Strategy consulting firm Arthur D. Little Japan (ADL) and Aozora Bank have established a JV for corporate support, the first in Japan to combine strategy consulting and banking. The JV has capital of ¥100 million, with each party holding a 50% stake, and will promote collaborative investment based on minority investments.
Strategy consulting firm Arthur D. Little Japan (ADL) and Aozora Bank announced that they established the joint venture おおぞらADLソリューション on 18 August 2026. The new company's capital is ¥100 million, with ADL and Aozora Bank each holding a 50% stake.
Its defining feature is that it is based on minority investments. Rather than acquiring management control, it aims to pursue collaborative investment by adding capital and management expertise while leaving leadership in the hands of the company's management. Specifically, ADL will use its knowledge of strategy and business transformation to develop and execute value-creation strategies, while Aozora Bank will draw on its expertise in engagement investing and structured finance to form and manage investment vehicles and handle investments and exits.
The background is said to be the current situation in which Japanese companies possess strong technologies and brands but have not fully converted their potential into value. It has been noted that approximately 70% of listed companies have market capitalizations below ¥50 billion. At the same time, efforts to leverage external resources and capital are gaining momentum, and the JV is considering supporting 1000 of Japan's approximately 3,700 listed companies.