The Benesse Group' s business environment is changing dramatically and with unprecedented speed as a result of Japan' s aging demographics, the advance of globalization and developments in information and telecommunications network technologies. Against this backdrop, the Benesse Group moved to stimulate further growth in its businesses by converting to a holding company structure on October 1, 2009.

Benesse Holdings is now the Group' s holding company, and is responsible for devising growth strategies, allocating management resources and training the necessary personnel for the Group as a whole. Meanwhile, the operating companies, including Benesse Corporation, focus on operational execution according to the Group strategies.

We have identified five strategic business fields in which we will expand our operations: domestic education, overseas education, lifestyle, senior/nursing care, and languages/global leadership training. We are pursuing long-term, stable business development by driving forward our growth strategies for the Group under the new framework.

At the very core of the Benesse Group is our philosophy of helping people to "live well." In pursuing further growth for the Group, numerical sales and profit targets are of course important as indicators, but in order to uphold the "live well" philosophy we also aim to win more loyal customers and "fans," and to be more trusted, than any other corporation worldwide. That is how we can best maximize corporate value over the long term and enhance shareholder value.

We appreciate your continued support as we pursue our goals under the new structure.

Representative Director and President