We are entering an era in which the quality of a company's fundraising is increasingly affecting its growth. One example is the news of SoftBank Group's issuance of approximately ¥1 trillion in retail bonds. In response to challenges surrounding a stable supply of protein, companies around the world are diversifying their feed-sourcing networks and pursuing a range of measures, including the development of new protein sources derived from rice.
We are entering an era in which the methods and terms of corporate fundraising have a significant impact on growth. The news is focusing not only on the investments themselves, but also on the strategic decisions involved in obtaining funds and determining how much risk to take. The quality of fundraising may affect the success of growth investments and M&A. Low-cost funding was once the norm, but differences in terms have emerged as the interest-rate environment has changed.
The race to secure a stable supply of protein involves not only food shortages, but also securing feed and strengthening supply networks. In response to rising global demand, companies are taking multiple measures to reduce their reliance on imports, including improving feed efficiency, developing feed that does not rely on fishmeal, and exploring new protein sources derived from rice. Efforts to establish multiple sourcing channels in Japan and overseas are expanding, supporting the food on tables every day.