CERES INC.
3696・Prime Market・Information & Communication
Governance
Company with an Audit and Supervisory Committee (transitioned in March 2021). The board consists of 9 directors (4 of whom are outside directors), and a voluntary Nomination and Compensation Advisory Committee (with independent outside directors holding a majority) has been established. The Board of Directors meets 14 times a year, and all directors maintain a high attendance rate.
Risk Management
The Risk Management Committee, chaired by a Managing Director, oversees risk management and compliance and meets 12 times per year. Its activities are reported to the Board of Directors on a quarterly basis. The Internal Audit Group, reporting directly to the Representative Director and President, conducts internal audits, and a structure has been established whereby the results are reported to the Board of Directors and the Audit and Supervisory Committee on a quarterly basis.
Shareholder Returns
The annual dividend forecast for FY2026 (ending December 2026) is ¥60 per share (ordinary dividend only, no special dividend). This represents a decrease from the previous fiscal year's ¥80 (¥60 ordinary dividend plus ¥20 special dividend). In addition, a share buyback of up to 350,000 shares and ¥500 million was resolved by the Board of Directors on April 30, 2026 (acquisition period: May 1, 2026 to December 30, 2026).
Dividend Policy
The basic policy is to pay a year-end dividend once annually, with the possibility of an interim dividend upon resolution by the Board of Directors. The annual dividend forecast for FY2026 (ending December 2026) is ¥60 per share (¥0 at the end of Q2, ¥60 at year-end). In the previous fiscal year, the dividend was ¥80 (¥60 ordinary dividend plus ¥20 special dividend), which included a special dividend of ¥20 funded by gains from the transfer of all shares of the consolidated subsidiary Yumemi Co., Ltd.; for FY2026, only an ordinary dividend of ¥60 is planned. There is no change to the dividend forecast (no revision from the full-year earnings forecast announced on February 13, 2026).
ESG
Achieved TCFD/TNFD compliance, an SBTi commitment (targeting certification by July 2027), and a CDP overall score of B (up from C the previous year). GHG emissions were 45t-CO2 for Scope 1+2 and 22,146t-CO2 for Scope 3 (third-party assurance obtained under ISO 14064-3). From FY2025, introduced an ESG executive incentive system linking director compensation to ESG metrics. On human capital, obtained
Last updated: March 27, 2026