Yoshitaka Kitao
Chairman of the Board, President & CEO

Thank you very much for attending this SBI Holdings full year results announcement. At the venue, we see dozens of people, and I understand that more than 110 people are participating online as well. Without further ado, let me start. So we have quite a big volume of documents. So I would like to go through numbers briefly.

The consolidated performance revenue, JPY 1,896.6 billion, up 31.4%. Pretax income, JPY 516.7 billion. 83% up. And the profit for the period, JPY 430.5 billion, up 127.6%, in which profit attributable to owners of the company, JPY 427.6 billion, plus 163.7%. Each of them are record highs, especially the ROE has been my focus, 28.0% year-on-year, it’s a big increase. Usually, the Japanese banking industry for FY 2024 average was 7.25%.

What about U.S., JPMorgan Chase, even JPMorgan Chase, 16.69%; Morgan Stanley, 16.52%; Goldman Sachs, 14.91%. The other banks, big financial companies representing the U.S. market compared to them, our ROE is better. So the comparison of consolidated performance with major securities groups, as I mentioned earlier, we have covered their numbers. The Nomura, JPY 362.1 billion, ROE 10.1%; and Daiwa, JPY 175.3 billion, 10.3%; and there is SMBC Nikko Securities, JPY 94.4 billion, 7.5% ROE; and the Mitsubishi UFJ, JPY 664.3 billion, 10% of ROE. So 28% of our number is really a surprisingly good number.

Looking at Nikkei Index, the 3 largest securities and so on, this way of writing of conventional media, but even the new medias and the conventional medias, all of them are using the Internet. And I’m wondering why Nikkei continues to write such stupid

Delta Air Lines is expanding snack and drink service on thousands of flights, but for travelers on hundreds of short routes, the beverage cart is about to disappear entirely.

The changes set to take effect May 19 will mean passengers flying on Delta Main and Delta Comfort will no longer receive food or drinks on flights of 350 miles or less, which are typically trips lasting under an hour, a Delta spokesperson confirmed to FOX Business.

“Delta is adjusting onboard beverage service to create a more consistent experience across our network,” the spokesperson said. “Customers traveling in Delta Comfort and Delta Main on flights 350 miles and above will now receive full beverage and snack service, while shorter flights will no longer offer food and beverage service.”

The spokesperson emphasized that passengers flying first class will continue to receive full service no matter the flight’s distance.

‘FATTENING’ AIRPLANE SNACKS SLAMMED BY TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY: ‘FULL OF BUTTER, SUGAR AND CRAP’

Delta travelers flying Delta Main and Delta Comfort will no longer receive food or drinks on flights of 350 miles or less starting May 19, a Delta spokesperson confirmed to FOX Business. (iStock)

The airline said about 9% of its daily flights will lose service under the new policy.

At the same time, Delta is expanding full snack and beverage service — including alcoholic drinks and multiple snack options — to more routes. The airline said 14% of its flights will gain upgraded service, part of a broader push to standardize the passenger experience across its network of roughly 5,500 daily flights.

Delta Air Lines Airbus A220-100 aircraft as seen on final approach landing with landing gear down at New York JFK John F. Kennedy International Airport on Nov., 14, 2019, in New York. (Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

MAJOR AIRLINE AXES 20,000 ‘UNPROFITABLE’ FLIGHTS AS JET FUEL COSTS SOAR

The cuts will primarily affect routes that previously offered only limited “express service,” such as water, coffee and a small snack selection. Some shorter flights already had no service, including routes like Atlanta to Charlotte or Nashville.

Planes belonging to Delta Air Lines sit idle at Kansas City International Airport on April 03, 2020, in Kansas City, Missouri. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Even on flights without snacks or drinks, Delta said crews will remain focused on customer service.

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“Our crew will continue to be visible, available and focused on caring for our customers,” the spokesperson said.

The move comes as airlines continue adjusting onboard offerings in response to operational efficiency and passenger expectations.

Bristol firm specialises in complex work for renewable energy and storage sectors

A Bristol high-voltage power specialist has been acquired by Cheshire engineering group RSK as it looks to grow its integrated services in the renewable energy and energy storage sectors.

HV Energy Systems (HVES) delivers high-voltage grid connection infrastructure projects across the UK, focusing on technically complex high voltage (33kV – 132kV) and extra high voltage (up to 400kV) connections. Its clients include leading UK renewable energy developers and engineering, procurement and construction businesses.

Its 24-strong team specialises in building modularised and containerised substation solutions, so key project elements can be built and tested off-site to help speed up construction projects.

HVES managing director Craig Steven and technical director Louis Wright founded the business and will continue to lead it. In a joint statement, they said: “We are excited to be joining RSK Group. This partnership will strengthen the service and support we deliver to clients, backed by increased scale and access to a wider network. For clients and colleagues, it is business as usual: you will continue to work with the same team and receive the same level of service, underpinned by the trusted relationships we have built.”

RSK Group chief executive officer Alan Ryder said: “The highly skilled HVES team will add significant value to RSK’s energy transition services and we are very pleased to have them join the group and work alongside some outstanding multidisciplinary colleagues on a range of important energy projects.

“HVES’s capability is particularly valued by renewable energy developers, for whom grid connection is both technically complex and schedule-critical. Delays to energisation can materially affect projects, increasing the importance of delivery certainty and proven technical capability. This makes the HVES team a crucial element in the success of projects that contribute greatly to UK energy security.”

HV Energy Systems was advised by FRP Advisory (corporate finance) and Osborne Clarke (legal).

In 2024, RSK acquired Kendall Kingscott, which has offices in Bristol, Exeter, Cardiff, St Austell, Ringwood and Teddington, and employs more than 200 staff.