Canon, the most mocked photo-tech company has to cope with repayments, still expanding and doing good

The most mocked photography company of the last 5 years has to cope with some repayments. Doesn’t look like it’s drawing them back.

Nikkei Asian Review reports:

TOKYO — Canon will pay back more interest-bearing debt this year to improve its financial standing following the 2016 acquisition of a medical equipment business from Toshiba.

Repayment will double from 2017 levels to around 200 billion yen ($1.79 billion) in light of strong earnings last year, with an aim of whittling down borrowings from parties including Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ.

Canon upgraded its annual earnings forecast three times in 2017. The final projection called for net profit to increase roughly 60% to 245 billion yen on sales of 4.08 trillion yen, up nearly 20%. Mainstay businesses like digital cameras and office equipment have been faring well, along with such newer operations as medical equipment.

The Tokyo-based manufacturer bought Toshiba Medical Systems for about 665.5 billion yen in 2016. Interest-bearing debt reached 613.1 billion yen as of the end of that year, ballooning from 1.5 billion yen a year earlier.

The faster pace of repayment may also be driven by credit rating considerations. Moody’s Japan downgraded Canon from Aa1 to Aa3 in June 2016, citing a material increase in leverage from the purchase of the Toshiba unit. Until then, Canon had been the sole Japanese company with a Moody’s rating higher than Aa2.

Canon is expanding in various directions. Research and development of security, robotics, and medical seem to be on top of Canon’s agenda. Let’s hope some exciting EOS M lenses are too.