Tokyo – November 05, 2026 -- Oriental Land Innovations (OLI), a subsidiary of Oriental Land Co., will raise its holding in Nasdaq-listed LEIFRAS to about 20% of shares and voting rights, making the Tokyo-based children's sports operator an equity-method affiliate of Oriental Land. The deal is expected to close on November 27, 2026, subject to closing conditions.
OLI buys treasury shares at JPY345 and the CEO's 4.72 million shares
LEIFRAS signed an investment agreement and a registration rights agreement with OLI for the acquisition of 400,041 treasury shares at JPY345 per share. Separately, LEIFRAS Representative Director and CEO Kiyotaka Ito signed a share purchase agreement to sell 4,723,000 of his own ordinary shares to OLI. The source does not disclose the price of the Ito transaction.
The treasury share sale relies on Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933. The shares are unregistered and cannot be offered or sold in the United States without registration or an exemption.
Oriental Land gains a board seat or observer role at LEIFRAS
OLI may nominate one director to the LEIFRAS board, subject to LEIFRAS' reasonable satisfaction with the nominee and shareholder approval. Alternatively, or in addition, OLI may appoint one non-voting board observer who can attend and speak at board meetings.
The companies say this involvement is meant to strengthen collaboration and create new value in sports and education.
Partnership builds on OLI's November 2023 initial investment
OLI first invested in LEIFRAS in November 2023. Since then, LEIFRAS has worked with various divisions of the Oriental Land Group. OLI is the group's corporate venture capital arm and is responsible for creating new businesses.
LEIFRAS, founded in 2001, runs children's sports schools and supports the regional transition of school club activities. Its other businesses are community collaboration, healthcare and after-school day services. LEIFRAS plans to combine its nationwide sports school platform and coaching expertise with the Oriental Land Group's knowledge and strengths. The group lists "Happiness of children" as an ESG materiality theme.
OLI President Maki Asahata said that "diverse experiences and interactions with others are essential to children's growth."