 
 
 
(4) Income Taxes
The Group recognizes and measures income tax payables and 
income taxes based on reasonable estimates of the amounts to 
be paid to the taxation authorities in each country. Such estimates 
are made using the tax rates and tax laws enacted or substantively 
enacted by the end of the reporting period.
  Calculating income tax payables and income taxes requires 
estimates and judgments of various factors, including 
interpretations of tax regulations by the Group and the taxation 
authorities and the experience of past tax audits.
  Therefore, if the final tax outcome is different from the amount 
initially recognized, the difference is recognized in the period 
when the tax outcome is finalized.
  Deferred tax assets are recognized for deductible temporary 
differences, the carryforwards of unused tax losses and the 
carryforwards of unused tax credits to the extent that it is 
probable that future taxable income will be available. The realizability 
of deferred tax assets is assessed using the tax rates that are 
expected to apply to the period when the asset is realized, based 
on tax rates and tax laws enacted or substantively enacted by the 
end of the reporting period.
  Recognition and measurement of deferred tax assets are based 
on management’s best estimates and judgments, but may be 
affected by future changes in business plans or other conditions, 
or by the amendment or promulgation of related laws. Any 
revisions that become necessary could have a material effect on 
the amounts recognized in the consolidated financial statements 
in future periods.
  Note 16 “Income Taxes” presents income taxes and amounts.

(5) Fair Value
The Group uses various inputs, including unobservable inputs, and 
valuation methodologies to estimate the fair value of specific 
assets and liabilities. When measuring fair value, the Group 
maximizes the use of relevant observable inputs and minimizes 
the use of unobservable inputs, and management’s best 
estimates and judgments are required in that process.
  The fair value of these assets and liabilities is based on 
management’s best estimates and judgments, but could be 
affected by factors including changes in inputs due to changes in 
economic conditions. Any revisions that become necessary could 
have a material effect on the amounts recognized in the 
consolidated financial statements in future periods.
  Note 35 “Financial Instruments” presents fair value 
measurement methods and amounts for major financial assets 
and liabilities measured at fair value.

(6) Contingencies
Contingencies are disclosed when there are items that could have 
a material effect on future business after considering the 
probability of occurrence and the amount of financial impact, 
taking into account all available evidence at the end of the 
reporting period.

5

New Standards and Interpretations Not Yet Adopted 

New or revised major Standards and Interpretations that were issued by the date of approval presented in Note 40 “Approval of the 
Consolidated Financial Statements,” but were not yet early adopted by the Group as of December 31, 2018 are as follows: 

IFRS

Title

Mandatory adoption
(From the fiscal year beginning)

IFRS 16

Leases

January 1, 2019

Adoption by the Group

Fiscal year ending 
December 31, 2019

Overview of new or revised 
Standards and Interpretations

Revised lease definition, 
accounting treatment and disclosure

IFRS 16 “Leases” replaces IAS 17 “Leases” and others. As a 
result of this adoption, due to its single lessee accounting model, 
right-of-use assets representing the right to use an underlying 
asset and lease liabilities representing the obligation to make 
lease payments are required to be recognized for all leases, in 
principle, on the consolidated statement of financial position. After 
recognition of right-of-use assets and lease liabilities, depreciation 
of the right-of-use assets and interest on the lease liabilities are 
recognized on the consolidated statement of income. The main 
impact of this adoption on the Group’s consolidated financial 

statements is expected to be increases of approximately 160 
billion yen in right-of-use assets and lease liabilities on the 
consolidated statement of financial position at the beginning of 
the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019. Cash flows from 
operating activities on the consolidated statement of cash flows 
are expected to increase by approximately 20 billion yen and cash 
flows from financing activities are expected to decrease by the 
same amount. The impact on the consolidated statement of 
income will be immaterial.

27

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

6

Segment Information

(1) Summary of Reportable Segments
The Group’s reportable segments are the components of the 
Group for which discrete financial information is available and 
which are regularly reviewed by the Board of Directors in deciding 
how to allocate resources and in assessing their performance. Net 
sales and operating income are the key measures used by the 
Board of Directors to evaluate the performance of each segment.
  The Group is organized on the basis of five businesses: the four 
business areas that constitute the Consumer Products Business 
(the Cosmetics Business, the Skin Care and Hair Care Business, 
the Human Health Care Business, and the Fabric and Home Care 
Business) and the Chemical Business. In each business, the 
Group plans comprehensive business strategies and carries out 
business activities on a global basis.
  Accordingly, the Group has five reportable segments: the 
Cosmetics Business, the Skin Care and Hair Care Business, the 

Human Health Care Business, the Fabric and Home Care 
Business and the Chemical Business.
  Due to a change in organization as of January 1, 2018, in the 
fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 the Group reclassified its 
four former reportable segments (the Beauty Care Business, the 
Human Health Care Business, the Fabric and Home Care Business 
and the Chemical Business) into five (the Cosmetics Business, 
the Skin Care and Hair Care Business, the Human Health Care 
Business, the Fabric and Home Care Business and the Chemical 
Business). Segment information for the fiscal year ended 
December 31, 2017 has been restated to reflect the reclassification.
Information about major customers has been omitted as the 
revenue from each customer is less than 10% of the Group’s net 
sales.

Reportable segments

Major products

Consumer 
Products 
Business

Cosmetics
Business

Skin Care and 
Hair Care Business

Human Health Care
Business

Fabric and Home Care
Business

Chemical Business

Performance chemicals

Cosmetics 

Counseling cosmetics, self-selection cosmetics

Skin care products

Soaps, facial cleansers, body cleansers

Hair care products

Food and beverage 
products

Shampoos, conditioners, hair styling agents, hair coloring agents, 
men’s products

Beverages

Sanitary products

Sanitary napkins, baby diapers

Personal health products

Bath additives, oral care products, thermo products

Fabric care products 

Laundry detergents, fabric treatments

Home care products

Oleo chemicals

Kitchen cleaning products, house cleaning products, paper cleaning 
products, commercial-use products

Fatty alcohols, fatty amines, fatty acids, glycerin, commercial-use 
edible fats and oils

Surfactants, plastics additives, superplasticizers for concrete 
admixtures

Specialty chemicals

Toner and toner binder for copiers and printers, ink and colorants for 
inkjet printers, fragrances and aroma chemicals

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

28

 
(2) Sales and Results of Reportable Segments

Fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 

(Millions of yen)

Reportable segments

Consumer Products Business

Cosmetics
Business

Skin Care 
and Hair Care 
Business

Human 
Health Care 
Business

Fabric and 
Home Care 
Business

Subtotal

Chemical 
Business

Total

Reconciliation1 Consolidated

Net sales
  Sales to customers ............... 279,635

 Intersegment sales and 
  transfers2 .............................

—
Total net sales ........................... 279,635
Operating income .....................
27,710
  Financial income ...................
  Financial expenses ................
 Share of profit in investments
  accounted for using the
  equity method ......................
Income before income taxes .....

341,419

267,702

344,105 1,232,861 275,146

1,508,007

—

1,508,007

—
341,419
48,827

—
267,702
27,907

—

— 37,661
344,105 1,232,861 312,807
30,631
175,693

71,249

37,661
1,545,668
206,324

(37,661)
(37,661)
1,379

—
1,508,007
207,703
1,717
(4,251)

2,082

207,251

Other items

 Depreciation and 
  amortization3 .......................
  Capital expenditures4 ............

10,908
11,597

9,593
17,021

17,602
19,259

10,299
18,107

48,402
65,984

12,000
23,032

60,402
89,016

260
81

60,662
89,097

Notes:  1.   The operating income reconciliation of 1,379 million yen includes corporate expenses not allocated to reportable segments, as well as elimination of 

intersegment inventory transactions.

2.  Intersegment sales and transfers are mainly calculated based on market price and manufacturing cost.
3.  Note 13 “Property, Plant and Equipment” and Note 14 “Goodwill and Intangible Assets” present the details of depreciation and amortization.
4.  Capital expenditures include investments in property, plant and equipment and intangible assets.

Fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 

(Millions of yen)

Reportable segments

Consumer Products Business

Cosmetics
Business

Skin Care 
and Hair Care 
Business

Human 
Health Care 
Business

Fabric and 
Home Care 
Business

Subtotal

Chemical 
Business

Total

Reconciliation1 Consolidated

Net sales
  Sales to customers ............... 266,214 

 Intersegment sales and 
  transfers2 .............................

—
Total net sales ........................... 266,214 
Operating income .....................
12,989 
  Financial income ...................
  Financial expenses ................
 Share of profit in investments
  accounted for using the
  equity method ......................
Income before income taxes .....

332,872 

281,201 

335,709  1,215,996  273,425  1,489,421 

—

1,489,421 

—
332,872 
49,329 

—
281,201 
34,453 

—

— 36,860

36,860 
335,709  1,215,996  310,285  1,526,281 
203,317 
173,018  30,299 

76,247 

(36,860)
(36,860)
1,474 

—
1,489,421 
204,791 
1,452
(3,960)

2,007

204,290

Other items

 Depreciation and 
  amortization3 .......................
  Capital expenditures4 ............

10,333 
11,267 

7,730 
16,450 

15,822 
23,596 

8,884 
12,676 

42,769  11,479 
63,989  15,245 

54,248 
79,234 

260 
121 

54,508 
79,355 

Notes:  1.   The operating income reconciliation of 1,474 million yen includes corporate expenses not allocated to reportable segments, as well as elimination of 

intersegment inventory transactions.

2.  Intersegment sales and transfers are mainly calculated based on market price and manufacturing cost.
3.  Note 13 “Property, Plant and Equipment” and Note 14 “Goodwill and Intangible Assets” present the details of depreciation and amortization.
4.  Capital expenditures include investments in property, plant and equipment and intangible assets.

29

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(3) Geographical Information
Sales to customers and non-current assets (excluding financial assets, deferred tax assets and retirement benefit assets) by region 
consist of the following:

Sales to Customers 

Japan .........................................................................................................................................................

Asia  ...........................................................................................................................................................

  China ......................................................................................................................................................

Americas ....................................................................................................................................................

  United States .........................................................................................................................................

Europe .......................................................................................................................................................

  Total ...................................................................................................................................................

Note: Sales are classified by country or region based on the location of customers.

2018
939,463

295,714

135,629 

140,637 

110,783 

(Millions of yen)

2017
938,074

288,087

134,751

134,219

102,763

132,193 
1,508,007 

129,041
1,489,421

Non-current Assets (excluding Financial Assets, Deferred Tax Assets and Retirement Benefit Assets)  

(Millions of yen)

Japan .........................................................................................................................................................

Asia ............................................................................................................................................................

Americas ....................................................................................................................................................

Europe .......................................................................................................................................................

  Total ....................................................................................................................................................

2018
448,357 

88,843 

96,426 

27,184 
660,810 

2017
431,673

85,290

22,610

28,935
568,508

7

Business Combinations

(1) Acquisition of Oribe Hair Care, LLC in the U.S.

1) Outline of Business Combination

Name of the acquired business and 
  the acquiree:

Oribe Hair Care, LLC

Business outline:

Acquisition date:

Acquisition method:

Development, manufacturing and sales of hair care products for hair salons

January 17, 2018

Cash consideration to acquire equity interests 

Percentage of voting rights acquired:

100%

2) Primary Reason for Business Combination

The “Oribe,” a super-premium price brand for hair salons, 
which is owned by Oribe Hair Care, LLC, has a substantial 
presence in the top-class hair salon industry and among 
major specialty retailers in the United States. By utilizing the 

brand and products obtained through this acquisition, the 
Group aims to expand its brand portfolio for hair salons and 
to expand its customer base.

3) Acquisition Cost of Acquired Business and Acquiree and Its Components

Acquisition cost of acquired business
  and acquiree:

45,633 million yen

Components of acquisition cost:

  Cash

45,633 million yen

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

30

 
 
4) Fair Value of Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed at the Acquisition Date

Current assets ................................................................

4,074 million yen

Trademarks .....................................................................

14,232 million yen

Other non-current assets ................................................

4,151 million yen

  Total assets..................................................................

22,457 million yen

Current liabilities .............................................................

1,090 million yen

  Total liabilities ..............................................................

1,090 million yen

5) Goodwill

Goodwill recognized:

Components of goodwill:

24,266 million yen

Goodwill recognized for this business 
combination reflects excess earning 
powers in future from using newly 
acquired brands, products and sales 
networks from Oribe Hair Care, LLC. 
Goodwill recognized is expected to be 
deductible for tax purposes.

6) Net Sales and Income of Acquired Business

Information on income associated with this business combination after the acquisition date and information on income assuming 
that the business combination took place on the date of January 1, 2018 are not presented because the impacts on the 
consolidated statement of income are immaterial.

(2) Acquisition of Washing Systems Intermediate Holdings, Inc. in the U.S.

1) Outline of Business Combination

Name of the acquiree:

Washing Systems Intermediate Holdings, Inc. (hereinafter “Washing Systems”)

Business outline:

Acquisition date:

Acquisition method:

Development and sales of detergents and other products and provision of 
consulting and other services to the commercial laundry market

August 9, 2018

Cash consideration to acquire shares

Percentage of voting rights acquired: 100%

2) Primary Reason for Business Combination

Washing Systems has earned substantial market support by 
developing and selling industry-leading cleaning agents and 
by providing integrated supply systems for cleaning agents 
and best-in-class customer service to commercial laundry 
companies, mainly in North America. The Group develops 
professional-use products, primarily in Japan, through Kao 

Professional Services Company, Ltd. (hereinafter “KPS”) The 
mission of KPS is to maintain people’s safety, security, and 
comfort through support for cleaning applications, hygiene 
management and other measures in a variety of fields 
including food service, food processing, hospitals and 
cleaning. With this acquisition, the Company will promote 
global development of its professional-use products.

3) Acquisition Cost of Acquired Business and Acquiree and Its Components

Acquisition cost of acquired 
  business and acquiree:

Components of acquisition cost:

30,706 million yen

  Cash

30,706 million yen

4) Fair Value of Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed at the Acquisition Date

Current assets ................................................................

  2,609 million yen

Customer relationships ...................................................

  9,291 million yen

Other non-current assets ................................................

  4,630 million yen

  Total assets .................................................................

16,530 million yen

Current liabilities ............................................................

  1,672 million yen

Non-current liabilities .....................................................

  2,752 million yen

  Total liabilities ..............................................................

  4,424 million yen

31

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

5) Goodwill

Goodwill recognized:

Components of goodwill:

18,600 million yen

Goodwill recognized for this business 
combination reflects excess earning 
powers in future from using newly 
acquired products and sales networks 
from Washing Systems. A portion of 
goodwill recognized is expected to be 
deductible for tax purposes.

6) Net Sales and Income of Acquired Business

Information on income associated with this business combination after the acquisition date and information on income assuming 
that the business combination took place on the date of January 1, 2018 are not presented because the impacts on the 
consolidated statement of income are immaterial.

8

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents consist of the following:

Cash and deposits .....................................................................................................................................

Short-term investments .............................................................................................................................
  Total ....................................................................................................................................................

2018
206,078 

59,900 
265,978 

(Millions of yen)

2017
260,176

82,900
343,076

  The balance of cash and cash equivalents presented in the consolidated statement of financial position is equal to the balance of cash 
and cash equivalents presented in the consolidated statement of cash flows.

9

Trade and Other Receivables

Trade and other receivables consist of the following:

Trade receivables .......................................................................................................................................

Other receivables ......................................................................................................................................

Allowance for doubtful receivables ..........................................................................................................
  Total ....................................................................................................................................................

2018
217,594 

7,073 

(1,565) 
223,102 

(Millions of yen)

2017
211,990

5,915

(1,398)
216,507

  Trade receivables are recognized when the Group’s products 
are delivered because the Group’s right to consideration is 
unconditional except for the passage of time from that point. 
Moreover, the Group receives payment within a short period of 
time after satisfying its performance obligation under separately 

determined payment terms. Because the period from satisfaction 
of the performance obligation to receipt of consideration is usually 
within one year or less, as a practical expedient, the Group does 
not adjust the promised amount of consideration for the effects of 
a significant financing component for such receivables.

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

32

 
 
 
 
10

Inventories

Inventories consist of the following:

Merchandise and finished goods ...............................................................................................................

Work in progress .......................................................................................................................................

Materials and supplies ..............................................................................................................................
  Total ....................................................................................................................................................

2018
146,684

14,875

36,012
197,571

(Millions of yen)

2017
136,795

12,723

34,403
183,921

  The amount of inventories recognized as expenses and included in cost of sales for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 
were 733,108 million yen and 714,981 million yen, respectively.
  Write-downs of inventories recognized as expenses for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 were 5,044 million yen 
and 5,093 million yen, respectively.

11 Other Assets

Other assets consist of the following:

Other current assets

(Millions of yen)

2018

2017

Insurance receivable ..............................................................................................................................

  Prepaid expenses ...................................................................................................................................

  Other ......................................................................................................................................................
  Total ....................................................................................................................................................

Other non-current assets

Insurance receivable ..............................................................................................................................

  Long-term prepaid lease payments .......................................................................................................

  Long-term prepaid expenses .................................................................................................................

  Retirement benefit assets .....................................................................................................................

  Other ......................................................................................................................................................
  Total ....................................................................................................................................................

2,886 

9,538 

10,025 
22,449 

2,109 

4,060 

435 

1,166

505 
8,275 

8,120

9,566

10,476
28,162

2,654

4,508

1,624

1,224

676
10,686

12 Non-current Assets Held for Sale

Certain assets including the buildings and land for sales offices were classified as non-current assets held for sale in the fiscal year ended 
December 31, 2017 pursuant to the decision to sell these assets. These assets were sold in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018.

33

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

13

Property, Plant and Equipment

(1) Changes in Property, Plant and Equipment
The following tables present changes in acquisition costs, accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment losses, and carrying 
amounts of property, plant and equipment.

Acquisition Cost 

January 1, 2017 ............................................................

  Additions ..................................................................

  Acquisitions through business combinations ..........

  Sales and disposals ..................................................

  Reclassification ........................................................

 Exchange differences on translation of 
  foreign operations ..................................................

  Other ........................................................................

Buildings
and
structures
408,899

Machinery 
and
vehicles
716,797

566

697

(5,468)

18,605

2,766

60

230

100

(27,952)

36,152

4,327

281

Tools, 
furniture and 
fixtures

119,612

4,762

48

(13,424)

7,464

1,197

(315)

December 31, 2017 .....................................................

426,125

729,935

119,344

  Additions ..................................................................

  Acquisitions through business combinations ..........

327 

46

331 

1,649

  Sales and disposals ..................................................

(6,808) 

(26,497) 

  Reclassification ........................................................

20,519 

41,311 

1,433 

181 

(8,457) 

10,773 

Construction 
in
progress

24,488

67,471

—

(3)

(62,591)

359

172

29,896

76,545 

129 

—

Land

73,018

13

83

(443)

370

274

(0)

73,315

2,749 

— 

(226) 

34 

(72,637) 

(Millions of yen)

Total

1,342,814

73,042

928

(47,290)

—

8,923

198

1,378,615

81,385 

2,005 

(41,988) 

— 

 Exchange differences on translation of
  foreign operations ..................................................

(4,207) 

(8,474) 

(1,389) 

(189) 

(538) 

(14,797) 

  Other ........................................................................
December 31, 2018 .....................................................

(231)
435,771 

162 
738,417

(334) 
121,551 

0 
75,683

1,148 
34,543 

745 
1,405,965 

Accumulated Depreciation and Accumulated Impairment Losses 
Buildings 
and
structures
285,460

January 1, 2017 ............................................................

Machinery 
and
vehicles
583,202

  Depreciation1 ............................................................

13,036

25,133

Impairment losses2 ..................................................

Impairment losses reversed2 ...................................

—

(0)

18

—

Tools, 
furniture and 
fixtures

92,901

11,323

1

(1)

  Sales and disposals ..................................................

(5,132)

(27,219)

(13,185)

 Exchange differences on translation of
  foreign operations ..................................................

  Other ........................................................................

1,888

69

4,091

272

December 31, 2017 .....................................................

295,321

585,497

  Depreciation1 ............................................................

13,739 

28,209 

929

(291)

91,677

11,683 

  Sales and disposals ..................................................

(6,315) 

(25,663) 

(8,270) 

 Exchange differences on translation of
  foreign operations ..................................................

(2,199) 

(5,737) 

  Other ........................................................................
December 31, 2018 .....................................................

(113) 
300,433 

132 
582,438 

(1,042) 

(209) 
93,839 

Land

10,416

—

—

—

(96)

—

—

10,320

— 

— 

— 

— 
10,320 

Construction 
in
progress

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

— 

— 

— 

— 
— 

(Millions of yen)

Total

971,979

49,492

19

(1)

(45,632)

6,908

50

982,815

53,631 

(40,248) 

(8,978) 

(190) 
987,030 

Notes:  1.   Depreciation of property, plant and equipment is included in cost of sales, selling, general and administrative expenses and other operating expenses in 

the consolidated statement of income.

2.   Impairment losses on property, plant and equipment are included in other operating expenses and impairment losses reversed are recognized in other 

operating income in the consolidated statement of income.

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

34

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Carrying Amount 

January 1, 2017 ............................................................

Buildings 
and
structures
123,439

Machinery 
and
vehicles
133,595

December 31, 2017 .....................................................

130,804

144,438

December 31, 2018 .....................................................

135,338 

155,979 

(Millions of yen)

Tools, 
furniture and 
fixtures

26,711

27,667 

27,712 

Construction 
in
progress

24,488

29,896

34,543 

Land

62,602

62,995

65,363 

Total

370,835

395,800

418,935 

(2) Leased Assets
The carrying amount of leased assets from finance leases included in property, plant and equipment is as follows:

January 1, 2017 ............................................................

December 31, 2017 .....................................................

December 31, 2018 .....................................................

(Millions of yen)

Buildings 
and
structures
4,060

3,195

2,419 

Other
54

58

45 

Total

4,114

3,253

2,464 

(4) Commitments
Note 38 “Commitments” presents information on commitments 
to acquire property, plant and equipment.

(3) Impairment Losses
The Group allocates property, plant and equipment into cash-
generating units based on the smallest identifiable group of 
assets that generates cash inflows that are largely independent. 
For idle assets, the Group evaluates whether to recognize 
impairment losses for individual properties based on impairment 
tests performed.

14 Goodwill and Intangible Assets

(1) Changes in Goodwill and Intangible Assets
The following tables present changes in acquisition costs, accumulated amortization and accumulated impairment losses, and carrying 
amounts of goodwill and intangible assets.

Acquisition Cost 

(Millions of yen)

January 1, 2017 ............................................................

  Additions ..................................................................

  Acquisitions through business combinations ..........

  Sales and disposals ..................................................

  Reclassification ........................................................

 Exchange differences on translation of 
  foreign operations ..................................................

  Other ........................................................................

Goodwill
137,783

Software
27,284

—

495

—

—

457

—

84

11

(5,502)

5,194

134

(9)

December 31, 2017 .....................................................

138,735

27,196

  Additions ..................................................................

— 

  Acquisitions through business combinations ..........

42,866 

  Sales and disposals ..................................................

  Reclassification ........................................................

— 

— 

110 

5 

(5,640) 

7,495 

 Exchange differences on translation of 
  foreign operations ..................................................

(1,315) 

(127) 

(68) 

  Other ........................................................................
December 31, 2018 .....................................................

— 
180,286 

281 
29,320 

— 
14,710 

Note: 1. Software in progress is included in other in intangible assets.

35

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

Intangible assets
Customer 
relationships

Trademarks

—

—

2

(2)

—

—

—

—

— 

—

—

768

(63)

—

72

—

777

—

14,778 

13,115

— 

— 

—

—

(153)

—
13,739

Other1
5,163

6,229

12

(807)

(5,188)

(55)

(11)

5,343

7,602 

1,525 

(143) 

(7,495) 

(72) 

(25) 
6,735 

Total
32,447

6,313

793

(6,374)

6

151

(20)

33,316

7,712 

29,423 

(5,783) 

— 

(420) 

256 
64,504 

 
 
 
 
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Accumulated Amortization and Accumulated Impairment Losses 

(Millions of yen)

January 1, 2017 ............................................................

  Amortization1 ............................................................

  Sales and disposals ..................................................

 Exchange differences on translation of
  foreign operations ..................................................

  Other ........................................................................

December 31, 2017 .....................................................

  Amortization1 ............................................................

  Sales and disposals ..................................................

  Exchange differences on translation of
  foreign operations ..................................................

  Other ........................................................................
December 31, 2018 .....................................................

Goodwill
—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—
—

Software
14,915

4,839

(5,486)

117

(10)

14,375

5,397 

(5,500) 

(105) 

228 
14,395 

Intangible assets
Customer 
relationships
—

Trademarks
—

—

—

—

—

—

737

—

(1)

—
736

120

(63)

1

—

58

619

—

(11)

—
666

Other
2,843

57

(794)

(52)

—

2,054

278 

(135) 

(52) 

13 
2,158 

Total
17,758

5,016

(6,343)

66

(10)

16,487

7,031 

(5,635) 

(169) 

241 
17,955 

Note: 1.  Amortization of intangible assets is included in cost of sales, selling, general and administrative expenses and other operating expenses in the 

consolidated statement of income.

Carrying Amount 

January 1, 2017 ............................................................

Goodwill
137,783

December 31, 2017 .....................................................

138,735

December 31, 2018 .....................................................

180,286 

(Millions of yen)

Intangible assets
Customer 
relationships

Trademarks

—

—

—

719

13,974

13,073

Software
12,369

12,821

14,925 

Other
2,320

3,289

4,577 

Total
14,689

16,829

46,549 

(2) Goodwill
The following table presents the carrying amount of goodwill 
recognized in the Group’s consolidated statement of financial 
position. Goodwill arising from business combinations is allocated 
at the acquisition date to cash-generating units benefiting from 

the business combination, and the goodwill belongs to the 
Cosmetics Business, the Skin Care and Hair Care Business, the 
Fabric and Home Care Business and the Chemical Business. The 
goodwill primarily relates to the acquisition of the Kanebo 
Cosmetics Group.

Cosmetics Business ..................................................................................................................................

  Kanebo Cosmetics Group ......................................................................................................................

  Molton Brown Group .............................................................................................................................

Skin Care and Hair Care Business .............................................................................................................

  Oribe Hair Care and other ......................................................................................................................

  Other ......................................................................................................................................................

Fabric and Home Care Business ..............................................................................................................

Chemical Business ....................................................................................................................................
  Total ....................................................................................................................................................

2018
130,455 

119,400 

 11,055

28,831

24,908

3,923

18,423

2,577 
180,286 

(Millions of yen)

2017
131,283

119,400

11,883

4,792

779

4,013

—

2,660
138,735

(3) Impairment Test for Goodwill
The Group tests goodwill for impairment at least once a year by 
each fiscal year end or if there are indications of impairment.
  The recoverable amount on the impairment test is measured 
based on value in use. The majority of goodwill recognized at the 
Group relates to the Kanebo Cosmetics Group.
  For the goodwill associated with the Kanebo Cosmetics Group, 
cash flow projections that are the basis for the value in use are 

estimated using two-year medium-term plans that reflect past 
year’s performance. The key assumptions used in formulating 
these estimates include sales growth rates and discount rates and 
the sales growth rates are consistent with the growth rate 
projections of the markets in which the cash-generating units 
operate. Estimated cash flows in years beyond the two-year 
forecasts approved by management were calculated using an 
annual growth rate of 0% and were discounted to present value 

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

36

 
 
 
 
using a weighted average cost of capital (WACC) of 8.2% for the 
fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 and 7.1% for the fiscal year 
ended December 31, 2017. For the fiscal year ended December 
31, 2018, management assumed the probability that material 
impairment would occur in this cash-generating unit was low even 
in cases where the key assumptions used for the impairment test 
changed within the reasonably possible ranges. While the value in 
use exceeded carrying amount at December 31, 2017, increasing 
the discount rate by 2.9% would result in impairment.

(4) Intangible Assets with Indefinite Useful Lives
The intangible assets above include no material intangible assets 
with indefinite useful lives.

(5) Commitments
Note 38 “Commitments” presents information on commitments 
associated with the acquisition of intangible assets.

15

Investments Accounted for Using the Equity Method

Investments in associates are accounted for using the equity method in the Group’s consolidated financial statements. The carrying 
amount of investments in associates that are not individually material is as follows:

Investments accounted for using the equity method ................................................................................

2018
7,931

(Millions of yen)

2017
7,682

  Changes in the Group’s share of net income and other comprehensive income of associates that are not individually material are as 
follows:

The Group’s share of net income ..............................................................................................................

The Group’s share of other comprehensive income ..................................................................................

The Group’s share of comprehensive income ...........................................................................................

2018
2,082

(418)
1,664

(Millions of yen)

2017
2,007

316
2,323

16

Income Taxes

(1) Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities
Details of major causes of occurrence and changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities consist of the following:

Fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 

(Millions of yen)

January 1,
2018

Recognized in 
profit or loss

Recognized 
in other 
comprehensive 
income

Other

December 31, 
2018

Deferred tax assets

 Property, plant and equipment and 
  intangible assets ................................................

  Retirement benefit liabilities ................................

  Accrued expenses ...............................................

  Unused tax losses ...............................................

  Other ....................................................................
Total deferred tax assets .........................................

Deferred tax liabilities

 Property, plant and equipment and
  intangible assets ................................................

  Financial assets ....................................................

  Undistributed foreign earnings ............................

  Other ....................................................................

Total deferred tax liabilities ......................................
Deferred tax assets, net ..........................................

18,735

16,737

11,431

2,099

13,318
62,320

7,103

3,270

10,735

729

21,837
40,483

37

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

559

589

(998)

(1,065)

2,593
1,678

776

—

426

52

1,254
424

—

7,011

—

—

—
7,011

—

121

—

—

121
6,890

(77)

(244)

13

366

(45)
13

2,309

(756)

—

(37)

1,516
(1,503)

19,217

24,093

10,446

1,400

15,866
71,022

10,188

2,635

11,161

744

24,728
46,294

 
 
 
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 

(Millions of yen)

January 1,
2017

Recognized in 
profit or loss

Recognized
in other 
comprehensive 
income

Other

December 31, 
2017

Deferred tax assets

 Property, plant and equipment and
  intangible assets ................................................

  Retirement benefit liabilities ................................

  Accrued expenses ...............................................

  Unused tax losses ...............................................

  Other ....................................................................
Total deferred tax assets .........................................

Deferred tax liabilities

 Property, plant and equipment and
  intangible assets ................................................

  Financial assets ....................................................

  Undistributed foreign earnings ............................

  Other ....................................................................

Total deferred tax liabilities ......................................
Deferred tax assets, net ..........................................

18,316

27,847

11,927

1,240

15,841
75,171

7,945

2,764

12,730

1,321

24,760
50,411

384

(1,536)

(561)

866

(2,439)
(3,286)

(766)

—

(1,995)

(611)

(3,372)
86

—

(9,624)

—

—

—
(9,624)

—

509

—

—

509
(10,133)

35

50

65

(7)

(84)
59

(76)

(3)

—

19

(60)
119

Deferred tax assets and liabilities recognized in the consolidated statement of financial position are as follows:

Deferred tax assets ...................................................................................................................................

Deferred tax liabilities ................................................................................................................................

Deferred tax assets, net ............................................................................................................................

2018
49,158

2,864
46,294

Deductible temporary differences and unused tax losses for which no deferred tax asset is recognized are as follows:

Unused tax losses .......................................................................................................................................

Deductible temporary differences ...............................................................................................................
  Total  .........................................................................................................................................................

Unused tax losses for which no deferred tax asset is recognized will expire as follows:

Not later than 1 year ....................................................................................................................................

Later than 1 year and not later than 2 years ................................................................................................

Later than 2 years and not later than 3 years ..............................................................................................

Later than 3 years and not later than 4 years ..............................................................................................

Later than 4 years ........................................................................................................................................
  Total .........................................................................................................................................................

2018
2,664

11,981
14,645

2018

210

353

472

297

1,332
2,664

18,735

16,737

11,431

2,099

13,318
62,320

7,103

3,270

10,735

729

21,837
40,483

(Millions of yen)

2017
40,918

435
40,483

(Millions of yen)

2017
17,656

19,967
37,623

(Millions of yen)

2017

507

3,426

7,007

5,336

1,380
17,656

  The aggregate amounts of taxable temporary differences 
associated with investments in subsidiaries and associates for 
which deferred tax liabilities were not recognized at December 31, 
2018 and 2017 were 11,512 million yen and 15,835 million yen, 
respectively. The Group did not recognize deferred tax liabilities for 

these temporary differences because it was able to control the 
timing of the reversal of these temporary differences, and it was 
probable that the temporary difference will not reverse in the 
foreseeable future.

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

38

 
 
 
 
 
(2) Income Taxes 
Income taxes consist of the following:

Current taxes .............................................................................................................................................

Deferred taxes1 ..........................................................................................................................................
  Total  .......................................................................................................................................................

2018
52,344

(424)
51,920

(Millions of yen)

2017
55,769

(86)
55,683

Note: 1.  Deferred taxes include 385 million yen and 160 million yen for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, due to tax rate changes.

(3) Reconciliation of Effective Tax Rate
The details of difference between the effective statutory tax rate and the Group’s average actual tax rate consist of the following:

Effective statutory tax rate ........................................................................................................................

  Tax credit for experimental research costs and other ............................................................................

  Different tax rates applied to subsidiaries ..............................................................................................

  Reassessment of recoverability of unused tax losses and deferred tax assets ....................................

  Change in tax rates ................................................................................................................................

  Other ......................................................................................................................................................
Average actual tax rate ..............................................................................................................................

17

Bonds and Borrowings

Bonds and borrowings consist of the following:

Short-term borrowings .......................................................................

Current portion of long-term borrowings ............................................

Long-term borrowings ........................................................................

Current portion of bonds2 ..................................................................

Bonds2  ................................................................................................
  Total .............................................................................................

2018

430

40,046

30,299

12

50,040
120,827

2017

201

67

70,347

24,994

24,975
120,584

Current liabilities

  Bonds and borrowings ....................................................................

40,488

25,262

Non-current liabilities

  Bonds and borrowings ....................................................................
  Total .............................................................................................

80,339
120,827

95,322
120,584

2018
30.86

(3.80)

(1.64)

(0.30)

0.19

(0.26)
25.05

(%)

2017
30.86

(2.68)

(0.92)

0.48

0.08

(0.56)
27.26

Average interest 
rate1 (%)
1.18

0.13

0.11

—

—

(Millions of yen)

Maturity

—

—

2021-2023

—

—

Notes:  1.  The average interest rate is the weighted average interest rate on the balance of borrowings as of December 31, 2018.

2.  Details of bonds issued are as follows:

Issuer

Bond name

Issue date

2018

2017

Interest rate (%)

Collateral Maturity date

The Company

3rd unsecured bonds

June 14, 2013

—

24,994

The Company

4th unsecured bonds

June 14, 2013

24,985 

24,975

The Company

5th unsecured bonds

June 19, 2018

24,947 

Subsidiaries

Other bonds

—

120

—

—

  Total  .................................................................................

50,052 

49,969

0.39

0.62

0.08

—

None

June 20, 2018

None

June 19, 2020

None

June 20, 2023

—

—

(Millions of yen)

39

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

18

Leases

(1) Finance Lease Payables
As a lessee, the Group leases assets including buildings. Some lease contracts include renewal options. The Group has no lease 
contracts with covenants such as restrictions on additional borrowings or additional leases.
  The total of future minimum lease payments and the present value under finance lease contracts consist of the following:

Not later than 1 year .........................................................................

Later than 1 year and not later than 5 years .....................................

Later than 5 years .............................................................................

  Total  ..............................................................................................

Financial charges ..............................................................................
  Present value of minimum lease payments ..................................

(2) Non-cancellable Operating Leases
As a lessee, the Group leases assets including land. 

Minimum lease payments
2017
2018
789
689

1,769

25

2,483

(64) 

2,419

2,337

149

3,275

(97)
3,178

(Millions of yen)

Present value of minimum
lease payments

2018

663

1,731

25

2,419

—
2,419

2017
755

2,276

147

3,178

—
3,178

  The total of future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating lease contracts consists of the following:

Not later than 1 year ..................................................................................................................................

Later than 1 year and not later than 5 years ..............................................................................................

Later than 5 years ......................................................................................................................................
  Total .......................................................................................................................................................

2018
8,622

15,539

6,381
30,542

(Millions of yen)

2017
8,414

16,347

6,917
31,678

  The total of minimum lease payments under operating lease contracts recognized as expenses is as follows:

Total of minimum lease payments .............................................................................................................

19

Trade and Other Payables

Trade and other payables consist of the following:

Trade payables ...........................................................................................................................................

Non-trade payables ....................................................................................................................................
  Total ......................................................................................................................................................

2018
9,829

(Millions of yen)

2017
10,080

2018
145,603

79,957
225,560

(Millions of yen)

2017
143,944

80,949
224,893

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

40

 
 
 
 
20

Employee Benefits

(1) Post-employment Benefits
The Company and most of its domestic subsidiaries have a cash 
balance plan as a defined benefit plan and a defined contribution 
plan as post-employment benefits (The cash balance plan is linked 
to market interest rates). The defined benefit obligations held in 
Japan account for a large proportion of the Group’s defined 
benefit obligations.
  Cash balance plan benefits are determined using points 
acquired during the enrollment period and a multiplier based on 
the enrollment period. The Group may also pay an early retirement 
bonus allowance to employees who retire earlier than the 
retirement age.

In accordance with laws and regulations, the defined benefit 
plan is operated as a pension fund that is legally separated from 
the Group. The pension fund is managed by a Board of 
Representatives composed of representatives elected by the 
participating companies and the representatives of participating 
employees. Pension fund management institutions manage the 

pension fund’s assets in accordance with management policies 
specified by the Board of Representatives. The Board of 
Representatives and the pension fund management institutions 
are legally required to act in the best interests of plan participants 
in executing their responsibilities for managing the plan assets. 
  Certain foreign subsidiaries have defined benefit plans and/or 
defined contribution plans as post-employment benefits. 

  The defined benefit plan is exposed to actuarial risk and to the 
risk of fluctuation in the fair value of plan assets. Actuarial risk 
primarily involves interest rate risk. Interest rate risk involves the 
potential for an increase in defined benefit plan obligations if the 
discount rate used to determine their present value decreases, 
because this discount rate is based on market yields on 
instruments including high-quality corporate bonds. The risk of 
fluctuation in the fair value of plan assets involves underfunding if 
actual interest rates are lower than the interest rate criteria for 
managing the plan assets. 

1) Defined benefit liabilities recognized in the consolidated statement of financial position

 Net defined benefit liabilities and assets recognized in the consolidated statement of financial position, defined benefit obligations 
and plan assets are as follows:

Present value of defined benefit obligations .............................................................................................
Fair value of plan assets ............................................................................................................................
  Net defined benefit liabilities .............................................................................................................

Amounts recognized in consolidated statement of fi nancial position
  Retirement benefit liabilities ..................................................................................................................
  Retirement benefit assets .....................................................................................................................
  Net defined benefit liabilities .............................................................................................................

2) Defined benefit obligations
  Changes in the present value of defined benefit obligations are as follows:

The present value of the defi ned benefi t obligations at beginning of year ................................................
  Current service cost1..............................................................................................................................
Interest expense2  ..................................................................................................................................

  Remeasurements

  Actuarial (gains) losses arising from changes in demographic assumptions ......................................
  Actuarial (gains) losses arising from changes in financial assumptions .............................................
  Actuarial (gains) losses arising from experience adjustments............................................................
  Past service cost and (gains) losses arising from settlements3 .............................................................
  Benefits paid4 .........................................................................................................................................
  Changes due to termination (curtailment and settlement) of defined benefit plans ........................
  Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations and other ....................................................
The present value of the defi ned benefi t obligations at end of year ..........................................................

2018
342,130 
(258,744)
83,386 

84,552 
(1,166)
83,386 

2018
333,614 
9,376 
2,569 

6,755 
1,376 
1,748 
107 
(11,865) 

—
(1,550)
342,130 

(Millions of yen)

2017
333,614
(270,144)
63,470

64,694
(1,224)
63,470

(Millions of yen)

2017
355,579
9,839
2,672

(31)
(20,245)
2,242
(407)
(12,015)
(4,738)
718
333,614

Notes: 1.  Current service cost is recognized in profit or loss and included in 

cost of sales, selling, general and administrative expenses and other 
operating expenses in the consolidated statement of income.
2.  Interest expense or interest income associated with the net of the 
present value of the defined benefit obligations and the fair value of 
plan assets is recognized in profit or loss and included in financial 
expenses or financial income in the consolidated statement of income.

3.  Past service cost and (gains) losses arising from settlements are 

recognized in profit or loss and included in cost of sales and general 
and administrative expenses in the consolidated statement of income.

4.  The weighted average duration of the defined benefit obligations in 

Japan was mainly 17.4 years at December 31, 2018 and 16.6 years at 
December 31, 2017.

41

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

3) Plan assets
  Changes in the fair value of plan assets are as follows:

The fair value of plan assets at beginning of year ......................................................................................
Interest income ......................................................................................................................................

  Remeasurements

  Return on plan assets (excluding amounts included in interest income) ...........................................
  Contributions to the plan by the employer1 ............................................................................................
  Payments from the plan .........................................................................................................................
  Changes due to termination (curtailment and settlement) of defined benefit plans ........................
  Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations and other ....................................................
The fair value of plan assets at end of year ...............................................................................................

2018
270,144 
1,927 

(12,656)
10,292 
(10,249) 

—
(714) 
258,744 

(Millions of yen)

2017
261,857
1,882

12,850
8,941
(10,624)
(4,738)
(24)
270,144

Note: 1.  Pursuant to laws and regulations, the Group and the pension fund review the financial condition of the pension plan regularly and recalculate contributions 
for allocating future benefits and maintaining the balance of pension financing when the plan is underfunded. The Group plans to contribute 13,661 million 
yen to the defined benefit plan for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019.

  Plan assets consist of the following:

Equity securities
  Japan ......................................
  Overseas .................................
Debt securities ...........................
  Japan ......................................
  Overseas .................................
Other ..........................................
  Total .....................................

2018
Market price in an active market

Quoted 
8,830
—
8,830
6,640
—
6,640
352
15,822

Unquoted 
43,962
21,502
22,460
188,425
126,940
61,485
10,535
242,922

Total
52,792
21,502
31,290
195,065
126,940
68,125
10,887
258,744

(Millions of yen)

2017
Market price in an active market
Unquoted
50,055
25,010
25,045
192,628
128,279
64,349
10,479
253,162

Total
59,262
25,010
34,252
200,146
128,279
71,867
10,736
270,144

Quoted
9,207
—
9,207
7,518
—
7,518
257
16,982

Note: Plan assets invested in pooled funds of trust banks are classified without quoted market prices in active markets.

   Pension assets in Japan account for a large proportion of 
the Group’s plan assets. The objective in managing the plan 
assets is to raise total returns to the greatest extent 
possible in order to ensure stable benefits and lump-sum 
payments for plan participants in the future and beneficiaries 
with a long-term view under acceptable risks. Specifically, 
the Group considers factors including expected rate of return 

on investments in appropriate assets, risks of each asset, and 
asset combinations to set an asset mix policy for an appropriate 
basic portfolio in future years as the basis for maintaining asset 
allocation. The Group reviews the basic portfolio annually and 
realigns it as necessary if the asset allocation conditions have 
changed since the asset mix was set.

4) Significant actuarial assumptions and related sensitivity analysis
  Significant actuarial assumptions are as follows:

Discount rate ............................................................................................................................................

Mainly 0.8%

Mainly 0.8%

2018

2017

Note: The above table presents the discount rate used by the Company and major domestic subsidiaries.

   Sensitivity analysis of the effect of changes in the present value of the defined benefit obligations of the Company and major 
domestic subsidiaries given changes in the discount rate used as a significant actuarial assumption is as follows:

The impact on defined benefit obligations
  0.5% increase in discount rate ...........................................................................................................
  0.5% decrease in discount rate ..........................................................................................................

(Millions of yen)

2018

2017

(25,292)
26,314 

(23,414)
24,311

Note:  This sensitivity analysis estimates the effect on the defined benefit obligations at the end of each reporting period from changes in the discount rate while all 

of the other assumptions remain constant.

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

42

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5) Defined contribution plans
Expenses related to the defined contribution plan recognized 
in profit or loss were 4,176 million yen and 3,873 million yen 
for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, 
respectively and included in cost of sales, selling, general and 
administrative expenses and other operating expenses in the 
consolidated statement of income.

(2) Other Employee Benefit Expenses
Other employee benefit expenses recognized in cost of sales, 
selling, general and administrative expenses, and other operating 
expenses in the consolidated statement of income for the fiscal 
years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 were 272,234 million 
yen and 268,034 million yen, respectively.

21

Provisions

Components of and changes in provisions consist of the following:

January 1, 2018 ....................................................................................

Provision for
loss related
to cosmetics
8,763

Provision for 
asset retirement 
obligations
4,339

Other
provisions
2,337

Increase ............................................................................................

2,732

Interest expense on discounted provision .........................................

7

  Decrease (provision used) ................................................................

(3,334)

  Decrease (provision reversed) ..........................................................

 Exchange differences on translation of 
  foreign operations ...........................................................................

—

—

December 31, 2018 ..............................................................................

8,168

174

62

(139)

—

(22)

4,414

1,383

—

(1,002)

(181)

(71)

2,466

(Millions of yen)

Total
15,439

4,289

69

(4,475)

(181)

(93)

15,048

(1) Provision for Loss Related to Cosmetics
The Group has recognized estimated compensation and other 
expenses related to cosmetics for brightening products of Kanebo 
Cosmetics containing the ingredient Rhododenol, for which a 
voluntary recall was announced on July 4, 2013. The Group 
expects its insurance policy to cover 2,521 million yen of the 
estimated expenses.

(2) Provision for Asset Retirement Obligations
The Group recognizes asset retirement obligations principally 
based on or pursuant to reasonably estimated future expenditures 
using historical experience and other factors when the Group has 

a legal or contractual obligation associated with the retirement of 
property, plant and equipment and leased assets held for use. 
  These expenditures are generally expected to take place after a 
year or more, but are affected by factors including future business 
plans.

(3) Other Provisions
Other provisions consist of estimated expenses for business 
transformation at subsidiaries in Europe and the Americas and 
other expenses.

22 Other Current Liabilities

Other current liabilities consist of the following:

Accrued expenses .....................................................................................................................................

Consumption tax payables ........................................................................................................................

Obligation for unused paid absences ........................................................................................................

Other .........................................................................................................................................................

2018
77,530

8,808

7,865

8,249

(Millions of yen)

2017
81,515

9,741

7,558

8,590

  Total  .......................................................................................................................................................

102,452

107,404

43

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

 
 
 
 
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

23

Equity and Other Equity Items

(1) Share Capital
The numbers of shares authorized and issued are as follows:

Authorized..................................................................................................................................................

Issued1

(Shares)

2018
1,000,000,000

2017
1,000,000,000

  Beginning balance ..................................................................................................................................

495,000,000

504,000,000

  Change during the year2 .........................................................................................................................

(6,300,000)

(9,000,000)

  Ending balance .......................................................................................................................................

488,700,000

495,000,000

Notes:  1.   All of the issued shares of the Company are ordinary shares that have no par value and no limitations on rights. Issued shares are fully paid.

2.   The number of issued shares during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 decreased by 6,300,000 shares and 9,000,000 shares 

respectively due to the retirement of treasury shares pursuant to the resolution of the Board of Directors.

(2) Capital Surplus
Capital surplus consists of capital reserve and other capital surplus. 
  The Companies Act stipulates that over half of the capital contributed from the issue of shares must be included in share capital and 
that the remainder must be included in capital reserve. Moreover, capital reserve may be included in share capital by resolution of the 
General Meeting of Shareholders.

(3) Treasury Shares
The changes in treasury shares are as follows:

Beginning balance1 ....................................................................................................................................

Increase2 ................................................................................................................................................

(Shares)

2018
2,225,561

6,237,461

2017
11,137,654

263,176

  Decrease3 ...............................................................................................................................................

(6,419,750)

(9,175,269)

Ending balance4 .........................................................................................................................................

2,043,272

2,225,561

Notes:  1.   556,492 shares of treasury shares held by associates were included at December 31, 2018 and 2017. 

257,300 shares held by the Board Incentive Plan Trust (hereinafter “BIP Trust”) were included at December 31, 2018.

2.   The increase of 6,237,461 shares of treasury shares during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 resulted from the acquisition of 6,233,200 shares 

by resolution of the Board of Directors and the purchase of 4,261 fractional shares. 
  The increase of 263,176 shares of treasury shares during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 resulted from the acquisition of 257,300 shares by 
BIP Trust and the purchase of 5,876 fractional shares.

3.   The decrease of 6,419,750 shares of treasury shares during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 resulted from the retirement of 6,300,000 shares 
by resolution of the Board of Directors, a decrease of 105,000 shares due to the exercise of stock options, a decrease of 14,625 shares due to the grant 
to the Board of Directors by the BIP trust and the sale of 125 fractional shares. 
  The decrease of 9,175,269 shares of treasury shares during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 resulted from the retirement of 9,000,000 
shares by resolution of the Board of Directors, a decrease of 175,000 shares due to the exercise of stock options, and the sale of 269 fractional shares.

4.   556,492 shares of treasury shares held by associates were included at December 31, 2018 and 2017.  

In addition, 242,675 shares and 257,300 shares held by the BIP Trust were included at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

(4) Other Components of Equity

1) Subscription rights to shares

The Company employs a stock option system and issues 
subscription rights to shares in accordance with the 
Companies Act; however, due to the introduction of a 
performance share plan, the stock option plan has been 
abolished except for the options already granted.
  Note 34 “Share-based Payments” presents information 
including terms and conditions and amounts.

2)  Exchange differences on translation of foreign 

operations
Foreign currency translation differences arise from the 
translation of financial statements of foreign operations 
prepared in foreign currencies.

3)  Net gain (loss) on derivatives designated as cash flow 

hedges
Associates hedge their exposure to the risk of variability in 
future cash flows. Net gain (loss) on derivatives designated 
as cash flow hedges is the portion of the change in the fair 
value of the hedging instrument that meets the hedge 
effectiveness requirements under hedge accounting.

4)  Net gain (loss) on revaluation of financial assets 

measured at fair value through other comprehensive 
income
This is the accumulated amount of changes in the fair value 
of financial assets measured at fair value through other 
comprehensive income. The Group reclassifies net gain 
(loss) on revaluation of financial assets from other components 
of equity to retained earnings when it disposes of an 
investment or when fair value declines significantly.

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

44

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5) Remeasurements of defined benefit plans

Remeasurements of defined benefit plans include the effect 
of any variances between actuarial assumptions at the 
beginning of the year and actual results, the effects of 
changes in actuarial assumptions, actual return on plan assets 
and interest income on plan assets (excluding amounts 
included in net interest on the net defined benefit liability 
(asset)), and any change in the effect of the asset ceiling 
(excluding amounts included in net interest on the net 
defined benefit liability (asset)). Remeasurements of defined 
benefit plans are recognized in other comprehensive income 
and immediately reclassified from other components of 
equity to retained earnings in the period when they occur.

24

Basic Strategy for Capital Policy

The Group’s capital policy follows a basic strategy of securing a 
sound financial structure to make investments for sustainable 
growth and tolerate the related risks, and to make stable, 
continuous returns to shareholders. To realize this policy, the 
Group uses Economic Value Added (hereinafter “EVA®1”), a 
management indicator that takes capital cost into account, as its 
main indicator and works to enhance its corporate value by 
improving EVA. Guided by EVA management, which places 
importance on both continuous enhancements in corporate value 
and long-term profits for all stakeholders, the Group develops its 
business strategy and business plan.
  The Group manages all equity and interest-bearing liabilities as 
capital cost and intends to optimize capital cost from the 
viewpoint of safety and capital efficiency. For equity, the Group 
aims for a streamlined and sound structure from a medium- to 
long-term perspective with efficiency in mind and, while 
maintaining interest-bearing liabilities at a moderate level, aims to 
maintain high credit ratings which will allow it to procure capital 
for large-scale investments. The Group is not subject to significant 

(5) Retained Earnings
Retained earnings consist of legal reserve and other retained 
earnings. 
  The Companies Act requires that an amount equal to one-tenth 
of dividends must be appropriated as capital reserve or as legal 
reserve until the total of the aggregate amount of capital reserve 
and legal reserve equals a quarter of share capital. Legal reserve 
may be appropriated to reduce a deficit, and also may be reversed 
by resolution of the General Meeting of Shareholders.

capital regulations except for general requirements under the 
Companies Act and others.
  Although the Group emphasizes shareholder returns, it realizes 
that investments for growth will meet the expectations of its 
stakeholders, and therefore prioritizes such investments. In 
addition to providing stable dividends, the Group aims to 
continuously increase dividends to reflect improvements in 
business results. The Group also uses surplus funds to flexibly 
conduct share repurchases. 

In addition to making returns to shareholders, the Group retains 

the capital necessary to conduct investments for growth in a 
timely fashion and to ensure the appropriate resources to deal 
with situations that exceed assumptions while improving EVA.

  For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, EVA increased 
3.1 billion yen compared with the previous fiscal year to 93.5 
billion yen due to an increase in net operating profit after tax 
(hereinafter “NOPAT”).

Note: 1. EVA is a monetary metric defined as NOPAT less capital cost. EVA is a registered trademark of Stern Stewart & Co.

25 Dividends

Dividends paid are as follows:

Fiscal year ended December 31, 2018

Date of resolution

112th Annual General Meeting
 of Shareholders held on 
March 23, 2018

Board of Directors meeting held on
  July 26, 2018

Total dividends¹
(Millions of yen)

Dividends per share 
(Yen)

Record date

Effective date

27,595

29,197

56

60

December 31, 2017

March 26, 2018

June 30, 2018

September 3, 2018

Note: 1.  Total dividends are reduced by dividends on treasury shares held by associates accounted for using the equity method and dividends on shares of the 

Company held by the BIP Trust. 
  The dividend resolved at the 112th Annual General Meeting of Shareholders held on March 23, 2018 was 27,641 million yen before the deduction. The 
dividend resolved at the meeting of the Board of Directors held on July 26, 2018 was 29,245 million yen before the deduction.

45

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

 
 
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Fiscal year ended December 31, 2017

Date of resolution

111th Annual General Meeting 
 of Shareholders held on 
March 21, 2017

Board of Directors meeting held on 
  July 27, 2017

Total dividends¹
(Millions of yen)

Dividends per share 
(Yen)

Record date

Effective date

23,657

26,608

48

54

December 31, 2016

March 22, 2017

June 30, 2017

September 1, 2017

Note: 1.  Dividends on treasury shares held by associates accounted for using the equity method are deducted by an amount corresponding to the Group’s equity 
in these associates. In addition, total dividends pursuant to the resolution of the Board of Directors held on July 27, 2017 are deducted by the amount of 
dividends on shares of the Company held by the BIP Trust. 
  The dividend resolved at the 111th Annual General Meeting of Shareholders held on March 21, 2017 was 23,684 million yen before the deduction. The 
dividend resolved at the meeting of the Board of Directors held on July 27, 2017 was 26,652 million yen before the deduction. 

Dividends with an effective date after the fiscal year end are as follows:

Fiscal year ended December 31, 2018

Date of Resolution

113th Annual General Meeting
 of Shareholders held on 
March 26, 2019

Fiscal year ended December 31, 2017

Date of Resolution

112th Annual General Meeting 
 of Shareholders held on 
March 23, 2018

Total dividends
(Millions of yen)

Dividends per share
(Yen)

Record date

Effective date

29,247

60

December 31, 2018

March 27, 2019

Total dividends
(Millions of yen)

Dividends per share 
(Yen)

Record date

Effective date

27,641

56

December 31, 2017

March 26, 2018

26

Revenue

(1) Disaggregation of Revenue
The Group is organized on the basis of five businesses: the four 
business areas that constitute the Consumer Products Business 
(the Cosmetics Business, the Skin Care and Hair Care Business, 
the Human Health Care Business, and the Fabric and Home Care 
Business), and the Chemical Business.
  Revenues of these five businesses are presented as net sales. 
The Board of Directors of the Company reviews them regularly to 
determine allocation of resources and to assess their performance. 
Revenue of logistics services to third parties is included in other 
operating income because it is not a part of the abovementioned 
five main businesses.  

  The Group disaggregates revenue from contracts with customers 
by separating the Consumer Products Business into the Cosmetics 
Business and non-Cosmetics Businesses based on contracts with 
customers, with the Chemical Business as a separate division. 
Revenue by geographic region is disaggregated based on the 
location of revenue recognized. The relationship between 
disaggregated revenue and net sales by segment is as follows:
  Due to a change in organization as of January 1, 2018, in the fiscal 
year ended December 31, 2018 the Group reclassified its reportable 
segments and disaggregation of revenue for the fiscal year ended 
December 31, 2017 has been restated to reflect the reclassification. 
Changes in segment classification are presented in Note 6 
“Segment Information (1) Summary of Reportable Segments.”

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

46

 
 
 
Fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 

Cosmetics Business

Skin Care and Hair Care Business

Human Health Care Business

Fabric and Home Care Business

Consumer Products Business

Chemical Business

Elimination of intersegment transactions

Consolidated

Revenue of logistics services to third parties 

included in other operating income

Japan

217,726

195,821

171,633

298,712

883,892

126,550

(32,864)

977,578

Asia

34,667

28,513

95,971

39,558

198,709

67,480

(3,088) 

263,101

Americas

6,397

72,804

98

5,723

85,022

51,846

(87)

Europe

20,845

44,281

—

112

65,238

66,931

(1,622)

(Millions of yen)

Total

279,635

341,419

267,702

344,105

1,232,861

312,807

(37,661)

136,781

130,547

1,508,007

8,548

—

—

—

8,548

Total revenue from contracts with customers

986,126

263,101

136,781

130,547

1,516,555

Note:  Figures for the Consumer Products Business present sales to external customers and figures for the Chemical Business include sales to the Consumer 

Products Business in addition to external customers.

Fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 

Cosmetics Business

Skin Care and Hair Care Business

Human Health Care Business

Fabric and Home Care Business

Consumer Products Business

Chemical Business

Elimination of intersegment transactions

Consolidated

Revenue of logistics services to third parties 

included in other operating income

Japan

215,035

191,853

184,453

294,838

886,179

123,886

(31,833)

978,232

Asia

25,356

27,942

96,701

38,786

188,785

69,572

(3,352)

255,005

Americas

6,276

68,866

47

2,085

77,274

52,625

(99)

Europe

19,547

44,211

—

—

63,758

64,202

(1,576)

(Millions of yen)

Total

266,214

332,872

281,201

335,709

1,215,996

310,285

(36,860)

129,800

126,384

1,489,421

8,619

—

—

—

8,619

Total revenue from contracts with customers

986,851

255,005

129,800

126,384

1,498,040

Note:  Figures for the Consumer Products Business present sales to external customers and figures for the Chemical Business include sales to the Consumer 

Products Business in addition to external customers.

1) Consumer Products Business

The Consumer Products Business sells consumer products 
including cosmetics, skin care products, hair care products, 
sanitary products and fabric care products. Its customers are 
mainly retailers in Japan and retailers and wholesalers outside 
Japan. Revenue from such sales is recognized when control 
of a product is transferred to a customer, i.e., at the point in 
time a product is delivered and handed over at the place 
designated by a customer because legal title to the product, 
physical possession and the significant risks and rewards of 
ownership of the product are transferred to the customer and 
the customer has the right to decide the method of sale and 
selling price of the product.

In the Consumer Products Business, products may be sold 
with a rebate conditional upon achievement of certain targets 
such as the quantity or amount of sales (hereinafter 
“Achievement Rebate”) or other payments. In such cases, the 
transaction price is determined in an amount deducting the 
estimated amount of the Achievement Rebate or other 
payments from the consideration promised in the contract 
with the customer. Estimates of Achievement Rebate or other 
payment amounts use the most likely outcome method 

based on historical experience and other factors, and revenue 
is recognized only to the extent that it is highly probable that 
a significant reversal will not occur.

In addition, in the event that the Group makes payments to 

customers such as funding for sales promotions, if the 
consideration paid to customers is payment for separate 
goods or services from the customer and fair value cannot 
be reasonably estimated, revenue is measured by deducting 
the consideration from the transaction price.
  Among the products in the Consumer Products Business, 
cosmetics are composed of counseling cosmetics and self-
selection cosmetics. The Group may provide support to 
customers when they sell counseling cosmetics through 
counseling to final consumers.

In addition, when selling cosmetics, a certain level of 

product returns from customers associated with the 
termination of products is expected to occur. Because the 
Group has an obligation to refund the consideration for a 
product if a customer returns it, the Group recognizes a 
liability for sales returns as a deduction from revenue for 
projected refunds to customers. To estimate liabilities related 
to such sales returns, the Group uses the most likely 

47

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

 
 
 
 
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

2) Chemical Business

The Chemical Business sells chemical products such as fatty 
alcohols and surfactants. Its customers are mainly the users 
and distributors of the products. Revenue from such sales is 
recognized when control of a product is transferred to a 
customer, i.e., at the point in time a product is delivered and 
handed over at the place designated by a customer because 
legal title to the product, physical possession and the 
significant risks and rewards of ownership of the product are 
transferred to the customer and the customer has the right to 
decide the method of sale and selling price of the product. 
Revenue from sales of products in the Chemical Business is 
measured at transaction prices for contracts with customers.

January 1, 2018

December 31, 2018

(Millions of yen)

outcome method based on historical experience and other 
factors, and revenue is recognized only to the extent that it is 
highly probable that a significant reversal will not occur. When 
customers return products, the Group has the right to collect 
the products from the customers, but because returned 
goods are primarily the result of a product termination, the 
products returned have no asset value and therefore such 
assets are not recognized.

(2) Liabilities from Contracts with Customers
Liabilities from contracts with customers are as follows:

Fiscal year ended December 31, 2018  

Contract liabilities

  Advances ...........................................................................................................................

  Refund liabilities .................................................................................................................

  Total ................................................................................................................................

392

16,904

17,296

181

18,206

18,387

Fiscal year ended December 31, 2017  

Contract liabilities

January 1, 2017

December 31, 2017

(Millions of yen)

  Advances ...........................................................................................................................

  Refund liabilities .................................................................................................................

  Total ................................................................................................................................

2,501

14,046

16,547

392

16,904

17,296

  Among liabilities from contracts with customers, estimates of Achievement Rebates or other payment amounts expected to be paid to 
customers related to sales by the end of the reporting period and liabilities for returned products are recognized as refund liabilities. 
  The balances of advances as of January 1, 2018 and 2017 were recognized as revenue during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2018 
and 2017, respectively. The amount of revenue recognized during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 from performance obligations 
satisfied in previous periods was not material.

(3)  Transaction Price Allocated to the Remaining Performance Obligations
The Group uses the practical expedient of omitting the disclosure of information on the remaining performance obligations because it has 
no significant transactions with individual expected contractual terms exceeding one year. In addition, there are no significant amounts in 
consideration from contracts with customers that are not included in transaction prices.

(4)  Assets Recognized from the Costs of Obtaining or Fulfilling Contracts with Customers
The amount of assets recognized from the costs of obtaining or fulfilling contracts with customers during the fiscal year ended December 
31, 2018 was not material. In addition, if the amortization period of the assets that the Group otherwise would have recognized is one year 
or less, the Group uses the practical expedient of recognizing the incremental costs of obtaining the contract as an expense when incurred.

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

48

 
 
27

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses consist of the following:

Advertising .................................................................................................................................................

Sales promotion .........................................................................................................................................

2018
80,274

55,308

(Millions of yen)

2017
89,935

58,940

Employee benefi ts .....................................................................................................................................

148,220

147,007

Depreciation ..............................................................................................................................................

Amortization ..............................................................................................................................................

Research and development .......................................................................................................................

Other .........................................................................................................................................................

9,186

6,860

57,673

87,324

8,870

4,784

56,703

86,427

  Total  .......................................................................................................................................................

444,845

452,666

28 Other Operating Income

Other operating income consists of the following:

Revenue of logistics services to third parties ............................................................................................

Royalty income ..........................................................................................................................................

Other .........................................................................................................................................................

2018
8,548

1,039

4,701

(Millions of yen)

2017
8,619

1,112

5,178

  Total .......................................................................................................................................................  

14,288

14,909

29 Other Operating Expenses

Other operating expenses consist of the following:

Expenses of logistics services to third parties ..........................................................................................

Losses on sale and disposal of property, plant and equipment .................................................................

Expenses for business transformation at subsidiaries in Europe and the Americas .................................

Other1 ........................................................................................................................................................

2018
7,667

4,769

1,516

1,806

  Total .......................................................................................................................................................

15,758

Note: 1. Note 13 “Property, Plant and Equipment” presents impairment losses included in other.

(Millions of yen)

2017
7,688

3,729

27

1,322

12,766

49

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

 
 
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

30

Financial Income and Financial Expenses

Financial income consists of the following:

(Millions of yen)

2018

2017

Interest income

  Financial assets measured at amortized cost ........................................................................................

  Retirement benefi t assets .....................................................................................................................

1,320

30

1,059

38

Dividend income

  Financial assets measured at fair value through other comprehensive income

  Financial assets derecognized during the year ...................................................................................

  Financial assets held at year end .......................................................................................................

  Financial assets measured at fair value through profi t or loss ...............................................................

Other .........................................................................................................................................................

78

171

8

110

0

224

12

119

  Total ................................................................................................................................................

1,717

1,452

Financial expenses consist of the following:

Foreign exchange loss1 ..............................................................................................................................

Interest expenses2

  Financial liabilities measured at amortized cost .....................................................................................

  Retirement benefi t liabilities ..................................................................................................................

Other ...............................................................................................................................................

  Total ................................................................................................................................................

2018
2,304 

1,256

672

19

4,251

(Millions of yen)

2017
1,765

1,339

828

28

3,960

Notes:  1.  Valuation gains or losses on currency derivatives that are not designated as hedges are included in foreign exchange loss.
2.  Valuation gains or losses on interest rate derivatives that are not designated as hedges are included in interest expenses.

31

Earnings per Share

(1) The Basis for Calculating Basic Earnings per Share

Net income attributable to owners of the parent ......................................................................................

Amounts not attributable to ordinary shareholders of the parent ..............................................................

(Millions of yen, unless otherwise noted)

2018
153,698

—

2017
147,010

—

Net income used to calculate basic earnings per share ............................................................................

153,698

147,010

Weighted average number of ordinary shares (Thousands of shares) ..................................................

489,089

492,832

Basic earnings per share (Yen) ...................................................................................................................

314.25 

298.30

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

50

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(2) The Basis for Calculating Diluted Earnings per Share

Net income used to calculate basic earnings per share ............................................................................

Adjustments to net income .......................................................................................................................

(Millions of yen, unless otherwise noted)

2018
153,698

—

2017
147,010

—

Net income used to calculate diluted earnings per share ..........................................................................

153,698

147,010

Weighted average number of ordinary shares (Thousands of shares) ......................................................

489,089

492,832

Increase in ordinary shares

  Subscription rights to shares (Thousands of shares) ....................................................................

199

Weighted average number of ordinary shares after dilution (Thousands of shares) ..........................

489,289

337

493,170

Diluted earnings per share (Yen) ......................................................................................................

314.12 

298.09

Summary of potential ordinary shares not included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share 
  because they have no dilutive effect ......................................................................................................

—

—

32 Other Comprehensive Income

Amount arising during the fiscal year and tax effects for each component of other comprehensive income are as follows:

Fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 

Items that will not be reclassifi ed to profi t or loss

Gains (losses)
arising for the year

Tax effect

After tax effect

(Millions of yen)

 Net gain (loss) on revaluation of fi nancial assets measured at fair value through 
  other comprehensive income ...................................................................................

119

(121) 

(2)

  Remeasurements of defi ned benefi t plans .................................................................

(22,535)

7,011 

(15,524)

 Share of other comprehensive income of investments accounted for 
  using the equity method ...........................................................................................

(497)

  Total of items that will not be reclassifi ed to profi t or loss ......................................

(22,913)

152 

7,042 

(345)

(15,871)

Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss

  Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations .........................................

(16,140)

 Share of other comprehensive income of investments accounted for 
  using the equity method ...........................................................................................

(75) 

  Total of items that may be reclassifi ed subsequently to profi t or loss ....................

(16,215)

—

2

2

(16,140)

(73) 

(16,213)

  Total .....................................................................................................................

(39,128)

7,044

(32,084)

51

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Fiscal year ended December 31, 2017  

Gains (losses)
arising for the year

Tax effect

After tax effect

(Millions of yen)

Items that will not be reclassifi ed to profi t or loss

 Net gain (loss) on revaluation of fi nancial assets measured at fair value through 
  other comprehensive income ...................................................................................

  Remeasurements of defi ned benefi t plans .................................................................

 Share of other comprehensive income of investments accounted for 
  using the equity method ...........................................................................................

  Total of items that will not be reclassifi ed to profi t or loss ......................................

1,675

30,884

457

33,016

Items that may be reclassifi ed subsequently to profi t or loss

  Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations .........................................

8,541

 Share of other comprehensive income of investments accounted for 
  using the equity method ...........................................................................................

  Total of items that may be reclassifi ed subsequently to profi t or loss ....................

(1)

8,540

(509)

(9,624)

(140)

(10,273)

—

0

0

1,166

21,260

317

22,743

8,541

(1)

8,540

  Total .....................................................................................................................

41,556

(10,273)

31,283

33

Cash Flow Information

(1) Payments for Business Combinations
Payments for business combinations consist of the following:

Cash and cash equivalents paid for acquisition .........................................................................................

Cash and cash equivalents held by the acquiree at the time of acquisition ..............................................

Payments for business combinations ........................................................................................................

(Millions of yen)

2018
76,387

(2,472)

73,915

(2) Changes in Liabilities Arising from Financing Activities
The major changes in liabilities arising from financing activities are changes from financing cash flows and there are no significant non-
cash changes.

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

52

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
34

Share-based Payments

(1) Stock Options

1) Outline of stock options

The Company issued the following two types of stock 
options to directors, executive officers and employees of the 
Group. Due to the introduction of a performance share plan, 
the stock option plan has been abolished except for the 
options already granted.

(i)  Stock options for share-based payment 

Stock options for share-based payment were granted as 
compensation for directors and executive officers who do 
not concurrently serve as directors. These stock options 
were intended to motivate and inspire recipients to 
enhance the Company’s results and value of shares and 
to further enhance corporate value by aligning the 
interests of recipients with those of shareholders by 
further increasing the linkage among the compensation of 
recipients, the Company’s results and value of shares.

2) Number of stock options and weighted average exercise price

  •  Vesting conditions: Set on date of grant
  •  Settlement: Shares settled
  •  Exercise period: Five years from July 1 of two years 

after the date the stock options were granted

(ii)  Conventional stock options 

Conventional stock options were granted to the 
employees of the Company and the directors and 
employees of its subsidiaries and associates as 
incentives. These stock options were intended to further 
enhance corporate value by aligning the interests of 
recipients with those of shareholders.

• Vesting conditions: Set on date of grant
•  Settlement: Shares settled
•  Exercise period: Five years from September 1 of two 
years after the date the stock options were granted

Beginning balance of outstanding .................................

  Granted ......................................................................

  Exercised ...................................................................

  Expired at maturity .....................................................

Ending balance of outstanding ......................................

Ending balance of exercisable .......................................

2018

2017

Number of
shares
(Shares)

313,000

—

(105,000)

(83,000)

125,000

125,000

Weighted average 
exercise price
(Yen)

973

—

1,117

2,254

1

1

Number of
shares
(Shares)

549,000

—

(175,000)

(61,000)

313,000

273,000

Weighted average 
exercise price
(Yen)

1,331

—

1,672

2,190

973

1,115

Notes:  1.   The weighted average share price on the date of exercise for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 was 7,877 yen and 6,254 yen, 

respectively.

2.  The exercise price and the weighted average remaining contractual life for stock options outstanding at the end of the period are as follows:

Exercise price
(Yen)

1

—

Total

2018
Number of
shares
(Shares)

125,000

—

125,000

Weighted average 
remaining contractual life
(Years)

Exercise price
(Yen)

2.8

—

2.8

1

2,254

Total

2017
Number of
shares
(Shares)

178,000

135,000

313,000

Weighted average 
remaining contractual life
(Years)

3.3

0.7

2.2

53

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

 
 
 
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(2) Performance Share Plan

1) Outline of performance share plan

The Company introduced a performance share plan 
(hereinafter the “Plan”) for the members of the Board of 
Directors (excluding Outside Directors) and Executive 
Officers (collectively, “Directors, etc.”) as a highly transparent 
and objective compensation system that is closely linked to 
company performance. The purpose of the Plan is to improve 
the Company’s mid- and long-term performance as well as 
increase the awareness of contributions to increasing 
corporate value.
  The Company has introduced the Plan using a structure 
called a BIP Trust. A BIP Trust is designed as an executive 
incentive plan based on the performance share plans and 
restricted stock plans in the U.S. wherein the Company’s 
shares that are acquired through the BIP Trust and the 
amount equivalent to the converted value of such shares will 
be vested or paid to Directors, etc. depending on their 
executive positions and level of achievement of performance 
targets in the mid-term plan and other factors. The shares 
held by the BIP Trust are accounted for as treasury shares.

  The Plan grants specified points (1 point = 1 share) to 
Directors, etc. each year depending on their executive 
positions and other factors on the condition that the 
requirements of a designated beneficiary, such as holding 
the office of Director, etc. on the last day of each fiscal year 
during the eligibility period, have been satisfied. The 
Company’s shares and cash in the amount of the converted 
value of such Company’s shares equivalent to the number of 
such points may be granted or paid following completion of 
settlement procedures by the designated beneficiary, after 
the end of the eligibility period in the case of performance-
linked points, or for a specified period each year during the 
eligibility period in the case of fixed points.
  The Plan is accounted for as an equity-settled share-based 
payment transaction.

2)  Number of points granted during the period and 

weighted average fair value of points 
The fair value of the points on the date of grant is determined 
by adjusting the market price of the Company’s shares taking 
expected dividends into account.

  The number of points granted during the period and the weighted average fair value of the points are as follows:

Number of points granted during the period ...................

Achievement-linked 
points
37,625

Weighted average fair value (Yen) ...................................

6,821

Fixed points
16,125

6,659

Achievement-linked 
points
34,125

6,821

Fixed points
14,625

6,767

2018

2017

(3) Share-based Payment Expenses
Share-based payment expenses recognized in the consolidated statement of income for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2018 and 
2017 were 364 million yen and 332 million yen, respectively.

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

54

35

Financial Instruments

(1) Classification of Financial Instruments
The amounts of each classification of financial assets are as follows:

Financial assets measured at amortized cost

Financial assets

(Millions of yen)

2018

2017

  Cash and cash equivalents (Note 8) .......................................................................................................

  Trade and other receivables (Note 9) .....................................................................................................

  Other ......................................................................................................................................................

Financial assets measured at fair value through profit or loss

  Cash and cash equivalents (Note 8) .......................................................................................................

  Derivatives .............................................................................................................................................

  Other ......................................................................................................................................................

Financial assets measured at fair value through other comprehensive income

  Equity securities ....................................................................................................................................

  Total ................................................................................................................................................

Current assets

  Cash and cash equivalents ....................................................................................................................

  Trade and other receivables ...................................................................................................................

  Other fi nancial assets ............................................................................................................................

  Subtotal ..............................................................................................................................................

Non-current assets

  Other fi nancial assets ............................................................................................................................

  Total ................................................................................................................................................

236,078

223,102

23,495

29,900

1,068

2,983

11,140

527,766

265,978

223,102

15,146

504,226

23,540

527,766

313,176

216,507

24,639

29,900

602

2,926

14,092

601,842

343,076

216,507

14,914

574,497

27,345

601,842

  Equity securities held by the Group are mainly issued by the entities that maintain business relationships with the Group and held for 
the long-term without speculative purposes. The Group has designated such equity securities as financial assets measured at fair value 
through other comprehensive income. Names of major equity securities and their fair values are as follows:

As of December 31, 2018 

Company name
Seven & i Holdings Co., Ltd.  .....................................................................................................................

Saiwai Trading Co., Ltd.  .............................................................................................................................

Livedo Corporation ....................................................................................................................................

Aeon Co., Ltd.  ...........................................................................................................................................

Tokio Marine Holdings, Inc.  ......................................................................................................................

Japan Alcohol Trading Co., Ltd.  .................................................................................................................

Izumi Co., Ltd.  ..........................................................................................................................................

Keytrading Co., Ltd.  ..................................................................................................................................

The Yamagata Bank, Ltd.  ..........................................................................................................................

Inageya Co., Ltd.  .......................................................................................................................................

(Millions of yen)
Fair value
3,076

1,191

1,122

905

889

622

511

389

237

225

55

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

As of December 31, 2017 

Company name
Seven & i Holdings Co., Ltd.  .....................................................................................................................

(Millions of yen)
Fair value
3,011

Seven Bank, Ltd.  ......................................................................................................................................

1,930

Livedo Corporation ....................................................................................................................................

Tokio Marine Holdings, Inc.  ......................................................................................................................

The Nisshin OilliO Group, Ltd.  ..................................................................................................................

Saiwai Trading Co., Ltd.  ............................................................................................................................

Aeon Co., Ltd.  ...........................................................................................................................................

Izumi Co., Ltd.  ..........................................................................................................................................

Japan Alcohol Trading Co., Ltd.  ................................................................................................................

Keytrading Co., Ltd.  ..................................................................................................................................

981

978

962

956

799

700

552

373

  The Group derecognizes some financial assets measured at fair value through other comprehensive income by sale for reasons 
including asset efficiency and changes in business relationships. The total amounts of the fair values of such financial assets at the time 
of sale and the cumulative gains or losses on sales are as follows:

Fair value ...................................................................................................................................................

Cumulative gains (losses) ..........................................................................................................................

2018
3,077

2,451

(Millions of yen)

2017
24

10

  The Group transfers to retained earnings the cumulative gains or losses arising from changes in the fair value of financial assets 
measured at fair value through other comprehensive income recognized as other components of equity when it disposes of an 
investment or when fair value declines significantly. Cumulative gains or losses of other comprehensive income, net of taxes, that were 
transferred to retained earnings for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, were 1,694 million yen and 7 million yen, 
respectively.

The amounts of each classification of financial liabilities are as follows:

Financial liabilities measured at amortized cost

Financial liabilities

(Millions of yen)

2018

2017

  Trade and other payables (Note 19) ........................................................................................................

  Bonds and borrowings (Note 17) ...........................................................................................................

  Other ......................................................................................................................................................

225,560

120,827

16,178

Financial liabilities measured at fair value through profi t or loss

  Derivatives .............................................................................................................................................

208

  Total ................................................................................................................................................

362,773

Current liabilities

  Trade and other payables .......................................................................................................................

225,560

  Bonds and borrowings ...........................................................................................................................

  Other fi nancial liabilities .........................................................................................................................

40,488

6,880

  Subtotal ..............................................................................................................................................

272,928

Non-current liabilities

  Bonds and borrowings ...........................................................................................................................

  Other fi nancial liabilities .........................................................................................................................

  Subtotal ..............................................................................................................................................

80,339

9,506

89,845

  Total ................................................................................................................................................

362,773

224,893

120,584

16,804

1,026

363,307

224,893

25,262

7,739

257,894

95,322

10,091

105,413

363,307

  There are no significant assets pledged for the above financial liabilities. The Group held deposits received, which are interest-bearing 
liabilities in other financial liabilities, at December 31, 2018 and 2017 totaling 12,380 million yen and 12,599 million yen, respectively. The 
average interest rate on deposits received as of December 31, 2018 was 0.13%.

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

56

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(2) Risk Management on Financial Instruments
The Group manages financial instrument risk based on the 
following policies to avoid and mitigate market risk, credit risk and 
liquidity risk.

1) Market risk management

The Group is exposed to the risk of market variability such 
as fluctuations in exchange rates, interest rates and share 
prices. The Group appropriately manages market risk to 
mitigate risk. In addition, the Group uses derivatives mainly 
consisting of foreign exchange forward contracts, currency 
swaps and interest rate swaps with the objective of 
appropriately managing market risk. The Group executes and 
manages derivatives in accordance with the internal policies 
that define the objectives, position limit, scope, organizational 
structure and others. The Group limits the use of derivatives to 
actual risk mitigation needs, and does not use derivatives for 
trading or speculative purposes. Therefore, as a rule, changes 
in the fair value of derivative instruments that the Group holds 
effectively offset changes in the fair value or cash flows.

(i)  Exchange rate risk 

The Group also operates outside Japan, and therefore is 
exposed to the risks of exchange rate fluctuations 
associated with transactions conducted in foreign 
currencies and with net investments in foreign operations. 
The Group minimizes the effect of exchange rate 
fluctuations on operating results by settling transactions 
denominated in foreign currencies through foreign 
currency accounts, and by hedging the risk of exchange 
rate fluctuations using derivative instruments such as 
foreign exchange forward and currency swaps.
  Details of foreign exchange forward contracts and 
currency swaps between the Japanese yen, which is the 
Group’s functional currency, and its main foreign 
currencies including the U.S. dollar, the euro and the 
Chinese yuan are as follows: 
  The Group did not apply hedge accounting for these 
derivative transactions, but determined that these 
transactions effectively offset the impact of fluctuations in 
exchange rates.

Derivatives transactions

Foreign exchange forward contracts:
  Selling

2018
Contract
amount over
1 year

Contract
amount

Carrying 
amount
(fair value)¹

Contract
amount

(Millions of yen)

2017
Contract
amount over
1 year

Carrying 
amount 
(fair value)1

  U.S. dollar ...........................................................
  Euro ....................................................................

14,583
—

  Buying

  Euro ....................................................................
  Chinese yuan ......................................................

Currency swaps:

 Receiving Japanese yen, paying U.S. dollar ..........
  Receiving Japanese yen, paying Chinese yuan .....

—
212

7,343
—

—
—

—
—

7,343
—

116
—

—
(1)

(15)
—

13,800
70

120
725

8,004
1,987

7,280
—

—
—

2,339
—

135
1

(2)
(98)

(53)
(325)

Note: 1. Note 35 “Financial Instruments (3) Fair Value of Financial Instruments” presents the method of measuring the fair value of the above derivatives.

  The above assets or liabilities related to derivative transactions are included in other financial assets or other financial 
liabilities in the consolidated statement of financial position.

  Net exposure to exchange rate risk consists of the following. Amounts hedged against exchange rate fluctuation risk with 
derivatives are excluded.

As of December 31, 2018 

Net exposure ..................................................................................................................

As of December 31, 2017 

Net exposure ..................................................................................................................

U.S. dollar
2,801

U.S. dollar
8,713

Euro
1,930

Euro

161

(Millions of yen)

Chinese yuan
10,766

(Millions of yen)

Chinese yuan
8,458

  The following table illustrates the impact on income 
before income taxes in the consolidated statement of 
income from foreign currency-denominated financial 

instruments held by the Group at the end of each fiscal 
year if the Japanese yen appreciated by 10% against the 
U.S. dollar, the euro and the Chinese yuan.

57

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

  The effects of translating financial instruments 
denominated in the Group’s functional currency, and the 
assets, liabilities, income and expenses of foreign 
operations are not included in the analysis. The analysis 

also assumes that currencies other than those used in 
the calculation remain constant.

U.S. dollar ..................................................................................................................................................

Euro ...........................................................................................................................................................

2018
(280)

(193)

Chinese yuan .............................................................................................................................................

(1,077)

(Millions of yen)

2017
(871)

  (16)

(846)

(ii)  Interest rate fluctuation risk 

(ii)  Short-term investments 

The Group obtains finances through long-term borrowings 
and bonds for maintaining an appropriate cost of capital 
and strengthening its financial base for investment for 
growth. The Group considers interest rate market 
movements and the balance between floating and fixed 
interest rates in making decisions about long-term funding. 
The Group’s short-term borrowings generally have floating 
interest rates. The Group hedges interest rate risk as 
necessary using derivative instruments such as interest 
rate swaps, and therefore estimates that its exposure to 
interest rate fluctuation risk is limited.

(iii)  Share price fluctuation risk 

The Group held marketable equity securities, primarily 
those of companies with which the Group has business 
relationships, totaling 6,640 million yen and 10,165 million 
yen at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. These 
equity securities are exposed to share price fluctuation 
risk. However, the Group annually evaluates the rationale 
and reviews ongoing advisability and position size of these 
holdings. Fluctuations in their prices do not affect net 
profit or loss because all of these equity securities are 
designated as financial assets measured at fair value 
through other comprehensive income.  

2) Credit risk management

The Group is exposed to credit risk such as a counterparty’s 
default on contractual obligations resulting in financial losses 
to the Group.

(i)  Trade and other receivables 

Notes and accounts receivable are trade receivables that 
expose the Group to customer credit risk. The Group 
manages that risk with an internal process for investigating 
and approving customer credit on initial transactions, and 
by obtaining deposits, collateral or other guaranties as 
necessary. The Group also manages due dates and 
outstanding balances by customer, and periodically 
reconfirms the creditworthiness of major customers. Non-
trade receivables expose the Group to business partner 
credit risk, but these receivables are almost entirely settled 
in the short term.

Short-term investments are recognized in cash and cash 
equivalents and other financial assets. They are highly 
safe and liquid financial instruments that include 
commercial paper issued by entities with high bond 
ratings, bond investment trusts, and money held in trust.

(iii)  Loan receivables

Loan receivables expose the Group to borrower credit 
risk. The Group manages this risk with an internal 
process for investigating and approving borrower credit 
on initial lending transactions, and by obtaining deposits, 
collateral or other guaranties as necessary. The Group 
also periodically reconfirms the creditworthiness of 
borrowers.

(iv)  Derivatives

The Group executes and manages derivatives in 
accordance with the internal policies that define the 
objectives, position limit, scope and organizational 
structure. The Group limits the use of derivatives to 
actual risk mitigation needs, and does not use derivatives 
for trading or speculative purposes, and reduces credit 
risk by limiting transactions to highly creditworthy 
financial institutions.

  The carrying amount after impairment of financial assets 
in the consolidated statement of financial position 
represents the Group’s maximum exposure to the credit risk 
of financial assets. The Group is not exposed to excessive 
credit risk associated with a particular customer that 
requires exceptional management.
  The Group recognizes an allowance for doubtful 
receivables for trade receivables and other financial assets 
measured at amortized cost by estimating future credit 
losses in consideration of recoverability and significant 
increases in credit risk. The Group determines if credit risk 
has increased significantly by evaluating changes in default 
risk with reference to factors including downgrading of 
internal credit ratings, the decline of counterparty results, 
and delinquency information.
  Trade receivables are particularly important financial assets 
for the Group. The Group collectively measures expected 
credit losses of the financial assets for the entire period to 
recognize the allowance for doubtful receivables. In the 

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

58

 
following situations that would adversely affect future cash 
flows, however, the Group measures expected credit losses 
individually by treating each receivable as a credit-impaired 
financial asset:

•  Where the customer has serious financial difficulties 
•  Where the customer defaults or becomes delinquent in 

accounts receivable payments despite repeated demands 
for payment

•  Where it is more likely that the customer will go into 

bankruptcy or face a situation that forces it to reconstruct 
its business

  The Group directly writes down the carrying amount if it 
does not reasonably expect to recover all or part of the trade 
receivables, following an internal process of investigation 
and approval.
  The Group held security deposits for credit enhancement 
totaling 6,782 million yen and 6,463 million yen at December 
31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

  The carrying amount of trade receivables and changes in the related allowance for doubtful receivables are as follows:

Fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 

(Millions of yen)

Trade receivables

Financial assets for which 
loss allowances are always 
measured at an amount 
equal to expected credit 
losses for the entire period

Credit-impaired 
financial assets

January 1, 2018 .....................................................................

211,441

 Change during the year
    (Recognition and derecognition) ...................................

  Transfer to credit-impaired fi nancial assets ........................

  Other changes ...................................................................

December 31, 2018 ............................................................

10,605

(84)

(4,944)

217,018

549

(16)

84

(41)

576

Allowance for doubtful receivables

January 1, 2018 .....................................................................

Increase during the year ....................................................

  Decrease during the year (charge-offs) ..............................

  Decrease during the year (other) .......................................

  Transfer to credit-impaired fi nancial assets ........................

  Other changes ...................................................................

December 31, 2018...............................................................

Financial assets for which 
loss allowances are always 
measured at an amount 
equal to expected credit 
losses for the entire period

Credit-impaired 
financial assets

915

238

(78)

(86)

(4)

(28)

957

459

98

(19)

(0)

4

(51)

491

Total

211,990

10,589

—

(4,985)

217,594

(Millions of yen)

Total

1,374

336

(97)

(86)

—

(79)

1,448

59

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

 
 
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 

(Millions of yen)

Trade receivables

Financial assets for which 
loss allowances are always 
measured at an amount 
equal to expected credit 
losses for the entire period

Credit-impaired 
financial assets

January 1, 2017 .....................................................................

204,736

 Change during the year
    (Recognition and derecognition) ...................................

  Transfer to credit-impaired fi nancial assets ......................

  Other changes ...................................................................

3,914

(99)

2,890

December 31, 2017 ..............................................................

211,441

363

45

99

42

549

Allowance for doubtful receivables

January 1, 2017 .....................................................................

Increase during the year ....................................................

  Decrease during the year (charge-offs) ..............................

  Decrease during the year (other) ......................................

  Transfer to credit-impaired fi nancial assets ......................

  Other changes ...................................................................

December 31, 2017 ..............................................................

Financial assets for which 
loss allowances are always 
measured at an amount 
equal to expected credit 
losses for the entire period

Credit-impaired 
financial assets

781

237

(69)

(77)

—

43

915

382

84

(34)

(10)

—

37

459

Total

205,099

3,959

—

2,932

211,990

(Millions of yen)

Total

1,163

321

(103)

(87)

—

80

1,374

  The following tables present an analysis of the carrying amount of trade receivables and the allowance for doubtful receivables 
by days past due.

As of December 31, 2018 

Trade receivables .......................................................

Allowance for doubtful receivables ...........................

Expected credit loss (%) ............................................

As of December 31, 2017 

Trade receivables .......................................................

Allowance for doubtful receivables ...........................

Expected credit loss (%) ............................................

(Millions of yen unless otherwise noted)

Days past due

Not due
204,308

164

0.1 

Less than 30 
days
7,453

Over 30 
days
2,021

129

1.7

37

1.8

Over 60 
days
1,197

53

4.4

Over 90 
days
2,615

1,065

40.7

Total
217,594

1,448

0.7

(Millions of yen unless otherwise noted)

Days past due

Not due
200,841

195

0.1

Less than 30 
days
7,033

Over 30 
days
1,441

135

1.9

55

3.8

Over 60 
days
680

44

6.5

Over 90 
days
1,995

945

47.4

Total
211,990

1,374

0.6

3) Liquidity risk management

Liquidity risk is the risk that the Group may not be able to 
fulfill its obligation to pay financial liabilities that come due. 
  The Group uses methods such as scheduled medium- and 
long-term financing plans to understand its liquidity and 
consistently ensure the availability of sufficient funding.

  The Group has also implemented the Global Cash 
Management System to reduce liquidity risk through the 
focused and efficient management of the Group’s capital in 
Japan and overseas.

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

60

 
 
 
  Financial liabilities including derivative instruments by maturity date consist of the following: 

As of December 31, 2018 

(Millions of yen)

Carrying 
amount

Contract 
amount

Not later
than 1 year

Later than
1 year but
not later than 
2 years

Later than
2 years but
not later than 
3 years

Later than
3 years but
not later than 
4 years

Later than
4 years but 
not later than 
5 years

Later than 
5 years

Non-derivative financial liabilities

  Trade and other payables ...........

225,560

225,560

225,560

—

—

  Bonds and borrowings ...............

120,827

120,895

40,488

25,050

30,247

  Lease obligations........................

  Long-term deposits payable .......

2,419

6,782

2,483

6,782

Derivative financial liabilities

  Currency related .........................

208

208

689

—

50

666

—

54

494

—

—

  Total ........................................

355,796

355,928

266,787

25,770

30,741

—

32

485

—

104

621

—

25,018

124

—

—

25,142

—

60

25

6,782

—

6,867

As of December 31, 2017 

(Millions of yen)

Carrying 
amount

Contract 
amount

Not later
than 1 year

Later than
1 year but
not later than 
2 years

Later than
2 years but
not later than 
3 years

Later than
3 years but
not later than 
4 years

Later than
4 years but 
not later than 
5 years

Later than 
5 years

Non-derivative financial liabilities

  Trade and other payables ...........

224,893

224,893

224,892

1

—

—

  Bonds and borrowings ...............

120,584

120,614

25,268

40,046

25,038

30,235

  Lease obligations........................

  Long-term deposits payable .......

3,178

6,463

3,275

6,463

Derivative financial liabilities

  Currency related .........................

1,022

1,022

Interest rate related ....................

4

4

789

—

635

3

690

—

—

—

666

—

296

—

495

—

—

—

  Total ........................................

356,144

356,271

251,587

40,737

26,000

30,730

—

21

486

—

91

1

599

—

6

149

6,463

—

—

6,618

(3) Fair Value of Financial Instruments

1) Fair value hierarchy levels

and money held in trust, and are measured with a financial 
model using observable inputs such as interest rates.

For financial instruments measured at fair value, the fair 
values developed based on the observability of inputs into 
the valuation techniques used in measurement are 
categorized within the following three levels:

Level 1:  Fair value measured with quoted prices in active 
markets for identical assets or liabilities

Level 2:  Fair value measured with inputs other than quoted 
prices categorized within Level 1 that are observable 
for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly

Level 3:  Fair value measured with inputs not based on 
observable market data for the asset or liability

2) Financial instruments measured at fair value

The measurement methods for the main financial 
instruments measured at fair value are as follows:

(i)  Short-term investments (excluding short-term 

investments measured at amortized cost)
Short-term investments are included in cash and cash 
equivalents, and are designated as financial assets 
measured at fair value through profit or loss. Short-term 
investments primarily consist of bond investment trusts 

(ii)  Derivative assets and derivative liabilities

Derivative assets and derivative liabilities are included in 
other financial assets and other financial liabilities, and 
are designated as financial assets and financial liabilities 
measured at fair value through profit or loss. Consisting 
of instruments including foreign exchange forward 
contracts, currency swaps and interest rate swaps, 
derivative assets and derivative liabilities are primarily 
measured with a financial model using observable inputs 
such as exchange rates and interest rates.

(iii)  Equity securities

Equity securities are included in other financial assets, 
and are designated as financial assets measured at fair 
value through other comprehensive income. Equity 
securities that are categorized within Level 1 are publicly 
listed and traded in active markets, and are measured 
using market prices on exchanges. Equity securities that 
are categorized within Level 3 are unlisted, and are primarily 
measured using a net asset valuation model, which 
measures corporate value based on the net asset of the 
issuing company with adjustments based on fair value.

61

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

 
 
 
 
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

  The fair value hierarchy of financial instruments measured at fair value is shown below.
  The Group recognizes transfers of financial instruments between levels of the fair value hierarchy at the end of each fiscal year. 
No financial instruments were transferred between levels of the fair value hierarchy for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2018 
or 2017.

As of December 31, 2018 

Financial assets

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

(Millions of yen)

  Financial assets measured at fair value through profi t or loss

  Short-term investments ...........................................................

  Derivative assets ......................................................................

  Other .........................................................................................

 Financial assets measured at fair value through other
  comprehensive income

  Equity securities ........................................................................

  Total .......................................................................................

Financial liabilities

  Financial liabilities measured at fair value through profi t or loss

  Derivative liabilities ...................................................................

  Total .......................................................................................

—

—

—

6,640

6,640

—

—

29,900

1,068

2,983

—

33,951

208

208

—

—

—

4,500

4,500

—

—

29,900

1,068

2,983

11,140

45,091

208

208

As of December 31, 2017 

Financial assets

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

(Millions of yen)

  Financial assets measured at fair value through profi t or loss

  Short-term investments ...........................................................

  Derivative assets ......................................................................

  Other .........................................................................................

 Financial assets measured at fair value through other
  comprehensive income

—

—

—

  Equity securities ........................................................................

  Total .......................................................................................

10,165

10,165

Financial liabilities

  Financial liabilities measured at fair value through profi t or loss

  Derivative liabilities ...................................................................

  Total .......................................................................................

—

—

29,900

602

2,926

—

33,428

1,026

1,026

  Changes in financial instruments categorized within Level 3 are as follows:

Beginning balance .....................................................................................................................................

  Gains (losses)¹ .......................................................................................................................................

  Sales ......................................................................................................................................................

  Other changes .......................................................................................................................................

—

—

—

3,927

3,927

—

—

2018
3,927

574

(0)

(1)

Ending balance ..........................................................................................................................................

4,500

29,900

602

2,926

14,092

47,520

1,026

1,026

(Millions of yen)

2017
3,472

454

—

1

3,927

Note: 1.  All gains and losses are associated with financial assets measured at fair value through other comprehensive income at the end of each reporting 

period. These gains and losses are recognized in net gain (loss) on revaluation of financial assets measured at fair value through other comprehensive 
income in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.

  Financial instruments categorized within Level 3 are primarily unlisted equity securities. Each responsible department of the Group 
refers to the Group accounting policies in measuring the fair value of unlisted equity securities each quarter using recently available 
data, and reports any changes in fair value and the reasons to the department manager, and to senior management as necessary.

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

62

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3) Financial instruments measured at amortized cost

(ii)  Bonds and borrowings

The fair value of bonds is based on market prices. The fair 
value of borrowings is the present value of remaining 
principal and interest discounted using a deemed interest 
rate on equivalent new borrowings.

The following tables present the measurement techniques 
for measuring the fair value of major financial instruments 
measured at amortized cost. Financial instruments for which 
carrying amounts are a reasonable approximation of fair 
value or financial instruments that are not material are not 
included in the tables.

(i)  Cash and cash equivalents (excluding short-term 

investments measured at fair value), trade and other 
receivables, and trade and other payables
Carrying amounts approximate fair value because these 
are settled in the short term.

  The carrying amount and fair value hierarchy of financial instruments measured at amortized cost are as follows:

As of December 31, 2018 

Carrying amount

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

Fair value

(Millions of yen)

Financial liabilities

  Financial liabilities measured at amortized cost

  Bonds ............................................................

  Borrowings ....................................................

50,052

70,775

—

—

50,338

70,985

—

—

50,338

70,985

As of December 31, 2017 

Carrying amount

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

Fair value

(Millions of yen)

Financial liabilities

  Financial liabilities measured at amortized cost

  Bonds ............................................................

  Borrowings ....................................................

49,969

70,615

—

—

50,345

70,946

—

—

50,345

70,946

63

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

 
 
 
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

36

Principal Subsidiaries

Principal subsidiaries consist of the following. Voting rights at December 31, 2018 did not significantly change from a year earlier.

Company name

Kao Group Customer Marketing Co., Ltd.

Country
Japan

Kanebo Cosmetics Inc.
Kao Transport & Logistics Co., Ltd.
Kao (China) Holding Co., Ltd.

Kao Corporation Shanghai

Kao (Hefei) Co., Ltd.
Kao Commercial (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.

Japan
Japan
China

China

China
China

Kanebo Cosmetics (China) Co., Ltd.
Kao (Shanghai) Chemical Industries Co., Ltd.
Kao (Taiwan) Corporation

China
China
Taiwan

Pilipinas Kao, Inc.
Kao Industrial (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

Philippines
Thailand

Kao Commercial (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

Thailand

Fatty Chemical (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.
PT Kao Indonesia

Malaysia
Indonesia

Kao USA Inc.

Oribe Hair Care, LLC
Washing Systems, LLC
Kao America Inc.

Kao Specialties Americas LLC
Kao Germany GmbH

Kao Manufacturing Germany GmbH
Kao Chemicals GmbH
Molton Brown Limited
Kao Chemicals Europe, S.L.

Kao Corporation S.A.

U.S.A.

U.S.A.
U.S.A.
U.S.A.

U.S.A.
Germany

Germany
Germany
U.K.
Spain

Spain

Principal businesses

Control of sales companies and other subsidiaries 
in Japan
Cosmetics
Skin Care and Hair Care
Human Health Care
Fabric and Home Care
Cosmetics
Logistics and related services in Japan
Control of subsidiaries in China
Cosmetics
Cosmetics
Skin Care and Hair Care
Human Health Care
Fabric and Home Care
Human Health Care
Cosmetics
Skin Care and Hair Care 
Human Health Care
Fabric and Home Care
Cosmetics
Chemical
Cosmetics
Skin Care and Hair Care
Human Health Care
Fabric and Home Care 
Chemical
Chemical
Skin Care and Hair Care
Human Health Care
Fabric and Home Care 
Chemical
Cosmetics
Skin Care and Hair Care
Human Health Care
Fabric and Home Care
Chemical
Skin Care and Hair Care
Human Health Care
Fabric and Home Care
Cosmetics
Skin Care and Hair Care
Skin Care and Hair Care
Fabric and Home Care
Corporate service to subsidiaries in the U.S.
Holding company for Chemical Business in the U.S.
Chemical
Cosmetics
Skin Care and Hair Care
Skin Care and Hair Care
Chemical
Cosmetics
Control of subsidiaries in Chemical Business 
in Europe, etc.
Chemical

  Voting rights (%)
100.0

100.0
100.0
100.0

100.0

100.0
100.0

100.0
100.0
92.2

100.0
100.0

100.0

70.0
72.2

100.0

100.0
100.0
100.0

100.0
100.0

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

100.0

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

64

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

37

Related Parties

(1) Transactions with Related Parties
Disclosure is omitted because there are no material related party 
transactions.

(2) Primary Executive Management Compensation
Primary executive management compensation consists of the 
following. The Group’s primary executive management includes 
members of the Board of Directors and executive officers of the 
Company for each fiscal year.

Short-term benefi ts....................................................................................................................................

Post-retirement benefi ts ............................................................................................................................

Share-based payments ..............................................................................................................................

  Total  .......................................................................................................................................................

2018
1,161

28

364

1,553

(Millions of yen)

2017
1,315

30

332

1,677

38

Commitments

Commitments to acquire property, plant and equipment and intangible assets after the end of each reporting period are as follows:

Acquisition of property, plant and equipment ............................................................................................

Acquisition of intangible assets .................................................................................................................

  Total  .......................................................................................................................................................

2018
30,751

1,188

31,939

(Millions of yen)

2017
37,906

1,237

39,143

39

Significant Subsequent Events

There were no significant subsequent events to present.

40 Approval of the Consolidated Financial Statements

The Consolidated Financial Statements were approved by Michitaka Sawada, President and Chief Executive Officer, and by Kenichi 
Yamauchi, Executive Officer, Senior Vice President, Accounting and Finance, on March 25, 2019.

65

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

 
 
Independent Auditor’s Report

Kao Corporation Financial Report 2018

66

14-10, Nihonbashi Kayabacho 1-chome
Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-8210, Japan

https://www.kao.com/global/en/

Investor Relations
E-mail: ir@kao.co.jp
Website: https://www.kao.com/global/en/investor-relations/