Hello everyone, I am Junichi Arai from Corporate Management Planning Headquarters. I will now explain our financial results for the second quarter, or the first half of fiscal 2024. As President Kondo mentioned, we were able to post record high numbers for sales and profits at all levels. I will go over the results by showing the comparison with the same period of the previous year. Net sales increased by JPY 5.7 billion to JPY 497.4 billion. This includes a slight loss in foreign exchange, and therefore we would have achieved a JPY 6.1 billion growth if we exclude this impact. The operating profit increased by JPY 5.3 billion to JPY 40.3 billion, and the operating profit ratio increased by one percentage point to 8.1%.
In terms of non-operating profit, the appreciation of the yen pushed down the foreign exchange gain by JPY 2.5 billion, while some of the expenses that were incurred in the previous year were reduced in this fiscal year. Those resulted in a total year-on-year decline of JPY 1.0 billion. The ordinary profit increased by JPY 4.3 billion to JPY 38.9 billion, and extraordinary profit increased by JPY 11.5 billion to JPY 16.3 billion, mainly due to the sale of cross-holding shares, which increased significantly compared to last year and amounted to double-digit billion JPY. Profit attributable to owners of the parent reached JPY 35.5 billion, an increase of JPY 11.2 billion. I would like to explain the changes in operating profit versus the previous year.
In terms of sales and production volume, although factory automation and ED&C components were down from the previous year, this was offset by strong performance in substation systems for plants and store distribution in the food and beverage distribution segment, leading to an increase of JPY 2.9 billion. On the other hand, fixed costs, including labor costs, R&D expenses, and depreciation and leases paid, increased from the previous year, resulting in a negative impact of JPY 6.2 billion. Exchange rate effect improved by JPY 1.1 billion, while under others, a JPY 2.5 billion increase in product selling prices and a JPY 2.6 billion in negative impact of rising raw material costs almost canceled out each other.
As for the breakdown of the differences in model mix and in profitability between projects and cost reduction, the difference in model mix was positive in equipment construction, power generation, and vending machines, while cost reduction improved by JPY 7.7 billion due to an enhanced yield, mainly in semiconductors. All these factors together resulted in a total increase of JPY 7.6 billion in others. Here you can see year-on-year comparison of net sales, operating profit, and operating profit ratio by segment. Sales went down from the year before in industry and semiconductors, with the industry affected by low-voltage inverters and semiconductors by its automotive business. Operating profit decreased in semiconductors but increased in energy industry and food and beverage distribution, resulting in increases in both total sales and profits. I will now explain the results by segment.
In the energy segment, sales increased by JPY 1.4 billion to JPY 147.6 billion, and operating profit increased by JPY 1.1 billion to JPY 9.8 billion. There are four subsegments, and the ED&C components suffered negative growth in sales and profit. The key is energy management, which saw a significant increase in both sales and profit due to an increase in large-scale orders. In power generation, there was a slight increase in both sales and profit, and overseas, a large-scale geothermal project won by Indonesia made a contribution. In power supply and facility systems, sales were down slightly despite a strong demand from data center operators, impacted by the absence of large-scale projects posted in the previous year at a subsidiary in Singapore, while operating profit improved slightly due to fixed cost reductions.
As for industry, net sales fell JPY 2.8 billion to JPY 176.8 billion, while operating profit rose JPY 3.2 billion to JPY 8.4 billion. Automation systems saw sales decline slightly due to inventory adjustments of low-voltage inverters, but operating profit was relatively unchanged due to lower fixed costs and other cost reductions. As for social solutions, sales and profits increased significantly, a good result brought about by receiving large-scale orders for nuclear power-related equipment. In digital transformation solutions, both sales and operating profit increased due to large-scale projects won by IT Solutions, one of our subsidiaries. In equipment construction, net sales went down due to the impact of large-scale projects recorded in the previous year, but profit remained barely in the positive territory by some single-digit billion JPY.
In semiconductor segment, net sales decreased by JPY 0.5 billion to JPY 108 billion. Operating profit dropped by JPY 1.7 billion to JPY 15.1 billion. The table on the upper right shows year-on-year changes by application. Industrial semiconductors grew by JPY 1.3 billion year-on-year. Automotive semiconductors were down by JPY 1.7 billion due to impacts of unfavorable foreign exchange influences and declines in overseas sales volume of power semiconductors for electric vehicles. Operating results were lower than last fiscal year because of a rise in capital expenses for bolstering power semiconductor production capacity and an increase in material costs. In food and beverage distribution, net sales was JPY 58.3 billion, up JPY 5.1 billion year-on-year. Operating profit grew by JPY 3.3 billion to JPY 8.7 billion. Both vending machines and store distribution had excellent results.
In vending machine business, even though the overseas market somewhat weakened, strong demand in domestic market and cost reduction efforts contributed to boosting profitability. Store distribution had a special demand stemming from the issuance of newly designed banknotes in Japan. That resulted in a huge jump in sales and an increase in profit. Page 10 shows overseas and domestic net sales and their year-on-year changes. Overseas net sales dropped by JPY 9.2 billion to JPY 142.8 billion. Domestic net sales increased by JPY 14.9 billion to JPY 354.6 billion. Factors contributing to a JPY 9.2 billion decrease in overseas sales are mainly a JPY 14 billion drop in Asia. In Asia, power supply and facility systems saw a decline in sales due to a lack of large projects at our Singapore company. Sales of automotive semiconductors dropped by JPY 7.3 billion.
Europe also saw a drop in sales, mainly due to semiconductor performance, but China and Americas increased their sales. Page 11 shows orders received compared with the same period last year. We received orders totaling JPY 571.7 billion, up JPY 23.7 billion year-on-year. Plant systems contributed JPY 17.2 billion. Energy management contributed significantly due to a good showing in substation business. Power supply and facility systems was as much as JPY 8 billion higher than the previous year. Main components orders totaled JPY 198.2 billion, up JPY 6.5 billion year-on-year. By percentage, orders for industrial and automotive semiconductors, as well as ED&C components, grew year-on-year. But orders for components for factory automation were down by 4%. Bar charts on the right show quarterly changes in orders. Orders in the second quarter decreased by JPY 1.7 billion from the first quarter.
Orders for automobile semiconductors and ED&C components were higher, while those for industrial semiconductors and factory automation were slightly lower than in the first quarter. In the first half of fiscal 2024, we outperformed the forecast released on July 25 by 3.4 billion yen in net sales, by 4.8 billion yen in operating profit, by 0.9 percentage points in operating profit ratio, 5.9 billion yen in ordinary profit, by 6 billion yen in profit attributable to owners of parent. By segment, energy sales were lower than forecast due to lower ED&C sales, but operating profit was 1.1 billion yen more than forecast. In industry, plant systems more than made up for poor showing of low-voltage inverters and saw increases in both sales and profit. Net sales in semiconductors was 5 billion yen lower than forecast, but operating profit was 0.2 billion yen higher thanks to cost reduction efforts.
Food and beverage distribution saw much higher net sales and operating profit than forecast. Page 15 shows our balance sheet as of the end of September against that as of the end of March. Inventories increased by JPY 18.9 billion. Tangible assets, mainly semiconductors, grew by JPY 20 billion. Notes and accounts receivable dropped by JPY 77.9 billion thanks to rigorous collections since March. Total assets decreased by JPY 38.7 billion to JPY 1.2325 trillion. The equity ratio improved by 3 percentage points to 50.4%, mainly thanks to a JPY 24.8 billion increase in retained earnings. Interest-bearing debts fell by JPY 48.5 billion. Net interest-bearing debt fell by JPY 47.7 billion to a record low of JPY 49.7 billion. Net D/E ratio now stood at 0.1 times.
Cash flow was positive JPY 87.5 billion in the first half of 2024 due to JPY 63 billion in retained earnings from operating activities. Collections of accounts receivable and advances received each increased by more than JPY 10 billion from the same period last year. On the other hand, cash flow from investing activities was JPY 25.8 billion negative. This is because over JPY 40 billion in capital investment offset an inflow of about JPY 18 billion from stock sales. As a result, free cash flow was JPY 61.8 billion positive. Compared with the same period last year, operating cash flow increased by JPY 52.7 billion. Investing activities decreased by JPY 4.2 billion, and free cash flow increased by JPY 48.5 billion. Page 18 shows a full-year forecast compared against the forecast released on July 25 this year. Net sales forecast is unchanged at JPY 1.114 trillion.
Assumed exchange rates are also unchanged from those set at the beginning of the year. They are conservative considering the current rates: JPY 140 to the USD, JPY 150 to the EUR, and JPY 19.5 to the CNY. We increased operating profit forecast by JPY 2.5 billion to JPY 111.5 billion. Operating profit ratio was raised by 0.2 points to 10%, with an eye of achieving a double-digit figure. We raised our ordinary profit forecast by JPY 2 billion to JPY 111.5 billion. Forecast for profit attributable to owners of parent has also increased by JPY 5.5 billion to JPY 86 billion. Its profit ratio is now forecast to be 7.7%, up 0.5 points. By segment, energy is expected to post a sales decline of JPY 3 billion due to delays in the recovery in demand for ED&C components, but profit forecast of JPY 31 billion is unchanged.
In industry, net sales forecast has been revised downward due to a delayed recovery in demand for factory automation and low-voltage inverters, but profit forecast has been revised upward due to an expected demand increase for plant systems. In semiconductors, both sales and profit have been revised downward due to lower demand for industrial semiconductors from China and lower overseas demand for automotive semiconductors. In food and beverage distribution, both sales and operating profit are expected to be higher than the forecast due to strong store distribution and vending machines businesses. We will continue to aim to achieve all-time high sales and operating profit for the year. Page 19 shows full-year forecast compared to the previous year.
Net sales are expected to increase by JPY 10.8 billion, operating profit up JPY 5.4 billion, the operating profit ratio up 0.4 points, ordinary profit up JPY 3.7 billion, profit attributable to owners of parent up JPY 10.6 billion, and its ratio also up by 0.9 points. Sales and profit forecast are higher than the previous year. Net profit is expected to increase as a result of increased sales of cross-holding shares. By segment, sales and profit are expected to be higher for energy business. In industry, net sales is expected to fall year-on-year due to a decrease in FA and the impact of large construction projects, but profit is expected to be JPY 4.2 billion higher. In semiconductors, net sales is expected to be JPY 8 billion higher, but the profit is likely JPY 2.2 billion lower due to higher costs of capital and material costs.
In food and beverage distribution, sales and profits are expected to exceed that of the previous year. The interim dividend is set at JPY 75 per share, an increase of JPY 15 compared to the previous year. If things go as planned, we should be able to pay out a higher year-end dividend than planned. For your reference, we will show you orders received in the second quarter for ED&C components, low-voltage inverters, semiconductors, and vending machines in comparison with the first quarter and the same period last year. Parts of our current plan are a little conservative, so we'll keep our profit targets high as we proceed. Given our conservative cost assumptions, it may be possible to improve profit in the order of a billion yen. Our assumptions for Forex are also conservative.
It is therefore conceivable that the sales turn out to be more than 10 billion yen higher and the profit that is around 2 billion yen higher. In any case, we will continue to take necessary measures to achieve all-time high net sales and profit. We'd appreciate your continued support. This concludes my presentation. Thank you.