Invests in Animal Health Tech Company A’alda Japan Group to Strengthen Partnership- Expanding Animal Health Business with Veterinary Care as the Foundation -

Sumitomo Corporation (Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director, President and Chief Executive Officer: Shingo Ueno) has made a strategic investment in the A'alda Japan Group, strengthening an existing partnership and expanding collaboration in the veterinary healthcare business. Building on its initial investment in A'alda in 2024, this additional commitment deepens Sumitomo Corporation's relationship with the company as an existing shareholder.

A'alda operates one of Japan's largest veterinary hospital groups, guided by its corporate philosophy of "creating a society where people and pets can live happily together." Today, most veterinary hospitals in Japan are privately owned and operated by individual veterinarians, and the operating environment is evolving rapidly amid an aging pet population and advances in veterinary medicine. By consolidating veterinary hospitals, A'alda aims to elevate both clinical care and management systems.

To support this vision, the Sumitomo Corporation Group will contribute its digital transformation (DX) expertise. A'alda is enhancing the quality of pet healthcare by leveraging digital technologies such as the "Vet360" electronic medical record system and the "Vets Ask AI" medical AI platform. Building on the customer base established through its hospitals, A'alda continues to foster lasting relationships with pet owners and veterinarians—advancing its vision of "Becoming the most influential Animal Health Tech Company in the world." Sumitomo Corporation pursued this strategic investment because it shares A'alda's corporate philosophy and sees A'alda's business model as strongly aligned with the Sumitomo Corporation Group's animal health business.

Sumitomo Corporation entered the animal health sector in the 1990s, beginning with the raw materials business for veterinary medicines. Since then, it has operated "The Hartz Mountain Corporation," a U.S.-based manufacturer and seller of pet products, in partnership with Unicharm Corporation. Beyond pet care products, Sumitomo has broadened its product lineup and business scope through the trade of animal health products. Through this investment, Sumitomo Corporation will apply the experience it has cultivated across the pet care and veterinary medicine businesses to accelerate the growth of the A'alda Japan Group and to build a new animal health platform that integrates veterinary medicine and digital technology.

Sumitomo Corporation remains committed to helping realize a society where people and pets can live together more harmoniously through its initiatives in the animal health sector.

A’alda Japan Company Overview