Investment in XSM FLAT Hachinohe to support the promotion of a local Smart Venue®

DBJ has invested in XSM FLAT Hachinohe Corporation (headquarters: Hachinohe, Aomori), developer of FLAT Hachinohe, Japan's first multipurpose arena featuring a year-round ice rink. Made through a silent partnership, the investment is helping to promote Hachinohe's version of a Smart Venue®.

Hachinohe, a city long devoted to ice hockey and ice skating, is carrying out a land readjustment project in the west district of the JR Hachinohe Station with the aim of making the arena the focus of urban development. FLAT Hachinohe, the project's main facility, is being developed by the Xebio Group led by Xross Sports Marketing (headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo). As a profit center, the facility will be Hachinohe's version of a Smart Venue®, serving as a driving force for growth in and around the city.

This is the first project in which we have used DBJ's Special Investment Operations program for an arena. Four regional financial institutions--Toho Bank, Aomori Bank, Michinoku Bank, and Fukushima Bank--have worked with DBJ in providing financial support.

DBJ further supports the efforts of our customers to drive regional revitalization through sports.