Press Release

April 6, 2005

Advantage Partners, Inc.
Actus Co., LTD.

Partial Sale of Actus Shares to Sekisui House, Ltd.

Advantage Partners, Inc. (Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Joint Representative Partner: Taisuke Sasanuma/Richard L. Folsom）completed the sale of 10% of the shares outstanding (303,680 shares) of interior goods retail company Actus Co., LTD. (Head Office: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Yasuhiro Mori) from an investment fund under its management. 　In 2001, Actus began to operate independently of Minebea Co., LTD., its then parent company; it thereafter steadily expanded its operations with the support of Advantage Partners and is targeting a public offering in Summer 2006. The strategic alliance between Sekisui House, Ltd. and Actus for the Collaboration Residence model “Housing for a Playful Life” has received strong support from clients who enjoy a quality lifestyle. This transaction is a result of the aligning of interests between Sekisui House, Actus, and Advantage Partners to further strengthen collaborative efforts between Sekisui House and Actus, and to further expand Actus’ operations in order to make the contemplated public offering a success.

Actus operates under the mission “Creating and Providing Impressive Space” and has proposed a new urban lifestyle to its clients through products centered on European import brand furniture and interior goods. Advantage Partners’ investment fund took over operations of the firm from Minebea Co., LTD. in 2001. After Advantage Partners’ investment, various measures have been taken to increase Actus’ enterprise value, and operations have steadily expanded as a result. In 2004, Actus opened the Nagoya and Kyoto Stores, implemented the expansion and relocation of the Fukuoka Store, and renewed the flagship Shinjuku Store. In addition, Actus actively engaged in developing methods to exploit sales channels outside the directly operated stores for the sale of interior goods, such as the development of wholesale ICA Shops and the acquisition of corporate contracts.

In March 2004, Sekisui House Ltd. and Actus commenced joint development and sales under the “Housing for a Playful Life” slogan, a new class of the Collaboration Residence model. “Housing for a Playful Life” focuses on “Playful Life” as its theme to propose a living environment with various accommodations that allow for an extraordinary resort-like experience, relaxation, healing, and amusement. Model houses are currently being displayed in Tokyo (Seta), Aichi (Ichinomiya), Osaka (Banpaku), and Yokohama (Kikuna), and are also expected to open Fukuoka (Onojo) on April 9; these model houses have received strong support from clients in their 30s and 40s who have high regard for interior goods, genuine products and materials, and an enjoyable, tasteful lifestyle. Actus is targeting a public offering in Summer 2006 on the back of its operational growth. In order to achieve a stable shareholder base following the contemplated public offering, Advantage Partners plans to transfer Actus shares held in its investment fund to companies with a strong business relationship with Actus, as well as those with which operational synergies can be expected. This sale of Actus shares to Sekisui House, Ltd. is aligned with this strategy, and Advantage Partners plans to continue its contribution to Actus’ further expansion through partial sales of its holdings to other strategic partners.

End of the Document.