Corporate History

Pre-1970s

Mitsubishi Shoji Kaisha, now Mitsubishi Corporation, was founded as a trading company in 1954 and listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and Osaka Securities Exchange.

1970s

In 1970, the company signed an LNG purchase and sale agreement in Brunei, marking the start of the global development of an investment-based business model transcending simple trading company activities. In 1971, the company adopted "Mitsubishi Corporation" (or Mitsubishi Shoji Kaisha, Limited) as its English name.

1980s

Established the Information Systems & Services Group in 1987, augmenting the six business groups of Fuels (which was renamed Energy Business in 2001), Metals, Machinery, Foods, Chemicals and Textiles & General Merchandise. In 1989, the company was listed on the London Stock Exchange.

1990s

In 1996, the Living Essentials Group was established by amalgamating the Foods Group and Textiles & General Merchandise Group. In 1998, Mikio Sasaki, the current chairman, was appointed president and launched the three-year medium-term management plan MC2000, which was followed by MC2003, in 2001.

2000s

In 2000, the New Business Initiative Group was established. In 2003, the IT & Electronics Business Group was integrated in the New Business Initiative Group and Machinery Group. The same year the Shinagawa Office was completed. In 2004, Yorihiko Kojima was appointed president and launched a new four-year medium-term management plan called INNOVATION 2007. In 2006, the new Marunouchi Head Office was completed. In 2007, the Innovation Center, New Business Initiative Group and other related groups were progressively reorganized to form the Business Innovation Group and the Industrial Finance, Logistics & Development Group—putting in place a 7 business group framework.