1. 1
PRESS
RELEASE
Karatsu
City,
Saga
Prefecture,
Japan
February
21,
2013
New
Company
Creation
Karatsu
Cosmetics
KK
(Stephen
Bidinger,
Representative
Director)
is
a
newly
formed
cosmetic
company
based
in
Karatsu
City,
Saga
Prefecture
on
Kyushu
Island
in
Japan.
The
Founding
Investors
include
6
investors
from
the
US,
France
and
Japan:
MK
Life
Inc.
(30%),
Alban
Muller
International
(20%),
Bloom
Cosmetics
Ltd.
(20%),
Matsuura
(10%),
Toremy
Corporation
(10%),
and
an
individual
(10%).
The
company
was
incorporated
on
February
20,
2013
with
initial
equity
of
JPY
10,000,000.
The
Business
Activities
will
include:
(1)
the
creation
of
its
own
brand
of
cosmetics
using
natural
ingredients
from
plants,
flowers,
fruits,
and
herbs
grown
in
Japan;
(2)
the
import/export
and
marketing,
sales
and
distribution
of
3rd
party
brands;
(3)
brand
creation
and
manufacturing
of
private
label
brands
for
retailers,
salons,
and
fashion/lifestyle
brands;
(4)
equity
investment
in
startup
cosmetic
brands;
(5)
the
creation
and
operation
of
the
Japan
Cosmetic
Center
network
in
Karatsu
City;
and
(6)
the
coordination
of
research
&
development
projects
with
local
universities
and
research
gardens.
The
Company
Objectives
include:
(1)
regional
economic
development,
including
the
creation
of
jobs
and
brands;
(2)
developing
a
cosmetic
industry
in
southern
Japan,
with
strategic
location
near
China
and
South
Korea;
(3)
fostering
international
cooperation
with
the
Cosmetic
Valley
trade
association
and
the
Herboretum
gardens
in
France;
and
(4)
promoting
health
and
well
being
with
natural
products.
The
Collaboration
will
be
supported
by
local
government
and
private
equity
in
Japan,
and
developed
through
exchanges
with
associations
and
government
in
France.
Local
government
support
will
be
provided
to
the
company
by
Karatsu
City
pursuant
to
a
Service
Agreement
to
be
signed
during
February
2013.
With
the
help
of
the
company,
Karatsu
City
and
the
Cosmetic
Valley
cluster
in
Chartres,
France
expect
to
sign
a
Cooperation
Agreement
during
April
2013.
Stephen
J.
Bidinger,
Representative
Director
of
Karatsu
Cosmetics
KK,
states
that
“Karatsu
City
was
chosen
for
several
reasons,
including
its
strategic
location
in
Asia
and
the
willingness
&
ability
of
the
city
and
local
business
to
quickly
develop
the
Japan
cosmetic
industry
with
experienced
partners”.
Alban
Muller,
Director
of
Karatsu
Cosmetics
KK,
believes
that
“international
cooperation
and
a
philosophy
of
eco-­‐responsible
cosmetics
will
bring
commercial
success
to
the
region
in
a
socially
responsible
way”.
Shinji
Yamasaki,
Masatoshi
Mawatari,
and
Eiji
Suzuki,
Directors
of
Karatsu
Cosmetics
KK
(whose
local
operations
have
already
received
support
from
Karatsu
City)
appreciate
the
support
of
the
City
and
expect
that
the
joint
venture
and
its
“sixth
industry”
approach
will
continue
to
be
fruitful.

2. 2
About
the
Founding
Investors
Alban
Muller
International
(Alban
Muller,
President)
supplies
natural
ingredients
and
develops/manufactures
cosmetic,
food,
and
pharmaceutical
products
for
clients
worldwide.
The
company
has
an
office
and
lab
in
Vincennes
just
outside
Paris,
and
a
factory
in
Chartres
in
the
center
region
of
France.
Alban
Muller
has
35
years
of
experience
in
the
cosmetic
industry
and
is
known
worldwide
for
his
expertise
with
natural
products.
Alban
Muller
is
currently
Honor
President
of
Cosmetic
Valley
association
in
France
and
previously
served
two
terms
as
its
second
President
(2005-­‐
2011).
The
Cosmetic
Valley
is
the
world’s
greatest
concentration
of
resources
for
cosmetics
and
is
a
non-­‐profit
association
among
government,
universities,
suppliers
and
brands.
Alban
Muller
is
also
the
founder
of
the
Herboretum,
which
has
many
gardens
that
are
used
to
study
and
showcase
nature
and
to
develop
awareness
and
understanding
about
sustainability
and
biodiversity.
MK
Life
Inc.
(Stephen
Bidinger,
President)
creates
and
distributes
cosmetic
brands,
and
provides
advice
on
brand
creation,
promotion
and
business
development
for
clients
worldwide.
The
company
is
a
US
corporation
with
principal
office
in
Tokyo,
Japan.
Steve
Bidinger
has
25
years
of
experience
in
the
cosmetic
industry
and
is
known
for
international
marketing
and
sales.
Recently,
Steve
Bidinger
has
been
a
speaker
at
international
conferences
in
China
and
has
published
articles
on
topics
such
as
cosmeceuticals,
functional
foods,
and
sustainability.
Steve
Bidinger’s
previous
experience
includes
the
Chanel
group
as
President
of
Bourjois
(Japan),
Vice
President
of
Revlon
(US
and
Japan),
President
of
Etienne
Botanics
(made
in
France),
and
President
of
Perricone
(Japan).
Bloom
Cosmetics
Ltd.
(Shinji
Yamasaki,
President)
provides
analytical
testing
and
import
registration
services
for
domestic
and
international
clients
involved
with
cosmetics,
pharmaceuticals,
and
food.
The
company
has
a
main
office
and
lab
in
Karatsu
City,
and
a
branch
office
in
Tokyo.
Shinji
Yamasaki
has
19
years
of
experience
in
the
cosmetic
industry.
Matsuura
Tsu-­‐un
KK
(Masatoshi
Mawatari,
President)
provides
logistics
services
for
domestic
and
international
clients
involved
with
cosmetics,
food,
and
other.
The
company
has
a
warehouse
in
Karatsu
City.
Masatoshi
Mawatari
has
10
years
of
experience
in
the
cosmetic
industry.
Toremy
Corporation
(Eiji
Suzuki,
President)
develops
and
manufactures
cosmetic
products
for
private
label
brands.
The
company
has
offices
in
Tokyo,
Osaka,
Fukuoka
and
Shanghai,
and
manufacturing
facilities
in
Tokyo
and
Karatsu.
The
Suzuki
family
has
75
years
of
experience
in
the
cosmetic
industry.
For
more
information
Please
contact
Miss
Mayu
Oaku,
MK
Life
Inc.:
Phone
+
81
3
5545
5717
Email
mayu@mk-­‐life.com