FORM 6-K SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 Report of Foreign Private Issuer Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 For the month of December, 2003 Commission File Number 1-7616 PIONEER CORPORATION ------------------- (Translation of registrant's name into English) 4-1, MEGURO 1-CHOME, MEGURO-KU, TOKYO 153-8654, JAPAN ----------------------------------------------------- (Address of principal executive offices) Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F: Form 20-F [X] Form 40-F [ ] Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): Indicate by check mark whether by furnishing the information contained in this Form, the registrant is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Yes [ ] No [X] If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. PIONEER CORPORATION ------------------- (Registrant) Date: December 3, 2003 By /s/ Kaneo Ito -------------------------------- Kaneo Ito President and Representative Director This report on Form 6-K contains the following: 1. The English translation version of 58th Semiannual Business Report for the six-month period ended September 30, 2003. (TRANSLATION) THE 58TH SEMIANNUAL BUSINESS REPORT For the Six Months Ended September 30, 2003 This is a translation of the original Semiannual Business Report written in the Japanese language, prepared primarily for the benefit and information of shareholders of the Company's common stock. PIONEER CORPORATION Tokyo, Japan TO OUR SHAREHOLDERS In the first half of the 58th accounting period, which ended September 30, 2003, consolidated operating revenue of Pioneer Corporation came to 321,090 million yen, about the same as last year. Operating income increased 33.5% from the same period of the previous year to 17,591 million yen, due mainly to the lower cost of sales ratio, reductions in selling, general and administrative expenses, and higher profits from Patent Licensing as a result of increased revenue from royalties. Net income for the six-month period was 12,475 million yen, up significantly from 5,664 million yen a year earlier, boosted by the growth in operating income, a decrease in foreign exchange loss, a decline in equity in losses of affiliated companies, and income from discontinued operations associated with the sale of our audio/video software subsidiaries. On a parent-only basis, net sales for the April-September period fell 2.9% to 215,803 million yen, while a net loss of 1,066 million yen was posted, compared with a net income of 1,311 million yen for the same period last year, due to losses from the sale of audio/video software subsidiaries and losses on business reorganization programs. Interim dividend payments were raised 5.0 yen this year to 12.5 yen per share of common stock. We continue to face a severe business environment, including uncertainty regarding the economic direction of our major markets - Japan, North America and Europe - and growing price competition for our main products, as well as the rapid appreciation of the yen. Under these circumstances, we are continuing to implement our "select and focus" policy to further expand profitability and improve 1 management efficiency. Pioneer is actively investing management resources in strategic businesses to achieve the group's medium-term business plan. Examples of this include converting optical disc production lines to plasma display lines and the recent transfer of two audio/video software subsidiaries in Japan and the United States to a third party. To meet the rapid growth in demand for plasma displays, we are continuing to build an efficient production system. We are currently expanding the production line at Pioneer Display Products Corporation, a plasma display production subsidiary, to boost Pioneer's production capacity to more than 500,000 units per year by spring 2005. And to differentiate our products from those of our competitors, we are developing panels that consume less power and offer greater picture quality, while also working to cut costs. In the DVD business, demand for recordable DVD drives for personal computer (PC) use has seen strong growth. We are actively expanding this business as we strengthen our production capacity in China. Our home-use DVD recorders, especially those offering higher added value with hard disk drives (HDDs) have also been selling very well, and we aim to expand our range of models. We will continue to boost sales in both the PC and home audio/video markets. Regarding the car electronics business, we will continue to make aggressive promotions and lead the market. In our car navigation systems, HDD models with advanced features are performing well, as are DVD models offering ease of use and affordability. We also maintain a strong position in the car audio market. To satisfy the increasingly diversified needs of consumers, we have been releasing a 2 number of advanced products, such as CD players with organic electroluminescent (OEL) displays that effectively differentiate themselves from the products of other manufacturers. We are striving to increase our dominance even further. Pioneer is continuing its drive to minimize operating costs and expenses throughout the group. As well as cutting manufacturing costs by expanding production in China, we are implementing a system that places strict controls on expenses and working on improving ratio in selling, general and administrative expenses. Last April, we launched full operation of a group-wide supply chain management system for some of our products - the result of a project to thoroughly control consolidated inventories. The combination of these efforts should improve our cash flows and further boost profitability. We sincerely hope that you, our shareholders, will continue in your understanding and support of Pioneer. December 2003 Kaneo Ito President and Representative Director 3 CONSOLIDATED OPERATING REVENUE BY BUSINESS SEGMENT PERCENT OF OPERATING REVENUE Six Months Ended September 30 -------------------------------------- 2001 2002 2003 ---- ---- ---- Home Electronics ............ 31.1% 30.3% 25.0% Car Electronics ............. 43.2% 45.3% 44.2% Patent Licencing ............ 3.6% 1.9% 2.6% Others ...................... 22.1% 22.5% 28.2% ----- ----- ----- 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% ===== ===== ===== As a result of the sale of audio/video software subsidiaries in the first half of the 58th accounting period, figures for the corresponding period last year in the "Others" segment have been reclassified. HOME ELECTRONICS THIS SEGMENT INCLUDES DVD PLAYERS, DVD RECORDERS, PLASMA DISPLAYS, PROJECTION TVS, STEREO SYSTEMS, INDIVIDUAL STEREO COMPONENTS, EQUIPMENT FOR CABLE-TV SYSTEMS, DIGITAL BROADCAST SET-TOP BOXES AND TELEPHONES. Sales in the Home Electronics segment amounted to 80,149 million yen, a decline of 17.2% from the same period last year. In Japan, while sales of DVD recorders showed strong gains, sales of plasma displays for home use and DVD players fell, resulting in total domestic sales of 27,025 million yen, down 8.3% from the same period last year. Overseas, sales of plasma displays for home use grew in North 4 America, while sales declined for DVD players in Europe and Asia, for audio products and digital cable-TV set-top boxes in North America, and for digital broadcast set-top boxes in Europe. Total overseas sales thus came to 53,124 million yen, a decline of 21.1% compared to the same period last year. CAR ELECTRONICS THIS SEGMENT INCLUDES CAR STEREOS, CAR AV (AUDIO/VIDEO) SYSTEMS, CAR SPEAKERS AND CAR NAVIGATION SYSTEMS. Sales in the Car Electronics segment decreased 2.0% from the same period last year, to 141,840 million yen. In Japan, sales of car navigation systems in the consumer market, both HDD and DVD models, showed healthy growth, as did car audio products sold to automobile manufacturers, resulting in total domestic sales of 57,110 million yen, up 8.2% over the previous year. Overseas, while sales of car audio products in the Asian consumer markets, particularly China, grew, sales of car audio products in North America both to consumers and automobile manufacturers declined. Total overseas sales in this segment amounted to 84,730 million yen, a drop of 7.9% from the corresponding period last year. 5 PATENT LICENSING THIS SEGMENT INCLUDES THE LICENSING OF PATENTS RELATED TO OPTICAL DISC TECHNOLOGIES. Though patents related to optical discs have expired in some regions, royalty revenue from Patent Licensing rose to 8,404 million yen, up 39.0% over the same period last year, due to a revenue from a renewed contract with a licensee. OTHERS THIS SEGMENT INCLUDES RECORDABLE DVD DRIVES, DVD-ROM DRIVES, BUSINESS-USE PLASMA DISPLAYS, ORGANIC ELECTROLUMINESCENT (OEL) DISPLAY PANELS, FACTORY AUTOMATION SYSTEMS AND ELECTRONIC DEVICES. Sales in this segment increased 26.1% over the same period last year, to 90,697 million yen. In Japan, while sales of devices related to cellular phones such as OEL displays rose, sales of karaoke products for commercial use declined as a result of the sale of karaoke-related subsidiaries, and sales of DVD-ROM drives for PCs also declined, resulting in total domestic sales of 34,263 million yen, down 4.3% from the same period last year. Overseas, strong growth in sales of recordable DVD drives for PCs, and higher sales of plasma displays for business use in Europe and optical disc manufacturing systems in Asia, resulted in total overseas sales of 56,434 million yen, up 56.1% over the corresponding period last year. 6 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS PIONEER CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES (1) CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In millions of yen) September 30 ----------------------- 2003 2002 -------- -------- ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents ..................... 137,936 140,412 Available-for-sale securities ................. -- 7 Trade receivables, less allowance ............. 102,912 105,610 Inventories ................................... 110,316 106,801 Others ........................................ 65,763 60,936 -------- -------- Total current assets .................... 416,927 413,766 Investments and long-term receivables ............ 28,360 30,269 Property, plant and equipment, less depreciation . 154,319 149,870 Intangible assets ................................ 17,403 14,023 Other assets ..................................... 42,817 33,673 -------- -------- 659,826 641,601 ======== ======== LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities: Short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term debt ........................... 35,594 45,500 Trade payables ................................ 78,526 70,060 Others ........................................ 108,607 90,776 -------- -------- Total current liabilities ............... 222,727 206,336 Long-term debt ................................... 28,528 35,112 Other long-term liabilities ...................... 71,944 48,567 Minority interests ............................... 17,728 18,079 Shareholders' equity: Common stock .................................. 49,049 49,049 Capital surplus ............................... 82,294 82,060 Retained earnings ............................. 263,548 245,018 Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) . (65,535) (39,101) Treasury stock ................................ (10,457) (3,519) -------- -------- Total shareholders' equity .............. 318,899 333,507 -------- -------- 659,826 641,601 ======== ======== 7 (2) CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (In millions of yen except per share information) Six months ended September 30 ------------------------ 2003 2002 -------- -------- Operating revenue: Net sales ................................... 312,686 313,467 Royalty revenue ............................. 8,404 6,044 -------- -------- 321,090 319,511 -------- -------- Operating costs and expenses: Cost of sales ............................... 220,052 222,028 Selling, general and administrative ......... 83,447 84,308 -------- -------- 303,499 306,336 -------- -------- Operating income ............................... 17,591 13,175 Other income (expenses): Interest income ............................. 730 986 Foreign exchange gain (loss) ................ (1,005) (1,459) Interest expense ............................ (1,186) (1,338) Others, net ................................. 462 191 -------- -------- (999) (1,620) -------- -------- Income from continuing operations before income taxes .............................. 16,592 11,555 Income taxes ................................... 6,828 3,360 Minority interest in income of subsidiaries .... (168) 867 -------- -------- Equity in losses of affiliated companies ....... (1,761) (2,758) -------- -------- Income from continuing operations .............. 7,835 6,304 Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes .............................. 4,640 (640) -------- -------- Net income ..................................... 12,475 5,664 ======== ======== Net income per share (in yen): Basic ....................................... 71.11 31.53 Diluted ..................................... 71.09 31.53 8 (3) CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (In millions of yen) Six months ended September 30 ----------------------- 2003 2002 -------- -------- Operating activities: Net income .................................... 12,475 5,664 (Income) loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes .................... (4,640) 640 Depreciation and amortization ................. 18,891 16,781 (Increase) decrease in trade receivables ...... 1,022 14,893 Increase in inventories ....................... (21,013) (12,474) Increase (decrease) in trade payables ......... 15,209 14,452 Increase in other accrued liabilities ......... 4,632 3,623 Other ......................................... (3,355) (1,444) -------- -------- Net cash provided by operating activities ... 23,221 42,135 -------- -------- Investing activities: Payment for purchase of fixed assets .......... (28,239) (20,375) Other ......................................... 3,631 4,948 -------- -------- Net cash used in investing activities ....... (24,608) (15,427) -------- -------- Financing activities: Increase (decrease) in short-term borrowings and long-term debt .......................... 4,610 (3,205) Dividends paid ................................ (1,754) (1,350) Purchase of treasury stock .................... (5) (3,507) Other ......................................... (186) (171) -------- -------- Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities .................... 2,665 (8,233) -------- -------- Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents .......................... (5,822) (5,176) -------- -------- Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents .......................... (4,544) 13,299 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period . 142,480 127,113 -------- -------- Cash and cash equivalents at end of period ....... 137,936 140,412 ======== ======== 9 Notes: 1. The Company's consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. 2. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the parent company and 134 subsidiaries and the investments in 5 affiliated companies accounted for on an equity basis. 3. Effective from the fiscal 2003 year-end presentation, the Company classified gains and losses on sale and disposal of fixed assets, which were previously included in "Others, net" in "Other income (expenses)," into "Selling, general and administrative expenses." Previously reported amounts have been reclassified accordingly. 4. As a result of the sale of subsidiaries in audio/video software business in the second quarter of the fiscal 2004, the gain on such sale, as well as the business results of discontinued operations, are presented as a separate line item in the consolidated statements of income in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144, "Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets." Previously reported amounts have been reclassified accordingly. 10 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS PIONEER CORPORATION -- PARENT COMPANY ONLY (1) CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS (In millions of yen) September 30 ---------------------- 2003 2002 ------- ------- ASSETS Current assets: Cash .......................................... 29,100 24,329 Notes and accounts receivable--trade .......... 37,899 39,714 Marketable securities ......................... 18,782 42,350 Inventories ................................... 29,874 25,629 Other current assets .......................... 30,992 42,439 ------- ------- Total current assets ........................ 146,650 174,464 Fixed assets: Tangible ...................................... 39,443 31,282 Intangible .................................... 16,769 9,458 Investments and others ........................ 190,020 179,188 ------- ------- Total fixed assets .......................... 246,233 219,929 ------- ------- Total assets ..................................... 392,883 394,394 ======= ======= LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities: Accounts payable--trade ....................... 45,533 43,016 Accrued expenses .............................. 38,348 32,389 Other current liabilities ..................... 10,017 14,796 ------- ------- Total current liabilities ................... 93,898 90,202 Long-term liabilities ............................ 28,996 28,443 ------- ------- Total liabilities ................................ 122,895 118,645 Shareholders' equity ............................. 269,988 275,748 ------- ------- Total liabilities and shareholders' equity ....... 392,883 394,394 ======= ======= 11 (2) CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (In millions of yen) Six months ended September 30 ----------------------- 2003 2002 -------- -------- Net sales ........................................ 215,803 222,282 Cost of sales ................................. 168,143 179,906 Selling, general and administrative expenses .. 44,227 40,374 -------- -------- Operating income ................................. 3,432 2,001 Non-operating income (expenses), net .......... 132 (632) -------- -------- Ordinary income .................................. 3,565 1,368 Other expenses, net ........................... (6,050) (316) -------- -------- Income (loss) before income taxes ................ (2,485) 1,052 Income taxes .................................. (1,418) (259) -------- -------- Net income (loss) ................................ (1,066) 1,311 ======== ======== Notes: 1. Accumulated depreciation on tangible fixed assets on September 30, 2003 and 2002 was 90,756 million yen and 92,673 million yen, respectively. 2. A net loss per share of common stock of 6.08 yen was recorded for the six months ended September 30, 2003, while net income per share of common stock for the corresponding period of 2002 was 7.30 yen. 12 CONDITION OF SHAREHOLDERS AND SHARES (AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2003) NUMBER OF SHARES ISSUED 180,063,836 shares Note: 4,630,826 shares of treasury stock held by the Company are included. DISTRIBUTION OF SHARE-OWNERSHIP Percentage of Number of Number of Shareholdings to Shareholders Shares Held Total Issued Shares ------------ ----------- ------------------- Financial institutions ............ 130 79,859 44.35% Securities companies .............. 54 2,598 1.44 Other Japanese business corporations ................... 289 4,227 2.35 Foreign corporations and individuals ................ 452 62,407 34.66 Japanese individuals and others ..................... 24,844 30,970 17.20 ------ ------- ------ Total ............................. 25,769 180,063 thousand 100.00% TOP TEN LARGEST SHAREHOLDERS Number of Shares Held and its Percent to Total --------------------------- Japan Trustee Services Bank, Ltd. (Trust Account) 17,803 thousand (9.88%) The Master Trust Bank of Japan, Ltd. (Trust Account) 10,151 (5.63) UFJ Trust Bank Limited (Trust Account A) 5,997 (3.33) State Street Bank and Trust Company 5,250 (2.91) The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, Ltd. 4,154 (2.30) The Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation 4,089 (2.27) Mizuho Bank, Ltd. 4,000 (2.22) Mizuho Trust & Banking Co., Ltd., Pension Trust, Mizuho Bank Account 3,955 (2.19) Bank of Bermuda Limited, Hamilton 3,840 (2.13) Kanya Matsumoto 3,828 (2.12) Note: The Company holds 4,630 thousand shares as treasury stock. 13 STOCK EXCHANGE LISTINGS Tokyo Stock Exchange New York Stock Exchange Osaka Securities Exchange Euronext Amsterdam PRICE PER SHARE AND VOLUME OF SHARES TRADED ON THE TOKYO STOCK EXCHANGE Volume High Low (thousand (yen) (yen) shares) ----- ----- ------- 2000 Oct. 4,580 3,190 21,829 Nov. 3,680 3,030 27,982 Dec. 3,800 2,710 24,129 2001 Jan. 3,640 2,920 19,327 Feb. 3,350 2,765 15,574 Mar. 3,750 2,720 21,924 Apr. 3,930 3,020 22,531 May 4,250 3,570 24,332 June 3,950 3,580 22,121 July 3,920 2,960 18,429 Aug. 3,430 2,355 24,539 Sept. 2,710 2,155 21,630 Oct. 2,860 2,210 23,175 Nov. 3,150 2,285 28,229 Dec. 3,290 2,635 23,439 2002 Jan. 3,330 2,800 24,977 Feb. 2,685 2,150 42,385 Mar. 2,910 2,440 27,601 Apr. 2,860 2,385 26,982 May 2,595 2,280 25,405 June 2,355 1,981 23,528 July 2,210 1,980 24,659 Aug. 2,260 2,025 31,233 Sept. 2,220 1,900 21,349 Oct. 2,130 1,805 20,215 Nov. 2,430 2,045 32,263 Dec. 2,490 2,150 22,870 2003 Jan. 2,405 2,070 21,562 Feb. 2,600 2,260 33,006 Mar. 2,620 2,390 24,271 Apr. 2,460 2,225 25,507 May 2,555 2,290 23,202 June 2,840 2,490 35,912 July 2,970 2,635 31,308 Aug. 2,815 2,515 27,317 Sept. 3,030 2,600 40,815 14