|
New Company Name for Japan's Largest Ferry and Coastal RORO Vessel Operator Tokyo - June 05, 2023 Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL; President & CEO: Takeshi Hashimoto) today announced the name of a company-MOL Sunflower Ltd.-will integrate two wholly owned ferry and coastal RORO vessel operating companies (Note 1)-MOL Sunflower Ltd. The new company brings together MOL Ferry Co., Ltd. (President: Naotoshi Omoto; Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo) and Ferry Sunflower Limited (President: Mitsujiro Akasaka; Headquarters: Oita-shi, Oita Prefecture). New company logo: 
Sunflower Kurenai. Image by MOL. 
Sunflower Furano. Image by MOL. The new company will carry on the "Sunflower" brand, which has supported Japan's logistics for half a century and continues to contribute to the enrichment of people's lives through cruise travel. MOL Sunflower Ltd. will begin operations on October 1, offering enhanced services as Japan's largest ferry and coastal RORO vessel operator, with six regular routes and 15 vessels in service. In April 2023, MOL established the "Headquarters of Wellbeing & Lifestyle Business" as an organizational structure to support the expansion of its non-shipping businesses, and place the ferry and coastal RORO vessel business, which has a strong business-to-consumer (BtoC) nature, as well as real property, cruise ship, and other businesses within the headquarters to make them one of the pillars of its business. MOL intends to achieve further company growth by integrating and consolidating these two companies, which serve as the core of the MOL Group ferry business. Routes and vessels operated by the new company: 
Background and Objectives of Integration
2. Accelerating the spread of the "Casual Cruise Concept" (Note 2) through improved customer services and stronger marketing in the digital field, in light of changing passenger demand due to diversifying lifestyles and values. The MOL Group will contribute to improving the well-being of its customers by offering a comfortable cruise where passengers can feel "bonding," "peace of mind," and "confidence" with their families, friends, pets, colleagues, and acquaintances. 3. The MOL Group will further strengthen its ties with local governments and communities in ferry departure and arrival areas, and contribute to regional revitalization and local economies. (Note 1) A vessel in which cargo is loaded and unloaded directly by trucks or trailers from the front and rear entrances of the vessel in a roll-on/roll-off (RORO) method. (Note 2) The Casual Cruise Concept is the basic idea behind the MOL Group's ferry business, enabling customers to enjoy cruising as a high-quality means of travel by using regularly scheduled routes. Outline of new company (planned) Company name: MOL Sunflower Ltd. Address: 1-18-13 Soto-kanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Offices: Sapporo, Tomakomai, Oarai, Osaka, Kobe, Fukuoka, Kanda, Oita, Beppu, Kumamoto, Miyazaki, Shibushi, Kagoshima Shareholder: MOL 100% Business: General passenger liner service, coastal shipping, freight forwarding, travel agency, others Start date: October 1, 2023 Outline of MOL Ferry Co., Ltd. Address: 1-18-13 Soto-kanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Representative: President Naotoshi Omoto Business: General passenger liner service, coastal shipping, freight forwarding, travel agency (Tokyo Governor License No.2-5027), others Number of vessels in operation: 4 ferries, 5 coastal RORO vessels Paid-in capital: ¥1,577.4 million (as of June 1, 2023) Established: March 2001 Website: https://www.sunflower.co.jp/en/ Outline of Ferry Sunflower Limited Address: 5-3-1 Ikushi, Oita-shi, Oita Prefecture Representative: President Mitsujiro Akasaka Business: General passenger liner service, others Number of vessels in operation: 6 ferries Paid-in capital: ¥100 million (as of June 1, 2023) Established: October 2011 Website: https://www.ferry-sunflower.co.jp/en/ Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. press release 
|
