TBM signs a loan agreement with Mizuho Bank for a total of 2 billion yen using the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency's "Debt Guarantee System to Facilitate Businesses Utilizing Innovative Technology Research Results"

- Aiming to capture markets and expand sales channels by improving productivity and added value of environmentally friendly mold material "LIMEX" -

TBM Co., Ltd., Ltd. (Head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Nobuyoshi Yamasaki; hereinafter referred to as TBM) is pleased to announce that it has signed a loan agreement with Mizuho Bank, Ltd. (Head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Katsuhiko Kato; hereinafter referred to as Mizuho Bank) for a total of 2 billion yen on March 18, 2024, utilizing the Debt Guarantee System for Facilitating Innovative Technology Research Results Utilization Projects provided by the Organization for Small & Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation, Inc. (Head office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Chairman: Atsushi Toyonaga; hereinafter referred to as SME Support Japan). TBM, a startup in the deep tech field, will use this funding to improve the productivity of the environmentally friendly material "LIMEX" and develop and expand the use of high-value-added products, aiming to further capture the market and expand sales.

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■ Background

The Japanese government announced the "Five-Year Startup Development Plan" for 2022, with three pillars: building human resources and networks, strengthening capital supply and diversifying exit strategies, and promoting open innovation. The government is strengthening support measures for startups, such as a plan to increase investment in startups tenfold in five years and the creation of unicorn companies. For startups in the deep tech field, which requires a long time to commercialize and monetize and a large amount of capital, if they can commercialize and implement technologies based on scientific discoveries, they have the potential to have a major impact on society, such as solving economic and social issues that need to be solved nationwide and worldwide, and the government has launched bold support measures.

■ Overview

The Debt Guarantee Scheme for Facilitating Projects Utilizing the Results of Innovative Technology Research is a scheme in which SME Corporation provides debt guarantees to deep tech (large-scale research and development) venture companies that have been certified by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry for their business activity plans for utilizing the results of innovative technology research, when they borrow funds to establish mass production systems from private financial institutions designated by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
Prior to this contract, TBM received certification from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry for its innovative technology research results utilization business activity plan. As a result, TBM was eligible for a guarantee rate (50% of the loan principal) under the SME Japan Corporation's debt guarantee system, and signed a loan agreement with Mizuho Bank for a total of 2 billion yen.