Bellsystem24

In 1982, the foundation was laid for what would become Japan's largest call center operator, Bellsystem24. The company was established as one of the pioneers in providing customer relationship management outsourcing, building its business on handling customer service and marketing calls for other corporations. The company's modern story is one shaped by major global financial players. In 2004, an arm of Citigroup acquired Bellsystem24, taking the company private the following year. This set the stage for a landmark event in 2009, when Bain Capital signed a deal to acquire a controlling stake from Citi for approximately 100 billion yen, or $1.1 billion. The move was the largest buyout in Japan in nearly two years, signaling a significant new chapter for the call center giant. Under new ownership, Bellsystem24 continued to evolve. In 2014, Bain Capital entered into a strategic partnership, transferring a 49.9 percent stake to ITOCHU Corporation, a major Japanese trading company. The next logical step was the public markets. In November 2015, Bellsystem24 launched an Initial Public Offering on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, raising over $400 million. This IPO was not just about capital; it was a strategic move to fund expansion into the broader Asian market, solidifying its position as a leader in the industry.