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Ajinomoto and Kao to Form Alliance in Health Solutions Business
Ajinomoto to Acquire 33.4% Equity Interest in Kao Subsidiary |
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TOKYO, May 29, 2012 - Ajinomoto Co., Inc. (Ajinomoto) and Kao Corporation (Kao) have agreed to form an alliance in the health solutions business with the shared vision of helping to create a "society with active seniors" who lead active lives regardless of age. The business will focus on prevention and improvement of metabolic syndrome and the decreased locomotive functions with aging. As part of the alliance, Ajinomoto has agreed to acquire a 33.4% equity interest in and send directors to Kao's wholly owned subsidiary Healthcare Committee Inc. (HCC). 1. Background With the rapid aging of Japanese society, there has been a notable increase in needs among people who want lifelong health. The aging population is also giving rise to social issues such as the growing burden of health care costs for the government and businesses. This has spotlighted the importance of not only treatment of illnesses that have manifested but also routine prevention - especially the prevention of metabolic syndrome (conditions such as hypertension and high blood sugar caused by an excess of visceral fat) and the decreased locomotive functions with aging. Ajinomoto's vision is to be "a group of companies that contributes to human health globally." To promote healthy lifestyles, Ajinomoto has been developing and marketing amino acid-based food ingredients and supplements with health value such as low salt, low sugar and low fat. The company is also promoting its AminoIndex®, a health checkup support service using amino acid analysis. Kao has a vision to better support the lives of active seniors. Accordingly, it has been undertaking consumer research, health care research, and health care product development and sales on the theme of metabolic syndrome in the middle-aged, as well as prevention and improvement of lifestyle-related diseases through QUPiO®, a prevention program that HCC provides for health insurers (hereinafter referred to as "health insurance societies"). By leveraging their respective strengths with these measures, Kao and Ajinomoto will provide personalized, comprehensive health solutions for prevention and improvement of metabolic syndrome and the decreased locomotive functions with aging and work toward the creation of a "society with active seniors." Overview of HCC
2. Business Scheme after the Alliance and Future Vision of the Health Solutions Business Until now, HCC has used QUPiO® primarily to provide services for health insurance societies. Going forward, it aims to build a health support platform for individuals within the next several years while strengthening its support for health insurance societies. HCC will enhance its personalized lifestyle improvement counseling (diet, exercise, etc.) by adding services such as provision of metabolic syndrome screening information using Ajinomoto's AminoIndex Technology and appropriate meal menu recipes based on amino acid analysis to its know-how in using data established with QUPiO. In the future, HCC plans to develop QUPiO® into a health portal program and expand the number of users from approximately 1.3 million at present to over 5 million by 2020. In addition, it aims to develop the business using QUPiO as the brand. Furthermore, to minimize the decreased locomotive functions with aging, Kao and Ajinomoto also plan to carry out joint education programs aimed at maintaining and improving the ability of the elderly to exercise and walk. They will also provide related products and develop a counseling system and work to link these initiatives with QUPiO®. In the future, Kao and Ajinomoto will consider applying the know-how gained through this business outside Japan. 3. Ajinomoto's Investment in HCC
Reference    About Ajinomoto Ajinomoto is a global manufacturer of high-quality seasonings, processed foods, beverages, amino acids, pharmaceuticals and specialty chemicals. For many decades Ajinomoto has contributed to food culture and human health through wide-ranging application of amino acid technologies. Today, the company is becoming increasingly involved with solutions for improved food resources, human health and global sustainability. Founded in 1909 and now operating in 26 countries, Ajinomoto had net sales of JPY 1,197.3 billion (USD 15.1 billion) in fiscal 2011. For more about Ajinomoto (TYO: 2802), visit www.ajinomoto.com. About Kao Kao creates high-value-added products to help consumers around the world enrich their everyday lives. Over 20 leading brands such as Asience, Attack, Bioré, Goldwell, Jergens, John Frieda, Kanebo, Laurier, Merries and Molton Brown are part of the lives of people in Asia, Oceania, North America and Europe and help generate about JPY 1,200 billion (about USD 15 billion) in annual sales. Kao employs about 35,000 people worldwide and has more than 120 years of history in innovation. For more about Kao (Ticker Code: 4452), please visit the Kao group web site. http://www.kao.com/group/en/group/ For further information, please contact: Ajinomoto Co., Inc. Public Communications Department; pr_info@ajinomoto.com |
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