DBJ and Daisan Bank Collaborate in SupportingPrivate Placement Bond Issue by Naniwa Roki

The Daisan Bank, Ltd. (Governor: Junichi Ito) and Development Bank of Japan Inc. (President: Minoru Murofushi; “DBJ”) have collaborated in supporting Naniwa Roki Co., Ltd. (President: Etsuo Murata) in its second issue of unsecured corporate bonds. The bonds have a total value of 100 million yen and come with a 5-year term.

Naniwa is the only company in Japan devoted solely to the design and manufacture of cupolas and other facilities for the iron-casting and melting industry. It owes its solid operating base to its engineering technology and reputation for reliability, both developed over more than fifty years in business. Some of the country’s leading automakers and iron and steel manufacturers are among its customers.

In recent years, Naniwa has cooperated with universities and public research institutions in the research and development of cupolas using wood biomass, natural gas, and other low-carbon resources as substitutes for traditional coal-coke fuels. The company has worked with Kinki University, Toyota Industries Corporation, and Coca Cola (Japan) Company, Limited in the design and development of cupolas which place a low burden on the environment. In July 2008, the group succeeded in running a large-scale cupola on biocoke, a next-generation recyclable biofuel manufactured from tea.

Under the new support scheme ? the first collaboration between Daisan and DBJ on an issue of private placement bonds ? the two banks cooperated in meeting Naniwa’s funding needs: Daisan by serving as underwriter for the entire bond issue and also as the firm’s fiscal agent, and DBJ by guaranteeing the total amount.

It is the hope of both DBJ and Daisan that this will mark the start of a long cooperative relationship ? one in which diverse forms of financial support will promote regional vitality and creativity by helping leading local firms to grow.