News
By merging its three American subsidiaries into one, Kuraray will create an overall management function for the Kuraray Group in the United States with the objective of providing additional strategic emphasis in its management operations.
In line with its market-driven approach, the Kuraray Group continues to pursue business operations focusing on product development unique to each of its four core regions of Japan, the Americas, Europe, China and Asia. As globalization continues, there is an increasingly stronger need to develop localized management to suit the specific market characteristics in each territory.
As a first step Kuraray consolidated two subsidiaries in Europe last year. Complementing this initiative, Kuraray now plans to consolidate three of its American subsidiaries in an effort to create overall regional management functions, ensure effective global human resource development and deployment, stronger information systems and improved operational effectiveness. Through these means, Kuraray is further building a business structure for future growth.
1. Overview of the Consolidation
Kuraray America, Inc. will absorb Eval Companyof America and SEPTON Company of America.
Date of Merger: January 2008
| Company name | Kuraray America, Inc. |
|---|---|
| President | Nobuya Tomita |
| Capital | To be determined (100% investment by Kuraray Holdings U.S.A., Inc.) |
| Employees | Approx. 220 |
| Principal businesses | Import and sale in the United States of chemicals, fibers and textiles, dental materials Manufacture and sale of EVAL and SEPTON |
| Address | 2625 Bay Area Blvd. Suite 300 Houston, TX 77058-1551 U.S.A. |
* Kuraray Holdings U.S.A., Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kuraray.
For reference, the following information provides an overview of the three companies prior to the merger.
| Company name | Kuraray America, Inc. (The successor company) |
|---|---|
| President | Shuichi Takemoto |
| Capital | US$10,100,000 (100% investment by Kuraray Holdings U.S.A., Inc.) |
| Principal business | Import and sale of Kuraray products in the United States |
| Address | 600 Lexington Avenue, 26th Fl., New York, NY 10022 U.S.A. |
| Company name | Eval Companyof America (Dissolved company) |
|---|---|
| President | Nobuya Tomita |
| Capital | US$4,150,000 (100% investment by Kuraray Holdings U.S.A., Inc.) |
| Principal business | Manufacture and sale of EVAL in the United States |
| Address | 2625 Bay Area Blvd. Suite 300 Houston, TX 77058-1551 U.S.A. |
| Company name | SEPTON Company of America (Dissolved company) |
|---|---|
| President | Nobuya Tomita |
| Capital | US$35,000,000 (100% investment by Kuraray Holdings U.S.A., Inc.) |
| Principal business | Manufacture and sale of SEPTON in the United States. |
| Address | 11414 Choate Rd., Pasadena, TX 77507 U.S.A. |
2. Reasons for the Consolidation
- i) To strengthen the foundation for business development in the Americas
- Collect intelligence on markets in north, central and south America; create plans for concerted Group activities in market development, establish a regional office with an overall management function, research, planning and strategic competence.
With the Kuraray Research and Technical Center (USA) at its core, the consolidation also promotes information exchange and technology interaction among businesses, facilitates increased technological innovation and strengthens product development. - ii) To develop human resources
- Organizational consolidation leads the way to the effective use of human resources, linked with the training and deployment of individuals who are effective on a global scale. Also by raising its local profile, the Company expects to attract talented staff.
- iii) To strengthen information systems
- In conjunction with the consolidation, Kuraray will introduce systems specifications utilized at its headquarters. In this manner, Kuraray will enhance efficiencies in consolidated management.
- iv) To strengthen the organizational structure and improve operational efficiency
- Strengthen coordination with Kuraray headquarters and local compliance management systems. In addition to operational management, administrative functions such as accounting, legal affairs, general affairs, purchasing, distribution and human resources will all have a higher profile and will be more effective as a result of this consolidation.
