Panasonic Healthcare becomes the first Japanese company to join the
program
NEW YORK & TOKYO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Leading global investment firm KKR today announced the addition of
Panasonic Healthcare to its Green Portfolio Program (GPP), an
operational improvement program that uses an environmental lens to
assess critical business activities of KKR’s participating private
equity portfolio companies.
The inclusion of Panasonic Healthcare marks the program’s expansion into
Japan and brings the total number of companies in the Green Portfolio
Program to 27 since the launch of the program in 2008. In the program,
Panasonic Healthcare is focusing on managing energy consumption.
The GPP, which began as a partnership between KKR and Environmental
Defense Fund (EDF), applies KKR’s approach of assessing, measuring, and
optimizing performance in order to help portfolio companies manage their
environmental impacts while also improving their bottom line. At the
core of this approach is a set of analytic tools to help company
management teams assess and track improvements across several key
performance areas, such as greenhouse gas emissions, water, waste,
priority chemicals, and forest resources while adding to the company’s
bottom line.
“Since the launch of the Green Portfolio Program in 2008, the GPP has
not only achieved terrific environmental impact for KKR portfolio
companies, but it has also benefitted companies’ bottom lines by
reducing costs through greater efficiency and by creating stronger
relationships with suppliers, customers, and communities. We believe
this has given our companies a competitive edge,” said Ken Mehlman,
Member of KKR and Global Head of Public Affairs.
“Panasonic Healthcare’s vision is to provide optimal and personalized
healthcare support for each patient we work with. But by taking key
steps to minimize our environmental impact, we can do even more to help
society and not only touch the lives of patients and their families, but
also the wider communities that they live in,” said Kenji Yamane,
President of Panasonic Healthcare. “KKR has an excellent track record of
helping its portfolio companies become better businesses while
simultaneously being more sustainable corporate citizens. Our joining
the Green Portfolio Program is a prime example of this.”
“We are thrilled to expand this program into Japan,” said Hiro Hirano,
Member of KKR and Head of KKR Japan. “Panasonic Healthcare is a partner
that shares our vision for promoting a more sustainable society, and
their joining the Green Portfolio Program is a testament to that.”
Tokyo-headquartered Panasonic Healthcare is a comprehensive healthcare
company that focuses on three core businesses: In Vitro Diagnostics,
Medicom, and Biomedical. KKR made its investment in the company in March
2014. Panasonic Healthcare has joined the GPP and is reporting results
in record time since the program’s launch in 2008.
In the Green Portfolio Program, Panasonic Healthcare is focusing on
managing energy consumption in its Japanese facilities through a series
of initiatives including LED lighting updates and the installation of
energy-efficiency equipment. In absolute terms, GHG emissions from
facilities decreased approximately 4 percent compared to a 2012
baseline, while efficiency has improved approximately 5 percent during
the same period. The improvements in efficiency have helped Panasonic
Healthcare to avoid approximately JPY 30 million in costs, or
approximately $296,000 USD, and estimated 840 metric tons of GHG
emissions in 2013.
Nineteen participating KKR private equity portfolio companies worldwide
released results in 2013. Through reporting companies’ collective
efforts, they have achieved an estimated $917 million in financial
impact and avoided approximately 1.8 million metric tons of greenhouse
gas emissions, 4.7 million tons of waste, and 19.5 million cubic meters
of water use. New aggregate results are expected in early October and
will be available at the Green Portfolio Program website.
For more on KKR’s Green Portfolio Program and the participating private
equity portfolio companies visit www.green.kkr.com.
About KKR
KKR is a leading global investment firm that manages investments across
multiple asset classes including private equity, energy, infrastructure,
real estate, credit and hedge funds. KKR aims to generate attractive
investment returns by following a patient and disciplined investment
approach, employing world-class people, and driving growth and value
creation at the asset level. KKR invests its own capital alongside its
partners’ capital and brings opportunities to others through its capital
markets business. References to KKR’s investments may include the
activities of its sponsored funds. For additional information about KKR
& Co. L.P. (NYSE:KKR), please visit KKR’s website at www.kkr.com.
About Panasonic Healthcare
Established in 1969, Panasonic Healthcare is involved in developing,
manufacturing, selling and servicing medical equipment. It seeks to
strengthen its core businesses, In Vitro Diagnostics including
self-monitoring of blood glucose systems, its Medicom businesses
involved in medical IT businesses and its life sciences based Biomedical
business and to continue to pursue an important role in the provision of
optimal healthcare for all. For further information on Panasonic
Healthcare please visit http://panasonic.net/corporate/segments/phc/.
KKR
Ali Hartman, +1 212 519 1638
Ali.Hartman@KKR.com
or
KKR
Asia
Anita Davis, +852 3602 7335
Anita.Davis@KKR.com
or
Steve
Okun, +65 6922 5800
Steven.Okun@KKR.com
or
KKR
Japan
Ashton Consulting
John Sunley / Mika Chuma, +81 3
5425 7220
KKRJapanPR@ashton.jp
Source: KKR