(2) | Operating Results and Financial Conditions (continued) |
Looking at Canon’s performance by business unit, in the Office Business Unit, unit sales of MFDs for the production printing market remained solid in the first quarter of 2020. Although new products of the imageRUNNER ADVANCE DX series were launched in the second quarter, unit sales of MFDs for the office and the production printing market were below those of the same period of the previous year due to such factors as a result of the continuous office closures amid the spread of COVID-19 combined with the moderate recovery in business negotiations following the resumption of in-office work. As for laser printers, unit sales of both monochrome and color models were below those of the same period of the previous year as a result of continued economic slowdown caused by COVID-19. Sales of services and consumables also declined as a result of decreased print volumes by customers amid the continuous office closures in the first half of the year coupled with the moderate recovery of the print volumes after the resumption of corporate activities in the third quarter. These factors resulted in sales for the combined first nine months of the year to ¥1,041.0 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 20.2%, while income before income taxes totaled ¥52.1 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 59.7%.
As for the Imaging System Business Unit, although the negative impact on sales activities mainly in developed countries stopped towards the second half of the quarter, unit sales were below those of the same period of the previous year as the market continues to shrink. In addition, the shift to mirrorless model was accelerated particularly for full-frame mirrorless models due to the introduction of new products. As for inkjet printers, sales of printers and consumables increased significantly from the same period of the previous year as a result of recovering demand in some emerging countries in the third quarter as well as demand for remote working and education in developed countries and China. These factors resulted in sales for the combined first nine months of the year to ¥478.8 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 16.0%, while income before income taxes totaled ¥28.6 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 0.5%.
Within the Medical System Business Unit, the installation of medical equipment and business discussions with medical institutions were postponed in the first half of the year affected by the cancelation of academic conferences and trade shows in the wake of COVID-19 combined with the restrictions on sales activities to those institutions. However, demand for Computed tomography (CT) systems for the diagnosis of pneumonia and Diagnostic X-ray systems was captured in the third quarter, supported by a moderate recovery of equipment installation at medical institutions as well as sales and marketing activities. While sales of the same period of the previous year increased due to the demand ahead of the consumption tax hike in Japan, these factors resulted in sales for the combined first nine months of the year to ¥313.3 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 4.6%, and income before income taxes totaled ¥15.1 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 22.4%.
As for the Industry & Others Business Unit, solid demand of semiconductor lithography equipment for image sensors supporting the development of the IoT was captured in the first quarter while robust demand for memory related devices was seen in the second and third quarter of 2020. In FPD lithography equipment, although the resumption of installation work after COVID-19 travel restrictions were gradually eased in the third quarter, unit sales were below those of the same period of the previous year. Sales for network cameras decreased as a result of stagnant sales and marketing activities in the second quarter although sales activities were strengthened based on diversifying applications made possible by video analysis for such purposes as remote monitoring and social distance monitoring, as well as conventional market needs including crime prevention and disaster monitoring tools. These factors resulted in sales for the combined first nine months of the year to ¥439.7 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 13.3%, while income before income taxes totaled ¥6.1 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 66.0%.
Financial Conditions
Total assets decreased by ¥66.7 billion to ¥4,701.6 billion at September 30, 2020, compared to the end of previous year, mainly due to a decrease of trade receivables. Total liabilities increased by ¥120.3 billion to ¥1,996.7 billion at September 30, 2020, compared to the end of previous year, mainly due to an increase of short term loans. Total equity decreased by ¥187.0 billion to ¥2,704.9 billion at September 30, 2020, compared to the end of previous year, mainly due to the dividends to Canon Inc. shareholders, the repurchasing of treasury stock and an increase of accumulated other comprehensive loss resulting from the appreciation of the yen.
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