20-F 1 d880124d20f.htm ANNUAL REPORT Annual Report
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 20-F

 

¨

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR 12(g)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

  or

x

 

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015

  or

¨

 

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

  or

¨

 

SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of event requiring this shell company report: N/A

Commission file number 1-8910

 

 

NIPPON DENSHIN DENWA KABUSHIKI KAISHA

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION

(Translation of Registrant’s Name into English)

JAPAN

(Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)

OTEMACHI FIRST SQUARE, EAST TOWER, 5-1, OTEMACHI 1-CHOME, CHIYODA-KU, TOKYO 100-8116 JAPAN

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

YASUTAKE HORINOUCHI

OTEMACHI FIRST SQUARE, EAST TOWER, 5-1, OTEMACHI 1-CHOME, CHIYODA-KU, TOKYO 100-8116 JAPAN

TEL: +81(3)6838-5481

FACSIMILE NUMBER: +81(3)6838-5499

(Name, Telephone, E-mail and/or Facsimile Number and Address of Company Contact Person)

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

  

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common stock (“Shares”)

   New York Stock Exchange*

American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”),

each of which represents 1/2 of a Share

   New York Stock Exchange

 

* Not for trading but only in connection with the registration of ADSs pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

 

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None

Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act:

None

Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report.

 

Common stock

   1,058,599,629 shares

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

Yes  x    No  ¨

If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Yes  ¨    No   x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes  x    No   ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

Yes  x    No   ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer  x    Accelerated filer  ¨    Non-accelerated filer  ¨

Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:

U.S. GAAP  x    International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board  ¨    Other  ¨

If “Other” has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow.

Item 17  ¨    Item 18  ¨

If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes  ¨    No   x

 

 

 


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

                   Page  
PART I   
ITEM   1          IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS      2   
ITEM   2          OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE      2   
ITEM   3          KEY INFORMATION      2   
ITEM   4          INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY      17   
ITEM   4A          UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS      46   
ITEM   5          OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS      46   
ITEM   6          DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES      94   
ITEM   7          MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS      104   
ITEM   8          FINANCIAL INFORMATION      105   
ITEM   9          THE OFFER AND LISTING      107   
ITEM   10          ADDITIONAL INFORMATION      108   
ITEM   11          QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK      123   
ITEM   12          DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES      125   
PART II   
ITEM   13          DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES      127   
ITEM   14          MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS      127   
ITEM   15          CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES      127   
ITEM   16A          AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT      128   
ITEM   16B          CODE OF ETHICS      128   
ITEM   16C          PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES      128   
ITEM   16D          EXEMPTIONS FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEES      129   
ITEM   16E          PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS      130   
ITEM   16F          CHANGE IN REGISTRANT’S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT      130   
ITEM   16G          CORPORATE GOVERNANCE      130   
ITEM   16H          MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE      132   
PART III   
ITEM   17          FINANCIAL STATEMENTS      133   
ITEM   18          FINANCIAL STATEMENTS      133   
ITEM   19          EXHIBITS      133   
      SIGNATURES      134   

 

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In this annual report, except as otherwise specified, “NTT” refers to Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (hereinafter also sometimes referred to as the “registrant”), “NTT Group” refers to NTT, its subsidiaries and its affiliated companies and any of their respective predecessors in business, and “NTT Public” refers to Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Public Corporation, which operated the business of NTT prior to April 1985. “NTT East,” “NTT West” and “NTT Communications” refer to NTT’s three wholly-owned subsidiaries, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone East Corporation, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone West Corporation and NTT Communications Corporation, respectively. In addition, “Dimension Data” refers to Dimension Data Holdings plc, “NTT Plala” refers to NTT Plala Inc., “NTT DOCOMO” refers to NTT DOCOMO, INC., “NTT DATA” refers to NTT DATA CORPORATION, “NTT Urban Development” refers to NTT URBAN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, “NTT Finance” refers to NTT FINANCE CORPORATION and “NTT FACILITIES” refers to NTT FACILITIES, INC. The Government of Japan is sometimes referred to herein as the “Government.”

References to fiscal years are to 12-month periods commencing in each case on April 1 of the prior year and ending on March 31 of the year indicated. References to years not specified as being fiscal years are to calendar years.

In this annual report, except as otherwise specified, the financial information is presented according to generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, referred to as “U.S. GAAP.”

Under the Act on Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, etc. (“NTT Act,” Act No. 85 of December 25, 1984) and for Japanese reporting purposes, NTT calculates the percentage of its Shares owned by the Government based on the total number of issued Shares regardless of whether such Shares are outstanding for U.S. reporting purposes. In this annual report, where the percentage of total issued Shares differs from the percentage of outstanding Shares, the Government’s ownership of Shares is presented using both percentages.

 

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PART I

ITEM 1—IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS

Not applicable.

ITEM 2—OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE

Not applicable.

ITEM 3—KEY INFORMATION

Selected Financial Data

The following selected financial data for each of the fiscal years ended March 31, 2011 through 2015 have been derived from, and should be read in conjunction with, NTT’s audited consolidated financial statements. NTT’s audited consolidated financial statements as of March 31, 2014 and 2015, and for each of the three fiscal years ended March 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015, appear elsewhere in this annual report.

 

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SELECTED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME DATA

Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation

and Subsidiaries

 

     Years ended March 31,  
     2011     2012     2013     2014     2015  
     (in millions of yen)  

Operating revenues

   ¥ 10,305,003      ¥ 10,507,362      ¥ 10,700,740      ¥ 10,925,174      ¥ 11,095,317   

Operating expenses

     9,090,094        9,284,396        9,498,772        9,711,521        10,010,751   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income

     1,214,909        1,222,966        1,201,968        1,213,653        1,084,566   

Other income (expenses)*

     (39,112     16,364        (4,321     80,542        (17,937
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income before income taxes and equity in earnings (losses) of affiliated companies*

     1,175,797        1,239,330        1,197,647        1,294,195        1,066,629   

Income tax expenses*

     474,595        583,227        473,954        486,546        397,349   

Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliated companies*

     673        (7,552     (16,093     (50,792     5,889   

Net income*

     701,875        648,551        707,600        756,857        675,169   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Less—Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

     192,246        180,850        185,668        171,384        157,103   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income attributable to NTT*

   ¥ 509,629      ¥ 467,701      ¥ 521,932      ¥ 585,473      ¥ 518,066   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     2011     2012     2013     2014     2015  
     (in yen, except share amounts)  

Per Share of common stock:

          

Net income attributable to NTT*

   ¥ 385.16      ¥ 366.67      ¥ 430.68      ¥ 509.21      ¥ 473.69   

Cash dividends, applicable to earnings for the year

   ¥ 120.00      ¥ 140.00      ¥ 160.00      ¥ 170.00      ¥ 180.00   

Average number of Shares outstanding

     1,323,173,389        1,275,519,400        1,211,880,769        1,149,758,214        1,093,680,009   

 

* As a result of the application of the equity method for NTT Group’s investment in Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company from the beginning of the three months ended June 30, 2013, the above figures for “Other income (expenses),” “Income before income taxes and equity in earnings (losses) of affiliated companies,” “Income tax expenses,” “Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliated companies,” “Net income,” “Net income attributable to NTT” and “Net income attributable to NTT Per Share of common stock” for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013 have been revised retrospectively. For details, see Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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SELECTED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET DATA

Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation

and Subsidiaries

 

     As of March 31,  
     2011      2012      2013      2014      2015  
     (in millions of yen)  

Current assets

   ¥ 4,770,297       ¥ 4,711,931       ¥ 4,669,288       ¥ 4,861,011       ¥ 4,957,228   

Property, plant and equipment (net)

     9,900,640         9,806,356         9,776,687         9,839,688         9,801,470   

Total assets*

     19,665,596         19,389,699         19,549,067         20,284,949         20,702,427   

Current liabilities

     3,689,072         3,494,253         3,499,389         3,676,824         3,721,688   

Long-term liabilities

     5,895,592         5,847,717         5,527,675         5,657,407         5,902,657   

Capital stock (common stock plus additional paid-in capital)

     3,771,979         3,770,115         3,765,562         3,764,960         3,784,673   

NTT shareholders’ equity*

     8,020,734         7,882,587         8,231,439         8,511,354         8,681,860   

Total equity*

   ¥ 10,080,932       ¥ 10,047,729       ¥ 10,522,003       ¥ 10,924,806       ¥ 11,049,810   

 

* As a result of the application of the equity method for NTT Group’s investment in Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company from the beginning of the three months ended June 30, 2013, the above figures for “Total assets,” “NTT shareholders’ equity” and “Total equity” for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013 have been revised retrospectively. For details, see Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Dividends

NTT has paid dividends on Shares semiannually in respect of each fiscal year since its founding in 1985. NTT’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) recommends a year-end dividend, which is subject to approval by shareholders at the ordinary general meeting of shareholders and by the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications (the “Minister”). Immediately following such approvals, NTT distributes dividends to shareholders or registered pledgees of shares entered or recorded on the register of shareholders and shareholders or pledgees of shares for whom all or part of their Shares were not entered or recorded in the register of shareholders pursuant to Article 6 of the NTT Act as of the preceding March 31 in proportion to their respective holdings of Shares at that date. Year-end dividends may be distributed either in cash or, with shareholder approval, in kind. In addition to year-end dividends, NTT may make cash distributions from its retained earnings to its shareholders or registered pledgees of shares entered or recorded on the register of shareholders and shareholders or pledgees of shares for whom all or part of their shares were not entered or recorded in the register of shareholders pursuant to Article 6 of the NTT Act as of September 30 of each year (interim dividends) provided that approvals are granted by its Board and the Minister.

For NTT’s dividend policy, see “Item 8—Financial Information—Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information—Dividend Policy.”

 

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The following table lists the respective shareholder (year-end dividend) and Board (interim dividend) approval dates, as applicable, payment dates and amount of dividends paid by NTT (expressed in Japanese yen and the U.S. dollar equivalents, which were calculated based on the Noon Buying Rate (as defined below under “—Exchange Rate Information”) for Japanese yen on the last date of each period set forth below) for each of the six-month periods indicated.

 

Record Date/Six Months Ended

   Approval Date    Payment Date   

Dividends per Share

  

Dividends per Share

               (in yen)    (in U.S. dollars)

September 30, 2010

   November 9, 2010    December 13, 2010    ¥60    $0.72

March 31, 2011

   June 23, 2011    June 24, 2011    ¥60    $0.72

September 30, 2011

   November 9, 2011    December 12, 2011    ¥70    $0.91

March 31, 2012

   June 22, 2012    June 25, 2012    ¥70    $0.85

September 30, 2012

   November 8, 2012    December 10, 2012    ¥80    $1.03

March 31, 2013

   June 25, 2013    June 26, 2013    ¥80    $0.85

September 30, 2013

   November 8, 2013    December 9, 2013    ¥80    $0.81

March 31, 2014

   June 26, 2014    June 27, 2014    ¥90    $0.87

September 30, 2014

   November 7, 2014    December 8, 2014    ¥90    $0.82

March 31, 2015

   June 26, 2015    June 29, 2015    ¥90    $0.75

See Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of the Companies Act of Japan (the “Companies Act”) with respect to dividends.

Both the payment and the amount of dividends are subject to the level of NTT’s earnings, NTT’s financial condition and other factors, including applicable Government regulatory actions and approval by shareholders and the Board, as applicable, and the Minister.

Under Japanese foreign exchange controls currently in effect, dividends paid on Shares held by non-residents of Japan may be converted into any foreign currency and repatriated abroad. Under the terms of the deposit agreement pursuant to which American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), which evidence ownership interests in ADSs, are issued by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as depositary (the “Depositary”), the Depositary is required, to the extent that in its judgment it can convert Japanese yen into U.S. dollars on a reasonable basis and transfer the resulting dollars to the United States, to convert all cash dividends that it receives in respect of deposited Shares into U.S. dollars and to distribute amounts received (after deduction of applicable withholding taxes and expenses of the Depositary) to the holders of ADRs. See “Item 10—Additional Information—Exchange Controls and Other Limitations Affecting Security Holders.”

For a discussion of the tax treatment of dividends paid to U.S. holders of ADSs, see “Item 10—Additional Information—Taxation.”

Exchange Rate Information

In this annual report, all amounts are expressed in Japanese yen (“¥” or “yen”), except as otherwise specified.

On June 12, 2015, the Noon Buying Rate was US$1 = ¥123.23.

 

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The following table sets forth, for the fiscal periods indicated, certain information concerning the exchange rates for Japanese yen and U.S. dollars based on the noon buying rate in New York City for cable transfers payable in Japanese yen as announced for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (the “Noon Buying Rate”):

 

Fiscal Years Ended March 31

   High(1)      Low(1)      Average(2)      Period  end(3)  
     (yen per dollar)  

2011

     94.24         80.48         85.00         82.76   

2012

     82.41         76.34         78.86         82.41   

2013

     94.16         77.92         83.26         94.16   

2014

     105.25         97.52         100.46         102.98   

2015

     119.96         101.28         110.78         119.96   

Months of 2015

   High(4)      Low(4)      Average(5)      Period end(6)  

January

     120.20         116.78         118.25         117.44   

February

     120.38         117.33         118.76         119.72   

March

     121.50         119.01         120.39         119.96   

April

     120.36         118.80         118.51         119.86   

May

     124.18         119.09         120.80         123.98   

June (through June 12, 2015)

     125.58         122.72         124.18         123.23   

 

(1) The highest and lowest of the Noon Buying Rates on the last business day of each month during the relevant year.
(2) The average of the Noon Buying Rates on the last business day of each month during the relevant year.
(3) The Noon Buying Rates on the last business day of each relevant year.
(4) The highest and lowest of the Noon Buying Rates of each business day in the relevant month/period.
(5) The average of the Noon Buying Rates of each business day in the relevant month/period.
(6) The Noon Buying Rates on the last business day of each relevant month/period.

 

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Risk Factors

In addition to the other information contained in this annual report, prospective investors should carefully consider the risks described below related to NTT Group’s business environment, business strategy and operations, regulations to which NTT is subject and NTT’s relationship with the Government. Additional risks not currently known to NTT or that NTT now deems immaterial may also impair NTT Group’s business operations. This annual report also contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. NTT Group’s actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including the risks NTT Group faces as described below and elsewhere in this annual report.

Risks associated with the business environment and NTT Group’s corresponding business strategies

NTT Group’s business may be affected by both the global and Japanese economic situation.

NTT Group has operations all over the world, including Japan, North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Oceania. An economic slowdown or deceleration in the economic growth of any of these countries and regions may have an adverse effect on the demand for the services that NTT Group provides or on its operations. Although the proportion of NTT Group’s overseas business is growing, the majority of its business revenues are derived from its business in Japan, and as a result, NTT Group’s results of operations and financial condition may be heavily influenced by the state of the Japanese economy.

Of all of NTT Group’s businesses, there is a tendency in the solutions business in particular for customers to curb their IT investment when an economic slowdown results in a decline in corporate revenues as they require cost reductions in corporate IT investment and scrutinize the effectiveness of such investment. This may lead to declines in the sales prices and the volume of orders for systems and services provided by NTT Group.

In the finance business, an economic slowdown may adversely affect the economic circumstances of NTT Group companies’ counterparties more than anticipated by NTT Group’s credit management predictions, which could lead to unrecoverable loans. In the real estate business, there is a possibility that demand in the real estate leasing market or, as has historically been the case, the condominium sales market will decline as a result of an economic slowdown, which could reduce the profitability of real estate investments. If these risks were to occur, they could adversely impact NTT Group’s results of operations and financial condition.

In addition, NTT Group evaluates various means of capital procurement, including issuing corporate bonds and obtaining loans, and is working toward securing low-interest financing and stable sources of capital. However, any substantial fluctuations in the financial markets may lead to increases in NTT Group’s financing costs.

NTT Group owns investment securities and other investment assets. If their asset value were to decline because of a recession in the stock and other financial markets, the resulting impairment losses may adversely affect NTT Group’s results of operations. NTT Group pension investments may also be adversely affected by the effect of a weakening economy on the capital markets.

NTT Group’s operating revenues may suffer from changes in market structure and increased competition.

With the growing popularity of smartphones, tablets and high-speed wireless broadband services, including Long-Term Evolution (“LTE”) (a wireless communication standard characterized by high speed, high capacity, the efficient use of signals and low latency, with specifications formulated by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project), the use of cloud services is expanding. At the same time, the structure of the telecommunications services market is changing dramatically as various new stakeholders join telecommunications operators in the

 

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market, services provided by over-the-top content (“OTT”) (a content distribution service utilizing other companies’ communications infrastructure, allowing a service provider to distribute services without owning its own communications infrastructure) providers expand, and competition increases on a global level. Additionally, the combination of fixed and mobile telecommunications services has accelerated the development of FMC (fixed-mobile convergence) services. Competition remains active among telecommunications providers, and the competitive environment in which NTT Group operates is becoming more rigorous. If NTT Group is unable to respond appropriately to increased competition and other changes in the structure of the telecommunications market, its operating revenues may decline.

In the fixed-line communications field, the continuing trend of decreasing fixed voice revenues as a result of the impact of fixed-rate voice services and free or low-cost telecommunications services provided by OTT operators has become an issue. In addition, growth in broadband services is slowing as the rate of penetration increases and the market matures. Furthermore, as a result of the increasing speeds of wireless broadband services, customers, particularly young adults who do not use fixed-line communications, are shifting towards exclusively using smartphones and other mobile devices as their sole method of communications.

In the mobile communications market, intense competition with other service providers continues with respect to charges (including handset prices), network quality, and the provision of services. In addition, competition resulting from structural changes in the market, including competition with free or low-cost communications services provided by OTT businesses, as well as the expansion of mobile virtual network operators (which provide wireless communications services over networks to which they gain access by paying mobile network operators for use of their infrastructure), is increasing.

Under these market conditions, in order to provide more advanced and wide-ranging services and increase customer convenience, NTT Group has provided a variety of new rate plans and services and has been working towards conversion to the B2B2X model, which aims to ensure sustainable growth in domestic operations in Japan.

Further, in addition to their traditional business model of providing fiber-optic access services directly to end users, NTT East and NTT West began offering the “Hikari Collaboration Model,” a new business model in which they provide fiber-optic access services to a variety of players, and each player then combines fiber-optic access services with its own services to provide as their own new services to end users.

Following the introduction of new billing plans, NTT DOCOMO also launched the Hikari Collaboration Model-utilizing fiber-optic broadband services “docomo Hikari” and “docomo Hikari Pack,” which jointly provide “docomo Hikari” for smartphones or cellphones. In addition, NTT DOCOMO is continuing to work to increase revenues by expanding into new business areas resulting from the convergence of service areas with mobile communications such as finance/account settlement, commerce, medical/healthcare, M2M/IoT (“Internet of Things,” the concept that all things are connected wirelessly and can be controlled via the Internet), environment/energy and education/learning.

However, NTT Group’s results of operations and financial condition could still be adversely affected if, despite these efforts, the number of subscribers that NTT Group acquires or retains fails to meet expected levels or if subscription ratios for various fee/discount services, trends in the number of subscription transfers to flat-rate services, or other initiatives do not proceed as expected.

NTT Group expects the solutions business to be a major area of growth in the information services market, and hardware vendors and other players are also focused on this business. Moreover, the growth of information service companies in rapidly developing nations, such as India and China, is bringing about global competition. Intensified competition resulting from new competitors’ aggressive market entry may have an adverse effect on NTT Group’s results of operations and financial condition.

 

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Moreover, NTT Group conducts a variety of business activities in markets outside of the information and communications sector, and it is possible that these operations will fail to achieve forecasted revenues, which may result in an adverse effect on NTT Group’s results of operations and financial condition.

NTT Group’s growth in its global business may be lower than anticipated.

NTT Group is expanding its global business as a cornerstone of its operations, and has also implemented initiatives to accelerate profit creation in this area. In order to deliver consistent growth of sales in overseas business operations, NTT Group will strengthen its sales force and marketing efforts, such as by expanding its global accounts and further promoting its up-selling and cross-selling efforts, while strengthening the entire NTT Group’s services and products. Stringent cost-efficiency initiatives are also underway in each of the Group’s companies to, among other things, improve efficiency, optimize services and operations, and lower procurement costs.

However, if these efforts do not progress as anticipated, or the cloud services market does not grow as anticipated, or revenues do not grow as expected due to increased competition or other factors, NTT Group’s results of operations and financial condition may be adversely affected.

NTT Group may not achieve anticipated cost savings.

NTT Group is working to generate profits by increasing capital expenditure efficiencies and reducing costs in the domestic fixed-line and mobile communications markets, which are becoming saturated. To improve capital expenditure efficiencies, NTT Group is working to simplify and streamline the network in each company, as well as further its efficiency in using its existing facilities and reduce procurement costs. Efforts are also being made to streamline IT systems in order to improve efficiency, as well as increase levels of sophistication. Meanwhile, NTT Group is continuously working to reduce costs and is working to ensure simple yet highly efficient business operations based on initiatives such as the conversion to the B2B2X model.

However, despite these initiatives to improve efficiencies in the domestic network business, it is possible that NTT Group will be unable to fully achieve the anticipated optimization of its capital expenditures or reductions in sales expenses, facility-related costs, and personnel and other costs due to changes in the competitive environment or due to the current state of progress in streamlining equipment or general business operations. Any such failure to achieve intended cost reductions could adversely impact NTT Group’s results of operations and financial condition.

NTT Group’s international and domestic investments, acquisitions, alliances and corporate collaborations may not be successful, or NTT Group may be unable to exert the necessary control over its investments.

NTT Group actively engages in joint ventures, alliances and collaborations, both domestically and overseas, as well as acquisitions and other strategic investments in response to changes in market structure and customers’ needs. However, NTT Group may not be able to maintain or enhance the value or financial performance of, or achieve sufficient synergies with, the domestic or overseas operations in which it has invested or agreed to invest or that it may in the future acquire. In addition, there may be occasions when NTT Group will suffer potential losses resulting from the dissolution or disposition of its investments, partnerships or other cooperative initiatives.

NTT Group is proactively striving to expand its global business operations, and has worked to achieve expected returns from these endeavors by carrying out periodic post-acquisition monitoring of its investments. In addition, NTT Group is taking initiatives to enhance its group governance and risk management. However, the recent increase in the number of foreign subsidiaries within NTT Group may result in increased fragmentation

 

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within the group and render a common understanding difficult to achieve. There may be occasions when it is difficult for NTT to exert the control over its overseas subsidiaries necessary to oversee their business and operations. In addition, there is a risk that factors related to cross-border business, such as legal restrictions relating to investment and competition, differences in business customs, labor relations, and international politics, may pose challenges to NTT Group’s management of its overseas business activities. If such risks materialize, NTT Group’s results of operations and financial condition may be adversely affected.

NTT Group may be unable to obtain the licenses for third-party intellectual property necessary for the operation of its business, may be subject to claims related to the infringement of the intellectual property from other companies, or may be unable to protect its own intellectual property rights, all of which could adversely affect its business operations and financial position.

In order for NTT Group and its business partners to carry out their business operations, they at times need to obtain licenses and other rights to use the intellectual property and other rights of third parties. NTT Group and its business partners have entered into the necessary intellectual property licenses, and based on their experience as well as industry practice, NTT Group believes that it will continue to be able to obtain such licenses on reasonable terms. However, if NTT Group is unable to reach or maintain agreements with the holders of such rights on commercially acceptable terms or at all, NTT Group and its business partners may not be able to provide certain technologies, products or services to its customers.

Further, as NTT Group’s global business expands, particularly through overseas acquisitions, claims of intellectual property infringement and other claims against NTT Group, particularly by foreign corporations in jurisdictions in which it has completed acquisitions, may increase as it develops new products, services and technologies, and acquires companies that may be subject to ongoing or future intellectual property litigation.

If NTT Group is subject to claims of infringement of intellectual property rights, it may be required to expend considerable time and costs to reach a resolution. If such claims are determined adversely to NTT Group, it may be required to pay substantial damages or royalties to third parties, or may be subject to a temporary or permanent injunction preventing certain NTT Group companies from offering certain products or services and required to develop non-infringing products or technologies, which could result in a loss of revenues from businesses related to such rights. Further, any improper use by third parties of NTT Group’s intellectual property and other rights could result in a decrease in NTT Group’s contemplated license revenues and compromise NTT Group’s competitive advantage.

The occurrence of any of these risks could adversely affect NTT Group’s results of operations and financial condition.

NTT Group may be unable to hire or retain necessary personnel, which could have an adverse effect on NTT Group’s results of operations and financial condition.

A number of companies both in Japan and abroad have entered the information and telecommunications market, in which the diversity and sophistication of services and technology has rapidly increased, and where changes in the market, with a focus on cloud services in particular, are expected to accelerate even further going forward. In this environment, NTT Group’s ability to hire and retain highly skilled personnel significantly affects the success of its business. If the hiring or retention of such key, highly skilled personnel by NTT Group does not proceed as expected, it could adversely affect NTT Group’s ability to develop new technologies, design new products, enhance its existing products and execute its growth strategy, which could negatively impact its results of operations and financial condition.

 

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Risks associated with business management

System disruptions, network disruptions, disruptions to business operations or issues with system architecture that occur as a result of natural disasters, software and hardware failure, or cyberattacks may affect NTT Group’s results of operations and financial condition.

NTT Group has operations both domestically and abroad, and has implemented a variety of measures with respect to its networks and systems in order to ensure safe and reliable services, including strengthening the durability and water resistance of exchange offices and re-assessing its transmission lines. However, natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, typhoons and floods, pandemics such as new strains of influenza, and other issues including software and hardware failure, cyberattacks, terrorism, armed action, regional conflict and various other events could cause system and network failure or threaten the safety of NTT Group employees. As a result, there may be occasions when disruptions in NTT Group’s business operations make it impossible to provide reliable services, potentially damaging NTT Group’s credibility and corporate image.

A large-scale disaster in particular could not only severely damage NTT Group’s telecommunications networks, but could also harm NTT Group employees or cause damage to systems that could take a long time to restore, and the resulting emergency electricity use restrictions could hinder NTT Group’s ability to provide reliable services. These events may lead to reductions in income and substantial repair costs.

The number of NTT Group services and products that use advanced technology has increased, resulting in increased quality control risk. In particular, applications and other software that runs on smartphones and tablets contain elements which could increase the load on NTT Group’s network facilities beyond the level contemplated, such as communications applications that can secure or cut off connections, which cause an increase in control signals between devices and the network. While NTT Group is endeavoring to enhance quality and reliability by making capital investments in its network facilities to strengthen network resilience and to accelerate response time, if such traffic cannot be processed, there is a defect in an NTT Group service or product, or human error occurs, such as an error in equipment settings, NTT may be held liable for damages, and the reputation of NTT Group’s services and products may be affected.

In addition, in recent years, information security countermeasures for smartphones, cloud services and other new ICT services are becoming an increasing concern. NTT Group is actively working on security countermeasures, but if an unforeseeable event occurs, it is possible that there will be cases of service delays, decrease in service quality, or information leak, damage or loss caused by network intrusions from unauthorized access, causing customers’ trust in NTT Group to diminish and causing damage to NTT Group’s corporate image.

NTT Group also provides and delivers systems and services to customers in the solutions business, and there is a possibility that there could be disruptions and faults in these systems and services. Some of the systems and services provided by NTT Group constitute vital social infrastructure that significantly affects economic activities and daily life. In particular, if problems such as interruption, impairment, unauthorized access, virus infections and cyberattacks occur to these systems and services, in addition to the possible need to provide compensation for damages, NTT Group’s credibility and corporate image may suffer. Furthermore, the solutions business typically operates under a service contract model in which services are completed from the receipt of orders through the delivery dates. Under this model, NTT Group generally assumes full contractual responsibility at all stages, but there is a possibility that a deviation from initial estimates or problems in project management at the development stage could result in cost overruns or losses due to delivery delays.

Any of these risks could adversely affect NTT Group’s results of operation and financial condition.

 

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NTT’s reputation and credibility may be affected by fraud or misconduct in Japan or abroad, or by inappropriate use or leaks of confidential business information and personal information.

NTT Group is subject to a wide variety of laws and regulations, as the scope of its business encompasses a variety of products and services both in Japan and abroad. As a result, some of NTT Group’s business activities require licenses, notifications, and permit approvals. In addition, it is possible that NTT Group’s growing business operations outside of Japan could be subject to additional burdens stemming from, among other things, the local rules and regulations of the countries in which NTT operates, or the lack thereof, the unpredictable nature of commercial and judicial interpretations of such local laws, the adoption of new laws and the revision of existing laws.

NTT Group considers legal compliance to be an extremely important corporate responsibility. In light of the recent tightening of bribery and anti-corruption laws in foreign countries, particularly the United States and the United Kingdom, NTT is working towards further strengthening its compliance systems. Although NTT Group has taken measures to strengthen its group-wide compliance regime, it may not always be possible to eliminate compliance and reputational risks, including, for example, in the case of an employee’s improper personal behavior.

In addition, NTT Group has historically made efforts to protect confidential information obtained in the course of its business, including its customers’ personal information, and NTT Group has also implemented the “NTT Group Information Security Policy,” which requires enhanced internal information management, training and awareness-raising for officers and employees. NTT Group expects to be able to ensure the proper management of confidential information in accordance with this policy. However, it is possible that NTT Group will be unable to completely eliminate the risk of a leak or other misuse of confidential information.

Such an event could adversely affect NTT Group’s business, including its reputation and credibility, as well as NTT Group’s ability to obtain new subscribers or its eligibility to secure governmental contracts, which could in turn adversely affect NTT Group’s results of operations and financial condition.

Misuse of products and services offered by NTT Group may have an adverse impact on NTT Group’s credibility and corporate image and could expose NTT Group to liability.

Inappropriate use of NTT Group’s products and services by users may adversely affect the credibility of NTT Group’s products and services and tarnish NTT Group’s corporate image. For example, if cybercrimes, such as unsolicited bulk e-mails, illegal money transfers made through online banking, or bank transfer scams, are perpetrated using NTT Group’s services, or if NTT Group customers experience incidents of unsolicited bulk e-mails being sent through its servers, NTT Group customers may be harmed as a result of these actions. Further, there has been a wide range of debate regarding minors’ access to illegal or harmful websites, and the effectiveness of filtering services intended to restrict minors from accessing such harmful sites. These problems may adversely impact customer satisfaction and damage NTT Group’s corporate image, which may lead to an increase in the number of subscription cancellations.

In addition, there are also concerns over the increasing incidence of accidents caused by the use of mobile phones while operating vehicles or bicycles, as well as issues with increasing occurrence of problems caused by the use of mobile phones while walking. In addition, there are issues concerning the high fees charged for the excess use of paid content by subscribers and the leaking of private information by fraudulent applications and software. NTT Group believes that it has properly addressed these social issues by providing locks on smartphone use while users are walking, filtering and other functions, but it is not certain whether these functions will work as expected or whether NTT Group will be able to continue to carry out proper measures in the future. If NTT Group is unable to address these issues in an appropriate manner, this may result in an increasing number of cancellations among current subscribers and an inability to acquire the anticipated number of new subscribers, which may impact NTT Group’s results of operations and financial condition.

 

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NTT Group may be subject to unfavorable decisions in litigation or other proceedings, which could have an adverse effect on its operations.

Because NTT Group operates through a large number of sites both domestically and abroad, and offers a wide array of goods and services, it is possible that NTT Group will become a party to various types of litigation, disputes, or claims for damages. If NTT Group were to become party to any such litigation, dispute, or claim for damages, in addition to the possibility of a potential financial burden, an unfavorable decision could harm NTT Group’s credibility and corporate image, and thereby adversely affect NTT Group’s results of operation and financial condition.

Risks associated with the Government, including rules, regulations and others

Changes or decisions regarding telecommunications regulations may affect NTT Group’s business.

The regulation of the Japanese telecommunications industry has evolved in many areas, including amendments to telecommunications laws aimed at promoting competition, protecting service users and other purposes. Decisions relating to Government regulations and the resulting changes in the telecommunications industry may affect NTT Group’s results of operations and financial condition.

For a summary of Government regulations currently under review, see “Item 4—Information on the Company—Regulations.”

The frequencies that NTT Group can use are limited, and it is possible that it will not be able to secure adequate frequency spectrum for its operations.

NTT Group has limited frequencies available for its services. For example, in areas such as major urban centers, mobile communications networks may suffer deteriorations of service quality at peak times, when use of available frequencies is at or near its limit.

In addition, while the number of subscribers and the traffic per subscriber are expected to increase in conjunction with the expanded use of devices, such as smartphones and tablet devices, if NTT Group were unable to obtain the frequency spectrum required for unhindered operation or if the start of operations on a different band frequency did not progress as planned, NTT Group may suffer degradation of service quality and incur additional costs. For details, see “Item 4—Information on the Company—Regulations—Radio Act.”

NTT Group is working to obtain new frequencies and to improve the efficiency of frequency usage. However, there can be no assurance that NTT Group’s efforts will be sufficient to avoid deterioration in service quality. If NTT Group is unable to address such problems sufficiently and in a timely manner, it may face constraints in providing wireless services or lose subscribers to competitors, which could have a material adverse effect on NTT Group’s results of operations or financial condition.

NTT Group may be impacted by laws, regulations and systems relating to the environment, such as those relating to reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

NTT Group is subject, both in Japan and overseas, to laws and regulations relating to the environment, such as those governing the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, energy conservation, waste disposal and harmful substance removal. NTT Group has implemented a variety of measures, such as introducing highly efficient power supplies and reusing and recycling telecommunications facilities, in order to comply with such laws and regulations relating to the environment. In the event that stricter laws and regulations and societal demands with respect to the environment materialize in the future, or new laws and regulations are introduced, costs may increase, which may impact NTT Group’s financial condition and results of operations.

 

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The Government owns enough NTT Shares to give it considerable influence over whether resolutions at NTT shareholder meetings are adopted, and rules and regulations in Japan provide the Government with regulatory authority over NTT Group companies.

The Government, through the Minister of Finance, currently owns 32.47% of NTT’s issued Shares (34.86% of NTT’s outstanding Shares excluding treasury stock), which equates to 34.91% of the voting rights, calculated on the basis of issued Shares minus treasury stock and less-than-one-unit shares. The Government, in its capacity as a shareholder, votes at NTT shareholder meetings and, by virtue of its statutorily mandated position as the largest shareholder, has the power to exert considerable influence over decisions made at such meetings. In 1997, in a statement at the Diet, the Government stated that it did not intend to actively use its position as a shareholder to direct the management of NTT. In fact, the Government has not historically used its power as a shareholder to direct the management of NTT. For details regarding the regulatory authority the Government legally has with respect to NTT Group, see “Item 4—Information on the Company—Regulations.”

The issuance or sale of additional NTT Shares or concerns regarding additional supply of NTT Shares in the stock market may affect the trading price of NTT Shares and ADSs.

Until October 1986, the Government owned 100% of the issued Shares of NTT. As a result of sales of Shares by the Government to the public and sales of Shares by the Government to NTT as part of NTT’s Share repurchase programs, as of March 31, 2015, the Government’s ownership of Shares was 32.47% of NTT’s issued Shares (34.86% of NTT’s outstanding Shares excluding treasury stock). In the event the NTT Act is revised again in order to ease or repeal the requirements regarding Government ownership of Shares, or if NTT cancels a significant amount of its treasury stock, the number of Shares the Government is allowed to sell would increase.

The sale of Shares by the Government or the issuance, sale or other disposal of treasury stock by NTT (or the potential for such transactions) could have an impact on the market price of Shares and ADSs.

For details regarding NTT Group’s relationship with the Government, see “Item 4—Information on the Company—Matters Relating to NTT’s Shares.”

Investors may have difficulty enforcing judgments under the laws of foreign countries, including the U.S. securities laws regarding the civil liabilities of NTT.

NTT is a limited liability, joint-stock corporation established under the laws of Japan. All of NTT’s directors and management reside in Japan. All or a substantial portion of the assets of such persons or NTT are located in Japan. As a result, it may not be possible for investors to effect legal service of process outside Japan upon such persons or NTT or to enforce against them judgments predicated upon the laws of foreign countries, including the civil liability provisions of the U.S. securities laws, in federal or state courts in the United States or other foreign courts. NTT has been advised by its Japanese counsel that there is uncertainty as to the enforceability, in actions originated in Japan, of liabilities predicated solely upon the laws of foreign countries, including the U.S. securities laws, and as to the enforceability in Japan of judgments of federal or state courts in the United States or other foreign courts obtained in actions predicated upon the laws of foreign countries, including the civil liability provisions of the U.S. securities laws.

Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the statements made in this annual report are forward-looking statements. These include statements with respect to NTT’s plans, strategies and beliefs and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those statements using words such as “believe,” “expect,” “plans,” “strategy,” “prospects,” “forecast,” “estimate,” “project,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “intend,” “seek,” “may,” “might,” “could” or “should,” and words of similar meaning in connection with a discussion of NTT Group’s future operations, financial performance, events or conditions. The statements are based on management’s

 

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assumptions and beliefs in light of the information currently available to it. These assumptions and beliefs include information concerning NTT Group and the economy and telecommunications industry in Japan and overseas.

The assumptions also involve risks and uncertainties which may cause NTT Group’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Potential risks and uncertainties include:

 

  (i) changes in economic conditions, fluctuations in exchange and interest rates, and volatility in securities and other financial markets in Japan and other countries;

 

  (ii) NTT Group’s fund procurement;

 

  (iii) the effects of changes in market structure and increased competition on NTT Group’s operating revenue;

 

  (iv) the pricing of services, including risks and uncertainties associated with the reduction in revenues that may result from changes in rates;

 

  (v) the ability of NTT Group to maintain growth and the success of new business models and services and businesses;

 

  (vi) projections of future usage of NTT Group’s networks, including broadband services, 3G mobile subscriber services, wireless broadband services through LTE and other Internet-related businesses;

 

  (vii) risks and uncertainties associated with the growth of NTT Group’s global businesses;

 

  (viii) technology substitution and changes in available technology;

 

  (ix) the progress of NTT Group’s efforts to reduce costs;

 

  (x) NTT Group’s international and domestic investments, alliances and collaborations;

 

  (xi) the ability of NTT Group to obtain licenses or other rights to use the intellectual properties of third parties that are necessary for NTT Group to conduct its business;

 

  (xii) the ability of NTT Group to hire or retain necessary personnel;

 

  (xiii) the effect on NTT Group’s financial condition and operating results of system/network failures and problems arising during system construction due to causes including: earthquakes, typhoons, other natural disasters and pandemics; power shortages, malfunctioning of equipment, hardware or software failures (including failures of systems or services that NTT Group provides or delivers to customers; cyberattacks, acts of terrorism, armed action, regional conflict, intentional wrongdoing and sabotage; and other similar natural disasters or acts of wrongdoing;

 

  (xiv) fraud or misconduct, such as the improper handling and leaking of confidential information obtained in the course of NTT Group’s business, such as customers’ personal information, in Japan and other countries;

 

  (xv) the occurrence of crime and other social problems resulting from improper use by certain users of products or services offered by NTT Group;

 

  (xvi) concerns over health risks and safety issues associated with the use of products and services offered by NTT Group;

 

  (xvii) the effect of ongoing or potential litigation, and the subsequent outcome or rulings of government agencies;

 

  (xviii) the effect of the introduction of, or changes to, various laws and regulations, including changes or decisions regarding telecommunications regulations, such as future decisions regarding the setting of interconnection rates and changes to the NTT Act;

 

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  (xix) the ability of NTT Group to add capacity to its existing networks; for example, the possibility that NTT DOCOMO is unable to secure the necessary frequency spectrum for operation or expand its facilities;

 

  (xx) the introduction of new laws and regulations, and the strengthening of existing laws and regulations, relating to the environment, such as the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions; and

 

  (xxi) any decision by the Government of Japan to exercise its power to exert influence over decisions made at NTT general meetings of shareholders.

Investors should not rely on any obligation of NTT Group to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, and NTT Group disclaims any such obligation.

NTT desires to qualify for the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

 

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ITEM 4—INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY

NTT Group

Operations and Segment Overview

 

LOGO

 

* Figures represent NTT’s equity interest, whether direct or indirect, in each of its subsidiaries as of June 30, 2015. NTT and its principal subsidiaries listed above are all incorporated in Japan, with the exception of Dimension Data, which is incorporated in the United Kingdom.

NTT Group is the largest provider of fixed and mobile voice related services, IP/packet communications services, telecommunications equipment, system integration and other telecommunications-related services in Japan and operates one of the largest telephone networks in the world. NTT Group consists of NTT (as the holding company), its 917 subsidiaries and its 121 affiliated companies (as of March 31, 2015). The principal business segments of NTT Group are its regional communications business, long distance and international communications business, mobile communications business, and data communications business. NTT Group also has an other business segment. Details of each principal business segment and the consolidated subsidiaries within each principal business segment are described below. NTT Group’s five business segments are described under Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

The principal services in the regional communications business segment are intra-prefectural communications services and related ancillary services. NTT’s consolidated subsidiaries in the regional communications business segment are NTT East, NTT West, NTT EAST-MINAMIKANTO CORPORATION(*1), NTT-ME CORPORATION, NTT INFRASTRUCTURE NETWORK CORPORATION, NTT EAST SERVICE CORPORATION, NTT BUSINESS SOLUTIONS CORPORATION, NTT NEOMEIT CORPORATION, NTT MARKETING ACT CORPORATION, NTT FIELDTECHNO CORPORATION, NTT DIRECTORY SERVICES Co., NTT Printing Corporation(*2), TelWel East Japan Corporation, NTT Solco Corporation, NTT CARD SOLUTION CORP., NTT EAST PROPERTIES, INC., NTT SOLMARE CORPORATION, NTT WEST ASSET PLANNING CORPORATION, TelWel West Nippon Corporation, and 35 other companies.

 

(*1) NTT EAST-TOKYO CORPORATION changed its name to NTT EAST-MINAMIKANTO CORPORATION on July 1, 2014.

 

(*2) NTT Quaris Corporation changed its name to NTT Printing Corporation on October 1, 2014.

The principal services in the long distance and international communications business segment are inter-prefectural communications services, services related to the international communications business, services related to the solutions business and related services. NTT’s consolidated subsidiaries in the long distance and international communications business segment are NTT COMMUNICATIONS, Dimension Data, NTT PC Communications Incorporated, NTT Plala Inc., NTT Resonant Inc., NTT America, Inc., NTT EUROPE LTD., NTT AUSTRALIA PTY. LTD., Verio Inc.(*1), NTT Com Security AG, Virtela Technology Services Incorporated, RagingWire Data Centers, Inc., RW Holdco Inc., RW Midco Inc., Arkadin International SAS, GYRON INTERNET LIMITED, NETMAGIC SOLUTIONS PRIVATE LIMITED, NETMAGIC IT SERVICES PRIVATE LIMITED, Spectrum Holdings Inc., Dimension Data Commerce Centre Limited, Dimension Data (U.S.) II, Inc., Dimension Data (U.S.) Inc., Dimension Data North America, Inc., Dimension Data International Limited, Dimension Data Holdings Nederland B.V., Solutionary, Inc., NTT Innovation Institute, Inc., and 323 other companies.

 

(*1) Verio Inc. merged into NTT America, Inc. on April 1, 2015.

 

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The principal services in the mobile communications business segment are mobile phone services and related services. NTT’s consolidated subsidiaries in the mobile communications business segment are NTT DOCOMO(*1), DOCOMO CS, Inc.(*2), DOCOMO Support, Inc., DOCOMO Systems, Inc., DOCOMO Technology, Inc., DOCOMO Guam Holdings, Inc., MCV Guam Holding Corp., D2C Inc., mmbi, Inc., OAK LAWN MARKETING, INC., Tower Records Japan Inc., NTT DOCOMO Ventures, Inc., ABC Cooking Studio Co.,Ltd(*3), Radishbo-ya Co., Ltd., DOCOMO ANIME STORE, INC., DOCOMO Deutschland GmbH, Buongiorno S.p.A., net mobile AG, DOCOMO interTouch Pte. Ltd., DOCOMO Capital, Inc., and 154 other companies.

 

(*1) NTT DOCOMO was incorporated in Japan as a joint-stock company in 1991. As of June 30, 2015, NTT’s ownership interest in NTT DOCOMO was 66.66% (including shares owned indirectly).

 

(*2) DOCOMO Engineering Inc. changed its name to DOCOMO CS, Inc. on July 1, 2014.

 

(*3) ABC HOLDINGS Co.,Ltd. merged into ABC Cooking Studio Co.,Ltd on January 1, 2015.

The principal services in the data communications business segment are system integration services and network system services. The consolidated subsidiaries in the data communications business segment are NTT DATA(*1), NTT DATA i CORPORATION, NTT DATA KANSAI CORPORATION, XNET Corporation, Japan Information Processing Service Co., Ltd., NTT DATA INTRAMART CORPORATION, JSOL CORPORATION, NJK Corporation, NTT DATA CUSTOMER SERVICE CORPORATION, NTT DATA SYSTEM TECHNOLOGIES INC., NTT Data International L.L.C., NTT DATA EUROPE GmbH & CO. KG, itelligence AG, NTT DATA Deutschland GmbH, NTT DATA, Inc., NTT DATA ITALIA S.P.A., NTT DATA EMEA LTD., NTT DATA Enterprise Services Holding, Inc., NTT DATA ASIA PACIFIC PTE. LTD., EVERIS PARTICIPACIONES, S.L.U., and 233 other companies.

 

(*1) NTT DATA was incorporated in Japan as a joint-stock company in 1988. As of June 30, 2015, NTT’s ownership interest in NTT DATA was 54.21% (including shares owned indirectly).

The other business segment includes NTT’s operations, and its real estate, finance, construction and power, systems development and development of advanced technologies businesses. NTT’s consolidated subsidiaries in the other business segment are NTT Urban Development, UD EUROPE LIMITED, NTT FINANCE, NTT FACILITIES, NTT COMWARE CORPORATION, NTT ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION, NTT Electronics Corporation, NTT Software Corporation, NTT ADVERTISING, INC., InfoCom Research, Inc., NTT Human Solutions Corporation, NTT LEARNING SYSTEMS CORPORATION, NTT BUSINESS ASSOCIE Corporation, NTT LOGISCO Inc., NTT Broadband Platform, Inc., and 71 other companies.

Main Services

NTT Group provides fixed-line broadband and fixed-line telephone services through NTT East and NTT West, and is the largest provider of such services in Japan. As of March 31, 2015, the number of combined NTT East and NTT West broadband service subscriptions for the FTTH service “FLET’S Hikari” and for the ADSL service “FLET’S ADSL” was 18,716 thousand subscriptions and 1,219 thousand subscriptions, respectively. Aggregate subscriber line subscriptions, which is the sum of fixed-line telephone service subscriptions and ISDN service subscriptions, totaled 24,344 thousand subscriptions. In addition, NTT Group provides internet service provider (“ISP”) services through NTT Communications and others. As of March 31, 2015, the number of ISP service subscriptions was 11,586 thousand subscriptions.

NTT Group provides mobile broadband and mobile voice communications services through NTT DOCOMO. This service is provided through two networks, LTE and W-CDMA. As of March 31, 2015, NTT DOCOMO had 66,595 thousand subscribers and was the largest provider of mobile phone services in Japan.

NTT Group provides data communications services through NTT DATA. NTT DATA is the leading provider of data communications systems and information systems using computer networks as a platform in

 

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Japan. NTT DATA primarily engages in strategic planning, designing, installing and operating data communications systems and computer network-based information systems, and providing IT services.

In addition, through its subsidiaries, NTT Group provides financial services, including issuing leases and credit cards, real estate services, including building rentals and apartment sales, systems development services, and construction-related services, including the design, construction and maintenance of buildings.

NTT’s Agent for U.S. Federal Securities Law Purposes

NTT’s agent for U.S. federal securities law purposes is NTT America, Inc., located at 757 Third Avenue, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10017. NTT is located at 5-1, Otemachi 1-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8116, Japan (Phone number: +81-3-6838-5481). NTT’s Internet website address is http://www.ntt.co.jp/index_e.html. The information on NTT’s website is not incorporated by reference into this document. This annual report will be placed on NTT’s Internet website concurrently with its filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

History

 

(1) Background

On August 1, 1952, pursuant to the Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Public Corporation Act (Act No. 250 of July 31, 1952), NTT Public was incorporated, with its capital stock wholly owned by the Government. On April 1, 1985, pursuant to the Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation Act (Act No. 85 of December 25, 1984), NTT was established, with its capital stock wholly owned by the Government. When NTT was established, it succeeded to all the rights and obligations of NTT Public.

 

(2) History

 

April 1985

   NTT was incorporated as a limited liability, joint-stock company.

February 1987

   NTT’s Shares were listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (the “TSE”) and other stock exchanges in Japan.

July 1988

   NTT’s DATA Communications Division was transferred to NTT DATA System Service Corporation.

April 1992

   Implemented organizational reform corresponding to the long distance and regional communications service divisions through a review of, and commitment to, a divisional system.

July 1992

   Business operations relating to car phones, mobile phones, maritime telephones, aircraft passenger telephones and radio paging were transferred to NTT Mobile Communications Network, Inc.

December 1992

   NTT’s electricity, construction and building management operations were transferred to NTT FACILITIES.

September 1994

   NTT ADSs were listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”).

October 1994

   NTT’s Shares were listed on the London Stock Exchange.

April 1995

   NTT DATA System Service Corporation was listed on the TSE.

September 1997

   NTT transferred its software headquarters business to NTT COMMUNICATIONWARE CORPORATION.

August 1998

   NTT DATA System Service Corporation changed its business name to NTT DATA CORPORATION.

October 1998

   NTT Mobile Communications Network, Inc. was listed on the TSE.

 

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July 1999

   Implemented a group reorganization by which NTT became a holding company. Operation of NTT’s intra-prefectural communications services was transferred to its two wholly owned subsidiaries, NTT East and NTT West, and inter-prefectural communications services were transferred to NTT COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION, also a wholly owned subsidiary of NTT.

April 2000

   NTT Mobile Communications Network, Inc. changed its business name to NTT DOCOMO, INC.

November 2000

   NTT COMMUNICATIONWARE CORPORATION changed its business name to NTT COMWARE CORPORATION.

March 2002

   NTT DOCOMO, INC. was listed on the London Stock Exchange and the NYSE.

November 2004

   NTT URBAN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION was listed on the TSE.

January 2009

   NTT implemented a 100-for-1 common stock split.

Reorganization

On July 1, 1999, certain of NTT’s business activities were transferred to NTT’s wholly owned subsidiaries NTT East, NTT West and NTT Communications. Under the Act to Amend the Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation Act promulgated in June 1997, NTT is required to hold 100% of the share capital of NTT East and NTT West. NTT East provides regional telecommunications and related services in the Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto and Shin-etsu regions of Japan. NTT West provides regional telecommunications and related services in the Tokai, Hokuriku, Kansai, Chugoku, Shikoku and Kyushu regions of Japan. NTT Communications provides domestic inter-prefectural telecommunications, data transmission services such as IP-VPN (Virtual private network) and OCN, and other network and ancillary services throughout Japan. NTT Communications also offers international telecommunications services and intra-city telecommunications services.

After the transfer of certain business activities in 1999, NTT began to operate primarily as a holding company. The principal sources of NTT’s revenues consist of the following three categories:

 

   

dividends from its subsidiaries;

 

   

payments for providing management services through contracts with its subsidiaries; and

 

   

payments for its fundamental research and development activities through contracts with each of its subsidiaries that benefit from NTT’s research and development activities.

NTT is directly responsible for formulating and promoting the overall strategy of NTT Group, setting financial targets for NTT Group and conducting fundamental research and development for NTT Group. The presidents of NTT East, NTT West, NTT Communications, NTT DOCOMO, NTT DATA and NTT meet from time to time to discuss the strategy of NTT Group. Generally, each of the companies within NTT Group operates autonomously. However, each company must discuss with, or report to, NTT certain fundamental business decisions relating to that company, including amendments to its articles of incorporation, mergers and consolidations, assignments and transfers of businesses, election and removal of directors and corporate auditors, appropriation of profits, increases in share capital, investments, including international investments, loans and guarantees, and the establishment of business operation plans.

See “Item 4—Information on the Company—Regulations—NTT Act” regarding recent developments concerning NTT Group’s managerial structure.

Business Operations of Subsidiaries

NTT Group has undertaken several initiatives to improve its management efficiency and promote cost savings. These include the transfer from NTT to its subsidiaries of certain functions, including telecommunications software and systems development, facility management and maintenance, equipment sales

 

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and directory assistance. In addition, NTT Group has begun making these services available not only to NTT Group companies but also to third parties, thereby creating new revenue sources. NTT expects its subsidiaries, as independent companies, to take greater responsibility for the profits or losses of their operations and to have a stronger incentive to boost revenues and cut costs as compared to when they were divisions of NTT. As of March 31, 2015, NTT had 1,038 subsidiaries and affiliated companies. The major changes to each NTT Group company’s business operation structure are as described below.

Reorganization of Business Operations Structures of NTT East and NTT West

In May 2002, NTT transferred an aggregate of approximately 100,000 NTT East and NTT West employees to approximately 100 regional outsourcing companies with specializations in three fields: facilities and equipment, sales and marketing, and administration and accounting.

In July 2005, NTT East consolidated the three fields of its regional outsourcing companies into prefectural units, and outsourced branch corporate marketing operations to these new companies as well.

In July 2014, NTT East revised its business management structure in response to the changing market and business environments in order to further enhance operational efficiency and promote service provision by working even more closely with local communities. Specifically, in order to further promote the efficiency of its 17 branch offices in each prefecture of the NTT East area, NTT East merged its branch offices into six business divisions and consolidated operations for efficiency where possible. To promote service provision in even closer conjunction with the local communities, NTT East established 29 branch offices as internal units within these business divisions, which divide the larger markets, namely the greater Tokyo metropolitan area (Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba and Saitama) and Hokkaido.

In connection with these developments, NTT East reorganized its 17 regional subsidiaries in each prefecture of the NTT East area and NTT East Solutions Corporation, which had overseen corporate sales in the Tokyo area, into four companies. In addition, in order to further increase business efficiency and to promote greater consistency in, and improvement of, service levels, front office operations (including 116 call centers) that had previously been outsourced to multiple companies were re-established as NTT EAST JAPAN SERVICE CORPORATION to operate in a centralized manner.

In July 2006, NTT West modified the organization of its headquarters and reinforced its prefectural branch functions. In conjunction with these developments, NTT West also consolidated its facilities and equipment, sales and marketing, and administration and accounting subsidiaries. Furthermore, in April 2008, NTT West established six new companies, including NTT West-Home Techno Corporation, which commenced operations in July 2008.

In July 2012, in order to promote and expand strategic growth businesses and to further expand its business areas, NTT West consolidated the NTT West-Home Techno companies into the newly formed NTT Home Techno Corporation. In addition, in October 2013, NTT Business Solutions Corporation was established through the merger and name change of eight regional subsidiaries and six IT-MATE companies in response to the need for stronger sales capabilities in business markets including small- to medium-sized businesses, whose need for ICT use is expected to grow in the future. Services other than information and communications systems proposals, construction, and support for business users have been transferred from eight regional subsidiaries to NTT MARKETING ACT CORPORATION, NTT FIELDTECHNO (name changed from NTT HOMETECHNO), NTT NEOMEIT CORPORATION, and NTT BUSINESS ASSOCIE WEST Co., Ltd.

Reorganization of Business Operations Structure of NTT Communications

In the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007, NTT Group conducted a review of its corporate businesses and upper layer businesses. Specifically, with respect to its corporate businesses, NTT Group also revised its

 

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customer accounts system. Since that time, NTT East and NTT West have been responsible for customers who require more locally oriented service, while NTT Communications has been responsible for other customers such as central government agencies, city banks, and trading companies. Further, with respect to upper layer businesses, companies that operate portal websites and provide Internet access services and video distribution services for television became subsidiaries of NTT Communications.

In May 2012, NTT Communications established NTT COM Marketing to consolidate NTT Group’s resources under a single company, with the goal of strengthening sales to small- and medium-sized businesses. NTT COM Marketing began operations in August 2012. NTT COM Marketing succeeded the sales business of NTT Com CHEO, including its marketing support operations, through an absorption-type company split.

Further, NTT Com Technology Corporation and NTT Com Solution & Engineering Corporation have worked to further strengthen the competitiveness of their solutions businesses and engineering businesses, and in conjunction with reviews of their respective business objectives and goals, changed their respective names to NTT Com Solutions Corporation and NTT Com Engineering Corporation in January 2015.

Reorganization of Business Operations Structure of NTT DOCOMO

In July 2008, NTT DOCOMO reorganized its group structure to merge its eight regional subsidiaries, including NTT DoCoMo Hokkaido, Inc., into NTT DOCOMO. Furthermore, in July 2014, NTT DOCOMO reorganized 25 business service subsidiaries nationwide into 12 companies, including DOCOMO CS Co. Ltd., in order to be able to make further improvements to the services it provides at the community level.

Reorganization of Business Operations Structure of NTT DATA

Since January 2012, NTT DATA has conducted its business operations largely through NTT DATA, Inc. in the U.S., NTT DATA EMEA Ltd. in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, NTT DATA (CHINA) INVESTMENT Co., LTD.* in China, and NTT DATA Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. in the Asia-Pacific region, in response to the accelerating global business needs of its customers, with the goals of both building a global-scale structure that provides an operational system supported by rapid service, and of strengthening the NTT DATA brand abroad. Further, in April 2012, NTT DATA changed its corporate logo to a globally uniform design and initiated business development under the new brand logo. Furthermore, NTT DATA’s acquisition of EVERIS PARTICIPACIONES, S.L.U. (“everis Group”) in January 2014, which has operations in Spain and major countries in Latin America, has enabled NTT to provide comprehensive IT services to customers in these regions.

 

* Effective January 7, 2015, NTT DATA designated NTT DATA (CHINA) INVESTMENT Co., LTD. as its primary Chinese subsidiary and integrated and reorganized NTT DATA (CHINA) Co., LTD. and NTT DATA (CHINA) Information Technology Co., LTD.

Commencement of Billing and Collection Operations for Communications Services and Other Charges by NTT Finance

Starting in July 2012, NTT Finance commenced billing and collection operations with respect to communications services and other charges. The staff involved in billing and collection at NTT East, NTT West, NTT Communications and NTT DOCOMO were brought into NTT Finance as a team of specialists to carry out these operations. As a result, NTT Group was able to meet customer demand with respect to the ability to make one-stop payments, in response to the current environment in which individuals and households use multiple communications services, such as fixed-line telephones, mobile phones, broadband and ISP services. While each NTT Group company has heretofore taken initiatives to improve efficiency with respect to billing and collection operations for communications services, NTT Group is continually seeking further improvements in quality and efficiency.

 

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Principal Business Activities

NTT Group’s businesses are segmented according to its five primary lines of business: regional communications business, long distance and international communications business, mobile communications business, data communications business, and other business. See Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements attached hereto.

The business results for each principal business segment for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 are as follows:

Regional Communications Business Segment

NTT East and NTT West, NTT’s main subsidiaries in the regional communications business segment, worked to secure solid revenue streams by collaborating with other business operators, expanding their respective FLET’S Hikari service offerings, promoting fiber-optic and IP-related services through the expansion of opportunities for use of Wi-Fi-based fiber optics, and by launching the “Hikari Collaboration Model,” which provides wholesale fiber-optic services to a variety of businesses. The main initiatives are set out below.

 

[1] Number of Subscriptions for Major Services

 

   

FLET’S Hikari: 18.72 million subscriptions (an increase of 0.67 million subscriptions from the previous fiscal year)

 

   

Hikari Denwa: 17.11 million channels (an increase of 0.85 million channels from the previous fiscal year)

 

   

FLET’S TV: 1.34 million subscriptions (an increase of 0.18 million subscriptions from the previous fiscal year)

 

* The figures for “FLET’S Hikari,” “Hikari Denwa” and “FLET’S TV” include wholesale services provided to service providers by NTT East and NTT West.

 

[2] Promotion of Fiber-optic and IP Services

Major services and products launched in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 include:

 

Service or Product

  

Description

Hikari Collaboration Model

(NTT East, NTT West)

   A service that provides wholesale NTT East and NTT West fiber-optic access services to a variety of service providers.

O2O Cloud Service

(NTT East)

   A Wi-Fi-based application service aimed at businesses in the restaurant, retail and other similar industries.

Office Anshin Pack

(NTT West)

   A service that provides detailed ICT support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as an IT helpdesk for offices.

Giga Raku Wi-Fi

(NTT East)

   A service for SMEs that is designed to serve unique Wi-Fi environments through a pre-determined menu plan and that aims to provide both Wi-Fi access point equipment and support for their installation and operation.

Omoide Album on FLET’S

(NTT West)

   A service that allows users to view photos and videos via the Internet on computers and other devices by enabling users to digitalize photos and videotapes and store them on the cloud.

 

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Major collaborative projects with other businesses relating to service provision entered into in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 include:

 

Business Partner

  

Description

Japan Airlines Co., Ltd.

(NTT East)

   Provided customers who purchased JAL tickets departing from overseas locations to Japan with IDs and passwords through JAL’s overseas domains to enable 14 days of free Wi-Fi access through “Hikari Station” Wi-Fi hotspots.

DAIICHIKOSHO CO., LTD.

(NTT West)

   Launched the “Hikari Karaoke BOX+ @DAM” service, which uses the “Hikari BOX+” digital media player offered by NTT West to provide in-home access to the same “LIVE DAM” karaoke music tracks that DAIICHIKOSHO CO., LTD. provides to karaoke companies.

 

[3] Improving Customer Service

 

   

Subscriptions for “Remote Support Service,” which provides remote responses to a broad range of customer inquiries concerning all aspects of broadband services, reached 4.51 million* (NTT East/NTT West).

 

* This includes subscriptions to wholesale services provided to service providers by NTT East and NTT West.

 

   

Subscriptions to the “FLET’S Hikari Members Club” (for NTT East) and “CLUB NTT-West” (for NTT West) membership privilege programs, which offer special content and points based on monthly usage, reached a total of 10.76 million.

Long Distance and International Communications Business Segment

Pursuant to its “Vision 2015” business strategy, NTT Communications, NTT’s main subsidiary in the long distance and international communications business segment, worked to become the optimal business partner that global customers choose to work with and a true leading global player (Global ICT Partner). For corporate clients, NTT Communications worked to provide seamless ICT solutions unique to telecommunication providers that not only provide cloud services but also combine networks, security, applications, and managed ICT services. For individual customers, NTT Communications worked to provide more convenient applications and rich content, enabling new lifestyles. The main initiatives are set out below.

 

[1] Number of Subscriptions for Major Services

 

   

Hikari TV: 3.01 million subscriptions (an increase of 0.19 million subscriptions from the previous fiscal year)

 

   

OCN: 8.28 million subscriptions (an increase of 0.13 million subscriptions from the previous fiscal year)

 

   

Plala: 2.96 million subscriptions (a decrease of 0.01 million subscriptions from the previous fiscal year)

 

[2] Development of Global Business

Major activities in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015

 

   

Strengthening the Framework for Service Provision

 

   

With regard to its “Nexcenter™” data center services, NTT Communications commenced operations at its Malaysia Cyberjaya 4 Data Center. In addition, NTT Communications began construction of the India Mumbai 5 Data Center, the Osaka 5 Data Center and the Virginia Ashburn 2 (VA2) Data Center facilities. Furthermore, NTT Communications entered into a stock purchase agreement to acquire a majority of the outstanding shares of Lux e-shelter 1 S.a.r.l. (headquartered in Luxembourg), a provider of data center services in Germany and elsewhere throughout Europe, and took other actions to substantially strengthen its data center bases.

 

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In order to strengthen its total security services, which support global businesses from their establishment of information security management initiatives to their introduction of countermeasures and operations, and to further establish its infrastructure in the Germany, Switzerland, and Austria region, NTT Communications acquired InfoTrust AG (headquartered in Switzerland), which has a client base of multinational corporations in Switzerland.

 

   

Network Expansion

 

   

To meet the demand for high-quality, highly reliable IP backbones, NTT Communications established new connection points as part of its Global Internet Access service, “Global IP Network,” in Boston, United States and Bangkok, Thailand.

Dimension Data, one of NTT’s main subsidiaries in the long distance and international communications business segment, offers globally available ICT infrastructure solutions and services in the areas of networking, communications, end-user computing, security, and data centers. Dimension Data delivers services to its clients through a range of delivery models, including systems integration services, IT outsourcing, and IT-as-a-service.

Major services launched in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 include:

 

Service

  

Description

Strategic Discovery Workshop    A strategic engagement with C-level Business and IT representatives to identify and address gaps in the integration of companies’ Business and IT operations. This service provides the client the opportunity to engage in a facilitated workshop bringing its Business and IT operations together to gain common understanding and agreement on key objectives, roadmap and action plan.
Security Architecture Assessment    Security Architecture Assessment is a consulting-led engagement that helps clients identify opportunities that lead to transformational projects. The assessment uses an architecture approach, which begins with an interactive workshop to understand the client’s current state, with an end goal to help them reach a future desired state. The approach leverages consulting services to provide recommendations that link back to Dimension Data’s security managed services and strategic vendor partnerships.
Managed Services Enterprise Network 1.0    A service that assists organizations with the proactive operational management of their IT network infrastructure in a flexible, cost effective and real-time manner and offers sophisticated, integrated service management technologies which are administered by highly specialized engineers.
Managed Services Data Centre    A service that assists organizations with continuous and real time availability and capacity management of their data centers through threshold monitoring, reporting, and analysis provided by experienced data center engineers with ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library)-aligned service-level management of the environment. Automated incident management also allows for timely escalations and communication with access to specialist engineering and IT service management skills to handle problem management processes.

 

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[3] Development of Services for Corporate Clients

Major services launched in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 include:

 

Service

  

Description

Arcstar Contact Center

   A cloud service that enables an increase or decrease in the number of operators and flexible changes to functions used at contact centers that conduct customer service business operations.
Arcstar Universal One Advanced Option Virtual Appliance Type    An optional service that provides cloud-based network functions such as firewalls and application acceleration that previously required the installation of dedicated on-premise equipment.

Global Management One

   A service that provides a centralized portal for and the operation and management of all ICT environments, including NTT Communications Group services (ranging from networks to cloud platforms and applications), customers’ on-premise equipment and other companies’ services, with globally uniform specifications and quality.

 

[4] Development of Services for Individual Customers

Major services launched in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 include:

 

Service

  

Description

OCN Hikari

   A service that enables the integrated use of optical broadband services and the Internet connection service “OCN” by using the “Hikari Collaboration Model” provided by NTT East and NTT West.

Mobile Communications Business Segment

NTT DOCOMO, NTT’s major subsidiary in the mobile communications business segment, undertook various initiatives to reinforce its competitiveness in the mobile area, including the launch of a new billing plan, the enhancement of networks using LTE services and the introduction of highly functional and appealing devices. In addition, in the Smart Life area, NTT DOCOMO promoted its expansion of new services to support Smart Life for its customers by further enhancing “dmarket”, through collaboration and partnerships with a variety of vendors, and through other initiatives. NTT DOCOMO also launched the fiber-optic broadband services “docomo Hikari” and “docomo Hikari Pack” in March 2015. The main initiatives are set out below.

 

[1] Number of Subscriptions to Major Services

In order to meet the diverse needs of its customers, NTT DOCOMO endeavored to enhance its product lineup, including its smartphone and tablet devices, wearable devices, Wi-Fi devices, and other offerings.

 

   

Number of mobile service subscriptions: 66.60 million (an increase of 3.49 million subscriptions from the previous fiscal year)

 

   

LTE (“Xi”) service subscriptions: 30.74 million (an increase of 8.78 million subscriptions from the previous fiscal year)

 

   

FOMA service subscriptions: 35.85 million (a decrease of 5.29 million subscriptions from the previous fiscal year)

† Number of subscriptions to mobile phone services as well as LTE (“Xi”) and FOMA services includes communication module service subscriptions.

 

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Major services launched in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 include:

 

Service

  

Description

Kake-hodai & Pake-aeru

   A new billing plan comprising four main components: “Kake-hodai” (a flat-rate domestic voice calling plan), “Share Pack” (a packet data quota-sharing plan among family members), “Zutto DOCOMO Wari” (a discount service favoring long-term users with graduated discounts based on length of subscription) and “U25 Ouen Wari” (a service providing helpful discounts to users of age 25 or younger).

ddelivery

   A service that delivers take-out and household groceries.

dmagazine

   A service that provides unlimited access to electronic magazines at a fixed rate.

docomo Hikari

  

“docomo Hikari” Standalone Type

   A fiber-optic broadband service utilizing the “Hikari Collaboration Model” provided by NTT East and NTT West.

ISP Rate Inclusive Type

   An inclusive service comprising fiber-optic broadband service utilizing the “Hikari Collaboration Model” provided by NTT East and NTT West, and Internet connection service.

docomo Hikari Pack

   A discount service that provides “docomo Hikari” and smartphone/cellphone services at discounted rates by combining the rate of “docomo Hikari” with “Kake-hodai & Pake-aeru.”

 

[2] Expansion of Service Area

 

   

In order to provide even wider service areas, NTT DOCOMO increased the number of LTE base stations nationwide from 55,300 to 97,400. In addition, in order to promote further increases in speed, NTT DOCOMO increased the number of LTE base stations that can support maximum download speeds of over 100 Mbps from 3,500 to 57,700.

 

   

NTT DOCOMO launched “VoLTE,” an LTE-based voice communications service that provides reliable and high-sound quality calls compared to conventional voice calling services. In addition, NTT DOCOMO began providing “PREMIUM 4G™,” a service that delivers download speeds of up to 225 Mbps using the next-generation LTE-Advanced system.

 

[3] Efforts in the Smart Life Area

 

   

In conjunction with runtastic GmbH (headquartered in Austria), NTT DOCOMO jointly developed and launched “Runtastic for docomo,” a new training support service that uses a wearable measurement device made from the “hitoe” fabric, which measures and manages users’ heart rate, electrocardiograph and other bodily data, in conjunction with a dedicated application.

 

   

NTT DOCOMO entered into an agreement with Tesla Motors, Inc. (headquartered in the United States) to provide an in-vehicle information/communication platform and data connectivity for Tesla Model S electric vehicles marketed in Japan.

Data Communications Business Segment

NTT DATA, NTT’s main subsidiary in the data communications business segment, has evolved into a corporate group that efficiently provides a wide range of ICT services on a global scale, and is working to achieve its business goals of “Global Top 5 (Revenue over 1,500 billion yen)” and “EPS (Earnings Per Share) of 200 yen.” NTT DATA’s Medium-Term Management Plan for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013 through the

 

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fiscal year ending March 31, 2016 has the following focus areas: “Expansion of new fields and reinforcement of product competitiveness,” “Expansion, enhancement and reinforcement of global business” and “Pursuit of overall optimization.” The main initiatives are set out below.

 

[1] Status of Implementation of Management Policies

Targeting the costs required for management operations, NTT DATA worked steadily toward the reorganization and integration of divisions and mobilization and optimized allocation of management resources, beginning with standardization, improvement of efficiency and consolidation of its business.

 

[2] Status of Implementation of Business Activities

 

   

NTT DATA concluded a multi-year agreement with Daimler AG, the German automobile manufacturer, and began providing services as a strategic partner for the maintenance and operation of its global enterprise resource planning (“ERP”) system and for the development of additional systems.

 

   

NTT DATA received an order from the government of Myanmar to develop trade processing and customs clearing systems, utilizing NTT DATA’s expertise in domestic trade processing and customs clearing systems, as part of the initiative to export Japanese infrastructure solutions.

 

   

With regard to the digital archiving work contracted with the Vatican Apostolic Library, NTT DATA digitalized the Library’s valuable manuscripts and made them available for viewing by the public on the Library’s website.

 

   

NTT DATA, in partnership with Tokyo Electric Power Co., Inc. (TEPCO), promoted a series of services that utilize the Smart Meter operations management system developed by TEPCO. In addition, NTT DATA received an order from the Organization for Cross-Regional Coordination of Transmission Operators, Japan for a “switching support system” aimed at promoting the organization’s electric power system reform.

Major services launched in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 include:

 

Service

  

Description

BizXaas Omni-channel

   A cloud service that enables centralized management of product information, customer information, inventory information, and information on orders received, which had previously been managed separately on e-commerce sites or at actual store locations.

Global Businesses

There is a transformation underway in the international information and communications market “towards the next stage.” Due to the development of the Internet, people are increasingly able to obtain an enormous variety of information over the Internet as well as use applications available over the Internet. Due to the introduction of, among other things, big data, IoT (Internet of Things), virtualization and HTML5, NTT anticipates that the convergence between real-world businesses and Internet-based services will lead to higher value-added services. Against the backdrop of surging growth in cloud computing, NTT expects that developed nations, where revolutionary new services that address sophisticated needs have been developed, will continue to be important markets. Going forward, however, these services will spread to emerging countries, too, which should lead to further growth of the ICT market.

NTT Group’s main efforts in the past few years relating to its global business operations have focused on its goal of expanding its global business operations for corporate customers. In October 2010, NTT acquired its subsidiary Dimension Data, based in the Republic of South Africa, which offers development, operation and maintenance of on-site IT infrastructure for corporate customers, such as network equipment, servers and other devices.

 

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This acquisition has increased the competitiveness of both companies by integrating NTT’s strength in providing managed network services and data centers with Dimension Data’s strength in the development, operation and maintenance of IT infrastructure. NTT and Dimension Data are working to thereby increase their competitiveness and strengthen the structures through which they provide comprehensive ICT services. In addition, in October 2012, NTT acquired Centerstance, Inc., a U.S.-based consulting company that specializes in the analysis of important corporate business processes and cloud migration of existing systems, and provides integration services with Salesforce.com; Centerstance, Inc.’s stock was later transferred to NTT Data in May 2015.

In April 2013, NTT established NTT Innovation Institute, Inc. (“NTT I3”) as a new R&D center in North America. NTT Group is strengthening the development of its Global Cloud services by promoting the development of services tailored to the North American market through research and development relating to security and cloud services. Additionally, in August 2013, NTT acquired Solutionary, Inc. (“Solutionary”), a U.S.-based managed security service provider (a service that provides outsourced operational support for security equipment installed at customer locations, and offers support in situations where it is difficult for customers to respond or make decisions themselves), in order to enhance NTT Group’s competitiveness in the managed security services market.

NTT Group, as its customers’ continued “Value Partner” of choice, is able to develop on a global scale and promote simple and secure Global Cloud services that encompass applications, networks, and cloud platforms as the cornerstone of its business, in order to provide support for the business model innovations of its corporate customers. NTT Group takes advantage of its ability to provide a full lineup of cloud services by virtue of collaboration between its individual companies, and its ability to consistently land orders for large cloud projects is one example of its record for success. As a result of these initiatives, overseas sales reached $15.0 billion in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015.

Going forward, in order to generate greater profits from its international business, NTT Group will work to achieve stable growth in sales by strengthening its services, products, sales processes and marketing. NTT Group will also aim to promote cost efficiency by reducing procurement costs and streamlining and optimizing its services and operations.

Other principal global investments of each material NTT Group company during the last three fiscal years include the following:

 

  (i) NTT Communications

NTT Communications is advancing its provision of seamless global business operations to offer the type of seamless ICT solutions to which a telecommunications carrier is best suited to add value. With customers migrating their ICT environments to the cloud and/or data centers, NTT Communications operates its services as a package, including network services, voice and similar applications and security, with globally consistent quality.

Gyron Internet Limited

In May 2012, NTT Communications acquired Gyron Internet Limited (“Gyron”), which provides data center services in the United Kingdom. In September 2013, the company started construction on its new U.K. Hemel Hempstead 3 Data Center. The facility, with approximately 10,000 square meters of server rooms, is scheduled to begin its operations in the first quarter of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016. This will result in an approximately 2.5-fold expansion in the total server room area in NTT Communications’ U.K. data centers. By utilizing Gyron’s data centers as a cloud services platform, NTT Communications has strengthened its ability to provide one-stop ICT solutions, including data center-related services, in the U.K. market, where further growth is anticipated, and accelerated the development of seamless Global Cloud services.

 

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DTSI GROUP HOLDINGS, INC. (formerly Freedom Resources Holdings Corporation)

In May 2012, NTT Communications acquired Freedom Resources Holdings Corporation (“Freedom”). Freedom is the holding company for the DTSI Group, which provides system construction and platform services for business process outsourcing companies in the Philippines. Freedom changed its name to DTSI GROUP HOLDINGS, INC. in June 2013. This capital tie-up will strengthen NTT Communications’ ability to provide contact center solutions in the Philippines. At the same time, NTT Communications intends to take advantage of the combined customer bases of all NTT Communications Group companies and of the DTSI Group to create business synergies and expand business opportunities.

Arkadin International SAS

In January 2014, NTT Communications acquired France-based Arkadin International SAS, the world’s third-largest specialized provider of conferencing services, which provides collaboration services involving teleconference, Web conference and video conference services to 37,000 customers in 32 countries worldwide. NTT Communications plans to expand and improve the features of its communications services by incorporating Arkadin’s service infrastructure into its own. NTT Communications will also leverage Arkadin’s global customer base and its service capabilities to offer new total communications services, centered on conferencing solutions, for companies that are expanding their operations globally.

Virtela Technology Services Incorporated

In January 2014, NTT Communications acquired Virtela Technology Services Incorporated, a U.S.-based provider of network services and cloud-based managed network services in 196 countries and regions, with strengths in the areas of managed services and virtualization technologies. NTT Communications aims to take the lead position in the global market by combining NTT Communications’ service quality with Virtela’s innovative and efficient management know-how.

RagingWire Data Centers, Inc.

In January 2014, NTT Communications acquired RagingWire Data Centers, Inc., a U.S. data center operator. This acquisition significantly expands the high-quality data center server room floor space that the NTT Communications group is able to provide in the U.S., and enables NTT Communications to respond to customers’ increased demand for cloud and data center services. NTT Communications also plans to deploy RagingWire’s management know-how in its other data centers, in order to take advantage of RagingWire’s numerous technology patents in efficient data center design and operations.

Lux e-shelter 1 S.a.r.l.

In March 2015, an agreement was concluded to acquire German data center business Lux e-shelter 1 S.a.r.l. (“e-shelter”). Through this acquisition, NTT Communications Group greatly expanded the total area of its high-quality continental European data center server room space and enhanced its capability to respond to the strong demand for global seamless cloud data center services in Europe and elsewhere. Through new collaboration between e-shelter and NTT Communications Group companies, e-shelter will be able to expand its coverage to Asia, North America and elsewhere, and will also be able to provide even broader support for the global development needs of customers by using networks and cloud bases provided by NTT Communications. Furthermore, it will be possible to rapidly expand e-shelter’s business to increase its competitiveness within continental Europe.

 

  (ii) Dimension Data

Dimension Data’s investment strategy is to grow its revenues and the size of its business and expand its geographic reach. It is focused on scaling in large, established markets, increasing its market share in the existing geographies in which it operates and expanding into new countries and areas.

 

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NextiraOne

In February 2014, Dimension Data acquired NextiraOne, a multinational European company that designs, installs, maintains and supports ICT solutions and services for over 43,000 private and public sector clients across Europe. NextiraOne has 1,850 full-time employees and offices in 13 European countries (Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain and the United Kingdom). NextiraOne has already been rebranded to Dimension Data and is in the process of taking the combined portfolios of both companies to the small- and medium-sized business, commercial and enterprise markets.

Nexus IS, Inc.

In April 2014, Dimension Data acquired 100% of Nexus IS, Inc. Founded in 2004 and headquartered in Valencia, California, Nexus is a privately-owned provider of advanced IT solutions serving enterprises, mid-sized business and public sector clients, with industry specializations in education, retail, hospitality and healthcare. The acquisition of Nexus expands Dimension Data’s operations in the US by 40%, and significantly increases the company’s presence in the West, Southwest and Southeast regions of the country. As a result, clients have access to a deeper network of experts and a broader portfolio of solutions. Nexus has 19 offices in California, Nevada, Colorado, Arizona, Utah, Washington, Texas, Georgia, Florida, and North Carolina. The acquisition of Nexus is a strategic step in enhancing the Group’s geographic coverage and depth of skills and capabilities to support its clients.

Oakton Limited

In November 2014, Dimension Data Australia announced the successful acquisition of technology and consulting services company Oakton Limited (“Oakton”). The acquisition of Oakton aligns with Dimension Data’s strategy to address the challenges that clients face as they transform to harness the opportunities of becoming digital enterprises. Oakton’s top-end consulting capability, combined with Dimension Data’s expertise across ICT infrastructure integration, cloud, and outsourcing services, enables Dimension Data to create, deliver and manage end-to-end business solutions for our clients. The acquisition will expand Dimension Data’s presence in Australia by over 60%, and significantly broaden the skills and capabilities. Dimension Data and Oakton have a complementary value proposition and footprint.

 

  (iii) NTT DOCOMO

NTT DOCOMO makes investments in and collaborates with overseas mobile service providers and other overseas business operators, with the long-term aim of strengthening its global competitiveness.

NTT DOCOMO’s strategy in the area of investments in mobile phone service providers is to support its investment partners’ businesses in order to strengthen their respective management platforms and thus achieve attractive financial returns. At the same time, NTT DOCOMO aims to achieve synergies with its investment partners, including service expansion, joint development of handsets, and joint procurement.

Further, in recent years, through investments and collaborations with various overseas business entities, NTT DOCOMO has worked to build a global open platform and develop services that adequately consider the unique characteristics of each country and region in which it operates.

Buongiorno S.p.A.

In August 2012, in order to accelerate the establishment and strengthening of its platform operating base overseas, NTT DOCOMO acquired Buongiorno S.p.A., one of Europe’s largest mobile service providers. In addition to providing business services for carriers through its subsidiary net mobile AG, NTT DOCOMO is able to provide a platform for services directly to ordinary users, regardless of carrier, and will aim for further expansion in the aggregation platform business.

 

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MCV Guam Holding Corp.

In May 2013, NTT DOCOMO acquired MCV Guam Holding Corp., the largest cable television and Internet service provider in Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. This acquisition was intended to strengthen DOCOMO PACIFIC, INC.’s operational base by improving its market competitiveness. NTT DOCOMO intends to use this acquisition as a platform to strengthen its telecommunications business in Guam.

fine trade gmbh

In October 2013, NTT DOCOMO acquired fine trade gmbh, an Austrian payment services provider for online product sales. The acquisition helped NTT DOCOMO expand its financial/payments platform in Europe by adding fine trade’s online payment services for the online product sales market to Buongiorno S.p.A.’s and net mobile AG’s existing operator payment collection, credit card, and debit card payment services for digital content.

 

  (iv) NTT DATA

NTT DATA is increasing its capacity to respond to the needs of global corporations (including Japanese companies) as well as local businesses, and is bolstering its offshore development systems in Asia.

NTT DATA Enterprise Services, Inc. (formerly known as Optimal Solutions Integration, Inc.)

In December 2013, NTT DATA acquired Optimal Solutions Integration, Inc. (“Optimal”), a leading North American SAP service provider. Optimal provides a broad range of services—from SAP-related strategic planning to consulting, evaluation, implementation, customization and maintenance services—and has large numbers of customers in many industries including consumer, retail, wholesale and distribution, mining, the public sector and manufacturing. This acquisition reinforces NTT DATA’s ability to offer SAP-related products in the North American market, such as SAP HANA, mobile, and analytics, helping it to meet the needs of its customers. NTT DATA intends to expand and improve its SAP-related system development framework, including its business system in India, and will bolster NTT DATA’s ability to handle large-scale projects.

In March 2014, Optimal Solutions Integration, Inc. changed its name to NTT DATA Enterprise Services, Inc.

EVERIS PARTICIPACIONES, S.L.U.

In January 2014, NTT DATA acquired EVERIS PARTICIPACIONES, S.L.U. (“everis Group”). everis Group provides a broad range of IT services, such as consulting, system integration and outsourcing, to customers including major banks, major insurance companies, major telecommunications carriers, government agencies, utilities, and major global manufacturers, mainly in Spain and six Latin American countries. This acquisition brings everis Group’s sizeable and stable customer base, sophisticated consulting capabilities, and talented personnel, who are knowledgeable in providing a variety of services such as system integration and outsourcing, into the NTT DATA group, providing NTT DATA with business platforms in Spain and Latin America and enabling it to provide comprehensive IT services, including consulting and outsourcing, to customers in these regions. Moreover, NTT DATA aims to further improve its price competitiveness and service quality by taking advantage of everis Group’s near-shore and offshore locations.

Competition

The implementation of the Telecommunications Business Act (Act No. 86 of 1984) in April 1985 first introduced competition into the telecommunications service industry in Japan. As a result of subsequent deregulation, NTT Group faces competition in all of its business segments, including its fixed-line regional communications business, long distance and international communications business, mobile communications business and data communications business.

 

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The growing popularity of smartphones and tablets and the increasing speed of wireless broadband services, including LTE, are quickly re-centering the market’s focus onto mobile platforms. The telecommunications service market structure is also undergoing major changes, such as the market entry of a variety of business operators, including non-telecommunications operators, and intensifying global competition as a result of the widespread use of services provided by OTT operators. In addition, competition with existing carriers over charges and services has continued to intensify the competitive environment.

Growth in the fixed-line communications market in Japan is slowing due to the ongoing shift toward mobile communications. In addition to intensifying competition in broadband service facilities and services with respect to broadband services, there has been an increase in competition between the various services made possible by faster mobile connections.

The downward trend in NTT Group’s revenues from fixed voice communications services continues as its telephone subscriptions and INS-Net subscriptions decline, due in large part to the increasing penetration of mobile telephones and applications, and continuing diversification in communication methods.

The Japanese mobile communications market is expecting the entry of various new participants and the introduction of new services from the rapid spread and expansion of highly sophisticated mobile phone devices such as smartphones and tablets, in addition to government initiatives to promote the expansion of MVNO.

There are presently three mobile phone operators in the market: NTT DOCOMO, the KDDI Group and the SoftBank Group. As of March 31, 2015, NTT DOCOMO had a market share of 43.6%, whereas the KDDI Group and the SoftBank Group had market shares of 28.5% and 27.9%, respectively. NTT Group believes that with the rising mobile phone penetration rate, the Japanese mobile communications market has largely matured, and as a result the competitive environment for acquiring new customers and further improving services remains difficult. The growth rates for mobile phone subscriptions for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015 were 6.1%, 5.5% and 5.5%, respectively. While growth in new subscriptions for conventional voice usage is expected to be limited going forward in view of the rising penetration rate and Japan’s decreasing population, recently, increased demand for a second tablet device or mobile Wi-Fi router, the development of new markets including embedded communication modules, and the increase in subscribers from the expansion of corporate contracts are contributing to the increase in new subscriptions.

The information and communications market is undergoing rapid structural changes. In addition to the existing business model under which NTT East and NTT West provide fiber-optic access services directly to end users, NTT East and NTT West began offering the “Hikari Collaboration Model,” under which NTT East and NTT West provide fiber-optic access services to various service providers, allowing such service providers to combine their services with fiber-optic access services and provide new services to their customers. In addition, NTT DOCOMO launched the “docomo Hikari Pack,” a new customer-friendly rate package that provides a discount by combining the fiber-optic broadband service “docomo Hikari,” which utilizes the “Hikari Collaboration Model,” with smartphones or mobile phones. Going forward, there may be further acceleration in the expansion of integrated fixed-line and mobile phone services.

NTT Group expects the solutions business to be a major area of growth in the information services market. For similar reasons, hardware vendors and others are now shifting their focus to this business. Furthermore, the growth in information service companies in rapidly developing nations, such as India and China, is bringing about global competition. Specifically, in the cloud services market, in addition to system integrators and communications carriers, various types of businesses are entering the market, such as participants who were not originally IT service providers and cloud service businesses.

For risks associated with continued competition, see “Item 3—Key Information—Risk Factors—Risks associated with the business environment and NTT Group’s corresponding business strategies—NTT Group’s operating revenues may suffer from changes in market structure and increased competition.”

 

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Regulations

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (the “MIC”) is the main regulatory body in Japan responsible for the information and telecommunications industry. The Telecommunications Business Act gives the Minister the authority to regulate telecommunications companies. The Telecommunications Business Act came into effect in 1985 at the same time that NTT was incorporated as a private company and significant changes in the legislative and regulatory framework for telecommunications in Japan opened the Japanese information and telecommunications services industry to competition. Since then, the Government has taken various measures to promote competition in the Japanese telecommunications market. As a result, NTT Group faces increasing competition in many of its business sectors from new companies that have entered or are about to enter the market.

NTT and certain of its subsidiaries are subject to regulations that affect their business under the NTT Act, the Radio Act (Act No. 131 of 1950), and the Telecommunications Business Act. A summary of these regulations is provided below. References in parentheses are to the applicable article of the law described, unless otherwise noted.

Telecommunications Business Act

Business Commencement/Termination

Regulations promulgated under the Telecommunications Business Act require start-up businesses that intend to provide telecommunications services to register with the Minister (Article 9). However, where the scale of the telecommunications circuit facilities which are to be installed and the scope of the area covered thereby do not exceed certain thresholds or fall within a certain category of radio facilities, only a notice to the Minister is required (Article 16).

In addition, regulations promulgated under the Telecommunications Business Act require businesses in the telecommunications sector to notify the Minister as well as their service subscribers if they suspend or discontinue their telecommunications business (Article 18).

Setting of Subscriber Rates and Other Terms of Service

Regulations promulgated under the Telecommunications Business Act require businesses in the telecommunications sector to notify the Minister of the terms of the basic telecommunications services they provide (Article 19). Specifically, one ordinance of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (the “MIC Ordinance”) requires basic telecommunications services to be provided across Japan because they are regarded as essential to the lives of people in Japan. These are known as “universal services.” These services include telephone subscriber lines (base rates) or optical IP telephones equivalent to telephone subscriber lines, Type 1 Public Telephones (public telephones installed pursuant to the MIC standards) and emergency numbers (110, 118, 119). Telecommunications businesses providing basic telecommunications services are also required to establish and submit to the Minister the terms and conditions of their rates and other terms of service relating to their basic communications services.

In addition, businesses in the telecommunications sector are required to explain the terms and conditions of their services, including charges, when entering into a contract with a subscriber relating to the provision of services (Article 26), and to handle complaints and inquiries from subscribers (Article 27).

Interconnection

Regulations promulgated under the Telecommunications Business Act require businesses in the telecommunications sector to respond to the requests of other telecommunications carriers regarding the connection of telecommunications circuit facilities (Article 32).

 

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Universal Service Fund (“USF”)

The USF is a system under which telecommunications carriers cover the costs and expenses necessary to provide universal services. In order to ensure the provision of universal services, the Minister designates a support organization to provide funds to cover a portion of such costs and expenses (Article 107). Grants are made to eligible telecommunications carriers (Article 108) that provide universal services, including in unprofitable regions. In connection with this system, each telecommunications carrier is obligated to make the appropriate amount of payments to cover the costs and expenses requested by the support organization (Article 110). This funding requirement is referred to as the universal service fund system. The designated support organization began providing services in 2006.

Under the NTT Act, NTT East and NTT West became responsible for providing universal services and were designated as eligible telecommunications carriers by the Minister. In the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015, the aggregate amount of compensation to NTT East and NTT West in connection with the USF was ¥6.9 billion, and in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016, the aggregate amount of compensation to NTT East and NTT West is expected to be ¥6.9 billion.

Regulations Imposed Only on NTT East and NTT West

Rates and Other Terms of Service

Regulations promulgated under the Telecommunications Business Act require NTT East and NTT West to notify the Minister of the terms and conditions of their rate warranty agreements for designated telecommunications services (Article 20). These regulations also require that rates and other terms of service for designated telecommunications services provided by Category I designated telecommunications facilities be established and submitted to the Minister.

The Telecommunications Business Act also provides for the regulation of rates for specified telecommunications services (Article 21) and for price cap regulations. The regulations promulgated under the Telecommunications Business Act require that the Minister be notified whenever the service rates of a business are at or below the standard price index specified by the Minister, and approval of the Minister is required when a business proposes to increase rates above the standard price index.

 

   

“Category I designated telecommunications facilities” comprise fixed terminal transmission line facilities installed by a telecommunications carrier where the facilities that have been installed by such carrier in a prefecture represent one-half or more of the total number of such facilities in the prefecture, and other ancillary facilities installed together with these facilities whose connection with other telecommunications carriers is essential for improving convenience to subscribers, and for the comprehensive and reasonable development of telecommunications services (designated by the Minister). The main telecommunications facilities of NTT East and NTT West have been designated as Category I designated telecommunications facilities.

 

   

“Designated telecommunications services” are services that are provided by a telecommunications business using a Category I designated telecommunications facility established by such telecommunications business, and that have been designated as services for which “it is particularly necessary to protect the interests of customers by ensuring that the rates and other terms of service are fair and appropriate.” The determination of what constitutes a designated telecommunications service is based on a consideration of various factors, including whether alternative services are being adequately provided by other telecommunications carriers. Specifically, this refers to telephone subscriber line services, INS-Net, public telephones, dedicated services, FLET’S Hikari, Hikari Denwa and other services, but excludes services providing supplementary functions that have minimal beneficial impact on subscribers.

 

   

“Specified telecommunications services” are designated telecommunications services or services specified in the MIC Ordinance as having a significant beneficial impact on subscribers.

 

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Specifically, this refers to telephone subscriber services, INS-Net and public telephone services provided by NTT East and NTT West.

 

   

“Standard price index” refers to an index published by the Minister that shows the standard charges for each type of designated telecommunications service taking into consideration the appropriate costs and commodity prices to support efficient management.

 

   

“Price cap regulation” is a system that sets maximum limits on rates. The standard charge index was last updated on October 1, 2014. As the actual charge indexes for NTT East and NTT West have fallen below the level of this standard charge index, no price adjustments pursuant to the price cap regulation have been made.

Interconnection

Regulations promulgated under the Telecommunications Business Act require NTT East and NTT West to obtain approval of all interconnection agreements from the Minister as holders of Category I designated telecommunications facilities (Article 33). The Minister’s approval is subject, among other things, to the condition that the interconnection rates be fair and proper according to the method stipulated in the MIC Ordinance for computing proper costs under efficient management. NTT East’s and NTT West’s respective interconnection agreements establish their interconnection rates and conditions for interconnection.

Telephone Line Interconnection Charges

In May 1998, in a joint status report on deregulation and competition policy issued by the governments of Japan and the United States, the Government stated its intention to introduce a Long-Run Incremental Cost (“LRIC”) Methodology. In May 2000, the Telecommunications Business Act was amended to include the introduction of an LRIC Methodology, which has since then brought about decreases in interconnection charges. As communication traffic declined significantly, in order to avoid an increase in communication rates through the increase of interconnection charges, it was decided that Non-Traffic Sensitive (“NTS”) costs (costs which do not vary according to the volume of communication traffic) would be removed from interconnection rate costs and be recovered instead through base rates (October 2004 report of the Telecommunications Council). In addition, with respect to a portion of NTS costs, when the USF was reviewed from the standpoint of restricting cost increases for users, it was decided that the cost burden resulting from narrowing the scope of USF subsidies would not be borne only by NTT East and NTT West, but would also be recovered in a fair and equitable manner from other carriers, and that a portion of NTS costs would therefore be reintroduced as interconnection rate costs.

The Telecommunications Council of 2012 determined, as a result of a review, that it would continue to apply the LRIC Methodology for interconnection charges for the period from the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 until the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016.

The interconnection charges for NTT East and NTT West for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016 will be set at Group Unit Center (“GC”) interconnection charges of ¥5.78 (an increase of approximately 7.3% from the previous fiscal year) and Intrazone Tandem Center (“IC”) interconnection charges of ¥7.22 (an increase of approximately 5.7% from the previous fiscal year) (in each case for each three-minute increment).

Optical Fiber Line Interconnection Charges

NTT East and NTT West are obligated to lease their optical fiber to other carriers at regulated rates (referred to as “optical fiber interconnection charges”) because the optical fiber owned by NTT East and NTT West qualifies as Category I designated telecommunications facilities under the Telecommunications Business Act.

In order to maintain low barriers to entry by other carriers through the lowering of interconnection charges, NTT East and NTT West have employed a future cost method to calculate subscriber optical fiber

 

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interconnection charges with a calculation period of three years, between the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 and the fiscal year ending March 31, 2017. For these interconnection charges, NTT Group has introduced a cost difference adjustment system under which adjustments are made by adding the difference between the actual revenue from interconnection charges and the actual cost of interconnection charges for the following year and future years, which NTT believes will eliminate the risk of unrecoverable amounts.

The Information and Communications Council and Postal Services Council conducted an evaluation of the issue of setting per-unit interconnection charges for optical bifurcated lines in the passive optical network (Gigabit Ethernet-Passive Optical Network, or “GE-PON”) and determined that there remained issues that needed to be resolved (March 2012 report by the Information and Communications Council and Postal Services Council). To date, the Information and Communications Council has not set per-unit interconnection charges for optical bifurcated lines.

Regulations promulgated under the Telecommunications Business Act require NTT East and NTT West to notify the Minister of (i) plans related to the functions of Category I designated telecommunications facilities, including any changes or additions to such functions (Article 36), and (ii) any agreement to share Category I designated telecommunications facilities with other telecommunications carriers (Article 37).

Prohibited Activities

NTT East and NTT West, as dominant businesses in the fixed voice and IP/packet communications markets, are prohibited from using interconnection information for other than its intended purposes and from giving unfair preferential treatment to any particular telecommunications carrier (Article 30, paragraph 3). Officers of NTT East and NTT West are also prohibited from holding concurrent officer positions at NTT Communications, which was designated by the Minister as a specified relevant carrier (Article 31). Accordingly, NTT Group’s ability to provide services exclusively in collaboration with telecommunications carriers within NTT Group is limited by these regulations. NTT intends to provide services in response to market needs while ensuring that all requirements for fair competition, including the regulations with respect to prohibited activities, are satisfied. However, these regulations may, for example, impede the timely provision of new services by NTT Group or have other adverse effects.

Pursuant to the June 2011 revisions to the Telecommunications Business Act, NTT East and NTT West are required to carry out necessary and proper monitoring of the subsidiaries to which they outsource services to ensure that such subsidiaries do not participate in prohibited activities (Article 31, paragraph 3). At the same time, NTT East and NTT West are obligated to appropriately manage information relating to interconnection services and to establish an appropriate system to monitor the implementation status of interconnection services (Article 31, paragraphs 5 and 6).

Regulations Imposed Only on NTT DOCOMO

Interconnection

Regulations promulgated under the Telecommunications Business Act require NTT DOCOMO to submit to the Minister for approval any interconnection agreements relating to connection with Category II designated telecommunications facilities (Article 34).

NTT DOCOMO’s main telecommunications facilities for mobile phones were designated by the Minister as Category II designated telecommunications facilities requiring a reliable connection with other telecommunications businesses. NTT DOCOMO is required to establish its interconnection rates and terms of interconnection in its interconnection agreements and to submit them to the Minister. The standard for designation as Category II designated telecommunications facilities was revised in 2012 from facilities with a greater than 25% market share to facilities with a greater than 10% market share. As a result, in addition to the

 

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two companies other than NTT DOCOMO with a greater than 25% market share (KDDI Corporation and Okinawa Cellular Telephone Company), Softbank Mobile Corporation also became subject to the regulations for Category II designated communications facilities.

Prohibited Activities

NTT DOCOMO, as a dominant business in the mobile communications market, is prohibited from using interconnection information for other than its intended purposes and from giving unfair preferential treatment to any particular telecommunications carrier (Article 30, paragraph 3). “Category II designated telecommunications facilities” consist of (a) transmission line facilities connected to mobile phones installed by telecommunications businesses which (i) are installed by the same telecommunications businesses, and (ii) represent ten percent or more of the total number of transmission line facilities in the entire service area, and (b) telecommunications facilities which were installed specifically to provide such telecommunications services for reliable connection with other telecommunications businesses designated by the Minister.

Regulatory Developments

In December 2014, the Telecommunications Council issued a report on the “State of Information and Communication Policies for the 2020s.” In light of the report, and in order to promote a fair, competitive environment in the telecommunications business and protect telecommunications service users, a framework is being formulated to enable the provision of wholesale fiber-optics services by NTT East and NTT West. Furthermore, the Telecommunications Business Act has been amended to allow subscribers an option to terminate contracts during an agreed period of time at the beginning of a contractual period, and these revisions will become effective starting from a date to be specified by a future Cabinet Order. The potential impact of such revisions on NTT Group is expected to be limited.

NTT Act

The Supplementary Provisions of the Act to Amend the Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Company Act were promulgated in June 1997 and came into effect in July 1999. As a result, the Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Company Act was re-titled the “Act on Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, etc.” and NTT was reorganized as a holding company. This Act has been revised by the Act to Amend the Telecommunications Business Act, which was promulgated in June 2001 and took effect in November 2001, and by other subsequent amendments.

Purpose

The NTT Act requires NTT to own all of the shares issued by NTT East and NTT West, to ensure appropriate and reliable provision of telecommunications services by these companies, and to engage in research activities relating to telecommunications technologies that form the foundation for telecommunications in Japan.

The NTT Act also requires NTT East and NTT West to manage regional telecommunications businesses as joint-stock companies.

Business Activities

The NTT Act requires NTT to engage in the following business activities: (i) subscribing for and holding the shares issued by NTT East and NTT West and exercising rights as a shareholder of such shares; (ii) providing necessary advice, assistance and other related support to NTT East and NTT West; (iii) engaging in research activities relating to telecommunications technologies that form the foundation for telecommunications; and (iv) engaging in business activities incidental to the business activities set forth in (i), (ii) and (iii) above.

In addition to these business activities, the NTT Act provides that NTT may engage in actions necessary to complete such business activities after notifying the Minister.

 

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The NTT Act requires that NTT East and NTT West engage in regional telecommunications business activities (activities conducted by establishing telecommunications facilities without using the facilities of other telecommunications business carriers) in prefectures in the following regions:

 

   

for NTT East: Hokkaido Prefecture, Aomori Prefecture, Iwate Prefecture, Miyagi Prefecture, Akita Prefecture, Yamagata Prefecture, Fukushima Prefecture, Ibaraki Prefecture, Tochigi Prefecture, Gunma Prefecture, Saitama Prefecture, Chiba Prefecture, Tokyo, Kanagawa Prefecture, Niigata Prefecture, Yamanashi Prefecture and Nagano Prefecture; and

 

   

for NTT West: Kyoto Prefecture, Osaka Prefecture and all other prefectures not listed above.

The NTT Act also requires NTT East and NTT West to engage in business activities incidental to those set forth above.

Upon notification to the Minister, the NTT Act permits NTT East and NTT West to engage in business activities necessary to achieve their respective purposes and in regional telecommunications business activities in any region or prefecture not otherwise designated. In addition, upon notification to the Minister, NTT East and NTT West may engage in telecommunications businesses and other business activities utilizing their equipment, technology or employees, to the extent that there is no interference with the smooth implementation of their regional telecommunications business activities and the maintenance of fair competition in regional telecommunications business activities.

Responsibilities

Pursuant to the NTT Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder, the management of NTT, NTT East and NTT West are required to give consideration to each company’s contribution to securing the appropriate, fair, and reliable provision of telephone services throughout Japan that are indispensable to civil life, and to the innovative and advanced development of telecommunications in Japan through the promotion of research relating to telecommunications technologies and the dissemination of the results thereof. The NTT Act also requires that each company promote public welfare, in view of the important role that telecommunications services play in contributing to societal and economic development.

Other Matters

Matters Requiring the Approval of the Minister

The NTT Act requires that the Minister approve the following actions of NTT, NTT East or NTT West, as applicable:

 

   

Issuing new shares or bonds with share acquisition rights (Articles 4 and 5). Under the NTT Act, NTT may issue new shares upon notification to the Minister, and may continue to do so until the number of issued shares reaches a certain threshold specified in the applicable ministerial ordinance of the MIC, even if approval is not obtained (Supplementary Provisions, Article 14).

 

   

Adopting resolutions on the appointment or dismissal of corporate directors or corporate auditors of NTT (Article 10). Under the NTT Act, non-Japanese citizens cannot be appointed as corporate directors or corporate auditors of NTT, NTT East or NTT West.

 

   

Adopting resolutions to change the respective articles of incorporation of NTT, NTT East or NTT West, to merge or dissolve each company, or to appropriate any surplus (Article 11).

 

   

Changing the business operation plans of NTT, NTT East or NTT West (Article 12).

 

   

Transferring or mortgaging any significant telecommunications facilities of NTT East or NTT West (Article 14).

 

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In addition to the foregoing, the NTT Act imposes several additional duties on NTT, NTT East and NTT West, including: (i) a duty to submit balance sheets, profit and loss accounts and business reports to the Minister (Article 13); (ii) a duty to abide by orders issued by the Minister (Article 16); and (iii) a duty to comply with requests to submit reports on business activities (Article 17).

Radio Act

Under the Radio Act, any establishment of a radio station requires a license from the Minister (Article 4) and changes to the purpose of the radio station, intended audience and topics of communication require approval from the Minister (Article 17).

Mobile communications businesses are required to have a license from the MIC to use radio frequency spectrum. Spectrum band allocations are governed by the Radio Act and related statutes and regulations.

In September 2014, the MIC started preparing for the practical implementation of new frequency bands for the fourth-generation mobile communications system, and in December 2014, granted NTT DOCOMO a new radio frequency spectrum band.

Matters Relating to NTT’s Shares

Restrictions on the Ratio of Foreign Ownership of the Voting Rights of NTT’s Shares

If the ratio of foreign ownership of voting rights to the total voting rights of NTT’s Shares would equal or exceed one-third, NTT is prohibited from recording the names and addresses of such foreign owners on its shareholder registry and registering such foreign ownership. For purposes of calculating the ratio of foreign ownership, voting rights owned by the following are considered to be voting rights under foreign ownership: (1) any person who is not of Japanese nationality; (2) any foreign government or any of its representatives; (3) any foreign juridical person or association; or (4) subject to the applicable ministerial ordinance of the MIC, any juridical person or association 10% or more of the voting rights of which are directly owned by entities listed in clauses (1) through (3) above.

NTT’s Articles of Incorporation provide that NTT may distribute dividends to its shareholders or registered pledgees of shares entered or recorded on the register of shareholders and shareholders or pledgees of shares for whom all or part of their shares were not entered or recorded in the register of shareholders pursuant to Article 6 of the NTT Act.

Government Ownership and Sales of NTT Shares

The NTT Act requires the Government, at all times, to own one-third or more of the total number of issued Shares of NTT. The NTT Act sets forth special provisions regarding the method for calculating the total number of issued Shares of NTT for this purpose (NTT Act, Supplementary Provisions, Article 13), including: (i) if Shares are issued through new Share issuances or the exercise of stock acquisition rights, or in exchange for the acquisition of shares subject to call or put options, the increase in the number of Shares as a result thereof (“Shares Not to be Included in Calculation”) will not be included in the total number of issued Shares; and (ii) if there is a stock split or combination of Shares after the increase in Shares described in clause (i), the number obtained by multiplying the ratio of the stock split or the combination of Shares (if there is a stock split or combination of Shares in two or more stages, the ratio is equal to the product of the ratios for all stages) with the Shares Not to be Included in Calculation would not be included in the total number of issued Shares.

As of March 31, 2015, the total number of issued Shares of NTT was 1,136,697,235, of which the Government owned 369,062,906 Shares or 32.47% of the issued Shares (34.86% of outstanding Shares excluding treasury stock). In December 2000, NTT issued 300,000 new Shares (equal to 30 million Shares after a 100-for-1 stock split in 2009) in a public offering. These Shares are not included in the total number of issued

 

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Shares when calculating the percentage of Government-owned Shares. The total number of Government-owned Shares includes Shares which are unregistered because of a failure in the transfer of title, and such Shares are therefore not actually owned by the Government. These Shares are nominally owned by the Government but are excluded from the total number of Shares owned by the Government when calculating the percentage of Government-owned Shares. If these conditions are taken into account, the percentage of Government-owned Shares is 33.33%.

NTT Group’s transactions with Government divisions and agencies are arm’s-length transactions, with the relevant division or agency acting as an individual customer. In its capacity as a shareholder, the Government is entitled to exercise voting rights at NTT general shareholders meetings, and as the largest shareholder, theoretically has the power to have a material impact on a large majority of shareholder meeting resolutions. However, the Government historically has not exercised this authority and has not been directly involved in NTT’s management.

Government Dispositions of NTT Shares

The NTT Act requires that any disposition of the Government’s NTT’s Shares must be within the limits determined by the Diet in the relevant annual budget (NTT Act, Article 7).

Background of Sales and Sale Policy

NTT was established with 15.6 million issued Shares; of the 10.4 million Shares that the Government was allowed to sell (the numbers of Shares held less the 5.2 million Shares representing the one-third of issued Shares that the Government was obligated to hold), the Government sold 5.4 million Shares from 1986 to 1988.

In addition, on December 17, 1990, the Ministry of Finance promulgated a sale policy under which, with respect to the 5.0 million Shares that remained unsold at that point: (a) 2.5 million Shares would systematically be sold at an approximate rate of 500,000 Shares per year; (b) if in later years the market environment allowed it, such sales would be carried out earlier than scheduled; and (c) sales of the remaining 2.5 million Shares would be frozen for a period of time. (However, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1998, no sales were actually carried out, due to the market environment and other factors.)

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 1999, the Government sold one million Shares in December 1998.

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2000, the Government designated one million Shares as the maximum number of Shares that it would sell; of these, NTT repurchased 48,000 Shares as treasury stock, and the Government sold the remaining 952,000 Shares in November 1999. The above sale policy announced in December 1990 has expired.

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2001, the Government sold one million Shares in November 2000.

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2003, the Government designated one million Shares as the maximum number of Shares that it would sell; of these, NTT repurchased 91,800 Shares as treasury stock on October 8, 2002.

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2004, the Government designated one million Shares as the maximum number of Shares that it would sell; of these, NTT repurchased 85,157 Shares as treasury stock on October 15, 2003.

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005, the Government designated one million Shares as the maximum number of Shares that it would sell; of these, NTT repurchased 800,000 Shares as treasury stock on November 26, 2004.

 

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For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2006, the Government designated 1,123,043 Shares as the maximum number of Shares that it would sell; NTT repurchased all 1,123,043 Shares as treasury stock on September 6, 2005.

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012, the Government designated 99,334,255 Shares as the maximum number of Shares that it would sell; of these, NTT repurchased 57,513,600 Shares as treasury stock on July 5, 2011 and an additional 41,820,600 Shares as treasury stock on February 8, 2012.

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014, the Government designated 62,166,721 Shares as the maximum number of Shares that it would sell; of these, NTT repurchased 26,010,000 Shares as treasury stock on March 7, 2014.

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015, the Government designated 36,156,721 Shares as the maximum number of Shares that it would sell; of these, NTT repurchased 35,088,600 Shares as treasury stock on November 14, 2014 and an additional 1,068,100 Shares as treasury stock on November 28, 2014.

Capital Investments

NTT Group’s capital investments for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015 are shown in the table below:

 

     Year ended March 31,  
     2013      2014      2015  
     (in millions of yen)  

Regional communications business

   ¥ 786,004       ¥ 722,829       ¥ 666,164   

Long distance and international communications business

     147,503         168,413         198,112   

Mobile communications business

     753,660         703,124         661,765   

Data communications business

     122,113         147,725         140,900   

Other business

     160,695         150,672         150,582   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   ¥ 1,969,975       ¥ 1,892,763       ¥ 1,817,523   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

NTT Group used the capital investment amounts shown above, determined on an accrual basis, to acquire tangibles and intangibles. The table below presents the difference between the amount of capital investments shown above and the amount presented on the consolidated statements of cash flows under “Payments for property, plant and equipment” and “Payments for intangibles.”

 

     Year ended March 31,  
     2013      2014      2015  
     (in millions of yen)  

Payments for property, plant and equipment

   ¥ 1,538,115       ¥ 1,486,651       ¥ 1,444,917   

Payments for intangibles

     446,588         416,583         358,209   

Total

     1,984,703         1,903,234         1,803,126   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Difference in capital investment amounts

   ¥ 14,728      ¥ 10,471      ¥ (14,397 )
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Capital investment for each principal business segment in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 was as follows:

In the regional communications business segment, NTT Group’s emphasis has been on improving customer service and reducing costs by making capital investments to expand its service coverage areas in order to offer diversified services aimed at the further growth of fiber-optic services in response to customer demand. In the

 

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areas of fixed-line telephone services and other services, NTT Group made capital investments to ensure and maintain the provision of high-quality, stable universal services and to make full use of its existing facilities.

In the long distance and international communications business segment, NTT Group made capital investments with respect to both a diverse range of services commensurate with the cloud services era and the expansion of domestic and international data centers, among other things.

In the mobile communications business segment, NTT Group invested in service area expansion, by dramatically increasing the number of LTE base stations, and in the promotion of further accelerating its interconnection speeds. NTT Group also implemented measures to consolidate and increase the capacity of its facilities and equipment, making construction more efficient and reducing procurement expenses, thereby streamlining its capital investments.

In the data communications business segment, NTT Group made capital investments primarily in the public and financial sectors.

NTT Group records its physical plant assets as follows:

 

     As of March 31, 2015  
     Telecom
Facilities
     Land      Buildings      Other      Total  
     (in millions of yen)  

Regional communications business

   ¥ 3,492,612       ¥ 425,517       ¥ 845,856       ¥ 321,308       ¥ 5,085,293   

Long distance and international communications business

     205,718         55,639         225,788         915,855         1,403,000   

Mobile communications business

     1,588,473         199,934         340,518         1,314,106         3,443,031   

Data communications business

     93,623         59,140         87,192         617,018         856,973   

Other business

     —          558,842         526,939         297,768         1,383,549   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   ¥ 5,380,426       ¥ 1,299,072       ¥ 2,026,293       ¥ 3,466,055       ¥ 12,171,846   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

NTT Group forecasts about ¥1,760.0 billion in capital investments for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016, slightly below the levels from the previous fiscal year, as a result of its plans to increase capital investments for data center and cloud network-related growth, while continuing to make efficient domestic capital investments. The following is a breakdown of expected investments by principal business segment:

 

     Year ending March 31,  
     2016  
     (in millions of yen)  

Total

   ¥ 1,760,000   
  

 

 

 

Principal business segments:

  

Regional communications business

   ¥ 631,000   

Long distance and international communications business

     234,000   

Mobile communications business

     630,000   

Data communications business

     130,000   

 

Notes:

  (1)   The above figures do not include consumption tax.
  (2)   NTT Group plans to procure the required funds from cash on hand, the issuance of corporate bonds and long-term debt.

Property, Plants and Equipment

The properties of NTT Group are used to provide nationwide telecommunications services in Japan and are generally in good operating condition.

 

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As of March 31, 2015, the total balance sheet amount of NTT Group’s fixed assets was ¥38,046.9 billion. The breakdown of these fixed assets is 33.1% telecommunications equipment (primarily central office equipment including switching installations); 41.1% telecommunications service lines; 16.1% building and structures; 5.2% machinery, vehicles and tools (vehicles, office equipment, fixtures, etc.); 3.4% land; and 1.1% construction in progress.

NTT Group networks are continually being updated, and NTT Group believes that its networks are appropriate for its present operations. In response to the rapid expansion of broadband services, NTT Group will increase capital investments for data center and cloud network-related growth, while continuing to make efficient domestic capital investments.

Procurement

As part of its strategy to strengthen its corporate competitiveness and to meet the demands of today’s rapidly developing information and communications sector, NTT Group is making an effort to increase management efficiency and provide superior services to its customers. To realize this goal, NTT Group provides fair and competitive opportunities to a wide range of both domestic and foreign suppliers, and seeks economically rational procurement of competitive products and services that meet its business needs.

To continue to fulfill its social responsibility goals, NTT Group is taking steps to avoid the use of conflict minerals, to comply with the disclosure requirements of Section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act regarding such use and also to promote product procurement that reflects the consideration of environmental, human rights and other issues.

Research and Development

Pursuant to its Medium-Term Management Strategy “Towards the Next Stage,” NTT has undertaken research and development on fundamental technologies that contribute to the provision of flexible, quick and efficient cloud services as well as cost-effective network services in order to continue being its customers’ service provider of choice as a “Value Partner.” NTT worked to achieve technological development based on a variety of market demands and aimed to accelerate the creation of new value by collaborating with other companies through promoting open innovation. In addition, NTT participated in research focused on business collaboration activities with growth potential and carried out research on cutting-edge technologies in anticipation of future market trends. NTT also formulated business plans through its “General Production System” to promptly commercialize the results of its research and development in light of technological and business plan developments by observing market trends.

Research & Development Contributing to the Provision of Flexible, Quick and Efficient Cloud Services

By participating as Asia’s only Gold Member in the “Cloud Foundry Foundation,” an open-source development community that builds cloud computing platforms, NTT strengthened its application development capabilities for cloud services. NTT provided technical support for the launch of services that enable users to easily expand their storage capacity through the open-source storage platform software “Sheepdog,” which was developed by NTT and is widely used throughout the world.

Research & Development Contributing to Cost-Optimized Network Services

In order to achieve cost-optimized network services through network simplification, NTT developed technologies that integrate fixed-line telephone networks with the Internet as well as technologies that integrate the multistage configuration of networks. To enable the flexible and rapid development and addition of functionality to networks, NTT developed a controller and software switch that can run on a general-purpose

 

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server using virtualization technology, and opened these products to the public as open source. In addition, in order to distribute large capacity and high-speed content in a flexible and cost-effective manner, NTT promoted research and development on 400 Gbps optical transmission technology, the world’s fastest-level transmission speed, and is working toward its objective of making the technology commercially viable.

Research and Development Contributing to the Provision of Highly Competitive Network Services

To strengthen its network service competitiveness, NTT undertook research and development aimed at creating carrier networks that utilize virtualization technologies, developing technology for achieving highly reliable network services on an inexpensive general-purpose server and technology for flexibly and rapidly providing services by automatic settings, and utilizing elemental technology to achieve the world’s fastest transfer speeds on a general-purpose server using a software switch. NTT continued to develop “edge computing technology”—the installation of an edge server close to smartphones or other devices to disperse certain processes. This is a new form of network technology that enables the real-time provision of services, reduces traffic between M2M equipment involving frequent communications and servers, and allows for faster application speeds in a way that is not equipment-dependent. Based on lessons learned from the Great East Japan Earthquake, NTT has developed an “ICT Car,” a vehicle equipped with equipment to provide ICT services such as telephone calls and information processing in compact form, to enable communication for prompt recovery in the event of a large-scale disaster.

Promoting Open Innovation

NTT significantly contributed to the commercialization of physical training support services utilizing the advanced nanofiber material “hitoe,” jointly developed with Toray Industries, Inc., a fabric coated with a conductive resin which, when worn, can acquire the wearer’s biometric information such as heart rate and electrocardiogram waveform. During the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, NTT significantly contributed to the provision of ultra-realistic live video coverage by providing stable and reliable IP transmission technologies between Brazil and Japan for public viewing in ultra-high definition 8K resolution, sponsored by Japan Broadcasting Corporation. In partnership with DWANGO Co., Ltd., NTT created and contributed to commercializing technologies that enable an immersive visual experience through the high-quality distribution of images from omni-directional cameras installed in live performance venues. NTT developed a “Compact Intelligent Microphone” that enables high-quality calls and highly accurate voice recognition even in extremely loud environments exceeding 100 dB. Through the “Social Infrastructure x ICT” research and development collaboration initiative with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., NTT conducted tests to enable accurate communication in factories.

Research & Development in Anticipation of Collaborative Business Expansion

NTT developed a technology that accurately recognizes the identity of, and searches for and displays the information of, a subject photographed from any angle. By holding a device, such as a smartphone, against a sign or building, the technology provides tourist navigation services designed for specific users and circumstances. NTT also developed an audio processing software technology that delivers dynamic sounds from sporting events to television viewers by extracting clear sounds from the competition that are often obscured by the cheers of spectators. In an effort to encourage the growth of the provision of services creating a highly immersive visual experience through ultra-high definition images with 4K resolution, NTT developed the world’s first LSI that is compatible with the latest international video coding standard and which enables the transmission of high-quality visual material. In order to enable subscribers to reliably and securely use ICT services, NTT assisted in organizing programs to improve the training of cybersecurity specialists. In addition, NTT also prepared to sponsor a course at Waseda University on “Cyber-attack and Cyber-defense Technologies” to contribute to Japan’s cybersecurity training.

 

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Promoting Advanced Research

NTT participated in the National Institute of Informatics’ artificial intelligence project, “Can a Robot Get Into the University of Tokyo?,” for the first time and was in charge of the English department. By applying its language and knowledge processing technologies developed over the years, NTT robots succeeded in achieving higher marks than the average test-taker on the practice exams for the National Center Test for University Admissions conducted by Yoyogi Seminar, a private cram school to prepare students for university entrance examinations. In addition, NTT developed “HenGenTou” (Deformation Lamps), which is a light projection technology based on research on human sensory information processing by projecting patterns of light on static objects to produce impressions of realistic movements. With the aim of further speeding up and reducing energy consumption of information and communications technologies, NTT developed the world’s first Hikari random access memory (RAM) with a speed exceeding 100b, which makes it possible to process information without converting high-speed light signals into electrical signals.

ITEM 4A—UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None.

ITEM 5—OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS

Overview of Business Results

During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015, NTT Group worked to expand its Global Cloud services and strengthen its network service competitiveness in line with its Medium-Term Management Strategy adopted in November 2012, entitled “Towards the Next Stage.”

Status of Expansion of Global Cloud Services

NTT Group worked to expand its provision of global cloud services by taking advantage of its strengths as a corporate group with the ability to provide comprehensive cloud services from the information and telecommunications platforms stage, such as data centers and the IP backbone, to the ICT management and applications stage.

To reinforce the structure by which it provides global cloud services, NTT Group acquired the following subsidiaries during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015: ICT solutions provider Nexus IS, Inc. (headquartered in the United States ), technology consulting service provider Oakton Limited (headquartered in Australia), cloud service solutions provider Symphony Management Consulting, LLC (headquartered in the United States), and security solutions provider InfoTrust AG (headquartered in Switzerland). NTT Group also entered into a stock purchase agreement to acquire a majority of the outstanding shares of Lux e-shelter 1 S.a.r.l. (headquartered in Luxembourg), a provider of data center services in Germany and elsewhere in Europe.

In order to meet the increasing global demand for data center services, NTT Group aimed to strengthen its provision of data center services overseas in Cyberjaya, Malaysia while also expanding its data center facilities in Mumbai, the commercial center of India. In Japan, NTT Group continued to provide services from Shinagawa, which is readily accessible from business districts in the Tokyo metropolitan area. NTT Group also began construction on another data center in Osaka in anticipation of growing demand, including demand for back-up sites outside of the Tokyo metropolitan area.

As a result of the combined initiatives of a number of NTT Group companies, NTT Group obtained orders from organizations such as HM Treasury (the United Kingdom government’s economic and finance ministry), to provide services to coordinate a number of suppliers, cloud-hosting services, and application management services. NTT Group companies also developed an enterprise resource planning (“ERP”) system and began

 

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providing operation and maintenance services for the German automaker Daimler AG. In addition, NTT Group began providing All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd. with services for a unified voice service to be utilized in all of their worldwide locations.

Status of Efforts to Strengthen Network Service Competitiveness

In the fixed-line communications field, in order to encourage a variety of service providers from a wide range of industries to use fiber-optic access infrastructure services and to stimulate the ICT market through new channels of value creation, NTT Group began offering the “Hikari Collaboration Model,” the world’s first wholesale provision of fiber-optic access services to various service providers. The introduction of the “Hikari Collaboration Model” has allowed a variety of businesses to begin providing their own services using this model.

In the mobile communications field, NTT Group unveiled “Kake-hodai & Pake-aeru,” a new billing plan tailored to suit a customer’s stage of life that offers more affordable rates to long-term users, and the number of subscriptions reached 17.83 million as of March 31, 2015. In addition, NTT Group launched the “docomo Hikari Pack,” a new customer-friendly rate package that provides a discount by combining the fiber-optic broadband service “docomo Hikari,” which utilizes the “Hikari Collaboration Model,” with smartphones or mobile phones. NTT Group also launched the LTE-based voice communications service “VoLTE,” which provides reliable and high-sound quality calls compared to conventional voice calling services.

NTT Group also strengthened its efforts to cut costs in its fixed-line and mobile communications services. Specifically, NTT Group has worked to further enhance efficiency through cutting the cost of laying optical transmission lines by increasing construction projects that do not require the dispatch of NTT employees and working to further improve the efficiency of its maintenance and operations business, while also introducing high-performance equipment and making effective use of its existing equipment in order to further improve equipment efficiency. Furthermore, on the basis of the “Hikari Collaboration Model” and other factors, NTT Group continued to streamline costs associated with marketing.

Status of Efforts to Promote Corporate Social Responsibility (“CSR”)

In order to contribute to the sustainable development of society, NTT Group companies undertook a range of activities and engaged in proactive information disclosure with the aim of meeting the quantitative indicators of the eight Priority Activities of the “NTT Group CSR Priority Activities” plan, which were established in accordance with the “NTT Group CSR Charter.”

Specifically, as a result of NTT Group’s initiatives to reduce greenhouse gases utilizing ICT as a means of “creating a low-carbon society,” NTT Group was recognized by the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), the world’s largest program for the evaluation of companies in the context of climate change issues, as one of the leading companies in Japan for disclosure of the status of its corporate response and other climate change disclosure and achieved a position in the Climate Disclosure Leadership Index (CDLI) for the second consecutive year. NTT Group was also the first Japanese telecommunications provider to be selected to the Climate Performance Leadership Index (CPLI) in recognition of its distinguished performance in addressing climate change issues.

NTT Group continued to promote initiatives aimed at “securing high-level stability and reliability in key infrastructure,” by reexamining the hypothetical consequences of natural disasters such as major earthquakes on potentially afflicted areas, and implementing strategies to mitigate such consequences. In this context, NTT Group formulated group-wide measures to address and manage long-term electrical failures while also collaborating with local governments and other relevant entities in carrying out disaster preparedness drills. In addition, NTT Group initiated its “Mobile ICT Unit,” which enables telephone calls and data transmissions by immediately securing Wi-Fi areas in a very short timeframe in evacuation zones in the event of large and complex emergencies. NTT Group also participated in field trials for this unit in the typhoon-afflicted areas of Cebu in the Philippines.

 

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In response to increasing investor demands for information regarding NTT Group’s efforts with respect to the environment, society and governance, NTT Group issued an “Integrated Report” with the aim of supplementing the information included in the non-financial sections of its Annual Report.

In light of the foregoing and other similar endeavors, NTT Group was selected as one of the Asia-Pacific Region index companies of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI), a global index for socially responsible investing.

Consolidated Operating Revenues, Operating Expenses, Operating Income, Income Before Income Taxes and Net Income Attributable to NTT

As a result of the above efforts, NTT Group’s consolidated operating revenues for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 were 11,095.3 billion yen (an increase of 1.6% from the previous fiscal year). Consolidated operating expenses were 10,010.8 billion yen (an increase of 3.1% from the previous fiscal year). As a result, consolidated operating income was 1,084.6 billion yen (a decrease of 10.6% from the previous fiscal year), consolidated income before income taxes was 1,066.6 billion yen (a decrease of 17.6% from the previous fiscal year), and consolidated net income attributable to NTT was 518.1 billion yen (a decrease of 11.5% from the previous fiscal year). See “Item 5—Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Results of Operations—The fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 compared with the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014” for an analysis of consolidated results of operations.

Business Outlook

Business Development Pursuant to the Medium-Term Management Strategy

Based on its medium-term management strategy “Towards the Next Stage,” established in November 2012, NTT Group has worked to create new services and generate business opportunities through collaboration with a wide range of market players with the aim of becoming a “Value Partner” that customers continue to select.

In May 2015, NTT Group formulated a new medium-term management strategy, “Towards the Next Stage 2.0.” In addition to maintaining and strengthening its existing fundamental business strategies from the original “Towards the Next Stage” strategy, NTT Group will embark on a profit growth track by accelerating its self-transformation towards a “Value Partner” and develop new markets by further promoting B2B2X model.

Specifically, NTT Group will pursue the following initiatives.

—Expand Global Cloud Services and Create Profit—

NTT Group seeks to expand and establish its global business as a cornerstone of its business operations and to accelerate profit generation through the following initiatives.

In order to deliver consistent growth of sales in overseas business operations, NTT Group will strengthen its sales force and marketing efforts, such as by expanding its global accounts and further promoting its up-selling and cross-selling efforts, while strengthening the entire NTT Group’s services and products.

NTT Group will also implement thorough cost optimization measures, such as by optimizing and streamlining each Group company’s services and operations or by reducing procurement costs.

In addition, NTT Group intends to strengthen Group governance and risk management to support these measures by facilitating the transparency of information regarding Group management, setting common accounting standards, bolstering cash management and enhancing collaboration within NTT Group’s global subsidiaries.

 

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Through these initiatives, NTT Group will work to increase its overseas sales and steadily increase its overseas operating income.

—Optimize Domestic Network Businesses—

NTT Group aims to streamline capital investment and reduce costs in order to generate profit in the domestic fixed-line and mobile communications markets, which are becoming increasingly saturated.

NTT Group intends to streamline its capital investment by simplifying and streamlining each Group company’s network systems, and will also aim to improve the efficiency of facility use as well as make an effort to reduce procurement costs. NTT Group also aims to achieve highly sophisticated IT systems while improving efficiency by streamlining. See “Item 4—Information on the Company—Capital Investments” for more details regarding NTT Group’s capital investments.

In addition, NTT Group plans to implement continuous cost reduction measures, not only to reduce costs but also with the aim of increasing the competitiveness of its products and service provision, as well as improving user services. NTT Group will also aim to establish simple and highly efficient business operations in line with the migration to the B2B2X model and other changes.

Through the above initiatives, NTT Group will work to further streamline its domestic network operations.

—Towards Sustainable Growth in Domestic Business Operations—

NTT Group recognizes the need to enhance profitability in order to achieve sustainable growth in its domestic business operations. The Japanese government has been developing and implementing a variety of policies centered on the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Japanese government’s “Vitalization of Local Economies” initiative. Local governments and companies from a wide range of sectors also regard these as opportunities of administrative service improvements and business expansions, including investments to strengthen information and communications functions, and are actively working toward these events.* NTT Group plans to make use of these opportunities to accelerate migration to the B2B2X model.

NTT Group aims to further strengthen the areas of security, IoT, network virtualization and other areas in order to provide a user-friendly ICT platform for various business operators.

In addition, NTT Group plans to develop closer partnerships with local governments in order to create regional services utilizing ICT, while promoting partnerships with a wide range of business entities in the transportation, tourism, energy, agriculture and other sectors through NTT Group’s cross-company projects.

Through these initiatives, NTT Group aims to create services that will become the standards of the next generation, which is expected to lead to sustainable growth in its domestic business operations.

Through these efforts, NTT Group hopes to archive EPS (earnings per share) growth to over 700 yen by the fiscal year ending March 31, 2018.

—Promoting Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)—

Based on its social mission to contribute to society through ICT in order to help resolve the many social issues that exist both in and outside Japan, NTT Group will continue to make a collective effort to promote CSR in accordance with the guidelines set out in the “NTT Group CSR Charter.” NTT Group will also work to increase management transparency by further enhancing the content of, for example, its “Integrated Report” and CSR report and by promoting information disclosure relating to NTT Group’s initiatives. With respect to environmental issues, which are a global concern, NTT Group will endeavor to reduce the environmental burden

 

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associated with its own business activities and contribute to reducing the environmental burden on society as a whole through the utilization of ICT services, and will undertake further environmental contribution initiatives involving NTT Group employees.

Furthermore, in its preparations for natural disasters such as a major earthquake, NTT Group will work to provide safe and secure services by promoting initiatives such as the further enhancement of its collaborative framework with external agencies.

NTT Group has set a goal of doubling the number of women in management positions above the rank of section leader by the end of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2021, from 700 women in such positions at the end of the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013, and NTT Group will work to maintain respect for diversity and equal opportunity.

 

* NTT, NTT East, NTT West, NTT Communications, and NTT DOCOMO are Gold Partners (Telecommunications Services) for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Results of Operations

The fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 compared with the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014

Telecommunications Circuit Facilities

In order to provide high-quality telecommunications services, NTT Group owns and operates a wide range of telecommunications circuit facilities. The following table lists the number of lines, circuits, channels or subscribers, as the case may be, for NTT Group’s major services as of March 31, 2014 and March 31, 2015:

(Thousands, except for Public Telephones)

 

     As of Mar. 31,
2014
     As of Mar. 31,
2015
     Change     Percent Change  

Telephone Subscriber Lines(1)

     23,000         21,286         (1,713     (7.4 )% 

NTT East

     11,272         10,492         (780     (6.9 )% 

NTT West

     11,727         10,794         (933     (8.0 )% 

INS-Net(2)

     3,366         3,058         (309     (9.2 )% 

NTT East

     1,719         1,559         (160     (9.3 )% 

NTT West

     1,647         1,499         (148     (9.0 )% 

Telephone Subscriber Lines + INS-Net

     26,366         24,344         (2,022     (7.7 )% 

NTT East

     12,992         12,051         (941     (7.2 )% 

NTT West

     13,374         12,293         (1,081     (8.1 )% 

Public Telephones

     195,514         183,655         (11,859     (6.1 )% 

NTT East

     93,424         87,785         (5,639     (6.0 )% 

NTT West

     102,090         95,870         (6,220     (6.1 )% 

FLET’S ISDN

     109         95         (14     (12.6 )% 

NTT East

     48         42         (6     (13.3 )% 

NTT West

     61         53         (7     (12.1 )% 

FLET’S ADSL

     1,483         1,219         (264     (17.8 )% 

NTT East

     667         550         (117     (17.5 )% 

NTT West

     816         669         (147     (18.0 )% 

FLET’S Hikari (including Hikari Collaboration Model)(3)

     18,050         18,716         665        3.7

NTT East

     10,187         10,403         215        2.1

NTT West

     7,863         8,313         450        5.7

Hikari Collaboration Model

     —           270         270        —     

NTT East

     —           190         190        —     

NTT West

     —           80         80        —     

 

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     As of Mar. 31,
2014
     As of Mar. 31,
2015
     Change     Percent Change  

Hikari Denwa(4)

     16,256         17,108         852        5.2

NTT East

     8,694         9,032         337        3.9

NTT West

     7,562         8,076         515        6.8

Conventional Leased Circuit Services

     250         241         (9     (3.6 )% 

NTT East

     122         117         (5     (4.3 )% 

NTT West

     128         124         (4     (2.9 )% 

High Speed Digital Services

     144         127         (16     (11.2 )% 

NTT East

     74         66         (9     (11.6 )% 

NTT West

     69         62         (7     (10.8 )% 

NTT Group Major ISPs(5)

     11,466         11,586         120        1.0

OCN

     8,155         8,282         128        1.6

Plala

     2,974         2,960         (14     (0.5 )% 

Hikari TV

     2,823         3,014         191        6.8

FLET’S TV Transmission Services(4)

     1,161         1,345         184        15.8

NTT East

     802         877         75        9.4

NTT West

     359         468         108        30.1

Mobile(6)

     63,105         66,595         3,490        5.5

LTE (“Xi”)

     21,965         30,744         8,779        40.0

FOMA(7)

     41,140         35,851         (5,289     (12.9 )% 

sp-mode

     23,781         28,160         4,379        18.4

i-mode

     26,415         22,338         (4,077     (15.4 )% 

 

(1) Number of Telephone Subscriber Lines is the total of individual lines and central station lines (including lines under the Subscriber Telephone Light Plan).

 

(2) INS-Net includes INS-Net 64 and INS-Net 1500. In terms of the number of channels, transmission rate, and line use rate (base rate), INS-Net 1500 is in all cases roughly ten times greater than INS-Net 64. For this reason, one INS-Net 1500 subscription is calculated as ten INS-Net 64 subscriptions (including INS-Net 64 Lite Plan subscriptions).

 

(3) Number of FLET’S Hikari (including Hikari Collaboration Model) subscribers includes subscribers to “B FLET’S,” “FLET’S Hikari Next,” “FLET’S Hikari Light” and “FLET’S Hikari WiFi Access” provided by NTT East, subscribers to “B FLET’S,” “FLET’S Hikari Premium,” “FLET’S Hikari Mytown,” “FLET’S Hikari Next,” “FLET’S Hikari Light” and “FLET’S Hikari WiFi Access” provided by NTT West, and the “Hikari Collaboration Model,” the wholesale provision of services by NTT East and NTT West to service providers.

 

(4) “Hikari Denwa” and “FLET’S TV Transmission Services” include wholesale services provided by NTT East and NTT West to service providers.

 

(5) NTT Group Major ISPs includes WAKWAK and InfoSphere, in addition to OCN and Plala.

 

(6) Number of Mobile (including LTE (“Xi”) and FOMA) service subscribers includes communication module service subscribers.

 

(7) Effective March 3, 2008, FOMA services became mandatory for subscription to “2in1” services. Such FOMA service subscriptions to “2in1” services are included in the number of Mobile service subscribers and also in the number of FOMA service subscribers.

 

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Operating Results

 

     Year Ended March 31,              
     2014     2015     Change     Percent Change  
     (in billions of yen)        

Operating revenues:

     10,925.2        11,095.3        170.1        1.6

Fixed voice related services

     1,578.9        1,441.4        (137.6     (8.7 )% 

Mobile voice related services

     1,052.6        872.1        (180.6     (17.2 )% 

IP/Packet communications services

     3,711.9        3,672.2        (39.7     (1.1 )% 

Sales of telecommunications equipment

     969.7        997.0        27.3        2.8

System integration

     2,275.0        2,691.8        416.7        18.3

Other

     1,337.0        1,421.0        83.9        6.3

Operating expenses

     9,711.5        10,010.8        299.2        3.1

Operating income

     1,213.7        1,084.6        (129.1     (10.6 )% 

Other income (expenses)

     80.5        (17.9     (98.5     —     

Income before income taxes and equity in earnings (losses) of affiliated companies

     1,294.2        1,066.6        (227.6     (17.6 )% 

Income tax expense (benefit)

     486.5        397.3        (89.2     (18.3 )% 

Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliated companies

     (50.8     5.9        56.7        —     

Net income

     756.9        675.2        (81.7     (10.8 )% 

Less—net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

     171.4        157.1        (14.3     (8.3 )% 

Net income attributable to NTT

     585.5        518.1        (67.4     (11.5 )% 

Operating Revenues

NTT Group’s operating revenues are divided into six service categories, comprised of fixed voice related services, mobile voice related services, IP/packet communications services, sales of telecommunications equipment, system integration and other services.

Operating revenues in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 increased 1.6% from the previous fiscal year to ¥11,095.3 billion. This increase was due to such factors as an increase in system integration revenues accompanying the growth in overseas business, which was partially offset by a continued decline in voice related revenues.

Operating revenues for each service category for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 are summarized as follows:

Fixed Voice Related Services

NTT Group’s fixed voice related services include a portion of the services it provides in the regional communications business segment and long distance and international communications business segment, such as telephone subscriber lines, INS-Net, conventional leased circuits and high speed digital.

Fixed voice related revenues for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 decreased 8.7% from the previous fiscal year to ¥1,441.4 billion, accounting for 13.0% of total operating revenues. This was due to a continued decline in the number of subscriptions for telephone subscriber lines and INS-Net caused by the popularity of mobile phones and optical IP telephones.

Mobile Voice Related Services

Mobile voice related services include a portion of the services NTT Group provides in the mobile communications business segment, such as LTE (“Xi”) and FOMA.

 

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Mobile voice related revenues for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 decreased 17.2% from the previous fiscal year to ¥872.1 billion, accounting for 7.9% of total operating revenues. This was due to a decrease in voice ARPU resulting from the increased penetration of the “Monthly Support” discount program in conjunction with increased smartphone sales, and the earlier effects of the reduction in revenue caused by the new “Kake-hodai & Pake-aeru” billing plan. For details of voice ARPU, see “—Segment Information—The fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 compared with the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014—Mobile Communications Business Segment.” “MOU” refers to the average monthly minutes of use per subscriber.

IP/Packet Communications Services

NTT Group’s IP/packet communications services include a portion of the services it provides in the regional communications business segment, such as FLET’S Hikari and FLET’S ADSL, and a portion of the services it provides in the long distance and international communications business segment, such as IP-VPN, wide area Ethernet and OCN, as well as a portion of the services it provides in the mobile communications business segment, such as LTE (“Xi”) and FOMA packet communications services.

In the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015, revenues from IP/packet communications services decreased 1.1% from the previous fiscal year to ¥3,672.2 billion, accounting for 33.1% of total operating revenues. In spite of increased subscriptions for FLET’S Hikari and Hikari Denwa in the regional communications business segment and an increase in the number of smartphone users in the mobile communications business segment, revenues decreased slightly due to factors such as the migration to low-priced services in the long distance and international communications business segment, the impact of the “Monthly Support” discount program and the earlier effects of the reduction in revenue caused by the new “Kake-hodai & Pake-aeru” billing plan in the mobile communications business segment.

Sales of Telecommunications Equipment

This category includes a portion of the services NTT Group provides in the regional communications business segment and the mobile communications business segment.

In the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015, revenues from telecommunications equipment sales increased 2.8% from the previous fiscal year to ¥997.0 billion, accounting for 9.0% of total operating revenues. This increase was due to an increase in the number of sales of handsets such as smartphones in the mobile communications business segment.

System Integration

NTT Group’s system integration services include its data communications business segment and a portion of the services it provides in the long distance and international communications business segment and the regional communications business segment.

In the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015, revenues from system integration increased 18.3% from the previous fiscal year to ¥2,691.8 billion, accounting for 24.3% of total operating revenues. This increase was due to factors such as the growth in overseas business.

Other

Other services principally comprise building maintenance, real estate rentals, systems development, leasing activities and research and development.

In the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015, revenues from other services increased 6.3% from the previous fiscal year to ¥1,421.0 billion, accounting for 12.8% of total operating revenues. This increase was due mainly to an increase in revenues associated with operations in the Smart Life business sector in the mobile communications business segment.

 

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Operating Expenses

Operating expenses in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 increased 3.1% from the previous fiscal year to ¥10,010.8 billion. The reasons for the increase are discussed below. Personnel expenses and expenses for purchase of goods and services and other expenses, described below, are included in cost of services, cost of equipment sold, cost of system integration, and selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of income.

Personnel Expenses

Personnel expenses in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 increased 5.6% from the previous fiscal year to ¥2,280.2 billion. This increase was mainly due to an increase in the number of consolidated overseas subsidiaries, despite the ongoing reduction in the number of personnel employed in the regional communications business segment.

Expenses for Purchase of Goods and Services and Other Expenses

In the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015, cost of services and equipment sold and selling, general and administrative expenses collectively increased 3.7% from the previous fiscal year to ¥5,451.6 billion. Improving operational efficiency reduced expenses in the regional communications business segment, long distance and international communications business segment and mobile communications business segment. However, overall expenses increased compared with the previous fiscal year as a result of, among other things, an increase in the number of consolidated overseas subsidiaries and, in the mobile communications business segment, an increase of ¥63.6 billion in the aggregate wholesale unit prices of communications handsets due to the increase in unit procurement costs, as smartphones continued to sell steadily and accounted for a growing proportion of handset sales.

Depreciation and Amortization Expenses

Depreciation and amortization expenses in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 decreased 2.8% from the previous fiscal year to ¥1,828.0 billion. This decrease was mainly due to a reduction in investments as a result of making more efficient capital investments and a reduction of ¥51.3 billion as a result of the revision of the expected useful life of software for certain telecommunications network and internal-use software.

Operating Income

As a result of the foregoing, operating income for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 decreased 10.6% from the previous fiscal year to ¥1,084.6 billion.

Other Operating Revenues and Expenses

Other Income (Expenses)

Other income (expenses) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 decreased to ¥(17.9) billion, from ¥80.5 billion in the previous fiscal year. This was mainly due to a recorded gain of ¥60.0 billion during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014, which was not recorded for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015, and which resulted from the exchange of NTT’s leasehold interest for the right to receive part of the building it will occupy.

Income before Income Taxes and Equity in Earnings (Losses) of Affiliated Companies

Net income before income taxes in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 decreased 17.6% from the previous fiscal year to ¥1,066.6 billion for the reasons discussed above.

 

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Income Tax Expense (Benefit)

In the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015, income tax expense decreased 18.3% from the previous fiscal year to ¥397.3 billion. This increase in income tax expense was due to the Act for the Partial Revision of the Income Tax Act enacted on March 31, 2015, which changed, among other things, the corporate tax rates for fiscal years beginning on or after April 1, 2015. Due to this change, the statutory tax rate to be used for the calculation of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the temporary differences expected to be resolved in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016 and the fiscal year ending March 31, 2017 and thereafter decreased from approximately 36% to approximately 33% and 32%, respectively. As a result, net deferred tax assets existing on the enactment date decreased by ¥54.4 billion, which effect is included in “Income tax expenses (benefit): Deferred” in the consolidated statements of income for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015. On the other hand, income tax expense decreased primarily due to, among other things, the reduction in income before income taxes, as well as changes in the corporate tax rate for fiscal years beginning from April 1, 2014 as per the Act for the Partial Revision of the Income Tax Act promulgated on March 31, 2014. As a result, the actual statutory effective tax rates for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 and for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 were 37.59%, and 37.25%, respectively.

Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliated companies

Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliated companies for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 was ¥5.9 billion compared to ¥(50.8) billion for the previous fiscal year. This increase was due to, among other things, the fact that ¥(51.2) billion in impairment losses were recognized in the previous fiscal year under “Investment in affiliated companies” related to Indian telecommunications carrier Tata Teleservices Limited (“TTSL”), while no impairment losses related to TTSL were recognized for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015.

Net Income and Net Income Attributable to NTT

As a result, net income for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 decreased 10.8% from the previous fiscal year to ¥675.2 billion. Net income attributable to NTT (excluding the portion attributable to non-controlling interests) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 decreased 11.5% from the previous fiscal year to ¥518.1 billion.

Segment Information

NTT Group has five business segments: regional communications business, long distance and international communications business, mobile communications business, data communications business and other business. (For further details, see Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.)

The regional communications business segment comprises fixed voice related services, IP/packet communications services, sales of telecommunications equipment, system integration services and other services.

The long distance and international communications business segment principally comprises fixed voice related services, IP/packet communications services, system integration services and other services.

The mobile communications business segment comprises mobile voice related services, IP/packet communications services, sales of telecommunications equipment and other services.

The data communications business segment comprises system integration services.

The other business segment principally comprises building maintenance, real estate rentals, systems development, leasing activities and other services related to research and development.

 

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An overview of the operational results for each business segment is as follows:

The fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 compared with the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014

 

      Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2015  

Service Types

   Operating
Revenues
(millions of yen)
     Comparison
with Previous
Fiscal Year (%)
 

Regional communications business

   Fixed voice related services      1,405,870         (7.5 )% 
   IP/packet communications services      1,547,096         2.0
   System integration services      163,424         (1.1 )% 
   Other services      389,129         4.9
  

Total (including intersegment revenues)

     3,505,519         (1.9 )% 
  

Intersegment

     473,227         6.8
  

Total (excluding intersegment revenues)

     3,032,292         (3.1 )% 

Long distance and international communications business

   Fixed voice related services      307,119         (11.6 )% 
   IP/packet communications services      361,911         (3.1 )% 
   System integration services      1,159,750         26.2
   Other services      169,861         (0.0 )% 
  

Total (including intersegment revenues)

     1,998,641         10.4
  

Intersegment

     91,857         (4.8 )% 
  

Total (excluding intersegment revenues)

     1,906,784         11.3

Mobile communications business

   Mobile voice related services      883,845         (17.0 )% 
   IP/packet communications services      1,853,002         (2.0 )% 
   Other services      1,646,550         9.4
  

Total (including intersegment revenues)

     4,383,397         (1.7 )% 
  

Intersegment

     43,080         11.6
  

Total (excluding intersegment revenues)

     4,340,317         (1.9 )% 

Data communications business

   System integration services (including intersegment revenues)      1,511,019         12.4
  

Intersegment

     109,671         (10.4 )% 
  

Total (excluding intersegment revenues)

     1,401,348         14.7

Other business

   Other services (including intersegment revenues)      1,272,240         (4.2 )% 
  

Intersegment

     857,664         (3.7 )% 
  

Total (excluding intersegment revenues)

     414,576         (5.4 )% 

Total Consolidated Operating Revenues

     11,095,317         1.6

 

Note: The above figures do not include consumption tax or other taxes.

 

  (1) Regional Communications Business Segment

Despite an increase in IP/packet communications revenues attributable to the increase in “FLET’S Hikari” and “Hikari Denwa” subscriptions, operating revenues in the regional communications business segment for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 decreased to ¥3,505.5 billion (a decrease of 1.9% from the previous fiscal year) due to a decrease in fixed voice related revenues resulting from the decline in fixed-line telephone subscriptions. On the other hand, due to a decrease in personnel expenses, as well as a reduction in expenses resulting from sustained operational efficiency improvements, operating expenses decreased to ¥3,336.7 billion in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 (a decrease of 3.1% from the previous fiscal year).

 

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As a result, segment operating income in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 increased 32.7% to ¥168.9 billion.

The state of operations for each service in the regional communications business segment was as follows:

(Fixed Voice Related Services)

As a result of the shift in customer demand to mobile telephones, IP phones and broadband access services, the aggregate number of fixed line subscriptions (fixed-line telephone & INS-Net) as of March 31, 2015 stood at 24,344 thousand, a decrease of 2,022 thousand from the previous fiscal year.

The numbers of fixed-line telephone and INS-Net subscriptions were as follows:

 

     As of March 31,               
     2014      2015      Change     Percent Change  
     (in thousands)        

NTT East:

          

Telephone subscriptions

     11,272         10,492         (780     (6.9 )% 

INS-Net subscriptions

     1,719         1,559         (160     (9.3 )% 

NTT West:

          

Telephone subscriptions

     11,727         10,794         (933     (8.0 )% 

INS-Net subscriptions

     1,647         1,499         (148     (9.0 )% 

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015, aggregate fixed-line ARPU (telephone subscriber lines plus INS-Net subscriber lines) was ¥2,700 for NTT East and ¥2,650 for NTT West, a decrease of ¥60 (2.2%) and ¥40 (1.5%), respectively, from the corresponding figures in the previous fiscal year. This decline was due to the shift by high-volume users to IP telephone services and the migration of users from fixed-line services to mobile phone services.

See “—Segment Information—The fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 compared with the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014—Footnote 2, ‘ARPU: Average monthly revenue per unit’” for a description of ARPU, and “—Segment Information—The fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 compared with the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014—Footnote 3, ‘Method of calculating ARPU—(a) NTT East, NTT West’” for a description of how aggregate fixed-line ARPU is calculated.

The numbers of registrations to MYLINE, a phone company selection service, were as follows:

 

     As of March 31,        
       2014         2015       Change  

Intra-city:

      

NTT East

     55.7     56.5     0.8

NTT West

     52.9     53.8     0.9

NTT Communications

     33.3     32.7     (0.6 )% 

Intra-prefectural and inter-city:

      

NTT East

     52.0     52.9     0.9

NTT West

     49.7     50.6     0.9

NTT Communications

     34.2     33.6     (0.6 )% 

Access charges for functions subject to calculation under the LRIC Methodology (which is applied to the majority of public network usage) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 were ¥5.39 per three minutes for GC interconnection charges and ¥6.84 per three minutes for IC interconnection charges. Revenues (including

 

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subsidies to NTT East and NTT West) from these access charges for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 decreased by ¥8.1 billion from the previous fiscal year to ¥55.1 billion for NTT East and by ¥9.1 billion from the previous fiscal year to ¥61.3 billion for NTT West.

Although NTT offers dedicated fixed-rate, high-quality access services for business users, as a result of the provision of services such as “Business Ether WIDE,” which utilizes the NGN, and other Ethernet services suited to low-cost and highly reliable local area network (“LAN”) communications, as well as the shift in demand for IP system services such as “FLET’S VPN WIDE,” the decreasing trend in the number of subscribers to leased circuit services is continuing.

The number of subscriptions for leased circuit services in the regional communications business segment was as follows:

 

     As of March 31,               
     2014      2015      Change     Percent Change  
     (in thousands)        

NTT East:

          

Conventional leased circuits

     122         117         (5     (4.3 )% 

High-speed digital circuits

     74         66         (9     (11.6 )% 

NTT West:

          

Conventional leased circuits

     128         124         (4     (2.9 )% 

High-speed digital circuits

     69         62         (7     (10.8 )% 

(IP/Packet Communications Services)

In the regional communications business segment, NTT Group has worked to build a solid revenue base by enhancing and expanding FLET’S Hikari and other broadband services. Specifically, starting on July 1, 2014, NTT East began offering the new “FLET’S Hikari” services “FLET’S Hikari Next Giga Family Smart Type” and “FLET’S Hikari Next Giga Mansion Smart Type,” which provide transmission speeds at the fastest available level in Japan for both access networks and home wireless LAN devices. These services provide a maximum upload and download (sending and receiving data) transmission speed of about 1Gbps and are compatible with the latest high-speed wireless LAN standards. Furthermore, in order to allow even more customers to utilize “FLET’S Hikari,” NTT East has implemented discount campaigns aimed at attracting new subscribers, including the “Giga Push! Campaign” and “Lighter than FLET’S Hikari Light! Discount” programs. Meanwhile, in the area of optical IP telephone services, NTT West worked to expand services utilizing video communications through, among other things, the launch of “Mimamori Video Phone Pack,” a service intended for nursing care and welfare purposes, which supports communications between individuals requiring nursing care and in-home caretakers. NTT West also worked to expand “Hikari Denwa Office A (Ace)” for its corporate IP telephone customers, to lower the costs of communication between the customers’ main offices and branch offices.

As a result of these initiatives, as of March 31, 2015, the number of FLET’S Hikari subscriptions had risen to 18,716 thousand channels, an increase of 665 thousand (3.7%) compared to the previous fiscal year; the number of Hikari Denwa subscriptions increased to 17,108 thousand channels, an increase of 852 thousand channels (5.2%) compared to the previous fiscal year; and the number of FLET’S TV subscriptions increased to 1,345 thousand channels, an increase of 184 thousand channels (15.8%) compared to the previous fiscal year.

 

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The numbers of subscriptions for “FLET’S Hikari,” “FLET’S ADSL,” “Hikari Denwa,” the IP telephone service, and “FLET’S TV Transmission Service” were as follows:

 

     As of March 31,               
     2014      2015      Change     Percent Change  
     (in thousands)        

NTT East:

          

FLET’S Hikari (including Hikari Collaboration Model)(1)

     10,187         10,403         215        2.1

FLET’S ADSL

     667         550         (117     (17.5 )% 

Hikari Denwa (channels)

     8,694         9,032         337        3.9

FLET’S TV Transmission Service

     802         877         75        9.4

NTT West:

          

FLET’S Hikari (including Hikari Collaboration Model)(1)

     7,863         8,313         450        5.7

FLET’S ADSL

     816         669         (147     (18.0 )% 

Hikari Denwa (channels)

     7,562         8,076         515        6.8

FLET’S TV Transmission Service

     359         468         108        30.1

 

(1) FLET’S Hikari (including Hikari Collaboration Model) includes B FLET’S, FLET’S Hikari Next, FLET’S Hikari Light and FLET’S Hikari WiFi Access provided by NTT East, B FLET’S, FLET’S Hikari Premium, FLET’S Hikari Mytown, FLET’S Hikari Next, FLET’S Hikari Light and FLET’S Hikari WiFi Access provided by NTT West, and the “Hikari Collaboration Model,” the wholesale provision of services by NTT East and NTT West to service providers.

FLET’S Hikari ARPU for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 was ¥5,490 for NTT East and ¥5,680 for NTT West, ¥170 (3.0%) and ¥150 (2.6%) lower, respectively, than in the previous fiscal year. The main reason for these decreases was the expansion of cheaper rate plans and discount services.

See “—Segment Information—The fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 compared with the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014—Footnote 3, ‘Method of calculating ARPU—(a) NTT East, NTT West’” for a description of how FLET’S Hikari ARPU is calculated.

(System Integration Services)

NTT Group has conducted business activities aimed at corporate customers to enable its regional customers to utilize ICT, primarily by providing solutions tailored to specific businesses based on industry characteristics and trends.

Specifically, on June 20, 2014, NTT East launched the “Biz Hikari Cloud Natural Disaster Victim Relief Support System” for local governments as a cloud-based service that comprehensively supports efforts to aid in disaster victims’ livelihood rehabilitation, such as “Issuance of Disaster Damage Certificates” (*1) by local governments. This system enables local governments to support disaster victims promptly and impartially and allows disaster victims to receive rapid support in the event of a disaster.

Meanwhile, beginning in February 2014, as a collaborative initiative with local governments, NTT West began collaborating with the Wazuka Town in Kyoto to use ICT to revitalize regional communities and improve community services. After successful field trials of the television-based government information delivery system, NTT West launched sales of the “Hikari Town Channel,” a local government information delivery system for television using “Hikari BOX+,” as a new service for local governments.

*1 Documents by which local governments certify the extent of damage to homes and such during disasters, such as fires, floods, earthquakes, etc. These documents are required when applying for support funds for disaster victim relief or disaster restoration home financing, and claiming indemnity insurance payments, among other things.

 

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(Other Services)

With respect to sales of telecommunications equipment, a part of other services, NTT provides business telephones for corporate customers, multi-function digital devices, business fax machines, and home telecommunications equipment.

(2) Long Distance and International Communications Business Segment

Despite a decline in domestic fixed voice related revenues, operating revenues in the long distance and international communications business segment for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 increased to ¥1,998.6 billion (an increase of 10.4% from the previous fiscal year) due to, among other things, an increase in system integration revenues as a result of the expansion of overseas consolidated subsidiaries. On the other hand, operating expenses for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 increased to ¥1,885.1 billion (an increase of 12.0% from the previous fiscal year) due to, among other things, an increase in personnel expenses, expenses for the purchase of goods and services and other expenses as a result of an increase in the number of consolidated subsidiaries. As a result, segment operating income in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 decreased to ¥113.6 billion (a decrease of 10.9% from the previous fiscal year).

Operations for each service in the long distance and international communications business segment were as follows:

(Fixed Voice Related Services)

NTT Group continued to respond to a variety of customer needs for telephone services through domestic and international telephone services such as “PL@TINUM LINE.”

The following table shows the market share of MYLINE registrations in the long distance and international communications business segment:

 

     As of March 31,        
       2014         2015          Change    

Inter-prefectural

     82.3     82.6     0.3

International

     80.9     81.3     0.4

(IP/Packet Communications Services)

In terms of products for individual customers, for “OCN mobile ONE,” a mobile data communications service for individual consumers, NTT Communications substantially increased the number of its subscribers by adding new functions, revising rate plans, and undertaking other initiatives, such as offering “voice-enabled SIM cards,” which allow users to make voice calls, starting from December 2014.

For corporate customers, NTT Communications launched a number of advanced functions for “Arcstar Universal One,” a corporate network service currently provided in 196 countries and regions. For example, in August 2014, NTT Communications released “Arcstar Universal One Advanced Option,” a cloud-based network function that uses NFV (Network Functions Virtualization) technology, and also launched “Arcstar Universal One Virtual,” which allows customers to build virtual networks quickly and easily, regardless of their existing network environment or the device being used.

 

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The following table shows the number of subscriptions for IP/packet communications-related services in the long distance and international communications business segment:

 

     As of March 31               
     2014      2015      Change     Percent change  
     (in thousands)        

IP-VPN

     87         59         (28     (32.4 )% 

OCN (ISP)

     8,155         8,282         128        1.6

Plala (ISP)*

     2,974         2,960         (14     (0.5 )% 

Hikari TV*

     2,823         3,014         191        6.8

 

* Revenues from Plala and Hikari TV are included in “Other services” of the Long distance and international communications business described in the operational results table for each business segment above.

(System Integration Services)

During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015, NTT Group worked to expand its global cloud services in line with its Medium-Term Management Strategy adopted in November 2012, entitled “Towards the Next Stage.” To reinforce the structure by which it provides global cloud services, NTT Communications and Dimension Data, leading companies in this segment, acquired additional consolidated subsidiaries as described in “Item 4—Information on the Company—Global Businesses,” as well as began providing new services.

NTT Group has expanded the variety of functions provided by NTT Communications’ “Enterprise Cloud” corporate cloud service. In April 2014, NTT Communications began offering companies the ability to connect to its data center colocation areas in the same network segment using SDN (Software-Defined Network) technology. NTT Communications then began enabling companies to use a customer portal to set and change network settings for cloud-connected VPN and internet connections and cloud-based networks in October 2014. Through these and other initiatives, NTT Communications expanded several of its capacities to even more smoothly accommodate the hybridization of its customers’ ICT environments. NTT Communications also added a new service location in Japan, expanding its service areas to 12 locations across nine countries/regions.

With respect to its global business, NTT Group endeavored to respond to the needs of multinational companies by enhancing its total, high value-added ICT services that combine network integration with data center, security and server management services. Specifically, NTT Group provided global one-stop, comprehensive ICT services, primarily through its subsidiary Dimension Data, which has a direct presence in 58 countries and has expanded to a broader footprint in a further 103 locations through its Preferred Partner Program.

Dimension Data’s execution priorities both during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 and into the future include aiming to stay ahead of changes in the global market, improving profitably of its System Integration Services business, and maximizing the business value its solutions provide to its clients. Dimension Data anticipates that it will continue to prioritize the following initiatives: enhancing the company’s remote maintenance services, which are a key source of its revenue; improving market competitiveness; increasing its market share in the areas of networking, security, and communications; increasing the value that its technology provides to customers; and expanding into IT outsourcing.

To reinforce the structure by which it provides global cloud services, Dimension Data will continue to expand its ITaaS (IT-as-a-Service) service unit and provide public cloud solutions from its 16 Managed Cloud Platforms (MCPs), as well as private and hybrid cloud solutions. Going forward, Dimension Data’s focus will be on increasing its market share by helping clients to reduce costs and time required to deploy and support IT infrastructure, and helping them to transform their business by, for example, using its “as-a-service” approach.

 

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(3) Mobile Communications Business Segment

Despite the expansion of NTT Group’s Smart Life business and other areas, consolidated operating revenues for the mobile communications business segment for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 decreased to ¥4,383.4 billion (a decrease of 1.7% from the previous fiscal year) due to, among other factors, a decline in mobile voice revenues, primarily as a result of the impact of the “Monthly Support” discount program and the new “Kake-hodai & Pake-aeru” billing plan. Further, despite the promotion of cost optimization initiatives, consolidated operating expenses for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 increased to ¥3,747.6 billion (an increase of 2.8% from the previous fiscal year) due to, among other factors, the increased cost of mobile handsets and other revenue-linked expenses. As a result, consolidated operating income decreased to ¥635.8 billion (a decrease of 22.2% from the previous fiscal year).

Operations for each service in the mobile communications business segment were as follows:

(Mobile Voice Related Services / IP/Packet Communications Services)

In the fiscal year ended March, 2015, NTT DOCOMO launched the new “Kake-hodai & Pake-aeru” billing plan in order to strengthen its competitiveness in the mobile area, which led to improvements in net subscription numbers and churn rates.

As of March 31, 2015, the number of subscriptions to NTT DOCOMO mobile phone services increased by 3.49 million, from 63.11 million at the end of the previous fiscal year to 66.60 million subscriptions. In mobile phone services, the number of LTE (“Xi”) service subscriptions increased from 21.97 million as of the end of the previous fiscal year to 30.74 million as of March 31, 2015, an increase of 8.78 million subscriptions (40.0%), and the number of FOMA service subscriptions decreased by 5.29 million (12.9%) to 35.85 million subscriptions, from 41.14 million as of the end of the previous fiscal year. In addition, churn rates improved to 0.71%, a reduction of 0.16% compared to the end of the previous fiscal year.

The following table shows the number of mobile communications subscriptions and estimated market share:

 

     As of March 31,              
     2014     2015     Change     Percent Change  
     (in thousands)        

Mobile phone services(1)

     63,105        66,595        3,490        5.5

LTE (“Xi”) services

     21,965        30,744        8,779        40.0

FOMA services(1)

     41,140        35,851        (5,289     (12.9 )% 

Estimated mobile phone market share(1)(2)

     43.8     43.6     (0.2 %)      —    

sp-mode services

     23,781        28,160        4,379        18.4

i-mode services

     26,415        22,338        (4,077     (15.4 )% 

 

(1) Includes communications module service subscriptions. Effective from March 3, 2008, use of the “2in1” service (a multiple number service that makes more than one phone number available for use on one mobile phone) has been conditioned on conclusion of an additional FOMA agreement, and the number of mobile phone service subscriptions and FOMA subscriptions includes such additional FOMA contracts.
(2) Market share data is based on number of subscriptions of other carriers, which is computed based on figures released by the Telecommunications Carriers Association.

Aggregate ARPU of mobile phone services decreased by ¥240 (5.2%) to ¥4,370 in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015, from ¥4,610 in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014. This was due to a decrease of ¥230 (16.3%) in voice ARPU to ¥1,180 in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015, from ¥1,410 in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014, resulting from the increasing impact of the “Monthly Support” discount program and the decline in revenues caused by new billing plans. Despite the increase in subscriptions for smartphones and other devices, packet ARPU also decreased by ¥100 (3.7%) to ¥2,600 in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015, from ¥2,700 in the previous year, mainly as a result of the increased impact of the “Monthly Support” discount program. Meanwhile, smart ARPU increased by ¥90 (18.0%) to ¥590 from ¥500 the previous fiscal year due to, among other things, an increase in revenues from “dmarket” services.

 

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See “—Segment Information—The fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 compared with the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014—Footnote 1, ‘MOU (average monthly minutes of use per unit): Average communication time per subscription’” at the end of this item for a description of how MOU is calculated. See “—Segment Information—The fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 compared with the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014—Footnote 3, ‘Method of calculating ARPU—(b) NTT DOCOMO’” at the end of this item for a description of how ARPU is calculated for mobile phone services.

The following table shows data regarding ARPU and MOU of mobile phone services:

 

     As of March 31,               
     2014      2015      Change     Percent Change  

Aggregate ARPU

   ¥ 4,610         4,370       ¥ (240     (5.2 )% 

Voice ARPU

     1,410         1,180         (230     (16.3 )% 

Packet ARPU

     2,700         2,600         (100     (3.7 )% 

Smart ARPU

     500         590         90        18.0

MOU (minutes)

     109         112         3        2.8

(Other Services)

With respect to sales of telecommunications equipment, a part of other services, in order to meet the diverse needs of its customers, NTT DOCOMO has strived to enrich its handset lineup, adding new models such as Android smartphones, iPhone 6*1,iPhone 6 Plus*1, “docomo keitai” feature phones, “docomo tablets,” wearable devices and Wi-Fi routers, among other devices. As a result of these initiatives, mobile phone sales increased to 23.75 million units for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 (an increase of 1.24 million units compared to the previous fiscal year), of which 14.60 million units were sales of smartphones, representing an increase of 5.9% compared to 13.78 million units sold the previous fiscal year.

 

*1

TM and © 2015 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. iPhone is a trademark of Apple Inc. The iPhone trademark is used under license from AIPHONE CO, Ltd.

(4) Data Communications Business Segment

Operating revenues in the data communications business segment for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 increased to ¥1,511.0 billion (an increase of 12.4% from the previous fiscal year) due to, among other things, an increase in overseas consolidated subsidiaries, the cultivation of new customers, and an expansion of the scale of systems provided to existing customers. On the other hand, despite a decrease in unprofitable transactions, operating expenses increased to ¥1,424.7 billion (an increase of 11.7% from the previous fiscal year) due to, among other things, an increase in personnel expenses, expenses for the purchase of goods and services and other expenses as a result of an increase in the number of consolidated subsidiaries.

As a result, segment operating income in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 increased 27.2% from the previous fiscal year to ¥86.4 billion.

Major operations for each service in the data communications business segment were as follows:

The revenues of the Public & Financial IT Services Company, which provides high value-added IT services that support government, medicine, finance, settlement and other social infrastructure, increased as a result of a reduction in unprofitable transactions and improved revenues due to the cultivation of new customers and the expansion of the scale of systems provided to existing customers at the NTT DATA parent company, a leading company in this segment.

The Global Business revenues of this segment, which supplies high value-added IT services predominantly in overseas markets under the guidance of the NTT DATA group, increased due to increased revenues from expanded consolidation.

 

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(5) Other Business Segment

In the other business segment, operating revenues for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 decreased to ¥1,272.2 billion (a decrease of 4.2% from the previous fiscal year), primarily due to decreased revenues in the real estate business as a result of a decrease in the number of apartments delivered. On the other hand, operating expenses for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 also decreased to ¥1,204.8 billion (a decrease of 5.3% from the previous fiscal year) due to, among other things, a decrease in revenue-linked expenses.

As a result, segment operating income increased to ¥67.5 billion (an increase of 20.3% from the previous fiscal year).

(Reference) Geographic Sales Information

 

     As of March 31,               
     2014      2015      Change     Percent Change  
     (in billions of yen)        

Operating revenues

     10,925.2         11,095.3         170.1        1.6

Domestic(*)

     9,729.2         9,509.9         (219.3     (2.3 )% 

Overseas(*)

     1,196.0         1,585.4         389.4        32.6

 

(*) Figures are shown based on the geographic location of the services and products provided.

Domestic operating revenues for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 decreased to ¥9,509.9 billion (a decrease of 2.3% from the previous fiscal year), due to, among other things, a decrease in voice related revenues. Foreign operating revenues for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 increased to ¥1,585.4 billion (an increase of 32.6% from the previous fiscal year) due to, among other things, the expansion of overseas consolidated subsidiaries.

Notes:

 

  1. MOU (average monthly minutes of use per unit): Average communication time per subscription

 

       The method of calculating the number of Active Subscribers when calculating MOU for NTT DOCOMO is as follows:

 

       FY Results: Sum of number of Active Subscribers for each month from April to March

 

       Active Subscribers = (number of subscribers at end of previous month + number of subscribers at end of current month)/2

 

  2. ARPU: Average monthly revenue per unit

 

       Average monthly revenue per unit, or ARPU, is used to measure average monthly operating revenues attributable to each designated service on a per user basis. In the case of NTT Group’s fixed-line business, ARPU is calculated by dividing revenue items included in the operating revenues of NTT Group’s regional communications business segment (i.e., telephone subscriber lines, INS-Net and FLET’S Hikari) by the number of Active Subscribers to the relevant services. In the case of the mobile communications business, ARPU is calculated by dividing revenue items included in operating revenues from NTT Group’s mobile communications business segment, such as revenues from LTE (“Xi”) mobile phone services and FOMA mobile phone services, that are incurred consistently each month (i.e., basic monthly charges and voice/packet transmission charges), by the number of Active Subscribers to the relevant services. The calculation of these figures excludes revenues that are not representative of monthly average usage, such as telecommunications equipment sales, activation fees and universal service charges.

 

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       NTT believes that its ARPU figures calculated in this way provide useful information regarding the monthly average usage of its subscribers. The revenue items included in the numerators of NTT Group’s ARPU figures are based on its financial results comprising its U.S. GAAP results of operations.

 

  3. Method of calculating ARPU

 

  (a) NTT East and NTT West

 

       NTT separately computes the following two categories of ARPU for the fixed-line business conducted by each of NTT East and NTT West, using the following measures:

 

   

Aggregate Fixed-line ARPU (Telephone Subscriber Lines + INS-Net Subscriber Lines): Calculated based on revenues from monthly charges and call charges for Telephone Subscriber Lines and INS-Net Subscriber Lines, which are included in operating revenues from Voice Transmission Services (excluding IP Services), and revenues from FLET’S ADSL and FLET’S ISDN, which are included in operating revenues from IP Services.

 

   

FLET’S Hikari ARPU: Calculated based on revenues from FLET’S Hikari (including FLET’S Hikari optional services), which are included in operating revenues from IP Services and Supplementary Business, revenues from monthly charges, call charges and device connection charges for Hikari Denwa, which are included in operating revenues from IP Services, and revenues from “FLET’S Hikari” optional services, which are included in Supplementary Business revenues.

(1) FLET’S Hikari includes B FLET’S, FLET’S Hikari Next, FLET’S Hikari Light and FLET’S Hikari WiFi Access provided by NTT East, B FLET’S, FLET’S Hikari Premium, FLET’S Hikari Mytown, FLET’S Hikari Next, FLET’S Hikari Light and FLET’S Hikari WiFi Access provided by NTT West, and the “Hikari Collaboration Model” wholesale provision of services provided by NTT East and NTT West to service providers. FLET’S Hikari optional services include wholesale services provided to service providers by NTT East and NTT West.

(2) Revenues from interconnection charges are excluded from the calculation of Aggregate Fixed-line ARPU (Telephone Subscriber Lines + INS-Net Subscriber Lines) and FLET’S Hikari ARPU.

(3) For purposes of calculating Aggregate Fixed-line ARPU (Telephone Subscriber Lines + INS-Net Subscriber Lines), the number of subscribers is determined using the number of lines for each service.

(4) In terms of number of channels, transmission rate, and line use rate (base rate), INS-Net 1500 is in all cases roughly ten times greater than INS-Net 64. For this reason, one INS-Net 1500 subscription is calculated as ten INS-Net 64 subscriptions.

(5) For purposes of calculating FLET’S Hikari ARPU, the number of subscribers is determined based on the number of FLET’S Hikari subscribers (including B FLET’S, FLET’S Hikari Next, FLET’S Hikari Light and FLET’S Hikari WiFi Access provided by NTT East, B FLET’S, FLET’S Hikari Premium, FLET’S Hikari Mytown, FLET’S Hikari Next, FLET’S Hikari Light and FLET’S Hikari WiFi Access provided by NTT West), and “Hikari Collaboration Model” wholesale services provided by NTT East and NTT West to service providers.

(6) Number of Active Subscribers used in the ARPU calculation of NTT East and NTT West is as below:

FY Results: Sum of number of Active Subscribers for each month from April to March

Active Subscribers = (number of subscribers at end of previous month + number of subscribers at end of current month)/2

 

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  (b) NTT DOCOMO

NTT computes ARPU for NTT DOCOMO as follows:

Mobile Aggregate ARPU = Voice ARPU + Packet ARPU + Smart ARPU.

(1) NTT DOCOMO’s Voice ARPU is based on operating revenues related to voice services, such as basic monthly charges and voice communication charges, and its Packet ARPU is based on operating revenues related to packet services, such as basic monthly charges, flat monthly fees and packet communication charges attributable to its LTE (“Xi”) and “FOMA” services, and its Smart ARPU is based on operating revenues from providing services incidental to LTE (“Xi”) and “FOMA” wireless communications services (content services-related revenues, fee collection agency commissions, handset warranty service revenues, advertising revenues, etc.).

(2) Subscriptions for and revenues from communication module services, “Phone Number Storage,” “Mail Address Storage,” “docomo Business Transceiver” and wholesale telecommunications services and interconnecting telecommunications facilities that are provided to Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) are not included in NTT DOCOMO’s ARPU calculation.

(3) NTT DOCOMO’s ARPU and MOU calculation methods changed from the second quarter of the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015. Accordingly, the ARPU data for the results for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 have also changed.

(4) Number of Active Subscribers used in the ARPU calculation of NTT DOCOMO is as below.

FY Results: Sum of number of Active Subscribers for each month from April to March

Active Subscribers = (number of subscribers at end of previous month + number of subscribers at end of current month)/2.

 

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The fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 compared with the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013

Telecommunications Circuit Facilities

In order to provide high-quality telecommunications services, NTT Group owns and operates a wide range of telecommunications circuit facilities. The following table lists the number of lines, circuits, channels or subscribers, as the case may be, for NTT Group’s major services as of March 31, 2013 and March 31, 2014:

(Thousands, except for Public Telephones)

 

     As of Mar. 31,
2013
     As of Mar. 31,
2014
     Change     Percent Change  

Telephone Subscriber Lines(1)

     25,042         23,000         (2,043     (8.2 )% 

NTT East

     12,289         11,272         (1,017     (8.3 )% 

NTT West

     12,753         11,727         (1,026     (8.0 )% 

INS-Net(2)

     3,724         3,366         (358     (9.6 )% 

NTT East

     1,914         1,719         (195     (10.2 )% 

NTT West

     1,810         1,647         (163     (9.0 )% 

Telephone Subscriber Lines + INS-Net

     28,766         26,366         (2,401     (8.3 )% 

NTT East

     14,203         12,992         (1,211     (8.5 )% 

NTT West

     14,563         13,374         (1,189     (8.2 )% 

Public Telephones

     210,448         195,514         (14,934     (7.1 )% 

NTT East

     100,564         93,424         (7,140     (7.1 )% 

NTT West

     109,884         102,090         (7,794     (7.1 )% 

FLET’S ISDN

     127         109         (18     (14.1 )% 

NTT East

     58         48         (10     (16.7 )% 

NTT West

     69         61         (8     (12.0 )% 

FLET’S ADSL

     1,848         1,483         (365     (19.7 )% 

NTT East

     858         667         (191     (22.2 )% 

NTT West

     990         816         (174     (17.6 )% 

FLET’S Hikari(3)

     17,300         18,050         750        4.3

NTT East

     9,750         10,187         437        4.5

NTT West

     7,550         7,863         313        4.1

FLET’S Hikari Light

     661         875         214        32.4

NTT East

     437         542         105        24.1

NTT West

     224         333         109        48.6

Hikari Denwa

     15,169         16,256         1,087        7.2

NTT East

     8,085         8,694         610        7.5

NTT West

     7,084         7,562         477        6.7

Conventional Leased Circuit Services

     260         250         (10     (3.8 )% 

NTT East

     128         122         (6     (4.5 )% 

NTT West

     132         128         (4     (3.2 )% 

High Speed Digital Services

     152         144         (8     (5.3 )% 

NTT East

     80         74         (5     (6.8 )% 

NTT West

     72         69         (3     (3.8 )% 

NTT Group Major ISPs(4)

     11,611         11,466         (145     (1.3 )% 

OCN

     8,207         8,155         (53     (0.6 )% 

Plala

     3,071         2,974         (97     (3.2 )% 

Hikari TV

     2,453         2,823         370        15.1

FLET’S TV Transmission Services

     1,003         1,161         158        15.7

NTT East

     714         802         87        12.2

NTT West

     289         359         70        24.3

Mobile(5)

     61,536         63,105         1,569        2.6

LTE (“Xi”)

     11,566         21,965         10,399        89.9

FOMA(6)

     49,970         41,140         (8,830     (17.7 )% 

sp-mode

     18,285         23,781         5,497        30.1

i-mode

     32,688         26,415         (6,273     (19.2 )% 

 

(1) Number of Telephone Subscriber Lines is the total of individual lines and central station lines (including lines under the Subscriber Telephone Light Plan).

 

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(2) INS-Net includes INS-Net 64 and INS-Net 1500. In terms of the number of channels, transmission rate, and line use rate (base rate), INS-Net 1500 is in all cases roughly ten times greater than INS-Net 64. For this reason, one INS-Net 1500 subscription is calculated as ten INS-Net 64 subscriptions (including INS-Net 64 Lite Plan subscriptions).

 

(3) Number of FLET’S Hikari subscribers includes subscribers to “B FLET’S,” “FLET’S Hikari Next,” “FLET’S Hikari Light” and “FLET’S Hikari WiFi Access” provided by NTT East, and subscribers to “B FLET’S,” “FLET’S Hikari Premium,” “FLET’S Hikari Mytown,” “FLET’S Hikari Next,” “FLET’S Hikari Light” and “FLET’S Hikari WiFi Access” provided by NTT West.

 

(4) NTT Group Major ISPs includes WAKWAK and InfoSphere, in addition to OCN and Plala.

 

(5) Number of Mobile (including FOMA) service subscribers includes communication module service subscribers.

 

(6) Effective March 3, 2008, FOMA services became mandatory for subscription to “2in1” services. Such FOMA service subscriptions to “2in1” services are included in the number of Mobile service subscribers and also in the number of FOMA service subscribers.

Operating Results

 

     Year Ended March 31,              
     2013     2014     Change     Percent Change  
     (in billions of yen)        

Operating revenues:

     10,700.7        10,925.2        224.4        2.1

Fixed voice related services(1)

     1,712.9        1,578.9        (133.9     (7.8 )% 

Mobile voice related services(1)

     1,257.5        1,052.6        (204.9     (16.3 )% 

IP/Packet communications services(1)

     3,712.8        3,711.9        (0.9     (0.0 )% 

Sales of telecommunications equipment

     844.9        969.7        124.8        14.8

System integration(1)

     2,010.0        2,275.0        265.1        13.2

Other(1)

     1,162.8        1,337.0        174.3        15.0

Operating expenses

     9,498.8        9,711.5        212.7        2.2

Operating income

     1,202.0        1,213.7        11.7        1.0

Other income (expenses)(2)

     (4.3     80.5        84.9        —    

Income before income taxes and equity in earnings (losses) of affiliated companies(2)

     1,197.6        1,294.2        96.5        8.1

Income tax expense (benefit)(2)

     474.0        486.5        12.6        2.7

Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliated companies(2)

     (16.1     (50.8     (34.7     —    

Net income(2)

     707.6        756.9        49.3        7.0

Less—net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

     185.7        171.4        (14.3     (7.7 )% 

Net income attributable to NTT(2)

     521.9        585.5        63.5        12.2

 

(1) Beginning April 1, 2013, in connection with NTT Group’s then-current state of business and initiatives such as efforts to expand into new business areas in the mobile communications business, NTT reclassified, among other things, part of its “Mobile voice related services revenues” and “IP/Packet communications services revenues” as “Other revenues,” and part of its “Other revenues” as “System integration revenues.” Results for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013 reflect such reclassification.

 

(2) As a result of the application of the equity method for NTT Group’s investment in Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company from the beginning of the three months ended June 30, 2013, the above figures for “Other income (expenses),” “Income before income taxes and equity in earnings (losses) of affiliated companies,” “Income tax expenses,” “Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliated companies,” “Net income,” and “Net income attributable to NTT” for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013 have been revised retrospectively. For details, see Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Operating Revenues

NTT Group’s operating revenues are divided into six service categories, comprised of fixed voice related services, mobile voice related services, IP/packet communications services, sales of telecommunications equipment, system integration and other services.

 

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Operating revenues in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 increased 2.1% from the previous fiscal year to ¥10,925.2 billion. This increase was due to such factors as an increase in handset sales revenues resulting from an increase in smartphone sales, an increase in system integration revenues in conjunction with an increase in overseas sales, partially offset by a continued decline in voice related revenues.

Operating revenues for each service category for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 are summarized as follows:

Fixed Voice Related Services

NTT Group’s fixed voice related services include a portion of the services it provides in the regional communications business segment and long distance and international communications business segment, such as telephone subscriber lines, INS-Net, conventional leased circuits and high speed digital.

Fixed voice related revenues for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 decreased 7.8% from the previous fiscal year to ¥1,578.9 billion, accounting for 14.5% of total operating revenues. This was due to a continued decline in the number of subscriptions for telephone subscriber lines and INS-Net caused by the increasing popularity of mobile phones, competition with optical IP telephones and fixed line services provided by other businesses.

Mobile Voice Related Services

Mobile voice related services include a portion of the services NTT Group provides in the mobile communications business segment, such as LTE (“Xi”) and FOMA.

Mobile voice related revenues for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 decreased 16.3% from the previous fiscal year to ¥1,052.6 billion, accounting for 9.6% of total operating revenues. This was due to a decrease in voice ARPU arising from a decrease in billable MOU and the penetration of the “Monthly Support” discount program in conjunction with increased smartphone sales, despite an increase in revenues resulting from an increase in Mobile Phone Protection & Delivery Service subscriptions. For details of voice ARPU, see “—Segment Information—The fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 compared with the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013—Mobile Communications Business Segment.” MOU refers to the average monthly minutes of use per subscriber.

IP/Packet Communications Services

NTT Group’s IP/packet communications services include a portion of the services it provides in the regional communications business segment, such as FLET’S Hikari and FLET’S ADSL, and a portion of the services it provides in the long distance and international communications business segment, such as IP-VPN, wide area Ethernet and OCN, as well as a portion of the services it provides in the mobile communications business segment, such as LTE (“Xi”) and FOMA packet communications services.

In the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014, revenues from IP/packet communications services decreased very slightly from the previous fiscal year to ¥3,711.9 billion, accounting for 34.0% of total operating revenues. In spite of increased subscriptions for FLET’S Hikari and Hikari Denwa in the regional communications business segment and an increase in the number of smartphone users in the mobile communications business segment, revenues decreased slightly due to factors such as the migration to low-priced services in the long distance and international communications business segment and the impact of “Monthly Support” discount programs in the mobile communications business segment.

 

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Sales of Telecommunications Equipment

This category includes a portion of the services NTT Group provides in the regional communications business segment and the mobile communications business segment.

In the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014, revenues from telecommunications equipment sales increased 14.8% from the previous fiscal year to ¥969.7 billion, accounting for 8.9% of total operating revenues. This increase was due to steady sales of handsets such as smartphones in the mobile communications business segment.

System integration

NTT Group’s system integration services include its data communications business segment and a portion of the services it provides in the long distance and international communications business segment and the regional communications business segment.

In the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014, revenues from system integration increased 13.2% from the previous fiscal year to ¥2,275.0 billion, accounting for 20.8% of total operating revenues. This increase was due to factors such as an increase in overseas sales.

Other

Other services principally comprise building maintenance, real estate rentals, systems development, leasing activities and research and development.

In the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014, revenues from other services increased 15.0% from the previous fiscal year to ¥1,337.0 billion, accounting for 12.2% of total operating revenues. This increase was due mainly to an increase in revenues associated with operations in new business sectors in the mobile communications business segment and an increase in revenues from the real estate business and construction and electricity businesses.

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 increased 2.2% from the previous fiscal year to ¥9,711.5 billion. The reasons for the increase are discussed below. Personnel expenses and expenses for purchase of goods and services and other expenses below are included in cost of services, cost of equipment sold, cost of system integration, and selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of income.

Personnel Expenses

Personnel expenses in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 increased 1.3% from the previous fiscal year to ¥2,158.6 billion. This increase was mainly due to the effect of exchange rate fluctuations on overseas subsidiaries.

Expenses for Purchase of Goods and Services and Other Expenses

In the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014, cost of services and equipment sold and selling, general and administrative expenses collectively increased 4.6% from the previous fiscal year to ¥5,259.5 billion. Improving operational efficiency reduced expenses in the regional communications business segment, long distance and international communications business segment and mobile communications business segment. However, overall expenses increased compared with the previous fiscal year as a result of, among other things, an increase of ¥21.0 billion in the wholesale unit prices of communications handsets resulting from the expansion of smartphone sales in the mobile communications business segment and the effect of exchange rate fluctuations on overseas subsidiaries.

 

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Depreciation and Amortization Expenses

Depreciation and amortization expenses in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 decreased 1.0% from the previous fiscal year to ¥1,880.3 billion. This decrease was mainly due to a reduction in investments as a result of making more efficient capital investments and a reduction of ¥23.3 billion as a result of the revision of the expected useful life of metal cables.

Operating Income

As a result of the foregoing, operating income for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 was ¥1,213.7 billion, an increase of 1.0% over the previous fiscal year.

Other Operating Revenues and Expenses

Other Income (Expenses)

Other income for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 was ¥80.5 billion, compared to other expenses of ¥4.3 billion in the previous fiscal year. This was mainly due to a gain of ¥60.0 billion resulting from the exchange of NTT’s leasehold interest for the right to receive part of the building it will occupy and a decrease of ¥8.3 billion in loss on valuation of securities from the previous fiscal year.

Income before Income Taxes and Equity in Earnings (Losses) of Affiliated Companies

Net income before income taxes in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 increased 8.1% from the previous fiscal year to ¥1,294.2 billion for the reasons discussed above.

Income Tax Expense (Benefit)

In the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014, income tax expense increased 2.7% from the previous fiscal year to ¥486.5 billion. The increase was due to the Act on the Partial Revision of the Income Tax Act and other Acts, enacted on March 20, 2014, which changed, among other things, the tax rates for consolidated fiscal years beginning on or after April 1, 2014. Due to this change, the statutory tax rate applied to the calculation of the amount of deferred tax assets and liabilities decreased from approximately 38% to approximately 36%. As a result, net deferred income taxes decreased by ¥12.6 billion, which amount is included in “Income tax expenses (benefit): Deferred” in the consolidated statements of income. The actual effective tax rate was 39.57% in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013, and 37.59% in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014. The decrease in the actual effective tax rate was due to, among other things, the decrease in expenses that are not deductible for tax purposes, the net change in valuation allowance, and equity in earnings (losses) of affiliated companies.

Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliated companies

Equity in losses of affiliated companies for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 were ¥50.8 billion (compared to ¥16.1 billion for the previous fiscal year). This was due to, among other things, an increase in impairment losses for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 to ¥51.2 billion (compared to ¥6.8 billion for the previous fiscal year) recognized on “Investment in affiliated companies” related to Indian telecommunications carrier TTSL.

Net Income and Net Income Attributable to NTT

As a result, net income for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 was ¥756.9 billion, an increase of 7.0% from the previous fiscal year. Net income attributable to NTT (excluding the portion attributable to noncontrolling interests) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 was ¥585.5 billion, an increase of 12.2% from the previous fiscal year.

 

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Segment Information

NTT Group has five business segments: regional communications business, long distance and international communications business, mobile communications business, data communications business and other business. (For further details, see Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.)

The regional communications business segment comprises fixed voice related services, IP/packet communications services, sales of telecommunications equipment, system integration services and other services.

The long distance and international communications business segment principally comprises fixed voice related services, IP/packet communications services, system integration services and other services.

The mobile communications business segment comprises mobile voice related services, IP/packet communications services, sales of telecommunications equipment and other services.

The data communications business segment comprises system integration services.

The other business segment principally comprises building maintenance, real estate rentals, systems development, leasing activities and other services related to research and development.

 

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An overview of the operational results for each business segment is as follows:

The fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 compared with the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013

 

       Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2014    

Service Types

   Operating
Revenues
(¥ million)
     Comparison
with Previous
Fiscal Year (%)
 

Regional communications business

   Fixed voice related services      1,519,643         (7.9 )% 
   IP/packet communications services      1,516,483         1.5
   System integration services      165,168         11.2
   Other services      371,016         1.3
  

Total (including intersegment revenues)

     3,572,310         (2.4 )% 
  

Intersegment

     442,948         (2.8 )% 
  

Total (excluding intersegment revenues)

     3,129,362         (2.3 )% 

Long distance and international communications business

   Fixed voice related services      347,296         (7.2 )% 
   IP/packet communications services      373,340         (1.2 )% 
   System integration services      919,340         23.7
   Other services      169,926         4.7
  

Total (including intersegment revenues)

     1,809,902         9.2
  

Intersegment

     96,463         (6.6 )% 
  

Total (excluding intersegment revenues)

     1,713,439         10.2

Mobile communications business

   Mobile voice related services      1,065,196         (16.4 )% 
   IP/packet communications services      1,890,592         (0.2 )% 
   Other services      1,505,415         15.7
  

Total (including intersegment revenues)

     4,461,203         (0.2 )% 
  

Intersegment

     38,589         (1.3 )% 
  

Total (excluding intersegment revenues)

     4,422,614         (0.2 )% 

Data communications business

   System integration services (including intersegment revenues)      1,343,855         3.1
  

Intersegment

     122,374         (18.1 )% 
  

Total (excluding intersegment revenues)

     1,221,481         5.8

Other business

   Other services (including intersegment revenues)      1,328,526         6.1
  

Intersegment

     890,248         (0.6 )% 
  

Total (excluding intersegment revenues)

     438,278         22.9

Total Consolidated Operating Revenues

     10,925,174         2.1

 

(1) Beginning April 1, 2013, in connection with NTT Group’s then-current state of business and initiatives such as efforts to expand into new business areas in the mobile communications business and other businesses, NTT reclassified, among other things, part of its “Mobile voice related services revenues” and “IP/packet communications services revenues” as “Other services revenues,” and part of its “Other services revenues” as “System integration services revenues.” Results for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013 (used to calculate the figures in the “Comparison with Previous Fiscal Year” column) reflect such reclassification.

 

Note: The above figures do not include consumption tax or other taxes.

(1) Regional Communications Business Segment

Despite an increase in IP/packet communications revenues attributable to the increase in “FLET’S Hikari” and “Hikari Denwa” subscriptions, operating revenues in the regional communications business segment for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 decreased to ¥3,572.3 billion (a decrease of 2.4% from the previous fiscal year) due to a decrease in fixed voice related revenues resulting from the decline in fixed-line telephone subscriptions. On the other hand, due to a decrease in personnel expenses as a result of a decline in the number of employees in this segment, as well as a ¥23.3 billion decrease in depreciation and amortization expenses from the revision of

 

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the expected useful life of metal cables, operating expenses decreased to ¥3,445.1 billion in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 (a decrease of 3.4% from the previous fiscal year).

As a result, segment operating income in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 increased 36.9% to ¥127.2 billion.

The state of operations for each service in the regional communications business segment was as follows:

(Fixed Voice Related Services)

In conjunction with the shift in customer needs from subscriber line telephones and INS-Net to mobile phones, IP telephones, and similar devices, the number of subscriptions for telephone subscriber services fell to 23,000 thousand as of March 31, 2014, a decrease of 2,043 thousand subscribers from the previous fiscal year.

As a result of the continued contraction in demand for INS-Net services due to the spread of broadband access services, the number of INS-Net subscribers as of March 31, 2014 fell to 3,366 thousand, a decrease of 358 thousand INS-Net subscribers from the previous fiscal year.

The numbers of fixed-line telephone and INS-Net subscriptions were as follows:

 

     As of March 31,               
     2013      2014      Change     Percent Change  
     (in thousands)        

NTT East:

          

Telephone subscriptions

     12,289         11,272         (1,017     (8.3 )% 

INS-Net subscriptions

     1,914         1,719         (195     (10.2 )% 

NTT West:

          

Telephone subscriptions

     12,753         11,727         (1,026     (8.0 )% 

INS-Net subscriptions

     1,810         1,647         (163     (9.0 )% 

Telephone subscriber line ARPU in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 was ¥2,400 for NTT East and ¥2,380 for NTT West, a decrease of ¥50 (2.0%) and ¥30 (1.2%), respectively, from the corresponding figures in the previous fiscal year. INS-Net subscriber line ARPU in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 was ¥5,030 for NTT East and ¥4,890 for NTT West. INS-Net subscriber line ARPU for NTT East decreased ¥30 (0.6%) but remained unchanged for NTT West from the previous fiscal year. As a result, aggregate fixed-line ARPU (telephone subscriber lines plus INS-Net subscriber lines) was ¥2,760 for NTT East and ¥2,690 for NTT West, a decrease of ¥50 (1.8%) and ¥30 (1.1%), respectively, from the corresponding figures in the previous fiscal year. This decline was due to the shift by high-volume users to IP telephone services and the migration of users from fixed-line services to mobile phone services.

See “—Segment Information—The fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 compared with the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013—Footnote 2, ‘ARPU: Average monthly revenue per unit’” and “—Segment Information—The fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 compared with the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013—Footnote 3, ‘Method of calculating ARPU—(a) NTT East, NTT West’” for a description of how ARPU is calculated for telephone subscriber and INS-Net services.

 

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The numbers of registrations to MYLINE, a phone company selection service, were as follows:

 

    As of March 31,        
    2013     2014     Change  

Intra-city:

     

NTT East

    54.9     55.7     0.8

NTT West

    52.2     52.9     0.7

NTT Communications

    33.9     33.3     (0.6 )% 

Intra-prefectural and inter-city:

     

NTT East

    51.2     52.0     0.8

NTT West

    48.8     49.7     0.9

NTT Communications

    34.8     34.2     (0.6 )% 

Access charges for functions subject to calculation under the LRIC Methodology (which is applied to the majority of public network usage) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 were ¥5.29 per three minutes for GC interconnection charges and ¥6.81 per three minutes for IC interconnection charges. Revenues (including subsidies to NTT East and NTT West) from these access charges for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 decreased by ¥9.2 billion from the previous fiscal year to ¥63.2 billion for NTT East and by ¥9.7 billion from the previous fiscal year to ¥70.4 billion for NTT West.

Although NTT offers dedicated fixed-rate, high-quality access services for business users, as a result of the provision of services such as “Business Ether WIDE,” which utilizes the NGN, and other Ethernet services suited to low-cost and highly reliable local area network (“LAN”) communications, as well as the shift in demand for IP system services such as “FLET’S VPN WIDE,” the decreasing trend in the number of subscribers to leased circuit services is continuing.

The number of subscriptions for leased circuit services in the regional communications business segment was as follows:

 

     As of March 31,               
     2013      2014      Change     Percent Change  
     (in thousands)        

NTT East:

          

Conventional leased circuits

     128         122         (6     (4.5 )% 

High-speed digital circuits

     80         74         (5     (6.8 )% 

NTT West:

          

Conventional leased circuits

     132         128         (4     (3.2 )% 

High-speed digital circuits

     72         69         (3     (3.8 )% 

(IP/Packet Communications Services)

In the regional communications business segment, NTT Group worked to build a solid revenue base by enhancing and expanding FLET’S Hikari and other broadband services. Specifically, NTT East began offering its corporate customers “FLET’S Hikari Next Prio,” a priority bandwidth optical broadband service that offers a maximum communication speed of around 1 Gbps as well as stable and reliable communications. NTT East also began offering “FLET’S Hikari” users “FLET’S Azukeru,” an online storage service for photos and video, which enables sharing and viewing of the data. NTT West launched “Donto Wari,” a service aimed at promoting new subscriptions to “FLET’S Hikari” by providing further discounts on monthly charges after applying “Hikari Motto2 Wari,” for a maximum of two years from commencement of use of FLET’S Hikari. In addition, NTT West introduced “FLET’S Smart Pay,” a simple and easy-to-install payment service for stores that use “FLET’S Hikari,” which aims to help stimulate business in downtown stores by further spreading and increasing the use of

 

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non-cash payments. As a result, the number of subscriptions to “FLET’S Hikari” as of March 31, 2014 was 18,050 thousand, an increase of 750 thousand subscriptions over the previous fiscal year.

Moreover, the number of Hikari Denwa subscriptions increased by 1,087 thousand channels from the previous fiscal year to 16,256 thousand channels, and the number of FLET’S TV subscriptions increased by 158 thousand over the previous fiscal year to 1,161 thousand subscriptions.

The numbers of subscriptions for “FLET’S Hikari,” “FLET’S ADSL,” “Hikari Denwa,” the IP telephone service, and “FLET’S TV Transmission Service” were as follows:

 

     As of March 31,               
     2013      2014      Change     Percent Change  
     (in thousands)        

NTT East:

          

FLET’S Hikari(1)

     9,750         10,187         437        4.5

FLET’S ADSL

     858         667         (191     (22.2 )% 

Hikari Denwa (channels)

     8,085         8,694         610        7.5

FLET’S TV Transmission Service

     714         802         87        12.2

NTT West:

          

FLET’S Hikari(1)

     7,550         7,863         313        4.1

FLET’S ADSL

     990         816         (174     (17.6 )% 

Hikari Denwa (channels)

     7,084         7,562         477        6.7

FLET’S TV Transmission Service

     289         359         70        24.3

 

(1) FLET’S Hikari includes B FLET’S, FLET’S Hikari Next, FLET’S Hikari Light and FLET’S Hikari WiFi Access provided by NTT East, and B FLET’S, FLET’S Hikari Premium, FLET’S Hikari Mytown, FLET’S Hikari Next, FLET’S Hikari Light and FLET’S Hikari WiFi Access provided by NTT West.

FLET’S Hikari ARPU for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 was ¥5,660 for NTT East and ¥5,830 for NTT West, ¥200 (3.4%) and ¥50 (0.9%) lower, respectively, than in the previous fiscal year. The main reason for these decreases was the expansion of cheaper rate plans and discount services.

See “—Segment Information—The fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 compared with the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013—Footnote 3, ‘Method of calculating ARPU—(a) NTT East, NTT West’” for a description of how FLET’S Hikari ARPU is calculated.

(System Integration Services)

NTT Group conducted efficient and effective business activities in the fields of medicine, education and governmental services to enable regional customers to utilize ICT, primarily by providing solutions tailored to specific businesses based on industry characteristics and trends.

In the area of medicine, NTT Group began offering “Biz Hikari Cloud Future Clinic 21 Warp,” an electronic medical records service for clinics. This service helps reduce initial implementation costs, while allowing medical clinics to enter data in electronic records easily and quickly through icon operations using a pen and hand writing.

In the area of education, NTT Group began offering “Biz Hikari Cloud Omakase Komu,” a safe, reliable and simple school administration support service(1) for elementary and junior high schools, which eliminates the need to purchase servers and other hardware by providing school administrative applications from NTT East’s highly secure cloud environment.

 

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In the area of governmental services, NTT Group began offering “Biz Hikari Cloud Anpi Kakunin Service,” a service that allows officials to verify government workers’ well-being during major disasters, and added the “Local Disaster Preparedness Hazard Map” to the “Biz Hikari Cloud” service lineup, allowing local residents to easily create and share local disaster preparedness maps.

 

(1) 

A system that allows staff at elementary and junior high schools to conduct administrative activities in the staffroom using information communication technology (“ICT”). Information that was previously recorded by hand (student information and grades, etc.) is instead added to a database, which enables the centralization of processes and improves efficiency.

(Other Services)

With respect to sales of telecommunications equipment, a part of other services, NTT Group worked to expand its product lines for home telecommunications, business telephones for corporate customers, digital multi-function devices and business fax machines, and to develop and provide attractive products.

(2) Long Distance and International Communications Business Segment

Despite a decline in fixed voice related revenues, operating revenues in the long distance and international communications business segment for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 increased to ¥1,809.9 billion (an increase of 9.2% from the previous fiscal year) due to, among other things, the depreciation of the yen and an increase in system integration revenues as a result of an increase in overseas sales and in the number of consolidated subsidiaries. On the other hand, despite improved operating efficiency, operating expenses for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 increased to ¥1,682.4 billion (an increase of 9.5% from the previous fiscal year) due to the depreciation of the yen, an increase in revenue-linked expenses and an increase in the number of consolidated subsidiaries.

As a result, segment operating income in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 was ¥127.5 billion (an increase of 5.1% from the previous fiscal year).

Operations for each service in the long distance and international communications business segment were as follows:

(Fixed Voice Related Services)

NTT Group continued to respond to a variety of customer needs for telephone services through domestic and international telephone services such as “PL@TINUM LINE.”

The following table shows the market share of MYLINE registrations in the long distance and international communications business segment:

 

     As of March 31,        
     2013     2014     Change  

Inter-prefectural

     81.9     82.3     0.4

International

     80.6     80.9     0.3

(IP/Packet Communications Services)

For individual customers, in August 2013, NTT Group re-launched “OCN Mobile Entry d LTE 980,” a mobile data communications service, as “OCN Mobile ONE,” an LTE-compatible service, with five alternative plans based on levels of data volume and transmission speeds, offered by NTT DOCOMO. To further facilitate customer access to this service, in December 2013, NTT became the first company to sell the service through convenience stores in Japan. NTT Group also worked to expand functions and enhance the quality of the 050IP phone app “050 plus.”

 

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For corporate customers, NTT Group established and commenced operation of new platforms (telecommunications facilities) for its “Arcstar UCaas,” a cloud-based unified communications service for seamless domestic and international business in Europe and the U.S., in response to customers’ increased need to conduct seamless global communications, even while overseas.

The following table shows the number of subscriptions for IP/packet communications-related services in the long distance and international communications business segment:

 

     As of March 31               
     2013      2014      Change     Percent change  
     (in thousands)        

IP-VPN

     105         87         (17     (16.7 )% 

OCN (ISP)

     8,207         8,155         (53     (0.6 )% 

Plala (ISP)*

     3,071         2,974         (97     (3.2 )% 

Hikari TV*

     2,453         2,823         370        15.1

 

* Revenues from Plala and Hikari TV are included in “Other services” of the Long distance and international communications business described in the operational results table for each business segment above.

(System Integration Services)

In its cloud migration services, where NTT Group offers one-stop services from systems consulting to design, engineering and systems migration for the transition to cloud computing, NTT Group actively promoted the globalization and increased sophistication of its services both in Japan and overseas through the provision of core systems solutions with cloud-based ERP packages. In addition, NTT Group began offering the world’s first cloud migration service, “On-premises connection,” providing support for smooth migration from an on-premises environment to cloud networks, through the business cloud service “Biz Hosting Enterprise Cloud.”

With respect to global business, NTT Group endeavored to respond to the needs of multinational companies by enhancing its total, high value-added ICT services that combine network integration with data center, security and server management services. Specifically, NTT Group provided global one-stop, comprehensive ICT services, primarily through Dimension Data, which has offices in 58 countries around the world.

In 2013 Dimension Data announced an ambitious five-year strategy and updated its operating model. This included the establishment of three service units: System Integration Services, IT Outsourcing, and ITaaS. These are focused on driving efficiencies and effectiveness into the company’s offerings, and enhancing its ability to cater to client consumption-model preferences. Dimension Data also established five business units, which expand on the capabilities of its previous business lines to include a broader business focus and greater client relevance. These business units are Networking, Communications, Data Centres, End-user Computing, and Security. At the same time, the company introduced a matrix structure within its System Integration Services business, to support its growth aspirations and drive greater speed, focus and accountability.

The company’s execution priorities include responding to changes in the market, profitably growing its existing System Integration Services business, further improving the client experience and operational effectiveness, and building on the company’s culture.

During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014, Dimension Data prioritized the following initiatives: enhancing the company’s remote maintenance services, which are a key source of revenue; improving market competitiveness and gaining market share in networking, security, and communications; driving the company’s technology value proposition; and aggressively expanding into IT outsourcing.

(3) Mobile Communications Business Segment

Despite an increase in revenues from communications handset sales as a result of robust smartphone sales efforts, and an increase in revenues associated with operations in new business sectors, operating revenues for the

 

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mobile communications business segment for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 decreased to ¥4,461.2 billion (a decrease of 0.2% from the previous fiscal year) due to a decline in voice revenues as a result of the impact of “Monthly Support” discount programs and a decrease in billable MOU. On the other hand, in spite of the promotion of cost-cutting efforts, operating expenses for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 increased to ¥3,644.0 billion (an increase of 0.3% from the previous fiscal year) due to an increase in depreciation and amortization expenses from the expansion of LTE (“Xi”) service base stations and the enhancement of network facilities, an increase in the wholesale unit prices of handsets in conjunction with the increase in smartphone sales and an increase in expenses associated with operations in new business sectors.

As a result, segment operating income was ¥817.2 billion (a decrease of 2.3% from the previous fiscal year).

Operations for each service in the mobile communications business segment were as follows:

(Mobile Voice Related Services / IP/Packet Communications Services)

In the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014, NTT Group worked toward strengthening its competitiveness and providing attractive services in new business sectors through comprehensive improvements to its mobile coverage. Specifically, NTT Group worked to strengthen its total capability in the four areas of “devices (handsets),” “networks,” “services” and “billing and sales channel plans,” while further expanding new business sectors and entering into partnerships and collaborations in various fields including health and education.

As of March 31, 2014, the number of subscriptions to NTT DOCOMO mobile phone services increased by 1.57 million (2.6%), from 61.54 million at the end of the previous fiscal year to 63.11 million subscriptions. In mobile phone services, the number of LTE (“Xi”) service subscriptions increased from 11.57 million as of the end of the previous fiscal year to 21.97 million as of March 31, 2014, an increase of 10.40 million subscriptions (89.9%), and the number of FOMA service subscriptions decreased by 8.83 million (17.7%) to 41.14 million subscriptions, from 49.97 million as of the end of the previous fiscal year.

NTT DOCOMO is aiming to expand the use of smartphones. As a result of efforts such as launching new services and new billing plans, NTT DOCOMO’s smartphone sales increased 3.7% from the previous year to 13.78 million smartphones sold.

The following table shows the number of mobile communications subscriptions and estimated market share:

 

     As of March 31,              
     2013     2014     Change     Percent Change  
     (in thousands)        

Mobile phone services(1)

     61,536        63,105        1,569        2.6

LTE (“Xi”) services

     11,566        21,965        10,399        89.9

FOMA services(1)

     49,970        41,140        (8,830     (17.7 )% 

Estimated mobile phone market share(1)(2)

     45.2     43.8     (1.4 )%      —     

sp-mode services

     18,285        23,781        5,497        30.1

i-mode services

     32,688        26,415        (6,273     (19.2 )% 

 

(1) Includes communications module service subscriptions. Effective March 3, 2008, use of the “2in1” service (a multiple number service that makes more than one phone number available for use on one mobile phone) is conditioned on conclusion of an additional FOMA agreement, and the number of mobile phone service subscriptions and FOMA subscriptions includes such additional FOMA contracts.
(2) Market share data is based on number of subscriptions of other carriers, which is computed based on figures released by the Telecommunications Carriers Association.

Mobile phone service MOU decreased from 117 minutes as of March 31, 2013 to 106 minutes as of March 31, 2014. Within the MOU amount, billable MOU, indicating the number of call minutes per bill, decreased from 89 minutes in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013 to 74 minutes in the fiscal year ended

 

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March 31, 2014 due to the provision of free calling between family members and alternative methods for voice communications, such as Voice-over-Internet protocol (“VoIP”) services and social networking services (“SNS”).

Aggregate ARPU of mobile phone services decreased by ¥290 (5.9%) to ¥4,610 in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014, from ¥4,900 in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013. This was due to a decrease in voice ARPU, which decreased by ¥350 (19.9%) to ¥1,410 in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014, from ¥1,760 in the previous fiscal year, as a result of the impact of the “Monthly Support” discount program in conjunction with stronger sales of smartphones, and a decrease in billable MOU. Packet ARPU also decreased by ¥20 (0.7%) to ¥2,700 in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014, from ¥2,720 in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013, mainly as a result of the impact of the “Monthly Support” discount program. Smart ARPU increased by ¥80 (19.0%) to ¥500 from ¥420 due to, among other things, an increase in revenues from “dmarket” services.

See “—Segment Information—The fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 compared with the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013—Footnote 1, ‘MOU (average monthly minutes of use per unit): Average communication time per subscription’” at the end of this item for a description of how MOU is calculated. See “—Segment Information—The fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 compared with the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013—Footnote 3, ‘Method of calculating ARPU—(b) NTT DOCOMO’” at the end of this item for a description of how ARPU is calculated for mobile phone services.

The following table shows data regarding MOU and ARPU of mobile phone services:

 

     As of March 31,               
     2013      2014      Change     Percent Change  

MOU (minutes)

     117         106         (11     (9.4 )% 

Billable MOU (minutes)

     89         74         (15     (16.9 )% 

Aggregate ARPU

   ¥ 4,900       ¥ 4,610       ¥ (290     (5.9 )% 

Voice ARPU

     1,760         1,410         (350     (19.9 )% 

Packet ARPU

     2,720         2,700         (20     (0.7 )% 

Smart ARPU

     420         500         80        19.0

The portion of FOMA revenues attributable to IP/packet related services is recorded under IP/packet communications service revenues.

(Other Services)

With respect to sales of telecommunications equipment, a part of other services, NTT DOCOMO further enhanced its sizeable handset lineup in an effort to meet the diverse needs of a broad range of customers. To meet customers’ wide-ranging needs, in addition to launching sales of the iPhone*, NTT DOCOMO launched new smartphones equipped with designs and features targeted toward a broader user base, from kids to seniors, such as “Raku-Raku SMARTPHONE” and “Smartphone for Junior.”

Revenues from sales of telecommunications equipment increased 15.0% from the previous fiscal year to ¥872.0 billion in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014, due to an increase in smartphone handset sales.

 

*

TM and © 2014 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. iPhone is a trademark of Apple Inc. The iPhone trademark is used under license from AIPHONE CO, Ltd.

(4) Data Communications Business Segment

Despite a decrease in revenues caused by the scaling down of existing large-scale systems, operating revenues in the data communications business segment for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 increased to

 

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¥1,343.9 billion (an increase of 3.1% from the previous fiscal year) due to, among other things, an increase in operating revenues of NTT’s overseas subsidiaries and the depreciation of the yen. On the other hand, operating expenses increased to ¥1,275.9 billion (an increase of 4.8% from the previous fiscal year) due to, among other things, the effects of an increase in unprofitable transactions and the depreciation of the yen.

As a result, segment operating income in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 decreased 20.9% from the previous fiscal year to ¥67.9 billion.

Major operations for each service in the data communications business segment were as follows:

The revenues of the Public & Financial IT Services Company, which provides IT services with high added value that support government, medicine, finance, settlement and other social infrastructure, were adversely impacted by the scaling down of existing large-scale systems and an increase in unprofitable transactions. Revenues from NTT Group’s enterprise IT services, which provide IT services with high added value to support such business activities as manufacturing, logistics, services, media, and communications, were adversely impacted by the scaling down of existing system and software development for customers and an increase in unprofitable transactions.

(5) Other Business Segment

In the other business segment, operating revenues for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 increased to ¥1,328.5 billion (an increase of 6.1% from the previous fiscal year), due to increased revenues in the finance business, increased revenues in the real estate business as a result of an increase in the number of apartments delivered and increased revenues in the construction and power businesses. On the other hand, operating expenses for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 increased to ¥1,272.4 billion (an increase of 6.2% from the previous fiscal year) due to, among other things, an increase in revenue-linked expenses.

As a result, segment operating income was ¥56.1 billion (an increase of 5.3% from the previous fiscal year).

(Reference) Geographic Sales Information

 

     As of March 31,               
     2013      2014      Change     Percent Change  
     (in billions of yen)        

Operating revenues

     10,700.7         10,925.2         224.4        2.1

Domestic(*)

     9,746.7         9,729.2         (17.5     (0.2 )% 

Foreign(*)

     954.1         1,196.0         241.9        25.4

 

(*) Figures are shown based on the geographic location of the services and products provided.

Domestic operating revenues for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 decreased to ¥9,729.2 billion (a decrease of 0.2% from the previous fiscal year), due to, among other things, a decrease in fixed voice related revenues. Foreign operating revenues for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 increased to ¥1,196.0 billion (an increase of 25.4% from the previous fiscal year), due to, among other things, an increase in the number of consolidated subsidiaries and the effect of exchange rate fluctuations.

Notes:

 

  1. MOU (average monthly minutes of use per unit): Average communication time per subscription

 

       The method of calculating the number of Active Subscribers when calculating MOU for NTT DOCOMO is as follows:

 

       FY Results: Sum of number of Active Subscribers for each month from April to March

 

       Active Subscribers = (number of subscribers at end of previous month + number of subscribers at end of current month)/2

 

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  2. ARPU: Average monthly revenue per unit

 

       Average monthly revenue per unit, or ARPU, is used to measure average monthly operating revenues attributable to each designated service on a per user basis. In the case of NTT Group’s fixed-line business, ARPU is calculated by dividing revenue items included in the operating revenues of NTT Group’s regional communications business segment (i.e., telephone subscriber lines, INS-Net and FLET’S Hikari) by the number of Active Subscribers to the relevant services. In the case of the mobile communications business, ARPU is calculated by dividing revenue items included in operating revenues from NTT Group’s mobile communications business segment, such as revenues from LTE (“Xi”) mobile phone services and FOMA mobile phone services, that are incurred consistently each month (i.e., basic monthly charges and voice/packet transmission charges), by the number of Active Subscribers to the relevant services. The calculation of these figures excludes revenues that are not representative of monthly average usage, such as telecommunications equipment sales, activation fees and universal service charges.

 

       NTT believes that its ARPU figures calculated in this way provide useful information regarding the monthly average usage of its subscribers. The revenue items included in the numerators of NTT Group’s ARPU figures are based on its financial results comprising its U.S. GAAP results of operations.

 

  3. Method of calculating ARPU

 

  (a) NTT East and NTT West

 

       NTT separately computes the following four categories of ARPU for the fixed-line business conducted by each of NTT East and NTT West, using the following measures:

 

   

Aggregate Fixed-line ARPU (Telephone Subscriber Lines + INS-Net Subscriber Lines): Calculated based on revenues from monthly charges and call charges for Telephone Subscriber Lines and INS-Net Subscriber Lines, which are included in operating revenues from Voice Transmission Services (excluding IP Services), and revenues from FLET’S ADSL and FLET’S ISDN, which are included in operating revenues from IP Services.

 

   

Telephone Subscriber Lines ARPU: Calculated based on revenues from monthly charges and call charges for Telephone Subscriber Lines and revenues from FLET’S ADSL.

 

   

INS-Net Subscriber Lines ARPU: Calculated based on revenues from monthly charges and call charges for INS-Net Subscriber Lines and revenues from FLET’S ISDN.

 

   

FLET’S Hikari ARPU: Calculated based on revenues from FLET’S Hikari (including FLET’S Hikari optional services), which are included in operating revenues from IP Services and Supplementary Business, and revenues from monthly charges, call charges and device connection charges for Hikari Denwa, which are included in operating revenues from IP Services.

(1) FLET’S Hikari includes B FLET’S, FLET’S Hikari Next, FLET’S Hikari Light and FLET’S Hikari WiFi Access provided by NTT East, and B FLET’S, FLET’S Hikari Premium, FLET’S Hikari Mytown, FLET’S Hikari Next, FLET’S Hikari Light and FLET’S Hikari WiFi Access provided by NTT West.

(2) Revenues from interconnection charges are excluded from the calculation of Aggregate Fixed-line ARPU (Telephone Subscriber Lines + INS-Net Subscriber Lines), Telephone Subscriber Lines ARPU, INS-Net Subscriber Lines ARPU, and FLET’S Hikari ARPU.

(3) For purposes of calculating Aggregate Fixed-line ARPU (Telephone Subscriber Lines + INS-Net Subscriber Lines), Telephone Subscriber Lines ARPU and INS-Net Subscriber Lines ARPU, the number of subscribers is determined using the number of lines for each service.

 

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(4) In terms of number of channels, transmission rate, and line use rate (base rate), INS-Net 1500 is in all cases roughly ten times greater than INS-Net 64. For this reason, one INS-Net 1500 subscription is calculated as ten INS-Net 64 subscriptions.

(5) For purposes of calculating FLET’S Hikari ARPU, number of subscribers is determined based on number of FLET’S Hikari subscribers (including B FLET’S, FLET’S Hikari Next, FLET’S Hikari Light and FLET’S Hikari WiFi Access provided by NTT East and B FLET’S, FLET’S Hikari Premium, FLET’S Hikari Mytown, FLET’S Hikari Next, FLET’S Hikari Light and FLET’S Hikari WiFi Access provided by NTT West).

(6) Number of Active Subscribers used in the ARPU calculation of NTT East and NTT West is as below:

FY Results: Sum of number of Active Subscribers for each month from April to March

Active Subscribers = (number of subscribers at end of previous month + number of subscribers at end of current month)/2

 

  (b) NTT DOCOMO

NTT computes ARPU for NTT DOCOMO as follows:

Mobile Aggregate ARPU = Voice ARPU + Packet ARPU + Smart ARPU.

(1) NTT DOCOMO’s Voice ARPU is based on operating revenues related to voice services, such as basic monthly charges and voice communication charges, and its Packet ARPU is based on operating revenues related to packet services, such as basic monthly charges, flat monthly fees and packet communication charges attributable to its LTE (“Xi”) and “FOMA” services, and its Smart ARPU is based on operating revenues from providing services incidental to LTE (“Xi”) and “FOMA” wireless communications services (content services-related revenues, fee collection agency commissions, handset warranty service revenues, advertising revenues, etc.).

(2) NTT DOCOMO first began using the Smart ARPU metric during the three months ended September 30, 2012. As a result, Smart ARPU has been included in Mobile Aggregate ARPU since that time. In addition, the following amounts (content services-related revenues) that were formerly included in Packet ARPU have been reclassified as Smart ARPU (80 yen out of Packet ARPU revenues for the year ended March 31, 2013).

(3) NTT DOCOMO’s ARPU and MOU calculation methods have been changed from the second quarter of the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015. Accordingly, the ARPU data for the results for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014, and the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013 have also been changed.

(4) Communications module service, phone number storage service, mail address storage service and docomo Business Transceiver subscribers and the revenues therefrom are not included in the calculations of Mobile Aggregate ARPU and MOU.

(5) Number of Active Subscribers used in the ARPU calculation of NTT DOCOMO is as below.

FY Results: Sum of number of Active Subscribers for each month from April to March

Active Subscribers = (number of subscribers at end of previous month + number of subscribers at end of current month)/2.

 

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

The fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 compared with the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014

Financing, Capital Resources and Use of Funds

Net cash provided by operating activities during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 amounted to ¥2,391.8 billion, a decrease of ¥336.1 billion from ¥2,727.9 billion in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014. This decrease was primarily the result of, among other things, the last day of the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013 having been a bank holiday, which resulted in the collection of a portion of telephone and certain other charges that had accrued during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013 being carried over to the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014, as well as a decrease in mobile voice-related services revenues due to the effect of the “Monthly Support” discount program and the new “Kakehodai & Pake-aeru” billing plan.

NTT Group used the net cash provided by operating activities mainly to acquire property, plant and equipment, repay interest-bearing debt and pay dividends.

Net cash used in investing activities during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 amounted to ¥1,868.6 billion, a decrease of ¥238.2 billion from ¥2,106.8 billion in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014. This decrease was due to, among other things, a ¥169.0 billion decrease in expenditures on acquisitions of subsidiaries and a ¥100.1 billion decrease in payments for property, plant and equipment and in intangible assets computed on a cash basis.

The decrease in payments for investments in property, plant and equipment and in intangible assets for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 resulted from, among other things, the integration of equipment and streamlining of our research and development items in the mobile communications business, in addition to reduced capital expenditures resulting from improved efficiency in opening new fiber-optic lines in the regional communications business. For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015, capital investments amounted to ¥1,817.5 billion on an accrual basis, of which ¥666.2 billion was invested in the regional communications business and ¥661.8 billion was invested in the mobile communications business.

Net cash used in financing activities during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 amounted to ¥678.0 billion, an increase of ¥55.6 billion from ¥622.4 billion in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014. The increase was due to, among other things, an increase of ¥169.3 billion in payments for the acquisition of shares of subsidiaries from noncontrolling interests, partially offset by a net increase of ¥100.8 billion in proceeds from the issuance of short-term and long-term debt. The capital raised from the issuance of long-term debt in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 includes ¥105.3 billion in net proceeds from corporate bond offerings and an aggregate of ¥510.1 billion in loans from financial institutions.

As of March 31, 2015, the total interest-bearing debt of NTT Group was ¥4,406.7 billion, an increase of ¥206.8 billion from March 31, 2014. The ratio of interest-bearing debt to shareholders’ equity stood at 50.8% as of March 31, 2015 (compared to 49.3% as of March 31, 2014). Interest-bearing debt comprises short-term debt and long-term debt, as shown in Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, as well as ¥17.2 billion in deposits received pursuant to depositary agreements.

NTT Group believes that the net cash it expects to generate from operating activities, financing made available to NTT Group from banks and other financial institutions and/or offerings of equity or debt securities in the capital markets will provide the requisite financial resources to meet NTT Group’s currently anticipated capital investment and expenditure needs and debt service requirements. Management believes NTT Group’s working capital is sufficient for its present requirements.

For the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016, NTT Group expects to make capital investments totaling ¥1,760.0 billion on an accrual basis, a decrease of ¥57.5 billion from the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015, due to, among other things, network simplification and improved efficiency in the opening of fiber-optic lines in the

 

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regional communications business, and improved efficiency in the construction of LTE base stations in the mobile communications business. The total amount of expected capital investments includes ¥631.0 billion by the regional communications business and ¥630.0 billion by the mobile communications business. The actual amount of capital investments may vary from expected levels, since capital investments may be influenced by trends in demand, the competitive environment and other factors. In addition, the actual amount of NTT Group’s funding will depend on its future performance, market conditions and other factors, and is therefore difficult to predict.

Liquidity

As of March 31, 2015, NTT Group had cash and cash equivalents (including short-term investments with principal maturities of less than three months) of ¥849.2 billion (compared with ¥984.5 billion as of March 31, 2014). Cash equivalents represent a temporary cash surplus used to repay debts and make capital investments, among other things, and are used as working capital. Accordingly, the balance of cash equivalents fluctuates each fiscal year depending on particular funding and working capital requirements.

Contractual Obligations

The following table summarizes NTT Group’s existing contractual obligations as of March 31, 2015:

 

     Payments Due by Period  

Contractual Obligations

   Total      Less than one
year
     One to three
years
     Three to five
years
     More than five
years
 
     (in millions of yen)  

Long-term debt(1)

              

Bonds

     1,938,023         234,994         687,502         505,541         509,986   

Bank loans

     2,121,081         135,285         470,464         538,552         976,780   

Interest payments on long-term debt

     234,511         42,997         71,947         43,488         76,079   

Capital lease obligations(2)

     69,181         21,900         28,448         10,180         8,653   

Operating leases

     137,122         38,230         49,570         26,912         22,410   

Purchase obligations(3)

     824,629         690,651         93,972         34,499         5,507   

Other long-term obligations(4)

     —          —          —          —          —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total contractual obligations

     5,324,547         1,164,057         1,401,903         1,159,172         1,599,415   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) See Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for details.
(2) Capital lease obligations include interest.
(3) Purchase obligations include outstanding commitments for the purchase of property, plant and equipment and other assets.
(4) The amount of other long-term obligations is not shown in the above table, due to the immateriality of certain obligations and uncertainty of certain payments. In addition, NTT Group expects to contribute a total amount of ¥16,756 million to its pension plans in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016 (see Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

As of March 31, 2015, NTT Group had outstanding commitments for the purchase of property, plant and equipment and other assets of approximately ¥824.6 billion. NTT Group expects to fund such commitments with cash provided by operating activities.

The fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 compared with the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013

Financing, Capital Resources and Use of Funds

Net cash provided by operating activities during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 amounted to ¥2,727.9 billion, an increase of ¥274.2 billion from ¥2,453.7 billion in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013. This increase was primarily the result of an increase in the collection of telephone and certain other charges due to a decrease in the payment of distributor commissions and the last day of the previous fiscal year having been a bank

 

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holiday, which resulted in the collection of a portion of telephone and certain other charges that had accrued during the previous fiscal year being carried over to the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014.

NTT Group used the net cash provided by operating activities mainly to acquire property, plant and equipment, repay interest-bearing debt and pay dividends.

Net cash used in investing activities during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 amounted to ¥2,106.8 billion, an increase of ¥330.6 billion from ¥1,776.3 billion in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013. This increase was due to, among other things, a decrease of ¥221.9 billion in cash proceeds from the redemption of short-term investments in conjunction with fund management investments in instruments of greater than three months’ duration, and a ¥172.7 billion increase in expenditures from acquisitions of new consolidated subsidiaries, partially offset by a ¥81.5 billion decrease in payments for property, plant and equipment and in intangible assets computed on a cash basis.

The decrease in investments in payments for property, plant and equipment and in intangible assets for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 resulted from, among other things, improved efficiency in building networks in the mobile communications business, in addition to the completion of investments related to IP migration in the regional communications business. For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014, capital investments amounted to ¥1,892.8 billion on an accrual basis, of which ¥722.8 billion was invested in the regional communications business and ¥703.1 billion was invested in the mobile communications business.

Net cash used in financing activities during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 amounted to ¥622.4 billion, a decrease of ¥122.7 billion from ¥745.2 billion in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013. The decrease was due to, among other things, an increase of ¥256.6 billion in expenditures associated with stock repurchases, partially offset by a net increase of ¥347.5 billion in proceeds from the issuance of short-term and long-term debt. The capital raised from the issuance of long-term debt in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 includes ¥251.9 billion in net proceeds from corporate bond offerings and an aggregate of ¥385.4 billion in loans from financial institutions.

As of March 31, 2014, the total interest-bearing debt of NTT Group was ¥4,200.0 billion, an increase of ¥164.0 billion from March 31, 2013. The ratio of interest-bearing debt to shareholders’ equity stood at 49.3% as of March 31, 2014 (compared to 49.0% as of March 31, 2013). Interest-bearing debt comprises short-term debt and long-term debt, as shown in Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, as well as ¥21.5 billion in deposits received pursuant to depositary agreements.

 

* Reflects the retroactive application of the equity method of accounting for Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company. For details, see Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Liquidity

As of March 31, 2014, NTT Group had cash and cash equivalents (including short-term investments with principal maturities of less than three months) of ¥984.5 billion (compared with ¥961.4 billion as of March 31, 2013).

Research and Development

Research and development costs are charged to expenses as incurred. Research and development costs for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2013, March 31, 2014 and March 31, 2015 were ¥269.2 billion, ¥249.3 billion and ¥233.8 billion, respectively.

 

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The following table presents a summary of research and development costs by segment for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2013, March 31, 2014 and March 31, 2015:

 

     Year ended March 31,  
     2013     2014     2015  
     (in millions of yen)  

Regional Communications Business(1)

   ¥ 118,473      ¥ 107,857      ¥ 99,239   

Long Distance and International Communications Business(2)

     15,619        16,068        16,380   

Mobile Communications Business(3)

     111,294        102,039        96,997   

Data Communications Business(4)

     12,105        12,832        12,912   

Other Business(5)

     132,701        125,000        114,724   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Sub-total

     390,192        363,796        340,252   

Elimination

     (121,000     (114,501     (106,500
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   ¥ 269,192      ¥ 249,295      ¥ 233,752   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) Research and development relating to IP and broadband services, increasing access services to meet diversifying user needs, high value-added services, and other services.
(2) Development of high value-added services in fields ranging from IP networks to platforms, and other services.
(3) Research and development in the area of new products and services related to mobile communications, and research and development aimed at increasing the quality of existing services and enhancing the performance of network functions, among other things.
(4) Technology development to strengthen competitiveness in systems integration and other fields.
(5) Research and development relating to: (a) the creation of basic technologies required for the development of advanced networks and new services that will support the development of a ubiquitous broadband society, (b) technologies that contribute to reducing industry’s burden on the environment, (c) new principles, new parts and new materials expected to bring about extensive technological innovations in the information and communications sector, and (d) others.

Information on Market and Operation Trends (Trend Information)

In the information and telecommunications market, optical broadband services, LTE services and smartphones, tablets and other devices using Wi-Fi and other broadband connectivity have gained widespread market acceptance, and the use of social media and cloud services has become more pervasive. There has also been a trend, not only in developed countries but also in developing countries, toward various new participants including telecommunications companies entering the market, and rapid growth in the variety and sophistication of services.

The fixed-line communications market is also changing dramatically. In addition to growing competition in broadband service facilities and services centered around the shift to fiber-optic services, there has been an increase in new services that use a variety of wireless devices, as a result of which there has been more diversification of customer usage applications, and an increase in off-load needs resulting from the increase in the amount of data transmitted.

In the mobile telecommunications market, NTT expects a diverse range of new market players to continue entering the market and the continued introduction of new services due to, among other things, the widespread use of smartphones and tablets, in addition to government measures to encourage competition.

NTT Group anticipates the following major trends in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016:

 

   

NTT Group expects an increase in consolidated operating revenues for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016 resulting from an anticipated growth of mobile communications business revenues and continued expansion of its overseas business. NTT Group is targeting a sixth consecutive year-on-year increase and a record-high in revenues.

 

   

While NTT Group expects the number of consumer subscriptions to fiber-optic access services, such as “FLET’S Hikari,” to decrease during the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016, NTT Group also expects a

 

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net increase in the overall number of subscriptions due to an increase in new users resulting from the support of new services created by its business partners and by further strengthening the sales of “FLET’S Hikari” to businesses including SMEs.

 

   

Fixed-line telephone and INS-Net subscriptions are expected to decline in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016, similar to the decline recorded in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015, due to, among other things, continued customer migration to optical IP telephone services, including “Hikari Denwa.”

 

   

NTT Group expects a net increase in the number of mobile phone service subscriptions in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016. NTT intends to reduce its subscription cancellations by introducing new rate plans and attracting family member subscriptions with “DOCOMO Hikari.” NTT aims to acquire new customers by appealing to family members currently using competitor services and create demand for a second phone. In the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016, NTT Group intends to target increased revenues through the introduction and promotion of new rate plans, such as “DOCOMO Hikari,” and migration to more advanced rate plans. NTT Group will work to expand its “dmarket” services, promote the expansion of the scope of services available to homes, and reinforce corporate sales to accelerate efforts in the B2B2C market, while further strengthening its network and streamlining capital investments in an effort to reduce costs.

 

   

NTT Group aims to further accelerate the development of its global business, using Global Cloud services as the cornerstone of its business operations. Based on a mission to achieve steady sales growth, and to achieve organic growth exceeding that of the market, NTT Group will work to strengthen the products and services of the Group as a whole, while strengthening its sales and marketing efforts, including further upselling and cross-selling and the expansion of global accounts. In addition, NTT Group will implement measures to drastically improve cost efficiency and strengthen Group governance and risk management.

Additional information relating to market trends can be found elsewhere in this Item 5.

The foregoing contains forward-looking statements reflecting the expectations and perceptions of NTT Group’s current management based on the various factors described above, market and industry-related conditions, and NTT Group’s performance under such conditions (see “Item 3—Key Information—Forward-Looking Statements”).

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

As of March 31, 2015, NTT Group’s contingent liabilities for loans and other loans that NTT Group guaranteed totaled ¥70.8 billion.

Critical Accounting Policies

NTT Group’s consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements includes a summary of significant accounting policies used in the preparation of these financial statements. NTT believes that, of its significant accounting policies, the following may involve a higher degree of judgment or complexity.

Revenue recognition

Revenues arising from fixed voice related services, mobile voice related services, IP/packet communications services and other services are recognized at the time these services are provided to customers. Revenues from non-recurring upfront fees, such as activation fees, are deferred and recognized as revenue over the estimated average period of the customer contract for each service. The related direct costs are deferred only to the extent of the non-recurring upfront fee amount and are amortized over the same period. While this policy does not have

 

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a material impact on net income, the reported amounts of revenue and cost of services are affected by the level of revenues from non-recurring upfront fees and related direct costs and the estimated average customer relationship period. Factors that affect management’s estimate of the average customer relationship period over which such fees and costs are amortized include subscriber churn rates and newly introduced or anticipated products, services and technologies. The current amortization periods are based on an analysis of historical trends and the experience of NTT and its subsidiaries, adjusted for the estimated impact of future events and circumstances. Sales of telecommunications equipment less certain amounts of agency commissions and customer incentives are recognized as revenue upon delivery of the equipment to agent resellers, which is considered to have occurred when the agent resellers have taken title to the product, and the risks and rewards of ownership have been substantially transferred. In connection with revenues from system integration projects, provision for estimated losses, if any, is made in the fiscal year in which the loss first becomes probable and reasonably quantifiable. NTT Group recognizes such losses based on estimates of total expected contract revenues and costs upon completion. NTT Group follows this method because it permits reasonably dependable estimates of revenues and costs to be made at various stages of a contract. Recognized losses are subject to revision as the contract progresses to completion. Revisions in loss estimates are charged to income in the period in which the facts that give rise to the revision become known.

Estimated useful lives and impairments of property, plant and equipment, software and certain other intangibles

NTT Group estimates the useful lives and the residual values of property, plant and equipment, software and certain other intangibles with finite useful lives, in order to determine the amount of depreciation and amortization expense to be recorded during any reporting period. The useful lives and the residual values are estimated at the time the assets are acquired and are based on historical experience with similar assets as well as anticipated technological or other changes. If technological changes were to occur more rapidly than anticipated or in a different form than anticipated, the useful lives assigned to these assets may need to be shortened, resulting in the recognition of increased depreciation and amortization expenses in future periods. Alternatively, these types of technological changes could result in the recognition of an impairment charge to reflect a write-down in the value of the assets. Effective July 1, 2014, NTT Group revised its estimate of the expected useful life of certain software for telecommunications network and internal-use software based on the actual utilization of the software to reflect an extended expected useful life of up to 7 years. Due to this change, “Depreciation and amortization” in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 decreased by ¥51.3 billion. NTT Group also reviews such assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amount may not be recoverable. If the total of the expected future undiscounted cash flow is less than the carrying amount of the asset, an impairment loss is recognized for the difference between the carrying value of the asset and its fair value as measured through various valuation techniques, including discounted cash flow models, quoted market value and third-party independent appraisals, as considered necessary. For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015, NTT Group recorded an impairment loss of ¥30.2 billion on its multimedia broadcasting business for mobile devices related long-lived assets. NTT Group’s total “Impairment losses” in the fiscal years ended March 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015 (including the impairment loss described above) were ¥5.4 billion, ¥5.7 billion and ¥38.7 billion, respectively.

Goodwill and indefinite life intangible assets

Goodwill is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level, which is either at the operating segment level or one level below, at least annually and more frequently if there are indications of impairment, using a two-step process that begins with an estimation of the fair value of the reporting unit. Under the first step, the fair value of the reporting unit, which is calculated based on assumptions such as discounted cash flow projections, is compared with its carrying amounts (including goodwill). Under the second step, an impairment loss is recognized for any excess of the carrying amount of the reporting unit’s goodwill over the implied fair value of the goodwill. If an entity concludes that it is not more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, it would not be required to perform the two-step impairment test for that reporting unit.

 

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During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015, NTT DOCOMO realigned its operating segments in order to reflect its changing business management. As a result of this realignment of operating segments, NTT Group reorganized the reporting structure of its mobile communications business segment into communications, smart life and other businesses reporting units. In conjunction with this change, NTT Group reassigned the goodwill attributable to these reporting units prior to the realignment to the communications, smart life and other businesses reporting units using a relative fair value allocation approach based on the composition of each business reporting unit prior to the realignment. The determinants used for the fair value measurement include management’s estimate of the reporting unit’s continuing ability to generate income from operations and cash flows in future periods, and the strategic significance of the reporting unit to NTT’s business objectives. Intangible assets with indefinite lives are not amortized and are tested for impairment at least once a year. NTT Group measures fair value based on certain assumptions that are determined to be currently reasonable. However, actual values may differ from those stated in the consolidated financial statements if unexpected changes occur in the business operation environment in the future. NTT Group’s total “Goodwill and other intangible asset impairments” in the fiscal years ended March 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015 were ¥31.3 billion, ¥6.2 billion and ¥3.5 billion, respectively. As of March 31, 2015, out of the material reporting units, the carrying amounts of goodwill attributable to Dimension Data in the long distance and international communications business segment and the carrying amounts of goodwill attributable to Global Business in the data communications business segment were ¥296.4 billion and ¥235.6 billion, respectively. As a result of the annual impairment test conducted for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015, the fair value of the reporting unit attributable to Dimension Data in the long distance and international communications business segment and the fair value of the reporting unit attributable to Global Business in the data communications business segment exceeded their carrying amounts by 12.5% and 15.9%, respectively.

Investments

NTT Group holds investments in other companies, which NTT Group accounts for under the cost method, equity method or at fair value. NTT Group recognizes an impairment loss when the decline in value below the carrying amount of the investment is other than temporary, which then establishes a new cost basis in the investment. When determining if the decline in value is other than temporary, NTT Group considers, among other items, the magnitude of the decline in value below the carrying amounts, the length of time the value has been below the carrying amounts, the financial condition of the investee company, the strength of the industry in which it operates, and NTT Group’s ability or intent to retain the investment. NTT Group performs a review for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an investment may not be recoverable. Further, NTT Group utilizes a variety of information, including cash flow projections, independent valuations and, if applicable, stock price analyses, in performing its evaluations. Such projections and valuations necessarily require estimates involving, among others, demographics (e.g., population, penetration rates and penetration speed, churn rates, etc.), technology changes, capital investments, market growth and share, ARPU and terminal values. NTT Group’s total impairment losses for “Marketable securities and other investments” in the fiscal years ended March 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015 were approximately ¥11.0 billion, ¥3.0 billion and ¥2.0 billion, respectively. NTT Group reviews factors such as the financial condition and near-term prospects of those investees in order to determine if the value of any of our investments in them has suffered a decline that was other than temporary due to the recent economic and financial environment surrounding the industry of those equity method investees.

NTT Group reviewed the business outlook of TTSL in order to determine if the value of its investment in TTSL had suffered a decline that was other than temporary because of the recent economic and financial environment surrounding its industry. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013, NTT Group adjusted downward its estimated future cash flows of TTSL as a result of the intensifying tariff competition among mobile network operators in India and NTT DOCOMO’s views of its long-term outlook at that time, and NTT Group concluded that the recoverable amount was significantly below the carrying amount and that this impairment was other than temporary. Consequently, NTT Group recognized an impairment charge of ¥6.8 billion. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014, NTT DOCOMO further revised downward its estimate of TTSL’s future cash

 

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flows due to the growing business risk of mobile network operators in India, including as a result of an increase in the cost of maintaining or acquiring frequency spectrum due to a steep rise in the auction price of frequency spectrum in India. Reflecting this growing business risk and TTSL’s recent operating results, the weighted average cost of capital increased to 12.6%, which was applied to these revised estimated cash flows, and NTT Group concluded that the decline in value was other than temporary. Consequently, NTT Group recognized an additional impairment charge of ¥51.2 billion. NTT Group plans to dispose of its entire investment in TTSL. NTT Group may recognize a gain or loss upon disposition of its TTSL shares or if the transaction as described in Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements is not be carried out. As a result of this review and evaluation, NTT Group determined that there were other-than-temporary declines in the values of certain investments, including TTSL, and recognized impairment charges aggregating ¥25.9 billion and ¥51.3 billion for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2013 and 2014, respectively. In the past, NTT Group experienced material impairments in the value of its investments in equity method affiliates that were included in “Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliated companies” in its consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income for relevant years. NTT Group may experience similar impairments with respect to “Marketable securities and other investments” and “Investments in affiliated companies” again in the future. NTT Group may also experience material gains or losses on the sale of investments.

Employees’ retirement benefits

The total costs of employees’ retirement benefits and pension plans represented approximately 1.2% and 1.0% of NTT Group’s total operating expenses for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2014 and 2015, respectively. The amounts recognized in the consolidated financial statements related to employees’ retirement benefits and pension plans are determined on an actuarial basis, which utilizes certain assumptions in the calculation of such amounts. The assumptions used in determining net periodic costs and liabilities for retirement benefits and pension plans include the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets, a discount rate, the rate of increase in compensation levels, average remaining years of service, and other factors. Specifically, the expected long-term rate of return on assets and the discount rate are two critical assumptions. Assumptions are evaluated at least annually, and events may occur or circumstances change that may have a significant effect on the critical assumptions. In accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, actual results that differ from NTT Group’s assumptions are accumulated and amortized over future periods, thereby reducing the year-to-year volatility in pension expenses. As of March 31, 2015, the total amount of net actuarial loss was ¥257.4 billion. The net actuarial loss exceeding 10% of the greater of the projected benefit obligation or the fair value of plan assets will be amortized over the expected average remaining service period of employees on a straight-line basis. That amortization will increase future pension costs.

NTT Group used an expected long-term rate of return on pension plan assets of 2.0% to 2.5% for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2014 and March 31, 2015, respectively. In determining the expected long-term rate of return on pension plan assets, NTT considers the current and projected asset allocations, as well as expected long-term investment returns and risks for each category of plan assets based on NTT’s analysis of historical results. The projected allocation of plan assets is developed in consideration of the expected long-term investment returns for each category of plan assets. For lump-sum retirement allowances and for the contract-type corporate pension plan, approximately 47.0%, 13.0%, 10.0%, 10.0% and 20.0% of the plan assets will be allocated to domestic bonds, domestic stocks, international bonds, international stocks and life insurance company general accounts, respectively, and for the NTT Corporate Defined Benefit Pension Plan, approximately 42.8%, 20.8%, 10.0%, 14.4% and 12.0% (weighted-average) of plan assets will be allocated to domestic bonds, domestic stocks, international bonds, international stocks and life insurance company general accounts, respectively, to moderate the level of volatility in pension plan asset returns and reduce risks. As of March 31, 2015, the actual allocations of assets were generally consistent with the projected allocations stated above. The actual returns for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2014 and 2015 were approximately 8.0% and 11.0%, respectively. The actual returns on pension plan assets may vary in future periods, depending on market conditions. The market value of plan assets is measured using fair values on the plan measurement date.

 

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Another critical assumption is the discount rate used in the annual actuarial valuation of net periodic costs and benefit obligations. In determining the net periodic costs, NTT Group used a discount rate of 1.5% as of March 31, 2014 and 1.4% as of March 31, 2015. In determining the benefit obligations, NTT Group used a discount rate of 1.4% as of March 31, 2014 and 1.0% as of March 31, 2015 In determining the appropriate discount rate, NTT considers available information about the current yield on high-quality fixed-income investments with maturities corresponding to the expected duration of the pension benefit obligations (“PBO”).

The following table illustrates the sensitivity to changes in the discount rate and the expected return on pension plan assets, while holding all other assumptions constant, for NTT Group’s pension plans as of March 31, 2015:

 

Change in Assumption

   Change in
PBO
     Change in
Pre-Tax
Pension
Expenses
     Change in
Equity
(Net of Tax)
 
     (in billions of yen)  

50 basis point increase / decrease in discount rate

     -/+ 220.0         +/- 5.0         +/- 150.0   

50 basis point increase / decrease in expected return on assets

     —           -/+ 11.0         —     

Income taxes

NTT Group recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences attributable to temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of assets or liabilities and operating loss carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates that are expected to be applicable during the periods in which existing temporary differences reverse and loss carryforwards are utilizable. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income tax expenses in the period that includes the enactment date. In accordance with the Act on Partial Revision of the Income Tax Act enacted on March 20, 2014, the income tax rate was adjusted starting from consolidated accounting periods beginning on or after April 1, 2014. As a result of this change in tax rate, net deferred tax assets existing on the enactment date decreased ¥12.6 billion, whose effect is included in “Income tax expense (benefit)—Deferred” in the consolidated statements of income for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014. Net income attributable to NTT decreased ¥9.6 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014. In accordance with the Act on Partial Revision of the Income Tax Act enacted on March 31, 2015, the income tax rates have been changed for fiscal years beginning on or after April 1, 2015. As a result of this change in tax rate, net deferred tax assets amounts existing on the enactment date decreased to ¥54.4 billion, whose effect is included in “Income tax expense (benefit)—Deferred” in the consolidated statements of income for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015. Net income attributable to NTT decreased ¥47.8 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015. NTT Group recognizes a valuation allowance on deferred tax assets to reflect the amount of future tax benefits that are not expected to be realized. In determining the appropriate valuation allowance, NTT Group takes into account the level of expected future taxable income and available tax planning strategies. If future taxable income is lower than expected or if expected tax-planning strategies are not available as anticipated, NTT Group may recognize an additional valuation allowance through income tax expense in the period in which such judgment is made.

As of March 31, 2014 and 2015, NTT Group had gross deferred tax assets of ¥1,552.6 billion and ¥1,491.1 billion, which included respective valuation allowance of ¥259.9 billion and ¥266.0 billion. The valuation allowance mainly related to deferred tax assets of NTT and certain subsidiaries with operating loss carryforwards for tax purposes that are not expected to be realized. The change in the valuation allowance did not have a material impact on income tax expense and reflected the write-off of deferred tax assets that expired unused.

Accrued liabilities for point programs

NTT Group offers mobile services subscribers “points” based on the usage of mobile, FLET’S Hikari and other services. Points may be exchanged for benefits, including discounts on handsets. NTT Group records

 

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“Accrued liabilities for point programs” relating to the points that customers earn. The aggregate total amount of accrued liabilities for point programs recognized as short-term and long-term liabilities as of March 31, 2014 and 2015 was ¥134.6 billion and ¥110.6 billion, respectively. Point program expenses for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015 were ¥81.8 billion, ¥79.0 billion and ¥77.8 billion, respectively.

In determining the accrued liabilities for point programs, NTT Group estimates such factors as the point utilization rate, taking into account the forfeitures caused by, among other things, expected future subscription cancellations. Higher than estimated point utilization rates could result in the need to recognize additional expenses or accrued liabilities in the future.

In determining the accrued liabilities for point programs, NTT Group estimates that as of March 31, 2015, a one-percent increase in the point utilization rate would result in an additional liability accrual of approximately ¥1.1 billion, if all other factors are held constant.

Application of New Accounting Standard Not Yet Adopted

On May 28, 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” which requires an entity to recognize the amount to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The ASU will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective. The new standard is effective for NTT Group on April 1, 2017.

On April 29, 2015, the FASB issued an exposure draft to delay the effective date of the ASU by one year. In the event that the exposure draft goes into effect, the standard would be effective for NTT Group on April 1, 2018. Early adoption of the standard as of April 1, 2017 would also be permitted. NTT has not yet selected a transition method and is currently evaluating the effect that the ASU will have on NTT Group’s consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

 

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ITEM 6—DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES

Directors and Senior Management

The overall direction of NTT’s affairs is the responsibility of its Board. The Board currently consists of 12 members. Members of the Board are elected for a two-year term. Elections are conducted at NTT’s ordinary general meeting of shareholders. The most recent election was held on June 26, 2015, during which shareholders approved the election of one Member of the Board and five Audit & Supervisory Board Members.

The following is a list of NTT’s Members of the Board, Audit & Supervisory Board Members and Presidents of principal subsidiaries as of June 30, 2015:

 

Name

 

Title

 

Principal Occupation
and

Other Responsibilities

  Date of Birth     Date Current
Term Ends
   

Shares
Owned(1)

  Date First
Appointed
 

Members of the Board

           

Satoshi Miura

  Member of the Board and Chairman   Chairman of the Board     Apr. 3, 1944        June 2016      15,620     June 2012   

Hiroo Unoura

  Representative Director and President   Chief Executive Officer     Jan. 13, 1949        June 2016      12,700     June 2012   

Hiromichi Shinohara

  Representative Director and Senior Executive Vice President   Chief Technology Officer, Chief Information Security Officer, Senior Vice President of Research and Development Planning; in charge of technical strategy and international standardization     Mar. 15, 1954        June 2016      6,300     June 2014   

Jun Sawada

  Representative Director and Senior Executive Vice President   Chief Financial Officer, Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Information Officer; in charge of business strategy and risk management     July 30, 1955        June 2016      4,700     June 2014   

Mitsuyoshi Kobayashi

  Executive Vice President   Senior Vice President of Technology Planning Department     Nov. 3, 1957        June 2016      3,500     June 2014   

Akira Shimada

  Executive Vice President   Senior Vice President of General Affairs Department     Dec. 18, 1957        June 2016      3,200     June 2015   

Hiroshi Tsujigami

  Member of the Board   Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy Planning Department     Sept. 8, 1958        June 2016      3,100     June 2012   

Tsunehisa Okuno

  Member of the Board   Senior Vice President of Global Business Office     Oct. 12, 1960        June 2016      1,800     June 2012   

Hiroki Kuriyama

  Member of the Board   Senior Vice President of Strategic Business Development; in charge of 2020 Project     May 27, 1961        June 2016      1,185     June 2014   

Takashi Hiroi

  Member of the Board   Senior Vice President of Finance and Accounting Department     Feb. 13, 1963        June 2016      1,200     June 2015   

Katsuhiko Shirai

  Outside Member of the Board   Chairperson of the Foundation for the Open University of Japan and Director of Japan Display, Inc.     Sept. 24, 1939        June 2016      1,200     June 2012   

Sadayuki Sakakibara

  Outside Member of the Board   Chief Senior Adviser, Chief Senior Counselor of Toray Industries, Inc.; Director of Hitachi, Ltd.; and Chairman of the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren)     Mar. 22, 1943        June 2016      3,300     June 2012   

 

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Name

 

Title

 

Principal Occupation
and

Other Responsibilities

  Date of Birth     Date Current
Term Ends
   

Shares
Owned(1)

  Date First
Appointed
 

Audit & Supervisory Board Members

           

Kiyoshi Kosaka

  Audit & Supervisory Board Member   —       Mar. 28, 1951        June 2019      4,900     June 2012   

Akiko Ide

  Audit & Supervisory Board Member   —       Feb. 28, 1955        June 2019      1,200     June 2014   

Michiko Tomonaga

  Outside Audit & Supervisory Board Member   Certified Public Accountant; Corporate Auditor of Keikyu Corporation; Corporate Auditor of the Corporation for Revitalizing Earthquake-Affected Business; and Director of Japan Exchange Group, Inc.     July 26, 1947        June 2019      1,000     June 2011   

Seiichi Ochiai

  Outside Audit & Supervisory Board Member   Lawyer; Director of Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Company; and Auditor of Ube Industries, Ltd.     Apr. 10, 1944        June 2019      2,302     June 2012   

Takashi Iida

  Outside Audit & Supervisory Board Member   Lawyer; Auditor of Shimadzu Corporation; and Director of Alps Electric Co., Ltd.     Sep. 5, 1946        June 2019      1,100     June 2014   

Presidents of Principal Subsidiaries

           

Masayuki Yamamura

  President, NTT East   —       Mar. 30, 1953        June 2016      (2)     June 2012   

Kazutoshi Murao

  President, NTT West   —       Oct. 21, 1952        June 2016      (2)     June 2012   

Tetsuya Shoji

  President, NTT Communications   —       Feb. 28, 1954        June 2016      (2)     June 2015   

Kaoru Kato

  President, NTT DOCOMO   —       May 20, 1951        June 2016      (2)     June 2012   

Toshio Iwamoto

  President, NTT DATA   —       Jan. 5, 1953        June 2017      (2)     June 2012   

 

(1) NTT Shares owned as of June 30, 2015.
(2) The number of Shares owned represents less than one percent of all outstanding Shares.

Satoshi Miura joined Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Public Corporation in April 1967. In June 1996, he became a Member of the Board and Vice President of the Personnel Department of NTT. In July 1996, he became a Member of the Board and Vice President of the Personnel Industrial Relations Department of NTT, and in June 1998, he became an Executive Vice President and Vice President of NTT’s Personnel Industrial Relations Department. In January 1999, he became an Executive Vice President and Deputy Senior Executive Manager of the NTT’s NTT-East Provisional Headquarters. He became a Senior Executive Vice President of NTT East in July 1999, and the President of NTT East in June 2002. In June 2005, he became a Senior Executive Vice President and concurrently began serving as a Senior Vice President of NTT’s Corporate Management Strategy Division. In June 2007, he became the President of NTT, and in June 2012, he was elected to his current position as Member of the Board and Chairman of NTT.

Hiroo Unoura joined Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Public Corporation in April 1973. In June 2002, he became a Member of the Board and Senior Vice President of Department I of NTT. In June 2005, he became a Member of the Board and Senior Vice President of Department V of NTT. In June 2007, he was elected as an Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President of the Corporate Strategy Planning Department, and Vice President of the Corporate Business Strategy Division of NTT. In June 2008, he became a Senior Executive Vice President and Senior Vice President of NTT’s Strategic Business Development Division and held the latter position until June 2011. In June 2012, he was elected to his current position as the President of NTT.

Hiromichi Shinohara joined Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Public Corporation in April 1978. In April 2003, he became an Executive Research Engineer at the Access Network Service Systems Laboratories of

 

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NTT’s Information Sharing Laboratory Group, at which he became a Vice President in June 2003. He became a Senior Vice President of the Information Sharing Laboratory Group in June 2007. In June 2009, he became a Member of the Board and Senior Vice President of the Research and Development Planning Department of NTT and, from June 2011 to September 2011, he also held the position of Senior Vice President of NTT’s Information Sharing Laboratory Group. In June 2012, he became Executive Vice President and Senior Vice President of NTT’s Research and Development Planning Department. In June 2014, he was elected to his current position as Senior Executive Vice President of NTT.

Jun Sawada joined Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Public Corporation in April 1978. In June 2006, he became the Executive Manager of the Corporate Strategy Planning Department at NTT Communications Corporation. In June 2008, he became Senior Vice President and Executive Manager of the Corporate Strategy Planning Department at NTT Communications. In June 2011, he became Executive Vice President and Executive Manager of the Corporate Strategy Planning Department. In June 2012, he became Senior Executive Vice President and Executive Manager of the Corporate Strategy Planning Department at NTT Communications. In June 2013, he became Senior Executive Vice President of NTT Communications. In June 2014, he was elected to his current position as Senior Executive Vice President of NTT.

Mitsuyoshi Kobayashi joined Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Public Corporation in April 1982. In May 2002, he became a Senior Manager of the Personnel Department of NTT West. In June 2006, he became a General Manager of NTT West’s Okayama branch. In July 2008, he became a General Manager of NTT West’s Service Management Department. In June 2010, he became a Senior Vice President and General Manager of NTT West’s Service Management Department. In June 2012, he was elected to his current position as Director of NTT Comware, became a Member of the Board and Senior Vice President of the Technology Planning Department of NTT and concurrently served as Senior Vice President of NTT’s Strategic Business Development Division, from which he resigned in June 2014. In June 2014, he was elected to his current positions of Executive Vice President and Senior Vice President of NTT’s Technology Planning Department.

Akira Shimada joined Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Public Corporation in April 1981. In June 2007, he became a Vice President of NTT’s Corporate Strategy Planning Department. In July 2007, he became a General Manager of NTT West’s Accounts and Finance Department. In July 2009, he became a General Manager of NTT East’s General Affairs and Personnel Department. In June 2011, he became a Senior Vice President and General Manager of NTT East’s General Affairs and Personnel Department. In June 2012, he was elected to the positions of Member of the Board and Senior Vice President of the General Affairs Department of NTT and Member of the Board of NTT West, and until June 2014, served concurrently as Vice President of the Internal Control Office within NTT’s General Affairs Department. In June 2015, he was elected to his current positions of Executive Vice President and Senior Vice President of NTT’s General Affairs Department.

Hiroshi Tsujigami joined Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Public Corporation in April 1983. In October 2000, he became a Vice President of NTT’s Department I. In July 2003, he became a Senior Manager of NTT West’s Corporate Strategy Planning Department. In July 2007, he became a Vice President of NTT’s Corporate Strategy Planning Department. In June 2012, he was elected to his current position of Member of the Board and Senior Vice President of the Corporate Strategy Planning Department of NTT, and was also elected as Senior Vice President of NTT East.

Tsunehisa Okuno joined Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Public Corporation in April 1983. In July 2007, he became a Vice President of NTT’s Corporate Business Strategy Division. In June 2008, he became a Senior Vice President of NTT’s Global Business Strategy Office, Strategic Business Development Division. In January 2011, he was elected to his current position as Senior Vice President of Dimension Data Holdings plc. In June 2011, he became a Senior Vice President of NTT’s Global Business Office. In June 2012, he assumed the concurrent role of Member of the Board of NTT.

Hiroki Kuriyama joined NTT in April 1985. In October 2001, he became a Senior Manager of NTT Communications’ Human Resources Department. In February 2003, he became Vice President of

 

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NTT’s Department I. In May 2005, he became Vice President of NTT’s Corporate Business Strategy Division. In June 2008, he became Vice President of NTT’s Corporate Strategy Planning Department. In June 2012, he was selected to serve as Vice President of the President’s Office within NTT’s General Affairs Department. In June 2014, he assumed his current positions as Member of the Board and Senior Vice President of the Strategic Business Development Division at NTT.

Takashi Hiroi joined NTT in April 1986. In July 2002, he became a Vice President of NTT’s Department I. In May 2005, he became a Vice President of NTT’s Corporate Business Strategy Division. In June 2008, he became a Vice President of NTT’s Strategic Business Development Division. In July 2009, he became a Vice President of NTT’s Corporate Strategy Planning Department. In June 2014, he became a Senior Vice President of NTT’s Finance and Accounting Department. In June 2015, he assumed the concurrent role of Member of the Board of NTT.

Katsuhiko Shirai joined Waseda University as an Assistant in the First Faculty of Science and Engineering in April 1965. In April 1968, he became a full-time lecturer in Waseda University’s Faculty of Science and Engineering. In April 1970, he became an Assistant Professor in Waseda University’s Faculty of Science and Engineering, where he was promoted to Professor in April 1975. In November 1994, he became a Director of Academic Affairs and Director of the International Exchange Center at Waseda University. In November 1998, he became an Executive Director of Waseda University. In November 2002, he became the President of Waseda University, and in November 2010, he became an Educational Advisor of Waseda University. In April 2011, he assumed his current role as Chairperson of the Foundation for the Open University of Japan, and in June 2012, he became a Director of Japan Display, Inc. In June 2012, he was also elected to his current position of Outside Member of the Board of NTT.

Sadayuki Sakakibara joined Toyo Rayon Co., Ltd (currently registered as Toray Industries, Inc.) in April 1967. In June 1994, he became a Director of the First Corporate Planning Department, and in June 1996, he became a Director of Toray Industries, Inc. In June 1998, he became a Managing Director, and in June 1999, he became a Senior Managing Director of Toray Industries, Inc. In June 2001, he became an Executive Vice President of Toray Industries, Inc. and was appointed a Representative Member of the Board of Toray Industries, Inc., in which role he served until June 2014. In June 2002, he became the President of Toray Industries, Inc. In June 2010, he became a Chairman of the Board of Toray Industries, Inc. In June 2012, he was elected to his current position as Outside Member of the Board of NTT. In June 2014, he assumed the concurrent role as Chairman of the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren). In June 2015, he assumed his position as Chief Senior Adviser and Chief Senior Counselor of Toray Industries, Inc.

Kiyoshi Kosaka joined Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Public Corporation in April 1974. In October 1997, he became a General Manager of NTT’s Kyoto branch. In July 1999, he became a General Manager of NTT West’s Kyoto branch, and in September 2000, became a Vice President of NTT’s Department V. In July 2002, he became an Executive Manager of NTT West’s Personnel Department, and in June 2003, became a Senior Vice President and Executive Manager of NTT West’s Personnel Department. In June 2005, he became a Member of the Board and Senior Vice President of Department I of NTT, and in June 2007, became a Member of the Board and Senior Vice President of the Department of General Affairs of NTT. In June 2009, he became a Representative Director and the President of NTT BUSINESS ASSOCIE Corporation. In June 2012, he was elected to his current position as an Audit & Supervisory Board Member of NTT.

Akiko Ide joined Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Public Corporation in April 1977. In June 2003, she became General Manager of Customer Services at NTT DOCOMO. From September 2004 to June 2005, she served as General Manager responsible for information security at NTT DOCOMO. From April 2006, she became General Manager responsible for social environment promotion at NTT DOCOMO. In June 2006, she became an Executive Director of NTT DOCOMO and serviced as General Manager of NTT DOCOMO’s Corporate Citizenship Department from 2006 to 2008. In July 2008, she concurrently served as an NTT DOCOMO Executive Director and General Manager of NTT DOCOMO’s Chugoku regional office. In

 

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June 2012, she concurrently served as Executive Director and Director of Information Security at NTT DOCOMO. In May 2013, she was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Radishbo-ya Co., Ltd., in which roles she served through May 2014. She concurrently served as Executive Director and Senior Manager in charge of Commerce and Business Promotion at NTT DOCOMO from June 2013 to June 2014, following which she was elected to her current position as an Audit & Supervisory Board Member at NTT in June 2014.

Michiko Tomonaga was registered as a certified public accountant in March 1975. In July 2007, she became a Vice President of the Japanese Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and in July 2008, became a Senior Partner of Ernst & Young Japan. In June 2010, she assumed her current position as an Outside Corporate Auditor of Keikyu Corporation. In June 2011, she was elected to her current position of Outside Audit & Supervisory Board Member of NTT. In February 2012, she assumed her current position as Corporate Auditor of the Corporation for Revitalizing Earthquake-Affected Business, and in June 2014, she also assumed the position of Outside Director of Japan Exchange Group, Inc.

Seiichi Ochiai became an Instructor in the Faculty of Law of the University of Tokyo in April 1974. In April 1977, he became an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Law of Seikei University, and in April 1981, became a Professor in the Faculty of Law of Seikei University. In April 1990, he became a Professor at the University of Tokyo Graduate Schools for Law and Politics and the Faculty of Law of the University of Tokyo. From April 2007 to March 2015, he served as Professor at Chuo Law School. In April 2007, he assumed his current position as Registered Lawyer (Daiichi Tokyo Bar Association), and in June 2007, assumed his other current position as an Emeritus Professor at the University of Tokyo. From June 2008 to June 2012, he served as an Outside Director of EBARA CORPORATION. In June 2012, he was elected to his current position as an Outside Audit & Supervisory Board Member of NTT. In July 2012, he was elected a Director of Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Company, and in June 2013, was elected an Outside Corporate Auditor of Ube Industries, Ltd., in which positions he continues to serve.

Takashi Iida was registered as a Lawyer (Daini Tokyo Bar Association) in April 1974, and joined Mori Sogo Law Offices (currently Mori Hamada & Matsumoto) the same year, retiring from the firm on December 31, 2011. From April 1991 to March 31, 1992, he served as Deputy Chairman of the Daini Tokyo Bar Association. From April 1997 through March 31, 1998, he served as Executive Director of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations. From April 2006 through March 31, 2007, he served as Chairman of the Daini Tokyo Bar Association and Deputy Chairman of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations. He then established the Kowa Law Office in January 2012, and from June of the same year became an Outside Corporate Auditor for Shimadzu Corporation. From June 2013 to June 16, 2015, he served as an Outside Corporate Auditor for JAFCO Co., Ltd. and an Outside Corporate Director for Alps Electric Co., Ltd. In June 2014, he assumed his current position as Audit & Supervisory Board Member for NTT.

Masayuki Yamamura joined Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Public Corporation in April 1978. In May 2005, he became a Vice President of NTT’s Corporate Business Strategy Division. In June 2005, he became a Senior Vice President and General Manager NTT East’s Tokyo Branch, and until June 2006, he served concurrently as Deputy Senior Executive Manager of NTT East’s Business User Sales Promotion Headquarters. In June 2008, he became an Executive Vice President and General Manager of NTT East’s Tokyo Branch. In June 2009, he became an Executive Vice President and Senior Executive Manager of NTT East’s Network Business Headquarters, and until June 2007, he served concurrently as an Executive Manager of NTT East’s Planning Department, Network Business Headquarters and a General Manager of NTT East’s Research and Development Center, Network Business Headquarters. Until May 2011, he served concurrently as an Executive Manager of NTT East’s Plant Department, Network Business Headquarters. In June 2012, he was elected to his current position as the President of NTT East.

Kazutoshi Murao joined Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Public Corporation in April 1976. In April 2005, he became a General Manager of NTT West’s Miyako Branch. In June 2005, he became a Member of the Board and Executive Manager of NTT West’s Corporate Strategy Planning Department. From July 2006 to June 2012,

 

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he served concurrently as Deputy Senior Executive Manager of NTT West’s Kansai Regional Headquarters, and from June 2007 to July 2007, he served concurrently as NTT West’s Executive Manager of Accounts and Finance Department. In June 2008, he became an Executive Vice President and Executive Manager of NTT West’s Corporate Strategy Planning Department. In June 2009, he became a Senior Executive Vice President and Senior Executive Manager of NTT West’s Marketing Headquarters, and until October 2009, he served concurrently as Executive Manager of the Corporate Strategy Planning Department. From June 2010 to September 2010, he served concurrently as Executive Manager of NTT West’s Marketing Department, Marketing Headquarters. In June 2012, he was elected to his current position as the President of NTT West.

Tetsuya Shoji joined Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Public Corporation in April 1977. In July 2002, he became a Vice President of NTT’s Department V. In July 2005, he became an Executive Manager of NTT West’s Personnel Department. In June 2006, he assumed the concurrent role of Member of the Board of NTT West. In June 2009, he became a Member of the Board and Senior Vice President of NTT’s General Affairs Department, and served concurrently as Vice President of the Internal Control Office of NTT’s General Affairs Department. In June 2012, he became a Senior Executive Vice President of NTT Communications. In June 2015, he was elected to his current position as the President of NTT Communications.

Kaoru Kato joined Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Public Corporation in April 1977. In July 2007, he became an Executive Vice President, Managing Director of NTT DOCOMO Kansai, Inc.’s Corporate Strategy and Planning Department. In June 2008, he became an Executive Vice President and Managing Director of NTT DOCOMO’s Corporate Strategy and Planning Department, and from April 2009 to June 2009, he served concurrently as Managing Director of NTT DOCOMO’s Mobile Society Research Institute. In June 2012, he was elected to his current position as the President of NTT DOCOMO.

Toshio Iwamoto joined Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Public Corporation in April 1976. In June 2004, he became NTT DATA’s Director and Head of Payment Solutions Sector, and he served concurrently as its Deputy Head of Financial Business Sector. In June 2005, he became a Senior Vice President and Head of Financial Business Sector of NTT DATA. In June 2007, he became a Director, Senior Vice President and Head of Financial Business Sector of NTT DATA, and served concurrently as Head of the Fourth Public Sector. In July 2008, he became a Director and Executive Vice President of NTT DATA. In June 2009, he became a Representative Director and Senior Executive Vice President of NTT DATA, and from July 2009 to June 2011, he served concurrently as Company President of the Public & Financial IT Services Company and was in charge of public and financial sector businesses. In June 2012, he was elected to his current position as the President of NTT DATA.

None of NTT’s Members of the Board, Audit & Supervisory Board Members or presidents of principal subsidiaries is party to a service contract with NTT or any of its subsidiaries that provides for benefits upon termination of employment.

Compensation

Policies

In order to improve objectivity and transparency regarding matters concerning the compensation of Members of the Board, NTT established the Appointment and Compensation Council, comprised of four Members of the Board, including two Outside Members of the Board, and such matters are decided by the Board after deliberation by this council.

Compensation of Members of the Board (excluding Outside Members of the Board) consists of a base salary and a bonus. The base salary is paid monthly on the basis of the scope of each member’s roles and responsibilities. The bonus is paid on the basis of NTT’s business results for the applicable fiscal year. In addition, Members of the Board make minimum monthly contributions for the purchase of NTT Shares through the Directors’ Shareholding Association, to encourage a medium- and long-term perspective. Members of the Board hold the Shares they purchase for the duration of their terms of office.

 

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In order to maintain a high level of independence, compensation of Outside Members of the Board consists of a base salary only (payable monthly), and is not linked to NTT’s business results.

Compensation of Audit & Supervisory Board Members is determined by discussion among the Audit & Supervisory Board Members and consists of a base salary only (payable monthly) for the same reasons as those cited above with respect to Outside Members of the Board.

Total Compensation of Members of the Board and Audit & Supervisory Board Members During the Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2015

 

Position

   Number of Payees    Base Salary      Bonus      Total  
          (millions of yen)  

Members of the Board (excluding Outside Members of the Board)

   12    ¥ 387       ¥ 80       ¥ 467   

Audit & Supervisory Board Members (excluding Outside Audit & Supervisory Board Members)

     3    ¥ 68         —        ¥ 68   
  

 

  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   15    ¥ 455       ¥ 80       ¥ 535   
  

 

  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Notes:

1.

The numbers above include three Members of the Board and one Audit & Supervisory Board Member whose resignations became effective at the conclusion of the 29th Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders held on June 26, 2014.

2. Upper limits on total annual compensation of Members of the Board and Audit & Supervisory Board Members were set at an aggregate of ¥750 million for Members of the Board and ¥200 million for Audit & Supervisory Board Members at the 21st Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders held on June 28, 2006.
3. In addition to the above, NTT Group paid an aggregate of ¥13 million as executive bonuses to six of its Members of the Board who also hold executive management positions.

Total Compensation of Outside Members of the Board and Outside Audit & Supervisory Board Members During the Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2015

 

     Number of Payees    Base Salary  
          (millions of yen)  

Total compensation of Outside Members of the Board and Outside Audit & Supervisory Board Members

   6    ¥ 60   

 

Note: The numbers above include one Outside Member of the Board whose resignation became effective at the conclusion of the 29th Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders held on June 26, 2014.

Board Practices

Board of Directors

NTT’s Board is currently composed of twelve directors, referred to as “Members of the Board.” While not mandated by the Companies Act, two of NTT’s directors are outside directors (i.e., directors who meet certain requirements under the Companies Act, including, among other things, the following: (i) persons who are not currently executive directors, executive officers or employees, including managers (collectively, “Executive Directors etc.”) of NTT or any of its subsidiaries, and who have not been Executive Directors etc. of NTT or any of its subsidiaries within 10 years prior to assuming the position of director; (ii) persons who have been directors, accounting advisors or corporate auditors (excluding Executive Directors etc.) of NTT or any of its subsidiaries within 10 years prior to newly assuming the position of director but who have not been Executive Directors etc. thereof within 10 years prior to assuming such previous position as director, accounting advisor or corporate auditor of NTT or any of its subsidiaries (excluding Executive Directors etc.); and (iii) persons who are not currently spouses or relatives within two degrees of a director, executive officer or important employee,

 

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including a manager, of NTT). The presence of outside directors serves to strengthen the Board’s ability to monitor the fairness of business operations, and NTT’s outside directors actively contribute to discussions at Board meetings. Following an amendment to the Companies Act effective as of May 1, 2015, if NTT has no outside directors at the end of any fiscal year, it will be required to present an explanation at its ordinary general meeting of shareholders as to why the appointment of outside directors is inappropriate. In addition, TSE rules require that at least one of NTT’s outside directors or outside corporate auditors (as described below) meet certain additional independence criteria established by the TSE. Further, TSE rules also require NTT to endeavor to have at least one director who meets such independence criteria. Additionally, the TSE has adopted the Corporate Governance Code, which became effective as of June 1, 2015 (apart from TSE rules, the “TSE Code”). With respect to the TSE Code, the TSE rules adopt a “comply-or-explain” approach, requiring TSE-listed companies to either comply with the principles of the TSE Code or otherwise provide public disclosure explaining the reason for not complying. According to the TSE Code, TSE-listed companies should have at least two directors who qualify as outside independent directors within the meaning of the TSE Code.

NTT’s Articles of Incorporation provide that the Board shall have no more than fifteen members. The Board nominates candidates for Member of the Board, who are elected by resolution adopted by a majority vote of shareholders present at a general meeting of shareholders attended by shareholders entitled to exercise voting rights that hold Shares representing in the aggregate one-third or more of the voting rights of all shareholders. Under NTT’s Articles of Incorporation, the term of office of a Member of the Board expires at the conclusion of the general meeting of shareholders relating to the last fiscal year ending within two years from such Member of the Board’s assumption of office. Members of the Board may be reappointed upon expiration of their term of office. By resolution, the Board may designate, from among its members, one President and one or more Representative Members of the Board, who have the authority to represent the company generally in the conduct of its affairs. NTT’s Board may appoint one Chairman and one or more Senior Executive Vice Presidents and Executive Vice Presidents. In addition, the Companies Act provides that a resolution adopted by a majority vote of shareholders present is necessary to remove directors from office unless a higher threshold is provided under the Articles of Incorporation. Under NTT’s Articles of Incorporation, a resolution adopted by a majority vote of shareholders present at a meeting of shareholders is required for this purpose.

The Board is responsible for decisions regarding important management issues and for supervising the directors’ execution of their duties. As a general rule, the Board meets once a month. Under the Companies Act, directors are prohibited from engaging in any transaction in competition with any of the company’s businesses for themselves or on behalf of any third party, and from engaging in certain other transactions involving a conflict with the company’s interests, unless the transaction is approved by a board resolution. No director may vote on a proposal in which that director is deemed to be materially interested. In addition, the Companies Act requires a resolution of the board to decide on material business matters including, but not limited to, acquisition or disposal of material assets, substantial borrowings, issuance of bonds and establishment of internal control systems.

The Board’s resolutions are passed by a majority vote of Members of the Board present at a meeting attended by a majority of Members of the Board entitled to participate in the voting.

With regard to matters concerning the appointment and compensation of directors, in order to improve objectivity and transparency, NTT has established the Appointment and Compensation Council, a group of four Members of the Board, including two Outside Members of the Board. The Appointment and Compensation Council deliberates on matters concerning the appointment and compensation of directors before the Board meetings in which final determinations of such matters are made.

Pursuant to the Companies Act and NTT’s Articles of Incorporation, NTT, by resolution of the Board, may exempt its directors (including former directors) and corporate auditors (including former corporate auditors) from liability to NTT for actions taken in good faith and without gross negligence in connection with the performance of their duties, subject to limits imposed by the Companies Act. In addition, NTT has entered into

 

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an agreement with each of its outside directors and corporate auditors limiting their maximum liability to NTT for actions taken in good faith and without gross negligence in connection with their performance of their duties, subject to limits imposed by the Companies Act.

Audit & Supervisory Board

NTT maintains a board of corporate auditors (the “Audit & Supervisory Board”), which is composed of five corporate auditors, referred to as “Audit & Supervisory Board Members,” of whom three are outside corporate auditors. Each corporate auditor attends board of directors’ and other important meetings. Through this and other means, the corporate auditors monitor the execution of the duties of NTT’s directors and the condition of NTT’s business operations and assets, as appropriate. The corporate auditors are assisted by their staff maintained for such purposes. NTT’s board of corporate auditors works in collaboration with corporate auditors from NTT Group companies in carrying out its audit functions. Under the Companies Act, at least half of the corporate auditors must be outside corporate auditors (i.e., corporate auditors who meet certain requirements under the Companies Act, including, among other things, the following: (i) persons who have not been directors, accounting advisors, executive officers or employees, including managers, of NTT or any of its subsidiaries within 10 years prior to assuming the position of corporate auditor; (ii) persons who have been corporate auditors of NTT or any of its subsidiaries within 10 years prior to newly assuming the position of corporate auditor but who have not been directors, accounting advisors, executive officers or employees, including managers, within 10 years prior to assuming the such previous position as corporate auditor; and (iii) persons who are not currently spouses or relatives within two degrees of a director or important employee, including a manager, of NTT), and no corporate auditor may concurrently serve as a director, general manager or other employee of the relevant company or any of its subsidiaries or as an accounting advisor or officer of any of such company’s subsidiaries. As indicated in “—Board of Directors” above, at least one of NTT’s outside directors or outside corporate auditors is required to meet certain additional independence criteria established by the TSE. In addition, according to the TSE Code, at least one person who has appropriate expertise on finance and accounting should be appointed as a corporate auditor.

NTT’s Articles of Incorporation provide that there shall be no more than five Audit & Supervisory Board Members on NTT’s Audit & Supervisory Board. NTT’s Audit & Supervisory Board Members and their respective terms of office are identified in “Directors and Senior Management” above. As a general rule, NTT’s Audit & Supervisory Board Members are nominated by the Board with the consent of the Audit & Supervisory Board and are elected by resolution adopted by a majority vote of shareholders present at a general meeting of shareholders attended by shareholders entitled to exercise voting rights holding Shares representing in the aggregate one-third or more of the voting rights of all shareholders. Under NTT’s Articles of Incorporation, the Audit & Supervisory Board appoints by resolution one or more members who serve on a full-time basis. In accordance with the Companies Act and NTT’s Articles of Incorporation, the term of office of an Audit & Supervisory Board Member expires at the conclusion of the general meeting of shareholders relating to the last fiscal year ending within four years from such Audit & Supervisory Board Member’s assumption of office. Audit & Supervisory Board Members may be reappointed upon expiration of their term of office. Audit & Supervisory Board Members may be removed from office by resolution adopted by two-thirds or more of the votes of shareholders present at a general meeting of shareholders attended by shareholders entitled to exercise voting rights holding Shares representing in the aggregate one-third or more of the voting rights of all shareholders. Audit & Supervisory Board Members may state their opinions at a general meeting of shareholders in relation to the removal of an Audit & Supervisory Board Member.

Under the Companies Act, corporate auditors are obligated to audit the execution by the directors of their duties and carry out an accounting audit. Corporate auditors must also examine the agenda and related documents to be submitted by the board of directors to a general meeting of shareholders and report their opinion at the general meeting of shareholders in respect of any violations of relevant laws or their company’s articles of incorporation or other serious improprieties. Corporate auditors are required to attend and, if necessary, state their opinions at meetings of the board of directors, and, if the corporate auditors become aware of any violations

 

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or potential violations by the directors of relevant laws or their company’s articles of incorporation that could result in significant harm to the company, the corporate auditors have the right to demand that the directors discontinue the violation.

Further, under the Companies Act, certain “large companies” (such as NTT) are required to maintain a board of corporate auditors comprised of all corporate auditors and, in addition to the audit by the corporate auditors, are required to undergo an accounting audit by an independent auditor nominated by the board of corporate auditors and appointed at a general meeting of shareholders. The board of corporate auditors has a statutory duty to prepare a report based on the individual corporate auditors’ reports setting forth, among other things, matters regarding the independent auditor’s audit report, and to notify a designated director and the independent auditor of the contents of such report. The contents of individual corporate auditor reports may be noted in the board of corporate auditors’ report if such contents differ from the board of corporate auditors’ report. Pursuant to the Companies Act, the board of corporate auditors may, by resolution of the board of corporate auditors, establish audit principles, the procedures for the board of corporate auditors’ examination of its company’s business and operations and the condition of its assets, and other matters relating to the execution by the corporate auditors of their duties.

Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), in principle requires that each non-U.S. company whose securities are listed on the NYSE maintain an audit committee composed solely of independent directors. However, if a non-U.S. company with a board of corporate auditors meets the requirements of paragraph (c)(3) of Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act, the independent audit committee requirement does not apply. NTT currently maintains a board of corporate auditors in accordance with home country regulations which meets the requirements of paragraph (c)(3) of Rule 10A-3.

Employees

NTT and its consolidated subsidiaries had approximately 241,600 employees as of March 31, 2015. Of these employees, approximately 164,650 were employed within Japan and approximately 76,950 were employed outside of Japan as of March 31, 2015. Almost all of NTT Group’s employees in Japan, excluding supervisory staff, are members of the All NTT Workers Union of Japan (NTT Rodo Kumiai, or the “Union”), which is a member of the Japanese Trade Union Confederation (Nippon Rodo Kumiai So Rengokai), and labor-management relations between NTT Group and the Union are stable. NTT Group has experienced no strikes by the Union over the past ten years.

 

     Employees as of Fiscal Years Ended March 31,  
     2013     2014     2015  

Regional communications business

     81,320         [66,442     75,838         [66,273     71,222         [66,471

Long distance communications and international business

     33,434         [7,005     38,069         [8,305     42,234         [9,669

Mobile communications business

     23,890         [11,584     24,860         [11,256     25,680         [11,450

Data communications business

     61,369         [3,599     75,020         [3,652     76,642         [3,631

Other business

     27,155         [8,915     25,969         [10,969     25,815         [10,427
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     227,168         [97,545     239,756         [100,455     241,593         [101,648
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Note: The number of full-time employees as of March 31 of each of the years indicated is shown without brackets. The average annual number of temporary employees for the fiscal years indicated is shown in brackets.

Share Ownership

As of March 31, 2015, the Members of the Board of NTT owned a total of 55,205 Shares (less than 0.1% of outstanding Shares).

 

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The NTT Board Members Shareholding Association is an association for the directors and corporate auditors of NTT, NTT East, NTT West, NTT Communications, NTT COMWARE,NTT FACILITIES and other NTT Group companies. Through this association, directors and corporate auditors of the respective NTT Group companies periodically contribute a fixed amount of money for the purchase of NTT stock. NTT DOCOMO and NTT DATA also have similar directors’ shareholding associations for the respective purchases of NTT DOCOMO and NTT DATA stock.

The NTT Employee Shareholding Association is an association for employees of NTT, NTT East, NTT West and NTT Communications and other NTT Group companies. Through this association, employees of the respective NTT Group companies periodically contribute a fixed amount of money for the purchase of NTT stock. Their employers contribute matching funds equivalent to 8% of the amount contributed. NTT DOCOMO and NTT DATA also have similar employee shareholding associations for the respective purchases of NTT DOCOMO and NTT DATA stock.

In March 2014, Dimension Data, one of NTT Group’s main subsidiaries in the long distance and international communications business segment, implemented a performance-based equity compensation program using NTT shares or ADRs. Pursuant to this long-term incentive plan, Dimension Data will distribute NTT shares or ADRs to executives and key talent of Dimension Data group companies worldwide based on Dimension Data’s business performance. The purchase of shares for this program will be conducted through a trust that is independent from NTT and Dimension Data, under instructions of the trust executor.

ITEM 7—MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

The Government, acting through the Minister, regulates the activities of NTT and certain of its subsidiaries, and the Minister’s approval is required for the issuance of new Shares, subject to consultation with the Minister of Finance. See “Item 4—Information on the Company—Regulations.” NTT Group transacts business with various departments and agencies of the Government as separate customers on an arm’s-length basis. The Government, in its capacity as a shareholder of NTT, votes at NTT shareholder meetings and, by virtue of its position as the largest shareholder, theoretically has the power to exert considerable influence over most decisions taken at such meetings, although the Government has never used this power to direct the management of NTT.

As of March 31, 2015, the Government owned 369,062,906 Shares, or 32.47% of the issued Shares (34.86% of outstanding Shares). See Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. For details of the requirements for Government ownership of NTT Shares under the NTT Act, see “Item 4—Information on the Company—Matters Relating to NTT’s Shares.” To NTT’s knowledge, there were no significant changes in the Government’s percentage ownership during the past three fiscal years.

 

     As of March 31, 2015  

Title of Class

   Identity of
Person or Group
  Amount of
Shares Owned
     Percent of
Class
 

Common stock

   Government of Japan
(Minister of Finance)
    369,062,906         32.47 %(1) 

Common stock

   Members of the Board
(11 persons)
    55,205           (2) 

 

(1) 34.86% of outstanding Shares.
(2) Less than 0.1% of outstanding Shares.

As of March 31, 2015, 30,721,132 ADSs (equivalent to 15,360,566 Shares, or 1.4% of the total number of Shares, excluding treasury stock owned by NTT, outstanding on that date) were outstanding and were held by 170 record holders of ADSs (including 160 United States record holders, who held 30,719,299 ADSs).

 

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As far as NTT is aware, there are no arrangements the operation of which may, at a subsequent date, result in a change in control of NTT.

Related Party Transactions

Details of transactions between NTT Group and other affiliated companies

NTT Group has entered into various types of transactions with other affiliated companies, the most significant of which are purchases of terminal equipment and materials as well as the receiving and commissioning of certain services.

Transactions with affiliated companies and the related balances at the end of the periods ended March 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015 were as follows:

 

     Year ended March 31,  
     2013      2014      2015  
     (millions of yen)  

Sales

   ¥ 26,001       ¥ 31,372       ¥ 32,392   

Purchases

   ¥ 105,295       ¥ 109,817       ¥ 126,461   

Receivables

   ¥ 17,257       ¥ 24,254       ¥ 27,773   

Payables

   ¥ 89,623       ¥ 105,341       ¥ 98,055   

Dividends from affiliated companies accounted for by the equity method for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015 were ¥19,384 million*, ¥23,249 million and ¥25,881, respectively.

 

* As a result of the application of the equity method to NTT Group’s investment in Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company from the beginning of the three months ended June 30, 2013, the equity method of accounting was applied retrospectively, in accordance with ASC Topic 323, Investments—Equity Method and Joint Ventures, issued by the FASB. For details, see Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Details of transactions between NTT Group companies and other related parties

In the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015, NTT DATA entered into various related party transactions, the terms of which were substantially similar to those of transactions that NTT DATA entered into with non-related parties. NTT does not consider the nature and value of the related party transactions that NTT DATA entered into during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 to be material.

ITEM 8—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information

See “Item 18—Financial Statements” and pages F-1 through F-77.

Legal Proceedings

In the normal course of its business operations, NTT Group is subject to legal proceedings, lawsuits and other claims, including claims relating to contracts, labor relations and intellectual property. However, based upon the information currently available to both NTT Group and its legal counsel, management believes that damages from such legal proceedings, lawsuits and claims, if any, would not have a material effect on NTT’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

Dividend Policy

In addition to increasing corporate value over the medium- and long-term, NTT has identified the return of profits to shareholders as an important management goal. In determining the level of dividends, NTT, while giving consideration to stability and sustainability, takes into account a full range of factors, including business performance, financial condition and dividend payout ratio.

 

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NTT’s dividends in respect of the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 were ¥180 per share, comprised of a year-end dividend of ¥90 and the interim dividend of ¥90 paid on December 8, 2014. For the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016, NTT currently expects to pay dividends of ¥200 per share in respect of the full fiscal year.

 

Note: NTT authorized a two-for-one stock split of its common stock, with an effective date of July 1, 2015, at a meeting of its Board held on May 15, 2015. The year-end dividend forecast for the year ending March 31, 2016 does not reflect the impact of the stock split. The total year-end dividend forecast for the year ending March 31, 2016, taking the stock split into account, is 100 yen.

While maintaining sound financial condition and as part of its capital policy to improve capital efficiency, NTT intends to use retained earnings for investments in new business opportunities.

See also “Item 3—Key Information—Dividends.”

Significant Changes

Except as otherwise disclosed herein, there have been no significant changes since March 31, 2015, the date of the registrant’s last audited financial statements.

 

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ITEM 9—THE OFFER AND LISTING

Trading Markets

The principal trading market for the Shares of NTT is the TSE. The Shares have been traded on the First Section of that exchange since February 1987.

The following table sets forth for the periods indicated the reported high and low sale prices of the Shares on the TSE. It also sets forth the closing highs and lows of two TSE stock indices, the Tokyo Stock Price Index (“TOPIX”) and the Nikkei Stock Average (“Nikkei 255”). The TOPIX, which is published by the TSE, is a weighted index of the market value of all stocks listed on the First Section of the TSE. As of June 19, 2015, stocks of 1,892 companies were traded on the First Section of the TSE. The Nikkei 225 is a widely followed unweighted arithmetic average of 225 selected stocks traded on the First Section of the TSE.

 

     TSE Price per Share      Average
daily
trading
volume
     Closing
TOPIX
     Closing
Nikkei 225
 
     High      Low         High      Low      High      Low  
     (yen)     

(number of

Shares)

     (points)      (yen)  

Fiscal Years Ended March 31,

                    

2011

     4,170         3,220         2,630,467         998.90         766.73         11,339.30         8,605.15   

2012

     4,085         3,475         2,208,620         874.34         706.08         10,255.15         8,160.01   

2013

     4,430         3,270         2,667,716         1,058.10         695.51         12,635.69         8,295.63   

2014

     6,009         3,925         3,116,973         1,306.23         991.34         16,291.31         12,003.43   

2015

     7,763         5,051         2,486,964         1,592.25         1,132.76         19,754.36         13,910.16   

Quarterly Periods for the Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2014

                    

First Quarter

     5,650         3,925         4,224,147         1,276.03         991.34         15,627.26         12,003.43   

Second Quarter

     5,430         4,910         2,531,795         1,222.72         1,106.05         14,808.50         13,338.46   

Third Quarter

     5,690         4,975         2,884,655         1,302.29         1,147.58         16,291.31         13,853.32   

Fourth Quarter

     6,009         5,128         2,817,405         1,306.23         1,139.27         16,121.45         14,008.47   

Quarterly Periods for the Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2015

                    

First Quarter

     6,444         5,051         2,049,794         1,269.04         1,132.76         15,376.24         13,910.16   

Second Quarter

     7,120         6,282         2,246,549         1,346.43         1,228.26         16,374.14         14,778.37   

Third Quarter

     7,120         6,003         2,890,603         1,447.58         1,177.22         17,935.64         14,532.51   

Fourth Quarter

     7,763         6,022         2,780,775         1,592.25         1,357.98         19,754.36         16,795.96   

2015 Monthly Periods

                    

January

     7,098         6,022         3,185,621         1,429.92         1,357.98         17,795.73         16,795.96   

February

     7,561         6,860         3,011,058         1,523.85         1,392.39         18,797.94         17,335.85   

March

     7,763         7,185         2,232,255         1,592.25         1,517.01         19,754.36         18,665.11   

April

     8,490         7,252         2,327,500         1,627.43         1,528.99         20,187.65         19,034.84   

May

     8,798         7,925         2,253,628         1,673.65         1,574.64         20,563.15         19,291.99   

June (through June 12)

     8,820         8,492         2,433,982         1,678.56         1,628.23         20,569.87         20,046.36   

 

On June 12, 2015, the last traded price of the Shares on the TSE was ¥8,703 per Share, and the closing TOPIX and Nikkei 225 on that date were 1,651.48 points and ¥20,407.08, respectively.

ADSs are listed on the NYSE. Two ADSs represent one Share and are evidenced by ADRs issued by the Depositary.

 

Note: NTT authorized a two-for-one stock split of its common stock, with an effective date of July 1, 2015, at a meeting of its Board held on May 15, 2015. NTT also resolved to change the ratio of ADRs to NTT’s underlying shares from 2:1 to 1:1, effective July 1, 2015 (U.S. Eastern time).

 

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As of March 31, 2015, 30,721,132 ADSs (equivalent to 15,360,566 Shares, or 1.4% of the total number of Shares outstanding on that date, excluding treasury stock) were outstanding and were held by 172 record holders of ADSs (including 160 United States record holders, who held an aggregate of 30,719,299 ADSs).

The principal trading market for the ADSs in the United States is the New York Stock Exchange. The high and low sales prices of the ADSs, as reported in the composite reporting system, are as follows:

 

     Price per ADS      Average daily
trading volume
 
     High      Low     
     (U.S. dollars)         

Fiscal Years Ended March 31,

        

2011

     25.18         19.59         454,191   

2012

     25.99         22.44         499,145   

2013

     24.70         20.64         470,099   

2014

     29.21         21.14         322,298   

2015

     34.08         25.07         342,414   

Quarterly Periods for the Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2014

        

First quarter

     27.20         21.14         465,738   

Second quarter

     27.13         24.60         266,968   

Third quarter

     27.35         24.77         276,912   

Fourth quarter

     29.21         25.42         275,657   

Quarterly Periods for the Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2015

        

First quarter

     31.67         25.26         286,875   

Second quarter

     34.08         30.93         319,382   

Third quarter

     31.58         25.61         351,520   

Fourth quarter

     31.99         25.07         414,386   

2015 Monthly Periods

        

January

     29.73         25.07         371,078   

February

     31.46         28.76         473,025   

March

     31.99         29.82         403,114   

April

     35.27         30.65         212,502   

May

     36.04         33.66         354,485   

June (through June 12)

     35.67         34.03         253,906   

For a discussion of the tax treatment of dividends paid to U.S. holders of ADSs, see “Item 10—Additional Information—Taxation.”

ITEM 10—ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Description of the Shares

Set out below is information concerning the Shares, including summaries of certain provisions of NTT’s Articles of Incorporation and Share Handling Regulations and of the Companies Act relating to joint stock corporations (kabushiki kaisha) and related legislation, all as currently in effect. For more information regarding the NTT Act and a description of the purpose of NTT’s business as described in Article 2 of its Articles of Incorporation and in the NTT Act, see “Item 4—Information on the Company—Regulations—NTT Act.”

General

All issued Shares are fully-paid and non-assessable. On January 5, 2009, a central clearing system for shares of Japanese listed companies was established pursuant to the Act on Book-Entry of Company Bonds, Shares, etc. (including regulations promulgated thereunder, the “Book-Entry Transfer Act”), and the shares of all Japanese companies listed on any Japanese stock exchange, including the Shares, became subject to this system. At present, Japan Securities Depository Center, Inc. (“JASDEC”) is the only institution that has been designated by

 

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the relevant authorities as a clearing house permitted to engage in the clearing operations of shares of Japanese listed companies under the Book-Entry Transfer Act. Under the clearing system, in order for any person to hold, sell or otherwise dispose of shares of Japanese listed companies, such person must have an account at an account-managing institution unless such person itself has an account at JASDEC. “Account-managing institutions” are financial instruments traders (i.e., securities companies), banks, trust companies and certain other financial institutions which meet the requirements prescribed by the Book-Entry Transfer Act and are authorized to conduct book entry activities on the clearing system. Only those financial institutions that meet certain additional requirements of the Book-Entry Transfer Act can open an account directly at JASDEC.

Under the Book-Entry Transfer Act, any transfer of shares is effected through book entry, and title to the shares passes to the transferee at the time when the number of the transferred shares is recorded in the transferee’s account at an account-managing institution or JASDEC, as applicable. The holder of an account at an account-managing institution or JASDEC is presumed to be the legal owner of the shares held in such account.

Under the Companies Act and the Book-Entry Transfer Act, in order to assert shareholders’ rights against NTT, except in limited circumstances, a shareholder must have its name and address registered in NTT’s register of shareholders. Under the clearing system, such registration is made upon NTT’s receipt of the necessary information from JASDEC. See “—Transfer Agent” and “—Record Date” below.

The registered holder of the deposited Shares underlying the ADSs is the Depositary for the ADSs. Accordingly, holders of ADSs will not be able to directly assert their shareholders’ rights against NTT.

Non-resident shareholders are required to appoint a standing proxy in Japan or provide a mailing address in Japan. Each such shareholder must give notice of such standing proxy or mailing address through the relevant account-managing institutions and JASDEC to NTT. Japanese securities firms and commercial banks customarily act as standing proxies and provide related services at market rates. Notices from NTT to non-resident shareholders are delivered to such standing proxies or mailing addresses.

Distributions of Surplus

General

Under the Companies Act, distributions of cash or other assets by joint stock corporations to their shareholders, commonly called “dividends,” are referred to as “distributions of surplus” (“surplus” is defined below under “—Restriction on Distributions of Surplus”). NTT may make distributions of surplus to its shareholders any number of times during any fiscal year, subject to certain limitations described below under “—Restriction on Distributions of Surplus.” Distributions of surplus are required in principle to be authorized by a resolution of a general meeting of shareholders, but may also be made pursuant to a resolution of the Board if all the requirements described in (a) through (c) are met:

 

  (a) NTT’s Articles of Incorporation provide that the Board has the authority to determine distributions of surplus;

 

  (b) the normal term of office of NTT’s Members of the Board terminates on or prior to the date of the conclusion of the ordinary general meeting of shareholders held for the last fiscal year ending within one year after the election of the Members of the Board to office; and

 

  (c) NTT’s non-consolidated annual financial statements and certain documents for the latest fiscal year present fairly its assets and profit or loss, as required by ordinances of the Ministry of Justice.

At present, NTT does not meet the requirements described in (a) and (b) above. Nevertheless, NTT is permitted to make distributions of surplus in cash as an interim dividend to its shareholders by resolutions of its Board once per fiscal year under NTT’s Articles of Incorporation and the Companies Act. Under the NTT Act, approval of the Minister is also required for any distribution of surplus. See “Item 4—Information on the Company—Regulations—NTT Act.”

 

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Under NTT’s Articles of Incorporation, a year-end dividend may be distributed pursuant to a resolution of a general meeting of shareholders to (i) shareholders of record and (ii) the persons or bodies listed in “Item 10—Additional Information—Exchange Controls and Other Limitations Affecting Security Holders—Restrictions on Foreign Ownership,” all or some of whose Shares have not been entered or recorded in the register of NTT pursuant to Article 6 of the NTT Act, and in the case of each of (i) and (ii), who are identified as shareholders as of March 31 of the relevant year in the notices issued by JASDEC under Article 151, Paragraph 1 of the Book-Entry Transfer Act. An interim dividend may be distributed pursuant to a resolution of the Board to (i) shareholders of record and (ii) the persons or bodies listed in “Item 10—Additional Information—Exchange Controls and Other Limitations Affecting Security Holders—Restrictions on Foreign Ownership” all or some of whose Shares have not been entered or recorded in the register of NTT pursuant to Article 6 of the NTT Act, and in the case of each of (i) and (ii), who are identified as shareholders as of September 30 of the relevant year in the notices issued by JASDEC under Article 151, Paragraph 1 of the Book-Entry Transfer Act. NTT’s Articles of Incorporation exempt NTT from the obligation to make distributions of surplus to a shareholder after three years have elapsed from the date on which such shareholder failed to accept a distribution.

Distributions of surplus may be made in cash or in kind (except for interim dividends, which must be paid in cash) in proportion to the number of Shares held by each shareholder. A resolution of a general meeting of shareholders or the Board authorizing a distribution of surplus must specify the kind and aggregate carrying amounts of the assets to be distributed, the manner of allocation of such assets to shareholders, and the effective date of the distribution. If a distribution of surplus is to be made in kind, NTT may, pursuant to a resolution of a general meeting of shareholders, grant a right to its shareholders to require NTT to make such distribution in cash instead of in kind. If no such right is granted to shareholders, the relevant distribution of surplus must be approved by a special resolution of a general meeting of shareholders (see “—Voting Rights” for more information regarding “special resolutions”).

In Japan, the ex-dividend date and the record date for dividends precede the date of determination of the amount of the dividends to be paid. The price of the Shares generally goes ex-dividend on the second business day prior to the record date.

Restriction on Distributions of Surplus

When NTT makes a distribution of surplus, it must, until the sum of its additional paid-in capital and legal reserve reaches one quarter of its stated capital, set aside in its additional paid-in capital and/or legal reserve an amount equal to one-tenth of the amount of surplus so distributed, in accordance with an ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.

The amount of surplus at any given time must be calculated in accordance with the following formula:

A + B + C + D – (E + F + G)

In the above formula:

 

“A”    =    the total amount of other capital surplus and other retained earnings, as each such amount appears in NTT’s non-consolidated balance sheet as of the end of NTT’s last fiscal year,
“B”    =    the amount of the consideration received for any treasury stock disposed of by NTT after the end of NTT’s last fiscal year less the carrying amounts thereof,
“C”    =    the amount of any reduction to NTT’s stated capital made by NTT after the end of its last fiscal year less the portion thereof that has been transferred to additional paid-in capital or legal reserve (if any),

 

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“D”    =    the amount of any reduction to NTT’s additional paid-in capital or legal reserve after the end of NTT’s last fiscal year less the portion thereof that has been transferred to stated capital (if any),
“E”    =    the carrying amounts of any treasury stock cancelled by NTT after the end of NTT’s last fiscal year,
“F”    =    the total carrying amounts of any surplus distributed by NTT to its shareholders after the end of NTT’s last fiscal year, and
“G”    =    certain other amounts set forth in ordinances of the Ministry of Justice, including (if NTT has reduced surplus and increased its stated capital, additional paid-in capital or legal reserve after the end of NTT’s last fiscal year) the amount of such reduction and (if NTT has distributed surplus to its shareholders after the end of its last fiscal year) the amount set aside in its additional paid-in capital or legal reserve (if any) as required by ordinances of the Ministry of Justice.

The aggregate carrying amounts of surplus distributed by NTT may not exceed a prescribed distributable amount (the “Distributable Amount”), as calculated on the effective date of such distribution. The Distributable Amount at any given time shall be equal to the amount of surplus less the aggregate of the following:

 

  (a) the carrying amounts of NTT’s treasury stock, as of the effective date of the distribution,

 

  (b) the amount of consideration for NTT’s treasury stock that it disposed of after the end of the last fiscal year, and

 

  (c) certain other amounts set forth in ordinances of the Ministry of Justice, including (if the sum of one-half of goodwill and the deferred assets exceeds the total of stated capital, additional paid-in capital and legal reserve, each such amount being that appearing on NTT’s non-consolidated balance sheet as of the end of NTT’s last fiscal year), all or a part of such excess amount as calculated in accordance with an ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.

NTT may elect to be treated as a company with respect to which consolidated balance sheets should also be taken into consideration in the calculation of the Distributable Amount (renketsu haito kisei tekiyo kaisha). In this case, NTT would be required to further deduct from the amount of surplus the excess amount, if any, of (x) the total amount of shareholders’ equity appearing on its non-consolidated balance sheet as of the end of the last fiscal year and certain other amounts set forth by the ordinance of the Ministry of Justice over (y) the total amount of shareholders’ equity and certain other amounts set forth by the ordinance of the Ministry of Justice appearing on its consolidated balance sheet as of the end of the last fiscal year.

If NTT has prepared interim financial statements as described below, and if such interim financial statements have been approved by the Board or (if so required by the Companies Act) by a general meeting of shareholders, then the Distributable Amount must be adjusted to take into account the amount of profit or loss, and the amount of consideration for shares of treasury stock that NTT has disposed of, during the period in respect of which such interim financial statements have been prepared. NTT may prepare non-consolidated interim financial statements consisting of a balance sheet as of any date subsequent to the end of the last fiscal year and an income statement for the period from the first day of the current fiscal year to the date of such balance sheet. Interim financial statements so prepared by NTT must be audited by the members of its Audit & Supervisory Board and independent certified public accountants, as required by ordinances of the Ministry of Justice.

Capital and Reserves

When NTT issues new Shares, the entire amount of money or other assets paid or contributed by subscribers for such Shares is required to be accounted for as stated capital, although NTT may account for an amount not exceeding one-half of the amount of such subscription money or other assets as additional paid-in capital by resolution of the Board.

 

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NTT may reduce its additional paid-in capital or legal reserve generally by resolution of a general meeting of shareholders and, if so decided by the same resolution, may account for the whole or any part of the amount of such reduction as stated capital. On the other hand, NTT may reduce its stated capital generally by special resolution of a general meeting of shareholders and, if so decided by the same resolution, may account for the whole or any part of the amount of such reduction as additional paid-in capital. In addition, NTT may reduce its surplus and increase either (i) stated capital or (ii) additional paid-in capital and/or legal reserve by the same amount, in either case, by resolution of a general meeting of shareholders.

Stock Splits

NTT may at any time split the issued Shares into a greater number of Shares by resolution of its Board. When a stock split is to be made, so long as the only type of NTT’s outstanding stock is its common stock, it may increase the number of authorized Shares to the extent that the ratio of such increase in authorized Shares does not exceed the ratio of such stock split, by amending its Articles of Incorporation, which amendment may be made without shareholder approval. Under the NTT Act, NTT is required to obtain the approval of the Minister for any amendment of its Articles of Incorporation. See “Item 4—Information on the Company—Regulations—NTT Act.”

Before undertaking a stock split, NTT must give public notice of the stock split specifying a record date not less than two weeks after the date of the notice. Under the rules of the clearing system, NTT must also inform JASDEC of certain matters regarding a stock split promptly after the resolution of its Board approving such stock split. On the effective date of the stock split, the numbers of Shares recorded in all accounts held by NTT’s shareholders at account-managing institutions or JASDEC will be increased in accordance with the applicable ratio.

Elimination of Fractional Shares and Adoption of Unit Share System

NTT’s Articles of Incorporation were amended on January 4, 2009 pursuant to a resolution of its ordinary general meeting of shareholders held on June 25, 2008 to provide for the fact that the fractional share system was abolished as of January 4, 2009 as a result of changes to the Companies Act. NTT adopted a unit share system which provides that 100 Shares constitute one “unit.”

Under the unit share system, a shareholder in principle has one vote for each whole unit of Shares it holds. Shares constituting less than one whole unit carry no voting rights and are excluded for the purposes of calculating a quorum for voting purposes. Moreover, holders of Shares constituting less than one whole unit have no other shareholder rights, except certain rights specified by law and in NTT’s Articles of Incorporation, including the right to receive any distributions of surplus.

Under the rules of the clearing system, Shares constituting less than one whole unit are transferable. Under the rules of the TSE, however, except in certain limited circumstances such as the consolidation of shares for the purpose of changing the number of shares constituting one whole unit, Shares constituting less than one whole unit do not comprise a trading unit, and accordingly may not be sold on the TSE.

Holders of Shares constituting less than one whole unit may at any time request that NTT purchase such Shares through the relevant account-managing institution and JASDEC. Pursuant to NTT’s Articles of Incorporation, any such holder may also request that NTT sell to such holder Shares constituting less than one whole unit which, when added to the Shares of such holder constituting less than one whole unit, shall constitute one whole unit. Under the clearing system, such request must be made through the relevant account-managing institution and JASDEC. Such purchase or sale of Shares will be effected at the current market price as set out in the Companies Act.

NTT’s Board is permitted to reduce the number of Shares that will constitute a unit or abolish the unit share system entirely by amending its Articles of Incorporation without approval by shareholders. A special resolution

 

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of a general meeting of shareholders is required to increase the number of Shares that will constitute a unit. The number of Shares constituting a unit may not exceed the lesser of 1,000 and one-two hundredth of the total number of issued Shares.

General Meetings of Shareholders

The ordinary general meeting of shareholders is customarily held in June of each year. In addition, NTT may hold an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders whenever necessary. Notice of a general meeting of shareholders stating, among other things, the place, time and purpose thereof must be given to each shareholder that has voting rights (or, in the case of a non-resident shareholder, to its standing proxy or mailing address in Japan) at least two weeks prior to the date set for the meeting. The record date for an ordinary general meeting of shareholders is March 31 of each year.

Any shareholder holding at least 300 voting rights or 1% of the total number of voting rights for six months or longer may propose a matter for consideration at a general meeting of shareholders by submitting a request to a Representative Director at least eight weeks prior to the date of such meeting. If NTT’s Articles of Incorporation so provide, any of the minimum percentages, time periods and number of voting rights necessary for exercising the minority shareholder rights described above may be decreased or shortened, as applicable.

Voting Rights

A holder of Shares constituting one or more units is in principle entitled to one vote for each whole unit of Shares. However, in general, neither NTT nor any corporate or other entity, one-quarter or more of the total voting rights of which are directly or indirectly held by NTT, has voting rights in respect of such Shares.

Except as otherwise provided by law or in NTT’s Articles of Incorporation, a resolution can be adopted by a majority vote of all shareholders present at a general meeting of shareholders and entitled to exercise voting rights. NTT’s Articles of Incorporation provide that the quorum for election of its Members of the Board and Members of the Audit & Supervisory Board is one-third of the total number of voting rights of all shareholders entitled to exercise voting rights. NTT’s shareholders are not entitled to cumulative voting in the election of its Members of the Board. Shareholders may exercise their voting rights in writing, by electronic means or through proxies, provided that the proxies are, in principle, also shareholders who have voting rights.

The Companies Act provides that certain important matters shall be approved by a “special resolution” of a general meeting of shareholders. Under NTT’s Articles of Incorporation, the quorum for a special resolution is one-third of the total number of voting rights of all shareholders entitled to exercise voting rights, and the approval of two-thirds or more of the voting rights of all shareholders present at the meeting is required for adopting a special resolution. Such important matters include:

 

  (i) purchase of Shares by NTT from a specific shareholder other than one of NTT’s subsidiaries;

 

  (ii) combination of Shares;

 

  (iii) issuance or transfer of new Shares or existing Shares held by NTT as treasury stock to persons other than the shareholders at a “specially favorable” price;

 

  (iv) issuance of stock acquisition rights (including those embedded in bonds with stock acquisition rights) to persons other than NTT’s shareholders under “specially favorable” conditions or at a “specially favorable” price;

 

  (v) removal of any of NTT’s Members of the Audit & Supervisory Board;

 

  (vi) any exemption from liability of any of NTT’s Members of the Board, Members of the Audit & Supervisory Board or independent auditors;

 

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  (vii) distribution of surplus in kind with respect to which shareholders are not granted the right to require NTT to make distribution in cash instead of in kind;

 

  (viii) reduction of stated capital;

 

  (ix) any amendment to NTT’s Articles of Incorporation;

 

  (x) transfer of all or a substantial part of NTT’s business;

 

  (xi) transfer of NTT’s shares in, or the whole or a part of NTT’s equity interest in, any of NTT’s subsidiaries, where (i) the book value of the shares or equity interest so transferred would exceed one-fifth of the amount of NTT’s total assets as calculated by the method prescribed by the Ministry of Justice and (ii) NTT would no longer hold more than half of the voting rights held by all holders of equity interests in such subsidiary as of the effective date of the transfer;

 

  (xii) taking over of the entire business of another company;

 

  (xiii) merger;

 

  (xiv) divestiture;

 

  (xv) establishment of a parent and wholly-owned subsidiary relationship by way of a share transfer (kabushiki-iten) or share exchange (kabushiki-kokan); and

 

  (xvi) dissolution or consolidation.

However, under the Companies Act, no shareholder approval, whether by an ordinary resolution or a special resolution at a general meeting of shareholders, is required for any matter described in (viii) through (xv) above, and such matter may instead be decided by the board of directors, if it satisfies certain criteria prescribed by the Companies Act. Under the NTT Act, the approval of the Minister is required for some of the above matters. See “Item 4—Information on the Company—Regulations—NTT Act.”

Liquidation Rights

In the event of NTT’s liquidation, the assets remaining after payment of all debts, liquidation expenses and taxes will be distributed among holders of Shares in proportion to the respective numbers of Shares they hold.

Subscription Rights

Holders of Shares have no pre-emptive rights. Authorized but unissued Shares may be issued at such times and upon such terms as NTT’s Board determines, subject to the limitations on the issuance of new Shares at a “specially favorable” price mentioned above in “—Voting Rights.” NTT’s Board may, however, determine that shareholders be given subscription rights to Shares, in which case such rights must be given on uniform terms to all holders of Shares as of a record date not less than two weeks after public notice has been given. Each shareholder to whom such rights are given must also be given at least two weeks’ prior notice of the date on which such rights expire. Under the NTT Act, NTT is required to obtain the approval of the Minister to issue new shares, subject to certain exceptions. See “Item 4—Information on the Company—Regulations—NTT Act.”

Stock Acquisition Rights

NTT may issue stock acquisition rights (shinkabu yoyakuken). Holders of stock acquisition rights are entitled to acquire Shares from NTT upon payment of the applicable exercise price, and subject to other terms and conditions thereof. NTT may also issue bonds with stock acquisition rights (shinkabu yoyakuken-tsuki shasai). The issuance of stock acquisition rights and bonds with stock acquisition rights may be authorized by NTT’s Board unless such issuances are made under “specially favorable” conditions or at a “specially favorable” price, as described above in “—Voting Rights.”

 

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Under the NTT Act, NTT is required to obtain the approval of the Minister to issue bonds with stock acquisition rights. See “Item 4—Information on the Company—Regulations—NTT Act.”

Transfer Agent

NTT’s transfer agent is Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Limited (“SMTB”). SMTB maintains NTT’s register of shareholders and registers the names and addresses of NTT’s shareholders and other relevant information in NTT’s register of shareholders upon notice thereof from JASDEC, as described in “—Record Date” below.

Record Date

March 31 is the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to vote at the ordinary general meeting of shareholders. In addition, by a resolution of the Board and after giving at least two weeks’ prior public notice, NTT may at any time set a record date in order to determine the shareholders who are entitled to certain rights pertaining to Shares.

Under the rules of the clearing system, NTT is required to give notice of each record date to JASDEC promptly after the resolution of NTT’s Board determining such record date. JASDEC is required to promptly give NTT notice of the names and addresses of NTT’s shareholders, the numbers of Shares held by them and other relevant information as of such record date.

Acquisition by NTT of Shares

NTT may acquire Shares (i) by soliciting all of its shareholders to offer to sell their Shares (in this case, certain terms of such acquisition, such as the total number of Shares to be purchased and the total amount of consideration, shall be set by an ordinary resolution of a general meeting of shareholders in advance, and the acquisition shall be effected pursuant to a resolution of the Board), (ii) from a specific shareholder other than any of NTT’s subsidiaries (pursuant to a special resolution of a general meeting of shareholders), (iii) from any of NTT’s subsidiaries (pursuant to a resolution of the Board), or (iv) by way of purchase on the TSE, on which the Shares are listed, or by way of tender offer (in either case pursuant to an ordinary resolution of a general meeting of shareholders or a resolution of the Board). In the case of (ii) above, any other shareholder may make a request to NTT’s Representative Director that such other shareholder be included as a seller in the proposed purchase; provided that no such right will be available if the purchase price or any other consideration to be received by the relevant specific shareholder will not exceed the higher of (x) the last trading price of the Shares on the relevant stock exchange on the day immediately preceding the date on which the resolution mentioned in (ii) above was adopted (or, if there is no trading in the Shares on the stock exchange or if the stock exchange is not open on such day, the price at which the Shares are first traded on such stock exchange thereafter) and (y) if the Shares are subject to a tender offer on the day immediately preceding the date on which the resolution mentioned in (ii) above was adopted, the price of the Shares under the agreement with respect to such tender offer on such day.

The total amount of the purchase price of Shares may not exceed the Distributable Amount, as described in “—Distributions of Surplus—Restriction on Distributions of Surplus.”

NTT may hold the Shares acquired in compliance with the Companies Act, and may generally dispose of or cancel such Shares by resolution of its Board.

Disposal of Shares by NTT

NTT is no longer required to send notices to a shareholder once NTT has continuously been unable to deliver notices for five years or more to his or her address registered in NTT’s register of shareholders or at any alternative address otherwise provided to NTT.

 

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In the above case, if the relevant shareholder also fails to receive distributions of surplus on the Shares continuously for five years or more at his or her address registered in NTT’s register of shareholders or at an alternative address otherwise provided to NTT, then after the five years NTT may in general dispose of such Shares at their then market price and either hold the proceeds of such disposition or deposit them on behalf of the relevant shareholder.

Acquisition and Disposal of Shares by NTT during the Last Three Fiscal Years

Prior to the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011, NTT engaged in several Share repurchases through transactions executed on the TSE in accordance with applicable Japanese law, and in certain cases the Minister of Finance sold some of the Shares it held in NTT to NTT.

During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012, at the Board meeting held on May 13, 2011, the Board approved a resolution for the repurchase by NTT of up to 60,000,000 of its Shares at an aggregate cost not to exceed ¥280 billion, during the period between May 16, 2011 and September 30, 2011. In accordance with this resolution, NTT acquired from the Minister of Finance 57,513,600 Shares at an aggregate cost of ¥223.4 billion on July 5, 2011. Further, at the Board meeting held on November 9, 2011, the Board approved a resolution for the second cancellation by NTT of 125,461,832 Shares, and for the repurchase by NTT of up to 44,000,000 of its Shares at an aggregate cost not to exceed ¥220 billion, during the period between November 16, 2011 and March 30, 2012. In accordance with this resolution, NTT cancelled 125,461,832 Shares on November 15, 2011, and acquired from the Minister of Finance 41,820,600 Shares at an aggregate cost of ¥158.3 billion on February 8, 2012. As a result of the stock repurchases and the purchase and sale by NTT of less-than-one-unit shares to fulfill requests by holders of less-than-one-unit shares, the total number of outstanding Shares (excluding treasury stock) as of March 31, 2012 was 1,223,765,423.

During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013, at the Board meeting held on September 19, 2012, the Board approved a resolution for the repurchase by NTT of up to 42,000,000 of its Shares at an aggregate cost not to exceed ¥150 billion during the period between September 20, 2012 and March 29, 2013. In accordance with this resolution, NTT acquired a total of 38,382,300 Shares at an aggregate cost of ¥150 billion. No Shares were acquired from the Minister of Finance. As a result of these transactions, together with stock repurchases by NTT due to the purchase of less-than-one-unit shares requested by holders of less-than-one-unit shares, and sale of treasury stock by NTT in response to requests of holders of less-than-one-unit shares to increase less-than-one-unit shares held, the total number of outstanding Shares (excluding treasury stock) as of March 31, 2013 was 1,185,374,632.

During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014, at the Board meeting held on May 10, 2013, the Board approved a resolution for the repurchase by NTT of up to 50,000,000 of its Shares at an aggregate cost not to exceed ¥250 billion during the period between May 13, 2013 and March 31, 2014. In accordance with this resolution, NTT acquired a total of 48,737,200 Shares at an aggregate cost of ¥250 billion. No Shares were acquired from the Minister of Finance. Further, at the Board meeting held on February 6, 2014, the Board approved a resolution for the repurchase by NTT of up to 38,000,000 of its Shares at an aggregate cost not to exceed ¥200 billion during the period between February 7, 2014 and March 31, 2014. In accordance with this resolution, NTT acquired from the Minister of Finance and other shareholders 26,556,800 Shares at an aggregate cost of ¥156.499 billion on March 7, 2014. As a result of these transactions, together with stock repurchases by NTT due to the purchase of less-than-one-unit shares requested by holders of less-than-one-unit shares, and sale of treasury stock by NTT in response to requests of holders of less-than-one-unit shares to increase less-than-one-unit shares held, the total number of outstanding Shares (excluding treasury stock) as of March 31, 2014 was 1,110,046,428.

During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015, at the Board meeting held on November 7, 2014, the Board approved a resolution for the repurchase by NTT of up to 51,000,000 of its Shares at an aggregate cost not to exceed ¥350 billion during the period between November 10, 2014 and June 30, 2015. In accordance with this

 

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resolution, NTT acquired a total of 38,000,000 Shares from the Minister of Finance and other shareholders on November 14, 2014 at an aggregate cost of ¥249.166 billion. Further, NTT acquired a total of 1,168,100 Shares from the Minister of Finance and other shareholders on November 28, 2014 at an aggregate cost of ¥7.429 billion. In addition, NTT carried out further Share repurchases (not including Shares held by the Minister of Finance) pursuant to which it acquired a total of 51,000,000 Shares at an aggregate cost of ¥338.117 billion during the period between January 6, 2015 and March 6, 2015. As a result of these transactions, together with stock repurchases by NTT due to the purchase of less-than-one-unit shares requested by holders of less-than-one-unit shares, and sale of treasury stock by NTT in response to requests of holders of less-than-one-unit shares to increase less-than-one-unit shares held, the total number of outstanding Shares (excluding treasury stock) as of March 31, 2015 was 1,058,599,629.

Material Contracts

All contracts concluded by NTT during the two years preceding this filing were entered into in the ordinary course of business.

Exchange Controls and Other Limitations Affecting Security Holders

General

The Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act of Japan, as amended, and the cabinet orders and ministerial ordinances issued thereunder (collectively, the “Foreign Exchange Regulations”) govern certain matters relating to the acquisition and holding of shares of equity securities of Japanese corporations by “exchange non-residents” and “foreign investors” (each as defined below). For purposes of determining ownership interests under the Foreign Exchange Regulations, the Depositary is deemed to be the owner of the Shares underlying the ADSs.

“Exchange residents” are individuals who reside within Japan and corporations whose principal offices are located within Japan. “Exchange non-residents” are individuals who do not reside within Japan and corporations whose principal offices are located outside Japan. Generally, branches and other offices of Japanese corporations located outside Japan are regarded as exchange non-residents, but branches and other offices of non-resident corporations located within Japan are regarded as exchange residents. “Foreign investors” are (i) individuals who are exchange non-residents, (ii) corporations which are organized under the laws of foreign countries or whose principal offices are located outside Japan, and (iii) corporations not less than 50% of the voting rights of which are directly or indirectly held by (i) and/or (ii) or a majority of the officers (or officers having the power of representation) of which are individuals who are exchange non-residents.

Acquisition of Shares

Acquisition by an exchange non-resident of shares of stock of a Japanese corporation from an exchange resident generally requires subsequent reporting by the exchange resident. Such subsequent reporting is not required where (i) the amount of shares is ¥100 million or less; or (ii) the purchase transaction is effected by certain financial institutions acting as the agent or intermediary purchased in the transaction, as prescribed by the Foreign Exchange Regulations.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the proposed transaction falls within the category of “inward direct investment,” the transaction is subject to different regulations. The term “inward direct investment” in relation to transactions in shares means, in relevant part, an acquisition of shares of a listed corporation by a foreign investor (whether from an exchange resident, an exchange non-resident or any other foreign investor) that results in such investor, together with parties who have a special relationship with such investor, holding 10% or more of the total number of issued shares of such corporation or, if such investor, together with such parties, already holds 10% or more of the total number of issued shares of such corporation, acquisition of additional shares in such corporation.

 

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In the event that Shares of NTT are acquired in a transaction which at such time falls within the category of an inward direct investment requiring prior notification, the foreign investor who makes such investment is in principle required to file a prior notification with the Minister of Finance and the Minister 30 days prior to such transaction. Under certain circumstances, after a prior notification is filed, the said ministers may recommend the modification or abandonment of the proposed acquisition and, if the recommendation is not accepted, order its modification or abandonment.

The acquisition of shares by shareholders who are exchange non-residents by way of a stock split is not subject to any notification requirements.

American Depositary Shares

None of the deposit of Shares by an exchange non-resident, the issuance by the Depositary to an exchange non-resident of ADRs evidencing the ADSs created by such deposit in exchange therefor or the withdrawal of the underlying Shares by an exchange non-resident upon surrender of ADRs is subject to any formalities or restrictions referred to under “Acquisition of Shares” above. Notwithstanding the foregoing, notification as noted under “Acquisition of Shares” above may be required where, as a result of such deposit or withdrawal, the aggregate number of Shares held by the Depositary or the holder surrendering ADRs, as the case may be, would be 10% or more of the total number of issued Shares.

Dividends and Proceeds of Sale

Under the Foreign Exchange Regulations, dividends paid on, and the proceeds of sales in Japan of, Shares held by exchange non-residents may in general be converted into any foreign currency and repatriated abroad.

Reporting of Substantial Shareholdings

The Financial Instruments and Exchange Act and its related regulations require any person who has become, beneficially and solely or jointly, a holder of issued voting shares (excluding treasury stock) amounting to more than 5% of the total issued shares of a company listed on any Japanese stock exchange to file with a local finance bureau of the Ministry of Finance (the “MOF”) a report concerning such shareholdings within five business days. The local finance bureau of the MOF is authorized to review such filing. With certain exceptions, a similar report must also be made in respect of any subsequent change of 1% or more in any such holding or of any change in material matters set forth in any reports previously filed. For this purpose, voting shares issuable to such person upon conversion of convertible securities or the exercise of stock acquisition rights are taken into account in determining both the number of voting shares held by such holder and the issuer’s total issued share capital. Copies of each such report must also be furnished, without delay, to the issuer of such shares and all Japanese stock exchanges on which the shares are listed.

Restrictions on Foreign Ownership

Foreign nationals and foreign corporations have been permitted to own Shares since August 1, 1992. Currently, NTT is prohibited from registering in its register of shareholders shareholder ownership, individually or in the aggregate, equal to or exceeding one-third of NTT’s total voting rights by the persons or bodies who are identified as shareholders in the notices issued by JASDEC under Article 151, Paragraphs 1 or 8 of the Book-Entry Transfer Act, listed below:

 

  (i) any person who is not of Japanese nationality;

 

  (ii) any foreign government or any of its representatives;

 

  (iii) any foreign juridical person or association; and

 

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  (iv) any juridical person or association:

 

  (x) which owns 10% or more of NTT’s voting rights; and

 

  (y) 10% or more of the voting rights of which are directly owned by the persons or bodies listed in (i) through (iii) above.

(For the purpose of (iv) above, the amount of NTT’s voting rights under foreign ownership is calculated by multiplying the percentage of NTT’s voting rights held directly by the relevant juridical person or association by the percentage of voting rights of such juridical person or association held by persons or bodies listed in (i) through (iii) above.)

Under NTT’s Articles of Incorporation, pursuant to Article 151, Paragraph 1 of the Book-Entry Transfer Act, a year-end dividend may be distributed according to a resolution of a general meeting of shareholders to shareholders as identified by a notice from JASDEC who are also (a) shareholders of record or (b) persons or bodies listed in (i) through (iv) above for whom all or part of their all or some of whose Shares were not entered or recorded in the register of shareholders of NTT, as of March 31 of each fiscal year, and in the case of both (a) and (b), who are identified as shareholders as of March 31 of each year in the notices issued by JASDEC under Article 151, Paragraph 1 of the Book-Entry Transfer Act. An interim dividend may be distributed pursuant to a resolution of the Board to (a) shareholders of record and (b) persons or bodies listed in (i) through (iv) above for whom all or part of their Shares have not been recorded in the register of NTT, and in the case of both (a) and (b), who are identified as shareholders as of September 30 of each year in the notices issued by JASDEC under Article 151 paragraph 1 of the Book-Entry Transfer Act. For details of this, see “Item 10—Additional Information—Description of the Shares—Distributions of Surplus.”

As of March 31, 2015, foreign ownership of NTT’s Shares was 29.6%.

JASDEC will provide NTT with notice with respect to shareholders as of record dates and certain other dates. This notice will indicate (a) any shareholders constituting persons or bodies listed in (i) through (iii) above (without specifying the items under which they fall) and (b) any juridical person or association, 10% or more of the voting rights of which are directly owned by such persons or bodies. Although NTT will, upon receipt of each such notice, update its register of shareholders according to the information contained in such notice, NTT will be prohibited from registering foreign shareholder ownership equal to or exceeding one-third of NTT’s total voting rights. For details of the electronic share clearing system, see “Item 10—Additional Information—Description of the Shares—General.”

Taxation

Japanese Taxation

The following is a summary, prepared by Anderson Mori & Tomotsune, Japanese counsel to NTT, of the principal Japanese tax consequences to an owner of Shares or ADSs who is an individual not resident in Japan or a non-Japanese corporation, in either case having no permanent establishment in Japan (“non-resident holder”). The statements regarding Japanese tax laws set forth below are based on the laws in force and as interpreted by the Japanese taxation authorities as of the date hereof and are subject to changes in the applicable Japanese laws or double taxation conventions occurring after that date. This summary is not exhaustive of all possible tax considerations which may apply to a particular investor, and potential investors are advised to satisfy themselves as to the overall tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of Shares or ADSs, including specifically the tax consequences under Japanese law, the laws of the jurisdiction of which they are resident, and any tax treaty between Japan and their country of residence, by consulting their own tax advisors.

Generally, a non-resident holder is subject to Japanese withholding tax on dividends paid by NTT. Stock splits are not subject to Japanese income tax.

 

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In the absence of any applicable tax treaty, convention or agreement reducing the maximum rate of withholding tax or allowing exemption from Japanese withholding tax, the rate of Japanese withholding tax applicable to dividends paid by NTT to a non-resident holder is 20.42% for dividends due and payable on or before December 31, 2037 and will be 20% on or after January 1, 2038. However, with the exception of any individual shareholder who holds 3% or more of the total issued Shares, the withholding tax rate with respect to dividends paid by NTT to a non-resident holder is reduced to (i) 15.315% for dividends due and payable on or before December 31, 2037 and (ii) 15% for dividends due and payable on and after January 1, 2038. Due to the imposition during the period beginning on January 1, 2013 and ending on December 31, 2037 of a special additional income tax (2.1% of the original withholding tax amount) to procure funds for reconstruction following the Great East Japan Earthquake, the original withholding tax rates of 15% and 20%, as applicable, have increased, respectively, to 15.315% and 20.42%.

Under the Convention between the United States of America and Japan for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Tax on Income (the “Convention”), the maximum rate of Japanese withholding tax that may be imposed on dividends paid to a United States resident (within the meaning of the Convention) not having a “permanent establishment” (as defined therein) in Japan is limited to 10% for most qualified portfolio investors and 5% if the beneficial owner is a qualified company that owns, directly or indirectly, on the date on which entitlement to the dividend is determined, at least 10% but not more than 50% of the voting stock of the issuing company. If the protocol amending the Convention, signed on January 24, 2013, takes effect, the threshold in the preceding sentence is scheduled to be amended to “less than 50%.” The effective date for the amendment to the Convention had not yet been determined as of June 12, 2015. The Convention provides that no Japanese tax will be imposed on dividends paid to a qualified pension fund that is a United States resident if such dividends are not derived from the carrying on of a business, directly or indirectly, by such pension fund. Under Japanese tax law, these treaty rates will apply in cases where the maximum tax rate that is to be applied on the basis of tax treaties is less than the tax rate set forth in the preceding paragraph applied on the basis of Japanese tax law.

“Non-resident holders” eligible to receive a reduced treaty rate for Japanese taxes withheld at the source with respect to any dividends payable on Shares must submit an application through the withholding agent regarding the Convention to the relevant tax authorities prior to the dividend payment. A standing proxy of a “non-resident holder” may submit such application on his or her behalf. In addition, a simplified special application filing procedure is available for non-resident holders of Shares to claim treaty benefits of exemption from or reduction of Japanese withholding tax. With regard to ADSs, if a depository institution or its representative has submitted both an original form and a copy of the two applications regarding the Convention, such reduced tax rate shall apply (one of these forms is Form 4, “Extension of Time for Withholding of Tax on Dividends with respect to Foreign Depositary Receipts,” which is to be submitted to the head of the district tax office through the payor of the dividend by the day prior to payment of the dividend, and the other form is Form 5, “Relief from Japanese Income Tax and Special Income Tax for Reconstruction on Dividends with respect to Foreign Depositary Receipts,” which is to be submitted to the head of the district tax office through the payor of the dividend by no later than eight months from the day after the record date for payment of the dividend regarding which the related Form 4 was submitted). To claim the reduced tax rate, a non-resident holder of ADSs must submit a certification with respect to taxpayer status, place of residence and beneficial ownership (if applicable), and must submit any other information or documentation requested by the depository institution. Non-resident holders of ADSs who do not submit an application in advance generally may request a refund from the relevant tax authorities for taxes withheld at the source in excess of the tax rate under the Convention.

For purposes of the Convention and Japanese tax law, United States holders of ADSs (or ADRs evidencing ADSs) will be treated as the owners of the Shares underlying the ADSs.

Gains derived from the sale of Shares or ADSs by a non-resident holder, either outside Japan or within Japan, are generally not subject to Japanese income or corporate taxes.

 

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An individual who has acquired Shares or ADSs as legatee, heir or donee may be required to pay Japanese inheritance and gift taxes at progressive rates even if the acquiring individual, deceased or donor (as the case may be) is not a Japanese resident.

United States Taxation

The following discussion is based on the advice of Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP, United States counsel to NTT, with respect to United States federal income tax laws presently in force. The discussion summarizes the principal United States federal income tax consequences of an investment in ADSs or Shares, but it is not a full description of all tax considerations that may be relevant to a decision to purchase ADSs or Shares. In particular, the discussion is directed only to U.S. holders that will hold ADSs or Shares as capital assets and that have the United States dollar as their functional currency. It does not address the tax treatment of U.S. holders that are subject to special tax rules, such as banks, dealers, traders who elect to mark to market, insurance companies, tax-exempt entities, persons holding an ADS or Share as part of a straddle, hedging, conversion or constructive sale transaction and holders of 10% or more of the voting Shares. It also does not address any state or local tax consequences and does not address the United States estate tax or gift tax, the Medicare tax on net investment income or the United States alternative minimum tax. NTT believes, and the discussion therefore assumes, that it is not and will not become a passive foreign investment company for United States federal income tax purposes. HOLDERS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS ABOUT THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL TAX CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF ADSs OR SHARES.

As used herein, “U.S. holder” means a beneficial owner of ADSs or Shares that is a United States individual citizen or resident, a corporation or partnership created or organized in the United States or under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia (such a corporation herein referred to as a “U.S. corporation”), a trust subject to the control of a U.S. person and the primary supervision of a U.S. court, or an estate the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source. The term “non-U.S. holder” refers to any beneficial owner of ADSs or Shares other than a U.S. holder. If the obligations contemplated by the Deposit Agreement are performed in accordance with its terms, holders of ADSs (or ADRs evidencing ADSs) will be treated for United States federal income tax purposes as the owners of the Shares represented by those ADSs.

Cash dividends (including the amount of any Japanese taxes withheld) paid with respect to the Shares represented by ADSs generally must be included in the gross income of a U.S. holder as ordinary income when the dividends are received (i) by the Depositary in the case of a U.S. holder holding ADSs or (ii) by the U.S. holder in the case of a U.S. holder holding Shares. Dividends paid in yen must be included in gross income in a United States dollar amount based on the exchange rate in effect on the day of receipt by the Depositary or, in the case of Shares, the U.S. holder. Any gain or loss recognized upon a subsequent sale or conversion of the yen for a different amount will be United States source ordinary income or loss. Generally, under current law, a maximum 20% U.S. tax rate is imposed on the dividend income of a non-corporate U.S. holder who satisfies certain holding period requirements with respect to dividends paid by a U.S. corporation or “qualified foreign corporation.” A qualified foreign corporation generally includes a corporation other than a U.S. corporation if (i) its shares are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States or (ii) it is eligible for benefits under a comprehensive United States income tax treaty. Clause (i) will apply with respect to ADSs if such ADSs are readily tradable on an established securities market in the U.S. Applying these criteria, NTT expects that it should be treated as a qualified foreign corporation with respect to dividend payments to its ADS holders and, therefore, dividends paid to an individual U.S. holder of ADSs should be taxed at a maximum rate of 20%. A U.S. holder that is a corporation will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction. Distributions to U.S. holders of additional Shares or preemptive rights with respect to Shares that are made as part of a pro rata distribution to all shareholders of NTT generally will not be subject to United States federal income tax. However, such distributions of additional Shares or preemptive rights generally will be subject to federal income

 

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tax if, for example, a U.S. holder can elect to receive cash in lieu of Shares or preemptive rights or if the distribution of Shares or preemptive rights is not proportionate.

Japanese withholding tax paid by or for the account of any U.S. holder may be used, subject to generally applicable limitations and conditions, as a credit against the U.S. holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability or as a deduction in computing the U.S. holder’s gross income. To the extent a refund of the tax withheld is available to you under Japanese law or under the Convention, the amount of tax withheld that is refundable will not be eligible for credit against your United States federal income tax liability. Dividends generally will be foreign source income and, for purposes of determining a U.S. person’s foreign tax credit limitation, will, depending on your circumstances, be “passive” or “general” income which, in either case, is treated separately from other types of income for purposes of computing the foreign tax credit allowable to you. In the case of a U.S. non-corporate holder for whom the reduced 20% rate of U.S. tax on dividends applies, limitations and restrictions on claiming foreign tax credits will appropriately take into account the rate differential under rules similar to section 904(b)(2)(B) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.

A non-U.S. holder generally will not be subject to United States federal income or withholding tax on dividends paid with respect to Shares or Shares represented by ADSs, unless that income is effectively connected with the conduct by the non-U.S. holder of a trade or business within the United States (and is attributable to a permanent establishment maintained in the United States by such non-U.S. holder, if an applicable income tax treaty so requires).

U.S. holders generally will recognize capital gain or loss on the sale or other disposition of ADSs or Shares (or preemptive rights with respect to such Shares) held by the U.S. holder or by the Depositary. Generally, gain or loss will be a long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. holder’s holding period for such Shares or Shares represented by ADSs exceeds one year. Long-term capital gain for an individual U.S. holder is generally subject to a reduced rate of tax, currently at a maximum rate of 20%. U.S. holders will not recognize gain or loss on deposits or withdrawals of Shares in exchange for ADSs or on the exercise of preemptive rights. Gain recognized by a U.S. holder generally will be treated as United States source income. Consequently, in the case of a disposition of Shares or ADSs, the U.S. holder may not be able to use the foreign tax credit for any Japanese tax imposed on the gain unless it can apply the credit against U.S. federal income tax due on other income from foreign sources. Loss recognized by a U.S. holder generally will be treated as United States source loss. A U.S. holder may, however, be required to treat all or any part of such loss as foreign source loss in certain circumstances, including if (i) NTT has paid certain dividends within the 24-month period preceding the loss and (ii) the U.S. holder included the dividends in the “general” basket for foreign tax credit limitation purposes. If such a loss were treated as foreign source for foreign tax credit purposes, the amount of the U.S. holder’s allowable foreign tax credit may be reduced.

A non-U.S. holder of ADSs or Shares will not be subject to United States federal income or withholding tax on gain from the sale or other disposition of ADSs or Shares unless (i) such gain is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and is attributable to a permanent establishment maintained in the United States by such non-U.S. holder, if an applicable income tax treaty so requires) or (ii) the non-U.S. holder is an individual who is present in the United States for at least 183 days during the taxable year of the disposition and certain other conditions are met.

Dividends in respect of the ADSs or Shares and the proceeds from the sale, exchange, or redemption of the ADSs or Shares may be reported to the United States Internal Revenue Service if paid to non-corporate holders. A backup withholding tax also may apply to amounts paid to non-corporate holders unless they provide an accurate taxpayer identification number, a properly executed United States Internal Revenue Service Form W-8 or W-9 or otherwise establish a basis for exemption. The amount of any backup withholding from a payment to a holder will be allowed as a credit against the holder’s United States federal income tax liability. Certain U.S. holders are required to report information with respect to their investment in certain “foreign financial

 

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assets,” which would include an investment in equity issued by NTT, to the United States Internal Revenue Service, subject to certain exceptions. Investors who fail to report required information could become subject to substantial penalties. Investors are encouraged to consult with their own tax advisors regarding the possible implications of this reporting requirement on their investment in NTT’s ADSs or Shares.

Documents on Display

NTT is subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act. In accordance with these requirements, NTT files annual reports and submits other information to the SEC. These materials, including this Form 20-F and the exhibits thereto, may be inspected and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the SEC’s Public Reference Room by calling the SEC in the United States at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains a website at http://www.sec.gov/ that contains reports, proxy statements and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the SEC. Form 20-F reports and the other information submitted by NTT to the SEC may be accessed through this website.

ITEM 11—QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

The financial instruments that NTT Group holds are continuously exposed to market fluctuations, such as changes in foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates and stock prices.

NTT Group utilizes derivative financial instruments, such as forward exchange contracts, interest rate swap agreements, currency swap agreements, currency option agreements and forward contracts, from time to time, in order to limit its exposure to loss in relation to debt instruments or assets that may result from fluctuations, such as changes in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates. NTT Group does not engage in derivative financial instrument transactions for trading purposes. The use of derivative financial instruments is based on specific internal rules and is subject to controls at the relevant department of the head offices of NTT and its subsidiaries. In most cases, derivative instrument transactions are integrated with the underlying debt instruments or financial assets, and the transactions are entered into on the same date as the debt instruments or financial assets and have the same maturity. See Note 20 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding NTT Group’s derivative instruments and hedging activities.

Securities Price Risk

NTT Group holds available-for-sale securities and held-to-maturity securities. Available-for-sale securities are held as long-term investments. NTT Group does not hold marketable securities for trading purposes.

Fair values of available-for-sale securities and held-to-maturity securities were as follows as of March 31, 2015:

 

     2015  
     Cost      Fair
value(1)
 
     (in millions of yen)  

Available-for-sale securities

   ¥ 222,353       ¥ 454,939   

Held-to-maturity securities

   ¥ 5,531       ¥ 5,577   

 

(1) Information provided for reference only.

 

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Details of maturities and fair values of held-to-maturity securities were as follows:

 

     2015  
     Cost      Fair
value(1)
 
     (in millions of yen)  

Maturing within 1 year

   ¥ 1,968       ¥ 1,972   

Maturing between 1 year and 5 years

   ¥ 1,624       ¥ 1,629   

Maturing between 5 years and 10 years

   ¥ 1,638       ¥ 1,650   

Maturing after 10 years

   ¥ 301       ¥ 326   

 

(1) Information provided for reference only.

Foreign Exchange Risk

NTT Group from time to time enters into forward foreign exchange contracts and currency swap agreements to hedge the risk of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates associated with its foreign currency-denominated long-term debt. Such contracts and agreements are fixed at the same maturity as the underlying debt.

NTT Group’s financial instruments that are affected by foreign currency exchange rates were not material as of March 31, 2015.

Amounts related to forward foreign exchange contracts and currency swap agreements entered into in connection with foreign currency-denominated long-term debt that eliminate all foreign currency exposures are shown in the table under “Interest Rate Risk.”

Interest Rate Risk

Market risk for changes in interest rates to which NTT Group is exposed relates principally to debt obligations. NTT Group has long-term debt, primarily with fixed rates. NTT Group enters into interest rate swap agreements from time to time to convert underlying floating rate debt or assets into fixed rate debt or assets, or vice versa. NTT Group may also enter into interest rate option contracts to hedge the risk of a rise in the interest rate of underlying debt.

The following tables provide information about NTT Group’s financial instruments that are affected by changes in interest rates, including debt obligations and interest rate swaps.

For debt obligations, the table presents cash flows by expected maturity dates, weighted average interest rates and fair values of financial instruments.

For interest rate swaps, the table presents notional amounts and weighted average interest rates by expected maturity dates and the fair value of the swap. Notional amounts are calculated based on the contractual payments. Weighted average floating rates are current as of March 31, 2015.

While the information is presented in Japanese yen equivalents, the amounts are classified by the currency (Japanese yen and foreign currencies) of the financial instruments’ actual cash flows.

 

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    Average
interest
rate
    Carrying amount and maturity date (year ending March 31)     Fair
value
 
      2016     2017     2018     2019     2020     Thereafter     Total    
          (in millions of yen)  
Long-term debt including current portion                  

Japanese yen bonds

    1.3   ¥ (234,994   ¥ (249,945   ¥ (284,953   ¥ (200,968   ¥ (219,965   ¥ (509,985   ¥ (1,700,810   ¥ (1,765,238

U.S. dollar bonds

    1.5     0        (1,159     (151,445     (24,028     (60,580     0        (237,213     (220,987

Borrowings from banks—

                 

Fixed rate:

                 

Japanese yen loans

    1.0     (96,854     (155,916     (169,400     (303,600     (146,000     (861,632     (1,733,402     (1,818,698

Euro loans

    1.0     (2,586     (40     (46,346     (347     (414     (439     (50,173     (50,050

Floating rate:

                 

Japanese yen loans

    0.3     (7,612     (20,938     (14,091     (5,608     (2,729     (56,475     (107,453     (131,702

U.S. dollar loans

    0.7     (20,083     (34,293     (6,407     (40,550     (12,178     (51,826     (165,337     (152,163

Other loans (primarily floating rate):

      (8,150     (12,516     (10,517     (23,273     (3,853     (6,408     (64,716     (61,869
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Subtotal

      (370,279     (474,807     (683,159     (598,374     (445,719     (1,486,765     (4,059,104     (4,200,707

Forward exchange contracts

      0        0        0        0        0        0        0        0   

Currency swap agreements

      0        (38     63,297        0        12,601        0        75,861        75,861   
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

    ¥ (370,279   ¥ (474,845   ¥ (619,862   ¥ (598,374   ¥ (433,118   ¥ (1,486,765   ¥ (3,983,243   ¥ (4,124,846

 

     Notional amount and average interest rate
(year ending March 31)
    Fair
value
 
     2016     2017     2018     2019     2020     Thereafter    
     (in millions of yen)  

Interest rate swap agreements

              

Floating to Fixed (Japanese yen)

   ¥ 261,927      ¥ 12,449      ¥ 32,519      ¥ 22,504      ¥ 0      ¥ 78,514      ¥ (3,165

Average pay rate

     0.3     1.4     0.4     1.2     0.0     1.6  

Average receive rate

     0.2     0.6     0.3     0.7     0.0     0.5  

Fixed to Floating (Japanese yen)

   ¥ 0      ¥ 0      ¥ 0      ¥ 0      ¥ 0      ¥ 0      ¥ 0   

Average pay rate

     0.0     0.0     0.0     0.0     0.0     0.0  

Average receive rate

     0.0     0.0     0.0     0.0     0.0     0.0  

Floating to Floating (Japanese yen)

   ¥ 0      ¥ 0      ¥ 0      ¥ 0      ¥ 0      ¥ 0      ¥ 0   

Average pay rate

     0.0     0.0     0.0     0.0     0.0     0.0  

Average receive rate

     0.0     0.0     0.0     0.0     0.0     0.0  

ITEM 12—DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES

American Depositary Shares

Prior to the issue, registration, registration of transfer, split-up or combination of any ADR, the delivery of any distribution in respect thereof, or the withdrawal of any deposited securities, the Depositary may charge holders of ADRs the following fees, if applicable:

 

   

any stock transfer or other tax or other governmental charge;

 

   

any stock transfer or registration fees in effect for the registration of transfers of the Shares or the deposited securities upon any applicable register; and

 

   

any other applicable charges as set forth below.

The Depositary may, however, deduct from any distributions on or in respect of the deposited securities, or may sell such deposited securities (after giving notice to the holder thereof), and apply such deduction or the proceeds of any such sale in payment of such tax or other governmental charge described above.

 

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The Depositary may charge each person to whom ADRs are issued against deposits of Shares (including deposits in respect of Share distributions, stock acquisition rights or other distributions) and each person surrendering ADRs for withdrawal of deposited securities the following charges: (i) up to US$5.00 for each 100 ADSs (or portion thereof), (ii) cable, telex and facsimile transmission and delivery charges, and (iii) expenses of the Depositary in connection with the conversion of foreign currency into U.S. dollars.

In the case of any cash dividends or other distributions in cash (including as a result of any sales of ADRs or Shares, or the sale of fractions thereof when the same results from a distribution of securities), the Depositary will make adjustments for taxes withheld and will deduct its expenses for (i) converting any foreign currency to U.S. dollars, (ii) transferring foreign currency or U.S. dollars to the United States, (iii) obtaining any approval or license of any governmental authority required for such conversion or transfer, (iv) making any sale, and (v) following procedures relating to foreign ownership restrictions. See “Item 10—Additional Information—Exchange Controls and Other Limitations Affecting Security Holders—Restrictions on Foreign Ownership” for further details regarding such restrictions.

The Depositary has agreed to reimburse NTT for its annual NYSE listing fees and to waive certain costs related to the Depositary’s administration and maintenance of the ADR program, including the routine expenses of the Depositary for printing and distributing dividend checks and mailing required tax forms, its fees and expenses (including legal fees) in connection with non-routine costs, including costs associated with any rights issues, splits or combinations, recapitalizations, mergers, acquisitions, exchange offers, stock distributions, consent solicitations, change in the ratio of ADSs to Shares and other similar costs, and the subscription fees to certain websites maintained by the Depositary. For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015, the Depositary reimbursed NTT in the amount of US$45,000 for NTT’s annual NYSE listing fees, and waived costs related to the administration and maintenance of the ADR program and other services as described above. The amount reimbursed by the Depositary is not related to the amount of fees collected by the Depositary from ADR holders.

 

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PART II

ITEM 13—DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES

None.

ITEM 14—MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS

None.

ITEM 15—CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

NTT Group maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that the information required to be disclosed in its Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Management necessarily applies its judgment in assessing the costs and benefits of such controls and procedures, which, by their nature, can provide only reasonable assurance regarding management’s control objectives. NTT Group also has investments in certain unconsolidated entities, both in Japan and in various foreign countries. As NTT Group does not control or manage these entities, the disclosure controls and procedures with respect to such entities are necessarily more limited than those that NTT Group maintains with respect to its consolidated subsidiaries.

NTT’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of NTT Group’s disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2015. Based on that evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of NTT’s management, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that these disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of March 31, 2015 to provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed in the reports NTT files and submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported as and when required.

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

The management of NTT is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) or 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act. NTT’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance as to the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation and presentation of the consolidated financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

NTT’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:

(i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of NTT’s assets;

(ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that NTT’s receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors; and

(iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of NTT’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

 

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Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness for future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with these policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Management assessed the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2015. In making this assessment, NTT’s management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in “Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013).” Management concluded that, as of March 31, 2015, NTT’s internal control over financial reporting is effective based on those criteria.

NTT’s independent registered public accounting firm, KPMG AZSA LLC, has issued an audit report on NTT’s internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2015, which appears on Page F-3.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There has been no change in NTT’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, NTT’s internal control over financial reporting.

ITEM 16A—AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT

NTT’s board of corporate auditors has determined that Ms. Michiko Tomonaga is a financial expert meeting the requirements of Item 16A. Ms. Michiko Tomonaga is independent under applicable Japanese rules relating to the composition of boards of corporate auditors.

ITEM 16B—CODE OF ETHICS

NTT Group has adopted a code of ethics covering all of its officers, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, and all of its employees. NTT Group has posted the text of its code of ethics on its Internet website: http://www.ntt.co.jp/csr_e/compliance.html.

If NTT Group amends the provisions of its code of ethics that apply to its chief executive officer, principal financial officer or persons performing similar functions, or if NTT Group grants any waiver of such provisions, NTT Group will disclose such amendment or waiver on its website at the same address.

ITEM 16C—PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

Audit Fees, Audit-Related Fees, Tax Fees and All Other Fees

NTT believes that it is important to maintain and enhance audit quality while increasing audit efficiency. NTT’s principal auditor is KPMG AZSA LLC (“KPMG”), formerly known as KPMG AZSA & Co.

The aggregate fees billed for each of the fiscal years ended March 31, 2014 and March 31, 2015 for professional services rendered to NTT and its subsidiaries by KPMG and its affiliates are as follows:

 

     Years ended
March 31,
 
     2014      2015  
     (in millions of yen)  

Audit Fees

   ¥ 4,100       ¥ 4,527   

Audit-Related Fees

     5         11   

Tax Fees

     100         76   

All Other Fees

     122         113   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Fees

   ¥ 4,328       ¥ 4,728   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Audit Fees were billed for professional services rendered by KPMG for the audit of NTT’s and its subsidiaries’ annual financial statements and for services that KPMG normally provides in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for those fiscal years.

Audit-Related Fees were billed for assurance and related services rendered by KPMG that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of NTT’s and its subsidiaries’ financial statements, such as services involving the performance of agreed-upon procedures, and that are not reported under Audit Fees.

Tax Fees were billed for professional services rendered by KPMG for tax returns and tax consultation services.

All Other Fees were billed for services provided by KPMG, such as an information systems review and other advisory operations, which are not reported in Audit Fees, Audit-Related Fees or Tax Fees.

Pre-approval Policies and Procedures Approved by the Company’s Board of Directors and the Audit & Supervisory Board

Any contract between NTT and/or its subsidiaries and KPMG and its affiliates must be approved by NTT’s Audit & Supervisory Board before the engagement of the relevant accountants. NTT’s Audit & Supervisory Board has pre-approved NTT and/or its subsidiaries entering into contracts with KPMG and its affiliates for services consisting of the preparation of tax returns and interfacing with the tax authorities in relation thereto, and NTT’s Audit & Supervisory Board is to be informed of each such service provided.

All of the services provided by KPMG and its affiliates in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 were approved by NTT’s Audit & Supervisory Board pursuant to the pre-approval policies and procedures described above. None of the pre-approvals for such services were waived pursuant to the procedures described in Rule 2-01(c)(7)(i)(C) of Regulation S-X, which waives the general requirement for pre-approval with respect to the provision of services other than audit, review or attest services in certain circumstances.

ITEM 16D—EXEMPTIONS FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEES

NTT is relying on the general exemption from certain requirements of Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act related to the independence of audit committee members and the responsibilities of the audit committee, which exemption is available to non-U.S. issuers that maintain a qualifying board of corporate auditors as provided in Rule 10A-3(c)(3). NTT believes that reliance on this exemption does not materially adversely affect the ability of NTT’s board of corporate auditors to satisfy the other requirements of Rule 10A-3. See “Item 6—Directors, Senior Management and Employees” for a discussion of NTT’s board of corporate auditors.

 

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ITEM 16E—PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

Period

   (a)
Total
Number  of
Shares
Purchased(1)(2)
     (b)
Average
Price  Paid
per Share(1)(2)
     (c)
Total
Number  of
Shares
Purchased as
Part of
Publicly
Announced
Plans or
Programs(1)
     (d)
Maximum
Number of
Shares
that May
Yet Be
Purchased
Under
the Plans or
Programs(1)
 

April 1, 2014 to April 30, 2014

     2,014       ¥ 5,407         0         0   

May 1, 2014 to May 31, 2014

     1,667       ¥ 5,754         0         0   

June 1, 2014 to June 30, 2014

     1,998       ¥ 6,182         0         0   

July 1, 2014 to July 31, 2014

     5,058       ¥ 6,596         0         44,000,000   

August 1, 2014 to August 31, 2014

     3,004       ¥ 6,792         0         44,000,000   

September 1, 2014 to September 30, 2014

     3,302       ¥ 6,938         0         44,000,000   

October 1, 2014 to October 31, 2014

     2,097       ¥ 6,518         0         44,000,000   

November 1, 2014 to November 30, 2014

     38,002,342       ¥ 6,557         38,000,000         13,000,000   

December 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014

     1,171,994       ¥ 6,360         1,168,100         11,831,900   

January 1, 2015 to January 31, 2015

     4,621,695       ¥ 6,411         4,619,100         7,212,800   

February 1, 2015 to February 28, 2015

     5,989,974       ¥ 7,130         5,986,200         1,226,600   

March 1, 2015 to March 31, 2015

     1,230,425       ¥ 7,523         1,226,600         0   

 

(1) On May 13, 2014, the Board resolved that NTT may acquire up to 44 million outstanding Shares of its common stock at an aggregate cost not exceeding ¥250 billion from July 1, 2014 through March 31, 2015. Further, on November 7, 2014, the Board revised its previous resolution from May 13, 2014 above, and resolved that NTT may acquire up to 51 million outstanding Shares of its common stock at an aggregate cost not exceeding ¥350 billion from November 10, 2014 through June 30, 2015.
(2) The number of Shares purchased includes less-than-one-unit shares. From April 1, 2014 to March 31, 2015, NTT purchased 35,570 such Shares.

ITEM 16F—CHANGE IN REGISTRANT’S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT

Not applicable.

ITEM 16G—CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

The NYSE has adopted corporate governance listing standards for U.S. domestic issuers concerning the role of independent directors, committees under the board of directors, corporate governance guidelines, codes of business conduct and ethics, shareholder approval of equity compensation plans and annual certification by principal executive officers. NTT follows corporate governance practices that are different from those required for U.S. domestic listed companies in the following respects:

 

   

Boards of directors of U.S. domestic listed companies must have a majority of independent directors, non-management directors of U.S. domestic listed companies must meet at regularly scheduled executive sessions without management and U.S. domestic listed companies must have nominating/corporate governance and compensation committees composed entirely of independent directors. Although there are no such requirements under the Companies Act, according to the TSE Code, outside independent directors (within the meaning of the TSE Code) of certain TSE-listed companies, including NTT, should endeavor to exchange information and develop a shared awareness among themselves from an independent and objective standpoint by, for example, holding regular meetings of outside independent directors (within the meaning of the TSE Code). Further, according to the TSE Code, such TSE-listed companies should seek appropriate involvement and advice from

 

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outside independent directors in the examination of important matters such as the nomination and remuneration of senior management and directors by, for example, establishing advisory committees of outside independent directors with respect to such matters. While the presence of outside directors on NTT’s board of directors is not mandated by the Companies Act, as indicated in “Item 6—Directors, Senior Management and Employees—Board Practices,” following an amendment to the Companies Act effective as of May 1, 2015, NTT will be required to present an explanation at its ordinary general meeting of shareholders as to why the appointment of outside directors is inappropriate if it has no outside directors at the end of any fiscal year. Additionally, as indicated in “Item 6—Directors, Senior Management and Employees—Board Practices,” the Companies Act requires that at least half of NTT’s Audit & Supervisory Board Members must qualify as outside corporate auditors, and TSE rules require that at least one of NTT’s outside directors or outside corporate auditors meet certain additional independence criteria established by the TSE. Further, TSE rules require NTT to endeavor to have at least one director who meets such independence criteria. Additionally, according to the TSE Code, NTT should have at least two directors who qualify as outside independent directors within the meaning of the TSE Code.

 

   

U.S. domestic listed companies must have an audit committee with a minimum of three members each of whom must be independent and financially literate in accordance with Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act and NYSE rules. NTT maintains a board of corporate auditors (the “Audit & Supervisory Board”) under home country practice as described in “Item 6—Directors, Senior Management and Employees—Board Practices—Audit & Supervisory Board.”

 

   

U.S. domestic listed company audit committees must also (1) discuss earnings press releases, as well as financial information and earnings guidance provided to analysts and rating agencies and (2) set clear hiring policies for past and present employees of the independent auditors. There is no such requirement for Japanese boards of corporate auditors.

 

   

U.S. domestic listed companies must adopt and disclose corporate governance guidelines discussing specified subjects, such as director qualifications and responsibilities, responsibilities of key board committees, director compensation, and director training and continuing education. Japanese law requires NTT’s board of directors to adopt a corporate framework necessary to secure the proper operation of the businesses of NTT and of the corporate group composed of NTT and its subsidiaries. The requirements of such framework differ from the corporate governance guidelines applicable to U.S. listed companies. While NTT is not required to adopt the corporate governance guidelines required under U.S. law, some of these matters are stipulated by the Companies Act, the TSE Code or NTT’s internal company rules.

 

   

U.S. domestic listed companies must adopt a code of business conduct and ethics for directors, officers and employees covering specified subjects and promptly disclose waivers of the code. The TSE Code provides that listed companies should adopt a code of conduct for employees and other affiliated individuals. NTT has adopted a code of ethics covering all its officers and employees applying principles that are generally consistent with those applicable to U.S. domestic companies, and such principles are part of the above-mentioned corporate framework that is required by the Companies Act.

 

   

U.S. domestic listed companies must obtain shareholder approval with respect to any equity compensation plan for any employee, director or service provider for compensation for services. U.S. domestic listed companies must also obtain shareholder approval (subject to certain exceptions) prior to the issuance of common stock or securities convertible into or exercisable for common stock (1) to a director, an officer, a substantial security holder or a party related to any of them if the number of shares of common stock which are to be issued or are issuable upon conversion exceeds 1% of the number of shares of common stock or voting power outstanding before the issuance, (2) in any transaction or series of transactions, if the voting power of the common stock is equal to or exceeds 20% of the voting power outstanding before the issuance or if the number of shares of the common stock is equal to or exceeds 20% of the number of shares outstanding before the issuance, and (3) that

 

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will result in a change of control of the issuer. Following an amendment to the Companies Act effective as of May 1, 2015, if (i) the issuance of shares or transfer of treasury shares, or (ii) the issuance of stock acquisition rights (including bonds with stock acquisition rights), excluding, in both cases, where shareholders will be given subscription rights thereto, would result in the acquiring person holding directly or indirectly more than 50% of the voting rights as calculated in the manner prescribed under the Companies Act specifically for (i) and for (ii), then a special procedure will be required, which generally includes prior notice to the shareholders and, in certain cases, shareholder approval at a general meeting of the shareholders. NTT follows Japanese law which requires shareholder approval by a special resolution for the issuance of stocks, bonds with stock acquisition rights or stock acquisition rights under “specially favorable” conditions.

ITEM 16H—MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE

Not applicable.

 

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PART III

ITEM 17—FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Not applicable.

ITEM 18—FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, Consolidated Balance Sheets of NTT at March 31, 2014 and 2015, Consolidated Statements of Income, Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity and Comprehensive Income and Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows of NTT for each of the three fiscal years ended March 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015, the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements, and Schedule II—Valuation and Qualifying Accounts appear as pages F-1 through F-77.

ITEM 19—EXHIBITS

(a) Financial Statements

See accompanying index to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

(b) Exhibits

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description

    1.1    Amended Articles of Incorporation of NTT (English translation thereof)
    1.2    Amended Share Handling Regulations of NTT (English translation thereof) (incorporated by reference to NTT’s Form 20-F filed June 29, 2012)
    1.3    Amended Regulations of Board of Directors (English translation thereof)
    8.1    List of Subsidiaries
  12.1    Chief Executive Officer’s Certification Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934
  12.2    Chief Financial Officer’s Certification Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934
  13.1*    Chief Executive Officer’s Certification Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. Section 1350)
  13.2*    Chief Financial Officer’s Certification Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. Section 1350)
101.INS    XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase Document
101.PRE    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

 

* Deemed to be furnished to the SEC.

NTT agrees to furnish to the SEC upon request a copy of any instrument which defines the rights of holders of long-term debt of NTT and its consolidated subsidiaries.

 

 

All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

 

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SIGNATURES

The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this annual report on its behalf.

 

NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION

By:

 

/s/    HIROO UNOURA        

 

Hiroo Unoura

President

Chief Executive Officer

Date: June 30, 2015

 

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NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

     Page  

Reports of independent registered public accounting firm issued by KPMG AZSA LLC

     F-2   

Consolidated balance sheets at March 31, 2014 and 2015

     F-4   

Consolidated statements of income and Consolidated statements of comprehensive income for each of the three years in the period ended March 31, 2015

     F-6   

Consolidated statements of changes in equity for each of the three years in the period ended March  31, 2015

     F-8   

Consolidated statements of cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended March 31, 2015

     F-11   

Notes to consolidated financial statements

     F-13   

Financial statement schedule for each of the three years in the period ended March 31, 2015:

  

Schedule II—Valuation and qualifying accounts

     F-77   

 

F-1


Table of Contents

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors and Shareholders

Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation:

We have audited the consolidated financial statements of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation and subsidiaries, as listed in the accompanying index. In connection with our audits of the consolidated financial statements, we also have audited the financial statement schedule as listed in the accompanying index. These consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation and subsidiaries as of March 31, 2015 and 2014, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended March 31, 2015, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also, in our opinion, the related financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2015, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), and our report dated June 30, 2015 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

/s/ KPMG AZSA LLC

Tokyo, Japan

June 30, 2015

 

F-2


Table of Contents

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors and Shareholders

Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation:

We have audited Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2015, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s annual report on internal control over financial reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

In our opinion, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2015, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation and subsidiaries as of March 31, 2015 and 2014, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in equity and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended March 31, 2015, and our report dated June 30, 2015 expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.

/s/ KPMG AZSA LLC

Tokyo, Japan

June 30, 2015

 

F-3


Table of Contents

NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

MARCH 31

 

     2014     2015  
     Millions of yen  

ASSETS

    

Current assets (Note 2):

    

Cash and cash equivalents (Notes 4 and 8)

   ¥ 984,463      ¥ 849,174   

Short-term investments (Note 8)

     38,949        36,342   

Notes and accounts receivable, trade (Note 3)

     2,509,030        2,663,012   

Allowance for doubtful accounts (Note 21)

     (46,893     (43,230

Accounts receivable, other

     345,197        408,051   

Inventories (Note 5)

     415,309        390,523   

Prepaid expenses and other current assets (Note 20)

     394,294        434,023   

Deferred income taxes (Note 12)

     220,662        219,333   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     4,861,011        4,957,228   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment (Notes 2 and 17):

    

Telecommunications equipment

     12,959,564        12,592,070   

Telecommunications service lines

     15,408,604        15,647,879   

Buildings and structures

     6,060,129        6,107,299   

Machinery, vessels and tools

     1,949,903        1,995,879   

Land (Note 9)

     1,238,742        1,299,072   

Construction in progress

     359,014        404,698   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     37,975,956        38,046,897   

Accumulated depreciation

     (28,136,268     (28,245,427
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net property, plant and equipment

     9,839,688        9,801,470   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investments and other assets (Note 2):

    

Investments in affiliated companies (Note 7)

     521,634        542,247   

Marketable securities and other investments (Note 8)

     407,766        515,580   

Goodwill (Note 9)

     1,086,636        1,186,161   

Software (Note 9)

     1,309,912        1,247,956   

Other intangible assets (Note 9)

     401,194        413,552   

Other assets (Notes 11 and 20)

     1,195,608        1,448,296   

Deferred income taxes (Note 12)

     661,500        589,937   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total investments and other assets

     5,584,250        5,943,729   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   ¥ 20,284,949      ¥ 20,702,427   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

F-4


Table of Contents

NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS—(Continued)

MARCH 31

 

     2014     2015  
     Millions of yen  

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

    

Current liabilities (Note 2):

    

Short-term borrowings (Note 10)

   ¥ 269,444      ¥ 330,423   

Current portion of long-term debt (Notes 10 and 20)

     425,351        370,279   

Accounts payable, trade (Note 3)

     1,540,249        1,579,572   

Current portion of obligations under capital leases (Note 17)

     16,929        20,604   

Accrued payroll

     448,061        429,440   

Accrued taxes on income

     256,994        124,861   

Accrued consumption tax

     47,376        148,168   

Advances received

     266,743        243,263   

Other (Notes 12 and 20)

     405,677        475,078   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     3,676,824        3,721,688   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Long-term liabilities (Note 2):

    

Long-term debt (excluding current portion) (Notes 10 and 20)

     3,483,673        3,688,825   

Obligations under capital leases (excluding current portion) (Note 17)

     35,951        34,382   

Liability for employees’ retirement benefits (Note 11)

     1,327,873        1,387,962   

Accrued liabilities for point programs

     130,466        108,099   

Deferred income taxes (Note 12)

     233,151        196,853   

Other (Note 20)

     446,293        486,536   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total long-term liabilities

     5,657,407        5,902,657   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Redeemable noncontrolling interests (Note 2):

     25,912        28,272   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Equity (Note 14):

    

Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (“NTT”) shareholders’ equity

    

Common stock, no par value—

    

Authorized—6,192,920,900 shares

    

Issued—1,136,697,235 shares in 2014
and 1,136,697,235 shares in 2015

     937,950        937,950   

Additional paid-in capital (Note 14)

     2,827,010        2,846,723   

Retained earnings (Notes 7 and 14)

     4,808,361        5,126,657   

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (Notes 8, 11, 14
and 20)

     94,966        268,232   

Treasury stock, at cost (Note 14)—
26,650,807 shares in 2014 and
78,097,606 shares in 2015

     (156,933     (497,702
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total NTT shareholders’ equity

     8,511,354        8,681,860   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Noncontrolling interests

     2,413,452        2,367,950   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total equity

     10,924,806        11,049,810   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Commitments and contingent liabilities (Note 22):

    

Total liabilities and equity

   ¥ 20,284,949      ¥ 20,702,427   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

F-5


Table of Contents

NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

YEAR ENDED MARCH 31

 

    2013     2014     2015  
    Millions of yen, except per share data  

Operating revenues (Note 3):

     

Fixed voice related services

  ¥ 1,712,877      ¥ 1,578,941      ¥ 1,441,383   

Mobile voice related services

    1,257,490        1,052,622        872,062   

IP / packet communications services

    3,712,766        3,711,866        3,672,157   

Sale of telecommunication equipment

    844,883        969,664        996,996   

System integration

    2,009,953        2,275,034        2,691,766   

Other

    1,162,771        1,337,047        1,420,953   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    10,700,740        10,925,174        11,095,317   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating expenses (Notes 3, 16 and 18):

     

Cost of services (excluding items shown separately below)

    2,303,672        2,360,916        2,434,870   

Cost of equipment sold (Note 2) (excluding items shown separately below)

    864,251        885,288        948,903   

Cost of system integration (excluding items shown separately below)

    1,402,259        1,643,988        1,900,319   

Depreciation and amortization (Note 9)

    1,899,245        1,880,293        1,827,998   

Impairment losses (Notes 6, 16)

    5,416        5,738        38,739   

Selling, general and administrative expenses (Note 18)

    2,992,588        2,929,111        2,856,458   

Goodwill and other intangible asset impairments (Note 9)

    31,341        6,187        3,464   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    9,498,772        9,711,521        10,010,751   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income

    1,201,968        1,213,653        1,084,566   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other income (expenses):

     

Interest and amortization of bond discounts and issue costs (Note 2)

    (54,339     (47,684     (44,016

Interest income

    17,638        17,632        18,398   

Other, net (Notes 9, 19 and 20)

    32,380        110,594        7,681   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    (4,321     80,542        (17,937
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income before income taxes and equity in earnings (losses) of affiliated companies

    1,197,647        1,294,195        1,066,629   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income tax expense (benefit) (Note 12):

     

Current

    461,995        483,113        364,845   

Deferred

    11,959        3,433        32,504   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    473,954        486,546        397,349   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income before equity in earnings (losses) of affiliated companies

    723,693        807,649        669,280   

Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliated companies (Notes 7 and 16)

    (16,093     (50,792     5,889   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

    707,600        756,857        675,169   

Less—Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

    185,668        171,384        157,103   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income attributable to NTT

  ¥ 521,932      ¥ 585,473      ¥ 518,066   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Per share of common stock (Note 14):

     

Weighted average number of shares outstanding

    1,211,880,769        1,149,758,214        1,093,680,009   

Net income attributable to NTT

  ¥ 430.68      ¥ 509.21      ¥ 473.69   

Cash dividends to be paid to shareholders of record date

  ¥ 160.00      ¥ 170.00      ¥ 180.00   

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

F-6


Table of Contents

NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

YEAR ENDED MARCH 31

 

     2013     2014     2015  
     Millions of yen  

Net income

   ¥ 707,600      ¥ 756,857      ¥ 675,169   

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax (Note 14)

      

Unrealized gain (loss) on securities

     47,509        16,057        76,308   

Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments

     (4,736     (4,895     2,903   

Foreign currency translation adjustments

     112,388        156,471        129,863   

Pension liability adjustments

     35,646        163,241        16,370   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other comprehensive income (loss)

     190,807        330,874        225,444   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total comprehensive income (loss)

     898,407        1,087,731        900,613   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Less—Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests

     211,564        214,360        209,281   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to NTT

     686,843        873,371        691,332   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

F-7


Table of Contents

NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2013

 

    NTT shareholders’ equity              
    Common
stock
    Additional
paid-in
capital
(Note 14)
    Retained
earnings
(Notes 7
and 14)
    Accumulated
other
comprehensive
income (loss)
(Notes 8, 11,

14 and 20)
    Treasury
stock, at
cost
(Note 14)
    Total     Noncontrolling
interests
    Total
Equity
(Note 14)
 
    Millions of yen  

At beginning of year

  ¥ 937,950      ¥ 2,832,165      ¥ 4,888,746      ¥ (357,843   ¥ (418,431   ¥ 7,882,587      ¥ 2,165,142      ¥ 10,047,729   

Net income

        521,932            521,932        185,668        707,600   

Other comprehensive income (loss)

          164,911          164,911        25,896        190,807   

Cash dividends

        (183,405         (183,405     (92,012     (275,417

Changes in NTT’s ownership interest in subsidiaries

      (4,553           (4,553     5,870        1,317   

Acquisition of treasury stock

            (150,066     (150,066       (150,066

Resale of treasury stock

        (5       38        33          33   

At end of year

  ¥ 937,950      ¥ 2,827,612      ¥ 5,227,268      ¥ (192,932   ¥ (568,459   ¥ 8,231,439      ¥ 2,290,564      ¥ 10,522,003   

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

F-8


Table of Contents

NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2014

 

    NTT shareholders’ equity     Noncontrolling
interests
    Total
Equity
(Note 14)
 
    Common
stock
    Additional
paid-in
capital
(Note 14)
    Retained
earnings
(Notes 7
and 14)
    Accumulated
other
comprehensive
income (loss)
(Notes 8, 11,

14 and 20)
    Treasury
stock, at
cost
(Note 14)
    Total      
    Millions of yen  

At beginning of year

  ¥ 937,950      ¥ 2,827,612      ¥ 5,227,268      ¥ (192,932   ¥ (568,459   ¥ 8,231,439      ¥ 2,290,564      ¥ 10,522,003   

Net income

        585,473            585,473        171,384        756,857   

Other comprehensive income (loss)

          287,898          287,898        42,976        330,874   

Cash dividends

        (186,174         (186,174     (96,203     (282,377

Changes in NTT’s ownership interest in subsidiaries

      (1,069           (1,069     4,731        3,662   

Stock compensation transactions

      467              467          467   

Acquisition of treasury stock

            (406,696     (406,696       (406,696

Resale of treasury stock

      3            13        16          16   

Cancellation of treasury stock

      (3     (818,206       818,209        —            —     

At end of year

  ¥ 937,950      ¥ 2,827,010      ¥ 4,808,361      ¥ 94,966      ¥ (156,933   ¥ 8,511,354      ¥ 2,413,452      ¥ 10,924,806   

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

F-9


Table of Contents

NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2015

 

    NTT shareholders’ equity     Noncontrolling
interests
    Total
Equity
(Note 14)
 
    Common
stock
    Additional
paid-in
capital
(Note 14)
    Retained
earnings
(Notes 7
and 14)
    Accumulated
other
comprehensive
income (loss)
(Notes 8, 11,

14 and 20)
    Treasury
stock, at
cost
(Note 14)
    Total      
    Millions of yen  

At beginning of year

  ¥ 937,950      ¥ 2,827,010      ¥ 4,808,361      ¥ 94,966      ¥ (156,933   ¥ 8,511,354      ¥ 2,413,452      ¥ 10,924,806   

Net income

        518,066            518,066        156,013        674,079   

Other comprehensive income (loss)

          173,266          173,266        50,943        224,209   

Cash dividends

        (199,770         (199,770     (96,100     (295,870

Changes in NTT’s ownership interest in subsidiaries

      17,421              17,421        (156,358     (138,937

Stock compensation transactions

      2,292              2,292          2,292   

Acquisition of treasury stock

            (340,781     (340,781       (340,781

Resale of treasury stock

            12        12          12   

At end of year

  ¥ 937,950      ¥ 2,846,723      ¥ 5,126,657      ¥ 268,232      ¥ (497,702   ¥ 8,681,860      ¥ 2,367,950      ¥ 11,049,810   

  

 

* Changes in the redeemable noncontrolling interest are not included in the table.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

F-10


Table of Contents

NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

YEAR ENDED MARCH 31

 

     2013     2014     2015  
     Millions of yen  

Cash flows from operating activities:

      

Net income

   ¥ 707,600      ¥ 756,857      ¥ 675,169   

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities—

      

Depreciation and amortization (Note 9)

     1,899,245        1,880,293        1,827,998   

Impairment losses

     5,416        5,738        38,739   

Deferred taxes (Note 12)

     11,959        3,433        32,504   

Goodwill and other intangible asset impairments (Note 9)

     31,341        6,187        3,464   

Losses on disposals of property, plant and equipment

     106,215        98,317        104,718   

Gains on sales of property, plant and equipment

     (18,469     (33,119     (34,191

Gains resulting from the exchange of rights (Note 9)

     —          (59,996     —     

Equity in (earnings) losses of affiliated companies (Note 7)

     16,093        50,792        (5,889

(Increase) decrease in notes and accounts receivable, trade

     (119,381     17,415        (126,476

(Increase) decrease in inventories (Note 5)

     (2,139     (68,776     (12,044

(Increase) decrease in other current assets

     (90,565     (16,658     (86,809

Increase (decrease) in accounts payable, trade and accrued payroll

     (81,297     66,032        (21,538

Increase (decrease) in accrued consumption tax

     7,236        (11,621     99,661   

Increase (decrease) in advances received

     (9,770     37,691        (32,481

Increase (decrease) in accrued taxes on income

     28,449        20,909        (133,894

Increase (decrease) in other current liabilities

     4,489        (20,351     60,141   

Increase (decrease) in liability for employees’ retirement benefits

     26,476        42,964        38,753   

Increase (decrease) in other long-term liabilities

     (50,234     (33,122     2,588   

Other

     (18,982     (15,081     (38,601
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

   ¥ 2,453,682      ¥ 2,727,904      ¥ 2,391,812   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

F-11


Table of Contents

NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS—(Continued)

YEAR ENDED MARCH 31

 

     2013     2014     2015  
     Millions of yen  

Cash flows from investing activities:

      

Payments for property, plant and equipment

   ¥ (1,538,115   ¥ (1,486,651   ¥ (1,444,917

Payments for intangibles

     (446,588     (416,583     (358,209

Proceeds from sales of property, plant and equipment

     38,929        50,625        54,424   

Payments for purchases of non-current investments

     (35,309     (50,517     (31,097

Proceeds from sales and redemptions of non-current investments

     19,812        15,444        27,478   

Acquisitions of subsidiaries, net of cash acquired

     (38,490     (211,195     (42,217

Payments for purchases of short-term investments

     (682,359     (60,485     (61,364

Proceeds from redemptions of short-term investments

     936,211        92,396        70,644   

Other

     (30,344     (39,840     (83,321
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

     (1,776,253     (2,106,806     (1,868,579
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

      

Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt (Note 10)

     402,271        637,253        615,353   

Payments for settlement of long-term debt (Note 10)

     (675,295     (735,894     (496,729

Proceeds from issuance of short-term debt (Note 10)

     3,015,099        4,872,714        5,931,664   

Payments for settlement of short-term debt (Note 10)

     (3,029,279     (4,713,795     (5,889,243

Dividends paid

     (183,405     (186,174     (199,770

Proceeds from sale of (payments for acquisition of) treasury stock, net (Note 14)

     (150,033     (406,680     (338,399

Acquisitions of shares of subsidiaries from noncontrolling interests

     (15,558     (5,834     (175,088

Other

     (108,981     (84,030     (125,796
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in financing activities

     (745,181     (622,440     (678,008
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     9,042        24,372        19,486   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     (58,710     23,030        (135,289

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

     1,020,143        961,433        984,463   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year (Note 4)

   ¥ 961,433      ¥ 984,463      ¥ 849,174   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash paid during the year for:

      

Interest

   ¥ 55,200      ¥ 48,836      ¥ 44,795   

Income taxes, net

     433,344        462,349        543,354   

Noncash investing and financing activities:

      

Capital lease obligations incurred during the year

     24,022        14,933        20,987   

Cancellation of treasury stock (Note 14)

     —          818,209        —     

Assets acquired through exchange of rights (Note 9)

     —          62,221        —     

Assets acquired through exchange of buildings

   ¥ —        ¥ —        ¥ 18,719   

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

F-12


Table of Contents

NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1.    Nature of operations:

Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (“NTT”) and its subsidiaries (collectively with NTT, “NTT Group”) conduct the following main business activities: regional communications (domestic intra-prefectural communication services and incidental services), principally operated by Nippon Telegraph and Telephone East Corporation (“NTT East”) and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone West Corporation (“NTT West”); long-distance and international communications (domestic inter-prefectural communication services, international communication services, solution services and related services), principally operated by NTT Communications Corporation (“NTT Communications”); mobile communications (mobile phone services and related services), principally operated by NTT DOCOMO, Inc. (“NTT DOCOMO”); and data communications (system integration, network system services, etc.), principally operated by NTT DATA CORPORATION (“NTT DATA”).

Pursuant to the Act on Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, etc. (“NTT Act”), NTT was incorporated on April 1, 1985, upon which all the assets and liabilities of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Public Corporation (“Public Corporation”) were transferred to NTT. As provided for in the supplementary provisions of the NTT Act, all the new shares held by Public Corporation were transferred to the Japanese Government upon the dissolution of Public Corporation on April 1, 1985. The NTT Act specifies, however, that such government ownership may eventually be reduced to one-third. Since NTT’s incorporation, the Japanese Government has sold NTT’s common stock to the public. The Japanese Government’s ownership ratio of NTT’s issued stock is 32.5% as of March 31, 2015. As a normal part of its business operations, NTT provides various telecommunications and other services to the Japanese Government.

2.    Summary of significant accounting policies:

The accompanying consolidated financial statements are prepared and presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Significant accounting policies are as follows:

 

(1) Principal Accounting Policies

Basis of consolidation and accounting for investments in affiliated companies—

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of NTT, its subsidiaries, and variable interest entities (“VIEs”). All significant intercompany transactions and accounts are eliminated in consolidation.

The fiscal years of certain foreign subsidiaries end on December 31, however, any significant subsequent transactions for the period from January 1 to March 31 are reflected in the results of operations of NTT Group.

Investments in affiliated companies where NTT Group has the ability to exercise significant influence over the affiliated companies, but does not have a controlling financial interest, are accounted for under the equity method. NTT evaluates its investments in affiliates for impairment due to declines in value considered to be other than temporary. In performing its evaluations, NTT utilizes various information, as available, including cash flow projections, independent valuations and, if applicable, stock price analysis. In the event of a determination that a decline in value is other than temporary, a charge to earnings is recorded for the loss and a new cost basis in the investment is established.

 

F-13


Table of Contents

NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Use of estimates—

The preparation of NTT’s consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include revenue recognition, estimated useful lives and recovery of the carrying amount of property, plant and equipment, software and certain other intangible assets, goodwill, investments, employees’ retirement benefit obligations, income tax uncertainties and realizability of deferred tax assets and accrued liabilities for point programs.

Effective April 1, 2013, NTT Group revised its estimate of the expected useful life of metal cables based on actual utilization to reflect an extended expected useful life. This change in estimate has been accounted for prospectively.

The financial statement impact from this change in accounting estimate for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 on “Income before income taxes and equity in earnings (losses) of affiliated companies,” “Net income attributable to NTT” and “Per share of common stock” of “Net income attributable to NTT” is ¥23,264 million, ¥14,392 million, and ¥12.52, respectively.

Effective July 1, 2014, NTT Group revised its estimate of the expected useful life of a part of the software for telecommunications network and internal-use software based on the actual utilization of the software to reflect an extended expected useful life of up to 7 years. This change in estimate has been accounted for prospectively.

The financial impact from this change in accounting estimate on the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 to “Income before income taxes and equity in earnings (losses) of affiliated companies,” “Net income attributable to NTT” and “Per share of common stock” of “Net income attributable to NTT” is ¥51,307 million, ¥21,754 million, and ¥19.89, respectively.

Revenue recognition—

Revenues arising from fixed voice related services, mobile voice related services, IP/packet communications services and other services are recognized at the time these services are provided to customers. With regard to revenues from mobile voice related services and IP/packet communications services, monthly billing plans for cellular (FOMA (3G wireless services) services generally include a certain amount of allowances (free minutes and/or packets), and the used amount of the allowances is subtracted from total usage in calculating the airtime revenue from a subscriber for the month. NTT Group introduced a billing arrangement, called “Nikagetsu Kurikoshi” (two-month carry over) and “Packet Kurikoshi,” in which the unused allowances are automatically carried over. “Nikagetsu Kurikoshi” is a billing arrangement, in which the unused allowances of the monthly free minutes and/or packets are automatically carried over for up to the following two months. In addition, NTT Group offers an arrangement which enables the unused allowances that were carried over for the two months to be automatically used to cover the airtime and/or packet charges exceeding the allowances of the other subscriptions in the “Family Discount” group, a discount billing arrangement for families. Out of the unused allowance in a month, NTT Group defers the revenues based on the portion which is estimated to be used in the following two months. As for the portion which is estimated to expire, NTT Group recognizes the revenue attributable to such portion of allowances ratably as the remaining allowances are utilized, in addition to the

 

F-14


Table of Contents

NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

revenue recognized when subscribers make calls or utilize data transmissions. “Packet Kurikoshi” is a billing arrangement, in which the unused allowances of the monthly packet data which can be used without speed cap are automatically carried over for up to the following month. NTT Group defers revenues based on the portion of unused allowances that are estimated to be utilized in the next month. As NTT Group does not have sufficient empirical evidence to reasonably estimate unused allowances that will be utilized in the next month, NTT Group deducts and defers all amounts allocated to unused allowances from revenues. The deferred revenues are recognized as revenues in the next month.

Non-recurring upfront fees such as activation fees are deferred and recognized as revenues over the estimated average period of the subscription for each service. The related direct costs are deferred only to the extent of the non-recurring upfront fee amount and are amortized over the same period.

Sales of telecommunication equipment are recognized as income upon delivery of the equipment to purchasers, primarily agent resellers, when title to the product, and the risk and rewards of ownership, have been substantially transferred. Certain commissions paid to purchasers, primarily agent resellers, and incentives given to subscribers are recognized as a reduction of sales of telecommunication equipment.

From the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014, NTT Group commenced a new incentive program which provides certain discounts for subscribers who purchase qualified smartphones under the installment payment arrangement. Under the incentive program, NTT Group provides subscribers the discount depending on the number of installment payments upon certain events including replacement of the original smartphones. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014, NTT Group recorded a reduction of revenues based on the maximum potential discount amount of installment receivables as no sufficient empirical evidence was available to reasonably estimate such amounts. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015, NTT Group has recognized estimated future discount amount as a reduction of revenue since NTT Group developed sufficient empirical evidence such as an analysis of the historical churn rate and replacement rate of the qualified and other smartphones to reasonably estimate the future discount amount.

With regard to sales of telecommunication equipment in the mobile communications business, NTT Group enables subscribers to select installment payments over a period of 12 or 24 months. When installment payments are selected, under an agreement entered into among NTT Group, the subscribers and the agent resellers, NTT Group provides financing by providing funds to the agent reseller for the purchase of mobile handsets by the subscriber. NTT Group then includes the current installment for the receivable for the purchased handset in its invoices for basic monthly charges and airtime charges for the installment payment term. Because equipment sales are recognized upon delivery of handsets to agent resellers, the advance payment for the purchased handset to agent resellers and subsequent cash collection of the installment receivable for the purchased handset from subscribers do not have an impact on our equipment sales.

Revenues from system integration services are recognized as work on contracts progresses. However, in cases where the contract period is short and the difference in the impact on the financial position or results of operations is immaterial, or in cases where it is difficult to make a reasonable estimate on the progress of the contracted work, revenues are recognized upon completion of the contracted services.

Provision for estimated losses on system integration projects, if any, is made in the fiscal period in which the loss becomes evident.

Cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments—

Excess cash is mainly invested in time deposits, marketable bonds of the Japanese Government or commercial paper. Those with original maturities of three months or less are classified as “Cash and cash

 

F-15


Table of Contents

NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

equivalents” in the consolidated balance sheets. Those with original maturities of longer than three months and remaining maturities of 12 months or less at the end of the fiscal year are classified as “Short-term investments” in the consolidated balance sheets.

NTT Group has maintained a global cash management system (“Global CMS”) with a single financial institution since 2012 in order to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of its cash management. The Global CMS receives excess cash and extends loans to participating subsidiaries. In March 2015, this arrangement was modified to introduce a right to offset provision allowing the Global CMS to offset positive and negative cash balances that meet the criteria for offsetting, effective from the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015. NTT’s consolidated balance sheets as of March 31, 2015 reflect such offset of ¥95,556 million.

Foreign currency translation and transactions—

All asset and liability accounts of foreign subsidiaries and affiliates are translated into Japanese yen at appropriate year-end exchange rates and all income and expense accounts are translated at the average exchange rates prevailing during the year. The resulting translation adjustments are recognized as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

Foreign currency receivables and payables are re-measured at appropriate year-end exchange rates and the resulting foreign currency transaction gains or losses are recorded as “Other, net” in the consolidated statements of income.

NTT Group transacts limited business in foreign currencies. The effect of exchange rate fluctuations from the initial transaction date to the settlement date is recorded as “Other, net” in the consolidated statements of income.

Marketable securities and other investments—

Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities, whose fair values are readily determinable, are reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes. Equity securities whose fair values are not readily determinable and equity securities for which sales are restricted by contractual requirements are carried at cost. NTT Group periodically reviews the carrying amounts of its marketable securities for impairments that are other than temporary. If this evaluation indicates there is an impairment that is other than temporary, the security is written down to its estimated fair value. Debt securities designated as held-to-maturity are carried at amortized cost and are reduced to net realizable value for declines in market value unless such declines are deemed to be temporary. Realized gains and losses, which are determined on the average cost method, are reflected in income.

Inventories—

Inventories consist of telecommunications equipment to be sold, projects in progress, materials and supplies, which are stated at the lower of cost or market. The cost of telecommunications equipment to be sold and materials is determined on a first-in first-out basis. The cost of projects in progress is mainly attributable to that of software production for customers or that of construction of real estate held for resale, including labor and subcontractors’ cost base. The cost of supplies is determined by the average cost method or by the specific identification method. Due to the rapid technological changes associated with the wireless communications business, NTT DOCOMO recognized losses on write-downs for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015 totaling ¥12,662 million, ¥4,415 million and ¥13,716 million, respectively, which are included in “Cost of equipment sold” in the consolidated statements of income.

 

F-16


Table of Contents

NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Property, plant and equipment and depreciation—

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation is computed principally using a declining-balance method at rates based on estimated useful lives of the assets with the exception of buildings, for which the straight-line method is generally used. With minor exceptions, the estimated useful lives of depreciable properties (estimated economic life) are as follows:

 

Digital switch equipment (including wireless telecommunications equipment)

   8 to 16 years

Cables

   13 to 36 years

Tubes and tunnels

   50 years

Reinforced concrete buildings

   42 to 56 years

Machinery, vessels and tools

   3 to 26 years

Depreciation expense is computed based on the total depreciable amount, which is cost, net of estimated residual value. Maintenance and repairs, including minor renewals and betterments, are charged to income as incurred.

Capitalized interest—

Interest is capitalized where it relates to the construction of property, plant and equipment over the period of construction. NTT Group also capitalizes interest associated with the development of internal-use software. NTT Group amortizes such capitalized interest over the estimated useful lives of the related assets. Total interest costs incurred were ¥58,267 million, ¥51,460 million and ¥47,958 million, of which ¥3,928 million, ¥3,776 million and ¥3,942 million were capitalized for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively.

Impairment of long-lived assets—

Long-lived assets to be held and used, including property, plant and equipment, software and certain other intangible assets with finite useful lives are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. If the total of the expected future undiscounted cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the asset, the loss recognized is the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its fair value as measured through various valuation techniques, including discounted cash flow models, quoted market value and third-party independent appraisals, as considered necessary. Assets to be disposed of by sale are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or estimated fair value less costs to sell.

Goodwill, Software and other intangible assets—

Goodwill is an asset representing the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and recognized. Goodwill is not amortized, but tested for impairment at least annually and more frequently when indicators of impairment are present. The goodwill impairment test is a two-step process. Under the first step, the fair value of the reporting unit is compared with its carrying amount (including goodwill). If the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, an indication of goodwill impairment exists for that reporting unit and NTT Group must perform the second step of the impairment test (measurement). Fair values of the reporting units are determined using a discounted cash flow analysis, among other methods. Under the second step, an impairment loss is recognized for any excess of the carrying amount of the reporting unit’s goodwill over the implied fair value of the goodwill. The implied fair value of goodwill is determined by allocating the fair value of the reporting unit in a manner similar to a purchase

 

F-17


Table of Contents

NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

price allocation and the residual fair value after this allocation is the implied fair value of the reporting unit goodwill. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, the second step does not need to be performed.

During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015, NTT DOCOMO realigned its operating segments in order to reflect its changing business management. As a result of this realignment of operating segments, NTT Group reorganized the reporting structure of its mobile communications business segment into communications, smart life and other businesses reporting units. In conjunction with this change, NTT Group reassigned the goodwill attributable to these reporting units prior to the realignment to the communications, smart life and other businesses reporting units using a relative fair value allocation approach based on the composition of each business reporting unit prior to the realignment.

Intangible assets other than goodwill primarily consist of computer software. NTT Group capitalizes the cost of internal-use software, which has a useful life in excess of one year. Subsequent additions, modifications or upgrades to internal-use software are capitalized only to the extent that they allow the software to perform a task it previously did not perform. Software maintenance and training costs are expensed in the period in which they are incurred. Capitalized computer software costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over a period of generally from five to seven years.

The intangible assets with indefinite lives are not amortized, but tested for impairment on an annual basis and when indicators of impairment are present.

Income taxes—

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences attributable to temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of assets or liabilities and operating loss carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates, which are expected to be applicable during the periods in which existing temporary differences reverse and loss carryforwards are utilizable.

A valuation allowance is recognized to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount more likely than not to be realized.

The effect of income tax positions are recognized only if those positions are more likely than not of being sustained. Recognized income tax positions are measured at the largest amount that is greater than 50% likely of being realized. Changes in recognition or measurement are reflected in the period in which the change in judgment occurs.

Derivative financial instruments—

NTT Group uses several types of derivative financial instruments to manage market risks such as fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates. NTT Group does not use derivative instruments for trading or speculative purposes.

All derivatives are recognized as either assets or liabilities in the balance sheet at fair value and are reported in “Prepaid expenses and other current assets,” “Other assets,” “Current liabilities—Other” and “Long-term liabilities—Other” in the consolidated balance sheets. Classification of each derivative as current or non-current

 

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Table of Contents

NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

is based upon whether the maturity of each instrument is less than or greater than 12 months. Changes in fair value of derivative financial instruments are either recognized in income or shareholders’ equity (as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)), depending on whether the derivative financial instrument qualifies as a hedge and the derivative is being used to hedge changes in fair value or cash flows.

The fair values of forward exchange contracts, interest rate swap agreements, and currency swap agreements are measured by inputs derived principally from observable market data provided by financial institutions.

For derivatives classified as fair value hedges, changes in the fair value of derivatives designated and effective as fair value hedges for recognized assets or liabilities or unrecognized firm commitments are recognized in earnings as offsets to changes in the fair value of the related hedged assets or liabilities.

For derivatives classified as cash flow hedges, changes in the fair value of derivatives designated and effective as cash flow hedges for forecasted transactions or exposures associated with recognized assets or liabilities are initially recorded in other comprehensive income (loss) and reclassified into earnings when the hedged transaction affects earnings.

From time to time, however, NTT Group may enter into derivatives that economically hedge certain of its risks, even though hedge accounting does not apply. In these cases, changes in the fair values of these derivatives are recognized in current period earnings.

NTT Group formally documents all relationships between hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as its risk management objective and strategy for undertaking various hedging transactions. This process includes linking all derivatives that are designated as fair value or cash flow hedges to (1) specific assets or liabilities on the balance sheet or (2) specific firm commitments or forecasted transactions. NTT Group also assesses (both at the hedge’s inception and on an ongoing basis at least quarterly) whether the derivatives that are used in hedging transactions have been highly effective in offsetting changes in the fair value or cash flows of hedged items and whether those derivatives may be expected to remain highly effective in future periods. When it is determined that a derivative is not highly effective as a hedge, NTT Group discontinues hedge accounting. The amounts representing hedges’ ineffectiveness and the component of derivative instruments’ gain or loss excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness are reported as “Other, net” in the consolidated statements of income.

Cash flows from financial instruments accounted for as hedges are classified in the consolidated statements of cash flows under the same category as the items being hedged.

Earnings per share—

Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) is computed based on the average number of shares outstanding during the year and is appropriately adjusted for any free distribution of common stock. Diluted EPS assumes the dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock or resulted in the issuance of common stock. Since NTT did not issue dilutive securities, there is no difference between basic EPS and diluted EPS.

Variable Interest Entities—

NTT Group consolidates VIEs if NTT Group has both the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE.

 

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NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

VIEs with assets totaling approximately ¥217 billion and ¥221 billion as of March 31, 2014 and 2015, respectively, which were established to develop and lease real estate for rental, for the purpose of securitization of mainly real estate, have been recognized and consolidated as VIEs in which NTT Group is the primary beneficiary.

Assets and liabilities of VIEs established to develop and lease real estate at March 31, 2014 and 2015 are included in the consolidated balance sheets as follows:

 

     2014  
     Develop and lease
real estate(*1,2)
 
     Millions of yen  

Current assets

   ¥ 19,581   

Property, plant and equipment

     194,942   

Investments and other assets

     2,353   

Current liabilities

     2,756   

Long-term liabilities

     91,305   

 

(*1) Property, plant and equipment, Current liabilities and Long-term liabilities of VIEs established to develop and lease real estate included “Land” totaling ¥135,677 million, “Current portion of long-term debt” totaling ¥1,013 million and “Long-term debt” totaling ¥59,288 million, respectively.
(*2) “Current portion of long-term debt” and “Long-term debt (excluding current portion)” above are secured by the VIEs’ land and buildings totaling ¥243,769 million.

 

     2015  
     Develop and lease
real estate(*1,2)
 
     Millions of yen  

Current assets

   ¥ 29,821   

Property, plant and equipment

     188,854   

Investments and other assets

     2,489   

Current liabilities

     3,502   

Long-term liabilities

     80,986   

 

(*1) Property, plant and equipment, Current liabilities and Long-term liabilities of VIEs established to develop and lease real estate included “Land” totaling ¥133,913 million, “Current portion of long-term debt” totaling ¥825 million and “Long-term debt” totaling ¥51,791 million, respectively.
(*2) “Current portion of long-term debt” and “Long-term debt (excluding current portion)” above are secured by the VIEs’ land and buildings totaling ¥238,280 million.

There is no VIE in which NTT Group holds a significant variable interest but is not the primary beneficiary as of March 31, 2015.

Asset Retirement Obligations—

NTT Group’s legal obligations associated with the retirement of tangible long-lived assets are recorded as liabilities, measured at fair value, when those obligations are incurred if a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made. Upon initially recognizing liabilities for asset retirement obligations, an entity must capitalize the cost by recognizing an increase in the carrying amount of the related long-lived assets.

NTT Group’s asset retirement obligations primarily relate to obligations to restore leased land and buildings for NTT Group’s telecommunications equipment to their original condition. NTT has concluded that their estimates of the fair value of these liabilities are immaterial.

 

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NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Employees’ retirement benefits—

NTT recognizes the funded status of its benefit plan, measured as the difference between the plan assets at fair value and the benefit obligation, in the consolidated balance sheets. Changes in the funded status are recognized as changes in comprehensive income (loss) during the fiscal period in which such changes occur.

Pension benefits earned during the year as well as interest on projected benefit obligations are currently accrued. Prior service cost and net actuarial loss in excess of 10% of the greater of the projected benefit obligation or the fair value of plan assets, both of which are included in “Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss),” are amortized over the expected average remaining service period of employees on a straight-line basis.

Accrued liabilities for point programs—

NTT Group grants “points” to customers based on the usage of mobile, FLET’S Hikari and other services, which provide benefits, including discounts on merchandise, and records “Accrued liabilities for point programs” relating to the points that customers earn.

Redeemable noncontrolling interests—

A portion of noncontrolling interests of certain subsidiaries can be put to NTT Group upon certain events. As redemption of the noncontrolling interests is not solely in the control of NTT Group, the redemption amount based on fair value price is considered as “Redeemable noncontrolling interests” and presented in between Liabilities and Equity in the consolidated balance sheets.

As of March 31, 2015, NTT Group believes that subsequent adjustment of the presented amount of redeemable noncontrolling interests is unnecessary because they are not currently redeemable and it is not probable that they will become redeemable. NTT Group will reassess the probability each fiscal year.

An analysis of the changes for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 in Redeemable noncontrolling interests is shown below:

 

     2014      2015  
    

Millions of yen

 

Balance at beginning of year

   ¥ —         ¥ 25,912   

Acquisition of new subsidiaries

     25,912         —     

Comprehensive income (loss)

     

Net income

     —           1,090   

Other comprehensive income (loss)

     

Foreign currency translation adjustments

     —           1,235   

Changes in NTT’s ownership interest in subsidiaries

     —           35   

Balance at end of year

   ¥ 25,912       ¥ 28,272   

Reclassifications—

Beginning April 1, 2013, in connection with NTT Group’s current state of business and initiatives such as efforts to expand into new business areas in the mobile communications business, NTT has reclassified, among other things, part of its “Mobile Voice Related Services revenues” and “IP/Packet Communications Services revenues” as “Other revenues,” and part of its “Other revenues” as “System Integration revenues.” Results for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2013 reflect such reclassification.

 

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NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

(2) Recently issued Accounting Standards

Revenue from Contracts with Customers—

On May 28, 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” which requires an entity to recognize the amount to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The ASU will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective. The new standard is effective for NTT Group on April 1, 2017.

On April 29, 2015, the FASB issued an exposure draft to delay the effective date of the ASU by one year. In the event that the exposure draft goes into effect, the standard would be effective for NTT Group on April 1, 2018. Early adoption of the standard as of April 1, 2017 would also be permitted.

NTT has not yet selected a transition method and is currently evaluating the effect that the ASU will have on NTT Group’s consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

3.    Related party transactions:

Related party transactions mainly consist of transactions with affiliated companies. NTT Group has entered into a number of different types of transactions with affiliated companies, the most significant of which are the purchases of terminal equipment and materials and the receipt of certain services. Transactions with affiliated companies are made at arm’s-length prices.

Transactions with affiliated companies for each of the three years in the period ended March 31, 2015 and the related balances at March 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015 are as follows:

 

     2013      2014      2015  
     Millions of yen  

Operating revenues

   ¥ 26,001       ¥ 31,372       ¥ 32,392   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating expenses

   ¥ 105,295       ¥ 109,817       ¥ 126,461   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Receivables

   ¥ 17,257       ¥ 24,254       ¥ 27,773   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Payables

   ¥ 89,623       ¥ 105,341       ¥ 98,055   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Dividends from affiliated companies accounted for by the equity method for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015 were ¥19,384 million, ¥23,249 million and ¥25,881 million, respectively.

4.    Cash and cash equivalents:

Cash and cash equivalents at March 31, 2014 and 2015 comprised the following:

 

     2014      2015  
     Millions of yen  

Cash

   ¥ 847,980       ¥ 807,817   

Commercial paper and certificates of deposit, commercial paper and marketable securities purchased under agreements to resell

     2,212         802   

Time deposits, certificates of deposit and other

     134,271         40,555   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   ¥ 984,463       ¥ 849,174   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Commercial paper and certificates of deposit, commercial paper and marketable securities purchased under agreements to resell and time deposits, certificates of deposit and other are stated at amounts that approximate fair value.

Cash is mainly deposited into several domestic financial institutions and there is no significant concentration of cash deposits in any particular financial institution.

5.    Inventories:

Inventories at March 31, 2014 and 2015 comprised the following:

 

     2014      2015  
     Millions of yen  

Telecommunications equipment to be sold and materials

   ¥ 228,337       ¥ 181,258   

Projects in progress

     83,015         103,351   

Supplies

     103,957         105,914   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   ¥ 415,309       ¥ 390,523   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

6.    Impairment of long-lived assets:

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015, NTT DOCOMO and its subsidiaries failed to meet the forecasted revenues of the multimedia broadcasting business for mobile devices due to new competition in content and services provided through smart phones and other devices, resulting in a significant increase in uncertainty over the likelihood of future significant improvement of the profitability of this business. This triggered NTT DOCOMO to conduct the recoverability for its long-lived assets, including property, plant and equipment and intangible assets, of the multimedia broadcasting business for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015.

The estimated undiscounted future cash flows generated by such long-lived assets were less than their carrying amounts.

The fair value of long-lived assets related to the multimedia broadcasting business for mobile devices was estimated primarily based on the discounted cash flow method. As the discounted cash flows expected to be generated by the long-lived assets would be a negative, NTT DOCOMO recorded an impairment for the entire carrying amount of these assets.

In addition, NTT DOCOMO estimated the fair value of certain equipment related to the multimedia broadcasting business based on the observable market transactions of comparable assets, such as the orderly liquidation value of each asset.

Consequently, a reduction of the carrying amounts to fair value was necessary resulting in NTT DOCOMO recording a non-cash impairment loss of ¥30,161 million as “Impairment loss” in the consolidated statements of income, which included an impairment loss for the intangible assets of ¥6,365 million.

 

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AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

7.    Investments in affiliated companies:

Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company—

From March 2007 to February 2008, NTT DOCOMO additionally acquired approximately 7% of the outstanding common shares of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (“PLDT”), a telecommunications operator in the Philippines, for ¥98,943 million in the market. Together with the approximately 13% of PLDT’s outstanding common shares held before the additional acquisition by NTT DOCOMO, NTT Group held approximately 21% of the total outstanding common shares of PLDT as of March 31, 2008 and obtained the ability to exercise significant influence over PLDT. Accordingly, NTT Group accounted for its investment in PLDT by applying the equity method during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008. Furthermore, NTT DOCOMO acquired an additional common equity interest for ¥19,519 million in November 2011, because PLDT acquired Digital Telecommunications Philippines, Inc. through a stock swap; and this was projected to decrease NTT Group’s interest in PLDT. As a result, NTT Group held approximately 20% of PLDT’s outstanding common shares.

In October 2012, PLDT issued voting preferred stocks in order to dilute the foreign ownership interest in PLDT to less than the 40%, as a decision of the Supreme Court of the Philippines increased the foreign ownership percentage of PLDT in excess of 40% limit, which conflicts with a restriction on a foreign ownership in Philippines. As a result, NTT’s voting interest in PLDT decreased to approximately 12% from 20%. At that time, the guidelines of foreign ownership requirements were not clearly finalized yet, and therefore there was uncertainty about the foreign ownership requirements. As a consequence, NTT Group determined it no longer had the ability to exercise significant influence over PLDT during the three-month period ended December 31, 2012 and discontinued the application of the equity method of accounting for the investment in PLDT.

In May 2013, the Securities and Exchange Commission in the Philippines announced a memorandum to clarify the guideline of foreign ownership requirements. NTT Group has determined it has the ability to exercise significant influence over PLDT, and therefore, NTT Group has reinstated the equity method of accounting retrospectively for its investment in PLDT. Consequently, the consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013 have been revised for this reinstatement. The main effects on the consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013 due to the revisions are as follows:

 

Effects on consolidated balance sheet    Millions of yen  

Line items

   As previously
reported
    Adjustments     As revised  

Investments in affiliated companies

   ¥ 411,371      ¥ 140,512      ¥ 551,883   

Marketable securities and other investments

     660,823        (303,601     357,222   

Deferred income taxes

     694,361        58,467        752,828   

Total investments and other assets

     5,207,714        (104,622     5,103,092   

Retained earnings

     5,229,407        (2,139     5,227,268   

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

     (107,476     (85,456     (192,932

Total NTT shareholders’ equity

     8,319,034        (87,595     8,231,439   

Noncontrolling interests

     2,307,591        (17,027     2,290,564   

 

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AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Effects on consolidated statement of income    Millions of yen  

Line items

   As previously
reported
    Adjustments     As revised  

Other, net

   ¥ 35,832      ¥ (3,452   ¥ 32,380   

Income before income taxes and equity in earnings (losses) of affiliated companies

     1,201,099        (3,452     1,197,647   

Income tax expense (benefit)—Deferred

     11,660        299        11,959   

Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliated companies

     (17,707     1,614        (16,093

Net income

     709,739        (2,139     707,600   

Net income attributable to NTT

     524,071        (2,139     521,932   
Effect on per share data    yen  

Line items

   As previously
reported
    Adjustments     As revised  

Net income attributable to NTT

     432.44        (1.77     430.68   
Effects on consolidated statement of comprehensive income    Millions of yen  

Line items

   As previously
reported
    Adjustments     As revised  

Unrealized gain (loss) on securities

   ¥ 146,849      ¥ (99,340   ¥ 47,509   

Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments

     (4,756     20        (4,736

Foreign currency translation adjustments

     114,739        (2,351     112,388   

Pension liability adjustments

     36,458        (812     35,646   

Total other comprehensive income (loss)

     293,290        (102,483     190,807   

Total comprehensive income (loss)

     1,003,029        (104,622     898,407   

Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to NTT

     774,438        (87,595     686,843   

NTT Group’s carrying amount of its investment in PLDT was ¥154,613million and ¥168,968 million as of March 31, 2014 and 2015, respectively. The aggregate market price of the PLDT shares owned by NTT Group was ¥277,025 million and ¥340,268 million as of March 31, 2014 and 2015, respectively.

Tata Teleservices Limited—

On November 12, 2008, NTT DOCOMO entered into a capital alliance with Tata Teleservices Limited (“TTSL”) and Tata Sons Limited (“Tata Sons”), the parent company of TTSL. On March 25, 2009, NTT Group acquired approximately 26% of the outstanding common shares of TTSL for ¥252,321 million pursuant to the capital alliance and accounted for the investment by applying the equity method.

NTT DOCOMO made additional investments totaling ¥14,424 million in response to a rights offering that TTSL commenced in March and May, 2011. TTSL has used the capital increase to strengthen the quality of the 3G network in India’s market. As a result of its participation in the rights offering, NTT Group’s equity interest in TTSL slightly increased to approximately 26.5%.

NTT DOCOMO determined that the decline in value below carrying amount was other-than-temporary and recognized impairment charges of ¥6,813 million and ¥51,244 million related to its investment in TTSL for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2013 and 2014, respectively.

 

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AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Under the shareholders agreement (the “Agreement”) entered into among TTSL, Tata Sons and NTT DOCOMO, when NTT DOCOMO entered into a business alliance with TTSL in March 2009, NTT DOCOMO shall have certain shareholder rights including the right to require Tata Sons to find a suitable buyer for NTT DOCOMO’s entire stake (1,248,974,378 shares, or approximately 26.5% of outstanding shares) in TTSL for 50% of the NTT DOCOMO’s acquisition price, which amounts to 72.5 billion Indian rupees (or ¥141.4 billion*) or at fair value, whichever is higher, in the event that TTSL fails to achieve certain specified performance targets by March 31, 2014. The right became exercisable on May 30, 2014, and NTT DOCOMO exercised the right on July 7, 2014.

The obligation of Tata Sons under the Agreement was not fulfilled, although NTT DOCOMO repeatedly held discussions with Tata Sons in regards to the sale of its entire stake in TTSL, pursuant to the Agreement. Accordingly, NTT DOCOMO submitted its request for arbitration to the London Court of International Arbitration on January 3, 2015.

The sale of investment in TTSL has not been completed as Tata Sons has not fulfilled its obligation, and thus NTT DOCOMO has not accounted for the sales transaction for the year ended March 31, 2015. NTT DOCOMO continues to account for the investment in TTSL under the equity method as NTT DOCOMO continues to hold approximately 26.5% of the outstanding voting shares of TTSL and have the representation on the board of directors of TTSL even after submitting the request for arbitration. The financial effect of this matter cannot be estimated at this time due to the aforementioned uncertainties surrounding this investment. NTT DOCOMO may recognize a gain or loss upon disposition of its TTSL shares or in the event that it becomes probable that the likelihood of the transaction as described above will not be carried out.

Impairment—

NTT Group reviews factors such as the financial condition and near-term prospects of its affiliates on a regular basis in order to determine if any decline in investment values was other than temporary.

NTT Group reviewed the business outlook of TTSL in order to determine if the value of the investment in TTSL has suffered a decline that was other than temporary because of the recent economic and financial environment surrounding its industry.

During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013, NTT Group’s estimated future cash flows of TTSL were adjusted downward as a result of the intensifying tariff competition among mobile network operators in India, and NTT DOCOMO’s views of its long term outlook at that time and NTT Group concluded that the recoverable amount was significantly below carrying amount and that this impairment was other than temporary. Consequently, NTT Group recognized an impairment charge.

During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 NTT DOCOMO’s estimate of future cash flows of TTSL were further revised downward as a result of the growing business risk of mobile network operators in India, including an increase in the cost of maintaining or acquiring frequency spectrum due to a steep rise of the auction price of frequency spectrum in India. Reflecting growing business risk and recent operating results of TTSL, the weighted average cost of capital increased to 12.6%, which was applied to these revised estimated cash flows and NTT Group concluded that the decline in value was other than temporary. Consequently, NTT Group recognized an additional impairment charge.

 

* 1 rupee = ¥1.95 as of May 29, 2015

 

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AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

As a result of this review and evaluation, NTT Group determined that there were other-than-temporary declines in values of certain investments including TTSL and recognized impairment charges aggregating ¥25,913 million and ¥51,279 million, for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2013 and 2014, respectively. These impairment losses are included in the consolidated statements of income under “Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliated companies.” During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015, NTT Group determined that the value of the investment in TTSL has not suffered a decline that was other than temporary.

NTT’s share of undistributed earnings of its affiliated companies included in its consolidated retained earnings were ¥76,040 million, ¥100,976 million and ¥90,631 million as of March 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively.

NTT Group’s total investment in its affiliated publicly-held companies at March 31, 2014 and 2015 were ¥172,199 million and ¥187,209 million, respectively, and based on quoted market prices at that date, the related market values were ¥310,500 million and ¥368,000 million, respectively.

The total carrying amounts of NTT’s investments in affiliates in the consolidated balance sheets at March 31, 2014 and 2015 were greater by ¥260,664 million and by ¥273,416 million, respectively, than its aggregate underlying equity in net assets of such affiliates as of the date of the most recent available financial statements of the investees. The differences mainly consist of investor level goodwill and fair value adjustments for amortizable intangible assets.

8.    Marketable securities and other investments:

Marketable securities and other investments include available-for-sale securities composed of equity securities and debt securities and held-to-maturity debt securities. The aggregate carrying amounts, gross unrealized holding gains, gross unrealized holding losses and fair value of available-for-sale and held-to-maturity securities at March 31, 2014 and 2015 are as follows:

 

     March 31, 2014  
     Cost      Gross
unrealized
gains
     Gross
unrealized
losses
     Fair value  
     Millions of yen  

Available-for-sale:

           

Equity securities

   ¥ 134,819       ¥ 128,150       ¥ 376       ¥ 262,593   

Debt securities

     55,650         1,541         202         56,989   

Held-to-maturity:

           

Commercial paper*

     2,212         —           —           2,212   

Other debt securities

     3,933         24         —           3,957   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   ¥ 196,614       ¥ 129,715       ¥ 578       ¥ 325,751   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

* Commercial paper is included “Cash and cash equivalents” totaling ¥2,212 million.

 

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NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

     March 31, 2015  
     Cost      Gross
unrealized
gains
     Gross
unrealized
losses
     Fair value  
     Millions of yen  

Available-for-sale:

           

Equity securities

   ¥ 153,933       ¥ 232,814       ¥ 1,425       ¥ 385,322   

Debt securities

     68,420         1,534         337         69,617   

Held-to-maturity:

           

Commercial paper*

     802         —           —           802   

Other debt securities

     4,729         46         —           4,775   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   ¥ 227,884       ¥ 234,394       ¥ 1,762       ¥ 460,516   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

* Commercial paper is included “Cash and cash equivalents” totaling ¥802 million.

Gross unrealized holding losses and the fair value of available-for-sale securities and held-to-maturity securities, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position, at March 31, 2014 and 2015 are as follows:

 

     March 31, 2014  
     Less than 12 months      12 months or longer  
     Fair value      Gross
unrealized
holding
losses
     Fair value      Gross
unrealized
holding
losses
 
     Millions of yen  

Available-for-sale:

           

Equity securities

   ¥ 7,433       ¥ 269       ¥ 946       ¥ 107   

Debt securities

     996         54         649         148   

Held-to-maturity:

           

Debt securities

     —           —           —           —     
     March 31, 2015  
     Less than 12 months      12 months or longer  
     Fair value      Gross
unrealized
holding
losses
     Fair value      Gross
unrealized
holding
losses
 
     Millions of yen  

Available-for-sale:

           

Equity securities

   ¥ 7,248       ¥ 1,417       ¥ 45       ¥ 8   

Debt securities

     15,013         322         135         15   

Held-to-maturity:

           

Debt securities

     —           —           —           —     

In the ordinary course of business, NTT Group maintains equity securities as long-term investment accounted for under the cost method, which are included in “Marketable securities and other investments.” The total carrying amounts of those securities were ¥88,467 million and ¥67,088 million at March 31, 2014 and 2015, respectively. As these investments are not quoted at market prices, a reasonable estimate of fair value could not be made without incurring excessive costs. Accordingly, NTT Group believes that it is not practicable to disclose estimated fair values of these cost method investments. Unless NTT Group identifies events or changes in

 

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AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

circumstances that may have had a significant adverse effect on the fair value of these investments, the fair value of such cost method investments is not estimated. NTT Group did not evaluate fair values of investment securities with an aggregate carrying amount of ¥86,242 million and ¥64,960 million for impairment at March 31, 2014 and 2015, respectively.

Proceeds, gross realized gains and losses from sales of available-for-sale securities for each of the three years in the period ended March 31, 2015 are as follows:

 

     2013      2014      2015  
     Millions of yen  

Proceeds

   ¥ 4,433       ¥ 4,074       ¥ 10,117   

Gross realized gain

     2,264         2,345         5,158   

Gross realized loss

     37         49         875   

Maturities of debt securities classified as held-to-maturity at March 31, 2014 and 2015 are as follows.

 

     March 31,
2014
     March 31,
2015
 
     Carrying
Amount
     Fair
value
     Carrying
Amount
     Fair
value
 
     Millions of yen  

Due within 1 year

   ¥ 2,212       ¥ 2,212       ¥ 1,968       ¥ 1,972   

Due after 1 year through 5 years

     2,519         2,531         1,624         1,629   

Due after 5 years through 10 years

     939         939         1,638         1,650   

Due after 10 years

     475         487         301         326   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   ¥ 6,145       ¥ 6,169       ¥ 5,531       ¥ 5,577   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

9.    Goodwill, Software and other intangible assets:

Goodwill—

A goodwill impairment charge of ¥23,042 million was recognized during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013 for goodwill attributable to the NTT America reporting unit in the long distance and international communications business segment. The fair value of the reporting unit was determined using the discount cash flow method.

The amount of goodwill included in the mobile communications business segment is mainly related to NTT DOCOMO’s share repurchase program. The repurchases of shares by NTT DOCOMO resulting in increases in NTT’s ownership interest in NTT DOCOMO were accounted for as acquisitions of minority interests using the purchase method, but have been accounted for as equity transactions with noncontrolling interests since April 2009.

 

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NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The changes in goodwill by reportable segment for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2014 and 2015 are as follows:

 

    2014  
    Long distance and
international
communications
business
    Mobile
communications
business
    Data
communications
business
    Other     Total  
    Millions of yen  

Balance at March 31, 2013

  ¥ 204,879      ¥ 445,729      ¥ 171,037      ¥ 2,571      ¥ 824,216   

Goodwill acquired during year

    122,522        34,811        29,333        —          186,666   

Impairment losses

    —          —          —          —          —     

Foreign currency translation adjustments

    42,278        11,559        21,917        —          75,754   

Other

    —          —          —          —          —     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at March 31, 2014

  ¥ 369,679      ¥ 492,099      ¥ 222,287      ¥ 2,571      ¥ 1,086,636   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    2015  
    Long distance and
international
communications
business
    Mobile
communications
business
    Data
communications
business
    Other     Total  
    Millions of yen  

Balance at March 31, 2014

  ¥ 369,679      ¥ 492,099      ¥ 222,287      ¥ 2,571      ¥ 1,086,636   

Goodwill acquired during year

    37,799        —          2,870        —          40,669   

Impairment losses

    (3,464     —          —          —          (3,464

Foreign currency translation adjustments

    44,312        5,918        19,118        —          69,348   

Other

    (6,226     (802     —          —          (7,028
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at March 31, 2015

  ¥ 442,100      ¥ 497,215      ¥ 244,275      ¥ 2,571      ¥ 1,186,161   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Software and Other intangible assets

The following table presents the major components of software and other intangible assets as of March 31, 2014 and 2015.

 

     2014     2015  
     Millions of yen  

Amortizable intangible assets:

    

Computer software

   ¥ 5,954,842      ¥ 6,129,753   

Rights to use utility facilities

     336,510        337,496   

Other

     447,812        489,844   

Accumulated amortization

     (5,099,133     (5,390,151
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total amortizable intangible assets

     1,640,031        1,566,942   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Non-amortizable intangible assets:

    

Trademarks and trade names

     54,283        55,859   

Rights to acquire the building

     16,792        16,792   

Other

     —          21,915   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total non-amortizable intangible assets

     71,075        94,566   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   ¥ 1,711,106      ¥ 1,661,508   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The aggregate amortization expense for amortizable intangible assets for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015 were ¥473,247 million, ¥493,436 million and ¥447,591 million, respectively.

Computer software is recognized at cost and is amortized on a straight-line basis over its estimated useful life, which is generally from five to seven years. Rights to use utility facilities are acquired using lump-sum cash payments and mainly consist of cable tunnels and public use joint tunnels. Such rights are recorded at cost and are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives of 50 years. Other intangible assets are also recognized at cost and amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives averaging 12 years.

Trademarks and trade names are intangible assets with indefinite lives acquired through business combinations.

On March 31, 2014, in connection with the Otemachi 2-Chome Area Redevelopment Project, NTT was granted a co-ownership interest of land worth ¥45,429 million and a right to acquire the proprietary floor space worth ¥16,792 million in the new building, through an exchange of its leasehold and other rights.

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014, NTT included these rights in “Property” and “Other intangible assets,” respectively, in its consolidated balance sheets and also recorded a ¥59,996 million gain resulting from the difference between the fair value of the acquired assets and the book value of the transferred leasehold and other rights under “Other, net” of “Other income (expenses)” in its consolidated statement of income.

The estimated aggregate amortization expenses for intangible assets during each of the five years ending March 31 are as follows:

 

Fiscal year ending March 31

   Millions of yen  

2016

   ¥ 407,510   

2017

     334,830   

2018

     260,752   

2019

     189,563   

2020

     124,508   

10.    Short-term borrowings and long-term debt:

Short-term borrowings at March 31, 2014 and 2015 comprised the following:

 

        
     2014      2015  
     Millions of yen  

Borrowings denominated in Japanese yen:

     

Unsecured short-term loans from financial institutions bearing interest at weighted average rates of 0.33% and 0.26% per annum at March 31, 2014 and 2015, respectively

   ¥ 49,909       ¥ 39,238   

Commercial paper bearing interest at weighted average rates of 0.08% and 0.09% per annum at March 31, 2014 and 2015, respectively

     89,000         206,993   

Borrowing denominated in foreign currencies:

     

Unsecured short-term loans from financial institutions

     129,835         84,192   

Commercial paper

     700         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total short-term debt

   ¥ 269,444       ¥ 330,423   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Long-term debt at March 31, 2014 and 2015 comprised the following:

 

     2014     2015  
     Millions of yen  

Debt denominated in Japanese yen:

    

0.15% – 2.06% coupon bonds due 2015 – 2031

   ¥ 1,795,967      ¥ 1,700,969   

0.42% floating rate bond due 2022

     100        100   

Secured indebtedness to financial institutions—

    

0.70% (weighted average) loans due 2015 – 2029

     61,382        49,408   

0.30% (weighted average) floating rate loans due 2018 – 2026

     —          18,744   

Unsecured indebtedness to financial institutions—

    

0.99% (weighted average) loans due 2015 – 2031

     1,599,342        1,683,994   

0.28% (weighted average) floating rate loans due 2015 – 2026

     98,130        88,309   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     3,554,921        3,541,524   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Debt denominated in foreign currencies:

    

0.89% – 2.15% U.S. dollar notes due 2016 – 2020

     182,889        213,250   

0.69% floating rate U.S. dollar notes due 2019

     —          24,034   

Unsecured indebtedness to financial institutions—

    

0.68% (weighted average) U.S. dollar floating rate loans due 2015 – 2029

     98,716        164,010   

0.88% (weighted average) U.K. pound floating rate loans due 2016 – 2018

     18,918        17,987   

0.97% (weighted average) Euro loans due 2015 – 2025

     6,938        50,084   

0.71% (weighted average) Euro floating rate loans due 2015 – 2020

     6,367        16,701   

Other loans due 2015 – 2033

     40,691        31,844   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     354,519        517,910   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total long-term debt principal

     3,909,440        4,059,434   

Less—Deferred bond discounts

     (416     (330
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     3,909,024        4,059,104   

Less—Current portion

     (425,351     (370,279
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total long-term debt

   ¥ 3,483,673      ¥ 3,688,825   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Interest rates and due dates in the above table are stated at March 31, 2015.

All holders of the bonds and notes totaling ¥1,051,257 million issued by NTT, referred to in the above table, generally have preferential rights under the NTT Act to be paid prior to other unsecured indebtedness, subject to certain general preferential rights provided for in the Japanese Civil Code, such as preferential rights of employees to wages.

The bond and note agreements relating to NTT’s long-term debt at March 31, 2015 generally provide that the bonds and notes may be purchased by NTT in the market or directly from the holders. Additionally, certain of the bonds and notes are redeemable at the option of NTT, generally at the principal amount.

 

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NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The balance of long-term debt as of March 31, 2015, and the aggregate amounts of annual maturities from the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016 to the fiscal year ending March 31, 2020 and thereafter are as follows:

 

Fiscal year ending March 31

   Millions of yen  

2016

   ¥     370,279   

2017

     474,807   

2018

     683,159   

2019

     598,374   

2020

     445,719   

Thereafter

     1,486,766   
  

 

 

 

Total

   ¥ 4,059,104   
  

 

 

 

As of March 31, 2015, NTT Group has unused committed lines of credit amounting to ¥105.5 billion.

11.    Employees’ retirement benefits:

 

(1) Severance Payments and Contract-type Corporate Pension Plans

Employees are generally entitled to lump-sum severance payments based on NTT’s severance payment plans, determined by reference to the employee’s basic rate of pay, length of service and other conditions.

NTT and certain subsidiaries sponsors non-contributory funded contract-type corporate pension plans, which cover 28% of the severance benefits under the severance payment plans to employees who are more than 50 years old and retire after twenty or more years of service. The benefits are also payable in a lump sum at the option of the employee.

During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014, NTT Group decided to transition from the contract-type corporate pension plans to a defined contribution pension plan, effective from future contributions subsequent to April 1, 2014. NTT Group’s contract-type corporate pension plan continues to remain for the pension benefit earned up to March 31, 2014. Upon the curtailment of the contract-type corporate pension plans, NTT Group fully amortized its prior service costs and recognized a curtailment gain of ¥12,966 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014.

 

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NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The following table presents the reconciliation of the changes in the plans’ benefit obligations and fair value of plan assets during the fiscal years ended March 31, 2014 and 2015. NTT uses a March 31 measurement date.

 

                                     
     2014     2015  
     Millions of yen  

Change in benefit obligations:

    

Benefit obligation, beginning of year

   ¥ 2,012,924      ¥ 1,903,160   

Service cost

     72,631        65,160   

Interest cost

     30,021        25,510   

Actuarial loss (gain)

     (46,672     54,522   

Other

     7,249        (11,992

Benefit payments - Lump-sum severance payments and Pension

     (172,993     (156,391
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Benefit obligation, end of year

     1,903,160        1,879,969   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Change in fair value of plan assets:

    

Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year

     1,125,165        1,130,188   

Actual return on plan assets

     71,150        96,646   

Employer contributions

     42,130        3,028   

Other

     2,967        1,571   

Benefit payments - Pension

     (111,224     (108,697
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Fair value of plan assets, end of year

     1,130,188        1,122,736   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

At March 31:

    

Under-funded status

   ¥ (772,972   ¥ (757,233
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
        The following table presents the amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets:   
     2014     2015  
     Millions of yen  

At March 31:

    

Liability for employees’ retirement benefits

   ¥ (831,192   ¥ (869,635

Other assets

     58,220        112,402   

Accumulated other comprehensive loss (income)

     189,737        162,053   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net amount recognized

   ¥ (583,235   ¥ (595,180
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
        The following table provides the amounts recognized as accumulated other comprehensive loss (income):   
     2014     2015  
     Millions of yen  

At March 31:

    

Net actuarial loss

   ¥ 193,727      ¥ 164,108   

Transition obligation

     609        453   

Prior service cost(*)

     (4,599     (2,508
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   ¥ 189,737      ¥ 162,053   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(*) Prior service cost has been amortized on the straight-line method over the average remaining service period of employees expected to receive benefits under the plans.

 

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NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The accumulated benefit obligation was ¥1,903,157 million and ¥1,880,896 million at March 31, 2014 and 2015, respectively.

The projected benefit obligation and the fair value of plan assets in the plans with projected benefit obligations in excess of fair value of plan assets at March 31, 2014 and 2015 are as follows:

 

     2014      2015  
     Millions of yen  

At March 31:

     

Projected benefit obligation

   ¥ 1,897,092       ¥ 1,873,427   

Fair value of plan assets

     1,123,514         1,113,285   

The accumulated benefit obligation and the fair value of plan assets in the plans with accumulated benefit obligations in excess of fair value of plan assets at March 31, 2014 and 2015 are as follows:

 

     2014      2015  
     Millions of yen  

At March 31:

     

Accumulated benefit obligation

   ¥ 1,897,090       ¥ 1,873,425   

Fair value of plan assets

     1,123,514         1,113,285   

The charges to income for employees’ retirement benefits for each of the three years in the period ended March 31, 2015 included the following components:

 

     2013     2014     2015  
     Millions of yen  

Service cost

   ¥ 72,628      ¥ 72,631      ¥ 65,160   

Interest cost on projected benefit obligation

     37,511        30,021        25,510   

Expected return on plan assets

     (21,179     (22,069     (22,027

Amortization of net actuarial loss

     16,891        7,694        3,463   

Amortization of transition obligation

     167        167        156   

Amortization of prior service cost

     (5,266     (3,997     (1,468

Curtailment gain from the change in pension plans

     —          (12,966     —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   ¥ 100,752      ¥ 71,481      ¥ 70,794   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as other comprehensive loss (income) for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2014 and 2015 are as follows:

 

     2014     2015  
     Millions of yen  

Other comprehensive loss (income)

    

Net gain arising during period

   ¥ (95,681   ¥ (20,097

Amortization of net actuarial loss

     (7,694     (3,463

Amortization of transition obligation

     (167     (156

Accrued prior service cost

     —          —     

Amortization of prior service cost

     3,997        1,468   

Reclassification of prior service cost due to curtailment

     12,894        —     

Other

     (1,081     (5,436
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   ¥ (87,732   ¥ (27,684
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The amounts of net actuarial loss, transition obligation and prior service cost included as accumulated other comprehensive loss (income) expected to be recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016 amount to ¥5,190 million, ¥50 million and ¥(1,454) million, respectively.

The following table presents the weighted-average assumptions used to determine the benefit obligations and net periodic benefit cost:

 

     2013     2014     2015  

Weighted-average assumption used to determine benefit obligations at March 31

      

Discount rate

     1.5     1.4     1.0

Rate of compensation increase

     2.4-3.4     2.4-4.0     2.4-4.0

Weighted-average assumption used to determine net periodic benefit cost for years ended March 31

      

Discount rate

     1.9     1.5     1.4

Rate of compensation increase

     2.4-3.4     2.4-3.4     2.4-4.0

Expected long-term return on plan assets

     2.0     2.0     2.0

In determining the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets, NTT considers the current and projected asset allocations, as well as expected long-term investment returns and risks for each category of plan assets based on analysis of historical results.

The following table presents the fair values of pension plan assets of contract-type corporate pension plans as of March 31, 2014 and 2015. Descriptions of fair value hierarchy and the inputs used in measuring fair value are presented in note 15.

 

     As of March 31, 2014  
     Total      Fair value measurements using  
        Level 1      Level 2      Level 3  
     Millions of yen  

Cash and cash equivalents

   ¥ 4,900       ¥ 4,900         —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Debt securities

           

Japanese government bonds/local government bonds

     288,204         284,344         3,860         —     

Domestic corporate bonds

     93,119         —           93,119         —     

Foreign government bonds

     75,793         74,756         1,037         —     

Foreign corporate bonds

     2,102         515         1,587         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Equity securities

           

Domestic

     105,135         105,135         —           —     

Foreign

     81,700         81,700         —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Securities investment trust

           

Domestic/debt securities

     11,493         —           11,493         —     

Domestic/equity securities

     9,952         —           9,952         —     

Foreign/debt securities

     7,496         —           7,496         —     

Foreign/equity securities

     10,045         —           10,045         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Pooled funds

     229,723         —           229,723         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Life insurance company general accounts

     208,349         —           208,349         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Others

     2,177         —           4         2,173   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   ¥ 1,130,188       ¥ 551,350       ¥ 576,665       ¥ 2,173   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

     As of March 31, 2015  
     Total      Fair value measurements using  
        Level 1      Level 2      Level 3  
     Millions of yen  

Cash and cash equivalents

   ¥ 4,796       ¥ 4,796         —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Debt securities

           

Japanese government bonds/local government bonds

     326,908         321,925         4,983         —     

Domestic corporate bonds

     105,254         —           105,254         —     

Foreign government bonds

     85,681         84,970         711         —     

Foreign corporate bonds

     1,770         417         1,353         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Equity securities

           

Domestic

     118,169         118,150         19         —     

Foreign

     82,325         82,325         —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Securities investment trust

           

Domestic/debt securities

     13,030         —           13,030         —     

Domestic/equity securities

     10,985         —           10,985         —     

Foreign/debt securities

     8,189         —           8,189         —     

Foreign/equity securities

     10,809         —           10,809         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Pooled funds

     150,199         —           150,199         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Life insurance company general accounts

     203,026         —           203,026         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Others

     1,595         —           3         1,592   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   ¥ 1,122,736       ¥ 612,583       ¥ 508,561       ¥ 1,592   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include foreign currency deposits and call loans, and are all classified as Level 1.

Debt securities

Debt securities include Japanese government bonds and local government bonds, domestic corporate bonds, foreign government bonds and foreign corporate bonds. If active market prices are available, fair value is measured by quoted prices for identical assets in active markets, which is classified as Level 1. If active market prices are not available, fair value is measured by inputs derived principally from observable market data provided by financial institutions, which is classified as Level 2.

Equity securities

Equity securities include domestic stocks and foreign stocks. If active market prices are available, fair value is measured by quoted prices for identical assets in active markets, which is classified as Level 1. If active market prices are not available, fair value is measured by inputs derived principally from observable market data provided by financial institutions, which is classified as Level 2.

Securities investment trust

Securities investment trust beneficiary certificates include bond investment trusts and foreign stock investment trusts. Fair value is measured by inputs derived principally from observable market data provided by financial institutions, which is classified as Level 2.

 

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NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Pooled funds

Pooled funds include government bonds, local government bonds, domestic stocks and foreign stocks. Fair value of pooled funds is evaluated based on net asset value as reported by the trust operator, and is classified as Level 2.

Life insurance company general accounts

Life insurance company general accounts are the financial assets which guarantee an expected rate of return and principal and they are all classified as Level 2.

Others

Others include fund of hedge funds, among other things. Fair value is measured by inputs derived from unobservable data, which is classified as Level 3.

Level 3 reconciliation is not disclosed, since the amounts in Level 3 are immaterial.

NTT Group’s policy with respect to asset management planning is formulated with the ultimate objective of ensuring the steady disbursement of benefits in future periods. Therefore, the long-term objective of asset management is to secure the total profits deemed necessary to ensure pension financing. To achieve this, NTT Group selects various investments and takes into consideration their expected returns and risks and the correlation among them. NTT Group then sets the target allocation ratio for plan assets and endeavors to maintain that ratio. The target allocations are formulated from a mid- to long-term perspective and are reviewed annually. In the event that there is a significant change in the investment environment, NTT Group also reviews the asset allocations as necessary. The target allocations in March 2015 are: domestic bonds, 47.0%; domestic stocks, 13.0%; foreign bonds, 10.0%; foreign stocks, 10.0%; and life insurance company general accounts, 20.0%.

Domestic stocks include NTT Group’s and its affiliates’ common stock with an aggregate fair value of ¥2,535 million (0.2% of total plan assets) and ¥2,619 million (0.2% of total plan assets) at March 31, 2014 and 2015, respectively.

The estimated future benefit payments are as follows:

 

Year ending March 31

   Millions of yen  

2016

   ¥ 133,625   

2017

     133,657   

2018

     145,235   

2019

     135,510   

2020

     124,795   

2021-2025

     543,266   
  

 

 

 

Total

   ¥ 1,216,088   
  

 

 

 

 

(2) Defined Contribution Pension Plan

NTT and certain subsidiaries recorded retirement benefit expenses of ¥18,082 million of related to NTT Group’s defined contribution benefit plan in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015.

 

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AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

(3) Social Welfare Pension Scheme and NTT Kigyou-Nenkin-Kikin (NTT Corporate Defined Benefit Pension Plan)

Since its incorporation in April 1985, both NTT Group and its employees made contributions every year to the Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Mutual Aid Plan (the “NTT Mutual Aid Plan”), which was one of the Japanese government-regulated social welfare pension schemes, based on the Public Corporation Employee Mutual Aid Association Law, and was operated to pay pension benefits to the retired/existing employees of NTT, Public Corporation and/or their predecessor government organizations (Ministry of Communications in the area of telecommunications and the Ministry of Telecommunications). The NTT Mutual Aid Plan was considered as a multi-employer plan and, accordingly, contributions were recognized as an expense when they were required for the period.

As part of the Japanese social welfare pension scheme restructuring in 1997, the Japanese Welfare Pension Insurance Law was amended effective April 1, 1997 to integrate the NTT Mutual Aid Plan under the Public Corporation Employee Mutual Aid Association Law with the Welfare Pension Insurance Scheme under the Japanese Welfare Pension Insurance Law. This converted the NTT Mutual Aid Plan into (a) the national Kosei-Nenkin (the “National Plan”), (b) NTT Kosei-Nenkin-Kikin (the “NTT Plan”) and (c) the Special Accounting Fund for the NTT Plan (former NTT Mutual Aid Plan). Based on the Law Concerning Defined Benefit Corporate Pension Plans which came into force in June 2001, the NTT Plan completed the transfer to the Japanese Government of the substitutional portion of the benefit obligations, as described below. In July 2007, the NTT Plan was converted to NTT Kigyou-Nenkin-Kikin or the NTT Corporate Defined Benefit Pension Plan (“NTT CDBP”) that succeeded the pension benefit obligations after the transfer to the Japanese Government of the substitutional portion of the benefit obligations.

(a)    The National Plan

The National Plan is a government-regulated social welfare pension plan under the Japanese Welfare Pension Insurance Law and since April 1997, both NTT Group and its employees have made contributions to such plan every year. It is considered as a multi-employer plan and contributions are recognized as expenses when contributions are required. The total amounts of contributions were ¥124,405 million, ¥126,310 million and ¥122,476 million for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively. In addition, the National Plan is a social welfare pension scheme, and because the information required by its accounting standards is limited, additional quantitative information relating to participation in the multi-employer plan is not disclosed.

(b)    The NTT CDBP (former NTT Plan)

NTT established the NTT Plan in April 1997. Both NTT Group and its employees made contributions to the plan to supplement the pension benefits to which the employees were entitled under the National Plan. The NTT Plan was regulated under the Japanese Welfare Pension Insurance Law and covered a substitutional portion of the National Plan.

The NTT Plan is considered a defined benefit pension plan and is accounted for separately from the severance payments and the contract-type corporate pension plans as described in (1) above.

In June 2003, under the Law Concerning Defined-Benefit Corporate Pension Plans, the NTT Plan applied to the Japanese Government for permission to be relieved of the obligations related to future employee services to disburse the NTT Plan benefits covering the substitutional portion and in September 2003, the approval was

 

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AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

granted. In April 2007, the NTT Plan applied for permission to be relieved of the remaining obligations related to past services to disburse the benefits covering the substitutional portion, and in July 2007, the approval was granted. As a result, the NTT Plan was converted to the NTT CDBP, a defined-benefit corporate pension fund.

In February 2008, the NTT CDBP completed the transfer to the Japanese Government of the substitutional portion of the benefit obligations and related plan assets, determined pursuant to the government formula, of the pension fund to the government agency.

In October 2013, NTT Group re-examined its wage system and implemented the “Reconstruction of the treatment system in light of future business operations” in order to evaluate the current compensation system and increase employment opportunities for individuals over the age of 60. As the eligible age to begin receiving pension benefits is expected to be delayed in connection with this reconstruction plan, the value of the projected benefit obligations decreased by ¥76,050 million as of October 1, 2013, and is being amortized as prior service cost starting from the effective date through the remaining service period of applicable employees.

The following table presents a reconciliation of the changes in the benefit obligations and fair value of assets of the NTT CDBP at March 31, 2014 and 2015. NTT uses a March 31 measurement date.

 

     2014     2015  
     Millions of yen  

Change in benefit obligations:

    

Benefit obligation, beginning of year

   ¥ 1,601,091      ¥ 1,553,265   

Service cost

     39,098        37,281   

Interest cost

     22,961        21,278   

Actuarial loss (gain)

     173        97,160   

Plan amendment

     (76,050     —     

Other

     122        9,293   

Benefit payments

     (34,130     (34,846
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Benefit obligation, end of year

     1,553,265        1,683,431   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Change in fair value of plan assets:

    

Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year

     983,336        1,056,584   

Actual return on plan assets

     96,590        116,626   

Employer contributions

     7,052        16,818   

Employee contributions

     3,557        3,753   

Other

     179        6,169   

Benefits payments

     (34,130     (34,846
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Fair value of plan assets, end of year

     1,056,584        1,165,104   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

At March 31:

    

Under-funded status

   ¥ (496,681   ¥ (518,327
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The following table provides the amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets:

 

     2014     2015  
     Millions of yen  

At March 31:

    

Liability for employees’ retirement benefits

   ¥ (496,681   ¥ (518,327

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     23,188        28,015   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net amount recognized

   ¥ (473,493   ¥ (490,312
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The following table provides the amounts recognized as accumulated other comprehensive loss (income):

 

     2014     2015  
     Millions of yen  

At March 31:

    

Net actuarial loss

   ¥ 95,549      ¥ 93,281   

Prior service cost(*)

     (72,361     (65,266
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   ¥     23,188      ¥     28,015   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(*) Prior service cost has been amortized on the straight-line method over the average remaining service period of employees expected to receive benefits under the plan.

The accumulated benefit obligation was ¥1,328,536 million and ¥1,435,669 million at March 31, 2014 and 2015, respectively.

The charges to income for employees’ retirement benefits for each of the three years in the period ended March 31, 2015 included the following components:

 

     2013     2014     2015  
     Millions of yen  

Service cost

   ¥ 37,647      ¥ 39,098      ¥ 37,281   

Interest cost on projected benefit obligation

     27,260        22,961        21,278   

Expected return on plan assets

     (21,743     (23,871     (25,825

Amortization of net actuarial loss

     15,982        15,265        5,783   

Amortization of prior service cost

     (3,187     (5,512     (7,487

Employee contributions

     (3,573     (3,557     (3,753
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   ¥ 52,386      ¥ 44,384      ¥ 27,277   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as other comprehensive loss (income) for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2014 and 2015 are as follows:

 

     2014     2015  
     Millions of yen  

Other comprehensive loss (income)

    

Net loss (gain) arising during period

   ¥ (72,546   ¥ 6,359   

Amortization of net actuarial loss

     (15,265     (5,783

Accrued prior service cost

     (76,050     —     

Amortization of prior service cost

     5,512        7,487   

Other

     1        (3,236
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   ¥ (158,348   ¥ 4,827   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The amounts of net actuarial loss and prior service cost included as accumulated other comprehensive loss (income) expected to be recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016 amount to ¥5,099 million and ¥(7,485) million, respectively.

The following table presents the weighted-average assumptions used to determine the benefit obligations and net periodic benefit cost:

 

     2013      2014      2015  

Weighted-average assumption used to determine benefit obligations at March 31

        

Discount rate

     1.5%         1.4%         1.0

Rate of compensation increase

     3.9%         3.4%         3.4

Weighted-average assumption used to determine net periodic benefit cost for years ended March 31

        

Discount rate

     1.9%         1.5%         1.4

Rate of compensation increase

     3.4%         3.9%         3.4

Expected long-term return on plan assets

     2.5%         2.5%         2.5

In determining the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets, NTT Group considers the current and projected asset allocations, as well as expected long-term investment returns and risks for each category of the plan assets based on analysis of historical results.

 

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AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The following table presents the fair values of pension plan assets of NTT CDBP as of March 31, 2014 and 2015. Descriptions of fair value hierarchy and the inputs used in measuring fair value are presented in note 15.

 

     As of March 31, 2014  
     Total      Fair value measurements using  
        Level 1      Level 2      Level 3  
     Millions of yen  

Cash and cash equivalents

   ¥ 7,859       ¥ 7,859         —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Debt securities

           

Japanese government bonds/local government bonds

     297,645         292,603         5,042         —     

Domestic corporate bonds

     80,603         —           80,603         —     

Foreign government bonds

     76,442         75,534         908         —     

Foreign corporate bonds

     1,268         161         1,107         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Equity securities

           

Domestic

     185,915         185,915         —           —     

Foreign

     114,284         114,284         —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Securities investment trust

           

Domestic/debt securities

     17,921         —           17,921         —     

Domestic/equity securities

     25,881         —           25,881         —     

Foreign/debt securities

     17,952         —           17,952         —     

Foreign/equity securities

     16,522         —           16,522         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Pooled funds

     92,753         —           92,753         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Life insurance company general accounts

     118,487         —           118,487         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Others

     3,052         —           21         3,031   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   ¥ 1,056,584       ¥ 676,356       ¥ 377,197       ¥ 3,031   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

     As of March 31, 2015  
     Total      Fair value measurements using  
        Level 1      Level 2      Level 3  
     Millions of yen  

Cash and cash equivalents

   ¥ 8,984       ¥ 8,984         —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Debt securities

           

Japanese government bonds/local government bonds

     323,496         318,634         4,862         —     

Domestic corporate bonds

     91,110         —           91,110         —     

Foreign government bonds

     82,179         81,565         614         —     

Foreign corporate bonds

     1,178         346         832         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Equity securities

           

Domestic

     214,675         214,645         30         —     

Foreign

     124,158         124,157         —           1   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Securities investment trust

           

Domestic/debt securities

     20,298         —           20,298         —     

Domestic/equity securities

     28,994         —           28,994         —     

Foreign/debt securities

     19,788         —           19,788         —     

Foreign/equity securities

     18,382         —           18,382         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Pooled funds

     94,532         —           94,532         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Life insurance company general accounts

     134,892         —           134,892         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Others

     2,438         —           2         2,436   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   ¥ 1,165,104       ¥ 748,331       ¥ 414,336       ¥ 2,437   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include foreign currency deposits and call loans, and are all classified as Level 1.

Debt securities

Debt securities include Japanese government bonds and local government bonds, domestic corporate bonds, foreign government bonds and foreign corporate bonds. If active market prices are available, fair value is measured by quoted prices for identical assets in active markets, which is classified as Level 1. If active market prices are not available, fair value is measured by inputs derived principally from observable market data provided by financial institutions, which is classified as Level 2.

Equity securities

Equity securities include domestic stocks and foreign stocks. If active market prices are available, fair value is measured by quoted prices for identical assets in active markets, which is classified as Level 1. If active market prices are not available, fair value is measured by inputs derived principally from observable market data provided by financial institutions, which is classified as Level 2.

Securities investment trust

Securities investment trust beneficiary certificates include bond investment trusts and foreign stock investment trusts. If active market prices are not available, fair value is measured by inputs derived principally from observable market data provided by financial institutions, which is classified as Level 2.

Pooled funds

Pooled funds include government bonds, local government bonds, domestic stocks and foreign stocks. Fair value of pooled funds is evaluated based on net asset value as reported by the trust operator, and is classified as Level 2.

Life insurance company general accounts

Life insurance company general accounts are the financial assets which guarantee an expected rate of return and principal and they are all classified as Level 2.

Others

Others include loans to employees and leasing receivables, which are classified as Level 3.

Level 3 reconciliation is not disclosed, since the amounts in Level 3 are immaterial.

NTT Group’s policy with respect to asset management planning is formulated with the ultimate objective of ensuring the steady disbursement of benefits in future periods. Therefore, the long-term objective of asset management is to secure the total profits deemed necessary to ensure pension financing. To achieve this, NTT Group selects various investments and takes into consideration their expected returns and risks and the correlation among them. NTT Group then sets the target allocation ratio for plan assets and endeavors to maintain that ratio. The target allocations are formulated from a mid- to long-term perspective and are reviewed

 

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AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

annually. In the event that there is a significant change in the investment environment, NTT Group also reviews the asset allocations as necessary. The weighted-average target allocations in March 2015 are: domestic bonds, 42.8%; domestic stocks, 20.8%; foreign bonds, 10.0%; foreign stocks, 14.4%; and life insurance company general accounts, 12.0%.

Domestic stocks include NTT Group’s and its affiliates’ common stock with an aggregate fair value of ¥4,278 million (0.4% of total plan assets) and ¥4,453 million (0.4% of total plan assets) at March 31, 2014 and 2015, respectively.

NTT Group expects to contribute ¥16,756 million to the NTT CDBP in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016.

The estimated future benefit payments of the NTT CDBP are as follows:

 

Year ending March 31

   Millions of yen  

2016

     36,241   

2017

     38,587   

2018

     40,877   

2019

     42,277   

2020

     42,881   

2021-2025

     232,980   
  

 

 

 

Total

   ¥ 433,843   
  

 

 

 

 

(c) The Special Accounting Fund for the NTT CDBP (former Special Accounting Fund for the NTT Plan)

The Special Accounting Fund for the NTT Plan (former NTT Mutual Aid Plan) was a transitional pension plan created to settle the former NTT Mutual Aid Plan in accordance with the Law to Partially Amend the Japanese Welfare Pension Insurance Law and other legislation. The NTT Mutual Aid Plan was integrated with the National Plan in April 1997, and the Special Accounting Fund for the NTT Plan aims to provide pension benefits for employees who retired before the 1997 shift in the scheme based on the Former Public Corporation Employee Mutual Aid Association Law.

In July 2007, the Special Accounting Fund for the NTT Plan was converted to the Special Accounting Fund for the NTT CDBP as the NTT Plan was converted to the NTT CDBP.

Based on the provisions of the Law to Partially Amend the Japanese Welfare Pension Insurance Law and other legislation, NTT pays contributions set by the Japanese Government every year to the Special Accounting Fund for the NTT CDBP to cover the costs of pension benefits based on the Former Public Corporation Employee Mutual Aid Association Law to cover benefits for the period of service in and prior to June 1956 of employees who retired in July 1956 or later from NTT, Public Corporation, and/or their predecessor government organizations (Ministry of Communications in the area of telecommunications and the Ministry of Telecommunications).

The Special Accounting Fund for the NTT CDBP is a social welfare pension scheme, as are the former NTT Mutual Aid Plan and the current National Plan. It is considered a multi-employer plan and therefore contributions are recognized as expenses when contributions are required. The amounts of contributions were ¥47,113 million, ¥43,520 million and ¥40,028 million for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015,

 

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AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

respectively, and NTT expects such contributions will decrease year by year. In addition, the Special Accounting Fund for the NTT CDBP is a social welfare pension scheme, and because the information required by its accounting standards is limited, additional quantitative information relating to participation in the multi-employer plan is not disclosed.

12.    Income taxes:

Total income taxes recognized for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015 are as follows:

 

     2013      2014      2015  
     Millions of yen  

Income from continuing operations

   ¥ 473,954       ¥ 486,546       ¥ 397,349   

Other comprehensive income (loss) (Note 14)

     51,350         98,130         50,100   

Additional paid-in capital (Note 14)

     —           —           (34,823
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total income taxes

   ¥ 525,304       ¥ 584,676       ¥ 412,626   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Substantially all of NTT Group’s income before income taxes and equity in earnings (losses) of affiliated companies for all periods presented and the related income tax expenses (benefits) are related to domestic operations. During the fiscal years ended March 31, 2013, and 2014, NTT and its domestic subsidiaries were subject to a National Corporate Tax of 28.05%, a Corporate Inhabitant Tax of approximately 5% and a deductible Corporate Enterprise Tax of approximately 8%, which in the aggregate resulted in a combined statutory income tax rate of approximately 38%. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015, NTT and its domestic subsidiaries were subject to a National Corporate Tax of 25.5%, a Corporate Inhabitant Tax of approximately 5% and a deductible Corporate Enterprise Tax of approximately 8%, which in the aggregate resulted in a combined statutory income tax rate of approximately 36%. The rate of the Corporate Inhabitant Tax and Corporate Enterprise Tax differs depending on the municipalities.

The “Act on the Partial Revision of the Income Tax Act” and other laws were enacted on March 20, 2014, changing, among other things, the tax rates for fiscal years beginning on or after April 1, 2014. Due to this change, the statutory tax rate applied to the calculation of the amount of deferred tax assets and liabilities in relation to the temporary differences anticipated to be resolved in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 was lowered from approximately 38% to approximately 36%. As a result, net deferred tax assets decreased by ¥12,583 million, whose effect is included in “Income tax expenses (benefit): Deferred” in the consolidated statements of income. Net income attributable to NTT decreased ¥9,595 million.

The “Act on the Partial Revision of the Income Tax Act” and other laws were enacted on March 31, 2015, changing, among other things, the tax rates for fiscal years beginning on or after April 1, 2015. Due to this change, the statutory tax rate applied to the calculation of the amount of deferred tax assets and liabilities in relation to the temporary differences anticipated to be resolved in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016 and the fiscal years ending March 31, 2017 and thereafter were lowered from approximately 36% to approximately 33% and 32%, respectively. As a result, net deferred tax assets decreased by ¥54,357 million, whose effect is included in “Income tax expenses (benefit): Deferred” in the consolidated statements of income. Net income attributable to NTT decreased ¥47,841 million.

NTT files a consolidated tax return with its wholly owned subsidiaries for National Corporate Tax purposes. The realizable amounts of deferred tax assets related to National Corporate Tax are assessed on the basis of the projected future taxable income of NTT and its wholly owned subsidiaries. As of March 31, 2015, NTT had 78 wholly owned subsidiaries in Japan, including NTT East, NTT West and NTT Communications.

 

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AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Reconciliations of the difference between the actual effective income tax rate of NTT Group and the statutory tax rate are as follows:

 

     Percent of income
before income taxes and equity in
earnings of affiliated companies
 
         2013             2014             2015      

Statutory tax rate

     37.98     37.98     35.60

Expenses not deductible for tax purposes

     1.04        0.15        0.25   

Tax credits

     (1.62     (1.40     (4.54

Net change in valuation allowance

     0.95        (0.36     1.26   

Effect of changes in the enacted tax rates

     0.77        1.45        5.19   

Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliated companies

     (0.63     (1.57     0.11   

Other

     1.08        1.34        (0.62
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Effective tax rate

     39.57     37.59     37.25
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Significant components of deferred tax assets and liabilities at March 31, 2014 and 2015 are as follows:

 

     2014     2015  
     Millions of yen  

Deferred tax assets:

    

Liability for employees’ retirement benefits

   ¥ 474,772      ¥ 458,453   

Accrued enterprise tax

     18,241        12,954   

Property, plant and equipment and intangible assets

     381,764        349,013   

Compensated absences

     87,973        82,257   

Accrued bonus

     37,494        34,933   

Unamortized purchases of leased assets

     7,644        6,708   

Operating loss carryforwards

     197,012        201,211   

Accrued liabilities for loyalty programs

     61,818        45,477   

Deferred revenues regarding Nikagetsu Kurikoshi

     13,000        10,723   

Investments in affiliates

     106,989        102,848   

Other

     165,939        186,501   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total gross deferred tax assets

     1,552,646        1,491,078   

Less—Valuation allowance

     (259,921     (265,950
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total deferred tax assets

     1,292,725        1,225,128   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Deferred tax liabilities:

    

Unrealized gains on securities

     (34,431     (64,773

Investment in subsidiary, principally arising upon issuance of stock

     (300,554     (226,474

Property, plant and equipment and intangible assets

     (216,869     (202,264

Investments in affiliates

     (58,331     (59,687

Other

     (39,145     (64,483
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total gross deferred tax liabilities

     (649,330     (617,681
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net deferred tax assets

   ¥ 643,395      ¥ 607,447   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Table of Contents

NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The valuation allowance at March 31, 2014 and 2015 mainly related to deferred tax assets of NTT and certain subsidiaries with operating loss carryforwards for tax purposes that are not expected to be realized. The net change in the total valuation allowance for the year ended March 31, 2013 was an increase of ¥11,535 million, for the year ended March 31, 2014 was an increase of ¥6,228 million, and for the year ended March 31, 2015 was an increase of ¥6,029 million.

The change in estimates of the subsequent realization of deferred tax assets for the year ended March 31, 2013 was ¥6,534 million decrease as a result of changes in estimates of the realizability of deferred tax assets. The change in the valuation allowance for the year ended March 31, 2014 included the impact of a ¥17,937 million decrease mainly as a result of a change in the estimate of the realizability of NTT America’s deferred tax assets in connection with its acquisitions. The change in the valuation allowance for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 included the impact of a ¥13,362 million decrease as a result of changes in estimates of the realizability of deferred tax assets.

Realization of the deferred tax assets depends upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible and loss carryforwards are utilizable. Management considers the projected future taxable income, tax-planning strategies and scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities in making this assessment. Realization of the deferred tax assets is substantially dependent upon continued profitability and NTT anticipates that it will continue to generate substantial income. Although realization is not assured, management believes it is more likely than not that all of the deferred tax assets, less valuation allowance, will be realized. The amount of such net assets considered realizable, however, could be reduced in the near term if estimates of future taxable income during the carryforward period are reduced.

Net deferred tax assets at March 31, 2014 and 2015 are included in the consolidated balance sheets as follows:

 

     2014     2015  
     Millions of yen  

Deferred income taxes (current assets)

   ¥ 220,662      ¥ 219,333   

Deferred income taxes (investments and other assets)

     661,500        589,937   

Other current liabilities

     (5,616     (4,970

Deferred income taxes (long-term liabilities)

     (233,151     (196,853
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   ¥ 643,395      ¥ 607,447   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

At March 31, 2015, NTT and certain subsidiaries had operating loss carryforwards for tax purposes of ¥677,456 million, which may be used as a deduction in determining taxable income in future periods. The period available to offset future taxable income varies in each tax jurisdiction as follows:

 

Year ending March 31, 2015

   Millions of yen  

Within 5 years

   ¥ 101,082   

6 to 20 years

     456,556   

Indefinite periods

     119,818   
  

 

 

 

Total

   ¥ 677,456   
  

 

 

 

At March 31, 2014 and 2015, the amount of unrecognized deferred tax liabilities for a portion of the undistributed earnings of NTT’s foreign subsidiaries was immaterial.

 

F-48


Table of Contents

NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:

 

     2014  
     Millions of yen  

Balance at March 31, 2013

   ¥ 4,356   

Increase in tax position of current year

     1,036   

Decrease in tax position of prior year

     (814

Reductions as a result of a lapse of the applicable statute of limitations

     (7

Foreign currency translation adjustments

     812   
  

 

 

 

Balance at March 31, 2014

   ¥ 5,383   
  

 

 

 

 

     2015  
     Millions of yen  

Balance at March 31, 2014

   ¥ 5,383   

Increase in tax position of current year

     402   

Decrease in tax position of prior year

     (1,010

Reductions as a result of a lapse of the applicable statute of limitations

     —     

Foreign currency translation adjustments

     979   
  

 

 

 

Balance at March 31, 2015

   ¥ 5,754   
  

 

 

 

The unrecognized tax benefit which would favorably affect the effective income tax rate in future periods was ¥5,383 million and ¥5,754 million at March 31, 2014 and 2015, respectively. NTT does not expect any material changes in its accrued liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits in the next 12 months. NTT Group has elected to classify interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits, if and when required, as part of income tax expense (benefit) in the consolidated statements of income. The total amounts of interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015 were immaterial. As of March 31, 2015, tax inquiries for NTT and its principal subsidiaries for fiscal years ended March 31, 2013 and prior have been completed by the tax authorities.

13.    Consumption tax:

Consumption tax payable or receivable is determined based on consumption taxes levied on operating revenues offset by consumption taxes directly incurred by the company when purchasing goods and services. Items in the consolidated statements of income are presented on a net basis of consumption tax.

 

F-49


Table of Contents

NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

14.    Equity:

Change in NTT’s shares of common stock and treasury stock for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015 are as follows:

 

     Change in shares  
     Issued
shares
    Treasury
stock
 

Balance at March 31, 2012

     1,323,197,235        99,431,812   

Acquisition of treasury stock under resolution of the board of directors

     —          38,382,300   

Acquisition of treasury stock through purchase of less-than-one-unit shares

     —          17,631   

Resale of treasury stock to holders of less-than-one-unit shares

     —          (9,140
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at March 31, 2013

     1,323,197,235        137,822,603   

Acquisition of treasury stock under resolution of the board of directors

     —          75,294,000   

Acquisition of treasury stock through purchase of less-than-one-unit shares

     —          37,134   

Resale of treasury stock to holders of less-than-one-unit shares

     —          (2,930

Cancellation of treasury stock under resolution of the board of directors

     (186,500,000     (186,500,000
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at March 31, 2014

     1,136,697,235        26,650,807   

Acquisition of treasury stock under resolution of the board of directors

     —          51,413,227   

Acquisition of treasury stock through purchase of less-than-one-unit shares

     —          35,570   

Resale of treasury stock to holders of less-than-one-unit shares

     —          (1,998
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at March 31, 2015

     1,136,697,235        78,097,606   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

According to the NTT Act, NTT must obtain authorization from the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications for certain financial matters including (1) certain new share issuance, including shares issuable upon the exercise of stock acquisition rights; (2) any resolution for (i) a change in the Articles of Incorporation, (ii) an appropriation of profits or (iii) any merger or dissolution; and (3) any disposition of major telecommunications trunk lines and equipment or providing mortgages on such properties.

On November 24, 1995, based upon the resolution of the board of directors’ meeting held on April 28, 1995, NTT capitalized the aggregate amount of ¥15,600 million of its additional paid-in capital to the common stock account and made a free share distribution of 312,000 shares to shareholders of record at September 30, 1995, representing 2% of outstanding shares. Under generally accepted accounting principles in Japan, no accounting entry is required for such a free share distribution. Had the distribution been accounted for entities in the United States, ¥234,624 million would have been transferred from retained earnings to the applicable capital account.

Effective May 1, 2006, the Japanese Companies Act provides that (i) dividends of earnings require approval at a general meeting of shareholders, (ii) interim cash dividends can be distributed upon the approval of the board of directors, if the Articles of Incorporation provide for such interim cash dividends, and (iii) an amount equal to at least 10% of the decrease in retained earnings resulting from a dividend payment be appropriated from retained earnings to a legal reserve until such reserve is equal to 25% of capital stock. The legal reserve is available for distribution upon approval at a shareholders’ meeting.

 

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Table of Contents

NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The Japanese Companies Act provides that corporations are able to repurchase their own shares in market transactions by resolution of the board of directors so long as their articles of incorporation so prescribe.

On September 19, 2012, the board of directors resolved that NTT may acquire up to 42 million outstanding shares of its common stock at an amount in total not exceeding ¥150 billion from during the period from September 20, 2012 through March 29, 2013. Based on this resolution, NTT repurchased 38,382,300 shares of its common stock for a total purchase price of ¥149,999 million between September 2012 and February 2013.

On May 10, 2013, the board of directors of NTT resolved that NTT may acquire up to 50 million shares of its outstanding common stock for an amount in total not exceeding ¥250 billion from May 13, 2013 through March 31, 2014. Based on this resolution, NTT repurchased 48,737,200 shares of its common stock for a total purchase price of ¥250,000 million between May 2013 and October 2013, and concluded the repurchase of its common stock authorized by board of directors’ resolution.

On November 8, 2013, the board of directors of NTT resolved that NTT will cancel 186,500,000 shares held as treasury stock on November 15, 2013, and as a result of such cancellation conducted on November 15, 2013, retained earnings have decreased by ¥818,206 million.

On February 6, 2014, the board of directors of NTT resolved that NTT may acquire up to 38 million shares of its outstanding common stock at an amount in total not exceeding ¥200 billion from February 7, 2014 through March 31, 2014. Based on this resolution, NTT repurchased 26,556,800 shares of its common stock at ¥156,499 million on March 7, 2014 using the Tokyo Stock Exchange Trading Network Off-Auction Own Share Repurchase Trading System (“ToSTNeT-3”).

On May 13, 2014, the board of directors of NTT resolved that NTT would repurchase shares held by untraceable shareholders, as previously announced on September 18, 2013, as treasury stock. Based on this resolution, NTT purchased 413,227 shares of its common stock for ¥2,429 million on May 14, 2014.

On November 7, 2014, the board of directors of NTT resolved that NTT may acquire up to 51 million shares of its outstanding common stock at an amount in total not exceeding ¥350 billion from November 10, 2014 through June 30, 2015. Based on this resolution, NTT repurchased 51 million shares of its common stock for a total purchase price of ¥338,117 million between November 2014 and March 2015, and concluded the repurchase of its common stock authorized by board of directors’ resolution.

The amount of statutory retained earnings of NTT available for the payments of dividends to shareholders as of March 31, 2015 was ¥599,366 million. In accordance with customary practice in Japan, appropriations of retained earnings are not accrued in the financial statements for the period to which they relate but are recorded in the subsequent accounting period after shareholders’ approval has been obtained. Retained earnings in the accompanying consolidated financial statements at March 31, 2015 include amounts representing final cash dividends of ¥95,273 million, or ¥90 per share, which were approved at the shareholders’ meeting held on June 26, 2015.

 

F-51


Table of Contents

NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

On May 15, 2015, the board of directors resolved that NTT will implement a two-for-one stock split as follows: the record date for the stock split will be June 30, 2015, and each share of common stock held by shareholders as of the record date will be split into two, with an effective date of July 1. Per share information for the previous fiscal year and the current fiscal year, assuming the stock split had been carried out at the beginning of the previous fiscal year, is as follows:

 

     2013      2014      2015  
     yen  

Weighted average number of shares outstanding (excluding treasury stock)

     2,423,761,538         2,299,516,428         2,187,360,018   

Net income per share attributable to NTT

     ¥215.34         ¥254.61         ¥236.85   

Cash dividends to be paid to shareholders of record date

     ¥80.00         ¥85.00         ¥90.00   

 

     2014      2015  
     yen  

Number of shares outstanding (excluding treasury stock)

     2,220,092,856         2,117,199,258   

Shareholders’ Equity per Share

     ¥3,833.78         ¥4,100.63   

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)—

An analysis of the changes for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2014 and 2015 in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) is shown below:

 

     Unrealized
gain (loss) on
securities
    Unrealized
gain (loss) on
derivative
instruments
    Foreign
currency
translation
adjustments
    Pension
liability
adjustments
    Total  
     Millions of yen  

Balance at March 31, 2013

   ¥ 71,976      ¥ (2,560   ¥ (5,683   ¥ (256,665   ¥ (192,932

Other comprehensive income before reclassification

     16,292        (3,595     150,461        162,168        325,326   

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income

     (235     (1,300     6,010        1,073        5,548   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income

     16,057        (4,895     156,471        163,241        330,874   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Less—Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests

     3,322        (1,473     29,949        11,178        42,976   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at March 31, 2014

   ¥ 84,711      ¥ (5,982   ¥ 120,839      ¥ (104,602   ¥ 94,966   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

     Unrealized
gain (loss) on
securities
     Unrealized
gain (loss) on
derivative
instruments
    Foreign
currency
translation
adjustments
    Pension
liability
adjustments
    Total  
     Millions of yen  

Balance at March 31, 2014

   ¥ 84,711       ¥ (5,982   ¥ 120,839      ¥ (104,602   ¥ 94,966   

Other comprehensive income before reclassification

     76,141         4,491        133,316        16,151        230,099   

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income

     167         (1,588     (3,453     219        (4,655
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income

     76,308         2,903        129,863        16,370        225,444   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Less—Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests

     26,907         1,730        26,270        (2,729     52,178   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at March 31, 2015

   ¥ 134,112       ¥ (4,809   ¥ 224,432      ¥ (85,503   ¥ 268,232   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

F-52


Table of Contents

NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The following table provides the change in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015:

 

     2013  
     Pre-tax
amount
    Tax benefit /
(expense)
    Net-of-tax
amount
 
     Millions of yen  

Unrealized gain (loss) on securities arising during the period

   ¥ 62,959      ¥ (20,920   ¥ 42,039   

Less—Reclassification adjustment for realized (gain) loss included in net income

     8,939        (3,469     5,470   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized gain (loss) on securities

     71,898        (24,389     47,509   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments arising during the period

   ¥ (2,371   ¥ (790   ¥ (3,161

Less—Reclassification adjustment for realized (gain) loss included in net income

     (2,457     882        (1,575
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments

     (4,828     92        (4,736
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Foreign currency translation adjustments arising during the period

   ¥ 126,695      ¥ (14,450   ¥ 112,245   

Less—Reclassification adjustment for realized (gain) loss included in net income

     223        (80     143   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net change in foreign currency translation adjustments

     126,918        (14,530     112,388   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Pension liability adjustments arising during period

   ¥ 24,914      ¥ (5,852   ¥ 19,062   

Prior service cost arising during period

     (178     63        (115

Less—Reclassification adjustment,

      

Amortization of net actuarial loss (gain)

     32,943        (10,305     22,638   

Amortization of transition obligation

     169        (61     108   

Amortization of prior service cost

     (8,470     2,877        (5,593

Reclassification of prior service cost due to curtailment

     —          —          —     

Other

     (665     211        (454

Net change in pension liability adjustments

     48,713        (13,067     35,646   

 

F-53


Table of Contents

NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

     2014  
     Pre-tax
amount
    Tax benefit /
(expense)
    Net-of-tax
amount
 
     Millions of yen  

Unrealized gain (loss) on securities arising during the period

   ¥ 26,518      ¥ (10,226   ¥ 16,292   

Less—Reclassification adjustment for realized (gain) loss included in net income

     (426     191        (235
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized gain (loss) on securities

     26,092        (10,035     16,057   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments arising during the period

   ¥ (3,988   ¥ 393      ¥ (3,595

Less—Reclassification adjustment for realized (gain) loss included in net income

     (2,018     718        (1,300
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments

     (6,006     1,111        (4,895
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Foreign currency translation adjustments arising during the period

   ¥ 156,586      ¥ (6,125   ¥ 150,461   

Less—Reclassification adjustment for realized (gain) loss included in net income

     9,489        (3,479     6,010   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net change in foreign currency translation adjustments

     166,075        (9,604     156,471   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Pension liability adjustments arising during period

   ¥ 165,474      ¥ (53,301   ¥ 112,173   

Prior service cost arising during period

     76,050        (26,409     49,641   

Less—Reclassification adjustment,

      

Amortization of net actuarial loss (gain)

     23,015        (7,450     15,565   

Amortization of transition obligation

     169        (61     108   

Amortization of prior service cost

     (9,527     3,290        (6,237

Reclassification of prior service cost due to curtailment

     (12,894     4,531        (8,363

Other

     556        (202     354   

Net change in pension liability adjustments

     242,843        (79,602     163,241   

 

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Table of Contents

NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

     2015  
     Pre-tax
amount
    Tax benefit /
(expense)
    Net-of-tax
amount
 
     Millions of yen  

Unrealized gain (loss) on securities arising during the period

   ¥ 115,793      ¥ (39,652   ¥ 76,141   

Less—Reclassification adjustment for realized (gain) loss included in net income

     260        (93     167   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized gain (loss) on securities

     116,053        (39,745     76,308   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments arising during the period

   ¥ 5,103      ¥ (612   ¥ 4,491   

Less—Reclassification adjustment for realized (gain) loss included in net income

     (2,460     872        (1,588
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments

     2,643        260        2,903   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Foreign currency translation adjustments arising during the period

   ¥ 140,542      ¥ (7,226   ¥ 133,316   

Less—Reclassification adjustment for realized gain included in net income

     (3,453     —          (3,453
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net change in foreign currency translation adjustments

     137,089        (7,226     129,863   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Pension liability adjustments arising during period

   ¥ 11,460      ¥ (1,452   ¥ 10,008   

Prior service cost arising during period

     —          —          —     

Less—Reclassification adjustment,

      

Amortization of net actuarial loss (gain)

     9,446        (2,994     6,452   

Amortization of transition obligation

     156        (54     102   

Amortization of prior service cost

     (8,971     2,636        (6,335

Reclassification of prior service cost due to curtailment

     —          —          —     

Other

     7,668        (1,525     6,143   

Net change in pension liability adjustments

     19,759        (3,389     16,370   

 

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Table of Contents

NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 and 2015 was as follows:

 

     Amounts reclassified from
accumulated other
comprehensive income  (loss)
   

Affected line items in

consolidated statements of
income

         2014             2015          
     Millions of yen      

Unrealized gain (loss) on securities

   ¥ 426      ¥ (62   Other, net
     (191     93      Income tax expense (benefit)
     —          (198   Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliated companies
  

 

 

   

 

 

   
   ¥ 235      ¥ (167   Net income
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments

   ¥ 2,110      ¥ 2,494      Other, net
     (718     (872   Income tax expense (benefit)
     (92     (34   Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliated companies
  

 

 

   

 

 

   
   ¥ 1,300      ¥ 1,588      Net income
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

Foreign currency translation adjustments

   ¥ (7   ¥ 3,453      Other, net
     3,479        —        Income tax expense (benefit)
     (9,482     —        Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliated companies
  

 

 

   

 

 

   
   ¥ (6,010   ¥ 3,453      Net income
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

Pension liability adjustments

   ¥ (763   ¥ (631   *
     (310     412      Income tax expense (benefit)
  

 

 

   

 

 

   
   ¥ (1,073   ¥ (219   Net income
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total

   ¥ (5,548   ¥ 4,655      Net income
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

* Amounts reclassified from pension liability adjustments are included in the computation of net periodic pension cost.

 

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Table of Contents

NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Equity transactions with noncontrolling interests—

The changes for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015 in Net income attributable to NTT and Increase in Additional paid in capital as a result of Equity transactions with noncontrolling interests are shown below:

 

     2013     2014     2015  
     Millions of yen  

Net income attributable to NTT

   ¥ 521,932      ¥ 585,473      ¥ 518,066   

Transfers (to) from the noncontrolling interests:

      

Increase in additional paid-in capital attributable to tax effect by NTT DOCOMO’s share repurchase of its common stock (Note 12)

     —          —          34,823   

Decrease in additional paid-in capital attributable to change in NTT’s ownership interest by NTT DOCOMO’s share repurchase of its common stock

     —          —          (14,802

Other

     (4,553     (1,069     (2,600
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     (4,553     (1,069     17,421   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Change from net income attributable to NTT’s shareholders and transfers from the noncontrolling interests

   ¥ 517,379      ¥ 584,404      ¥ 535,487   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

On August 6, 2014, the board of directors of NTT DOCOMO resolved that NTT DOCOMO may repurchase up to 206,489,675 shares of its outstanding common stock for an amount in total not exceeding ¥350,000 million between August 7, 2014 and September 3, 2014. Based on this resolution, NTT DOCOMO repurchased a total of 181,530,121 of its shares for an aggregate amount of ¥307,694 million, 176,991,100 shares of which NTT Group sold back to NTT DOCOMO. Due to NTT DOCOMO’s repurchase transactions, NTT’s ownership interest in NTT DOCOMO decreased from 66.7% to 65.3%. As a result, “Additional paid-in capital” increased by ¥17,520 million in the consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2015.

On October 31, 2014, the board of directors of NTT DOCOMO resolved that NTT DOCOMO may repurchase up to 138,469,879 shares of its outstanding common stock for an amount in total not exceeding ¥192,306 million between November 1, 2014 and March 31, 2015. Based on this resolution, between November 2014 and March 2015, NTT DOCOMO repurchased a total of 83,746,000 shares of its common stock for an aggregate amount of ¥165,342 million. As a result, NTT’s ownership interest in NTT DOCOMO increased from 65.3% to 66.7% and “Additional paid-in capital” increased by ¥2,501 million in the consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2015.

15.    Fair Value Measurements:

The inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value are required to be categorized by fair value hierarchy. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to measurements involving significant unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:

Level 1—Inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date.

Level 2—Inputs are other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly.

Level 3—Inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2014 and 2015 are as follows:

 

     2014  
     Fair value measurements using  
     Total      Level 1(*1)      Level 2(*2)      Level3(*3)  
     Millions of yen  

Assets

           

Available-for-sale securities:

           

Domestic equity securities

   ¥ 126,422       ¥ 126,419       ¥ 3       ¥ —     

Foreign equity securities

     136,171         136,171         —           —     

Domestic debt securities

     27,745         212         24,821         2,712   

Foreign debt securities

     29,244         10         29,234         —     

Derivatives:

           

Forward exchange contracts

     1,048         —           1,048         —     

Interest rate swap agreements

     664         —           664         —     

Currency swap agreements

     34,805         —           34,805         —     

Currency option agreements

     290         —           290         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities

           

Derivatives:

           

Forward exchange contracts

     522         —           522         —     

Interest rate swap agreements

     2,043         —           2,043         —     

Currency swap agreements

     571         —           571         —     

Currency option agreements

   ¥ 85       ¥ —         ¥ 85       ¥ —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2.

Level 3 reconciliation is not disclosed, since the amounts in Level 3 are immaterial.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

     2015  
     Fair value measurements using  
     Total      Level 1(*1)      Level 2(*2)      Level 3(*3)  
     Millions of yen  

Assets

           

Available-for-sale securities:

           

Domestic equity securities

   ¥ 227,001       ¥ 227,001       ¥ —         ¥ —     

Foreign equity securities

     158,321         158,321         —           —     

Domestic debt securities

     29,204         202         28,716         286   

Foreign debt securities

     40,413         11         40,402         —     

Derivatives:

           

Forward exchange contracts

     2,537         —           2,537         —     

Interest rate swap agreements

     1         —           1         —     

Currency swap agreements

     76,638         —           76,638         —     

Currency option agreements

     474         —           474         —     

Forward contracts

     —           —           —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities

           

Derivatives:

           

Forward exchange contracts

     753         —           753         —     

Interest rate swap agreements

     3,327         —           3,327         —     

Currency swap agreements

     777         —           777         —     

Currency option agreements

     80         —           80         —     

Forward contracts

   ¥ 145       ¥ —         ¥ 145       ¥ —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(*1) Quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets
(*2) Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets, inputs derived principally from observable market data
(*3) Unobservable inputs

There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2.

Level 3 reconciliation is not disclosed, since the amounts in Level 3 are immaterial.

Available-for-sale securities—

Available-for-sale securities comprise marketable equity securities and debt securities, and financial instruments classified as available-for-sale securities. If active market prices are available, fair value is measured by quoted prices for identical assets in active markets, which is classified as Level 1. If active market prices are not available, fair value is measured by inputs derived principally from observable market data provided by financial institutions, which is classified as Level 2. In cases in which fair value is measured by inputs derived from unobservable data, it is classified as Level 3.

Derivatives—

Derivatives comprise forward exchange contracts, interest rate swap agreements, currency swap agreements currency option agreements, and forward contracts. Fair value of derivatives is measured by inputs derived principally from observable market data provided by financial institutions, which is classified as Level 2.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2014 and 2015 are as follows:

 

     2014  
     Fair value measurements using  
     Total      Level 1(*1)      Level 2(*2)      Level 3(*3)      Impairment
losses

(before tax)
 
     Millions of yen  

Assets

              

Real estate

   ¥ 2,888       ¥ —         ¥ —         ¥ 2,888       ¥ 651   

Investments in affiliated companies

     44,968         —           —           44,968         51,279   

Cost method investments

     128         —           —           128         2,108   

Long-lived assets

     9,135         —           —           9,135         5,738   
     2015  
     Fair value measurements using  
     Total      Level 1(*1)      Level 2(*2)      Level 3(*3)      Impairment
losses

(before tax)
 
     Millions of yen  

Assets

              

Real estate

   ¥ 7,999       ¥ —         ¥ —         ¥ 7,999       ¥ 1,187   

Cost method investments

     116         —           —           116         2,016   

Goodwill

     2,136         —           —           2,136         3,464   

Long-lived assets

     3,518         —           107         3,411         38,739   

 

(*1) Quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets
(*2) Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets, inputs derived principally from observable market data
(*3) Unobservable inputs

Real estate—

If a decline in value or an increase in estimated costs of completion of real estate held for resale included in inventories causes inventory cost to be unrecoverable, the real estate is written down to its fair value. In measuring the fair value of such inventories, fair value is measured by using various evaluation models based on inputs that are unobservable in the market, such as a salable price based on a real-estate appraisal, which is classified as Level 3.

Real estate in the table above includes that transferred from inventories to property, plant and equipment as a result of a change in use or sold to others after measuring fair value.

Investments in affiliated companies

The fair value of investments in affiliated companies that are impaired as a result of an other than temporary decline in value are measured at fair value based on the discounted cash flow method using unobservable inputs, which resulted in a classification of such investments as Level 3 investments. The discount rates for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2014 used for the weighted average cost of capital amounted to 12.6%.

 

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Cost method investments—

If a decline in value of cost method investments is evaluated as other than temporary, the investment is written down to its fair value. In measuring the fair value of such investments, if active market prices of similar assets are available, fair value is measured by quoted prices for similar assets, which is classified as Level 2. If active market prices of similar assets are not available, fair value is measured by using various evaluation models based on inputs that are unobservable in the market such as discounted cash flow projection, which is classified as Level 3.

Goodwill—

The fair value of the reporting units is determined by using various evaluation models based on inputs that are unobservable in the market such as discounted cash flow projections, which are classified as Level 3. For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013, the weighted average cost of capital and the permanent growth rate amounted to 11.0% and 3.0%, respectively. For segment information related to goodwill impairments, see note 9.

Long-lived assets—

If the carrying amount of a long-lived asset is evaluated to be unrecoverable, the long-lived asset is written down to its fair value. In measuring fair value of such long-lived assets for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014, fair value is measured by using various evaluation models based on inputs that are unobservable in the market such as discounted cash flow projection, which is classified as Level 3. The discount rate for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2014 used for the weighted average cost of capital amounted to mainly 5.0%. In measuring fair value of such long-lived assets for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015, fair value is mainly measured by using observable market prices of similar assets, which is classified as level 2.

16.    Segment and geographic information:

Operating segments are components of the NTT Group 1) that engage in business activities, 2) whose operating results are regularly reviewed by NTT Group’s chief operating decision maker to make decisions on the allocation of financial resources and to evaluate business performance, and 3) for which discrete financial information is available. Accounting policies used to determine segment profit/loss and segment assets are consistent with those used to prepare the consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

The regional communications business segment principally comprises revenues from fixed voice related services, IP/packet communications services, sales of telecommunications equipment, and other operating revenues.

The long distance and international communications business segment principally comprises revenues from fixed voice related services, IP/packet communications services, system integration services and other operating revenues.

The mobile communications business segment principally comprises revenues from mobile voice related services, IP/packet communications services and sales of telecommunications equipment.

The data communications business segment principally comprises revenues from system integration services.

 

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The other segment principally comprises operating revenues from such activities as building maintenance, real estate rental, systems development, leasing, and research and development.

Operating revenue:

 

Year Ended March 31

   2013     2014     2015  
     Millions of yen  

Operating revenue:

      

Regional communications business—

      

External customers

   ¥ 3,204,258      ¥ 3,129,362      ¥ 3,032,292   

Intersegment

     455,562        442,948        473,227   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     3,659,820        3,572,310        3,505,519   

Long distance and international communications business—

      

External customers

     1,554,706        1,713,439        1,906,784   

Intersegment

     103,241        96,463        91,857   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     1,657,947        1,809,902        1,998,641   

Mobile communications business—

      

External customers

     4,431,032        4,422,614        4,340,317   

Intersegment

     39,090        38,589        43,080   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     4,470,122        4,461,203        4,383,397   

Data communications business—

      

External customers

     1,154,143        1,221,481        1,401,348   

Intersegment

     149,373        122,374        109,671   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     1,303,516        1,343,855        1,511,019   

Other—

      

External customers

     356,601        438,278        414,576   

Intersegment

     895,261        890,248        857,664   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     1,251,862        1,328,526        1,272,240   

Elimination

     (1,642,527     (1,590,622     (1,575,499
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Consolidated total

   ¥ 10,700,740      ¥ 10,925,174      ¥ 11,095,317   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Segment profit:

 

Year Ended March 31

   2013     2014     2015  
     Millions of yen  

Segment profit:

      

Regional communications business

   ¥ 92,965      ¥ 127,240      ¥ 168,860   

Long distance and international communications business

     121,293        127,476        113,568   

Mobile communications business

     836,446        817,230        635,751   

Data communications business

     85,818        67,916        86,361   

Other

     53,257        56,098        67,481   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total segment profit

     1,189,779        1,195,960        1,072,021   

Elimination

     12,189        17,693        12,545   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Consolidated operating income

     1,201,968        1,213,653        1,084,566   

Other income

     92,995        172,082        49,408   

Other expenses

     97,316        91,540        67,345   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Consolidated income before income taxes and equity in earnings (losses) of affiliated companies

   ¥ 1,197,647      ¥ 1,294,195      ¥ 1,066,629   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliated companies:

      

Regional communications business

   ¥ 213      ¥ 203      ¥ (59

Long distance and international communications business

     622        1,895        916   

Mobile communications business

     (35,885     (78,311     (14,798

Data communications business

     106        228        87   

Other

     18,851        25,193        19,743   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Consolidated total

   ¥ (16,093   ¥ (50,792   ¥ 5,889   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
Segment assets:       

As of March 31

   2013     2014     2015  
     Millions of yen  

Segment Assets:

      

Regional communications business

   ¥ 7,337,100      ¥ 7,162,076      ¥ 7,041,285   

Long distance and international communications business

     1,871,626        2,314,780        2,609,666   

Mobile communications business

     7,336,070        7,676,820        7,326,360   

Data communications business

     1,597,446        1,774,562        1,930,349   

Other

     10,422,450        10,664,076        10,589,357   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total segment assets

     28,564,692        29,592,314        29,497,017   

Elimination

     (9,015,625     (9,307,365     (8,794,590
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Consolidated total

   ¥ 19,549,067      ¥ 20,284,949      ¥ 20,702,427   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(Note) Elimination includes offsetting the carrying amount of the parent’s investment in each subsidiary and the parent’s portion of equity of each subsidiary.

 

   Goodwill resulting from an acquisition is included in segment assets of the respective business in which the acquired business has been included. See note 9.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Other significant items:

 

Year Ended March 31

   2013      2014      2015  
     Millions of yen  

Depreciation and amortization:

        

Regional communications business

   ¥ 794,246       ¥ 751,906       ¥ 734,518   

Long distance and international communications business

     142,309         149,734         162,610   

Mobile communications business

     701,658         719,132         663,344   

Data communications business

     137,961         135,358         148,927   

Other

     117,451         118,415         113,814   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total segment

     1,893,625         1,874,545         1,823,213   

Elimination

     5,620         5,748         4,785   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Consolidated total

   ¥ 1,899,245       ¥ 1,880,293       ¥ 1,827,998   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Capital investments for segment assets:

        

Regional communications business

   ¥ 786,004       ¥ 722,829       ¥ 666,164   

Long distance and international communications business

     147,503         168,413         198,112   

Mobile communications business

     753,660         703,124         661,765   

Data communications business

     122,113         147,725         140,900   

Other

     160,695         150,672         150,582   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Consolidated total

   ¥ 1,969,975       ¥ 1,892,763       ¥ 1,817,523   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Point program expenses:

        

Regional communications business

   ¥ 5,801       ¥ 7,713       ¥ 8,803   

Long distance and international communications business

     1,321         484         1,335   

Mobile communications business

     74,651         70,837         67,705   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Consolidated total

   ¥ 81,773       ¥ 79,034       ¥ 77,843   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Goodwill impairment losses:

        

Long distance and international communications business

     23,042         —           3,464   

Mobile communications business

     7,281         —           —     

Data communications business

     —           —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Consolidated total

   ¥ 30,323       ¥ —         ¥ 3,464   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Impairment of long-lived assets:

        

Regional communications business

     347         36         1,640   

Long distance and international communications business

     648         279         1,732   

Mobile communications business

     1,851         —           30,161   

Data communications business

     1,719         3,526         2,358   

Other

     851         1,897         2,848   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Consolidated total

   ¥ 5,416       ¥ 5,738       ¥ 38,739   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The capital investments in the above table represent the additions to fixed assets of each segment.

As indicated in “Use of estimates” in note 2, effective April 1, 2013, NTT Group has revised its estimate of the expected useful life of metal cables based on actual utilization to reflect an extended expected useful life. As a result, compared with the method used prior to April 1, 2013, operating income for the regional

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

communications business segment for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 increased by ¥23,264 million. Furthermore, as indicated in “Use of estimates” in note 2, effective July 1, 2014, NTT Group has revised its estimate of the expected useful life of a part of software for telecommunications network and internal-use software based on actual utilization of the software to reflect an extended expected useful life of up to 7 years. As a result, compared with the method used prior to July 1, 2014, operating income for the mobile communications business segment for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 increased by ¥51,307 million.

As indicated in note 6, impairment of long-lived assets on Mobile communications business was the impairment for long-lived assets of the multimedia broadcasting business for mobile devices.

Transfers between operating segments are made at arm’s-length prices. Operating income is operating revenue less costs and operating expenses.

Geographic information:

 

Year Ended March 31

   2013      2014      2015  
     Millions of yen  

Operating revenue:

        

Domestic

   ¥ 9,746,669       ¥ 9,729,179       ¥ 9,509,891   

Foreign

     954,071         1,195,995         1,585,426   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Consolidated total

   ¥ 10,700,740       ¥ 10,925,174       ¥ 11,095,317   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating Revenues are classified based on the geographic location of the service and products provided. NTT Group has not disclosed foreign long-term assets, as such amounts were immaterial.

There were no operating revenue from transactions with a single external customer amounting to 10% or more of NTT Group’s revenues for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015.

17.    Leases:

NTT Group leases certain office space, employees’ residential facilities and other assets, recorded as either capital leases or operating leases.

Capital Lease—Lessee—

Assets acquired under capital leases at March 31, 2014 and 2015 are as follows:

 

Class of property

   2014     2015  
     Millions of yen  

Buildings

   ¥ 10,291      ¥ 18,757   

Machinery, vehicles and tools

     88,282        86,695   

Accumulated depreciation

     (55,791     (59,554
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   ¥ 42,782      ¥ 45,898   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Future minimum lease payments by year under capital leases together with the present value of the net minimum lease payments at March 31, 2015 are as follows:

 

Year ending March 31

   Millions of yen  

2016

   ¥ 21,900   

2017

     16,968   

2018

     11,480   

2019

     6,579   

2020

     3,601   

Thereafter

     8,653   
  

 

 

 

Total minimum lease payments

     69,181   

Less—Amount representing interest

     14,195   
  

 

 

 

Present value of net minimum lease payments

     54,986   

Less—Current obligation

     20,604   
  

 

 

 

Long-term capital lease obligations

   ¥ 34,382   
  

 

 

 

Operating Lease—Lessee—

Rental expenses under operating leases for land, buildings and equipment for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015 were ¥227,024 million, ¥246,211 million and ¥267,544 million, respectively.

Minimum future rental payments under operating leases that have initial or remaining non-cancellable lease terms in excess of one year at March 31, 2015 are as follows.

 

Year ending March 31

   Millions of yen  

2016

   ¥ 38,230   

2017

     28,367   

2018

     21,203   

2019

     16,341   

2020

     10,571   

Thereafter

     22,410   
  

 

 

 

Total

   ¥ 137,122   
  

 

 

 

18.    Research and development expenses and advertising costs:

Research and development expenses—

Research and development expenses are charged to income as incurred and such amounts charged to income for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015 were ¥269,192 million, ¥249,295 million and ¥233,752 million, respectively.

Advertising costs—

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising costs were ¥104,209 million, ¥98,858 million and ¥101,266 million, which are included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of income, for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

19.    Foreign currency exchange gain and loss:

Foreign currency exchange results (mainly arising from foreign currency borrowings) for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015 were gains of ¥3,250 million, ¥11,893 million and ¥96 million, respectively, and are included in “Other, net” of “Other income (expenses)” in the consolidated statements of income.

20.    Financial instruments:

Derivative instruments and, hedging activities—

In the normal course of business, NTT Group has certain financial instruments including long-term debt and other financial assets and liabilities incurred. Such financial instruments are exposed to market risks such as interest rate changes and foreign currency fluctuations. In applying a consistent risk management strategy for the purpose of reducing such risk, NTT Group uses derivative financial instruments, such as forward exchange contracts, interest rate swap agreements, currency swap agreements currency option agreements and forward contracts. NTT Group does not use derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes.

Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk Management—

NTT Group from time to time enters into forward foreign exchange contracts, currency swap agreements and currency option agreements to hedge the risk of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates principally associated with long-term debt issued by NTT Group denominated in foreign currencies. Such contracts and agreements have the same maturity as the underlying debt.

Interest Rate Risk Management—

NTT Group’s exposure to market risk for changes in interest rates relates principally to its debt obligations. NTT Group has long-term debt primarily with fixed rates. Interest rate swap agreements are entered into from time to time to convert floating rate underlying debt or assets into fixed rate debt or assets, or vice versa. Interest rate option contracts are entered into from time to time to hedge the risk of a rise in the interest rate of underlying debt. These instruments are executed with creditworthy financial institutions.

 

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AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Fair Value Hedges—

The derivatives designated as fair value hedges include interest rate swap agreements that are used for reducing the risk arising from the changes in the fair value of fixed rate debt. The notional principal amounts of these derivatives were ¥638 million at March 31, 2014. As discussed in note 10, NTT Group issues a variety of long-term debt bearing several types of interest and denominated in several currencies. NTT Group has a strategy to fix the anticipated cash flow related to those debts. From time to time, however, NTT Group enters into pay-floating/receive-fixed interest rate swaps, to protect the fair value of certain fixed rate debts in asset and liability management. Both the derivatives designated as fair value hedges and hedged items are reflected at fair value in the consolidated balance sheets. Changes in the fair value of the derivatives that are highly effective as, and that are designated and qualified as, fair value hedges, along with changes in the fair value of the hedged items that are attributable to the hedged risk, are recognized as “Other, net” of “Other income (expenses) in the consolidated statements of income. Changes in the fair value of the derivatives designated as fair value hedges and the hedged items recognized in the consolidated statements of income for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015 are as follows:

 

     2013  

Consolidated statements of income item

   Changes in
the fair value of
the derivatives
    Changes in
the fair value of
the hedged items
 
     Millions of yen  

Other, net

   ¥ (0   ¥ 0   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     2014  

Consolidated statements of income item

   Changes in
the fair value of
the derivatives
    Changes in
the fair value of
the hedged items
 
     Millions of yen  

Other, net

   ¥ 57      ¥ (57
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     2015  

Consolidated statements of income item

   Changes in
the fair value of
the derivatives
    Changes in
the fair value of

the hedged items
 
     Millions of yen  

Other, net

   ¥ (57   ¥ 57   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The amount of ineffectiveness of these fair value hedges, which were reflected in net income, was not material for all periods presented. In addition, there was no amount excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness of fair value hedges.

Cash Flow Hedges—

The derivatives designated as cash flow hedges include forward exchange contracts, currency swap agreements and interest rate swap agreements. As discussed in note 10, NTT Group has foreign currency exposures related to its long-term debt denominated in currencies other than yen. In accordance with NTT Group’s strategy, NTT Group fixes the anticipated cash flows of paying interest and principal amounts by entering into foreign currency contracts and foreign currency swaps, to ensure its cash flows are fixed in yen. Also, as discussed in note 10, NTT Group has floating rate debt exposures related to its long-term debt. In accordance with NTT Group strategy, NTT Group fixes the anticipated cash flows of interest payment by

 

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NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION

AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

entering into pay-fixed/receive-floating interest rate swaps. Changes in the fair value of derivatives that are highly effective as, and that are designated and qualified as, cash flow hedges are recognized in other comprehensive income (loss), until changes in cash flows from the hedged transactions are recognized as “Other, net” of “Other income (expenses) in the consolidated statements of income. For all periods presented, these cash flow hedges were effective and the amount representing the ineffectiveness of the hedges was not material. In addition, there was no material amount excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness of cash flow hedges.

The notional principal amounts of cash flow hedges at March 31, 2014 and 2015 are as follows:

 

     2014      2015  
     Millions of yen  

Forward exchange contracts

   ¥ 8,442       ¥ 20,022   

Interest rate swap agreements

     78,242         138,912   

Currency swap agreements

   ¥ 147,798       ¥ 209,968   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Changes in the fair value of cash flow hedges recorded in other comprehensive income (loss) for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2014 and 2015 are as follows:

 

     2014     2015  
     Millions of yen  

Forward exchange contracts

   ¥ (311   ¥ 67   

Interest rate swap agreements

     (136     (1,457

Currency swap agreements

     (5,040     1,611   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   ¥     (5,487   ¥        221   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Amounts of gain (loss) on cash flow hedges reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) into net income for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015 are as follows:

 

     Consolidated
statements  of

income item
     2013     2014     2015  
            Millions of yen  

Forward exchange contracts

     Other, net       ¥ 9      ¥ 121      ¥ (1,990

Interest rate swap agreements

     Other, net         (914     (576     (1,001

Currency swap agreements

     Other, net         3,362        2,565        5,485   
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

      ¥ 2,457      ¥ 2,110      ¥ 2,494   
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

As of March 31, 2015, approximately ¥906 million of deferred net income on derivative instruments in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) is expected to be reclassified as earnings during the next twelve months when the related interest expense is recognized.

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments—

NTT Group has forward exchange contracts, currency swap agreements, interest rate swap agreements, currency option agreements and forward contracts to hedge market risks such as interest rate changes and foreign currency fluctuations. Some of these derivative financial instruments are not designated as hedging instruments.

 

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AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The notional principal amounts of the derivatives not designated as hedging instruments at March 31, 2014 and 2015 are as follows:

 

     2014      2015  
     Millions of yen  

Forward exchange contracts

   ¥ 49,125       ¥ 64,466   

Interest rate swap agreements

     337,010         271,471   

Currency swap agreements

     4,300         —     

Currency option agreements

     85,338         48,740   

Forward contracts

     —           3,499   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Changes in the fair value of the derivatives not designated as hedging instruments recorded in the consolidated statements of income for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015 are as follows:

 

     Consolidated
statements  of

income item
     2013     2014      2015  
            Millions of yen  

Forward exchange contracts

     Other, net       ¥ (815   ¥ 1,779       ¥ (1,613

Interest rate swap agreements

     Other, net         152        575         (432

Currency swap agreements

     Other, net         (34     1,460         (1,457

Currency option agreements

     Other, net         727        585         201   

Forward contracts

     Other, net         —          —           (145
     

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

        30        4,399         (3,446
     

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Fair value of financial instruments—

The table that follows provides the estimated fair value of financial instruments. Assets and liabilities with carrying amounts that approximate fair values, such as cash and cash equivalents, notes and accounts receivable, trade, short-term borrowings, accounts payable, trade, and accrued payroll are not included in the table. Fair value information regarding “Marketable securities and other investments” is disclosed in note 8.

 

     2014      2015  
     Carrying
amount
     Fair value      Carrying
amount
     Fair value  
     Millions of yen  

Long-term debt including current portion

   ¥ 3,909,024       ¥ 4,108,377       ¥ 4,059,104       ¥ 4,200,707   

The fair value of long-term debt, including the current portion, is measured using discount rates for similar debt instruments of comparable maturities currently offered by NTT Group, which is classified as Level 2.

 

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AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The fair value of derivative instruments and amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets at March 31, 2014 and 2015 are as follows. The fair value of derivative instruments are measured by inputs derived principally from observable market data provided by financial institutions.

 

     2014      2015  
     Millions of yen  

Assets

  

Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:

     

Forward exchange contracts

     

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

   ¥ 382       ¥ 1,437   

Other assets

     —           219   

Interest rate swap agreements

     

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     60         —     

Currency swap agreements

     

Other assets

     33,349         76,638   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Subtotal

     33,791         78,294   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:

     

Forward exchange contracts

     

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     579         879   

Other assets

     88         2   

Interest rate swap agreements

     

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     —           0   

Other assets

     604         1   

Currency swap agreements

     

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     1,456         —     

Currency option agreements

     

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     8         —     

Other assets

     282         474   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Subtotal

     3,017         1,356   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   ¥ 36,808       ¥ 79,650   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

     2014      2015  
     Millions of yen  

Liabilities

     

Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:

     

Forward exchange contracts

     

Other (Current liabilities)

   ¥ 13       ¥ 1   

Interest rate swap agreements

     

Other (Current liabilities)

     26         125   

Other (Long-term liabilities)

     1,439         2,795   

Currency swap agreements

     

Other (Long-term liabilities)

     571         777   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Subtotal

     2,049         3,698   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:

     

Forward exchange contracts

     

Other (Current liabilities)

     473         469   

Other (Long-term liabilities)

     35         284   

Interest rate swap agreements

     

Other (Current liabilities)

     124         211   

Other (Long-term liabilities)

     454         196   

Currency option agreements

     

Other (Current liabilities)

     11         —     

Other (Long-term liabilities)

     74         80   

Forward contracts

     

Other (Current liabilities)

     —           145   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Subtotal

     1,171         1,385   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   ¥ 3,220       ¥ 5,083   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Contingent features in derivative instruments—

At March 31, 2015, NTT Group had no material derivative instruments that contain credit risk-related contingent features which would have a material adverse effect on NTT’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

Concentrations of credit risk—

NTT Group does not have any significant concentration of business transacted with an individual counter-party or groups of counter-parties that could, if suddenly eliminated, severely impact its operations at March 31, 2015.

21.    Financing receivables:

NTT Group has certain “Financing receivables” including loans and lease receivables. These financing receivables are mainly held by the financial subsidiaries of NTT. NTT manages these financing receivables by classifying them into “Installment sales receivable,” “Lease receivable,” “Loans receivable,” “Credit receivable” and “Others.”

 

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AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The allowance for doubtful accounts against financing receivables collectively evaluated for impairment is computed based on each historical bad debt experience. The allowance for doubtful accounts against financing receivables individually evaluated for impairment is computed based on the estimated uncollectible amount based on the analysis of certain individual accounts. In addition, financing receivables that are determined to be uncollectible due to, among other factors, the condition of the debtor are written off at the time of determination.

Rollforward of allowance for credit losses and recorded investment in financing receivables for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2014 and 2015 are as follows:

 

     2014  
     Installment
sales
receivable
    Lease
receivable
    Loans
receivable
    Credit
receivable
    Others      Total  
     Millions of yen  

Allowance for credit losses:

             

Balance at March 31, 2013

   ¥ 6,829      ¥ 11,423      ¥ 6,154      ¥ 3,390      ¥ 107       ¥ 27,903   

Provision

     (797     (1,384     (981     1,551        3,898         2,287   

Charge off

     (1,351     (1,820     (175     (1,953     —           (5,299

Recovery

     6        112        2        3        —           123   

Balance at March 31, 2014

     4,687        8,331        5,000        2,991        4,005         25,014   

collectively evaluated for impairment

     4,387        3,155        1,360        2,991        1         11,894   

individually evaluated for impairment

     300        5,176        3,640        —          4,004         13,120   

Financing receivable:

             

Balance at March 31, 2014

     796,039        355,374        111,316        266,976        4,213         1,533,918   

collectively evaluated for impairment

     795,693        349,716        103,010        266,976        170         1,515,565   

individually evaluated for impairment

     346        5,658        8,306        —          4,043         18,353   
     2015  
     Installment
sales
receivable
    Lease
receivable
    Loans
receivable
    Credit
receivable
    Others      Total  
     Millions of yen  

Allowance for credit losses:

             

Balance at March 31, 2014

   ¥ 4,687      ¥ 8,331      ¥ 5,000      ¥ 2,991      ¥ 4,005       ¥ 25,014   

Provision

     1,161        (971     (1,774     6,008        683         5,107   

Charge off

     (194     (1,228     (2,265     (2,082     —           (5,769

Recovery

     4        78        —          3        —           85   

Balance at March 31, 2015

     5,658        6,210        961        6,920        4,688         24,437   

collectively evaluated for impairment

     5,382        2,095        344        6,920        1         14,742   

individually evaluated for impairment

     276        4,115        617        —          4,687         9,695   

Financing receivable:

             

Balance at March 31, 2015

     971,269        381,086        80,895        287,305        5,199         1,725,754   

collectively evaluated for impairment

     970,886        376,605        79,545        287,305        450         1,714,791   

individually evaluated for impairment

     383        4,481        1,350        —          4,749         10,963   

 

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AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Among financing receivables, the main receivables held by the financial subsidiaries are recognized as being in arrears on the basis of time passed since the payment date. Financing receivables determined to have no prospects for collecting contractual interest on the basis of past due date and other factors do not accrue interest.

Financing receivables on nonaccrual status at March 31, 2014 and 2015 are as follows:

 

     2014      2015  
     Millions of yen  

Installment sales receivable

   ¥ 144       ¥ 92   

Lease receivable

     4,447         3,728   

Loans receivable

     8,502         1,862   

Credit receivable

     801         1,034   

Others

     3,940         3,970   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   ¥ 17,834       ¥ 10,686   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

NTT Group determines the credit quality of financing receivables on the basis of arrearages of receivables and the conditions of debtors, among other factors. Financing receivables for which arrearages continue over a long period are classified as “nonperforming receivables,” and all other receivables are classified as “performing receivables.” Analysis of the age of the recorded investment in financing receivables at March 31, 2014 and 2015 are as follows:

 

     2014  
     Performing      Nonperforming      Total      Greater than
90 days and
accruing
 
     Current      1-89 days
past due
     Greater than
90 days
       
     Millions of yen  

Installment sales receivable

   ¥ 791,923       ¥ 2,392       ¥ 1,724       ¥ 796,039       ¥ 10   

Lease receivable

     407,327         3,721         4,877         415,925         426   

Credit receivable

     263,848         2,327         801         266,976         —     

Others

     2,895         —           3,997         6,892         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   ¥ 1,465,993       ¥ 8,440       ¥ 11,399       ¥ 1,485,832       ¥ 436   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
            2014  
            Performing      Nonperforming      Total      Past due and
accruing
 
            Current      Past due        
            Millions of yen  

Loans receivable

      ¥ 229,570       ¥ 8,949       ¥ 238,519       ¥ —     
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     2015  
     Performing      Nonperforming      Total      Greater than
90 days and
accruing
 
     Current      1-89 days
past due
     Greater than
90 days
       
     Millions of yen  

Installment sales receivable

   ¥ 966,759       ¥ 2,516       ¥ 1,994       ¥ 971,269       ¥ 12   

Lease receivable

     444,634         1,938         3,871         450,443         143   

Credit receivable

     280,463         5,808         1,034         287,305         —     

Others

     1,802         —           4,029         5,831         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   ¥ 1,693658       ¥ 10,262       ¥ 10,928       ¥ 1,714,848       ¥ 155   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

     2015  
     Performing      Nonperforming      Total      Past due and
accruing
 
     Current      Past due        
     Millions of yen  

Loans receivable

   ¥ 267,046       ¥ 2,168       ¥ 269,214       ¥ —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

NTT Group classifies financing receivables as impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that NTT will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement, and identifies such impaired receivables as “Impaired financing receivables.” Impaired financing receivables at March 31, 2014 and 2015 are as follows:

 

     2014  
     Recorded
Investment
     Related
Allowance
     Unpaid Principal
Balance
     Average
Recorded
Investment
 
     Millions of yen  

With an allowance recorded

   ¥ 8,203       ¥ 3,593       ¥ 8,203       ¥ 8,176   

With no related allowance recorded

   ¥ 319       ¥ —         ¥ 704       ¥ 69   
     2015  
     Recorded
Investment
     Related
Allowance
     Unpaid Principal
Balance
     Average
Recorded
Investment
 
     Millions of yen  

With an allowance recorded

   ¥ 932       ¥ 837       ¥ 932       ¥ 4,464   

With no related allowance recorded

   ¥ 922       ¥ —         ¥ 1,141       ¥ 707   

22.    Commitments and contingent liabilities:

The aggregate amount of payments for commitments outstanding at March 31, 2015, including commitments for purchase of property, plant and equipment and other assets is as follows:

 

Fiscal year ending March 31

   Millions of yen  

2016

   ¥ 690,651   

2017

     55,796   

2018

     38,176   

2019

     29,724   

2020

     4,775   

Thereafter

     5,507   
  

 

 

 

Total

   ¥ 824,629   
  

 

 

 

Contingent liabilities at March 31, 2015 for loans guaranteed, among other things, amounted to ¥70,825 million.

At March 31, 2015, NTT Group had no material litigation or claims outstanding, pending or threatened against it, which would be expected to have a material adverse effect on NTT’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

23.    Subsequent events:

For information on NTT’s resolution with respect to its two-for-one stock split, see note 14.

Lux e-shelter 1 S.a.r.l. (“e-shelter”)

On June 22, 2015, NTT Communications, a subsidiary of NTT, acquired 86.7% of the outstanding shares of German data center services provider e-shelter for ¥99,856 million. This acquisition is intended to strengthen NTT’s ability to provide global seamless ICT solutions in response to the demand for cloud and data center services in Europe. NTT is currently calculating the financial impact of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the acquisition date.

 

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AND SUBSIDIARIES

SCHEDULE II—VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS

YEAR ENDED MARCH 31

 

     Balance at
beginning
of period
     Additions
charged to
costs and
expenses
     Deductions(*1)     Balance at
end of period
 
     Millions of yen  

Fiscal year ended March 31, 2013:

          

Allowance for doubtful accounts

   ¥ 48,356       ¥ 24,701       ¥ (28,096   ¥ 44,961   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Fiscal year ended March 31, 2014:

          

Allowance for doubtful accounts

   ¥ 44,961       ¥ 37,197       ¥ (35,265   ¥ 46,893   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Fiscal year ended March 31, 2015:

          

Allowance for doubtful accounts

   ¥ 46,893       ¥ 28,504       ¥ (32,167   ¥ 43,230   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

*1: Primarily amounts written off.

 

            Additions               
     Balance at
beginning
of period
     Charged to
income tax

expense
     Charged to
other Accounts(*1)
     Deductions(*2)     Balance at
end of period
 
     Millions of yen  

Fiscal year ended March 31, 2013:

             

Valuation allowance—Deferred tax assets

   ¥ 242,158       ¥ 19,287       ¥ 12,920       ¥ (20,672   ¥ 253,693   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Fiscal year ended March 31, 2014:

             

Valuation allowance—Deferred tax assets

   ¥ 253,693       ¥ 20,473       ¥ 24,793       ¥ (39,038   ¥ 259,921   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Fiscal year ended March 31, 2015:

             

Valuation allowance—Deferred tax assets

   ¥ 259,921       ¥ 26,839       ¥ 17,449       ¥ (38,259   ¥ 265,950   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

*1: Charged to other Accounts of Additions in the table above mainly consist of foreign currency translation adjustments.
*2: Deductions in the table above mainly consist of changes in estimates of the realizability of deferred tax assets. The amounts of change in estimates of the realizability of deferred tax assets for the years ended March 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015 are presented in note 12. In addition, the deduction in the table above for the year ended March 31, 2015 includes the impact of a ¥15,838 million decrease as a result of a change in the statutory tax rate applied to the calculation of the amount of deferred tax assets and liabilities.

 

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