Winning deals
Prize for Transformation from Eyeglasses to Eye Care
| Prize | Prize for Transformation from Eyeglasses to Eye Care |
|---|---|
| Recognized Deal/Company | VISIONARYHOLDINGS CO., LTD. |
| Fund | Advantage Partners Inc. |
| Reason for selection | This deal succeeded in improving sales and profitability by converting an optical retail business, which was focused on eyeglasses sales and was in a deteriorating financial situation due to price competition, into a service-centric business based on the concept of total eyecare. With the aim of extending the healthy lifespans of customers' eyes, the deal also improved employee motivation and raised productivity because their work contributed to customers' health. The simultaneous accomplishments were creating economic value by converting the business model into one with added value and creating social value by promoting customers' health. This deal was awarded a prize because of its commendable creation of a company other Japanese enterprises should emulate. |
Prize for being Customer-oriented
| Prize | Prize for being Customer-oriented |
|---|---|
| Recognized Deal/Company | ARUHI Corporation |
| Fund | Carlyle Japan LLC |
| Reason for selection | ARUHI was founded in 2000 as Japan's first mortgage bank. Later, it became a company specializing in housing loans and introduced a series of first-ever services for Japan. After Carlyle became involved, the company refined a business model that minimalized balance sheet risk: If there was a product that addressed a customer need, then introduce it as a service for other companies. Working with the management team, led by the company's president, Carlyle also accelerated a combined strategy of fintech and real estate tech. In 2017, ARUHI was relisted on the Tokyo Stock Exchange's First Section. This deal was awarded a prize because of its commendable construction of a foundation for a company that produces housing lifestyles, offering products and services optimized for customers' various life events over the course of a housing loan. |
Prize for Implementing Dramatic Gains in ESG and ES
| Prize | Prize for Implementing Dramatic Gains in ESG and ES |
|---|---|
| Recognized Deal/Company | DAIKI Co., Ltd. |
| Fund | Basic Capital Management, Limited |
| Reason for selection | Our society of mass consumption must create a recycling-oriented society that is good for the earth and people by recycling garbage. DAIKI is building a sustainable life cycle that makes products recycled from paper trash. Pets comfort people, but to return the favor to cats, DAIKI recycles old paper into cat litter that helps create pleasant indoor living environments shared by pets and their families. After making its investment, the fund revitalized the organization by promoting young employees with business expertise to top management, in place of the founding owner, and focused business resources on the cat litter business. Improvements to the workplace environment and pay raised employee motivation. These actions improved employee satisfaction and led to job creation in the local community. This deal was awarded a prize because of its commendable rapid progress in developing a business that is good for the environment, people, and animals, as well as for the win-win results for all stakeholders. |
Selection Panel
Member
Toshiko Oka
Representative Director
Oka & Company, Inc.
Member
Takeshi Kadota
President
Kadota ＆Co
Member
Keiji Mogi
Director
The University of Tokyo Edge Capital Partners Co., Ltd.
Member
Tomonori Ito
Professor
Hitotsubashi University Business School