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<Elementary> Lesson No.22

Commercial & Inventory Risks / 商流・在庫リスクの洗い出し

0.Greetings & Ice-break (2min.)|挨拶と導入

 

0-1 Greetings

Let’s practice a short small talk that you can use to greet a business partner and start building a good relationship.

講師との挨拶を兼ねて、ビジネスパートナーと信頼関係を築くための短いスモールトークを練習してみましょう。

[Tips / 会話のヒント]

・Can you hear me clearly? 

 私の声はクリアに聞こえますか?
・How's your day going so far?

 今日はどんな一日でしたか?
・Talk about one small topic (Work, Weather, News, Hometown, Sports event, etc.)

 軽い話題について話しましょう(仕事、天気、ニュース、地元、スポーツイベントなど)

0-2 Introduction​

In today’s lesson, we’ll learn about the following situation. Have you ever experienced something similar?

本日のレッスンでは以下のようなシチュエーションについて学びます。同様のシチュエーションを経験したことがありますか?​

​​

- If you have experience, please tell us what it was like, what was difficult, or what you learned.

   経験があれば、どんな内容だったか、難しかったことや学んだことなどを教えて下さい。 

- If you don’t have experience, try to imagine yourself handling that situation in English.

  What do you think would be challenging?

  経験がなければ、英語でその状況に対応しているところを想像してみましょう。どんなことが難しそうですか?

Situation / シチュエーション

You are reviewing commercial flow and inventory risks discovered during due diligence.
デューディリジェンス中に発見された商流と在庫リスクをレビューしています

1. Read (2 min)|型を学ぶ
Let's read the following key sentences aloud!
下記の文章や単語を順番に音読しましょう!

1-1 Basic phrases
1.Let me explain...(...について説明させてください)
2.I understand your concerns...(ご懸念は理解しております...)
3.We have set aside...(...を計上しています)
4.We will provide...(...を提供します)
5.We propose three steps...(3段階の対策を提案します)
6.We will conduct...(...を実施します)
7.We will apply...(...を適用します)

1-2 Essential words
1.explain(説明する)
2.decrease(低下)
3.concern(懸念)
4.reduce(減らす)
5.handle(対処する)
6.provide(提供する)
7.propose(提案する)
8.conduct(実施する)
9.apply(適用する)
10.accept(受け入れる)
2. Try  (3 min)|ロールプレイ練習

Let’s practice the role-play.

ロールプレイの練習をしましょう!

Situation / シチュエーション(Reference again)

You are reviewing commercial flow and inventory risks discovered during due diligence.
デューディリジェンス中に発見された商流と在庫リスクをレビューしています

👨‍💼【Teacher / Buyer's Due Diligence Lead】:
Thank you for meeting today. We found some concerns in our due diligence. Your inventory turnover has decreased, and you have 5 million USD in slow-moving inventory. Also, your top customer accounts for 40% of sales. Can you explain these risks?
(本日はお時間をいただきありがとうございます。デューディリジェンスでいくつか懸念が見つかりました。在庫回転率が低下しており、滞留在庫が500万ドルあります。また、トップ顧客が売上の40%を占めています。これらのリスクについて説明していただけますか?)
🧑‍🎓【Student / Seller's CFO】:
I understand your concerns. Let me explain each point. First, the inventory turnover decrease is due to safety stock for new product launches. Second, of the 5 million USD slow-moving inventory, 3 million USD is spare parts for service contracts, and the remaining 2 million USD is old products we are discounting now.
(ご懸念は理解しております。各点について説明させてください。第一に、在庫回転率の低下は新製品投入のための安全在庫によるものです。第二に、500万ドルの滞留在庫のうち、300万ドルはサービス契約向けの予備部品であり、残りの200万ドルは現在割引処分中の旧製品です。)

👨‍💼【Teacher / Buyer's Due Diligence Lead】:
I see. What about the customer concentration risk? 40% from one customer seems high.
(なるほど。顧客集中リスクについてはどうでしょうか?1社で40%というのは高いように思えます。)
🧑‍🎓【Student / Seller's CFO】:
That customer has a 10-year contract with minimum purchase requirements. This limits the concentration risk. The contract provides stable revenue and reduces uncertainty.
(その顧客は最低購入量付きの10年契約を結んでいます。これにより集中リスクは限定的です。この契約は安定した収益を提供し、不確実性を減らします。)

👨‍💼【Teacher / Buyer's Due Diligence Lead】:
We also noticed that 15% of your accounts receivable are over 90 days past due. How do you plan to handle this?
(また、売掛金の15%が90日超過していることにも気づきました。これにどう対処する予定ですか?)
🧑‍🎓【Student / Seller's CFO】:
Most of those are government agencies and restructured customers who pay slowly but reliably. We have set aside 500,000 USD as bad debt reserve. In addition, we will provide specific indemnity if any amount remains uncollected within 6 months after closing.
(その大部分は支払いが遅いが確実な政府機関と再建済みの顧客です。50万ドルの貸倒引当を計上しています。さらに、クロージング後6ヶ月以内に未回収となった場合の特定補償を提供します。)

👨‍💼【Teacher / Buyer's Due Diligence Lead】:
What protection can you offer against future inventory obsolescence?
(将来の在庫陳腐化に対してどのような保護策を提供できますか?)
🧑‍🎓【Student / Seller's CFO】:
We propose three steps. First, we will conduct an independent physical count before closing. Second, we will apply agreed write-down standards. Third, we will guarantee at least 50% recovery of book value for slow-moving inventory within 12 months. Any shortfall will be covered by purchase price adjustment.
(3段階の対策を提案します。第一に、クロージング前に独立検証付きの棚卸しを実施します。第二に、合意した評価減基準を適用します。第三に、滞留在庫について12ヶ月以内に簿価の最低50%を回収することを保証します。不足分は購入価格調整で補います。)

👨‍💼【Teacher / Buyer's Due Diligence Lead】:
That sounds reasonable. We will accept your proposal. However, we need monthly inventory reports after closing and you must maintain insurance coverage. Are you comfortable with these conditions?
(それは妥当に思えます。提案を受け入れます。ただし、クロージング後の月次在庫報告が必要であり、保険カバレッジを維持していただく必要があります。これらの条件で問題ありませんか?)
3. Use  (4 min)|ロールプレイ & 実践(空欄補完)

Let's perform the role-play and fill in the blanks by translating the Japanese into English!
空欄の日本語を英語に訳しながら、ロールプレイを実践してみましょう!

Situation / シチュエーション(Reference again)

You are reviewing commercial flow and inventory risks discovered during due diligence.
デューディリジェンス中に発見された商流と在庫リスクをレビューしています

👨‍💼【Teacher / Buyer's Due Diligence Lead】:
Thank you for meeting today. We found some concerns in our due diligence. Your inventory turnover has decreased, and you have 5 million USD in slow-moving inventory. Also, your top customer accounts for 40% of sales. Can you explain these risks?
🧑‍🎓【Student / Seller's CFO】:
I understand your [懸念]. Let me [説明する] each point. First, the inventory turnover [低下] is due to safety stock for new product launches. Second, of the 5 million USD slow-moving inventory, 3 million USD is spare parts for service contracts, and the remaining 2 million USD is old products we are discounting now.

👨‍💼【Teacher / Buyer's Due Diligence Lead】:
I see. What about the customer concentration risk? 40% from one customer seems high.
🧑‍🎓【Student / Seller's CFO】:
That customer has a 10-year contract with minimum purchase requirements. This limits the concentration risk. The contract [提供する]s stable revenue and [減らす]s uncertainty.

👨‍💼【Teacher / Buyer's Due Diligence Lead】:
We also noticed that 15% of your accounts receivable are over 90 days past due. How do you plan to handle this?
🧑‍🎓【Student / Seller's CFO】:
Most of those are government agencies and restructured customers who pay slowly but reliably. We have set aside 500,000 USD as bad debt reserve. In addition, we will [提供する] specific indemnity if any amount remains uncollected within 6 months after closing.

👨‍💼【Teacher / Buyer's Due Diligence Lead】:
What protection can you offer against future inventory obsolescence?
🧑‍🎓【Student / Seller's CFO】:
We [提案する] three steps. First, we will [実施する] an independent physical count before closing. Second, we will [適用する] agreed write-down standards. Third, we will guarantee at least 50% recovery of book value for slow-moving inventory within 12 months. Any shortfall will be covered by purchase price adjustment.

👨‍💼【Teacher / Buyer's Due Diligence Lead】:
That sounds reasonable. We will accept your proposal. However, we need monthly inventory reports after closing and you must maintain insurance coverage. Are you comfortable with these conditions?
4. Challenge (7 min)|応用実践

Let's perform the role-play and fill in the blanks by translating the Japanese into English!
空欄の日本語を英語に訳しながら、ロールプレイを実践してみましょう!

*Let's practice this part repeatedly until we can speak it smoothly.

  このパートはスムーズにスピーキングできるようになるまで繰り返し練習しましょう。

Situation / シチュエーション(Reference again)

You are reviewing commercial flow and inventory risks discovered during due diligence.
デューディリジェンス中に発見された商流と在庫リスクをレビューしています

👨‍💼【Teacher / Buyer's Due Diligence Lead】:
Thank you for meeting today. We found some concerns in our due diligence. Your inventory turnover has decreased, and you have 5 million USD in slow-moving inventory. Also, your top customer accounts for 40% of sales. Can you explain these risks?
🧑‍🎓【Student / Seller's CFO】:
I understand your concerns. [各点について説明させてください。] First, the inventory turnover decrease is due to safety stock for new product launches. Second, of the 5 million USD slow-moving inventory, 3 million USD is spare parts for service contracts, and the remaining 2 million USD is old products we are discounting now.

👨‍💼【Teacher / Buyer's Due Diligence Lead】:
I see. What about the customer concentration risk? 40% from one customer seems high.
🧑‍🎓【Student / Seller's CFO】:
That customer has a 10-year contract with minimum purchase requirements. This limits the concentration risk. The contract provides stable revenue and reduces uncertainty.

👨‍💼【Teacher / Buyer's Due Diligence Lead】:
We also noticed that 15% of your accounts receivable are over 90 days past due. How do you plan to handle this?
🧑‍🎓【Student / Seller's CFO】:
Most of those are government agencies and restructured customers who pay slowly but reliably. [50万ドルの貸倒引当を計上しています。] In addition, [クロージング後6ヶ月以内に未回収となった場合の特定補償を提供します。]

👨‍💼【Teacher / Buyer's Due Diligence Lead】:
What protection can you offer against future inventory obsolescence?
🧑‍🎓【Student / Seller's CFO】:
[3段階の対策を提案します。] First, we will conduct an independent physical count before closing. Second, we will apply agreed write-down standards. Third, we will guarantee at least 50% recovery of book value for slow-moving inventory within 12 months. Any shortfall will be covered by purchase price adjustment.

👨‍💼【Teacher / Buyer's Due Diligence Lead】:
That sounds reasonable. We will accept your proposal. However, we need monthly inventory reports after closing and you must maintain insurance coverage. Are you comfortable with these conditions?
\ If you have some extra capacity, give it a try(余力があればやってみましょう)/
5. Real-world application (5 min)|実務応用

Let's speak freely with the phrases and flow we learned today. If you can, imagine your real job—it makes practice more effective.
本日学習した単語やフレーズ、会話の流れを思い出しながら、自由に話してみましょう。可能であれば、自身の実務を想像しながら話すと効果的です。​

Situation / シチュエーション
The buyer has raised concerns about inventory turnover, slow-moving stock, customer concentration, and overdue receivables during due diligence.
The seller must explain the business reasons behind each issue and offer concrete protection measures to address the buyer's risk concerns.
買い手がデューディリジェンスで在庫回転率、滞留在庫、顧客集中、延滞売掛金について懸念を示しています。
売り手は各問題の背景にあるビジネス上の理由を説明し、買い手のリスク懸念に対処する具体的な保護策を提示する必要があります。

👨‍💼【Teacher / Buyer's Due Diligence Lead】:
We need to understand the risks we found in your financials and operations. Can you walk me through your explanations and what protections you can offer?
(財務と業務で見つかったリスクを理解する必要があります。説明と提供可能な保護策について順を追って話していただけますか?)

🧑‍🎓【Student / Your Role】:
(Free Speaking based on today's lesson)

Hints / ヒント
1.Explain the business reasons behind each concern(各懸念の背景にあるビジネス上の理由を説明する)
2.Provide specific numbers and contract details(具体的な数値と契約の詳細を提供する)
3.Offer financial reserves and indemnity protection(財務的な引当と補償保護を提示する)
4.Propose verification steps and adjustment mechanisms(検証手順と調整メカニズムを提案する)
​※This is not a role-play. Please speak until you finish your thoughts.
 このパートはロールプレイ形式ではありません。最後まで通して話してみましょう。
6.  Wrap-up (2 min) |レッスンの振り返り

Let's review today's lesson with your teacher!
今日のレッスンについて講師と振り返ってみましょう!

 

6-1 Comments from student

・Good points / 良かったところ・上手くできたところ
・Things to work on / 今後強化したいところ

 

6-2 Feedback from teacher

・Good points / 良かった点
・Things to work on / 今後の強化ポイント
・What to review / 復習ポイント

 

*6-3 Questions from student (if any)

Japanese translation(日本語訳)

1. Read (2min)(型を学ぶ)|基本フレーズ

2. Try  (4min)(ロールプレイ練習)|型を使った練習
Let’s practice the role-play.
ロールプレイの練習をしましょう!

3. Use  (7min)|応用
Let’s perform the role-play and filling in the missing English!
英語を補完しながら、ロールプレイを実践してみましょう!

4. Challenge (7min)|実践
Let’s perform the role-play and filling in the missing English!
英語を補完しながら、ロールプレイを実践してみましょう!

5. Wrap-up (3min) – レッスンの振り返り

"Let’s review today’s lesson with your teacher!”

「今日のレッスンについて講師と振り返ってみましょう!」

5-1.  Comments from Student

  - Good points / 良かったところ・上手くできたところ

  - Things to work on / 今後強化したいところ

5-2.  Feedback from Teacher

  - Good points / 良かった点

  - Things to work on / 今後の強化ポイント

  - What to review / 復習ポイント

5-3. Question from Students (If any)

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