Implementing Growth Support to Miyoshi Shokuhin Kogyo K.K. via Integrated Investment & Financing Services (Special Investment Operations)

Miyoshi Shokuhin Kogyo K.K. (headquarters: Tagawa, Fukuoka Prefecture) was founded in 1919 and was incorporated in 1979. Miyoshi Shokuhin Kogyo is involved in the manufacturing and sale of soybean processed products, including tofu and thick deep-fried tofu. The company boasts a leading share in the soybean processed food industry in the Kyushu region, having secured the trust of business partners with its stable product supply capabilities and sophisticated quality control system.

The purpose of this project was to fund the construction of a new plant with production lines for products such as thick deep-fried tofu. The company aims to expand its customer base by further enhancing its quality control system and expanding its production capacity. DBJ, along with the NCB Kyushu Revitalization Fund, jointly undertook the underwriting of preferred shares and jointly financed a loan with financial institutions including The Nishi-Nippon City Bank, Ltd.

Owing to the introduction of production machinery equipped with advanced technologies, the new plant offers excellent hygiene and facilitates the manufacturing of products with a longer sell-by date than before. The company aims to boost the efficiency of its manufacturing process and save on labor by integrating some of its production lines at existing plants. The company is also planning to improve the work environment for its employees, including reducing overtime.

DBJ believes these actions will contribute to the further fortification of the company's business infrastructure. In addition, given the role Miyoshi Shokuhin Kogyo will play in aiding the further growth of the field of food, a key industry in the Kyushu region; revitalizing the local economy; and creating local jobs, DBJ is supporting the company through integrated investment and financing--namely, investing in Miyoshi Shokuhin Kogyo's preferred shares as a part of Special Investment Operations, and implementing financing based on the rating the company received under DBJ's proprietary Employees' Health Management Rated Loan Program.

Note: In January 2019, DBJ, The Nishi-Nippon City Bank, Ltd., and the Regional Economy Vitalization Corporation of Japan (REVIC) partnered up to establish a joint-investment fund to address the diverse needs of Kyushu region companies for growth capital.