Refreshed the CI to Express the Maximization of Synergies Between the Two Companies and the Promotion of Smooth Travel Distribution through the Use of Technology

We are pleased to announce that Apple World Inc. (Location: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, President and Representative Director: Takeshi Fukada, hereinafter referred to as APW) a wholly owned subsidiary of ZIGExN Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, Representative Directors, Operating Officer, and CEO: Joe Hirao, Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime: 3679, hereinafter referred to as ZIGExN),　has merged (absorption merger) with TSD Inc. (Location: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, President and Representative Director: Takeshi Fukada, hereinafter referred to as TSD), another wholly owned subsidiary of ZIGExN, as of October 1, 2024. Additionally, we would like to announce that, as part of this merger, APW has refreshed its corporate identity (CI) and renewed its corporate logo.

■The Background of the Merger Since its founding in 1991, APW has operated as the largest land operator aggregator in the industry, managing a hotel booking online platform that offers information on  170,000 hotels across 150 countries to around 3,000 travel agencies in Japan. Additionally, APW is involved in both domestic and international airline ticketing and provides services aimed at individual travelers. On the other hand, TSD has supported travel agencies in various ways for about 20 years through services such as international airline ticket booking and issuance agent services, hotel reservation and arrangement services, and comprehensive credit card merchant services.

In February 2023, the ZIGExN Group made TSD a wholly owned subsidiary. APW and TSD have deepened their collaboration by formulating a common mission as part of the same group. With this merger, we aim to maximize the strengths of both companies to accelerate the realization of the mission: “To encourage all travelers and those who assist them in stepping into a brighter future.” Furthermore, all services operated by both companies will continue after the merger, and there will be no changes to the services offered.

■Purpose of the Merger

In recent years, the commoditization of travel-related products has advanced, yet the arrangement and booking of travel remain complex tasks. There are still inefficient analog communications, information asymmetry, and a multi-tier subcontracting structure that create bottlenecks and distortions in travel distribution. Through this merger, the newly formed APW aims to establish a framework that integrates the strengths of both companies—technology and operations—into all services, thereby accelerating the development of new services. While maintaining and evolving the uniqueness of each service, we intend to combine multiple services to meet the needs of travelers and the travel industry, facilitating smooth travel distribution and achieving our mission.

Additionally, with the merger, the corporate identity (CI) has been refreshed, creatively reflecting the diversity of services and their combinations that define the identity of the newly formed APW.

■Outlook after the Merger

The newly formed APW will focus on the combination of services to enhance productivity and the value offered. For example, “Rikisha,” created by TSD, and “APPLE WORLD,” created by APW, are both hotel reservation and arrangement services for travel agencies, but they have different characteristics. “Rikisha” is simple and user-friendly, making it suitable for everyday use. In contrast, “APPLE WORLD” is equipped with an AI quotation engine, allowing for the efficient handling of complex tasks, such as “creating quotes for travelers exploring the world,” which typically require a significant amount of time. By combining these two services, travel agencies can easily and seamlessly differentiate between them based on their needs, all within a single account.

Furthermore, moving forward, we will actively consider M&A to expand travel products, promote DX, and pursue overseas expansion. Our goal is to enhance our business portfolio while also broadening the options for service combinations.

■Background of the CI Refresh

After TSD joined the ZIGExN Group, the missions of APW and TSD were refreshed as companies involved in the travel industry. Since then, each employee has embodied this vision. With this merger, we decided to renew the corporate logo to visually represent our mission and the identity of the newly formed APW.

■Concept of the New Corporate Logo

• To express the integration of APW and TSD and the fresh start as the newly formed Apple World, the letter of the logo has shifted from the traditional uppercase to lowercase letters.
• To reflect smooth travel distribution, we have adopted rounded lowercase letters and a quarter-circle icon instead of the sharp uppercase letters.
• The quarter-circle icon encompasses the following meanings:

1. To represent the mission, “To encourage all travelers and those who assist them in stepping into a brighter future,” the quarter-circle is depicted as a door leading to the future.
2. The quarter-circle can form various shapes like a puzzle, depending on how it is combined. This illustrates APW’s approach to providing new value through the combination of independent services. (See the diagram below.)

■Comment from President and Representative Director Takeshi Fukada

In October 2024, we merged APW and TSD, taking a new step forward as the newly formed APW toward the realization of our mission: ” To encourage all travelers and those who assist them in stepping into a brighter future.” Since its founding, APW has built services over approximately 30 years, while TSD has developed services for about 20 years. These services range from hotel and airline ticket booking and arrangements for travel agencies to comprehensive credit card merchant services and hotel and airline ticket comparison and booking for travelers, covering a diverse range from B2B to B2C. Now that all these offerings are under one umbrella, the newly formed APW has become a travel company with a remarkably high degree of uniqueness.

We will cherish the history and assets that both companies have built over time while maximizing synergies and leveraging technology to optimize information flow and choices. Travel brings new discoveries and experiences, and encounters with diverse perspectives enrich our lives. The newly formed APW will expand the possibilities of travel and create a better future for all travelers and those who support them.

■Apple World Inc. Company Profile
［Company Name］Apple World Inc.
［Headquarters location］Mejirozaka ST Building 7F, 2-3-3 Sekiguchi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
［Established］December 6, 1991
［Representative］President and Representative Director Takeshi Fukada
［Business Profile］Reservation/arrangement of overseas/domestic hotels, sale of hotel coupons and
overseas/domestic hotel/travel-related information service
［URL］　https://appleworld.co.jp