それでは、緊急役員会議を始めます。今期の業績悪化は、急激な円高と原材料費の高騰が相まって、かつてない規模の赤字を計上するに至りました。我々は抜本的な構造改革を余儀なくされております。
Let us begin this emergency board meeting. The deterioration of our results this term, compounded by the sharp appreciation of the yen and soaring raw material costs, has brought us to a deficit of an unprecedented scale. We are left with no choice but to undertake fundamental structural reforms.
数字を率直に申し上げます。営業利益はマイナス三百億円、自己資本比率も警戒水準を割り込みました。海外の不採算部門からの撤退を視野に入れなければ、最悪の事態を招きかねません。
Let me put the numbers to you frankly. Operating profit stands at negative thirty billion yen, and our equity ratio has fallen below the alert threshold. Unless we put withdrawal from our unprofitable overseas divisions on the table, we risk inviting the worst-case scenario.
撤退はあまりにも性急ではありませんか。長年かけて築き上げた現地ネットワークを、一時の数字で手放すがごとき真似は容認できません。我々の営業力にかかれば、必ずや挽回の余地はあります。
Isn't withdrawal far too hasty? I cannot tolerate the kind of move that would discard, on the basis of a momentary set of figures, the local network we have spent so many years building. With the strength of our sales force, there is most certainly room to turn things around.
営業本部長のお気持ちは痛いほど分かります。しかし、感傷だけでこの危機を乗り切れる段階はすでに過ぎ去りました。冷静な数値判断なくしては、株主にも従業員にも説明がつきません。
I understand the Head of Sales' feelings, painfully so. But we have already passed the stage where sentiment alone could carry us through this crisis. Without dispassionate, numbers-based judgment, neither our shareholders nor our employees would accept any explanation we could offer.
補足いたしますと、欧州拠点は四期連続の赤字、北米拠点も需要回復の兆しが見えません。これ以上の損失補填を続ければ、グループ全体の信用格付けに関わる事態となります。
Let me add to this. Our European operations have run a deficit for four straight quarters, and our North American operations show no signs of demand recovery either. To keep absorbing further losses would put the entire group's credit rating in jeopardy.
数字だけで判断を下せば、それまでです。現場が築いてきた信頼や、競合他社が虎視眈々と狙う市場シェア、そうした無形資産をも踏まえて判断していただきたい。
If we let numbers alone decide it, that is the end of the story. The trust that our front-line teams have built, the market share our competitors are eyeing with hunger — please, take these intangible assets into account as well in your judgment.
では、折衷案を伺いましょう。完全撤退ではなく、現地企業との合弁化、あるいは持分の段階的譲渡という選択肢はいかがか。
Then let us hear a compromise proposal. Rather than full withdrawal, what about converting these operations into joint ventures with local firms, or a phased transfer of equity?
合弁化であれば、初期費用の負担を軽減しつつ、ブランドの継続的露出も保てます。財務的にも検討に値する選択肢かと存じます。
A joint-venture model would ease our initial financial burden while keeping our brand visible in the market. From a financial standpoint, it is an option well worth examining.
私も合弁化であれば前向きに検討できます。ただし、相手先の選定にあたっては、価格交渉力と販売チャネルを併せ持つ企業に絞っていただきたく存じます。
I, too, could examine a joint-venture model in good faith. However, in selecting our partner, I would ask that we limit ourselves to firms that combine both pricing power and established distribution channels.
方向性は見えてきました。ただし、今回の決定は社員の雇用に直結する重大事案です。早期退職優遇制度の拡充、再就職支援、これらも同時に進めねばなりません。
The direction is becoming clear. Even so, this decision will directly affect our employees' jobs. The expansion of our early-retirement incentives and outplacement support must move forward in parallel.
かしこまりました。来週の臨時取締役会までに、財務シミュレーションと人事処遇案を併せてご提示いたします。
Understood. By next week's extraordinary board meeting, I will present a financial simulation together with a personnel-treatment proposal.
よろしく頼みます。本日の議論をもって、我が社は新たな局面に踏み出します。経営陣として、ともに重い責任を背負っていきましょう。
I am counting on you. With today's discussion, our company steps into a new phase. As the management team, let us shoulder this weighty responsibility together.