HLB Group has established a foothold for entering the Japanese healthcare and senior care markets through a strategic partnership with ACA NEXT, a comprehensive senior-friendly service company in Japan, which includes an equity investment.
On May 28, HLB Global and HLB Genex announced that they have invested a total of 3 billion KRW to acquire a 14.4% stake in ACA NEXT, making them the second-largest shareholder after the private equity fund ACA, the existing parent company.
ACA NEXT is a comprehensive senior service provider founded in 2016. The company offers lifestyle support services for seniors, as well as meal services primarily for public institutions and nursing homes, staffing services, and facility maintenance operations. Through the acquisition of healthcare companies, ACA NEXT is also accelerating its expansion from senior-focused services into the broader healthcare sector.
HLB Group aims to rapidly penetrate the Japanese senior care and healthcare markets by using ACA NEXT as a strategic base. The group plans to collaborate directly with ACA NEXT's six subsidiaries to develop health functional foods and conduct both export and import of products.
HLB Global will strengthen its exports of health devices (portable massagers) and wellness products. HLB Genex will supply enzyme raw materials for the development of health functional foods at ACA NEXT. In addition, HLB and HLB Panagene will strategically pursue overseas market entry for diagnostic products, while HLB Pharmaceutical will work to expand the distribution network for health functional foods.
HLB Group will also expand its collaboration with ACA NEXT in the domestic market, seeking to identify and implement joint business models related to senior care. By distributing ACA NEXT's products in Korea and leveraging its expertise in the senior and food service sectors, the group aims to enter and strengthen its competitiveness in the domestic senior care and food service markets.
Tajima Tsuguaki, owner of the From30 Group, which operates a pharmacy chain in Japan, also participated in the equity investment. From30's regionally focused pharmacy network is expected to serve as a key bridge for HLB Global's health devices and wellness products to reach Japanese healthcare consumers.
Kim Jongwon, Vice Chairman of HLB Group's business division, stated, "Japan entered a super-aged society as early as the 2000s, and the senior industry is so large that it accounts for 19% of the country's GDP. We will do our utmost to rapidly strengthen the group's position in the Asian senior market, starting with this investment and partnership."
Azuma Akihiro, Chairman of ACA Inc. (front row, left), Kim Kwangjae, CEO of HLB Global, and Jeon Jaehwan, Executive Director of HLB Genex, are taking a commemorative photo with employees and stakeholders at the business agreement ceremony among the three companies.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
