This document has been prepared in accordance with accounting principles and practices generally accepted in Japan, and translated for reference only from the original Japanese version. The Company gives no warranty with respect to its correctness.
The original disclosure in Japanese was released on January 30, 2024 at 10:00 (GMT+9)
Takara Holdings Inc.
Notice Regarding Investment in Startup Fermenstation Co., Ltd.
Takara Holdings Inc. hereby announces that it has invested in Fermenstation Co., Ltd. (“Fermenstation”) by subscribing to part of third-party allotment of shares by Fermenstation, a company that develops sustainable products using its own unique fermentation and distillation technologies.
1. Overview of Fermenstation
Fermenstation is a biomanufacturing*1 startup that seeks to create a society where unused resources (substandard agricultural produce, production residue, etc.) are regenerated and circulated, in line with its purpose of “Fermenting a Renewable Society.” With a license for industrial alcohol, Fermenstation engages in the development and in-house manufacturing of sustainable alcohol and cosmetic ingredients, among others.
2. Reason for investment
Finding a resonance between Fermenstation’s purpose and the Takara Group’s corporate philosophy of “Contributing to the creation of a vital society and a healthy lifestyle through our fermentation technology and biotechnology in a way that achieves harmony with nature,” we decided to make this investment.
As part of our efforts to solve social issues through our business (products and services) under the Takara Group Medium-Term Management Plan for 2025, we are working on initiatives such as Takara Can Chu-Hi “Sumika,” a product prepared using Japan-produced fruits including their pericarp, seeds and other parts that are usually thrown away after squeezing the juice, and “Takara CRAFT,” a product that features ingredients from around Japan that are unique to each locality and thereby contributes to the revitalization of local communities.
The investment in and cooperation with Fermenstation will help us further advance our sustainability efforts by enabling us to develop products containing sustainable alcohol made from upcycled*2 unused resources such as residues from fruit juice processing that had to be disposed of with the existing technology and thereby allowing us to solve social issues through the value we provide with such alcohol.
The Takara Group will work towards achieving the Group’s Vision, “Smiles in Life” through a variety of cooperative projects with Fermenstation.
*1 Production of materials by cells of microorganisms, plants, etc.
*2 The process of transforming goods that are no longer needed into new products while retaining their original form.
3. Overview of Fermenstation
| (1) | Name | Fermenstation Co., Ltd. |
| (2) | Location | 2-20-2 Higashikomagata, Sumida, Tokyo, Japan |
| (3) | Representative | Lina Sakai Watanabe, CEO |
| (4) | Business | Provision and development of alcohol and other raw materials for cosmetics, home care goods and foodstuff, OEM/ODM cosmetics and home care goods, business creation utilizing unused resources, original organic clean beauty brand, etc. |
| (5) | Established | July 7, 2009 |
4. Overview of Takara Holdings Inc.
| (1) | Name | Takara Holdings Inc. |
| (2) | Location | 20 Naginataboko-cho, Shijo-dori Karasuma Higashi-iru, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan |
| (3) | Representative | Mutsumi Kimura, President |
| (4) | Core business company | Takara Shuzo Co., Ltd. Takara Shuzo International Co., Ltd. Takara Bio Inc. |
| (5) | Established | September 6, 1925 |
