IR News｜News

Benesse Corporation today announced a number of organizational reforms to take effect from April 1, 2007. Details are as follows.

Benesse's operating environment is undergoing a dramatic transformation due to changes in learning and parenting environments at school and in the home and advances in digital technology. Aiming for the next stage of growth against this backdrop, Benesse has decided to implement organizational reforms based on the following key policies.

Key Policies

(1) Strengthen Marketing Capabilities
Benesse will combine marketing functions currently separated among each in-house education company to realize more effective and efficient marketing activities.

(2) Integrate Shinkenzemi Correspondence Course Business and School & Teacher Support Company
Benesse will integrate the Shinkenzemi Correspondence Course Business and the School & Teacher Support Company, which both serve the same end-customer group, to enhance proposal capabilities and strengthen the product and service offering.

(3) Offer More Digital Content
Benesse will offer more digital content mainly by using its library of educational content. In response to diversifying customer needs, Benesse will build a business model based on the optimum mode of provision (printed media, the internet, mobile phones, TV, prep schools and other locations, etc.)

Guided by these key policies, Benesse will abolish the in-house company system in education-related operations, replacing it with a new organization built along functional lines. The objective is to optimize the overall operating framework to further develop existing businesses and develop and launch new products and services based on the latest thinking in education.

*Benesse will continue to use the in-house company system in non-education-related operations.

Organizational Reforms

(1) Strengthen Marketing Capabilities
-Establish a Sales Headquarters

(2) Integrate Shinkenzemi Correspondence Course Business and School & Teacher Support Company
-Establish a Senior High School and University Education Division
-Establish a Compulsory Education Division

(3) Offer More Digital Content
-Establish a Digital Business Development Headquarters (announced in January 2007)

(4) Other Organizational Reforms
Establish:
-Parenting Business Division
-Merchandising & Marketing Division
-Pioneer Kids Business Development Headquarters
-Private Junior High School Entrance Exam Department
-Language Education Company
-HR Innovation Office
-CEO's Office