MOL to establish ‘MOL PLUS’ as Corporate Venture Capital Fund

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) on Thursday announced that it has decided to establish its wholly-owned Corporate Venture Capital Fund (CVC) firm called MOL PLUS.

MOL PLUS will make a broad range of investments, mainly in early- and middle-stage start-up companies around the world, that can reform the ocean shipping business models and create new businesses from mid-to-long-term viewpoints, explained a release.

These investments will be centered on domains that can reform business models in ocean transport and logistics, and other domains relating to the MOL Group’s future, such as offshore, environment, ferries and the cruise ships businesses. MOL PLUS aims to generate synergetic effects by combining innovative ideas and technologies from start-up companies with MOL Group resources to create new businesses that will add new value to the ocean shipping industry and society, the release added.

MOL PLUS has an investment ceiling of JPY 4 billion.