DOWA Holdings Inc.

The company was founded in 1884 when it was granted the lease of Kosaka Mine, which was then Japan's largest silver mine, by the government.

The company was founded in 1884 when it was granted the lease of Kosaka Mine, which was then Japan's largest silver mine, by the government. Despite a crisis caused by depletion of silver ore and a sharp drop in silver prices shortly after founding, the company succeeded in developing smelting technology for 'black ore' (complex sulfide ore) abundant beneath the silver deposits, which revived Kosaka Mine as a copper mine.

Founded

Founded: September 18, 1884

1907 Kosaka Smelter (now Kosaka Refining)

Established Kosaka Smelter in 1907. Despite facing a crisis due to depletion of silver ore and a sharp drop in silver prices shortly after founding, the company succeeded in developing smelting technology for 'black ore' (complex sulfide ore) abundant beneath the silver deposits, which revived Kosaka Mine as a copper mine.

Establishment

Established: March 11, 1937

Around 1960 Okayama Refinery (now DOWA Electronics Okayama)

Around 1980 Toyooka Factory (now DOWA Metal)

Following the Plaza Accord in 1985, the yen appreciated rapidly, causing a significant decline in domestic prices for non-ferrous metals and severely impacting the profitability of the main mining business, forcing a shift away from a business model centered on mining.

Following the end of the mining business, the company promoted diversification of its business from 1990.

Following the end of the mining business, the company promoted diversification from 1990. Although this laid the foundation for current operations, it did not significantly improve profit levels.

Starting in 2000, the company implemented a 'Business Structure Reform' focusing on reforming profit and asset structures and reducing interest-bearing debt, concentrating management resources into five core businesses to maintain long-term competitiveness.

Starting in 2000, the company implemented a 'Business Structure Reform' focusing on reforming profit and asset structures and reducing interest-bearing debt, concentrating management resources into five core businesses (environment and recycling, refining, electronic materials, metal processing, and heat treatment) to sustain long-term competitiveness.

Since 2000, we have implemented a 'business restructuring' focusing on reforming revenue structure, asset structure, and reducing interest-bearing debt.

Recycling dedicated furnace built at Kosaka Refining in 2007.

Started waste disposal operations in Southeast Asia from 2009.

Initiated lithium-ion battery recycling business from 2010.